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of Deucalion as he was standing on his chariot, and very narrowly<br />

missed him, but the spear hit Coiranus, a follower and charioteer<br />

of Meriones who had come with him from Lyctus. Idomeneus had left<br />

the ships on foot and would have af<strong>for</strong>ded a great triumph to the Trojans<br />

if Coiranus had not driven quickly up to him, he there<strong>for</strong>e brought<br />

life and rescue to Idomeneus, but himself fell <strong>by</strong> the hand of murderous<br />

Hector. For Hector hit him on the jaw under the ear; the end of the<br />

spear drove out his teeth and cut his tongue in two pieces, so that<br />

he fell from his chariot and let the reins fall to the ground. Meriones<br />

gathered them up from the ground and took them into his own hands,<br />

then he said to Idomeneus, "Lay on, till you get back to the ships,<br />

<strong>for</strong> you must see that the day is no longer ours."<br />

On this Idomeneus lashed the horses to the ships, <strong>for</strong> fear had taken<br />

hold upon him.<br />

Ajax and Menelaus noted how Jove had turned the scale in favour of<br />

the Trojans, and Ajax was first to speak. "Alas," said he, "even a<br />

fool may see that father Jove is helping the Trojans. All their weapons<br />

strike home; no matter whether it be a brave man or a coward that<br />

hurls them, Jove speeds all alike, whereas ours fall each one of them<br />

without effect. What, then, will be best both as regards rescuing<br />

the body, and our return to the joy of our friends who will be grieving<br />

as they look hitherwards; <strong>for</strong> they will make sure that nothing can<br />

now check the terrible hands of Hector, and that he will fling himself<br />

upon our ships. I wish that some one would go and tell the son of<br />

Peleus at once, <strong>for</strong> I do not think he can have yet heard the sad news<br />

that the dearest of his friends has fallen. But I can see not a man

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