Homer, Iliad (Orange Street).pdf

Homer’s Iliad
spear at him as he was retreating slowly from the field, for his
bitterness against him was as fierce as ever, but again he missed
him, and hit Ascalaphus, the son of Mars; the spear went through
his shoulder, and he clutched the earth in the palms of his hands as
he fell sprawling in the dust.
Grim Mars of awful voice did not yet know that his son had fallen,
for he was sitting on the summits of Olympus under the golden
clouds, by command of Jove, where the other gods were also
sitting, forbidden to take part in the battle. Meanwhile men fought
furiously about the body. Deiphobus tore the helmet from off his
head, but Meriones sprang upon him, and struck him on the arm
with a spear so that the visored helmet fell from his hand and came
ringing down upon the ground. Thereon Meriones sprang upon
him like a vulture, drew the spear from his shoulder, and fell back
under cover of his men. Then Polites, own brother of Deiphobus
passed his arms around his waist, and bore him away from the
battle till he got to his horses that were standing in the rear of the
fight with the chariot and their driver. These took him towards the
city groaning and in great pain, with the blood flowing from his
arm.
The others still fought on, and the battle-cry rose to heaven without
ceasing. Aeneas sprang on Aphareus son of Caletor, and struck him
with a spear in his throat which was turned towards him; his head
fell on one side, his helmet and shield came down along with him,
and death, life’s foe, was shed around him. Antilochus spied his
chance, flew forward towards Thoon, and wounded him as he was
turning round. He laid open the vein that runs all the way up the
back to the neck; he cut this vein clean away throughout its whole
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