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58 ILIAD. V. 26–72
the horses, gave them to his companions to lead to the hollow ships. When
the magnanimous Trojans beheld the sons of Dares, the one 1 flying, the other
slain at the chariot, the hearts of all were discomfited. But azure-eyed Minerva,
seizing him by the hand, thus addressed impetuous Mars: “Mars, Mars, manslayer,
gore-stained, stormer of walls, should we not suffer the Trojans and the
Greeks to fight, to which side soever father Jove may give glory? but let us
retire, and avoid the wrath of Jove.”
Thus having said, she led impetuous Mars from the battle, and afterward
seated him on grassy 2 Scamander. Then the Greeks turned the Trojans to flight,
and each of the leaders slew his man. First Agamemnon, king of men, hurled
from his chariot huge Hodius, chief of the Halizonians. For in the back of him
first turned [in flight], between his shoulders he fixed the spear, and drove it
through his breast; and falling, he made a crash, and his arms resounded upon
him.
But next Idomeneus killed Phæstus, the son of Mæonian Borus, who had
come from fertile Tarne. Him, just as he was mounting his chariot, 3 spear-famed
Idomeneus, with his long lance, wounded in the right shoulder: he fell from his
chariot, and hateful darkness seized him. Then the attendants of Idomeneus
despoiled him of his arms.
Menelaus, the son of Atreus, slew with his sharp 4 spear Scamandrius, son of
Strophius, clever in the chase, an excellent huntsman; for Diana herself taught
him to shoot all kinds of beasts, which the wood in the mountains nurtures.
But then at least arrow-rejoicing Diana availed him not, nor his skill in distant
shooting, in which he had been formerly instructed. But spear-renowned Menelaus,
son of Atreus, wounded him, flying before him, with a spear in the back,
between the shoulders, and drove [the spear] through his breast. Prone he fell,
and his arms resounded upon him.
Meriones slew Phereclus, son of the artist Harmon, who knew how to form
with his hands all ingenious things (for Pallas Minerva loved him exceedingly):
who also for Alexander had built the equal ships, source of woes, which were a
bane to all the Trojans and to himself, since he did not understand the oracles
of the gods. 5 Meriones, indeed, when following he overtook him, struck him
in the right hip; but the point went right through beneath the bone, near the
bladder; and on his knees he fell lamenting, and death overshadowed him.
But Meges next slew Pedæus, son of Antenor, who, indeed, was a spurious
son, yet noble Theano brought him up with care, equally with her own dear
children, gratifying her husband. Him the spear-famed son of Phyleus, on his
1 Observe the construction by apposition, Soph. Ant. 21: ∗tw\ kasignh/ tw, ∗to\n me\n
proti/ sas, to\n d’a)tima/ sas e)/xei.—561: ∗tw\ pai=de fhmi tw/ de th\n me\na)rti/ws
∗)/ anoun pefa/ nqai, thn d’ a)f’ ou=/ ta\ prw=t’ e)/fu.
2 See Buttm. Lexil. p. 324, sqq.
3 I shall generally adopt this translation of i( /ppoi, with Anthon.
4 Apoll. Lex. Hom. p. 604, ed. Villois: o)cuo/ enti. ∗(o me\n ∗)api/ wn, o)cei/ e)/gxei,
o)cuo/ enti de\, o)cui+/nw|. With Anthon, I prefer Apion’s interpretation. Others explain
it “beechen,” or “thorn-wood.” Cf. Alberti on Hesych. p. 766.
5 A doubtful line, but probably referring to an oracle by which the Trojans were recommended
to avoid maritime affairs. Cf. Procl. Chrestom. p. 472, ed. Gaisf.