Homer ILIAD : Rhapsody 5

Page 2

Now there was amongst the Trojans one Dares, rich, blameless, the priest of Vulcan; and he had two sons, Phegeus and Idaeus, well skilled in all kinds of battle: these twain, apart [from their companions], rushed to meet [Diomede]; they on their part, from their two-horse chariot, but he, from the ground, made the attack on foot. When these, therefore, advancing against each other, were now near, Phegeus first hurled forth his long-shadowed spear, and the point of the spear went over the left shoulder of the son of Tydeus, nor did it strike him. But the son of Tydeus next rushed on with his brazen javelin; nor did the weapon fly in vain from his hand, but struck his [Phegeus's] breast between the paps, and forced him from his chariot. Then Idaeus leaped down, having left the very beautiful chariot, nor ventured to protect his slain brother. [In vain,] for not even he would have escaped gloomy fate, but Vulcan snatched him away, and saved him, having enveloped him in darkness, that the old man might not be altogether sad. But the son of magnanimous Tydeus having taken the horses, gave them to his companions to lead to the hollow ships. When the magnanimous Trojans beheld the sons of Dares, the one[196] 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, man-slayer, 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 afterwards seated him on grassy[197] 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 Phaestus, the son of Maeonian Borus, who had come from fertile Tarne. Him, just as he was mounting his chariot,[198] 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.

[Footnote 196: observe the construction by apposition, soph. ant. 21: [Greek: to kasigneto, ton men protisas, ton d' atimasas echei].--561: to paide phemi tode ten men artios anoun pephathai, ten d' aph' ou ta prot' ephy.]

[Footnote 197: see buttm. lexil. p. 324, sqq.]

[Footnote 198: i shall generally adopt this translation of [Greek: ippoi], with anthon.]

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