Homer ILIAD : Rhapsody 13

Page 14

So saying, the hero Idomeneus dragged him by the foot through the brisk battle. But to him Asius came as an avenger, on foot, before his steeds; which his attendant charioteer always kept breathing over his shoulders;[425] and in his mind he longed to strike Idomeneus, but he (Idomeneus) anticipating him, smote him with his spear in the throat, below the chin, and drove the brass quite through. And he fell, as when some oak falls, or white poplar,[426] or towering[427] pine, which timber-workers have cut down upon the mountains with lately-whetted axes, to become ship timber. So he lay, stretched out before his horses and chariot, gnashing his teeth, grasping the bloody dust. But the charioteer was deprived of the senses which he previously had, nor dared he turn back the horses that he might escape from the hands of the enemy: but him warlike Antilochus, striking, transfixed in the middle with his spear; nor did the brazen corslet which he wore resist, but he fixed it in the centre of his stomach. Then, panting, he fell from the well-made chariot-seat, and Antilochus, the son of magnanimous Nestor, drove away the horses from the Trojans to the well-armed Greeks. But Deiphobus, enraged on account of Asius, drew very near to Idomeneus, and hurled with his shining spear. Idomeneus, however, having perceived it opposite, avoided the brazen spear, for he was concealed behind his shield equal on all sides, which he bore, constructed of the hides of bulls, and glittering brass, fitted with two handles. Behind this he collected himself entirely, and the brazen spear flew over him. But the shield returned a dry[428] sound, the spear grazing it obliquely. Yet he (Deiphobus) sent it not in vain from his heavy hand, but he struck Hypsenor, son of Hippasus. the shepherd of the people, upon the liver, below the breast, and straightway relaxed his knees under him. But Deiphobus vainly boasted over him, loudly exclaiming:

[Footnote 425: I.e. close by Asius [Greek: (kat' omon)], he having descended for the purpose of rescuing the body of Othryoneus.—Kennedy.]

[Footnote 426: [Greek: "E leuken], populus alba."—Heyne.]

[Footnote 427: [Greek: Blothros] is connected with [Greek: blosko], as [Greek: blechros] with [Greek: blitto]. See Buttm. Lexil. p. 194. Hesych.: [Greek: Blothre' eyauxes, e prasainousa lao kai ano throskousa]. Schol. on Apoll. Rhod. i. 322: [Greek: Pityn blothren Omeros, ten achri tou aitheros poliskousan].]

[Footnote 428: So v. 441: [Greek: ayon auste]. So "aridus sonus," in Lucret. vi, 113; "aridus fragor," Virg. Georg. I. 357, noticed by Quintil. I.O. viii. 3. A dry, grating, half-crackling sound is meant.]

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