Homer ILIAD : Rhapsody 13

Page 18

Not yet, however, had loudly-roaring,[433] impetuous Mars heard that his son had fallen in the violent fight; but he sat upon the summit of Olympus, beneath golden clouds, excluded [from the battle] by the will of Jove, where also the other immortal gods were restrained from the war. In the meantime they engaged in close fight round Ascalaphus. Deiphobus indeed tore the shining helmet from Ascalaphus; and Meriones, equal to swift Mars, springing [upon him], smote [him] with his spear in the arm, and the crested[434] casque, falling from his hand, rang upon the earth. Immediately Meriones, leaping upon him like a vulture, plucked out the tough spear from the lower part of his arm, and retired back again into the crowd of his comrades. But him Polites, his own brother, throwing his hands round his waist, carried out of the dread-sounding battle, till he reached his fleet steeds, which awaited him in the rear of the combat and the war, having both a charioteer and a variegated car; which then carried him towards the city, groaning heavily [and] afflicted; and the blood flowed from his recently-wounded hand: but the others kept fighting, and an unquenchable clamour arose. Then Aeneas rushing upon Aphareus, the son of Caletor, smote him with his sharp spear upon the throat, when turned towards him. And his head was bent to one side, then his shield clung to him, and his helmet; and around him life-destroying death was spread. Antilochus, however, observing Thoas turning around, attacking, wounded him; and cut away all the vein, which, running quite along the back, reaches to the neck. All this he cut off; but he fell on his back in the dust, stretching out both hands to his beloved companions. Then Antilochus sprang upon him, and stripped the armour from his shoulders, looking around; for the Trojans surrounding him, struck his wide and ornamented shield with their darts, nor were they able to graze with the dire brass the tender body of Antilochus within it; because earth-shaking Neptune protected the son of Nestor all round, even amongst many weapons. For never indeed was he apart from the enemy, but he turned himself about among them: nor did he hold his spear without motion, but continually moving, it was whirled about; and he prepared within his mind, either to hurl it at some one afar off, or to rush upon some one close at hand. But meditating these things amid the throng, he escaped not the notice of Adamas, the son of Asias, who smote him in the middle of his shield with the sharp brass, attacking him in close combat; but azure-haired Neptune weakened the spear, grudging[435] him the life [of Antilochus].

[Footnote 433: [Greek: Briepyos=erigdoupos]. The Schol. on Apoll. Rh. iii. 860, observes: [Greek: Eri, epitaseos estin, os to Briepuos].]

[Footnote 434: The meaning of [Greek: aulopis] is rather uncertain. According to the Schol. and Hesychius, it means a helmet that has the openings for the eyes oblong [Greek: (paramekeis echousa tas ton ophthalmon opas)], or a helmet with a long crest [Greek: ektetamenon lophon].]

[Footnote 435: [Greek: phthonesas adamanti, me bion Antilochou aphelytai].]

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Rhapsody 13

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