Homer ILIAD : Rhapsody 13

Page 22

But Paris was greatly enraged in his soul on account of his being slain, for he had been his guest among many Paphlagonians; wherefore, enraged on his account, he sent forth a brazen arrow. Now there was one Euchenor, son of the diviner Polyidus, wealthy and brave, inhabiting a dwelling at Corinth, who, well knowing his fatal destiny, had arrived in a ship. For often had Polyidus, good old man, told him, that he would perish in his halls of a grievous disease, or be subdued by the Trojans among the ships of the Greeks; wherefore he avoided at once the severe mulct[440] of the Achaeans, and odious disease, that he might not suffer sorrows in his mind. Him he (Paris) smote below the jaw and the ear; and his spirit quickly departed from his members, and hateful darkness seized him.

Thus indeed they fought like[441] unto a burning fire. But Hector, dear to Jove, had not learned, nor knew at all, how at the left of the ships his people were being slaughtered by the Greeks, for the victory was on the point of being the Grecians'; so much did earth-shaking Neptune encourage the Greeks, and moreover himself assisted with his strength; but he (Hector) pressed on where first he had sprung within the gates and wall, breaking the thick ranks of the shielded Greeks. There were the ships of Ajax and Protesilaus, drawn up upon the shore of the hoary sea; but above[442] them the wall was built very low; there themselves and their horses were most impetuous in the combat. There[443] the Boeotians and long-robed Iaonians, the Locrians, the Phthians, and the illustrious Epeans, restrained him from the ships, fiercely rushing on; but were unable to drive away from them noble Hector, like unto a flame. The chosen men of the Athenians stood in the van; among whom Menestheus, son of Peteus, had the command; and with him followed Phidas, Stichius, and brave Bias, Meges, the son of Phyieus, Amphion, and Dracius, led the Epeans, and over the Phthians were Medon and Podarces, steady in fight (Medon indeed was the spurious offspring of godlike Oileus, and the brother of Ajax; but he dwelt at Phylace, away from his native country,[444] having slain a man, the brother of his stepmother Eriopis, whom Oileus had married. But the other was the son of Iphiclus, of Phylace). These in arms before the magnanimous Phthians, fought among the Boeotians, defending the ships.

[Footnote 440: As Corinth was under the authority of Agamemnon, he would have been compelled to pay a fine for refusing the service. Compare the [Greek: atimia tes astraeias] at Athens. See Potter, Antiq. i. 23.]

[Footnote 441: Cf. xi. 595, with the note.]

[Footnote 442: I.e. before them.]

[Footnote 443: I.e. where Hector broke in]

[Footnote 444: See my note on ii. p. 42, n. 2.]

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Rhapsody 13

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