Or comest thou sent to me, who of myself
The still tent covet not, but feats of arms?
To whom Meriones discreet replied,
Chief leader of the Cretans, brazen-mail’d
320 Idomeneus! if yet there be a spear 315
Left in thy tent, I seek one; for I broke
The spear, even now, with which erewhile I fought,
Smiting the shield of fierce Deiphobus.
Then answer thus the Cretan Chief return’d,
Valiant Idomeneus. If spears thou need, 320
Within my tent, leaning against the wall,
Stand twenty spears and one, forged all in Troy,
Which from the slain I took; for distant fight
Me suits not; therefore in my tent have I
Both spears and bossy shields, with brazen casques 325
And corselets bright that smile against the sun.
Him answer’d, then, Meriones discreet.
I also, at my tent and in my ship
Have many Trojan spoils, but they are hence
Far distant. I not less myself than thou 330
Am ever mindful of a warrior’s part,
And when the din of glorious arms is heard,
Fight in the van. If other Greeks my deeds
Know not, at least I judge them known to thee.
To whom the leader of the host of Crete 335
Idomeneus. I know thy valor well,
Why speakest thus to me? Choose we this day
An ambush forth of all the bravest Greeks,
(For in the ambush is distinguish’d best
The courage; there the timorous and the bold 340
Plainly appear; the dastard changes hue
And shifts from place to place, nor can he calm
The fears that shake his trembling limbs, but sits
Low-crouching on his hams, while in his breast
Quick palpitates his death-foreboding heart, 345
And his teeth chatter; but the valiant man
His posture shifts not; no excessive fears
Feels he, but seated once in ambush, deems
Time tedious till the bloody fight begin;)
Even there, thy courage should no blame incur. 350
321 For should’st thou, toiling in the fight, by spear
Or falchion bleed, not on thy neck behind
Would fall the weapon, or thy back annoy,
But it would meet thy bowels or thy chest
While thou didst rush into the clamorous van. 355
But haste — we may not longer loiter here
As children prating, lest some sharp rebuke
Reward us. Enter quick, and from within
My tent provide thee with a noble spear.
Then, swift as Mars, Meriones produced 360
A brazen spear of those within the tent
Reserved, and kindling with heroic fire
Follow’d Idomeneus. As gory Mars
By Terror follow’d, his own dauntless son
Who quells the boldest heart, to battle moves; 365
From Thrace against the Ephyri they arm,
Or hardy Phlegyans, and by both invoked,
Hear and grant victory to which they please;
Such, bright in arms Meriones, and such
Idomeneus advanced, when foremost thus 370
Meriones his fellow-chief bespake.
Son of Deucalion! where inclinest thou most
To enter into battle? On the right
Of all the host? or through the central ranks?
Or on the left? for nowhere I account 375
The Greeks so destitute of force as there.
Then answer thus Idomeneus return’d
Chief of the Cretans. Others stand to guard
The middle fleet; there either Ajax wars,
And Teucer, noblest archer of the Greeks, 380
Nor less in stationary fight approved.
Bent as he is on battle, they will task
And urge to proof sufficiently the force
Of Priameïan Hector; burn his rage
How fierce soever, he shall find it hard, 385
With all his thirst of victory, to quell
Their firm resistance, and to fire the fleet,
Let not Saturnian Jove cast down from heaven
322 Himself a flaming brand into the ships.
High towering Telamonian Ajax yields 390
To no mere mortal by the common gift
Sustain’d of Ceres, and whose flesh the spear
Can penetrate, or rocky fragment bruise;
In standing fight Ajax would not retire
Even before that breaker of the ranks 395
Achilles, although far less swift than he.
But turn we to the left, that we may learn
At once, if glorious death, or life be ours.
Then, rapid as the God of war, his course
Meriones toward the left began, 400
As he enjoin’d. Soon as the Trojans saw
Idomeneus advancing like a flame,
And his compeer Meriones in arms
All-radiant clad, encouraging aloud
From rank to rank each other, on they came 405
To the assault combined. Then soon arose
Sharp contest on the left of all the fleet.
As when shrill winds blow vehement, what time
Dust deepest spreads the ways, by warring blasts
Upborne a sable cloud stands in the air, 410
Such was the sudden conflict; equal rage
To stain with gore the lance ruled every breast.
Horrent with quivering spears the fatal field
Frown’d on all sides; the brazen flashes dread
Of numerous helmets, corselets furbish’d bright, 415
And shields refulgent meeting, dull’d the eye,
And turn’d it dark away. Stranger indeed
Were he to fear, who could that strife have view’d
With heart elate, or spirit unperturb’d.
Two mighty sons of Saturn adverse parts 420
Took in that contest, purposing alike
To many a valiant Chief sorrow and pain.
Jove, for the honor of Achilles, gave
Success to Hector and the host of Troy,
Not for complete destruction of the Greeks 425
At Ilium, but that glory might redound
323 To Thetis thence, and to her dauntless son.
On the other side, the King of Ocean risen
Secretly from the hoary Deep, the host
Of Greece encouraged, whom he grieved to see 430
Vanquish’d by Trojans, and with anger fierce
Against the Thunderer burn’d on their behalf.
Alike from one great origin divine
Sprang they, but Jove was elder, and surpass’d
In various knowledge; therefore when he roused 435
Their courage, Neptune traversed still the ranks
Clandestine, and in human form disguised.
Thus, these Immortal Two, straining the cord
Indissoluble of all-wasting war,
Alternate measured with it either host, 440
And loosed the joints of many a warrior bold.
Then, loud exhorting (though himself with age
Half grey) the Achaians, into battle sprang
Idomeneus, and scatter’d, first, the foe,
Slaying Othryoneus, who, by the lure 445
Of martial glory drawn, had left of late
Cabesus. He Priam’s fair daughter woo’d
Cassandra, but no nuptial gift vouchsafed
To offer, save a sounding promise proud
To chase, himself, however resolute 450
The Grecian host, and to deliver Troy.
To him assenting, Priam, ancient King,
Assured to him his wish, and in the faith
Of that assurance confident, he fought.
But brave Idomene
us his splendid lance 455
Well-aim’d dismissing, struck the haughty Chief.
Pacing elate the field; his brazen mail
Endured not; through his bowels pierced, with clang
Of all his arms he fell, and thus with joy
Immense exulting, spake Idomeneus. 460
I give thee praise, Othryoneus! beyond
All mortal men, if truly thou perform
Thy whole big promise to the Dardan king,
Who promised thee his daughter. Now, behold,
324 We also promise: doubt not the effect. 465
We give into thy arms the most admired
Of Agamemnon’s daughters, whom ourselves
Will hither bring from Argos, if thy force
With ours uniting, thou wilt rase the walls
Of populous Troy. Come — follow me; that here 470
Among the ships we may adjust the terms
Of marriage, for we take not scanty dower.
So saying, the Hero dragg’d him by his heel
Through all the furious fight. His death to avenge
Asius on foot before his steeds advanced, 475
For them, where’er he moved, his charioteer
Kept breathing ever on his neck behind.
With fierce desire the heart of Asius burn’d
To smite Idomeneus, who with his lance
Him reaching first, pierced him beneath the chin 480
Into his throat, and urged the weapon through.
He fell, as some green poplar falls, or oak,
Or lofty pine, by naval artists hewn
With new-edged axes on the mountain’s side.
So, his teeth grinding, and the bloody dust 485
Clenching, before his chariot and his steeds
Extended, Asius lay. His charioteer
(All recollection lost) sat panic-stunn’d,
Nor dared for safety turn his steeds to flight.
Him bold Antilochus right through the waist 490
Transpierced; his mail sufficed not, but the spear
Implanted in his midmost bowels stood.
Down from his seat magnificent he fell
Panting, and young Antilochus the steeds
Drove captive thence into the host of Greece. 495
Then came Deiphobus by sorrow urged
For Asius, and, small interval between,
Hurl’d at Idomeneus his glittering lance;
But he, foreseeing its approach, the point
Eluded, cover’d whole by his round shield 500
Of hides and brass by double belt sustain’d,
And it flew over him, but on his targe
325 Glancing, elicited a tinkling sound.
Yet left it not in vain his vigorous grasp,
But pierced the liver of Hypsenor, son 505
Of Hippasus; he fell incontinent,
And measureless exulting in his fall
Deiphobus with mighty voice exclaim’d.
Not unavenged lies Asius; though he seek
Hell’s iron portals, yet shall he rejoice, 510
For I have given him a conductor home.
So he, whose vaunt the Greeks indignant heard!
But of them all to anger most he roused
Antilochus, who yet his breathless friend
Left not, but hasting, fenced him with his shield, 515
And brave Alastor with Mecisteus son
Of Echius, bore him to the hollow ships
Deep-groaning both, for of their band was he.
Nor yet Idomeneus his warlike rage
Remitted aught, but persevering strove 520
Either to plunge some Trojan in the shades,
Or fall himself, guarding the fleet of Greece.
Then slew he brave Alcathoüs the son
Of Æsyeta, and the son-in-law
Of old Anchises, who to him had given 525
The eldest-born of all his daughters fair,
Hippodamia; dearly loved was she
By both her parents in her virgin state,
For that in beauty she surpass’d, in works
Ingenious, and in faculties of mind 530
All her coëvals; wherefore she was deem’d
Well worthy of the noblest prince of Troy.
Him in that moment, Neptune by the arm
Quell’d of Idomeneus, his radiant eyes
Dimming, and fettering his proportion’d limbs. 535
All power of flight or to elude the stroke
326 Forsook him, and while motionless he stood
As stands a pillar tall or towering oak,
The hero of the Cretans with a spear
Transfix’d his middle chest. He split the mail 540
Erewhile his bosom’s faithful guard; shrill rang
The shiver’d brass; sounding he fell; the beam
Implanted in his palpitating heart
Shook to its topmost point, but, its force spent,
At last, quiescent, stood. Then loud exclaim’d 545
Idomeneus, exulting in his fall.
What thinks Deiphobus? seems it to thee
Vain boaster, that, three warriors slain for one,
We yield thee just amends? else, stand thyself
Against me; learn the valor of a Chief 550
The progeny of Jove; Jove first begat
Crete’s guardian, Minos, from which Minos sprang
Deucalion, and from famed Deucalion, I;
I, sovereign of the numerous race of Crete’s
Extensive isle, and whom my galleys brought 555
To these your shores at last, that I might prove
Thy curse, thy father’s, and a curse to Troy.
He spake; Deiphobus uncertain stood
Whether, retreating, to engage the help
Of some heroic Trojan, or himself 560
To make the dread experiment alone.
At length, as his discreeter course, he chose
To seek Æneas; him he found afar
Station’d, remotest of the host of Troy,
For he resented evermore his worth 565
By Priam recompensed with cold neglect.
Approaching him, in accents wing’d he said.
Æneas! Trojan Chief! If e’er thou lov’dst
Thy sister’s husband, duty calls thee now
To prove it. Haste — defend with me the dead 570
Alcathoüs, guardian of thy tender years,
327 Slain by Idomeneus the spear-renown’d.
So saying, he roused his spirit, and on fire
To combat with the Cretan, forth he sprang.
But fear seized not Idomeneus as fear 575
May seize a nursling boy; resolved he stood
As in the mountains, conscious of his force,
The wild boar waits a coming multitude
Of boisterous hunters to his lone retreat;
Arching his bristly spine he stands, his eyes 580
Beam fire, and whetting his bright tusks, he burns
To drive, not dogs alone, but men to flight;
So stood the royal Cretan, and fled not,
Expecting brave Æneas; yet his friends
He summon’d, on Ascalaphus his eyes 585
Fastening, on Aphareus, Deipyrus,
Meriones, and Antilochus, all bold
In battle, and in accents wing’d exclaim’d.
Haste ye, my friends! to aid me, for I stand
Alone, nor undismay’d the coming wait 590
Of swift Æneas, nor less brave than swift,
And who possesses fresh his flower of youth,
Man’s prime advantage; were we match’d in years
As in our spirits, either he should earn
At once the meed of deathless fame, or I. 595
He said; they all unanimous approach’d,
Sloping their shields, and stood. On the other side
His aids Æneas call’d, with eyes toward
Paris, Deiphobus, Agenor, t
urn’d,
His fellow-warriors bold; them follow’d all 600
Their people as the pastured flock the ram
To water, by the shepherd seen with joy;
Such joy Æneas felt, seeing, so soon,
That numerous host attendant at his call.
Then, for Alcathoüs, into contest close 605
Arm’d with long spears they rush’d; on every breast
Dread rang the brazen corselet, each his foe
Assailing opposite; but two, the rest
Surpassing far, terrible both as Mars,
328 Æneas and Idomeneus, alike 610
Panted to pierce each other with the spear.
Æneas, first, cast at Idomeneus,
But, warn’d, he shunn’d the weapon, and it pass’d.
Quivering in the soil Æneas’ lance
Stood, hurl’d in vain, though by a forceful arm. 615
Not so the Cretan; at his waist he pierced
Oenomaüs, his hollow corselet clave,
And in his midmost bowels drench’d the spear;
Down fell the Chief, and dying, clench’d the dust.
Instant, his massy spear the King of Crete 620
Pluck’d from the dead, but of his radiant arms
Despoil’d him not, by numerous weapons urged;
For now, time-worn, he could no longer make
Brisk sally, spring to follow his own spear,
Or shun another, or by swift retreat 625
Vanish from battle, but the evil day
Warded in stationary fight alone.
At him retiring, therefore, step by step
Deiphobus, who had with bitterest hate
Long time pursued him, hurl’d his splendid lance, 630
But yet again erroneous, for he pierced
Ascalaphus instead, offspring of Mars;
Right through his shoulder flew the spear; he fell
Incontinent, and dying, clench’d the dust.
But tidings none the brazen-throated Mars 635
Tempestuous yet received, that his own son
In bloody fight had fallen, for on the heights
Olympian over-arch’d with clouds of gold
He sat, where sat the other Powers divine,
Prisoners together of the will of Jove. 640
Meantime, for slain Ascalaphus arose
Conflict severe; Deiphobus his casque
Resplendent seized, but swift as fiery Mars
Assailing him, Meriones his arm
Pierced with a spear, and from his idle hand 645
Fallen, the casque sonorous struck the ground.
Again, as darts the vulture on his prey,
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