smiting him on the chest with his spear； so that he lay face uppermost
upon the ground。 Hippolochus fled； but him too did Agamemnon smite； he
cut off his hands and his head… which he sent rolling in among the
crowd as though it were a ball。 There he let them both lie； and
wherever the ranks were thickest thither he flew； while the other
Achaeans followed。 Foot soldiers drove the foot soldiers of the foe in
rout before them； and slew them； horsemen did the like by horsemen；
and the thundering tramp of the horses raised a cloud of dust frim off
the plain。 King Agamemnon followed after； ever slaying them and
cheering on the Achaeans。 As when some mighty forest is all ablaze…
the eddying gusts whirl fire in all directions till the thickets
shrivel and are consumed before the blast of the flame… even so fell
the heads of the flying Trojans before Agamemnon son of Atreus； and
many a noble pair of steeds drew an empty chariot along the highways
of war； for lack of drivers who were lying on the plain； more useful
now to vultures than to their wives。
Jove drew Hector away from the darts and dust； with the carnage
and din of battle； but the son of Atreus sped onwards； calling out
lustily to the Danaans。 They flew on by the tomb of old Ilus； son of
Dardanus； in the middle of the plain； and past the place of the wild
fig…tree making always for the city… the son of Atreus still shouting；
and with hands all bedrabbled in gore； but when they had reached the
Scaean gates and the oak tree； there they halted and waited for the
others to come up。 Meanwhile the Trojans kept on flying over the
middle of the plain like a herd cows maddened with fright when a
lion has attacked them in the dead of night… he springs on one of
them； seizes her neck in the grip of his strong teeth and then laps up
her blood and gorges himself upon her entrails… even so did King
Agamemnon son of Atreus pursue the foe； ever slaughtering the hindmost
as they fled pell…mell before him。 Many a man was flung headlong
from his chariot by the hand of the son of Atreus； for he wielded
his spear with fury。
But when he was just about to reach the high wall and the city；
the father of gods and men came down from heaven and took his seat；
thunderbolt in hand； upon the crest of many…fountained Ida。 He then
told Iris of the golden wings to carry a message for him。 〃Go；〃 said
he； 〃fleet Iris； and speak thus to Hector… say that so long as he
sees Agamemnon heading his men and making havoc of the Trojan ranks；
he is to keep aloof and bid the others bear the brunt of the battle；
but when Agamemnon is wounded either by spear or arrow； and takes to
his chariot； then will I vouchsafe him strength to slay till he
reach the ships and night falls at the going down of the sun。〃
Iris hearkened and obeyed。 Down she went to strong Ilius from the
crests of Ida； and found Hector son of Priam standing by his chariot
and horses。 Then she said； 〃Hector son of Priam； peer of gods in
counsel； father Jove has sent me to bear you this message… so long
as you see Agamemnon heading his men and making havoc of the Trojan
ranks； you are to keep aloof and bid the others bear the brunt of
the battle； but when Agamemnon is wounded either by spear or arrow；
and takes to his chariot； then will Jove vouchsafe you strength to
slay till you reach the ships； and till night falls at the going
down of the sun。〃
When she had thus spoken Iris left him； and Hector sprang full armed
from his chariot to the ground； brandishing his spear as he went about
everywhere among the host； cheering his men on to fight； and
stirring the dread strife of battle。 The Trojans then wheeled round；
and again met the Achaeans； while the Argives on their part
strengthened their battalions。 The battle was now in array and they
stood face to face with one another； Agamemnon ever pressing forward
in his eagerness to be ahead of all others。
Tell me now ye Muses that dwell in the mansions of Olympus； who；
whether of the Trojans or of their allies； was first to face
Agamemnon？ It was Iphidamas son of Antenor； a man both brave and of
great stature； who was brought up in fertile Thrace the mother of
sheep。 Cisses； his mother's father； brought him up in his own house
when he was a child… Cisses； father to fair Theano。 When he reached
manhood； Cisses would have kept him there； and was for giving him
his daughter in marriage； but as soon as he had married he set out
to fight the Achaeans with twelve ships that followed him： these he
had left at Percote and had come on by land to Ilius。 He it was that
naw met Agamemnon son of Atreus。 When they were close up with one
another； the son of Atreus missed his aim； and Iphidamas hit him on
the girdle below the cuirass and then flung himself upon him； trusting
to his strength of arm； the girdle； however； was not pierced； nor
nearly so； for the point of the spear struck against the silver and
was turned aside as though it had been lead： King Agamemnon caught
it from his hand； and drew it towards him with the fury of a lion；
he then drew his sword； and killed Iphidamas by striking him on the
neck。 So there the poor fellow lay； sleeping a sleep as it were of
bronze； killed in the defence of his fellow…citizens； far from his
wedded wife； of whom he had had no joy though he had given much for
her： he had given a hundred…head of cattle down； and had promised
later on to give a thousand sheep and goats mixed； from the
countless flocks of which he was possessed。 Agamemnon son of Atreus
then despoiled him； and carried off his armour into the host of the
Achaeans。
When noble Coon； Antenor's eldest son； saw this； sore indeed were
his eyes at the sight of his fallen brother。 Unseen by Agamemnon he
got beside him； spear in hand； and wounded him in the middle of his
arm below the elbow； the point of the spear going right through the
arm。 Agamemnon was convulsed with pain； but still not even for this
did he leave off struggling and fighting； but grasped his spear that
flew as fleet as the wind； and sprang upon Coon who was trying to drag
off the body of his brother… his father's son… by the foot； and was
crying for help to all the bravest of his comrades； but Agamemnon
struck him with a bronze…shod spear and killed him as he was
dragging the dead body through the press of men under cover of his
shield： he then cut off his head； standing over the body of Iphidamas。
Thus did the sons of Antenor meet their fate at the hands of the son
of Atreus； and go down into the house of Hades。
As long as the blood still welled warm from his wound Agamemnon went
about attacking the ranks of the enemy with spear and sword and with
great handfuls of stone； but when the blood had ceased to flow and the
wound grew dry； the pain became great。 As the sharp pangs which the
Eilithuiae； goddesses of childbirth； daughters of Juno and
dispensers of cruel pain； send upon a woman when she is in labour…
even so sharp were the pangs of the son of Atreus。 He sprang on to his
chariot； and bade his charioteer drive to the ships； for he was in
great agony。 With a loud clear voice he shouted to the Danaans； 〃My
friends； princes and counsellors of the Argives； defend the ships
yourselves； for Jove has not suffered me to fight the whole day
through against the Trojans。〃
With this the charioteer turned his horses towards the ships； and
they flew forward nothing loth。 Their chests were white with foam
and their bellies with dust； as they drew the wounded king out of
the battle。
When Hector saw Agamemnon quit the field； he shouted to the
Trojans and Lycians saying； 〃Trojans； Lycians； and Dardanian warriors；
be men； my friends； and acquit yourselves in battle bravely； their
best man has left them； and Jove has vouchsafed me a great triumph；
charge the foe with your chariots that。 you may win still greater
glory。〃
With these words he put heart and soul into them all； and as a
huntsman hounds his dogs on against a lion or wild boar； even so did
Hector； peer of Mars； hound the proud Trojans on against the Achaeans。
Full of hope he plunged in among the foremost； and fell on the fight
like some fierce tempest that swoops down upon the sea； and lashes its
deep blue waters into fury。
What； then is the full tale of those whom Hector son of Priam killed
in the hour of triumph which Jove then vouchsafed him？ First Asaeus；
Autonous； and Opites； Dolops son of Clytius； Opheltius and Agelaus；
Aesymnus； Orus and Hipponous steadfast in battle； these chieftains
of the Achaeans did Hector slay； and then he fell upon the rank and
file。 As when the west wind hustles the clouds of the white south
and beats them down with the fierceness of its fury… the waves of
the sea roll high； and the spray is flung aloft in the rage of the
wandering wind… even so thick were the heads of them that fell by
the hand of Hector。
All had then been lost and no help for it； and the Achaeans would
have fled pell…mell to their ships； had not Ulysses cried out to
Diomed； 〃Son of Tydeus； what has happened to us that we thus forget
our prowess？ Come； my good fellow； stand by my side and help me； we
shall be shamed for ever if Hector takes the ships。〃
And Diomed a