the fairest of Priam's daughters in marriage； but offered no gifts
of wooing； for he promised a great thing； to wit； that he would
drive the sons of the Achaeans willy nilly from Troy； old King Priam
had given his consent and promised her to him； whereon he fought on
the strength of the promises thus made to him。 Idomeneus aimed a
spear； and hit him as he came striding on。 His cuirass of bronze did
not protect him； and the spear stuck in his belly； so that he fell
heavily to the ground。 Then Idomeneus vaunted over him saying；
〃Othryoneus； there is no one in the world whom I shall admire more
than I do you； if you indeed perform what you have promised Priam
son of Dardanus in return for his daughter。 We too will make you an
offer； we will give you the loveliest daughter of the son of Atreus；
and will bring her from Argos for you to marry； if you will sack the
goodly city of Ilius in company with ourselves； so come along with me；
that we may make a covenant at the ships about the marriage； and we
will not be hard upon you about gifts of wooing。〃
With this Idomeneus began dragging him by the foot through the thick
of the fight； but Asius came up to protect the body； on foot； in front
of his horses which his esquire drove so close behind him that he
could feel their 'breath upon his shoulder。 He was longing to strike
down Idomeneus； but ere he could do so Idomeneus smote him with his
spear in the throat under the chin； and the bronze point went clean
through it。 He fell as an oak； or poplar； or pine which shipwrights
have felled for ship's timber upon the mountains with whetted axes…
even thus did he lie full length in front of his chariot and horses；
grinding his teeth and clutching at the bloodstained just。 His
charioteer was struck with panic and did not dare turn his horses
round and escape： thereupon Antilochus hit him in the middle of his
body with a spear； his cuirass of bronze did not protect him； and
the spear stuck in his belly。 He fell gasping from his chariot and
Antilochus great Nestor's son； drove his horses from the Trojans to
the Achaeans。
Deiphobus then came close up to Idomeneus to avenge Asius； and
took aim at him with a spear； but Idomeneus was on the look…out and
avoided it； for he was covered by the round shield he always bore… a
shield of oxhide and bronze with two arm…rods on the inside。 He
crouched under cover of this； and the spear flew over him； but the
shield rang out as the spear grazed it； and the weapon sped not in
vain from the strong hand of Deiphobus； for it struck Hypsenor son
of Hippasus； shepherd of his people； in the liver under the midriff；
and his limbs failed beneath him。 Deiphobus vaunted over him and cried
with a loud voice saying； 〃Of a truth Asius has not fallen
unavenied； he will be glad even while passing into the house of Hades；
strong warden of the gate； that I have sent some one to escort him。〃
Thus did he vaunt； and the Argives were stung by his saying。 Noble
Antilochus was more angry than any one； but grief did not make him
forget his friend and comrade。 He ran up to him； bestrode him； and
covered him with his shield； then two of his staunch comrades；
Mecisteus son of Echius； and Alastor stooped down； and bore him away
groaning heavily to the ships。 But Idomeneus ceased not his fury。 He
kept on striving continually either to enshroud some Trojan in the
darkness of death； or himself to fall while warding off the evil day
from the Achaeans。 Then fell Alcathous son of noble Aesyetes： he was
son…in…law to Anchises； having married his eldest daughter Hippodameia
who was the darling of her father and mother； and excelled all her
generation in beauty； accomplishments； and understanding； wherefore
the bravest man in all Troy had taken her to wife… him did Neptune lay
low by the hand of Idomeneus； blinding his bright eyes and binding his
strong limbs in fetters so that he could neither go back nor to one
side； but stood stock still like pillar or lofty tree when Idomeneus
struck him with a spear in the middle of his chest。 The coat of mail
that had hitherto protected his body was now broken； and rang
harshly as the spear tore through it。 He fell heavily to the ground；
and the spear stuck in his heart； which still beat； and made the
butt…end of the spear quiver till dread Mars put an end to his life。
Idomeneus vaunted over him and cried with a loud voice saying；
〃Deiphobus； since you are in a mood to vaunt； shall we cry quits now
that we have killed three men to your one？ Nay； sir； stand in fight
with me yourself； that you may learn what manner of Jove…begotten
man am I that have come hither。 Jove first begot Minos chief ruler
in Crete； and Minos in his turn begot a son； noble Deucalion；
Deucalion begot me to be a ruler over many men in Crete； and my
ships have now brought me hither； to be the bane of yourself； your
father； and the Trojans。〃
Thus did he speak； and Deiphobus was in two minds； whether to go
back and fetch some other Trojan to help him； or to take up the
challenge single…handed。 In the end； he deemed it best to go and fetch
Aeneas； whom he found standing in the rear； for he had long been
aggrieved with Priam because in spite his brave deeds he did not
give him his due share of honour。 Deiphobus went up to him and said；
〃Aeneas； prince among the Trojans； if you know any ties of kinship；
help me now to defend the body of your sister's husband； come with
me to the rescue of Alcathous； who being husband to your sister
brought you up when you were a child in his house； and now Idomeneus
has slain him。〃
With these words he moved the heart of Aeneas； and he went in
pursuit of Idomeneus； big with great deeds of valour； but Idomeneus
was not to be thus daunted as though he were a mere child； he held his
ground as a wild boar at bay upon the mountains； who abides the coming
of a great crowd of men in some lonely place… the bristles stand
upright on his back； his eyes flash fire； and he whets his tusks in
his eagerness to defend himself against hounds and men… even so did
famed Idomeneus hold his ground and budge not at the coming of Aeneas。
He cried aloud to his comrades looking towards Ascalaphus； Aphareus；
Deipyrus； Meriones； and Antilochus； all of them brave soldiers…
〃Hither my friends；〃 he cried； 〃and leave me not single…handed… I go
in great fear by fleet Aeneas； who is coming against me； and is a
redoubtable dispenser of death battle。 Moreover he is in the flower of
youth when a man's strength is greatest； if I was of the same age as
he is and in my present mind； either he or I should soon bear away the
prize of victory
On this； all of them as one man stood near him； shield on
shoulder。 Aeneas on the other side called to his comrades； looking
towards Deiphobus； Paris； and Agenor； who were leaders of the
Trojans along with himself； and the people followed them as sheep
follow the ram when they go down to drink after they have been
feeding； and the heart of the shepherd is glad… even so was the
heart of Aeneas gladdened when he saw his people follow him。
Then they fought furiously in close combat about the body of
Alcathous； wielding their long spears； and the bronze armour about
their bodies rang fearfully as they took aim at one another in the
press of the fight； while the two heroes Aeneas and Idomeneus； peers
of Mars； outxied every one in their desire to hack at each other
with sword and spear。 Aeneas took aim first； but Idomeneus was on
the lookout and avoided the spear； so that it sped from Aeneas' strong
hand in vain； and fell quivering in the ground。 Idomeneus meanwhile
smote Oenomaus in the middle of his belly； and broke the plate of
his corslet； whereon his bowels came gushing out and he clutched the
earth in the palms of his hands as he fell sprawling in the dust。
Idomeneus drew his spear out of the body； but could not strip him of
the rest of his armour for the rain of darts that were showered upon
him： moreover his strength was now beginning to fail him so that he
could no longer charge； and could neither spring forward to recover
his own weapon nor swerve aside to avoid one that was aimed at him；
therefore； though he still defended himself in hand…to…hand fight； his
heavy feet could not bear him swiftly out of the battle。 Deiphobus
aimed a spear at him as he was retreating slowly from the field； for
his bitterness against him was as fierce as ever； but again he
missed him； and hit Ascalaphus； the son of Mars； the spear went
through his shoulder； and he clutched the earth in the palms of his
hands as he fell sprawling in the dust。
Grim Mars of awful voice did not yet know that his son had fallen；
for he was sitting on the summits of Olympus under the golden
clouds； by command of Jove； where the other gods were also sitting；
forbidden to take part in the battle。 Meanwhile men fought furiously
about the body。 Deiphobus tore the helmet from off his head； but
Meriones sprang upon him； and struck him on the arm with a spear so
that the visored helmet fell from his hand and came ringing down
upon the ground。 Thereon Meriones sprang upon him like a vulture； drew
the spear from his shoulder； and fell back under cover of his men。
Then