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threw him from his chariot。 Forthwith he stripped their goodly
armour from off them and recognized them； for he had already seen
them at ships when Achilles brought them in from Ida。 As a lion
fastens on the fawns of a hind and crushes them in his great
jaws； robbing them of their tender life while he on his way back
to his lairthe hind can do nothing for them even though she be
close by； for she is in an agony of fear； and flies through the
thick forest； sweating； and at her utmost speed before the mighty
monsterso； no man of the Trojans could help Isus and Antiphus；
for they were themselves flying panic before the Argives。
Then King Agamemnon took the two sons of Antimachus； Pisander and
brave Hippolochus。 It was Antimachus who had been foremost in
preventing Helen's being restored to Menelaus； for he was largely
bribed by Alexandrus； and now Agamemnon took his two sons； both
in the same chariot； trying to bring their horses to a standfor
they had lost hold of the reins and the horses were mad with
fear。 The son of Atreus sprang upon them like a lion； and the
pair besought him from their chariot。 〃Take us alive；〃 they
cried； 〃son of Atreus； and you shall receive a great ransom for
us。 Our father Antimachus has great store of gold； bronze； and
wrought iron； and from this he will satisfy you with a very large
ransom should he hear of our being alive at the ships of the
Achaeans。〃
With such piteous words and tears did they beseech the king； but
they heard no pitiful answer in return。 〃If；〃 said Agamemnon；
〃you are sons of Antimachus； who once at a council of Trojans
proposed that Menelaus and Ulysses； who had e to you as
envoys； should be killed and not suffered to return； you shall
now pay for the foul iniquity of your father。〃
As he spoke he felled Pisander from his chariot to the earth；
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 headwhich 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 from off the plain。 King
Agamemnon followed after； ever slaying them and cheering on the
Achaeans。 As when some mighty forest is all ablazethe eddying
gusts whirl fire in all directions till the thickets shrivel and
are consumed before the blast of the flameeven 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 citythe 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 e up。 Meanwhile the
Trojans kept on flying over the middle of the plain like a herd
of cows maddened with fright when a lion has attacked them in the
dead of nighthe 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 entrailseven 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 Hectorsay 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
messageso 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 childCisses； 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 e on
by land to Ilius。 He it was that now 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 cat