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the cuirass from off the breast of Agastrophus； his heavy helmet
also； and the shield from off his shoulders； when Paris drew his
bow and let fly an arrow that sped not from his hand in vain； but
pierced the flat of Diomed's right foot； going right through it
and fixing itself in the ground。 Thereon Paris with a hearty
laugh sprang forward from his hiding…place； and taunted him
saying； 〃You are woundedmy arrow has not been shot in vain；
would that it had hit you in the belly and killed you； for thus
the Trojans； who fear you as goats fear a lion； would have had a
truce from evil。〃
Diomed all undaunted answered； 〃Archer； you who without your bow
are nothing； slanderer and seducer； if you were to be tried in
single bat fighting in full armour； your bow and your arrows
would serve you in little stead。 Vain is your boast in that you
have scratched the sole of my foot。 I care no more than if a girl
or some silly boy had hit me。 A worthless coward can inflict but
a light wound； when I wound a man though I but graze his skin it
is another matter； for my weapon will lay him low。 His wife will
tear her cheeks for grief and his children will be fatherless：
there will he rot； reddening the earth with his blood； and
vultures； not women； will gather round him。〃
Thus he spoke； but Ulysses came up and stood over him。 Under this
cover he sat down to draw the arrow from his foot； and sharp was
the pain he suffered as he did so。 Then he sprang on to his
chariot and bade the charioteer drive him to the ships； for he
was sick at heart。
Ulysses was now alone； not one of the Argives stood by him； for
they were all panic…stricken。 〃Alas；〃 said he to himself in his
dismay； 〃what will bee of me？ It is ill if I turn and fly
before these odds； but it will be worse if I am left alone and
taken prisoner； for the son of Saturn has struck the rest of the
Danaans with panic。 But why talk to myself in this way？ Well do I
know that though cowards quit the field； a hero； whether he wound
or be wounded； must stand firm and hold his own。〃
While he was thus in two minds； the ranks of the Trojans advanced
and hemmed him in； and bitterly did they e to rue it。 As
hounds and lusty youths set upon a wild boar that sallies from
his lair whetting his white tusksthey attack him from every
side and can hear the gnashing of his jaws； but for all his
fierceness they still hold their groundeven so furiously did
the Trojans attack Ulysses。 First he sprang spear in hand upon
Deiopites and wounded him on the shoulder with a downward blow；
then he killed Thoon and Ennomus。 After these he struck
Chersidamas in the loins under his shield as he had just sprung
down from his chariot； so he fell in the dust and clutched the
earth in the hollow of his hand。 These he let lie； and went on to
wound Charops son of Hippasus own brother to noble Socus。 Socus；
hero that he was； made all speed to help him； and when he was
close to Ulysses he said； 〃Far…famed Ulysses； insatiable of craft
and toil； this day you shall either boast of having killed both
the sons of Hippasus and stripped them of their armour； or you
shall fall before my spear。〃
With these words he struck the shield of Ulysses。 The spear went
through the shield and passed on through his richly wrought
cuirass； tearing the flesh from his side； but Pallas Minerva did
not suffer it to pierce the entrails of the hero。 Ulysses knew
that his hour was not yet e； but he gave ground and said to
Socus； 〃Wretch； you shall now surely die。 You have stayed me from
fighting further with the Trojans； but you shall now fall by my
spear； yielding glory to myself； and your soul to Hades of the
noble steeds。〃
Socus had turned in flight； but as he did so； the spear struck
him in the back midway between the shoulders； and went right
through his chest。 He fell heavily to the ground and Ulysses
vaunted over him saying； 〃O Socus； son of Hippasus tamer of
horses； death has been too quick for you and you have not escaped
him： poor wretch； not even in death shall your father and mother
close your eyes； but the ravening vultures shall enshroud you
with the flapping of their dark wings and devour you。 Whereas
even though I fall the Achaeans will give me my due rites of
burial。〃
So saying he drew Socus's heavy spear out of his flesh and from
his shield； and the blood welled forth when the spear was
withdrawn so that he was much dismayed。 When the Trojans saw that
Ulysses was bleeding they raised a great shout and came on in a
body towards him； he therefore gave ground； and called his
rades to e and help him。 Thrice did he cry as loudly as man
can cry； and thrice did brave Menelaus hear him； he turned；
therefore； to Ajax who was close beside him and said； 〃Ajax；
noble son of Telamon； captain of your people； the cry of Ulysses
rings in my ears； as though the Trojans had cut him off and were
worsting him while he is single…handed。 Let us make our way
through the throng； it will be well that we defend him； I fear he
may e to harm for all his valour if he be left without
support； and the Danaans would miss him sorely。〃
He led the way and mighty Ajax went with him。 The Trojans had
gathered round Ulysses like ravenous mountain jackals round the
carcase of some horned stag that has been hit with an arrowthe
stag has fled at full speed so long as his blood was warm and his
strength has lasted； but when the arrow has overe him； the
savage jackals devour him in the shady glades of the forest。 Then
heaven sends a fierce lion thither； whereon the jackals fly in
terror and the lion robs them of their preyeven so did Trojans
many and brave gather round crafty Ulysses； but the hero stood at
bay and kept them off with his spear。 Ajax then came up with his
shield before him like a wall； and stood hard by； whereon the
Trojans fled in all directions。 Menelaus took Ulysses by the
hand； and led him out of the press while his squire brought up
his chariot； but Ajax rushed furiously on the Trojans and killed
Doryclus； a bastard son of Priam； then he wounded Pandocus；
Lysandrus； Pyrasus； and Pylartes； as some swollen torrent es
rushing in full flood from the mountains on to the plain； big
with the rain of heavenmany a dry oak and many a pine does it
engulf； and much mud does it bring down and cast into the sea
even so did brave Ajax chase the foe furiously over the plain；
slaying both men and horses。
Hector did not yet know what Ajax was doing； for he was fighting
on the extreme left of the battle by the banks of the river
Scamander； where the carnage was thickest and the war…cry loudest
round Nestor and brave Idomeneus。 Among these Hector was making
great slaughter with his spear and furious driving； and was
destroying the ranks that were opposed to him； still the Achaeans
would have given no ground； had not Alexandrus husband of lovely
Helen stayed the prowess of Machaon； shepherd of his people； by
wounding him in the right shoulder with a triple…barbed arrow。
The Achaeans were in great fear that as the fight had turned
against them the Trojans might take him prisoner； and Idomeneus
said to Nestor； 〃Nestor son of Neleus； honour to the Achaean
name； mount y