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hurting you？ or have you been sent to fetch me？ I want no
fetching； I had far rather fight than stay in my tent。〃
〃Idomeneus；〃 answered Meriones； 〃I e for a spear； if I can
find one in my tent； I have broken the one I had； in throwing it
at the shield of Deiphobus。〃
And Idomeneus captain of the Cretans answered； 〃You will find one
spear； or twenty if you so please； standing up against the end
wall of my tent。 I have taken them from Trojans whom I have
killed； for I am not one to keep my enemy at arm's length；
therefore I have spears； bossed shields； helmets； and burnished
corslets。〃
Then Meriones said； 〃I too in my tent and at my ship have spoils
taken from the Trojans； but they are not at hand。 I have been at
all times valorous； and wherever there has been hard fighting
have held my own among the foremost。 There may be those among the
Achaeans who do not know how I fight； but you know it well enough
yourself。〃
Idomeneus answered； 〃I know you for a brave man： you need not
tell me。 If the best men at the ships were being chosen to go on
an ambushand there is nothing like this for showing what a man
is made of； it es out then who is cowardly and who brave； the
coward will change colour at every touch and turn； he is full of
fears； and keeps shifting his weight first on one knee and then
on the other； his heart beats fast as he thinks of death； and one
can hear the chattering of his teeth； whereas the brave man will
not change colour nor be frightened on finding himself in ambush；
but is all the time longing to go into actionif the best men
were being chosen for such a service； no one could make light of
your courage nor feats of arms。 If you were struck by a dart or
smitten in close bat； it would not be from behind； in your
neck nor back； but the weapon would hit you in the chest or belly
as you were pressing forward to a place in the front ranks。 But
let us no longer stay here talking like children； lest we be ill
spoken of； go； fetch your spear from the tent at once。〃
On this Meriones； peer of Mars； went to the tent and got himself
a spear of bronze。 He then followed after Idomeneus； big with
great deeds of valour。 As when baneful Mars sallies forth to
battle； and his son Panic so strong and dauntless goes with him；
to strike terror even into the heart of a herothe pair have
gone from Thrace to arm themselves among the Ephyri or the brave
Phlegyans； but they will not listen to both the contending hosts；
and will give victory to one side or to the othereven so did
Meriones and Idomeneus； captains of men； go out to battle clad in
their bronze armour。 Meriones was first to speak。 〃Son of
Deucalion；〃 said he； 〃where would you have us begin fighting？ On
the right wing of the host； in the centre； or on the left wing；
where I take it the Achaeans will be weakest？〃
Idomeneus answered； 〃There are others to defend the centrethe
two Ajaxes and Teucer； who is the finest archer of all the
Achaeans； and is good also in a hand…to…hand fight。 These will
give Hector son of Priam enough to do； fight as he may； he will
find it hard to vanquish their indomitable fury； and fire the
ships； unless the son of Saturn fling a firebrand upon them with
his own hand。 Great Ajax son of Telamon will yield to no man who
is in mortal mould and eats the grain of Ceres； if bronze and
great stones can overthrow him。 He would not yield even to
Achilles in hand…to…hand fight； and in fleetness of foot there is
none to beat him； let us turn therefore towards the left wing；
that we may know forthwith whether we are to give glory to some
other； or he to us。〃
Meriones； peer of fleet Mars； then led the way till they came to
the part of the host which Idomeneus had named。
Now when the Trojans saw Idomeneus ing on like a flame of
fire； him and his squire clad in their richly wrought armour；
they shouted and made towards him all in a body； and a furious
hand…to…hand fight raged under the ships' sterns。 Fierce as the
shrill winds that whistle upon a day when dust lies deep on the
roads； and the gusts raise it into a thick cloudeven such was
the fury of the bat； and might and main did they hack at each
other with spear and sword throughout the host。 The field
bristled with the long and deadly spears which they bore。
Dazzling was the sheen of their gleaming helmets； their
fresh…burnished breastplates； and glittering shields as they
joined battle with one another。 Iron indeed must be his courage
who could take pleasure in the sight of such a turmoil； and look
on it without being dismayed。
Thus did the two mighty sons of Saturn devise evil for mortal
heroes。 Jove was minded to give victory to the Trojans and to
Hector； so as to do honour to fleet Achilles； nevertheless he did
not mean to utterly overthrow the Achaean host before Ilius； and
only wanted to glorify Thetis and her valiant son。 Neptune on the
other hand went about among the Argives to incite them； having
e up from the grey sea in secret； for he was grieved at seeing
them vanquished by the Trojans； and was furiously angry with
Jove。 Both were of the same race and country； but Jove was elder
born and knew more； therefore Neptune feared to defend the
Argives openly； but in the likeness of man； he kept on
encouraging them throughout their host。 Thus； then； did these two
devise a knot of war and battle； that none could unloose or
break； and set both sides tugging at it； to the failing of men's
knees beneath them。
And now Idomeneus； though his hair was already flecked with grey；
called loud on the Danaans and spread panic among the Trojans as
he leaped in among them。 He slew Othryoneus from Cabesus； a
sojourner； who had but lately e to take part in the war。 He
sought Cassandra； 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 pany with ourselves； so e 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