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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 axeseven thus did he lie full
length in front of his chariot and horses； grinding his teeth and
clutching at the bloodstained dust。 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
borea 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 unavenged； 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 rade。 He ran up to him；
bestrode him； and covered him with his shield； then two of his
staunch rades； 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； acplishments； and understanding；
wherefore the bravest man in all Troy had taken her to wifehim
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 e 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 of 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； e 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 ing of a great crowd of men in some
lonely placethe bristles stand upright on his back； his eyes
flash fire； and he whets his tusks in his eagerness to defend
himself against hounds and meneven so did famed Idomeneus hold
his ground and budge not at the ing of Aeneas。 He cried aloud
to his rades looking towards Ascalaphus； Aphareus； Deipyrus；
Meriones； and Antilochus； all of them brave soldiers〃Hither my
friends；〃 he cried； 〃and leave me not single…handedI go in
great fear by fleet Aeneas； who is ing 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 rades；
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 gladeven so was
the heart of Aeneas gladdened when he saw his people follow him。
Then they fought furiously in close bat 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； outvied everyone 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 i