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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 mand 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 Polites； own brother of
Deiphobus passed his arms around his waist； and bore him away
from the battle till he got to his horses that were standing in
the rear of the fight with the chariot and their driver。 These
took him towards the city groaning and in great pain； with the
blood flowing from his arm。
The others still fought on； and the battle…cry rose to heaven
without ceasing。 Aeneas sprang on Aphareus son of Caletor； and
struck him with a spear in his throat which was turned towards
him； his head fell on one side； his helmet and shield came down
along with him； and death； life's foe； was shed around him。
Antilochus spied his chance； flew forward towards Thoon； and
wounded him as he was turning round。 He laid open the vein that
runs all the way up the back to the neck； he cut this vein clean
away throughout its whole course； and Thoon fell in the dust face
upwards； stretching out his hands imploringly towards his
rades。 Antilochus sprang upon him and stripped the armour from
his shoulders； glaring round him fearfully as he did so。 The
Trojans came about him on every side and struck his broad and
gleaming shield； but could not wound his body； for Neptune stood
guard over the son of Nestor； though the darts fell thickly round
him。 He was never clear of the foe； but was always in the thick
of the fight； his spear was never idle； he poised and aimed it in
every direction； so eager was he to hit someone from a distance
or to fight him hand to hand。
As he was thus aiming among the crowd； he was seen by Adamas； son
of Asius； who rushed towards him and struck him with a spear in
the middle of his shield； but Neptune made its point without
effect； for he grudged him the life of Antilochus。 One half；
therefore； of the spear stuck fast like a charred stake in
Antilochus's shield； while the other lay on the ground。 Adamas
then sought shelter under cover of his men； but Meriones followed
after and hit him with a spear midway between the private parts
and the navel； where a wound is particularly painful to wretched
mortals。 There did Meriones transfix him； and he writhed
convulsively about the spear as some bull whom mountain herdsmen
have bound with ropes of withes and are taking away perforce。
Even so did he move convulsively for a while； but not for very
long； till Meriones came up and drew the spear out of his body；
and his eyes were veiled in darkness。
Helenus then struck Deipyrus with a great Thracian sword； hitting
him on the temple in close bat and tearing the helmet from his
head； the helmet fell to the ground； and one of those who were
fighting on the Achaean side took charge of it as it rolled at
his feet； but the eyes of Deipyrus were closed in the darkness of
death。
On this Menelaus was grieved； and made menacingly towards
Helenus； brandishing his spear； but Helenus drew his bow； and the
two attacked one another at one and the same moment； the one with
his spear； and the other with his bow and arrow。 The son of Priam
hit the breastplate of Menelaus's corslet； but the arrow glanced
from off it。 As black beans or pulse e pattering down on to a
threshing…floor from the broad winnowing…shovel； blown by shrill
winds and shaken by the shoveleven so did the arrow glance off
and recoil from the shield of Menelaus； who in his turn wounded
the hand with which Helenus carried his bow； the spear went right
through his hand and stuck in the bow itself； so that to his life
he retreated under cover of his men； with his hand dragging by
his sidefor the spear weighed it down till Agenor drew it out
and bound the hand carefully up in a woollen sling which his
esquire had with him。
Pisander then made straight at Menelaushis evil destiny luring
him on to his doom； for he was to fall in fight with you； O
Menelaus。 When the two were hard by one another the spear of the
son of Atreus turned aside and he missed his aim； Pisander then
struck the shield of brave Menelaus but could not pierce it； for
the shield stayed the spear and broke the shaft； nevertheless he
was glad and made sure of victory； forthwith； however； the son of
Atreus drew his sword and sprang upon him。 Pisander then seized
the bronze battle…axe； with its long and polished handle of olive
wood that hung by his side under his shield； and the two made at
one another。 Pisander struck the peak of Menelaus's crested
helmet just under the crest itself； and Menelaus hit Pisander as
he was ing towards him； on the forehead； just at the rise of
his nose； the bones cracked and his two gore…bedrabbled eyes fell
by his feet in the dust。 He fell backwards to the ground； and
Menelaus set his heel upon him； stripped him of his armour； and
vaunted over him saying； 〃Even thus shall you Trojans leave the
ships of the Achaeans； proud and insatiate of battle though you
be； nor shall you lack any of the disgrace and shame which you
have heaped upon myself。 Cowardly she…wolves that you are； you
feared not the anger of dread Jove； avenger of violated
hospitality； who will one day destroy your city； you stole my
wedded wife and wickedly carried off much treasure when you were
her guest； and now you would fling fire upon our ships； and kill
our heroes。 A day will e when； rage as you may； you shall be
stayed。 O father Jove； you； who they say art above all； both gods
and men； in wisdom； and from whom all things that befall us do
proceed； how can you thus favour the Trojansmen so proud and
overweening； that they are never tired of fighting？ All things
pall after a whilesleep； love； sweet song； and stately dance
still these are things of which a man would surely have his fill
rather than of battle； whereas it is of battle that the Trojans
are insatiate。〃
So saying Menelaus stripped the blood…stained armour from the
body of Pisander； and handed it over to his men； then he again
ranged himself among those who were in the front of the fight。
Harpalion son of King Pylaemenes then sprang upon him； he had
e to fight at Troy along with his father； but he did not go
home again。 He struck the middle of Menelaus's shield with his
spear but could not pierce it； and to save his life drew back
under cover of his men； looking round him on every side lest he
should be wounded。 But Meriones aimed a bronze…tipped arrow at
him as he was leaving the field； and hit him on the right
buttock； the arrow pierced the bone through and through； and
penetrated the bladder；