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and have a goddess for my mother； but the hands of doom and death
overshadow me all as surely。 The day will e； either at dawn or
dark； or at the noontide； when one shall take my life also in
battle； either with his spear； or with an arrow sped from his
bow。〃
Thus did he speak； and Lycaon's heart sank within him。 He loosed
his hold of the spear； and held out both hands before him； but
Achilles drew his keen blade； and struck him by the collar…bone
on his neck； he plunged his two…edged sword into him to the very
hilt； whereon he lay at full length on the ground； with the dark
blood welling from him till the earth was soaked。 Then Achilles
caught him by the foot and flung him into the river to go down
stream； vaunting over him the while； and saying； 〃Lie there among
the fishes； who will lick the blood from your wound and gloat
over it； your mother shall not lay you on any bier to mourn you；
but the eddies of Scamander shall bear you into the broad bosom
of the sea。 There shall the fishes feed on the fat of Lycaon as
they dart under the dark ripple of the watersso perish all of
you till we reach the citadel of strong Iliusyou in flight； and
I following after to destroy you。 The river with its broad silver
stream shall serve you in no stead； for all the bulls you offered
him and all the horses that you flung living into his waters。
None the less miserably shall you perish till there is not a man
of you but has paid in full for the death of Patroclus and the
havoc you wrought among the Achaeans whom you have slain while I
held aloof from battle。〃
So spoke Achilles； but the river grew more and more angry； and
pondered within himself how he should stay the hand of Achilles
and save the Trojans from disaster。 Meanwhile the son of Peleus；
spear in hand； sprang upon Asteropaeus son of Pelegon to kill
him。 He was son to the broad river Axius and Periboea eldest
daughter of Acessamenus； for the river had lain with her。
Asteropaeus stood up out of the water to face him with a spear in
either hand； and Xanthus filled him with courage； being angry for
the death of the youths whom Achilles was slaying ruthlessly
within his waters。 When they were close up with one another
Achilles was first to speak。 〃Who and whence are you；〃 said he；
〃who dare to face me？ Woe to the parents whose son stands up
against me。〃 And the son of Pelegon answered； 〃Great son of
Peleus； why should you ask my lineage。 I am from the fertile land
of far Paeonia； captain of the Paeonians； and it is now eleven
days that I am at Ilius。 I am of the blood of the river Axiusof
Axius that is the fairest of all rivers that run。 He begot the
famed warrior Pelegon； whose son men call me。 Let us now fight；
Achilles。〃
Thus did he defy him； and Achilles raised his spear of Pelian
ash。 Asteropaeus failed with both his spears； for he could use
both hands alike； with the one spear he struck Achilles' shield；
but did not pierce it； for the layer of gold； gift of the god；
stayed the point； with the other spear he grazed the elbow of
Achilles' right arm drawing dark blood； but the spear itself went
by him and fixed itself in the ground； foiled of its bloody
banquet。 Then Achilles； fain to kill him； hurled his spear at
Asteropaeus； but failed to hit him and struck the steep bank of
the river； driving the spear half its length into the earth。 The
son of Peleus then drew his sword and sprang furiously upon him。
Asteropaeus vainly tried to draw Achilles' spear out of the bank
by main force； thrice did he tug at it； trying with all his might
to draw it out； and thrice he had to leave off trying； the fourth
time he tried to bend and break it； but ere he could do so
Achilles smote him with his sword and killed him。 He struck him
in the belly near the navel； so that all his bowels came gushing
out on to the ground； and the darkness of death came over him as
he lay gasping。 Then Achilles set his foot on his chest and
spoiled him of his armour； vaunting over him and saying； 〃Lie
therebegotten of a river though you be； it is hard for you to
strive with the offspring of Saturn's son。 You declare yourself
sprung from the blood of a broad river； but I am of the seed of
mighty Jove。 My father is Peleus； son of Aeacus ruler over the
many Myrmidons； and Aeacus was the son of Jove。 Therefore as Jove
is mightier than any river that flows into the sea； so are his
children stronger than those of any river whatsoever。 Moreover
you have a great river hard by if he can be of any use to you；
but there is no fighting against Jove the son of Saturn； with
whom not even King Achelous can pare； nor the mighty stream of
deep…flowing Oceanus； from whom all rivers and seas with all
springs and deep wells proceed； even Oceanus fears the lightnings
of great Jove； and his thunder that es crashing out of
heaven。〃
With this he drew his bronze spear out of the bank； and now that
he had killed Asteropaeus； he let him lie where he was on the
sand； with the dark water flowing over him and the eels and
fishes busy nibbling and gnawing the fat that was about his
kidneys。 Then he went in chase of the Paeonians； who were flying
along the bank of the river in panic when they saw their leader
slain by the hands of the son of Peleus。 Therein he slew
Thersilochus； Mydon； Astypylus； Mnesus； Thrasius； Oeneus； and
Ophelestes； and he would have slain yet others； had not the river
in anger taken human form； and spoken to him from out the deep
waters saying； 〃Achilles； if you excel all in strength； so do you
also in wickedness； for the gods are ever with you to protect
you： if； then； the son of Saturn has vouchsafed it to you to
destroy all the Trojans； at any rate drive them out of my stream；
and do your grim work on land。 My fair waters are now filled with
corpses； nor can I find any channel by which I may pour myself
into the sea for I am choked with dead； and yet you go on
mercilessly slaying。 I am in despair； therefore； O captain of
your host； trouble me no further。〃
Achilles answered； 〃So be it； Scamander； Jove…descended； but I
will never cease dealing out death among the Trojans； till I have
pent them up in their city； and made trial of Hector face to
face； that I may learn whether he is to vanquish me； or I him。〃
As he spoke he set upon the Trojans with a fury like that of the
gods。 But the river said to Apollo； 〃Surely； son of Jove； lord of
the silver bow； you are not obeying the mands of Jove who
charged you straitly that you should stand by the Trojans and
defend them； till twilight fades； and darkness is over an the
earth。〃
Meanwhile Achilles sprang from the bank into mid…stream； whereon
the river raised a high wave and attacked him。 He swelled his
stream into a torrent； and swept away the many dead whom Achilles
had slain and left within his waters。 These he cast out on to the
land； bellowing like a bull the while； but the living he saved
alive； hiding them in his mighty eddies。 The great and terrible
wave gathered about Achilles； falling upon him and beating on his
shield； so that he could not keep his feet； he caught hold of a
great elm…tree； but it came up by the roots； and tore away the
bank； damming the