Antilochus

“and he whetteth his tusks, eager to ward off dogs and men; even so IdomeneusIdId, famed for his spear, abode the oncoming of Aeneas to bear aid, and gave not ground, but called to his comrades, looking unto AscalaphusAsAs, AphareusApAp, and Deïpyrus, and MerionesMeMe, and AntilochusAnAn, masters of the war-cry;”

“Then AntilochusAnAn, biding his time, leapt upon Thoön, as he turned his back, and smote him with a thrust, and wholly severed the vein that runneth along the back continually until it reacheth the neck; this he severed wholly, and Thoön fell on his back in the dust, stretching out both his hands to his dear comrades.”

“who begrudged it the life of AntilochusAnAn. And the one part of the spear abode here, like a charred stake, in the shield of AntilochusAnAn, and half lay on the ground; and AdamasAdAd shrank back into the throng of his comrades, avoiding fate. But MerionesMeMe followed after him as he went and cast with his spear, and smote him midway between the privy parts and the navel, where most of all Ares is cruel to wretched mortals.”

“when once the famed Shaker of Earth had turned the battle. Aias verily was first, the son of Telamon. He smote HyrtiusHyHy, the son of Gyrtius, leader of the Mysians stalwart of heart; and AntilochusAnAn stripped the spoils from Phalces and Mermerus, and MerionesMeMe slew Morys and Hippotion,”

“So spake he, and they even of themselves were eager to ward off the foe, but they laid up his word in their hearts, and fenced in the ships with a hedge of bronze; and against them Zeus urged on the Trojans. Then MenelausMeMe, good at the war-cry, exhorted AntilochusAnAn: AntilochusAnAn, none other of the Achaeans is younger than thou,”

“from the warrior as he cast. Not in vain did he let fly his spear, but smote HicetaonHiHi's son, MelanippusMeMe, high of heart, as he was coming to the battle, upon the breast beside the nipple; and he fell with a thud, and darkness enfolded his eyes. And AntilochusAnAn sprang upon him, as a hound that darteth upon a wounded fawn,”

“a man's muscle is thickest; and round about the spear-point the sinews were rent apart; and darkness enfolded his eyes. Then of the sons of Nestor, the one, AntilochusAnAn, thrust at AtymniusAtAt with his sharp spear, and drave the spear of bronze through his flank; and he fell forward. But Maris, hard at hand,”

“and standing far apart. But those in the midst suffered woes by reason of the darkness and the war, and were sore distressed with the pitiless bronze, even all they that were chieftains. Howbeit two men that were famous warriors, even ThrasymedesThTh and AntilochusAnAn, had not yet learned that peerless Patroclus was dead, but deemed that,”

“and the sun shone forth upon them and all the battle was made plain to view. Then Aias spake unto MenelausMeMe, good at the war-cry: Look forth now, MenelausMeMe, nurtured of Zeus, if so be thou mayest have sight of AntilochusAnAn yet alive, son of great-souled Nestor, and bestir thou him to go with speed unto Achilles, wise of heart,”

“range everywhither over the throng of thy many comrades, if so be they niight have sight of Nestor's son yet alive. Him he marked full quickly on the left of the whole battle, heartening his comrades and urging them on to fight. And drawing nigh fair-haired MenelausMeMe spake to him, saying:”

“even Patroclus, and great longing for him is wrought for the Danaans. But do thou with speed run to the ships of the Achaeans and bear word unto Achilles, in hope that he may forthwith bring safe to his ship the corpse—the naked corpse; but his armour is held by Hector of the flashing helm. So spake he, and AntilochusAnAn had horror, as he heard that word.”

“So fought they like unto blazing fire, but AntilochusAnAn, swift of foot, came to bear tidings to Achilles. Him he found in front of his ships with upright horns, boding in his heart the thing that even now was brought to pass;”

“and ran forth around wise-hearted Achilles, and all beat their breasts with their hands, and the knees of each one were loosed be-neath her. And over against them AntilochusAnAn wailed and shed tears, holding the hands of Achilles, that in his noble heart was moaning mightily; for he feared lest he should cut his throat asunder with the knife.”

“her MenelausMeMe led beneath the yoke, and exceeding fain was she of the race. And fourth AntilochusAnAn made ready his fair-maned horses, he the peerless son of Nestor, the king high of heart, the son of NeleusNeNe; and bred at Pylos were the swift-footed horses that drew his car. And his father drew nigh and gave counsel”

“to him for his profit — a wise man to one that himself had knowledge. AntilochusAnAn, for all thou art young, yet have Zeus and Poseidon loved thee and taught thee all manner of horsemanship; wherefore to teach thee is no great need, for thou knowest well how to wheel about the turning-post; yet are thy horses slowest in the race: therefore I deem there will be sorry work for thee. The horses of the others are swifter, but the men know not how to devise more cunning counsel than thine own self. Wherefore come, dear son, lay thou up in thy mind cunning of every sort, to the end that the prizes escape thee not.”

“when he had told his son the sum of every matter. And fifth MerionesMeMe made ready his fair-maned horses. Then they mounted their cars, and cast in the lots; and Achilles shook them, and forth leapt the lot of Nestor's son, AntilochusAnAn; after him had the lord EumelusEuEu a place,”

“put strength in his horses and gave glory to himself. And after him drave the son of Atreus, fair-haired MenelausMeMe. But AntilochusAnAn called to the horses of his father: Go in now, ye twain as well; strain to your utmost speed. With yon steeds verily I nowise bid you strive,”

“and this will I myself contrive and plan, that we slip past them in the narrow way; it shall not escape me. So spake he, and they, seized with fear at the rebuke of their master, ran swiftlier on for a little time, and then quickly did AntilochusAnAn, staunch in fight, espy a narrow place in the hollow road.”

“lest haply the single-hooved horses should clash together in the track, and overturn the well-plaited cars, and themselves be hurled in the dust in their eager haste for victory. Then fair-haired MenelausMeMe chid AntilochusAnAn, and said: AntilochusAnAn, than thou is none other of mortals more malicious.”

“and leaned the goad against the yoke. Neither did mighty Sthenelus anywise tarry, but speedily took the prize, and gave to his comrades, high of heart, the woman and the eared tripod to bear away; and himself loosed the horses from beneath the yoke. And next after him AntilochusAnAn of the stock of NeleusNeNe drave his horses,”

“for it runneth close behind, and but scant space is there between, as he courseth over the wide plain—even by so much was MenelausMeMe behind peerless AntilochusAnAn, though at the first he was behind far as a man hurleth the discus; howbeit quickly was he overtaking AntilochusAnAn, for the goodly mettle”

“And now would he have given him the mare —for the Achaeans assented thereto —but that AntilochusAnAn, son of great-souled Nestor, uprose and answered Achilles, son of Peleus, to claim his due: Achilles, sore wroth shall I be with thee if thou fulfill this word, for thou art minded to rob me of my prize,”

“and placed it in EumelusEuEu' hands and he received it gladly. Then among them uprose also MenelausMeMe, sore vexed at heart, furiously wroth at AntilochusAnAn; and a herald gave the staff into his hand, and proclaimed silence among the Argives; and thereafter spake among them the godlike man:”

“that not of thine own will didst thou hinder my chariot by guile. Then in turn wise AntilochusAnAn answered him: Bear with me, now, for far younger am I than thou, king MenelausMeMe, and thou art the elder and the better man. Thou knowest of what sort are the transgressions of a man that he is young,”

“and Odysseus of many wiles, and after them AntilochusAnAn, Nestor's son, for he surpassed all the youths in swiftness of foot. Then took they their places in a row, and Achilles showed them the goal, and a course was marked out for them from the turning-point. Then speedily the son of Oïleus forged to the front, and close after him sped goodly Odysseus;”

“Then AntilochusAnAn bare away the last prize, smiling the while, and spake among the Argives, saying: Among you all that know it well, will I declare, my friends, that even to this day the immortals shew honour to older men. For Aias is but a little older than I,”