Meriones

“and bid him arise, if so be he will be minded to go to the sacred company of the sentinels and give them charge. To him would they hearken as to no other, for his son is captain over the guard, he and MerionesMeMe, comrade of IdomeneusIdId; for to them above all we entrusted this charge.”

“the kings of the Argives, even all that had been called to the council. But with them went MerionesMeMe and the glorious son of Nestor; for of themselves they bade these share in their counsel. So they went through and out from the digged ditch and sate them down in an open space, where the ground shewed clear of dead men fallen,”

“how profit may be had; whereas if one alone perceive aught, yet is his wit the shorter, and but slender his device. So spake he, and many there were that were fain to follow Diomedes. Fain were the two Aiantes, squires of Ares, fain was MerionesMeMe, and right fain the son of Nestor,”

“And MerionesMeMe gave to Odysseus a bow and a quiver and a sword, and about his head he set a helm wrought of hide, and with many a tight-stretched thong was it made stiff within, while without the white teeth of a boar of gleaming tusks were set thick on this side and that,”

“lightly passing among them, aroused their strong battalions. To TeucerTeTe first he came and to Leïtus, to bid them on, and to the warrior PeneleosPePe, and Thoas and Deïpyrus, and MerionesMeMe and AntilochusAnAn, masters of the war-cry; to these he spake, spurring them on with winged words:”

“So saying, he aroused the strength and spirit of every man. Then among them with high heart strode Deïphobus, son of Priam, and before him he held his shield that was well-balanced upon every side, stepping forward lightly on his feet and advancing under cover of his shield. And MerionesMeMe aimed at him with his bright spear,”

“even so shone the bronze about his breast as he ran. And MerionesMeMe, his valiant squire, met him, while yet he was near the hut; for he was on his way to fetch him a spear of bronze; and mighty IdomeneusIdId spake to him: MerionesMeMe, MolusMoMo' son, swift of foot, thou dearest of my comrades,”

“IdomeneusIdId, counsellor of the brazen-coated Cretans, I am on my way to fetch a spear, if perchance thou hast one left in the huts; for the one that I bare of old have I shattered, as I cast at the shield of the overweening Deïphobus. And to him IdomeneusIdId, leader of the Cretans, made answer:”

“but I take my stand amid the foremost in battle, where men win glory, whenso the strife of war ariseth. Some other of the brazen-coated Achaeans might sooner be unaware of my fighting, but thou methinks of thine own self knowest it well. And to him IdomeneusIdId, leader of the Cretans, made answer:”

“So spake he, and MerionesMeMe, the peer of swift Ares, speedily took from the hut a spear of bronze, and followed IdomeneusIdId with high thought of battle. And even as Ares, the bane of mortals, goeth forth to war, and with him followeth Rout, his son, valiant alike and fearless,”

“would he give way, in close fight at least; but in fleetness of foot may no man vie with Achilles. But for us twain, do thou, even as thou sayest,make for the left of the host, that we may know forthwith whether we shall give glory to another or another to us. So spake he, and MerionesMeMe, the peer of swift Ares, led the way until they came to the host, at the point whither IdomeneusIdId bade him go.”

“Now when the Trojans had sight of IdomeneusIdId, in might as it were a flame, himself and his squire clad in armour richly dight, they called one to another through the throng, and all made at him; and by the sterns of the ships arose a strife of men clashing together. And as gusts come thick and fast when shrill winds are blowing,”

“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;”

“where also were the other immortal gods, being held aloof from the war. Then over AscalaphusAsAs they clashed in close fight, and Deïphobus tore from AscalaphusAsAs his shining helm, but MerionesMeMe, the peer of swift Ares, leapt upon Deïphobus and smote his arm with his spear,”

“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.”

“But as he drew back, MerionesMeMe let fly at him a bronze-tipped arrow, and smote him on the right buttock, and the arrow passed clean through even to the bladder beneath the bone. And sitting down where he was in the arms of his dear comrades he breathed forth his life, and lay stretched out like a worm on the earth;”

“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 readily hearkened and obeyed. They that were in the company of Aias and prince IdomeneusIdId, and TeucerTeTe, and MerionesMeMe, and MegesMeMe, the peer of Ares, called to the chieftains, and marshalled the fight, fronting Hector and the Trojans,”

“but PeneleosPePe smote him upon the neck beneath the ear, and all the blade sank in, so that naught but the skin held fast, and the head hung to one side, and his limbs were loosed. And MerionesMeMe with swift strides overtook AcamasAcAc, and thrust and smote him, even as he was mounting his car, upon the right shoulder; and he fell from his car and down over his eyes a mist was shed.”

“for that a good man was fallen; but mightily did the Trojans rejoice. And they came in throngs and took their stand about him, nor did the Achaeans forget their valour, but bare their might straight toward the foe. Then MerionesMeMe slew a warrior of the Trojans, in full armour, LaogonusLaLa, the bold son of OnetorOnOn,”

“one that was priest of Idaean Zeus, and was honoured of the folk even as a god: him he smote beneath the jaw under the ear, and forthwith his spirit departed from his limbs, and hateful darkness gat hold of hinu. And Aeneas cast at MerionesMeMe his spear of bronze, for he hoped to smite him as he advanced under cover of his shield.”

“shouldst thou yield glory to me, and thy soul to Hades of the goodly steeds. So spake he, but the valiant son of MenoetiusMeMe rebuked him, saying: MerionesMeMe, wherefore dost thou, that art a man of valour, speak on this wise? Good friend, it is not for words of reviling that the Trojans will give ground from the corpse; ere that shall the earth hold many a one.”

“Patroclus should become the sport of the dogs of Troy. So spake he, and swift Aias, son of Oileus, heard him clearly, and was first to come running to meet him amid the battle, and after him IdomeneusIdId and IdomeneusIdId' comrade, MerionesMeMe, the peer of Enyalius, slayer of men.”

“howbeit he smote CoeranusCoCo the comrade and charioteer of MerionesMeMe that followed him from out of well-built Lyctus—for on foot had IdomeneusIdId come at the first from the curved ships, and would have yielded great victory to the Trojans, had not CoeranusCoCo speedily driven up the swift-footed horses.”

“even so from Patroclus departed MenelausMeMe, good at the war-cry, sorely against his will; for exceedingly did he fear lest the Achaeans in sorry rout should leave him to be a prey to the foemen. And many a charge laid he on MerionesMeMe and the Aiantes, saying: Ye Aiantes twain, leaders of the Argives, and thou, MerionesMeMe,”

“Then great Telamonian Aias answered him: All this hast thou spoken aright, most glorious MenelausMeMe. But do thou and MerionesMeMe stoop with all speed beneath the corpse, and raise him up, and bear him forth from out the toil of war; but behind you we twain will do battle with the Trojans and goodly Hector,”

“Thus the twain were hasting to bear the corpse forth from out the battle to the hollow ships, and against them was strained a conflict fierce as fire that, rushing upon a city of men with sudden onset, setteth it aflame, and houses fall amid the mighty glare, and the might of the wind driveth it roaring on.”

“for the summons is this: Ill shall it be for him whoso is left at the ships of the Argives. Nay, setting out in one throng let us rouse keen battle against the horse-taming Trojans. He spake, and took to him the sons of glorious Nestor, and MegesMeMe, son of PhyleusPhPh, and Thoas and MerionesMeMe and LycomedesLyLy,”

“while yet they wailed around the piteous corpse. But the lord Agamemnon sent forth mules and men from all sides from out the huts to fetch wood and a man of valour watched thereover, even MerionesMeMe, squire of kindly IdomeneusIdId. And they went forth bearing in their hands axes for the cutting of wood”

“Then the Achaeans split the trunks asunder and bound them behind the mules, and these tore up the earth with their feet as they hasted toward the plain through the thick underbrush. And all the woodcutters bare logs; for so were they bidden of MerionesMeMe, squire of kindly IdomeneusIdId.”

“of the mare of Agamemnon, fair-maned Aethe, waxed ever higher. And if the course had been yet longer for the twain, then had he passed him by, neither left the issue in doubt. But MerionesMeMe, valiant squire of IdomeneusIdId, was a spear-cast behind glorious MenelausMeMe,”

“and will give unto thee the mare, for all she is mine own, to the end that these too may know that my heart is never over-haughty neither unbending. He spake, and gave the mare unto Nosmon, the comrade of AntilochusAnAn, to lead away, and himself thereafter took the shining cauldron. And MerionesMeMe took up the two talents of gold in the fourth place,”

“and MerionesMeMe the valiant squire of IdomeneusIdId. Then took they the lots and shook them in a helmet of bronze, and TeucerTeTe drew by lot the first place. Forthwith he let fly an arrow with might, howbeit he vowed not that he would sacrifice to the king a glorious hecatomb of firstling lambs.”

“Swiftly the life fled from her limbs, and she fell far from the mast; and the people gazed thereon and were seized with wonder. And MerionesMeMe took up all ten double axes, and TeucerTeTe bare the single to the hollow ships. Then the son of Peleus brought and set in the place of gathering a far-shadowing spear”