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Homer’s Iliad
BOOK VI
The fight between Trojans and Achaeans was now left to rage as it
would, and the tide of war surged hither and thither over the plain
as they aimed their bronze-shod spears at one another between the
streams of Simois and Xanthus.
First, Ajax son of Telamon, tower of strength to the Achaeans, broke
a phalanx of the Trojans, and came to the assistance of his comrades
by killing Acamas son of Eussorus, the best man among the
Thracians, being both brave and of great stature. The spear struck
the projecting peak of his helmet: its bronze point then went
through his forehead into the brain, and darkness veiled his eyes.
Then Diomed killed Axylus son of Teuthranus, a rich man who
lived in the strong city of Arisbe, and was beloved by all men; for
he had a house by the roadside, and entertained every one who
passed; howbeit not one of his guests stood before him to save his
life, and Diomed killed both him and his squire Calesius, who was
then his charioteer- so the pair passed beneath the earth.
Euryalus killed Dresus and Opheltius, and then went in pursuit of
Aesepus and Pedasus, whom the naiad nymph Abarbarea had
borne to noble Bucolion. Bucolion was eldest son to Laomedon,
but he was a bastard. While tending his sheep he had converse
with the nymph, and she conceived twin sons; these the son of
Mecisteus now slew, and he stripped the armour from their
shoulders. Polypoetes then killed Astyalus, Ulysses Pidytes of
Percote, and Teucer Aretaon. Ablerus fell by the spear of Nestor’s
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