Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
friends,” he cried, “be men, and fear dishonour; quit yourselves in
battle so as to win respect from one another. Men who respect each
other’s good opinion are less likely to be killed than those who do
not, but in flight there is neither gain nor glory.”
Thus did he exhort men who were already bent upon driving back
the Trojans. They laid his words to heart and hedged the ships as
with a wall of bronze, while Jove urged on the Trojans. Menelaus of
the loud battle-cry urged Antilochus on. “Antilochus,” said he,
“you are young and there is none of the Achaeans more fleet of foot
or more valiant than you are. See if you cannot spring upon some
Trojan and kill him.”
He hurried away when he had thus spurred Antilochus, who at
once darted out from the front ranks and aimed a spear, after
looking carefully round him. The Trojans fell back as he threw, and
the dart did not speed from his hand without effect, for it struck
Melanippus the proud son of Hiketaon in the breast by the nipple
as he was coming forward, and his armour rang rattling round him
as he fell heavily to the ground. Antilochus sprang upon him as a
dog springs on a fawn which a hunter has hit as it was breaking
away from its covert, and killed it. Even so, O Melanippus, did
stalwart Antilochus spring upon you to strip you of your armour;
but noble Hector marked him, and came running up to him
through the thick of the battle. Antilochus, brave soldier though he
was, would not stay to face him, but fled like some savage creature
which knows it has done wrong, and flies, when it has killed a dog
or a man who is herding his cattle, before a body of men can be
gathered to attack it. Even so did the son of Nestor fly, and the
Trojans and Hector with a cry that rent the air showered their
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