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Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

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<strong>Homer</strong>’s <strong>Iliad</strong><br />

the land of noble steeds to fight the Trojans under Achilles. Hector<br />

now struck him on the head with a stone just as he had caught hold<br />

of the body, and his brains inside his helmet were all battered in, so<br />

that he fell face foremost upon the body of Sarpedon, and there<br />

died. Patroclus was enraged <strong>by</strong> the death of his comrade, and sped<br />

through the front ranks as swiftly as a hawk that swoops down on a<br />

flock of daws or starlings. Even so swiftly, O noble knight<br />

Patroclus, did you make straight for the Lycians and Trojans to<br />

avenge your comrade. Forthwith he struck Sthenelaus the son of<br />

Ithaemenes on the neck with a stone, and broke the tendons that<br />

join it to the head and spine. On this Hector and the front rank of<br />

his men gave ground. As far as a man can throw a javelin when<br />

competing for some prize, or even in battle- so far did the Trojans<br />

now retreat before the Achaeans. Glaucus, captain of the Lycians,<br />

was the first to rally them, <strong>by</strong> killing Bathycles son of Chalcon who<br />

lived in Hellas and was the richest man among the Myrmidons.<br />

Glaucus turned round suddenly, just as Bathycles who was<br />

pursuing him was about to lay hold of him, and drove his spear<br />

right into the middle of his chest, whereon he fell heavily to the<br />

ground, and the fall of so good a man filled the Achaeans with<br />

dismay, while the Trojans were exultant, and came up in a body<br />

round the corpse. Nevertheless the Achaeans, mindful of their<br />

prowess, bore straight down upon them.<br />

Meriones then killed a helmed warrior of the Trojans, Laogonus<br />

son of Onetor, who was priest of Jove of Mt. Ida, and was honoured<br />

<strong>by</strong> the people as though he were a god. Meriones struck him under<br />

the jaw and ear, so that life went out of him and the darkness of<br />

death laid hold upon him. Aeneas then aimed a spear at Meriones,<br />

hoping to hit him under the shield as he was advancing, but<br />

323

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