Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
BOOK XXI
Now when they came to the ford of the full-flowing river Xanthus,
begotten of immortal Jove, Achilles cut their forces in two: one half
he chased over the plain towards the city by the same way that the
Achaeans had taken when flying panic-stricken on the preceding
day with Hector in full triumph; this way did they fly pell-mell,
and Juno sent down a thick mist in front of them to stay them. The
other half were hemmed in by the deep silver-eddying stream, and
fell into it with a great uproar. The waters resounded, and the
banks rang again, as they swam hither and thither with loud cries
amid the whirling eddies. As locusts flying to a river before the
blast of a grass fire- the flame comes on and on till at last it
overtakes them and they huddle into the water- even so was the
eddying stream of Xanthus filled with the uproar of men and
horses, all struggling in confusion before Achilles.
Forthwith the hero left his spear upon the bank, leaning it against a
tamarisk bush, and plunged into the river like a god, armed with
his sword only. Fell was his purpose as he hewed the Trojans down
on every side. Their dying groans rose hideous as the sword smote
them, and the river ran red with blood. As when fish fly scared
before a huge dolphin, and fill every nook and corner of some fair
haven- for he is sure to eat all he can catch- even so did the Trojans
cower under the banks of the mighty river, and when Achilles’ arms
grew weary with killing them, he drew twelve youths alive out of
the water, to sacrifice in revenge for Patroclus son of Menoetius. He
drew them out like dazed fawns, bound their hands behind them
with the girdles of their own shirts, and gave them over to his men
407