Page:Homer - Iliad, translation Pope, 1909.djvu/243

214—262 Before his wary steps, his ample shield.

Bold Merion aimed a stroke, nor aimed it wide;

The glittering javelin pierced the tough bull-hide,

But pierced not through: unfaithful to his hand,

The point broke short, and sparkled in the sand.

The Trojan warrior, touched with timely fear,

On the raised orb to distance bore the spear:

The Greek retreating mourned his frustrate blow,

And cursed the treacherous lance that spared a foe;

Then to the ships with surly speed he went,

To seek a surer javelin in his tent.

Meanwhile with rising rage the battle glows,

The tumult thickens, and the clamour grows.

By Teucer's arm the warlike Imbrius bleeds,

The son of Mentor, rich in generous steeds.

Ere yet to Troy the sons of Greece were led,

In fair Pedæus' verdant pastures bred,

The youth had dwelt; remote from war's alarms,

And blessed in bright Medesicaste's arms:

This nymph, the fruit of Priam's ravished joy,

Allied the warrior to the house of Troy.

To Troy, when glory called his arms, he came,

And matched the bravest of her chiefs in fame:

With Priam's sons, a guardian of the throne,

He lived, beloved and honoured as his own.

Him Teucer pierced between the throat and ear,

He groans beneath the Telamonian spear.

As from some far-seen mountain's airy crown,

Subdued by steel, a tall ash tumbles down,

And soils its verdant tresses on the ground:

So falls the youth; his arms the fall resound.

Then, Teucer rushing to despoil the dead,

From Hector's hand a shining javelin fled:

He saw, and shunned the death; the forceful dart

Sung on, and pierced Amphimachus's heart,

Cteatus' son, of Neptune's forceful line;

Vain was his courage, and his race divine!

Prostrate he falls; his clanging arms resound,

And his broad buckler thunders on the ground.

To seize his beamy helm the victor flies,

And just had fastened on the dazzling prize,

When Ajax' manly arm a javelin flung;

Full on the shield's round boss the weapon rung;

He felt the shock, nor more was doomed to feel,

Secure in mail, and sheathed in shining steel.

Repulsed he yields; the victor Greeks obtain

The spoils contested, and bear off the slain.

Between the leaders of the Athenian line,

Stichius the brave, Menestheus the divine,