Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/101

Rh That so the steel might bootless glance aside.

And, if one saw foe's eye peer o'er the targe,

Aye thrust he, fain to overreach his fence.

Yet cunningly through eyelets of their shields

They glanced, that nought awhile the spear achieved,

While more from all beholders trickled sweat,

Of fear for friends, than from the champions' selves.

But Eteokles, spurning aside a stone

That rolled beneath his tread, without his shield

Showed glimpse of fenceless limb. Polyneikes lunged,

Marking the stroke so offered to the steel;

And through the shank clear passed the Argive lance.

Loud cheered the whole array of Danaus' sons.

But his foe's shoulder by that effort bared

The stricken marked, and Polyneikes' breast

Pierced with a strong spear-thrust, and gave back joy

To Kadmus' folk; yet brake his spear-head short.

So, his lance lost, back fell he step by step,

Caught up a rugged rock, and sped its flight,

Snapping his foe's spear thwart. Now was the fray

Equal, since either's hand was spear-bereft.

Thereupon snatched they at their falchion- hilts,

Closed, clashing shields, and, traversing to and fro,

Made rage the stormy clangour of the fight.

But, having learnt it visiting their land,

Eteokles used that feint Thessalian:

For, from the instant grapple springing clear,

Back on his left foot, backward still, he sinks,

Watching the while the belly of his foe.

Then, with a right-foot rush, through the navel plunged

His sword, and 'twixt the spine-bones wedged the point.

Then, ribs and belly inarched in anguish-throe,

Down-raining blood-gouts, Polyneikes falls.