Page 303 - the-iliad

arrows on the Trojans, and hit Cleitus the son of Pisenor,
comrade of Polydamas the noble son of Panthous, with the
reins in his hands as he was attending to his horses; he was
in the middle of the very thickest part of the fight, doing
good service to Hector and the Trojans, but evil had now
come upon him, and not one of those who were fain to do
so could avert it, for the arrow struck him on the back of
the neck. He fell from his chariot and his horses shook the
empty car as they swerved aside. King Polydamas saw what
had happened, and was the first to come up to the horses;
he gave them in charge to Astynous son of Protiaon, and
ordered him to look on, and to keep the horses near at hand.
He then went back and took his place in the front ranks.
Teucer then aimed another arrow at Hector, and there
would have been no more fighting at the ships if he had hit
him and killed him then and there: Jove, however, who kept
watch over Hector, had his eyes on Teucer, and deprived
him of his triumph, by breaking his bowstring for him just
as he was drawing it and about to take his aim; on this the
arrow went astray and the bow fell from his hands. Teuc-
er shook with anger and said to his brother, ‘Alas, see how
heaven thwarts us in all we do; it has broken my bowstring
and snatched the bow from my hand, though I strung it this
selfsame morning that it might serve me for many an ar-
row.’
Ajax son of Telamon answered, ‘My good fellow, let your
bow and your arrows be, for Jove has made them useless in
order to spite the Danaans. Take your spear, lay your shield
upon your shoulder, and both fight the Trojans yourself and

0 The Iliad