Page 307 - the-iliad

tilochus on. ‘Antilochus,’ said he, ‘you are young and there
is none of the Achaeans more fleet of foot or more valiant
than you are. See if you cannot spring upon some Trojan
and kill him.’
He hurried away when he had thus spurred Antilochus,
who at once darted out from the front ranks and aimed a
spear, after looking carefully round him. The Trojans fell
back as he threw, and the dart did not speed from his hand
without effect, for it struck Melanippus the proud son of
Hiketaon in the breast by the nipple as he was coming for-
ward, and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell
heavily to the ground. Antilochus sprang upon him as a dog
springs on a fawn which a hunter has hit as it was breaking
away from its covert, and killed it. Even so, O Melanippus,
did stalwart Antilochus spring upon you to strip you of your
armour; but noble Hector marked him, and came running
up to him through the thick of the battle. Antilochus, brave
soldier though he was, would not stay to face him, but fled
like some savage creature which knows it has done wrong,
and flies, when it has killed a dog or a man who is herding
his cattle, before a body of men can be gathered to attack it.
Even so did the son of Nestor fly, and the Trojans and Hec-
tor with a cry that rent the air showered their weapons after
him; nor did he turn round and stay his flight till he had
reached his comrades.
The Trojans, fierce as lions, were still rushing on towards
the ships in fulfilment of the behests of Jove who kept spur-
ring them on to new deeds of daring, while he deadened
the courage of the Argives and defeated them by encourag-

0 The Iliad