Page 361 - the-iliad

neus son of Deucalion as he was standing on his chariot,
and very narrowly missed him, but the spear hit Coiranus,
a follower and charioteer of Meriones who had come with
him from Lyctus. Idomeneus had left the ships on foot and
would have afforded a great triumph to the Trojans if Coira-
nus had not driven quickly up to him, he therefore brought
life and rescue to Idomeneus, but himself fell by the hand
of murderous Hector. For Hector hit him on the jaw under
the ear; the end of the spear drove out his teeth and cut his
tongue in two pieces, so that he fell from his chariot and
let the reins fall to the ground. Meriones gathered them up
from the ground and took them into his own hands, then
he said to Idomeneus, ‘Lay on, till you get back to the ships,
for you must see that the day is no longer ours.’
On this Idomeneus lashed the horses to the ships, for
fear had taken hold upon him.
Ajax and Menelaus noted how Jove had turned the scale
in favour of the Trojans, and Ajax was first to speak. ‘Alas,’
said he, ‘even a fool may see that father Jove is helping the
Trojans. All their weapons strike home; no matter whether
it be a brave man or a coward that hurls them, Jove speeds
all alike, whereas ours fall each one of them without effect.
What, then, will be best both as regards rescuing the body,
and our return to the joy of our friends who will be griev-
ing as they look hitherwards; for they will make sure that
nothing can now check the terrible hands of Hector, and
that he will fling himself upon our ships. I wish that some
one would go and tell the son of Peleus at once, for I do not
think he can have yet heard the sad news that the dearest

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