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dazed fawns； bound their hands behind them with the girdles of
their own shirts； and gave them over to his men to take back to
the ships。 Then he sprang into the river； thirsting for still
further blood。
There he found Lycaon； son of Priam seed of Dardanus； as he was
escaping out of the water； he it was whom he had once taken
prisoner when he was in his father's vineyard； having set upon
him by night； as he was cutting young shoots from a wild fig…tree
to make the wicker sides of a chariot。 Achilles then caught him
to his sorrow unawares； and sent him by sea to Lemnos； where the
son of Jason bought him。 But a guest…friend； Eetion of Imbros；
freed him with a great sum； and sent him to Arisbe； whence he had
escaped and returned to his father's house。 He had spent eleven
days happily with his friends after he had e from Lemnos； but
on the twelfth heaven again delivered him into the hands of
Achilles； who was to send him to the house of Hades sorely
against his will。 He was unarmed when Achilles caught sight of
him； and had neither helmet nor shield； nor yet had he any spear；
for he had thrown all his armour from him on to the bank； and was
sweating with his struggles to get out of the river； so that his
strength was now failing him。
Then Achilles said to himself in his surprise； 〃What marvel do I
see here？ If this man can e back alive after having been sold
over into Lemnos； I shall have the Trojans also whom I have slain
rising from the world below。 Could not even the waters of the
grey sea imprison him； as they do many another whether he will or
no？ This time let him taste my spear； that I may know for certain
whether mother earth who can keep even a strong man down； will be
able to hold him； or whether thence too he will return。〃
Thus did he pause and ponder。 But Lycaon came up to him dazed and
trying hard to embrace his knees； for he would fain live； not
die。 Achilles thrust at him with his spear； meaning to kill him；
but Lycaon ran crouching up to him and caught his knees； whereby
the spear passed over his back； and stuck in the ground；
hungering though it was for blood。 With one hand he caught
Achilles' knees as he besought him； and with the other he
clutched the spear and would not let it go。 Then he said；
〃Achilles； have mercy upon me and spare me； for I am your
suppliant。 It was in your tents that I first broke bread on the
day when you took me prisoner in the vineyard； after which you
sold me away to Lemnos far from my father and my friends； and I
brought you the price of a hundred oxen。 I have paid three times
as much to gain my freedom； it is but twelve days that I have
e to Ilius after much suffering； and now cruel fate has again
thrown me into your hands。 Surely father Jove must hate me； that
he has given me over to you a second time。 Short of life indeed
did my mother Laothoe bear me； daughter of aged Altesof Altes
who reigns over the warlike Lelegae and holds steep Pedasus on
the river Satnioeis。 Priam married his daughter along with many
other women and two sons were born of her； both of whom you will
have slain。 Your spear slew noble Polydorus as he was fighting in
the front ranks； and now evil will here befall me； for I fear
that I shall not escape you since heaven has delivered me over to
you。 Furthermore I say； and lay my saying to your heart； spare
me； for I am not of the same womb as Hector who slew your brave
and noble rade。〃
With such words did the princely son of Priam beseech Achilles；
but Achilles answered him sternly。 〃Idiot；〃 said he； 〃talk not to
me of ransom。 Until Patroclus fell I preferred to give the
Trojans quarter； and sold beyond the sea many of those whom I had
taken alive； but now not a man shall live of those whom heaven
delivers into my hands before the city of Iliusand of all
Trojans it shall fare hardest with the sons of Priam。 Therefore；
my friend； you too shall die。 Why should you whine in this way？
Patroclus fell； and he was a better man than you are。 I toosee
you not how I am great and goodly？ I am son to a noble father；
and have a goddess for my mother； but the hands of doom and death
overshadow me all as surely。 The day will e； either at dawn or
dark； or at the noontide； when one shall take my life also in
battle； either with his spear； or with an arrow sped from his
bow。〃
Thus did he speak； and Lycaon's heart sank within him。 He loosed
his hold of the spear； and held out both hands before him； but
Achilles drew his keen blade； and struck him by the collar…bone
on his neck； he plunged his two…edged sword into him to the very
hilt； whereon he lay at full length on the ground； with the dark
blood welling from him till the earth was soaked。 Then Achilles
caught him by the foot and flung him into the river to go down
stream； vaunting over him the while； and saying； 〃Lie there among
the fishes； who will lick the blood from your wound and gloat
over it； your mother shall not lay you on any bier to mourn you；
but the eddies of Scamander shall bear you into the broad bosom
of the sea。 There shall the fishes feed on the fat of Lycaon as
they dart under the dark ripple of the watersso perish all of
you till we reach the citadel of strong Iliusyou in flight； and
I following after to destroy you。 The river with its broad silver
stream shall serve you in no stead； for all the bulls you offered
him and all the horses that you flung living into his waters。
None the less miserably shall you perish till there is not a man
of you but has paid in full for the death of Patroclus and the
havoc you wrought among the Achaeans whom you have slain while I
held aloof from battle。〃
So spoke Achilles； but the river grew more and more angry； and
pondered within himself how he should stay the hand of Achilles
and save the Trojans from disaster。 Meanwhile the son of Peleus；
spear in hand； sprang upon Asteropaeus son of Pelegon to kill
him。 He was son to the broad river Axius and Periboea eldest
daughter of Acessamenus； for the river had lain with her。
Asteropaeus stood up out of the water to face him with a spear in
either hand； and Xanthus filled him with courage； being angry for
the death of the you