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roads； and the gusts raise it into a thick cloudeven such was
the fury of the bat； and might and main did they hack at each
other with spear and sword throughout the host。 The field
bristled with the long and deadly spears which they bore。
Dazzling was the sheen of their gleaming helmets； their
fresh…burnished breastplates； and glittering shields as they
joined battle with one another。 Iron indeed must be his courage
who could take pleasure in the sight of such a turmoil； and look
on it without being dismayed。
Thus did the two mighty sons of Saturn devise evil for mortal
heroes。 Jove was minded to give victory to the Trojans and to
Hector； so as to do honour to fleet Achilles； nevertheless he did
not mean to utterly overthrow the Achaean host before Ilius； and
only wanted to glorify Thetis and her valiant son。 Neptune on the
other hand went about among the Argives to incite them； having
e up from the grey sea in secret； for he was grieved at seeing
them vanquished by the Trojans； and was furiously angry with
Jove。 Both were of the same race and country； but Jove was elder
born and knew more； therefore Neptune feared to defend the
Argives openly； but in the likeness of man； he kept on
encouraging them throughout their host。 Thus； then； did these two
devise a knot of war and battle； that none could unloose or
break； and set both sides tugging at it； to the failing of men's
knees beneath them。
And now Idomeneus； though his hair was already flecked with grey；
called loud on the Danaans and spread panic among the Trojans as
he leaped in among them。 He slew Othryoneus from Cabesus； a
sojourner； who had but lately e to take part in the war。 He
sought Cassandra； the fairest of Priam's daughters； in marriage；
but offered no gifts of wooing； for he promised a great thing； to
wit； that he would drive the sons of the Achaeans willy nilly
from Troy； old King Priam had given his consent and promised her
to him； whereon he fought on the strength of the promises thus
made to him。 Idomeneus aimed a spear； and hit him as he came
striding on。 His cuirass of bronze did not protect him； and the
spear stuck in his belly； so that he fell heavily to the ground。
Then Idomeneus vaunted over him saying； 〃Othryoneus； there is no
one in the world whom I shall admire more than I do you； if you
indeed perform what you have promised Priam son of Dardanus in
return for his daughter。 We too will make you an offer； we will
give you the loveliest daughter of the son of Atreus； and will
bring her from Argos for you to marry； if you will sack the
goodly city of Ilius in pany with ourselves； so e along
with me； that we may make a covenant at the ships about the
marriage； and we will not be hard upon you about gifts of
wooing。〃
With this Idomeneus began dragging him by the foot through the
thick of the fight； but Asius came up to protect the body； on
foot； in front of his horses which his esquire drove so close
behind him that he could feel their breath upon his shoulder。 He
was longing to strike down Idomeneus； but ere he could do so
Idomeneus smote him with his spear in the throat under the chin；
and the bronze point went clean through it。 He fell as an oak； or
poplar； or pine which shipwrights have felled for ship's timber
upon the mountains with whetted axeseven thus did he lie full
length in front of his chariot and horses； grinding his teeth and
clutching at the bloodstained dust。 His charioteer was struck
with panic and did not dare turn his horses round and escape：
thereupon Antilochus hit him in the middle of his body with a
spear； his cuirass of bronze did not protect him； and the spear
stuck in his belly。 He fell gasping from his chariot and
Antilochus； great Nestor's son； drove his horses from the Trojans
to the Achaeans。
Deiphobus then came close up to Idomeneus to avenge Asius； and
took aim at him with a spear； but Idomeneus was on the look…out
and avoided it； for he was covered by the round shield he always
borea shield of oxhide and bronze with two arm…rods on the
inside。 He crouched under cover of this； and the spear flew over
him； but the shield rang out as the spear grazed it； and the
weapon sped not in vain from the strong hand of Deiphobus； for it
struck Hypsenor son of Hippasus； shepherd of his people； in the
liver under the midriff； and his limbs failed beneath him。
Deiphobus vaunted over him and cried with a loud voice saying；
〃Of a truth Asius has not fallen unavenged； he will be glad even
while passing into the house of Hades； strong warden of the gate；
that I have sent some one to escort him。〃
Thus did he vaunt； and the Argives were stung by his saying。
Noble Antilochus was more angry than any one； but grief did not
make him forget his friend and rade。 He ran up to him；
bestrode him； and covered him with his shield； then two of his
staunch rades； Mecisteus son of Echius； and Alastor； stooped
down； and bore him away groaning heavily to the ships。 But
Idomeneus ceased not his fury。 He kept on striving continually
either to enshroud some Trojan in the darkness of death； or
himself to fall while warding off the evil day from the Achaeans。
Then fell Alcathous son of noble Aesyetes； he was son…in…law to
Anchises； having married his eldest daughter Hippodameia； who was
the darling of her father and mother； and excelled all her
generation in beauty； acplishments； and understanding；
wherefore the bravest man in all Troy had taken her to wifehim
did Neptune lay low by the hand of Idomeneus； blinding his bright
eyes and binding his strong limbs in fetters so that he could
neither go back nor to one side； but stood stock still like
pillar or lofty tree when Idomeneus struck him with a spear in
the middle of his chest。 The coat of mail that had hitherto
protected his body was now broken； and rang harshly as the spear
tore through it。 He fell heavily to the ground； and the spear
stuck in his heart； which still beat； and made the butt…end of
the spear quiver till dread Mars put an end to his life。
Idomeneus vaunted over him and cried with a loud voice saying；
〃Deiphobus； since you are in a mood to vaunt； shall we cry quits
now that we have kille