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BOOK THE SIXTH.

 

ARGUMENT.

The gods having left the field, victory now inclines to the side of the Greeks, and Helenus counsels Hector to order a public supplication to Minerva in the citadel. While Hector is gone to the city for that purpose, Diomede and Glaucus recognizes the friendship which had formerly existed between their fathers, and exchange armor in token of amity. Hecuba and the Trojan matrons present a robe to Minerva, and offer up prayers for their country. Hector reproves Paris, and brings him back to the field, having first taken an affecting farewell of his wife and child.

And now the dreadful battle of the Trojans and the Greeks was abandoned. Often here and there the battle raged through the plain, [the combatants] directing against each other their brass-tipped spears, between the rivers of Simois and Xanthus.

First Telamonian Ajax, the bulwark of the Greeks, broke through the phalanx of the Trojans, and gave light^[1] to his companions, smiting the good and mighty hero Acamas, son of Eyssorus, who was the bravest among the Thracians. First he struck him on the ridge of the horse-haired helmet; and the brazen spear fixed itself in his forehead, and passed on within the bone; but darkness vailed his eyes.

But Diomede, brave in the din of war, slew Axylus, the son of Teuthras, who dwelt in well-built Arisba, rich in wealth, and he was beloved by men, for dwelling in a house near the public way, he was wont to afford entertainment to all. But none of them [his guests] coming up before him, warded off sad death; but [Diomede] deprived both of life,

1. i. e., the light of hope. Cf. Virg. Æn. ii. 281: O lux Dardaniæ, spes ô fidissima Teucrûm." Quintus Calab. iii. 561. Ἐπεὶ σύ μοι ἱερὸν ἦμαρ, καὶ φάος ἡελίοιο πέλες.