lifeless. Teucer all the while, As hides a child behind his mother’s robe, Sheltered himself by Ajax, whose great shield Concealed the chief from sight. What Trojan first Did faithful Teucer slay? Orsilochus, Daetor, and Ophelestes, Ormenus, Chromius, and Lycophontes nobly born, And Hamopaon, Polyremon’s son, And Melanippus—one by one the shafts Of Teucer stretched them on their mother earth. Then Agamemnon, king of men, rejoiced As he beheld him, with his sturdy bow, Breaking the serried phalanxes of Troy; And came, and, standing near, bespake him thus:—
“Beloved Teucer! Son of Telamon, Prince of the people! Ever be thy shafts Aimed thus, and thou shalt be the light and pride Of Greece, and of thy father Telamon, Who reared thee from a little child with care In his own halls, though spurious was thy birth. Go on to do him honor, though he now Be far away. And here I say to thee— And I will keep my word—if Jupiter The Aegis-bearer and Minerva deign To let me level the strong walls of Troy, To thee will I assign the noblest prize After my own—a tripod, or two steeds And chariot, or a wife to share thy bed.”
And thus the blameless Teucer made reply:— “Why, glorious son of Atreus, wouldst thou thus Admonish me, while yet I do my best, And pause not in the combat? From the time When we began to drive the enemy back To Ilium, I have smitten and have slain Their warriors with my bow. Eight barbed shafts I sent, and each has pierced some warlike youth; But this fierce wolf-dog have I failed to strike.”
He spake, and sent another arrow forth At Hector with an eager aim. It missed Its mark, but struck Gorgythion down, the brave And blameless son of Priam; through his breast The arrow went. Fair Castianira brought The warrior forth—a dame from Aesyma, Beautiful as a goddess. As within A garden droops a poppy to the ground, Bowed by its weight and by the rains of spring, So drooped his head within the heavy casque.