As when two lines of reapers, face to face, In some rich landlord’s field of barley or wheat Move on, and fast the severed handfuls fall, So, springing on each other, they of Troy And they of Argos smote each other down, And neither thought of ignominious flight. They met each other man to man; they rushed Like wolves to combat. Cruel Strife looked on Rejoicing; she alone of all the gods Was present in the battle; all the rest, Far off, sat quiet in their palaces, The glorious mansions built for them along The summits of Olympus. Yet they all Blamed Saturn’s son that he should honor thus The Trojans. The All-Father heeded not Their murmurings, but, seated by himself Apart, exulting in his sovereignty, Looked on the city of Troy, the ships of Greece, The gleam of arms, the slayers, and the slain.
While yet ’twas morn, and still the holy light Of day was brightening, fast the weapons smote On either side, and fast the people fell; But at the hour when on the mountain-slope The wood cutter makes ready his repast, Weary with felling lofty trees, and glad To rest, and eager for the grateful meal, The Greeks, encouraging each other, charged And broke the serried phalanxes of Troy. First Agamemnon, springing forward, slew The shepherd of his people and their chief, Bienor, and his trusty comrade next— The charioteer Oileus, who had leaped Down from his chariot to confront the king. Him Agamemnon with his trenchant spear Smote in the forehead as he came. The helm Of massive brass was vain to stay the blow: The weapon pierced it and the bone, and stained The brain with blood; it felled him rushing on. The monarch stripped the slain, and, leaving them With their white bosoms bare, went on to slay Isus and Antiphus, King Priam’s sons— One born in wedlock, one of baser birth— Both in one chariot. Isus held the reins While Antiphus, the high-born brother, fought. These had Achilles once on Ida’s height Made prisoners, as they fed their flocks; he bound Their limbs with osier bands, but gave them up For ransom to the Trojans. Now the king Of men, Atrides Agamemnon, pierced Isus above the nipple with his spear, And with his falchion smiting Antiphus Beside the ear, he hurled him