“Not vainly, as I think, hath flown the spear From the strong hand of the magnanimous son Of Panthoüs. Some Achaian hath received The weapon in his side, to lean upon In going down to Pluto’s dim abode.”

He spake; the Achaians chafed to hear his boast, And most the warlike son of Telamon; For the slain Greek fell near him. Instantly, Just as the Trojan moved away, he hurled His shining lance. Polydamas, to escape The death-stroke, sprang aside. Archilochus, Antenor’s son, received the blow: the gods Had doomed him to be slain. It pierced the spine Where the head joins the neck, and severed there The tendons on each side. His head and mouth And nostrils struck the ground before his knees.