nd approaching very near, he
stood, and addressed him in these words:

"O illustrious Ulysses, insatiable in crafts and toil, to-day shalt
thou either boast over the two sons of Hippasus, having slain such
heroes, and stripped them of their arms, or else stricken by my spear,
thou shalt lose thy life."

Thus saying, he smote him upon the shield equal on all sides. The rapid
weapon penetrated the shining shield, and was fixed through the
curiously-wrought corslet, and tore off all the skin from his sides. But
Pallas Minerva suffered it not to be mingled with the entrails of the
hero. And Ulysses perceived that the weapon had not come upon him
mortally, and retiring, he addressed [this] speech to Socus:

"Ah! wretch; very soon indeed will dreadful destruction overtake thee.
Without doubt thou hast caused me to cease from fighting with the
Trojans, but I declare that death and black fate shall be thine this
day; and that, subdued beneath my spear, thou shalt give glory to me,
and thy soul to steed-famed Pluto." [377]

[Footnote 377: Probably so called from the steeds ("inferni
raptoris equos," Claud. de Rapt. Pros. i. 1) by which he stole
away Proserpine. See the Scholiast.]

He said, and the other, turning again to flight, had begun to retreat,
but whilst he was turning, he (Ulysses) fixed his spear in his back
between the shoulders, and drove it through his breast. Falling, he made
a crash, and noble Ulysses boasted over him:

"O Socus, son of warlike, horse-breaking Hippasus, the end of death has
anticipated thee, nor hast thou escaped. Ah! wretch, neither thy father
nor venerable mother shall close thine eyes for thee, dead as thou art,
but ravenous birds shall tear thee, flapping about thee with dense
wings: but when I die, the noble Greeks will pay me funeral honours."

So saying, he plucked the strong spear of warlike Socus out of his flesh
and bossy shield; and his blood gushed forth as he drew it out, and
tortured his mind. But the magnanimous Trojans, when they beheld the
blood of Ulysses, encouraging one another through the crowd, all rushed
on against him; whilst he kept retreating backwards, and called to his
companions. Thrice did he then shout as much as the head of mortal could
contain, and thrice warlike Menelaus heard him exclaiming, and instantly
addressed Ajax, being near:

"Most noble Ajax, son of Telamon, chieftain of the people, the cry of
invincible Ulysses has come upon me, like t