h was spread. Antilochus, however,
observing Thoas turning around, attacking, wounded him; and cut away all
the vein, which, running quite along the back, reaches to the neck. All
this he cut off; but he fell on his back in the dust, stretching out
both hands to his beloved companions. Then Antilochus sprang upon him,
and stripped the armour from his shoulders, looking around; for the
Trojans surrounding him, struck his wide and ornamented shield with
their darts, nor were they able to graze with the dire brass the tender
body of Antilochus within it; because earth-shaking Neptune protected
the son of Nestor all round, even amongst many weapons. For never indeed
was he apart from the enemy, but he turned himself about among them: nor
did he hold his spear without motion, but continually moving, it was
whirled about; and he prepared within his mind, either to hurl it at
some one afar off, or to rush upon some one close at hand. But
meditating these things amid the throng, he escaped not the notice of
Adamas, the son of Asias, who smote him in the middle of his shield with
the sharp brass, attacking him in close combat; but azure-haired Neptune
weakened the spear, grudging[435] him the life [of Antilochus]. Part of
it remained there, like a stake burned in the fire,[436] in the shield
of Antilochus, and the other half lay upon the ground; whilst he gave
backwards into the crowd of his companions, shunning death. Meriones,
however, following him departing, smote him with his spear between the
private parts and the navel, where a wound[437] is particularly painful
to miserable mortals. There he fixed the spear in him; and he falling,
struggled panting around the spear, as an ox, when cowherds in the
mountains, forcibly binding him with twisted cords, lead [him] away
unwilling. So he, wounded, throbbed, though but for a short time, and
not very long, until the hero Meriones coming near, plucked the spear
from his body; and darkness veiled his eyes. But Helenas, close at hand,
struck Deipyrus upon the temple with his huge Thracian sword, and cut
away the three-coned helmet; which, being dashed off, fell upon the
ground; and some one of the combating Greeks lifted it up, having rolled
between his feet; whilst dim night enveloped his eyes. Then grief seized
the son of Atreus, Menelaus, brave in the din of battle, and he
advanced, threatening the hero, king Helenus; brandishing his sharp
spear, whilst the other drew the horn of hi