d drove the brass quite through: but the
spear broke the bone, and he fell prone upon the earth. But warlike
Menelaus then wounded Thoas in the breast, exposed near the shield, and
relaxed his limbs. But Phylides, perceiving Amphiclus rushing against
him, anticipated him, taking aim at the extremity of his leg, where the
calf of a man is thickest; the tendons were severed all round[518] by
the point of the spear, and darkness overshadowed his eyes. Then the
sons of Nestor, the one, Antilochus, struck Atymnius with his sharp
spear, and drove the brazen lance through his flank; and he fell before
him: but Maris, standing before the carcase, rushed upon Antilochus hand
to hand with his spear, enraged on account of his brother; but godlike
Thrasymedes, taking aim, anticipated him before he had wounded
[Antilochus], nor did he miss him, [but wounded him] immediately near
the shoulder; and the point of the spear cut off the extremity of the
arm from the muscles, and completely tore away the bone. Falling, he
made a crash, and darkness veiled his eyes. Thus to Erebus went these
two, subdued by two brothers, the brave companions of Sarpedon, the
spear-renowned sons of Amisodarus, who nourished the invincible[519]
Chimaera, a destruction to many men. But Ajax, the son of Oileus, rushing
upon Cleobulus, took him alive, impeded in the crowd; and there relaxed
his strength, striking him upon the neck with his hilted sword. And the
whole sword was warmed over with blood, and purple[520] death and stern
fate possessed his eyes.

[Footnote 516: Milton, P.L. ii. 488:--

"As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds
Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o'er-spread
Heav'n's cheerful face, the louring element
Scowls o'er the darkened landskip snow, or shower;
If chance the radiant sun with farewell sweet
Extend his evening beam, the fields revive,
The birds their notes renew and bleating herds
Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings."]

[Footnote 517: Virg. AEn. i. 591:--

"Vix ea fatus erat, cum circumfusa repente Scindit se nubes, et
in aethera purgat apertum."

Cf. Drakenb. on Silius, iii. 196; Kuinoel on Matth. iii. 16; Acts
vii. 55.]

[Footnote 518: Heyne would construe [Greek: aichme] with [Greek:
peri], referring to viii. 86; xiii. 441, 570; Pind. Nem. viii.
40.]

[Footnote 519: On the adjective [Greek: amaimaketen], see intpp.