Rhapsōdia Zeta - Book VI
Argument: While the battle rages in the plain before the walls, behind the walls Hektor reproaches Paris for escaping from the duel, and he attempts to comfort Andromakhe and his infant son, Astyanax, whom he wishes would one day surpass him, his father. Hektor then leaves the city and enters the fray.
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Only on the dread field of battle now were Trojans and Akhaioi.
And much here and now there did the battle rage across the plain,
As bronze-tip'd spears raged against opposing bronze-fitted shafts
Betwixt the swirling streams of Simoeis and, yea also, Xanthos.
And Aias Telamonios, the foremost bastion among the Akhaioi, 5
Wrecked the Trojans' shield-wall and showed his comrades the way
By making a cast at he who was the best amongst the Threikoi,
He who was Eussoros' son, Akamas the noble and mighty;
Him he hit first on the horse-hair'd forecrest of his helm,
And then struck he his forehead, and passed through the bone 10
The point of his bronze spearhead -- then both his eyes did darkness hide.
And then slay Axylos did he who is good at the warcry, he Diomedes --
Axylos, who was Teuthras' son, he who dwelt in well-wall'd Arisbe,
Rich in means while he lived, he was a kindly soul to all others,
For he show'd love to all who came on the road by the home where he dwelt; 15
But none of these whom he help'd was there to ward off woeful ruin
By meeting the foe afore his face -- so Diomedes robb'd the two of them of their hearts,
Axylos and his squire Kalesios, who at that time was the driver
Of his horses; and so, the twain of them sank into their mother earth.
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