Seba.Health

The Iliad 11.434–440

The Iliad 11.434–440
Through the bright shield went the mighty spear, and through the corselet, richly dight, did it force its way, and all the flesh it tore from his side; but Pallas Athene suffered it not to pierce the bowels of the warrior. And Odysseus knew that the spear had in no wise lighted on a fatal spot, and he drew back and spake to Socus, saying: Ah wretch, of a surety is sheer destruction come upon thee. Verily hast thou made me to cease from warring against the Trojans; but upon thee I deem that here this day death and black fate shall come, and that vanquished beneath my spear thoushalt yield glory to me, and thy soul to Hades of the goodly steeds. He spake, and the other turned back and started to flee, but even as he turned Odysseus fixed the spear in his back between the shoulders, and drave it through his breast. And he fell with a thud, and goodly Odysseus exulted over him:
ὣς εἰπὼν οὔτησε κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην. διὰ μὲν ἀσπίδος ἦλθε φαεινῆς ὄβριμον ἔγχος, καὶ διὰ θώρηκος πολυδαιδάλου ἠρήρειστο, πάντα δʼ ἀπὸ πλευρῶν χρόα ἔργαθεν, οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἔασε Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη μιχθήμεναι ἔγκασι φωτός. γνῶ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς οἱ οὔ τι τέλος κατακαίριον ἦλθεν, ἂψ δʼ ἀναχωρήσας Σῶκον πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
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