Book XXI

BOOK XXI

NOW when they came to the ford of the full-flowing river Xanthus,

begotten of immortal Jove, Achilles cut their forces in two: one

half he chased over the plain towards the city by the same way

that the Achaeans had taken when flying panic-stricken on the

preceding day with Hector in full triumph; this way did they fly

pell-mell, and Juno sent down a thick mist in front of them to

stay them. The other half were hemmed in by the deep

silver-eddying stream, and fell into it with a great uproar. The

waters resounded, and the banks rang again, as they swam hither

and thither with loud cries amid the whirling eddies. As locusts

flying to a river before the blast of a grass fire--the flame

comes on and on till at last it overtakes them and they huddle

into the water--even so was the eddying stream of Xanthus filled

with the uproar of men and horses, all struggling in confusion

before Achilles.

Forthwith the hero left his spear upon the bank, leaning it

against a tamarisk bush, and plunged into the river like a god,

armed with his sword only. Fell was his purpose as he hewed the

Trojans down on every side. Their dying groans rose hideous as

the sword smote them, and the river ran red with blood. As when

fish fly scared before a huge dolphin, and fill every nook and

corner of some fair haven--for he is sure to eat all he can

catch--even so did the Trojans cower under the banks of the

mighty river, and when Achilles' arms grew weary with killing

them, he drew twelve youths alive out of the water, to sacrifice

in revenge for Patroclus son of Menoetius. He drew them out like

dazed fawns, bound their hands behind them with the girdles of

their own shirts, and gave them over to his men to take back to

the ships. Then he sprang into the river, thirsting for still

further blood.

There he found Lycaon, son of Priam seed of Dardanus, as he was

escaping out of the water; he it was whom he had once taken

prisoner when he was in his father's vineyard, having set upon

him by night, as he was cutting young shoots from a wild fig-tree

to make the wicker sides of a chariot. Achilles then caught him

to his sorrow unawares, and sent him by sea to Lemnos, where the

son of Jason bought him. But a guest-friend, Eetion of Imbros,

freed him with a great sum, and sent him to Arisbe, whence he had

escaped and returned to his father's house. He had spent eleven

days happily with his friends after he had come from Lemnos, but

on the twelfth heaven again delivered him into the hands of

Achilles, who was to send him to