Eupeithes Slain

49And then the blue-eyed Athena, drawing near
Laertes, said: “Son of Arcesias, loved
By me beyond all others of my friends,
Pray to Zeus’ blue-eyed daughter, and to Zeus,
And brandish your long spear, and send it forth.”

50So Athena spoke, and breathed into his frame
Strength irresistible. The aged chief
Prayed to the daughter of almighty Zeus,
And brandished his long spear and sent it forth.
It smote Eupeithes on the helmet’s cheek.
The brass stayed not the spear, the blade passed through,
And heavily Eupeithes fell to earth,
His armor clashing round him as he fell.
Then rushed Odysseus and his valiant son
Forward, the foremost of their band, and smote
Their foes with swords and lancet double-edged,
And would have struck them down to rise no more,
If Athena, daughter of the god who bears
The aegis, had not with a mighty voice
Commanded all the combatants to cease: —

51“Stay, men of Ithaca; withhold your hands
From deadly combat. Part, and shed no blood.”

52So Athena spoke, and they grew pale with awe,
And fear-struck; as they heard her words they dropped
Their weapons all upon the earth. They fled
Townward as if for life, while terribly
The much-enduring chief Odysseus raised
His voice, and shouted after them, and sprang
Upon them as an eagle darts through air.
Then Cronus’ son sent down a bolt of fire;
It fell before his blue-eyed daughter’s feet,
And thus the goddess to Odysseus called: —