The spear, therefore, sped from Aeneas's hand in vain and fell quivering to the ground.

Aeneas was angry and said, "Meriones, you are a good dancer, but if I had hit you my spear would soon have made an end of you." And Meriones answered, "Aeneas, for all your bravery, you will not be able to make an end of every one who comes against you.

You are only a mortal like myself, and if I were to hit you in the middle of your shield with my spear, however strong and self-confident you may be, I should soon vanquish you, and you would yield your life to Hades of the noble steeds." On this the son of Menoetius rebuked him and said, "Meriones, hero though you be, you should not speak thus; taunting speeches, my good friend, will not make the Trojans draw away from the dead body; some of them must go under ground first; blows for battle, and words for council; fight, therefore, and say nothing." He led the way as he spoke and the hero went forward with him.

As the sound of woodcutters in some forest glade upon the mountains--and the thud of their axes is heard afar--even such a din now rose from earth-clash of bronze armour and of good ox-hide shields, as men smote each other with their swords and spears pointed at both ends.

A man had need of good eyesight now to know Sarpedon, so covered was he from head to foot with spears and blood and dust.