Home > Iliad Text > Book XXI - Page 6
Iliad | Book XXI - Page 6
As he spoke his strong hand hurled his javelin from him, and the spear struck Achilles on the leg beneath the knee; the greave of newly wrought tin rang loudly, but the spear recoiled from the body of him whom it had struck, and did not pierce it, for the gods gift stayed it. Achilles in his turn attacked noble Agenor, but Apollo would not vouchsafe him glory, for he snatched Agenor away and hid him in a thick mist, sending him out of the battle unmolested. Then he craftily drew the son of Peleus away from going after the host, for he put on the semblance of Agenor and stood in front of Achilles, who ran towards him to give him chase and pursued him over the corn lands of the plain, turning him towards the deep waters of the river Scamander. Apollo ran but a little way before him and beguiled Achilles by making him think all the time that he was on the point of overtaking him. Meanwhile the rabble of routed Trojans was thankful to crowd within the city till their numbers thronged it; no longer did they dare wait for one another outside the city walls, to learn who had escaped and who were fallen in fight, but all whose feet and knees could still carry them poured pell-mell into the town.
-
unmolested – not bothered or mistreated
-
rabble – a mob or crowd
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
- Notes
- Reading Pointers for Sharper Insights
- Gods and Goddesses Appearing in The Iliad
- Book I
- Book II
- Book III
- Book IV
- Book V
- Book VI
- Book VII
- Book VIII
- Book IX
- Book X
- Book XI
- Book XII
- Book XIII
- Book XIV
- Book XV
- Book XVI
- Book XVII
- Book XVIII
- Book XIX
- Book XX
- Book XXI
- Book XXII
- Book XXIII
- Book XXIV
- Copyright
See Also:
- - For teachers, the Iliad Lesson Plan.
- - Iliad summary and study guide in the eNotes.
Tell a friend about Iliad at eNotes.
