The Argonautica

and in one flood his whole life-spirit poured away.

The Bebrycian men did not abandon their fallen king:

but all together seized their seasoned clubs and hunting-spears,

raised high, they rushed straight to confront Polydeuces.

Before him, all his comrades drew keen blades from scabbards.

First Castor struck the head of a man who rushed him;

the head split this way and that, and down on either

shoulder the two severed halves fell, one on each side.

Polydeuces himself attacked huge Itymoneus and Mimas:

springing with a swift kick, he struck the first below

the breast and dropped him in dust; when the other came near,

his right hand struck above the other's left eyebrow,

he tore away the lid; the naked eyeball remained.

Then Oreides, the insolent follower of mighty Amycus,

wounded Talaus, Bias' son, along the flank,

but did not kill him: only over the skin's surface

the bronze point skimmed beneath his belt, untouched by vitals.

So Aretus struck Eurytus' steadfast son in battle,

Iphitus: he drove him reeling with a dry, hard club,

for Iphitus was not yet doomed to an evil death; soon

Aretus himself would fall beneath Clytius' sword.

Then Ancaeus, bold son of Lycurgus, sprang to arms:

he faced them, gripping his great axe and the dark hide

of a bear held before him in his left; he sprang into their midst,