near; Ulysses reach'd him with the fatal spear; But to his aid his brother Socus flies, Socus the brave, the generous, and the wise. Near as he drew, the warrior thus began: "O great Ulysses! much-enduring man! Not deeper skill'd in every martial sleight, Than worn to toils, and active in the fight! This day two brothers shall thy conquest grace, And end at once the great Hippasian race, Or thou beneath this lance must press the field." He said, and forceful pierced his spacious shield: Through the strong brass the ringing javelin thrown, Plough'd half his side, and bared it to the bone. By Pallas' care, the spear, though deep infix'd, Stopp'd short of life, nor with his entrails mix'd. The wound not mortal wise Ulysses knew, Then furious thus (but first some steps withdrew): "Unhappy man! whose death our hands shall grace, Fate calls thee hence and finish'd is thy race. Nor longer check my conquests on the foe; But, pierced by this, to endless darkness go, And add one spectre to the realms below!" He spoke, while Socus, seized with sudden fright, Trembling gave way, and turn'd his back to flight; Between his shoulders pierced the following dart, And held its passage through the panting heart: Wide in his breast appear'd the grisly wound; He falls; his armour rings against the ground. Then thus Ulysses, gazing on the slain: "Famed son of Hippasus! there press the plain; There ends thy narrow span assign'd by fate, Heaven owes Ulysses yet a longer date. Ah, wretch! no father shall thy corpse compose; Thy dying eyes no tender mother close; But hungry birds shall tear those balls away, And hovering vultures scream around their prey. Me Greece shall honour, when I meet my doom, With solemn funerals and a lasting tomb." Then raging with intolerable smart, He writhes his body, and extracts the dart. The dart a tide of spouting gore pursued, And gladden'd Troy with sight of hostile blo