User:Paul August/Crantor (mythology)

Crantor (mythology)

Sources

Ancient

Ovid

Metamorphoses

12.355–392

Demoleon could no longer stand and look

on Theseus and his unrestrained success.

He struggled with vast effort to tear up

an old pine, trunk and all, with its long roots,

and, failing shortly in that first attempt,

he broke it off and hurled it at his foe.

But Theseus saw the pine tree in its flight

and, warned by Pallas, got beyond its range—

his boast was, Pallas had directed him!

And yet, the missle was not launched in vain.

It sheared the left shoulder and the breast

from tall Crantor. He, Achilles, was

your father's armor bearer and was given

by King Amyntor, when he sued for peace.

“When Peleus at a distance saw him torn

and mangled, he exclaimed, ‘At least receive

this sacrifice, O Crantor! most beloved!

Dearest of young men!’

And with sturdy arm

and all his strength of soul as well, he hurled

his ashen lance against Demoleon,

which piercing through his shivered ribs, hung there

and quivered in the bones. The centaur wrenched

the wooden shaft out, with his frenzied hands,

but could not move the pointed head, which stuck

within his lungs. His very anguish gave

him such a desperation, that he rose

against his foe and trampled and beat down

the hero with his hoofs, Peleus allowed

the blows to fall on helm and ringing shield.

Protected so, he watched his time and thrust

up through the centaur's shoulder. By one stroke

he pierced two breasts, where horse and man-form met.