Book XIII - Telemachus' quarrel with Hippias; the king of the Daunians attacks the forces of Idomeneus and the allies. Death and funeral rites of Hippias

Summary

Telemachus falls out with Phalantus in consequence of a dispute over which had the best right to certain prisoners. He engages and vanquishes Hippias who, despising his youth, had in a haughty manner seized these prisoners for his brother Phalantus. But, far from being pleased with his victory, he laments, in secret, his temerity and error, which he would gladly atone for. In the meantime, Adrastus, king of the Daunians, being informed that the allied kings thought of nothing but making up the quarrel between Telemachus and Hippias, goes and attacks them unexpectedly. Having taken a hundred of their ships by surprise he transports his troops in them to their camp, then sets fire to them, and attacking the quarter where Phalantus commanded, kills his brother Hippias; and Phalantus himself is dangerously wounded.

While Philoctetes recounted his adventures, Telemachus had remained as if suspended and motionless. His eyes were fixed on this great man who was speaking. All the different passions with which Hercules, Philoctetes, Ulysses, and Neoptolemus had been affected, appeared successively upon the naive countenance of the young Telemachus as they were represented in the course of the narration. He sometimes exclaimed and interrupted Philoctetes undesignedly; sometimes he appeared very thoughtful, like one meditating deeply upon the consequences of things. When Philoctetes described the perplexity of Neoptolemus, who was incapable of dissimulation, Telemachus seemed to be in the same situation; and one would have taken him then for Neoptolemus himself.