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Crantor (mythology)
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.
