The Trojans and their allies break the wall, led on by Hector.

      So the son of Menoetius was attending to the hurt of Eurypylus
      within the tent, but the Argives and Trojans still fought
      desperately, nor were the trench and the high wall above it, to
      keep the Trojans in check longer. They had built it to protect
      their ships, and had dug the trench all round it that it might
      safeguard both the ships and the rich spoils which they had
      taken, but they had not offered hecatombs to the gods. It had
      been built without the consent of the immortals, and therefore it
      did not last. So long as Hector lived and Achilles nursed his
      anger, and so long as the city of Priam remained untaken, the
      great wall of the Achaeans stood firm; but when the bravest of
      the Trojans were no more, and many also of the Argives, though
      some were yet left alive—when, moreover, the city was sacked in
      the tenth year, and the Argives had gone back with their ships to
      their own country—then Neptune and Apollo took counsel to destroy
      the wall, and they turned on to it the streams of all the rivers
      from Mount Ida into the sea, Rhesus, Heptaporus, Caresus,
      Rhodius, Grenicus, Aesopus, and goodly Scamander, with Simois,
      where many a shield and helm had fallen, and many a hero of the
      race of demigods had bitten the dust. Phoebus Apollo turned the
      mouths of all these rivers together and made them flow for nine
      days against the wall, while Jove rained the whole time that he
      might wash it sooner into the sea. Neptune himself, trident in
      hand, surveyed the work and threw into the sea all the
      foundations of beams and stones which the Achaeans had laid with
      so much toil; he made all level by the mighty stream of the
      Hellespont, and then when he had swept the wall away he spread a
      great beach of sand over the place where it had been. This done
      he turned the rivers back into their old courses.

      This was what Neptune and Apollo were to do in after time; but as
      yet battle and turmoil were still raging round the wall till its
      timbers rang under the blows that rained upon them. The Argives,
      cowed by the scourge of Jove, were hemmed in at their ships in
      fear of Hector the mighty minister of Rout, who as heretofore
      fought with the force and fury of a whirlwind. As a lion or wild
      boar turns fiercely on the dogs and men that attack him, while
      these form a solid wall and shower their javelins as they face
      him—his courage is all undaunted, but his high spirit will be the
      death of him; many a time does he charge at his pursuers to
      scatter them, and they fall back as often as he does so—even so
      did Hector go about among the host exhorting his men, and
      cheering them on to cross the trench.

      But the horses dared not do so, and stood neighing upon its
      brink, for the width frightened them. They could neither jump it
      nor cross it, for it had overhanging banks all round upon either
      side, above which there were the sharp stakes that the sons of
      the Achaeans had planted so close and strong as a defence against
      all who would assail it; a horse, therefore, could not get into
      it and draw his chariot after him, but those who were on foot
      kept trying their very utmost. Then Polydamas went up to Hector
      and said, “Hector, and you other captains of the Trojans and
      allies, it is madness for us to try and drive our horses across
      the trench; it will be very hard to cross, for it is full of
      sharp stakes, and beyond these there is the wall. Our horses
      therefore cannot get down into it, and would be of no use if they
      did; moreover it is a narrow place and we should come to harm.
      If, indeed, great Jove is minded to help the Trojans, and in his
      anger will utterly destroy the Achaeans, I would myself gladly
      see them perish now and here far from Argos; but if they should
      rally and we are driven back from the ships pell-mell into the
      trench there will be not so much as a man get back to the city to
      tell the tale. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; let our
      squires hold our horses by the trench, but let us follow Hector
      in a body on foot, clad in full armour, and if the day of their
      doom is at hand the Achaeans will not be able to withstand us.”

      Thus spoke Polydamas and his saying pleased Hector, who sprang in
      full armour to the ground, and all the other Trojans, when they
      saw him do so, also left their chariots. Each man then gave his
      horses over to his charioteer in charge to hold them ready for
      him at the trench. Then they formed themselves into companies,
      made themselves ready, and in five bodies followed their leaders.
      Those that went with Hector and Polydamas were the bravest and
      most in number, and the most determined to break through the wall
      and fight at the ships. Cebriones was also joined with them as
      third in command, for Hector had left his chariot in charge of a
      less valiant soldier. The next company was led by Paris,
      Alcathous, and Agenor; the third by Helenus and Deiphobus, two
      sons of Priam, and with them was the hero Asius—Asius, the son of
      Hyrtacus, whose great black horses of the breed that comes from
      the river Selleis had brought him from Arisbe. Aeneas, the
      valiant son of Anchises, led the fourth; he and the two sons of
      Antenor, Archelochus and Acamas, men well versed in all the arts
      of war. Sarpedon was captain over the allies, and took with him
      Glaucus and Asteropaeus whom he deemed most valiant after
      himself—for he was far the best man of them all. These helped to
      array one another in their ox-hide shields, and then charged
      straight at the Danaans, for they felt sure that they would not
      hold out longer and that they should themselves now fall upon the
      ships.

      The rest of the Trojans and their allies now followed the counsel
      of Polydamas but Asius, son of Hyrtacus, would not leave his
      horses and his esquire behind him; in his foolhardiness he took
      them on with him towards the ships, nor did he fail to come by
      his end in consequence. Nevermore was he to return to wind-beaten
      Ilius, exulting in his chariot and his horses; ere he could do
      so, death of ill-omened name had overshadowed him and he had
      fallen by the spear of Idomeneus the noble son of Deucalion. He
      had driven towards the left wing of the ships, by which way the
      Achaeans used to return with their chariots and horses from the
      plain. Hither he drove and found the gates with their doors
      opened wide, and the great bar down—for the gatemen kept them
      open so as to let those of their comrades enter who might be
      flying towards the ships. Hither of set purpose did he direct his
      horses, and his men followed him with a loud cry, for they felt
      sure that the Achaeans would not hold out longer, and that they
      should now fall upon the ships. Little did they know that at the
      gates they should find two of the bravest chieftains, proud sons
      of the fighting Lapithae—the one, Polypoetes, mighty son of
      Pirithous, and the other Leonteus, peer of murderous Mars. These
      stood before the gates like two high oak trees upon the
      mountains, that tower from their wide-spreading roots, and year
      after year battle with wind and rain—even so did these two men
      await the onset of great Asius confidently and without flinching.
      The Trojans led by him and by Iamenus, Orestes, Adamas the son of
      Asius, Thoon and Oenomaus, raised a loud cry of battle and made
      straight for the wall, holding their shields of dry ox-hide above
      their heads; for a while the two defenders remained inside and
      cheered the Achaeans on to stand firm in the defence of their
      ships; when, however, they saw that the Trojans were attacking
      the wall, while the Danaans were crying out for help and being
      routed, they rushed outside and fought in front of the gates like
      two wild boars upon the mountains that abide the attack of men
      and dogs, and charging on either side break down the wood all
      round them tearing it up by the roots, and one can hear the
      clattering of their tusks, till some one hits them and makes an
      end of them—even so did the gleaming bronze rattle about their
      breasts, as the weapons fell upon them; for they fought with
      great fury, trusting to their own prowess and to those who were
      on the wall above them. These threw great stones at their
      assailants in defence of themselves their tents and their ships.
      The stones fell thick as the flakes of snow which some fierce
      blast drives from the dark clouds and showers down in sheets upon
      the earth—even so fell the weapons from the hands alike of
      Trojans and Achaeans. Helmet and shield rang out as the great
      stones rained upon them, and Asius, the son of Hyrtacus, in his
      dismay cried aloud and smote his two thighs. “Father Jove,” he
      cried, “of a truth you too are altogether given to lying. I made
      sure the Argive heroes could not withstand us, whereas like
      slim-waisted wasps, or bees that have their nests in the rocks by
      the wayside—they leave not the holes wherein they have built
      undefended, but fight for their little ones against all who would
      take them—even so these men, though they be but two, will not be
      driven from the gates, but stand firm either to slay or be
      slain.”

      He spoke, but moved not the mind of Jove, whose counsel it then
      was to give glory to Hector. Meanwhile the rest of the Trojans
      were fighting about the other gates; I, however, am no god to be
      able to tell about all these things, for the battle raged
      everywhere about the stone wall as it were a fiery furnace. The
      Argives, discomfited though they were, were forced to defend
      their ships, and all the gods who were defending the Achaeans
      were vexed in spirit; but the Lapithae kept on fighting with
      might and main.

      Thereon Polypoetes, mighty son of Pirithous, hit Damasus with a
      spear upon his cheek-pierced helmet. The helmet did not protect
      him, for the point of the spear went through it, and broke the
      bone, so that the brain inside was scattered about, and he died
      fighting. He then slew Pylon and Ormenus. Leonteus, of the race
      of Mars, killed Hippomachus the son of Antimachus by striking him
      with his spear upon the girdle. He then drew his sword and sprang
      first upon Antiphates whom he killed in combat, and who fell face
      upwards on the earth. After him he killed Menon, Iamenus, and
      Orestes, and laid them low one after the other.

      While they were busy stripping the armour from these heroes, the
      youths who were led on by Polydamas and Hector (and these were
      the greater part and the most valiant of those that were trying
      to break through the wall and fire the ships) were still standing
      by the trench, uncertain what they should do; for they had seen a
      sign from heaven when they had essayed to cross it—a soaring
      eagle that flew skirting the left wing of their host, with a
      monstrous blood-red snake in its talons still alive and
      struggling to escape. The snake was still bent on revenge,
      wriggling and twisting itself backwards till it struck the bird
      that held it, on the neck and breast; whereon the bird being in
      pain, let it fall, dropping it into the middle of the host, and
      then flew down the wind with a sharp cry. The Trojans were struck
      with terror when they saw the snake, portent of aegis-bearing
      Jove, writhing in the midst of them, and Polydamas went up to
      Hector and said, “Hector, at our councils of war you are ever
      given to rebuke me, even when I speak wisely, as though it were
      not well, forsooth, that one of the people should cross your will
      either in the field or at the council board; you would have them
      support you always: nevertheless I will say what I think will be
      best; let us not now go on to fight the Danaans at their ships,
      for I know what will happen if this soaring eagle which skirted
      the left wing of our host with a monstrous blood-red snake in its
      talons (the snake being still alive) was really sent as an omen
      to the Trojans on their essaying to cross the trench. The eagle
      let go her hold; she did not succeed in taking it home to her
      little ones, and so will it be—with ourselves; even though by a
      mighty effort we break through the gates and wall of the
      Achaeans, and they give way before us, still we shall not return
      in good order by the way we came, but shall leave many a man
      behind us whom the Achaeans will do to death in defence of their
      ships. Thus would any seer who was expert in these matters, and
      was trusted by the people, read the portent.”

      Hector looked fiercely at him and said, “Polydamas, I like not of
      your reading. You can find a better saying than this if you will.
      If, however, you have spoken in good earnest, then indeed has
      heaven robbed you of your reason. You would have me pay no heed
      to the counsels of Jove, nor to the promises he made me—and he
      bowed his head in confirmation; you bid me be ruled rather by the
      flight of wild-fowl. What care I whether they fly towards dawn or
      dark, and whether they be on my right hand or on my left? Let us
      put our trust rather in the counsel of great Jove, king of
      mortals and immortals. There is one omen, and one only—that a man
      should fight for his country. Why are you so fearful? Though we
      be all of us slain at the ships of the Argives you are not likely
      to be killed yourself, for you are not steadfast nor courageous.
      If you will not fight, or would talk others over from doing so,
      you shall fall forthwith before my spear.”

      With these words he led the way, and the others followed after
      with a cry that rent the air. Then Jove the lord of thunder sent
      the blast of a mighty wind from the mountains of Ida, that bore
      the dust down towards the ships; he thus lulled the Achaeans into
      security, and gave victory to Hector and to the Trojans, who,
      trusting to their own might and to the signs he had shown them,
      essayed to break through the great wall of the Achaeans. They
      tore down the breastworks from the walls, and overthrew the
      battlements; they upheaved the buttresses, which the Achaeans had
      set in front of the wall in order to support it; when they had
      pulled these down they made sure of breaking through the wall,
      but the Danaans still showed no sign of giving ground; they still
      fenced the battlements with their shields of ox-hide, and hurled
      their missiles down upon the foe as soon as any came below the
      wall.

      The two Ajaxes went about everywhere on the walls cheering on the
      Achaeans, giving fair words to some while they spoke sharply to
      any one whom they saw to be remiss. “My friends,” they cried,
      “Argives one and all—good bad and indifferent, for there was
      never fight yet, in which all were of equal prowess—there is now
      work enough, as you very well know, for all of you. See that you
      none of you turn in flight towards the ships, daunted by the
      shouting of the foe, but press forward and keep one another in
      heart, if it may so be that Olympian Jove the lord of lightning
      will vouchsafe us to repel our foes, and drive them back towards
      the city.”

      Thus did the two go about shouting and cheering the Achaeans on.
      As the flakes that fall thick upon a winter’s day, when Jove is
      minded to snow and to display these his arrows to mankind—he
      lulls the wind to rest, and snows hour after hour till he has
      buried the tops of the high mountains, the headlands that jut
      into the sea, the grassy plains, and the tilled fields of men;
      the snow lies deep upon the forelands, and havens of the grey
      sea, but the waves as they come rolling in stay it that it can
      come no further, though all else is wrapped as with a mantle, so
      heavy are the heavens with snow—even thus thickly did the stones
      fall on one side and on the other, some thrown at the Trojans,
      and some by the Trojans at the Achaeans; and the whole wall was
      in an uproar.

      Still the Trojans and brave Hector would not yet have broken down
      the gates and the great bar, had not Jove turned his son Sarpedon
      against the Argives as a lion against a herd of horned cattle.
      Before him he held his shield of hammered bronze, that the smith
      had beaten so fair and round, and had lined with ox-hides which
      he had made fast with rivets of gold all round the shield; this
      he held in front of him, and brandishing his two spears came on
      like some lion of the wilderness, who has been long famished for
      want of meat and will dare break even into a well-fenced
      homestead to try and get at the sheep. He may find the shepherds
      keeping watch over their flocks with dogs and spears, but he is
      in no mind to be driven from the fold till he has had a try for
      it; he will either spring on a sheep and carry it off, or be hit
      by a spear from some strong hand—even so was Sarpedon fain to
      attack the wall and break down its battlements. Then he said to
      Glaucus son of Hippolochus, “Glaucus, why in Lycia do we receive
      especial honour as regards our place at table? Why are the
      choicest portions served us and our cups kept brimming, and why
      do men look up to us as though we were gods? Moreover we hold a
      large estate by the banks of the river Xanthus, fair with orchard
      lawns and wheat-growing land; it becomes us, therefore, to take
      our stand at the head of all the Lycians and bear the brunt of
      the fight, that one may say to another, ‘Our princes in Lycia eat
      the fat of the land and drink best of wine, but they are fine
      fellows; they fight well and are ever at the front in battle.’ My
      good friend, if, when we were once out of this fight, we could
      escape old age and death thenceforward and forever, I should
      neither press forward myself nor bid you do so, but death in ten
      thousand shapes hangs ever over our heads, and no man can elude
      him; therefore let us go forward and either win glory for
      ourselves, or yield it to another.”

      Glaucus heeded his saying, and the pair forthwith led on the host
      of Lycians. Menestheus son of Peteos was dismayed when he saw
      them, for it was against his part of the wall that they
      came—bringing destruction with them; he looked along the wall for
      some chieftain to support his comrades and saw the two Ajaxes,
      men ever eager for the fray, and Teucer, who had just come from
      his tent, standing near them; but he could not make his voice
      heard by shouting to them, so great an uproar was there from
      crashing shields and helmets and the battering of gates with a
      din which reached the skies. For all the gates had been closed,
      and the Trojans were hammering at them to try and break their way
      through them. Menestheus, therefore, sent Thootes with a message
      to Ajax. “Run, good Thootes,” he said, “and call Ajax, or better
      still bid both come, for it will be all over with us here
      directly; the leaders of the Lycians are upon us, men who have
      ever fought desperately heretofore. But if they have too much on
      their hands to let them come, at any rate let Ajax son of Telamon
      do so, and let Teucer, the famous bowman, come with him.”

      The messenger did as he was told, and set off running along the
      wall of the Achaeans. When he reached the Ajaxes he said to them,
      “Sirs, princes of the Argives, the son of noble Peteos bids you
      come to him for a while and help him. You had better both come if
      you can, or it will be all over with him directly; the leaders of
      the Lycians are upon him, men who have ever fought desperately
      heretofore; if you have too much on your hands to let both come,
      at any rate let Ajax, son of Telamon, do so, and let Teucer, the
      famous bowman, come with him.”

      Great Ajax son of Telamon heeded the message, and at once spoke
      to the son of Oileus. “Ajax,” said he, “do you two, yourself and
      brave Lycomedes, stay here and keep the Danaans in heart to fight
      their hardest. I will go over yonder, and bear my part in the
      fray, but I will come back here at once as soon as I have given
      them the help they need.”

      With this, Ajax son of Telamon set off, and Teucer, his brother
      by the same father, went also, with Pandion to carry Teucer’s
      bow. They went along inside the wall, and when they came to the
      tower where Menestheus was (and hard pressed indeed did they find
      him) the brave captains and leaders of the Lycians were storming
      the battlements as it were a thick dark cloud, fighting in close
      quarters, and raising the battle-cry aloud.

      First, Ajax son of Telamon killed brave Epicles, a comrade of
      Sarpedon, hitting him with a jagged stone that lay by the
      battlements at the very top of the wall. As men now are, even one
      who is in the bloom of youth could hardly lift it with his two
      hands, but Ajax raised it high aloft and flung it down, smashing
      Epicles’ four-crested helmet so that the bones of his head were
      crushed to pieces, and he fell from the high wall as though he
      were diving, with no more life left in him. Then Teucer wounded
      Glaucus the brave son of Hippolochus as he was coming on to
      attack the wall. He saw his shoulder bare and aimed an arrow at
      it, which made Glaucus leave off fighting. Thereon he sprang
      covertly down for fear some of the Achaeans might see that he was
      wounded and taunt him. Sarpedon was stung with grief when he saw
      Glaucus leave him, still he did not leave off fighting, but aimed
      his spear at Alcmaon the son of Thestor and hit him. He drew his
      spear back again and Alcmaon came down headlong after it with his
      bronzed armour rattling round him. Then Sarpedon seized the
      battlement in his strong hands, and tugged at it till it all gave
      way together, and a breach was made through which many might
      pass.

      Ajax and Teucer then both of them attacked him. Teucer hit him
      with an arrow on the band that bore the shield which covered his
      body, but Jove saved his son from destruction that he might not
      fall by the ships’ sterns. Meanwhile Ajax sprang on him and
      pierced his shield, but the spear did not go clean through,
      though it hustled him back that he could come on no further. He
      therefore retired a little space from the battlement, yet without
      losing all his ground, for he still thought to cover himself with
      glory. Then he turned round and shouted to the brave Lycians
      saying, “Lycians, why do you thus fail me? For all my prowess I
      cannot break through the wall and open a way to the ships
      single-handed. Come close on behind me, for the more there are of
      us the better.”

      The Lycians, shamed by his rebuke, pressed closer round him who
      was their counsellor and their king. The Argives on their part
      got their men in fighting order within the wall, and there was a
      deadly struggle between them. The Lycians could not break through
      the wall and force their way to the ships, nor could the Danaans
      drive the Lycians from the wall now that they had once reached
      it. As two men, measuring-rods in hand, quarrel about their
      boundaries in a field that they own in common, and stickle for
      their rights though they be but in a mere strip, even so did the
      battlements now serve as a bone of contention, and they beat one
      another’s round shields for their possession. Many a man’s body
      was wounded with the pitiless bronze, as he turned round and
      bared his back to the foe, and many were struck clean through
      their shields; the wall and battlements were everywhere deluged
      with the blood alike of Trojans and of Achaeans. But even so the
      Trojans could not rout the Achaeans, who still held on; and as
      some honest hard-working woman weighs wool in her balance and
      sees that the scales be true, for she would gain some pitiful
      earnings for her little ones, even so was the fight balanced
      evenly between them till the time came when Jove gave the greater
      glory to Hector son of Priam, who was first to spring towards the
      wall of the Achaeans. When he had done so, he cried aloud to the
      Trojans, “Up, Trojans, break the wall of the Argives, and fling
      fire upon their ships.”

      Thus did he hound them on, and in one body they rushed straight
      at the wall as he had bidden them, and scaled the battlements
      with sharp spears in their hands. Hector laid hold of a stone
      that lay just outside the gates and was thick at one end but
      pointed at the other; two of the best men in a town, as men now
      are, could hardly raise it from the ground and put it on to a
      waggon, but Hector lifted it quite easily by himself, for the son
      of scheming Saturn made it light for him. As a shepherd picks up
      a ram’s fleece with one hand and finds it no burden, so easily
      did Hector lift the great stone and drive it right at the doors
      that closed the gates so strong and so firmly set. These doors
      were double and high, and were kept closed by two cross-bars to
      which there was but one key. When he had got close up to them,
      Hector strode towards them that his blow might gain in force and
      struck them in the middle, leaning his whole weight against them.
      He broke both hinges, and the stone fell inside by reason of its
      great weight. The portals re-echoed with the sound, the bars held
      no longer, and the doors flew open, one one way, and the other
      the other, through the force of the blow. Then brave Hector
      leaped inside with a face as dark as that of flying night. The
      gleaming bronze flashed fiercely about his body and he had two
      spears in his hand. None but a god could have withstood him as he
      flung himself into the gateway, and his eyes glared like fire.
      Then he turned round towards the Trojans and called on them to
      scale the wall, and they did as he bade them—some of them at once
      climbing over the wall, while others passed through the gates.
      The Danaans then fled panic-stricken towards their ships, and all
      was uproar and confusion.


1  ὣς ὃ μὲν ἐν κλισίῃσι Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱὸς
2  ἰᾶτʼ Εὐρύπυλον βεβλημένον· οἳ δὲ μάχοντο
3  Ἀργεῖοι καὶ Τρῶες ὁμιλαδόν· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλε
4  τάφρος ἔτι σχήσειν Δαναῶν καὶ τεῖχος ὕπερθεν
5  εὐρύ, τὸ ποιήσαντο νεῶν ὕπερ, ἀμφὶ δὲ τάφρον
6  ἤλασαν· οὐδὲ θεοῖσι δόσαν κλειτὰς ἑκατόμβας·
7  ὄφρά σφιν νῆάς τε θοὰς καὶ ληΐδα πολλὴν
8  ἐντὸς ἔχον ῥύοιτο· θεῶν δʼ ἀέκητι τέτυκτο
9  ἀθανάτων· τὸ καὶ οὔ τι πολὺν χρόνον ἔμπεδον ἦεν.
10  ὄφρα μὲν Ἕκτωρ ζωὸς ἔην καὶ μήνιʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς
11  καὶ Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος ἀπόρθητος πόλις ἔπλεν,
12  τόφρα δὲ καὶ μέγα τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν ἔμπεδον ἦεν.
13  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μὲν Τρώων θάνον ὅσσοι ἄριστοι,
14  πολλοὶ δʼ Ἀργείων οἳ μὲν δάμεν, οἳ δὲ λίποντο,
15  πέρθετο δὲ Πριάμοιο πόλις δεκάτῳ ἐνιαυτῷ,
16  Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ἐν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔβησαν,
17  δὴ τότε μητιόωντο Ποσειδάων καὶ Ἀπόλλων
18  τεῖχος ἀμαλδῦναι ποταμῶν μένος εἰσαγαγόντες.
19  ὅσσοι ἀπʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἅλα δὲ προρέουσι,
20  Ῥῆσός θʼ Ἑπτάπορός τε Κάρησός τε Ῥοδίος τε
21  Γρήνικός τε καὶ Αἴσηπος δῖός τε Σκάμανδρος
22  καὶ Σιμόεις, ὅθι πολλὰ βοάγρια καὶ τρυφάλειαι
23  κάππεσον ἐν κονίῃσι καὶ ἡμιθέων γένος ἀνδρῶν·
24  τῶν πάντων ὁμόσε στόματʼ ἔτραπε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
25  ἐννῆμαρ δʼ ἐς τεῖχος ἵει ῥόον· ὗε δʼ ἄρα Ζεὺς
26  συνεχές, ὄφρά κε θᾶσσον ἁλίπλοα τείχεα θείη.
27  αὐτὸς δʼ ἐννοσίγαιος ἔχων χείρεσσι τρίαιναν
28  ἡγεῖτʼ, ἐκ δʼ ἄρα πάντα θεμείλια κύμασι πέμπε
29  φιτρῶν καὶ λάων, τὰ θέσαν μογέοντες Ἀχαιοί,
30  λεῖα δʼ ἐποίησεν παρʼ ἀγάρροον Ἑλλήσποντον,
31  αὖτις δʼ ἠϊόνα μεγάλην ψαμάθοισι κάλυψε
32  τεῖχος ἀμαλδύνας· ποταμοὺς δʼ ἔτρεψε νέεσθαι
33  κὰρ ῥόον, ᾗ περ πρόσθεν ἵεν καλλίρροον ὕδωρ.
34  ὣς ἄρʼ ἔμελλον ὄπισθε Ποσειδάων καὶ Ἀπόλλων
35  θησέμεναι· τότε δʼ ἀμφὶ μάχη ἐνοπή τε δεδήει
36  τεῖχος ἐΰδμητον, κανάχιζε δὲ δούρατα πύργων
37  βαλλόμενʼ· Ἀργεῖοι δὲ Διὸς μάστιγι δαμέντες
38  νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐελμένοι ἰσχανόωντο
39  Ἕκτορα δειδιότες, κρατερὸν μήστωρα φόβοιο·
40  αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ὡς τὸ πρόσθεν ἐμάρνατο ἶσος ἀέλλῃ·
41  ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἔν τε κύνεσσι καὶ ἀνδράσι θηρευτῇσι
42  κάπριος ἠὲ λέων στρέφεται σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνων·
43  οἳ δέ τε πυργηδὸν σφέας αὐτοὺς ἀρτύναντες
44  ἀντίον ἵστανται καὶ ἀκοντίζουσι θαμειὰς
45  αἰχμὰς ἐκ χειρῶν· τοῦ δʼ οὔ ποτε κυδάλιμον κῆρ
46  ταρβεῖ οὐδὲ φοβεῖται, ἀγηνορίη δέ μιν ἔκτα·
47  ταρφέα τε στρέφεται στίχας ἀνδρῶν πειρητίζων·
48  ὅππῃ τʼ ἰθύσῃ τῇ εἴκουσι στίχες ἀνδρῶν·
49  ὣς Ἕκτωρ ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἰὼν ἐλλίσσεθʼ ἑταίρους
50  τάφρον ἐποτρύνων διαβαινέμεν· οὐδέ οἱ ἵπποι
51  τόλμων ὠκύποδες, μάλα δὲ χρεμέτιζον ἐπʼ ἄκρῳ
52  χείλει ἐφεσταότες· ἀπὸ γὰρ δειδίσσετο τάφρος
53  εὐρεῖʼ, οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ὑπερθορέειν σχεδὸν οὔτε περῆσαι
54  ῥηϊδίη· κρημνοὶ γὰρ ἐπηρεφέες περὶ πᾶσαν
55  ἕστασαν ἀμφοτέρωθεν, ὕπερθεν δὲ σκολόπεσσιν
56  ὀξέσιν ἠρήρει, τοὺς ἵστασαν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
57  πυκνοὺς καὶ μεγάλους δηΐων ἀνδρῶν ἀλεωρήν.
58  ἔνθʼ οὔ κεν ῥέα ἵππος ἐΰτροχον ἅρμα τιταίνων
59  ἐσβαίη, πεζοὶ δὲ μενοίνεον εἰ τελέουσι.
60  δὴ τότε Πουλυδάμας θρασὺν Ἕκτορα εἶπε παραστάς·
61  Ἕκτορ τʼ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι Τρώων ἀγοὶ ἠδʼ ἐπικούρων
62  ἀφραδέως διὰ τάφρον ἐλαύνομεν ὠκέας ἵππους·
63  ἣ δὲ μάλʼ ἀργαλέη περάαν· σκόλοπες γὰρ ἐν αὐτῇ
64  ὀξέες ἑστᾶσιν, ποτὶ δʼ αὐτοὺς τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν,
65  ἔνθʼ οὔ πως ἔστιν καταβήμεναι οὐδὲ μάχεσθαι
66  ἱππεῦσι· στεῖνος γάρ, ὅθι τρώσεσθαι ὀΐω.
67  εἰ μὲν γὰρ τοὺς πάγχυ κακὰ φρονέων ἀλαπάζει
68  Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης, Τρώεσσι δὲ ἵετʼ ἀρήγειν,
69  ἦ τʼ ἂν ἔγωγʼ ἐθέλοιμι καὶ αὐτίκα τοῦτο γενέσθαι,
70  νωνύμνους ἀπολέσθαι ἀπʼ Ἄργεος ἐνθάδʼ Ἀχαιούς·
71  εἰ δέ χʼ ὑποστρέψωσι, παλίωξις δὲ γένηται
72  ἐκ νηῶν καὶ τάφρῳ ἐνιπλήξωμεν ὀρυκτῇ,
73  οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτʼ ὀΐω οὐδʼ ἄγγελον ἀπονέεσθαι
74  ἄψορρον προτὶ ἄστυ ἑλιχθέντων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν.
75  ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω πειθώμεθα πάντες·
76  ἵππους μὲν θεράποντες ἐρυκόντων ἐπὶ τάφρῳ,
77  αὐτοὶ δὲ πρυλέες σὺν τεύχεσι θωρηχθέντες
78  Ἕκτορι πάντες ἑπώμεθʼ ἀολλέες· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ
79  οὐ μενέουσʼ εἰ δή σφιν ὀλέθρου πείρατʼ ἐφῆπται.
80  ὣς φάτο Πουλυδάμας, ἅδε δʼ Ἕκτορι μῦθος ἀπήμων,
81  αὐτίκα δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε.
82  οὐδὲ μὲν ἄλλοι Τρῶες ἐφʼ ἵππων ἠγερέθοντο,
83  ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ πάντες ὄρουσαν, ἐπεὶ ἴδον Ἕκτορα δῖον.
84  ἡνιόχῳ μὲν ἔπειτα ἑῷ ἐπέτελλεν ἕκαστος
85  ἵππους εὖ κατὰ κόσμον ἐρυκέμεν αὖθʼ ἐπὶ τάφρῳ·
86  οἳ δὲ διαστάντες σφέας αὐτοὺς ἀρτύναντες
87  πένταχα κοσμηθέντες ἅμʼ ἡγεμόνεσσιν ἕποντο.
88  οἳ μὲν ἅμʼ Ἕκτορʼ ἴσαν καὶ ἀμύμονι Πουλυδάμαντι,
89  οἳ πλεῖστοι καὶ ἄριστοι ἔσαν, μέμασαν δὲ μάλιστα
90  τεῖχος ῥηξάμενοι κοίλῃς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ μάχεσθαι.
91  καί σφιν Κεβριόνης τρίτος εἵπετο· πὰρ δʼ ἄρʼ ὄχεσφιν
92  ἄλλον Κεβριόναο χερείονα κάλλιπεν Ἕκτωρ.
93  τῶν δʼ ἑτέρων Πάρις ἦρχε καὶ Ἀλκάθοος καὶ Ἀγήνωρ,
94  τῶν δὲ τρίτων Ἕλενος καὶ Δηΐφοβος θεοειδὴς
95  υἷε δύω Πριάμοιο· τρίτος δʼ ἦν Ἄσιος ἥρως
96  Ἄσιος Ὑρτακίδης, ὃν Ἀρίσβηθεν φέρον ἵπποι
97  αἴθωνες μεγάλοι ποταμοῦ ἄπο Σελλήεντος.
98  τῶν δὲ τετάρτων ἦρχεν ἐῢς πάϊς Ἀγχίσαο
99  Αἰνείας, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω Ἀντήνορος υἷε
100  Ἀρχέλοχός τʼ Ἀκάμας τε μάχης εὖ εἰδότε πάσης.
101  Σαρπηδὼν δʼ ἡγήσατʼ ἀγακλειτῶν ἐπικούρων,
102  πρὸς δʼ ἕλετο Γλαῦκον καὶ ἀρήϊον Ἀστεροπαῖον·
103  οἳ γάρ οἱ εἴσαντο διακριδὸν εἶναι ἄριστοι
104  τῶν ἄλλων μετά γʼ αὐτόν· ὃ δʼ ἔπρεπε καὶ διὰ πάντων.
105  οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἀλλήλους ἄραρον τυκτῇσι βόεσσι
106  βάν ῥʼ ἰθὺς Δαναῶν λελιημένοι, οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἔφαντο
107  σχήσεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐν νηυσὶ μελαίνῃσιν πεσέεσθαι.
108  ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι Τρῶες τηλεκλειτοί τʼ ἐπίκουροι
109  βουλῇ Πουλυδάμαντος ἀμωμήτοιο πίθοντο·
110  ἀλλʼ οὐχ Ὑρτακίδης ἔθελʼ Ἄσιος ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν
111  αὖθι λιπεῖν ἵππους τε καὶ ἡνίοχον θεράποντα,
112  ἀλλὰ σὺν αὐτοῖσιν πέλασεν νήεσσι θοῇσι
113  νήπιος, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλε κακὰς ὑπὸ κῆρας ἀλύξας
114  ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφιν ἀγαλλόμενος παρὰ νηῶν
115  ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν·
116  πρόσθεν γάρ μιν μοῖρα δυσώνυμος ἀμφεκάλυψεν
117  ἔγχεϊ Ἰδομενῆος ἀγαυοῦ Δευκαλίδαο.
118  εἴσατο γὰρ νηῶν ἐπʼ ἀριστερά, τῇ περ Ἀχαιοὶ
119  ἐκ πεδίου νίσοντο σὺν ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφι·
120  τῇ ῥʼ ἵππους τε καὶ ἅρμα διήλασεν, οὐδὲ πύλῃσιν
121  εὗρʼ ἐπικεκλιμένας σανίδας καὶ μακρὸν ὀχῆα,
122  ἀλλʼ ἀναπεπταμένας ἔχον ἀνέρες, εἴ τινʼ ἑταίρων
123  ἐκ πολέμου φεύγοντα σαώσειαν μετὰ νῆας.
124  τῇ ῥʼ ἰθὺς φρονέων ἵππους ἔχε, τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο
125  ὀξέα κεκλήγοντες· ἔφαντο γὰρ οὐκ ἔτʼ Ἀχαιοὺς
126  σχήσεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐν νηυσὶ μελαίνῃσιν πεσέεσθαι
127  νήπιοι, ἐν δὲ πύλῃσι δύʼ ἀνέρας εὗρον ἀρίστους
128  υἷας ὑπερθύμους Λαπιθάων αἰχμητάων,
129  τὸν μὲν Πειριθόου υἷα κρατερὸν Πολυποίτην,
130  τὸν δὲ Λεοντῆα βροτολοιγῷ ἶσον Ἄρηϊ.
131  τὼ μὲν ἄρα προπάροιθε πυλάων ὑψηλάων
132  ἕστασαν ὡς ὅτε τε δρύες οὔρεσιν ὑψικάρηνοι,
133  αἵ τʼ ἄνεμον μίμνουσι καὶ ὑετὸν ἤματα πάντα
134  ῥίζῃσιν μεγάλῃσι διηνεκέεσσʼ ἀραρυῖαι·
135  ὣς ἄρα τὼ χείρεσσι πεποιθότες ἠδὲ βίηφι
136  μίμνον ἐπερχόμενον μέγαν Ἄσιον οὐδὲ φέβοντο.
137  οἳ δʼ ἰθὺς πρὸς τεῖχος ἐΰδμητον βόας αὔας
138  ὑψόσʼ ἀνασχόμενοι ἔκιον μεγάλῳ ἀλαλητῷ
139  Ἄσιον ἀμφὶ ἄνακτα καὶ Ἰαμενὸν καὶ Ὀρέστην
140  Ἀσιάδην τʼ Ἀδάμαντα Θόωνά τε Οἰνόμαόν τε.
141  οἳ δʼ ἤτοι εἷος μὲν ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιοὺς
142  ὄρνυον ἔνδον ἐόντες ἀμύνεσθαι περὶ νηῶν·
143  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τεῖχος ἐπεσσυμένους ἐνόησαν
144  Τρῶας, ἀτὰρ Δαναῶν γένετο ἰαχή τε φόβος τε,
145  ἐκ δὲ τὼ ἀΐξαντε πυλάων πρόσθε μαχέσθην
146  ἀγροτέροισι σύεσσιν ἐοικότε, τώ τʼ ἐν ὄρεσσιν
147  ἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ κυνῶν δέχαται κολοσυρτὸν ἰόντα,
148  δοχμώ τʼ ἀΐσσοντε περὶ σφίσιν ἄγνυτον ὕλην
149  πρυμνὴν ἐκτάμνοντες, ὑπαὶ δέ τε κόμπος ὀδόντων
150  γίγνεται εἰς ὅ κέ τίς τε βαλὼν ἐκ θυμὸν ἕληται·
151  ὣς τῶν κόμπει χαλκὸς ἐπὶ στήθεσσι φαεινὸς
152  ἄντην βαλλομένων· μάλα γὰρ κρατερῶς ἐμάχοντο
153  λαοῖσιν καθύπερθε πεποιθότες ἠδὲ βίηφιν.
154  οἳ δʼ ἄρα χερμαδίοισιν ἐϋδμήτων ἀπὸ πύργων
155  βάλλον ἀμυνόμενοι σφῶν τʼ αὐτῶν καὶ κλισιάων
156  νηῶν τʼ ὠκυπόρων· νιφάδες δʼ ὡς πῖπτον ἔραζε,
157  ἅς τʼ ἄνεμος ζαὴς νέφεα σκιόεντα δονήσας
158  ταρφειὰς κατέχευεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ·
159  ὣς τῶν ἐκ χειρῶν βέλεα ῥέον ἠμὲν Ἀχαιῶν
160  ἠδὲ καὶ ἐκ Τρώων· κόρυθες δʼ ἀμφʼ αὖον ἀΰτευν
161  βαλλομένων μυλάκεσσι καὶ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι.
162  δή ῥα τότʼ ᾤμωξεν καὶ ὣ πεπλήγετο μηρὼ
163  Ἄσιος Ὑρτακίδης, καὶ ἀλαστήσας ἔπος ηὔδα·
164  Ζεῦ πάτερ ἦ ῥά νυ καὶ σὺ φιλοψευδὴς ἐτέτυξο
165  πάγχυ μάλʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγʼ ἐφάμην ἥρωας Ἀχαιοὺς
166  σχήσειν ἡμέτερόν γε μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους.
167  οἳ δʼ, ὥς τε σφῆκες μέσον αἰόλοι ἠὲ μέλισσαι
168  οἰκία ποιήσωνται ὁδῷ ἔπι παιπαλοέσσῃ,
169  οὐδʼ ἀπολείπουσιν κοῖλον δόμον, ἀλλὰ μένοντες
170  ἄνδρας θηρητῆρας ἀμύνονται περὶ τέκνων,
171  ὣς οἵ γʼ οὐκ ἐθέλουσι πυλάων καὶ δύʼ ἐόντε
172  χάσσασθαι πρίν γʼ ἠὲ κατακτάμεν ἠὲ ἁλῶναι.
173  ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδὲ Διὸς πεῖθε φρένα ταῦτʼ ἀγορεύων·
174  Ἕκτορι γάρ οἱ θυμὸς ἐβούλετο κῦδος ὀρέξαι.
175  ἄλλοι δʼ ἀμφʼ ἄλλῃσι μάχην ἐμάχοντο πύλῃσιν·
176  ἀργαλέον δέ με ταῦτα θεὸν ὣς πάντʼ ἀγορεῦσαι·
177  πάντῃ γὰρ περὶ τεῖχος ὀρώρει θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ
178  λάϊνον· Ἀργεῖοι δὲ καὶ ἀχνύμενοί περ ἀνάγκῃ
179  νηῶν ἠμύνοντο· θεοὶ δʼ ἀκαχήατο θυμὸν
180  πάντες ὅσοι Δαναοῖσι μάχης ἐπιτάρροθοι ἦσαν.
181  σὺν δʼ ἔβαλον Λαπίθαι πόλεμον καὶ δηϊοτῆτα.
182  ἔνθʼ αὖ Πειριθόου υἱὸς κρατερὸς Πολυποίτης
183  δουρὶ βάλεν Δάμασον κυνέης διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου·
184  οὐδʼ ἄρα χαλκείη κόρυς ἔσχεθεν, ἀλλὰ διὰ πρὸ
185  αἰχμὴ χαλκείη ῥῆξʼ ὀστέον, ἐγκέφαλος δὲ
186  ἔνδον ἅπας πεπάλακτο· δάμασσε δέ μιν μεμαῶτα·
187  αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα Πύλωνα καὶ Ὄρμενον ἐξενάριξεν.
188  υἱὸν δʼ Ἀντιμάχοιο Λεοντεὺς ὄζος Ἄρηος
189  Ἱππόμαχον βάλε δουρὶ κατὰ ζωστῆρα τυχήσας.
190  αὖτις δʼ ἐκ κολεοῖο ἐρυσσάμενος ξίφος ὀξὺ
191  Ἀντιφάτην μὲν πρῶτον ἐπαΐξας διʼ ὁμίλου
192  πλῆξʼ αὐτοσχεδίην· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ὕπτιος οὔδει ἐρείσθη·
193  αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα Μένωνα καὶ Ἰαμενὸν καὶ Ὀρέστην
194  πάντας ἐπασσυτέρους πέλασε χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ.
195  ὄφρʼ οἳ τοὺς ἐνάριζον ἀπʼ ἔντεα μαρμαίροντα,
196  τόφρʼ οἳ Πουλυδάμαντι καὶ Ἕκτορι κοῦροι ἕποντο,
197  οἳ πλεῖστοι καὶ ἄριστοι ἔσαν, μέμασαν δὲ μάλιστα
198  τεῖχός τε ῥήξειν καὶ ἐνιπρήσειν πυρὶ νῆας,
199  οἵ ῥʼ ἔτι μερμήριζον ἐφεσταότες παρὰ τάφρῳ.
200  ὄρνις γάρ σφιν ἐπῆλθε περησέμεναι μεμαῶσιν
201  αἰετὸς ὑψιπέτης ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ λαὸν ἐέργων
202  φοινήεντα δράκοντα φέρων ὀνύχεσσι πέλωρον
203  ζωὸν ἔτʼ ἀσπαίροντα, καὶ οὔ πω λήθετο χάρμης,
204  κόψε γὰρ αὐτὸν ἔχοντα κατὰ στῆθος παρὰ δειρὴν
205  ἰδνωθεὶς ὀπίσω· ὃ δʼ ἀπὸ ἕθεν ἧκε χαμᾶζε
206  ἀλγήσας ὀδύνῃσι, μέσῳ δʼ ἐνὶ κάββαλʼ ὁμίλῳ,
207  αὐτὸς δὲ κλάγξας πέτετο πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο.
208  Τρῶες δʼ ἐρρίγησαν ὅπως ἴδον αἰόλον ὄφιν
209  κείμενον ἐν μέσσοισι Διὸς τέρας αἰγιόχοιο.
210  δὴ τότε Πουλυδάμας θρασὺν Ἕκτορα εἶπε παραστάς·
211  Ἕκτορ ἀεὶ μέν πώς μοι ἐπιπλήσσεις ἀγορῇσιν
212  ἐσθλὰ φραζομένῳ, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ ἔοικε
213  δῆμον ἐόντα παρὲξ ἀγορευέμεν, οὔτʼ ἐνὶ βουλῇ
214  οὔτέ ποτʼ ἐν πολέμῳ, σὸν δὲ κράτος αἰὲν ἀέξειν·
215  νῦν αὖτʼ ἐξερέω ὥς μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι ἄριστα.
216  μὴ ἴομεν Δαναοῖσι μαχησόμενοι περὶ νηῶν.
217  ὧδε γὰρ ἐκτελέεσθαι ὀΐομαι, εἰ ἐτεόν γε
218  Τρωσὶν ὅδʼ ὄρνις ἦλθε περησέμεναι μεμαῶσιν
219  αἰετὸς ὑψιπέτης ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ λαὸν ἐέργων
220  φοινήεντα δράκοντα φέρων ὀνύχεσσι πέλωρον
221  ζωόν· ἄφαρ δʼ ἀφέηκε πάρος φίλα οἰκίʼ ἱκέσθαι,
222  οὐδʼ ἐτέλεσσε φέρων δόμεναι τεκέεσσιν ἑοῖσιν.
223  ὣς ἡμεῖς, εἴ πέρ τε πύλας καὶ τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν
224  ῥηξόμεθα σθένεϊ μεγάλῳ, εἴξωσι δʼ Ἀχαιοί,
225  οὐ κόσμῳ παρὰ ναῦφιν ἐλευσόμεθʼ αὐτὰ κέλευθα·
226  πολλοὺς γὰρ Τρώων καταλείψομεν, οὕς κεν Ἀχαιοὶ
227  χαλκῷ δῃώσωσιν ἀμυνόμενοι περὶ νηῶν.
228  ὧδέ χʼ ὑποκρίναιτο θεοπρόπος, ὃς σάφα θυμῷ
229  εἰδείη τεράων καί οἱ πειθοίατο λαοί.
230  τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
231  Πουλυδάμα, σὺ μὲν οὐκ ἔτʼ ἐμοὶ φίλα ταῦτʼ ἀγορεύεις·
232  οἶσθα καὶ ἄλλον μῦθον ἀμείνονα τοῦδε νοῆσαι.
233  εἰ δʼ ἐτεὸν δὴ τοῦτον ἀπὸ σπουδῆς ἀγορεύεις,
234  ἐξ ἄρα δή τοι ἔπειτα θεοὶ φρένας ὤλεσαν αὐτοί,
235  ὃς κέλεαι Ζηνὸς μὲν ἐριγδούποιο λαθέσθαι
236  βουλέων, ἅς τέ μοι αὐτὸς ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσε·
237  τύνη δʼ οἰωνοῖσι τανυπτερύγεσσι κελεύεις
238  πείθεσθαι, τῶν οὔ τι μετατρέπομʼ οὐδʼ ἀλεγίζω
239  εἴτʼ ἐπὶ δεξίʼ ἴωσι πρὸς ἠῶ τʼ ἠέλιόν τε,
240  εἴτʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ τοί γε ποτὶ ζόφον ἠερόεντα.
241  ἡμεῖς δὲ μεγάλοιο Διὸς πειθώμεθα βουλῇ,
242  ὃς πᾶσι θνητοῖσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισιν ἀνάσσει.
243  εἷς οἰωνὸς ἄριστος ἀμύνεσθαι περὶ πάτρης.
244  τίπτε σὺ δείδοικας πόλεμον καὶ δηϊοτῆτα;
245  εἴ περ γάρ τʼ ἄλλοι γε περὶ κτεινώμεθα πάντες
246  νηυσὶν ἐπʼ Ἀργείων, σοὶ δʼ οὐ δέος ἔστʼ ἀπολέσθαι·
247  οὐ γάρ τοι κραδίη μενεδήϊος οὐδὲ μαχήμων.
248  εἰ δὲ σὺ δηϊοτῆτος ἀφέξεαι, ἠέ τινʼ ἄλλον
249  παρφάμενος ἐπέεσσιν ἀποτρέψεις πολέμοιο,
250  αὐτίκʼ ἐμῷ ὑπὸ δουρὶ τυπεὶς ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὀλέσσεις.
251  ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο, τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο
252  ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ· ἐπὶ δὲ Ζεὺς τερπικέραυνος
253  ὦρσεν ἀπʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἀνέμοιο θύελλαν,
254  ἥ ῥʼ ἰθὺς νηῶν κονίην φέρεν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιῶν
255  θέλγε νόον, Τρωσὶν δὲ καὶ Ἕκτορι κῦδος ὄπαζε.
256  τοῦ περ δὴ τεράεσσι πεποιθότες ἠδὲ βίηφι
257  ῥήγνυσθαι μέγα τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν πειρήτιζον.
258  κρόσσας μὲν πύργων ἔρυον, καὶ ἔρειπον ἐπάλξεις,
259  στήλας τε προβλῆτας ἐμόχλεον, ἃς ἄρʼ Ἀχαιοὶ
260  πρώτας ἐν γαίῃ θέσαν ἔμμεναι ἔχματα πύργων.
261  τὰς οἵ γʼ αὐέρυον, ἔλποντο δὲ τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν
262  ῥήξειν· οὐδέ νύ πω Δαναοὶ χάζοντο κελεύθου,
263  ἀλλʼ οἵ γε ῥινοῖσι βοῶν φράξαντες ἐπάλξεις
264  βάλλον ἀπʼ αὐτάων δηΐους ὑπὸ τεῖχος ἰόντας.
265  ἀμφοτέρω δʼ Αἴαντε κελευτιόωντʼ ἐπὶ πύργων
266  πάντοσε φοιτήτην μένος ὀτρύνοντες Ἀχαιῶν.
267  ἄλλον μειλιχίοις, ἄλλον στερεοῖς ἐπέεσσι
268  νείκεον, ὅν τινα πάγχυ μάχης μεθιέντα ἴδοιεν·
269  ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ὅς τʼ ἔξοχος ὅς τε μεσήεις
270  ὅς τε χερειότερος, ἐπεὶ οὔ πω πάντες ὁμοῖοι
271  ἀνέρες ἐν πολέμῳ, νῦν ἔπλετο ἔργον ἅπασι·
272  καὶ δʼ αὐτοὶ τόδε που γιγνώσκετε. μή τις ὀπίσσω
273  τετράφθω ποτὶ νῆας ὁμοκλητῆρος ἀκούσας,
274  ἀλλὰ πρόσω ἵεσθε καὶ ἀλλήλοισι κέλεσθε,
275  αἴ κε Ζεὺς δώῃσιν Ὀλύμπιος ἀστεροπητὴς
276  νεῖκος ἀπωσαμένους δηΐους προτὶ ἄστυ δίεσθαι.
277  ὣς τώ γε προβοῶντε μάχην ὄτρυνον Ἀχαιῶν.
278  τῶν δʼ, ὥς τε νιφάδες χιόνος πίπτωσι θαμειαὶ
279  ἤματι χειμερίῳ, ὅτε τʼ ὤρετο μητίετα Ζεὺς
280  νιφέμεν ἀνθρώποισι πιφαυσκόμενος τὰ ἃ κῆλα·
281  κοιμήσας δʼ ἀνέμους χέει ἔμπεδον, ὄφρα καλύψῃ
282  ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων κορυφὰς καὶ πρώονας ἄκρους
283  καὶ πεδία λωτοῦντα καὶ ἀνδρῶν πίονα ἔργα,
284  καί τʼ ἐφʼ ἁλὸς πολιῆς κέχυται λιμέσιν τε καὶ ἀκταῖς,
285  κῦμα δέ μιν προσπλάζον ἐρύκεται· ἄλλά τε πάντα
286  εἴλυται καθύπερθʼ, ὅτʼ ἐπιβρίσῃ Διὸς ὄμβρος·
287  ὣς τῶν ἀμφοτέρωσε λίθοι πωτῶντο θαμειαί,
288  αἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐς Τρῶας, αἱ δʼ ἐκ Τρώων ἐς Ἀχαιούς,
289  βαλλομένων· τὸ δὲ τεῖχος ὕπερ πᾶν δοῦπος ὀρώρει.
290  οὐδʼ ἄν πω τότε γε Τρῶες καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ
291  τείχεος ἐρρήξαντο πύλας καὶ μακρὸν ὀχῆα,
292  εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ υἱὸν ἑὸν Σαρπηδόνα μητίετα Ζεὺς
293  ὦρσεν ἐπʼ Ἀργείοισι λέονθʼ ὣς βουσὶν ἕλιξιν.
294  αὐτίκα δʼ ἀσπίδα μὲν πρόσθʼ ἔσχετο πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην
295  καλὴν χαλκείην ἐξήλατον, ἣν ἄρα χαλκεὺς
296  ἤλασεν, ἔντοσθεν δὲ βοείας ῥάψε θαμειὰς
297  χρυσείῃς ῥάβδοισι διηνεκέσιν περὶ κύκλον.
298  τὴν ἄρʼ ὅ γε πρόσθε σχόμενος δύο δοῦρε τινάσσων
299  βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ὥς τε λέων ὀρεσίτροφος, ὅς τʼ ἐπιδευὴς
300  δηρὸν ἔῃ κρειῶν, κέλεται δέ ἑ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ
301  μήλων πειρήσοντα καὶ ἐς πυκινὸν δόμον ἐλθεῖν·
302  εἴ περ γάρ χʼ εὕρῃσι παρʼ αὐτόφι βώτορας ἄνδρας
303  σὺν κυσὶ καὶ δούρεσσι φυλάσσοντας περὶ μῆλα,
304  οὔ ῥά τʼ ἀπείρητος μέμονε σταθμοῖο δίεσθαι,
305  ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἄρʼ ἢ ἥρπαξε μετάλμενος, ἠὲ καὶ αὐτὸς
306  ἔβλητʼ ἐν πρώτοισι θοῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ἄκοντι·
307  ὥς ῥα τότʼ ἀντίθεον Σαρπηδόνα θυμὸς ἀνῆκε
308  τεῖχος ἐπαΐξαι διά τε ῥήξασθαι ἐπάλξεις.
309  αὐτίκα δὲ Γλαῦκον προσέφη παῖδʼ Ἱππολόχοιο·
310  Γλαῦκε τί ἢ δὴ νῶϊ τετιμήμεσθα μάλιστα
311  ἕδρῃ τε κρέασίν τε ἰδὲ πλείοις δεπάεσσιν
312  ἐν Λυκίῃ, πάντες δὲ θεοὺς ὣς εἰσορόωσι,
313  καὶ τέμενος νεμόμεσθα μέγα Ξάνθοιο παρʼ ὄχθας
314  καλὸν φυταλιῆς καὶ ἀρούρης πυροφόροιο;
315  τὼ νῦν χρὴ Λυκίοισι μέτα πρώτοισιν ἐόντας
316  ἑστάμεν ἠδὲ μάχης καυστείρης ἀντιβολῆσαι,
317  ὄφρά τις ὧδʼ εἴπῃ Λυκίων πύκα θωρηκτάων·
318  οὐ μὰν ἀκλεέες Λυκίην κάτα κοιρανέουσιν
319  ἡμέτεροι βασιλῆες, ἔδουσί τε πίονα μῆλα
320  οἶνόν τʼ ἔξαιτον μελιηδέα· ἀλλʼ ἄρα καὶ ἲς
321  ἐσθλή, ἐπεὶ Λυκίοισι μέτα πρώτοισι μάχονται.
322  ὦ πέπον εἰ μὲν γὰρ πόλεμον περὶ τόνδε φυγόντε
323  αἰεὶ δὴ μέλλοιμεν ἀγήρω τʼ ἀθανάτω τε
324  ἔσσεσθʼ, οὔτέ κεν αὐτὸς ἐνὶ πρώτοισι μαχοίμην
325  οὔτέ κε σὲ στέλλοιμι μάχην ἐς κυδιάνειραν·
326  νῦν δʼ ἔμπης γὰρ κῆρες ἐφεστᾶσιν θανάτοιο
327  μυρίαι, ἃς οὐκ ἔστι φυγεῖν βροτὸν οὐδʼ ὑπαλύξαι,
328  ἴομεν ἠέ τῳ εὖχος ὀρέξομεν ἠέ τις ἡμῖν.
329  ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδὲ Γλαῦκος ἀπετράπετʼ οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε·
330  τὼ δʼ ἰθὺς βήτην Λυκίων μέγα ἔθνος ἄγοντε.
331  τοὺς δὲ ἰδὼν ῥίγησʼ υἱὸς Πετεῶο Μενεσθεύς·
332  τοῦ γὰρ δὴ πρὸς πύργον ἴσαν κακότητα φέροντες.
333  πάπτηνεν δʼ ἀνὰ πύργον Ἀχαιῶν εἴ τινʼ ἴδοιτο
334  ἡγεμόνων, ὅς τίς οἱ ἀρὴν ἑτάροισιν ἀμύναι·
335  ἐς δʼ ἐνόησʼ Αἴαντε δύω πολέμου ἀκορήτω
336  ἑσταότας, Τεῦκρόν τε νέον κλισίηθεν ἰόντα
337  ἐγγύθεν· ἀλλʼ οὔ πώς οἱ ἔην βώσαντι γεγωνεῖν·
338  τόσσος γὰρ κτύπος ἦεν, ἀϋτὴ δʼ οὐρανὸν ἷκε,
339  βαλλομένων σακέων τε καὶ ἱπποκόμων τρυφαλειῶν
340  καὶ πυλέων· πᾶσαι γὰρ ἐπώχατο, τοὶ δὲ κατʼ αὐτὰς
341  ἱστάμενοι πειρῶντο βίῃ ῥήξαντες ἐσελθεῖν.
342  αἶψα δʼ ἐπʼ Αἴαντα προΐει κήρυκα Θοώτην·
343  ἔρχεο δῖε Θοῶτα, θέων Αἴαντα κάλεσσον,
344  ἀμφοτέρω μὲν μᾶλλον· ὃ γάρ κʼ ὄχʼ ἄριστον ἁπάντων
345  εἴη, ἐπεὶ τάχα τῇδε τετεύξεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.
346  ὧδε γὰρ ἔβρισαν Λυκίων ἀγοί, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ
347  ζαχρηεῖς τελέθουσι κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας.
348  εἰ δέ σφιν καὶ κεῖθι πόνος καὶ νεῖκος ὄρωρεν,
349  ἀλλά περ οἶος ἴτω Τελαμώνιος ἄλκιμος Αἴας,
350  καί οἱ Τεῦκρος ἅμα σπέσθω τόξων ἐῢ εἰδώς.
351  ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρα οἱ κῆρυξ ἀπίθησεν ἀκούσας,
352  βῆ δὲ θέειν παρὰ τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,
353  στῆ δὲ παρʼ Αἰάντεσσι κιών, εἶθαρ δὲ προσηύδα·
354  Αἴαντʼ Ἀργείων ἡγήτορε χαλκοχιτώνων
355  ἠνώγει Πετεῶο διοτρεφέος φίλος υἱὸς
356  κεῖσʼ ἴμεν, ὄφρα πόνοιο μίνυνθά περ ἀντιάσητον
357  ἀμφοτέρω μὲν μᾶλλον· ὃ γάρ κʼ ὄχʼ ἄριστον ἁπάντων
358  εἴη, ἐπεὶ τάχα κεῖθι τετεύξεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος·
359  ὧδε γὰρ ἔβρισαν Λυκίων ἀγοί, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ
360  ζαχρηεῖς τελέθουσι κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας.
361  εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐνθάδε περ πόλεμος καὶ νεῖκος ὄρωρεν,
362  ἀλλά περ οἶος ἴτω Τελαμώνιος ἄλκιμος Αἴας,
363  καί οἱ Τεῦκρος ἅμα σπέσθω τόξων ἐῢ εἰδώς.
364  ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας.
365  αὐτίκʼ Ὀϊλιάδην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
366  Αἶαν σφῶϊ μὲν αὖθι, σὺ καὶ κρατερὸς Λυκομήδης,
367  ἑσταότες Δαναοὺς ὀτρύνετον ἶφι μάχεσθαι·
368  αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κεῖσʼ εἶμι καὶ ἀντιόω πολέμοιο·
369  αἶψα δʼ ἐλεύσομαι αὖτις, ἐπὴν εὖ τοῖς ἐπαμύνω.
370  ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,
371  καί οἱ Τεῦκρος ἅμʼ ᾖε κασίγνητος καὶ ὄπατρος·
372  τοῖς δʼ ἅμα Πανδίων Τεύκρου φέρε καμπύλα τόξα.
373  εὖτε Μενεσθῆος μεγαθύμου πύργον ἵκοντο
374  τείχεος ἐντὸς ἰόντες, ἐπειγομένοισι δʼ ἵκοντο,
375  οἳ δʼ ἐπʼ ἐπάλξεις βαῖνον ἐρεμνῇ λαίλαπι ἶσοι
376  ἴφθιμοι Λυκίων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες·
377  σὺν δʼ ἐβάλοντο μάχεσθαι ἐναντίον, ὦρτο δʼ ἀϋτή.
378  Αἴας δὲ πρῶτος Τελαμώνιος ἄνδρα κατέκτα
379  Σαρπήδοντος ἑταῖρον Ἐπικλῆα μεγάθυμον
380  μαρμάρῳ ὀκριόεντι βαλών, ὅ ῥα τείχεος ἐντὸς
381  κεῖτο μέγας παρʼ ἔπαλξιν ὑπέρτατος· οὐδέ κέ μιν ῥέα
382  χείρεσσʼ ἀμφοτέρῃς ἔχοι ἀνὴρ οὐδὲ μάλʼ ἡβῶν,
383  οἷοι νῦν βροτοί εἰσʼ· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑψόθεν ἔμβαλʼ ἀείρας,
384  θλάσσε δὲ τετράφαλον κυνέην, σὺν δʼ ὀστέʼ ἄραξε
385  πάντʼ ἄμυδις κεφαλῆς· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀρνευτῆρι ἐοικὼς
386  κάππεσʼ ἀφʼ ὑψηλοῦ πύργου, λίπε δʼ ὀστέα θυμός.
387  Τεῦκρος δὲ Γλαῦκον κρατερὸν παῖδʼ Ἱππολόχοιο
388  ἰῷ ἐπεσσύμενον βάλε τείχεος ὑψηλοῖο,
389  ᾗ ῥʼ ἴδε γυμνωθέντα βραχίονα, παῦσε δὲ χάρμης.
390  ἂψ δʼ ἀπὸ τείχεος ἆλτο λαθών, ἵνα μή τις Ἀχαιῶν
391  βλήμενον ἀθρήσειε καὶ εὐχετόῳτʼ ἐπέεσσι.
392  Σαρπήδοντι δʼ ἄχος γένετο Γλαύκου ἀπιόντος
393  αὐτίκʼ ἐπεί τʼ ἐνόησεν· ὅμως δʼ οὐ λήθετο χάρμης,
394  ἀλλʼ ὅ γε Θεστορίδην Ἀλκμάονα δουρὶ τυχήσας
395  νύξʼ, ἐκ δʼ ἔσπασεν ἔγχος· ὃ δʼ ἑσπόμενος πέσε δουρὶ
396  πρηνής, ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ βράχε τεύχεα ποικίλα χαλκῷ,
397  Σαρπηδὼν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπαλξιν ἑλὼν χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν
398  ἕλχʼ, ἣ δʼ ἕσπετο πᾶσα διαμπερές, αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε
399  τεῖχος ἐγυμνώθη, πολέεσσι δὲ θῆκε κέλευθον.
400  τὸν δʼ Αἴας καὶ Τεῦκρος ὁμαρτήσανθʼ ὃ μὲν ἰῷ
401  βεβλήκει τελαμῶνα περὶ στήθεσσι φαεινὸν
402  ἀσπίδος ἀμφιβρότης· ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς κῆρας ἄμυνε
403  παιδὸς ἑοῦ, μὴ νηυσὶν ἔπι πρύμνῃσι δαμείη·
404  Αἴας δʼ ἀσπίδα νύξεν ἐπάλμενος, οὐδὲ διὰ πρὸ
405  ἤλυθεν ἐγχείη, στυφέλιξε δέ μιν μεμαῶτα.
406  χώρησεν δʼ ἄρα τυτθὸν ἐπάλξιος· οὐδʼ ὅ γε πάμπαν
407  χάζετʼ, ἐπεί οἱ θυμὸς ἐέλπετο κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.
408  κέκλετο δʼ ἀντιθέοισιν ἑλιξάμενος Λυκίοισιν·
409  ὦ Λύκιοι τί τʼ ἄρʼ ὧδε μεθίετε θούριδος ἀλκῆς;
410  ἀργαλέον δέ μοί ἐστι καὶ ἰφθίμῳ περ ἐόντι
411  μούνῳ ῥηξαμένῳ θέσθαι παρὰ νηυσὶ κέλευθον·
412  ἀλλʼ ἐφομαρτεῖτε· πλεόνων δέ τι ἔργον ἄμεινον.
413  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ ἄνακτος ὑποδείσαντες ὁμοκλὴν
414  μᾶλλον ἐπέβρισαν βουληφόρον ἀμφὶ ἄνακτα.
415  Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐκαρτύναντο φάλαγγας
416  τείχεος ἔντοσθεν, μέγα δέ σφισι φαίνετο ἔργον·
417  οὔτε γὰρ ἴφθιμοι Λύκιοι Δαναῶν ἐδύναντο
418  τεῖχος ῥηξάμενοι θέσθαι παρὰ νηυσὶ κέλευθον,
419  οὔτέ ποτʼ αἰχμηταὶ Δαναοὶ Λυκίους ἐδύναντο
420  τείχεος ἂψ ὤσασθαι, ἐπεὶ τὰ πρῶτα πέλασθεν.
421  ἀλλʼ ὥς τʼ ἀμφʼ οὔροισι δύʼ ἀνέρε δηριάασθον
422  μέτρʼ ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντες ἐπιξύνῳ ἐν ἀρούρῃ,
423  ὥ τʼ ὀλίγῳ ἐνὶ χώρῳ ἐρίζητον περὶ ἴσης,
424  ὣς ἄρα τοὺς διέεργον ἐπάλξιες· οἳ δʼ ὑπὲρ αὐτέων
425  δῄουν ἀλλήλων ἀμφὶ στήθεσσι βοείας
426  ἀσπίδας εὐκύκλους λαισήϊά τε πτερόεντα.
427  πολλοὶ δʼ οὐτάζοντο κατὰ χρόα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ,
428  ἠμὲν ὅτεῳ στρεφθέντι μετάφρενα γυμνωθείη
429  μαρναμένων, πολλοὶ δὲ διαμπερὲς ἀσπίδος αὐτῆς.
430  πάντῃ δὴ πύργοι καὶ ἐπάλξιες αἵματι φωτῶν
431  ἐρράδατʼ ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἀπὸ Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν.
432  ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὧς ἐδύναντο φόβον ποιῆσαι Ἀχαιῶν,
433  ἀλλʼ ἔχον ὥς τε τάλαντα γυνὴ χερνῆτις ἀληθής,
434  ἥ τε σταθμὸν ἔχουσα καὶ εἴριον ἀμφὶς ἀνέλκει
435  ἰσάζουσʼ, ἵνα παισὶν ἀεικέα μισθὸν ἄρηται·
436  ὣς μὲν τῶν ἐπὶ ἶσα μάχη τέτατο πτόλεμός τε,
437  πρίν γʼ ὅτε δὴ Ζεὺς κῦδος ὑπέρτερον Ἕκτορι δῶκε
438  Πριαμίδῃ, ὃς πρῶτος ἐσήλατο τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν.
439  ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Τρώεσσι γεγωνώς·
440  ὄρνυσθʼ ἱππόδαμοι Τρῶες, ῥήγνυσθε δὲ τεῖχος
441  Ἀργείων καὶ νηυσὶν ἐνίετε θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ.
442  ὣς φάτʼ ἐποτρύνων, οἳ δʼ οὔασι πάντες ἄκουον,
443  ἴθυσαν δʼ ἐπὶ τεῖχος ἀολλέες· οἳ μὲν ἔπειτα
444  κροσσάων ἐπέβαινον ἀκαχμένα δούρατʼ ἔχοντες,
445  Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἁρπάξας λᾶαν φέρεν, ὅς ῥα πυλάων
446  ἑστήκει πρόσθε πρυμνὸς παχύς, αὐτὰρ ὕπερθεν
447  ὀξὺς ἔην· τὸν δʼ οὔ κε δύʼ ἀνέρε δήμου ἀρίστω
448  ῥηϊδίως ἐπʼ ἄμαξαν ἀπʼ οὔδεος ὀχλίσσειαν,
449  οἷοι νῦν βροτοί εἰσʼ· ὃ δέ μιν ῥέα πάλλε καὶ οἶος.
450  τόν οἱ ἐλαφρὸν ἔθηκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω.
451  ὡς δʼ ὅτε ποιμὴν ῥεῖα φέρει πόκον ἄρσενος οἰὸς
452  χειρὶ λαβὼν ἑτέρῃ, ὀλίγον τέ μιν ἄχθος ἐπείγει,
453  ὣς Ἕκτωρ ἰθὺς σανίδων φέρε λᾶαν ἀείρας,
454  αἵ ῥα πύλας εἴρυντο πύκα στιβαρῶς ἀραρυίας
455  δικλίδας ὑψηλάς· δοιοὶ δʼ ἔντοσθεν ὀχῆες
456  εἶχον ἐπημοιβοί, μία δὲ κληῒς ἐπαρήρει.
457  στῆ δὲ μάλʼ ἐγγὺς ἰών, καὶ ἐρεισάμενος βάλε μέσσας
458  εὖ διαβάς, ἵνα μή οἱ ἀφαυρότερον βέλος εἴη,
459  ῥῆξε δʼ ἀπʼ ἀμφοτέρους θαιρούς· πέσε δὲ λίθος εἴσω
460  βριθοσύνῃ, μέγα δʼ ἀμφὶ πύλαι μύκον, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ὀχῆες
461  ἐσχεθέτην, σανίδες δὲ διέτμαγεν ἄλλυδις ἄλλη
462  λᾶος ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔσθορε φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ
463  νυκτὶ θοῇ ἀτάλαντος ὑπώπια· λάμπε δὲ χαλκῷ
464  σμερδαλέῳ, τὸν ἕεστο περὶ χροΐ, δοιὰ δὲ χερσὶ
465  δοῦρʼ ἔχεν· οὔ κέν τίς μιν ἐρύκακεν ἀντιβολήσας
466  νόσφι θεῶν ὅτʼ ἐσᾶλτο πύλας· πυρὶ δʼ ὄσσε δεδήει.
467  κέκλετο δὲ Τρώεσσιν ἑλιξάμενος καθʼ ὅμιλον
468  τεῖχος ὑπερβαίνειν· τοὶ δʼ ὀτρύνοντι πίθοντο.
469  αὐτίκα δʼ οἳ μὲν τεῖχος ὑπέρβασαν, οἳ δὲ κατʼ αὐτὰς
470  ποιητὰς ἐσέχυντο πύλας· Δαναοὶ δὲ φόβηθεν
471  νῆας ἀνὰ γλαφυράς, ὅμαδος δʼ ἀλίαστος ἐτύχθη.


Neptune helps the Achaeans—The feats of Idomeneus—Hector at the
      ships.

      Now when Jove had thus brought Hector and the Trojans to the
      ships, he left them to their never-ending toil, and turned his
      keen eyes away, looking elsewhither towards the horse-breeders of
      Thrace, the Mysians, fighters at close quarters, the noble
      Hippemolgi, who live on milk, and the Abians, justest of mankind.
      He no longer turned so much as a glance towards Troy, for he did
      not think that any of the immortals would go and help either
      Trojans or Danaans.

      But King Neptune had kept no blind look-out; he had been looking
      admiringly on the battle from his seat on the topmost crests of
      wooded Samothrace, whence he could see all Ida, with the city of
      Priam and the ships of the Achaeans. He had come from under the
      sea and taken his place here, for he pitied the Achaeans who were
      being overcome by the Trojans; and he was furiously angry with
      Jove.

      Presently he came down from his post on the mountain top, and as
      he strode swiftly onwards the high hills and the forest quaked
      beneath the tread of his immortal feet. Three strides he took,
      and with the fourth he reached his goal—Aegae, where is his
      glittering golden palace, imperishable, in the depths of the sea.
      When he got there, he yoked his fleet brazen-footed steeds with
      their manes of gold all flying in the wind; he clothed himself in
      raiment of gold, grasped his gold whip, and took his stand upon
      his chariot. As he went his way over the waves the sea-monsters
      left their lairs, for they knew their lord, and came gambolling
      round him from every quarter of the deep, while the sea in her
      gladness opened a path before his chariot. So lightly did the
      horses fly that the bronze axle of the car was not even wet
      beneath it; and thus his bounding steeds took him to the ships of
      the Achaeans.

      Now there is a certain huge cavern in the depths of the sea
      midway between Tenedos and rocky Imbrus; here Neptune lord of the
      earthquake stayed his horses, unyoked them, and set before them
      their ambrosial forage. He hobbled their feet with hobbles of
      gold which none could either unloose or break, so that they might
      stay there in that place until their lord should return. This
      done he went his way to the host of the Achaeans.

      Now the Trojans followed Hector son of Priam in close array like
      a storm-cloud or flame of fire, fighting with might and main and
      raising the cry battle; for they deemed that they should take the
      ships of the Achaeans and kill all their chiefest heroes then and
      there. Meanwhile earth-encircling Neptune lord of the earthquake
      cheered on the Argives, for he had come up out of the sea and had
      assumed the form and voice of Calchas.

      First he spoke to the two Ajaxes, who were doing their best
      already, and said, “Ajaxes, you two can be the saving of the
      Achaeans if you will put out all your strength and not let
      yourselves be daunted. I am not afraid that the Trojans, who have
      got over the wall in force, will be victorious in any other part,
      for the Achaeans can hold all of them in check, but I much fear
      that some evil will befall us here where furious Hector, who
      boasts himself the son of great Jove himself, is leading them on
      like a pillar of flame. May some god, then, put it into your
      hearts to make a firm stand here, and to incite others to do the
      like. In this case you will drive him from the ships even though
      he be inspired by Jove himself.”

      As he spoke the earth-encircling lord of the earthquake struck
      both of them with his sceptre and filled their hearts with
      daring. He made their legs light and active, as also their hands
      and their feet. Then, as the soaring falcon poises on the wing
      high above some sheer rock, and presently swoops down to chase
      some bird over the plain, even so did Neptune lord of the
      earthquake wing his flight into the air and leave them. Of the
      two, swift Ajax son of Oileus was the first to know who it was
      that had been speaking with them, and said to Ajax son of
      Telamon, “Ajax, this is one of the gods that dwell on Olympus,
      who in the likeness of the prophet is bidding us fight hard by
      our ships. It was not Calchas the seer and diviner of omens; I
      knew him at once by his feet and knees as he turned away, for the
      gods are soon recognised. Moreover I feel the lust of battle burn
      more fiercely within me, while my hands and my feet under me are
      more eager for the fray.”

      And Ajax son of Telamon answered, “I too feel my hands grasp my
      spear more firmly; my strength is greater, and my feet more
      nimble; I long, moreover, to meet furious Hector son of Priam,
      even in single combat.”

      Thus did they converse, exulting in the hunger after battle with
      which the god had filled them. Meanwhile the earth-encircler
      roused the Achaeans, who were resting in the rear by the ships
      overcome at once by hard fighting and by grief at seeing that the
      Trojans had got over the wall in force. Tears began falling from
      their eyes as they beheld them, for they made sure that they
      should not escape destruction; but the lord of the earthquake
      passed lightly about among them and urged their battalions to the
      front.

      First he went up to Teucer and Leitus, the hero Peneleos, and
      Thoas and Deipyrus; Meriones also and Antilochus, valiant
      warriors; all did he exhort. “Shame on you young Argives,” he
      cried, “it was on your prowess I relied for the saving of our
      ships; if you fight not with might and main, this very day will
      see us overcome by the Trojans. Of a truth my eyes behold a great
      and terrible portent which I had never thought to see—the Trojans
      at our ships—they, who were heretofore like panic-stricken hinds,
      the prey of jackals and wolves in a forest, with no strength but
      in flight for they cannot defend themselves. Hitherto the Trojans
      dared not for one moment face the attack of the Achaeans, but now
      they have sallied far from their city and are fighting at our
      very ships through the cowardice of our leader and the
      disaffection of the people themselves, who in their discontent
      care not to fight in defence of the ships but are being
      slaughtered near them. True, King Agamemnon son of Atreus is the
      cause of our disaster by having insulted the son of Peleus, still
      this is no reason why we should leave off fighting. Let us be
      quick to heal, for the hearts of the brave heal quickly. You do
      ill to be thus remiss, you, who are the finest soldiers in our
      whole army. I blame no man for keeping out of battle if he is a
      weakling, but I am indignant with such men as you are. My good
      friends, matters will soon become even worse through this
      slackness; think, each one of you, of his own honour and credit,
      for the hazard of the fight is extreme. Great Hector is now
      fighting at our ships; he has broken through the gates and the
      strong bolt that held them.”

      Thus did the earth-encircler address the Achaeans and urge them
      on. Thereon round the two Ajaxes there gathered strong bands of
      men, of whom not even Mars nor Minerva, marshaller of hosts could
      make light if they went among them, for they were the picked men
      of all those who were now awaiting the onset of Hector and the
      Trojans. They made a living fence, spear to spear, shield to
      shield, buckler to buckler, helmet to helmet, and man to man. The
      horse-hair crests on their gleaming helmets touched one another
      as they nodded forward, so closely serried were they; the spears
      they brandished in their strong hands were interlaced, and their
      hearts were set on battle.

      The Trojans advanced in a dense body, with Hector at their head
      pressing right on as a rock that comes thundering down the side
      of some mountain from whose brow the winter torrents have torn
      it; the foundations of the dull thing have been loosened by
      floods of rain, and as it bounds headlong on its way it sets the
      whole forest in an uproar; it swerves neither to right nor left
      till it reaches level ground, but then for all its fury it can go
      no further—even so easily did Hector for a while seem as though
      he would career through the tents and ships of the Achaeans till
      he had reached the sea in his murderous course; but the closely
      serried battalions stayed him when he reached them, for the sons
      of the Achaeans thrust at him with swords and spears pointed at
      both ends, and drove him from them so that he staggered and gave
      ground; thereon he shouted to the Trojans, “Trojans, Lycians, and
      Dardanians, fighters in close combat, stand firm: the Achaeans
      have set themselves as a wall against me, but they will not check
      me for long; they will give ground before me if the mightiest of
      the gods, the thundering spouse of Juno, has indeed inspired my
      onset.”

      With these words he put heart and soul into them all. Deiphobus
      son of Priam went about among them intent on deeds of daring with
      his round shield before him, under cover of which he strode
      quickly forward. Meriones took aim at him with a spear, nor did
      he fail to hit the broad orb of ox-hide; but he was far from
      piercing it for the spear broke in two pieces long ere he could
      do so; moreover Deiphobus had seen it coming and had held his
      shield well away from him. Meriones drew back under cover of his
      comrades, angry alike at having failed to vanquish Deiphobus, and
      having broken his spear. He turned therefore towards the ships
      and tents to fetch a spear which he had left behind in his tent.

      The others continued fighting, and the cry of battle rose up into
      the heavens. Teucer son of Telamon was the first to kill his man,
      to wit, the warrior Imbrius, son of Mentor, rich in horses. Until
      the Achaeans came he had lived in Pedaeum, and had married
      Medesicaste, a bastard daughter of Priam; but on the arrival of
      the Danaan fleet he had gone back to Ilius, and was a great man
      among the Trojans, dwelling near Priam himself, who gave him like
      honour with his own sons. The son of Telamon now struck him under
      the ear with a spear which he then drew back again, and Imbrius
      fell headlong as an ash-tree when it is felled on the crest of
      some high mountain beacon, and its delicate green foliage comes
      toppling down to the ground. Thus did he fall with his
      bronze-dight armour ringing harshly round him, and Teucer sprang
      forward with intent to strip him of his armour; but as he was
      doing so, Hector took aim at him with a spear. Teucer saw the
      spear coming and swerved aside, whereon it hit Amphimachus, son
      of Cteatus son of Actor, in the chest as he was coming into
      battle, and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily
      to the ground. Hector sprang forward to take Amphimachus’s helmet
      from off his temples, and in a moment Ajax threw a spear at him,
      but did not wound him, for he was encased all over in his
      terrible armour; nevertheless the spear struck the boss of his
      shield with such force as to drive him back from the two corpses,
      which the Achaeans then drew off. Stichius and Menestheus,
      captains of the Athenians, bore away Amphimachus to the host of
      the Achaeans, while the two brave and impetuous Ajaxes did the
      like by Imbrius. As two lions snatch a goat from the hounds that
      have it in their fangs, and bear it through thick brushwood high
      above the ground in their jaws, thus did the Ajaxes bear aloft
      the body of Imbrius, and strip it of its armour. Then the son of
      Oileus severed the head from the neck in revenge for the death of
      Amphimachus, and sent it whirling over the crowd as though it had
      been a ball, till it fell in the dust at Hector’s feet.

      Neptune was exceedingly angry that his grandson Amphimachus
      should have fallen; he therefore went to the tents and ships of
      the Achaeans to urge the Danaans still further, and to devise
      evil for the Trojans. Idomeneus met him, as he was taking leave
      of a comrade, who had just come to him from the fight, wounded in
      the knee. His fellow-soldiers bore him off the field, and
      Idomeneus having given orders to the physicians went on to his
      tent, for he was still thirsting for battle. Neptune spoke in the
      likeness and with the voice of Thoas son of Andraemon who ruled
      the Aetolians of all Pleuron and high Calydon, and was honoured
      among his people as though he were a god. “Idomeneus,” said he,
      “lawgiver to the Cretans, what has now become of the threats with
      which the sons of the Achaeans used to threaten the Trojans?”

      And Idomeneus chief among the Cretans answered, “Thoas, no one,
      so far as I know, is in fault, for we can all fight. None are
      held back neither by fear nor slackness, but it seems to be the
      will of almighty Jove that the Achaeans should perish
      ingloriously here far from Argos: you, Thoas, have been always
      staunch, and you keep others in heart if you see any fail in
      duty; be not then remiss now, but exhort all to do their utmost.”

      To this Neptune lord of the earthquake made answer, “Idomeneus,
      may he never return from Troy, but remain here for dogs to batten
      upon, who is this day wilfully slack in fighting. Get your armour
      and go, we must make all haste together if we may be of any use,
      though we are only two. Even cowards gain courage from
      companionship, and we two can hold our own with the bravest.”

      Therewith the god went back into the thick of the fight, and
      Idomeneus when he had reached his tent donned his armour, grasped
      his two spears, and sallied forth. As the lightning which the son
      of Saturn brandishes from bright Olympus when he would show a
      sign to mortals, and its gleam flashes far and wide—even so did
      his armour gleam about him as he ran. Meriones his sturdy squire
      met him while he was still near his tent (for he was going to
      fetch his spear) and Idomeneus said:

      “Meriones, fleet son of Molus, best of comrades, why have you
      left the field? Are you wounded, and is the point of the weapon
      hurting you? or have you been sent to fetch me? I want no
      fetching; I had far rather fight than stay in my tent.”

      “Idomeneus,” answered Meriones, “I come for a spear, if I can
      find one in my tent; I have broken the one I had, in throwing it
      at the shield of Deiphobus.”

      And Idomeneus captain of the Cretans answered, “You will find one
      spear, or twenty if you so please, standing up against the end
      wall of my tent. I have taken them from Trojans whom I have
      killed, for I am not one to keep my enemy at arm’s length;
      therefore I have spears, bossed shields, helmets, and burnished
      corslets.”

      Then Meriones said, “I too in my tent and at my ship have spoils
      taken from the Trojans, but they are not at hand. I have been at
      all times valorous, and wherever there has been hard fighting
      have held my own among the foremost. There may be those among the
      Achaeans who do not know how I fight, but you know it well enough
      yourself.”

      Idomeneus answered, “I know you for a brave man: you need not
      tell me. If the best men at the ships were being chosen to go on
      an ambush—and there is nothing like this for showing what a man
      is made of; it comes out then who is cowardly and who brave; the
      coward will change colour at every touch and turn; he is full of
      fears, and keeps shifting his weight first on one knee and then
      on the other; his heart beats fast as he thinks of death, and one
      can hear the chattering of his teeth; whereas the brave man will
      not change colour nor be frightened on finding himself in ambush,
      but is all the time longing to go into action—if the best men
      were being chosen for such a service, no one could make light of
      your courage nor feats of arms. If you were struck by a dart or
      smitten in close combat, it would not be from behind, in your
      neck nor back, but the weapon would hit you in the chest or belly
      as you were pressing forward to a place in the front ranks. But
      let us no longer stay here talking like children, lest we be ill
      spoken of; go, fetch your spear from the tent at once.”

      On this Meriones, peer of Mars, went to the tent and got himself
      a spear of bronze. He then followed after Idomeneus, big with
      great deeds of valour. As when baneful Mars sallies forth to
      battle, and his son Panic so strong and dauntless goes with him,
      to strike terror even into the heart of a hero—the pair have gone
      from Thrace to arm themselves among the Ephyri or the brave
      Phlegyans, but they will not listen to both the contending hosts,
      and will give victory to one side or to the other—even so did
      Meriones and Idomeneus, captains of men, go out to battle clad in
      their bronze armour. Meriones was first to speak. “Son of
      Deucalion,” said he, “where would you have us begin fighting? On
      the right wing of the host, in the centre, or on the left wing,
      where I take it the Achaeans will be weakest?”

      Idomeneus answered, “There are others to defend the centre—the
      two Ajaxes and Teucer, who is the finest archer of all the
      Achaeans, and is good also in a hand-to-hand fight. These will
      give Hector son of Priam enough to do; fight as he may, he will
      find it hard to vanquish their indomitable fury, and fire the
      ships, unless the son of Saturn fling a firebrand upon them with
      his own hand. Great Ajax son of Telamon will yield to no man who
      is in mortal mould and eats the grain of Ceres, if bronze and
      great stones can overthrow him. He would not yield even to
      Achilles in hand-to-hand fight, and in fleetness of foot there is
      none to beat him; let us turn therefore towards the left wing,
      that we may know forthwith whether we are to give glory to some
      other, or he to us.”

      Meriones, peer of fleet Mars, then led the way till they came to
      the part of the host which Idomeneus had named.

      Now when the Trojans saw Idomeneus coming on like a flame of
      fire, him and his squire clad in their richly wrought armour,
      they shouted and made towards him all in a body, and a furious
      hand-to-hand fight raged under the ships’ sterns. Fierce as the
      shrill winds that whistle upon a day when dust lies deep on the
      roads, and the gusts raise it into a thick cloud—even such was
      the fury of the combat, and might and main did they hack at each
      other with spear and sword throughout the host. The field
      bristled with the long and deadly spears which they bore.
      Dazzling was the sheen of their gleaming helmets, their
      fresh-burnished breastplates, and glittering shields as they
      joined battle with one another. Iron indeed must be his courage
      who could take pleasure in the sight of such a turmoil, and look
      on it without being dismayed.

      Thus did the two mighty sons of Saturn devise evil for mortal
      heroes. Jove was minded to give victory to the Trojans and to
      Hector, so as to do honour to fleet Achilles, nevertheless he did
      not mean to utterly overthrow the Achaean host before Ilius, and
      only wanted to glorify Thetis and her valiant son. Neptune on the
      other hand went about among the Argives to incite them, having
      come up from the grey sea in secret, for he was grieved at seeing
      them vanquished by the Trojans, and was furiously angry with
      Jove. Both were of the same race and country, but Jove was elder
      born and knew more, therefore Neptune feared to defend the
      Argives openly, but in the likeness of man, he kept on
      encouraging them throughout their host. Thus, then, did these two
      devise a knot of war and battle, that none could unloose or
      break, and set both sides tugging at it, to the failing of men’s
      knees beneath them.

      And now Idomeneus, though his hair was already flecked with grey,
      called loud on the Danaans and spread panic among the Trojans as
      he leaped in among them. He slew Othryoneus from Cabesus, a
      sojourner, who had but lately come to take part in the war. He
      sought Cassandra, the fairest of Priam’s daughters, in marriage,
      but offered no gifts of wooing, for he promised a great thing, to
      wit, that he would drive the sons of the Achaeans willy nilly
      from Troy; old King Priam had given his consent and promised her
      to him, whereon he fought on the strength of the promises thus
      made to him. Idomeneus aimed a spear, and hit him as he came
      striding on. His cuirass of bronze did not protect him, and the
      spear stuck in his belly, so that he fell heavily to the ground.
      Then Idomeneus vaunted over him saying, “Othryoneus, there is no
      one in the world whom I shall admire more than I do you, if you
      indeed perform what you have promised Priam son of Dardanus in
      return for his daughter. We too will make you an offer; we will
      give you the loveliest daughter of the son of Atreus, and will
      bring her from Argos for you to marry, if you will sack the
      goodly city of Ilius in company with ourselves; so come along
      with me, that we may make a covenant at the ships about the
      marriage, and we will not be hard upon you about gifts of
      wooing.”

      With this Idomeneus began dragging him by the foot through the
      thick of the fight, but Asius came up to protect the body, on
      foot, in front of his horses which his esquire drove so close
      behind him that he could feel their breath upon his shoulder. He
      was longing to strike down Idomeneus, but ere he could do so
      Idomeneus smote him with his spear in the throat under the chin,
      and the bronze point went clean through it. He fell as an oak, or
      poplar, or pine which shipwrights have felled for ship’s timber
      upon the mountains with whetted axes—even thus did he lie full
      length in front of his chariot and horses, grinding his teeth and
      clutching at the blood-stained dust. His charioteer was struck
      with panic and did not dare turn his horses round and escape:
      thereupon Antilochus hit him in the middle of his body with a
      spear; his cuirass of bronze did not protect him, and the spear
      stuck in his belly. He fell gasping from his chariot and
      Antilochus, great Nestor’s son, drove his horses from the Trojans
      to the Achaeans.

      Deiphobus then came close up to Idomeneus to avenge Asius, and
      took aim at him with a spear, but Idomeneus was on the look-out
      and avoided it, for he was covered by the round shield he always
      bore—a shield of ox-hide and bronze with two arm-rods on the
      inside. He crouched under cover of this, and the spear flew over
      him, but the shield rang out as the spear grazed it, and the
      weapon sped not in vain from the strong hand of Deiphobus, for it
      struck Hypsenor son of Hippasus, shepherd of his people, in the
      liver under the midriff, and his limbs failed beneath him.
      Deiphobus vaunted over him and cried with a loud voice saying,
      “Of a truth Asius has not fallen unavenged; he will be glad even
      while passing into the house of Hades, strong warden of the gate,
      that I have sent some one to escort him.”

      Thus did he vaunt, and the Argives were stung by his saying.
      Noble Antilochus was more angry than any one, but grief did not
      make him forget his friend and comrade. He ran up to him,
      bestrode him, and covered him with his shield; then two of his
      staunch comrades, Mecisteus son of Echius, and Alastor, stooped
      down, and bore him away groaning heavily to the ships. But
      Idomeneus ceased not his fury. He kept on striving continually
      either to enshroud some Trojan in the darkness of death, or
      himself to fall while warding off the evil day from the Achaeans.
      Then fell Alcathous son of noble Aesyetes; he was son-in-law to
      Anchises, having married his eldest daughter Hippodameia, who was
      the darling of her father and mother, and excelled all her
      generation in beauty, accomplishments, and understanding,
      wherefore the bravest man in all Troy had taken her to wife—him
      did Neptune lay low by the hand of Idomeneus, blinding his bright
      eyes and binding his strong limbs in fetters so that he could
      neither go back nor to one side, but stood stock still like
      pillar or lofty tree when Idomeneus struck him with a spear in
      the middle of his chest. The coat of mail that had hitherto
      protected his body was now broken, and rang harshly as the spear
      tore through it. He fell heavily to the ground, and the spear
      stuck in his heart, which still beat, and made the butt-end of
      the spear quiver till dread Mars put an end to his life.
      Idomeneus vaunted over him and cried with a loud voice saying,
      “Deiphobus, since you are in a mood to vaunt, shall we cry quits
      now that we have killed three men to your one? Nay, sir, stand in
      fight with me yourself, that you may learn what manner of
      Jove-begotten man am I that have come hither. Jove first begot
      Minos, chief ruler in Crete, and Minos in his turn begot a son,
      noble Deucalion. Deucalion begot me to be a ruler over many men
      in Crete, and my ships have now brought me hither, to be the bane
      of yourself, your father, and the Trojans.”

      Thus did he speak, and Deiphobus was in two minds, whether to go
      back and fetch some other Trojan to help him, or to take up the
      challenge single-handed. In the end, he deemed it best to go and
      fetch Aeneas, whom he found standing in the rear, for he had long
      been aggrieved with Priam because in spite of his brave deeds he
      did not give him his due share of honour. Deiphobus went up to
      him and said, “Aeneas, prince among the Trojans, if you know any
      ties of kinship, help me now to defend the body of your sister’s
      husband; come with me to the rescue of Alcathous, who being
      husband to your sister brought you up when you were a child in
      his house, and now Idomeneus has slain him.”

      With these words he moved the heart of Aeneas, and he went in
      pursuit of Idomeneus, big with great deeds of valour; but
      Idomeneus was not to be thus daunted as though he were a mere
      child; he held his ground as a wild boar at bay upon the
      mountains, who abides the coming of a great crowd of men in some
      lonely place—the bristles stand upright on his back, his eyes
      flash fire, and he whets his tusks in his eagerness to defend
      himself against hounds and men—even so did famed Idomeneus hold
      his ground and budge not at the coming of Aeneas. He cried aloud
      to his comrades looking towards Ascalaphus, Aphareus, Deipyrus,
      Meriones, and Antilochus, all of them brave soldiers—“Hither my
      friends,” he cried, “and leave me not single-handed—I go in great
      fear by fleet Aeneas, who is coming against me, and is a
      redoubtable dispenser of death battle. Moreover he is in the
      flower of youth when a man’s strength is greatest; if I was of
      the same age as he is and in my present mind, either he or I
      should soon bear away the prize of victory.”

      On this, all of them as one man stood near him, shield on
      shoulder. Aeneas on the other side called to his comrades,
      looking towards Deiphobus, Paris, and Agenor, who were leaders of
      the Trojans along with himself, and the people followed them as
      sheep follow the ram when they go down to drink after they have
      been feeding, and the heart of the shepherd is glad—even so was
      the heart of Aeneas gladdened when he saw his people follow him.

      Then they fought furiously in close combat about the body of
      Alcathous, wielding their long spears; and the bronze armour
      about their bodies rang fearfully as they took aim at one another
      in the press of the fight, while the two heroes Aeneas and
      Idomeneus, peers of Mars, outvied everyone in their desire to
      hack at each other with sword and spear. Aeneas took aim first,
      but Idomeneus was on the look-out and avoided the spear, so that
      it sped from Aeneas’ strong hand in vain, and fell quivering in
      the ground. Idomeneus meanwhile smote Oenomaus in the middle of
      his belly, and broke the plate of his corslet, whereon his bowels
      came gushing out and he clutched the earth in the palms of his
      hands as he fell sprawling in the dust. Idomeneus drew his spear
      out of the body, but could not strip him of the rest of his
      armour for the rain of darts that were showered upon him:
      moreover his strength was now beginning to fail him so that he
      could no longer charge, and could neither spring forward to
      recover his own weapon nor swerve aside to avoid one that was
      aimed at him; therefore, though he still defended himself in
      hand-to-hand fight, his heavy feet could not bear him swiftly out
      of the battle. Deiphobus aimed a spear at him as he was
      retreating slowly from the field, for his bitterness against him
      was as fierce as ever, but again he missed him, and hit
      Ascalaphus, the son of Mars; the spear went through his shoulder,
      and he clutched the earth in the palms of his hands as he fell
      sprawling in the dust.

      Grim Mars of awful voice did not yet know that his son had
      fallen, for he was sitting on the summits of Olympus under the
      golden clouds, by command of Jove, where the other gods were also
      sitting, forbidden to take part in the battle. Meanwhile men
      fought furiously about the body. Deiphobus tore the helmet from
      off his head, but Meriones sprang upon him, and struck him on the
      arm with a spear so that the visored helmet fell from his hand
      and came ringing down upon the ground. Thereon Meriones sprang
      upon him like a vulture, drew the spear from his shoulder, and
      fell back under cover of his men. Then Polites, own brother of
      Deiphobus passed his arms around his waist, and bore him away
      from the battle till he got to his horses that were standing in
      the rear of the fight with the chariot and their driver. These
      took him towards the city groaning and in great pain, with the
      blood flowing from his arm.

      The others still fought on, and the battle-cry rose to heaven
      without ceasing. Aeneas sprang on Aphareus son of Caletor, and
      struck him with a spear in his throat which was turned towards
      him; his head fell on one side, his helmet and shield came down
      along with him, and death, life’s foe, was shed around him.
      Antilochus spied his chance, flew forward towards Thoon, and
      wounded him as he was turning round. He laid open the vein that
      runs all the way up the back to the neck; he cut this vein clean
      away throughout its whole course, and Thoon fell in the dust face
      upwards, stretching out his hands imploringly towards his
      comrades. Antilochus sprang upon him and stripped the armour from
      his shoulders, glaring round him fearfully as he did so. The
      Trojans came about him on every side and struck his broad and
      gleaming shield, but could not wound his body, for Neptune stood
      guard over the son of Nestor, though the darts fell thickly round
      him. He was never clear of the foe, but was always in the thick
      of the fight; his spear was never idle; he poised and aimed it in
      every direction, so eager was he to hit someone from a distance
      or to fight him hand to hand.

      As he was thus aiming among the crowd, he was seen by Adamas, son
      of Asius, who rushed towards him and struck him with a spear in
      the middle of his shield, but Neptune made its point without
      effect, for he grudged him the life of Antilochus. One half,
      therefore, of the spear stuck fast like a charred stake in
      Antilochus’s shield, while the other lay on the ground. Adamas
      then sought shelter under cover of his men, but Meriones followed
      after and hit him with a spear midway between the private parts
      and the navel, where a wound is particularly painful to wretched
      mortals. There did Meriones transfix him, and he writhed
      convulsively about the spear as some bull whom mountain herdsmen
      have bound with ropes of withes and are taking away perforce.
      Even so did he move convulsively for a while, but not for very
      long, till Meriones came up and drew the spear out of his body,
      and his eyes were veiled in darkness.

      Helenus then struck Deipyrus with a great Thracian sword, hitting
      him on the temple in close combat and tearing the helmet from his
      head; the helmet fell to the ground, and one of those who were
      fighting on the Achaean side took charge of it as it rolled at
      his feet, but the eyes of Deipyrus were closed in the darkness of
      death.

      On this Menelaus was grieved, and made menacingly towards
      Helenus, brandishing his spear; but Helenus drew his bow, and the
      two attacked one another at one and the same moment, the one with
      his spear, and the other with his bow and arrow. The son of Priam
      hit the breastplate of Menelaus’s corslet, but the arrow glanced
      from off it. As black beans or pulse come pattering down on to a
      threshing-floor from the broad winnowing-shovel, blown by shrill
      winds and shaken by the shovel—even so did the arrow glance off
      and recoil from the shield of Menelaus, who in his turn wounded
      the hand with which Helenus carried his bow; the spear went right
      through his hand and stuck in the bow itself, so that to his life
      he retreated under cover of his men, with his hand dragging by
      his side—for the spear weighed it down till Agenor drew it out
      and bound the hand carefully up in a woollen sling which his
      esquire had with him.

      Pisander then made straight at Menelaus—his evil destiny luring
      him on to his doom, for he was to fall in fight with you, O
      Menelaus. When the two were hard by one another the spear of the
      son of Atreus turned aside and he missed his aim; Pisander then
      struck the shield of brave Menelaus but could not pierce it, for
      the shield stayed the spear and broke the shaft; nevertheless he
      was glad and made sure of victory; forthwith, however, the son of
      Atreus drew his sword and sprang upon him. Pisander then seized
      the bronze battle-axe, with its long and polished handle of olive
      wood that hung by his side under his shield, and the two made at
      one another. Pisander struck the peak of Menelaus’s crested
      helmet just under the crest itself, and Menelaus hit Pisander as
      he was coming towards him, on the forehead, just at the rise of
      his nose; the bones cracked and his two gore-bedrabbled eyes fell
      by his feet in the dust. He fell backwards to the ground, and
      Menelaus set his heel upon him, stripped him of his armour, and
      vaunted over him saying, “Even thus shall you Trojans leave the
      ships of the Achaeans, proud and insatiate of battle though you
      be, nor shall you lack any of the disgrace and shame which you
      have heaped upon myself. Cowardly she-wolves that you are, you
      feared not the anger of dread Jove, avenger of violated
      hospitality, who will one day destroy your city; you stole my
      wedded wife and wickedly carried off much treasure when you were
      her guest, and now you would fling fire upon our ships, and kill
      our heroes. A day will come when, rage as you may, you shall be
      stayed. O father Jove, you, who they say art above all, both gods
      and men, in wisdom, and from whom all things that befall us do
      proceed, how can you thus favour the Trojans—men so proud and
      overweening, that they are never tired of fighting? All things
      pall after a while—sleep, love, sweet song, and stately
      dance—still these are things of which a man would surely have his
      fill rather than of battle, whereas it is of battle that the
      Trojans are insatiate.”

      So saying Menelaus stripped the blood-stained armour from the
      body of Pisander, and handed it over to his men; then he again
      ranged himself among those who were in the front of the fight.

      Harpalion son of King Pylaemenes then sprang upon him; he had
      come to fight at Troy along with his father, but he did not go
      home again. He struck the middle of Menelaus’s shield with his
      spear but could not pierce it, and to save his life drew back
      under cover of his men, looking round him on every side lest he
      should be wounded. But Meriones aimed a bronze-tipped arrow at
      him as he was leaving the field, and hit him on the right
      buttock; the arrow pierced the bone through and through, and
      penetrated the bladder, so he sat down where he was and breathed
      his last in the arms of his comrades, stretched like a worm upon
      the ground and watering the earth with the blood that flowed from
      his wound. The brave Paphlagonians tended him with all due care;
      they raised him into his chariot, and bore him sadly off to the
      city of Troy; his father went also with him weeping bitterly, but
      there was no ransom that could bring his dead son to life again.

      Paris was deeply grieved by the death of Harpalion, who was his
      host when he went among the Paphlagonians; he aimed an arrow,
      therefore, in order to avenge him. Now there was a certain man
      named Euchenor, son of Polyidus the prophet, a brave man and
      wealthy, whose home was in Corinth. This Euchenor had set sail
      for Troy well knowing that it would be the death of him, for his
      good old father Polyidus had often told him that he must either
      stay at home and die of a terrible disease, or go with the
      Achaeans and perish at the hands of the Trojans; he chose,
      therefore, to avoid incurring the heavy fine the Achaeans would
      have laid upon him, and at the same time to escape the pain and
      suffering of disease. Paris now smote him on the jaw under his
      ear, whereon the life went out of him and he was enshrouded in
      the darkness of death.

      Thus then did they fight as it were a flaming fire. But Hector
      had not yet heard, and did not know that the Argives were making
      havoc of his men on the left wing of the battle, where the
      Achaeans ere long would have triumphed over them, so vigorously
      did Neptune cheer them on and help them. He therefore held on at
      the point where he had first forced his way through the gates and
      the wall, after breaking through the serried ranks of Danaan
      warriors. It was here that the ships of Ajax and Protesilaus were
      drawn up by the sea-shore; here the wall was at its lowest, and
      the fight both of man and horse raged most fiercely. The
      Boeotians and the Ionians with their long tunics, the Locrians,
      the men of Phthia, and the famous force of the Epeans could
      hardly stay Hector as he rushed on towards the ships, nor could
      they drive him from them, for he was as a wall of fire. The
      chosen men of the Athenians were in the van, led by Menestheus
      son of Peteos, with whom were also Pheidas, Stichius, and
      stalwart Bias; Meges son of Phyleus, Amphion, and Dracius
      commanded the Epeans, while Medon and staunch Podarces led the
      men of Phthia. Of these, Medon was bastard son to Oileus and
      brother of Ajax, but he lived in Phylace away from his own
      country, for he had killed the brother of his stepmother Eriopis,
      the wife of Oileus; the other, Podarces, was the son of Iphiclus,
      son of Phylacus. These two stood in the van of the Phthians, and
      defended the ships along with the Boeotians.

      Ajax son of Oileus, never for a moment left the side of Ajax, son
      of Telamon, but as two swart oxen both strain their utmost at the
      plough which they are drawing in a fallow field, and the sweat
      steams upwards from about the roots of their horns—nothing but
      the yoke divides them as they break up the ground till they reach
      the end of the field—even so did the two Ajaxes stand shoulder to
      shoulder by one another. Many and brave comrades followed the son
      of Telamon, to relieve him of his shield when he was overcome
      with sweat and toil, but the Locrians did not follow so close
      after the son of Oileus, for they could not hold their own in a
      hand-to-hand fight. They had no bronze helmets with plumes of
      horse-hair, neither had they shields nor ashen spears, but they
      had come to Troy armed with bows, and with slings of twisted wool
      from which they showered their missiles to break the ranks of the
      Trojans. The others, therefore, with their heavy armour bore the
      brunt of the fight with the Trojans and with Hector, while the
      Locrians shot from behind, under their cover; and thus the
      Trojans began to lose heart, for the arrows threw them into
      confusion.

      The Trojans would now have been driven in sorry plight from the
      ships and tents back to windy Ilius, had not Polydamas presently
      said to Hector, “Hector, there is no persuading you to take
      advice. Because heaven has so richly endowed you with the arts of
      war, you think that you must therefore excel others in counsel;
      but you cannot thus claim preeminence in all things. Heaven has
      made one man an excellent soldier; of another it has made a
      dancer or a singer and player on the lyre; while yet in another
      Jove has implanted a wise understanding of which men reap fruit
      to the saving of many, and he himself knows more about it than
      any one; therefore I will say what I think will be best. The
      fight has hemmed you in as with a circle of fire, and even now
      that the Trojans are within the wall some of them stand aloof in
      full armour, while others are fighting scattered and outnumbered
      near the ships. Draw back, therefore, and call your chieftains
      round you, that we may advise together whether to fall now upon
      the ships in the hope that heaven may vouchsafe us victory, or to
      beat a retreat while we can yet safely do so. I greatly fear that
      the Achaeans will pay us their debt of yesterday in full, for
      there is one abiding at their ships who is never weary of battle,
      and who will not hold aloof much longer.”

      Thus spoke Polydamas, and his words pleased Hector well. He
      sprang in full armour from his chariot and said, “Polydamas,
      gather the chieftains here; I will go yonder into the fight, but
      will return at once when I have given them their orders.”

      He then sped onward, towering like a snowy mountain, and with a
      loud cry flew through the ranks of the Trojans and their allies.
      When they heard his voice they all hastened to gather round
      Polydamas, the excellent son of Panthous, but Hector kept on
      among the foremost, looking everywhere to find Deiphobus and
      prince Helenus, Adamas son of Asius, and Asius son of Hyrtacus;
      living, indeed, and scatheless he could no longer find them, for
      the two last were lying by the sterns of the Achaean ships, slain
      by the Argives, while the others had been also stricken and
      wounded by them; but upon the left wing of the dread battle he
      found Alexandrus, husband of lovely Helen, cheering his men and
      urging them on to fight. He went up to him and upbraided him.
      “Paris,” said he, “evil-hearted Paris, fair to see but woman-mad
      and false of tongue, where are Deiphobus and King Helenus? Where
      are Adamas son of Asius, and Asius son of Hyrtacus? Where too is
      Othryoneus? Ilius is undone and will now surely fall!”

      Alexandrus answered, “Hector, why find fault when there is no one
      to find fault with? I should hold aloof from battle on any day
      rather than this, for my mother bore me with nothing of the
      coward about me. From the moment when you set our men fighting
      about the ships we have been staying here and doing battle with
      the Danaans. Our comrades about whom you ask me are dead;
      Deiphobus and King Helenus alone have left the field, wounded
      both of them in the hand, but the son of Saturn saved them alive.
      Now, therefore, lead on where you would have us go, and we will
      follow with right goodwill; you shall not find us fail you in so
      far as our strength holds out, but no man can do more than in him
      lies, no matter how willing he may be.”

      With these words he satisfied his brother, and the two went
      towards the part of the battle where the fight was thickest,
      about Cebriones, brave Polydamas, Phalces, Orthaeus, godlike
      Polyphetes, Palmys, Ascanius, and Morys son of Hippotion, who had
      come from fertile Ascania on the preceding day to relieve other
      troops. Then Jove urged them on to fight. They flew forth like
      the blasts of some fierce wind that strike earth in the van of a
      thunderstorm—they buffet the salt sea into an uproar; many and
      mighty are the great waves that come crashing in one after the
      other upon the shore with their arching heads all crested with
      foam—even so did rank behind rank of Trojans arrayed in gleaming
      armour follow their leaders onward. The way was led by Hector son
      of Priam, peer of murderous Mars, with his round shield before
      him—his shield of ox-hides covered with plates of bronze—and his
      gleaming helmet upon his temples. He kept stepping forward under
      cover of his shield in every direction, making trial of the ranks
      to see if they would give way before him, but he could not daunt
      the courage of the Achaeans. Ajax was the first to stride out and
      challenge him. “Sir,” he cried, “draw near; why do you think thus
      vainly to dismay the Argives? We Achaeans are excellent soldiers,
      but the scourge of Jove has fallen heavily upon us. Your heart,
      forsooth, is set on destroying our ships, but we too have hands
      that can keep you at bay, and your own fair town shall be sooner
      taken and sacked by ourselves. The time is near when you shall
      pray Jove and all the gods in your flight, that your steeds may
      be swifter than hawks as they raise the dust on the plain and
      bear you back to your city.”

      As he was thus speaking a bird flew by upon his right hand, and
      the host of the Achaeans shouted, for they took heart at the
      omen. But Hector answered, “Ajax, braggart and false of tongue,
      would that I were as sure of being son for evermore to
      aegis-bearing Jove, with Queen Juno for my mother, and of being
      held in like honour with Minerva and Apollo, as I am that this
      day is big with the destruction of the Achaeans; and you shall
      fall among them if you dare abide my spear; it shall rend your
      fair body and bid you glut our hounds and birds of prey with your
      fat and your flesh, as you fall by the ships of the Achaeans.”

      With these words he led the way and the others followed after
      with a cry that rent the air, while the host shouted behind them.
      The Argives on their part raised a shout likewise, nor did they
      forget their prowess, but stood firm against the onslaught of the
      Trojan chieftains, and the cry from both the hosts rose up to
      heaven and to the brightness of Jove’s presence.