So saying, he went. Meantime the Greeks endured
The Trojan onset, firm, yet from the ships
Repulsed them not, though fewer than themselves,500
Nor could the host of Troy, breaking the ranks
Of Greece, mix either with the camp or fleet;
But as the line divides the plank aright,
Stretch’d by some naval architect, whose hand
Minerva hath accomplish’d in his art,505
So stretch’d on them the cord of battle lay.
Others at other ships the conflict waged,
But Hector to the ship advanced direct
Of glorious Ajax; for one ship they strove;
Nor Hector, him dislodging thence, could fire510
The fleet, nor Ajax from the fleet repulse
Hector, conducted thither by the Gods.
Then, noble Ajax with a spear the breast
Pierced of Caletor, son of Clytius, arm’d
With fire to burn his bark; sounding he fell,515
And from his loosen’d grasp down dropp’d the brand.
But Hector seeing his own kinsman fallen
Beneath the sable bark, with mighty voice
Call’d on the hosts of Lycia and of Troy.
Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting sons520
Of Dardanus, within this narrow pass
Stand firm, retreat not, but redeem the son
Of Clytius, lest the Grecians of his arms
Despoil him slain in battle at the ships.
So saying, at Ajax his bright spear he cast525
Him pierced he not, but Lycophron the son
Of Mastor, a Cytherian, who had left
Cytheras, fugitive for blood, and dwelt
With Ajax. Him standing at Ajax’ side,
He pierced above his ear; down from the stern530
Supine he fell, and in the dust expired.
Then, shuddering, Ajax to his brother spake.
Alas, my Teucer! we have lost our friend;
Mastorides is slain, whom we received
An inmate from Cytheræ, and with love535
And reverence even filia,, entertain’d;
B9 Hector pierced, he dies. Where are thy shafts
Death-wing’d, and bow, by gift from Phœbus thine?
He said, whom Teucer hearing, instant ran
With bow and well-stored quiver to his side,540
Whence soon his arrows sought the Trojan host.
He struck Pisenor’s son Clytus, the friend
And charioteer of brave Polydamas,
Offspring of Panthus, toiling with both hands
To rule his fiery steeds; for more to please545
The Trojans and their Chief, where stormy most
He saw the battle, thither he had driven.
But sudden mischief, valiant as he was,
Found him, and such as none could waft aside,
For right into his neck the arrow plunged,550
And down he fell; his startled coursers shook
Their trappings, and the empty chariot rang.
That sound alarm’d Polydamas; he turn’d,
And flying to their heads, consign’d them o’er
To Protiaön’s son, Astynoüs,555
Whom he enjoin’d to keep them in his view;
Then, turning, mingled with the van again.
But Teucer still another shaft produced
Design’d for valiant Hector, whose exploits
(Had that shaft reach’d him) at the ships of Greece560
Had ceased for ever. But the eye of Jove,
Guardian of Hector’s life, slept not; he took
From Telamonian Te5cer that renown,
And while he stood straining the twisted nerve
Against the Trojan, snapp’d it. Devious flew565
The steel-charged[11] arrow, and he dropp’d his bow.
Then shuddering, to his brother thus he spake.
Ah! it is evident. Some Power divine
Makes fruitless all our efforts, who hath struck
My bow out of my hand, and snapt the cord570
With which I strung it new at dawn of day,
That it might bear the bound of many a shaft.
To whom the towering son of Telamon.
Leave then thy bow, and let thine arrows rest,
Which, envious of the Greeks, some God confounds,575
That thou may’st fight with spear and buckler arm’d,
And animate the rest. Such be our deeds
That, should they conquer us, our foes may find
Our ships, at least a prize not lightly won.
So Ajax spake; then Teucer, in his tent580
The bow replacing, slung his fourfold shield,
Settled on his illustrious brows his casque
With hair high-crested, waving, as he moved,
Terrible from above, took forth a spear
Tough-grain’d, acuminated sharp with brass,585
And stood, incontinent, at Ajax’ side.
Hector perceived the change, and of the cause
Conscious, with echoing voice call’d to his host.
Trojans and Lycians and close-fighting sons
Of Dardanus, oh now, my friends, be men;590
Now, wheresoever through the fleet dispersed,
Call into mind the fury of your might!
For I have seen, myself, Jove rendering vain
The arrows of their mightiest. Man may know
With ease the hand of interposing Jove,595
Both whom to glory he ordains, and whom
He weakens and aids not; so now he leaves
The Grecians, but propitious smiles on us.
Therefore stand fast, and whosoever gall’d
By arrow or by spear, dies—let him die;600
It shall not shame him that he died to serve
His country,[12] but his children, wife and home,
With all his heritage, shall be secure,
Drive but the Grecians from the shores of Troy.
So saying, he animated each. Meantime,605
Ajax his fellow-warriors thus address’d.