Cebriones, meantime, the charioteer
Of Hector, from his seat the Trojan ranks
Observing sore discomfited, began.
Here are we busied, Hector! on the skirts
Of roaring battle, and meantime I see635
Our host confused, their horses and themselves
All mingled. Telamonian Ajax there
Routs them; I know the hero by his shield.
Haste, drive we thither, for the carnage most
Of horse and foot conflicting furious, there640
Rages, and infinite the shouts arise.
He said, and with shrill-sounding scourge the steeds
Smote ample-maned; they, at the sudden stroke
Through both hosts whirl’d the chariot, shields and men
Trampling; with blood the axle underneath645
All redden’d, and the chariot-rings with drops
From the horse-hoofs, and from the fellied wheels.
Full on the multitude he drove, on fire
To burst the phalanx, and confusion sent
Among the Greeks, for nought[17] he shunn’d the spear.650
All quarters else with falchion or with lance,
Or with huge stones he ranged, but cautious shunn’d
The encounter of the Telamonian Chief.
But the eternal father throned on high
With fear fill’d Ajax; panic-fixt he stood,655
His seven-fold shield behind his shoulder cast,
And hemm’d by numbers, with an eye askant,
Watchful retreated. As a beast of prey
Retiring, turns and looks, so he his face
Turn’d oft, retiring slow, and step by step.660
As when the watch-dogs and assembled swains
Have driven a tawny lion from the stalls,
Then, interdicting him his wish’d repast,
Watch all the night, he, famish’d, yet again
Comes furious on, but speeds not, kept aloof665
By frequent spears from daring hands, but more
By flash of torches, which, though fierce, he dreads,
Till, at the dawn, sullen he stalks away;
So from before the Trojans Ajax stalk’d
Sullen, and with reluctance slow retired.670
His brave heart trembling for the fleet of Greece.
As when (the boys o’erpower’d) a sluggish ass,
On whose tough sides they have spent many a staff,
Enters the harvest, and the spiry ears
Crops persevering; with their rods the boys675
Still ply him hard, but all their puny might
Scarce drives him forth when he hath browsed his fill,
So, there, the Trojans and their foreign aids
With glittering lances keen huge Ajax urged,
His broad shield’s centre smiting.[18] He, by turns,680
With desperate force the Trojan phalanx dense
Facing, repulsed them, and by turns he fled,
But still forbad all inroad on the fleet.
Trojans and Greeks between, alone, he stood
A bulwark. Spears from daring hands dismiss’d685
Some, piercing his broad shield, there planted stood,
While others, in the midway falling, spent
Their disappointed rage deep in the ground.
Eurypylus, Evæmon’s noble son,
Him seeing, thus, with weapons overwhelmed690
Flew to his side, his glittering lance dismiss’d,
And Apisaon, son of Phausias, struck
Under the midriff; through his liver pass’d
The ruthless point, and, falling, he expired.
Forth sprang Eurypylus to seize the spoil;695
Whom soon as godlike Alexander saw
Despoiling Apisaon of his arms,
Drawing incontinent his bow, he sent
A shaft to his right thigh; the brittle reed
Snapp’d, and the rankling barb stuck fast within.700
Terrified at the stroke, the wounded Chief
To his own band retired, but, as he went,
With echoing voice call’d on the Danaï—
Friends! Counsellors, and leaders of the Greeks!
Turn ye and stand, and from his dreadful lot705
Save Ajax whelm’d with weapons; ’scape, I judge,
He cannot from the roaring fight, yet oh
Stand fast around him; if save ye may,
Your champion huge, the Telamonian Chief!
So spake the wounded warrior. They at once710
With sloping bucklers, and with spears erect,
To his relief approach’d. Ajax with joy
The friendly phalanx join’d, then turn’d and stood.
Thus burn’d the embattled field as with the flames
Of a devouring fire. Meantime afar715
From all that tumult the Neleian mares
Bore Nestor, foaming as they ran, with whom
Machaon also rode, leader revered.
Achilles mark’d him passing; for he stood
Exalted on his huge ship’s lofty stern,720
Spectator of the toil severe, and flight
Deplorable of the defeated Greeks.
He call’d his friend Patroclus. He below
Within his tent the sudden summons heard
And sprang like Mars abroad, all unaware725
That in that sound he heard the voice of fate.
Him first Menœtius’ gallant son address’d.
What would Achilles? Wherefore hath he call’d?
To whom Achilles swiftest of the swift:
Brave Menœtiades! my soul’s delight!730
Soon will the Grecians now my knees surround
Suppliant, by dread extremity constrain’d.
But fly Patroclus, haste, oh dear to Jove!
Inquire of Nestor, whom he hath convey’d
From battle, wounded? Viewing him behind,735
I most believed him Æsculapius’ son
Machaon, but the steeds so swiftly pass’d
My galley, that his face escaped my note.[19]