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Holding this shield before him； Ajax son of Telamon came close up to
Hector； and menaced him saying； 〃Hector； you shall now learn； man to
man； what kind of champions the Danaans have among them even besides
lion…hearted Achilles cleaver of the ranks of men。 He now abides at
the ships in anger with Agamemnon shepherd of his people； but there
are many of us who are well able to face you； therefore begin the
fight。〃
And Hector answered； 〃Noble Ajax； son of Telamon； captain of the
host； treat me not as though I were some puny boy or woman that cannot
fight。 I have been long used to the blood and butcheries of battle。
I am quick to turn my leathern shield either to right or left； for
this I deem the main thing in battle。 I can charge among the
chariots and horsemen； and in hand to hand fighting can delight the
heart of Mars； howbeit I would not take such a man as you are off
his guard… but I will smite you openly if I can。〃
He poised his spear as he spoke； and hurled it from him。 It struck
the sevenfold shield in its outermost layer… the eighth； which was
of bronze… and went through six of the layers but in the seventh
hide it stayed。 Then Ajax threw in his turn； and struck the round
shield of the son of Priam。 The terrible spear went through his
gleaming shield； and pressed onward through his cuirass of cunning
workmanship； it pierced the shirt against his side； but he swerved and
thus saved his life。 They then each of them drew out the spear from
his shield； and fell on one another like savage lions or wild boars of
great strength and endurance： the son of Priam struck the middle of
Ajax's shield； but the bronze did not break； and the point of his dart
was turned。 Ajax then sprang forward and pierced the shield of Hector；
the spear went through it and staggered him as he was springing
forward to attack； it gashed his neck and the blood came pouring
from the wound； but even so Hector did not cease fighting； he gave
ground； and with his brawny hand seized a stone； rugged and huge； that
was lying upon the plain； with this he struck the shield of Ajax on
the boss that was in its middle； so that the bronze rang again。 But
Ajax in turn caught up a far larger stone； swung it aloft； and
hurled it with prodigious force。 This millstone of a rock broke
Hector's shield inwards and threw him down on his back with the shield
crushing him under it； but Apollo raised him at once。 Thereon they
would have hacked at one another in close combat with their swords；
had not heralds； messengers of gods and men； come forward； one from
the Trojans and the other from the Achaeans… Talthybius and Idaeus
both of them honourable men； these parted them with their staves；
and the good herald Idaeus said； 〃My sons； fight no longer； you are
both of you valiant； and both are dear to Jove； we know this； but
night is now falling； and the behests of night may not be well
gainsaid。〃
Ajax son of Telamon answered； 〃Idaeus； bid Hector say so； for it was
he that challenged our princes。 Let him speak first and I will
accept his saying。〃
Then Hector said； 〃Ajax； heaven has vouchsafed you stature and
strength； and judgement； and in wielding the spear you excel all
others of the Achaeans。 Let us for this day cease fighting；
hereafter we will fight anew till heaven decide between us； and give
victory to one or to the other； night is now falling； and the
behests of night may not be well gainsaid。 Gladden； then； the hearts
of the Achaeans at your ships； and more especially those of your own
followers and clansmen； while I； in the great city of King Priam；
bring comfort to the Trojans and their women； who vie with one another
in their prayers on my behalf。 Let us； moreover； exchange presents
that it may be said among the Achaeans and Trojans； 'They fought
with might and main； but were reconciled and parted in friendship。'
On this he gave Ajax a silver…studded sword with its sheath and
leathern baldric； and in return Ajax gave him a girdle dyed with
purple。 Thus they parted； the one going to the host of the Achaeans；
and the other to that of the Trojans； who rejoiced when they saw their
hero come to them safe and unharmed from the strong hands of mighty
Ajax。 They led him； therefore； to the city as one that had been
saved beyond their hopes。 On the other side the Achaeans brought
Ajax elated with victory to Agamemnon。
When they reached the quarters of the son of Atreus； Agamemnon
sacrificed for them a five…year…old bull in honour of Jove the son
of Saturn。 They flayed the carcass； made it ready； and divided it into
joints； these they cut carefully up into smaller pieces； putting
them on the spits； roasting them sufficiently； and then drawing them
off。 When they had done all this and had prepared the feast； they
ate it； and every man had his full and equal share； so that all were
satisfied； and King Agamemnon gave Ajax some slices cut lengthways
down the loin； as a mark of special honour。 As soon as they had had
enough to cat and drink； old Nestor whose counsel was ever truest
began to speak； with all sincerity and goodwill； therefore； he
addressed them thus：…
〃Son of Atreus； and other chieftains； inasmuch as many of the
Achaeans are now dead； whose blood Mars has shed by the banks of the
Scamander； and their souls have gone down to the house of Hades； it
will be well when morning comes that we should cease fighting； we will
then wheel our dead together with oxen and mules and burn them not far
from the ships； that when we sail hence we may take the bones of our
comrades home to their children。 Hard by the funeral pyre we will
build a barrow that shall be raised from the plain for all in
common； near this let us set about building a high wall； to shelter
ourselves and our ships； and let it have well…made gates that there
may be a way through them for our chariots。 Close outside we will
dig a deep trench all round it to keep off both horse and foot； that
the Trojan chieftains may not bear hard upon us。〃
Thus he spoke； and the princess shouted in applause。 Meanwhile the
Trojans held a council； angry and full of discord； on the acropolis by
the gates of King Priam's palace； and wise Antenor spoke。 〃Hear me
he said； 〃Trojans； Dardanians； and allies； that I may speak even as
I am minded。 Let us give up Argive Helen and her wealth to the sons of
Atreus； for we are now fighting in violation of our solemn
covenants； and shall not prosper till we have done as I say。〃
He then sat down and Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen rose to
speak。 〃Antenor；〃 said he； 〃your words are not to my liking； 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。 I will speak plainly； and hereby notify to the Trojans that
I will not give up the woman； but the wealth that I brought home
with her from Argos I will restore； and will add yet further of my
own。〃
On this； when Paris had spoken and taken his seat； Priam of the race
of Dardanus； peer of gods in council； rose and with all sincerity
and goodwill addressed them thus： 〃Hear me； Trojans； Dardanians； and
allies； that I may speak even as I am