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great agony。 With a loud clear voice he shouted to the Danaans； 〃My
friends； princes and counsellors of the Argives； defend the ships
yourselves； for Jove has not suffered me to fight the whole day
through against the Trojans。〃
With this the charioteer turned his horses towards the ships； and
they flew forward nothing loth。 Their chests were white with foam
and their bellies with dust； as they drew the wounded king out of
the battle。
When Hector saw Agamemnon quit the field； he shouted to the
Trojans and Lycians saying； 〃Trojans； Lycians； and Dardanian warriors；
be men； my friends； and acquit yourselves in battle bravely； their
best man has left them； and Jove has vouchsafed me a great triumph；
charge the foe with your chariots that。 you may win still greater
glory。〃
With these words he put heart and soul into them all； and as a
huntsman hounds his dogs on against a lion or wild boar； even so did
Hector； peer of Mars； hound the proud Trojans on against the Achaeans。
Full of hope he plunged in among the foremost； and fell on the fight
like some fierce tempest that swoops down upon the sea； and lashes its
deep blue waters into fury。
What； then is the full tale of those whom Hector son of Priam killed
in the hour of triumph which Jove then vouchsafed him？ First Asaeus；
Autonous； and Opites； Dolops son of Clytius； Opheltius and Agelaus；
Aesymnus； Orus and Hipponous steadfast in battle； these chieftains
of the Achaeans did Hector slay； and then he fell upon the rank and
file。 As when the west wind hustles the clouds of the white south
and beats them down with the fierceness of its fury… the waves of
the sea roll high； and the spray is flung aloft in the rage of the
wandering wind… even so thick were the heads of them that fell by
the hand of Hector。
All had then been lost and no help for it； and the Achaeans would
have fled pell…mell to their ships； had not Ulysses cried out to
Diomed； 〃Son of Tydeus； what has happened to us that we thus forget
our prowess？ Come； my good fellow； stand by my side and help me； we
shall be shamed for ever if Hector takes the ships。〃
And Diomed answered； 〃Come what may； I will stand firm； but we shall
have scant joy of it； for Jove is minded to give victory to the
Trojans rather than to us。〃
With these words he struck Thymbraeus from his chariot to the
ground； smiting him in the left breast with his spear； while Ulysses
killed Molion who was his squire。 These they let lie； now that they
had stopped their fighting； the two heroes then went on playing
havoc with the foe； like two wild boars that turn in fury and rend the
hounds that hunt them。 Thus did they turn upon the Trojans and slay
them； and the Achaeans were thankful to have breathing time in their
flight from Hector。
They then took two princes with their chariot； the two sons of
Merops of Percote； who excelled all others in the arts of
divination。 He had forbidden his sons to go to the war； but they would
not obey him； for fate lured them to their fall。 Diomed son of
Tydeus slew them both and stripped them of their armour； while Ulysses
killed Hippodamus and Hypeirochus。
And now the son of Saturn as he looked down from Ida ordained that
neither side should have the advantage； and they kept on killing one
another。 The son of Tydeus speared Agastrophus son of Paeon in the
hip…joint with his spear。 His chariot was not at hand for him to fly
with； so blindly confident had he been。 His squire was in charge of it
at some distance and he was fighting on foot among the foremost
until he lost his life。 Hector soon marked the havoc Diomed and
Ulysses were making； and bore down upon them with a loud cry； followed
by the Trojan ranks； brave Diomed was dismayed when he saw them； and
said to Ulysses who was beside him； 〃Great Hector is bearing down upon
us and we shall be undone； let us stand firm and wait his onset。〃
He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it； nor did he miss his
mark。 He had aimed at Hector's head near the top of his helmet； but
bronze was turned by bronze； and Hector was untouched； for the spear
was stayed by the visored helm made with three plates of metal；
which Phoebus Apollo had given him。 Hector sprang back with a great
bound under cover of the ranks； he fell on his knees and propped
himself with his brawny hand leaning on the ground； for darkness had
fallen on his eyes。 The son of Tydeus having thrown his spear dashed
in among the foremost fighters； to the place where he had seen it
strike the ground； meanwhile Hector recovered himself and springing
back into his chariot mingled with the crowd； by which means he
saved his life。 But Diomed made at him with his spear and said；
〃Dog； you have again got away though death was close on your heels。
Phoebus Apollo； to whom I ween you pray ere you go into battle； has
again saved you； nevertheless I will meet you and make and end of
you hereafter； if there is any god who will stand by me too and be
my helper。 For the present I must pursue those I can lay hands on。〃
As he spoke he began stripping the spoils from the son of Paeon； but
Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen aimed an arrow at him； leaning
against a pillar of the monument which men had raised to Ilus son of
Dardanus； a ruler in days of old。 Diomed had taken the cuirass from
off the breast of Agastrophus； his heavy helmet also； and the shield
from off his shoulders； when Paris drew his bow and let fly an arrow
that sped not from his hand in vain； but pierced the flat of
Diomed's right foot； going right through it and fixing itself in the
ground。 Thereon Paris with a hearty laugh sprang forward from his
hiding…place； and taunted him saying； 〃You are wounded… my arrow has
not been shot in vain； would that it had hit you in the belly and
killed you； for thus the Trojans； who fear you as goats fear a lion；
would have had a truce from evil。〃
Diomed all undaunted answered； 〃Archer； you who without your bow are
nothing； slanderer and seducer； if you were to be tried in single
combat fighting in full armour； your bow and your arrows would serve
you in little stead。 Vain is your boast in that you have scratched the
sole of my foot。 I care no more than if a girl or some silly boy had
hit me。 A worthless coward can inflict but a light wound； when I wound
a man though I but graze his skin it is another matter； for my
weapon will lay him low。 His wife will tear her cheeks for grief and
his children will be fatherless： there will he rot； reddening the
earth with his blood； and vultures； not women； will gather round him。〃
Thus he spoke； but Ulysses came up and stood over him。 Under this
cover he sat down to draw the arrow from his foot； and sharp was the
pain he suffered as he did so。 Then he sprang on to his chariot and
bade the charioteer drive him to the ships； for he was sick at heart。
Ulysses was now alone； not one of the Argives stood by him； for they
were all panic…stricken。 〃Alas；〃 said he to himself in his dismay；
〃what will become of me？ It is ill if I turn and fly before these
odds； but it will be worse if I am left alone and taken prisoner；
for the son of Saturn has struck the rest of the Danaans with pan