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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 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 for ever； 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；〃 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 the 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；