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Lycomedes； stay here and keep the Danaans in heart to fight their
hardest。 I will go over yonder； and bear my part in the fray； but I
will come back here at once as soon as I have given them the help they
need。〃
With this； Ajax son of Telamon set off； and Teucer his brother by
the same father went also； with Pandion to carry Teucer's bow。 They
went along inside the wall； and when they came to the tower where
Menestheus was （and hard pressed indeed did they find him） the brave
captains and leaders of the Lycians were storming the battlements as
it were a thick dark cloud； fighting in close quarters； and raising
the battle…cry aloud。
First； Ajax son of Telamon killed brave Epicles； a comrade of
Sarpedon； hitting him with a jagged stone that lay by the
battlements at the very top of the wall。 As men now are； even one
who is in the bloom of youth could hardly lift it with his two
hands； but Ajax raised it high aloft and flung it down； smashing
Epicles' four…crested helmet so that the bones of his head were
crushed to pieces； and he fell from the high wall as though he were
diving； with no more life left in him。 Then Teucer wounded Glaucus the
brave son of Hippolochus as he was coming on to attack the wall。 He
saw his shoulder bare and aimed an arrow at it； which made Glaucus
leave off fighting。 Thereon he sprang covertly down for fear some of
the Achaeans might see that he was wounded and taunt him。 Sarpedon was
stung with grief when he saw Glaucus leave him； still he did not leave
off fighting； but aimed his spear at Alcmaon the son of Thestor and
hit him。 He drew his spear back again Alcmaon came down headlong after
it with his bronzed armour rattling round him。 Then Sarpedon seized
the battlement in his strong hands； and tugged at it till it an gave
way together； and a breach was made through which many might pass。
Ajax and Teucer then both of them attacked him。 Teucer hit him
with an arrow on the band that bore the shield which covered his body；
but Jove saved his son from destruction that he might not fall by
the ships' sterns。 Meanwhile Ajax sprang on him and pierced his
shield； but the spear did not go clean through； though it hustled
him back that he could come on no further。 He therefore retired a
little space from the battlement； yet without losing all his ground；
for he still thought to cover himself with glory。 Then he turned round
and shouted to the brave Lycians saying； 〃Lycians； why do you thus
fail me？ For all my prowess I cannot break through the wall and open a
way to the ships single…handed。 Come close on behind me； for the
more there are of us the better。〃
The Lycians； shamed by his rebuke； pressed closer round him who
was their counsellor their king。 The Argives on their part got their
men in fighting order within the wall； and there was a deadly struggle
between them。 The Lycians could not break through the wall and force
their way to the ships； nor could the Danaans drive the Lycians from
the wall now that they had once reached it。 As two men； measuring…rods
in hand； quarrel about their boundaries in a field that they own in
common； and stickle for their rights though they be but in a mere
strip； even so did the battlements now serve as a bone of
contention； and they beat one another's round shields for their
possession。 Many a man's body was wounded with the pitiless bronze； as
he turned round and bared his back to the foe； and many were struck
clean through their shields； the wall and battlements were
everywhere deluged with the blood alike of Trojans and of Achaeans。
But even so the Trojans could not rout the Achaeans； who still held
on； and as some honest hard…working woman weighs wool in her balance
and sees that the scales be true； for she would gain some pitiful
earnings for her little ones； even so was the fight balanced evenly
between them till the time came when Jove gave the greater glory to
Hector son of Priam； who was first to spring towards the wall of the
Achaeans。 As he did so； he cried aloud to the Trojans； 〃Up； Trojans；
break the wall of the Argives； and fling fire upon their ships。〃
Thus did he hound them on； and in one body they rushed straight at
the wall as he had bidden them； and scaled the battlements with
sharp spears in their hands。 Hector laid hold of a stone that lay just
outside the gates and was thick at one end but pointed at the other；
two of the best men in a town； as men now are； could hardly raise it
from the ground and put it on to a waggon； but Hector lifted it
quite easily by himself； for the son of scheming Saturn made it
light for him。 As a shepherd picks up a ram's fleece with one hand and
finds it no burden； so easily did Hector lift the great stone and
drive it right at the doors that closed the gates so strong and so
firmly set。 These doors were double and high； and were kept closed
by two cross…bars to which there was but one key。 When he had got
close up to them； Hector strode towards them that his blow might
gain in force and struck them in the middle； leaning his whole
weight against them。 He broke both hinges； and the stone fell inside
by reason of its great weight。 The portals re…echoed with the sound；
the bars held no longer； and the doors flew open； one one way； and the
other the other； through the force of the blow。 Then brave Hector
leaped inside with a face as dark as that of flying night。 The
gleaming bronze flashed fiercely about his body and he had tow
spears in his hand。 None but a god could have withstood him as he
flung himself into the gateway； and his eyes glared like fire。 Then he
turned round towards the Trojans and called on them to scale the wall；
and they did as he bade them… some of them at once climbing over the
wall； while others passed through the gates。 The Danaans then fled
panic…stricken towards their ships； and all was uproar and confusion。
BOOK XIII
NOW when Jove had thus brought Hector and the Trojans to the
ships； he left them to their never…ending toil； and turned his keen
eyes away； looking elsewhither towards the horse…breeders of Thrace；
the Mysians； fighters at close quarters； the noble Hippemolgi； who
live on milk； and the Abians； justest of mankind。 He no longer
turned so much as a glance towards Troy； for he did not think that any
of the immortals would go and help either Trojans or Danaans。
But King Neptune had kept no blind look…out； he had been looking
admiringly on the battle from his seat on the topmost crests of wooded
Samothrace； whence he could see all Ida； with the city of Priam and
the ships of the Achaeans。 He had come from under the sea and taken
his place here； for he pitied the Achaeans who were being overcome
by the Trojans； and he was furiously angry with Jove。
Presently he came down from his post on the mountain top； and as
he strode swiftly onwards the high hills and the forest quaked beneath
the tread of his immortal feet。 Three strides he took； and with the
fourth he reached his goal… Aegae； where is his glittering golden
palace； imperishable； in the depths of the sea。 When he got there；
he yoked his fleet brazen…footed steeds with their manes of gold al