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on and help them。 He therefore held on at the point where he had first
forced his way through the gates and the wall； after breaking
through the serried ranks of Danaan warriors。 It was here that the
ships of Ajax and Protesilaus were drawn up by the sea…shore； here the
wall was at its lowest； and the fight both of man and horse raged most
fiercely。 The Boeotians and the Ionians with their long tunics； the
Locrians； the men of Phthia； and the famous force of the Epeans
could hardly stay Hector as he rushed on towards the ships； nor
could they drive him from them； for he was as a wall of fire。 The
chosen men of the Athenians were in the van； led by Menestheus son
of Peteos； with whom were also Pheidas； Stichius； and stalwart Bias：
Meges son of Phyleus； Amphion； and Dracius commanded the Epeans； while
Medon and staunch Podarces led the men of Phthia。 Of these； Medon
was bastard son to Oileus and brother of Ajax； but he lived in Phylace
away from his own country； for he had killed the brother of his
stepmother Eriopis； the wife of Oileus； the other； Podarces； was the
son of Iphiclus son of Phylacus。 These two stood in the van of the
Phthians； and defended the ships along with the Boeotians。
Ajax son of Oileus never for a moment left the side of Ajax son of
Telamon； but as two swart oxen both strain their utmost at the
plough which they are drawing in a fallow field； and the sweat
steams upwards from about the roots of their horns… nothing but the
yoke divides them as they break up the ground till they reach the
end of the field… even so did the two Ajaxes stand shoulder to
shoulder by one another。 Many and brave comrades followed the son of
Telamon； to relieve him of his shield when he was overcome with
sweat and toil； but the Locrians did not follow so close after the son
of Oileus； for they could not hold their own in a hand…to…hand
fight。 They had no bronze helmets with plumes of horse…hair； neither
had they shields nor ashen spears； but they had come to Troy armed
with bows； and with slings of twisted wool from which they showered
their missiles to break the ranks of the Trojans。 The others；
therefore； with their heavy armour bore the brunt of the fight with
the Trojans and with Hector； while the Locrians shot from behind；
under their cover； and thus the Trojans began to lose heart； for the
arrows threw them into confusion。
The Trojans would now have been driven in sorry plight from the
ships and tents back to windy Ilius； had not Polydamas presently
said to Hector； 〃Hector； there is no persuading you to take advice。
Because heaven has so richly endowed you with the arts of war； you
think that you must therefore excel others in counsel； but you
cannot thus claim preeminence in all things。 Heaven has made one man
an excellent soldier； of another it has made a dancer or a singer
and player on the lyre； while yet in another Jove has implanted a wise
understanding of which men reap fruit to the saving of many； and he
himself knows more about it than any one； therefore I will say what
I think will be best。 The fight has hemmed you in as with a circle
of fire； and even now that the Trojans are within the wall some of
them stand aloof in full armour； while others are fighting scattered
and outnumbered near the ships。 Draw back； therefore； and call your
chieftains round you； that we may advise together whether to fall
now upon the ships in the hope that heaven may vouchsafe us victory；
or to beat a retreat while we can yet safely do so。 I greatly fear
that the Achaeans will pay us their debt of yesterday in full； for
there is one abiding at their ships who is never weary of battle；
and who will not hold aloof much longer。〃
Thus spoke Polydamas； and his words pleased Hector well。 He sprang
in full armour from his chariot and said； 〃Polydamas； gather the
chieftains here； I will go yonder into the fight； but will return at
once when I have given them their orders。〃
He then sped onward； towering like a snowy mountain； and with a loud
cry flew through the ranks of the Trojans and their allies。 When
they heard his voice they all hastened to gather round Polydamas the
excellent son of Panthous； but Hector kept on among the foremost；
looking everywhere to find Deiphobus and prince Helenus； Adamas son of
Asius； and Asius son of Hyrtacus； living； indeed； and scatheless he
could no longer find them； for the two last were lying by the sterns
of the Achaean ships； slain by the Argives； while the others had
been also stricken and wounded by them； but upon the left wing of
the dread battle he found Alexandrus； husband of lovely Helen；
cheering his men and urging them on to fight。 He went up to him and
upbraided him。 〃Paris；〃 said he； 〃evil…hearted Paris； fair to see
but woman…mad and false of tongue； where are Deiphobus and King
Helenus？ Where are Adamas son of Asius； and Asius son of Hyrtacus？
Where too is Othryoneus？ Ilius is undone and will now surely fall！〃
Alexandrus answered； 〃Hector； why find fault when there is no one to
find fault with？ I should hold aloof from battle on any day rather
than this； for my mother bore me with nothing of the coward about
me。 From the moment when you set our men fighting about the ships we
have been staying here and doing battle with the Danaans。 Our comrades
about whom you ask me are dead； Deiphobus and King Helenus alone
have left the field； wounded both of them in the hand； but the son
of Saturn saved them alive。 Now； therefore； lead on where you would
have us go； and we will follow with right goodwill； you shall not find
us fail you in so far as our strength holds out； but no man can do
more than in him lies； no matter how willing he may be。〃
With these words he satisfied his brother； and the two went
towards the part of the battle where the fight was thickest； about
Cebriones； brave Polydamas； Phalces； Orthaeus； godlike Polyphetes；
Palmys； Ascanius； and Morys son of Hippotion； who had come from
fertile Ascania on the preceding day to relieve other troops。 Then
Jove urged them on to fight。 They flew forth like the blasts of some
fierce wind that strike earth in the van of a thunderstorm… they
buffet the salt sea into an uproar； many and mighty are the great
waves that come crashing in one after the other upon the shore with
their arching heads all crested with foam… even so did rank behind
rank of Trojans arrayed in gleaming armour follow their leaders
onward。 The way was led by Hector son of Priam； peer of murderous
Mars； with his round shield before him… his shield of ox…hides covered
with plates of bronze… and his gleaming helmet upon his temples。 He
kept stepping forward under cover of his shield in every direction；
making trial of the ranks to see if they would give way be him； but he
could not daunt the courage of the Achaeans。 Ajax was the first to
stride out and challenge him。 〃Sir；〃 he cried； 〃draw near； why do
you think thus vainly to dismay the Argives？ We Achaeans are excellent
soldiers； but the scourge of Jove has fallen heavily upon us。 Your
heart； forsooth； is set on destroying our ships； but we too have bands
that can keep you at bay； and your own fair town shall be sooner taken