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Tydeus； Ulysses； and Agamemnon； wounded though they were； set the
others in array； and went about everywhere effecting the exchanges
of armour； the most valiant took the best armour； and gave the worse
to the worse man。 When they had donned their bronze armour they
marched on with Neptune at their head。 In his strong hand he grasped
his terrible sword； keen of edge and flashing like lightning； woe to
him who comes across it in the day of battle； all men quake for fear
and keep away from it。
Hector on the other side set the Trojans in array。 Thereon Neptune
and Hector waged fierce war on one another… Hector on the Trojan and
Neptune on the Argive side。 Mighty was the uproar as the two forces
met； the sea came rolling in towards the ships and tents of the
Achaeans； but waves do not thunder on the shore more loudly when
driven before the blast of Boreas； nor do the flames of a forest
fire roar more fiercely when it is well alight upon the mountains； nor
does the wind bellow with ruder music as it tears on through the
tops of when it is blowing its hardest； than the terrible shout
which the Trojans and Achaeans raised as they sprang upon one another。
Hector first aimed his spear at Ajax； who was turned full towards
him； nor did he miss his aim。 The spear struck him where two bands
passed over his chest… the band of his shield and that of his
silver…studded sword… and these protected his body。 Hector was angry
that his spear should have been hurled in vain； and withdrew under
cover of his men。 As he was thus retreating； Ajax son of Telamon
struck him with a stone； of which there were many lying about under
the men's feet as they fought… brought there to give support to the
ships' sides as they lay on the shore。 Ajax caught up one of them
and struck Hector above the rim of his shield close to his neck； the
blow made him spin round like a top and reel in all directions。 As
an oak falls headlong when uprooted by the lightning flash of father
Jove； and there is a terrible smell of brimstone… no man can help
being dismayed if he is standing near it； for a thunderbolt is a
very awful thing… even so did Hector fall to earth and bite the
dust。 His spear fell from his hand； but his shield and helmet were
made fast about his body； and his bronze armour rang about him。
The sons of the Achaeans came running with a loud cry towards him；
hoping to drag him away； and they showered their darts on the Trojans；
but none of them could wound him before he was surrounded and
covered by the princes Polydamas； Aeneas； Agenor； Sarpedon captain
of the Lycians； and noble Glaucus： of the others； too； there was not
one who was unmindful of him； and they held their round shields over
him to cover him。 His comrades then lifted him off the ground and bore
him away from the battle to the place where his horses stood waiting
for him at the rear of the fight with their driver and the chariot；
these then took him towards the city groaning and in great pain。
When they reached the ford of the air stream of Xanthus； begotten of
Immortal Jove； they took him from off his chariot and laid him down on
the ground； they poured water over him； and as they did so he breathed
again and opened his eyes。 Then kneeling on his knees he vomited
blood； but soon fell back on to the ground； and his eyes were again
closed in darkness for he was still sturined by the blow。
When the Argives saw Hector leaving the field； they took heart and
set upon the Trojans yet more furiously。 Ajax fleet son of Oileus
began by springing on Satnius son of Enops and wounding him with his
spear： a fair naiad nymph had borne him to Enops as he was herding
cattle by the banks of the river Satnioeis。 The son of Oileus came
up to him and struck him in the flank so that he fell； and a fierce
fight between Trojans and Danaans raged round his body。 Polydamas
son of Panthous drew near to avenge him； and wounded Prothoenor son of
Areilycus on the right shoulder； the terrible spear went right through
his shoulder； and he clutched the earth as he fell in the dust。
Polydamas vaunted loudly over him saying； 〃Again I take it that the
spear has not sped in vain from the strong hand of the son of
Panthous； an Argive has caught it in his body； and it will serve him
for a staff as he goes down into the house of Hades。〃
The Argives were maddened by this boasting。 Ajax son of Telamon
was more angry than any； for the man had fallen close be； him； so he
aimed at Polydamas as he was retreating； but Polydamas saved himself
by swerving aside and the spear struck Archelochus son of Antenor； for
heaven counselled his destruction； it struck him where the head
springs from the neck at the top joint of the spine； and severed
both the tendons at the back of the head。 His head； mouth； and
nostrils reached the ground long before his legs and knees could do
so； and Ajax shouted to Polydamas saying； 〃Think； Polydamas； and
tell me truly whether this man is not as well worth killing as
Prothoenor was： he seems rich； and of rich family； a brother； it may
be； or son of the knight Antenor； for he is very like him。〃
But he knew well who it was； and the Trojans were greatly angered。
Acamas then bestrode his brother's body and wounded Promachus the
Boeotian with his spear； for he was trying to drag his brother's
body away。 Acamas vaunted loudly over him saying； 〃Argive archers；
braggarts that you are； toil and suffering shall not be for us only；
but some of you too shall fall here as well as ourselves。 See how
Promachus now sleeps； vanquished by my spear； payment for my brother's
blood has not long delayed； a man； therefore； may well be thankful
if he leaves a kinsman in his house behind him to avenge his fall。〃
His taunts infuriated the Argives； and Peneleos was more enraged
than any of them。 He sprang towards Acamas； but Acamas did not stand
his ground； and he killed Ilioneus son of the rich flock…master
Phorbas； whom Mercury had favoured and endowed with greater wealth
than any other of the Trojans。 Ilioneus was his only son； and Peneleos
now wounded him in the eye under his eyebrows； tearing the eye…ball
from its socket： the spear went right through the eye into the nape of
the neck； and he fell； stretching out both hands before him。
Peneleos then drew his sword and smote him on the neck； so that both
head and helmet came tumbling down to the ground with the spear
still sticking in the eye； he then held up the head； as though it
had been a poppy…head； and showed it to the Trojans； vaunting over
them as he did so。 〃Trojans；〃 he cried； 〃bid the father and mother
of noble Ilioneus make moan for him in their house； for the wife
also of Promachus son of Alegenor will never be gladdened by the
coming of her dear husband… when we Argives return with our ships from
Troy。〃
As he spoke fear fell upon them； and every man looked round about to
see whither he might fly for safety。
Tell me now； O Muses that dwell on Olympus； who was the first of the
Argives to bear away blood…stained spoils after Neptune lord of the
earthquake had turned the fortune of war。 Ajax son of Telamon was
first to wound Hyrtius son of Gyrtius； captain of the sta