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confident of victory； Menelaus came up to help Meges； and got by the
side of Dolops unperceived； he then speared him in the shoulder；
from behind； and the point； driven so furiously； went through into his
chest； whereon he fell headlong。 The two then made towards him to
strip him of his armour； but Hector called on all his brothers for
help； and he especially upbraided brave Melanippus son of Hiketaon；
who erewhile used to pasture his herds of cattle in Percote before the
war broke out； but when the ships of the Danaans came； he went back to
Ilius； where he was eminent among the Trojans； and lived near Priam
who treated him as one of his own sons。 Hector now rebuked him and
said； 〃Why； Melanippus； are we thus remiss？ do you take no note of the
death of your kinsman； and do you not see how they are trying to
take Dolops's armour？ Follow me； there must be no fighting the Argives
from a distance now； but we must do so in close combat till either
we kill them or they take the high wall of Ilius and slay her people。〃
He led on as he spoke； and the hero Melanippus followed after。
Meanwhile Ajax son of Telamon was cheering on the Argives。 〃My
friends；〃 he cried； 〃be men； and fear dishonour； quit yourselves in
battle so as to win respect from one another。 Men who respect each
other's good opinion are less likely to be killed than those who do
not； but in flight there is neither gain nor glory。〃
Thus did he exhort men who were already bent upon driving back the
Trojans。 They laid his words to heart and hedged the ships as with a
wall of bronze； while Jove urged on the Trojans。 Menelaus of the
loud battle…cry urged Antilochus on。 〃Antilochus；〃 said he； 〃you are
young and there is none of the Achaeans more fleet of foot or more
valiant than you are。 See if you cannot spring upon some Trojan and
kill him。〃
He hurried away when he had thus spurred Antilochus； who at once
darted out from the front ranks and aimed a spear； after looking
carefully round him。 The Trojans fell back as he threw； and the dart
did not speed from his hand without effect； for it struck Melanippus
the proud son of Hiketaon in the breast by the nipple as he was coming
forward； and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily
to the ground。 Antilochus sprang upon him as a dog springs on a fawn
which a hunter has hit as it was breaking away from its covert； and
killed it。 Even so； O Melanippus； did stalwart Antilochus spring
upon you to strip you of your armour； but noble Hector marked him； and
came running up to him through the thick of the battle。 Antilochus；
brave soldier though he was； would not stay to face him； but fled like
some savage creature which knows it has done wrong； and flies； when it
has killed a dog or a man who is herding his cattle； before a body
of men can be gathered to attack it。 Even so did the son of Nestor
fly； and the Trojans and Hector with a cry that rent the air
showered their weapons after him； nor did he turn round and stay his
flight till he had reached his comrades。
The Trojans； fierce as lions； were still rushing on towards the
ships in fulfilment of the behests of Jove who kept spurring them on
to new deeds of daring； while he deadened the courage of the Argives
and defeated them by encouraging the Trojans。 For he meant giving
glory to Hector son of Priam； and letting him throw fire upon the
ships； till he had fulfilled the unrighteous prayer that Thetis had
made him； Jove； therefore； bided his time till he should see the glare
of a blazing ship。 From that hour he was about so to order that the
Trojans should be driven back from the ships and to vouchsafe glory to
the Achaeans。 With this purpose he inspired Hector son of Priam； who
was cager enough already； to assail the ships。 His fury was as that of
Mars； or as when a fire is raging in the glades of some dense forest
upon the mountains； he foamed at the mouth； his eyes glared under
his terrible eye…brows； and his helmet quivered on his temples by
reason of the fury with which he fought。 Jove from heaven was with
him； and though he was but one against many； vouchsafed him victory
and glory； for he was doomed to an early death； and already Pallas
Minerva was hurrying on the hour of his destruction at the hands of
the son of Peleus。 Now； however； he kept trying to break the ranks
of the enemy wherever he could see them thickest； and in the goodliest
armour； but do what he might he could not break through them； for they
stood as a tower foursquare； or as some high cliff rising from the
grey sea that braves the anger of the gale； and of the waves that
thunder up against it。 He fell upon them like flames of fire from
every quarter。 As when a wave； raised mountain high by wind and storm；
breaks over a ship and covers it deep in foam； the fierce winds roar
against the mast； the hearts of the sailors fail them for fear； and
they are saved but by a very little from destruction… even so were the
hearts of the Achaeans fainting within them。 Or as a savage lion
attacking a herd of cows while they are feeding by thousands in the
low…lying meadows by some wide…watered shore… the herdsman is at his
wit's end how to protect his herd and keeps going about now in the van
and now in the rear of his cattle； while the lion springs into the
thick of them and fastens on a cow so that they all tremble for
fear… even so were the Achaeans utterly panic…stricken by Hector and
father Jove。 Nevertheless Hector only killed Periphetes of Mycenae； he
was son of Copreus who was wont to take the orders of King
Eurystheus to mighty Hercules； but the son was a far better man than
the father in every way； he was fleet of foot； a valiant warrior；
and in understanding ranked among the foremost men of Mycenae。 He it
was who then afforded Hector a triumph； for as he was turning back
he stumbled against the rim of his shield which reached his feet；
and served to keep the javelins off him。 He tripped against this and
fell face upward； his helmet ringing loudly about his head as he did
so。 Hector saw him fall and ran up to him； he then thrust a spear into
his chest； and killed him close to his own comrades。 These； for all
their sorrow； could not help him for they were themselves terribly
afraid of Hector。
They had now reached the ships and the prows of those that had
been drawn up first were on every side of them； but the Trojans came
pouring after them。 The Argives were driven back from the first row of
ships； but they made a stand by their tents without being broken up
and scattered； shame and fear restrained them。 They kept shouting
incessantly to one another； and Nestor of Gerene； tower of strength to
the Achaeans； was loudest in imploring every man by his parents； and
beseeching him to stand firm。
〃Be men； my friends；〃 he cried； 〃and respect one another's good
opinion。 Think； all of you； on your children； your wives； your
property； and your parents whether these be alive or dead。 On their
behalf though they are not here； I implore you to stand firm； and
not to turn in flight。〃
With these words he put heart and soul into them all。 Minerva lifted
the thick veil of darkness from their eyes； and much