Safe now from the observation of Zeus, Hera descended swiftly to bear
the news to Poseidon, and urge him to redouble his efforts on behalf of
the Greeks. Having brought her message, she returned to Ida, and
remained watching by the side of Zeus, ready to give warning when he
awoke.
Poseidon was not slow to seize the occasion thus offered. Suddenly, as
the Greeks were preparing to receive a furious charge from the enemy,
there appeared in their van a gigantic warrior, clad from head to foot
in mail of proof, and wielding a sword which flashed and burned with an
awful light. "On, Greeks, on!" he shouted; and his voice was as the
sound of many waters. "Down with them, even unto the ground, that
Hector may know that there is more than one Achilles among us." And
the two armies met, with a crash which was echoed by all the caverns of
Ida, and recoiled again, each solid phalanx reeling from that
tremendous shock.
Into the space thus left sprang Hector, and hurled his spear at Ajax,
who was stepping forth to meet him. The weapon struck him on the
breast, just at the point where the shield strap, heavily studded with
metal, was crossed by the baldric of his sword; and this double
barrier, backed by the corslet, proved an effectual defence. Hector
fell back, vexed at his ill-fortune, and, as he was retiring, Ajax
picked up one of the stones which were lying around, to serve as props
for the ships, and flinging it struck him on the back of the neck, just
above the rim of his shield. It was no maiden's hand which had aimed
that blow, and Hector was sent spinning like a top. And as an oak
reels and staggers when struck by the bolt of Zeus, and topples
headlong to earth, a blackened and shattered trunk, so fell the mighty
Hector, crushed under the weight of his shield, which was pressed down
upon him by the ponderous stone.
When they saw him fall, the Greeks rushed forward, hoping to make him
their prisoner. But the bravest of the Trojans and their
allies--Sarpedon, Æneas, Glaucus, and Polydamas--interposed their
shields, giving time for the others to lift him up and carry him to the
place where his car and horses were waiting. Carefully they placed his
senseless body on the chariot, and drove him towards the city, until
they came to the ford of Scamander. There they halted, and, laying him
on the bank, dashed water in his face. Presently he looked up, and
leaning forward on his hands began to vomit blood. Then darkness came
over his eyes, and he fell back again in a swoon.
Now that Hector was down, the Trojans had no course left to them but to
retreat. They still fought valiantly, and the Greeks had to pay dear
for their success. But slowly and surely they were being driven back
from the camp.