——“long time in even scale
The battle hung.”
Footnote 409: (return) See Eustathius.
As when a shepherd without difficulty carries the fleece of a male
sheep, taking it in either hand, and but a small weight oppresses him;
so Hector, raising the stone, bore it right against the beams which
strengthened the closely-jointed gates, double and lofty; but two
cross-bars secured them within, and one key fitted them. But advancing,
he stood very near, and exerting his strength, struck them in the
middle, standing with his legs wide asunder, that the blow of the
weapon might not be weak. And he tore away both hinges, and the stone
fell within with a great weight; and the gates crashed around; nor did
the bars withstand it, but the beams were rent asunder in different
directions by the impulse of the stone. There illustrious Hector rushed
in, in aspect like unto the dreadful night; and he glittered in
terrible brass, with which he was girt around his body. And he held two
spears in his hands, nor could any one, opposing, restrain him, except
the gods, after he had leaped within the gates; but his eyes gleamed
with fire. And turning to the crowd, he cheered on the Trojans to
ascend the wall, and they obeyed him encouraging. Straightway indeed
some crossed the wall, and others were poured in through the
well-wrought gates, but the Greeks were routed towards the hollow
barks, and an unyielding 410 tumult ensued.
Footnote 410: (return) See Buttm. Lexil. p. 405.