THE WOUNDING OF THE CHIEFS.
The next day the battle was set in array as before. And all the morning
the armies fought without advantage to the one or the other; but at
noon, at the hour when one who cuts wood upon the hills sits down
to his meal, the Greeks prevailed and drove back the sons of Troy.
Nor was there one of all the chiefs who fought so bravely as King
Agamemnon. Many valiant men he slew, and among them the two sons of
Antimachus. These, indeed, he took alive in their chariot, for they
had dropped the reins, and stood helpless before him, crying out that
he should spare them and take ransom, for that Antimachus their father
had much gold and bronze and iron in his house, and would gladly buy
them back alive. Now Antimachus had taken a bribe from Prince Paris,
and had given counsel to the Trojans that they should not give back
the fair Helen. So when King Agamemnon heard them, he said, “Nay, but
if ye be sons of Antimachus, who counselled the men of Troy that they
should slay Menelaüs when he came an ambassador to their city, ye
shall die for your father’s sin.” So he slew them both, and leaving
them he still rushed on, driving back the Trojans even to the walls
of their city. Nor did Hector himself dare to meet him, for Zeus had
sent him a message saying that he should hold himself back till King
Agamemnon should chance to be wounded. And indeed this chance happened
presently, for the king had slain Iphidamas, son to Antenor, and Coön,
his brother, the eldest born, was very wroth to see it. So standing
sideways he aimed with his spear, Agamemnon not knowing, and smote
the king in the hand near the wrist. Then he seized the body of his
brother, and shouted to his comrades that they should help him; but
Agamemnon dealt him a deadly blow underneath his shield. So he fell;
and for a while, while the wound was warm, the king fought as before;
but when it grew cold and stiff great pain came upon him, and he leapt
into his chariot and bade the charioteer drive him to the ships, for
that he could fight no more.
Then again the battle went for the Trojans, though Diomed and Ulysses,
who fought very valiantly, stayed it awhile, Diomed coming very near to
slay Hector. But Paris, who was in hiding behind the pillar on the tomb
of Ilus, drew his bow, and smote him with an arrow through the ankle of
the right foot. Loud he boasted of his aim. “Only,” he said, “I would
that I had pierced thee in the loin; then hadst thou troubled the sons
of Troy no more.”
But Diomed answered, “Small good were thy bow to thee, cowardly archer,
if thou shouldst dare to meet me face to face. And as for this graze on
my foot, I care no more than if a woman or child had smitten me. Not
such the wounds I deal; as for those that meet my spear in the battle,
I trow that they are dearer to the fowls of the air than to women in
the chamber.”
Then Ulysses stood before him while he drew the arrow out of his foot.
Grievous was the smart of the wound, for all his brave words. Wherefore
he leapt into his chariot, and bade drive in haste to the ships. So
Ulysses was left alone, and the Trojans came about him as men with dogs
come about a wild boar who stands at bay gnashing his white teeth.
Fiercely he stood at bay, and slew five chiefs of fame. But one of
them, Socus by name, before he fell, wounded him on the side, scraping
the flesh from the ribs. High spurted the blood from the wound, and the
Trojans shouted to see it. Then Ulysses shouted for help; three times
he shouted, and Menelaüs heard him and called to Ajax that it was the
voice of Ulysses, and that they should help him. So they went together
and made head awhile against the Trojans. But soon Paris wounded with
an arrow another brave chieftain, even the physician Machaon. Then
Ajax himself was affrighted and gave way, but slowly, and sore against
his will. Just so a lion is driven off from a herd of oxen by dogs and
men. Loath he is to go, so hungry is he, but the spears and the burning
torches affright him. So Ajax gave way. Now he would turn and face the
sons of Troy, and now he would flee, and they sought how to slay him,
but harmed him not. Then once more Paris loosed his bow and wounded a
chief, Eurypylus, striking him on the right thigh. So the battle went
sorely against the Greeks.
Now Achilles was standing on the stern of his ship, looking at the war,
and he saw Nestor carrying Machaon in his chariot to the ships. Then he
called to Patroclus, and Patroclus, who was in the tent, came forth;
but it was an evil hour for him. Then said Achilles,--
“Now will the Greeks soon come, methinks, praying for help, for their
need is sore. But go and see who is this whom Nestor is taking to the
ships. His shoulders are the shoulders of Machaon, but I saw not his
face, so swift the horses passed me by.”
Then Patroclus ran. And as he stood in the tent door, old Nestor saw
him, and went and took him by the hand, and would have had him sit
down. But Patroclus would not, saying,--
“Stay me not. I came but to see who is this that thou hast brought
wounded from the battle. And now I see that it is Machaon. Therefore I
will return, for thou knowest what manner of man is Achilles, that he
is hasty and swift to blame.”
Then said Nestor, “But what cares Achilles for the Greeks? or why does
he ask who are wounded? But, O Patroclus, dost thou mind the day when
I and Ulysses came to the house of Peleus, and how thy father Menætius
was there, and how we feasted in the hall; and when the feast was
finished told our errand, for we were gathering the heroes for the war
against the sons of Troy? Right willing were ye two to come, and many
counsels did the old men give you. Then to Achilles Peleus said that he
should always be foremost in the host, but to thee thy father Menætius
spake, ‘Achilles is nobler born than thou, and stronger far; but thou
art older. Do thou therefore counsel him well, when there is need.’ But
this thou forgettest, Patroclus. Hear, then, what I say. It may be that
Achilles will not go forth to the battle. But let him send thee forth,
and the Myrmidons with thee, and let him put his arms upon thee, so
that the sons of Troy be affrighted, thinking that he is in the battle,
and we shall have breathing space.”
Then Patroclus turned to run to Achilles, but as he ran he met
Eurypylus, who spake to him,--
“Small hope is there now for the Greeks, seeing that all their bravest
chiefs lie wounded at the ships. But do thou help me, for thou knowest
all the secrets of healing, seeing that the wise Chiron himself taught
thee.”
Then Patroclus answered, “I am even now on my way to tell these things
to Achilles, but thee I may not leave in thy trouble.”
So he took him to his tent, and cut out the arrow from his thigh,
washing the wound with water, and putting on it a bitter healing root,
so that the pain was stayed and the blood stanched.
Now by this time the Trojans were close upon the trench. But the horses
stood on the brink, fearing to leap it, for it was broad and deep, and
the Greeks had put great stakes therein. Thus said Polydamas,--
“Surely, Hector, this is madness that we strive to cross the trench
in our chariots, for it is broad and deep, and there are great stakes
therein. Look, too, at this: even if we should be able to cross it, how
will the matter stand? If indeed it be the pleasure of Zeus that the
Greeks should perish utterly,--it will be well. But if they turn upon
us and pursue us, driving us back from the ships, then shall we not
be able to return. Wherefore let us leave our chariots here upon the
brink, and go on foot against the wall.”
So they went in five companies, of whom Hector led that which was
bravest and largest, and with him were Polydamas and Cebriones. And
the next Paris commanded. And of the third Helenus and Deïphobus were
leaders, and with them was Asius, the son of Hyrtacus, from Arisbê.
And the fourth followed Æneas, the valiant son of Anchises. But of
the allies Sarpedon was the leader, and with him were Glaucus and
Asteropæus. And in each company they joined shield to shield, and so
went against the Greeks. Nor was there one of them but hearkened to
the counsel of Polydamas when he bade them leave their chariots by the
trench, save Asius only. But Asius drove his chariot right up to that
gate which was on the left hand in the wall. Now the gates chanced to
be open, for the warders had opened them, if so any of the Greeks that
fled might save themselves within them. Now the warders were two mighty
heroes of the race of the Lapithæ, Polypœtes and Leonteus; and these,
when they saw Asius and his company coming, went without and stood in
front of the gates, just as two wild boars stand at bay against a crowd
of men and dogs. And all the while they that stood on the wall threw
heavy stones which fell, thick as the snow-flakes fall in the winter,
on the men of Troy, and loud rang the helmets and the shields. And many
fell wounded to the death, nor could Asius, for all his fury, win his
way into the walls. But where, at another of the gates, Hector led the
way, there appeared a strange marvel in the skies, for an eagle was
bearing in his claws a great snake, which it had taken as a prey. But
the snake fought fiercely for its life, and writhed itself about, even
till it bit the eagle on the breast. Whereupon the eagle dropped it
into the midst of the host, and fled with a loud cry. Then Polydamas,
the wise counsellor, came near to Hector, and said,--
“Now it will be well that we should not follow these Greeks to their
ships. For I take that this marvel that we have seen is a sign to us.
For as this eagle had caught in his claws a snake, but held it not,
dropping it before it could bear it to her young, so shall it fare with
us. For we shall drive the Greeks to their ships, but shall not subdue
them, but shall return in disorder by the way that we came, leaving
full many of our comrades behind us.”
But Hector frowned and answered, “Nay, but this is ill counsel,
Polydamas. For if thou sayest this from thy heart, surely the gods
have changed thy wisdom into foolishness. Dost thou bid me forget the
command of Zeus the Thunderer, and take heed to birds, how they fly?
Little care I whether they go to the east or to the west, to the right
or to the left. Surely there is but one sign for a brave man, that he
is fighting for his fatherland. Wherefore take thou heed; for if thou
holdest back from the war, or holdest back any other, lo! I will smite
thee with my spear.”
Then he sprang forward, and the men of Troy followed him with a shout.
And Zeus sent down from Ida a great blast of wind which bore the dust
of the plain straight to the ships, troubling the hearts of the Greeks.
Then the Trojans sought to drag down the battlements from the wall, and
to wrench up the posts which had been set to strengthen it. Nor did
the Greeks give way, but they joined shield to shield and fought for
the wall. And foremost among them were Ajax the Greater and Ajax the
Less. Just as the snow falls in mid-winter, when the winds are hushed,
and the mountain-tops are covered, and the plains and the dwellings of
men and the very shores of the sea, up to the waves’ edge, so thickly
fell the stones which the Greeks showered from the wall against the
men of Troy, and which these again threw upon the Greeks. But still
Hector and his men availed not to break through the gate. But at the
last Zeus stirred up the heart of his own son, Sarpedon. Holding his
shield before him he went, and he shook in either hand a spear. As
goes a lion, when hunger presses him sore, against a stall of oxen or
a sheepfold, and cares not though he find men and dogs keeping watch
against him, so Sarpedon went against the wall. And first he spake to
stout Glaucus, his comrade,--
“Tell me, Glaucus, why is it that men honor us at home with the chief
rooms at feasts, and with fat portions of flesh and with sweet wine,
and that we have a great domain of orchard and plough land by the banks
of Xanthus? Surely it is that we may fight in the front rank. Then
shall some one who may behold us say, ‘Of a truth these are honorable
men, these princes of Lycia, and not without good right do they eat
the fat and drink the sweet, for they fight ever in the front.’ Now,
indeed, if we might live for ever, nor know old age nor death, neither
would I fight among the first, nor would I bid thee arm thyself for the
battle. But seeing that there are ten thousand fates above us which no
man may avoid, let us see whether we shall win glory from another, or
another shall take it from us.”
And Glaucus listened to his words and charged at his side, and the
great host of the Lycians followed them. Sore dismayed was Menestheus
the Athenian when he saw them. All along the wall of the Greeks he
looked, spying out for help; and he saw Ajax the Greater and Ajax the
Less, and with them Teucer, who had just come forth from his tent.
Close to him they were, but it was of no avail to shout, so loud was
the clash and din of arms, of shield and helmets, and the thundering at
the gates, for each one of these did the men of Troy assail.
Wherefore he called to him Thoas, the herald, and said, “Run, Thoas,
and call Ajax hither,--both of the name if that may be,--for the end
is close upon us in this place, so mightily press on the chiefs of the
Lycians, who were ever fiery fighters. But if there is trouble there
also, let at the least Ajax the Greater come, and with him Teucer of
the bow.”
Then the herald ran, and said as he had been bidden.
And Ajax Telamon spake to the son of Oïleus: “Stand thou here with
Lycomedes and stay the enemy. But I will go thither, and come again
when I have finished my work.”
So he went, and Teucer his brother went with him, with Pandion
carrying his bow. And even as they went the Lycians came up like a
tempest on the wall. But Ajax slew Epicles, a comrade of Sarpedon,
smiting him on the head with a mighty stone, and crushing all the bones
of his head. And Teucer smote Glaucus on the shoulder and wounded him
sore. Silently did Glaucus leap down from the wall, for he would not
that any of the Greeks should see that he was wounded. But Sarpedon
saw that he had departed, and it grieved him. Nevertheless, he ceased
not from the battle, but first slew Alcmaon, the son of Mestor, and
next caught one of the battlements in his hands and dragged it down. So
the wall was laid open, and a way was made for the Trojans to enter.
Then did both Ajax and Teucer aim at him together. And Teucer smote
the strap of the shield, but harmed him not, and Ajax drove his spear
through his shield and stayed him, so that he fell back a space from
the battlement, yet would not cease from the fight. Loud he shouted to
the Lycians that they should follow him, and they came crowding about
their king. Then fierce and long was the fight, for the Lycians could
not break down the wall of the Greeks and make a way to the ships, and
the Greeks could not drive away the Lycians from the wall where they
stood. Just so two men contend for the boundary in some common field.
Small is the space, and they stand close together. So close stood the
Lycians and the Greeks, on this side of the battlement, and on that,
and all the wall was red with blood. But not to Sarpedon and the men of
Lycia, but to Hector, did Zeus give the glory that day. Now, in front
of the gate there lay a great stone, broad at the base and sharp at the
top. Scarce could two men of the strongest, such as are men in these
days, move it with levers on to a wagon; but Hector lifted it easily,
easily as a shepherd carries in one hand the fleece of a sheep. Two
folding doors there were in the gates, held by bolts and a key, and at
these he hurled the great stone, planting his feet apart, that his aim
might be the surer and stronger. With a mighty crash it came against
the gates, and the bolts held not against it, and the hinges were
broken, so that the folding doors flew back. Then Hector leapt into the
space, holding a spear in either hand, and his eyes flashed as fire.
And the men of Troy came after him, some mounting the wall, and some
pouring through the gates.
Now Poseidon was watching the battle from the wooded height of
Samothrace, whence he could see Ida and Troy and the ships. And he
pitied the Greeks when he saw how they fled before Hector, and purposed
in his heart to help them. So he left the height of Samothrace, and
came with four strides to Ægæ, where his palace was in the depths of
the sea. There he harnessed the horses to his chariot and rode, passing
over the waves, and the great beasts of the sea gambolled about him
as he went, knowing their king. But when he came to the camp of the
Greeks, he took upon him the shape of Calchas, the herald, and went
through the host strengthening the heroes for the battle--Ajax the
Greater, and Ajax the Less, and others also--so that they turned their
faces again to the enemy. But not the less did the men of Troy press
on, Hector leading the way.
Then first of all Teucer slew a Trojan, Imbrius by name, wounding him
under the ear. He fell as some tall poplar falls which a woodman fells
with axe of bronze. Then Teucer rushed to seize his arms, but Hector
cast his spear. Teucer it struck not, missing him by a little, but
Amphimachus it smote on the breast so that he fell dead. Then Hector
seized the dead man’s helmet, seeking to drag the body among the sons
of Troy. But Ajax stretched forth his great spear against him, and
struck the boss of his shield mightily, driving him backwards, so that
he loosed hold of the helmet of Amphimachus. And him his comrades bore
to the rear of the host, and the body of Imbrius also they carried off.
Then did Idomeneus the Cretan, son of Minos, the wise judge, perform
many valiant deeds, going to the left-hand of the battle-line, for he
said,--
“The Greeks have stay enough where the great Ajax is. No man that eats
bread is better than he; no, not Achilles’ self, were the two to stand
man to man, but Achilles indeed is swifter of foot.”
And first of all he slew Othryoneus, who had but newly come, hearing
the fame of the war. For Cassandra’s sake he had come, that he might
have her to wife, vowing that he would drive the Greeks from Troy, and
Priam had promised him the maiden. But now Idomeneus slew him, and
cried over him,--
“This was a great thing that thou didst promise to Priam, for which
he was to give thee his daughter. Thou shouldst have come to us, and
we would have given thee the fairest of the daughters of Agamemnon,
bringing her from Argos, if thou wouldst have engaged to help us to
take this city of Troy. But come now with me to the ships, that we may
treat about this marriage: thou wilt find that we have open hands.”
So he spake, mocking the dead. Then King Asius charged, coming on
foot with his chariot behind him. But ere he could throw his spear,
Idomeneus smote him that he fell, as falls an oak, or an alder, or a
pine, which men fell upon the hills. And the driver of his chariot
stood dismayed, nor thought to turn his horses and flee, so that
Antilochus, the son of Nestor, struck him down, and took the chariot
and horses for his own. Then Deïphobus in great wrath came near to
Idomeneus, and would have slain him with a spear, but could not, for he
covered himself with his shield, and the spear passed over his head.
Yet did it not fly in vain, for it lighted on Hypsenor, striking him on
the right side. And as he fell, Deïphobus cried aloud,--
“Now is Asius avenged; and though he go down to that strong porter who
keeps the gates of hell, yet will he be glad, for I have sent him a
companion.”
But scarce had he spoken when Idomeneus the Cretan slew another of the
chiefs of Troy, Alcathoüs, son-in-law of old Anchises. And having slain
him, he cried,--
“Small reason hast thou to boast, Deïphobus, for we have slain three
for one. But come thou and meet me in battle, that thou mayest know me
who I am, son of Deucalion, who was the son of Minos, who was the son
of Zeus.”
Then Deïphobus thought within himself, should he meet this man alone,
or should he take some brave comrade with him? And it seemed to him
better that he should take a brave comrade with him. Wherefore he went
for Æneas, and found him in the rear of the battle, vexed at heart
because King Priam did not honor him among the princes of Troy. Then
said he,--
“Come hither, Æneas, to fight for Alcathoüs, who was wont to care for
thee when thou wast young, and now he lies dead under the spear of
Idomeneus.”
So they two went together; and Idomeneus saw them, but yielded not
from his place, only called to his comrades that they should gather
themselves together and help him. And on the other side Æneas called
to Deïphobus, and Paris, and Agenor. So they fought about the body of
Alcathoüs. Then did Æneas cast his spear at Idomeneus, but struck him
not; but Idomeneus slew Œnomaüs, only when he would have spoiled him of
his arms he could not, for the men of Troy pressed him hard, so that
perforce he gave way. And as he turned, Deïphobus sought to slay him
with his spear, but smote in his stead Ascalaphus, son of Ares. But
when he would have spoiled him of his arms, Meriones struck him through
the wrist with a spear. Straightway he dropped the helmet which he had
seized, and Polites, his brother, led him out of the battle. And he
climbed into his chariot and went back to the city. But the rest stayed
not their hands from fighting, and many valiant heroes fell, both on
this side and on that. For on the left the sons of Greece prevailed,
so fiercely fought Idomeneus the Cretan, and Meriones, his comrade,
and Antilochus, the son of Nestor, and Menelaüs; but on the right the
Locrians and the Bœotians and the men of Athens could scarce keep
Hector from the ships. Yet here for a while the battle went with them,
for the Locrians, who were mighty archers, bent their bows against the
men of Troy and dismayed them, so thick flew the arrows, dealing wounds
and death. Then said Polydamas to Hector,--
“O Hector, thou art ever loath to hear counsel from others. Yet think
not that because thou art stronger than other men, therefore Zeus hath
also made thee wiser. For truly he gives diverse gifts to diverse
men--strength to one and counsel to another. Hear, then, my words. Thou
seest that the Trojans keep not all together, for some stand aloof,
while some fight, being few against many. Do thou therefore call the
bravest together. Then shall we see whether we shall burn the ships,
or, it may be, win our way back without harm to Troy; for indeed I
forget not that there is a warrior here whom no man may match, nor will
he, I trow, always keep aloof from the battle.”
And the saying pleased Hector. So he went through the host looking for
the chiefs--for Deïphobus, and Helenus, and Asius, and Acamas, son of
Asius, and others, who were the bravest among the Trojans and allies.
And some he found, and some he found not, for they had fallen in the
battle, or had gone sorely wounded to the city. But at last he spied
Paris, where he stood strengthening the hearts of his comrades.
“O Paris, fair of face, cheater of the hearts of women, where is
Deïphobus, and Helenus, and Asius, and Acamas, son of Asius?”
But Paris answered him, “Some of these are dead, and some are sorely
wounded. But we who are left fight on. Only do thou lead us against the
Greeks, nor wilt thou say that we are slow to follow.”
So Hector went along the front of the battle, leading the men of Troy.
Nor did the Greeks give way when they saw him, but Ajax the Greater
cried,--
“Friend, come near, nor fear the men of Greece. Thou thinkest in thine
heart to spoil the ships, but we have hands to keep them, and ere they
perish Troy itself shall fall before us. Soon, I trow, wilt thou wish
that thy horses were swifter than hawks, when they bear thee fleeing
before us across the plain to the city.”
But Hector answered, “Nay, thou braggart Ajax, what words are these?
I would that I were as surely one of the Immortals as this day shall
surely bring woe to the Greeks. And thou, if thou darest to meet my
spear, shalt be slain among the rest, and feed with thy flesh the
beasts of the field and the fowls of the air.”
So he spake, and from this side and from that there went up a great cry
of battle.
So loud was the cry that it roused old Nestor where he sat in his tent,
tending the wounded Machaon. Whereupon he said, “Sit thou here and
drink the red wine till the fair Hecamedé shall have got ready the bath
to wash the blood from thy wound, but I will ask how things fare in the
battle.”
So he went forth from the tent, seeking King Agamemnon. And lo! as
he went the king met him, and with him were Diomed and Ulysses, who
also had been wounded that day. So they held counsel together. And
Agamemnon--for it troubled him sore that the people were slain--would
that they should draw down the ships into the sea, and should flee
homewards, as soon as the darkness should cover them, and the Trojans
should cease from the battle.
But Ulysses would have none of such counsel, saying, “Now, surely,
son of Atreus, thou art not worthy to rule over us, who have been men
of war from our youth. Wilt thou leave this city, for the taking of
which we have suffered so much? That may not be; let not any one of the
Greeks hear thee say such words. And what is this, that thou wouldst
have us launch our ships now, whilst the hosts are fighting? Surely, so
doing, we should perish altogether, for the Greeks would not fight any
more, seeing that the ships were being launched, and the men of Troy
would slay us altogether.”
Then King Agamemnon said, “Thou speakest well.” And he went through
the host, bidding the men bear themselves bravely, and all the while
Poseidon put courage and strength into their hearts. Then Hector cast
his spear against Ajax Telamon. The shield kept it not off, for it
passed beneath, but the two belts, of the shield and of the sword,
stayed it, so that it wounded not his body. Then Hector in wrath and
fear went back into the ranks of his comrades; but as he went Ajax took
a great stone--now were there many such which they had as props for the
ships--and smote him above the rim of his shield, on the neck. As an
oak falls, stricken by the thunder of Zeus, so he fell, and the Greeks
rushed with a great cry to drag him to them, but could not, for all the
bravest of the sons of Troy held their shields before him--Polydamas,
and Æneas, and Sarpedon, and Glaucus. Then they carried him to the
Xanthus, and poured water upon him. And after a while he sat up, and
then again his spirit left him, for the blow had been very grievous.
But when the Greeks saw that Hector had been carried out of the battle,
they pressed on the more, slaying the men of Troy, and driving them
back even out of the camp and across the trench. But when they came
to their chariots, where they had left them on the other side of the
trench, there they stood trembling and pale with fear. But Apollo, at
the bidding of Zeus, went to Hector, where he lay, and healed him of
his wound, pouring strength and courage into his heart, so that he
went back to the battle whole and sound. Then great fear came upon the
Greeks when they saw him, and Thoas the Ætolian spake, saying,--
“Surely this is a great marvel that I see with mine eyes. For we
thought that Hector had been slain by the hand of Ajax, son of Telamon,
and now, behold! he is come back to the battle. Many Greeks have fallen
before him, and many, I trow, will fall, for of a truth some god has
raised him up and helps him. But come, let all the bravest stand
together. So, mighty though he be, he shall fear to enter our array.”
And all the bravest gathered together and stood in the front, but the
multitude made for the ships. But Hector came on, and Apollo before
him, with his shoulders wrapped in cloud and the ægis shield in his
hand. And many of the Greeks fell slain before the sons of Troy, as
Iäsus of Athens, and Arcesilaüs the Bœotian, and Medon, who was brother
to Ajax the Less, and many more. Thus the battle turned again, and came
near to the trench; and now Apollo made it easy for the men of Troy to
pass, so that they left not their chariots, as before, upon the brink,
but drave them across.
Meanwhile Patroclus sat in the tent of Eurypylus dressing his wound and
talking with him. But when he saw what had chanced, he struck his thigh
with his hand and cried,--
“Now must I leave thee, Eurypylus, for I must haste to Achilles, so
dreadful is now the battle. Perchance I may persuade him that he go
forth to the fight.”
So he ran to the tent of Achilles. And now the men of Troy were at the
ships. And Hector and Ajax were fighting for one of them, and Ajax
could not drive him back, and Hector could not burn the ship with fire.
Then sprang forward Caletor with a torch in his hand, and Ajax smote
him on the heart with a sword, so that he fell close by the ship. Then
Hector cried,--
“Come now, Trojans and allies, and fight for Caletor, that the Greeks
spoil him not of his arms.”
So saying he cast his spear at Ajax. Him he struck not, but Cytherius,
his comrade, he slew. Then was Ajax sore dismayed, and spake to Teucer
his brother,--
“See now, Cytherius, our dear comrade, is dead, slain by Hector. But
where are thy arrows and thy bow?”
So Teucer took his bow and laid an arrow on the string, and smote
Clitus, who was charioteer to Polydamas. And then he aimed an arrow
at Hector’s self; but ere he could loose it, the bowstring was broken
in his hands, and the arrow went far astray, for Zeus would not that
Hector should so fall. Then Teucer cried aloud to his brother,--
“Surely some god confounds our counsels, breaking my bowstring, which
this very day I tied new upon my bow.”
But Ajax said, “Let be thy bow, if it please not the gods, but take
spear and shield and fight with the men of Troy. For though they master
us to-day, they shall not take our ships for nought.”
So Teucer armed himself afresh for the battle. But Hector, when he saw
the broken bow, cried out,--
“Come on, ye men of Troy, for Zeus is with us. Even now he broke the
bow of Teucer, the great archer. And they whom Zeus helps prevail, and
they whom he favors grow not weak. Come on; for even though a man fall,
it is well that he fall fighting for his fatherland; and his wife and
his children are safe, nor shall his glory cease, if so be that we
drive the Greeks in their ships across the sea.”
And on the other side Ajax, the son of Telamon, called to the Greeks,
and bade them quit themselves like men. Then the battle grew yet
fiercer, for Hector slew Schedius, who led the men of Phocis, and Ajax
slew Laodamas, son of Antenor, and Polydamas Otus of Cyllene. Then
Meges thought to slay Polydamas; but his spear went astray, smiting
down Cræsmus; and Dolops, who was grandson to Laomedon, cast his spear
at Meges, but the corselet stayed the point, though it pierced the
shield. But Dolops’ self Menelaüs smote through the shoulder, but could
not spoil him of his arms, for Hector and his brothers hindered him.
So they fought, slaying one another; but Hector still waxed greater
and greater in the battle, and still the men of Troy came on, and
still the Greeks gave way. So they came again, these pushing forward
and these yielding ground, to the ships. And Hector caught hold of one
of them, even the ship of Protesilaüs: him indeed it had brought from
Troy, but it took him not back, for he had fallen, slain by the hand
of Hector, as he leapt, first of all the Greeks, upon the shore of
Troy. This Hector caught, and the battle raged like fire about it; for
the men of Troy and the Greeks were gathered round, and none fought
with arrows or javelins from afar, but man to man, with battle-axe and
sword and great spears pointed at either end. And many a fair weapon
lay shattered on the ground, and the earth flowed with blood as with a
river. But still Hector held the stem of the ship with his hand, and
called to the men of Troy that they should bring fire, for that Zeus
had given them the victory that day. Then even Ajax himself gave way,
so did the spears of the Trojans press him; for now he stood no longer
upon the stern deck, but on the rowers’ bench, thrusting thence with
his spear at any one who sought to set fire to the ship. And ever he
cried to the Greeks with a terrible voice,--
“O ye Greeks, now must ye quit yourselves like men. For have ye any
helpers behind? or have ye any walls to shelter you? No city is here,
with well-built battlements, wherein ye might be safe, while the people
should fight for you. For we are here in the plain of Troy, and the sea
is close behind us, and we are far from our country. Wherefore all our
hope is in valor, and not in shrinking back from the battle.”
And still he thrust with his spear, if any of the men of Troy, at
Hector’s bidding, sought to bring fire against the ship. Full twelve he
wounded where he stood.