Then Nestor rose and spoke； 〃Of a truth；〃 said he； 〃the Achaean land
is fallen upon evil times。 The old knight Peleus； counsellor and
orator among the Myrmidons； loved when I was in his house to
question me concerning the race and lineage of all the Argives。 How
would it not grieve him could he hear of them as now quailing before
Hector？ Many a time would he lift his hands in prayer that his soul
might leave his body and go down within the house of Hades。 Would；
by father Jove； Minerva； and Apollo； that I were still young and
strong as when the Pylians and Arcadians were gathered in fight by the
rapid river Celadon under the walls of Pheia； and round about the
waters of the river Iardanus。 The godlike hero Ereuthalion stood
forward as their champion； with the armour of King Areithous upon
his shoulders… Areithous whom men and women had surnamed 'the
Mace…man；' because he fought neither with bow nor spear； but broke the
battalions of the foe with his iron mace。 Lycurgus killed him； not
in fair fight； but by entrapping him in a narrow way where his mace
served him in no stead； for Lycurgus was too quick for him and speared
him through the middle； so he fell to earth on his back。 Lycurgus then
spoiled him of the armour which Mars had given him； and bore it in
battle thenceforward； but when he grew old and stayed at home； he gave
it to his faithful squire Ereuthalion； who in this same armour
challenged the foremost men among us。 The others quaked and quailed；
but my high spirit bade me fight him though none other would
venture； I was the youngest man of them all； but when I fought him
Minerva vouchsafed me victory。 He was the biggest and strongest man
that ever I killed； and covered much ground as he lay sprawling upon
the earth。 Would that I were still young and strong as I then was； for
the son of Priam would then soon find one who would face him。 But you；
foremost among the whole host though you be； have none of you any
stomach for fighting Hector。〃
Thus did the old man rebuke them； and forthwith nine men started
to their feet。 Foremost of all uprose King Agamemnon； and after him
brave Diomed the son of Tydeus。 Next were the two Ajaxes； men
clothed in valour as with a garment； and then Idomeneus； and
Meriones his brother in arms。 After these Eurypylus son of Euaemon；
Thoas the son of Andraemon； and Ulysses also rose。 Then Nestor
knight of Gerene again spoke； saying： 〃Cast lots among you to see
who shall be chosen。 If he come alive out of this fight he will have
done good service alike to his own soul and to the Achaeans。〃
Thus he spoke； and when each of them had marked his lot； and had
thrown it into the helmet of Agamemnon son of Atreus； the people
lifted their hands in prayer； and thus would one of them say as he
looked into the vault of heaven； 〃Father Jove； grant that the lot fall
on Ajax； or on the son of Tydeus； or upon the king of rich Mycene
himself。〃
As they were speaking； Nestor knight of Gerene shook the helmet； and
from it there fell the very lot which they wanted… the lot of Ajax。
The herald bore it about and showed it to all the chieftains of the
Achaeans； going from left to right； but they none of of them owned it。
When； however； in due course he reached the man who had written upon
it and had put it into the helmet； brave Ajax held out his hand； and
the herald gave him the lot。 When Ajax saw him mark he knew it and was
glad； he threw it to the ground and said； 〃My friends； the lot is
mine； and I rejoice； for I shall vanquish Hector。 I will put on my
armour； meanwhile； pray to King Jove in silence among yourselves
that the Trojans may not hear you… or aloud if you will； for we fear
no man。 None shall overcome me； neither by force nor cunning； for I
was born and bred in Salamis； and can hold my own in all things。〃
With this they fell praying to King Jove the son of Saturn； and thus
would one of them say as he looked into the vault of heaven； 〃Father
Jove that rulest from Ida； most glorious in power； vouchsafe victory
to Ajax； and let him win great glory： but if you wish well to Hector
also and would protect him； grant to each of them equal fame and
prowess。
Thus they prayed； and Ajax armed himself in his suit of gleaming
bronze。 When he was in full array he sprang forward as monstrous
Mars when he takes part among men whom Jove has set fighting with
one another… even so did huge Ajax； bulwark of the Achaeans； spring
forward with a grim smile on his face as he brandished his long
spear and strode onward。 The Argives were elated as they beheld him；
but the Trojans trembled in every limb； and the heart even of Hector
beat quickly； but he could not now retreat and withdraw into the ranks
behind him； for he had been the challenger。 Ajax came up bearing his
shield in front of him like a wall… a shield of bronze with seven
folds of oxhide… the work of Tychius； who lived in Hyle and was by far
the best worker in leather。 He had made it with the hides of seven
full…fed bulls； and over these he had set an eighth layer of bronze。
Holding this shield before him； Ajax son of Telamon came close up to
Hector； and menaced him saying； 〃Hector； you shall now learn； man to
man； what kind of champions the Danaans have among them even besides
lion…hearted Achilles cleaver of the ranks of men。 He now abides at
the ships in anger with Agamemnon shepherd of his people； but there
are many of us who are well able to face you； therefore begin the
fight。〃
And Hector answered； 〃Noble Ajax； son of Telamon； captain of the
host； treat me not as though I were some puny boy or woman that cannot
fight。 I have been long used to the blood and butcheries of battle。
I am quick to turn my leathern shield either to right or left； for
this I deem the main thing in battle。 I can charge among the
chariots and horsemen； and in hand to hand fighting can delight the
heart of Mars； howbeit I would not take such a man as you are off
his guard… but I will smite you openly if I can。〃
He poised his spear as he spoke； and hurled it from him。 It struck
the sevenfold shield in its outermost layer… the eighth； which was
of bronze… and went through six of the layers but in the seventh
hide it stayed。 Then Ajax threw in his turn； and struck the round
shield of the son of Priam。 The terrible spear went through his
gleaming shield； and pressed onward through his cuirass of cunning
workmanship； it pierced the shirt against his side； but he swerved and
thus saved his life。 They then each of them drew out the spear from
his shield； and fell on one another like savage lions or wild boars of
great strength and endurance： the son of Priam struck the middle of
Ajax's shield； but the bronze did not break； and the point of his dart
was turned。 Ajax then sprang forward and pierced the shield of Hector；
the spear went through it and staggered him as he was springing
forward to attack； it gashed his neck and the blood came pouring
from the wound； but even so Hector did not cease fighting； he gave
ground； and with his brawny hand seized a stone； rugged and huge； that
was lying upon the plain； with this he struck the shield of Ajax on
the boss that was in its middle； so that the bronze rang again。 But
Ajax in turn caught up a far larger stone； swung it aloft； and
hurled it with prodigious force。 This millstone of a rock broke
Hector's shield inwards and threw him down on his back with the shield
crushing him under it； but Apollo raised him at once。 Thereon they
would have hacked at one another in close combat with their swords；
had not heralds； messengers of gods and men； come forward； one from
the Trojans and the other from the Achaeans… Talthybius and Idaeus
both of them honourable men； these parted them with their staves；
and the good herald Idaeus said； 〃My sons； fight no longer； you are
both of you valiant； and both are dear to Jove； we know this； but
night is now falling； and the behests of night may not be well
gainsaid。〃
Ajax son of Telamon answered； 〃Idaeus； bid Hector say so； for it was
he that challenged our princes。 Let him speak first and I will
accept his saying。〃
Then Hector said； 〃Ajax； heaven has vouchsafed you stature and
strength； and judgement； and in wielding the spear you excel all
others of the Achaeans。 Let us for this day cease fighting；
hereafter we will fight anew till heaven decide between us； and give
victory to one or to the other； night is now falling； and the
behests of night may not be well gainsaid。 Gladden； then； the hearts
of the Achaeans at your ships； and more especially those of your own
followers and clansmen； while I； in the great city of King Priam；
bring comfort to the Trojans and their women； who vie with one another
in their prayers on my behalf。 Let us； moreover； exchange presents
that it may be said among the Achaeans and Trojans； 'They fought
with might and main； but were reconciled and parted in friendship。'
On this he gave Ajax a silver…studded sword with its sheath and
leathern baldric； and in return Ajax gave him a girdle dyed with
purple。 Thus they parted； the one going to the host of the Achaeans；
and the other to that of the Trojans； who rejoiced when they saw their
hero come to them sa