tents and their ships。 The stones fell thick as the flakes of snow
which some fierce blast drives from the dark clouds and showers down
in sheets upon the earth… even so fell the weapons from the hands
alike of Trojans and Achaeans。 Helmet and shield rang out as the great
stones rained upon them； and Asius the son of Hyrtacus in his dismay
cried aloud and smote his two thighs。 〃Father Jove；〃 he cried； 〃of a
truth you too are altogether given to lying。 I made sure the Argive
heroes could not withstand us； whereas like slim…waisted wasps； or
bees that have their nests in the rocks by the wayside… they leave not
the holes wherein they have built undefended； but fight for their
little ones against all who would take them… even so these men； though
they be but two； will not be driven from the gates； but stand firm
either to slay or be slain。〃
He spoke； but moved not the mind of Jove； whose counsel it then
was to give glory to Hector。 Meanwhile the rest of the Trojans were
fighting about the other gates； I； however； am no god to be able to
tell about all these things； for the battle raged everywhere about the
stone wall as it were a fiery furnace。 The Argives； discomfited though
they were； were forced to defend their ships； and all the gods who
were defending the Achaeans were vexed in spirit； but the Lapithae
kept on fighting with might and main。
Thereon Polypoetes； mighty son of Pirithous； hit Damasus with a
spear upon his cheek…pierced helmet。 The helmet did not protect him；
for the point of the spear went through it； and broke the bone； so
that the brain inside was scattered about； and he died fighting。 He
then slew Pylon and Ormenus。 Leonteus； of the race of Mars； killed
Hippomachus the son of Antimachus by striking him with his spear
upon the girdle。 He then drew his sword and sprang first upon
Antiphates whom he killed in combat； and who fell face upwards on
the earth。 After him he killed Menon； Iamenus； and Orestes； and laid
them low one after the other。
While they were busy stripping the armour from these heroes； the
youths who were led on by Polydamas and Hector （and these were the
greater part and the most valiant of those that were trying to break
through the wall and fire the ships） were still standing by the
trench； uncertain what they should do； for they had seen a sign from
heaven when they had essayed to cross it… a soaring eagle that flew
skirting the left wing of their host； with a monstrous blood…red snake
in its talons still alive and struggling to escape。 The snake was
still bent on revenge； wriggling and twisting itself backwards till it
struck the bird that held it； on the neck and breast； whereon the bird
being in pain； let it fall； dropping it into the middle of the host；
and then flew down the wind with a sharp cry。 The Trojans were
struck with terror when they saw the snake； portent of aegis…bearing
Jove； writhing in the midst of them； and Polydamas went up to Hector
and said； 〃Hector； at our councils of war you are ever given to rebuke
me； even when I speak wisely； as though it were not well； forsooth；
that one of the people should cross your will either in the field or
at the council board； you would have them support you always：
nevertheless I will say what I think will be best； let us not now go
on to fight the Danaans at their ships； for I know what will happen if
this soaring eagle which skirted the left wing of our with a monstrous
blood…red snake in its talons （the snake being still alive） was really
sent as an omen to the Trojans on their essaying to cross the
trench。 The eagle let go her hold； she did not succeed in taking it
home to her little ones； and so will it be… with ourselves； even
though by a mighty effort we break through the gates and wall of the
Achaeans； and they give way before us； still we shall not return in
good order by the way we came； but shall leave many a man behind us
whom the Achaeans will do to death in defence of their ships。 Thus
would any seer who was expert in these matters； and was trusted by the
people； read the portent。〃
Hector looked fiercely at him and said； 〃Polydamas； I like not of
your reading。 You can find a better saying than this if you will。
If； however； you have spoken in good earnest； then indeed has heaven
robbed you of your reason。 You would have me pay no heed to the
counsels of Jove； nor to the promises he made me… and he bowed his
head in confirmation； you bid me be ruled rather by the flight of
wild…fowl。 What care I whether they fly towards dawn or dark； and
whether they be on my right hand or on my left？ Let us put our trust
rather in the counsel of great Jove； king of mortals and immortals。
There is one omen； and one only… that a man should fight for his
country。 Why are you so fearful？ Though we be all of us slain at the
ships of the Argives you are not likely to be killed yourself； for you
are not steadfast nor courageous。 If you will。 not fight； or would
talk others over from doing so； you shall fall forthwith before my
spear。〃
With these words he led the way； and the others followed after
with a cry that rent the air。 Then Jove the lord of thunder sent the
blast of a mighty wind from the mountains of Ida； that bore the dust
down towards the ships； he thus lulled the Achaeans into security； and
gave victory to Hector and to the Trojans； who； trusting to their
own might and to the signs he had shown them； essayed to break through
the great wall of the Achaeans。 They tore down the breastworks from
the walls； and overthrew the battlements； they upheaved the
buttresses； which the Achaeans had set in front of the wall in order
to support it； when they had pulled these down they made sure of
breaking through the wall； but the Danaans still showed no sign of
giving ground； they still fenced the battlements with their shields of
ox…hide； and hurled their missiles down upon the foe as soon as any
came below the wall。
The two Ajaxes went about everywhere on the walls cheering on the
Achaeans； giving fair words to some while they spoke sharply to any
one whom they saw to be remiss。 〃My friends；〃 they cried； 〃Argives one
and all… good bad and indifferent； for there was never fight yet； in
which all were of equal prowess… there is now work enough； as you very
well know； for all of you。 See that you none of you turn in flight
towards the ships； daunted by the shouting of the foe； but press
forward and keep one another in heart； if it may so be that Olympian
Jove the lord of lightning will vouchsafe us to repel our foes； and
drive them back towards the city。〃
Thus did the two go about shouting and cheering the Achaeans on。
As the flakes that fall thick upon a winter's day； when Jove is minded
to snow and to display these his arrows to mankind… he lulls the
wind to rest； and snows hour after hour till he has buried the tops of
the high mountains； the headlands that jut into the sea； the grassy
plains； and the tilled fields of men； the snow lies deep upon the
forelands； and havens of the grey sea； but the waves as they come
rolling in stay it that it can come no further； though all else is
wrapped as with a mantle so heavy are the heavens with snow… even thus
thickly did the stones fall on one side and on the other； some
thrown at the Trojans； and some by the Trojans at the Achaeans； and
the whole wall was in an uproar。
Still the Trojans and brave Hector would not yet have broken down
the gates and the great bar； had not Jove turned his son Sarpedon
against the Argives as a lion against a herd of horned cattle。
Before him he held his shield of hammered bronze； that the smith had
beaten so fair and round； and had lined with ox hides which he had
made fast with rivets of gold all round the shield； this he held in
front of him； and brandishing his two spears came on like some lion of
the wilderness； who has been long famished for want of meat and will
dare break even into a well…fenced homestead to try and get at the
sheep。 He may find the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks
with dogs and spears； but he is in no mind to be driven from the
fold till he has had a try for it； he will either spring on a sheep
and carry it off； or be hit by a spear from strong hand… even so was
Sarpedon fain to attack the wall and break down its battlements。
Then he said to Glaucus son of Hippolochus； 〃Glaucus； why in Lycia
do we receive especial honour as regards our place at table？ Why are
the choicest portions served us and our cups kept brimming； and why do
men look up to us as though we were gods？ Moreover we hold a large
estate by the banks of the river Xanthus； fair with orchard lawns
and wheat…growing land； it becomes us； therefore； to take our stand at
the head of all the Lycians and bear the brunt of the fight； that
one may say to another； Our princes in Lycia eat the fat of the land
and drink best of wine； but they are fine fellows； they fight well and
are ever at the front in battle。' My good friend； if； when we were
once out of this fight； we could escape old age and death
thenceforward and for ever； I should neither press forward myself
nor bid you do so； but death in ten thousand shapes hangs ever over
our heads； and no