he yoked his fleet brazen…footed steeds with their manes of gold all
flying in the wind； he clothed himself in raiment of gold； grasped his
gold whip； and took his stand upon his chariot。 As he went his way
over the waves the sea…monsters left their lairs； for they knew
their lord； and came gambolling round him from every quarter of the
deep； while the sea in her gladness opened a path before his
chariot。 So lightly did the horses fly that the bronze axle of the car
was not even wet beneath it； and thus his bounding steeds took him
to the ships of the Achaeans。
Now there is a certain huge cavern in the depths of the sea midway
between Tenedos and rocky Imbrus； here Neptune lord of the
earthquake stayed his horses； unyoked them； and set before them
their ambrosial forage。 He hobbled their feet with hobbles of gold
which none could either unloose or break； so that they might stay
there in that place until their lord should return。 This done he
went his way to the host of the Achaeans。
Now the Trojans followed Hector son of Priam in close array like a
storm…cloud or flame of fire； fighting with might and main and raising
the cry battle； for they deemed that they should take the ships of the
Achaeans and kill all their chiefest heroes then and there。
Meanwhile earth…encircling Neptune lord of the earthquake cheered on
the Argives； for he had come up out of the sea and had assumed the
form and voice of Calchas。
First he spoke to the two Ajaxes； who were doing their best already；
and said； 〃Ajaxes； you two can be the saving of the Achaeans if you
will put out all your strength and not let yourselves be daunted。 I am
not afraid that the Trojans； who have got over the wall in force； will
be victorious in any other part； for the Achaeans can hold all of them
in check； but I much fear that some evil will befall us here where
furious Hector； who boasts himself the son of great Jove himself； is
leading them on like a pillar of flame。 May some god； then； put it
into your hearts to make a firm stand here； and to incite others to do
the like。 In this case you will drive him from the ships even though
he be inspired by Jove himself。〃
As he spoke the earth…encircling lord of the earthquake struck
both of them with his sceptre and filled their hearts with daring。
He made their legs light and active； as also their hands and their
feet。 Then； as the soaring falcon poises on the wing high above some
sheer rock； and presently swoops down to chase some bird over the
plain； even so did Neptune lord of the earthquake wing his flight into
the air and leave them。 Of the two； swift Ajax son of Oileus was the
first to know who it was that had been speaking with them； and said to
Ajax son of Telamon； 〃Ajax； this is one of the gods that dwell on
Olympus； who in the likeness of the prophet is bidding us fight hard
by our ships。 It was not Calchas the seer and diviner of omens； I knew
him at once by his feet and knees as he turned away； for the gods
are soon recognised。 Moreover I feel the lust of battle burn more
fiercely within me； while my hands and my feet under me are more eager
for the fray。〃
And Ajax son of Telamon answered； 〃I too feel my hands grasp my
spear more firmly； my strength is greater； and my feet more nimble；
I long； moreover； to meet furious Hector son of Priam； even in
single combat。〃
Thus did they converse； exulting in the hunger after battle with
which the god had filled them。 Meanwhile the earth…encircler roused
the Achaeans； who were resting in the rear by the ships overcome at
once by hard fighting and by grief at seeing that the Trojans had
got over the wall in force。 Tears began falling from their eyes as
they beheld them； for they made sure that they should not escape
destruction； but the lord of the earthquake passed lightly about among
them and urged their battalions to the front。
First he went up to Teucer and Leitus； the hero Peneleos； and
Thoas and Deipyrus； Meriones also and Antilochus； valiant warriors；
all did he exhort。 〃Shame on you young Argives；〃 he cried； 〃it was
on your prowess I relied for the saving of our ships； if you fight not
with might and main； this very day will see us overcome by the
Trojans。 Of a truth my eyes behold a great and terrible portent
which I had never thought to see… the Trojans at our ships… they；
who were heretofore like panic…stricken hinds； the prey of jackals and
wolves in a forest； with no strength but in flight for they cannot
defend themselves。 Hitherto the Trojans dared not for one moment
face the attack of the Achaeans； but now they have sallied far from
their city and are fighting at our very ships through the cowardice of
our leader and the disaffection of the people themselves； who in their
discontent care not to fight in defence of the ships but are being
slaughtered near them。 True； King Agamemnon son of Atreus is the cause
of our disaster by having insulted the son of Peleus； still this is no
reason why we should leave off fighting。 Let us be quick to heal；
for the hearts of the brave heal quickly。 You do ill to be thus
remiss； you； who are the finest soldiers in our whole army。 I blame no
man for keeping out of battle if he is a weakling； but I am
indignant with such men as you are。 My good friends； matters will soon
become even worse through this slackness； think； each one of you； of
his own honour and credit； for the hazard of the fight is extreme。
Great Hector is now fighting at our ships； he has broken through the
gates and the strong bolt that held them。〃
Thus did the earth…encircler address the Achaeans and urge them
on。 Thereon round the two Ajaxes there gathered strong bands of men；
of whom not even Mars nor Minerva； marshaller of hosts could make
light if they went among them； for they were the picked men of all
those who were now awaiting the onset of Hector and the Trojans。
They made a living fence； spear to spear； shield to shield； buckler to
buckler； helmet to helmet； and man to man。 The horse…hair crests on
their gleaming helmets touched one another as they nodded forward；
so closely seffied were they； the spears they brandished in their
strong hands were interlaced； and their hearts were set on battle。
The Trojans advanced in a dense body； with Hector at their head
pressing right on as a rock that comes thundering down the side of
some mountain from whose brow the winter torrents have torn it； the
foundations of the dull thing have been loosened by floods of rain；
and as it bounds headlong on its way it sets the whole forest in an
uproar； it swerves neither to right nor left till it reaches level
ground； but then for all its fury it can go no further… even so easily
did Hector for a while seem as though he would career through the
tents and ships of the Achaeans till he had reached the sea in his
murderous course； but the closely serried battalions stayed him when
he reached them； for the sons of the Achaeans thrust at him with
swords and spears pointed at both ends； and drove him from them so
that he staggered and gave ground； thereon he shouted to the
Trojans； 〃Trojans； Lycians； and Dardanians； fighters in close
combat； stand firm： the Achaeans have set themselves as a wall against
me； but they will not check me for long； they will give ground
before me if the mightiest of the gods； the thundering spouse of Juno；
has indeed inspired my onset。〃
With these words he put heart and soul into them all。 Deiphobus
son of Priam went about among them intent on deeds of daring with
his round shield before him； under cover of which he strode quickly
forward。 Meriones took aim at him with a spear； nor did he fail to hit
the broad orb of ox…hide； but he was far from piercing it for the
spear broke in two pieces long ere he could do so； moreover
Deiphobus had seen it coming and had held his shield well away from
him。 Meriones drew back under cover of his comrades； angry alike at
having failed to vanquish Deiphobus； and having broken his spear。 He
turned therefore towards the ships and tents to fetch a spear which he
had left behind in his tent。
The others continued fighting； and the cry of battle rose up into
the heavens。 Teucer son of Telamon was the first to kill his man； to
wit； the warrior Imbrius son of Mentor rich in horses。 Until the
Achaeans came he had lived in Pedaeum； and had married Medesicaste a
bastard daughter of Priam； but on the arrival of the Danaan fleet he
had gone back to Ilius； and was a great man among the Trojans；
dwelling near Priam himself； who gave him like honour with his own
sons。 The son of Telamon now struck him under the ear with a spear
which he then drew back again； and Imbrius fell headlong as an
ash…tree when it is felled on the crest of some high mountain
beacon； and its delicate green foliage comes toppling down to the
ground。 Thus did he fall with his bronze…dight armour ringing
harshly round him； and Teucer sprang forward with intent to strip
him of his armour； but as he was doing so； Hector took aim at him with
a spear。 Teucer saw the spear coming and swerved aside； whereon it hit
Amphimachus； son of Cteatus son of Actor； in the chest as he was
coming into battle； and his armour rang rat