stepmother Eriopis； the wife of Oileus； the other； Podarces； was the
son of Iphiclus son of Phylacus。 These two stood in the van of the
Phthians； and defended the ships along with the Boeotians。
Ajax son of Oileus never for a moment left the side of Ajax son of
Telamon； but as two swart oxen both strain their utmost at the
plough which they are drawing in a fallow field； and the sweat
steams upwards from about the roots of their horns… nothing but the
yoke divides them as they break up the ground till they reach the
end of the field… even so did the two Ajaxes stand shoulder to
shoulder by one another。 Many and brave comrades followed the son of
Telamon； to relieve him of his shield when he was overcome with
sweat and toil； but the Locrians did not follow so close after the son
of Oileus； for they could not hold their own in a hand…to…hand
fight。 They had no bronze helmets with plumes of horse…hair； neither
had they shields nor ashen spears； but they had come to Troy armed
with bows； and with slings of twisted wool from which they showered
their missiles to break the ranks of the Trojans。 The others；
therefore； with their heavy armour bore the brunt of the fight with
the Trojans and with Hector； while the Locrians shot from behind；
under their cover； and thus the Trojans began to lose heart； for the
arrows threw them into confusion。
The Trojans would now have been driven in sorry plight from the
ships and tents back to windy Ilius； had not Polydamas presently
said to Hector； 〃Hector； there is no persuading you to take advice。
Because heaven has so richly endowed you with the arts of war； you
think that you must therefore excel others in counsel； but you
cannot thus claim preeminence in all things。 Heaven has made one man
an excellent soldier； of another it has made a dancer or a singer
and player on the lyre； while yet in another Jove has implanted a wise
understanding of which men reap fruit to the saving of many； and he
himself knows more about it than any one； therefore I will say what
I think will be best。 The fight has hemmed you in as with a circle
of fire； and even now that the Trojans are within the wall some of
them stand aloof in full armour； while others are fighting scattered
and outnumbered near the ships。 Draw back； therefore； and call your
chieftains round you； that we may advise together whether to fall
now upon the ships in the hope that heaven may vouchsafe us victory；
or to beat a retreat while we can yet safely do so。 I greatly fear
that the Achaeans will pay us their debt of yesterday in full； for
there is one abiding at their ships who is never weary of battle；
and who will not hold aloof much longer。〃
Thus spoke Polydamas； and his words pleased Hector well。 He sprang
in full armour from his chariot and said； 〃Polydamas； gather the
chieftains here； I will go yonder into the fight； but will return at
once when I have given them their orders。〃
He then sped onward； towering like a snowy mountain； and with a loud
cry flew through the ranks of the Trojans and their allies。 When
they heard his voice they all hastened to gather round Polydamas the
excellent son of Panthous； but Hector kept on among the foremost；
looking everywhere to find Deiphobus and prince Helenus； Adamas son of
Asius； and Asius son of Hyrtacus； living； indeed； and scatheless he
could no longer find them； for the two last were lying by the sterns
of the Achaean ships； slain by the Argives； while the others had
been also stricken and wounded by them； but upon the left wing of
the dread battle he found Alexandrus； husband of lovely Helen；
cheering his men and urging them on to fight。 He went up to him and
upbraided him。 〃Paris；〃 said he； 〃evil…hearted Paris； fair to see
but woman…mad and false of tongue； where are Deiphobus and King
Helenus？ Where are Adamas son of Asius； and Asius son of Hyrtacus？
Where too is Othryoneus？ Ilius is undone and will now surely fall！〃
Alexandrus answered； 〃Hector； why find fault when there is no one to
find fault with？ I should hold aloof from battle on any day rather
than this； for my mother bore me with nothing of the coward about
me。 From the moment when you set our men fighting about the ships we
have been staying here and doing battle with the Danaans。 Our comrades
about whom you ask me are dead； Deiphobus and King Helenus alone
have left the field； wounded both of them in the hand； but the son
of Saturn saved them alive。 Now； therefore； lead on where you would
have us go； and we will follow with right goodwill； you shall not find
us fail you in so far as our strength holds out； but no man can do
more than in him lies； no matter how willing he may be。〃
With these words he satisfied his brother； and the two went
towards the part of the battle where the fight was thickest； about
Cebriones； brave Polydamas； Phalces； Orthaeus； godlike Polyphetes；
Palmys； Ascanius； and Morys son of Hippotion； who had come from
fertile Ascania on the preceding day to relieve other troops。 Then
Jove urged them on to fight。 They flew forth like the blasts of some
fierce wind that strike earth in the van of a thunderstorm… they
buffet the salt sea into an uproar； many and mighty are the great
waves that come crashing in one after the other upon the shore with
their arching heads all crested with foam… even so did rank behind
rank of Trojans arrayed in gleaming armour follow their leaders
onward。 The way was led by Hector son of Priam； peer of murderous
Mars； with his round shield before him… his shield of ox…hides covered
with plates of bronze… and his gleaming helmet upon his temples。 He
kept stepping forward under cover of his shield in every direction；
making trial of the ranks to see if they would give way be him； but he
could not daunt the courage of the Achaeans。 Ajax was the first to
stride out and challenge him。 〃Sir；〃 he cried； 〃draw near； why do
you think thus vainly to dismay the Argives？ We Achaeans are excellent
soldiers； but the scourge of Jove has fallen heavily upon us。 Your
heart； forsooth； is set on destroying our ships； but we too have bands
that can keep you at bay； and your own fair town shall be sooner taken
and sacked by ourselves。 The time is near when you shall pray Jove and
all the gods in your flight； that your steeds may be swifter than
hawks as they raise the dust on the plain and bear you back to your
city。〃
As he was thus speaking a bird flew by upon his right hand； and
the host of the Achaeans shouted； for they took heart at the omen。 But
Hector answered； 〃Ajax； braggart and false of tongue； would that I
were as sure of being son for evermore to aegis…bearing Jove； with
Queen Juno for my mother； and of being held in like honour with
Minerva and Apollo； as I am that this day is big with the
destruction of the Achaeans； and you shall fall among them if you dare
abide my spear； it shall rend your fair body and bid you glut our
hounds and birds of prey with your fat and your flesh； as you fall
by the ships of the Achaeans。〃
With these words he led the way and the others followed after with a
cry that rent the air； while the host shouted behind them。 The Argives
on their part raised a shout likewise； nor did they forget their
prowess； but stood firm against the onslaught of the Trojan
chieftains； and the cry from both the hosts rose up to heaven and to
the brightness of Jove's presence。
BOOK XIV
NESTOR was sitting over his wine； but the cry of battle did not
escape him； and he said to the son of Aesculapius； 〃What； noble
Machaon； is the meaning of all this？ The shouts of men fighting by our
ships grow stronger and stronger； stay here； therefore； and sit over
your wine； while fair Hecamede heats you a bath and washes the clotted
blood from off you。 I will go at once to the look…out station and
see what it is all about。〃
As he spoke he took up the shield of his son Thrasymedes that was
lying in his tent； all gleaming with bronze； for Thrasymedes had taken
his father's shield； he grasped his redoubtable bronze…shod spear； and
as soon as he was outside saw the disastrous rout of the Achaeans who；
now that their wall was overthrown； were flying pell…mell before the
Trojans。 As when there is a heavy swell upon the sea； but the waves
are dumb… they keep their eyes on the watch for the quarter whence the
fierce winds may spring upon them； but they stay where they are and
set neither this way nor that； till some particular wind sweeps down
from heaven to determine them… even so did the old man ponder
whether to make for the crowd of Danaans； or go in search of
Agamemnon。 In the end he deemed it best to go to the son of Atreus；
but meanwhile the hosts were fighting and killing one another； and the
hard bronze rattled on their bodies； as they thrust at one another
with their swords and spears。
The wounded kings； the son of Tydeus； Ulysses； and Agamemnon son
of Atreus； fell in Nestor as they were coming up from their ships… for
theirs were drawn up some way from where the fighting was going on；
being on the shore itself inasmuch as they had been beached first；
while the wall had been built behind the hindermost。 The stretch of
the shore； wide