furthermore let me tell you； and I mean what I say… if contrary to the
desire of myself； Minerva driver of the spoil； Juno； Mercury； and King
Vulcan； Jove spares steep Ilius； and will not let the Achaeans have
the great triumph of sacking it； let him understand that he will incur
our implacable resentment。〃
Neptune now left the field to go down under the sea； and sorely
did the Achaeans miss him。 Then Jove said to Apollo； 〃Go； dear
Phoebus； to Hector； for Neptune who holds the earth in his embrace has
now gone down under the sea to avoid the severity of my displeasure。
Had he not done so those gods who are below with Saturn would have
come to hear of the fight between us。 It is better for both of us that
he should have curbed his anger and kept out of my reach； for I should
have had much trouble with him。 Take； then； your tasselled aegis；
and shake it furiously； so as to set the Achaean heroes in a panic；
take； moreover； brave Hector； O Far…Darter； into your own care； and
rouse him to deeds of daring； till the Achaeans are sent flying back
to their ships and to the Hellespont。 From that point I will think
it well over； how the Achaeans may have a respite from their
troubles。〃
Apollo obeyed his father's saying； and left the crests of Ida；
flying like a falcon； bane of doves and swiftest of all birds。 He
found Hector no longer lying upon the ground； but sitting up； for he
had just come to himself again。 He knew those who were about him；
and the sweat and hard breathing had left him from the moment when the
will of aegis…bearing Jove had revived him。 Apollo stood beside him
and said； 〃Hector； son of Priam； why are you so faint； and why are you
here away from the others？ Has any mishap befallen you？〃
Hector in a weak voice answered； 〃And which； kind sir； of the gods
are you； who now ask me thus？ Do you not know that Ajax struck me on
the chest with a stone as I was killing his comrades at the ships of
the Achaeans； and compelled me to leave off fighting？ I made sure that
this very day I should breathe my last and go down into the house of
Hades。〃
Then King Apollo said to him； 〃Take heart； the son of Saturn has
sent you a mighty helper from Ida to stand by you and defend you； even
me； Phoebus Apollo of the golden sword； who have been guardian
hitherto not only of yourself but of your city。 Now； therefore；
order your horsemen to drive their chariots to the ships in great
multitudes。 I will go before your horses to smooth the way for them；
and will turn the Achaeans in flight。〃
As he spoke he infused great strength into the shepherd of his
people。 And as a horse； stabled and full…fed； breaks loose and gallops
gloriously over the plain to the place where he is wont to take his
bath in the river… he tosses his head； and his mane streams over his
shoulders as in all the pride of his strength he flies full speed to
the pastures where the mares are feeding… even so Hector； when he
heard what the god said； urged his horsemen on； and sped forward as
fast as his limbs could take him。 As country peasants set their hounds
on to a homed stag or wild goat… he has taken shelter under rock or
thicket； and they cannot find him； but； lo； a bearded lion whom
their shouts have roused stands in their path； and they are in no
further humour for the chase… even so the Achaeans were still charging
on in a body； using their swords and spears pointed at both ends；
but when they saw Hector going about among his men they were afraid；
and their hearts fell down into their feet。
Then spoke Thoas son of Andraemon； leader of the Aetolians； a man
who could throw a good throw； and who was staunch also in close fight；
while few could surpass him in debate when opinions were divided。 He
then with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus： 〃What； in
heaven's name； do I now see？ Is it not Hector come to life again？
Every one made sure he had been killed by Ajax son of Telamon； but
it seems that one of the gods has again rescued him。 He has killed
many of us Danaans already； and I take it will yet do so； for the hand
of Jove must be with him or he would never dare show himself so
masterful in the forefront of the battle。 Now； therefore； let us all
do as I say； let us order the main body of our forces to fall back
upon the ships； but let those of us who profess to be the flower of
the army stand firm； and see whether we cannot hold Hector back at the
point of our spears as soon as he comes near us； I conceive that he
will then think better of it before he tries to charge into the
press of the Danaans。〃
Thus did he speak； and they did even as he had said。 Those who
were about Ajax and King Idomeneus； the followers moreover of
Teucer； Meriones； and Meges peer of Mars called all their best men
about them and sustained the fight against Hector and the Trojans； but
the main body fell back upon the ships of the Achaeans。
The Trojans pressed forward in a dense body； with Hector striding on
at their head。 Before him went Phoebus Apollo shrouded in cloud
about his shoulders。 He bore aloft the terrible aegis with its
shaggy fringe； which Vulcan the smith had given Jove to strike
terror into the hearts of men。 With this in his hand he led on the
Trojans。
The Argives held together and stood their ground。 The cry of
battle rose high from either side； and the arrows flew from the
bowstrings。 Many a spear sped from strong hands and fastened in the
bodies of many a valiant warrior； while others fell to earth midway；
before they could taste of man's fair flesh and glut themselves with
blood。 So long as Phoebus Apollo held his aegis quietly and without
shaking it； the weapons on either side took effect and the people
fell； but when he shook it straight in the face of the Danaans and
raised his mighty battle…cry their hearts fainted within them and they
forgot their former prowess。 As when two wild beasts spring in the
dead of night on a herd of cattle or a large flock of sheep when the
herdsman is not there… even so were the Danaans struck helpless； for
Apollo filled them with panic and gave victory to Hector and the
Trojans。
The fight then became more scattered and they killed one another
where they best could。 Hector killed Stichius and Arcesilaus； the one；
leader of the Boeotians； and the other； friend and comrade of
Menestheus。 Aeneas killed Medon and Iasus。 The first was bastard son
to Oileus； and brother to Ajax； but he lived in Phylace away from
his own country； for he had killed a man； a kinsman of his
stepmother Eriopis whom Oileus had married。 Iasus had become a
leader of the Athenians； and was son of Sphelus the son of Boucolos。
Polydamas killed Mecisteus； and Polites Echius； in the front of the
battle； while Agenor slew Clonius。 Paris struck Deiochus from behind
in the lower part of the shoulder； as he was flying among the
foremost； and the point of the spear went clean through him。
While they were spoiling these heroes of their armour； the
Achaeans were flying pellmell to the trench and the set stakes； and
were forced back within their wall。 Hector then cried out to the
Trojans； 〃Forward to the ships； and let the spoils be。 If I see any
man keeping back on the other side the wall away from the ships I will
have him killed： his kinsmen and kinswomen shall not give him his dues
of fire； but dogs shall tear him in pieces in front of our city。〃
As he spoke he laid his whip about his horses' shoulders and
called to the Trojans throughout their ranks； the Trojans shouted with
a cry that rent the air； and kept their horses neck and neck with
his own。 Phoebus Apollo went before； and kicked down the banks of
the deep trench into its middle so as to make a great broad bridge； as
broad as the throw of a spear when a man is trying his strength。 The
Trojan battalions poured over the bridge； and Apollo with his
redoubtable aegis led the way。 He kicked down the wall of the Achaeans
as easily as a child who playing on the sea…shore has built a house of
sand and then kicks it down again and destroys it… even so did you；
O Apollo； shed toil and trouble upon the Argives； filling them with
panic and confusion。
Thus then were the Achaeans hemmed in at their ships； calling out to
one another and raising their hands with loud cries every man to
heaven。 Nestor of Gerene； tower of strength to the Achaeans； lifted up
his hands to the starry firmament of heaven； and prayed more fervently
than any of them。 〃Father Jove；〃 said he； 〃if ever any one in
wheat…growing Argos burned you fat thigh…bones of sheep or heifer
and prayed that he might return safely home； whereon you bowed your
head to him in assent； bear it in mind now； and suffer not the Trojans
to triumph thus over the Achaeans。〃
All counselling Jove thundered loudly in answer to die prayer of the
aged son of Neleus。 When the heard Jove thunder they flung
themselves yet more fiercely on the Achaeans。 As a wave breaking
over the bulwarks of a ship when the sea runs high before a gale…
for it is the force of the wind that makes the waves so great… even so
did the Trojans spring over the wall with a shout； and drive their
chariots onwards。 The two sides fought with their double…pointed
spe