chariots onwards。 The two sides fought with their double…pointed
spears in hand…to…hand encounter…the Trojans from their chariots；
and the Achaeans climbing up into their ships and wielding the long
pikes that were lying on the decks ready for use in a sea…fight；
jointed and shod with bronze。
Now Patroclus； so long as the Achaeans and Trojans were fighting
about the wall； but were not yet within it and at the ships；
remained sitting in the tent of good Eurypylus； entertaining him
with his conversation and spreading herbs over his wound to ease his
pain。 When； however； he saw the Trojans swarming through the breach in
the wall； while the Achaeans were clamouring and struck with panic； he
cried aloud； and smote his two thighs with the flat of his hands。
〃Eurypylus；〃 said he in his dismay； 〃I know you want me badly； but I
cannot stay with you any longer； for there is hard fighting going
on； a servant shall take care of you now； for I must make all speed to
Achilles； and induce him to fight if I can； who knows but with
heaven's help I may persuade him。 A man does well to listen to the
advice of a friend。〃
When he had thus spoken he went his way。 The Achaeans stood firm and
resisted the attack of the Trojans； yet though these were fewer in
number； they could not drive them back from the ships； neither could
the Trojans break the Achaean ranks and make their way in among the
tents and ships。 As a carpenter's line gives a true edge to a piece of
ship's timber； in the hand of some skilled workman whom Minerva has
instructed in all kinds of useful arts… even so level was the issue of
the fight between the two sides； as they fought some round one and
some round another。
Hector made straight for Ajax； and the two fought fiercely about the
same ship。 Hector could not force Ajax back and fire the ship； nor yet
could Ajax drive Hector from the spot to which heaven had brought him。
Then Ajax struck Caletor son of Clytius in the chest with a spear as
he was bringing fire towards the ship。 He fell heavily to the ground
and the torch dropped from his hand。 When Hector saw his cousin fallen
in front of the ship he shouted to the Trojans and Lycians saying；
〃Trojans； Lycians； and Dardanians good in close fight； bate not a jot；
but rescue the son of Clytius lest the Achaeans strip him of his
armour now that he has fallen。〃
He then aimed a spear at Ajax； and missed him； but he hit
Lycophron a follower of Ajax； who came from Cythera； but was living
with Ajax inasmuch as he had killed a man among the Cythereans。
Hector's spear struck him on the head below the ear； and he fell
headlong from the ship's prow on to the ground with no life left in
him。 Ajax shook with rage and said to his brother； 〃Teucer； my good
fellow； our trusty comrade the son of Mastor has fallen； he came to
live with us from Cythera and whom we honoured as much as our own
parents。 Hector has just killed him； fetch your deadly arrows at
once and the bow which Phoebus Apollo gave you。〃
Teucer heard him and hastened towards him with his bow and quiver in
his hands。 Forthwith he showered his arrows on the Trojans； and hit
Cleitus the son of Pisenor； comrade of Polydamas the noble son of
Panthous； with the reins in his hands as he was attending to his
horses； he was in the middle of the very thickest part of the fight；
doing good service to Hector and the Trojans； but evil had now come
upon him； and not one of those who were fain to do so could avert
it； for the arrow struck him on the back of the neck。 He fell from his
chariot and his horses shook the empty car as they swerved aside。 King
Polydamas saw what had happened； and was the first to come up to the
horses； he gave them in charge to Astynous son of Protiaon； and
ordered him to look on； and to keep the horses near at hand。 He then
went back and took his place in the front ranks。
Teucer then aimed another arrow at Hector； and there would have been
no more fighting at the ships if he had hit him and killed him then
and there： Jove； however； who kept watch over Hector； had his eyes
on Teucer； and deprived him of his triumph； by breaking his
bowstring for him just as he was drawing it and about to take his aim；
on this the arrow went astray and the bow fell from his hands。
Teucer shook with anger and said to his brother； 〃Alas； see how heaven
thwarts us in all we do； it has broken my bowstring and snatched the
bow from my hand； though I strung it this selfsame morning that it
might serve me for many an arrow。〃
Ajax son of Telamon answered； 〃My good fellow； let your bow and your
arrows be； for Jove has made them useless in order to spite the
Danaans。 Take your spear； lay your shield upon your shoulder； and both
fight the Trojans yourself and urge others to do so。 They may be
successful for the moment but if we fight as we ought they will find
it a hard matter to take the ships。〃
Teucer then took his bow and put it by in his tent。 He hung a shield
four hides thick about his shoulders； and on his comely head he set
his helmet well wrought with a crest of horse…hair that nodded
menacingly above it； he grasped his redoubtable bronze…shod spear； and
forthwith he was by the side of Ajax。
When Hector saw that Teucer's bow was of no more use to him； he
shouted out to the Trojans and Lycians； 〃Trojans； Lycians； and
Dardanians good in close fight； be men； my friends； and show your
mettle here at the ships； for I see the weapon of one of their
chieftains made useless by the hand of Jove。 It is easy to see when
Jove is helping people and means to help them still further； or
again when he is bringing them down and will do nothing for them； he
is now on our side； and is going against the Argives。 Therefore
swarm round the ships and fight。 If any of you is struck by spear or
sword and loses his life； let him die； he dies with honour who dies
fighting for his country； and he will leave his wife and children safe
behind him； with his house and allotment unplundered if only the
Achaeans can be driven back to their own land； they and their ships。〃
With these words he put heart and soul into them all。 Ajax on the
other side exhorted his comrades saying； 〃Shame on you Argives； we are
now utterly undone； unless we can save ourselves by driving the
enemy from our ships。 Do you think； if Hector takes them； that you
will be able to get home by land？ Can you not hear him cheering on his
whole host to fire our fleet； and bidding them remember that they
are not at a dance but in battle？ Our only course is to fight them
with might and main； we had better chance it； life or death； once
for all； than fight long and without issue hemmed in at our ships by
worse men than ourselves。〃
With these words he put life and soul into them all。 Hector then
killed Schedius son of Perimedes； leader of the Phoceans； and Ajax
killed Laodamas captain of foot soldiers and son to Antenor。 Polydamas
killed Otus of Cyllene a comrade of the son of Phyleus and chief of
the proud Epeans。 When Meges saw this he sprang upon him； but
Polydamas crouched down； and he missed him； for Apollo would not
suffer the son of Panthous to fall in battle； but the spear hit
Croesmus in the middle of his chest； whereon he fell heavily to the
ground； and Meges stripped him of his armour。 At that moment the
valiant soldier Dolops son of Lampus sprang upon Lampus was son of
Laomedon and for his valour； while his son Dolops was versed in all
the ways of war。 He then struck the middle of the son of Phyleus'
shield with his spear； setting on him at close quarters； but his
good corslet made with plates of metal saved him； Phyleus had
brought it from Ephyra and the river Selleis； where his host； King
Euphetes； had given it him to wear in battle and protect him。 It now
served to save the life of his son。 Then Meges struck the topmost
crest of Dolops's bronze helmet with his spear and tore away its plume
of horse…hair； so that all newly dyed with scarlet as it was it
tumbled down into the dust。 While he was still fighting and
confident of victory； Menelaus came up to help Meges； and got by the
side of Dolops unperceived； he then speared him in the shoulder；
from behind； and the point； driven so furiously； went through into his
chest； whereon he fell headlong。 The two then made towards him to
strip him of his armour； but Hector called on all his brothers for
help； and he especially upbraided brave Melanippus son of Hiketaon；
who erewhile used to pasture his herds of cattle in Percote before the
war broke out； but when the ships of the Danaans came； he went back to
Ilius； where he was eminent among the Trojans； and lived near Priam
who treated him as one of his own sons。 Hector now rebuked him and
said； 〃Why； Melanippus； are we thus remiss？ do you take no note of the
death of your kinsman； and do you not see how they are trying to
take Dolops's armour？ Follow me； there must be no fighting the Argives
from a distance now； but we must do so in close combat till either
we kill them or they take the high wall of Ilius and slay her people。〃
He led on as he spoke； and the hero Melanippus followed after。
Meanwhile Ajax son of Telamon was cheering on the Argives。 〃My
friend