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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
e 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 es 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 thereeven 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 rade
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 bee 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 pell…mell 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 iteven 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 the prayer of
the aged son of Neleus。 When they 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
galefor it is the force of the wind that makes the waves so
greateven so did the Trojans spring over the wall with a
shout； and drive their 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 artseven 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 wi