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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 rade 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； rade 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 e 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 e 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 ely
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 rades 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 rade 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 bat 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
friends；〃 he cried； 〃be men； and fear dishonour； quit yourselves
in battle so as to win respect from one another。 Men who respect
each other's good opinion are less likely to be killed than those
who do not； but in flight there is neither gain nor glory。〃
Thus did he exhort men who were already bent upon driving back
the Trojans。 They laid his words to heart and hedged the ships as
with a wall of bronze； while Jove urged on the Trojans。 Menelaus
of the loud battle…cry urged Antilochus on。 〃Antilochus；〃 said
he； 〃you are young and there is none of the Achaeans more fleet
of foot or more valiant than you are。 See if you cannot spring
upon some Trojan and kill him。〃
He hurried away when he had thus spurred Antilochus； who at once
darted out from the front ranks and aimed a spear； after looking
carefully round him。 The Trojans fell back as he threw； and the
dart did not speed from his hand without effect； for it struck
Melanippus the proud son of Hiketaon in the breast by the nipple
as he was ing forward； and his armour rang rattling round him
as he fell heavily to the ground。 Antilochus sprang upon him as a
dog springs on a fawn which a hunter has hit as it was breaking
away from its covert； and killed it。 Even so； O Melanippus； did
stalwart Antilochus spring upon you to strip you of your armour；
but noble Hector marked him； and came running up