Book XV
  
     But when their flight had taken them past the trench and the set
     stakes, and many had fallen by the hands of the Danaans, the Trojans
     made a halt on reaching their chariots, routed and pale with fear.
     Jove now woke on the crests of Ida, where he was lying with
     golden-throned Juno by his side, and starting to his feet he saw the
     Trojans and Achaeans, the one thrown into confusion, and the others
     driving them pell-mell before them with King Neptune in their midst.
     He saw Hector lying on the ground with his comrades gathered round
     him, gasping for breath, wandering in mind and vomiting blood, for
     it was not the feeblest of the Achaeans who struck him. 
     
     The sire of gods and men had pity on him, and looked fiercely on
     Juno. "I see, Juno," said he, "you mischief- making trickster, that
     your cunning has stayed Hector from fighting and has caused the rout
     of his host. I am in half a mind to thrash you, in which case you
     will be the first to reap the fruits of your scurvy knavery. Do you
     not remember how once upon a time I had you hanged? I fastened two
     anvils on to your feet, and bound your hands in a chain of gold
     which none might break, and you hung in mid-air among the clouds.
     All the gods in Olympus were in a fury, but they could not reach you
     to set you free; when I caught any one of them I gripped him and
     hurled him from the heavenly threshold till he came fainting down to
     earth; yet even this did not relieve my mind from the incessant
     anxiety which I felt about noble Hercules whom you and Boreas had
     spitefully conveyed beyond the seas to Cos, after suborning the
     tempests; but I rescued him, and notwithstanding all his mighty
     labours I brought him back again to Argos. I would remind you of
     this that you may learn to leave off being so deceitful, and
     discover how much you are likely to gain by the embraces out of
     which you have come here to trick me." 
     
     Juno trembled as he spoke, and said, "May heaven above and earth
     below be my witnesses, with the waters of the river Styx- and this
     is the most solemn oath that a blessed god can take- nay, I swear
     also by your own almighty head and by our bridal bed- things over
     which I could never possibly perjure myself- that Neptune is not
     punishing Hector and the Trojans and helping the Achaeans through
     any doing of mine; it is all of his own mere motion because he was
     sorry to see the Achaeans hard pressed at their ships: if I were
     advising him, I should tell him to do as you bid him." 
     
     The sire of gods and men smiled and answered, "If you, Juno, were
     always to support me when we sit in council of the gods, Neptune,
     like it or no, would soon come round to your and my way of thinking.
     If, then, you are speaking the truth and mean what you say, go among
     the rank and file of the gods, and tell Iris and Apollo lord of the
     bow, that I want them- Iris, that she may go to the Achaean host and
     tell Neptune to leave off fighting and go home, and Apollo, that he
     may send Hector again into battle and give him fresh strength; he
     will thus forget his present sufferings, and drive the Achaeans back
     in confusion till they fall among the ships of Achilles son of
     Peleus. Achilles will then send his comrade Patroclus into battle,
     and Hector will kill him in front of Ilius after he has slain many
     warriors, and among them my own noble son Sarpedon. Achilles will
     kill Hector to avenge Patroclus, and from that time I will bring it
     about that the Achaeans shall persistently drive the Trojans back
     till they fulfil the counsels of Minerva and take Ilius. But I will
     not stay my anger, nor permit any god to help the Danaans till I
     have accomplished the desire of the son of Peleus, according to the
     promise I made by bowing my head on the day when Thetis touched my
     knees and besought me to give him honour." 
     
     Juno heeded his words and went from the heights of Ida to great
     Olympus. Swift as the thought of one whose fancy carries him over
     vast continents, and he says to himself, "Now I will be here, or
     there," and he would have all manner of things- even so swiftly did
     Juno wing her way till she came to high Olympus and went in among
     the gods who were gathered in the house of Jove. When they saw her
     they all of them came up to her, and held out their cups to her by
     way of greeting. She let the others be, but took the cup offered her
     by lovely Themis, who was first to come running up to her. "Juno,"
     said she, "why are you here? And you seem troubled- has your husband
     the son of Saturn been frightening you?" 
     
     And Juno answered, "Themis, do not ask me about it. You know what a
     proud and cruel disposition my husband has. Lead the gods to table,
     where you and all the immortals can hear the wicked designs which he
     has avowed. Many a one, mortal and immortal, will be angered by
     them, however peaceably he may be feasting now." 
     
     On this Juno sat down, and the gods were troubled throughout the
     house of Jove. Laughter sat on her lips but her brow was furrowed
     with care, and she spoke up in a rage. "Fools that we are," she
     cried, "to be thus madly angry with Jove; we keep on wanting to go
     up to him and stay him by force or by persuasion, but he sits aloof
     and cares for nobody, for he knows that he is much stronger than any
     other of the immortals. Make the best, therefore, of whatever ills
     he may choose to send each one of you; Mars, I take it, has had a
     taste of them already, for his son Ascalaphus has fallen in battle-
     the man whom of all others he loved most dearly and whose father he
     owns himself to be." 
     
     When he heard this Mars smote his two sturdy thighs with the flat of
     his hands, and said in anger, "Do not blame me, you gods that dwell
     in heaven, if I go to the ships of the Achaeans and avenge the death
     of my son, even though it end in my being struck by Jove's lightning
     and lying in blood and dust among the corpses." 
     
     As he spoke he gave orders to yoke his horses Panic and Rout, while
     he put on his armour. On this, Jove would have been roused to still
     more fierce and implacable enmity against the other immortals, had
     not Minerva, ararmed for the safety of the gods, sprung from her
     seat and hurried outside. She tore the helmet from his head and the
     shield from his shoulders, and she took the bronze spear from his
     strong hand and set it on one side; then she said to Mars, "Madman,
     you are undone; you have ears that hear not, or you have lost all
     judgement and understanding; have you not heard what Juno has said
     on coming straight from the presence of Olympian Jove? Do you wish
     to go through all kinds of suffering before you are brought back
     sick and sorry to Olympus, after having caused infinite mischief to
     all us others? Jove would instantly leave the Trojans and Achaeans
     to themselves; he would come to Olympus to punish us, and would grip
     us up one after another, guilty or not guilty. Therefore lay aside
     your anger for the death of your son; better men than he have either
     been killed already or will fall hereafter, and one cannot protect
     every one's whole family." 
     
     With these words she took Mars back to his seat. Meanwhile Juno
     called Apollo outside, with Iris the messenger of the gods. "Jove,"
     she said to them, "desires you to go to him at once on Mt. Ida; when
     you have seen him you are to do as he may then bid you." 
     
     Thereon Juno left them and resumed her seat inside, while Iris and
     Apollo made all haste on their way. When they reached
     many-fountained Ida, mother of wild beasts, they found Jove seated
     on topmost Gargarus with a fragrant cloud encircling his head as
     with a diadem. They stood before his presence, and he was pleased
     with them for having been so quick in obeying the orders his wife
     had given them. 
     
     He spoke to Iris first. "Go," said he, "fleet Iris, tell King
     Neptune what I now bid you- and tell him true. Bid him leave off
     fighting, and either join the company of the gods, or go down into
     the sea. If he takes no heed and disobeys me, let him consider well
     whether he is strong enough to hold his own against me if I attack
     him. I am older and much stronger than he is; yet he is not afraid
     to set himself up as on a level with myself, of whom all the other
     gods stand in awe." 
     
     Iris, fleet as the wind, obeyed him, and as the cold hail or
     snowflakes that fly from out the clouds before the blast of Boreas,
     even so did she wing her way till she came close up to the great
     shaker of the earth. Then she said, "I have come, O dark-haired king
     that holds the world in his embrace, to bring you a message from
     Jove. He bids you leave off fighting, and either join the company of
     the gods or go down into the sea; if, however, you take no heed and
     disobey him, he says he will come down here and fight you. He would
     have you keep out of his reach, for he is older and much stronger
     than you are, and yet you are not afraid to set yourself up as on a
     level with himself, of whom all the other gods stand in awe." 
     
     Neptune was very angry and said, "Great heavens! strong as Jove may
     be, he has said more than he can do if he has threatened violence
     against me, who am of like honour with himself. We were three
     brothers whom Rhea bore to Saturn- Jove, myself, and Hades who rules
     the world below. Heaven and earth were divided into three parts, and
     each of us was to have an equal share. When we cast lots, it fell to
     me to have my dwelling in the sea for evermore; Hades took the
     darkness of the realms under the earth, while air and sky and clouds
     were the portion that fell to Jove; but earth and great Olympus are
     the common property of all. Therefore I will not walk as Jove would
     have me. For all his strength, let him keep to his own third share
     and be contented without threatening to lay hands upon me as though
     I were nobody. Let him keep his bragging talk for his own sons and
     daughters, who must perforce obey him. 
     
     Iris fleet as the wind then answered, "Am I really, Neptune, to take
     this daring and unyielding message to Jove, or will you reconsider
     your answer? Sensible people are open to argument, and you know that
     the Erinyes always range themselves on the side of the older
     person." 
     
     Neptune answered, "Goddess Iris, your words have been spoken in
     season. It is well when a messenger shows so much discretion.
     Nevertheless it cuts me to the very heart that any one should rebuke
     so angrily another who is his own peer, and of like empire with
     himself. Now, however, I will give way in spite of my displeasure;
     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 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
     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
     coming 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 to him through the thick of
     the battle. Antilochus, brave soldier though he was, would not stay
     to face him, but fled like some savage creature which knows it has
     done wrong, and flies, when it has killed a dog or a man who is
     herding his cattle, before a body of men can be gathered to attack
     it. Even so did the son of Nestor fly, and the Trojans and Hector
     with a cry that rent the air showered their weapons after him; nor
     did he turn round and stay his flight till he had reached his
     comrades. 
     
     The Trojans, fierce as lions, were still rushing on towards the
     ships in fulfilment of the behests of Jove who kept spurring them on
     to new deeds of daring, while he deadened the courage of the Argives
     and defeated them by encouraging the Trojans. For he meant giving
     glory to Hector son of Priam, and letting him throw fire upon the
     ships, till he had fulfilled the unrighteous prayer that Thetis had
     made him; Jove, therefore, bided his time till he should see the
     glare of a blazing ship. From that hour he was about so to order
     that the Trojans should be driven back from the ships and to
     vouchsafe glory to the Achaeans. With this purpose he inspired
     Hector son of Priam, who was cager enough already, to assail the
     ships. His fury was as that of Mars, or as when a fire is raging in
     the glades of some dense forest upon the mountains; he foamed at the
     mouth, his eyes glared under his terrible eye-brows, and his helmet
     quivered on his temples by reason of the fury with which he fought.
     Jove from heaven was with him, and though he was but one against
     many, vouchsafed him victory and glory; for he was doomed to an
     early death, and already Pallas Minerva was hurrying on the hour of
     his destruction at the hands of the son of Peleus. Now, however, he
     kept trying to break the ranks of the enemy wherever he could see
     them thickest, and in the goodliest armour; but do what he might he
     could not break through them, for they stood as a tower foursquare,
     or as some high cliff rising from the grey sea that braves the anger
     of the gale, and of the waves that thunder up against it. He fell
     upon them like flames of fire from every quarter. As when a wave,
     raised mountain high by wind and storm, breaks over a ship and
     covers it deep in foam, the fierce winds roar against the mast, the
     hearts of the sailors fail them for fear, and they are saved but by
     a very little from destruction- even so were the hearts of the
     Achaeans fainting within them. Or as a savage lion attacking a herd
     of cows while they are feeding by thousands in the low-lying meadows
     by some wide-watered shore- the herdsman is at his wit's end how to
     protect his herd and keeps going about now in the van and now in the
     rear of his cattle, while the lion springs into the thick of them
     and fastens on a cow so that they all tremble for fear- even so were
     the Achaeans utterly panic-stricken by Hector and father Jove.
     Nevertheless Hector only killed Periphetes of Mycenae; he was son of
     Copreus who was wont to take the orders of King Eurystheus to mighty
     Hercules, but the son was a far better man than the father in every
     way; he was fleet of foot, a valiant warrior, and in understanding
     ranked among the foremost men of Mycenae. He it was who then
     afforded Hector a triumph, for as he was turning back he stumbled
     against the rim of his shield which reached his feet, and served to
     keep the javelins off him. He tripped against this and fell face
     upward, his helmet ringing loudly about his head as he did so.
     Hector saw him fall and ran up to him; he then thrust a spear into
     his chest, and killed him close to his own comrades. These, for all
     their sorrow, could not help him for they were themselves terribly
     afraid of Hector. 
     
     They had now reached the ships and the prows of those that had been
     drawn up first were on every side of them, but the Trojans came
     pouring after them. The Argives were driven back from the first row
     of ships, but they made a stand by their tents without being broken
     up and scattered; shame and fear restrained them. They kept shouting
     incessantly to one another, and Nestor of Gerene, tower of strength
     to the Achaeans, was loudest in imploring every man by his parents,
     and beseeching him to stand firm. 
     
     "Be men, my friends," he cried, "and respect one another's good
     opinion. Think, all of you, on your children, your wives, your
     property, and your parents whether these be alive or dead. On their
     behalf though they are not here, I implore you to stand firm, and
     not to turn in flight." 
     
     With these words he put heart and soul into them all. Minerva lifted
     the thick veil of darkness from their eyes, and much light fell upon
     them, alike on the side of the ships and on that where the fight was
     raging. They could see Hector and all his men, both those in the
     rear who were taking no part in the battle, and those who were
     fighting by the ships. 
     
     Ajax could not bring himself to retreat along with the rest, but
     strode from deck to deck with a great sea-pike in his hands twelve
     cubits long and jointed with rings. As a man skilled in feats of
     horsemanship couples four horses together and comes tearing full
     speed along the public way from the country into some large town-
     many both men and women marvel as they see him for he keeps all the
     time changing his horse, springing from one to another without ever
     missing his feet while the horses are at a gallop- even so did Ajax
     go striding from one ship's deck to another, and his voice went up
     into the heavens. He kept on shouting his orders to the Danaans and
     exhorting them to defend their ships and tents; neither did Hector
     remain within the main body of the Trojan warriors, but as a dun
     eagle swoops down upon a flock of wild-fowl feeding near a
     river-geese, it may be, or cranes, or long-necked swans- even so did
     Hector make straight for a dark-prowed ship, rushing right towards
     it; for Jove with his mighty hand impelled him forward, and roused
     his people to follow him. 
     
     And now the battle again raged furiously at the ships. You would
     have thought the men were coming on fresh and unwearied, so fiercely
     did they fight; and this was the mind in which they were- the
     Achaeans did not believe they should escape destruction but thought
     themselves doomed, while there was not a Trojan but his heart beat
     high with the hope of firing the ships and putting the Achaean
     heroes to the sword. 
     
     Thus were the two sides minded. Then Hector seized the stern of the
     good ship that had brought Protesilaus to Troy, but never bore him
     back to his native land. Round this ship there raged a close
     hand-to-hand fight between Danaans and Trojans. They did not fight
     at a distance with bows and javelins, but with one mind hacked at
     one another in close combat with their mighty swords and spears
     pointed at both ends; they fought moreover with keen battle-axes and
     with hatchets. Many a good stout blade hilted and scabbarded with
     iron, fell from hand or shoulder as they fought, and the earth ran
     red with blood. Hector, when he had seized the ship, would not loose
     his hold but held on to its curved stern and shouted to the Trojans,
     "Bring fire, and raise the battle-cry all of you with a single
     voice. Now has Jove vouchsafed us a day that will pay us for all the
     rest; this day we shall take the ships which came hither against
     heaven's will, and which have caused us such infinite suffering
     through the cowardice of our councillors, who when I would have done
     battle at the ships held me back and forbade the host to follow me;
     if Jove did then indeed warp our judgements, himself now commands me
     and cheers me on." 
     
     As he spoke thus the Trojans sprang yet more fiercely on the
     Achaeans, and Ajax no longer held his ground, for he was overcome by
     the darts that were flung at him, and made sure that he was doomed.
     Therefore he left the raised deck at the stern, and stepped back on
     to the seven-foot bench of the oarsmen. Here he stood on the
     look-out, and with his spear held back Trojan whom he saw bringing
     fire to the ships. All the time he kept on shouting at the top of
     his voice and exhorting the Danaans. "My friends," he cried, "Danaan
     heroes, servants of Mars, be men my friends, and fight with might
     and with main. Can we hope to find helpers hereafter, or a wall to
     shield us more surely than the one we have? There is no strong city
     within reach, whence we may draw fresh forces to turn the scales in
     our favour. We are on the plain of the armed Trojans with the sea
     behind us, and far from our own country. Our salvation, therefore,
     is in the might of our hands and in hard fighting." 
     
     As he spoke he wielded his spear with still greater fury, and when
     any Trojan made towards the ships with fire at Hector's bidding, he
     would be on the look-out for him, and drive at him with his long
     spear. Twelve men did he thus kill in hand-to-hand fight before the
     ships.