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and were not driven back。 As the breezes sport with the chaff
upon some goodly threshing…floor； when men are winnowingwhile
yellow Ceres blows with the wind to sift the chaff from the
grain； and the chaff…heaps grow whiter and whitereven so did
the Achaeans whiten in the dust which the horses' hoofs raised to
the firmament of heaven； as their drivers turned them back to
battle； and they bore down with might upon the foe。 Fierce Mars；
to help the Trojans； covered them in a veil of darkness； and went
about everywhere among them； inasmuch as Phoebus Apollo had told
him that when he saw Pallas； Minerva leave the fray he was to put
courage into the hearts of the Trojansfor it was she who was
helping the Danaans。 Then Apollo sent Aeneas forth from his rich
sanctuary； and filled his heart with valour； whereon he took his
place among his rades； who were overjoyed at seeing him alive；
sound； and of a good courage； but they could not ask him how it
had all happened； for they were too busy with the turmoil raised
by Mars and by Strife； who raged insatiably in their midst。
The two Ajaxes； Ulysses and Diomed； cheered the Danaans on；
fearless of the fury and onset of the Trojans。 They stood as
still as clouds which the son of Saturn has spread upon the
mountain tops when there is no air and fierce Boreas sleeps with
the other boisterous winds whose shrill blasts scatter the clouds
in all directionseven so did the Danaans stand firm and
unflinching against the Trojans。 The son of Atreus went about
among them and exhorted them。 〃My friends；〃 said he； 〃quit
yourselves like brave men； and shun dishonour in one another's
eyes amid the stress of battle。 They that shun dishonour more
often live than get killed； but they that fly save neither life
nor name。〃
As he spoke he hurled his spear and hit one of those who were in
the front rank； the rade of Aeneas； Deicoon son of Pergasus；
whom the Trojans held in no less honour than the sons of Priam；
for he was ever quick to place himself among the foremost。 The
spear of King Agamemnon struck his shield and went right through
it； for the shield stayed it not。 It drove through his belt into
the lower part of his belly； and his armour rang rattling round
him as he fell heavily to the ground。
Then Aeneas killed two champions of the Danaans； Crethon and
Orsilochus。 Their father was a rich man who lived in the strong
city of Phere and was descended from the river Alpheus； whose
broad stream flows through the land of the Pylians。 The river
begat Orsilochus； who ruled over much people and was father to
Diocles； who in his turn begat twin sons； Crethon and Orsilochus；
well skilled in all the arts of war。 These； when they grew up；
went to Ilius with the Argive fleet in the cause of Menelaus and
Agamemnon sons of Atreus； and there they both of them fell。 As
two lions whom their dam has reared in the depths of some
mountain forest to plunder homesteads and carry off sheep and
cattle till they get killed by the hand of man； so were these two
vanquished by Aeneas； and fell like high pine…trees to the
ground。
Brave Menelaus pitied them in their fall； and made his way to the
front； clad in gleaming bronze and brandishing his spear； for
Mars egged him on to do so with intent that he should be killed
by Aeneas； but Antilochus the son of Nestor saw him and sprang
forward； fearing that the king might e to harm and thus bring
all their labour to nothing； when； therefore Aeneas and Menelaus
were setting their hands and spears against one another eager to
do battle； Antilochus placed himself by the side of Menelaus。
Aeneas； bold though he was； drew back on seeing the two heroes
side by side in front of him； so they drew the bodies of Crethon
and Orsilochus to the ranks of the Achaeans and mitted the two
poor fellows into the hands of their rades。 They then turned
back and fought in the front ranks。
They killed Pylaemenes peer of Mars； leader of the Paphlagonian
warriors。 Menelaus struck him on the collar…bone as he was
standing on his chariot； while Antilochus hit his charioteer and
squire Mydon； the son of Atymnius； who was turning his horses in
flight。 He hit him with a stone upon the elbow； and the reins；
enriched with white ivory； fell from his hands into the dust。
Antilochus rushed towards him and struck him on the temples with
his sword； whereon he fell head first from the chariot to the
ground。 There he stood for a while with his head and shoulders
buried deep in the dustfor he had fallen on sandy soil till his
horses kicked him and laid him flat on the ground； as Antilochus
lashed them and drove them off to the host of the Achaeans。
But Hector marked them from across the ranks； and with a loud cry
rushed towards them； followed by the strong battalions of the
Trojans。 Mars and dread Enyo led them on； she fraught with
ruthless turmoil of battle； while Mars wielded a monstrous spear；
and went about； now in front of Hector and now behind him。
Diomed shook with passion as he saw them。 As a man crossing a
wide plain is dismayed to find himself on the brink of some great
river rolling swiftly to the seahe sees its boiling waters and
starts back in feareven so did the son of Tydeus give ground。
Then he said to his men； 〃My friends； how can we wonder that
Hector wields the spear so well？ Some god is ever by his side to
protect him； and now Mars is with him in the likeness of mortal
man。 Keep your faces therefore towards the Trojans； but give
ground backwards； for we dare not fight with gods。〃
As he spoke the Trojans drew close up； and Hector killed two men；
both in one chariot； Menesthes and Anchialus； heroes well versed
in war。 Ajax son of Telamon pitied them in their fall； he came
close up and hurled his spear； hitting Amphius the son of
Selagus； a man of great wealth who lived in Paesus and owned much
corn…growing land； but his lot had led him to e to the aid of
Priam and his sons。 Ajax struck him in the belt； the spear
pierced the lower part of his belly； and he fell heavily to the
ground。 Then Ajax ran towards him to strip him of his armour； but
the Trojans rained spears upon him； many of which fell upon his
shield。 He planted his heel upon the body and drew out his spear；
but the darts pressed so heavily upon him that he could not strip
the goodly armour from his shoulders。 The Trojan chieftains；
moreover； many and valiant； came about him with their spears； so
that he dared not stay； great； brave and valiant though he was；
they drove him from them and he was beaten back。
Thus； then； did the battle rage between them。 Presently the
strong hand of fate impelled Tlepolemus； the son of Hercules； a
man both brave and of great stature； to fight Sarpedon； so the
two； son and grandson of great Jove； drew near to one another；
and Tlepolemus spoke first。 〃Sarpedon；〃 said he； 〃councillor of
the Lycians； why should you e skulking here you who are a man
of peace？ They lie who call you son of aegis…bearing Jove； for
you are little like those who were of old his children。 Far other
was Hercules； my own brave and lion…hearted father； who came here
for the horses of Laomedon； and though he had six ships only； an