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But Minerva and Apollo； in the likeness of vultures； perched on
father Jove's high oak tree； proud of their men； and the ranks
sat close ranged together； bristling with shield and helmet and
spear。 As when the rising west wind furs the face of the sea and
the waters grow dark beneath it； so sat the panies of Trojans
and Achaeans upon the plain。 And Hector spoke thus：
〃Hear me； Trojans and Achaeans； that I may speak even as I am
minded； Jove on his high throne has brought our oaths and
covenants to nothing； and foreshadows ill for both of us； till
you either take the towers of Troy； or are yourselves vanquished
at your ships。 The princes of the Achaeans are here present in
the midst of you； let him； then； that will fight me stand forward
as your champion against Hector。 Thus I say； and may Jove be
witness between us。 If your champion slay me； let him strip me of
my armour and take it to your ships； but let him send my body
home that the Trojans and their wives may give me my dues of fire
when I am dead。 In like manner； if Apollo vouchsafe me glory and
I slay your champion； I will strip him of his armour and take it
to the city of Ilius； where I will hang it in the temple of
Apollo； but I will give up his body； that the Achaeans may bury
him at their ships； and the build him a mound by the wide waters
of the Hellespont。 Then will one say hereafter as he sails his
ship over the sea； 'This is the monument of one who died long
since a champion who was slain by mighty Hector。' Thus will one
say； and my fame shall not be lost。〃
Thus did he speak； but they all held their peace； ashamed to
decline the challenge； yet fearing to accept it； till at last
Menelaus rose and rebuked them； for he was angry。 〃Alas；〃 he
cried； 〃vain braggarts； women forsooth not men； double…dyed
indeed will be the stain upon us if no man of the Danaans will
now face Hector。 May you be turned every man of you into earth
and water as you sit spiritless and inglorious in your places。 I
will myself go out against this man； but the upshot of the fight
will be from on high in the hands of the immortal gods。〃
With these words he put on his armour； and then； O Menelaus； your
life would have e to an end at the hands of hands of Hector；
for he was far better the man； had not the princes of the
Achaeans sprung upon you and checked you。 King Agamemnon caught
him by the right hand and said； 〃Menelaus； you are mad； a truce
to this folly。 Be patient in spite of passion； do not think of
fighting a man so much stronger than yourself as Hector son of
Priam； who is feared by many another as well as you。 Even
Achilles； who is far more doughty than you are； shrank from
meeting him in battle。 Sit down your own people； and the Achaeans
will send some other champion to fight Hector； fearless and fond
of battle though he be； I ween his knees will bend gladly under
him if he es out alive from the hurly…burly of this fight。〃
With these words of reasonable counsel he persuaded his brother；
whereon his squires gladly stripped the armour from off his
shoulders。 Then Nestor rose and spoke； 〃Of a truth；〃 said he；
〃the Achaean land is fallen upon evil times。 The old knight
Peleus； counsellor and orator among the Myrmidons； loved when I
was in his house to question me concerning the race and lineage
of all the Argives。 How would it not grieve him could he hear of
them as now quailing before Hector？ Many a time would he lift his
hands in prayer that his soul might leave his body and go down
within the house of Hades。 Would； by father Jove； Minerva； and
Apollo； that I were still young and strong as when the Pylians
and Arcadians were gathered in fight by the rapid river Celadon
under the walls of Pheia； and round about the waters of the river
Iardanus。 The godlike hero Ereuthalion stood forward as their
champion； with the armour of King Areithous upon his shoulders
Areithous whom men and women had surnamed 'the Mace…man；' because
he fought neither with bow nor spear； but broke the battalions of
the foe with his iron mace。 Lycurgus killed him； not in fair
fight； but by entrapping him in a narrow way where his mace
served him in no stead； for Lycurgus was too quick for him and
speared him through the middle； so he fell to earth on his back。
Lycurgus then spoiled him of the armour which Mars had given him；
and bore it in battle thenceforward； but when he grew old and
stayed at home； he gave it to his faithful squire Ereuthalion；
who in this same armour challenged the foremost men among us。 The
others quaked and quailed； but my high spirit bade me fight him
though none other would venture； I was the youngest man of them
all； but when I fought him Minerva vouchsafed me victory。 He was
the biggest and strongest man that ever I killed； and covered
much ground as he lay sprawling upon the earth。 Would that I were
still young and strong as I then was； for the son of Priam would
then soon find one who would face him。 But you； foremost among
the whole host though you be； have none of you any stomach for
fighting Hector。〃
Thus did the old man rebuke them； and forthwith nine men started
to their feet。 Foremost of all uprose King Agamemnon； and after
him brave Diomed the son of Tydeus。 Next were the two Ajaxes； men
clothed in valour as with a garment； and then Idomeneus； and
Meriones his brother in arms。 After these Eurypylus son of
Euaemon； Thoas the son of Andraemon； and Ulysses also rose。 Then
Nestor knight of Gerene again spoke； saying： 〃Cast lots among you
to see who shall be chosen。 If he e alive out of this fight he
will have done good service alike to his own soul and to the
Achaeans。〃
Thus he spoke； and when each of them had marked his lot； and had
thrown it into the helmet of Agamemnon son of Atreus； the people
lifted their hands in prayer； and thus would one of them say as
he looked into the vault of heaven； 〃Father Jove； grant that the
lot fall on Ajax； or on the son of Tydeus； or upon the king of
rich Mycene himself。〃
As they were speaking； Nestor knight of Gerene shook the helmet；
and from it there fell the very lot which they wantedthe lot of
Ajax。 The herald bore it about and showed it to all the
chieftains of the Achaeans； going from left to right； but they
none of them owned it。 When； however； in due course he reached
the man who had written upon it and had put it into the helmet；
brave Ajax held out his hand； and the herald gave him the lot。
When Ajax saw his mark he knew it and was glad； he threw it to
the ground and said； 〃My friends； the lot is mine； and I rejoice；
for I shall vanquish Hector。 I will put on my armour； meanwhile；
pray to King Jove in silence among yourselves that the Trojans
may not hear youor aloud if you will； for we fear no man。 None
shall overe me； neither by force nor cunning； for I was born
and bred in Salamis； and can hold my own in all things。〃
With this they fell praying to King Jove the son of Saturn； and
thus would one of them say as he looked into the vault of heaven；
〃Father Jove that rulest from Ida； most glorious in power；
vouchsafe victory to Ajax； and let him win great glory： but if
you wish well to Hector also and would protect him