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you wish well to Hector also and would protect him； grant to each
of them equal fame and prowess。〃
Thus they prayed； and Ajax armed himself in his suit of gleaming
bronze。 When he was in full array he sprang forward as monstrous
Mars when he takes part among men whom Jove has set fighting with
one anothereven so did huge Ajax； bulwark of the Achaeans；
spring forward with a grim smile on his face as he brandished his
long spear and strode onward。 The Argives were elated as they
beheld him； but the Trojans trembled in every limb； and the heart
even of Hector beat quickly； but he could not now retreat and
withdraw into the ranks behind him； for he had been the
challenger。 Ajax came up bearing his shield in front of him like
a walla shield of bronze with seven folds of oxhidethe work
of Tychius； who lived in Hyle and was by far the best worker in
leather。 He had made it with the hides of seven full…fed bulls；
and over these he had set an eighth layer of bronze。 Holding this
shield before him； Ajax son of Telamon came close up to Hector；
and menaced him saying； 〃Hector； you shall now learn； man to man；
what kind of champions the Danaans have among them even besides
lion…hearted Achilles cleaver of the ranks of men。 He now abides
at the ships in anger with Agamemnon shepherd of his people； but
there are many of us who are well able to face you； therefore
begin the fight。〃
And Hector answered； 〃Noble Ajax； son of Telamon； captain of the
host； treat me not as though I were some puny boy or woman that
cannot fight。 I have been long used to the blood and butcheries
of battle。 I am quick to turn my leathern shield either to right
or left； for this I deem the main thing in battle。 I can charge
among the chariots and horsemen； and in hand to hand fighting can
delight the heart of Mars； howbeit I would not take such a man as
you are off his guardbut I will smite you openly if I can。〃
He poised his spear as he spoke； and hurled it from him。 It
struck the sevenfold shield in its outermost layerthe eighth；
which was of bronzeand went through six of the layers but in
the seventh hide it stayed。 Then Ajax threw in his turn； and
struck the round shield of the son of Priam。 The terrible spear
went through his gleaming shield； and pressed onward through his
cuirass of cunning workmanship； it pierced the shirt against his
side； but he swerved and thus saved his life。 They then each of
them drew out the spear from his shield； and fell on one another
like savage lions or wild boars of great strength and endurance：
the son of Priam struck the middle of Ajax's shield； but the
bronze did not break； and the point of his dart was turned。 Ajax
then sprang forward and pierced the shield of Hector； the spear
went through it and staggered him as he was springing forward to
attack； it gashed his neck and the blood came pouring from the
wound； but even so Hector did not cease fighting； he gave ground；
and with his brawny hand seized a stone； rugged and huge； that
was lying upon the plain； with this he struck the shield of Ajax
on the boss that was in its middle； so that the bronze rang
again。 But Ajax in turn caught up a far larger stone； swung it
aloft； and hurled it with prodigious force。 This millstone of a
rock broke Hector's shield inwards and threw him down on his back
with the shield crushing him under it； but Apollo raised him at
once。 Thereon they would have hacked at one another in close
bat with their swords； had not heralds； messengers of gods and
men； e forward； one from the Trojans and the other from the
AchaeansTalthybius and Idaeus both of them honourable men；
these parted them with their staves； and the good herald Idaeus
said； 〃My sons； fight no longer； you are both of you valiant； and
both are dear to Jove； we know this； but night is now falling；
and the behests of night may not be well gainsaid。〃
Ajax son of Telamon answered； 〃Idaeus； bid Hector say so； for it
was he that challenged our princes。 Let him speak first and I
will accept his saying。〃
Then Hector said； 〃Ajax； heaven has vouchsafed you stature and
strength； and judgement； and in wielding the spear you excel all
others of the Achaeans。 Let us for this day cease fighting；
hereafter we will fight anew till heaven decide between us； and
give victory to one or to the other； night is now falling； and
the behests of night may not be well gainsaid。 Gladden； then； the
hearts of the Achaeans at your ships； and more especially those
of your own followers and clansmen； while I； in the great city of
King Priam； bring fort to the Trojans and their women； who vie
with one another in their prayers on my behalf。 Let us； moreover；
exchange presents that it may be said among the Achaeans and
Trojans； 'They fought with might and main； but were reconciled
and parted in friendship。'〃
On this he gave Ajax a silver…studded sword with its sheath and
leathern baldric； and in return Ajax gave him a girdle dyed with
purple。 Thus they parted； the one going to the host of the
Achaeans； and the other to that of the Trojans； who rejoiced when
they saw their hero e to them safe and unharmed from the
strong hands of mighty Ajax。 They led him； therefore； to the city
as one that had been saved beyond their hopes。 On the other side
the Achaeans brought Ajax elated with victory to Agamemnon。
When they reached the quarters of the son of Atreus； Agamemnon
sacrificed for them a five…year…old bull in honour of Jove the
son of Saturn。 They flayed the carcass； made it ready； and
divided it into joints； these they cut carefully up into smaller
pieces； putting them on the spits； roasting them sufficiently；
and then drawing them off。 When they had done all this and had
prepared the feast； they ate it； and every man had his full and
equal share； so that all were satisfied； and King Agamemnon gave
Ajax some slices cut lengthways down the loin； as a mark of
special honour。 As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink；
old Nestor whose counsel was ever truest began to speak； with all
sincerity and goodwill； therefore； he addressed them thus：
〃Son of Atreus； and other chieftains； inasmuch as many of the
Achaeans are now dead； whose blood Mars has shed by the banks of
the Scamander； and their souls have gone down to the house of
Hades； it will be well when morning es that we should cease
fighting； we will then wheel our dead together with oxen and
mules and burn them not far from the ships； that when we sail
hence we may take the bones of our rades home to their
children。 Hard by the funeral pyre we will build a barrow that
shall be raised from the plain for all in mon； near this let
us set about building a high wall； to shelter ourselves and our
ships； and let it have well…made gates that there may be a way
through them for our chariots。 Close outside we will dig a deep
trench all round it to keep off both horse and foot； that the
Trojan chieftains may not bear hard upon us。〃
Thus he spoke； and the princess shouted in applause。 Meanwhile
the Trojans held a council； angry and full of discord； on the
acropolis by the gates of King Priam's palace； and wise Antenor
spoke。 〃Hear me；〃 he said； 〃Trojans； Dardan