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through this slackness； think； each one of you； of his own honour
and credit； for the hazard of the fight is extreme。 Great Hector
is now fighting at our ships； he has broken through the gates and
the strong bolt that held them。〃
Thus did the earth…encircler address the Achaeans and urge them
on。 Thereon round the two Ajaxes there gathered strong bands of
men； of whom not even Mars nor Minerva； marshaller of hosts could
make light if they went among them； for they were the picked men
of all those who were now awaiting the onset of Hector and the
Trojans。 They made a living fence； spear to spear； shield to
shield； buckler to buckler； helmet to helmet； and man to man。 The
horse…hair crests on their gleaming helmets touched one another
as they nodded forward； so closely serried were they； the spears
they brandished in their strong hands were interlaced； and their
hearts were set on battle。
The Trojans advanced in a dense body； with Hector at their head
pressing right on as a rock that es thundering down the side
of some mountain from whose brow the winter torrents have torn
it； the foundations of the dull thing have been loosened by
floods of rain； and as it bounds headlong on its way it sets the
whole forest in an uproar； it swerves neither to right nor left
till it reaches level ground； but then for all its fury it can go
no furthereven so easily did Hector for a while seem as though
he would career through the tents and ships of the Achaeans till
he had reached the sea in his murderous course； but the closely
serried battalions stayed him when he reached them； for the sons
of the Achaeans thrust at him with swords and spears pointed at
both ends； and drove him from them so that he staggered and gave
ground； thereon he shouted to the Trojans； 〃Trojans； Lycians； and
Dardanians； fighters in close bat； stand firm： the Achaeans
have set themselves as a wall against me； but they will not check
me for long； they will give ground before me if the mightiest of
the gods； the thundering spouse of Juno； has indeed inspired my
onset。〃
With these words he put heart and soul into them all。 Deiphobus
son of Priam went about among them intent on deeds of daring with
his round shield before him； under cover of which he strode
quickly forward。 Meriones took aim at him with a spear； nor did
he fail to hit the broad orb of ox…hide； but he was far from
piercing it for the spear broke in two pieces long ere he could
do so； moreover Deiphobus had seen it ing and had held his
shield well away from him。 Meriones drew back under cover of his
rades； angry alike at having failed to vanquish Deiphobus； and
having broken his spear。 He turned therefore towards the ships
and tents to fetch a spear which he had left behind in his tent。
The others continued fighting； and the cry of battle rose up into
the heavens。 Teucer son of Telamon was the first to kill his man；
to wit； the warrior Imbrius； son of Mentor； rich in horses。
Until the Achaeans came he had lived in Pedaeum； and had married
Medesicaste； a bastard daughter of Priam； but on the arrival of
the Danaan fleet he had gone back to Ilius； and was a great man
among the Trojans； dwelling near Priam himself； who gave him like
honour with his own sons。 The son of Telamon now struck him under
the ear with a spear which he then drew back again； and Imbrius
fell headlong as an ash…tree when it is felled on the crest of
some high mountain beacon； and its delicate green foliage es
toppling down to the ground。 Thus did he fall with his
bronze…dight armour ringing harshly round him； and Teucer sprang
forward with intent to strip him of his armour； but as he was
doing so； Hector took aim at him with a spear。 Teucer saw the
spear ing and swerved aside； whereon it hit Amphimachus； son
of Cteatus son of Actor； in the chest as he was ing into
battle； and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily
to the ground。 Hector sprang forward to take Amphimachus's helmet
from off his temples； and in a moment Ajax threw a spear at him；
but did not wound him； for he was encased all over in his
terrible armour； nevertheless the spear struck the boss of his
shield with such force as to drive him back from the two corpses；
which the Achaeans then drew off。 Stichius and Menestheus；
captains of the Athenians； bore away Amphimachus to the host of
the Achaeans； while the two brave and impetuous Ajaxes did the
like by Imbrius。 As two lions snatch a goat from the hounds that
have it in their fangs； and bear it through thick brushwood high
above the ground in their jaws； thus did the Ajaxes bear aloft
the body of Imbrius； and strip it of its armour。 Then the son of
Oileus severed the head from the neck in revenge for the death of
Amphimachus； and sent it whirling over the crowd as though it had
been a ball； till it fell in the dust at Hector's feet。
Neptune was exceedingly angry that his grandson Amphimachus
should have fallen； he therefore went to the tents and ships of
the Achaeans to urge the Danaans still further； and to devise
evil for the Trojans。 Idomeneus met him； as he was taking leave
of a rade； who had just e to him from the fight； wounded in
the knee。 His fellow…soldiers bore him off the field； and
Idomeneus having given orders to the physicians went on to his
tent； for he was still thirsting for battle。 Neptune spoke in the
likeness and with the voice of Thoas son of Andraemon who ruled
the Aetolians of all Pleuron and high Calydon； and was honoured
among his people as though he were a god。 〃Idomeneus；〃 said he；
〃lawgiver to the Cretans； what has now bee of the threats with
which the sons of the Achaeans used to threaten the Trojans？〃
And Idomeneus chief among the Cretans answered； 〃Thoas； no one；
so far as I know； is in fault； for we can all fight。 None are
held back neither by fear nor slackness； but it seems to be the
will of almighty Jove that the Achaeans should perish
ingloriously here far from Argos： you； Thoas； have been always
staunch； and you keep others in heart if you see any fail in
duty； be not then remiss now； but exhort all to do their utmost。〃
To this Neptune lord of the earthquake made answer； 〃Idomeneus；
may he never return from Troy； but remain here for dogs to batten
upon； who is this day wilfully slack in fighting。 Get your armour
and go； we must make all haste together if we may be of any use；
though we are only two。 Even cowards gain courage from
panionship； and we two can hold our own with the bravest。〃
Therewith the god went back into the thick of the fight； and
Idomeneus when he had reached his tent donned his armour； grasped
his two spears； and sallied forth。 As the lightning which the son
of Saturn brandishes from bright Olympus when he would show a
sign to mortals； and its gleam flashes far and wideeven so did
his armour gleam about him as he ran。 Meriones his sturdy squire
met him while he was still near his tent （for he was going to
fetch his spear） and Idomeneus said：
〃Meriones； fleet son of Molus； best of rades； why have you
left the field？ Are you wounded； and is the point of the weapon
hurting you？ or have you been sent to fetch me？ I want no
fetching； I ha