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Now； therefore； lead on where you would have us go； and we will
follow with right goodwill； you shall not find us fail you in so
far as our strength holds out； but no man can do more than in him
lies； no matter how willing he may be。〃
With these words he satisfied his brother； and the two went
towards the part of the battle where the fight was thickest；
about Cebriones； brave Polydamas； Phalces； Orthaeus； godlike
Polyphetes； Palmys； Ascanius； and Morys son of Hippotion； who had
e from fertile Ascania on the preceding day to relieve other
troops。 Then Jove urged them on to fight。 They flew forth like
the blasts of some fierce wind that strike earth in the van of a
thunderstormthey buffet the salt sea into an uproar； many and
mighty are the great waves that e crashing in one after the
other upon the shore with their arching heads all crested with
foameven so did rank behind rank of Trojans arrayed in gleaming
armour follow their leaders onward。 The way was led by Hector son
of Priam； peer of murderous Mars； with his round shield before
himhis shield of ox…hides covered with plates of bronzeand
his gleaming helmet upon his temples。 He kept stepping forward
under cover of his shield in every direction； making trial of the
ranks to see if they would give way before him； but he could not
daunt the courage of the Achaeans。 Ajax was the first to stride
out and challenge him。 〃Sir；〃 he cried； 〃draw near； why do you
think thus vainly to dismay the Argives？ We Achaeans are
excellent soldiers； but the scourge of Jove has fallen heavily
upon us。 Your heart； forsooth； is set on destroying our ships；
but we too have hands that can keep you at bay； and your own fair
town shall be sooner taken and sacked by ourselves。 The time is
near when you shall pray Jove and all the gods in your flight；
that your steeds may be swifter than hawks as they raise the dust
on the plain and bear you back to your city。〃
As he was thus speaking a bird flew by upon his right hand； and
the host of the Achaeans shouted； for they took heart at the
omen。 But Hector answered； 〃Ajax； braggart and false of tongue；
would that I were as sure of being son for evermore to
aegis…bearing Jove； with Queen Juno for my mother； and of being
held in like honour with Minerva and Apollo； as I am that this
day is big with the destruction of the Achaeans； and you shall
fall among them if you dare abide my spear； it shall rend your
fair body and bid you glut our hounds and birds of prey with your
fat and your flesh； as you fall by the ships of the Achaeans。〃
With these words he led the way and the others followed after
with a cry that rent the air； while the host shouted behind them。
The Argives on their part raised a shout likewise； nor did they
forget their prowess； but stood firm against the onslaught of the
Trojan chieftains； and the cry from both the hosts rose up to
heaven and to the brightness of Jove's presence。
BOOK XIV
Agamemnon proposes that the Achaeans should sail home； and
is rebuked by UlyssesJuno beguiles JupiterHector is
wounded。
NESTOR was sitting over his wine； but the cry of battle did not
escape him； and he said to the son of Aesculapius； 〃What； noble
Machaon； is the meaning of all this？ The shouts of men fighting
by our ships grow stronger and stronger； stay here； therefore；
and sit over your wine； while fair Hecamede heats you a bath and
washes the clotted blood from off you。 I will go at once to the
look…out station and see what it is all about。〃
As he spoke he took up the shield of his son Thrasymedes that was
lying in his tent； all gleaming with bronze； for Thrasymedes had
taken his father's shield； he grasped his redoubtable bronze…shod
spear； and as soon as he was outside saw the disastrous rout of
the Achaeans who； now that their wall was overthrown； were flying
pell…mell before the Trojans。 As when there is a heavy swell upon
the sea； but the waves are dumbthey keep their eyes on the
watch for the quarter whence the fierce winds may spring upon
them； but they stay where they are and set neither this way nor
that； till some particular wind sweeps down from heaven to
determine themeven so did the old man ponder whether to make
for the crowd of Danaans； or go in search of Agamemnon。 In the
end he deemed it best to go to the son of Atreus； but meanwhile
the hosts were fighting and killing one another； and the hard
bronze rattled on their bodies； as they thrust at one another
with their swords and spears。
The wounded kings； the son of Tydeus； Ulysses； and Agamemnon son
of Atreus； fell in Nestor as they were ing up from their
shipsfor theirs were drawn up some way from where the fighting
was going on； being on the shore itself inasmuch as they had been
beached first； while the wall had been built behind the
hindermost。 The stretch of the shore； wide though it was； did not
afford room for all the ships； and the host was cramped for
space； therefore they had placed the ships in rows one behind the
other； and had filled the whole opening of the bay between the
two points that formed it。 The kings； leaning on their spears；
were ing out to survey the fight； being in great anxiety； and
when old Nestor met them they were filled with dismay。 Then King
Agamemnon said to him； 〃Nestor son of Neleus； honour to the
Achaean name； why have you left the battle to e hither？ I fear
that what dread Hector said will e true； when he vaunted among
the Trojans saying that he would not return to Ilius till he had
fired our ships and killed us； this is what he said； and now it
is all ing true。 Alas！ others of the Achaeans； like Achilles；
are in anger with me that they refuse to fight by the sterns of
our ships。〃
Then Nestor knight of Gerene； answered； 〃It is indeed as you say；
it is all ing true at this moment； and even Jove who thunders
from on high cannot prevent it。 Fallen is the wall on which we
relied as an impregnable bulwark both for us and our fleet。 The
Trojans are fighting stubbornly and without ceasing at the ships；
look where you may you cannot see from what quarter the rout of
the Achaeans is ing； they are being killed in a confused mass
and the battle…cry ascends to heaven； let us think； if counsel
can be of any use； what we had better do； but I do not advise our
going into battle ourselves； for a man cannot fight when he is
wounded。〃
And King Agamemnon answered； 〃Nestor； if the Trojans are indeed
fighting at the rear of our ships； and neither the wall nor the
trench has served usover which the Danaans toiled so hard； and
which they deemed would be an impregnable bulwark both for us and
our fleetI see it must be the will of Jove that the Achaeans
should perish ingloriously here； far from Argos。 I knew when Jove
was willing to defend us； and I know now that he is raising the
Trojans to like honour with the gods； while us； on the other
hand； he has bound hand and foot。 Now； therefore； let us all do
as I say； let us bring down the ships that are on the beach and
draw them into the water； let us make them fast to their
mooring…stones a little way out； against the fall of nightif
even by night the Trojans will desist from fighting； we may