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that it raised them well above the ground。 Here they laid
themselves down and overhead they were covered by a fair cloud of
gold； from which there fell glittering dew…drops。
Thus； then； did the sire of all things repose peacefully on the
crest of Ida； overe at once by sleep and love； and he held his
spouse in his arms。 Meanwhile Sleep made off to the ships of the
Achaeans； to tell earth…encircling Neptune； lord of the
earthquake。 When he had found him he said； 〃Now； Neptune； you can
help the Danaans with a will； and give them victory though it be
only for a short time while Jove is still sleeping。 I have sent
him into a sweet slumber； and Juno has beguiled him into going to
bed with her。〃
Sleep now departed and went his ways to and fro among mankind；
leaving Neptune more eager than ever to help the Danaans。 He
darted forward among the first ranks and shouted saying；
〃Argives； shall we let Hector son of Priam have the triumph of
taking our ships and covering himself with glory？ This is what he
says that he shall now do； seeing that Achilles is still in
dudgeon at his ship； we shall get on very well without him if we
keep each other in heart and stand by one another。 Now；
therefore； let us all do as I say。 Let us each take the best and
largest shield we can lay hold of； put on our helmets； and sally
forth with our longest spears in our hands； I will lead you on；
and Hector son of Priam； rage as he may； will not dare to hold
out against us。 If any good staunch soldier has only a small
shield； let him hand it over to a worse man； and take a larger
one for himself。〃
Thus did he speak； and they did even as he had said。 The son of
Tydeus； Ulysses； and Agamemnon； wounded though they were； set the
others in array； and went about everywhere effecting the
exchanges of armour； the most valiant took the best armour； and
gave the worse to the worse man。 When they had donned their
bronze armour they marched on with Neptune at their head。 In his
strong hand he grasped his terrible sword； keen of edge and
flashing like lightning； woe to him who es across it in the
day of battle； all men quake for fear and keep away from it。
Hector on the other side set the Trojans in array。 Thereon
Neptune and Hector waged fierce war on one anotherHector on the
Trojan and Neptune on the Argive side。 Mighty was the uproar as
the two forces met； the sea came rolling in towards the ships and
tents of the Achaeans； but waves do not thunder on the shore more
loudly when driven before the blast of Boreas； nor do the flames
of a forest fire roar more fiercely when it is well alight upon
the mountains； nor does the wind bellow with ruder music as it
tears on through the tops of when it is blowing its hardest； than
the terrible shout which the Trojans and Achaeans raised as they
sprang upon one another。
Hector first aimed his spear at Ajax； who was turned full towards
him； nor did he miss his aim。 The spear struck him where two
bands passed over his chestthe band of his shield and that of
his silver…studded swordand these protected his body。 Hector
was angry that his spear should have been hurled in vain； and
withdrew under cover of his men。 As he was thus retreating； Ajax
son of Telamon； struck him with a stone； of which there were many
lying about under the men's feet as they foughtbrought there to
give support to the ships' sides as they lay on the shore。 Ajax
caught up one of them and struck Hector above the rim of his
shield close to his neck； the blow made him spin round like a top
and reel in all directions。 As an oak falls headlong when
uprooted by the lightning flash of father Jove； and there is a
terrible smell of brimstoneno man can help being dismayed if he
is standing near it； for a thunderbolt is a very awful thing
even so did Hector fall to earth and bite the dust。 His spear
fell from his hand； but his shield and helmet were made fast
about his body； and his bronze armour rang about him。
The sons of the Achaeans came running with a loud cry towards
him； hoping to drag him away； and they showered their darts on
the Trojans； but none of them could wound him before he was
surrounded and covered by the princes Polydamas； Aeneas； Agenor；
Sarpedon captain of the Lycians； and noble Glaucus。 Of the
others； too； there was not one who was unmindful of him； and they
held their round shields over him to cover him。 His rades then
lifted him off the ground and bore him away from the battle to
the place where his horses stood waiting for him at the rear of
the fight with their driver and the chariot； these then took him
towards the city groaning and in great pain。 When they reached
the ford of the fair stream of Xanthus； begotten of Immortal
Jove； they took him from off his chariot and laid him down on the
ground； they poured water over him； and as they did so he
breathed again and opened his eyes。 Then kneeling on his knees he
vomited blood； but soon fell back on to the ground； and his eyes
were again closed in darkness for he was still stunned by the
blow。
When the Argives saw Hector leaving the field； they took heart
and set upon the Trojans yet more furiously。 Ajax fleet son of
Oileus began by springing on Satnius son of Enops； and wounding
him with his spear： a fair naiad nymph had borne him to Enops as
he was herding cattle by the banks of the river Satnioeis。 The
son of Oileus came up to him and struck him in the flank so that
he fell； and a fierce fight between Trojans and Danaans raged
round his body。 Polydamas son of Panthous drew near to avenge
him； and wounded Prothoenor son of Areilycus on the right
shoulder； the terrible spear went right through his shoulder； and
he clutched the earth as he fell in the dust。 Polydamas vaunted
loudly over him saying； 〃Again I take it that the spear has not
sped in vain from the strong hand of the son of Panthous； an
Argive has caught it in his body； and it will serve him for a
staff as he goes down into the house of Hades。〃
The Argives were maddened by this boasting。 Ajax son of Telamon
was more angry than any； for the man had fallen close beside him；
so he aimed at Polydamas as he was retreating； but Polydamas
saved himself by swerving aside and the spear struck Archelochus
son of Antenor； for heaven counselled his destruction； it struck
him where the head springs from the neck at the top joint of the
spine； and severed both the tendons at the back of the head。 His
head； mouth； and nostrils reached the ground long before his legs
and knees could do so； and Ajax shouted to Polydamas saying；
〃Think； Polydamas； and tell me truly whether this man is not as
well worth killing as Prothoenor was： he seems rich； and of rich
family； a brother； it may be； or son of the knight Antenor； for
he is very like him。〃
But he knew well who it was； and the Trojans were greatly
angered。 Acamas then bestrode his brother's body and wounded
Promachus the Boeotian with his spear； for he was trying to drag
his brother's body away。 Acamas vaunted loudly over him saying；
〃Argive archers； braggarts that you are； toil and suffering shall
not be for us only； but some of you too shall fall here as well
as ourselves。 See how