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he had just e to himself again。 He knew those who were about
him； and the sweat and hard breathing had left him from the
moment when the will of aegis…bearing Jove had revived him。
Apollo stood beside him and said； 〃Hector son of Priam； why are
you so faint； and why are you here away from the others？ Has any
mishap befallen you？〃
Hector in a weak voice answered； 〃And which； kind sir； of the
gods are you； who now ask me thus？ Do you not know that Ajax
struck me on the chest with a stone as I was killing his rades
at the ships of the Achaeans； and pelled me to leave off
fighting？ I made sure that this very day I should breathe my last
and go down into the house of Hades。〃
Then King Apollo said to him； 〃Take heart； the son of Saturn has
sent you a mighty helper from Ida to stand by you and defend you；
even me； Phoebus Apollo of the golden sword； who have been
guardian hitherto not only of yourself but of your city。 Now；
therefore； order your horsemen to drive their chariots to the
ships in great multitudes。 I will go before your horses to smooth
the way for them； and will turn the Achaeans in flight。〃
As he spoke he infused great strength into the shepherd of his
people。 And as a horse； stabled and full…fed； breaks loose and
gallops gloriously over the plain to the place where he is wont
to take his bath in the riverhe tosses his head； and his mane
streams over his shoulders as in all the pride of his strength he
flies full speed to the pastures where the mares are feeding
even so Hector； when he heard what the god said； urged his
horsemen on； and sped forward as fast as his limbs could take
him。 As country peasants set their hounds on to a homed stag or
wild goathe has taken shelter under rock or thicket； and they
cannot find him； but； lo； a bearded lion whom their shouts have
roused stands in their path； and they are in no further humour
for the chaseeven so the Achaeans were still charging on in a
body； using their swords and spears pointed at both ends； but
when they saw Hector going about among his men they were afraid；
and their hearts fell down into their feet。
Then spoke Thoas son of Andraemon； leader of the Aetolians； a man
who could throw a good throw； and who was staunch also in close
fight； while few could surpass him in debate when opinions were
divided。 He then with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them
thus： 〃What； in heaven's name； do I now see？ Is it not Hector
e to life again？ Every one made sure he had been killed by
Ajax son of Telamon； but it seems that one of the gods has again
rescued him。 He has killed many of us Danaans already； and I take
it will yet do so； for the hand of Jove must be with him or he
would never dare show himself so masterful in the forefront of
the battle。 Now； therefore； let us all do as I say； let us order
the main body of our forces to fall back upon the ships； but let
those of us who profess to be the flower of the army stand firm；
and see whether we cannot hold Hector back at the point of our
spears as soon as he es near us； I conceive that he will then
think better of it before he tries to charge into the press of
the Danaans。〃
Thus did he speak； and they did even as he had said。 Those who
were about Ajax and King Idomeneus； the followers moreover of
Teucer； Meriones； and Meges peer of Mars called all their best
men about them and sustained the fight against Hector and the
Trojans； but the main body fell back upon the ships of the
Achaeans。
The Trojans pressed forward in a dense body； with Hector striding
on at their head。 Before him went Phoebus Apollo shrouded in
cloud about his shoulders。 He bore aloft the terrible aegis with
its shaggy fringe； which Vulcan the smith had given Jove to
strike terror into the hearts of men。 With this in his hand he
led on the Trojans。
The Argives held together and stood their ground。 The cry of
battle rose high from either side； and the arrows flew from the
bowstrings。 Many a spear sped from strong hands and fastened in
the bodies of many a valiant warrior； while others fell to earth
midway； before they could taste of man's fair flesh and glut
themselves with blood。 So long as Phoebus Apollo held his aegis
quietly and without shaking it； the weapons on either side took
effect and the people fell； but when he shook it straight in the
face of the Danaans and raised his mighty battle…cry their hearts
fainted within them and they forgot their former prowess。 As when
two wild beasts spring in the dead of night on a herd of cattle
or a large flock of sheep when the herdsman is not thereeven so
were the Danaans struck helpless； for Apollo filled them with
panic and gave victory to Hector and the Trojans。
The fight then became more scattered and they killed one another
where they best could。 Hector killed Stichius and Arcesilaus； the
one； leader of the Boeotians； and the other； friend and rade
of Menestheus。 Aeneas killed Medon and Iasus。 The first was
bastard son to Oileus； and brother to Ajax； but he lived in
Phylace away from his own country； for he had killed a man； a
kinsman of his stepmother Eriopis whom Oileus had married。 Iasus
had bee a leader of the Athenians； and was son of Sphelus the
son of Boucolos。 Polydamas killed Mecisteus； and Polites Echius；
in the front of the battle； while Agenor slew Clonius。 Paris
struck Deiochus from behind in the lower part of the shoulder； as
he was flying among the foremost； and the point of the spear went
clean through him。
While they were spoiling these heroes of their armour； the
Achaeans were flying pell…mell to the trench and the set stakes；
and were forced back within their wall。 Hector then cried out to
the Trojans； 〃Forward to the ships； and let the spoils be。 If I
see any man keeping back on the other side the wall away from the
ships I will have him killed： his kinsmen and kinswomen shall not
give him his dues of fire； but dogs shall tear him in pieces in
front of our city。〃
As he spoke he laid his whip about his horses' shoulders and
called to the Trojans throughout their ranks； the Trojans shouted
with a cry that rent the air； and kept their horses neck and neck
with his own。 Phoebus Apollo went before； and kicked down the
banks of the deep trench into its middle so as to make a great
broad bridge； as broad as the throw of a spear when a man is
trying his strength。 The Trojan battalions poured over the
bridge； and Apollo with his redoubtable aegis led the way。 He
kicked down the wall of the Achaeans as easily as a child who
playing on the sea…shore has built a house of sand and then kicks
it down again and destroys iteven so did you； O Apollo； shed
toil and trouble upon the Argives； filling them with panic and
confusion。
Thus then were the Achaeans hemmed in at their ships； calling out
to one another and raising their hands with loud cries every man
to heaven。 Nestor of Gerene； tower of strength to the Achaeans；
lifted up his hands to the starry firmament of heaven； and prayed
more fervently than any of them。 〃Father Jove；〃 said he； 〃if ever
any one in wheat…growing Argos burned you fat thigh…bones of
sheep or heifer and prayed that he might return safely home；