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any one in wheat…growing Argos burned you fat thigh…bones of
sheep or heifer and prayed that he might return safely home；
whereon you bowed your head to him in assent； bear it in mind
now； and suffer not the Trojans to triumph thus over the
Achaeans。〃
All…counselling Jove thundered loudly in answer to the prayer of
the aged son of Neleus。 When they heard Jove thunder they flung
themselves yet more fiercely on the Achaeans。 As a wave breaking
over the bulwarks of a ship when the sea runs high before a
galefor it is the force of the wind that makes the waves so
greateven so did the Trojans spring over the wall with a
shout； and drive their chariots onwards。 The two sides fought
with their double…pointed spears in hand…to…hand encounter…the
Trojans from their chariots； and the Achaeans climbing up into
their ships and wielding the long pikes that were lying on the
decks ready for use in a sea…fight； jointed and shod with bronze。
Now Patroclus； so long as the Achaeans and Trojans were fighting
about the wall； but were not yet within it and at the ships；
remained sitting in the tent of good Eurypylus； entertaining him
with his conversation and spreading herbs over his wound to ease
his pain。 When； however； he saw the Trojans swarming through the
breach in the wall； while the Achaeans were clamouring and struck
with panic； he cried aloud； and smote his two thighs with the
flat of his hands。 〃Eurypylus；〃 said he in his dismay； 〃I know
you want me badly； but I cannot stay with you any longer； for
there is hard fighting going on； a servant shall take care of you
now； for I must make all speed to Achilles； and induce him to
fight if I can； who knows but with heaven's help I may persuade
him。 A man does well to listen to the advice of a friend。〃
When he had thus spoken he went his way。 The Achaeans stood firm
and resisted the attack of the Trojans； yet though these were
fewer in number； they could not drive them back from the ships；
neither could the Trojans break the Achaean ranks and make their
way in among the tents and ships。 As a carpenter's line gives a
true edge to a piece of ship's timber； in the hand of some
skilled workman whom Minerva has instructed in all kinds of
useful artseven so level was the issue of the fight between the
two sides； as they fought some round one and some round another。
Hector made straight for Ajax； and the two fought fiercely about
the same ship。 Hector could not force Ajax back and fire the
ship； nor yet could Ajax drive Hector from the spot to which
heaven had brought him。
Then Ajax struck Caletor son of Clytius in the chest with a spear
as he was bringing fire towards the ship。 He fell heavily to the
ground and the torch dropped from his hand。 When Hector saw his
cousin fallen in front of the ship he shouted to the Trojans and
Lycians saying； 〃Trojans； Lycians； and Dardanians good in close
fight； bate not a jot； but rescue the son of Clytius lest the
Achaeans strip him of his armour now that he has fallen。〃
He then aimed a spear at Ajax； and missed him； but he hit
Lycophron a follower of Ajax； who came from Cythera； but was
living with Ajax inasmuch as he had killed a man among the
Cythereans。 Hector's spear struck him on the head below the ear；
and he fell headlong from the ship's prow on to the ground with
no life left in him。 Ajax shook with rage and said to his
brother； 〃Teucer； my good fellow； our trusty rade the son of
Mastor has fallen； he came to live with us from Cythera and whom
we honoured as much as our own parents。 Hector has just killed
him； fetch your deadly arrows at once and the bow which Phoebus
Apollo gave you。〃
Teucer heard him and hastened towards him with his bow and quiver
in his hands。 Forthwith he showered his arrows on the Trojans；
and hit Cleitus the son of Pisenor； rade of Polydamas the
noble son of Panthous； with the reins in his hands as he was
attending to his horses； he was in the middle of the very
thickest part of the fight； doing good service to Hector and the
Trojans； but evil had now e upon him； and not one of those who
were fain to do so could avert it； for the arrow struck him on
the back of the neck。 He fell from his chariot and his horses
shook the empty car as they swerved aside。 King Polydamas saw
what had happened； and was the first to e up to the horses； he
gave them in charge to Astynous son of Protiaon； and ordered him
to look on； and to keep the horses near at hand。 He then went
back and took his place in the front ranks。
Teucer then aimed another arrow at Hector； and there would have
been no more fighting at the ships if he had hit him and killed
him then and there： Jove； however； who kept watch over Hector；
had his eyes on Teucer； and deprived him of his triumph； by
breaking his bowstring for him just as he was drawing it and
about to take his aim； on this the arrow went astray and the bow
fell from his hands。 Teucer shook with anger and said to his
brother； 〃Alas； see how heaven thwarts us in all we do； it has
broken my bowstring and snatched the bow from my hand； though I
strung it this selfsame morning that it might serve me for many
an arrow。〃
Ajax son of Telamon answered； 〃My good fellow； let your bow and
your arrows be； for Jove has made them useless in order to spite
the Danaans。 Take your spear； lay your shield upon your shoulder；
and both fight the Trojans yourself and urge others to do so。
They may be successful for the moment but if we fight as we ought
they will find it a hard matter to take the ships。〃
Teucer then took his bow and put it by in his tent。 He hung a
shield four hides thick about his shoulders； and on his ely
head he set his helmet well wrought with a crest of horse…hair
that nodded menacingly above it； he grasped his redoubtable
bronze…shod spear； and forthwith he was by the side of Ajax。
When Hector saw that Teucer's bow was of no more use to him； he
shouted out to the Trojans and Lycians； 〃Trojans； Lycians； and
Dardanians good in close fight； be men； my friends； and show your
mettle here at the ships； for I see the weapon of one of their
chieftains made useless by the hand of Jove。 It is easy to see
when Jove is helping people and means to help them still further；
or again when he is bringing them down and will do nothing for
them； he is now on our side； and is going against the Argives。
Therefore swarm round the ships and fight。 If any of you is
struck by spear or sword and loses his life； let him die； he dies
with honour who dies fighting for his country； and he will leave
his wife and children safe behind him； with his house and
allotment unplundered if only the Achaeans can be driven back to
their own land； they and their ships。〃
With these words he put heart and soul into them all。 Ajax on the
other side exhorted his rades saying； 〃Shame on you Argives；
we are now utterly undone； unless we can save ourselves by
driving the enemy from our ships。 Do you think； if Hector takes
them； that you will be able to get home by land？ Can you not hear
him cheering on his whole host to fire our fleet； and bidding
them remember that they are not at a dance but in battle？ Our
only course is to fight