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them remember that they are not at a dance but in battle？ Our
only course is to fight them with might and main； we had better
chance it； life or death； once for all； than fight long and
without issue hemmed in at our ships by worse men than
ourselves。〃
With these words he put life and soul into them all。 Hector then
killed Schedius son of Perimedes； leader of the Phoceans； and
Ajax killed Laodamas captain of foot soldiers and son to Antenor。
Polydamas killed Otus of Cyllene a rade of the son of Phyleus
and chief of the proud Epeans。 When Meges saw this he sprang upon
him； but Polydamas crouched down； and he missed him； for Apollo
would not suffer the son of Panthous to fall in battle； but the
spear hit Croesmus in the middle of his chest； whereon he fell
heavily to the ground； and Meges stripped him of his armour。 At
that moment the valiant soldier Dolops son of Lampus sprang upon
Lampus was son of Laomedon and for his valour； while his son
Dolops was versed in all the ways of war。 He then struck the
middle of the son of Phyleus' shield with his spear； setting on
him at close quarters； but his good corslet made with plates of
metal saved him； Phyleus had brought it from Ephyra and the river
Selleis； where his host； King Euphetes； had given it him to wear
in battle and protect him。 It now served to save the life of his
son。 Then Meges struck the topmost crest of Dolops's bronze
helmet with his spear and tore away its plume of horse…hair； so
that all newly dyed with scarlet as it was it tumbled down into
the dust。 While he was still fighting and confident of victory；
Menelaus came up to help Meges； and got by the side of Dolops
unperceived； he then speared him in the shoulder； from behind；
and the point； driven so furiously； went through into his chest；
whereon he fell headlong。 The two then made towards him to strip
him of his armour； but Hector called on all his brothers for
help； and he especially upbraided brave Melanippus son of
Hiketaon； who erewhile used to pasture his herds of cattle in
Percote before the war broke out； but when the ships of the
Danaans came； he went back to Ilius； where he was eminent among
the Trojans； and lived near Priam who treated him as one of his
own sons。 Hector now rebuked him and said； 〃Why； Melanippus； are
we thus remiss？ do you take no note of the death of your kinsman；
and do you not see how they are trying to take Dolops's armour？
Follow me； there must be no fighting the Argives from a distance
now； but we must do so in close bat till either we kill them
or they take the high wall of Ilius and slay her people。〃
He led on as he spoke； and the hero Melanippus followed after。
Meanwhile Ajax son of Telamon was cheering on the Argives。 〃My
friends；〃 he cried； 〃be men； and fear dishonour； quit yourselves
in battle so as to win respect from one another。 Men who respect
each other's good opinion are less likely to be killed than those
who do not； but in flight there is neither gain nor glory。〃
Thus did he exhort men who were already bent upon driving back
the Trojans。 They laid his words to heart and hedged the ships as
with a wall of bronze； while Jove urged on the Trojans。 Menelaus
of the loud battle…cry urged Antilochus on。 〃Antilochus；〃 said
he； 〃you are young and there is none of the Achaeans more fleet
of foot or more valiant than you are。 See if you cannot spring
upon some Trojan and kill him。〃
He hurried away when he had thus spurred Antilochus； who at once
darted out from the front ranks and aimed a spear； after looking
carefully round him。 The Trojans fell back as he threw； and the
dart did not speed from his hand without effect； for it struck
Melanippus the proud son of Hiketaon in the breast by the nipple
as he was ing forward； and his armour rang rattling round him
as he fell heavily to the ground。 Antilochus sprang upon him as a
dog springs on a fawn which a hunter has hit as it was breaking
away from its covert； and killed it。 Even so； O Melanippus； did
stalwart Antilochus spring upon you to strip you of your armour；
but noble Hector marked him； and came running up to him through
the thick of the battle。 Antilochus； brave soldier though he was；
would not stay to face him； but fled like some savage creature
which knows it has done wrong； and flies； when it has killed a
dog or a man who is herding his cattle； before a body of men can
be gathered to attack it。 Even so did the son of Nestor fly； and
the Trojans and Hector with a cry that rent the air showered
their weapons after him； nor did he turn round and stay his
flight till he had reached his rades。
The Trojans； fierce as lions； were still rushing on towards the
ships in fulfilment of the behests of Jove who kept spurring them
on to new deeds of daring； while he deadened the courage of the
Argives and defeated them by encouraging the Trojans。 For he
meant giving glory to Hector son of Priam； and letting him throw
fire upon the ships； till he had fulfilled the unrighteous prayer
that Thetis had made him； Jove； therefore； bided his time till he
should see the glare of a blazing ship。 From that hour he was
about so to order that the Trojans should be driven back from the
ships and to vouchsafe glory to the Achaeans。 With this purpose
he inspired Hector son of Priam； who was cager enough already； to
assail the ships。 His fury was as that of Mars； or as when a fire
is raging in the glades of some dense forest upon the mountains；
he foamed at the mouth； his eyes glared under his terrible
eye…brows； and his helmet quivered on his temples by reason of
the fury with which he fought。 Jove from heaven was with him； and
though he was but one against many； vouchsafed him victory and
glory； for he was doomed to an early death； and already Pallas
Minerva was hurrying on the hour of his destruction at the hands
of the son of Peleus。 Now； however； he kept trying to break the
ranks of the enemy wherever he could see them thickest； and in
the goodliest armour； but do what he might he could not break
through them； for they stood as a tower foursquare； or as some
high cliff rising from the grey sea that braves the anger of the
gale； and of the waves that thunder up against it。 He fell upon
them like flames of fire from every quarter。 As when a wave；
raised mountain high by wind and storm； breaks over a ship and
covers it deep in foam； the fierce winds roar against the mast；
the hearts of the sailors fail them for fear； and they are saved
but by a very little from destructioneven so were the hearts of
the Achaeans fainting within them。 Or as a savage lion attacking
a herd of cows while they are feeding by thousands in the
low…lying meadows by some wide…watered shorethe herdsman is at
his wit's end how to protect his herd and keeps going about now
in the van and now in the rear of his cattle； while the lion
springs into the thick of them and fastens on a cow so that they
all tremble for feareven so were the Achaeans utterly
panic…stricken by Hector and father Jove。 Nevertheless Hector
only killed Periphetes of Mycenae； he was son of Copreus who was
wont to take the orders of King Eurystheus to mighty Hercules；
but the son was a far bet