“Whence is it, Glaucus, that in Lycian land We two at feasts the foremost seats may claim, The largest portions, and the fullest cups? Why held as Gods in honour? why endow’d With ample heritage, by Xanthus’ banks, Of vineyard, and of wheat producing land? Then by the Lycians should we not be seen The foremost to affront the raging fight? So may our well-arm’d Lycians make their boast; ‘To no inglorious Kings we Lycians owe Allegiance; they on richest viands feed; Of luscious flavour drink the choicest wine; But still their valour brightest shows; and they, Where Lycians war, are foremost in the fight!’ O friend! if we, survivors of this war, Could live, from age and death for ever free, Thou shouldst not see me foremost in the fight, Nor would I urge thee to the glorious field: But since on man ten thousand forms of death Attend, which none may ’scape, then on, that we May glory on others gain, or they on us!” Thus he; nor Glaucus from his bidding shrank; And forward straight they led the Lycian pow’rs. Menestheus, son of Peteus, with dismay Observ’d their movement; for on his command, Inspiring terror, their attack was made. He look’d around him to the Grecian tow’rs, If any chief might there be found, to save His comrades from destruction; there he saw, Of war insatiable, th’ Ajaces twain; And Teucer, from the tent but newly come, Hard by; nor yet could reach them with his voice; Such was the din, such tumult rose to Heav’n, From clatt’ring shields, and horsehair-crested helms, And batter’d gates, now all at once assail’d: Before them fiercely strove th’ assaulting bands To break their way: he then Thootes sent, His herald, to th’ Ajaces, craving aid. “Haste thee, Thootes, on th’ Ajaces call, Both, if it may be; so we best may hope To ’scape the death, which else is near at hand; So fierce the pressure of the Lycian chiefs, Undaunted now, as ever, in the fight. But if they too are hardly press’d, at least Let Ajax, son of Telamon, be spar’d, And with him Teucer, skilled to draw the bow.” He said; the herald heard, and straight obey’d; Along the wall, where stood the brass-clad Greeks, He ran, and standing near th’ Ajaces, said: “Ajaces, leaders of the brass-clad Greeks, The son of Heav’n-born Peteus craves your aid. To share awhile the labours of his guard; Both, if it may be; so he best may hope To ’scape the death, which else is near at hand: So fierce the pressure of the Lycian chiefs, Undaunted now, as ever, in the fight. But if ye too are hardly press’d, at least Let Ajax, son of Telamon, be spar’d, And with him Teucer, skill’d to draw the bow.” He said: the mighty son of Telamon Consenting, thus addresss’d Oileus’ son: “Ajax, do thou and valiant Lyeomede Exhort the Greeks the struggle to maintain; While I go yonder, to affront the war, To aid their need, and back return in haste.”