Thus saying, Ajax Telamon set forth, And with him Teucer went, his father’s son, While by Pandion Teucer’s bow was borne. At brave Menestheus’ tow’r, within the wall, Arriv’d, sore press’d they found the garrison; For like a whirlwind on the ramparts pour’d The Lycians’ valiant councillors and chiefs. They quickly join’d the fray, and loud arose The battle-cry; first Ajax Telamon Sarpedon’s comrade, brave Epicles, slew, Struck by a rugged stone, within the wall Which lay, the topmost of the parapet, Of size prodigious; which with both his hands A man in youth’s full vigour scarce could raise, As men are now; he lifted it on high, And downward hurl’d; the four-peak’d helm it broke, Crushing the bone, and shatt’ring all the skull; He, like a diver, from the lofty tow’r Fell headlong down, and life forsook his bones, Teucer, meanwhile, from off the lofty wall The valiant Glaucus, pressing to the fight, Struck with an arrow, where he saw his arm Unguarded; he no longer brook’d the fray; Back from the wall he sprang, in hopes to hide From Grecian eyes his wound, that none might see, And triumph o’er him with insulting words. With grief Sarpedon saw his friend withdraw, Yet not relax’d his efforts; Thestor’s son, Alcmaon, with his spear he stabb’d, and back The weapon drew; he, following, prostrate fell, And loudly rang his arms of polish’d brass. Then at the parapet, with stalwart hand, Sarpedon tugg’d; and yielding to his force Down fell the block entire; the wall laid bare, To many at once the breach gave open way. Ajax and Teucer him at once assail’d; This with an arrow struck the glitt’ring belt Around his breast, whence hung his pond’rous shield; But Jove, who will’d not that his son should fall Before the ships, the weapon turn’d aside. Then forward Ajax sprang, and with his spear Thrust at the shield; the weapon pass’d not through, Yet check’d his bold advance; a little space Back he recoil’d, but not the more withdrew, His soul on glory intent; and rallying quick, Thus to the warlike Lycians shouted loud: “Why, Lycians, thus your wonted might relax? ’Tis hard for one alone, how brave soe’er, E’en though he break the rampart down, to force A passage to the ships; but on with me! For work is here for many hands to do.”