But nought as yet had Hector heard, nor knew How sorely, leftward of the ships, were press’d The Trojans by the Greeks; and now appear’d Their triumph, sure; such succour Neptune gave, Their courage rousing, and imparting strength. But there he kept, where first the serried ranks Of Greeks he broke, and storm’d the wall and gates; There beach’d beside the hoary sea, the ships Of Ajax and Protesilaus lay; There had the wall been lowest built; and there Were gather’d in defence the chiefest all, Horses and men: the stout Bœotians there, Join’d to th’ Ionians with their flowing robes, Loerians, and Phthians, and Epeians proud, Could scarce protect their ships; nor could repel Th’ impetuous fire of godlike Hector’s charge. There too the choicest troops of Athens fought; Their chief, Menestheus, Peteus’ son; with whom Were Pheidas, Stichius, Bias in command; Th’ Epeians Meges, Phyleus’ son, obey’d, And Dracius and Amphion; Medon next, With brave Podarces led the Phthian host: Medon, the great Oileus’ bastard son, Brother of Ajax; he in Phylace, Far from his native land, was driv’n to dwell, Since one to Eriopis near akin, His sire Oileus’ wife, his hand had slain. Podarces from Iphiclus claim’d his birth, The son of Phylacus; these two in arms The valiant Phthians leading to the fight, Join’d the Bœotian troops to guard the ships. But from the side of Ajax Telamon Stirr’d not a whit Oileus’ active son; But as on fallow-land with one accord, Two dark-red oxen drag the well-wrought plough, Streaming with sweat that gathers round their horns; They by the polish’d yoke together held, The stiff soil cleaving, down the furrow strain; So closely, side by side, those two advanc’d. But comrades, many and brave, on Telamon Attended, who, whene’er with toil and sweat His limbs grew faint, upheld his weighty shield; While in the fray, Oileus’ noble son No Locrians follow’d; theirs were not the hearts To brook th’ endurance of the standing fight; Nor had they brass-bound helms, with horsehair plume, Nor ample shields they bore, nor ashen spear; But came to Troy, in bows and twisted slings Of woollen cloth confiding; and from these Their bolts quick-show’ring, broke the Trojan ranks. While those, in front, in glitt’ring arms oppos’d The men of Troy, by noble Hector led: These, in the rear, unseen, their arrows shot. Nor stood the Trojans; for amid their ranks The galling arrows dire confusion spread. Then had the Trojans from the ships and tents Back to the breezy heights of Troy been driv’n In flight disastrous; but Polydamas Drew near to Hector, and address’d him thus: