From battle with the Trojans, but I speak Thy death at hand; for vanquish’d by my spear, This self-same day thou shalt to me resign Thy fame, thy soul to Pluto steed-renown’d.540 He ceased; then Socus turn’d his back to fly, But, as he turn’d, his shoulder-blades between He pierced him, and the spear urged through his breast. On his resounding arms he fell, and thus Godlike Ulysses gloried in his fall.545 Ah, Socus, son of Hippasus, a chief Of fame equestrian! swifter far than thou Death follow’d thee, and thou hast not escaped. Ill-fated youth! thy parents’ hands thine eyes Shall never close, but birds of ravenous maw550 Shall tear thee, flapping thee with frequent wing, While me the noble Grecians shall entomb! So saying, the valiant Socus’ spear he drew From his own flesh, and through his bossy shield. The weapon drawn, forth sprang the blood, and left555 His spirit faint. Then Ilium’s dauntless sons, Seeing Ulysses’ blood, exhorted glad Each other, and, with force united, all Press’d on him. He, retiring, summon’d loud His followers. Thrice, loud as mortal may,560 He call’d, and valiant Menelaus thrice Hearing the voice, to Ajax thus remark’d. Illustrious son of Telamon! The voice Of Laertiades comes o’er my ear With such a sound, as if the hardy chief,565 Abandon’d of his friends, were overpower’d By numbers intercepting his retreat. Haste! force we quick a passage through the ranks. His worth demands our succor, for I fear Lest sole conflicting with the host of Troy,570 Brave as he is, he perish, to the loss Unspeakable and long regret of Greece. So saying, he went, and Ajax, godlike Chief, Follow’d him. At the voice arrived, they found Ulysses Jove-beloved compass’d about575 By Trojans, as the lynxes in the hills, Adust for blood, compass an antler’d stag Pierced by an archer; while his blood is warm And his limbs pliable, from him he ’scapes; But when the feather’d barb hath quell’d his force,580 In some dark hollow of the mountain’s side, The hungry troop devour him; chance, the while, Conducts a lion thither, before whom All vanish, and the lion feeds alone; So swarm’d the Trojan powers, numerous and bold,585 Around Ulysses, who with wary skill Heroic combated his evil day. But Ajax came, cover’d with his broad shield That seem’d a tower, and at Ulysses’ side Stood fast; then fled the Trojans wide-dispersed,590 And Menelaus led him by the hand Till his own chariot to his aid approach’d. But Ajax, springing on the Trojans, slew Doryclus, from the loins of Priam sprung, But spurious. Pandocus he wounded next,595 Then wounded Pyrasus, and after him Pylartes and Lysander. As a flood Runs headlong from the mountains to the plain After long showers from Jove; many a dry oak And many a pine the torrent sweeps along,600 And, turbid, shoots much soil into the sea, So, glorious Ajax troubled wide the field, Horse and man slaughtering, whereof Hector yet Heard not; for on the left of all the war