Sarpedon, who forgat not yet the fight, But piercing with his lance Alcmaon, son480 Of Thestor, suddenly reversed the beam, Which following, Alcmaon to the earth Fell prone, with clangor of his brazen arms. Sarpedon, then, strenuous with both hands Tugg’d, and down fell the battlement entire;485 The wall, dismantled at the summit, stood A ruin, and wide chasm was open’d through. Then Ajax him and Teucer at one time Struck both; an arrow struck from Teucer’s bow The belt that cross’d his bosom, by which hung490 His ample shield; yet lest his son should fall Among the ships, Jove turn’d the death aside. But Ajax, springing to his thrust, a spear Drove through his shield. Sarpedon at the shock With backward step short interval recoil’d,495 But not retired, for in his bosom lived The hope of glory still, and, looking back On all his godlike Lycians, he exclaim’d, Oh Lycians! where is your heroic might? Brave as I boast myself, I feel the task500 Arduous, through the breach made by myself To win a passage to the ships, alone. Follow me all—Most laborers, most dispatch.[4] So he; at whose sharp reprimand abash’d The embattled host to closer conflict moved,505 Obedient to their counsellor and King. On the other side the Greeks within the wall Made firm the phalanx, seeing urgent need; Nor could the valiant Lycians through the breach Admittance to the Grecian fleet obtain,510 Nor since they first approach’d it, had the Greeks With all their efforts, thrust the Lycians back. But as two claimants of one common field, Each with his rod of measurement in hand, Dispute the boundaries, litigating warm515 Their right in some small portion of the soil, So they, divided by the barrier, struck With hostile rage the bull-hide bucklers round, And the light targets on each other’s breast. Then many a wound the ruthless weapons made.520 Pierced through the unarm’d back, if any turn’d, He died, and numerous even through the shield. The battlements from end to end with blood Of Grecians and of Trojans on both sides Were sprinkled; yet no violence could move525 The stubborn Greeks, or turn their powers to flight. So hung the war in balance, as the scales Held by some woman scrupulously just, A spinner; wool and weight she poises nice, Hard-earning slender pittance for her babes,[5]530 Such was the poise in which the battle hung Till Jove himself superior fame, at length, To Priamëian Hector gave, who sprang First through the wall. In lofty sounds that reach’d Their utmost ranks, he call’d on all his host.535 Now press them, now ye Trojans steed-renown’d Rush on! break through the Grecian rampart, hurl At once devouring flames into the fleet. Such was his exhortation; they his voice All hearing, with close-order’d ranks direct540 Bore on the barrier, and up-swarming show’d On the high battlement their glittering spears. But Hector seized a stone; of ample base But tapering to a point, before the gate It stood. No two men, mightiest of a land545