Bœtians check’d the terrible assault Of Hector, noble Chief, ardent as flame, Yet not repulsed him. Chosen Athenians form’d835 The van, by Peteos’ son, Menestheus, led, Whose high command undaunted Bias shared, Phidas and Stichius. The Epean host Under Amphion, Dracius, Meges, fought. Podarces brave in arms the Phthians ruled,840 And Medon (Medon was by spurious birth Brother of Ajax Oïliades, And for his uncle’s death, whom he had slain, The brother of Oïleus’ wife, abode In Phylace; but from Iphiclus sprang845 Podarces;) these, all station’d in the front Of Phthias’ hardy sons, together strove With the Bœotians for the fleet’s defence. Ajax the swift swerved never from the side Of Ajax son of Telamon a step,850 But as in some deep fallow two black steers Labor combined, dragging the ponderous plow, The briny sweat around their rooted horns Oozes profuse; they, parted as they toil Along the furrow, by the yoke alone,855 Cleave to its bottom sheer the stubborn glebe, So, side by side, they, persevering fought.[14] The son of Telamon a people led Numerous and bold, who, when his bulky limbs Fail’d overlabor’d, eased him of his shield.860 Not so attended by his Locrians fought Oïleus’ valiant son; pitch’d battle them Suited not, unprovided with bright casques Of hairy crest, with ashen spears, and shields Of ample orb; for, trusting in the bow865 And twisted sling alone, they came to Troy, And broke with shafts and volley’d stones the ranks. Thus occupying, clad in burnish’d arms, The van, these two with Hector and his host Conflicted, while the Locrians from behind870 Vex’d them with shafts, secure; nor could the men Of Ilium stand, by such a shower confused. Then, driven with dreadful havoc thence, the foe To wind-swept Ilium had again retired. Had not Polydamas, at Hector’s side875 Standing, the dauntless hero thus address’d. Hector! Thou ne’er canst listen to advice; But think’st thou, that if heaven in feats of arms Give thee pre-eminence, thou must excel Therefore in council also all mankind?880 No. All-sufficiency is not for thee. To one, superior force in arms is given, Skill to another in the graceful dance, Sweet song and powers of music to a third, And to a fourth loud-thundering Jove imparts885 Wisdom, which profits many, and which saves Whole cities oft, though reverenced but by few. Yet hear; I speak as wisest seems to me. War, like a fiery circle, all around Environs thee; the Trojans, since they pass’d890 The bulwark, either hold themselves aloof, Or, wide-dispersed among the galleys, cope With numbers far superior to their own. Retiring, therefore, summon all our Chiefs To consultation on the sum of all,895 Whether (should heaven so prosper us) to rush Impetuous on the gallant barks of Greece, Or to retreat secure; for much I dread Lest the Achaians punctually refund All yesterday’s arrear, since yonder Chief[15]900 Insatiable with battle still abides Within the fleet, nor longer, as I judge,