Fierce as gore-tainted Mars, and his broad shield Advancing came, heavy with hides, and thick- Plated with brass; his helmet on his brows975 Refulgent shook, and in its turn he tried The force of every phalanx, if perchance Behind his broad shield pacing he might shake Their steadfast order; but he bore not down The spirit of the firm Achaian host.980 Then Ajax striding forth, him, first, defied. Approach. Why temptest thou the Greeks to fear? No babes are we in aught that appertains To arms, though humbled by the scourge of Jove. Thou cherishest the foolish hope to burn985 Our fleet with fire; but even we have hearts Prepared to guard it, and your populous Troy, By us dismantled and to pillage given, Shall perish sooner far. Know this thyself Also; the hour is nigh when thou shalt ask990 In prayer to Jove and all the Gods of heaven, That speed more rapid than the falcon’s flight May wing thy coursers, while, exciting dense The dusty plain, they whirl thee back to Troy. While thus he spake, sublime on the right-hand995 An eagle soar’d; confident in the sign The whole Achaian host with loud acclaim Hail’d it. Then glorious Hector thus replied. Brainless and big, what means this boast of thine, Earth-cumberer Ajax? Would I were the son1000 As sure, for ever, of almighty Jove And Juno, and such honor might receive Henceforth as Pallas and Apollo share, As comes this day with universal wo Fraught for the Grecians, among whom thyself1005 Shalt also perish if thou dare abide My massy spear, which shall thy pamper’d flesh Disfigure, and amid the barks of Greece Falling, thou shalt the vultures with thy bulk Enormous satiate, and the dogs of Troy.1010 He spake, and led his host; with clamor loud They follow’d him, and all the distant rear Came shouting on. On the other side the Greeks Re-echoed shout for shout, all undismay’d, And waiting firm the bravest of their foes.1015 Upwent the double roar into the heights Ethereal, and among the beams of Jove. BOOK XIV. ARGUMENT OF THE FOURTEENTH BOOK. Agamemnon and the other wounded Chiefs taking Nestor with them, visit the battle. Juno having borrowed the Cestus of Venus, first engages the assistance of Sleep, then hastens to Ida to inveigle Jove. She prevails. Jove sleeps; and Neptune takes that opportunity to succor the Grecians. BOOK XIV.