At Ajax, first (for face to face they stood) Illustrious Hector threw a spear well-aim’d, But smote him where the belts that bore his shield485 And falchion cross’d each other on his breast. The double guard preserved him unannoy’d. Indignant that his spear had bootless flown, Yet fearing death at hand, the Trojan Chief Toward the phalanx of his friends retired.490 But, as he went, huge Ajax with a stone Of those which propp’d the ships (for numerous such Lay rolling at the feet of those who fought) Assail’d him. Twirling like a top it pass’d The shield of Hector, near the neck his breast495 Struck full, then plough’d circuitous the dust. As when Jove’s arm omnipotent an oak Prostrates uprooted on the plain, a fume Rises sulphureous from the riven trunk, And if, perchance, some traveller nigh at hand500 See it, he trembles at the bolt of Jove, So fell the might of Hector, to the earth Smitten at once. Down dropp’d his idle spear, And with his helmet and his shield himself Also; loud thunder’d all his gorgeous arms.505 Swift flew the Grecians shouting to the skies, And showering darts, to drag his body thence, But neither spear of theirs nor shaft could harm The fallen leader, with such instant aid His princely friends encircled him around,510 Sarpedon, Lycian Chief, Glaucus the brave, Polydamas, Æneas, and renown’d Agenor; neither tardy were the rest, But with round shields all shelter’d Hector fallen. Him soon uplifted from the plain his friends515 Bore thence, till where his fiery coursers stood, And splendid chariot in the rear, they came, Then Troy-ward drove him groaning as he went. Ere long arriving at the pleasant stream Of eddied Xanthus, progeny of Jove,520 They laid him on the bank, and on his face Pour’d water; he, reviving, upward gazed, And seated on his hams black blood disgorged Coagulate, but soon relapsing, fell Supine, his eyes with pitchy darkness veil’d,525 And all his powers still torpid by the blow. Then, seeing Hector borne away, the Greeks Rush’d fiercer on, all mindful of the fight, And far before the rest, Ajax the swift, The Oïlean Chief, with pointed spear530 On Satnius springing, pierced him. Him a nymph A Naiad, bore to Enops, while his herd Feeding, on Satnio’s grassy verge he stray’d. But Oïliades the spear-renown’d Approaching, pierced his flank; supine he fell,535 And fiery contest for the dead arose. In vengeance of his fall, spear-shaking Chief The son of Panthus into fight advanced Polydamas, who Prothöenor pierced Offspring of Areïlocus, and urged540 Through his right shoulder sheer the stormy lance. He, prostrate, clench’d the dust, and with loud voice Polydamas exulted at his fall. Yon spear, methinks, hurl’d from the warlike hand Of Panthus’ noble son, flew not in vain,545 But some Greek hath it, purposing, I judge, To lean on it in his descent to hell. So he, whose vaunt the Greeks indignant heard. But most indignant, Ajax, offspring bold Of Telamon, to whom he nearest fell.550