Himself the shout of battle, then he quell’d395 Their spirits, then he struck from every mind At once all memory of their might in arms. As when two lions in the still, dark night A herd of beeves scatter or numerous flock Suddenly, in the absence of the guard,400 So fled the heartless Greeks, for Phœbus sent Terrors among them, but renown conferr’d And triumph proud on Hector and his host. Then, in that foul disorder of the field, Man singled man. Arcesilaüs died405 By Hector’s arm, and Stichius; one, a Chief[9] Of the Bœotians brazen-mail’d, and one, Menestheus’ faithful follower to the fight. Æneas Medon and Iäsus slew. Medon was spurious offspring of divine410 Oïleus Ajax’ father, and abode In Phylace; for he had slain a Chief Brother of Eriopis the espoused Of brave Oïleus; but Iäsus led A phalanx of Athenians, and the son415 Of Sphelus, son of Bucolus was deem’d. Pierced by Polydamas Mecisteus fell, Polites, in the van of battle, slew Echion, and Agenor Clonius; But Paris, while Deïochus to flight420 Turn’d with the routed van, pierced him beneath His shoulder-blade, and urged the weapon through. While them the Trojans spoil’d, meantime the Greeks, Entangled in the piles of the deep foss, Fled every way, and through necessity425 Repass’d the wall. Then Hector with a voice Of loud command bade every Trojan cease From spoil, and rush impetuous on the fleet. [10]And whom I find far lingering from the ships Wherever, there he dies; no funeral fires430 Brother on him, or sister, shall bestow, But dogs shall rend him in the sight of Troy. So saying, he lash’d the shoulders of his steeds, And through the ranks vociferating, call’d His Trojans on; they, clamorous as he,435 All lash’d their steeds, and menacing, advanced. Before them with his feet Apollo push’d The banks into the foss, bridging the gulf With pass commodious, both in length and breadth A lance’s flight, for proof of vigor hurl’d.440 There, phalanx after phalanx, they their host Pour’d dense along, while Phœbus in the van Display’d the awful ægis, and the wall Levell’d with ease divine. As, on the shore Some wanton boy with sand builds plaything walls,445 Then, sportive spreads them with his feet abroad, So thou, shaft-arm’d Apollo! that huge work Laborious of the Greeks didst turn with ease To ruin, and themselves drovest all to flight. They, thus enforced into the fleet, again450 Stood fast, with mutual exhortation each His friend encouraging, and all the Gods With lifted hands soliciting aloud. But, more than all, Gerenian Nestor pray’d Fervent, Achaia’s guardian, and with arms455 Outstretch’d toward the starry skies, exclaim’d. Jove, Father! if in corn-clad Argos, one, One Greek hath ever, burning at thy shrine Fat thighs of sheep or oxen, ask’d from thee A safe return, whom thou hast gracious heard,460 Olympian King! and promised what he sought, Now, in remembrance of it, give us help In this disastrous day, nor thus permit Their Trojan foes to tread the Grecians down!