So Nestor pray’d, and Jove thunder’d aloud465 Responsive to the old Neleïan’s prayer. But when that voice of Ægis-bearing Jove The Trojans heard, more furious on the Greeks They sprang, all mindful of the fight. As when A turgid billow of some spacious sea,470 While the wind blow that heaves its highest, borne Sheer o’er the vessel’s side, rolls into her, With such loud roar the Trojans pass’d the wall; In rush’d the steeds, and at the ships they waged Fierce battle hand to hand, from chariots, these,475 With spears of double edge, those, from the decks Of many a sable bark, with naval poles Long, ponderous, shod with steel; for every ship Had such, for conflict maritime prepared. While yet the battle raged only without480 The wall, and from the ships apart, so long Patroclus quiet in the tent and calm Sat of Eurypylus, his generous friend Consoling with sweet converse, and his wound Sprinkling with drugs assuasive of his pains.485 But soon as through the broken rampart borne He saw the Trojans, and the clamor heard And tumult of the flying Greeks, a voice Of loud lament uttering, with open palms His thighs he smote, and, sorrowful, exclaim’d.490 Eurypylus! although thy need be great, No longer may I now sit at thy side, Such contest hath arisen; thy servant’s voice Must soothe thee now, for I will to the tent Haste of Achilles, and exhort him forth;495 Who knows? if such the pleasure of the Gods, I may prevail; friends rarely plead in vain. So saying, he went. Meantime the Greeks endured The Trojan onset, firm, yet from the ships Repulsed them not, though fewer than themselves,500 Nor could the host of Troy, breaking the ranks Of Greece, mix either with the camp or fleet; But as the line divides the plank aright, Stretch’d by some naval architect, whose hand Minerva hath accomplish’d in his art,505 So stretch’d on them the cord of battle lay. Others at other ships the conflict waged, But Hector to the ship advanced direct Of glorious Ajax; for one ship they strove; Nor Hector, him dislodging thence, could fire510 The fleet, nor Ajax from the fleet repulse Hector, conducted thither by the Gods. Then, noble Ajax with a spear the breast Pierced of Caletor, son of Clytius, arm’d With fire to burn his bark; sounding he fell,515 And from his loosen’d grasp down dropp’d the brand. But Hector seeing his own kinsman fallen Beneath the sable bark, with mighty voice Call’d on the hosts of Lycia and of Troy. Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting sons520 Of Dardanus, within this narrow pass Stand firm, retreat not, but redeem the son Of Clytius, lest the Grecians of his arms Despoil him slain in battle at the ships.