He watch’d to see, one galley in a blaze, Ordaining foul repulse, thenceforth, and flight To Ilium’s host, but glory to the Greeks. Such was the cause for which, at first, he moved To that assault Hector, himself prepared735 And ardent for the task; nor less he raged Than Mars while fighting, or than flames that seize Some forest on the mountain-tops; the foam Hung at his lips, beneath his awful front His keen eyes glisten’d, and his helmet mark’d740 The agitation wild with which he fought. For Jove omnipotent, himself, from heaven Assisted Hector, and, although alone With multitudes he strove, gave him to reach The heights of glory, for that now his life745 Waned fast, and, urged by Pallas on,[15] his hour To die by Peleus’ mighty son approach’d. He then, wherever richest arms he saw And thickest throng, the warrior-ranks essay’d To break, but broke them not, though fierce resolved,750 In even square compact so firm they stood. As some vast rock beside the hoary Deep The stress endures of many a hollow wind, And the huge billows tumbling at his base, So stood the Danaï, nor fled nor fear’d.755 But he, all-fiery bright in arms, the host Assail’d on every side, and on the van Fell, as a wave by wintry blasts upheaved Falls ponderous on the ship; white clings the foam Around her, in her sail shrill howls the storm,760 And every seaman trembles at the view Of thousand deaths from which he scarce escapes, Such anguish rent the bosom of the Greeks. But he, as leaps a famish’d lion fell On beeves that graze some marshy meadow’s breadth,765 A countless herd, tended by one unskill’d To cope with savage beasts in their defence, Beside the foremost kine or with the last He paces heedless, but the lion, borne Impetuous on the midmost, one devours770 And scatters all the rest,[16] so fled the Greeks, Terrified from above, before the arm Of Hector, and before the frown of Jove. All fled, but of them all alone he slew The Mycenæan Periphetes, son775 Of Copreus custom’d messenger of King Eurystheus to the might of Hercules. From such a sire inglorious had arisen A son far worthier, with all virtue graced, Swift-footed, valiant, and by none excell’d780 In wisdom of the Mycenæan name; Yet all but served to ennoble Hector more. For Periphetes, with a backward step Retiring, on his buckler’s border trod, Which swept his heels; so check’d, he fell supine,785 And dreadful rang the helmet on his brows. Him Hector quick noticing, to his side Hasted, and, planting in his breast a spear, Slew him before the phalanx of his friends. But they, although their fellow-warrior’s fate790 They mourn’d, no succor interposed, or could, Themselves by noble Hector sore appall’d. And now behind the ships (all that updrawn Above the shore, stood foremost of the fleet) The Greeks retired; in rush’d a flood of foes;795 Then, through necessity, the ships in front Abandoning, amid the tents they stood Compact, not disarray’d, for shame and fear Fast held them, and vociferating each