Aloud, call’d ceaseless on the rest to stand.800 But earnest more than all, guardian of all, Gerenian Nestor in their parents’ name Implored them, falling at the knees of each. Oh friends! be men. Now dearly prize your place Each in the estimation of the rest.805 Now call to memory your children, wives, Possessions, parents; ye whose parents live, And ye whose parents are not, all alike! By them as if here present, I entreat That ye stand fast—oh be not turn’d to flight!810 So saying he roused the courage of the Greeks; Then, Pallas chased the cloud fall’n from above On every eye; great light the plain illumed On all sides, both toward the fleet, and where The undiscriminating battle raged.815 Then might be seen Hector and Hector’s host Distinct, as well the rearmost who the fight Shared not, as those who waged it at the ships. To stand aloof where other Grecians stood No longer now would satisfy the mind820 Of Ajax, but from deck to deck with strides Enormous marching, to and fro he swung With iron studs emboss’d a battle-pole Unwieldy, twenty and two cubits long. As one expert to spring from horse to horse,825 From many steeds selecting four, toward Some noble city drives them from the plain Along the populous road; him many a youth And many a maiden eyes, while still secure From steed to steed he vaults; they rapid fly;830 So Ajax o’er the decks of numerous ships Stalk’d striding large, and sent his voice to heaven. Thus, ever clamoring, he bade the Greeks Stand both for camp and fleet. Nor could himself Hector, contented, now, the battle wage835 Lost in the multitude of Trojans more, But as the tawny eagle on full wing Assails the feather’d nations, geese or cranes Or swans lithe-neck’d grazing the river’s verge, So Hector at a galley sable-prow’d840 Darted; for, from behind, Jove urged him on With mighty hand, and his host after him. And now again the battle at the ships Grew furious; thou hadst deem’d them of a kind By toil untameable, so fierce they strove,845 And, striving, thus they fought. The Grecians judged Hope vain, and the whole host’s destruction sure; But nought expected every Trojan less Than to consume the fleet with fire, and leave Achaia’s heroes lifeless on the field.850 With such persuasions occupied, they fought. Then Hector seized the stern of a brave bark Well-built, sharp-keel’d, and of the swiftest sail, Which had to Troy Protesiläus brought, But bore him never thence. For that same ship855 Contending, Greeks and Trojans hand to hand Dealt slaughter mutual. Javelins now no more Might serve them, or the arrow-starting bow, But close conflicting and of one mind all With bill and battle-axe, with ponderous swords,860 And with long lances double-edged they fought. Many a black-hilted falchion huge of haft Fell to the ground, some from the grasp, and some From shoulders of embattled warriors hewn, And pools of blood soak’d all the sable glebe.865 Hector that ship once grappled by the stern