Old Tychius, the best currier; that did in Hyla dwell, Did frame it for exceeding proof, and wrought it wondrous well. With this stood he to Hector close, and with this brave began: “Now, Hector, thou shalt clearly know, thus meeting man to man, What other leaders arm our host, besides great Thetis’ son, Who with his hardy lion’s heart hath armies overrun; But he lies at our crook’d-stern’d fleet, a rival with our king In height of spirit; yet to Troy he many knights did bring, Coequal with Æacides, all able to sustain All thy bold challenge can import. Begin then, words are vain,” The helm-grac’d Hector answer’d him: “Renownéd Telamon, Prince of the soldiers came from Greece, assay not me, like one Young and immartial, with great words, as to an Amazon dame; I have the habit of all fights, and know the bloody frame Of ev’ry slaughter; I well know the ready right hand charge, I know the left, and ev’ry sway of my secureful targe; I triumph in the cruelty of fixéd combat fight, And manage horse to all designs; I think then with good right I may be confident as far as this my challenge goes, Without being taxéd with a vaunt, borne out with empty shows. But, being a soldier so renown’d, I will not work on thee With least advantage of that skill I know doth strengthen me, And so, with privity of sleight, win that for which I strive, But at thy best, ev’n open strength, if my endeavours thrive.” Thus sent he his long jav’lin forth. It strook his foe’s huge shield Near to the upper skirt of brass, which was the eighth it held. Six folds th’ untamed dart strook through, and in the sev’nth tough hide The point was check’d. Then Ajax threw; his angry lance did glide Quite through his bright orbicular targe, his curace, shirt of mail, And did his manly stomach’s mouth with dang’rous taint assail; But, in the bowing of himself, black death too short did strike. Then both, to pluck their jav’lins forth, encounter’d, lion-like, Whose bloody violence is, increas’d by that raw food they eat, Or boars whose strength wild nourishment doth make so wondrous great. Again Priamides did wound in midst his shield of brass, Yet pierc’d not through the upper plate, the head reflected was. But Ajax, following his lance, smote through his target quite, And stay’d bold Hector rushing in; the lance held way outright, And hurt his neck; out gush’d the blood. Yet Hector ceas’d not so, But in his strong hand took a flint, as he did backwards go, Black, sharp, and big, laid in the field; the sev’nfold targe it smit Full on the boss, and round about the brass did ring with it. But Ajax a far greater stone lift up, and (wreathing round, With all his body laid to it) he sent it forth to wound, And gave unmeasur’d force to it; the round stone broke within His rundled target; his lov’d knees to languish did begin; And he lean’d, stretch’d out on his shield; but Phœbus rais’d him straight. Then had they laid on wounds with swords, in use of closer fight,