No counsel can serve us but this: To mix both hands and hearts, And bear up close. ’Tis better much, t’ expose our utmost parts To one day’s certain life or death, than languish in a war So base as this, beat to our ships by our inferiors far.” Thus rous’d he up their spirits and strengths. To work then both sides went, When Hector the Phocensian duke to fields of darkness sent, Fierce Schedius, Perimedes’ son; which Ajax did requite With slaughter of Laodamas, that led the foot to fight, And was Antenor’s famous son. Polydamas did end Otus, surnam’d Cyllenius, whom Phydas made his friend, Being chief of the Epeians’ bands. Whose fall when Meges view’d, He let fly at his feller’s life; who, shrinking in, eschew’d The well-aim’d lance; Apollo’s will denied that Panthus’ son Should fall amongst the foremost fights; the dart the mid-breast won Of Crasmus; Meges won his arms. At Meges, Dolops then Bestow’d his lance; he was the son of Lampus, best of men, And Lampus of Laomedon, well-skill’d in strength of mind, He strook Phylides’ shield quite through, whose curets, better lin’d, And hollow’d fitly, sav’d his life. Phyleus left him them, Who from Epirus brought them home, on that part where the stream Of famous Seléés doth run; Euphetes did bestow, Being guest with him, those well-prov’d arms, to wear against the foe, And now they sav’d his son from death. At Dolops, Meges threw A spear well-pil’d, that strook his casque full in the height; off flew His purple feather, newly made, and in the dust it fell. While these thus striv’d for victory, and either’s hope serv’d well, Atrides came to Meges’ aid, and, hidden with his side, Let loose a jav’lin at his foe, that through his back implied His lusty head, ev’n past his breast; the ground receiv’d his weight. While these made in to spoil his arms, great Hector did excite All his allies to quick revenge; and first he wrought upon Strong Manalippus, that was son to great Hycetaon, With some reproof. Before these wars, he in Percote fed Clov’n-foot’d oxen, but did since return where he was bred, Excell’d amongst the Ilians, was much of Priam lov’d, And in his court kept as his son. Him Hector thus reprov’d: “Thus, Menalippus, shall our blood accuse us of neglect? Nor moves it thy lov’d heart, thus urg’d, thy kinsman to protect? Seest thou not how they seek his spoil? Come, follow, now no more Our fight must stand at length, but close; nor leave the close before We close the latest eye of them, or they the lowest stone Tear up, and sack the citizens of lofty Ilion.” He led; he follow’d, like a God. And then must Ajax needs, As well as Hector, cheer his men, and thus their spirits he feeds: “Good friends, bring but yourselves to feel the noble stings of shame For what ye suffer, and be men. Respect each other’s fame; For which who strives in shame’s fit fear, and puts on ne’er so far, Comes oft’ner off. Then stick engag’d; these fugitives of war