Ajax

Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 21 Sep 2011 13:01 and updated at 21 Sep 2011 13:01

ILIAD NOUN

ild.01 Are you to keep your own prize, while I sit tamely under my loss and give up the girl at your bidding? Let the Achaeans find me a prize in fair exchange to my liking, or I will come and take your own, or that of Ajax or of Ulysses; and he to whomsoever I may come shall rue my coming.
ild.01 But of this we will take thought hereafter; for the present, let us draw a ship into the sea, and find a crew for her expressly; let us put a Hecatomb on board, and let us send Chryseis also; further, let some chief man among us be in command, either Ajax, or Idomeneus, or yourself, son of Peleus, mighty warrior that you are, that we may offer sacrifice and appease the the anger of the God.
ild.02 Ajax, the fleet son of Oileus, commanded the Locrians.
ild.02 He was not so great, nor nearly so great, as Ajax the son of Telamon.
ild.02 Ajax brought Twelve ships from Salamis, and stationed them alongside those of the Athenians.
ild.02 Of the men, Ajax, son of Telamon, was much the foremost so long as Achilles anger lasted, for Achilles excelled him greatly and he had also better Horses; but Achilles was now holding aloof at his ships by reason of his quarrel with Agamemnon, and his people passed their time upon the sea shore, throwing discs or aiming with spears at a mark, and in archery.
ild.03 Priam then caught sight of Ajax and asked, "Who is that great and goodly warrior whose head and broad shoulders tower above the rest of the Argives?"
ild.03 "That," answered Helen, "is huge Ajax, bulwark of the Achaeans, and on the other side of him, among the Cretans, stands Idomeneus looking like a God, and with the captains of the Cretans round him.
ild.04 Forthwith Ajax, son of Telamon, slew the fair youth Simoeisius, son of Anthemion, whom his mother bore by the banks of the Simois, as she was coming down from Mt.
ild.04 Therefore he was named Simoeisius, but he did not live to pay his parents for his rearing, for he was cut off untimely by the spear of mighty Ajax, who struck him in the breast by the right nipple as he was coming on among the foremost fighters; the spear went right through his shoulder, and he fell as a poplar that has grown straight and tall in a meadow by some mere, and its top is thick with branches.
ild.04 In such wise did Ajax fell to earth Simoeisius, son of Anthemion.
ild.04 Thereon Antiphus of the gleaming corslet, son of Priam, hurled a spear at Ajax from amid the crowd and missed him, but he hit Leucus, the brave comrade of Ulysses, in the groin, as he was dragging the body of Simoeisius over to the other side; so he fell upon the body and loosed his hold upon it.
ild.05 Ajax son of Telamon pitied them in their fall; he came close up and hurled his spear, hitting Amphius the son of Selagus, a man of great wealth who lived in Paesus and owned much corn growing land, but his lot had led him to come to the aid of Priam and his sons.
ild.05 Ajax struck him in the belt; the spear pierced the lower part of his belly, and he fell heavily to the ground.
ild.05 Then Ajax ran towards him to strip him of his armour, but the Trojans rained spears upon him, many of which fell upon his shield.
ild.06 First, Ajax son of Telamon, tower of strength to the Achaeans, broke a phalanx of the Trojans, and came to the assistance of his comrades by killing Acamas son of Eussorus, the best man among the Thracians, being both brave and of great stature.
ild.07 Thus he spoke, and when each of them had marked his lot, and had thrown it into the helmet of Agamemnon son of Atreus, the people lifted their hands in prayer, and thus would one of them say as he looked into the vault of heaven, Father" Jove, grant that the lot fall on Ajax, or on the son of Tydeus, or upon the king of rich Mycene himself.
ild.07 As they were speaking, Nestor knight of Gerene shook the helmet, and from it there fell the very lot which they wanted the lot of Ajax.
ild.07 When, however, in due course he reached the man who had written upon it and had put it into the helmet, brave Ajax held out his hand, and the herald gave him the lot.
ild.07 When Ajax saw him mark he knew it and was glad; he threw it to the ground and said, "My friends, the lot is mine, and I rejoice, for I shall vanquish Hector.
ild.07 With this they fell praying to King Jove the son of Saturn, and thus would one of them say as he looked into the vault of heaven, Father" Jove that rulest from Ida, most glorious in power, vouchsafe victory to Ajax, and let him win great glory: but if you wish well to Hector also and would protect him, grant to each of them equal fame and prowess.
ild.07 Thus they prayed, and Ajax armed himself in his suit of gleaming Bronze.
ild.07 When he was in full array he sprang forward as monstrous Mars when he takes part among men whom Jove has set fighting with one another even so did huge Ajax, bulwark of the Achaeans, spring forward with a grim smile on his face as he brandished his long spear and strode onward.
ild.07 Ajax came up bearing his shield in front of him like a wall a shield of Bronze with Seven folds of oxhide the work of Tychius, who lived in Hyle and was by far the best worker in leather.
ild.07 Holding this shield before him, Ajax son of Telamon came close up to Hector, and menaced him saying, Hector", you shall now learn, man to man, what kind of champions the Danaans have among them even besides lion hearted Achilles cleaver of the ranks of men.
ild.07 And Hector answered, "Noble Ajax, son of Telamon, captain of the host, treat me not as though I were some puny boy or Woman that cannot fight.
ild.07 Then Ajax threw in his turn, and struck the round shield of the son of Priam.
ild.07 They then each of them drew out the spear from his shield, and fell on one another like savage Lions or wild boars of great strength and endurance: the son of Priam struck the middle of Ajax s shield, but the Bronze did not break, and the point of his dart was turned.
ild.07 Ajax then sprang forward and pierced the shield of Hector; the spear went through it and staggered him as he was springing forward to attack; it gashed his neck and the blood came pouring from the wound, but even so Hector did not cease fighting; he gave ground, and with his brawny hand seized a stone, rugged and huge, that was lying upon the plain; with this he struck the shield of Ajax on the boss that was in its middle, so that the Bronze rang again.
ild.07 But Ajax in turn caught up a far larger stone, swung it aloft, and hurled it with prodigious force.
ild.07 Ajax son of Telamon answered, Idaeus", bid Hector say so, for it was he that challenged our princes.
ild.07 Then Hector said, Ajax", heaven has vouchsafed you stature and strength, and judgement; and in wielding the spear you excel all others of the Achaeans.
ild.07 On this he gave Ajax a Silver studded sword with its sheath and leathern baldric, and in return Ajax gave him a girdle dyed with purple.
ild.07 Thus they parted, the one going to the host of the Achaeans, and the other to that of the Trojans, who rejoiced when they saw their hero come to them safe and unharmed from the strong hands of mighty Ajax.
ild.07 On the other side the Achaeans brought Ajax elated with victory to Agamemnon.
ild.07 When they had done all this and had prepared the feast, they ate it, and every man had his full and equal share, so that all were satisfied, and King Agamemnon gave Ajax some slices cut lengthways down the loin, as a mark of special honour.
ild.08 To this end he went round the ships and tents carrying a great purple cloak, and took his stand by the huge black hull of Ulysses ship, which was middlemost of all; it was from this place that his voice would carry farthest, on the one hand towards the tents of Ajax son of Telamon, and on the other towards those of Achilles for these two heroes, well assured of their own strength, had valorously drawn up their ships at the two ends of the line.
ild.08 Ninth came Teucer with his bow, and took his place under cover of the shield of Ajax son of Telamon.
ild.08 When Ajax lifted his shield Teucer would peer round, and when he had hit any one in the throng, the man would fall dead; then Teucer would hie back to Ajax as a child to its mother, and again duck down under his shield.
ild.08 Ajax saw that his brother had fallen, and running towards him bestrode him and sheltered him with his shield.
ild.09 Let Phoenix, dear to Jove, lead the way; let Ajax and Ulysses follow, and let the heralds Odius and Eurybates go with them.
ild.09 Ulysses and Ajax now came in Ulysses leading the way and stood before him.
ild.09 As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Ajax made a sign to Phoenix, and when he saw this, Ulysses filled his cup with wine and pledged Achilles.
ild.09 Ajax son of Telamon then said, Ulysses", noble son of Laertes, let us be gone, for I see that our journey is vain.
ild.09 Ajax"," replied Achilles, "noble son of Telamon, you have spoken much to my liking, but my blood boils when I think it all over, and remember how the son of Atreus treated me with contumely as though I were some vile tramp, and that too in the presence of the Argives.
ild.09 This is what he said, and the others who were with me can tell you the same story Ajax and the two heralds, men, both of them, who may be trusted.
ild.10 Run, therefore, with all speed by the line of the ships, and call Ajax and Idomeneus.
ild.10 I will go with you, and we will rouse others, either the son of Tydeus, or Ulysses, or fleet Ajax and the valiant son of Phyleus.
ild.10 Some one had also better go and call Ajax and King Idomeneus, for their ships are not near at hand but the farthest of all.
ild.10 Go then, for you are younger than I, and of your courtesy rouse Ajax and the fleet son of Phyleus.
ild.11 She took her stand by the huge black hull of Ulysses ship which was middlemost of all, so that her voice might carry farthest on either side, on the one hand towards the tents of Ajax son of Telamon, and on the other towards those of Achilles for these two heroes, well assured of their own strength, had valorously drawn up their ships at the two ends of the line.
ild.11 Thrice did he cry as loudly as man can cry, and thrice did brave Menelaus hear him; he turned, therefore, to Ajax who was close beside him and said, Ajax", noble son of Telamon, captain of your people, the cry of Ulysses rings in my ears, as though the Trojans had cut him off and were worsting him while he is single handed.
ild.11 He led the way and mighty Ajax went with him.
ild.11 Ajax then came up with his shield before him like a wall, and stood hard by, whereon the Trojans fled in all directions.
ild.11 Menelaus took Ulysses by the hand, and led him out of the press while his squire brought up his Chariot, but Ajax rushed furiously on the Trojans and killed Doryclus, a bastard son of Priam; then he wounded Pandocus, Lysandrus, Pyrasus, and Pylartes; as some swollen torrent comes rushing in full flood from the mountains on to the plain, big with the rain of heaven many a dry oak and many a pine does it engulf, and much mud does it bring down and cast into the sea even so did brave Ajax chase the foe furiously over the plain, slaying both men and Horses.
ild.11 Hector did not yet know what Ajax was doing, for he was fighting on the extreme left of the battle by the banks of the river Scamander, where the carnage was thickest and the war cry loudest round Nestor and brave Idomeneus.
ild.11 Ajax son of Telamon is driving them before him; I know him by the breadth of his shield: let us turn our Chariot and Horses thither, where Horse and foot are fighting most desperately, and where the cry of battle is loudest.
ild.11 Hector tore his way through and flung himself into the thick of the fight, and his presence threw the Danaans into confusion, for his spear was not long idle; nevertheless though he went among the ranks with sword and spear, and throwing great stones, he avoided Ajax son of Telamon, for Jove would have been angry with him if he had fought a better man than himself.
ild.11 Then father Jove from his high throne struck fear into the heart of Ajax, so that he stood there dazed and threw his shield behind him looking fearfully at the throng of his foes as though he were some wild beast, and turning hither and thither but crouching slowly backwards.
ild.11 As peasants with their hounds chase a Lion from their stockyard, and watch by night to prevent his carrying off the pick of their herd he makes his greedy spring, but in vain, for the darts from many a strong hand fall thick around him, with burning brands that scare him for all his fury, and when morning comes he slinks foiled and angry away even so did Ajax, sorely against his will, retreat angrily before the Trojans, fearing for the ships of the Achaeans.
ild.11 Or as some lazy ass that has had many a cudgel broken about his back, when he into a field begins eating the corn boys beat him but he is too many for them, and though they lay about with their sticks they cannot hurt him; still when he has had his fill they at last drive him from the field even so did the Trojans and their allies pursue great Ajax, ever smiting the middle of his shield with their darts.
ild.11 Now when Eurypylus the brave son of Euaemon saw that Ajax was being overpowered by the rain of arrows, he went up to him and hurled his spear.
ild.11 Eurypylus sprang upon him, and stripped the armour from his shoulders; but when Alexandrus saw him, he aimed an arrow at him which struck him in the right thigh; the arrow broke, but the point that was left in the wound dragged on the thigh; he drew back, therefore, under cover of his comrades to save his life, shouting as he did so to the Danaans, "My friends, princes and counsellors of the Argives, rally to the defence of Ajax who is being overpowered, and I doubt whether he will come out of the fight alive.
ild.11 Hither, then, to the rescue of great Ajax son of Telamon.
ild.11 Ajax then made towards them, and turned round to stand at bay as soon as he had reached his men.
ild.12 Menestheus, therefore, sent Thootes with a message to Ajax.
ild.12 "Run, good Thootes," said and call Ajax, or better still bid both come, for it will be all over with us here directly; the leaders of the Lycians are upon us, men who have ever fought desperately heretofore.
ild.12 But if the have too much on their hands to let them come, at any rate let Ajax son of Telamon do so, and let Teucer the famous bowman come with him.
ild.12 You had better both come if you can, or it will be all over with him directly; the leaders of the Lycians are upon him, men who have ever fought desperately heretofore; if you have too much on your hands to let both come, at any rate let Ajax son of Telamon do so, and let Teucer the famous bowman come with him.
ild.12 Great Ajax, son of Telamon, heeded the message, and at once spoke to the son of Oileus.
ild.12 Ajax"," said he, "do you two, yourself and brave Lycomedes, stay here and keep the Danaans in heart to fight their hardest.
ild.12 With this, Ajax son of Telamon set off, and Teucer his brother by the same father went also, with Pandion to carry Teucer s bow.
ild.12 First, Ajax son of Telamon killed brave Epicles, a comrade of Sarpedon, hitting him with a jagged stone that lay by the battlements at the very top of the wall.
ild.12 As men now are, even one who is in the bloom of youth could hardly lift it with his two hands, but Ajax raised it high aloft and flung it down, smashing Epicles four crested helmet so that the bones of his head were crushed to pieces, and he fell from the high wall as though he were diving, with no more life left in him.
ild.12 Ajax and Teucer then both of them attacked him.
ild.12 Meanwhile Ajax sprang on him and pierced his shield, but the spear did not go clean through, though it hustled him back that he could come on no further.
ild.13 Of the two, swift Ajax son of Oileus was the first to know who it was that had been speaking with them, and said to Ajax son of Telamon, Ajax", this is one of the Gods that dwell on Olympus, who in the likeness of the prophet is bidding us fight hard by our ships.
ild.13 And Ajax son of Telamon answered, "I too feel my hands grasp my spear more firmly; my strength is greater, and my feet more nimble; I long, moreover, to meet furious Hector son of Priam, even in single combat.
ild.13 Hector sprang forward to take Amphimachus s helmet from off his temples, and in a moment Ajax threw a spear at him, but did not wound him, for he was encased all over in his terrible armour; nevertheless the spear struck the boss of his shield with such force as to drive him back from the two corpses, which the Achaeans then drew off.
ild.13 Great Ajax son of Telamon will yield to no man who is in mortal mould and eats the grain of Ceres, if Bronze and great stones can overthrow him.
ild.13 It was here that the ships of Ajax and Protesilaus were drawn up by the sea shore; here the wall was at its lowest, and the fight both of man and Horse raged most fiercely.
ild.13 Of these, Medon was bastard son to Oileus and brother of Ajax, but he lived in Phylace away from his own country, for he had killed the brother of his stepmother Eriopis, the wife of Oileus; the other, Podarces, was the son of Iphiclus son of Phylacus.
ild.13 Ajax son of Oileus never for a moment left the side of Ajax son of Telamon, but as two swart Oxen both strain their utmost at the plough which they are drawing in a fallow field, and the sweat steams upwards from about the roots of their horns nothing but the yoke divides them as they break up the ground till they reach the end of the field even so did the two Ajaxes stand shoulder to shoulder by one another.
ild.13 Ajax was the first to stride out and challenge him.
ild.13 But Hector answered, Ajax", braggart and false of tongue, would that I were as sure of being son for evermore to Aegis bearing Jove, with Queen Juno for my mother, and of being held in like honour with Minerva and Apollo, as I am that this day is big with the destruction of the Achaeans; and you shall fall among them if you dare abide my spear; it shall rend your fair body and bid you glut our hounds and birds of prey with your fat and your flesh, as you fall by the ships of the Achaeans.
ild.14 Hector first aimed his spear at Ajax, who was turned full towards him, nor did he miss his aim.
ild.14 As he was thus retreating, Ajax son of Telamon struck him with a stone, of which there were many lying about under the men s feet as they fought brought there to give support to the ships sides as they lay on the shore.
ild.14 Ajax caught up one of them and struck Hector above the rim of his shield close to his neck; the blow made him spin round like a top and reel in all directions.
ild.14 Ajax fleet son of Oileus began by springing on Satnius son of Enops and wounding him with his spear: a fair naiad nymph had borne him to Enops as he was herding Cattle by the banks of the river Satnioeis.
ild.14 Ajax son of Telamon was more angry than any, for the man had fallen close be, him; so he aimed at Polydamas as he was retreating, but Polydamas saved himself by swerving aside and the spear struck Archelochus son of Antenor, for heaven counselled his destruction; it struck him where the head springs from the neck at the top joint of the spine, and severed both the tendons at the back of the head.
ild.14 His head, mouth, and nostrils reached the ground long before his legs and knees could do so, and Ajax shouted to Polydamas saying, "Think, Polydamas, and tell me truly whether this man is not as well worth killing as Prothoenor was: he seems rich, and of rich family, a brother, it may be, or son of the knight Antenor, for he is very like him.
ild.14 Ajax son of Telamon was first to wound Hyrtius son of Gyrtius, captain of the staunch Mysians.
ild.14 Ajax son of Oileus killed more than any other, for there was no man so fleet as he to pursue flying foes when Jove had spread panic among them.
ild.15 Hector in a weak voice answered, "And which, kind sir, of the Gods are you, who now ask me thus? Do you not know that Ajax struck me on the chest with a stone as I was killing his comrades at the ships of the Achaeans, and compelled me to leave off fighting? I made sure that this very day I should breathe my last and go down into the house of Hades.
ild.15 He then with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: "What, in heaven s name, do I now see? Is it not Hector come to life again? Every one made sure he had been killed by Ajax son of Telamon, but it seems that one of the gods has again rescued him.
ild.15 Those who were about Ajax and King Idomeneus, the followers moreover of Teucer, Meriones, and Meges peer of Mars called all their best men about them and sustained the fight against Hector and the Trojans, but the main body fell back upon the ships of the Achaeans.
ild.15 The first was bastard son to Oileus, and brother to Ajax, but he lived in Phylace away from his own country, for he had killed a man, a kinsman of his stepmother Eriopis whom Oileus had married.
ild.15 Hector made straight for Ajax, and the two fought fiercely about the same ship.
ild.15 Hector could not force Ajax back and fire the ship, nor yet could Ajax drive Hector from the spot to which heaven had brought him.
ild.15 Then Ajax struck Caletor son of Clytius in the chest with a spear as he was bringing fire towards the ship.
ild.15 He then aimed a spear at Ajax, and missed him, but he hit Lycophron a follower of Ajax, who came from Cythera, but was living with Ajax inasmuch as he had killed a man among the Cythereans.
ild.15 Ajax shook with rage and said to his brother, Teucer", my good fellow, our trusty comrade the son of Mastor has fallen, he came to live with us from Cythera and whom we honoured as much as our own parents.
ild.15 Ajax son of Telamon answered, "My good fellow, let your bow and your arrows be, for Jove has made them useless in order to spite the Danaans.
ild.15 He hung a shield four hides thick about his shoulders, and on his comely head he set his helmet well wrought with a crest of Horse hair that nodded menacingly above it; he grasped his redoubtable Bronze shod spear, and forthwith he was by the side of Ajax.
ild.15 Ajax on the other side exhorted his comrades saying, Shame" on you Argives, we are now utterly undone, unless we can save ourselves by driving the enemy from our ships.
ild.15 Hector then killed Schedius son of Perimedes, leader of the Phoceans, and Ajax killed Laodamas captain of foot soldiers and son to Antenor.
ild.15 Meanwhile Ajax son of Telamon was cheering on the Argives.
ild.15 Ajax could not bring himself to retreat along with the rest, but strode from deck to deck with a great sea pike in his hands Twelve cubits long and jointed with rings.
ild.15 As a man skilled in feats of Horsemanship couples four Horses together and comes tearing full speed along the public way from the country into some large town many both men and Women marvel as they see him for he keeps all the time changing his Horse, springing from one to another without ever missing his feet while the Horses are at a gallop even so did Ajax go striding from one ship s deck to another, and his voice went up into the heavens.
ild.15 As he spoke thus the Trojans sprang yet more fiercely on the Achaeans, and Ajax no longer held his ground, for he was overcome by the darts that were flung at him, and made sure that he was doomed.
ild.16 But Ajax could no longer hold his ground for the shower of darts that rained upon him; the will of Jove and the javelins of the Trojans were too much for him; the helmet that gleamed about his temples rang with the continuous clatter of the missiles that kept pouring on to it and on to the cheek pieces that protected his face.
ild.16 Hector came close up and let drive with his great sword at the ashen spear of Ajax.
ild.16 Ajax, therefore, had now nothing but a headless spear, while the Bronze point flew some way off and came ringing down on to the ground.
ild.16 Ajax knew the hand of heaven in this, and was dismayed at seeing that Jove had now left him utterly defenceless and was willing victory for the Trojans.
ild.16 Ajax son of Oileus sprang on Cleobulus and took him alive as he was entangled in the crush; but he killed him then and there by a sword blow on the neck.
ild.16 Meanwhile great Ajax kept on trying to drive a spear into Hector, but Hector was so skilful that he held his broad shoulders well under cover of his ox hide shield, ever on the look out for the whizzing of the arrows and the heavy thud of the spears.
ild.17 Yet, if I could find Ajax, the two of us would fight Hector and heaven too, if we might only save the body of Patroclus for Achilles son of Peleus.
ild.17 When among the body of his men, he looked around for mighty Ajax son of Telamon, and presently saw him on the extreme left of the fight, cheering on his men and exhorting them to keep on fighting, for Phoebus Apollo had spread a great panic among them.
ild.17 He ran up to him and said, Ajax", my good friend, come with me at once to dead Patroclus, if so be that we may take the body to Achilles as for his armour, Hector already has it.
ild.17 These words stirred the heart of Ajax, and he made his way among the front ranks, Menelaus going with him.
ild.17 But Ajax came up with his shield like wall before him, on which Hector withdrew under shelter of his men, and sprang on to his Chariot, giving the armour over to the Trojans to take to the city, as a great trophy for himself; Ajax, therefore, covered the body of Patroclus with his broad shield and bestrode him; as a Lion stands over his whelps if hunters have come upon him in a forest when he is with his little ones in the pride and fierceness of his strength he draws his knit brows down till they cover his eyes even so did Ajax bestride the body of Patroclus, and by his side stood Menelaus son of Atreus, nursing great sorrow in his heart.
ild.17 Nevertheless you dared not make a stand against Ajax, nor face him, eye to eye, with battle all round you, for he is a braver man than you are.
ild.17 I have held you so far as a man of more understanding than any in all Lycia, but now I despise you for saying that I am afraid of Ajax.
ild.17 Therefore turn, and charge at the foe, to stand or fall as is the game of war; whoever shall bring Patroclus, dead though he be, into the hands of the Trojans, and shall make Ajax give way before him, I will give him one half of the spoils while I keep the other.
ild.17 When he had thus spoken they charged full weight upon the Danaans with their spears held out before them, and the hopes of each ran high that he should force Ajax son of Telamon to yield up the body fools that they were, for he was about to take the lives of many.
ild.17 Then Ajax said to Menelaus, "My good friend Menelaus, you and I shall hardly come out of this fight alive.
ild.17 Fleet Ajax son of Oileus heard him and was first to force his way through the fight and run to help him.
ild.17 But the Achaeans did not lose it long, for Ajax, foremost of all the Danaans after the son of Peleus alike in stature and prowess, quickly rallied them and made towards the front like a wild boar upon the mountains when he stands at bay in the forest glades and routs the hounds and lusty youths that have attacked him even so did Ajax son of Telamon passing easily in among the phalanxes of the Trojans, disperse those who had bestridden Patroclus and were most bent on winning glory by dragging him off to their city.
ild.17 The plumed headpiece broke about the point of the weapon, struck at once by the spear and by the strong hand of Ajax, so that the bloody brain came oozing out through the crest socket.
ild.17 His strength then failed him and he let Patroclus foot drop from his hand, as he fell full length dead upon the body; thus he died far from the fertile land of Larissa, and never repaid his parents the cost of bringing him up, for his life was cut short early by the spear of mighty Ajax.
ild.17 Hector then took aim at Ajax with a spear, but he saw it coming and just managed to avoid it; the spear passed on and struck Schedius son of noble Iphitus, captain of the Phoceans, who dwelt in famed Panopeus and reigned over much people; it struck him under the middle of the collar bone the Bronze point went right through him, coming out at the bottom of his shoulder blade, and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground.
ild.17 Ajax in his turn struck noble Phorcys son of Phaenops in the middle of the belly as he was bestriding Hippothous, and broke the plate of his cuirass; whereon the spear tore out his entrails and he clutched the ground in his palm as he fell to earth.
ild.17 Asteropaeus flew forward to avenge him and attack the Danaans, but this might no longer be, inasmuch as those about Patroclus were well covered by their shields, and held their spears in front of them, for Ajax had given them strict orders that no man was either to give ground, or to stand out before the others, but all were to hold well together about the body and fight hand to hand.
ild.17 Thus did huge Ajax bid them, and the earth ran red with blood as the corpses fell thick on one another alike on the side of the Trojans and allies, and on that of the Danaans; for these last, too, fought no bloodless fight though many fewer of them perished, through the care they took to defend and stand by one another.
ild.17 Ajax and Menelaus noted how Jove had turned the scale in favour of the Trojans, and Ajax was first to speak.
ild.17 Ajax then said to Menelaus, "Look, Menelaus, and if Antilochus son of Nestor be still living, send him at once to tell Achilles that by far the dearest to him of all his comrades has fallen.
ild.17 Ajax answered, Menelaus", you have said well: do you, then, and Meriones stoop down, raise the body, and bear it out of the fray, while we two behind you keep off Hector and the Trojans, one in heart as in name, and long used to fighting side by side with one another.
ild.18 My mother forbade me to arm till I should see her come, for she promised to bring me goodly armour from Vulcan; I know no man whose arms I can put on, save only the shield of Ajax son of Telamon, and he surely must be fighting in the front rank and wielding his spear about the body of dead Patroclus.
ild.23 Ajax the son of Oileus took him up rudely and said, Idomeneus", why should you be in such a hurry to tell us all about it, when the mares are still so far out upon the plain? You are none of the youngest, nor your eyes none of the sharpest, but you are always laying down the law.
ild.23 The captain of the Cretans was angry, and answered, Ajax" you are an excellent railer, but you have no judgement, and are wanting in much else as well, for you have a vile temper.
ild.23 Ajax son of Oileus was for making him an angry answer, and there would have been yet further brawling between them, had not Achilles risen in his place and said, Cease" your railing Ajax and Idomeneus; it is not you would be scandalised if you saw any one else do the like: sit down and keep your eyes on the Horses; they are speeding towards the winning post and will be bere directly.
ild.23 Forthwith uprose great Ajax the son of Telamon, and crafty Ulysses, full of wiles rose also.
ild.23 Ulysses could not throw Ajax, nor Ajax him; Ulysses was too strong for him; but when the Achaeans began to tire of watching them, Ajax said to ulysses, Ulysses", noble son of Laertes, you shall either lift me, or I you, and let Jove settle it between us.
ild.23 He hit Ajax in the hollow at back of his knee, so that he could not keep his feet, but fell on his back with Ulysses lying upon his chest, and all who saw it marvelled.
ild.23 Then Ulysses in turn lifted Ajax and stirred him a little from the ground but could not lift him right off it, his knee sank under him, and the two fell side by side on the ground and were all begrimed with dust.
ild.23 Forthwith uprose fleet Ajax son of Oileus, with cunning Ulysses, and Nestor s son Antilochus, the fastest runner among all the youth of his time.
ild.23 The course was set out for them from the starting post, and the son of Oileus took the lead at once, with Ulysses as close behind him as the shuttle is to a Woman s bosom when she throws the woof across the warp and holds it close up to her; even so close behind him was Ulysses treading in his footprints before the dust could settle there, and Ajax could feel his breath on the back of his head as he ran swiftly on.
ild.23 Thus did he pray, and Pallas Minerva heard his prayer; she made his hands and his feet feel light, and when the runners were at the point of pouncing upon the prize, Ajax, through Minerva s spite slipped upon some offal that was lying there from the Cattle which Achilles had slaughtered in honour of Patroclus, and his mouth and nostrils were all filled with Cow dung.
ild.23 Ulysses therefore carried off the mixing bowl, for he got before Ajax and came in first.
ild.23 But Ajax took the ox and stood with his hand on one of its horns, spitting the dung out of his mouth.
ild.23 Ajax is somewhat older than I am, and as for Ulysses, he belongs to an earlier generation, but he is hale in spite of his years, and no man of the Achaeans can run against him save only Achilles.
ild.23 Forthwith uprose great Ajax the son of Telamon, as also mighty Diomed son of Tydeus.
ild.23 Ajax pierced Diomed s round shield, but did not draw blood, for the cuirass beneath the shield protected him; thereon the son of Tydeus from over his huge shield kept aiming continually at Ajax s neck with the point of his spear, and the Achaeans alarmed for his safety bade them leave off fighting and divide the prize between them.
ild.23 Then uprose the two mighty men Polypoetes and Leonteus, with Ajax son of Telamon and noble Epeus.
ild.23 Ajax son of Telamon threw third, and sent the quoit beyond any mark that had been made yet, but when mighty Polypoetes took the quoit he hurled it as though it had been a stockman s stick which he sends flying about among his Cattle when he is driving them, so far did his throw out distance those of the others.

Arise Greece! from thy silent sleep, 2000 years long it is! Forget not, thy ancient culture, beautiful and marvelous it is!

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