The AEgis shagg’d terrific all around,
Tempestuous, dazzling-bright; it was a gift
To Jove from Vulcan, and design’d to appall, 380
And drive to flight the armies of the earth. 
Arm’d with that shield Apollo led them on. 
Firm stood the embodied Greeks; from either host
Shrill cries arose; the arrows from the nerve
Leap’d, and, by vigorous arms dismiss’d, the spears 385
Flew frequent; in the flesh some stood infixt
Of warlike youths, but many, ere they reach’d
The mark they coveted, unsated fell
Between the hosts, and rested in the soil. 
Long as the God unagitated held 390
The dreadful disk, so long the vollied darts
Made mutual slaughter, and the people fell;
But when he look’d the Grecian charioteers
Full in the face and shook it, raising high
Himself the shout of battle, then he quell’d 395
Their spirits, then he struck from every mind
At once all memory of their might in arms. 
As when two lions in the still, dark night
A herd of beeves scatter or numerous flock
Suddenly, in the absence of the guard, 400
So fled the heartless Greeks, for Phoebus sent
Terrors among them, but renown conferr’d
And triumph proud on Hector and his host. 
Then, in that foul disorder of the field,
Man singled man.  Arcesilaues died 405
By Hector’s arm, and Stichius; one, a Chief[9]
Of the Boeotians brazen-mail’d, and one,
Menestheus’ faithful follower to the fight. 
AEneas Medon and Iaesus slew. 
Medon was spurious offspring of divine 410
Oileus Ajax’ father, and abode
In Phylace; for he had slain a Chief
Brother of Eriopis the espoused
Of brave Oileus; but Iaesus led
A phalanx of Athenians, and the son 415
Of Sphelus, son of Bucolus was deem’d. 
Pierced by Polydamas Mecisteus fell,
Polites, in the van of battle, slew
Echion, and Agenor Clonius;
But Paris, while Deiochus to flight 420
Turn’d with the routed van, pierced him beneath
His shoulder-blade, and urged the weapon through. 

    While them the Trojans spoil’d, meantime the Greeks,

Entangled in the piles of the deep foss,
Fled every way, and through necessity 425
Repass’d the wall.  Then Hector with a voice
Of loud command bade every Trojan cease
From spoil, and rush impetuous on the fleet.
[10]And whom I find far lingering from the ships
Wherever, there he dies; no funeral fires 430
Brother on him, or sister, shall bestow,
But dogs shall rend him in the sight of Troy. 

    So saying, he lash’d the shoulders of his steeds,

And through the ranks vociferating, call’d
His Trojans on; they, clamorous as he, 435