For right into his neck the arrow plunged, 550
And down he fell; his startled coursers shook
Their trappings, and the empty chariot rang. 
That sound alarm’d Polydamas; he turn’d,
And flying to their heads, consign’d them o’er
To Protiaoen’s son, Astynoues, 555
Whom he enjoin’d to keep them in his view;
Then, turning, mingled with the van again. 
But Teucer still another shaft produced
Design’d for valiant Hector, whose exploits
(Had that shaft reach’d him) at the ships of Greece 560
Had ceased for ever.  But the eye of Jove,
Guardian of Hector’s life, slept not; he took
From Telamonian Teucer that renown,
And while he stood straining the twisted nerve
Against the Trojan, snapp’d it.  Devious flew 565
The steel-charged[11] arrow, and he dropp’d his bow. 
Then shuddering, to his brother thus he spake. 

    Ah! it is evident.  Some Power divine

Makes fruitless all our efforts, who hath struck
My bow out of my hand, and snapt the cord 570
With which I strung it new at dawn of day,
That it might bear the bound of many a shaft. 

    To whom the towering son of Telamon. 

Leave then thy bow, and let thine arrows rest,
Which, envious of the Greeks, some God confounds, 575
That thou may’st fight with spear and buckler arm’d,
And animate the rest.  Such be our deeds
That, should they conquer us, our foes may find
Our ships, at least a prize not lightly won. 

    So Ajax spake; then Teucer, in his tent 580

The bow replacing, slung his fourfold shield,
Settled on his illustrious brows his casque
With hair high-crested, waving, as he moved,
Terrible from above, took forth a spear
Tough-grain’d, acuminated sharp with brass, 585
And stood, incontinent, at Ajax’ side. 
Hector perceived the change, and of the cause
Conscious, with echoing voice call’d to his host. 

    Trojans and Lycians and close-fighting sons

Of Dardanus, oh now, my friends, be men; 590
Now, wheresoever through the fleet dispersed,
Call into mind the fury of your might! 
For I have seen, myself, Jove rendering vain
The arrows of their mightiest.  Man may know
With ease the hand of interposing Jove, 595
Both whom to glory he ordains, and whom
He weakens and aids not; so now he leaves
The Grecians, but propitious smiles on us. 
Therefore stand fast, and whosoever gall’d
By arrow or by spear, dies—­let him die; 600
It shall not shame him that he died to serve
His country,[12] but his children, wife and home,
With all his heritage, shall be secure,
Drive but the Grecians from the shores of Troy. 

    So saying, he animated each.