Meantime, 605

Ajax his fellow-warriors thus address’d. 

    Shame on you all!  Now, Grecians, either die,

Or save at once your galley and yourselves. 
Hope ye, that should your ships become the prize
Of warlike Hector, ye shall yet return 610
On foot?  Or hear ye not the Chief aloud
Summoning all his host, and publishing
His own heart’s wish to burn your fleet with fire? 
Not to a dance, believe me, but to fight
He calls them; therefore wiser course for us 615
Is none, than that we mingle hands with hands
In contest obstinate, and force with force. 
Better at once to perish, or at once
To rescue life, than to consume the time
Hour after hour in lingering conflict vain 620
Here at the ships, with an inferior foe. 

    He said, and by his words into all hearts

Fresh confidence infused.  Then Hector smote
Schedius, a Chief of the Phocensian powers
And son of Perimedes; Ajax slew, 625
Meantime, a Chief of Trojan infantry,
Laodamas, Antenor’s noble son
While by Polydamas, a leader bold
Of the Epeans, and Phylides’[13] friend,
Cyllenian Otus died.  Meges that sight 630
Viewing indignant on the conqueror sprang,
But, starting wide, Polydamas escaped,
Saved by Apollo, and his spear transpierced
The breast of Craesmus; on his sounding shield
Prostrate he fell, and Meges stripp’d his arms. 635
Him so employ’d Dolops assail’d, brave son
Of Lampus, best of men and bold in fight,
Offspring of King Laomedon; he stood
Full near, and through his middle buckler struck
The son of Phyleus, but his corselet thick 640
With plates of scaly brass his life secured. 
That corselet Phyleus on a time brought home
From Ephyre, where the Selleis winds,
And it was given him for his life’s defence
In furious battle by the King of men, 645
Euphetes.  Many a time had it preserved
Unharm’d the sire, and now it saved the son. 
Then Meges, rising, with his pointed lance
The bushy crest of Dolops’ helmet drove
Sheer from its base; new-tinged with purple bright 650
Entire it fell and mingled with the dust. 
While thus they strove, each hoping victory,
Came martial Menelaus to the aid
Of Meges; spear in hand apart he stood
By Dolops unperceived, through his back drove 655
And through his breast the spear, and far beyond. 
And down fell Dolops, forehead to the ground. 
At once both flew to strip his radiant arms,
Then, Hector summoning his kindred, call’d
Each to his aid, and Melanippus first, 660
Illustrious Hicetaon’s son, reproved. 
Ere yet the enemies of Troy arrived
He in Percote fed his wandering beeves;