Swift-footed, valiant, and by none excell’d 780
In wisdom of the Mycenaean name;
Yet all but served to ennoble Hector more. 
For Periphetes, with a backward step
Retiring, on his buckler’s border trod,
Which swept his heels; so check’d, he fell supine, 785
And dreadful rang the helmet on his brows. 
Him Hector quick noticing, to his side
Hasted, and, planting in his breast a spear,
Slew him before the phalanx of his friends. 
But they, although their fellow-warrior’s fate 790
They mourn’d, no succor interposed, or could,
Themselves by noble Hector sore appall’d. 

    And now behind the ships (all that updrawn

Above the shore, stood foremost of the fleet)
The Greeks retired; in rush’d a flood of foes; 795
Then, through necessity, the ships in front
Abandoning, amid the tents they stood
Compact, not disarray’d, for shame and fear
Fast held them, and vociferating each
Aloud, call’d ceaseless on the rest to stand. 800
But earnest more than all, guardian of all,
Gerenian Nestor in their parents’ name
Implored them, falling at the knees of each. 

    Oh friends! be men.  Now dearly prize your place

Each in the estimation of the rest. 805
Now call to memory your children, wives,
Possessions, parents; ye whose parents live,
And ye whose parents are not, all alike! 
By them as if here present, I entreat
That ye stand fast—­oh be not turn’d to flight! 810

    So saying he roused the courage of the Greeks;

Then, Pallas chased the cloud fall’n from above
On every eye; great light the plain illumed
On all sides, both toward the fleet, and where
The undiscriminating battle raged. 815
Then might be seen Hector and Hector’s host
Distinct, as well the rearmost who the fight
Shared not, as those who waged it at the ships. 

    To stand aloof where other Grecians stood

No longer now would satisfy the mind 820
Of Ajax, but from deck to deck with strides
Enormous marching, to and fro he swung
With iron studs emboss’d a battle-pole
Unwieldy, twenty and two cubits long. 
As one expert to spring from horse to horse, 825
From many steeds selecting four, toward
Some noble city drives them from the plain
Along the populous road; him many a youth
And many a maiden eyes, while still secure
From steed to steed he vaults; they rapid fly; 830
So Ajax o’er the decks of numerous ships
Stalk’d striding large, and sent his voice to heaven. 
Thus, ever clamoring, he bade the Greeks
Stand both for camp and fleet.  Nor could himself
Hector, contented, now, the battle wage 835
Lost in the multitude of Trojans more,