From his detested throat, but all around 95
  The burst[3] of homicidal Hector’s cries,
  Calling his Trojans on; they loud insult
  The vanquish’d Greeks, and claim the field their own. 
  Go therefore, my Patroclus; furious fall
  On these assailants, even now preserve 100
  From fire the only hope of our return. 
  But hear the sum of all; mark well my word;
  So shalt thou glorify me in the eyes
  Of all the Danai, and they shall yield
  Briseis mine, with many a gift beside. 105
  The Trojans from the fleet expell’d, return. 
  Should Juno’s awful spouse give thee to win
  Victory, be content; seek not to press
  The Trojans without me, for thou shalt add
  Still more to the disgrace already mine.[4] 110
  Much less, by martial ardor urged, conduct
  Thy slaughtering legions to the walls of Troy,
  Lest some immortal power on her behalf
  Descend, for much the Archer of the skies
  Loves Ilium.  No—­the fleet once saved, lead back 115
  Thy band, and leave the battle to themselves. 
  For oh, by all the powers of heaven I would
  That not one Trojan might escape of all,
  Nor yet a Grecian, but that we, from death
  Ourselves escaping, might survive to spread 120
  Troy’s sacred bulwarks on the ground, alone. 
    Thus they conferr’d. [5]But Ajax overwhelm’d
  Meantime with darts, no longer could endure,
  Quell’d both by Jupiter and by the spears
  Of many a noble Trojan; hideous rang 125
  His batter’d helmet bright, stroke after stroke
  Sustaining on all sides, and his left arm
  That had so long shifted from side to side
  His restless shield, now fail’d; yet could not all
  Displace him with united force, or move. 130
  Quick pantings heaved his chest, copious the sweat
  Trickled from all his limbs, nor found he time,
  However short, to breathe again, so close
  Evil on evil heap’d hemm’d him around. 
    Olympian Muses! now declare, how first 135
  The fire was kindled in Achaia’s fleet? 
    Hector the ashen lance of Ajax smote
  With his broad falchion, at the nether end,
  And lopp’d it sheer.  The Telamonian Chief
  His mutilated beam brandish’d in vain, 140
  And the bright point shrill-sounding-fell remote. 
  Then Ajax in his noble mind perceived,
  Shuddering with awe, the interposing power
  Of heaven, and that, propitious to the arms
  Of Troy, the Thunderer had ordain’d to mar 145
  And frustrate all the counsels of the Greeks. 
  He left his stand; they fired the gallant bark;
  Through all her length the conflagration ran
  Incontinent, and wrapp’d her stern in flames.