His martial features terrible; on feet,
  Firm-planted, to the combat he advanced
  Stride after stride, and shook his quivering spear. 250
  Him viewing, Argos’ universal host
  Exulted, while a panic loosed the knees
  Of every Trojan; even Hector’s heart
  Beat double, but escape for him remain’d
  None now, or to retreat into his ranks 255
  Again, from whom himself had challenged forth. 
  Ajax advancing like a tower his shield
  Sevenfold, approach’d.  It was the labor’d work
  Of Tychius, armorer of matchless skill,
  Who dwelt in Hyla; coated with the hides 260
  Of seven high-pamper’d bulls that shield he framed
  For Ajax, and the disk plated with brass. 
  Advancing it before his breast, the son
  Of Telamon approach’d the Trojan Chief,
  And face to face, him threatening, thus began. 265
    Now, Hector, prove, by me alone opposed,
  What Chiefs the Danai can furnish forth
  In absence of the lion-hearted prince
  Achilles, breaker of the ranks of war. 
  He, in his billow-cleaving barks incensed 270
  Against our leader Agamemnon, lies;
  But warriors of my measure, who may serve
  To cope with thee, we want not; numerous such
  Are found amongst us.  But begin the fight. 
    To whom majestic Hector fierce in arms. 275
  Ajax! heroic leader of the Greeks! 
  Offspring of Telamon! essay not me
  With words to terrify, as I were boy. 
  Or girl unskill’d in war;[9] I am a man
  Well exercised in battle, who have shed 280
  The blood of many a warrior, and have learn’d,
  From hand to hand shifting my shield, to fight
  Unwearied; I can make a sport of war,
  In standing fight adjusting all my steps
  To martial measures sweet, or vaulting light 285
  Into my chariot, thence can urge the foe. 
  Yet in contention with a Chief like thee
  I will employ no stratagem, or seek
  To smite thee privily, but with a stroke
  (If I may reach thee) visible to all. 290
    So saying, he shook, then hurl’d his massy spear
  At Ajax, and his broad shield sevenfold
  On its eighth surface of resplendent brass
  Smote full; six hides the unblunted weapon pierced,
  But in the seventh stood rooted.  Ajax, next, 295
  Heroic Chief, hurl’d his long shadow’d spear
  And struck the oval shield of Priam’s son. 
  Through his bright disk the weapon tempest-driven
  Glided, and in his hauberk-rings infixt
  At his soft flank, ripp’d wide his vest within. 300
  Inclined oblique he ’scaped the dreadful doom
  Then each from other’s shield his massy spear
  Recovering quick, like lions hunger-pinch’d
  Or wild boars irresistible in force,