“Endless it were to tell what I have done In arms, or council, since the siege begun: The first encounter’s pass’d, the foe repell’d, They skulk’d within the town, we kept the field. War seem’d asleep for nine long years; at length Both sides resolved to push, we tried our strength. Now what did Ajax, while our arms took breath. Versed only in the gross mechanic trade of death? If you require my deeds, with ambush’d arms I trapp’d the foe, or tired with false alarms; Secured the ships, drew lines along the plain, The fainting cheer’d, chastised the rebel train. Provided forage, our spent arms renew’d; Employ’d at home, or sent abroad, the common cause pursued.

“The king, deluded in a dream by Jove, Despair’d to take the town, and order’d to remove. What subject durst arraign the power supreme? Producing Jove to justify his dream. Ajax might wish the soldiers to retain From shameful flight, but wishes were in vain: As wanting of effect had been his words, Such as of course his thundering tongue affords. But did this boaster threaten, did he pray, Or by his own example urge their stay? None, none of these; but ran himself away. I saw him run, and was ashamed to see; Who plied his feet so fast to get aboard as he? Then speeding through the place, I made a stand, And loudly cried, ‘Oh, base degenerate band, To leave a town already in your hand! After so long expense of blood for fame, To bring home nothing but perpetual shame!’ These words, or what I have forgotten since, (For grief inspired me then with eloquence,) Reduced their minds; they leave the crowded port, And to their late forsaken camp resort: Dismay’d the council met: this man was there, But mute, and not recover’d of his fear:

Thersites tax’d the king, and loudly rail’d, But his wide-opening mouth with blows I seal’d. Then, rising, I excite their souls to fame, And kindle sleeping virtue into flame. From thence, whatever he perform’d in fight Is justly mine, who drew him back from flight.

“Which of the Grecian chiefs consorts with thee? But Diomed desires my company, And still communicates his praise with me. As guided by a god, secure he goes, Arm’d with my fellowship, amid the foes: And sure no little merit I may boast, Whom such a man selects from such a host; Unforced by lots I went without affright, To dare with him the dangers of the night: On the same errand sent, we met the spy Of Hector, double-tongued, and used to lie; Him I despatch’d, but not till undermined, I drew him first to tell what treacherous Troy design’d: My task perform’d, with praise I had retired, But not content with this, to greater praise aspired; Invaded Rhesus, and his Thracian crew, And him and his in their own strength I slew; Return’d a victor, all my vows complete, With the king’s chariot, in his royal seat: Refuse me now his arms, whose fiery steeds Were promised to the spy for his nocturnal deeds; And let dull Ajax bear away my right, When all his days outbalance this one night.

“Nor fought I darkling still: the sun beheld With slaughter’d Lycians when I strew’d the field: You saw, and counted as I pass’d along, Alastor, Chromius, Ceranos the strong, Alcander, Prytanis, and Halius, Noemon, Charopes, and Ennomus; Coon, Chersidamas; and five beside, Men of obscure descent, but courage tried: All these this hand laid breathless on the ground; Nor want I proofs of many a manly wound: All honest, all before: believe not me, Words may deceive, but credit what you see.”