Hector beheld, and, springing with loud shouts, Stood mid the wavering ranks. The phalanxes Of the brave Trojans followed him, for Mars And terrible Bellona led them on— Bellona bringing Tumult in her train, And Mars with brandished lance—a mighty weight— Now stalking after Hector, now before.
Him when the valiant Diomed beheld, He trembled; and, as one who, journeying Along a way he knows not, having crossed A place of drear extent, before him sees A river rushing swiftly toward the deep, And all its tossing current white with foam, And stops and turns, and measures back his way, So then did Diomed withdraw, and spake:—
“O friends, how greatly must we all admire This noble Hector, mighty with the spear And terrible in war. There is some god Forever near him, warding off the stroke Of death; beside him yonder even now Stands Mars in semblance of a mortal man. Yield, then, and with your faces toward the foe Fall back, and strive not with the gods of heaven.”
Even as he spake, the Trojan host drew near, And Hector slew two warriors trained to arms— Menesthes and Anchialus—who came Both in one chariot to the war. Their fall Ajax, the son of Telamon, beheld, And pitied, and drew near, and stood, and hurled His glittering spear. It smote Ampheius, son Of Selagus, who, rich in lands and goods, Abode in Paesus. In an evil hour He joined the cause of Priam and his sons. Him at the belt the spear of Ajax smote, And pierced the bowels. With a crash he fell, Then hastened mighty Ajax to strip off The armor, but the Trojans at him cast Their pointed spears that glittered as they flew, And many struck his shield. He pressed his heel Against the slain, and from the body drew His brazen spear, but could not from the breast Loose the bright mail, so thick the weapons came, And such the wary dread with which he saw The bravest of the Trojans closing round, Many and fierce, and all with spears outstretched; And he, though strong and valiant and renowned, Driven from the ground, gave way to mightier force.