And then did Teucer send another shaft At Hector, eager still to smite. It missed Its aim again, for Phoebus turned aside The arrow, but it struck the charioteer Of Hector, Archeptolemus the brave, When rushing to the fight, and pierced his breast Close to the nipple; from the car he fell, The swift steeds started back, and from his limbs The life and strength departed. A deep grief For his slain charioteer came darkly o’er The mind of Hector, yet, though sorrowing, He left him where he fell, and straightway called Cebriones, his brother, who was near, To mount and take the reins. Cebriones Heard and obeyed. Then from the shining car Leaped Hector with a mighty cry, and seized A ponderous stone, and, bent to crush him, ran At Teucer, who had from his quiver drawn One of his sharpest arrows, placing it Upon the bowstring. As he drew the bow, The strong-armed Hector hurled the jagged stone, And smote him near the shoulder, where the neck And breast are sundered by the collar bone— A fatal spot. The bowstring brake; the arm Fell nerveless; on his knees the archer sank, And dropped the bow. Then did not Ajax leave His fallen brother to the foe, but walked Around him, sheltering him beneath his shield, Till two dear friends of his—Menestheus, son Of Echius, and Alastor nobly born— Approached, and took him up and carried him, Heavily groaning, to the hollow ships.
Then did Olympian Jove again inspire The Trojan host with valor, and they drave The Achaians backward to the yawning trench. Then Hector came, with fury in his eyes, Among the foremost warriors. As a hound, Sure of his own swift feet, attacks behind The lion or wild boar, and tears his flank, Yet warily observes him as he turns, So Hector followed close the long-haired Greeks, And ever slew the hindmost as they fled. Yet now, when they in flight had crossed again The trench and palisades, and many a one Had died by Trojan hands, they made a halt Before their ships, and bade each other stand, And lifted up their hands and prayed aloud as To all the gods; while Hector, urging on His long-maned steeds, and with stern eyes that seemed The eyes of Gorgon or of murderous Mars, Hither and thither swept across the field.