“Rush on, ye knights of Troy! Rush boldly on, And break your passage through the Grecian wall, And hurl consuming flames against their fleet!”
So spake he, cheering on his men. They heard, And rushed in mighty throngs against the wall, And climbed the battlements, to charge the foe With spears. Then Hector stooped, and seized a stone Which lay before the gate, broad at the base And sharp above, which two, the strongest men— As men are now—could hardly heave from earth Into a wain. With ease he lifted it, Alone, and brandished it: such strength the son Of Saturn gave him, that it seemed but light. As when a shepherd carries home with ease A wether’s fleece—he bears it in one hand, And little is he cumbered with its weight— So Hector bore the lifted stone, to break The beams that strengthened the tall folding-gates. Two bars within, laid crosswise, hold them firm— Both fastened with one bolt. He came and stood Before them; with wide-parted feet he stood, And put forth all his strength, that so his arm Might drive the missile home; and in the midst He smote the folding-gates. The blow tore off The hinges; heavily the great stone fell Within: the portals crashed; nor did the bars Withstand the blow: the shattered beams gave way Before it; and illustrious Hector sprang Into the camp. His look was stern as night; And terribly the brazen armor gleamed That swathed him. With two spears in hand he came, And none except the gods—when once his foot Was on the ground—could stand before his might. His eyes shot fire, and, turning to his men, He bade them mount the wall; and they obeyed: Some o’er the wall, some through the sculptured gate, Poured in. The Achaians to their roomy ships Fled, and a fearful uproar filled the air.