And then they fought; like a devouring fire That battle was; but Hector, dear to Jove, Had not yet learned that on the left the Greeks Made havoc of his men; for in that hour The Greeks had almost made the victory theirs, So greatly had the god who shakes the shores Kindled their courage, and with his own arm Brought timely aid. Still Hector, pressing on Where first he leaped within the gates and wall, Broke the close phalanxes of shielded Greeks. There, ranged beside the hoary deep, the ships Of Ajax and Protesilaüs lay. The wall that guarded them was low, and there Warriors and steeds in fiercest conflict met; There the Boeotians, there in their long robes The Iaonians, there the Locrians, there The men of Phthia, and the Epeians famed For valor, held back Hector, struggling on To reach the ships, yet found they had no power To drive the noble warrior from the ground, For he was like a flame. The chosen men Of Athens formed the van. Menestheus, son Of Peteus, was their leader, after whom Phidas and Stichius followed, and with them The gallant Bias. Meges, Phyleus’ son, With Dracius and Amphion, marshalled there The Epeians; while the Phthian band were led By Medon and Podarces, warlike chief. And Medon was the great Oileus’ son, And brother of the lesser Ajax, born Without the tie of wedlock, and he dwelt Far from his native land, in Phylacè; For by his violent hand the brother died Of Eryopis, whom Oileus made His lawful spouse. Podarces was the son Of Iphiclus, and dwelt in Phylacè. These, at the head of Phthia’s valiant youth, And cased in massive armor, fought beside Boeotia’s warriors for the Grecian fleet.
But Ajax swift of foot, Oileus’ son, From him of Telamon departed not as Even for an instant. As when two black steers Of equal vigor o’er a fallow draw The strongly jointed plough, till near their horns Streams the warm sweat; the polished yoke alone Holds them asunder, as they move along The furrow, and the share divides the soil That lies between them;—so the heroic twain Kept near each other. Many men and brave Followed to Troy the son of Telamon As his companions, and, when weariness Came o’er his sweaty limbs, relieved their chief Of his broad