At Ajax glorious Hector cast his spear, As face to face they stood. It missed him not, But struck him where two belts upon his breast O’erlapped each other—that which held the shield And that which bore the silver-studded sword. These saved the tender muscles. Hector, vexed That thus his weapon should have flown in vain, Retreated toward his comrades, shunning death. As he drew back, the Telamonian hurled A stone—for stones in multitude, that propped The galleys, lay around, and rolled among The feet of those who struggled. One of these He lifted, smiting Hector on the breast, Above the buckler’s orb and near the neck. He sent it spinning like a top; it fell And whirled along the ground. As when beneath The stroke of Father Jupiter an oak Falls broken at the root, and from it fumes A stifling smell of sulphur, and the heart Of him who stands and sees it sinks with dread— For fearful is the bolt of mighty Jove— So dropped the valiant Hector to the earth Amid the dust; his hand let fall the spear; His shield and helm fell with him, and his mail Of shining brass clashed round him. Then the Greeks Rushed toward him, yelling fiercely, for they hoped To drag him thence; and many a lance they cast; But none by javelin or by thrust could wound The shepherd of the people, for there came Around him all the bravest of his host— Polydamas, Aeneas, and the great Agenor, and Sarpedon, he who led The Lycian bands, and Glaucus the renowned; These flung themselves into the strife, while none Of all the rest refrained, but firmly held Their broad round shields before him. Then his friends Lifted him in their arms, and bore him off, Out of the conflict, to his fiery steeds That waited for him in the battle’s rear, With charioteer and sumptuous car; and these Bore him to Ilium, sorely suffering.
But when they now had reached the crossing-place Of Xanthus, full of eddies, pleasant stream, The progeny of ever-living Jove, They lifted out the hero from the car, And laid him on the ground, and on him poured Water, at which his breath and sight returned. He sat upon his knees, and from his throat Gave forth the purple blood, and then he fell Back to the ground, and darkness veiled his eyes, For still his senses felt the stunning blow.