and wounded equally Both armies, and in both the people fell; But ever when the god looked face to face On the Greek knights, and shook the orb, and gave A mighty shout, he made their hearts to sink Within their bosoms, and their courage fled. As when two beasts of prey at dead of night Suddenly, while their keeper is away, Scatter a herd of beeves or flock of sheep, So the disheartened Greeks were put to rout For Phoebus sent among them fear, and gave Victory to Hector and the men of Troy.
Then, as the lines were broken, man slew man. First Stichius fell by Hector’s hand, and next Arcesilaus; one was chief among The mailed Boeotians, one the trusty friend Of brave Menestheus. Medon fell before Aeneas, and with him Iasus died. Medon was great Otleus’ base-born son, And Ajax was his brother, and he dwelt In Phylacè, an exile, for his hand Had slain the brother of his father’s wife, The step-dame Eriopis, late espoused. Iasus was appointed to command The warriors sent from Athens, and he claimed His birth from Sphelus, son of Bucolus. Mecistes fell before Polydamas. Polites struck down Echius in the van, And Clonius died by great Agenor’s hand; And Paris, when Deiochus had turned To flee, among the foremost combatants, Smote him upon the shoulder from behind, And drave the brazen weapon through his heart.
Then, while the Trojans stripped the dead, the Greeks Fled every way, and, falling as they ran Into the trench and on the stakes, were driven Back o’er the rampart. Hector lifted up His mighty voice, and bade the Trojans leave The bloody spoil and hasten to the ships. “And whomsoever I shall find apart In any place, at distance from the ships, There will I slay him. None of all his kin, Women or men, shall build his funeral pile, But dogs shall tear his limbs in sight of Troy.”
He spake; and on the shoulders of his steeds He laid the lash, and urged them toward the foe, And cheered the Trojans on. They joined their shouts To his, and charged with all their steeds and cars; And fearful was