“Eurypylus, I cannot stay with thee, Much as thou needest me, for desperate grows The struggle. Now let thine attendant take The charge of thee. I hasten to persuade Achilles to the field. Who knows but I, With Jove’s good help, may change his purpose yet? For potent are the counsels of a friend.”
The hero spake, and instantly his feet Bore him away. Meanwhile the Achaian host Firmly withstood the onset of their foes. And yet, though greater was their multitude, They could not drive the Trojans from the fleet, Nor could the Trojans break, with all their power, The serried lines, and reach the tents and ships. As when a plumb-line, in the skilful hands Of shipwright well instructed in his art By Pallas, squares the beam that builds a barque, So even was the fortune of the fray.
While some beside one galley waged the war, And others round another, Hector came To encounter Ajax the renowned, and both Fought for one ship. The Trojan could not drive The Greek away, and burn his ship with fire, Nor the Greek drive the Trojan, for a god Had brought him thither. Then did Ajax smite Caletor, son of Clytius, with his spear Upon the breast, as he was bringing fire To burn the ship; he dropped the torch, and fell, With clashing armor. Hector, as he saw His kinsman lying slain amid the dust By the black galley, raised his voice, and thus Called to the Lycians and the men of Troy:—
“Hear, men of Troy and Lycia, and ye sons Of Dardanus, who combat hand to hand, Stand firm, and never yield this narrow ground. Rescue the son of Clytius, who has fallen Before the ships, nor let the Achaians make His arms their spoil.” The hero spake, and aimed His shining spear at Ajax, whom it missed, But smote Lycophron, Master’s son, who served Ajax, and dwelt with him, for he had left His native land, Cythera, having slain One of the gallant Cytherean race. Him Hector smote upon the head beneath The ear with his keen weapon, as he stood Near Ajax; from the galley’s stern he fell Headlong upon the ground, with lifeless limbs. Then to his brother Teucer Ajax spake:—