“Now woe is me! Some deity, no doubt, Brings all our plans to nought. ’Tis he whose touch Strikes from my hand the bow, and snaps in twain The cord just twisted, which I bound myself This morning to the bow, that it might bear The frequent arrow bounding toward the foe.”
He spake, and thus replied the man of might, The Telamonian Ajax: “Lay aside Thy bow, my brother, and thy store of shafts, Since, in displeasure with the Greeks, a god Has made them useless. Haste to arm thy hand With a long spear, and on thy shoulders lay A buckler, and with these attack the foe, And bid thy fellows stand. Let Trojans see That, even though the day thus far be theirs, They cannot lay their hands on our good ships Without a mighty struggle. Let us all Be mindful of our fame for gallant deeds.”
He spake, and Teucer went to place the bow Within the tents, and on his shoulders hung A fourfold shield, and placed on his grand brows A stately helmet with a horse-hair crest That nodded fearfully. He took in hand A ponderous spear with brazen blade, and sprang Forward with hasty steps, and stood beside His brother Ajax. Hector, when he saw That Teucer’s shafts had failed him, called aloud Upon the men of Lycia and of Troy:—
“Ye men of Troy and Lycia, and ye sons Of Dardanus who combat hand to hand, Acquit yourselves like men, my friends, and prove Your fiery valor by these roomy ships; For I have seen with mine own eyes the shafts Of their chief warrior rendered impotent By Jupiter. His hand is plainly seen Among the sons of men; to some he gives Glory above the rest; from some he takes The glory, and withdraws from their defence. He withers now the courage of the Greeks, And succors us. Press closely round the fleet, And combat. Whosoe’er among you all, Wounded or beaten down, shall meet his death, So let him die; ’tis no inglorious fate To perish fighting in his country’s cause; And he shall leave his wife and children safe, His home and household store inviolate, If now the Greeks depart to their own land.”