Book XVII

Thus rapidly they bore away the dead Toward their good galleys from the battle-field. Onward with them the furious battle swept, As spreads a fire that, kindled suddenly, Seizes a city, and the dwellings sink In the consuming blaze, and a strong wind Roars through the flame. Such fearful din of steeds And warriors followed the retreating Greeks. As from a mountain summit strong-backed mules Drag over the rough ways a ponderous beam Or mast, till weary with the mighty strain And streaming sweat, so they with resolute toil Bore off the dead. Behind them as they went Their two defenders kept the foe aloof. As when a river-dike o’ergrown with trees Crosses a plain, and holds the violent course Of the swol’n stream in check, and, driving back The waters, spreads them o’er the level fields, Nor can their fury force a passage through⁠— So did the warriors Ajax hold in check The Trojans; yet they followed close, and two More closely than the rest⁠—Aeneas, son Of old Anchises, and the illustrious chief, Hector. As when a company of daws Or starlings, startled at a hawk’s approach, The murderous enemy of the smaller birds, Take wing with piercing cries, so, driven before The might of Hector and Aeneas, fled The Greeks with clamorous cries, and thought no more Of combat. In the trench and near it lay Many fair weapons, which the fugitive Greeks Had dropped in haste, and still the war went on.