As ravening wolves that spring on lambs and kids, And seize them, wandering wide among the hills Beyond the keeper’s care, and bear them off, And rend with cruel fangs their helpless prey, So fiercely did the Achaians fling themselves Upon the men of Troy, who only thought Of flight from that tumultuous strife, and quite Forgot their wonted valor. All the while The greater Ajax sought to hurl his spear At Hector, clad in brazen mail, who yet, Expert in battle, kept his ample chest Hid by his bull’s-hide shield, and, though he heard The hiss of darts and clash of spears, and saw The fortune of the field deserting him, Lingered to rescue his beloved friends.