He spake; the courage of the warlike son Of Telamon was kindled by his words. To the front rank he hastened, and with him Went fair-haired Menelaus. Hector there Had spoiled Patroclus of his glorious arms, And now was dragging him apart to hew The head away with his keen sword, and give The body to the dogs of Troy. Just then Came Ajax, bearing, like a tower, his shield, And Hector mingled with the Trojan ranks, And leaped into his car; but first he gave His friends the glittering spoil to bear away To Troy⁠—a glory to the conqueror; While Ajax, over Menoetiades Holding his ample shield, stood firm as stands A lion o’er his whelps, when, as he comes Leading them through the wood, the hunters rush Upon him, and his look is terrible As his knit eyebrows cover his fierce eyes. So Ajax moved around the hero’s corpse, While warlike Menelaus by his side, The son of Atreus, stood in bitter grief.