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his silver…studded swordand these protected his body。 Hector
was angry that his spear should have been hurled in vain； and
withdrew under cover of his men。 As he was thus retreating； Ajax
son of Telamon； struck him with a stone； of which there were many
lying about under the men's feet as they foughtbrought there to
give support to the ships' sides as they lay on the shore。 Ajax
caught up one of them and struck Hector above the rim of his
shield close to his neck； the blow made him spin round like a top
and reel in all directions。 As an oak falls headlong when
uprooted by the lightning flash of father Jove； and there is a
terrible smell of brimstoneno man can help being dismayed if he
is standing near it； for a thunderbolt is a very awful thing
even so did Hector fall to earth and bite the dust。 His spear
fell from his hand； but his shield and helmet were made fast
about his body； and his bronze armour rang about him。
The sons of the Achaeans came running with a loud cry towards
him； hoping to drag him away； and they showered their darts on
the Trojans； but none of them could wound him before he was
surrounded and covered by the princes Polydamas； Aeneas； Agenor；
Sarpedon captain of the Lycians； and noble Glaucus。 Of the
others； too； there was not one who was unmindful of him； and they
held their round shields over him to cover him。 His rades then
lifted him off the ground and bore him away from the battle to
the place where his horses stood waiting for him at the rear of
the fight with their driver and the chariot； these then took him
towards the city groaning and in great pain。 When they reached
the ford of the fair stream of Xanthus； begotten of Immortal
Jove； they took him from off his chariot and laid him down on the
ground； they poured water over him； and as they did so he
breathed again and opened his eyes。 Then kneeling on his knees he
vomited blood； but soon fell back on to the ground； and his eyes
were again closed in darkness for he was still stunned by the
blow。
When the Argives saw Hector leaving the field； they took heart
and set upon the Trojans yet more furiously。 Ajax fleet son of
Oileus began by springing on Satnius son of Enops； and wounding
him with his spear： a fair naiad nymph had borne him to Enops as
he was herding cattle by the banks of the river Satnioeis。 The
son of Oileus came up to him and struck him in the flank so that
he fell； and a fierce fight between Trojans and Danaans raged
round his body。 Polydamas son of Panthous drew near to avenge
him； and wounded Prothoenor son of Areilycus on the right
shoulder； the terrible spear went right through his shoulder； and
he clutched the earth as he fell in the dust。 Polydamas vaunted
loudly over him saying； 〃Again I take it that the spear has not
sped in vain from the strong hand of the son of Panthous； an
Argive has caught it in his body； and it will serve him for a
staff as he goes down into the house of Hades。〃
The Argives were maddened by this boasting。 Ajax son of Telamon
was more angry than any； for the man had fallen close beside him；
so he aimed at Polydamas as he was retreating； but Polydamas
saved himself by swerving aside and the spear struck Archelochus
son of Antenor； for heaven counselled his destruction； it struck
him where the head springs from the neck at the top joint of the
spine； and severed both the tendons at the back of the head。 His
head； mouth； and nostrils reached the ground long before his legs
and knees could do so； and Ajax shouted to Polydamas saying；
〃Think； Polydamas； and tell me truly whether this man is not as
well worth killing as Prothoenor was： he seems rich； and of rich
family； a brother； it may be； or son of the knight Antenor； for
he is very like him。〃
But he knew well who it was； and the Trojans were greatly
angered。 Acamas then bestrode his brother's body and wounded
Promachus the Boeotian with his spear； for he was trying to drag
his brother's body away。 Acamas vaunted loudly over him saying；
〃Argive archers； braggarts that you are； toil and suffering shall
not be for us only； but some of you too shall fall here as well
as ourselves。 See how Promachus now sleeps； vanquished by my
spear； payment for my brother's blood has not been long delayed；
a man； therefore； may well be thankful if he leaves a kinsman in
his house behind him to avenge his fall。〃
His taunts infuriated the Argives； and Peneleos was more enraged
than any of them。 He sprang towards Acamas； but Acamas did not
stand his ground； and he killed Ilioneus son of the rich
flock…master Phorbas； whom Mercury had favoured and endowed with
greater wealth than any other of the Trojans。 Ilioneus was his
only son； and Peneleos now wounded him in the eye under his
eyebrows； tearing the eye…ball from its socket： the spear went
right through the eye into the nape of the neck； and he fell；
stretching out both hands before him。 Peneleos then drew his
sword and smote him on the neck； so that both head and helmet
came tumbling down to the ground with the spear still sticking in
the eye； he then held up the head； as though it had been a
poppy…head； and showed it to the Trojans； vaunting over them as
he did so。 〃Trojans；〃 he cried； 〃bid the father and mother of
noble Ilioneus make moan for him in their house； for the wife
also of Promachus son of Alegenor will never be gladdened by the
ing of her dear husbandwhen we Argives return with our ships
from Troy。〃
As he spoke fear fell upon them； and every man looked round about
to see whither he might fly for safety。
Tell me now； O Muses that dwell on Olympus； who was the first of
the Argives to bear away blood…stained spoils after Neptune lord
of the earthquake had turned the fortune of war。 Ajax son of
Telamon was first to wound Hyrtius son of Gyrtius； captain of the
staunch Mysians。 Antilochus killed Phalces and Mermerus； while
Meriones slew Morys and Hippotion； Teucer also killed Prothoon
and Periphetes。 The son of Atreus then wounded Hyperenor shepherd
of his people； in the flank； and the bronze point made his
entrails gush out as it tore in among them； on this his life came
hurrying out of him at the place wh