Page 133 - the-iliad

And Hector answered, ‘Noble Ajax, son of Telamon, cap-
tain of the host, treat me not as though I were some puny
boy or woman that cannot fight. I have been long used to the
blood and butcheries of battle. I am quick to turn my leath-
ern shield either to right or left, for this I deem the main
thing in battle. I can charge among the chariots and horse-
men, and in hand to hand fighting can delight the heart of
Mars; howbeit I would not take such a man as you are off his
guard—but I will smite you openly if I can.’
He poised his spear as he spoke, and hurled it from him.
It struck the sevenfold shield in its outermost layer—the
eighth, which was of bronze—and went through six of the
layers but in the seventh hide it stayed. Then Ajax threw in
his turn, and struck the round shield of the son of Priam.
The terrible spear went through his gleaming shield, and
pressed onward through his cuirass of cunning workman-
ship; it pierced the shirt against his side, but he swerved and
thus saved his life. They then each of them drew out the
spear from his shield, and fell on one another like savage
lions or wild boars of great strength and endurance: the son
of Priam struck the middle of Ajax’s shield, but the bronze
did not break, and the point of his dart was turned. Ajax
then sprang forward and pierced the shield of Hector; the
spear went through it and staggered him as he was spring-
ing forward to attack; it gashed his neck and the blood came
pouring from the wound, but even so Hector did not cease
fighting; he gave ground, and with his brawny hand seized
a stone, rugged and huge, that was lying upon the plain;
with this he struck the shield of Ajax on the boss that was in

1 The Iliad