Page 151 - the-iliad

hard by, take the reins. Cebriones did as he had said. Hec-
tor thereon with a loud cry sprang from his chariot to the
ground, and seizing a great stone made straight for Teucer
with intent kill him. Teucer had just taken an arrow from
his quiver and had laid it upon the bow-string, but Hector
struck him with the jagged stone as he was taking aim and
drawing the string to his shoulder; he hit him just where the
collar-bone divides the neck from the chest, a very deadly
place, and broke the sinew of his arm so that his wrist was
less, and the bow dropped from his hand as he fell forward
on his knees. Ajax saw that his brother had fallen, and run-
ning towards him bestrode him and sheltered him with his
shield. Meanwhile his two trusty squires, Mecisteus son
of Echius, and Alastor, came up and bore him to the ships
groaning in his great pain.
Jove now again put heart into the Trojans, and they drove
the Achaeans to their deep trench with Hector in all his glo-
ry at their head. As a hound grips a wild boar or lion in flank
or buttock when he gives him chase, and watches warily
for his wheeling, even so did Hector follow close upon the
Achaeans, ever killing the hindmost as they rushed pan-
ic-stricken onwards. When they had fled through the set
stakes and trench and many Achaeans had been laid low
at the hands of the Trojans, they halted at their ships, call-
ing upon one another and praying every man instantly as
they lifted up their hands to the gods; but Hector wheeled
his horses this way and that, his eyes glaring like those of
Gorgo or murderous Mars.
Juno when she saw them had pity upon them, and at once

1 0 The Iliad