Page 215 - the-iliad

the Trojans saw that Ulysses was bleeding they raised a
great shout and came on in a body towards him; he there-
fore gave ground, and called his comrades to come and
help him. Thrice did he cry as loudly as man can cry, and
thrice did brave Menelaus hear him; he turned, therefore,
to Ajax who was close beside him and said, ‘Ajax, noble son
of Telamon, captain of your people, the cry of Ulysses rings
in my ears, as though the Trojans had cut him off and were
worsting him while he is single-handed. Let us make our
way through the throng; it will be well that we defend him;
I fear he may come to harm for all his valour if he be left
without support, and the Danaans would miss him sorely.’
He led the way and mighty Ajax went with him. The Tro-
jans had gathered round Ulysses like ravenous mountain
jackals round the carcase of some horned stag that has been
hit with an arrow—the stag has fled at full speed so long as
his blood was warm and his strength has lasted, but when
the arrow has overcome him, the savage jackals devour him
in the shady glades of the forest. Then heaven sends a fierce
lion thither, whereon the jackals fly in terror and the lion
robs them of their prey—even so did Trojans many and
brave gather round crafty Ulysses, but the hero stood at bay
and kept them off with his spear. Ajax then came up with
his shield before him like a wall, and stood hard by, where-
on the Trojans fled in all directions. Menelaus took Ulysses
by the hand, and led him out of the press while his squire
brought up his chariot, but Ajax rushed furiously on the
Trojans and killed Doryclus, a bastard son of Priam; then
he wounded Pandocus, Lysandrus, Pyrasus, and Pylartes;

1 The Iliad