Page 240 - the-iliad

leaders of the Lycians were storming the battlements as it
were a thick dark cloud, fighting in close quarters, and rais-
ing the battle-cry aloud.
First, Ajax son of Telamon killed brave Epicles, a com-
rade of Sarpedon, hitting him with a jagged stone that lay
by the battlements at the very top of the wall. As men now
are, even one who is in the bloom of youth could hardly lift
it with his two hands, but Ajax raised it high aloft and flung
it down, smashing Epicles’ four-crested helmet so that the
bones of his head were crushed to pieces, and he fell from
the high wall as though he were diving, with no more life
left in him. Then Teucer wounded Glaucus the brave son
of Hippolochus as he was coming on to attack the wall. He
saw his shoulder bare and aimed an arrow at it, which made
Glaucus leave off fighting. Thereon he sprang covertly down
for fear some of the Achaeans might see that he was wound-
ed and taunt him. Sarpedon was stung with grief when he
saw Glaucus leave him, still he did not leave off fighting, but
aimed his spear at Alcmaon the son of Thestor and hit him.
He drew his spear back again and Alcmaon came down
headlong after it with his bronzed armour rattling round
him. Then Sarpedon seized the battlement in his strong
hands, and tugged at it till it all gave way together, and a
breach was made through which many might pass.
Ajax and Teucer then both of them attacked him. Teucer
hit him with an arrow on the band that bore the shield which
covered his body, but Jove saved his son from destruction
that he might not fall by the ships’ sterns. Meanwhile Ajax
sprang on him and pierced his shield, but the spear did not