Page 312 - the-iliad

would have done battle at the ships held me back and for-
bade the host to follow me; if Jove did then indeed warp our
judgements, himself now commands me and cheers me on.’
As he spoke thus the Trojans sprang yet more fiercely on
the Achaeans, and Ajax no longer held his ground, for he
was overcome by the darts that were flung at him, and made
sure that he was doomed. Therefore he left the raised deck
at the stern, and stepped back on to the seven-foot bench
of the oarsmen. Here he stood on the look-out, and with
his spear held back Trojan whom he saw bringing fire to
the ships. All the time he kept on shouting at the top of his
voice and exhorting the Danaans. ‘My friends,’ he cried,
‘Danaan heroes, servants of Mars, be men my friends, and
fight with might and with main. Can we hope to find help-
ers hereafter, or a wall to shield us more surely than the one
we have? There is no strong city within reach, whence we
may draw fresh forces to turn the scales in our favour. We
are on the plain of the armed Trojans with the sea behind
us, and far from our own country. Our salvation, therefore,
is in the might of our hands and in hard fighting.’
As he spoke he wielded his spear with still greater fury,
and when any Trojan made towards the ships with fire at
Hector’s bidding, he would be on the look-out for him, and
drive at him with his long spear. Twelve men did he thus kill
in hand-to-hand fight before the ships.

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