BOOK XII
Thus valiant Menœtiades
within the tents was healing
1
Wounded Eurypylus: meanwhile
the Troïans and Argives
In close battalions combated:
nor longer might the rampart
And moat avail, with which their ships
the Danaï encompass'd
5
(Yet no illustrious hecatombs
unto the gods did offer),
That the sharp galleys and much spoil
it might enclose and rescue :
But, built against the immortals' will,
not long unharm'd it lasted.
So long as Hector was alive,
and Achileus was wrathful,
10
And while as princely Priam's city
still abode unravag'd,
So long did eke unharm'd abide
the great Achaian rampart.
But when among the Troïans
the bravest all had perish'd,
And whoso of the Argives liv'd,
did Priam's city capture
15
In the tenth year, and straight embark
to seek their native country;
Then Neptune and Apollo plann'd
to lay the rampart level,
Turning on it the rivers' might,
which seaward flow from Ida,
Heptáporus and Rhodius,
Granícus and Carésus,
20
Rhesus, Aisépus, Simoïs,
and the divine Scamander,
Where crests and oxhides fell in mud,
and many a hero's offspring.
But bright Apollo turn'd their mouths
for nine days on the rampart,
And Jove did rain continuous
to swamp the walls in ocean,
25
And the land-shaking god himself,
in hand the trident holding,
Led the attack, and from the depth
the stocks and stones uprooted,
In-builded by Achaian toil,
and mix'd them with the billows,
And to grand-flowing Helle's stream
made all the region level.
30
Then all the mighty shore again
with heaps of sand he cover'd,
After the rampart flat was laid;
and to their proper channel
Turn'd back the rivers, where before
ran their fair-streaming water.
Such were the after-deeds to be
of Neptune and Apollo:
But then did fight and clamour blaze
round the wellbuilded rampart.
35
The timbers of the towers crash'd
with many a blow, and, fainting
Beneath the scourge of Jupiter,
the Argives at their galleys
Were hemm'd in fear of Priam's son,
stout counsellor of terror.
But he, like to a hurricane,
as heretofore, made havoc.
40
As when mid hunter-troop and hounds
a boar or lion faceth,
With grim delight of strength; but they,
arrang'd in close battalion,
Frontwise do stand, and shower thick
their darts; but flight nor terror
Moveth his noble heart; but him
his bravery will ruin;
45
And oftentime he turneth him,
the hunter-ranks attempting,
And to what part he dasheth straight,
there yield the ranks of hunters:
Thus Hector thro' the maze of men
did rush, and to his comrades
Gave charge to cross the moat; nor yet
his nimblefooted horses
50
Might dare it; but they loud did neigh,
close on the outmost margin,
Affrayed by the mighty trench,
too wide for overleaping,
Too close for passage: all along
on either side the scarpment
Hung over, and sharp stakes aloft
were planted stout and many,
55
Which Panachaia's children fix'd,
a shelter from the foeman.
Not easily might there the steed,
the wheeled chariot trailing,
Down venture; but the ranks of foot
did hanker to achieve it.
Then, standing by bold Hector's side,
Polydamas address'd him:
60
"Hector, and ye the rest, whoe'er
lead-on the allies or Troians,
Madly across the moat we drive
the nimblefooted horses.
And it, sore troublous is to pass:
for pointed stakes within it
Are planted; and anent to them
the Achaian rampart standeth.
Not thither must the charioteers
descend in rash embroilment
65
For in its narrowness, I ween,
may cruel wounds assail us.
Now if high rumbling Jupiter,
unflinchingly malignant
Against the foe, hath ta'en resolve
the Troïans to succour;
This verily forthwith would I
desire to be accomplish'd,
That, far from Argos, shorn of fame,
the Achaians here might perish.
70
But if they rally in recoil
and drive us from the galleys,
Chasing in turn, and we within
the digged moat be smitten;
No longer then would messenger,
-I say, not one, -escaping
Back to the city reach, beneath
the rallying of Argos.
But come, as I the word shall speak,
let all compliant follow..
75
Let every squire upon the moat
rein up the eager horses,
But we ourselves on foot, with arms
and panoply accoutred,
Shall in a body follow close
with Hector; but the Achaians
Will not withstand, if, sooth! for them
are Ruin's meshes fasten'd."
Thus sagely spake Polydamas,
and won the heart of Hector;
80
Who straightway from his chariot
leapt to the ground in armour.
Nor stay'd the other Troïans
upon their cars assembled,
But all dismounted instantly,
on seeing godlike Hector.
Then to his proper charioteer
each chief gave urgent bidding
There on the moat in order due
to bridle in the horses;
85
But they themselves, in five-fold band
of foot, their leaders follow'd.
Of them the largest company
and bravest went with Hector
And with discreet Polydamas;
and greatly were they eager
The rampart to destroy, and fight
beside the hollow galleys.
90
Along with these Kebriones
went third; but by the horses
Hector another left, to him
inferiour in prowess.
Paris, Alcáthoüs, Agénor,
led the next battalion.
Over the third Deïphobus
and Helenus the godlike,
Two sons of Priam; but with them
was Asius the hero,
95
Asius, son of Hyrtacus,
whom coursers from Arisba
Flame-hued and stately bare along
from the Selleïs river.
Next came Anchises' bonny child,
who to the fourth was leader,
Æneias; but beside him stood
two children of Antenor,
Archelochus and Acamas,
well skill'd in various battle.
100
Over the glorious allies
Sarpedon was commander,
Who Glaucus chose beside, and eke
warlike Asteropæus :
For these among them seem'd to him,
for valorous distinction,
After himself, to stand supreme;
but he mid all was signal.
Now when with frames of oxen-hide,
each clos'd upon his neighbour,
105
Against the Danaï they dash'd,
all eagerness, and reckon'd
No more to be withheld, but rush
and gain the dusky galleys.
Then all the other Troïans,
and eke the allies far-summon'd,
Were, to the blameless counsel of
Polydamas, compliant :
But not the son of Hyrtacus,
Asius, chief of heroes,
110
Was willing there to leave his steeds
and charioteer attendant;
But to the galleys sharp approach'd
behind his stately horses,
O simpleton! nor troth! for him,
with chariot and coursers
Bragly adorn'd, the gods decreed
safe journey from the galleys
Back unto windy Ilium,
from evil doom escaping.
115
Nay: for a luckless Destiny
did earlier enshroud him
Beneath the son of Deucalus,
Idomeneus the lordly.
For he unto the galleys' left
did hie him, where the Achaians
Out of the plain were streaming back
with chariots and horses.
There, thro' he drove his car and steeds;
for at the gates he found not
120
The panels' ample breadth foreclos'd,
nor the huge bar athwart them.
But men did hold them open wide;
if haply they might rescue
Some of their comrade, who from war
would flee unto the galleys.
Thither with purpose straight he held
his steeds; the people follow'd
With piercing yell; for verily they reckon'd
that the Achaians
125
No more would be withheld, but rush
to gain their dusky galleys:
O simpletons! for in the gates
they found two signal heroes,
From the spear-wielding Lapithæ
a loftyminded offspring;
One to Peirithoüs was son,
the stalwart Polypœtes,
Leonteus was the other, peer
to Ares, pest of mortals.
130
The twain before the lofty gates
did stand, as on the mountains
Highheaded oaks, which day by day
the wind and rains do buffet,
Yet firmly still they hold their ground,
by mighty roots engrappled.
So then the chieftains twain, on hands
and bravery reliant,
135
Awaited mighty Asius,
nor shrank from his encounter.
But with appalling hurly, straight
against the wall well-builded,
Holding aloft the rigid frames
of oxhide, rush'd the people
Around the princely Asius,
Iamenus, Orestes,
Adamas, son of Asius,
Enomaüs and Thoön.
140
Truly the others would, at first,
within the wall abiding,
The dapper-greav'd Achaians urge
to combat for the galleys:
But when the Troïans they saw
upon the rampart rushing,
While of the Danaï arose
screaming at once and terror;
Thereat, forth sallying, the twain
beyond the portals battled,
145
Like boars of field and mountain, which
await the halloo and scurry
Of dogs and hunters; slant they dash,
and crush the circling forest
Snapt from the roots; and clash their tusks,
until some dart may slay them:
So unto these the shining brass
did clash upon their bosom,
150
Pelted by adverse weapons; sith
right sturdily they battled,
1
Reliant on their folk above,
and on their proper courage.
But those with weighty stones did fling
from the wellbuilded towers,
Themselves to succour, and the tents,
and the swift-coursing galleys.
155
As on the ground do flakes of snow
fall thick, which gusty tempests,
Whirling the shady storm-clouds, shed
on Earth the many-feeder,
So from their hands a flying stream
was pour'd, alike from Troians
And from Achaians: helmets hard
and bossy targets, batter'd
160
By massy weights, like stones of mill,
with hollow boom resounded.
Then Asius Hyrtacides,
indignant at the struggle,
Slapt on his thighs with double hand,
and utter'd words of groaning:
"O father Jove! and eke dost thou
delight to balk the credence
Of trustful mortals? never I,
in sooth, against our valour
165
And hands intractable, believ'd
the Achaian host would rally.
But they, as wasps with stripy waist,
or bees, which make their houses
Along a craggy-clifted path,
maintain their hollow dwelling,
And swarm against marauding men,
to combat for their children;
170
No other wise do these refuse
to yield them from the portals,
Albeit twain alone, until
they conquer or be conquer'd."
He spake, nor by his argument
the heart of Jove persuaded,
Who upon Hector chose to set
the primacy of glory.
Now battle, diverse gates around,
by diverse men was waged;
175
And troth! for me, like to a god,
all things to tell, were toilsome.
For round and o'er the stony wall
the fire's unearthly splendor
Arose terrific: so, perforce,
albeit griev'd, the Argives
Fought for the galleys; and the gods
were pierc'd in heart with anguish,
By whomso of Olympians
the Danaï were holpen.
180
Yet did the Lapithae engage
in war and foeman's bargain.
And straightway Peirithoïdes,
the stalwart Polypœtes,
Hit Damasus, and pierced thro'
his brazen-cheeked helmet :
Nor might the brazen helm resist
the weighty spear; but thro' it,
185
Mid bone and brain the weapon splash'd,
and quell'd his eager hurry.
Next he for death and plunder hent
both Ormenus and Pylon.
While, at the girdle aiming well,
Leonteus, branch of Ares,
Struck with the spear Hippomachus,
Antimachus' brave offspring:
Then drawing from the scabbard quick
the keenly-whetted cutlass,
190
Rush'd close upon Antiphates
amid the crowd, and smote him
Full prostrate: next, Iamenus,
and Menon, and Orestes,
All these successive cast he down
on Earth the many-feeder.
While from the bodies of the slain
they stript the sparkling armour,
Meanwhile, behind Polydamas
and Hector, throng'd the bravest,
195
Eager the rampart to o'erthrow
and burn with fire the galleys:
But standing at the trench's brink
they faltered in the onset.
For, while they eager were to pass,
an omen flew from heaven,
200
An eagle lofty-hovering,
keeping to left the people,
Who in her talons bare away
a gory monstrous serpent,
Alive and quivering, nor yet
of battle-glee forgetful.
For writhing backward in her grasp,
it tore her neck and bosom,
205
Till, stung with anguish, down amid
the gazing crowd she dropt it,
And on the breezes of the wind
herself sail'd off with screaming.
Thereat the Troians shudder'd, when
they saw the stripy serpent
Lying amid them, prodigy
of Jove the ægis-holder.
Then, standing by bold Hector's side,
Polydamas address'd him:
210
"Hector! when I in council speak
sage argument, thou ever
Castest on me some blame, as tho'
no common man may venture
In peace or war thy mind to cross,
but only swell thy glory.
Yet roundly will I speak my thought,
as best to me it seemeth.
215
Go not against the Danaï
to combat for their galleys!
For I this issue do forebode,
if truly on the Troians
Eager to pass the moat and wall
this omen came from heaven,
The eagle lofty-hovering,
keeping to left the people,
Who in her talons bare away
a gory monstrous serpent
220
Alive; but dropt it instantly,
ere her dear nest attain'd she,
Nor might complete the chase, and bear
the quarry to her children:
So, if by mighty strength we burst
the gates and stony rampart,
And force the Achaians to retire;
yet, not in comely order
Shall we along the selfsame course
march homeward from the galleys.
225
Sith, many a Troian shall we leave
behind us, whom the Achaians
May with the wasting brass lay low,
contending for the galleys.
Thus would a sage interpreter,
welltrusted by the people
For lore of heav'nly prodigies,
spell forth to thee the vision.”
To him with frowning glance replied
great motley-helmed Hector:
230
"Polydamas! thy word to me
no longer friendly soundeth :
Well knowest thou to meditate
some, other counsel better.
But if in very truth such wise
in earnest thou haranguest,
Then surely have the gods themselves
marr'd all thy native prudence ;
Who wouldest urge my heart to be
forgetful of the purpose,
235
Of which high-rumbling Jupiter
by sacred nod assur'd me.
But thou, forsooth! exhortest me
in lengthy-feather'd omens
To trust: but I, in view of these,
nor bashful am nor anxious,
Whether toward the east and sun
they on the right hand hie them,
Or leftwise haply they may sheer
toward the dusk of sunset.
240
For us; rely we confident
on Jupiter's high purpose,
Who reigneth mighty over all,
both mortals and immortals.
One omen is for ever best,
-to battle for one's country.
But, as for thee, why dreadest thou
warfare and foeman's bargain?
For if the rest of us shall all
beside the Argive galleys
245
Rush upon slaughter, yet for thee
no fear there is to perish;
Sith, heart to sally, none hast thou,
nor to await the foeman.
But if thyself shalt skulk away,
or by enticing reason,
Smooth-tongu'd, shalt others turn aside
and damp them for the battle;
Forthwith, beneath my spear laid low,
shalt thou of life be rieved."
250
With such address he led the way,
and they beside him follow'd
With shout unearthly: after it,
from Ida's mountain-summits
Did thunder-loving Jupiter
arouse a squally tempest,
Which on the galleys carried straight
the dust; and he, bewitching
The Argive spirit, glory sent
to Hector and the Troians;
255
Who, trusting on His prodigies
and on their proper courage,
Made many a trial to destroy
the mighty Argive rampart.
They push'd against the battlements,
they pull'd the towers' outwork,
They undermin'd the buttresses,
which first the Achaians planted
Deep-rooted in the ground, to serve
as holders of the towers.
260
At these they mightily did toil,
to breach the Argive rampart
By force: nor yet the Danaï
withdrew them from the struggle :
But they for fence and battlement
broad oxhide bucklers holding,
From under them assail'd the foe,
who came beneath the rampart.
Along the towers, to and fro,
meanwhile the two Ajaces,
265
With cheery shout exporting, mov'd,
to rouse the Achaian courage.
And when they any might descry
all-negligent of battle,
This one with words of gentleness,
that one they harshly chided:
"O friends! whoso of Argives is
preeminent or feeblest,
Or eke of middle state (for, troth!
not all of men in combat
270
Alike may quit them): now for all
a common struggle pendeth.
And this yourselves too know, I ween:
wherefore let no one, hearing
The foe's upbraidment, turn his back
to flee unto the galleys;
But forward ever struggle ye,
and each exhort the other,
If Jove, the Olympian lightener,
this day, may haply grant us
275
The onset to repulse, and chase
the foemen to their city."
Thus did the twain with forward shout
stir up the Achaian battle.
But they, -as thick the flakes of snow
fall in a day of winter,
When Jove the Counsellor is bent
his weapons to exhibit
280
Snowing on mortals: mid the lull
of winds, he sheds it constant,
Until the lofty mountain-peaks
and outmost knolls it cover,
And eke the lotus-bearing plains
and the fat tilth of peasants:
Yea, and along the hoary brine
the shores and creeks it lineth,
Save where the billows washing up
repel it; but beyond them
285
Are all things overwrapt, whene'er
the storm from Jove is heavy:
So they on either side did fling,
on Troians-on Achaians, —
The stones thick-showering; and noise
along the rampart hooted.
Nor then might yet the Troïans
and gallant Hector striving
290
Have bursten thro' the mighty bar
and panels of the portal,
Unless-that Jove the Counsellor
had rous'd his son Sarpedon
To sally, as a lion bounds
on crumple-horned cattle.
Forthwith, he held in front his shield,
which equal was on all sides,
Brazen and fair, by crafty smith
well-hammer'd; but within it
295
Many bullhides were firmly sew'd,
around, on golden edges.
This foremost holding for defence,
two javelins he brandish'd,
And started on his path; in guise,
as mountain-nurtur'd lion,
Whom, when of flesh bereaved long,
his haughty spirit urgeth,
300
In sally on the sheep, to pierce
within their closed penfold :
For tho' beside it swains on guard
with dogs and spears await him,
Yet without struggle scorneth he
to scurry from the tumult,
But either he some spoil doth seize,
amid the flock alighting,
305
Or by a dart from some brisk hand
himself is wounded sooner:
So then Sarpedon, match for gods,
by daring soul was driven
To mount upon the foeman's wall
and burst its strong defences.
To Glaucus Hippolochides
a word address'd he straightway:
"Wherefore, O Glaucus, are we both
for meed of honour greeted
310
With seat exalted, dainty flesh,
and oft-replenish'd goblet,
In Lycia? and why do all
as peers of gods regard us?
Why are we grac'd by wide domain
beside the banks of Xanthus,
Noble for wheat-producing soil,
for fruitful orchards noble?
Now then beseemeth us, I ween,
to stand among the foremost,
315
And lead the Lycians to meet
the fiery brunt of battle;
That thus may every Lycian
close-corsleted applaud us :-
'Not verily inglorious
the princes of our people
Do domineer in Lycia,
consuming fatten'd cattle
And choicest honey-pleasant wine;
but in their sinew liveth
320
Brave spirit; sith among the first
of Lycians they combat.'
O gentle friend! if thou and I,
from this encounter scaping,
Hereafter might for ever be
from Eld and Death exempted
As heav'nly gods, not I in sooth
would fight among the foremost,
Nor liefly thee would I advance
to man-ennobling battle.
325
Now, sith ten thousand shapes of Death
do any-gait pursue us,
Which never mortal may evade,
tho' sly of foot and nimble ;-
Onward! and glory let us earn,
or glory yield to some one."
He spake: nor then did Glaucus flinch,
or hear his word reluctant :
So, side by side, the twain led on
the Lycian battalions.
330
But Mnestheus, son of Peteos,
their vast array beholding,
Shudder'd: for he the tower held,
at which their mischief aimed.
He then along the Achaian wall
did anxious peer, if haply
He might some chief espy, and win
protection for his comrades.
Quick he descried the Ajaces twain,
insatiate of battle,
335
Standing; and Teucer, from the tent
newly arriv'd, beside them,
Nor distant; yet, to reach their ears
by shout, his throat avail'd not;
For, drowning was the battle-din:
to heaven rose the clatter
From banging at the shields, and helms
with triple crest of horsetail,
And at the gates: for all of them
were fasten'd: but against them
340
Stood mighty troops, who forcibly
would try to burst an entrance.
Then forward he to Ajax sent
Thoötes, speedy herald:
2
"Godlike Thoötes! hie thee swift,
and hither Ajax summon;
Rather the twain: for that of all
were best: sith dire destruction
345
Here threatens: for with weighty force
impend the Lycian leaders,
Who staunch and wight were heretofore
mid our hardy struggles.
But if there too distressful strife
press hard, yet let them spare us
The valiant son of Telamon,
with Teucer, skilful archer."
350
He spake; nor disobedient
the herald heard his bidding,
But sped to go along the wall
of dapper-greav'd Achaians,
And quickly reach'd the Ajaces' side,
and instantly address'd them:
"Ho! ye Ajaces! leaders twain
of brazencoated Argives!
Jove-nurtur'd Peteos' dear son
doth urgently entreat you
355
Thither to go, that, for awhile
at least, ye stay the danger;
Rather the twain: for that of all
were best: sith dire destruction
There threatens: for with weighty force
impend the Lycian leaders,
Who staunch and wight were heretofore
mid our hardy struggles.
360
But if here too distressful strife
press hard, at least afford them
The valiant son of Telamon,
with Teucer, skilful archer."
So spake he, nor reluctant found
great Telamonian Ajax,
Who straightway to Oïleus' son
did winged accents utter:
365
"Ajax! hereat abiding, thou
and stalwart Lycomedes,
The Danaï to battle rouse;
I, to repel the danger,
Go thither; but again will come,
when them I well have rescued."
Then Ajax, son of Telamon,
with such address departed,
370
Attended by his father's son,
Teucer his trusty brother;
And by their side Pandion bare
the bending bow of Teucer.
When at the tower they arriv'd
of mightysoul'd Menestheus,
Within the rampart entering,
they found their comrades straiten'd;
Just then upon the battlements,
like to a gloomy tempest,
375
The governours and leaders brave
of Lycia were mounting:
So front to front both sides did dash,
and high arose the clamour.
First Ajax, son of Telamon,
laid low an adverse hero,
The mighty-hearted Epicles,
a comrade of Sarpedon :
Him with a rugged stone he smote,
which lay within the rampart
380
Highest beside the battlements:
no man, tho' young and sturdy
(Men such as now are), easily
with both his hands would raise it.
Yet on the helm with fourfold ridge
he from aloft did swing it.
Helmet and bones and head were smash'd
at once; and like a diver,
385
He from the lofty tower plung'd,
and life his bones abandon'd.
But Teucer aim'd an arrowshot,
and from the lofty rampart
Did eager-rushing Glaucus hit,
Hippolochus' brave offspring,
Where he the arm unguarded saw;
and check'd his glee of valour.
He from the tower stealthily
leapt back, that no Achaian
390
Might pry more closely at the wound
and words of triumph utter.
But anguish on Sarpedon came,
when Glaucus thus departed,
Soon as he saw it: he natheless
did hero-glee remember.
With lucky aim of spear he hit
Alcmaon, son of Thestor,
And pluck'd the weapon out: thereat
the wounded hero headlong
395
Follow'd the spear, and round him clash'd
his brass-belayed armour.
Sarpedon then with sturdy hands
a battlement engrappled,
And tugg'd toward him: all of it
follow'd in mass: the rampart
With a wide breach was open laid,
and made a road for many.
Both sons of Telamon rush'd up;
and Teucer with an arrow
400
Struck, on his breast, the brilliant strap
of the man-hiding buckler :
But Jove forbad his proper son
at galley's poop to perish.
Then Ajax with a mighty bound
smote on his shield; and thro' it
Altho' the weapon pierced not,
it check'd the eager hero,
405
Who from the breach retir'd a space:
nor yet did he withdraw him
Entirely; sith his soul was smit
with hope of earning glory.
Forthwith, the godlike Lycians
he rallying exhorted :
"O Lycians, why thus relax
from furious encounter?
For me, whate'er my bravery,
the task is overmatching,
410
By my own single strength to force
a passage to the galleys.
But follow after, -all in plump:
the more, I deem, the better."
He spake: the people quail'd beneath
the prince's voice upbraiding,
And, round their chieftain-counsellor,
press'd weightier of onset.
The Argives on the other side
strengthen'd their close battalions
415
Within the rampart: then for both
was mighty toil propounded.
For neither might the Lycians,
tho' valiant, burst the rampart,
And force a passage to the galleys:
Nor might the spearmen Danaï
repel the Lycian onset
And hurl them from the rampart back, when once their band attain'd it.
But as within a common field
two men contest the limits
420
With rod in hand, and inch by inch
debate the doubtful portion;
So by the battlements were these
scarce sunder'd; and across them,
Each of the other, ravaged
around their hardy bosoms
425
The oxhide shields orbicular
and shaggy-winged targets.
Then by close stab from ruthless brass
was many a hero wounded,
Or fleeing with unguarded back,
or frontwise thro' the buckler.
Thus everywhere with gore of men
the battlements and towers
430
On either side bespatter'd were
from Troians and Achaians.
Nor might they, even so, avail
to fright away the Achaians:
But as a woman, scrupulous
and toilsome for her children
To earn hard sustenance by wool,
trimmeth her anxious balance;
435
So in their balance was the war,
by weights on both sides, equal,
Until-that overswaying Jove
to Hector son of Priam
Gave higher glory, who was first
to cross the Achaian rampart.
So shouted he with piercing voice
to all the Troian army:
"Up! coursertaming Troians! burst
the rampart of the Argives,
440
And on their galleys scatter well
the fire's unearthly fury."
He spake exporting: all of them
did ope their ears to hear him,
And straight ahead against the wall
together rush'd: thereafter,
Bearing wellsharpen'd javelins,
they clomb upon the outwork.
Then Hector clutch'd a massy stone,
which lay before the entrance,
445
Broad at the base, but sharp above:
not two men pick'd for sinew
On to a carriage easily
might heave it from the pavement,
(Men such as now are seen), but he
alone with ease did swing it:
For crookedwitted Saturn's child
took off for him the burthen.
450
As when some lusty swain the fleece
of a male sheep may carry,
A single hand sufficeth him,
and slight the toil to raise it;
So Hector, lifting high the stone,
bore straight against the panels,
Which clos'd the lofty two-leay'd gates,
tightly and stoutly fitted,
Clasp'd by alternate inward bars,
thro' which one bolt was fasten'd.
455
There, at short distance did he stand,
and sturdily enforc'd it
Full on their middle; stepping broad,
to make his swing the stronger.
The hinges both were torn away:
the stone with weighty hurtle
Fell thro' within, and mightily
the portals boom'd around it:
460
The bars were shatter'd by the blow;
the panels split to shivers.
Then in did gallant Hector leap.
The gloom of Night swift-rushing
Mantled his cheeks; the sheathing brass
shone horrid from his body:
Two spears he brandish'd: baleful gleam
burnt in his eyes; nor any,
465
Save only god, might check his rush,
when thro' the gates he bounded.
Facing about, to right, to left,
he shouted to the Troians
To climb the rampart: nothing loth,
they hearken'd to his summons.
Straightway, some overclomb the wall;
some thro' the very portals
Stream'd in, and fore'd the Danaï
up to the hollow galleys
470
In flight; and unremitting din
arose in either army.
“Siege of the Greek Camp.” Crispijn van de Passe (I) (1613). Public domain image, via Rijks Museum.
(https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/RP-P-OB-16.043)