f
heroes, and to break through, springing upon them. And he sent
destructive tumult upon the Greeks, and abstained very little from the
spear. Among the ranks of other men indeed he ranged with his spear, his
sword, and with huge stones; but he shunned the conflict of Telamonian
Ajax.

But lofty-throned Jove excited fear within Ajax, and he stood
confounded, and cast behind him his shield of seven bulls' hides.
Panic-struck he retired, gazing on all sides like a wild beast, turning
to and fro, slowly moving knee after knee. As when dogs and rustic men
drive a ravening lion from the stall of oxen, who, keeping watch all
night, do not allow him to carry off the fat of their cattle, but he,
eager for their flesh, rushes on, but profits nought, for numerous
javelins fly against him from daring hands, and blazing torches, at
which he trembles, although furious; but in the morning he stalks away
with saddened mind: so Ajax, sad at heart, then retired, much against
his will, from the Trojans; for he feared for the ships of the Greeks.
And as when a stubborn ass, upon whose sides[379] many sticks have
already been broken, entering in, browses on the tall crop, but the boys
still beat him with sticks, although their strength is but feeble, and
with difficulty drive him out, when he is satiated with food, so then at
length the magnanimous Trojans and far-summoned allies continually
followed Ajax, the mighty son of Telamon, striking the middle of his
shield with missile weapons. And Ajax, sometimes wheeling about, was
mindful of impetuous might, and checked the phalanxes of the
horse-breaking Trojans, but again he would turn himself to fly. But he
prevented all from advancing to the swift ships, whilst standing himself
between the Trojans and Greeks he raged impetuously. And spears hurled
against him from daring hands, stuck, some indeed in his ample shield,
and many, though eager to glut themselves with his flesh, stood fixed in
the ground between, before they could reach his fair skin.

[Footnote 379: Such seems to be the force of [Greek: auphis].]

Whom when Eurypylus, the illustrious son of Evaemon, perceived pressed
hard with many darts, advancing he stood beside him, and took aim with
his shining spear; and smote Apisaon, son of Phausias, shepherd of the
people, in the liver, under the diaphragm; and immediately relaxed his
limbs. And when godlike Alexander observed him stripping off the armour
of Apisaon, he instantly