ce, calling
out to the Trojans:

"Push on, ye horse-breaking Trojans, burst through the wall of the
Greeks, and hurl the fiercely-blazing fire against the ships."

Thus he spake, cheering them on; but they all heard him with their ears,
and rushed against the wall in great numbers, and then mounted the
battlements, carrying their pointed spears. But Hector seizing it, took
up a stone, which stood before the gates, widening out at the base,[409]
but sharp above; which two men, the strongest of the people, such as
mortals now are, could not easily raise from the ground upon a waggon.
He, however, brandished it easily and alone, because the son of wise
Saturn had rendered it light to him.

[Footnote 407: _I.e._ a field, to part of which each lays claim.
[Greek: Metra] seem to be the lines used in measuring ground
("linea mensuralis," Siculus Flaccus, p. 23, ed. Goes.).]

[Footnote 408: Milton, P.L. vi. 245:--

----"long time in even scale
The battle hung."]

[Footnote 409: See Eustathius.]

As when a shepherd without difficulty carries the fleece of a male
sheep, taking it in either hand, and but a small weight oppresses him;
so Hector, raising the stone, bore it right against the beams which
strengthened the closely-jointed gates, double and lofty; but two
cross-bars secured them within, and one key fitted them. But advancing,
he stood very near, and exerting his strength, struck them in the
middle, standing with his legs wide asunder, that the blow of the weapon
might not be weak. And he tore away both hinges, and the stone fell
within with a great weight; and the gates crashed around; nor did the
bars withstand it, but the beams were rent asunder in different
directions by the impulse of the stone. There illustrious Hector rushed
in, in aspect like unto the dreadful night; and he glittered in
terrible brass, with which he was girt around his body. And he held two
spears in his hands, nor could any one, opposing, restrain him, except
the gods, after he had leaped within the gates; but his eyes gleamed
with fire. And turning to the crowd, he cheered on the Trojans to ascend
the wall, and they obeyed him encouraging. Straightway indeed some
crossed the wall, and others were poured in through the well-wrought
gates, but the Greeks were routed towards the hollow barks, and an
unyielding[410] tumult ensued.

[Footnote 410: See Buttm. Lexil. p. 405,]