825
Compact, still persevered. The galleys there
Of Ajax and Protesilaues stood
Updrawn above the hoary Deep; the wall
Was there of humblest structure, and the steeds
And warriors there conflicted furious most. 830
The Epeans there and Iaeonians[12] robed-
Prolix, the Phthians,[13] Locrians, and the bold
Boetians check'd the terrible assault
Of Hector, noble Chief, ardent as flame,
Yet not repulsed him. Chosen Athenians form'd 835
The van, by Peteos' son, Menestheus, led,
Whose high command undaunted Bias shared,
Phidas and Stichius. The Epean host
Under Amphion, Dracius, Meges, fought.
Podarces brave in arms the Phthians ruled, 840
And Medon (Medon was by spurious birth
Brother of Ajax Oiliades,
And for his uncle's death, whom he had slain,
The brother of Oileus' wife, abode
In Phylace; but from Iphiclus sprang 845
Podarces;) these, all station'd in the front
Of Phthias' hardy sons, together strove
With the Boeotians for the fleet's defence.
Ajax the swift swerved never from the side
Of Ajax son of Telamon a step, 850
But as in some deep fallow two black steers
Labor combined, dragging the ponderous plow,
The briny sweat around their rooted horns
Oozes profuse; they, parted as they toil
Along the furrow, by the yoke alone, 855
Cleave to its bottom sheer the stubborn glebe,
So, side by side, they, persevering fought.[14]
The son of Telamon a people led
Numerous and bold, who, when his bulky limbs
Fail'd overlabor'd, eased him of his shield. 860
Not so attended by his Locrians fought
Oileus' valiant son; pitch'd battle them
Suited not, unprovided with bright casques
Of hairy crest, with ashen spears, and shields
Of ample orb; for, trusting in the bow 865
And twisted sling alone, they came to Troy,
And broke with shafts and volley'd stones the ranks.
Thus occupying, clad in burnish'd arms,
The van, these two with Hector and his host
Conflicted, while the Locrians from behind 870
Vex'd them with shafts, secure; nor could the men
Of Ilium stand, by such a shower confused.
Then, driven with dreadful havoc thence, the foe
To wind-swept Ilium had again retired.
Had not Polydamas, at Hector's side