back
  On all his godlike Lycians, he exclaim’d,
    Oh Lycians! where is your heroic might? 
  Brave as I boast myself, I feel the task 500
  Arduous, through the breach made by myself
  To win a passage to the ships, alone. 
  Follow me all—­Most laborers, most dispatch.[4]
    So he; at whose sharp reprimand abash’d
  The embattled host to closer conflict moved, 505
  Obedient to their counsellor and King. 
  On the other side the Greeks within the wall
  Made firm the phalanx, seeing urgent need;
  Nor could the valiant Lycians through the breach
  Admittance to the Grecian fleet obtain, 510
  Nor since they first approach’d it, had the Greeks
  With all their efforts, thrust the Lycians back. 
  But as two claimants of one common field,
  Each with his rod of measurement in hand,
  Dispute the boundaries, litigating warm 515
  Their right in some small portion of the soil,
  So they, divided by the barrier, struck
  With hostile rage the bull-hide bucklers round,
  And the light targets on each other’s breast. 
  Then many a wound the ruthless weapons made. 520
  Pierced through the unarm’d back, if any turn’d,
  He died, and numerous even through the shield. 
  The battlements from end to end with blood
  Of Grecians and of Trojans on both sides
  Were sprinkled; yet no violence could move 525
  The stubborn Greeks, or turn their powers to flight. 
  So hung the war in balance, as the scales
  Held by some woman scrupulously just,
  A spinner; wool and weight she poises nice,
  Hard-earning slender pittance for her babes,[5] 530
  Such was the poise in which the battle hung
  Till Jove himself superior fame, at length,
  To Priameian Hector gave, who sprang
  First through the wall.  In lofty sounds that reach’d
  Their utmost ranks, he call’d on all his host. 535
    Now press them, now ye Trojans steed-renown’d
  Rush on! break through the Grecian rampart, hurl
  At once devouring flames into the fleet. 
  Such was his exhortation; they his voice
  All hearing, with close-order’d ranks direct 540
  Bore on the barrier, and up-swarming show’d
  On the high battlement their glittering spears. 
  But Hector seized a stone; of ample base
  But tapering to a point, before the gate
  It stood.  No two men, mightiest of a land 545
  (Such men as now are mighty) could with ease
  Have heaved it from the earth up to a wain;
  He swung it easily alone; so light
  The son of Saturn made it in his hand. 
  As in one hand with ease the shepherd bears 550
  A ram’s fleece home, nor toils beneath the weight,
  So Hector, right toward the planks of