Then Menestheus son of Peteos shuddered when he beheld
them, for against his tower they went, bringing with
them ruin; and he looked along the tower of the Achaians
if perchance he might see any of the leaders, that
would ward off destruction from his comrades, and he
beheld the two Aiantes, insatiate of war, standing
there, and Teukros hard by, newly come from his hut;
but he could not cry to be heard of them, so great
was the din, and the noise went up unto heaven of smitten
shields and helms with horse-hair crests, and of the
gates, for they had all been shut, and the Trojans
stood beside them, and strove by force to break them,
and enter in. Swiftly then to Aias he sent the
herald Thootes: “Go, noble Thootes, and
run, and call Aias: or rather the twain, for
that will be far the best of all, since quickly here
will there be wrought utter ruin. For hereby
press the leaders of the Lykians, who of old are fierce
in strong battle. But if beside them too war and
toil arise, yet at least let the strong Telamonian
Aias come alone and let Teukros the skilled bowman
follow with him.”
So spake he, and the herald listened and disobeyed
him not, but started and ran by the wall of the mail-clad
Achaians, and came, and stood by the Aiantes, and
straightway spake: “Ye twain Aiantes, leaders
of the mail-clad Achaians, the dear son of Peteos,
fosterling of Zeus, biddeth you go thither, that,
if it be but for a little while, ye may take your
part in battle: both of you he more desireth,
for that will be far the best of all, since quickly
there will there be wrought utter ruin. For thereby
press the leaders of the Lykians, who of old are fierce
in strong battle. But if beside you too war and
toil arise, yet at least let the strong Telamonian
Aias come alone, and let Teukros the skilled bowman
follow with him.”
So spake he, nor did the strong Telamonian Aias disobey,
but instantly spake winged words to the son of Oileus:
“Aias, do ye twain stand here, thyself and strong
Lykomedes, and urge the Danaans to war with all their
might; but I go thither, to take my part in battle,
and quickly will I come again, when I have well aided
them.”
So spake Telamonian Aias and departed, and Teukros
went with him, his brother by the same father, and
with them Pandion bare the bended bow of Teukros.
Now when they came to the tower of great-hearted Menestheus,
passing within the wall,—and to men sore
pressed they came,—the foe were climbing
upon the battlements, like a dark whirlwind, even the
strong leaders and counsellors of the Lykians; and
they hurled together into the war and the battle-cry
arose. Now first did Aias Telamon’s son
slay a man, Epikles great of heart, the comrade of
Sarpedon. With a jagged stone he smote him, a
great stone that lay uppermost within the wall, by
the battlements. Not lightly could a man hold
it in both hands, however strong in his youth, of
such mortals as now are, but Aias lifted it, and cast
