Now never at all did Aias, the swift son of Oileus,
depart from the side of Aias, son of Telamon, nay,
not for an instant, but even as in fallow land two
wine-dark oxen with equal heart strain at the shapen
plough, and round the roots of their horns springeth
up abundant sweat, and nought sunders them but the
polished yoke, as they labour through the furrow,
till the end of the furrow brings them up, so stood
the two Aiantes close by each other. Now verily
did many and noble hosts of his comrades follow with
the son of Telamon, and bore his shield when labour
and sweat came upon his limbs. But the Lokrians
followed not with the high-hearted son of Oileus,
for their hearts were not steadfast in close brunt
of battle, seeing that they had no helmets of bronze,
shadowy with horse-hair plumes, nor round shields,
nor ashen spears, but trusting in bows and well-twisted
slings of sheep’s wool, they followed with him
to Ilios. Therewith, in the war, they shot thick
and fast, and brake the ranks of the Trojans.
So the one party in front contended with the Trojans,
and with Hector arrayed in bronze, while the others
from behind kept shooting from their ambush, and the
Trojans lost all memory of the joy of battle, for
the arrows confounded them.
There then right ruefully from the ships and the huts
would the Trojans have withdrawn to windy Ilios, had
not Polydamas come near valiant Hector and said:
“Hector, thou art hard to be persuaded by them
that would counsel thee; for that god has given thee
excellence in the works of war, therefore in council
also thou art fain to excel other men in knowledge.
But in nowise wilt thou be able to take everything
on thyself. For to one man has god given for
his portion the works of war, [to another the dance,
to another the lute and song,] but in the heart of
yet another hath far-seeing Zeus placed an excellent
understanding, whereof many men get gain, yea he saveth
many an one, and himself best knoweth it. But,
lo, I will speak even as it seemeth best to me.
Behold all about thee the circle of war is blazing,
but the great-hearted Trojans, now that they have
got down the wall, are some with their arms standing
aloof and some are fighting, few men against a host,
being scattered among the ships. Nay, withdraw
thee, and call hither all the best of the warriors.
Thereafter shall we take all counsel carefully, whether
we should fall on the ships of many benches, if indeed
god willeth to give us victory, or after counsel held,
should return unharmed from the ships. For verily
I fear lest the Achaians repay their debt of yesterday,
since by the ships there tarrieth a man insatiate of
war, and never, methinks, will he wholly stand aloof
from battle.”
So spake Polydamas, and his safe counsel pleased Hector
well, who spake to him winged words and said:
“Polydamas, do thou stay here all the best of
the host, but I will go thither to face the war, and
swiftly will return again, when I have straitly laid
on them my commands.”
