day, by the might of the son of Peleus. And he wished to break the ranks
of heroes, trying them, wheresoever he beheld the greatest crowd and the
best arms. But not thus was he able to break through them, although very
eager; for they, compact in squares, sustained his attack, as a lofty,
huge cliff, being near the hoary deep, which abides the impetuous
inroads of the shrill winds, and the swollen billows which are dashed
against it. Thus the Greeks firmly awaited the Trojans, nor fled. But
he, gleaming with fire on all sides, rushed upon the crowd; and fell
upon them, as when an impetuous wave, wind-nurtured from the clouds,
dashes against a swift ship, and it [the ship] is wholly enveloped with
the spray, and a dreadful blast of wind roars within the sail: but the
sailors tremble in mind, fearing, because they are borne but a little
way from death: thus was the mind of the Greeks divided in their
breasts. He, however, like a destructive lion coming upon oxen which
feed in myriads in the moist ground of a spacious marsh, and amongst
them a keeper not very skilful in fighting with a wild beast for the
slaughter of a crooked-horned ox;[500] he indeed always accompanies the
foremost or the hindmost cattle, whilst [the lion] springing into the
midst, devours an ox, and all the rest fly in terror; thus then were the
Greeks wondrously put to flight by Hector and father Jove, all--but
[Hector] slew only Mycenaean Periphetes, the dear son of Copreus, who
went with a messenger of king Eurystheus to mighty Hercules. From this
far inferior father sprung a son superior in all kinds of
accomplishments, as well in the race as in the combat, and who in
prudence was among the first of the Mycenaeans, who at that time gave
into the hands of Hector superior glory. For, turning backwards, he trod
upon the rim of his shield which he bore, a fence against javelins,
which reached to his feet; by this incommoded, he fell upon his back,
and the helmet terribly sounded round the temples of him fallen. But
Hector quickly perceived, and running, stood near him, and fixed his
spear in his breast, and slew him near his beloved companions, nor
indeed were they able, although grieved for their comrade, to avail him,
for they themselves greatly feared noble Hector. But they retreated
within the line of their ships,[501] and the extreme ships enclosed
them, which were first drawn up: and the others were poured in. The
Argives, therefore, from necessit