f our host
"Shrunk, such the terror which then fill'd the field.
"When hand to hand engag'd, him prone I laid,
"Proud of his slaughter, on th' ensanguin'd plain,
"With a huge stone. I singly him oppos'd,
"All single challeng'd; all the Greeks to me
"Pray'd for the lot: nor vain your prayers were found.
"Enquire ye, what the fortune of the fight?
"I stood, by him unconquer'd, when all Troy
"Rush'd on the fleet of Greece, with fire, with sword,
"And aiding Jove: Where was Ulysses then?
"The eloquent Ulysses? I alone,
"A thousand ships, the hopes of your return,
"Defended with my breast: this crowd of ships
"Deserves those arms. Nay, if with truth to speak
"You grant, those arms more glory gain from me
"Than I from them; our honor is conjoin'd.
"Ajax the arms demand, not Ajax arms.
"Let Ithacus compare his Rhaesus slain;
"And slain unwarlike Dolon; and trepann'd
"Helenus, Priam's son; and Pallas' form.
"In open day nought done, and nought perform'd,
"Save Diomed' assisted. Grant for once,
"Such paltry service could the armour claim;
"Divide the prize, and lo! the largest share
"Tydides must demand. But why this prize
"Seeks Ithacus? who all his deeds performs
"In private; traversing unarm'd; the foe,
"While unsuspecting, conquering by deceit.
"This helmet's radiance from the glittering gold
"Darting, would shew his plots, and open lay
"The latent spy. But his Dulichian head,
"Cas'd in Achilles' casque, the weight would 'whelm,
"And for his languid arms, the Pelian spear
"Too weighty would be found. That shield engrav'd,
"With all earth's various scenes, but ill would grace
"His arm, for stealthy deeds alone design'd.
"Presumptuous fool! to seek a prize, which gain'd
"Would only mar thy power. By erring votes
"Of Grecians giv'n to thee, cause would it be
"The foe would strip thee; not thy prowess fear.
"And flight, in which, O trembler! erst alone
"Thou all surpass'd, slow would'st thou then pursue;
"Such ponderous armor dragging. Those, thy shield
"Which bears so rare the brunt of battle, shines
"Yet whole: a new successor mine demands,
"Which gash'd by weapons, shews a thousand rents.
"To end, what need of words? let actions shew
"Each one's deserts. Amid the foe be thrown
"The valiant warrior's arms. Thence bid us bring
"The prize;--who brings it, let him wear the spoil."

So spake the Telamonian warrior