Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
Aesculapius went with him. He lashed his horses and they flew
onward nothing loth towards the ships, as though of their own free
will.
Then Cebriones seeing the Trojans in confusion said to Hector from
his place beside him, “Hector, here are we two fighting on the
extreme wing of the battle, while the other Trojans are in pell-mell
rout, they and their horses. Ajax son of Telamon is driving them
before him; I know him by the breadth of his shield: let us turn our
chariot and horses thither, where horse and foot are fighting most
desperately, and where the cry of battle is loudest.”
With this he lashed his goodly steeds, and when they felt the whip
they drew the chariot full speed among the Achaeans and Trojans,
over the bodies and shields of those that had fallen: the axle was
bespattered with blood, and the rail round the car was covered
with splashes both from the horses’ hoofs and from the tyres of the
wheels. Hector tore his way through and flung himself into the
thick of the fight, and his presence threw the Danaans into
confusion, for his spear was not long idle; nevertheless though he
went among the ranks with sword and spear, and throwing great
stones, he avoided Ajax son of Telamon, for Jove would have been
angry with him if he had fought a better man than himself.
Then father Jove from his high throne struck fear into the heart of
Ajax, so that he stood there dazed and threw his shield behind himlooking
fearfully at the throng of his foes as though he were some
wild beast, and turning hither and thither but crouching slowly
backwards. As peasants with their hounds chase a lion from their
stockyard, and watch by night to prevent his carrying off the pick
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