The killing of that Lykian chilled with horror the heart

Of Hippolochos’ famous son, because he was his friend.

Quickly stabbing Ajax’s shield of many oxhides,

He was not able to penetrate to his fair flesh.

The hides of his shield protected him and under that

The breastplate that was fitted to his tireless body.

Glaukos, however, did not abandon the mortal combat

In his desire to vanquish Aiakos’ grandson Ajax

He was so foolish as to make this boastful challenge:

“Ajax, since men claim that you are far the best

Of all the Argives and they are exceedingly proud of you,

No less than of brave Achilles, now that he is dead

You too will join him in death this very day, I reckon.”

The words he uttered he could not fulfill; he did not know

The greater worth of the man at whom he aimed his spear

The steadfast fighter Ajax scowling at him replied:

“Don’t you know, wretch, how much better than you in battle

Hektor was? And yet he avoided the force of this spear

Of mine, for with his brawn he had a prudent brain.

Your thoughts are clearly of death and darkness, since you dare

To face in combat one who is so much your better.

You cannot claim to be a family friend of mine,

Nor with your persuasive gifts will you divert me

From fighting as you did the mighty son of Tydeus.

You may have eluded that man’s power, but I at least

Will not allow you to escape alive from the battle.

Perhaps you put your trust in others on this field,

Who together with you are flitting like worthless flies

Around the body of peerless Achilles. To them also,

If they attack, I’ll give the dismal doom of death.”

Ajax turned upon the Trojans, like a lion

Among a pack of hounds in a deep and wooded glen.

He quickly dispatched a host who were eager to win some glory,

Trojans and Lykians alike. Those round him trembled with fear,

Just like a shoal of fish in the ocean at the attack

Of a terrible whale or mighty dolphin of the sea.

So shrank the Trojans before the might of Telamon’s son

Attacking them time and again in the battle. Even so

They fought on, so that on every side of Achilles’ body

Numberless men lay dead in the dust like so many boars

Around a lion, for deadly was the fighting between them.

There too the warlike son of Hippolochos was slain

By stouthearted Ajax. Over Achilles he fell on his back,

Just like a mountain shrub beside a solid oak.

Such was the fall of Glaukos upon the son of Peleus

When struck by the spear. For him Anchises’ powerful son

Labored long, and with the help of his warrior friends

Dragged him to the Trojan lines for his grieving comrades

To carry him back to the holy city of Ilion.