Sol 5.6

  1. Then he brought forth a long spear,

    a helmet, and a heavy shield—

  2. the arms of Sarpedon, stripped away

    by Patroclus when he vanquished that hero.

  3. Before the whole assembly he laid them all down

    and cried, swiftly rousing them:

  4. “Let the host’s two bravest stand, champion against champion,

    and come forth, each bearing a keen-edged weapon,

  5. to fight before the entire army.

    Whoever here spills his rival’s blood

  6. with a thrust through solid iron,

    to him we shall give the sword of valiant Asteropaeus—

  7. the sword I won by my own prowess,

    its silver mountings splendid to behold.

  8. But Sarpedon’s arms we shall award

    to both of them, as a badge of glory;

  9. and both have my gracious promise

    of a feast in the tents amid unstinting plenty.”

  10. Then Telamonian Ajax arose,

    and then Diomedes, the noble youth.

  11. They armed themselves at the edge of the ranks

    and came forth like two lions springing,

  12. ablaze with the fire of encounter,

    their eyes striking sparks.

  13. They drew near, and that spectacle began;

    at its terror the entire army recoiled.

  14. Three times they charged, and three times renewed the onset.

    The gazelle of spears, then Ajax, made their thrusts.

  15. The shield was pierced, yet the spear did not enter the—

    body; rather, it caught and quivered in the cuirass.

  16. Then Diomedes swung the spear

    at Ajax, seeking an answering stroke,

  17. watching for a chance to cleave the neck

    from beneath that champion’s shield.

  18. The host grew anxious for him—for Ajax—

    and ordered them to desist, fearing disaster,

  19. and to divide the prize equally.

    But Achilles, without delay,

  20. gave Diomedes the sword,

    the scabbard and baldric; then the two arose.

Sol 5.6