Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 2) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/193

Book 13. If still he will persist, and urge the Strife, First let him give me back his forfeit Life: Let him return to that opprobrious Field; Again creep under my protecting Shield: Let him lie wounded, let the Foe be near, And let his quiv'ring Heart confess his Fear; There put him in the very Jaws of Fate; And let him plead his Cause in that Estate: And yet when snatch'd from Death, when from below My lifted Shield I loos'd, and let him go; Good Heav'ns, how light he rose, with what a bound He sprung from Earth, forgetful of his Wound; How fresh, how eager then his Feet to ply; Who had not Strength to stand, had Speed to fly! Hector came on, and brought the Gods along; Fear seiz'd alike the Feeble, and the Strong: Each Greek was an Ulysses; such a Dread Th' Approach, and ev'n the Sound of Hector bred: Him, flesh'd with Slaughter, and with Conquest crown'd, I met, and over-turn'd him to the Ground; When after, matchless as he deem'd in Might, He challeng'd all our Host to single Fight; All Eyes were fix'd on me: The Lots were thrown; But for your Champion I was wish'd alone: Your Vows were heard; we fought, and neither yield; Yet I return'd unvanquish'd from the Field. With Jove to friend th' insulting Trojan came, And menac'd us with Force, our Fleet with Flame. Was it the Strength of this Tongue-valiant Lord, In that black Hour, that sav'd you from the Sword? Or was my Breast expos'd alone, to brave A thousand Swords, a thousand Ships to save? The hopes of your return! And can you yield, For a sav'd Fleet, less than a single Shield? Think it no Boast, O Grecians, if I deem These Arms want Ajax, more than Ajax them: Or,