Chapter 30 30

The Greeks used to dig trenches and build walls around their warships to protect their warships.But they forgot to sacrifice to the gods, so these ditches and walls could not protect them.Poseidon and Apollo decided to use flash floods and sea water to destroy the entire building.Of course, all this can only be done after the fall of Troy. The war has come close to the wall.The Argives were afraid of Hector's power, and they crowded into the warships in fear.Hector came running like a lion and encouraged the soldiers to cross the trench.But the war horses hesitated, because the trench was dug wide and deep, and the pickets were densely planted on the side of the ditch. When the war horse reached the edge of the ditch, they snorted and raised their front legs. Only infantry could venture across.When Polydamas saw the situation here, he discussed with Hector: "If we force the horses to pass, we will fall into the deep ditch and die miserably. Let the chariots park all the chariots by the ditch. All of us with arms in hand, under your leadership, we crossed the trenches and broke through the walls."

Hector agrees with his suggestion.All the heroes jumped out of the chariot when they heard the order, except for the chariot.They were divided into five companies, the first led by Hector and Polydamas, the second by Paris, the third by Helenus and Deiphobus, and the fourth by Aene. Arth led, and Sarpedon and Glaucus led the Confederates as the fifth corps.Of all the heroes, Asius was the only one who was unwilling to leave the chariot. He turned to a passage on the left, which the Greeks left for their own chariots and horses to enter and exit.Asios saw that the gates were open here, for the Greeks were still waiting for the last soldiers who had fled back.Asios urged his horse and rushed in.Many Trojan soldiers followed, shouting loudly and rushing in.But they met two brave watchmen, Leonthes and Polypates, the son of Pirithous.They flung themselves upon the advancing Tegoi, while the Greeks rained down stones from the towers on the wall.

While Asius and his men were engaged in an encounter here, and many were killed, other Trojans passed the ditch on foot and stormed the other gates of the Greek camp.The Argives had to change their strategy and concentrate on protecting the warships.The gods who stood by them also looked down sadly from the holy mountain of Olympus.But the party led by Hector and Polydamas, the most valiant and the most numerous, hesitated and did not cross the ditch.This is because they saw an ominous omen: an eagle flew over the sky from the left, and caught a red snake under its claws.It struggled desperately and turned its head to bite the eagle's neck.The eagle was in so much pain that he dropped the red snake and flew away.The red snake fell right in the middle of the Trojans.They watched the snake struggling on the ground in horror, thinking that this was a sign from Zeus.

"We can't act rashly," Polydamas, the son of Pentos, said to Hector in horror, "otherwise, we will be like this eagle, unable to bring back the prey." Hector scorned Said: "What does it matter to me that the bird flies to the right or to the left? I only believe in Zeus's decision! All I care about is saving the country! Why are you afraid of fighting and trembling? But I warn you, if you fight Escape, then you will die under my gun!" Hector said and strode forward, and the others followed.Zeus blew a strong wind from Mount Ada toward the Greek warships, blowing dust into the air.The fighting spirit of the Greeks was blown to the sky.The Trojans believed that with the protection of the gods and the strength of the army, they would be able to destroy the walls of the Daneans, demolish the towers, and pull out the stakes.

The Daneans did not back down. They lined up a wall with shields in their hands, stood firmly by the protective wall, and fought back at the Trojans with javelins and stones.Hector would not have been able to breach the gate without the help of Zeus.At this time Zeus instructed his son Sarpedon to hold a large shield and rush up like a hungry lion.He said to his companion Glaucus: "Dear friends, only when we show our courage and wisdom in hard battles can we be respected like gods among the Lycians and enjoy the golden cup overflowing with wine, Come on! Today we will fight for honor, or win honor for others with our deaths!"

Glaucus was inspired by his words, and the two led the Lycians to charge forward.Menastheus, standing on the tower of the wall, was startled at the ferocious rush of the Lycians.He looked around for reinforcements.Seeing the two Ajax in the distance, he quickly sent the messenger Thotes to ask them to come to rescue and help him escape the siege.Ajax the Great led Teucer and Pandion with his bow and arrows hurried up from the inner wall.As soon as they arrived, they saw the Lycians climbing the parapet.Ajax removed a sharp and angular stone from the parapet, and hit the head of Epicles, the friend of Sarpedon, who was climbing up, causing him to roll down.Teucer stabbed Glaucus in the arm.Glaucus drew back quietly, for fear that the Greeks would see and laugh at his wounds.Sarpedon, grieved at seeing his friend leave the field, climbed up the wall, and with his spear struck Alcamon son of Cinstor, and then shook the wall so hard that it split open, Overturned, opened up a passage for the follow-up troops.Ajax and Teucer fought bravely against the flood of Trojans.Sarpedon looked back at the Lycians and shouted loudly: "Lycians, have you forgotten that you should attack? I cannot break through the enemy's defenses alone! We must work together to open the way to the warships !"

So the Lycians gathered tightly around their king, and rushed up like a whirlwind.The Danai'a people also strengthened their forces and resisted tenaciously.Soldiers from both sides fought fiercely across a wall. The battle has been going on for a long time, and the winner has not yet been decided.Zeus finally extended a helping hand to Hector again, and he let Hector rush to the gate of the wall first.Other fighters hurried to follow, or climbed over the wall from both sides.Hector saw that the city gate was closed, and there was a pointed rock beside the gate.Hector pulled the boulder from the ground with superhuman strength and smashed open the door.As a result, the latch was broken and the city gate fell down.Hector jumped through the doorway, and his soldiers followed, while hundreds of Trojans mounted the walls.The Trojans rushed into the wall with shouts, and the Greeks fled to the ships in panic.