Hector first hurled at Aias son of Telamon, who stood facing him, and struck the place where two straps crossed on his chest, one for shield and one for sword. The straps saved his flesh. Aias was angry that the spear flew useless from Hector's hand, and lifted a stone from among those set as props for the ships.
He struck Hector above the shield rim, near the neck. The stone spun him like a top. As an oak falls under Zeus's lightning and a dreadful sulfur smell rises from it, so Hector fell in the dust. His spear dropped from his hand, shield and helmet fell with him, and the bronze rang around his body.
The sons of the Achaeans rushed in, hoping to drag him away, and threw many spears. None could wound him, for the best Trojans stood over him: Polydamas, Aeneas, Agenor, Sarpedon, and Glaukos. They covered him with shields, lifted him, and carried him from the fighting to his swift horses waiting by the river.
They took Hector groaning toward the city, but when they reached the ford of the fair-flowing Xanthos, they laid him on the ground and poured water over him. He opened his eyes, knelt, vomited dark blood, and fell back again, black night covering him because the blow had crushed his spirit.
When the Argives saw Hector carried off, they leapt harder on the Trojans. The swift lesser Aias was first to kill, striking Satnios son of Enops, born to a Naiad nymph by the river. Polydamas killed Prothoenor in answer and boasted that the spear had not flown vainly from his hand.
Aias son of Telamon answered the boast by killing Archelochos, son of Antenor, as he turned to help his brother. The spear cut the joining of head and neck, and his head, mouth, and nose struck the ground before his knees. Aias mocked Polydamas that this man was no worse payment for Prothoenor.
Akamas killed Promachos while he dragged his brother's body, and boasted that the Argives would not mourn alone.
Peneleos rushed at Akamas, who slipped away, and killed Ilioneus, only son of Phorbas, whom Hermes loved and enriched. Peneleos struck under the eyebrow, knocked out the eye, and then cut off the head, lifting it on his spear like a poppy and taunting the Trojans to tell Ilioneus's parents to mourn.
Trembling took the Trojans. Each man looked for a way to escape death.
Tell me now, Muses who hold Olympian homes, which Achaean first took bloody spoils after Poseidon turned the battle?
Aias struck Hyrtios; Antilochos killed Phalkes and Mermeros; Meriones killed Morys and Hippotion; Teucer killed Prothoon and Periphetes; Menelaus wounded Hyperenor, whose soul fled through the wound. The lesser Aias killed most, because no man could match him in pursuing broken enemies with swift feet.