Τὸν δ' αῦτε προσέειπε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ:
αἶαν διογενὲς Τελαμώνιε. κοίρανε λαῶν.
μή τί μευ ἠΰτε παιδὸς ἀφαυροῦ πειρήτιζε
ἠὲ γυναικὸς ἣ οὐκ οῖδεν πολεμήϊα ἔργα:
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν εὖ οἶδα μάχας τ' ἀνδροκτασίας τε:
οἶδ' ἐπὶ δεξιὰ. οἶδ' ἐπ αριστερὰ νωμῆσαι βῶν
ἀζαλέην. τό μοι ἔστι ταλαύρινον πολεμίζειν:
οἶδα δ' ἐπαΐ´ξαι μόθον ἵππων ὠκειάων:
οἶδα δ' ἐνὶ σταδίη: δηΐῳ μέλπεσθαι Ἄρηϊ:
ἀλλ' οὐ γάρ σ' ἐθέλω βαλέειν τοιοῦτον ἐόντα
λάθρῃ ὀπιπεύσας. ἀλλ' ἀμφαδὸν. αἴ κε τύχωμι:
To him then made answer great Hector of the flashing helm: "Aias, sprung from Zeus, thou son of Telamon, captain of the host, in no wise make thou trial of me as of some puny boy or a woman that knoweth not deeds of war. Nay, full well know I battles and slayings of men. I know well how to wield to right, and well how to wield to left my shield of seasoned hide, which I deem a sturdy thing to wield in fight; and I know how to charge into the mellay of chariots drawn by swift mares; and I know how in close fight to tread the measure of furious Ares. Yet am I not minded to smite thee, being such a one as thou art, by spying thee at unawares; but rather openly, if so be I may hit thee."
