ὡς ἔφατ', ὦρτο δ' ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,
ν δ' ἄρα Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο, κρατερὸς Διομήδης.
οἱ δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν ἑκάτερθεν ὁμίλου θωρήχθησαν,
ἐς μέσον μφοτέρω συνίτην μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι
δεινὸν δερκομένω: θάμβος δ' ἔχε πάντας Ἀχαιούς.
λλ' ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπ' λλήλοισιν ἰόντες,
τρὶς μὲν ἐπήϊξαν, τρὶς δὲ σχεδὸν ὡρμήθησαν.
ἔνθ' Αἴας μὲν ἔπειτα κατ' σπίδα πάντοσε ἴσην
νύξ', οὐδὲ χρό' ἵκανεν: ἔρυτο γὰρ ἔνδοθι θώρηξ:
Τυδεΐδης δ' ἄρ' ἔπειτα ὑπὲρ σάκεος μεγάλοιο
αἰὲν ἐπ' αὐχένι κῦρε φαεινοῦ δουρὸς κωκήν.
καὶ τότε δή ῥ' Αἴαντι περιδδείσαντες Ἀχαιοὶ
παυσαμένους ἐκέλευσαν έθλια ἶς' νελέσθαι.
αὐτὰρ Τυδεΐδῃ δῶκεν μέγα φάσγανον ἥρως
σὺν κολεῷ τε φέρων καὶ ἐϋτμήτῳ τελαμῶνι.
So spake he, and thereat arose great Telamonian Aias, and up rose the son of Tydeus, stalwart Diomedes. So when they had armed them on either side of the throng, into the midst strode the twain, eager for battle, glaring terribly; and amazement held all the Achaeans. But when they were come near as they advance done against the other, thrice they set upon each other, and thrice they clashed together. Then Aias thrust upon the shield, that was well-balanced upon every side, but reached not the flesh, for the corselet within kept off the spear. But Tydeus' son over the great shield sought ever to reach the neck with the point of his shining spear, Then verily the Achaeans, seized with fear for Aias, bade them cease and take up equal prizes. Howbeit to Tydeus' son the warrior gave the great sword, bringing it with its scabbard and its well-cut baldric.
