ng councils at the gates of Priam. But
swift-footed Iris standing near, accosted them: and she likened herself
in voice to Polites, son of Priam, who, trusting to the swiftness of his
feet, sat at watch for the Trojans on the top of the tomb[139] of old
AEsyetus, watching when the Greeks should set forth from the ships. To
him having likened herself, swift-footed Iris addressed them:

"Old man, ever are injudicious words pleasing to thee, as formerly in
time of peace: but now has an inevitable war arisen. Truly I have
already very often been present at the conflicts of heroes, but never
have I beheld such brave and numerous forces. For very like unto the
leaves or the sand proceed they through the plain, about to fight for
the city. Hector, for it is to thee in particular I give advice: and do
thou act thus; for many are the allies through the great city of Priam;
and different are the languages[140] of the widely-spread men. Let then
each hero command those of whom he is the chief: but do thou,
marshalling the citizens, be leader of them."

Thus she said. But Hector was not ignorant of the voice of the goddess;
and he instantly dismissed the council, and they rushed to arms. And the
portals were opened, and the troops rushed out, both foot and horse; and
much tumult arose.

Now there is a certain lofty mound before the city, far in the plain,
that may be run round,[141] which men indeed call Batiea, but the
immortals, the tomb of nimbly-springing Myrinna. There the Trojans and
their allies were then marshalled separately.

[Footnote 139: On the height of the ancient tombs, see my note on
Odyss. ii. p. 21, n. 35, ed. Bohn.]

[Footnote 140: Cf. iv. 437, where this variety of dialects is
again mentioned, and Mueller, Greek Lit. i. Sec. 4.]

[Footnote 141: _I. e._ standing clear on all sides.]

The Trojans, in the first place, great helmet-nodding Hector, son of
Priam, commanded. With him far the most numerous and the bravest troops
were armed, ardent with their spears.

The Dardanians, in the next place, AEneas, the gallant son of Anchises,
commanded (him to Anchises the divine goddess Venus bore, couched with
him a mortal on the tops of Ida): not alone, but with him the two sons
of Antenor, Archelochus and Acamas, skilled in every kind of fight.

But the Trojans who inhabited Zeleia,[142] beneath the lowest foot of
Ida, wealthy and drinking the dark water of AEsepus, these Pandarus, the
valiant s