280
Slain by the Grecians in their fleet's defence.
An augur skill'd in omens would expound
This omen thus, and faith would win from all.
To whom, dark-louring, Hector thus replied.
Polydamas! I like not thy advice; 285
Thou couldst have framed far better; but if this
Be thy deliberate judgment, then the Gods
Make thy deliberate judgment nothing worth,
Who bidd'st me disregard the Thunderer's[2] firm
Assurance to myself announced, and make 290
The wild inhabitants of air my guides,
Which I alike despise, speed they their course
With right-hand flight toward the ruddy East,
Or leftward down into the shades of eve.
Consider _we_ the will of Jove alone, 295
Sovereign of heaven and earth. Omens abound,
But the best omen is our country's cause.[3]
Wherefore should fiery war _thy_ soul alarm?
For were we slaughter'd, one and all, around
The fleet of Greece, _thou_ need'st not fear to die, 300
Whose courage never will thy flight retard.
But if thou shrink thyself, or by smooth speech
Seduce one other from a soldier's part,
Pierced by this spear incontinent thou diest.
So saying he led them, who with deafening roar 305
Follow'd him. Then, from the Idaean hills
Jove hurl'd a storm which wafted right the dust
Into the fleet; the spirits too he quell'd
Of the Achaians, and the glory gave
To Hector and his host; they, trusting firm 310
In signs from Jove, and in their proper force,
Assay'd the barrier; from the towers they tore
The galleries, cast the battlements to ground,
And the projecting buttresses adjoin'd
To strengthen the vast work, with bars upheaved. 315
All these, with expectation fierce to break
The rampart, down they drew; nor yet the Greeks
Gave back, but fencing close with shields the wall,
Smote from behind them many a foe beneath.
Meantime from tower to tower the Ajaces moved 320
Exhorting all; with mildness some, and some
With harsh rebuke, whom they observed through fear
Declining base the labors of the fight,
Friends! Argives! warriors of whatever rank!
Ye who excel, and ye of humbler note! 325
And ye the last and least! (for such there are,
All have not magnanimity alike)
Now have we work for all, as all