Page 112 - the-iliad

sacrifice twelve yearling heifers that have never yet felt the
goad, in the temple of the goddess, if she will take pity on
the town, with the wives and little ones of the Trojans, and
keep the son of Tydeus from falling on the goodly city of
Ilius; for he fights with fury and fills men’s souls with panic.
I hold him mightiest of them all; we did not fear even their
great champion Achilles, son of a goddess though he be, as
we do this man: his rage is beyond all bounds, and there is
none can vie with him in prowess.’
Hector did as his brother bade him. He sprang from his
chariot, and went about everywhere among the host, bran-
dishing his spears, urging the men on to fight, and raising
the dread cry of battle. Thereon they rallied and again faced
the Achaeans, who gave ground and ceased their murder-
ous onset, for they deemed that some one of the immortals
had come down from starry heaven to help the Trojans, so
strangely had they rallied. And Hector shouted to the Tro-
jans, ‘Trojans and allies, be men, my friends, and fight with
might and main, while I go to Ilius and tell the old men of
our council and our wives to pray to the gods and vow heca-
tombs in their honour.’
With this he went his way, and the black rim of hide that
went round his shield beat against his neck and his ancles.
Then Glaucus son of Hippolochus, and the son of Tydeus
went into the open space between the hosts to fight in single
combat. When they were close up to one another Diomed
of the loud war-cry was the first to speak. ‘Who, my good
sir,’ said he, ‘who are you among men? I have never seen
you in battle until now, but you are daring beyond all oth-

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