Page 247 - the-iliad

with which the god had filled them. Meanwhile the earth-
encircler roused the Achaeans, who were resting in the rear
by the ships overcome at once by hard fighting and by grief
at seeing that the Trojans had got over the wall in force.
Tears began falling from their eyes as they beheld them, for
they made sure that they should not escape destruction; but
the lord of the earthquake passed lightly about among them
and urged their battalions to the front.
First he went up to Teucer and Leitus, the hero Penele-
os, and Thoas and Deipyrus; Meriones also and Antilochus,
valiant warriors; all did he exhort. ‘Shame on you young
Argives,’ he cried, ‘it was on your prowess I relied for the
saving of our ships; if you fight not with might and main,
this very day will see us overcome by the Trojans. Of a
truth my eyes behold a great and terrible portent which I
had never thought to see—the Trojans at our ships—they,
who were heretofore like panic-stricken hinds, the prey of
jackals and wolves in a forest, with no strength but in flight
for they cannot defend themselves. Hitherto the Trojans
dared not for one moment face the attack of the Achaeans,
but now they have sallied far from their city and are fight-
ing at our very ships through the cowardice of our leader
and the disaffection of the people themselves, who in their
discontent care not to fight in defence of the ships but are
being slaughtered near them. True, King Agamemnon son
of Atreus is the cause of our disaster by having insulted the
son of Peleus, still this is no reason why we should leave off
fighting. Let us be quick to heal, for the hearts of the brave
heal quickly. You do ill to be thus remiss, you, who are the

The Iliad