Page 270 - the-iliad

thickest, about Cebriones, brave Polydamas, Phalces, Or-
thaeus, godlike Polyphetes, Palmys, Ascanius, and Morys
son of Hippotion, who had come from fertile Ascania on
the preceding day to relieve other troops. Then Jove urged
them on to fight. They flew forth like the blasts of some
fierce wind that strike earth in the van of a thunderstorm—
they buffet the salt sea into an uproar; many and mighty
are the great waves that come crashing in one after the oth-
er upon the shore with their arching heads all crested with
foam—even so did rank behind rank of Trojans arrayed in
gleaming armour follow their leaders onward. The way was
led by Hector son of Priam, peer of murderous Mars, with
his round shield before him—his shield of ox-hides cov-
ered with plates of bronze—and his gleaming helmet upon
his temples. He kept stepping forward under cover of his
shield in every direction, making trial of the ranks to see
if they would give way before him, but he could not daunt
the courage of the Achaeans. Ajax was the first to stride out
and challenge him. ‘Sir,’ he cried, ‘draw near; why do you
think thus vainly to dismay the Argives? We Achaeans are
excellent soldiers, but the scourge of Jove has fallen heav-
ily upon us. Your heart, forsooth, is set on destroying our
ships, but we too have hands that can keep you at bay, and
your own fair town shall be sooner taken and sacked by
ourselves. The time is near when you shall pray Jove and all
the gods in your flight, that your steeds may be swifter than
hawks as they raise the dust on the plain and bear you back
to your city.’
As he was thus speaking a bird flew by upon his right