Page 276 - the-iliad

Argives in the use of the spear. You must yourselves have
heard whether these things are true or no; therefore when
I say well despise not my words as though I were a coward
or of ignoble birth. I say, then, let us go to the fight as we
needs must, wounded though we be. When there, we may
keep out of the battle and beyond the range of the spears
lest we get fresh wounds in addition to what we have al-
ready, but we can spur on others, who have been indulging
their spleen and holding aloof from battle hitherto.’
Thus did he speak; whereon they did even as he had said
and set out, King Agamemnon leading the way.
Meanwhile Neptune had kept no blind look-out, and
came up to them in the semblance of an old man. He took
Agamemnon’s right hand in his own and said, ‘Son of Atre-
us, I take it Achilles is glad now that he sees the Achaeans
routed and slain, for he is utterly without remorse—may he
come to a bad end and heaven confound him. As for your-
self, the blessed gods are not yet so bitterly angry with you
but that the princes and counsellors of the Trojans shall
again raise the dust upon the plain, and you shall see them
flying from the ships and tents towards their city.’
With this he raised a mighty cry of battle, and sped for-
ward to the plain. The voice that came from his deep chest
was as that of nine or ten thousand men when they are
shouting in the thick of a fight, and it put fresh courage into
the hearts of the Achaeans to wage war and do battle with-
out ceasing.
Juno of the golden throne looked down as she stood
upon a peak of Olympus and her heart was gladdened at the