BOOK VII. HE illustrious Hector spake, and rapidly THE Passed through the gate, and with him issued forth His brother Alexander, eager, both, For war and combat. As when God bestows, To glad the long-expecting mariners, A favorable wind while wearily They beat the ocean with their polished oars, Their arms all nerveless with their length of toil,— Of the two chiefs. First Alexander slew A son of Areïthous the king. Large-eyed Philomedusa brought him forth To the mace-bearer Areïthoüs. And Hector smote Eïoneus, the spear Piercing his neck beneath the brazen casque, And straightway he dropped lifeless. Glaucus then Son of Hippolochus, and chief among 10 35 S The Lycians in that fiery onset slew Her coming, and he greatly longed to give 20 25 30 "Why hast thou, daughter of imperial Jove, 35 Thus left Olympus in thine eager haste? War's wavering chances?- for I know too well Are perishing. But, if thou wilt give car 40 Cause we the conflict for this day to cease, An end be made of Troy, since it hath pleased And blue-eyed Pallas answered: “Be it so, Of Greeks and Trojans. But by what device Then spake the king Apollo, son of Jove, 45 59 In mortal combat. Then the well-armed Greeks, 55 A champion against Priam's noble son." He spake. The blue-eyed goddess gave assent; And straightway Helenus, beloved son Of Priam, in his secret mind perceived The purpose of the gods consulting thus, And came and stood by Hector's side and said: "O Hector, son of Priam, and like Jove 63 65 Proclaiming challenge to the bravest man He spake; and Hector, hearing him, rejoiced, Like vultures, on the boughs of the tall beech,— The agis,and they looked with great delight The deep, and darkens all its face with waves, In ranks upon the field, while Hector stood Between the armies and bespake them thus:— 70 75 80 85 90 Of Saturn, throned on high, hath not vouchsafed But meditates new miseries for us both, Till ye possess the towery city of Troy, Or, vanquished, yield yourselves beside the barks With you are found If one of these him stand forth Is moved to encounter me, let may 95 100 burn it on the pyre. 105 My combat with that glory, I will strip His armor off and carry it away To hallowed Ilium, there to hang it high Apollo; but his body I will send Back to the well-oared ships, that on the beach The long-haired Greeks may hold his funeral rites, 110 |