Yet let us go: we will confer of this Another time, if Jove should e'er vouchsafe That to the immortal gods of heaven we pour In our own halls the cup of liberty 670 When we have chased the well-armed Greeks from Troy." 27 BOOK VII. HE illustrious Hector spake, and rapidly TH Passed through the gate, and with him issued forth 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,— Such to the expecting Trojans was the sight Of the two chiefs. First Alexander slew Menesthius, who in Arne had his home, A son of Areïthoüs the king. Large-eyed Philomedusa brought him forth And Hector smote Eïoneus, the spear Piercing his neck beneath the brazen casque, And straightway he dropped lifeless. Glaucus then The Lycians—in that fiery onset slew 20 25 30 "Why hast thou, daughter of imperial Jove, Thus left Olympus in thine eager haste? 35 Seek'st thou to turn in favor of the Greeks War's wavering chances?— for I know too well 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 50 In mortal combat. Then the well-armed Greeks, 55 Stung by the bold defiance, will send forth. 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 In council, wilt thou hearken to my words Who am thy brother? Cause the Trojans all And all the Greeks to sit, while thou shalt stand 60 65 Proclaiming challenge to the bravest man He spake; and Hector, hearing him, rejoiced, Like vultures, on the boughs of the tall beech,— array The deep, and darkens all its face with waves, In ranks upon the field, while Hector stood 70 75 80 85 90 |