Heed, then, my words, and let the charioteers Stay with the coursers at the trench, while we, Armed, and on foot, and all in close array, Follow our Hector. For the Greeks in vain. Will strive to stem our onset if, in truth, The hour of their destruction be at hand."
So spake Polydamas; and Hector, pleased To hear the prudent counsel, leaped to earth With all his arms, and left his car. The rest Rode with their steeds no more, but, hastily Dismounting, as they saw their noble chief, Each bade his charioteer hold back his steeds, Reined at the trench, in ranks. And then, apart, They mustered in five columns, following close Their leaders. First, the largest, bravest band, Those who, with resolute daring, longed to break The rampart and to storm the fleet, were led By Hector and the good Polydamas, Joined with Cebriones,- for Hector left His chariot to the care of one who held An humbler station than Cebriones. Paris, Alcathoüs, and Agenor led A second squadron. Helenus, a son Of Priam, and Deïphobus, a youth
Of godlike form, his brother, took command
yet a third, with whom in rank was joined The hero Asius, son of Hyrtacus,
Whose bright-haired coursers, of majestic size, Had borne him from Arisba and the banks Of Selleis. Æneas led the fourth,- The brave son of Anchises; and with him Were joined Archilochus and Acamas, Sons of Antenor, skilled in arts of war. The band of Troy's illustrious allies Followed Sarpedon, who from all the rest Had chosen, to partake in the command, Glaucus and brave Asteropæus. These He deemed the bravest under him; yet he Stood foremost of them all in warlike might.
Then all, with their stout bucklers of bull's-hide Adjusted to each other, bravely marched Against the Greeks, who, as they deemed, must fly Before them, and must fall by their black ships. Then all the other Trojans, and the allies From foreign shores, obeyed the counsel given
By good Polydamas; but Asius, son
Of Hyrtacus, and prince of men, chose not
To leave his chariot and his charioteer,
But drave with them against the roomy ships.
he was not destined to return,
Borne by his steeds and chariot, from the fleet,
And from the fate he braved, to wind-swept Troy.
His evil fate o'ertook him from the spear
great Idomeneus, Deucalion's son;
For toward the galleys moored upon the left He hastened by the way in which the Greeks, With steeds and cars, retreated from the plain. Thither he drave his coursers; there he found The gates not closed, nor the long bar across, But warriors held them open to receive In safety their companions as they fled From battle to the fleet. Exultingly
He turned his coursers thither, and his men
Followed him, shouting; for they thought the Greeks
Could not abide their onset, but must yield, And perish by their ships. Deluded men! They met two mighty warriors at the gate,- The brave descendants of the Lapithæ, That warlike tribe: Pirithoüs' gallant son Was one, named Polypotes; with him stood Leonteus, strong as Mars the slayer of men. By the tall gates they stood, as giant oaks
Stand on the mountains and defy the wind
And the tempestuous rains of all the
Firm-planted on their strong and spreading roots. So they, confiding in their strength of arm, Waited for mighty Asius hasting on,
And fled not. Onward came the hostile troop,
With their tough shields uplifted, and with shouts: All rushing toward the massive wall they came, Following King Asius, and Iamenus,
Orestes, Thoön, Acamas the son
Of Asius, and Enomaüs. Meanwhile Leonteus and his comrade had retired Within, encouraging the well-armed Greeks To combat for the fleet; but when they saw The rout and panic of their flying host, They darted forth and fought before the gates, Fought like wild boars that in the mountains meet A clamorous troop of men and dogs, and dart Sideway at their assailants, break the trees
Close to the root, and fiercely gnash their tusks, Until some javelin strikes them, and they die. So on the breasts of the two warriors rang The shining brass, oft smitten; for they fought Fearlessly, trusting in the aid of those
Who held the wall, and their own valiant arms. And they who stood on the strong towers hurled down Stones, to defend the Achaians and their tents
And their swift ships. As snow-flakes fall to earth When strong winds, driving on the shadowy cloud, Shower them upon the nourishing glebe, so thick Were showered the weapons from the hands of Greeks And Trojans; and the helms and bossy shields, Beaten by stones, resounded. Asius then- The son of Hyrtacus-in anger groaned,
And smote his thighs impatiently, and said:
"O Father Jove! thou then art wholly false.
I did not look to see the men of Greece
Stand thus before our might and our strong arms; Yet they, like pliant-bodied wasps or bees, That build their cells beside the rocky way, And quit not their abode, but, waiting there The hunter, combat for their young -so these, Although but two, withdraw not from the gates, Nor will, till they be slain or seized alive."
He spake; but moved not thus the will of Jove, Who planned to give the glory of the day To Hector. Meanwhile, at the other gates. Fought other warriors, - but 't were hard for me,
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