Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
dark till dawn we may burn watchfires whose flare may reach to
heaven. For the Achaeans may try to fly beyond the sea by night,
and they must not embark scatheless and unmolested; many a man
among them must take a dart with him to nurse at home, hit with
spear or arrow as he is leaping on board his ship, that others may
fear to bring war and weeping upon the Trojans. Moreover let the
heralds tell it about the city that the growing youths and greybearded
men are to camp upon its heaven-built walls. Let the
women each of them light a great fire in her house, and let watch be
safely kept lest the town be entered by surprise while the host is
outside. See to it, brave Trojans, as I have said, and let this suffice
for the moment; at daybreak I will instruct you further. I pray in
hope to Jove and to the gods that we may then drive those fatesped
hounds from our land, for ’tis the fates that have borne them
and their ships hither. This night, therefore, let us keep watch, but
with early morning let us put on our armour and rouse fierce war
at the ships of the Achaeans; I shall then know whether brave
Diomed the son of Tydeus will drive me back from the ships to the
wall, or whether I shall myself slay him and carry off his
bloodstained spoils. To-morrow let him show his mettle, abide my
spear if he dare. I ween that at break of day, he shall be among the
first to fall and many another of his comrades round him. Would
that I were as sure of being immortal and never growing old, and
of being worshipped like Minerva and Apollo, as I am that this day
will bring evil to the Argives.”
Thus spoke Hector and the Trojans shouted applause. They took
their sweating steeds from under the yoke, and made them fast
each by his own chariot. They made haste to bring sheep and cattle
from the city, they brought wine also and corn from their houses
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