Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
were struck with terror when they saw the snake, portent of aegisbearing
Jove, writhing in the midst of them, and Polydamas went
up to Hector and said, “Hector, at our councils of war you are ever
given to rebuke me, even when I speak wisely, as though it were
not well, forsooth, that one of the people should cross your will
either in the field or at the council board; you would have them
support you always: nevertheless I will say what I think will be
best; let us not now go on to fight the Danaans at their ships, for I
know what will happen if this soaring eagle which skirted the left
wing of our with a monstrous blood-red snake in its talons (the
snake being still alive) was really sent as an omen to the Trojans on
their essaying to cross the trench. The eagle let go her hold; she did
not succeed in taking it home to her little ones, and so will it bewith
ourselves; even though by a mighty effort we break through
the gates and wall of the Achaeans, and they give way before us,
still we shall not return in good order by the way we came, but
shall leave many a man behind us whom the Achaeans will do to
death in defence of their ships. Thus would any seer who was
expert in these matters, and was trusted by the people, read the
portent.”
Hector looked fiercely at him and said, “Polydamas, I like not of
your reading. You can find a better saying than this if you will. If,
however, you have spoken in good earnest, then indeed has
heaven robbed you of your reason. You would have me pay no
heed to the counsels of Jove, nor to the promises he made me- and
he bowed his head in confirmation; you bid me be ruled rather by
the flight of wild-fowl. What care I whether they fly towards dawn
or dark, and whether they be on my right hand or on my left? Let
us put our trust rather in the counsel of great Jove, king of mortals
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