Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
and immortals. There is one omen, and one only- that a man
should fight for his country. Why are you so fearful? Though we be
all of us slain at the ships of the Argives you are not likely to be
killed yourself, for you are not steadfast nor courageous. If you
will. not fight, or would talk others over from doing so, you shall
fall forthwith before my spear.”
With these words he led the way, and the others followed after with
a cry that rent the air. Then Jove the lord of thunder sent the blast of
a mighty wind from the mountains of Ida, that bore the dust down
towards the ships; he thus lulled the Achaeans into security, and
gave victory to Hector and to the Trojans, who, trusting to their
own might and to the signs he had shown them, essayed to break
through the great wall of the Achaeans. They tore down the
breastworks from the walls, and overthrew the battlements; they
upheaved the buttresses, which the Achaeans had set in front of the
wall in order to support it; when they had pulled these down they
made sure of breaking through the wall, but the Danaans still
showed no sign of giving ground; they still fenced the battlements
with their shields of ox-hide, and hurled their missiles down upon
the foe as soon as any came below the wall.
The two Ajaxes went about everywhere on the walls cheering on
the Achaeans, giving fair words to some while they spoke sharply
to any one whom they saw to be remiss. “My friends,” they cried,
“Argives one and all- good bad and indifferent, for there was never
fight yet, in which all were of equal prowess- there is now work
enough, as you very well know, for all of you. See that you none of
you turn in flight towards the ships, daunted by the shouting of the
foe, but press forward and keep one another in heart, if it may so
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