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Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

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<strong>Homer</strong>’s <strong>Iliad</strong><br />

Thus spoke Polydamas, and his words pleased Hector well. He<br />

sprang in full armour from his chariot and said, “Polydamas,<br />

gather the chieftains here; I will go yonder into the fight, but will<br />

return at once when I have given them their orders.”<br />

He then sped onward, towering like a snowy mountain, and with a<br />

loud cry flew through the ranks of the Trojans and their allies.<br />

When they heard his voice they all hastened to gather round<br />

Polydamas the excellent son of Panthous, but Hector kept on<br />

among the foremost, looking everywhere to find Deiphobus and<br />

prince Helenus, Adamas son of Asius, and Asius son of Hyrtacus;<br />

living, indeed, and scatheless he could no longer find them, for the<br />

two last were lying <strong>by</strong> the sterns of the Achaean ships, slain <strong>by</strong> the<br />

Argives, while the others had been also stricken and wounded <strong>by</strong><br />

them; but upon the left wing of the dread battle he found<br />

Alexandrus, husband of lovely Helen, cheering his men and urging<br />

them on to fight. He went up to him and upbraided him. “Paris,”<br />

said he, “evil-hearted Paris, fair to see but woman-mad and false of<br />

tongue, where are Deiphobus and King Helenus? Where are<br />

Adamas son of Asius, and Asius son of Hyrtacus? Where too is<br />

Othryoneus? Ilius is undone and will now surely fall!”<br />

Alexandrus answered, “Hector, why find fault when there is no one<br />

to find fault with? I should hold aloof from battle on any day rather<br />

than this, for my mother bore me with nothing of the coward about<br />

me. From the moment when you set our men fighting about the<br />

ships we have been staying here and doing battle with the<br />

Danaans. Our comrades about whom you ask me are dead;<br />

Deiphobus and King Helenus alone have left the field, wounded<br />

both of them in the hand, but the son of Saturn saved them alive.<br />

260

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