Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
Now, therefore, lead on where you would have us go, and we will
follow with right goodwill; you shall not find us fail you in so far
as our strength holds out, but no man can do more than in him lies,
no matter how willing he may be.”
With these words he satisfied his brother, and the two went
towards the part of the battle where the fight was thickest, about
Cebriones, brave Polydamas, Phalces, Orthaeus, godlike
Polyphetes, Palmys, Ascanius, and Morys son of Hippotion, who
had come from fertile Ascania on the preceding day to relieve other
troops. Then Jove urged them on to fight. They flew forth like the
blasts of some fierce wind that strike earth in the van of a
thunderstorm- they buffet the salt sea into an uproar; many and
mighty are the great waves that come crashing in one after the other
upon the shore with their arching heads all crested with foam- even
so did rank behind rank of Trojans arrayed in gleaming armour
follow their leaders onward. The way was led by Hector son of
Priam, peer of murderous Mars, with his round shield before himhis
shield of ox-hides covered with plates of bronze- and his
gleaming helmet upon his temples. He kept stepping forward
under cover of his shield in every direction, making trial of the
ranks to see if they would give way be him, but he could not daunt
the courage of the Achaeans. Ajax was the first to stride out and
challenge him. “Sir,” he cried, “draw near; why do you think thus
vainly to dismay the Argives? We Achaeans are excellent soldiers,
but the scourge of Jove has fallen heavily upon us. Your heart,
forsooth, is set on destroying our ships, but we too have bands that
can keep you at bay, and your own fair town shall be sooner taken
and sacked by ourselves. The time is near when you shall pray
Jove and all the gods in your flight, that your steeds may be swifter
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