Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
Glaucus, Medon, Thersilochus, Asteropaeus, Deisenor and
Hippothous, Phorcys, Chromius and Ennomus the augur. All these
did he exhort saying, “Hear me, allies from other cities who are
here in your thousands, it was not in order to have a crowd about
me that I called you hither each from his several city, but that with
heart and soul you might defend the wives and little ones of the
Trojans from the fierce Achaeans. For this do I oppress my people
with your food and the presents that make you rich. Therefore turn,
and charge at the foe, to stand or fall as is the game of war;
whoever shall bring Patroclus, dead though he be, into the hands
of the Trojans, and shall make Ajax give way before him, I will give
him one half of the spoils while I keep the other. He will thus share
like honour with myself.”
When he had thus spoken they charged full weight upon the
Danaans with their spears held out before them, and the hopes of
each ran high that he should force Ajax son of Telamon to yield up
the body- fools that they were, for he was about to take the lives of
many. Then Ajax said to Menelaus, “My good friend Menelaus,
you and I shall hardly come out of this fight alive. I am less
concerned for the body of Patroclus, who will shortly become meat
for the dogs and vultures of Troy, than for the safety of my own
head and yours. Hector has wrapped us round in a storm of battle
from every quarter, and our destruction seems now certain. Call
then upon the princes of the Danaans if there is any who can hear
us.”
Menelaus did as he said, and shouted to the Danaans for help at
the top of his voice. “My friends,” he cried, “princes and
counsellors of the Argives, all you who with Agamemnon and
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