Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
ground, while the Argives raised a loud cry of triumph, and drew
off the bodies of Phorcys and Hippothous which they stripped
presently of their armour.
The Trojans would now have been worsted by the brave Achaeans
and driven back to Ilius through their own cowardice, while the
Argives, so great was their courage and endurance, would have
achieved a triumph even against the will of Jove, if Apollo had not
roused Aeneas, in the likeness of Periphas son of Epytus, an
attendant who had grown old in the service of Aeneas’ aged father,
and was at all times devoted to him. In his likeness, then, Apollo
said, “Aeneas, can you not manage, even though heaven be against
us, to save high Ilius? I have known men, whose numbers, courage,
and self-reliance have saved their people in spite of Jove, whereas
in this case he would much rather give victory to us than to the
Danaans, if you would only fight instead of being so terribly
afraid.”
Aeneas knew Apollo when he looked straight at him, and shouted
to Hector saying, “Hector and all other Trojans and allies, shame on
us if we are beaten by the Achaeans and driven back to Ilius
through our own cowardice. A god has just come up to me and told
me that Jove the supreme disposer will be with us. Therefore let us
make for the Danaans, that it may go hard with them ere they bear
away dead Patroclus to the ships.”
As he spoke he sprang out far in front of the others, who then
rallied and again faced the Achaeans. Aeneas speared Leiocritus
son of Arisbas, a valiant follower of Lycomedes, and Lycomedes
was moved with pity as he saw him fall; he therefore went close
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