He spake; and she, whose feet are like the wind In swiftness, heeded the command, and flew From Ida’s summit to the sacred town Of Troy, and found the noble Hector, son Of warlike Priam, standing mid the steeds And the strong chariots, and, approaching, said:—
“O Hector, son of Priam, and like Jove In council! Jove the All-Father bids me say, As long as thou shalt see the king of men, Atrides, in the van, and dealing death Among the ranks of warriors, thou shalt still Give way, encouraging thy men to hold Unflinching battle with the enemy; But when Atrides, wounded by a spear Or arrow, shall ascend his chariot, then Will Jove endue thy arm with strength to slay Until thou come to the good ships of Greece, And the sun set, and hallowed night come down.”
So the fleet Iris spake, and went her way; While Hector, leaping from his car in arms, And wielding his sharp spears, went everywhere Among the Trojan ranks, exhorting them To combat, and renewed the stubborn fight. They rallied and stood firm against the Greeks. The Greeks, in turn, made strong their phalanxes. The battle raged again, as front to front They stood, while Agamemnon eagerly Pressed forward, proud to lead the van in fight.
Say, Muses, dwellers of Olympus! Who First of the Trojans or their brave allies Encountered Atreus’ son? Iphidamas, Son of Antenor, strong and daring, bred On the rich soil of Thrace, the nurse of flocks. His grandsire Cisseus, from whose loins the fair Theano sprang, had reared him from a child Within his palace; and, when he attained Youth’s glorious prime, still kept him, giving him His child to wife. He wedded her, but left At once the bridal chamber when he heard Of the Greek war on Ilium, and set sail With twelve beaked galleys. These he afterward Left at Percope—marching