Greeks and succor Troy, I should rejoice Were the design at once fulfilled, and all The sons of Greece ingloriously cut off, Far from their Argos. But if they should turn Upon us, and repulse us from their fleet, And we become entangled in the trench, I deem no messenger would e’er go back To Troy from fighting with the rallied Greeks. Heed, then, my words, and let the charioteers Stay with the coursers at the trench, while we, Armed, and on foot, and all in close array, Follow our Hector. For the Greeks in vain Will strive to stem our onset if, in truth, The hour of their destruction be at hand.”
So spake Polydamas; and Hector, pleased To hear the prudent counsel, leaped to earth With all his arms, and left his car. The rest Rode with their steeds no more, but, hastily Dismounting, as they saw their noble chief, Each bade his charioteer hold back his steeds, Reined at the trench, in ranks. And then, apart, They mustered in five columns, following close Their leaders. First, the largest, bravest band, Those who, with resolute daring, longed to break The rampart and to storm the fleet, were led By Hector and the good Polydamas, Joined with Cebriones—for Hector left His chariot to the care of one who held An humbler station than Cebriones. Paris, Alcathoüs, and Agenor led A second squadron. Helenus, a son Of Priam, and Deïphobus, a youth Of godlike form, his brother, took command Of yet a third—with whom in rank was joined The hero Asius, son of Hyrtacus, Whose bright-haired coursers, of majestic size, Had borne him from Arisba and the banks Of Selleis. Aeneas led the fourth— The brave son of Anchises; and with him Were joined Archilochus and Acamas, Sons of Antenor, skilled in arts of war. The band of Troy’s illustrious allies Followed Sarpedon, who from all the rest Had chosen, to partake in the command, Glaucus and brave Asteropoeus. These He deemed the bravest under him; yet he Stood foremost of them all in warlike might.
Then all, with their stout bucklers of bull’s-hide Adjusted to each other, bravely marched Against the Greeks, who, as they deemed, must fly