Thus earth-surrounding Neptune said, and touched Each hero with his sceptre, filled their hearts With valor, gave new lightness to their limbs And feet and hands, and then, as when a hawk Shoots swiftly from some lofty precipice And chases o’er the plain another bird, So swiftly Neptune, shaker of the shores, Darted from them away. Oileus’ son Perceived the immortal presence first, and thus At once to Telamonian Ajax spake:—
“Some god, O Ajax, from the Olympian hill, Wearing the augur’s form, hath bid us fight Beside the ships; nor can it be the seer Calchas, for well I marked his feet and legs As he departed; easily by these The gods are known. I feel a spirit roused In my own bosom eager to engage In the fierce strife; my very feet below, And hands above, take part in the desire.”
And thus the son of Telamon replied:— “So also these strong hands that grasp the spear Burn eagerly to wield it, and my heart Is full of courage. I am hurried on By both my feet, and vehemently long To try alone the combat with this chief Of boundless valor, Hector, Priam’s son.”
Thus they conferred, rejoicing as they felt That ardor for the battle which the god Had breathed into their hearts. Meantime he roused The Achaians at the rear, who in their ships too Sought respite, and whose limbs were faint with toil, And their hearts sad to see the Trojan host With tumult pouring o’er the lofty wall. As they beheld, the tears came gushing forth From underneath their lids; they little hoped For rescue from destruction; but when came The power that shakes the shores, he woke anew The spirit of their valiant phalanxes. Teucer he first addressed, and Leitus, The hero Peneleus and Thoas next, Deipyrus, Meriones expert In battle, and Antilochus his peer, And thus exhorted them with wingèd words:—
“Shame on you, Argive youths! I put my trust In your tried valor to defend our fleet; But if ye fear to face the perilous fight, The day has risen