He spake. Meriones, like Mars in port And swiftness, hastened to the tent and brought A brazen spear, and joined Idomeneus, Eager for battle. As the god of war, The man-destroyer, comes into the field, With Terror, his strong-limbed and dauntless son, Following and striking fear into the heart Of the most resolute warrior, when from Thrace They issue armed against the Ephyri, Or else against the Phlegyans large of soul, And hearken not to both the hosts, but give To one the victory; so Meriones Advanced to battle with Idomeneus, Leaders of heroes both, and both equipped In glittering helms. And first Meriones Spake and addressed his fellow-warrior thus:—
“Son of Deucalion, at which point wilt thou Enter the throng? Upon the army’s right, Its centre, or its left? The long haired Greeks Seem most to need our aid upon the left.”
Then spoke Idomeneus, in turn, the prince Of Cretans: “At the centre of the fleet Are others who will guard it. Posted there Are either Ajax and the most expert Of Grecian archers, Teucer, not less skilled In standing fight, and amply will they task The arm of Hector, Priam’s son, though bent On desperate conflict, and though passing fierce. With all his fierceness, he will find it hard To quell their prowess, never yet o’ercome, And fire the ships, unless Saturnian Jove Himself should cast on them the flaming torch. Nor yet will Telamonian Ajax yield To any man of mortal birth, or reared Upon the grains of Ceres, or whom brass Or ponderous stones can wound. He would not own The warlike son of Peleus mightier Than he in standing fight, although in speed He vies not with him. Lead us then to join The army’s left, that we may learn at once Whether our fate in battle shall confer Glory on other men, or theirs on us.”