buckler. But the Locrian host Attended not Oileus’ great-souled son, Nor could they ever venture to engage In combat hand to hand. No brazen helms Were theirs, with horse-hair plumes, no orbèd shields, Nor ashen spears. They came with him to Troy, Trusting in their good bows, and in their slings Of twisted wool, from which they showered afar Stones that dispersed the phalanxes of Troy. The chieftains Ajax, warring in the van, Clad in their shining armor, fought to check The Trojans and their leader, brazen-mailed, While in the rear the Locrians lurked unseen, And sent their shafts, so that the men of Troy, All order lost, were fain to cease from fight.
Then had the Trojans from the ships and tents Turned back, and fled, with fearful loss of life, To lofty Ilium, if Polydamas Had not accosted valiant Hector thus:—
“Hector, thou hearkenest not to warning words. Deem’st thou, because a god has given thee strength Beyond all other men for feats of war, That therefore thou art wiser than they all In council? Think not for thyself to claim All gifts at once. On one the god bestows Prowess in war, upon another grace In dance, upon another skill to touch The harp and sing. In yet another, Jove The Thunderer implants the prudent mind, By which the many profit, and by which Communities are saved; and well doth he Who hath it know its worth. Now let me speak What seems to me the wisest. Round thee flames The encircling war; the valiant sons of Troy, Since they have crossed the ramparts, stand aloof, Armed as they are, or fight against large odds Scattered among the galleys. Yield thou now The ground, and, summoning the chiefs, decide What plan to follow—whether we shall storm The well-oared galleys, should the God vouchsafe The victory to us—or else depart In safety from the fleet. I greatly fear The Achaians may repay to us the debt Of yesterday. There yet is at the fleet One who, I think, no longer will refrain Wholly from battle.” Thus Polydamas Spake, and the sage advice pleased Hector well, Who, leaping from his chariot to the ground, With all his weapons, said these wingèd words:—