murderous fray, and why Come hither? Much I fear the fiery chief, Hector, will make the menace good which once He uttered, speaking to the men of Troy— Not to return to Ilium from the fleet Till he had burned our ships with fire, and slain Us also; thus he spake, and now fulfils His menace. O ye gods! The other Greeks, And not Achilles only, cherish hate Against me in their hearts, and now refuse To combat even where our galleys lie.”
And Nestor, the Gerenian knight, replied:— “Thus is the threat accomplished, nor can Jove The Thunderer reverse the event. The wall In which we trusted as impregnable, Our fleet’s defence and ours, is overthrown; But obstinately still the Greeks maintain The combat at the ships, nor couldst thou now Distinguish with thy sharpest sight where most The ranks are routed, so confusedly They fall, and the wild uproar reaches heaven. Meantime consult we what may yet be done, If counsel aught avail; yet can I not Advise to mingle in the strife again. It is not meet that wounded men should fight.”