The assault, and the Curetes climbed the walls To fire the populous city. Then the nymph, His graceful wife, entreated him with tears, And spake of all the horrors which o’ertake A captured city⁠—all the men cut off By massacre, the houses given to flames, The children and deep-bosomed women dragged Into captivity. Her sorrowful words He heard; his spirit was disturbed; he went To gird his glittering armor on, and thus He saved the Aetolians from a fearful doom, Obeying his own impulse. The reward Of rare and costly gifts they gave him not, Though thus he rescued them. Be not thy thought Like his, my friend; let no invisible power Persuade thee thus to act. Far worse it were To wait, and when our fleet is all on fire Offer thy aid. Accept the gifts at once: Then will the Greeks, as if thou wert a god, Hold thee in honor. If without the gifts Thou enter later on the field of fight, Thou wilt not have like honor with the host, Although thou turn the assault of battle back.”