Thoas, Andrannon’s son, the bravest far Among the Aetolians, skilled to cast the spear And combat hand to hand, addressed the Greeks. In council few excelled him, when the youths Assembled for debate. With prudent speech Thoas bespake his fellow-warriors thus:⁠— “Gods! What a marvel do mine eyes behold; Hector has risen from death! We fully thought, Each one of us, that, smitten by the hand Of Telamonian Ajax, he had died. Some god hath rescued and restored to strength This Hector who hath slain, and yet will slay, I fear, so many Greeks. He comes not thus Leading the charge without the aid of Jove, The God of Thunders. Now let all of us Follow this counsel: bid the multitude Retreat upon the ships, and let the rest, Who boast ourselves the bravest of the host, Stand firm and breast his onset, and so break Its fury with our lifted spears. I think, With all his rage, he will be slow to fling Himself into a band of armèd Greeks.”