“Ye men of Troy and Lycia, and ye sons Of Dardanus who combat hand to hand, Acquit yourselves like men, my friends, and prove Your fiery valor by these roomy ships; For I have seen with mine own eyes the shafts Of their chief warrior rendered impotent By Jupiter. His hand is plainly seen Among the sons of men; to some he gives Glory above the rest; from some he takes The glory, and withdraws from their defence. He withers now the courage of the Greeks, And succors us. Press closely round the fleet, And combat. Whosoe’er among you all, Wounded or beaten down, shall meet his death, So let him die; ’tis no inglorious fate To perish fighting in his country’s cause; And he shall leave his wife and children safe, His home and household store inviolate, If now the Greeks depart to their own land.”

With words like these he filled their hearts anew With strength and courage. On the other side Ajax exhorted thus his warrior friends:⁠—