Page:Homer - Iliad, translation Pope, 1909.djvu/142

Full on his neck, from Hector's weighty hand;
And rolled, with limbs relaxed, along the land.
By Glaucus' spear the bold Iphinous bleeds,
Fixed in the shoulder as he mounts his steeds;
Headlong he tumbles: his slack nerves unbound
Drop the cold useless members on the ground.
When now Minerva saw her Argives slain,
From vast Olympus to the gleaming plain
Fierce she descends: Apollo marked her flight,
Nor shot less swift from Ilion's towery height:
Radiant they met, beneath the beechen shade;
When thus Apollo to the blue-eyed Maid:
"What cause, O daughter of almighty Jove,
Thus wings thy progress from the realms above?
Once more impetuous dost thou bend thy way
To give to Greece the long-divided day?
Too much has Troy already felt thy hate,
Now breathe thy rage, and hush the stern debate:
This day the business of the field suspend;
War soon shall kindle, and great Ilion bend,
Since vengeful goddesses confederate join
To raze her walls, though built by hands divine."
To whom the progeny of Jove replies:
"I left for this the council of the skies:
But who shall bid conflicting hosts forbear,
What art shall calm the furious sons of war?"
To her the god: "Great Hector's soul incite
To dare the boldest Greek to single fight,
Till Greece, provoked, from all her numbers shew
A warrior worthy to be Hector's foe."
At this agreed, the heavenly powers withdrew;
Sage Helenus their secret counsels knew:
Hector inspired he sought: to him addressed,
Thus told the dictates of his sacred breast:
"O son of Priam! let thy faithful ear
Receive my words; thy friend and brother hear!
Go forth persuasive, and awhile engage
The warring nations to suspend their rage;
Then dare the boldest of the hostile train
To mortal combat on the listed plain,
For not this day shall end thy glorious date;
The gods have spoke it, and their voice is fate."
He said: the warrior heard the word with joy;
Then with his spear restrained the youth of Troy,
Held by the midst athwart. On either hand
The squadrons part; the expecting Trojans stand,
Great Agamemnon bids the Greeks forbear;
They breathe, and hush the tumult of the war.

The Athenian Maid, and glorious god of day,