and the Rhodius, the Granicus and the Æsepus, the divine Scamander and the Simoïs, where many shields and helmets fell in the dust, and the race of demi-god men. The mouths of all these Phœbus Apollo turned to the same spot, and for nine days he directed their streams against the wall; and Jove in the mean time rained continually, that he might the sooner render the walls overwhelmed by the sea. But the Earth-shaker [Neptune] himself, holding the trident in his hands, led them on; and then dispersed among the billows all the foundations of beams and stones which the Greeks had laid with toil. And he made [all] level along the rapid Hellespont, and again covered the vast shore with sands, having demolished the wall: but then he turned the rivers to go back into their own channels, in which they had formerly poured their sweet-flowing water.[1]
Thus were Neptune and Apollo about to act hereafter; but then the battle and clamor burned around the well-built wall, and the stricken joists of the towers resounded: but the Greeks, subdued by the scourge[2] of Jove, were detained, hemmed in at the hollow ships, dreading Hector, the furious cause of flight; for he fought, as formerly, equal to a whirlwind. And as when a boar or lion is occupied among the dogs and huntsmen, looking dreadfully with strength, and they, drawing themselves up in a square form,[3] stand against him, and hurl frequent javelins from their hands; but never is his noble heart alarmed, nor is he put to flight; but his courage proves his death. And frequently he turns round, trying the ranks of men; and wheresoever he has directed his attack, there the ranks of men give way: so Hector, going through the crowd, rolled along, inciting his companions to cross the trench. Nor did the swift-footed
- ↑ On the present state of the Troad, which appears, from physical facts, to justify the mythical description of Homer—see Heyne and Kennedy. Compare Virg. Æneas. ii. 610, sqq.; Tryphiodor. 566, sqq. and 680, sqq.
- ↑ Heyne compares Il. xiii. 812; Pseud.-Eur. Rhes. 37; Pind. Pyth. iv. 390; Tryphiod. 596. The Scholiast on both passages, Hesychius, t. i. p. 1006, and the Schol. on Oppian. Hal. v. 282, suppose that the lightning is meant; but it is far better to understand, with Heyne, "terrore divinitus immisso."
- ↑ See Heyne, and Alberti on Hesych. t. ii. p. 1083.
