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gleaming bronze flashed fiercely about his body and he had two
spears in his hand。 None but a god could have withstood him as he
flung himself into the gateway； and his eyes glared like fire。
Then he turned round towards the Trojans and called on them to
scale the wall； and they did as he bade themsome of them at
once climbing over the wall； while others passed through the
gates。 The Danaans then fled panic…stricken towards their ships；
and all was uproar and confusion。
BOOK XIII
Neptune helps the AchaeansThe feats of Idomeneus
Hector at the ships。
NOW when Jove had thus brought Hector and the Trojans to the
ships； he left them to their never…ending toil； and turned his
keen eyes away； looking elsewhither towards the horse…breeders of
Thrace； the Mysians； fighters at close quarters； the noble
Hippemolgi； who live on milk； and the Abians； justest of mankind。
He no longer turned so much as a glance towards Troy； for he did
not think that any of the immortals would go and help either
Trojans or Danaans。
But King Neptune had kept no blind look…out； he had been looking
admiringly on the battle from his seat on the topmost crests of
wooded Samothrace； whence he could see all Ida； with the city of
Priam and the ships of the Achaeans。 He had e from under the
sea and taken his place here； for he pitied the Achaeans who were
being overe by the Trojans； and he was furiously angry with
Jove。
Presently he came down from his post on the mountain top； and as
he strode swiftly onwards the high hills and the forest quaked
beneath the tread of his immortal feet。 Three strides he took；
and with the fourth he reached his goalAegae； where is his
glittering golden palace； imperishable； in the depths of the sea。
When he got there； he yoked his fleet brazen…footed steeds with
their manes of gold all flying in the wind； he clothed himself in
raiment of gold； grasped his gold whip； and took his stand upon
his chariot。 As he went his way over the waves the sea…monsters
left their lairs； for they knew their lord； and came gambolling
round him from every quarter of the deep； while the sea in her
gladness opened a path before his chariot。 So lightly did the
horses fly that the bronze axle of the car was not even wet
beneath it； and thus his bounding steeds took him to the ships of
the Achaeans。
Now there is a certain huge cavern in the depths of the sea
midway between Tenedos and rocky Imbrus； here Neptune lord of the
earthquake stayed his horses； unyoked them； and set before them
their ambrosial forage。 He hobbled their feet with hobbles of
gold which none could either unloose or break； so that they might
stay there in that place until their lord should return。 This
done he went his way to the host of the Achaeans。
Now the Trojans followed Hector son of Priam in close array like
a storm…cloud or flame of fire； fighting with might and main and
raising the cry battle； for they deemed that they should take the
ships of the Achaeans and kill all their chiefest heroes then and
there。 Meanwhile earth…encircling Neptune lord of the earthquake
cheered on the Argives； for he had e up out of the sea and had
assumed the form and voice of Calchas。
First he spoke to the two Ajaxes； who were doing their best
already； and said； 〃Ajaxes； you two can be the saving of the
Achaeans if you will put out all your strength and not let
yourselves be daunted。 I am not afraid that the Trojans； who have
got over the wall in force； will be victorious in any other part；
for the Achaeans can hold all of them in check； but I much fear
that some evil will befall us here where furious Hector； who
boasts himself the son of great Jove himself； is leading them on
like a pillar of flame。 May some god； then； put it into your
hearts to make a firm stand here； and to incite others to do the
like。 In this case you will drive him from the ships even though
he be inspired by Jove himself。〃
As he spoke the earth…encircling lord of the earthquake struck
both of them with his sceptre and filled their hearts with
daring。 He made their legs light and active； as also their hands
and their feet。 Then； as the soaring falcon poises on the wing
high above some sheer rock； and presently swoops down to chase
some bird over the plain； even so did Neptune lord of the
earthquake wing his flight into the air and leave them。 Of the
two； swift Ajax son of Oileus was the first to know who it was
that had been speaking with them； and said to Ajax son of
Telamon； 〃Ajax； this is one of the gods that dwell on Olympus；
who in the likeness of the prophet is bidding us fight hard by
our ships。 It was not Calchas the seer and diviner of omens； I
knew him at once by his feet and knees as he turned away； for the
gods are soon recognised。 Moreover I feel the lust of battle burn
more fiercely within me； while my hands and my feet under me are
more eager for the fray。〃
And Ajax son of Telamon answered； 〃I too feel my hands grasp my
spear more firmly； my strength is greater； and my feet more
nimble； I long； moreover； to meet furious Hector son of Priam；
even in single bat。〃
Thus did they converse； exulting in the hunger after battle with
which the god had filled them。 Meanwhile the earth…encircler
roused the Achaeans； who were resting in the rear by the ships
overe at once by hard fighting and by grief at seeing that the
Trojans had got over the wall in force。 Tears began falling from
their eyes as they beheld them； for they made sure that they
should not escape destruction； but the lord of the earthquake
passed lightly about among them and urged their battalions to the
front。
First he went up to Teucer and Leitus； the hero Peneleos； and
Thoas and Deipyrus； Meriones also and Antilochus； valiant
warriors； all did he exhort。 〃Shame on you young Argives；〃 he
cried； 〃it was on your prowess I relied for the saving of our
ships； if you fight not with might and main； this very day will
see us overe by the Trojans。 Of a truth my eyes behold a great
and terrible portent which I had never thought to seethe
Trojans at our shipsthey； who were heretofore like
panic…stricken hinds； the prey of jackals and wolves in a forest；
with no strength but in flight for they cannot defend themselves。
Hitherto the Trojans dared not for one moment face the attack of
the Achaeans； but now they have sallied far from their city and
are fighting at our very ships through the cowardice of our
leader and the disaffection of the people themselves； who in
their discontent care not to fight in defence of the ships but
are being slaughtered near them。 True； King Agamemnon son of
Atreus is the cause of our disaster by having insulted the son of
Peleus； still this is no reason why we should leave off fighting。
Let us be quick to heal； for the hearts of the brave heal
quickly。 You do ill to be thus remiss； you； who are the finest
soldiers in our whole army。 I blame no man for keeping out of
battle if he is a weakling； but I am indignant with such men as
you are。 My good friends； matters will soon bee even worse
through this slackness； think； each one of you； of his own honour
and credit； for the hazard of the fight is extre