The noble Hector then to council call’d The Trojan leaders; from the ships apart He led them, by the eddying river’s side, To a clear space of ground, from corpses free. They from their cars dismounting, to the words Of godlike Hector listen’d: in his hand His massive spear he held, twelve cubits long, Whose glitt’ring point flash’d bright, with hoop of gold Encircled round; on this he leant, and said, “Hear me, ye Trojans, Dardans, and Allies; I hop’d that to the breezy heights of Troy We might ere now in triumph have return’d, The Grecian ships and all the Greeks destroy’d: But night hath come too soon, and sav’d awhile The Grecian army and their stranded ships. Then yield we to the night; prepare the meal; Unyoke your horses, and before them place Their needful forage; from the city bring Oxen and sheep; the luscious wine provide; Bring bread from out our houses; and collect Good store of fuel, that the livelong night, E’en till the dawn of day, may broadly blaze Our num’rous watchfires, and illume the Heav’ns; Lest, e’en by night, the long-hair’d Greeks should seek O’er the broad bosom of the sea to fly, That so not unassail’d they may embark, Nor undisturb’d; but haply some may bear, E’en to their homes, the mem’ry of a wound Receiv’d from spear or arrow, as on board They leap’d in haste; and others too may fear To tempt with hostile arms the pow’r of Troy. Then let the sacred heralds’ voice proclaim Throughout the city, that the stripling youths And hoary-headed sires allot themselves In sev’ral watches to the Heav’n-built tow’rs. Charge too the women, in their houses each, To kindle blazing fires; let careful watch Be set, lest, in the absence of the men, The town by secret ambush be surpris’d. Such, valiant Trojans, is th’ advice I give; And what to-night your wisdom shall approve Will I, at morn, before the Trojans speak. Hopeful, to Jove I pray, and all the Gods, To chase from hence these fate-inflicted hounds, By fate sent hither on their dark-ribb’d ships. Now keep we through the night our watchful guard; And with the early dawn, equipp’d in arms, Upon their fleet our angry battle pour. Then shall I know if Tydeus’ valiant son Back from the ships shall drive me to the walls, Or I, triumphant, bear his bloody spoils: To-morrow morn his courage will decide, If he indeed my onset will await. But ere to-morrow’s sun be high in Heav’n, He, ’mid the foremost, if I augur right, Wounded and bleeding in the dust shall lie, And many a comrade round him. Would to Heav’n I were as sure to be from age and death Exempt, and held in honour as a God, Phoebus, or Pallas, as I am assur’d The coming day is fraught with ill to Greece.”