Atrides, loudly shouting, call’d the Greeks To arms: himself his flashing armour donn’d. First on his legs the well-wrought greaves he fix’d, Fasten’d with silver clasps; his ample chest A breastplate guarded, giv’n by Cinyras In pledge of friendship; for in Cyprus’ isle He heard the rumour of the glorious fleet About to sail for Troy; and sought with gifts To win the favour of the mighty King. Ten bands were there inwrought of dusky bronze, Twelve of pure gold, twice ten of shining tin: Of bronze six dragons upwards tow’rds the neck Their length extended, three on either side: In colour like the bow, which Saturn’s son Plac’d in the clouds, a sign to mortal men: Then o’er his shoulder threw his sword; bright flash’d The golden studs; the silver scabbard shone, With golden baldrick fitted; next his shield He took, full-siz’d, well-wrought, well-prov’d in fight; Around it ran ten circling rims of brass; With twenty bosses round of burnish’d tin, And, in the centre, one of dusky bronze. A Gorgon’s head, with aspect terrible, Was wrought, with Fear and Flight encircled round: Depending from a silver belt it hung; And on the belt a dragon, wrought in bronze, Twin’d his lithe folds, and turn’d on ev’ry side, Sprung from a single neck, his triple head. Then on his brow his lofty helm he plac’d, Four-crested, double-peak’d, with horsehair plumes, That nodded,-fearful, from the warrior’s head. Then took two weighty lances, tipp’d with brass, Which fiercely flash’d against the face of Heav’n: Pallas and Juno thund’ring from on high In honour of Mycenæ’s wealthy lord. Forthwith they order’d, each his charioteer, To stay his car beside the ditch; themselves, On foot, in arms accoutred, sallied forth, And loud, ere early dawn, the clamour rose. Advanc’d before the cars, they lin’d the ditch; Follow’d the cars, a little space between: But Jove with dire confusion fill’d their ranks, Who sent from Heav’n a show’r of blood-stain’d rain. In sign of many a warrior’s coming doom, Soon to the viewless shades untimely sent. Meanwhile upon the slope, beneath the plain, The Trojan chiefs were gather’d; Hector’s self, Polydamas, Æneas, as a God In rev’rence held; Antenor’s three brave sons, Agenor’s godlike presence, Polybus, And, heav’nly fair, the youthful Acamas. In front was seen the broad circumference Of Hector’s shield; and as amid the clouds Shines forth the fiery dog-star, bright and clear, Anon beneath the cloudy veil conceal’d; So now in front was Hector seen, and now Pass’d to the rear, exhorting; all in brass, His burnish’d arms like Jove’s own lightning flash’d.