From Heav’n descended; on the topmost height Of Ida’s spring-abounding hill he sat: And while his hand the lightning grasp’d, he thus To golden-winged Iris gave command: “Haste thee, swift Iris, and to Hector bear From me this message; bid him, that as long As Agamemnon in the van appears, Raging, and dealing death among the ranks, He from the battle keep himself aloof, But urge the rest undaunted to maintain The stubborn fight; but should Atrides, struck By spear or arrow, to his car withdraw, He shall from me receive such pow’r to slay, As to the ships shall bear him, ere the sun Decline, and Darkness spread her hallowing shade.” Thus he; to Troy, obedient to his word, From Ida’s heights swift-footed Iris sped: Amid the horses and the well-fram’d cars The godlike Hector, Priam’s son, she found, And stood beside him, and address’d him thus: “Hector, thou son of Priam, sage as Jove In council, he the Universal Lord Sends thee by me this message; that as long As Agamemnon in the van appears, Raging, and dealing death amid the ranks, Thou from the battle keep thyself aloof, But urge the rest undaunted to maintain The stubborn fight; but should Atrides, struck By spear or arrow, to his car withdraw, Thou shalt from him receive such pow’r to slay As to the ships shall bear thee, ere the sun Decline, and Darkness spread her hallowing shade.” Swift-footed Iris said, and disappear’d; But from his chariot Hector leap’d to earth, Hither and thither passing through the ranks, With brandish’d jav’lins urging to the fight. Loud, at his bidding, rose the battle-cry; Back roll’d the tide; again they fac’d the Greeks: On th’ other side the Greeks their masses form’d, In line of battle rang’d; opposed they stood; And in the front, to none content to cede The foremost place, was Agamemnon seen. Say now, ye Nine, who on Olympus dwell, Of all the Trojans and their fam’d Allies, Who first oppos’d to Agamemnon stood. Iphidamas, Antenor’s gallant son, Stalwart and brave; in fertile Thracia bred, Mother of flocks; him, in his infant years, His grandsire Cisseus, fair Theano’s sire, In his own palace rear’d; and when he reach’d The perfect measure of his glorious youth, Still in his house retain’d him, and to wife Gave him his daughter; but when tidings came Of Grecian warfare, from the marriage straight Embarking, with twelve beaked ships he sailed, That owned his sway; these on Percote’s shore He left; and came himself on foot to Troy; Who now confronted Atreus’ godlike son.