For twisting backward through the breast he pierc’d His bearer, near the neck; he, stung with pain, Let fall his prey, which dropp’d amid the crowd; Then screaming, on the blast was borne away. The Trojans, shudd’ring, in their midst beheld The spotted serpent, dire portent of Jove: Then to bold Hector thus Polydamas: “Hector, in council thou reprov’st me oft For good advice; it is not meet, thou say’st, That private men should talk beside the mark, In council or in war, but study still Thine honour to exalt; yet must I now Declare what seems to me the wisest course: Let us not fight the Greeks beside their ships; For thus I read the future, if indeed To us, about to cross, this sign from Heav’n Was sent, to leftward of th’ astonish’d crowd: A soaring eagle, bearing in his claws A dragon, huge of size, of blood-red hue, Alive; yet dropp’d him ere he reach’d his home, Nor to his nestlings bore th’ intended prey: So we, e’en though our mighty strength should break The gates and wall, and put the Greeks to rout, By the same road not scatheless should return, But many a Trojan on the field should leave, Slain by the Greeks, while they their ships defend. So would a seer, well vers’d in augury, Worthy of public credit, read this sign.” To whom thus Hector of the glancing helm Replied, with stern regard: “Polydamas, This speech of thine is alien to my soul: Thy better judgment better counsel knows. But if in earnest such is thine advice, Thee of thy senses have the Gods bereft, Who fain wouldst have us disregard the word And promise by the nod of Jove confirm’d, And put our faith in birds’ expanded wings; Little of these I reck, nor care to look, If to the right, and tow’rd the morning sun, Or to the left, and shades of night, they fly. Put we our trust in Jove’s eternal will, Of mortals and Immortals King supreme. The best of omens is our country’s cause. Why shouldst thou tremble at the battle strife? Though ev’ry Trojan else were doom’d to die Beside the ships, no fear lest thou shouldst fall: Unwarlike is thy soul, nor firm of mood: But if thou shrink, or by thy craven words Turn back another Trojan from the fight, My spear shall take the forfeit of thy life.”