“Be well advis’d, my friends! my counsel is That we regain the city, nor the morn Here in the plain, beside the ships, await, So far remov’d from our protecting walls. While fiercely burn’d ’gainst Atreus’ godlike son That mighty warrior’s wrath, ’twas easier far With th’ other Greeks to deal; and I rejoic’d When by the ships we pass’d the night, in hopes We soon might call them ours; but now, I own Achilles, swift of foot, excites my fear. His proud, impetuous spirit will spurn the plain, Where Greeks and Trojans oft in warlike strife Their balanc’d strength exert; if he come forth, Our fight will be to guard our homes and wives. Gain we the city; trust me, so ’twere best. Now, for a while, ambrosial night detains The son of Peleus; but at early morn If issuing forth in arms he find us here, His prowess we shall know; and happy he Who, flying, shall in safety reach the walls Of sacred Troy; for many a Trojan slain Shall feed the vultures; Heav’n avert such fate! But if, though loth, ye will by me be rul’d, This night in council husband we our strength; While tow’rs, and lofty gates, and folding doors Close join’d, well-fitting, shall our city guard: Then issuing forth in arms at early morn Man we the tow’rs; so harder were his task If, from the ships advancing, round the wall He offer battle; bootless to return, His strong-neck’d horses worn with labour vain In coursing, purposeless, around the town. To force an entrance, or the town destroy, Is not his aim; and ere that end be gain’d, The dogs of Troy upon his flesh shall feed.” To whom thus Hector of the glancing helm With stern regard: “Polydamas, thy words Are such as grate unkindly on mine ear, Who fain wouldst have us to the walls retire. What? have ye not already long enough Been coop’d within the tow’rs? the wealth of Troy, Its brass, its gold, were once the common theme Of ev’ry tongue; our hoarded treasures now Are gone, to Phrygian and Maeonian shores For sale exported, costly merchandise, Since on our city fell the wrath of Jove. And now, when deep-designing Saturn’s son Such glory gives me as to gain the ships, And, crowded by the sea, hem in the Greeks, Fool! put not thou these timid counsels forth, Which none will follow, nor will I allow. But hear ye all, and do as I advise: Share now the meal, by ranks, throughout the host; Then set your watch, and each keep careful guard; And whom his spoils o’erload, if such there be, Let him divide them with the gen’ral crowd; Better that they should hold them than the Greeks: And with the morn, in arms, beside the ships, Will we again awake the furious war. But if indeed Achilles by the ships Hath reappear’d, himself, if so he choose, Shall be the suff’rer; from the perilous strife I will not shrink, but his encounter meet: So he, or I, shall gain immortal fame; Impartial Mars hath oft the slayer slain.”