Thus as he spoke, his counsel, fraught with death, His brother’s purpose chang’d; he with his hand Adrastus thrust aside, whom with his lance Fierce Agamemnon through the loins transfix’d; And, as he roll’d in death, upon his breast Planting his foot, the ashen spear withdrew. Then loudly Nestor shouted to the Greeks: “Friends, Grecian heroes, ministers of Mars! Loiter not now behind, to throw yourselves Upon the prey, and bear it to the ships; Let all your aim be now to kill; anon Ye may at leisure spoil your slaughter’d foes.” With words like these he fir’d the blood of all. Now had the Trojans by the warlike Greeks In coward flight within their walls been driv’n; But to Æneas and to Hector thus The son of Priam, Helenus, the best Of all the Trojan seers, address’d his speech: “Æneas, and thou Hector, since on you, Of all the Trojans and the Lycian hosts, Is laid the heaviest burthen, for that ye Excel alike in council and in fight, Stand here awhile, and moving to and fro On ev’ry side, around the gates exhort The troops to rally, lest they fall disgrac’d, Flying for safety to their women’s arms, And foes, exulting, triumph in their shame. Their courage thus restor’d, worn as we are, We with the Greeks will still maintain the fight, For so, perforce, we must; but, Hector, thou Haste to the city; there our mother find, Both thine and mine; on Ilium’s topmost height By all the aged dames accompanied, Bid her the shrine of blue-ey’d Pallas seek; Unlock the sacred gates; and on the knees Of fair-hair’d Pallas place the fairest robe In all the house, the amplest, best esteem’d; And at her altar vow to sacrifice Twelve yearling kine that never felt the goad, So she have pity on the Trojan state, Our wives, and helpless babes, and turn away The fiery son of Tydeus, spearman fierce, The Minister of Terror; bravest he, In my esteem, of all the Grecian chiefs: For not Achilles’ self, the prince of men, Though Goddess-born, such dread inspir’d; so fierce His rage; and with his prowess none may vie.” He said, nor uncomplying, Hector heard His brother’s counsel; from his car he leap’d In arms upon the plain; and brandish’d high His jav’lins keen, and moving to and fro The troops encourag’d, and restor’d the fight. Rallying they turn’d, and fac’d again the Greeks: These ceas’d from slaughter, and in turn gave way, Deeming that from the starry Heav’n some God Had to the rescue come; so fierce they turn’d. Then to the Trojans Hector call’d aloud: “Ye valiant Trojans, and renown’d Allies, Quit you like men; remember now, brave friends, Your wonted valour; I to Ilium go To bid our wives and rev’rend Elders raise To Heav’n their pray’rs, with vows of hecatombs.” Thus saying, Hector of the glancing helm Turn’d to depart; and as he mov’d along, The black bull’s-hide his neck and ancles smote, The outer circle of his bossy shield.