And cultured valleys rich; the ports and shores Receive it also of the hoary deep, But there the waves bound it, while all beside Lies whelm’d beneath Jove’s fast-descending shower,345 So thick, from side to side, by Trojans hurl’d Against the Greeks, and by the Greeks return’d The stony vollies flew; resounding loud Through all its length the battered rampart roar’d. Nor yet had Hector and his host prevail’d350 To burst the gates, and break the massy bar, Had not all-seeing Jove Sarpedon moved His son, against the Greeks, furious as falls The lion on some horned herd of beeves. At once his polish’d buckler he advanced355 With leafy brass o’erlaid; for with smooth brass The forger of that shield its oval disk Had plated, and with thickest hides throughout Had lined it, stitch’d with circling wires of gold. That shield he bore before him; firmly grasp’d360 He shook two spears, and with determined strides March’d forward. As the lion mountain-bred, After long fast, by impulse of his heart Undaunted urged, seeks resolute the flock Even in the shelter of their guarded home;365 He finds, perchance, the shepherds arm’d with spears, And all their dogs awake, yet can not leave Untried the fence, but either leaps it light, And entering tears the prey, or in the attempt Pierced by some dexterous peasant, bleeds himself;370 So high his courage to the assault impell’d Godlike Sarpedon, and him fired with hope To break the barrier; when to Glaucus thus, Son of Hippolochus, his speech he turn’d. Why, Glaucus, is the seat of honor ours,375 Why drink we brimming cups, and feast in state? Why gaze they all on us as we were Gods In Lycia, and why share we pleasant fields And spacious vineyards, where the Xanthus winds? Distinguished thus in Lycia, we are call’d380 To firmness here, and to encounter bold The burning battle, that our fair report Among the Lycians may be blazon’d thus— No dastards are the potentates who rule The bright-arm’d Lycians; on the fatted flock385 They banquet, and they drink the richest wines; But they are also valiant, and the fight Wage dauntless in the vanward of us all. Oh Glaucus, if escaping safe the death That threats us here, we also could escape390 Old age, and to ourselves secure a life Immortal, I would neither in the van Myself expose, nor would encourage thee To tempt the perils of the glorious field. But since a thousand messengers of fate395 Pursue us close, and man is born to die— E’en let us on; the prize of glory yield, If yield we must, or wrest it from the foe. He said, nor cold refusal in return Received from Glaucus, but toward the wall400 Their numerous Lycian host both led direct. Menestheus, son of Peteos, saw appall’d Their dread approach, for to his tower they bent; Their threatening march. An eager look he cast, On the embodied Greeks, seeking some Chief405 Whose aid might turn the battle from his van: He saw, where never sated with exploits Of war, each Ajax fought, near whom his eye