To vex with provocation rude of speech Me his compeer, and by decree of Fate Illustrious as himself; yet, though incensed,260 And with just cause, I will not now persist. But hear—for it is treasured in my heart The threat that my lips utter. If he still Resolve to spare proud Ilium in despite Of me, of Pallas, Goddess of the spoils,265 Of Juno, Mercury, and the King of fire, And will not overturn her lofty towers, Nor grant immortal glory to the Greeks, Then tell him thus—hostility shall burn, And wrath between us never to be quench’d.270 So saying, the Shaker of the shores forsook The Grecian host, and plunged into the deep, Miss’d by Achaia’s heroes. Then, the cloud-Assembler God thus to Apollo spake. Hence, my Apollo! to the Trojan Chief275 Hector; for earth-encircler Neptune, awed By fear of my displeasure imminent, Hath sought the sacred Deep. Else, all the Gods Who compass Saturn in the nether realms, Had even there our contest heard, I ween,280 And heard it loudly. But that he retreats Although at first incensed, shunning my wrath, Is salutary both for him and me, Whose difference else had not been healed with ease. Take thou my shaggy Ægis, and with force285 Smiting it, terrify the Chiefs of Greece. As for illustrious Hector, him I give To thy peculiar care; fail not to rouse His fiercest courage, till he push the Greeks To Hellespont, and to their ships again;290 Thenceforth to yield to their afflicted host Some pause from toil, shall be my own concern. He ended, nor Apollo disobey’d His father’s voice; from the Idæan heights, Swift as the swiftest of the fowls of air,295 The dove-destroyer falcon, down he flew. The noble Hector, valiant Priam’s son He found, not now extended on the plain, But seated; newly, as from death, awaked, And conscious of his friends; freely he breathed300 Nor sweated more, by Jove himself revived. Apollo stood beside him, and began. Say, Hector, Priam’s son! why sittest here Feeble and spiritless, and from thy host Apart? what new disaster hath befall’n?305 To whom with difficulty thus replied The warlike Chief.—But tell me who art Thou, Divine inquirer! best of powers above! Know’st not that dauntless Ajax me his friends Slaughtering at yonder ships, hath with a stone310 Surceased from fight, smiting me on the breast? I thought to have beheld, this day, the dead In Ades, every breath so seem’d my last. Then answer thus the Archer-God return’d. Courage this moment! such a helper Jove315 From Ida sends thee at thy side to war Continual, Phœbus of the golden sword, Whose guardian aid both thee and lofty Troy Hath succor’d many a time. Therefore arise! Instant bid drive thy numerous charioteers320 Their rapid steeds full on the Grecian fleet; I, marching at their head, will smooth, myself, The way before them, and will turn again To flight the heroes of the host of Greece. He said and with new strength the Chief inspired.325 As some stall’d horse high pamper’d, snapping short