Both in futurity and in the past. He was the friend of Hector, and one night Gave birth to both. In council one excell’d And one still more in feats of high renown. Thus then, admonishing them, he began.310 My friends! weigh well the occasion. Back to Troy By my advice, nor wait the sacred morn Here, on the plain, from Ilium’s walls remote So long as yet the anger of this Chief ’Gainst noble Agamemnon burn’d, so long315 We found the Greeks less formidable foes, And I rejoiced, myself, spending the night Beside their oary barks, for that I hoped To seize them; but I now tremble at thought Of Peleus’ rapid son again in arms.320 A spirit proud as his will scorn to fight Here, on the plain, where Greeks and Trojans take Their common share of danger and of toil, And will at once strike at your citadel, Impatient till he make your wives his prey.325 Haste—let us home—else thus shall it befall; Night’s balmy influence in his tent detains Achilles now, but rushing arm’d abroad To-morrow, should he find us lingering here, None shall mistake him then; happy the man330 Who soonest, then, shall ’scape to sacred Troy! Then, dogs shall make and vultures on our flesh Plenteous repast. Oh spare mine ears the tale! But if, though troubled, ye can yet receive My counsel, thus assembled we will keep335 Strict guard to-night; meantime, her gates and towers With all their mass of solid timbers, smooth And cramp’d with bolts of steel, will keep the town. But early on the morrow we will stand All arm’d on Ilium’s towers. Then, if he choose,340 His galleys left, to compass Troy about, He shall be task’d enough; his lofty steeds Shall have their fill of coursing to and fro Beneath, and gladly shall to camp return. But waste the town he shall not, nor attempt345 With all the utmost valor that he boasts To force a pass; dogs shall devour him first. To whom brave Hector louring, and in wrath. Polydamas, I like not thy advice Who bidd’st us in our city skulk, again350 Imprison’d there. Are ye not yet content? Wish ye for durance still in your own towers? Time was, when in all regions under heaven Men praised the wealth of Priam’s city stored With gold and brass; but all our houses now355 Stand emptied of their hidden treasures rare. Jove in his wrath hath scatter’d them; our wealth Is marketed, and Phrygia hath a part Purchased, and part Mæonia’s lovely land. But since the son of wily Saturn old360 Hath given me glory now, and to inclose The Grecians in their fleet hemm’d by the sea, Fool! taint not with such talk the public mind. For not a Trojan here will thy advice Follow, or shall; it hath not my consent.365 But thus I counsel. Let us, band by band, Throughout the host take supper, and let each, Guarded against nocturnal danger, watch. And if a Trojan here be rack’d in mind Lest his possessions perish, let him cast370 His golden heaps into the public maw,[6] Far better so consumed than by the Greeks. Then, with the morrow’s dawn, all fair array’d