Upbraiding generous Hector, stern began.555 Where is thy courage, Hector? for thou once Hadst courage. Is it fled? In other days Thy boast hath been that without native troops Or foreign aids, thy kindred and thyself Alone, were guard sufficient for the town.560 But none of all thy kindred now appears; I can discover none; they stand aloof Quaking, as dogs that hear the lion’s roar. We bear the stress, who are but Troy’s allies; Myself am such, and from afar I came;565 For Lycia lies far distant on the banks Of the deep-eddied Xanthus. There a wife I left and infant son, both dear to me, With plenteous wealth, the wish of all who want. Yet urge I still my Lycians, and am prompt570 Myself to fight, although possessing here Nought that the Greeks can carry or drive hence. But there stand’st thou, neither employed thyself, Nor moving others to an active part For all their dearest pledges. Oh beware!575 Lest, as with meshes of an ample net, At one huge draught the Grecians sweep you all, And desolate at once your populous Troy! By day, by night, thoughts such as these should still Thy conduct influence, and from Chief to Chief580 Of the allies should send thee, praying each To make firm stand, all bickerings put away. So spake Sarpedon, and his reprimand Stung Hector; instant to the ground he leap’d All arm’d, and shaking his bright spears his host585 Ranged in all quarters animating loud His legions, and rekindling horrid war. Then, rolling back, the powers of Troy opposed Once more the Grecians, whom the Grecians dense Expected, unretreating, void of fear.590 As flies the chaff wide scatter’d by the wind O’er all the consecrated floor, what time Ripe Ceres[13] with brisk airs her golden grain Ventilates, whitening with its husk the ground; So grew the Achaians white, a dusty cloud595 Descending on their arms, which steeds with steeds Again to battle mingling, with their hoofs Up-stamp’d into the brazen vault of heaven; For now the charioteers turn’d all to fight. Host toward host with full collected force600 They moved direct. Then Mars through all the field Took wide his range, and overhung the war With night, in aid of Troy, at the command Of Phœbus of the golden sword; for he Perceiving Pallas from the field withdrawn,605 Patroness of the Greeks, had Mars enjoin’d To rouse the spirit of the Trojan host. Meantime Apollo from his unctuous shrine Sent forth restored and with new force inspired Æneas. He amidst his warriors stood,610 Who him with joy beheld still living, heal’d, And all his strength possessing unimpair’d. Yet no man ask’d him aught. No leisure now For question was; far other thoughts had they; Such toils the archer of the silver bow,615 Wide-slaughtering Mars, and Discord as at first Raging implacable, for them prepared. Ulysses, either Ajax, Diomede— These roused the Greeks to battle, who themselves The force fear’d nothing, or the shouts of Troy,620 But steadfast stood, like clouds by Jove amass’d