The new-built wooden turrets groan. And here the Greeks were pent, Tam’d with the iron whip of Jove, that terrors vehement Shook over them by Hector’s hand, who was in ev’ry thought The terror-master of the field, and like a whirlwind fought, As fresh as in his morn’s first charge. And as a savage boar, Or lion, hunted long, at last, with hounds’ and hunters’ store Is compass’d round; they charge him close, and stand (as in a tow’r They had inchas’d him) pouring on of darts an iron show’r; His glorious heart yet nought appall’d, and forcing forth his way, Here overthrows a troop, and there a running ring doth stay His utter passage; when, again, that stay he overthrows, And then the whole field frees his rage; so Hector wearies blows, Runs out his charge upon the fort, and all his force would force To pass the dike; which, being so deep, they could not get their horse To venture on, but trample, snore, and on the very brink To neigh with spirit, yet still stand off. Nor would a human think The passage safe; or, if it were, ’twas less safe for retreat; The dike being ev’rywhere so deep, and, where ’twas least deep, set With stakes exceeding thick, sharp, strong, that horse could never pass, Much less their chariots after them; yet for the foot there was Some hopeful service, which they wish’d. Polydamas then spake: “Hector, and all our friends of Troy, we indiscreetly make Offer of passage with our horse; ye see the stakes, the wall, Impossible for horse to take; nor can men fight at all, The place being strait, and much more apt to let us take our bane Than give the enemy. And yet, if Jove decree the wane Of Grecian glory utterly, and so bereave their hearts That we may freely charge them thus, and then will take our parts, I would with all speed wish th’ assault, that ugly shame might shed (Thus far from home) these Grecians’ bloods. But, if they once turn head And sally on us from their fleet, when in so deep a dike We shall lie struggling, not a man of all our host is like To live and carry back the news. And therefore be it thus: Here leave we horse kept by our men, and all on foot let us Hold close together, and attend the grace of Hector’s guide, And then they shall not bear our charge, our conquest shall be dyed In their lives’ purples.” This advice pleas’d Hector, for ’twas sound; Who first obey’d it, and full-arm’d betook him to the ground. And then all left their chariots when he was seen to lead, Rushing about him, and gave up each chariot and steed To their directors to be kept, in all procinct of war, There, and on that side of the dike. And thus the rest prepare Their onset: In five regiments they all their pow’r divide, Each regiment allow’d three chiefs. Of all which ev’n the pride Serv’d in great Hector’s regiment; for all were set on fire (Their passage beaten through the wall) with hazardous desire That they might once but fight at fleet. With Hector captains were Polydamas, and Cebriones, who was his charioteer;