That, when sweat ran about his knees, and labour flow’d, would then Help bear his mighty sev’n-fold shield; when swift Oïliades The Locrians left, and would not make those murth’rous fights of prease, Because they wore no bright steel casques, nor bristled plumes for show, Round shields, nor darts of solid ash, but with the trusty bow, And jacks well-quilted with soft wool, they came to Troy, and were, In their fit place, as confident as those that fought so near, And reach’d their foes so thick with shafts, that these were they that brake The Trojan orders first; and then, the brave arm’d men did make Good work with their close fights before. Behind whom, having shot, The Locrians hid still; and their foes all thought of fight forgot With shows of those far-striking shafts, their eyes were troubled so. And then, assur’dly, from the ships, and tents, th’ insulting foe Had miserably fled to Troy, had not Polydamas Thus spake to Hector: “Hector, still impossible ’tis to pass Good counsel upon you. But say some God prefers thy deeds, In counsels wouldst thou pass us too? In all things none exceeds. To some God gives the pow’r of war, to some the sleight to dance, To some the art of instruments, some doth for voice advance; And that far-seeing God grants some the wisdom of the mind, Which no man can keep to himself, that, though but few can find, Doth profit many, that preserves the public weal and state, And that, who hath, he best can prize. But, for me, I’ll relate Only my censure what’s our best. The very crown of war Doth burn about thee; yet our men, when they have reach’d thus far, Suppose their valours crown’d, and cease. A few still stir their feet, And so a few with many fight, sperst thinly through the fleet. Retire then, leave speech to the rout, and all thy princes call, That, here, in counsels of most weight, we may resolve of all, If having likelihood to believe that God will conquest give, We shall charge through; or with this grace, make our retreat, and live. For, I must needs affirm, I fear, the debt of yesterday (Since war is such a God of change) the Grecians now will pay. And since th’ insatiate man of war remains at fleet, if there We tempt his safety, no hour more his hot soul can forbear.” This sound stuff Hector lik’d, approv’d, jump’d from his chariot, And said: “Polydamas make good this place, and suffer not One prince to pass it; I myself will there go, where you see Those friends in skirmish, and return (when they have heard from me Command that your advice obeys) with utmost speed.” This said, With day-bright arms, white plume, white scarf, his goodly limbs array’d, He parted from them, like a hill, removing, all of snow, And to the Trojan peers and chiefs he flew, to let them know The counsel of Polydamas. All turn’d, and did rejoice, To haste to Panthus’ gentle son, being call’d by Hector’s voice; Who, through the forefights making way, look’d for Deiphobus, King Helenus, Asiades, Hyrtasian Asius,