Hector intends his brother’s will, but first through all his bands He made quick way, encouraging; and all, to fear afraid, All turn’d their heads, and made Greece turn. Slaughter stood still dismay’d On their parts, for they thought some God, fall’n from the vault of stars, Was rush’d into the Ilions’ aid, they made such dreadful wars. Thus Hector, toiling in the waves, and thrusting back the flood Of his ebb’d forces, thus takes leave: “So, so, now runs your blood In his right current; forwards now, Trojans, and far-call’d friends! Awhile hold out, till, for success to this your brave amends, I haste to Ilion, and procure our counsellors and wives To pray, and offer hecatombs, for their states in our lives.” Then fair-helm’d Hector turn’d to Troy, and, as he trode the field, The black bull’s hide, that at his back he wore about his shield, In the extreme circumference, was with his gait so rock’d, That, being large, it both at once his neck and ankles knock’d. And now betwixt the hosts were met, Hippolochus’ brave son, Glaucus, who in his very look hope of some wonder won, And little Tydeus’ mighty heir; who seeing such a man Offer the field, for usual blows, with wondrous words began: “What art thou, strong’st of mortal men, that putt’st so far before, Whom these fights never show’d mine eyes? They have been evermore Sons of unhappy parents born, that came within the length Of this Minerva-guided lance, and durst close with the strength That she inspires in me. If heav’n be thy divine abode, And thou a Deity thus inform’d, no more with any God Will I change lances. The strong son of Dryus did not live Long after such a conflict dar’d, who godlessly did drive Nysæus’ nurses through the hill made sacred to his name, And called Nysseius; with a goad he punch’d each furious dame, And made them ev’ry one cast down their green and leavy spears. This th’ homicide Lycurgus did; and those ungodly fears, He put the froes in, seiz’d their God. Ev’n Bacchus he did drive From his Nysseius; who was fain, with huge exclaims, to dive Into the ocean. Thetis there in her bright bosom took The flying Deity; who so fear’d Lycurgus’ threats, he shook. For which the freely-living Gods so highly were incens’d, That Saturn’s great Son strook him blind, and with his life dispens’d But small time after; all because th’ Immortals lov’d him not, Nor lov’d him since he striv’d with them; and his end hath begot Fear in my pow’rs to fight with heav’n. But, if the fruits of earth Nourish thy body, and thy life be of our human birth, Come near, that thou mayst soon arrive on that life-bounding shore, To which I see thee hoise such sail.” “Why dost thou so explore,” Said Glaucus, “of what race I am, when like the race of leaves The race of man is, that deserves no question; nor receives My being any other breath? The wind in autumn strows The earth with old leaves then the spring the woods with new endows; And so death scatters men on earth, so life puts out again