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198 steeds toward the hollow ships; and they, not unwilling, flew. They were covered with foam as to their breasts, and were sprinkled beneath with dust, as they bore the afflicted king apart from the battle. But Hector, when he observed Agamemnon going apart, exhorted both the Trojans and Lycians, shouting aloud:

"Ye Trojans, Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, be men, my friends, and be mindful of impetuous might. The bravest hero has departed, and Saturnian Jove has given great glory to me. But straightway urge your solid-hoofed horses against the gallant Greeks, that ye may bear off higher glory."

Thus saying, he aroused the courage and spirit of each. As when perchance some huntsman should urge his white-toothed dogs against a rustic wild boar or lion; so Hector, the son of Priam, equal to man-slaughtering Mars, urged the magnanimous Trojans against the Greeks. He himself, having mighty courage, advanced among the first, and rushed into the battle, like unto a storm blowing from above, and which rushing down, stirs up the purple deep.

Then whom first and whom last, did Hector, son of Priam, slay, when Jove gave him glory? Assæus indeed first, and Autonoüs, and Opites, and Dolops, son of Clytis, and Opheltius, and Agelaus, and Æsymnus, and Orus, and Hipponoüs, persevering in fight. These leaders of the Greeks he then slew, and afterward the common crowd; as when the west wind drives to and fro the clouds of the impetuous south, lashing them with an impetuous blast, and many a swollen billow is rolled along, while the foam is scattered on high by the far-straying blast of the wind; thus were many heads of the people subdued by Hector. Then indeed would there have been ruin; and inevitable deeds had been done, and the flying Greeks had fallen in flight into their ships, had not Ulysses encouraged Diomede, the son of Tydeus:

"Son of Tydeus, through what cause are we forgetful of impetuous might? But come hither, my friend, stand by me; for surely it will be a disgrace if indeed crest-tossing Hector take the ships."