Greeks, the two Ajaces, and Ulysses and Diomede, urged on to fight. But they, even by themselves, feared neither the violent attacks[1] of the Trojans, nor their shouts: but remained firm, like unto clouds, which the son of Saturn, during a calm, has placed upon the lofty mountains, at rest, when the might of Boreas sleeps[2] and of the other impetuous winds, which, blowing with shrill blasts, disperse the shadowy clouds. Thus the Greeks awaited the Trojans, standing firm, nor fled. But the son of Atreus kept hurrying through the host, exhorting them much:
"O friends, be men, and assume a valiant heart, and feel shame[3] toward each other through the fierce engagements: for more of those men who dread shame are safe, than are slain: but from fugitives neither does any glory arise, nor any assistance."
He spoke, and darted with his spear quickly, and struck Deicoon, son of Pergasis, a warrior chief, the companion of magnanimous Æneas, whom the Trojans honored equally with the sons of Priam; since he was prompt to fight amid the van. Him then king Agamemnon struck in the shield with his spear, but it [the shield] did not repel the spear, for even through this it passed onward, and pierced him through the belt at the lower part of the stomach. And he made a crash as he fell, and his arms rattled over him.
Here then Æneas slew some brave heroes of the Greeks— Crethon and Orsilochus, the sons of Diocles: their father, indeed, rich in sustenance,[4] dwelt in well-built Pheræ; but his origin was from the river Alpheus, which flows widely through the land of the Pylians. Alpheus begat Orsilochus, a prince over many men; but Orsilochus begat magnanimous Diocles; and of Diocles were born two sons, Crethon and Orsilochus, well skilled in all kinds of battle. These, indeed, in the bloom of youth, in their sable ships followed with the Argives to Ilium famed for noble steeds, seeking honor for
- ↑ Such seems to be the force of the plural βίας.
- ↑ "Ascending, while the north wind sleeps."—Milton, P. L. ii. 489.
- ↑ i. e., be ashamed to fly or give way. Compare Plato, Sympos. p. 317, F. G. ed. Læm., where he dwells upon the advantage of friends fighting together, as rendering men ashamed of any cowardly action.
- ↑ This construction with the genitive is very common in Latin. Virg. Georg. ii. 468; "dives opum." Æn. i. 18; Hor. Ep. ii. 2. 31; Od. iv. 8, 5 Silius. i. 393.
