heir empty chariots
through the ranks[367] of the battle, longing for their faultless
charioteers; but they lay upon the earth, far more agreeable to the
vultures than to their wives.

[Footnote 367: Literally, "the bridges," _i. e._ the open spaces
between the lines.]

But Jove withdrew Hector out of the reach of weapons, of dust, of
slaughter, blood and tumult, whilst Atrides pursued, loudly cheering on
the Danai. [The Trojans] meanwhile rushed through the middle of the
plain towards the wild fig-tree, near the tomb of Ilus, the descendant
of ancient Dardanus, eager to reach the city; but Atrides still followed
shouting, and stained his invincible hands with dusty gore. But when now
they reached the Scaean gates and the beech-tree, there at length they
halted, and awaited each other. Others, however, still fled through the
middle of the plain, like oxen which a lion, coming at the depth of
night, hath put tremblingly to flight--all, but to some one dreadful
destruction is apparent; whose neck he first completely breaks, seizing
it in his strong teeth; and then laps up both the blood and all the
entrails: thus did the son of Atreus, king Agamemnon, follow them,
always killing the hindermost; and they kept flying. Many fell prone and
supine from their chariots, by the hands of the son of Atreus; for
before [all others] he raged exceedingly with the spear. But when now he
was about soon to reach the city and the lofty wall, then indeed the
father both of men and gods, descending from heaven, seated himself upon
the tops of Ida, of many rills. And he held the lightning in his hands,
and aroused golden-winged Iris to bear his message:

"Come, swift Iris, deliver this message to Hector. As long as he may
behold Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people, raging in the van, [and]
destroying the ranks of men, so long let[368] him retreat, and let him
exhort the rest of the army to fight with the enemy during the violent
contest. But when he (Agamemnon) shall have mounted his steeds, either
smitten by a spear, or wounded by an arrow, then will I supply him with
strength to slay,[369] until he reach the well-benched ships, and the
sun set, and sacred darkness come on."

[Footnote 368: Cf. ver. 204.]

[Footnote 369: The Greeks.]

Thus he spake; nor did rapid Iris, swift as the wind on her feet,
disobey. But she descended from the mountains of Ida, towards sacred
Ilium. She found noble Hector, son of warlike Priam,