ndeed, was dried up, and the bleeding ceased.

BOOK THE TWELFTH.

ARGUMENT.

The Trojans assail the rampart, and Hector, despite an omen, which
Polydamas interprets unfavourably, attacks and forces the gate, and
opens a way to the ships.

Thus then at the tents the valiant son of Menoetius was healing the
wounded Eurypylus: but the Greeks and Trojans kept fighting in masses;
nor was the ditch of the Greeks destined to prove a barrier any longer,
and the wide wall from above, which they had erected in defence of the
ships; but they had drawn a foss around (nor had they given splendid
hecatombs to the gods); that it enclosing within, might defend the swift
ships and the great booty. But it was built against the will of the
immortal gods, therefore it remained not perfect for any long
period.[390] As long as Hector was alive, and Achilles indignant, and
the city of king Priam unravaged, so long was the mighty wall of the
Greeks firm. But when all the bravest of the Trojans were dead, and many
of the Greeks were subdued, but others left surviving, when in the tenth
year the city of Priam was sacked, and the Greeks went in their ships to
their dear fatherland; then at length Neptune and Apollo took counsel to
demolish the wall, introducing the strength of rivers, as many as flow
into the sea from the Idaean mountains, both the Rhesus and the
Heptaporus, the Caresus and the Rhodius, the Granicus and the AEsepus,
the divine Scamander and the Simois, where many shields and helmets fell
in the dust, and the race of demigod men. The mouths of all these Phoebus
Apollo turned to the same spot, and for nine days he directed their
streams against the wall; and Jove in the meantime rained continually,
that he might the sooner render the walls overwhelmed by the sea. But
the Earth-shaker [Neptune] himself, holding the trident in his hands,
led them on; and then dispersed among the billows all the foundations of
beams and stones which the Greeks had laid with toil. And he made [all]
level along the rapid Hellespont, and again covered the vast shore with
sands, having demolished the wall: but then he turned the rivers to go
back into their own channels, in which they had formerly poured their
sweet-flowing water.[391]

[Footnote 390: Cf. Pseudo-Socrat. Epist. i. [Greek: Pollois de
polla kai ton allon eiretai poieton peri theon' kai oti ta men
kata ten auton b