struction: but the Earth-shaker
intervening, easily aroused the brave phalanxes. To Teucer and Leius he
first came, exhorting them, and to the hero Peneleus, and Thoas, and
Deipyrus, and to Meriones and Antilochus, skilful in war. These he
encouraging, spoke winged words:

[Footnote 414: See Heyne, who compares the Latin _gestire_.
Hesych.: [Greek: Charme, e reta charas mache].]

"O shame! Argives, young men, I trust that our ships will be preserved
by your fighting; but if ye be remiss in the destructive battle, the day
is now come [for us] to be subdued by the Trojans. Ye gods, surely I
behold with my eyes a great marvel, terrible, which I never expected
would be brought to pass, that the Trojans should approach our ships;
who formerly, like unto timid stags, which through the wood are the prey
of lynxes, pards, and wolves, foolishly straying about, weak, nor fit
for combat: so the Trojans formerly would not stand even for a little
against the might and prowess of the Greeks. But now, far away from the
city, they combat at the hollow ships, through the perverseness of our
general, and the indifference of the troops; who, disputing with him,
are unwilling to defend the swift ships, but are slain among them. Yet
although in reality the hero, the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon,
be altogether in fault, in that he hath dishonoured the swift-footed son
of Peleus, still it is by no means our duty to be remiss in battle, but
let us the sooner repair [the mischief];[415] the minds of the brave are
easily appeased. But they by no means honourably remit your impetuous
valour, being all the bravest in the army: I indeed would not quarrel
with a man who should desist from combat, being unwarlike; but with you
I am indignant from my heart. O soft ones! surely will ye soon create
some greater evil by this inertness: but do each of you in his mind
ponder on the shame and reproach; for certainly a mighty contest hath
arisen. Now indeed brave Hector, good in the din of war, combats at the
ships, and hath burst through the gates and the long bar."

[Footnote 415: [Greek: To gegonos amartema]: Schol. For the
metaphorical use of [Greek: akestai], cf. Soph. Ant. 1026.
[Greek: Ostis es kakon Peson okeitai med' akinetos pelei]. So
[Greek: eyuiatoteros dia to metapeisthenai an]. Aristot. Eth.
vii. 2.]

Thus then Neptune, exhorting, aroused the Greeks. But round the two
Ajaces firm phalanxes stood, which not even