attering of his teeth arises.
But neither is the complexion of the brave man changed, nor is he at all
disturbed, after he first sits down in the ambush of heroes; but he
burns to be mingled with all haste in direful fight--[no one], in that
case, would find fault with thy courage and might. For if, labouring [in
the battle], thou wert wounded from a distance, or smitten in close
fight, the weapon would not fall upon thy neck behind, nor upon thy
back; but it would pierce through either thy breast, or thy stomach, as
thou wast rushing forward amid the conflict[420] of foremost combatants.
But come, no longer let us speak of these things, standing like
infatuated persons, lest perhaps some one chide us inordinately; but do
thou, going to the tent, take a strong spear."

[Footnote 420: Hesych. [Greek: Oaristyn machen]. Etym. M. fol.
131, B. 2. [Greek: Anti tou en te ton trotagoniston omilia] which
is its proper meaning, as derived from [Greek: gar kai
sunanastrophe].]

Thus be spake, and Meriones, equal to swift Mars, quickly took from the
tent a brazen spear; and he went along with Idomeneus, very eager for
war. But as man-destroying Mars enters the battle--with whom Terror, his
dear son, at the same time powerful and undismayed, follows, who strikes
fear into the warrior even of resolute soul: these indeed are armed from
Thrace, along with the Ephyri or with the magnanimous Phlegyans; neither
do they hear both, but they give glory to one or the other--so Meriones
and Idomeneus, leaders of heroes, advanced to battle equipped with
helmets of glittering brass; and Meriones first addressed him in these
words:

"Son of Deucalion, where dost thou meditate to enter the throng? To the
right of all the army, or at the centre, or upon the left? Since nowhere
[else][421] in the battle do I conceive that the long-haired Greeks so
much require support."

[Footnote 421: _I.e._ nowhere so much as on the left.]

But him Idomeneus, the leader of the Cretans, in turn addressed: "Among
the centre ships indeed there are others to aid them, both the Ajaces
and Teucer, who is the most skilful of the Greeks in archery, and brave
also in standing fight; who will sufficiently harass, even to satiety,
Hector, the son of Priam, although most urgent of battle, and although
being very gallant. Hard will it be for him, although very desirous of
fighting, having overpowered their strength and invincible hands, to
fire the ships,