As when fierce flames some ancient forest seize,
From side to side in flakes the various wind
Rolls them, and to the roots devour’d, the trunks
Fall prostrate under fury of the fire,
So under Agamemnon fell the heads 190
Of flying Trojans.  Many a courser proud
The empty chariots through the paths of war
Whirl’d rattling, of their charioteers deprived;
They breathless press’d the plain, now fitter far
To feed the vultures than to cheer their wives. 195

    Conceal’d, meantime, by Jove, Hector escaped

The dust, darts, deaths, and tumult of the field;
And Agamemnon to the swift pursuit
Call’d loud the Grecians.  Through the middle plain
Beside the sepulchre of Ilus, son 200
Of Dardanus, and where the fig-tree stood,
The Trojans flew, panting to gain the town,
While Agamemnon pressing close the rear,
Shout after shout terrific sent abroad,
And his victorious hands reek’d, red with gore. 205
But at the beech-tree and the Scaean gate
Arrived, the Trojans halted, waiting there
The rearmost fugitives; they o’er the field
Came like a herd, which in the dead of night
A lion drives; all fly, but one is doom’d 210
To death inevitable; her with jaws
True to their hold he seizes, and her neck
Breaking, embowels her, and laps the blood;
So, Atreus’ royal son, the hindmost still
Slaying, and still pursuing, urged them on. 215
Many supine, and many prone, the field
Press’d, by the son of Atreus in their flight
Dismounted; for no weapon raged as his. 
But now, at last, when he should soon have reach’d
The lofty walls of Ilium, came the Sire 220
Of Gods and men descending from the skies,
And on the heights of Ida fountain-fed,
Sat arm’d with thunders.  Calling to his foot
Swift Iris golden-pinion’d, thus he spake. 

    Iris! away.  Thus speak in Hector’s ears. 225

While yet he shall the son of Atreus see
Fierce warring in the van, and mowing down
The Trojan ranks, so long let him abstain
From battle, leaving to his host the task
Of bloody contest furious with the Greeks. 230
But soon as Atreus’ son by spear or shaft
Wounded shall climb his chariot, with such force
I will endue Hector, that he shall slay
Till he have reach’d the ships, and till, the sun
Descending, sacred darkness cover all. 235

    He spake, nor rapid Iris disobey’d

Storm-wing’d ambassadress, but from the heights
Of Ida stoop’d to Ilium.  There she found
The son of royal Priam by the throng
Of chariots and of steeds compass’d about 240
She, standing at his side, him thus bespake. 

    Oh, son of Priam! as the Gods