Iliad

Iris hearkened and obeyed. Down she went to strong Ilion from the crests of Ida, and found Hektor son of Priam standing by his chariot and horses. Then she said, "Hektor son of Priam, peer of gods in counsel, father Zeus has sent me to bear you this message - so long as you see Agamemnon heading his men and making havoc of the Trojan ranks, you are to keep aloof and bid the others bear the brunt of the battle, but when Agamemnon is wounded either by spear or arrow, and takes to his chariot, then will Zeus grant you strength to slay till you reach the ships, and till night falls at the going down of the sun."

IliadBook 11, Line 195Samuel ButlerEnglishVerse permalinkRead in Book 11

HomerProseID iliad-iliad-butler-en-prose-11-195