Iliad

Now when the Trojans saw Idomeneus coming on like a flame of fire, him and his squire [ therapôn ] clad in their richly wrought armor, they shouted and made towards him all in a body, and a furious hand-to-hand fight raged under the ships' sterns. Fierce as the shrill winds that whistle upon a day when dust lies deep on the roads, and the gusts raise it into a thick cloud - even such was the fury of the combat, and might and main did they hack at each other with spear and sword throughout the host. The field bristled with the long and deadly spears which they bore. Dazzling was the sheen of their gleaming helmets, their fresh-burnished breastplates, and glittering shields as they joined battle with one another. Iron indeed must be his courage who could take pleasure in the sight of such a turmoil [ ponos ], and look on it without being dismayed.

IliadBook 13, Line 330Samuel ButlerEnglishVerse permalinkRead in Book 13

HomerProseID iliad-iliad-butler-en-prose-13-330