Verse
Iliad
Book 15, Line 405 by Samuel Butler (English)
When he had thus spoken he went his way. The Achaeans stood firm and resisted the attack of the Trojans, yet though these were fewer in number, they could not drive them back from the ships, neither could the Trojans break the Achaean ranks and make their way in among the tents and ships. As a carpenter's line gives a true edge to a piece of ship's timber, in the hand of some skilled workman whom Athena has instructed in all kinds of useful arts - even so level was the issue of the fight between the two sides, as they fought some round one and some round another.
IliadBook 15, Line 405Samuel ButlerEnglishVerse permalinkRead in Book 15
HomerProseID iliad-iliad-butler-en-prose-15-405