Verse
Iliad
Book 17, Line 319 by Samuel Butler (English)
The Trojans would now have been worsted by the brave Achaeans and driven back to Ilion through their own cowardice, while the Argives, so great was their courage and endurance, would have achieved a triumph even against the will of Zeus, if Apollo had not roused Aeneas, in the likeness of Periphas son of Epytos, an attendant who had grown old in the service of Aeneas' aged father, and was at all times devoted to him. In his likeness, then, Apollo said, "Aeneas, can you not manage, even though heaven be against us, to save high Ilion ? I have known men, whose numbers, courage, and self-reliance have saved their population [ dêmos ] in spite of Zeus, whereas in this case he would much rather give victory to us than to the Danaans, if you would only fight instead of being so terribly afraid."
IliadBook 17, Line 319Samuel ButlerEnglishVerse permalinkRead in Book 17
HomerProseID iliad-iliad-butler-en-prose-17-319