all
  Were difficult, unless to power divine. 220
  For fierce the hail of stones from end to end
  Smote on the barrier; anguish fill’d the Greeks. 
  Yet, by necessity constrain’d, their ships
  They guarded still; nor less the Gods themselves,
  Patrons of Greece, all sorrow’d at the sight. 225
    At once the valiant Lapithae began
  Terrible conflict, and Pirithous’ son
  Brave Polypoetes through his helmet pierced
  Damasus; his resplendent point the brass
  Sufficed not to withstand; entering, it crush’d 230
  The bone within, and mingling all his brain
  With his own blood, his onset fierce repress’d. 
  Pylon and Ormenus he next subdued. 
  Meantime Leonteus, branch of Mars, his spear
  Hurl’d at Hippomachus, whom through his belt 235
  He pierced; then drawing forth his falchion keen,
  Through all the multitude he flew to smite
  Antiphates, and with a downright stroke
  Fell’d him.  Iaemenus and Menon next
  He slew, with brave Orestes, whom he heap’d, 240
  All three together, on the fertile glebe. 
    While them the Lapithae of their bright arms
  Despoil’d, Polydamas and Hector stood
  (With all the bravest youths and most resolved
  To burst the barrier and to fire the fleet) 245
  Beside the foss, pondering the event. 
  For, while they press’d to pass, they spied a bird
  Sublime in air, an eagle.  Right between
  Both hosts he soar’d (the Trojan on his left)
  A serpent bearing in his pounces clutch’d 250
  Enormous, dripping blood, but lively still
  And mindful of revenge; for from beneath
  The eagle’s breast, updarting fierce his head,
  Fast by the throat he struck him; anguish-sick
  The eagle cast him down into the space 255
  Between the hosts, and, clanging loud his plumes
  As the wind bore him, floated far away. 
  Shudder’d the Trojans viewing at their feet
  The spotted serpent ominous, and thus
  Polydamas to dauntless Hector spake. 260
    Ofttimes in council, Hector, thou art wont
  To censure me, although advising well;
  Nor ought the private citizen, I confess,
  Either in council or in war to indulge
  Loquacity, but ever to employ 265
  All his exertions in support of thine. 
  Yet hear my best opinion once again. 
  Proceed we not in our attempt against
  The Grecian fleet.  For if in truth the sign
  Respect the host of Troy ardent to pass, 270
  Then, as the eagle soar’d both hosts between,
  With Ilium’s on his left, and clutch’d a snake
  Enormous, dripping blood, but still alive,
  Which yet he dropp’d suddenly, ere he reach’d
  His eyry, or could give it to his young,