Seba.Health

The Iliad 7.181–190

The Iliad 7.181–190
but they knew it not, and denied it every man. But when in bearing it everywhither throughout the throng he was come to him that had marked it and cast it into the helm, even to glorious Aias, then Aias held forth his hand, and the herald drew near and laid the lot therein; and Aias knew at a glance the token on the lot, and waxed glad at heart. The lot then he cast upon the ground beside his foot, and spake: My friends, of a surety the lot is mine, and mine own heart rejoiceth, for I deem that I shall vanquish goodly Hector. But come now, while I am doing on me my battle gear, make ye prayer the while to king Zeus, son of Cronos,in silence by yourselves, that the Trojans learn naught thereof—nay, or openly, if ye will, since in any case we fear no man. For by force shall no man drive me in flight of his own will and in despite of mine, nor yet by skill; since as no skilless wight methinks was I born and reared in Salamis.
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, πάλλεν δὲ Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ, ἐκ δʼ ἔθορε κλῆρος κυνέης ὃν ἄρʼ ἤθελον αὐτοὶ Αἴαντος· κῆρυξ δὲ φέρων ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἁπάντῃ δεῖξʼ ἐνδέξια πᾶσιν ἀριστήεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν. οἳ δʼ οὐ γιγνώσκοντες ἀπηνήναντο ἕκαστος. ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὸν ἵκανε φέρων ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἁπάντῃ ὅς μιν ἐπιγράψας κυνέῃ βάλε φαίδιμος Αἴας, ἤτοι ὑπέσχεθε χεῖρʼ, δʼ ἄρʼ ἔμβαλεν ἄγχι παραστάς, γνῶ δὲ κλήρου σῆμα ἰδών, γήθησε δὲ θυμῷ. τὸν μὲν πὰρ πόδʼ ἑὸν χαμάδις βάλε φώνησέν τε·
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