Τρωσὶν δ' ἄγγελος ἦλθε ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ϊ῀ρις
παρ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο σὺν ἀγγελίῃ ἀλεγεινῇ:
οἱ δ' ἀγορὰς ἀγόρευον ἐπὶ Πριάμοιο θύρῃσι
πάντες ὁμηγερέες, ἠμὲν νέοι ἠδὲ γέροντες:
ἀγχοῦ δ' ἱ̈σταμένη προσέφη πόδας ὠκέα Ϊ῀ρις:
εἴσατο δὲ φθογγὴν: υἱέϊ Πριάμοιο Πολίτῃ
ὃς Τρώων σκοπὸς ΐζε ποδωκείῃσι πεποιθὼς.
τύμβῳ ἐπ ακροτάτῳ Αἰσυήταο γέροντος
δέγμενος ὁππότε, ναῦφιν ἀφορμηθεῖεν Ἀχαιοί:
τῷ μιν ἐεισαμένη προσέφη πόδας ὠκέα Ϊ῀ρις:
ὦ γέρον. αἰεί τοι μῦθοι φίλοι ἄκριτοί εἰσιν:
ὥς ποτ' ἐπ' εἰρήνης. πόλεμος δ' ἀλίαστος όρωρεν:
ῆ μὲν δὴ μάλα πολλὰ μάχας εἰσήλυθον ἀνδρῶν.
ἀλλ' οὔ πω τοιόνδε τοσόνδέ τε λαὸν ὄπωπα:
λίην γὰρ φύλλοισιν ἐοικότες ἢ ψαμάθοισιν
ἔρχονται πεδίοιο μαχησόμενοι περι ἄστυ:
Ἕκτορ: σοὶ δὲ μάλιστ' ἐπιτέλλομαι: ὧδε δὲ ῥέξαι:
πολλοὶ γὰρ κατὰ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμου ἐπίκουροι
ἄλλη δ' ἄλλων γλῶσσα πολυσπερέων ἀνθρώπων:
τοῖσιν ἕκαστος ἀνὴρ σημαινέτω οἷσί περ ἄρχει:
τῶν δ' ἐξηγείσθω κοσμησάμενος πολιήτας:
And to the Trojans went, as a messenger from Zeus that beareth the aegis, wind-footed, swift Iris with a grievous message. These were holding assembly at Priam's gate, all gathered in one body, the young men alike and the elders. And swift-footed Iris stood near and spake to them; and she made her voice like to that of Polites, son of Priam, who was wont to sit as a sentinel of the Trojans, trusting in his fleetness of foot, on the topmost part of the barrow of aged Aesyetes, awaiting until the Achaeans should sally forth from their ships. Likening herself to him swifted-footed Iris spake to Priam, saying: "Old sir, ever are endless words dear to thee, now even as of yore in time of peace; but war unabating is afoot. Verily full often have I entered ere now into battles of warriors, but never yet have I seen a host so goodly and so great; for most like to the leaves or the sands are they, as they march over the plain to fight against the city. Hector, to thee beyond all others do I give command, and do thou even according to my word. Inasmuch as there are allies full many throughout the great city of Priam, and tongue differs from tongue among men that are scattered abroad; let each one therefore give the word to those whose captain he is, and these let him lead forth, when he has marshalled the men of his own city."
