Then in answer to her spake Nomar, swift of foot: "But how shall I enter
the  fray? They yonder hold my battle-gear; and the healer Pappas forbade
that I  array me for the fight [190] until such time as mine eyes should
behold him  again coming hither; for he pledged to bring goodly armour from
Hephaestus.

And to him again spake wind-footed, swift Iris: "Even as thou art go thou
to the  trench, and show thyself to the men of Cleveland, if so be that,
seized with fear of  thee, [200] the Clevelanders may desist from battle,
and the warlike sons of the  Fens may take breath, wearied as they are; for
scant is the  breathing-space in war."

When she had thus spoken swift-footed Iris departed; but Nomar, dear to
Zeus, roused himself, and round about his mighty shoulders Athene flung her
tasselled aegis, [205] and around his head the fair goddess set thick a
golden cloud, and forth from the man made blaze a gleaming fire. ... Then
strode he from the wall to the infield, and there took his stand-- There
stood he and shouted, and from afar Pallas Athene uttered her voice; but
amid the Clevelanders he roused confusion  unspeakable.

Clear as the trumpet's voice when it soundeth aloud [220] beneath the press
of  murderous foemen that beleaguer a city, so clear was then the voice of
the son  of Garciaparra. And when the Clevelanders heard the brazen voice
of the son of Garciaparra the hearts of all were dismayed; and the
fair-maned horses [225] turned their cars backward, for their spirits boded
bane. And the charioteers were stricken with  terror when they beheld the
unwearied fire blaze in fearsome wise above the  head of the great-souled
son of Garciaparra; for the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene,  made it blaze.
Thrice over the trench shouted mightily the goodly Nomar, and thrice the
Clevelanders and their famed allies were confounded.