Homer's Odyssey

Once a Trojan looked up and saw a bird carrying a snake, an ill omen he told Hector, for it meant that they would lose the fight once they were in the walls of the Greeks. But Hector was not convinced. He said, quote, you tell me to put my trust in birds, flying off on their long wild wings. Never. Bird signs fight for your country. That is the best and the only omen. The Trojans smashed at the wall crushing the supports of towers and battlements and support stakes,. Rifts appeared in the wall and the Greeks plugged them up with earth. They placed their shields over the breeches while other Greeks flung huge rocks down on