I never dreamed the war would come to this: the Trojans advancing all the way to our ships. men who up till now had panicked like deer, food in the woods for jackals, leopards, wolves - helpless, racing for dear life, all fight gone.

What disgrace –
a marvel right before my eyes! A terrible thing…
and I never dreamed the war would come to this:
the Trojans advancing all the way to our ships,
men who up till now had panicked like deer,
food in the woods for jackals, leopards, wolves –
helpless, racing for dear life, all fight gone.

– Homer

The Iliad, Book 13, lines 116-122. Sea god Poseidon encourages the Achaean troops, while at the same time demeaning the Trojans, who in an epic simile he likens to panicked deer and food for jackals and wolves, running for their lives.

Homer Quotes