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THE
ILIAD OF HOMER
RENDERED INTO ENGLISH BLANK VERSE,
BY
EDWARD EARL OF DERBY.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
Vion EE.
LONDON:
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET.
, 1864.
iti ψᾳινυν
81.
LONDON ; PRINTED BY W
. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET,
AND CHARING CROSS.
iBeorw ΜΠ]...
Boox XIV. ..
Boox XV.
τεῦ OF BOOKS.
VOL. ἘΠ
Boox XVI. ..
Boox XVIi.
Boox XVIII.
Book XIX. ..
Book XX.
Boom xox,” =.
Boox XXII.
Boox XXIII.
Book XXIV.
HOMER’S ILIAD.
BOOK ΧΙἧΠΠ.
Ween Jove had Hector and the Trojans brought
Close to the ships, he left them there to toil
And strife continuous; turning his keen glance
To view far off th’ equestrian tribes of Thrace,
The warlike Mysians, and the men who feed 5
On milk of mares, thence Hippemolgi term’d ;
A peaceful race, the justest of mankind.
On Troy he turn’d not once his piercing glance ;
Nor deem’d he any God would dare to give
To Trojans or to Greeks his active aid. 10
No careless watch the monarch Neptune kept:
Wondvring, he viewd the battle, where he sat:
Aloft on wooded Samos’ topmost peak,
Samos of Thrace; whence Ida’s heights he saw,
And Priam’s city, and the ships of Greece. 15
VOL. II. B
2 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boor XIII.
Thither ascended from the sea, he sat;
And thence the Greeks, by Trojans overborne,
Pitying he saw, and deeply wroth with Jove. ἡ |
Then down the mountain’s craggy side he pass’d
With rapid step; and as he mov’ along, 20
Beneath th’ immortal feet of Ocean’s Lord
Quak’d the huge mountain and the shadowy wood.
Three strides he took; the fourth, he reach’d his goal,
Mg; where on the margin of the bay
His temple stood, all glitt’ring, all of gold, 25
Imperishable; there arriv’d, he yok’d
Beneath his car the brazen-footed steeds,
Of swiftest flight, with manes of flowing gold.
All clad in gold, the golden lash he grasp’d
Of curious work, and mounting on his car, 80
Skimm’d o’er the waves; from all the depths below
Gamboll’d around the monsters of the deep,
Acknowledging their King; the joyous sea
Parted her waves; swift flew the bounding steeds,
Nor was the brazen axle wet with spray, 35
When to the ships of Greece their Lord they bore.
Down in the deep recesses of the sea
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 3
A spacious cave there is, which lies midway
"Twixt Tenedos and Imbros’ rocky isle:
Th’ Earth-shaking Neptune there his coursers βίαν ἃ, 40
Loos’d from the chariot, and before them plac’d
Ambrosial provender; and round their feet
Shackles of gold, which none might break nor loose,
That there they might await their Lord’s return ;
Then to the Grecian army took his way. 45
Meantime, by Hector, son of Priam, led,
Like fire, or whirlwind, press’d the Trojans on,
With furious zeal, and shouts and clamour hoarse;
In hopes to take the ships, and evry Greek
To give to slaughter; but from Ocean’s depths 50
Uprose th’ Earth-shaker, Circler of the Earth,
To Calchas’ likeness and deep voice conform’d,
And rous’d the fainting Greeks; th’ Ajaces first,
Themselves with ardour fill’d, he thus address’d:
“°’Tis yours, Ajaces, fil’d with courage hich BS
d 2 2 fo) Oa
cl
Discarding chilly fear, to save the Greeks:
Elsewhere I dread not much the Trojan force,
Though they in crowds have scal’d the lofty wall;
The well-greav'd Greeks their onset may defy.
B 2
4 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XIII.
Yet greatly fear I lest we suffer loss,
Where that fierce, fiery madman, Hector, leads,
Who boasts himself the son of Jove most high.
But may some God your hearts inspire, yourselves
Firmly to stand, and cheer your comrades on;
So from your swiftly-sailing ships ye yet
May drive the foe, how bold soe’er he be,
Though by Olympian Jove himself upheld.”
So spake th’ Harth-shaker, Circler of the Earth,
And with his sceptre touching both the chiefs,
Fill’d them with strength and courage, and their limbs,
Their feet and hands, with active vigour strung;
Then like a swift-wing’d falcon sprang to flight,
Which down the sheer face of some lofty rock
Swoops on the plain to seize his feather’d prey:
So swiftly Neptune left the chiefs; him first
Departing, knew Oileus’ active son,
And thus the son of Telamon address’d:
“ Ajax, since some one of th’ Olympian Gods,
In likeness of a seer, hath hither come
To urge us to the war (no Calchas he,
Our augur Heav’n-inspir’d; for well I mark’d
60
-
0
Or
80
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. ὃ
His movements, as he went; and of a God
"Tis easy to discern the outward signs),
I feel fresh spirit kindled in my breast,
And new-born vigour in my feet and hands.” 85
Whom answer’d thus the son of Telamon:
“My hands too grasp with firmer hold the spear,
My spirit like thine is stirr’d; I feel my feet
Instinct with fiery life; nor should I fear
With Hector, son of Priam, in his might 90
Alone to meet, and grapple to the death.”
Such was their mutual converse, as they joyd
In the fierce transport by the God inspir’d.
Neptune, meanwhile, the other Greeks arous’d,
Who, to the ships withdrawn, their wasted strength 95
Recruited ; for their limbs were faint with toil,
And grief was in their hearts, as they beheld
The Trojan hosts that scal’d the lofty wall;
They saw, and from their eyes the teardrops fell,
Of safety desp’rate; but th’ Earth-shaking God 100
Amid their ranks appearing, soon restor’d
Their firm array; to Teucer first he came,
To Leitus, and valiant Peneleus,
6 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIII.
Thoas, Deipyrus, Meriones,
And young Antilochus, brave warriors all, 105
And to the chiefs his winged words address’d :
“Shame on ye, Grecian youths! to you 1 look’d
As to our ships’ defenders; but if ye
Shrink from the perilous battle, then mdeed
Our day is come, to be by Troy subdu'd. i So
O Heavn! a sad and wondrous sight is this,
A sight I never deem’d my eyes should see,
Our ships assail’d by Trojan troops; by those
Who heretofore have been as tim’rous hinds
Amid the forest depths, the helpless prey 115
Of jackals, pards, and wolves; they here and there,
Uncertain, heartless, unresisting, fly :
Such were the Trojans once; nor dar’d abide,
No, not an hour, the strength and arms of Greece ;
And these are they, who now beside our ships, 120
Far from their city walls, maintain the fight,
Embolden’d by our great commander’s fault,
And slackness of the people, who, with him
Offended, scarce are brought to guard our ships,
And, feebly fighting, are beside them slain. 125
Boox XIII. HOMER’S TEA Ὁ:
Ev’n though the mighty monarch, Atreus’ son,
Wide-ruling Agamemnon, be in truth
Wholly to blame in this, that he hath wrong’d
The son of Peleus, yet ’tis not for us
Our courage to relax. Arouse ye then!
A brave man’s spirit its vigour soon regains.
That ye, the best and bravest of the host,
Should stand aloof thus idly, ’tis not well;
If meaner men should from the battle shrink,
I might not blame them; but that such as ye
Should falter, indignation fills my soul.
Dear friends, from this remissness must accrue
Yet greater evils; but with gen’rous shame
And keen remorse let each man’s breast be fill’d;
Fierce is the struggle; in his pride of strength
Hector has fore’d the gates and massive bars,
And raging, ‘mid the ships maintains the war.”
Thus Neptune on the Greeks, reproving, call’:
Then round th’ Ajaces twain were cluster’d thick
The serried files, whose firm array nor Mars,
Nor spirit-stirring Pallas might reprove :
For there, the bravest all, in order due,
130
140
145
8 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIII.
Waited the Trojan charge by Hector led:
Spear close by spear, and shield by shield o’erlaid,
Buckler to buckler press’d, and helm to helm, 150
And man to man; the horsehair plumes above,
That nodded on the warriors’ glitt’ring crests,
Each other touch’d; so closely mass’d they stood.
Backward, by many a stalwart hand, were drawn
The spears, in act to hurl; their eyes and minds’ 15
σι
Turn’d to the front, and eager for the fray.
On pour’d the Trojan masses; in the van
Hector straight forward urg’d his furious course.
As some huge boulder, from its rocky bed
Detach’d, and by the wintry torrent’s force 160
Hurl’d down the cliff’s steep face, when constant rains
The massive rock’s firm hold have undermiwd ;
With giant bounds it flies; the crashing wood
Resounds beneath it; still it hurries on,
Until, arriving at the level plain, 165
Its headlong impulse check’d, it rolls no more;
So Hector, threat’ning now through ships and tents,
Εν to the sea, to force his murd’rous way,
Anon, confronted by that phalanx firm,
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 9
Halts close before it; while the sons of Greece, 170
With thrust of sword and double-pointed spears,
Stave off his onset; he a little space
Withdrew, and loudly on the Trojans call’d:
“Trojans, and Lycians, and ye Dardans fam’d
In close encounter, stand ye firm! not long 175
The Greeks, though densely mass’d, shall bar my way,
’ But soon, methinks, before my spear shall quail,
If from the chief of Gods my mission be,
From Jove the Thund’rer, royal Juno’s Lord.”
His words fresh courage rais’d in ev'ry breast: [180
On loftiest deeds intent, Deiphobus,
The son of Priam, from the foremost ranks,
His shield’s broad orb before him borne, advane’d
With airy step, protected by the shield:
At him Meriones with glitt’ring spear 185
Took aim, nor miss‘ his mark; the shield’s broad orb
Of tough bull’s-hide it struck; but pass’d not through,
For near the head the sturdy shaft was snapp’d.
Yet from before his breast Deiphobus
Held at arm’s length his shield; for much he fear’d 190
The weapon of Meriones; but he
10 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIII.
Back to his comrades’ shelt’ring ranks withdrew,
Griev’d at his baffled hopes and broken spear.
Then towrd the ships he bent his steps, to seek
Another spear, which in his tent remain’d. 195
The rest, “mid wild uproar, maintain’d the fight.
There Teucer first, the son of Telamon,
A warrior slew, the son of Mentor, Lord
Of num’rous horses, Imbrius, spearman skill’d.
In former days, ere came the sons of Greece, 200
He in Pedeeus dwelt, and had to wife
Medesicaste, Priam’s bastard child:
But when the well-trimm’d ships of Greece appear’d,
Return’d to Troy; and there, rever’d by all,
With Priam dwelt, who lovd him as a son. 205
Him Teucer with his lance below the ear
Stabb’d, and drew back the weapon; down he fell,
As by the woodman’s axe, on some high peak,
Falls a proud ash, conspicuous from afar,
Seatt’ring its tender foliage on the ground ; 210
He fell; and loud, his burnish’d armour rang.
Forth Teucer sprang to seize the spoil; at whom,
Advancing, Hector aim’d his glitt’ring spear ;
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 11
He saw, and, stooping, shunn’d the brazen death
A little space; but through the breast it struck 215
Amphimachus, the son of Cteatus,
The son of Actor, hastening to the fight:
Thund’ring he fell, and loud his armour rang.
Then forward Hector sprang, in hopes to seize
The brazen helm, that fitted well the brow 220
Of brave Amphimachus; but Ajax met
Th’ advance of Hector with his glitt’ring spear ;
Himself he ἘΠ ΠῚ not, all in dazzling brass
Eneas’d ; but pressing on his bossy shield
Drove by main force beyond where lay the dead: 226
ἌΝ
Them both the Greeks withdrew; th’ Athenian chiefs
Stychius and brave Menestheus, bore away
Amid the ranks of Greece Amphimachus ;
While, as two lions high above the ground
Bear through the brushwood in their jaws a goat, 280
Snatch’d from the sharp-fang’d dogs’ protecting care ;
So, fil’d with warlike rage, th’ Ajaces twain
Lifted on high, and of its armour stripp’d
The corpse of Imbrius; and Oileus’ son,
Grievd at Amphimachus, his comrade’s death, 235
12 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIII.
Cut from the tender neck, and like a ball
Sent whirling through the crowd the sever’d head ;
And in the dust at Hector’s feet it fell.
Then, for his grandson slain, fierce anger fill’d
The breast of Neptune; through the tents of Greece 240
And ships he pass’d, the Greeks encouraging,
And ills preparing for the sons of Troy.
Him met Idomeneus, the warrior King,
Leaving a comrade, from the battle field,
Wounded behind the knee, but newly brought; 245
Borne by his comrades, to the leech’s care
He left him, eager to rejoin the fray ;
Whom by his tent th’ Harth-shaking God address’d,
The voice assuming of Andreemon’s son,
Who or th’ AXtolians, as a God rever’d, 250
In Pleuron reign’d, and lofty Calydon :
“ Where now, Idomeneus, sage Cretan chief,
Are all the vaunting threats, so freely pour’d
Against the Trojans by the sons of Greece ?”
To whom the Cretan King, Idomeneus: 255
“ Thoas, on none, so far as I may judge,
May blame be cast; we all our duties know;
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Nor see I one by heartless fear restrain’d,
Nor hanging back, and flinching from the war:
Yet by th’ o’erruling will of Saturn’s son
Tt seems decreed that here the Greeks should fall,
And far from Argos lie in nameless graves.
But, Thoas, as thyself art ever staunch,
Nor slow the laggards to reprove, thy work
Remit not now; but rouse each sevral man.”
To whom Earth-shaking Neptune thus replied:
“ Tdomeneus, may he from Troy return
No more, but here remain to glut the dogs,
Tf such there be, from this day’s fight who shrinks.
But haste thee, don thine arms; great need is now
To hasten, if in aught we two may serve:
Ev’n meaner men, united, courage gain ;
But we the bravest need not fear to meet.”
He said, and to the strife of men return’d.
Within his well-constructed tent arriv’d,
Straight donn’d Idomeneus his armour bright:
Two spears he took; and, like the lightning’s flash,
Which, as a sign to men, the hand of Jove
Hurls downwards from Olympus’ glitt’ring heights;
260
270
14 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XIII.
Whose dazzling radiance far around is thrown ;
Flash’d, as the warrior ran, his armour bright.
Him met Meriones, his follower brave,
Close to the tent; to seek a spear he came ;
To whom Idomeneus: “ Meriones,
Swift-footed son of Molus, comrade dear,
Why com’st thou here, and leay’st the battle field ?
Hast thou some wound receiv’d, whereof the pain
Subdues thy spirit? or com’st thou, to the field
To summon me? unsummon’d, well thou know’st
I better love the battle than the tent.”
Whom answer’d thus the sage Meriones:
“ Idomeneus, the brass-clad Cretans’ King,
I come to seek a spear, if haply such
Within thy tent be found; for, in the fight,
That which I lately bore, e’en now I broke
Against the shield of brave Deiphobus.”
To whom Idomeneus, the Cretan King:
“ Of spears, or one, or twenty, if thou list,
Thou there mayst find against the polish’d wall,
The spoil of Trojans slain; for with my foes
"Tis not my wont to wage a distant war.
280
290
295
300
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Thence have I store of spears, and bossy shields,
And crested helms, and breastplates polish’d bright.”
Whom answer’d thus the sage Meriones:
“Nor are my tent and dark-ribb’d ship devoid
Of Trojan spoils; but they are far to seek;
Nor deem I that my hand is slack in fight;
For ‘mid the foremost in the glorious strife
I stand, whene’er is heard the battle cry.
My deeds by others of the brass-clad Greeks
May not be noted; but thou know’st them well.”
To whom Idomeneus, the Cretan King:
“ What need of this? thy prowess well I know:
For should we choose our bravest through the fleet
To man the secret ambush, surest test
Of warriors’ courage, where is manifest
The diffrence *twixt the coward and the brave;
(The coward’s colour changes, nor his soul
Within his breast its even balance keeps,
But changing still, from foot to foot he shifts,
And in his bosom loudly beats his heart,
Expecting death; and chatter all his teeth:
The brave man’s colour changes not; no fear
310
315
320
16 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIII.
He knows, the ambush ent’ring; all his pray’r
Is that the hour of battle soon may come) 325
Eyn there, thy courage none might call in doubt.
Shouldst thou from spear or sword receive a wound,
Not on thy neck behind, nor on thy back
Would fall the blow, but on thy breast, in front,
Still pressing onward ’mid the foremost ranks. 830
But come, prolong we not this idle talk,
Like babblers vain, who scorn might justly move:
Haste to my tent, and there select thy spear.”
He said: and from the tent Meriones,
Valiant as Mars, his spear selected straight, 335
And, eager for the fray, his chief rejoin’d.
As Mars, the bane of men, goes forth to war,
Attended by his strong, unfearing son,
Terror, who shakes the bravest warrior’s soul ;
They two, from Thrace, against the Ephyri, 340
Or haughty Phlegyans arm; nor hear alike
The pray’rs of both the combatants, one side
With vict’ry crowning: so to battle went
Those leaders twain, in dazzling arms array’d :
Then thus Meriones his chief address’d : 345
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 17
“Son of Deucalion, say if on the right,
Or on the centre of the gen’ral host,
Our onset should be made, or on the left;
For there, methinks, most succour need the Greeks.”
To whom Idomeneus, the Cretan chief: 350
“ Others there are the centre to defend,
Th’ Ajaces both, and Teucer, of the Greeks
Best archer, good too in the standing fight ;
These may for Hector full employment find,
Brave as he is, and eager for the fray ; 355
Eyn for his courage ’twere a task too hard,
Their might to conquer, and resistless hands,
And burn the ships, if Saturn’s son himself
Fire not, and ’mid the shipping throw the torch.
Great Ajax Telamon to none would yield, 360
Of mortal birth, by earthly food sustain’d,
By spear or pond’rous stone assailable ;
In hand to hand encounter, scarce surpass’
By Peleus’ son Achilles; though with him
In speed of foot he might not hope to vie. 365
Then on the left let us our onset make;
And quickly learn if we on others’ heads
VOL. 11. Cc
18 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIII.
Are doom’d to win renown, or they on ours.”
He said: and, brave as Mars, Meriones,
Thither where he directed, led the way. 370
Now when, attended thus, Idomeneus,
Like blazing fire, in dazzling arms appear‘d,
Around him throne’d, with rallying cries, the Greeks,
And rag’d beside the ships the balane’d fight.
-ι
σι
As, when the dust lies deepest on the roads, 8
Before the boist’rous winds the storm drives fast,
And high at once the whirling clouds are toss’d;
So was the fight confus’d; and in the throng
Each man with keen desire of slaughter burn’d.
Bristled the deadly strife with pond’rous spears, 380
Wielded with dire intent; the brazen gleam
Dazzled the sight, by flashing helmets cast,
And breastplates polish’d bright, and glitt’ring shields
Commingling ; stern of heart indeed were he,
Who on that sight with joy, not pain, could gaze. 385
Dire evil then on mortal warriors brought
The diverse minds of Saturn’s mighty sons:
To Hector and the Trojans Jove design’d,
In honour of Achilles, swift of foot,
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. Ἐ
19
To give the victry; yet not utterly
He will’d to slay before the walls of Troy
The Grecian host; but glory to confer
On Thetis and her noble-minded son.
Neptune, on th’ other side, the Greeks inspir’d,
Clandestine rising from the hoary sea ;
For them before the Trojan host o’erborne
He saw with grief, and deeply wroth with Jove.
Equal the rank of both, their birth the same,
But Jove in wisdom, as in years, the first.
Nor ventur’d Neptune openly to aid
The cause of Greece; but cloth’d in mortal form,
In secret still the army’s courage rous’d.
This way and that they tugg’d of furious war
And balane’d strife, where many a warrior fell,
The straining rope, which none might break or loose.
Then, though his hair was grizzled o’er with age,
Calling the Greeks to aid, Idomeneus,
Inspiring terror, on the Trojans sprang,
And slew Othryoneus, who had his home
In far Cabesus; whence but late he came
In hope to share the glory of the war.
390
395
400
405
4106
20 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boor XIII.
He Priam’s fairest daughter sought to wed,
Cassandra, portionless; and mighty deeds
He promis’, from before the walls of Troy
In their despite to drive the sons of Greece.
The aged Priam listen’d to his suit;
And he, his promise trusting, fought for Troy.
Him, marching with proud step, Idomeneus
Struck with his glitt’ring spear, nor aught avail’d
His brazen breastplate ; through the middle thrust,
Thund’ring he fell: the victor vaunting cried :
“ Othryoneus, above all mortal men
I hold thee in respect, if thou indeed
Wilt make thy words to aged Priam good,
Who promis’d thee his daughter in return:
We too would offer thee a like reward;
And give thee here to wed, from Argos brought,
Atrides’ fairest daughter, if with us
Thou wilt o’erthrow the well-built walls of Troy.
Come then, on board our ocean-going ships
Discuss the marriage contract; nor shall we
Be found illib’ral of our bridal gifts.”
He said, and seizing by the foot the slain,
415
420
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 21
Drageg’d from the press; but to the rescue came
Asius, himself on foot before his car: 485
So close his charioteer the horses held,
They breath’d upon his shoulders; eagerly
He sought to reach Idomeneus; but he,
Preventing, through his gullet drove the spear,
Beneath his chin; right through the weapon pass’d; 440
He fell; as falls an oak, or poplar tall,
Or lofty pine, which on the mountain top,
For some proud ship, the woodman’s axe hath hewn:
So he, before the car and horses stretch’d,
His death-cry utt’ring, clutch’d the blood-stain’d soil; 446
Bewilder’d, helpless, stood his charioteer ;
Nor dar’d, escaping from the foemen’s hands,
To turn his horses: him, Antilochus
Beneath the waistband struck; nor aught avail’d
His brazen breastplate; through the middle thrust, 450
He, from the well-wrought chariot, gasping, fell.
Antilochus, the noble Nestor’s son,
The horses seiz’d, and from the Trojan ranks
Drove to the Grecian camp. For Asius’ death
Deep grievd, Deiphobus, approaching, hurl’d 455
22 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIII.
Against Idomeneus his glitt’ring spear:
The coming weapon he beheld, and shunn’d:
Beneath the ample circle of his shield,
With hides and brazen plates encircled round,
And by two rods sustain’d, conceal’d he stood: 460
Beneath he crouch’d, and o’er him flew the spear:
Yet harsh it grated, glancing from the shield ;
Nor bootless from that stalwart hand it flew,
But through the midriff, close below the heart,
Hypsenor, son of Hippasus, it struck, 465
And straight relax’d his limbs; then shouting loud,
In boastful tone, Deiphobus exclaim’d :
“Not unaveng’d lies Asius; he, methinks,
As I have found him fellowship, with joy
Through Hades’ strongly-guarded gates may pass.” 470
He said; the Greeks, indignant, heard his boast:
Chief, of Antilochus the manly soul
Was stirr’d within him; yet amid his grief
His comrade not forgetting, up he ran,
And o’er him spread the cover of his shield. 47
σι
Meanwhile, two trusty friends, Mecistheus, son
Of Echius, and Alastor, rais’d the slain,
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 23
And deeply groaning bore him to the ships.
Nor did Idomeneus his noble rage
Abate; still burning o’er some Trojan soul 480
To draw the gloomy veil of night and death ;
Or, having sav’d the Greeks, himself to fall.
Then high-born /Hsuetes’ son he slew,
Aleathous ; he, Anchises’ son-in-law,
The eldest of his daughters had to wife, 485
Hippodamia; by her parents both,
O’er all, ΠΝ in beauty, skill, and mind,
All her compeers surpassing ; wife of one,
The noblest man through all the breadth of Troy.
Him Neptune by Idomeneus subdued ; 490
Seal’d his quick eyes, his active limbs restrain’d,
Without the powr to fly, or shun the spear;
Fix’d as a pillar, or a lofty tree,
He stood, while through his breast Idomeneus
His weapon drove; the brazen mail it broke, 495
Which oft had turn’d aside the stroke of death;
Harshly it grated, sever’d by the spear:
He fell; the spear-point quivring in his heart,
Which with convulsive throbbings shook the shaft.
24 “ HOMER’S ILIAD. Βοοκ XIII.
There Mars its course arrested. Then with shouts 500
Of triumph, vaunting, thus Idomeneus:
“How now, Deiphobus? are three for one
An equal balance? where are now thy boasts?
Come forth, my friend, thyself to me opposd ;
And learn, if here, unworthy my descent 505
From Jove, my great progenitor, I stand.
He Minos, guardian chief of Crete, begot ;
Noble Deucalion was to Minos born,
I to Deucalion; far extends my rule
In wide-spread Crete; whom now our ships have brought, 510
A bane to thee, thy sire, and Trojans all.”
He said; and doubtful stood Deiphobus,
Or to retreat, and summon to his aid
The Trojans, or alone the venture try.
Thus as he mus‘d, the wiser course appear’d 515
To seek Aineas; him he found apart,
Behind the crowd; for he was still at feud
With godlike Priam, who, he thought, withheld
The public honour to his valour due.
To whom Deiphobus, approaching, thus: 520
“ Aineas, sagest councillor of Troy,
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 25
Behoves thee now, if revrence for the dead
Can move thy soul, thy sister’s husband aid:
Haste we to save Alcathéus; who of old,
When thou wast little, in thy father’s house, 52
ou
Nurs‘ thee with tender care; for him, but now,
The spear-renown’d Idomeneus hath slain.”
He said; §neas’ spirit was τοῦδ, and fill’d
With martial rage he sought Idomeneus.
Nor, cowardlike, did he th’ encounter shun; 530
But firmly stood, as stands a mountain-boar,
Self-confident, that in some lonely spot
Awaits the clam’rous chase; bristles his back ;
His eyes with fire are flashing; and his tusks
He whets, on men and dogs prepar’d to rush: 535
So stood the spear-renown’d Idomeneus,
The onset of Adneas, swift in fight,
Awaiting; and the friends he saw around
He summon’d to his aid; Ascalaphus,
Deipyrus, and brave Meriones, 540
Antilochus and Aphareus; to these,
Tried warriors all, he thus address’ his speech:
“Aid me, my friends! alone I stand, and dread
26 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XITI.
The onset of Aineas, swift of foot,
Mighty to slay in battle; and the bloom
Of youth is his, the crown of human strength ;
If, as our spirit, our years were but the same,
Great glory now should he, or 1, obtain.”
He said; and, one in heart, their bucklers slop’d
Upon their shoulders, all beside him stood.
On th’ other side, Atneas to his aid
Summon’d his brother chiefs, Deiphobus,
And Paris, and Agenor; following whom
Came on the genvral crowd; as flocks of sheep
From pasture follow to their drinking-place
The lordly ram; well pleas’d the shepherd sees;
So pleas’d, Aineas saw the gath’ring crowd.
Then o’er Alcathéus hand to hand was wag’d
The war of spears; dire was the clash of brass
Upon the heroes’ breasts, as ‘mid the press
Each aim’d at other; proudly eminent
Stood forth two mighty warriors, terrible
As Mars, Atneas and Idomeneus,
Their sharp spears wielding each at other’s life.
First at Idomeneus A®neas threw
5
σι
45
50
55
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
His spear; he saw, and shunn’d the brazen point;
And vainly from his stalwart hand dismiss’d,
Eneas’ spear stood quivring in the ground.
Idomeneus in front, below the waist,
(EHnomiaus struck; the weighty spear broke through 570
The hollow breastplate, and th’ intestines tore ;
Prone in the dust he fell, and clutch’d the ground.
Forthwith Idomeneus from out the corpse
The pond’rous spear withdrew; yet could not strip
His armour off; so thickly flew the spears.
Nor did his feet retain their youthful force,
His weapon to regain, or back to spring.
Skill’d in the standing fight his life to guard,
He lack’d the active powr of swift retreat.
At him, retiring slow, Deiphobus,
Still fil’d with anger, threw his glitt’ring spear:
His aim he miss’; but through the shoulder piere’d
Ascalaphus, a valiant son of Mars;
Prone in the dust he fell, and clutch’d the ground.
Nor knew the loud-voie'd, mighty God of War
That in the stubborn fight his son had fall’n ;
On high Olympus, girt with golden clouds,
σι
=|
ςι
580
σι
CO
or
28 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIII.
He sat, amid th’ Immortals all, restrain’d,
By Jove’s commands, from mingling in the war.
Now hand to hand around Ascalaphus 590
Rag’d the fierce conflict: first Deiphobus
From off his head the glitt’ring helmet tore;
But, terrible as Mars, Meriones
Sprang forth, and piere’d his arm; and from his hand
With hollow sound the crested helmet fell. 595
On, like a vulture, sprang Meriones,
And from his arm the sturdy spear withdrew;
Then backward leap’d amid his comrades’ ranks ;
While round his brother’s waist Polites threw
His arms, and led him from the battle-field 600
To where, with charioteer and rich-wrought car,
Beyond the fight, his flying coursers stood.
Him, rack’d with pain, and groaning, while the blood
Stream’d down his wounded arm, to Troy they bore.
The rest fought on, and loud the tumult rose. 605
fEneas through the throat of Aphareus,
Caletor’s son, turn’d sideways towrds him, drove
His glitt’rmg spear; and down on th’ other side,
His shield and helmet following, sank his head;
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 29
And o’er his eyes were cast the shades of death. — 610
As Théon turn’d, Antilochus, who watch’d
Th’ occasion, forward sprang, and with his spear
Ripp’d all the flesh that lay along the spine
Up to the neck; he backward fell, with hands
Uplifted calling for his comrades’ aid : 615
But forward sprang Antilochus, and tore
His armour from his breast, while round he cast
His watchful glances; for on ev'ry side
On his broad shield the Trojans show’r'd their blows,
But touch’d him not; for Neptune, ’mid the throng 020
Of weapons, threw his guard o’er Nestor’s son.
Yet not aloof he stood, but in their midst,
Commingled; nor held motionless his spear ;
But ever threat’ning, turn’d from side to side,
Prepar’d to hurl, or hand to hand engage. 625
Him Adamas, the son of Asius, mark’d,
As o'er the crowd he glane’d; and springing forth,
Struck with his spear the centre of the shield;
But dark-hair’d Neptune grudg’d the hero’s life,
And stay’d the brazen point; half in the shield, 630
Like a fire-harden’d stake, remain’d infix’d,
30 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XIII.
The other half lay broken on the ground.
Back to his comrades’ shelt’ring ranks he sprang,
In hope of safety; but Meriones,
Quick-following, plung’d his weapon through his groin, 635
Where sharpest agony to wretched men
Attends on death; there planted he his spear:
Around the shaft he writh’d, and gasping groan’d,
Like to a mountain-bull, which, bound with cords,
The herdsmen drag along, with struggles vain, 640
Resisting; so the wounded warrior groan’d :
But not for long; for fierce Meriones,
Approaching, from his body tore the spear,
And the dark shades of death his eyes o’erspread.
Then Helenus, a weighty Thracian sword 645
Wielding aloft, across the temples smote
Deipyrus, and all his helmet crash’d ;
Which, as it roll’d beneath their feet, some Greek
Seiz’d ’mid the press; his eyes were clos’ in death.
The valiant Menelaus, Atreus’ son, 650
With grief beheld; and royal Helenus
With threat’ning mien approaching, poisd on high
His glitt’ring spear, while he the bowstring drew.
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 91
Then simultaneous flew from either side
The gleaming spear, and arrow from the string. 655
The shaft of Priam’s son below the breast
The hollow cuirass struck, and bounded off;
As bound the dark-skinn’d beans, or clatt’ring peas,
From the broad fan upon the threshing-floor,
By the brisk breeze impell’d, and winnower’s force; 660
From noble Menelaus’ cuirass so
The stinging arrow bounding, glane’d afar.
But valiant Menelaus, Atreus’ son,
Transfix’d the hand that held the polish’d bow:
The brazen point pass’d through, and to the bow — 665
The hand was pinn’d; back to his comrades’ ranks
He sprang, in hope of safety, hanging down
The wounded limb, that trail’d the ashen spear.
Agenor from the wound the spear withdrew,
And with a twisted sling of woollen cloth, 670
By an attendant brought, bound up the hand.
To noble Menelius stood oppos’d
Peisander, to the confines dark of death
Led by his evil fate, by thee to fall,
Great son of Atreus, in the deadly strife. 675
39 HOMER'S τὰ Δ © ΒΒ xT
When near they drew, Atrides miss’d his aim,
With erring spear divergent; next his shield
Peisander struck, but drove not through the spear ;
For the broad shield resisted, and the shaft
Was snappd in sunder; Menelaus saw 680
Rejoicing, and with hope of triumph flush’d ;
Unsheathing then his silver-studded sword
Rush’d on Peisander; he beneath his shield
Drew forth a pond’rous brazen battle-axe,
With handle long, of polish’d olive-wood ; 685
And both at once in deadly combat join’d.
Then, just below the plume, Peisander struck
The crested helmet’s peak; but Atreus’ son
Met him advancing, and across the brow
Smote him, above the nose; loud crash’d the bone, 690
And in the dust the gory eyeballs dropp’d
Before him; doubled with the pain, he fell:
The victor, planting on his chest his foot,
Stripp'd off his arms, and thus exulting cried:
“Thus shall ye all, insatiate of the fight, 695
Proud Trojans, from before our ships depart ;
Nor lack your share of insult and of wrong,
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Such as on me, vile hounds, ye cast erewhile,
Nor fear’d th’ avenger of the slighted laws
Of hospitality, high thund’ring Jove,
Who soon your lofty city shall o’erthrow.
Kindly receiv’d, my virgin-wedded wife,
With store of goods, ye basely bore away ;
And now ye rage, infuriate, to destroy
With fire our ocean-going ships, and slay
Our Grecian heroes; but the time shall come
When ye too fain would from the war escape.
O Father Jove, ’tis said that thou excell’st,
In wisdom, Gods and men; all human things
From thee proceed; and can it be, that thou
With favour seest these men of violence,
These Trojans, with presumptuous courage fill’d,
Whose rage for battle knows nor stint nor bound ?
Men are with all things sated; sleep, and love;
Sweet sounds of music, and the joyous dance.
Of these may some more gladly take their fill ;
But Trojans still for war, insatiate, thirst.”
Thus Menelaus; and the blood-stain’d arms
VOL. II.
--:
-
σι
110
34 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XIII.
Stripp’d from the corpse, and to his comrades gave ;
=I
bo
ς
Then join’d again the foremost in the fray.
There to th’ encounter forth Harpalion sprang,
Son of the King Pylemenes, who came,
His father following, to the war of Troy,
But back return’d not to his native land.
He standing near, full in the centre struck 725
Atrides’ shield, but drove not through the spear ;
Back to his comrades’ shelt’ring ranks he sprang
In hopes of safety, glancing all around,
His body to defend; but as he turn’d,
In his right flank a brazen-pointed shaft, 730
Shot by Meriones, was buried deep:
Beneath the bone it pass’d, and piere’d him through.
At once he fell; and gasping out his life,
Amid his comrades, writhing on the ground
Like a crush’d worm he lay; and from the wound 735
The dark blood pouring, drench’d the thirsty soil.
The valiant troops of Paphlagonia clos’d
Around him; on his car they plac’d the slain,
And deeply sorrowing, to the city bore ;
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 35
His father, weeping, walk’d beside the car,* 740
Nor vengeance for his slaughter’d son obtain’d.
Paris with grief and anger saw him fall:
For he in former days his guest had been
In Paphlagonia ; then, with anger fill’d,
A brass-tipp’d arrow from his bow he sent. 745
A certain man there was, Euchenor nam’d,
Who dwelt in Corinth; rich, of blameless life,
The son of Polyeidus, skilful seer :
His fate well knowing, he embark’d; for oft
The good old man had told him that his doom 750
Was, or at home by sharp disease to die,
Or with the Greeks by Trojan hands to fall.
Embarking, he escap’d alike the fine
By Greeks impos’d, and pangs of sharp disease.
Him Paris smote between the ear and jaw;
“
σι
OU
Swift fled his spirit, and darkness clos’d his eyes.
Thus rag’d, like blazing fire, the furious fight.
But nought as yet had Hector heard, nor knew
* This passage would seem to be the result of an oversight on the part of
the Poet; who, apparently, had forgotten that Pylemenes, “the Paphla-
gonian Chief,” had himself been killed by Menelaus, some time before the
death of his son. See Book V., 1. 656,
p 2
36 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XIII.
How sorely, leftward of the ships, were press‘
The Trojans by the Greeks; and now appear’d 760
Their triumph sure; such succour Neptune gave,
Their courage rousing, and imparting strength.
But there he kept, where first the serried ranks
Of Greeks he broke, and storm’d the wall and gates ;
There lay, drawn up beside the hoary sea, 765
The ships of Ajax and Protesilas ;
There had the wall been lowest built; and there
Were gather’d in defence the chiefest all,
Horses and men: the stout Boeotians there,
Join’d to th’ Jonians with their flowing robes, 770
Locrians, and Phthians, and Epeians proud,
Could scarce protect their ships; nor could repel
Th’ impetuous fire of godlike Hector’s charge.
There too the choicest troops of Athens fought ;
Their chief, Menestheus, Petéus’ son; with whom
-
-ἡ
σι
Were Pheidas, Stichius, Bias in command ;
Th’ Epeians Meges, Phyleus’ son, obey’d,
And Dracius and Amphion; Medon next,
With brave Podarces led the Phthian host:
Medon, the great Oileus’ bastard son, 780
Boor XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Brother of Ajax; he in Phylace,
Far from his native land, was driv’n to dwell,
Since one to Eriopis near akin,
His sire Oileus’ wife, his hand had slain.
Podarces from Iphiclus claim’d his birth,
The son of Phylacus; these two in arms
The valiant Phthians leading to the fight,
Join’d the Beeotian troops to guard the ships.
But from the side of Ajax Telamon
Stirr’d not a whit Oileus’ active son;
But as on fallow-land, with one accord,
Two dark-red oxen drag the well-wrought plough,
37
“1
og)
σι
790
Streaming with sweat that gathers round their horns ;
They by the polish’d yoke together held,
The stiff soil cleaving, down the furrow strain;
So closely, side by side, those two advane’d.
But comrades, many and brave, on Telamon
Attended, who, whene’er with toil and sweat
His limbs grew faint, upheld his weighty shield ;
While in the fray, Oileus’ noble son
No Locerians followd; theirs were not the hearts
To brook th’ endurance of the standing fight ;
800
38 5 HOMER’S. ‘ILIAD. Boox XIII.
Nor had they brass-bound helms, with horsehair plume,
Nor ample shields they bore, nor ashen spear ;
But came to Troy, in bows and twisted slings 805
Of woollen cloth confiding ; and from these
Their bolts quick-showring, broke the Trojan ranks.
While those, in front, in glittring arms oppos’d
The men of Troy, by noble Hector led ;
These, in the rear, unseen, their arrows shot. 810
Nor stood the Trojans; for amid their ranks
The galling arrows dire confusion spread.
Then had the Trojans from the ships and tents
Back to the breezy heights of Troy been driv’n
In flight disastrous ; but Polydamas 815
Drew near to Hector, and address’d him thus:
“ Hector, I know thee, how unapt thou art
To hearken to advice; yet evn if Jove
Hath giv’n thee to excel in warlike might,
Must needs thy wisdom all men’s else surpass ? 820
All gifts thou canst not in thyself combine :
To one the Gods have granted warlike might,
To one the dance, to one the lyre and song;
While in another’s breast all-seeing Jove
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 99
Hath plac’d the spirit of wisdom, and a mind 825
Discerning, for the common good of all:
By him are states preseryd; and he himself
Best knows the value of the precious gift.
Then hear what seems to me the wisest course.
On ev'ry side the circling ring of war 830
Is blazing all around thee; and, thou seest,
Our valiant Trojans, since the wall they scald,
Or stand aloof, or scatter’d ‘mid the ships
Outnumber’d, with superior forces strive.
Then thou, retiring, hither call the chiefs ; 835
Here take we counsel fully, if again
Upon their well-mann’d vessels we shall fall,
Should Heav’n vouchsafe to grant the needful strength,
Or from the ships, while yet unharm’d, withdraw ;
For much I fear they soon will pay us back 840
Their debt of yesterday; since in their ranks
One yet remains insatiate of the fight,
And he, methinks, not long will stand aloof.”
Thus he: the prudent counsel Hector pleas’d ;
Down from his chariot with his arms he leap’d, 845
And to Polydamas his speech address’:
40 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIII.
“ Polydamas, detain thou here the chiefs ;
Thither will I, and meet the front of war,
And, givn my orders, quickly here return.”
He said; and, like a snow-clad mountain high,
Uprose; and loudly shouting, in hot haste
Flew through the Trojan and Confed’rate host.
At sound of Hector’s voice, round Panthdéus’ son,
Polydamas, were gather’d all the chiefs.
But ‘mid the foremost combatants he sought
If haply he might find Deiphobus,
And royal Helenus, and Adamas,
And gallant Asius, son of Hyrtacus.
These found he not unseath’d by wounds or death;
For some beside the ships of Greece had paid,
By Grecian hands, the forfeit of their lives,
While others wounded lay within the wall.
But, to the leftward of the bloody fray,
The godlike Paris, fair-hair’d Helen’s Lord,
Cheering his comrades to the fight, he found,
And with reproachful words address’d him thus:
“Thou wretched Paris, fair in outward form,
Thou slave of woman, manhood’s counterfeit,
850
855
860
86d
Boox XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 41
Where is Deiphobus, and where the might
Of royal Helenus? where Adamas, 870
The son of Asius? where too Asius, son
Of Hyrtacus? and where Othryoneus ?
Now from its summit totters to the fall
Our lofty Ilium; now thy doom is seal’d.”
δῷ
σι
To whom the godlike Paris thus replied:
“ Hector, since blameless I incur thy blame,
Neer have I less withdrawn me from the fight,
And me not wholly vile my mother bore;
For since thou gay’st command to attack the ships,
We here against the Greeks unflinching war 880
Have wag’d; our comrades, whom thou seek’st, are slain :
Only Deiphobus hath left the field,
And Helenus ; both wounded by the spear,
Both through the hand; but Jove their life hath spar’d.
But thou, where’er thy courage bids, lead on: 885
We shall be prompt to follow; to our pow’r
Thou shalt in us no lack of valour find;
Beyond his powr the bravest cannot fight.”
Wrought on his brother’s mind the hero’s words:
Together both they bent their steps, where rag’d — 890
42 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIII.
The fiercest conflict; there Cebriones,
Phalces, Ortheus, brave Polydamas,
Palmys, and godlike Polyphetes’ might,
And Morys, and Ascanius fought; these two
Hippotion’s sons; from rich Ascania’s plains 895
They, as reliefs, but yestermorn had come:
Impell’d by Jove, they sought the battle field.
Onward they dash’d, impetuous as the rush
Of the fierce whirlwind, which with lightning charg’d,
From Father Jove sweeps downward o’er the plain: 900
As with loud roar it mingles with the sea,
The many-dashing ocean's billows boil,
Upheaving, foam-white-crested, wave on wave ;
So, rank on rank, the Trojans, closely mass’d,
In arms all glitt’ring, with their chiefs advane’d; 908
Hector, the son of Priam, led them on,
In combat terrible as blood-stain’d Mars:
Before his breast his shield’s broad orb he bore,
Of hides close join’d, with brazen plates o’erlaid ;
The gleaming helmet nodded o’er his brow. 910
He, with proud step, protected by his shield,
On evry side the hostile ranks survey’d,
a νον eEEEEEEEEEEEEEEOEOEOEOEOoEEeEeEeEEE
Book XIII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
If signs of yielding he might trace; but they
Unshaken stood; and with like haughty mien,
Ajax at Hector thus defiance hurl’d:
“ Draw nearer, mighty chief; why seek to scare
Our valiant Greeks ? we boast ourselves of war
Not wholly unskill’d, though now the hand of Jove
Lies heavy on us with the scourge of Heavn.
Thou hop’st, forsooth, our vessels to destroy ;
But stalwart arms for their defence we boast.
Long ere that day shall your proud city fall,
Tak’n and destroy’d by our victorious hands.
Not far the hour, when thou thyself in flight
To Jove and all the Gods shalt make thy pray’r,
That swifter than the falcon’s wing thy steeds
May bear thee o'er the dusty plain to Troy.”
Thus as he spoke, upon his right appear’d
An eagle, soaring high; the crowd of Greeks
The favring omen saw, and shouted loud :
Then noble Hector thus: “What words are these,
Ajax, thou babbling braggart, vain of speech!
For would to Heav’n I were as well assur’d
I were the son of egis-bearing Jove,
920
925
930
44 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIII.
Born of imperial Juno, and myself
In equal honour with Apollo held
Or blue-ey’d Pallas, as I am assur’d
This day is fraught with ill to all the Greeks:
Thou ’mid the rest shalt perish, if thou dare
My spear encounter, which thy dainty skin
Shall rend; and slain beside the ships, thy flesh
Shall glut the dogs and carrion birds of Troy.”
He said, and led them on; with eager cheers
They followd; shouted loud the hindmost throng.
On th’ other side the Greeks return’d the shout:
Of all the Trojans’ bravest they, unmovy’d,
The onset bore; their mingled clamours rose
To Heav’n, and reach’d the glorious light of Jove.
935
940
945
948
Boor XIV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
BOOK XIV.
NOs did the battle-din not reach the ears
Of Nestor, o’er the wine-cup; and his speech
He thus address’d to Alsculapius’ son:
“Say, good Machaon, what these sounds may mean ;
For louder swells the tumult round the ships.
But sit thou here, and drink the ruddy wine,
Till fair-hair’d Hecamede shall prepare
The gentle bath, and wash thy gory wounds ;
While I go forth, and all around survey.”
He said, and from the wall a buckler took,
Well-wrought, with brass resplendent, which his son,
Brave Thrasymedes, in the tent had left,
While with his father’s shield himself was girt ;
A sturdy spear too, tipp’d with brass, he took:
Without the tent he stood; and there his eyes
A woful sight beheld; the Greeks in flight,
The haughty Trojans pressing on their rout
10
15
46 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XIV.
Confus’d; the Greeks’ protecting wall o’erthrown.
As heaves the darkling sea with silent swell,
Expectant of the boist’rous gale’s approach ; 20
Nor onward either way is pour’d its flood,
Until it feel th’ impelling blast from Heavn;
So stood th’ old man, his mind perplex’d with doubt,
To mingle in the throng, or counsel seek
Of mighty Agamemnon, Atreus’ son. 25
Thus as he musd, the better course appear’d,
To seek Atrides; fiercely fought the rest
With mutual slaughter; loud their armour rang
With thrusts of swords and double-pointed spears.
There, from the ships advancing, Nestor met 30
The Heawn-born Kings, Ulysses, Diomed,
And Agamemnon, son of Atreus, all
By wounds disabled; for the ships were beach’d
Upon the shore, beside the hoary sea,
Far from the battle; higher, towrd the plain 35
The foremost had been drawn, and with a wall
Their sterns surrounded; for the spacious beach
Could not contain them, and in narrow bounds
Were pent their multitudes; so high on land
Boox XIV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
47
They drew, and rang’d them side by side, and fill’d,
Within the headlands, all the wide-mouth’d bay.
Thus they, their steps supporting on their spears,
Together came, spectators of the fight ;
Deep sorrow fill’d their breasts; them Nestor met,
The fear increasing, which their souls possess’d.
To whom the monarch Agamemnon thus:
“O Nestor, son of Neleus, pride of Greece,
Why com’st thou here, and leay’st the battle-field ?
Greatly I fear that noble Hector now
His menace will fulfil, who made his boast
Before th’ assembled Trojans, that to Troy
He never would return, until our ships
The flames had master’d, and ourselves the sword.
Such was his threat, and now he makes it good.
Heav’n! can it be that I of other Greeks,
As of Achilles, have ineurr’d the wrath,
Who thence refuse to battle for the ships?”
To whom Gerenian Nestor thus replied :
“Such are indeed our prospects; Jove on high
Could to our fortunes give no diff’rent turn.
The wall is raz’d, wherein our trust we plac’d
40
45
50
60
48 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIV.
To guard, impregnable, ourselves and ships ;
And now around the ships their war they wage,
Unceasing, unabated; none might tell
By closest scrutiny, which way are driv’n
The routed Greeks, so intermix’d they fall
Promiscuous ; and the cry ascends to Heay’n.
But come, discuss we what may best be done,
If judgment aught may profit us; ourselves
To mingle in the fray I counsel not;
It were not well for wounded men to fight.”
Whom answer’d Agamemnon, King of men:
“Nestor, since to the ships the war is brought,
Nor hath the wall avail’d to stay their course,
Nor yet the deep-dug trench, on which we Greeks
Much toil bestow’d, and which we vainly hop’d
Might guard, impregnable, ourselves and ships;
Seems it the will of Saturn’s mighty son
That, far from Argos, from our native land,
We all should here in nameless graves be laid.
I knew when once he lowd to aid the Greeks;
But now I see that to the blessed Gods
Our foes he equals, and our strength confounds.
“1
Ou
80
Boox XIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 49
Hear then my counsel; let us all agree
The ships that nearest to the sea are beach’d 85
To launch upon the main, till nightfall there
To ride at anchor; if that evn by night
The Trojans may suspend their fierce assault ;
Then may we launch in safety all the fleet.
No shame it is to fly, although by night, 90
Impending evil; better so to fly
Than by the threaten’d danger be o’erta’en.”
To whom, with scornful glance, Ulysses sage:
“What words have pass‘ the barrier of thy lips,
Thou son of Atreus? counsellor of ill! 95
Would thou hadst been of some ignoble band
The leader, not the chief of such a host
As ours, on whom, from youth to latest age,
Jove hath the gift bestowd, to bear the brunt
Of hardy war, till evry man be slain. 100
And think’st thou so to leave the lofty walls
Of Troy, the object of our painful toil ?
Be silent, that no other Greek may hear
Words, which no man might trust his tongue to speak,
Who nobler counsels understands, and wields 105
VOL. II. E
50 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIV.
A royal sceptre, and th’ allegiance claims
Of numbers, such as those that own thy sway.
Thy counsels all I utterly condemn ;
Who, ’mid the close and clamour of the fight,
Wouldst have us launch our ships, and give the foe, 110
Already too triumphant, cause renew’d
For boasting; then were death our certain lot;
For, if the ships be launch’d, not long will Greeks
Sustain the war, but with reverted eyes
Shrink from the fight; to such pernicious end 115
Would lead thy baneful counsels, mighty chief.”
Whom answer’d Agamemnon, King of men:
“Ulysses, thy rebuke hath wrung my soul;
Yet never meant 1, that against their will
The sons of Greece should launch their well-found ships : 120
But if there be who better counsel knows,
Or young or old, his words would please me well.”
Then rose the valiant Diomed, and said:
“The man is near at hand, nor far to seek,
If ye will hear, nor take offence, that I, 12
ὧι
The youngest of you all, presume to speak.
Yet of a noble sire I boast me sprung,
Book XIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 51
Tydeus, who sleeps beneath the Theban soil:
To Portheus three brave sons were born, who dwelt
In Pleuron and in lofty Calydon, 130
Agrius, and Melas; bravest of them all,
My father’s father, Gineus, was the third.
He there remain’d; my father, wand’ring long,
To Argos came; such was the will of Jove
And of th’ Immortals all; he there espous’d 135
Adrastus’ daughter; own’d a wealthy house,
With fertile corn-lands round, and orchards stor’d
With goodly fruit-trees; num’rous flocks he had,
And all the Greeks in feats of arms excell’d.
Hear ye the words I speak, for they are true: 140
And if my speech be wise, despise it not,
As of one worthless, or ignobly born.
Though wounded, to the battle I advise
That we perforce repair; yet not ourselves
To join the combat, or confront the spears, 145
Lest wounds to wounds be added; but to rouse
The spirits of some, who, zealous heretofore,
Now stand aloof, nor mingle in the fray.”
He said, and they, his words approving, went,
Bee
52 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIV.
By Agamemnon led, the King of men. 150
Nor careless was the watch by Neptune kept:
With them, in likeness of an aged man,
He went, and Agamemnon, Atreus’ son,
By the right hand he took, and thus address’d :
or
“O son of Atreus, great is now the joy 15
With which Achilles’ savage breast is fill’d,
Who sees the slaughter and the rout of Greeks:
For nought he has of heart, no, not a whit:
But perish he, accursed of the Gods!
Nor deem thou that to thee the blessed Gods 160
Are wholly hostile; yet again the chiefs
And councillors of Troy shall scour in flight
The dusty plain; and from the ships and tents
Thine eyes shall see them to the city fly.”
He said; and loudly shouting, onward rush’d. 165
As of nine thousand or ten thousand men,
In deadly combat meeting, is the shout ;
Such was the sound which from his ample chest
Th’ Earth-shaker sent; and evry Greek inspir’d
With stern resolve to wage unflinching war. 170
Standing on high Olympus’ topmost peak,
Boox XIV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
53
The golden-throned Juno downward look’d,
And, busied in the glory-giving strife,
Her husband’s brother and her own she saw,
Saw, and rejoic’d; next, seated on the crest
Of spring-abounding Ida, Jove she saw,
Sight hateful in her eyes! then ponder’d deep
The Bee Queen, how best she might beguile
The wakeful mind of zgis-bearing Jove;
And, musing, this appear’d the readiest mode:
Herself with art adorning, to repair
To Ida; there, with fondest blandishment
And female charm, her husband to enfold
In love’s embrace; and gentle, careless sleep
Around his eyelids and his senses pour.
Her chamber straight she sought, by Vulcan built,
Her son; by whom were to the door-posts hung
Close-fitting doors, with secret keys secur’d,
That, save herself, no God might enter in.
There enter’d she, and clos’d the shining doors;
And with ambrosia first her lovely skin
She purified, with fragrant oil anointing,
Ambrosial, breathing forth such odours sweet,
175
180
190
54 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIV.
That, wav’'d above the brazen floor of Jove,
All earth and Heav’n were with the fragrance fill’d; 195
O’er her fair skin this precious oil she spread ;
Comb’d out her flowing locks, and with her hand
Wreath’d the thick masses of the glossy hair,
Immortal, bright, that crown’d th’ imperial head.
A robe ambrosial then, by Pallas wrought, 200
She donn’d, in many a curious pattern trac’d,
With golden brooch beneath her breast confin’d.
Her zone, from which a hundred tassels hung,
She girt about her; and, in three bright drops,
Her glitt’ring gems suspended from her ears; 205
And all around her grace and beauty shone.
Then o’er her head th’ imperial Goddess threw
A beauteous veil, new-wrought, as sunlight white ;
And on her well-turn’d feet her sandals bound.
Her dress completed, from her chamber forth 210
She issued, and from th’ other Gods apart
She call’d to Venus, and address’d her thus:
“Say, wilt thou grant, dear child, the boon I ask?
Or wilt thou say me nay, in wrath that I
Espouse the Greek, as thou the Trojan cause?” 215
Boox XIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 55
To whom the laughter-loving Venus thus :
“Daughter of Saturn, Juno, mighty Queen,
Tell me thy wish; to grant it if my powr
May aught avail, thy pleasure shall be done.”
To whom great Juno thus, with artful speech: — 220
“Give me the loveliness, and powr to charm,
Whereby thou reign’st o'er Gods and men supreme.
For to the bounteous Harth’s extremest bounds
I go, to visit old Oceanus,
The sire of Gods, and Tethys, who of yore 225
From Rhea took me, when all-seemg Jove
Hurl’d Saturn down below the earth and seas,
And nurs’ me in their home with tend’rest care;
I go to visit them, and reconcile
A lengthen’d feud; for since some cause of wrath 280
Has come between them, they from rites of love
And from the marriage-bed have long abstain’d :
Could I unite them by persuasive words,
And to their former intercourse restore,
Their loye and revrence were for ever mine.” 235
Whom answer’d thus the laughter-loving Queen:
“T ought not, and I cannot, say thee nay,
56 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIV.
Who liest encircled by the arms of Jove.”
Thus Venus spoke; and from her bosom loos’d
Her broider’d cestus, wrought with evry charm 240
To win the heart; there Love, there young Desire,
There fond Discourse, and there Persuasion dwelt,
Which oft enthralls the mind of wisest men.
This in her hand she plac’d, as thus she spoke:
“Take thou from me, and in thy bosom hide, 245
This broider’d cestus; and, whate’er thy wish, |
Thou shalt not here ungratified return.”
‘Thus Venus; smil’d the stag-ey’d Queen of Heay’n,
And, smiling, in her bosom hid the gift.
Then Venus to her father’s house return’d ; 250
But Juno down from high Olympus sped ;
O’er sweet Emathia, and Pieria’s range,
O’er snowy mountains of horse-breeding Thrace,
Their topmost heights, she soar’d, nor touch’d the earth.
From Athos then she cross’d the swelling sea, 255
Until to Lemnos, godlike Thoas’ seat,
She came; there met she Sleep, twin-born with Death,
Whom, as his hand she clasp’d, she thus address’d:
“Sleep, universal Kine of Gods and men,
Boox XIV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
qn
~1
If ever thou hast listen’d to my voice, 260
Grant me the boon which now I ask, and win
My ceaseless favour in all time to come.
When Jove thou seest in my embraces lockd,
Do thou his piercing eyes in slumber seal.
Rich guerdon shall be thine; a gorgeous throne, 265
Immortal, golden; which my skilful son,
Vulcan, shall deftly frame; beneath, a stool
Whereon at feasts thy feet may softly rest.”
Whom answer’d thus the gentle God of Sleep:
“ Daughter of Saturn, Juno, mighty Queen, 270
On any other of th’ immortal Gods
I can with ease exert my slumb’rous pow’ ;
Eyn to the stream of old Oceanus,
Prime origin of all; but Saturn’s son,
Imperial Jove, I dare not so approach,
bo
=i
σι
Nor sink in sleep, save by his own desire.
Already once, obeying thy command,
A fearful warning I receiv’d, that day
When from the capture and the sack of Troy
That mighty warrior, son of Jove, set sail; 280
For, cireumfus’d around, with sweet constraint
58 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIV.
I bound the sense of xgis-bearing Jove,
While thou, with il-design, rousing the force
Of winds tempestuous o’er the stormy sea,
Didst cast him forth on Cods’ thriving isle, 285
Far from his friends; then Jove, awaking, pow’d
His wrath, promiscuous, on th’ assembled Gods;
Me chief his anger sought; and from on high
Had hurl’d me, plung’d beneath th’ unfathom’d sea,
But Night, the vanquisher of Gods and men, 290
Her fugitive receiv’d me; he his wrath
Repress’d, unwilline to invade the ‘claims
Of holy Night; and now thou fain wouldst urge
That I another reckless deed essay.”
Whom answer’d thus the stag-ey’d Queen of Heavy’n: 295
“Why, Sleep, with thoughts like these perplex thy mind ἢ
Think’st thou that Jove as ardently desires
To aid the men of Troy, as fiercely burn’d
His anger on his valiant son’s behalf?
Grant my request; and of the Graces one, 300
The youngest and the fairest, have to wile,
Pasithea, whom thy love hath long pursued.”
Thus promis’d Juno; Sleep, rejoicing, heard,
Boox XiV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
And answer’d thus: “Swear then the awful oath,
Inviolable, by the stream of Styx,
Thy one hand laid upon the fruitful earth,
The other resting on the sparkling sea ;
That all the Gods who in the nether realms
With Saturn dwell, may of our solemn bond
Be witnesses, that of the Graces one,
The youngest, fairest, I shall have to wite,
Pasithea, whom my love hath long pursued.”
He said: nor did the white-arm’d Queen refuse ;
She took the oath requir’d; and call’d by name
On all the Titans, sub-Tartarean Gods:
Then, sworn and ratified the oath, they pass’d
From Lemnos, and from Imbros, veil’d in cloud,
Skimming their airy way; on Lectum first,
In spring-abounding Ida, nurse of beasts,
The sea they left, and journey’d o’er the land,
While way’d beneath their feet the lofty woods.
There Sleep, ere yet he met the eye of Jove,
Remain’d ; and, mounted on a lofty pine,
The tallest growth of Ida, that on high
Flung through the desert air its boughs to Heav’n, 3:
510
Bld
320
mS)
σι
60 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIV.
Amid the pine’s close branches lay ensconced ;
Like to a mountain bird of shrillest note,
Whom Gods the Chalcis, men the night-hawk call.
Juno meanwhile to Ida’s summit sped,
To Gargarus; the Cloud-compeller saw ; 330
He saw, and sudden passion fir’d his soul,
As when, their parents’ eyes eluding, first
They tasted of the secret joys of love.
He rose to meet her, and address’d her thus:
“From high Olympus, Juno, whither bound, 335
And how, to Ida hast thou come in haste ἢ
For horses here or chariot hast thou none.”
To whom thus Juno with deceitful speech
Replied: “ To fertile earth’s extremest bounds
I go, to visit old Oceanus, 340
The sire of Gods, and Tethys, who of yore
Receiv’d, and nurtur’d me with tend’rest care.
I go to visit them, and reconcile
A lengthen’d feud; for since some cause of wrath
qo
a
σι
Has come between them, they from rites of love
And from the marriage bed have long abstain’d.
Meanwhile at spring-abounding Ida’s foot
Boox XIV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
My horses wait me, that o’er land and sea
Alike my chariot bear; on thine account
From high Olympus hither have I come,
Lest it displease thee, if, to thee unknown,
I sought the Ocean’s deeply-flowing stream.”
To whom the Cloud-compeller thus replied:
“ Juno, thy visit yet awhile defer ;
And let us now in love’s delights indulge:
For never yet did such a flood of love
For Goddess or for mortal fill my soul;
Not for Ixion’s beauteous wife, who bore
Pirithéus, sage in council as the Gods;
Nor the neat-footed maiden Danae,
Acrisius’ daughter, her who Perseus bore,
Th’ obsery’d of all; nor noble Phcenix’ child,
Who bore me Minos, and the godlike might
Of Rhadamanthus; nor for Semele,
Nor for Alemena fair, of whom was born
In Thebes the mighty warrior Hercules,
As Bacchus, joy of men, of Semele:
No, nor for Ceres, golden-tresséd Queen,
Nor for Latona bright, nor for thyself,
61
co
οι
360
62 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIV.
As now with fond desire for thee I burn.”
jst)
Ξὶ
fa)
To whom thus Juno with deceitful speech :
« What words, dread son of Saturn, dost thou speak ?
If here on Ida, in the face of day,
We celebrate the mystic rites of love,
How if some other of th’ immortal Gods 375
Should find us sleeping, and ’mid all the Gods
Should spread the tale abroad? I could not then
Straight to thy house, for very shame, return.
But if indeed such passion fill thy soul,
Thou hast thy secret chamber, built for thee 380
By Vulcan, with close-fitting doors secur’d ;
Thither, if such thy pleasure, go we now.”
To whom the Cloud-compeller thus replied:
“ Juno, nor fear the eye of God or man;
For all around us I will throw such veil 385
Of golden cloud, that not the sun himself
With sharpest beam of light may pierce it through.”
Thus saying, in his arms he clasp’d his wife ;
The teeming earth beneath them caus’d to spring
The tender grass, and lotus dew-besprent, 390
Crocus and hyacinth, a fragrant couch,
Se
Boox XIV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Profuse and soft, up-springing from the earth.
There lay they, all around them spread a veil
Of golden cloud, whence heav’nly dews distill’d.
There on the topmost height of Gargarus,
By sleep and love subdued, th’ immortal Sire,
Clasp’d in his arms his wife, repos’d in peace.
Then Sleep arose, and to the Grecian ships
In haste repairing, to th’ Earth-shaking King
His tidings bore; and standing at his side
Thus to the God his wingéd words address’d :
“Now, Neptune, to the Greeks thy ready aid
Afford, that short-liv’d triumph they may gain,
While slumber holds the eyes of Jove; for I
In sweet unconsciousness have drown’d his sense,
Beguil’d by Juno, in whose arms he les.”
He said, and vanish’d ’mid the tribes of men:
But fir’d with keener zeal to aid the Greeks,
Neptune sprang forth in front, and call’d aloud:
“ Again, ye Greeks, shall our remissness yield
The victory to Hector, Priam’s son,
To seize our ships, and endless glory gain?
Such is his boast and menace, since in wrath
395
400
405
410
64 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIV.
Achilles still beside his ships remains.
Yet him we scarce should miss, if we, the rest, 415
But firmly stood for mutual defence.
Hear then my counsel: let us all agree,
Girt with our best and broadest shields, our heads
With flashing helmets guarded, in our hands
Grasping our longest spears, to dare the fight. 420
Myself will lead you on; and Priam’s son,
Though bold he be, will fear with me to cope.
And if, among our bravest, any bear
Too small a buckler, with some meaner man
Let him exchange, and don the larger shield.” 425
He said, and they assenting heard his speech.
The Kings themselves, Ulysses, Diomed,
And mighty Agamemnon, Atreus’ son,
Though sorely wounded, yet the troops array’d;
Throughout the ranks they pass’d, and chang’d the arms ; 430
The bravest donn’d the best, the worse the worst.
When with their dazzling armour all were girt,
Forward they movd; th’ Earth-shaker led them on:
In his broad hand an awful sword he bore,
Long-bladed, vivid as the lghtning’s flash: 435
Boox XIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 65
Yet in the deadly strife he might not join,
But kindled terror in the minds of men.
Hector meantime the Trojan troops array’d.
Then fiercer grew, and more intense the strain
Of furious fight, when Ocean’s dark-hai’d King 440
And Priam’s noble son were met in arms,
And aided, this the Trojans, that the Greeks.
High towrd the tents uprose the surging sea,
As with loud clamour met th’ opposing hosts.
Less loud the roar of Ocean’s wave, that driv’n 445
By stormy Boreas, breaks upon the beach ;
Less loud the crackling of the flames that rage
In the deep forest of some mountain glen;
Less loud the wind, to wildest fury rous’d,
Howls in the branches of the lofty oaks; 450
Than rose the ery of Trojans and of Greeks,
As each, with furious shout, encounter’d each.
At Ajax first, who straight before him stood,
Great Hector threw his spear, nor miss‘ his aim,
Where the two belts, the one which bore his shield, 455
His silver-studded sword the other, met
Across his breast; these two his life preserv’d.
VOL. II. F
66 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XIV.
Hector was wroth, that from his stalwart hand
The spear had flown in vain; and back he sprang
For safety to his comrades’ shelt’ring ranks: 460
But mighty Ajax Telamon upheav'd
A pond’rous stone, of many, all around
That scatter’d lay beneath the wartiors’ feet,
And serv the ships to prop; with one of these,
As Hector backward stepp’d, above the shield 465
He smote him on the breast, below the throat.
With whirling motion, circling as it flew,
The mass he hurl’d. As by the bolt of Heav’n
Uprooted, prostrate lies some forest oak ;
The sulph’rous vapour taints the air; appall’d, 470
Bereft of strength, the near beholder stands,
And awestruck hears the thunder-peal of Jove ;
So in the dust the might of Hector lay:
Dropp'd from his hand the spear; the shield and helm
Fell with him; loud his polish’d armour rang. 475
On rush’d, with joyous shout, the sons of Greece,
In hope to seize the spoil; thick flew the spears:
Yet none might reach or wound the fallen chief;
For gather’d close around, the bravest all,
Book XIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 67
Valiant Aineas, and Polydamas, 480
Godlike Agenor, and the Lycian chief
Sarpedon, and the noble Glaucus stood.
Nor did the rest not aid; their shields’ broad orbs
Before him still they held, while in their arms
His comrades bore him from the battle-field, 485
To where, with charioteer and well-wrought car,
Beyond the fight, his flying coursers stood,
Which bore him, deeply groaning, τον Τὰ the town.
But when the ford was reach’d of Xanthus’ stream,
Broad-flowing, eddying, by immortal Jove 490
Begotten, on the ground they laid him down,
And dash’d the cooling water on his brow:
Reyiv'd, he lifted up awhile his eyes;
Then on his knees half rising, he disgorg’d
The clotted blood; but backward to the earth, 495
Still by the blow subdued, agam he fell,
And darkling shades of night his eyes o’erspread.
Onward, with zeal redoubled, press’d the Greeks,
When Hector from the field they saw withdrawn.
Foremost of all, Oileus’ active son, 500
With sudden spring assailing, Satnius slew:
Wy 2
68 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIV.
Him a fair Naiad nymph to Ginops bore,
Who by the banks of Satnois kept his herds.
Him then, approaching near, Oileus’ son
Thrust through the flank: he fell, and o’er his corpse 505
Trojans and Greeks in stubborn fight engag’d.
But Panthous’ son a swift avenger came,
Polydamas, with brandish’d spear, and struck
Through the right shoulder Prothéenor, son
Of Aréilycus; right through was driv’n 510
The sturdy spear; he, rolling in the dust,
Clutch’d with his palms the ground; then, shouting loud,
Thus with triumphant boast Polydamas:
“From the strong hand of Panthous’ noble son
Or
Methinks that not in vain the spear has flown: 51:
A Greek now bears it off; and he, perchance,
May use it as a staff to Pluto’s realm.”
Thus he; the Greeks with pain his vaunting heard ;
But chief it rous'd the spirit within the breast
Of Ajax Telamon, whom close beside 520
The dead had fall’n; he at Polydamas,
Retreating, hurl’d in haste his glitt’ring spear ;
He, springing sideways, ’scap’d the stroke of fate ;
—-
Book XIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 69
But young Archilochus, Antenor’s son,
Receiv’'d the spear, for Heawn had willd his death: 525
The spine it struck, the topmost joint, where met
The head and neck, and both the tendons broke;
Forward he fell; and ere or knee or leg,
His head, and mouth, and nostrils struck the ground.
Then Ajax, in his turn, exulting, thus: 530
“Say now, Polydamas, and tell me true,
May this be deem’d for Prothéenor’s death
A full equivalent ? no common man
He seems, and born of no ignoble race ;
Valiant Antenor’s brother, or perchance 535
His son; the likeness speaks him near akin.”
Thus he, though well he knew; then bitter grief
Possess’ the Trojans’ souls; but Acamas,
Guarding his brother’s body, with his spear
Slew the Bceotian Promachus, who fain 540
Would by the feet have drawn away the dead:
Then Acamas, exulting, cried aloud:
“Ye wretched Greeks, in boasting measureless!
Not ours alone the labour and the loss
Or
Of battle; ye too have your share of death. 54
70 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boor XIV.
Behold where lies your Promachus, subdued
Beneath my spear; not long unpaid the debt
Due for my brother’s blood! “Tis well for him
Who leaves a brother to avenge his fate.”
Thus he; the Greeks with pain his vaunting heard ; 550
But chief it rous’d the spirit within the breast
Of Peneleus; on Acamas he sprang,
Who waited not th’ encounter; next he slew
Ilioneus, the son of Phorbas, Lord
Of numrous flocks, of all the Trojans most 555
Belovd of Hermes, who his wealth increas‘d.
To him Llioneus, an only son,
His mother bore; who now, beneath the brow
And through the socket of the eye was struck,
Thrusting the eyeball out; for through the eye, 560
And backward through the head, the spear was driv’n:
With hands extended, down to earth he sank;
. But Peneleus his weighty sword let fall
Full on his neck; the sever'd head and helm
Together fell, remaining still infix’d 565
The sturdy spear; then he, the gory head
Uplitting, to the Trojans vaunting cried:
Boox XIV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
“Go now, ye Trojans! bid that in the house
Of brave Ilioneus his parents raise
The voice of wailing for their gallant son;
As neither shall the wite of Promachus,
The son of Alegenor, with glad smile
Her husband’s coming hail, when home from Troy
We sons of Greece, with victry crownd, return.”
Thus as he spoke, pale fear possess’d them all,
Each looking round to seek escape from death.
Say now, ye Nine, who on Olympus dwell,
Who, when th’ Earth-shaker turn’d the tide of war,
First bore away his foeman’s bloody spoils?
Great Ajax Telamon first Hyrtius smote,
The son of Gyrtius, who to battle led
The warlike Mysians; next Antilochus
From Mermerus and Phalces stripp’d their arms;
Meriones Hippotion gaye to death,
And Morys; Teucer Periphetes slew,
And Prothéon; Menelius, through the flank
Smote Hyperenor; as the grinding spear
Drain’d all his vitals, through the gaping wound
His spirit escap’d, and darkness clos’d his eyes.
=I
σι
σι
D
Or
* i ge
a x
--« HOMER’S ILIAD.
ν - » 2
-
- τς But chiefest slaughter of the Trojans wrought 590
ne ΓΝ
ὴ Oileus’ active son; of all the Greeks —
. . No foot so swift as his, when Jove had ΕΠ. . 4
Their souls with fear, to chase the flying foe. 593
᾿
᾿
;
:
5
;
—-— fe
Boox XV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 73
BOOK XV.
OW when the Trojans had recross’d the trench
And palisades, and in their headlong flight
Many had fall’n by Grecian swords, the rest,
Routed, and pale with fear, made head awhile
Beside their cars; then Jove on Ida’s height 5
At golden-throned Juno’s side awoke ;
Rising, he saw the Trojans and the Greeks,
Those in confusion, while behind them press’d
The Greeks, triumphant, Neptune in their midst :
He saw too Hector stretch’d upon the plain, 10
His comrades standing round ; senseless he lay,
Drawing short breath, blood gushing from his mouth ;
For by no feeble hand the blow was dealt.
Pitying, the Sire of Gods and men beheld,
And thus, with sternest glance, to Juno spoke : 15
“This, Juno, is thy work! thy wicked wiles
Have Hector quell’d, and Trojans drivn to flight:
74 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XV.
Nor know I but thyself mayst reap the fruit,
By shameful scourging, of thy vile deceit.
Hast thou forgotten how in former times 20
I hung thee from on high, and to thy feet
Attach’d two pond’rous anvils, and thy hands
With golden fetters bound, which none might break ?
There didst thou hang amid the clouds of Heavwn ;
Through all Olympus’ breadth the Gods were wroth; — 25
Yet dar’d not one approach to set thee free.
If any so had ventur’d, him had I
Hurld from Heav’n’s threshold, till to earth he fell,
With little left of life. Yet was not quench’d
My wrath on godlike Hercules’ account, 30
Whom thou, with Boreas, o’er the wat’ry waste
With fell intent didst send; and tempest-toss’d,
Cast him ashore on Cods’ fruitful isle.
I rescued him from thence, and brought him back,
After lone toil, to Argos’ grassy plains.
Ὁ , oO (=)
os
co
or
This to thy mind I bring, that thou mayst learn
To cease thy treach’rous wiles, nor hope to gain
By all thy lavish’d blandishments of love,
Wherewith thou hast deceiv’d me, and betray'd.”
Book XV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 75
| He said; and terror seiz’d the stag-ey’d Queen ; 40
, Who thus with winged words address’ her Lord:
“By Earth I swear, and yon broad Heayn above,
And Stygian stream beneath, the weightiest oath
Of solemn pow’r to bind the blessed Gods ;
By thine own sacred head, our nuptial bed, 45
Whose holy tie I never could forswear ;
That not by my suggestion and advice
Earth-shaking Neptune on the Trojan host,
And Hector, pours his wrath, and aids the Greeks ;
In this he but obeys his own desire, 50
Who looks with pity on the Grecian host
Beside their ships o’erborne ; and could my words
Prevail, my counsel were to shape his course,
O cloud-girt King, obedient to thy will.”
She said; the Sire of Gods and men, well pleas’d,
Or
σι
Her answer heard, and thus with gracious smile:
“Tf, stag-ey’d Queen, in synod of the Gods
Thy counsels shall indeed with mine agree,
Neptune, how strong soe’er his wish, must change
His course, obedient to thy will and mine; 60
And if in all sincerity thou speak,
76 HOMER’S ILIAD.
Go to th’ assembled Gods, and hither send
Iris, and Phcebus of the silver bow;
That she may to the Grecian camp repair,
And bid that Neptune from the battle-field
Withdraw, and to his own domain retire;
While Phcebus Hector to the fight restores,
Inspiring new-born vigour, and allaying
‘The mortal pains which bow his spirit down ;
Then, heartless fear infusing in the Greeks,
Put them to flight, that flying they may fall
Beside Achilles’ ships; his comrade then,
Patroclus, he shall send to battle forth
To -be by Hector slain, in front of Troy ;
Yet not to fall till many valiant youths
Have felt his prowess; and, amid the rest,
My son, Sarpedon; by his comrade’s death
Enrag’d, Achilles Hector shall subdue ;
Thenceforth my counsel is, that from the ships
65
The Trojan force shall still be backward driv’n, 80
Until at length, by Pallas’ deep designs,
‘The Greeks possess the lofty walls of Troy.
Yet will not I my anger intermit,
Boox XV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Nor suffer other of th’ immortal Gods
To aid the Greeks, till Peleus’ son behold
His wish accomplish’d, and the boon obtain’d
I promis’d once, and with a nod confirm’d,
That day when sea-born Thetis clasp’d my knees,
And pray’d me to avenge her warrior son.”
Thus he; the white-arm’d Queen of Heav’n submiss
His mandate heard; and from th’ Idean mount
With rapid flight to high Olympus sped.
Swift as the mind of man, who many a land
Hath travell’d oer, and with reflective thought
Recalls, “here was I such a day, or here,”
And in a moment many a scene surveys;
So Juno sped o’er intervening space ;
Olympus’ heights she reach’d, and in the house
Of Jove appear’d amid th’ assembled Gods.
They at her coming rose, with golden cups
. . ? >
Greeting their Queen’s approach; the rest she pass‘,
And from the hand of fair-fac’d Themis took
The proffer’d cup, who first had run to meet,
And thus with wingéd words address’d the Queen :
“Juno, why com’st thou hither? and with looks
77
90
95
100
105
78 HOMER’S ILIAD. - Boox XV.
Of one distraught with fear? hath Saturn’s son,
Thy mighty Lord, thus sore affrighted thee ?”
To whom the white-arm’d Goddess, Juno, thus:
“Forbear thy questions, Themis; well thou know’st
How haughty and imperious is his mind ; 110
Thou for the Gods in haste prepare the feast ;
Then shalt thou learn, amid th’ Immortals all,
What evil he designs; nor all, I ween,
His counsels will approve, or men, or Gods,
Though now in blissful ignorance they feast.” 115
She said, and sat; the Gods, oppress’d with care,
Her farther speech awaited ; on her lips
There dwelt indeed a smile, but not a ray
Pass'd o’er her dark’ning brow, as thus her wrath
Amid th’ assembled Gods found vent in words: 120
“Fools are we all, who madly strive with Jove,
Or hope, by access to his throne, to sway,
By word or deed, his course; from all apart,
He all our counsels heeds not, but derides ;
And boasts o’er all th’ immortal Gods to reign 125
In unapproach’d pre-eminence of pow’r.
Prepare then each his sevral woe to bear ;
Boox XV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 79
On Mars e’en now, methinks, the blow hath (ἈΠῈ:
Since in the fight, the man he loves the best,
And boasts his son, Ascalaphus, is slain.” 130
He said; and Mars, enrag’d, his brawny thigh
Smote with his hands, and thus, lamenting, spoke :
“Blame not, ye Gods, who on Olympus dwell,
That to the Grecian ships I haste, to avenge
My slaughter’d son, though blasted by Heav’n’s fire 185
"Twere mine “mid corpses, blood, and dust to lie.”
He said, and gave command to Fear and Flight
To yoke his car; and donn’d his glitt’ring arms.
Then from the throne of Jove had heavier wrath
And deeper vengeance on th’ Immortals fall’n, 140
But Pallas, in alarm for all the Gods,
|
Quitting in haste the throne whereon she sat,
Sprang past the vestibule, and from his head
The helmet lifted, from his arm the shield;
Took from his sturdy hand, and rear’d upright, 145
The brazen spear; then with reproachful words
She thus assail’d th’ impetuous God of War:
“Madman, and void of reason, thou art lost!
Hast thou no ears to hear? or are thy mind
80 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XV.
And sense of rev’rence utterly destroy’d ? 150
Or heard’st thou not what white-arm’d Juno spoke,
Fresh from the presence of Olympian Jove ?
Wouldst thou, thine evil destiny fulfill’d,
By hard constraint, despite thy grief, be driv'n
Back to Olympus; and to all the rest 155
Confusion and disaster with thee bring ?
At once from valiant Trojans and from Greeks
His thoughts would be diverted, and his wrath
Embroil Olympus, and on all alike,
Guilty or not, his anger would be pour’d. 160
Waive then thy vengeance for thy gallant son ;
Others as brave of heart, as strong of arm,
Have fall’n, and yet must fall; and vain th’ attempt
To watch at once oer all the race of men.”
Thus saying, to his seat again she fore’d 165
Th’ impetuous Mars: meanwhile, without the house,
Juno, by Jove’s command, Apollo call'd,
And Iris, messenger from God to God;
And thus to both her winged words address’d :
“Jove bids you with all speed to Ida haste; ‘170
And when, arrivd, before his face ye stand,
Boox XV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 81
Whate’er he orders, that observe and do.”
Thus Juno spoke, and to her throne return’d;
While they to spring-abounding Ida’s heights,
οι
Wild nurse of forest beasts, pursued their way ; 17
Th’ all-seemg son of Saturn there they found
Upon the topmost crag of Gargarus,
An incense-breathing cloud around him spread.
Before the face of cloud-compelling Jove
They stood; well-pleas’d he witness’d their approach 180
In swift obedience to his consort’s words,
And thus to Iris first his speech address’d :
“ Haste thee, swift Iris, and to Ocean’s King
My message bear, nor misreporting aught,
Nor aught omitting; from the battle-field 185
Bid him retire, and join th’ assembled Gods,
Or to his own domain of sea withdraw.
If my commands he heed not, nor obey,
Let him consider in his inmost soul
If, mighty though he be, he dare await 190
My hostile coming; mightier far than him,
His elder born; nor may his spirit aspire
To rival me, whom all regard with awe.”
MOL. EE. G
82 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XV.
He said; swift-footed Iris, at the word,
From Ida’s heights to sacred Ilium sped. 195
Swift as the snow-flakes from the clouds descend,
Or wintry hail before the driving blast
Of Boreas, ether-born; so swift to Earth
Descended Iris; by his side she stood,
And with these words th’ Earth-shaking God address’d: 200
“A message, dark-hair’d Circler of the Earth,
To thee I bring from Atgis-bearing Jove.
He bids thee straightway from the battle-field
Retire, and either join th’ assembled Gods,
Or to thine own domain of sea withdraw.
Lo
S
σι
If his commands thou heed not, nor obey,
Hither he menaces himself to come,
And fight against thee; but he warns thee first,
Beware his arm, as mightier far than thee,
Thine elder born; nor may thy spirit aspire 210
To rival him, whom all regard with awe.”
To whom in towring wrath th’ Earth-shaking God:
“ By Heav’n, though great he be, he yet presumes
Somewhat too far, if me, his equal born,
He seeks by force to baffle of my will. 21
ou
Boox XY. HOMER’S ILIAD. 83
We were three brethren, all of Rhea born
To Saturn; Jove and I, and Pluto third,
Who oer the nether regions holds his sway.
Threefold was our partition; each obtain’d
His meed of honour due; the hoary Sea 220
By lot my habitation was assign’d ;
The realms of Darkness fell to Pluto’s share ;
Broad Heav’n, amid the sky and clouds, to Jove;
But Earth, and high Olympus, are to all
A common heritage; nor will I walk 225
To please the will of Jove; though great he be,
With his own third contented let him rest:
Nor let him think that 1, as wholly vile,
Shall quail before his arm; his lofty words
Were better to his daughters and his sons 230
Address’d, his own begotten; who perforce
Must listen to his mandates, and obey.”
To whom swift-footed Iris thus replied :
“Ts this, then, dark-hair’d Circler of the Earth,
The message, stern and haughty, which to Jove δ:
oo
σι
Thou bidd’st me bear? perchance thine angry mood
May bend to better counsels; noblest minds
84 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XV.
- Are easiest bent; and o’er superior age
Thou know’st th’ avenging Furies ever watch.”
To whom Earth-shaking Neptune thus replied:
“Tmmortal Iris, weighty are thy words,
And in good season spoken; and ’tis well
When envoys are by sound discretion led.
Yet are my heart and mind with grief oppress’d,
When me, his equal both by birth and fate,
He seeks with haughty words to overbear.
I yield, but with indignant sense of wrong.
This too I say, nor shall my threat be vain:
Let him remember, if in my despite,
’Gainst Pallas’, Juno’s, Hermes’, Vulean’s will,
He spare to overthrow proud [lium’s tow’rs,
And crown with victory the Grecian arms,
The feud between us never can be heal’d.”
Th’ Earth-shaker said, and from the field withdrew
Beneath the ocean wave, the warrior Greeks
His loss deploring ; to Apollo then
The Cloud-compeller thus his speech address’d :
“Go straight to Hector of the brazen helm,
Good Phcebus; for beneath the ocean wave
245
bo
σι
So
255
Boox XV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Th’ Earth-shaker hath withdrawn, escaping thus
My high displeasure: had he dar’d resist,
The tumult of our strife had reach’d the Gods
Who in the nether realms with Saturn dwell.
Yet thus ’tis better, both for me and him,
That, though indignant, to my will he yields ;
For to compel him were no easy task.
Take thou, and wave on high thy tassell’d shield,
The Grecian warriors daunting: thou thyself,
Far-darting King, thy special care bestow
On noble Hector; so restore his strength
And vigour, that in panic to their ships,
And the broad Hellespont, the Greeks be driv’n.
Then will I so by word and deed contrive
That they may gain fresh respite from their toil.”
He said, nor did Apollo not obey
His Sire’s commands; from Ida’s heights he flew,
Like to a falcon, swooping on a dove,
Swiftest of birds; then Priam’s son he found,
The godlike Hector, stretch’d at length no more,
But sitting, now to consciousness restor’d,
With recognition looking on his friends ;
85
260
265
270
bo
=l
δι
280
86 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XV.
The cold sweat dried, nor gasping now for breath,
Since by the will of Aigis-bearing Jove
To life new waken’d; close beside him stood
The Far-destroyer, and address’d him thus: 285
“ Hector, thou son of Priam, why apart
From all thy comrades art thou sitting here,
Feeble and faint? What trouble weighs thee down?”
To whom thus Hector of the glancing helm
With falt’ring voice: “ Who art thou, Prince of Gods, 290
Who thus enquirest of me? know’st thou not
How a huge stone, by mighty Ajax hurld,
As on his comrades by the Grecian ships
I dealt destruction, struck me on the breast,
Dash’d to the earth, and all my vigour quell’d?
bo
Je)
σι
I deem’d in sooth this day my soul, expir‘d,
Should see the dead, and Pluto’s shadowy realm.”
To whom again the far-destroying King:
“Be of good cheer; from Saturn’s son I come
From Ida’s height to be thy guide and guard ; 300
Pheebus Apollo, of the golden sword,
I, who of old have thy protector been,
Thine, and thy city’s walls. Arise then straight;
Boox XV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 87
Summon thy num’rous horsemen; bid them drive
Their flying cars to assail the Grecian ships: 305
I go before; and will thy horses’ way
Make plain and smooth, and daunt the warrior Greeks.”
His words fresh vigour in the chief infus’d.
As some proud steed, at well-fill’d manger fed,
His halter broken, neighing, scours the plain, 310
And revels in the widely-flowing stream
To bathe his sides; then tossing high his head,
While oer his shoulders streams his ample mane,
Light-borne on active limbs, in conscious pride,
To the wide pastures of the mares he flies ;
—
σι
So vig’rous, Hector plied his active limbs,
His horsemen summoning at Heav’n’s command.
As when a rustic crowd of men and dogs
Have chas’d an antler’d stag, or mountain goat,
That ‘mid the crags and thick o’ershadowing wood — 320
Hath refuge found, and baffled their pursuit:
If, by the tumult rous‘d, a lion stand,
With bristling mane, before them, back they turn,
Check’d in their mid career; evn so the Greeks,
Who late in eager throngs were pressing on, 325
88 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XV.
Thrusting with swords and double-pointed spears,
When Hector moving through the ranks they saw,
Recoil’d, and to their feet their courage fell.
To whom thus Thoas spoke, Andreemon’s son,
/Mtolia’s bravest warrior, skill’d to throw 330
The javlin, dauntless in the stubborn fight ;
By few surpass’d in speech, when in debate
In full assembly Grecian youths contend.
He thus with prudent speech began, and said:
“Great is the marvel which our eyes behold, 335
That Hector see again to life restor’d,
Escap'd the death we hop’d him to have met
Beneath the hands of Ajax Telamon.
Some God hath been his guard, and Hector sav’d,
Whose arm hath slack’d the knees of many a Greek: 340
So will he now; for not without the aid
Of Jove, the Lord of thunder, doth he stand
So boldly forth, so eager for the fight.
Hear, then, and all by my advice be rul’d:
Back to the ships dismiss the gen’ral crowd ; 345
While of our army we, the foremost men,
Stand fast, and meeting him with levell’d spears,
Boor XV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 89
Hold him in check; and he, though brave, may fear
To throw himself amid our serried ranks.”
He said: they heard, and all obey’d his words: — 350
The mighty Ajax, and Idomeneus
The King, and Teucer, and Meriones,
And Meges, bold as Mars, with all their best,
Their stedfast battle rang’d, to wait th’ assault
Of Hector and his Trojans; while behind, 355
Th’ unwarlike many to the ships τοῦτ ἃ.
The Trojan mass came on, by Hector led
With haughty stride; before him Phoebus went,
His shoulders veil’d in cloud; his arm sustain’d
The awful AMgis, dread to look on, hung 360
With shaggy tassels round and dazzling bright;
Which Vulcan, skilful workman, gave to Jove,
To scatter terror ‘mid the souls of men.
This on his arm, the Trojan troops he led.
Firm stood the mass of Greeks; from either side
ise)
(op)
σι
Shrill clamours rose; and fast from many a string
The arrows flew, and many a javlin, hurl’d
By vig’rous arms; some buried in the flesh
Of stalwart youths, and many, ere they reach’d
90 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XV.
Their living mark, fell midway on the plain, 370
Fix’d in the ground, in vain athirst for blood.
While Phcebus motionless his Aigis held,
Thick flew the shafts, and fast the people fell
On either side; but when he turn’d its flash
Full in the faces of the astonish’d Greeks, 375
And shouted loud, their spirits within them quail’d,
Their fiery courage borne in mind no more.
As when two beasts of prey, at dead of night,
With sudden onset scatter wide a herd
Of oxen, or a numrous flock of sheep, 380
Their keepers absent; so unnerv'd by fear
The Greeks dispers’d ; such panic ’mid their ranks,
That victry so might crown the Trojan arms,
Apollo sent; and as the masses broke,
Each Trojan slew his man; by Hector’s hand 385
Fell Stichius and Arcesilas ; the one,
The leader of Beeotia’s brass-clad host,
The other, brave Menestheus’ trusted friend.
{ineas Medon slew, and IJasus;
Medon, the great Oileus’ bastard son, 390
Brother of Ajax; he in Phylace,
EE ee
rs
Boor XV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Far from his native home, was driv’n to dwell;
Since one to Eriopis near akin,
His sire Oileus’ wife, his hand had slain:
And Tasus, th’ Athenian chief, was deem’d
The son of Sphelus, son of Bucolus.
Polydamas amid the foremost ranks
Mecistes slew, Polites Echius,
Agenor Clonius; while from Paris’ hand
An arrow, ‘mid the crowd of fugitives
Shot from behind, beneath the shoulder struck
Déiocus, and through his chest was drivn:
These while the Trojans of their arms despoil’d,
Through ditch and palisades promiscuous dash’d
The flying Greeks, and gain’d, hard-press’d, the wall ;
While loudly Hector to the Trojans call’d
To assail the ships, and leave the bloody spoils:
“Whom I elsewhere, and from the ships aloof
Shall find, my hand shall doom him on the spot;
For him no fun’ral pyre his kin shall light,
Or male or female; but before the wall
Our city’s dogs his mangled flesh shall tear.”
He said; and on his horses’ shoulder-point
91
B95
400
405
410
92 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boor XV.
Let fall the lash, and loudly through the ranks
Call’d on the Trojans; they, with answring shout 415
And noise unspeakable, urg’d on with him
Their harness’d steeds; Apollo, in the van,
Trod down with ease th’ embankment of the ditch,
And fill’d it in; and o’er it bridg’d a way
Level and wide, far as a jav’lin’s flight 420
Hurl’d by an arm that proves its utmost strength.
O’er this their columns pass’d; Apollo bore
His Aigis o’er them, and cast down the wall;
Hasy, as when a child upon the beach,
In wanton play, with hands and feet o’erthrows 425
The mound of sand, which late in play he rais‘d;
So, Phcebus, thou, the Grecian toil and pains
Confounding, sentest panic through their souls.
Thus hemm’d beside the ships they made their stand,
While each scion each, and all, with hands 430
Outstretch’d, to evry God address’d their pray’r:
And chief, Gerenian N estor, prop of Greece,.
With hands uplifted towrd the starry Heay’n:
“0 Father Jove! if any eer to Thee
On corn-clad plains of Argos burnt the fat 435
Boox XV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 93
Of bulls and sheep, and offer’d up his pray’r
For safe return; and thine assenting nod
Confirm’d thy promise; O remember now
His pray’r; stave off the pitiless day of doom,
Nor let the Greeks to Trojan arms succumb.” 440
Thus Nestor pray’d; loud thunder’d from on high
The Lord of counsel, as he heard the pray’r
Of Neleus’ aged son; with double zeal,
The Trojans, as the mind of Jove they knew,
Press'd on the Greeks, with warlike ardour fir’d. 445
As o'er the bulwarks of a ship pour down
The mighty billows of the wide-path’d sea,
Driv’n by the blast, that tosses high the waves,
So down the wall, with shouts, the Trojans pour’d ;
The cars admitted, by the ships they fought 450
With double-pointed spears, and hand to hand;
These on their chariots, on the lofty decks
Of their dark vessels those, with pond’rous spars,
Which on the ships were stor’d for naval war,
ou
on
Compact and strong, their heads encas’d in brass. 4
While yet beyond the ships, about the wall
The Greeks and Trojans fought, Patroclus still
94 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XV.
Within the tent of brave Kurypylus
Remaining, with his converse sooth’d the chief,
And healing unguents to his wound applied, 460
Of powr to charm away the bitter pains;
But when the Trojans pouring o’er the wall,
And routed Greeks in panic flight he saw,
Deeply he groan’d, and smiting on his thigh
With either palm, in anguish thus he spoke: 465
“Kurypylus, how great soe’er thy need,
I can no longer stay; so fierce the storm
Of battle rages; but th’ attendants’ care
Will all thy wants supply; while I in haste
Achilles seek, and urge him to the war; 470
Who knows but Heavn may grant me to succeed ?
For great is oft a friend’s persuasive pow’.”
He said, and quickly on his errand sped.
Meanwhile the Greeks, in firm array, endur’d
The onset of the Trojans; nor could these 47
σι
Th’ assailants, though in numbers less, repel ;
Nor those again the Grecian masses break,
And force their passage through the ships and tents.
As by a rule, in cunning workman’s hand,
Boor XV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 95
Who all his art by Pallas’ aid has learnt, 480
A vessel’s plank is smooth and level laid ;
So level lay the balance of the fight.
Others round other ships maintam’d the war,
But Hector that of Ajax sought alone.
For that one ship they two unwearied. toil’d ; 485
Nor Hector Ajax from his post could move,
And burn the ship with fire; nor he repel
‘The foe who came protected by a God.
Then noble Ajax with his jav’lin smote
Caletor, son of Clytius, through the breast, 490
As towrd the ship a blazing torch he bore ;
Thund'ring he fell, and dropp’d his hand the torch.
But Hector, when his eyes his kinsman saw
By the dark vessel, prostrate in the dust,
On Trojans and on Lycians call’d aloud : 495
“Trojans and Lycians, and ye Dardans, fam’‘d
In close encounter, in this press of war
Slack not your efforts; haste to save the son
Of Clytius, nor let Greeks his arms possess,
Who ’mid their throng of ships has nobly fall’n.” 500
At Ajax, as he spoke, his gleaming spear
96 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XV.
He threw, but miss’d his aim ; yet yea pinen
His comrade, of Cythera, Mastor’s son
(Who flying from Cythera’s lovely isle
With guilt of bloodshed, near to Ajax dwelt),
σι
S
Ou
Standing beside the chief, above the ear
He struck, and piere’d the brain: from the tall prow
Backwards he fell, his limbs relax’d in death.
Then Ajax, shudd’ring, on his brother call’d:
“Good Teucer, we have lost a faithful friend, 510
The son of Mastor, our Cytheran guest,
Whom as a father all rever’d; who now
Lies slain by noble Hector. Where are then
Thine arrows, swift-wing’d messengers of fate,
And where thy trusty bow, Apollo’s gift ?” 515
Thus Ajax; Teucer heard, and ran in haste,
And stood beside him, with his bended bow,
And well-stor’d quiver: on the Trojans fast
He pour’d his shafts; and struck Pisenor’s son
3
Clitus, the comrade of Polydamas,
Ou
bo
ς
The noble son of Panthéus; he the reins
Held in his hand, and all his care bestow’d
To guide his horses; for, where’er the throng
Boox XV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Was thickest, there in Hector’s cause, and Troy’s,
He still was found; but o’er him hung the doom
Which none might turn aside; for from behind
The fateful arrow struck him through the neck ;
Down from the car he fell; swerving aside,
The startled horses whirl’d the empty car.
Them first the King Polydamas beheld,
And βίαν ἃ their course; to Protiaon’s son,
Astynéus, then he gave them, with command
To keep good watch, and still be near at hand ;
Then ’mid the foremost join’d again the fray.
Again at Hector of the brazen helm
An arrow Teucer aim’d; and had the shaft
The life of Hector quench’d in mid career,
Not long the fight had rag’d around the ships:
But Jove’s all-seeing eye beheld, who watch’d
O’er Hector’s life, and Teucer’s hopes deceiv’d.
The bow’s well-twisted string he snapp’d in twain,
As Teucer drew; the brass-tipp’d arrow flew
Wide of the mark, and dropp’d his hand the bow.
Then to his brother, all aghast, he cried :
“() Heav’n, some God our best-laid schemes of war
VOL. II. H
97
525
530
535
540
545
98 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XV.
Confounds, who from my hands hath wrench’d the bow,
And snapp’d the newly-twisted string, which I
But late attach’d, my swift-wing’d shafts to bear.”
Whom answer’d thus great Ajax Telamon:
“QO friend, leave there thine arrows and thy bow, 550
Marr’d by some God who grudges our renown ;
But take in hand thy pond’rous spear, and cast
Thy shield about thy shoulders, and thyself
Stand forth, and urge the rest, to face the foe.
Let us not tamely yield, if yield we must, 555
Our well-built ships, but nobly dare the fight.”
Thus Ajax spoke; and Teucer in the tent
Bestow’d his bow, and o’er his shoulders threw
His fourfold shield; and on his firm-set head
A helm he plae’d, well-wrought, with horsehair plume, 560
That nodded, fearful, o’er his brow; his hand
Graspd the firm spear, with sharpen’d point of brass :
Then ran, and swiftly stood by Ajax’ side.
Hector meanwhile, who saw the weapon marr’d,
To Trojans and to Lycians eall’d aloud: 565
“Trojans and Lycians, and ye Dardans fam’d
In close encounter, quit ye now like men;
Book XV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
99
Against the ships your wonted valour show.
Eyn now, before our eyes, hath Jove destroy’d
A. chieftain’s weapon. Lasy ‘tis to trace
O’er human wars th’ o’erruling hand of Jove,
To whom he gives the prize of victory,
And whom, withholding aid, he minishes,
As now the Greeks, while we his favour gain.
Pour then your force united on the ships ;
And if there be among you, who this day
Shall meet his doom, by sword or arrow slain,
Hen let him die! a glorious death is his
Who for his country falls; and dying, leaves
Preserv'd from danger, children, wife, and home,
His heritage uninjur’d, when the Greeks
Embarking hence shall take their homeward way.”
His words fresh courage rous’d in evry breast.
Ajax, on th’ other side, address’d the Greeks:
“Shame on ye, Greeks! this very hour decides
If we must perish, or be savd, and ward
Destruction from our ships; and can ye hope
That each, if Hector of the glancing helm
Shall burn our ships, on foot can reach his home ?
H 2
570
580
585
100 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XV.
Or hear ye not, how, burning to destroy 590
Our vessels, Hector cheers his forces on ?
Not to the dance, but to the fight he calls ;
Nor better counsel can for us be found,
Than in close fight with heart and hand to join.
"Twere better far at once to die, than live 595
Hemm’d in and straiten’d thus, in dire distress,
Close to our ships, by meaner men beset.”
His words fresh courage rous’d in evry breast.
Then Hector Schedius, Perimedes’ son,
The Thracian leader, slew; on th’ other side 600
Ajax the captain of the foot o’ercame,
Laéddamas, Antenor’s noble son;
While of his arms Polydamas despoil’d
Cyllenian Otus, friend of Phyleus’ son,
The proud Epeians’ leader; Meges saw, 605
And rush’d upon him; but Polydamas,
Stooping, the blow evaded; him he miss’d;
For Phoebus will’d not Panthéus’ son should fall
In the front rank contending ; but the spear
Smote Creesmus through the breast ; thund’ring he fell, 610
And from his corpse the victor stripp’d his arms.
Book XV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 101
Him Dolops, son of Lampus, spearman skill’d,
Well train’d in ev'ry point of war, assail’d
(The son of Lampus he, the prince of men,
Son of Laomedon); from close at hand 615
Forward he sprang, and thrust at Meges’ shield ;
But him the solid corslet which he wore,
With breast and back-piece fitted, sav’d from harm :
The corslet Phyleus brought from Ephyra,
By Selles’ stream ; Euphetes, King of men, 620
Bestow'd it as a friendly gift, to wear
In battle for a guard from hostile spears ;
Which from destruction now preserv'd his son.
Next Meges struck, with keen-edg’d spear, the crown
Of Dolops’ brass-bound, horsehair-crested helm, 625
Sev'ring the horsehair plume, which, brilliant late
With crimson dye, now lay defil’d in dust.
Yet fought he on, and still for vict’ry hop’d ;
But warlike Menelaus to the aid
Of Meges came; of Dolops unobsery’d 630
He stood, and from behind his shoulder piere’d ;
The point, its course pursuing, through his breast
Was driv’n, and headlong on his face he fell.
Ὁ HOMER’S ILIAD. Boon XV.
Forthwith advanc’d the two to seize the spoils;
But loudly Hector on his kinsmen call’d ; 635
On all, but chief on Icetaon’s son,
The valiant Melanippus; he erewhile,
In far Percote, ere the foes appear’d,
Pastur’d his herds; but when the ships of Greece
Approach’d the shore, to ium back he came ; 640
There, ’mid the Trojans eminent, he dwelt
In Priam’s house, belov’d as Priam’s son.
Him Hector call’d by name, and thus address’d:
“Why, Melanippus, stand we idly thus?
Doth not thy slaughter’d kinsman touch thy heart? 645
See how they rush on Dolops’ arms to seize ;
Then on! no distant war must now be wag’d,
But hand to hand, till or the Greeks be slain,
Or lofty Troy, with all her children, fall.”
He said, and led the way; him followd straight 650
The godlike chief; great Ajax Telamon
Meanwhile the Greeks encourag’d to the fight,
And cried, “ Brave comrades, quit ye now like men;
Bear a stout heart; and in the stubborn fight
or
Let each to other mutual succour give ; 65
Boox XV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 103
By mutual succour more are savd than fall ;
In timid flight nor fame nor safety lies.”
He said; and ponding well his words, they stood,
Firm in defence; as with a wall of brass
The ships they guarded; though against them Jove 660
Led on the Trojans; Menelaus then
With stirring words Antilochus address’d :
“ Antilochus, than thou, of all the Greeks
Is none more active, or more light of foot;
None stronger hurls the spear; then from the crowd 665
Spring forth, and aim to reach some ‘T'rojan’s life.”
Thus saying, he withdrew; fir’d by his words,
Forth sprang the youth, and poisd his glitt’ring spear,
Glancing around him; back the Trojans drew
Before his aim; nor flew the spear in vain ; 670
But through the breast it piere’d, as on he came,
Brave Melanippus, Icetaon’s son.
Thund’ring he fell, and loud his armour rang.
Forth sprang Antilochus, as springs a hound
Upon a fawn, which from its lair disturb’d 676
A hunter’s shaft has struck, and quell’d its pow’rs;
So, Melanippus, sprang to seize thy spoils
104 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XV.
The stout Antilochus; but not unmark’d
Of Hector’s eye, who, hast’ning through the press,
Adyane’d to meet him; waited not th’ attack, 680
Bold warrior as he was, Antilochus,
But trembling filed: as when a beast of prey,
Conscious of evil deed, amid the herd
The guardian dog or herdsman’s self has slain,
And flies, ere yet th’ avenging crowd collect ; 685
So fled the son of Nestor; onward press’,
By Hector led, the Trojans; loud their shouts,
As on the Greeks their murd’rous shafts they ρου ἃ:
Yet turn’ he, when his comrades’ ranks he reach’d.
Then on the ships, as ray ning lions, fell 690
The Trojans: they but work’d the mal of Jove,
Who still their courage rais’d, and quell’d the Greeks;
Of vict’ry these debarr’d, and those inspir’d ;
For so he will’d, that Hector, Priam’s son,
Should wrap in fire the beaked ships of Greece, 695
And Thetis to the uttermost obtain
Her oyer-bold petition; yet did Jove,
The Lord of counsel, wait but to behold
The flames ascending from the blazing ships:
Boox XV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
For from that hour the Trojans, backward driv’n,
Should to the Greeks the final triumph leave.
With such design, to seize the ships, he ἔν ἃ
Th’ already burning zeal of Priam’s son;
Fiercely he rag’d, as terrible as Mars
With brandish’d spear; or as a raging fire
"Mid the dense thickets on the mountain side.
The foam was on his lips; bright flash’d his eyes
Beneath his awful brows, and terribly
Above his temples νὰν ἃ amid the fray
The helm of Hector; Jove himself from Heay’n
His guardian hand extending, him alone
With glory crowning ‘mid the host of men;
But short his term of glory; for the day
Was fast approaching, when, with Pallas’ aid,
The might of Peleus’ son should work his doom.
Oft he essay’d to break the ranks, where’er
The densest throng and noblest arms he saw;
But strenuous though his efforts, all were vain:
They, mass’d in close array, his charge withstood ;
Firm as a craggy rock, upstanding high,
Close by the hoary sea, which meets unmov'd
105
τοῦ
106 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XV.
The boistrous currents of the whistling winds,
And the big waves that bellow round its base;
So stood unmov’d the Greeks, and undismay’d.
At length, all blazing in his arms, he sprang
Upon the mass; so plunging down, as when
On some tall vessel, from beneath the clouds
A giant billow, tempest-nurs’d, descends :
The deck is drench’d in foam; the stormy wind
Howls in the shrouds; th’ affrighted seamen quail
In tear, but little way from death removwd ;
So quail’d the spirit in evry Grecian breast.
As when a ravning lion on a herd
Of heifers falls, which on some marshy mead
Feed numberless, beneath the care of one,
Unskill’d from beasts of prey to guard his charge;
And while beside the front or rear he walks,
The lion on th’ unguarded centre springs,
Seizes on one, and scatters all the rest;
So Hector, led by Jove, in wild alarm
Scatter’d the Grecians all; but one alone,
Brave Periphetes, of Mycene, slew ;
The son of Copreus, whom Eurystheus sent
725
730
Βοοκ XV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
His envoy to the might of Hercules;
Far nobler than the father was the son ;
In speed of foot, in warlike might, in mind,
In all, among Mycenians foremost he ;
Who now on Hector fresh renown conferr’d ;
For, backward as he stepp’d, against the rim
Of the broad shield which for defence he bore,
Down reaching to his feet, he tripp’d, and thus
Entangled, backward fell; and as he fell,
Around his temples clatter’d loud his helm.
Hector beheld, and o’er him stood in haste,
And with his spear transfix’d his breast, and slew
Before his comrades’ eyes; yet dar’d not one,
Though grieving for their comrade’s loss, advance
To rescue; such of Hector was their awe.
They fronted now the ships; the leading prows
Which first were drawn on shore, still barr’d their way ;
Yet on they stream’d; and from the foremost ships,
Now hardly press’d, the Greeks perforce retir’d ;
But closely mass’d before the tents they stood,
Not scatter’d o’er the camp; by shame restrain’d,
And fear; and loudly each exhorted each.
107
750
-
σι
σι
765
108 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XV.
Gerenian Nestor chief, the prop of Greece,
Thus by their fathers singly each adjur’d :
“Quit ye like men, dear friends; and think it shame
To forfeit now the praise of other men;
Let each man now his children and his wife, 770
His fortunes and his parents, bear in mind;
And not the living only, but the dead ;
For them, the absent, I, your suppliant, pray,
That firm ye stand, and scorn disgraceful flight.”
His words fresh courage rous’d in evry breast; τῆ
And from their eyeballs Pallas purg’d away
The film of darkness; and on ev'ry side,
Both towrd the ships and tow’rd the level fight,
Clear light diffus’d; there Hector they discern’d,
And all his comrades, those who stood aloof, 780
And those who near the ships maintain’d the war.
Then was not Ajax’ mighty soul content
To stand where stood the other sons of Greece;
Along the vessels’ lofty decks he movd
With haughty stride; a pond’rous boarding-pike, 785
Well polish’d, and with rivets well secur’d,
Of two and twenty cubits length, he bore.
Boox XV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
109
As one well-skill’d in feats of horsemanship,
Who from a troop of horses on the plain
Has parted four, and down the crowded road,
While men and women all in wonder gaze,
Drives towrd the city; and with force untir’d
From one to other springs, as on they fly;
O’er many a vessel’s deck so Ajax pass’d
With lofty stride, and voice that reach’d to Heay’n,
As loudly shouting on the Greeks he call’d
To save their ships and tents: nor Hector βίαν ἃ
Amid the closely-buckler’d Trojan ranks ;
But, as upon a flock of birds, that feed
Beside a river’s bank, or geese, or cranes,
Or long-neck’d swans, a fiery eagle swoops;
So on the dark-prowd ship with furious rush
Swept Hector down; him Jove with mighty hand
Sustain’d, and with him forward urg’d the crowd.
Fierce round the ships again the battle rag’d;
Well might ye deem no previous toil had worn
Their strength, who in that dread encounter met;
With edge so keen, and stubborn will they fought.
But varying far their hopes and fears: the Greeks
790
800
805
110 HOMER’S ILIAD. - Book XV.
Of safety and escape from death despair’d ;
While high the hopes in evry Trojan’s breast,
To burn the ships, and slay the warlike Greeks :
So minded each, oppos’d in arms they stood.
On a swift-sailing vessel’s stern, that bore
Protesilaus to the coast of Troy,
But to his native country bore not thence,
Hector had laid his hand; around that ship
Trojans and Greeks in mutual slaughter join’d.
The arrow’s or the javlin’s distant flight
They waited not, but, fir’d with equal rage,
Fought hand to hand, with axe and hatchet keen,
And mighty swords, and double-pointed spears.
Many a fair-hilted blade, with iron bound,
Dropp’d from the hands, or from the sever’d arms,
Of warrior chiefs; the dark earth ran with blood:
Yet loosd not Hector of the stern his hold,
But grasp'd the poop, and on the Trojans call’d:
“Bring fire, and all together loud and clear
Your war-ery raise; this day will Jove repay
Our labours all, with capture of those ships,
Which hither came, against the will of Heav’n,
810
815
820
825
830
Boox XV. HOMER’S ILIAD. ἘΠῚ
And which on us unnumber’d ills have brought,
By our own Elders’ fault, who me, desiring
Evn at their vessels’ sterns to urge the war,
Withheld, and to the town the troops confin’d. 835
But Jove all-seeing, if he then o’errul’d
Our better mind, himself is now our aid.”
Thus he: they onward press’d with added zeal ;
Nor Ajax yet endur’d, by hostile spears
Now sorely gall’d; yet but a little space, 840
Back to the helmsman’s sevn-foot board he movd,
Expecting death; and left the lofty deck,
Where long he stood on guard; but still his spear
The Trojans kept aloof, whoe’er essay'd
Amid the ships to launch th’ unwearied flames; 845
And, loudly shouting, to the Greeks he eall’d:
“Friends, Grecian heroes, ministers of Mars,
Quit ye like men! dear friends, remember now
Your wonted yalour! think ye in your rear
To find supporting forces, or some fort 850
Whose walls may give you refuge from your foe?
No city is nigh, whose well-appointed tow’rs,
Mann‘d by a friendly race, may give us aid ;
112 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XV.
But here, upon the well-arm’d Trojans’ soil,
And only resting on the sea, we lie 855
Far from our country; not in faint retreat,
But im our own good arms, our safety lies.”
He said; and with his sharp-edg’d spear his words
He followd up; if any Trojan dar’d,
By Hector’s call inspir’d, with fiery brand 860
To assail the ships, him with his sharp-edg’d spear
Would Ajax meet ; and thus before the ships
Twelve warriors, hand to hand, his prowess felt. 863
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 113
BOOK XVI.
HUS round the well-mann’d ship they wag’d the war :
Meanwhile by Peleus’ son Patroclus stood,
Weeping hot tears; as some dark-water’d fount
Pours o’er a craggy rock its gloomy stream ;
Achilles, swift of foot, with pity saw, 5
And to his friend these winged words address‘d :
“Why weeps Patroclus, like an infant girl,
That prays her mother, by whose side she runs,
To take her up; and, clinging to her gown,
Impedes her way, and still with tearful eyes 10
Looks in her face, until she take her up?
Τὰν ἢ as that girl, Patroclus, such art thou,
Shedding soft tears: hast thou some tidings brought
Touching the gen’ral weal, or me alone ὃ
Or have some evil news from Phthia come, 15
Known but to thee? Mencetius, Actor’s son,
Yet surely lives; and ‘mid his Myrmidons
VOL. II. I
114 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVI.
Lives aged Peleus, son of A¥acus:
Their deaths indeed might well demand our tears:
Or weep’st thou for the Greeks, who round their ships 20
By death their former insolence repay ?
Speak out, that I τ know thy cause of grief.”
To whom, with bitter groans, Patroclus thus:
“QO son of Peleus, noblest of the Greeks,
Achilles, be not wroth! such weight of woe 25
The Grecian camp oppresses; in their ships
They who were late their bravest and their best,
Sore wounded all by spear or arrow lie;
The valiant son of Tydeus, Diomed,
Piere’'d by a shaft, Ulysses by a spear, 30
And Agamemnon’s self; Eurypylus
By a sharp arrow through the thigh transfix’d; |
For these, the large resources of their art
The leeches ply, and on their wounds attend ;
While thou, Achilles, still remain’st unmov’d. 35
Oh, be it never mine to nurse such hate
As thou retain’st, inflexibly severe !
Who e’er may hope in future days by thee
To profit, if thou now forbear to save
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD.
The Greeks from shame and loss? Unfeeling man!
Sure Peleus, horseman brave, was ne’er thy sire,
Nor Thetis bore thee; from the cold grey sea
And craggy rocks thou hadst thy birth; so hard
And stubborn is thy soul. But if the fear
Of evil prophesied thyself restrain,
Or message by thy Goddess-mother brought
From Jove, yet send me forth with all thy force
Of Myrmidons, to be the saving light
Of Greece; and let me to the battle bear
Thy ghttring arms, if so the men of Troy,
Sear’d by thy likeness, may forsake the field,
And breathing-time afford the sons of Greece,
Toil-worn; for little pause has yet been theirs.
Fresh and unwearied, we may drive with ease
To their own city, from our ships and tents,
The Trojans, worn and battle-wearied men.”
Thus pray’d he, all unwisely ; for the pray’r
He utter’d, to himself was fraught with death ;
To whom, much griev’d, Achilles, swift of foot:
“ Heav’n-born Patroclus, oh, what words are these!
Of prophecy I reck not, though I know;
115
40
50
60
116 HOMER’S ILIAD. - Book XVI.
Nor message hath my mother brought from Jove;
But it afflicts my soul, when one I see
That basely robs his equal of his prize,
His lawful prize, by highest valour won; 65
Such grief is mine, such wrong have I sustain’d.
Her, whom the sons of Greece on me bestow’d,
Prize of my spear, the well-wall’d city storm’d,
The mighty Agamemnon, Atreus’ son,
Hath borne by force away, as from the hands 70
Of some dishonour’d, houseless vagabond.
But let the past be past; I never meant
My wrath should have no end; yet had not thought
My anger to abate, till my own ships
Should hear the war-cry, and the battle bear. 75
But go, and in my well-known armour clad,
Lead forth the valiant Myrmidons to war,
Since the dark cloud of Trojans circles round
The ships in force; and on the shingly beach,
Pent up in narrow limits, lie the Greeks; 80
And all the city hath pour’d its numbers forth
In hope undoubting ; for they see no more
My helm among them flashing; else in flight
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD. . 117
Their dead would choke the streams, if but to me
Great Agamemnon bore a kindly mind: 85
But round the camp the battle now is wag’d.
No more the hands of valiant Diomed,
The Greeks protecting, hurl his fiery spear ;
Nor hear I now, from his detested lips,
The shout of Agamemnon; all around 90
Is heard the warrior-slayer Hector’s voice,
Cheering his Trojans; with triumphant cries
They, from the vanquish’d Greeks, hold all the plain.
Nathless do thou, Patroclus, in defence
Fall boldly on, lest they with blazing fire 95
Our ships destroy, and hinder our retreat.
But hear, and ponder well the end of all
I have to say, and so for me obtain
Honour and glory in the eyes of Greece ;
And that the beauteous maiden to my arms 100
They may restore, with costly gifts to boot.
The ships reliev’d, return forthwith; and though
The Thunder, Juno’s Lord, should deign to crown
Thine arms with triumph, be not over-bold
To combat with the warlike sons of Troy ; 105
118 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVI.
(So should my name in less repute be held ;)
Nor, in the keen excitement of the fight
And slaughter of the Trojans, lead thy troops
On towrd the city, lest thou find thyself
By some one of th’ immortal Gods oppos’d ; 110
For the far-darting Phoebus loves them well ;
But when in safety thou hast plac’d the ships,
Delay not to return, and leave the rest
To battle on the plain: for would to Jove,
To Pallas and Apollo, that not one, 115
Or Greek or Trojan, might escape from death,
Save only thou and I; that so we two
Alone might raze the sacred towrs of Troy.”
Such converse held they; while by hostile spears
Hard press’d, no longer Ajax might endure ; 120
At once by Jove’s high will and Trojan foes
O’ermaster’d ; loud beneath repeated blows
Clatter’d around his brow the glitt’ring helm,
As on the well-wrought crest the weapons fell;
And his left arm grew faint, that long had borne 128
The burthen of his shield; yet nought avail’d
The press of spears to drive him from his post ;
Book XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 119
Lab’ring he drew his breath, his evry limb
With sweat was reeking; breathing space was none ;
Blow followd blow, and ills were heap’d on ill. 130
Say now, ye Nine, who on Olympus dwell,
How first the fire assail’d the Grecian ships.
Hector approach’d, and on the ashen spear
Of Ajax, close behind the head, let fall
His mighty sword; right through he clove the wood ; 135
And in his hand the son of Telamon
The headless shaft held bootless; far away,
Loud ringing, fell to earth the brazen point.
Great Ajax saw, and deep his noble soul
Was troubled, as he knew the work of Heav’n ; 140
And that the Thund’rer had decreed to thwart
His warlike hopes, and vict'ry give to ‘Troy.
Slow he retir’d; and to the vessel they
The blazing torch applied; high rose the flame
Unquenchable, and wrapp’d the poop in fire. 145
The son of Peleus saw, and with his palm
Smote on his thigh, and to Patroclus call’d:
“Up, nobly born Patroclus, car-borne chief!
Ui p, for I see above the ships ascend
120 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boor XVI.
The hostile fires; and lest they seize the ships, 150
And hinder our retreat, do thou in haste
Thine armour don, while I arouse the troops.”
He said: his dazzling arms Patroclus donn‘d:
First on his legs the well-wrought greaves he fix’d,
Fasten’d with silver clasps; his ample chest 155
The breastplate of Achilles, swift of foot,
Star-spangled, richly wrought, defended well;
Around his shoulders slung, his sword he bore,
Brass-bladed, silver-studded ; next his shield
Weighty and strong; and on his firm-set head 160
A helm he wore, well-wrought, with horsehair plume
That nodded, fearful, o'er his brow; his hand
Grasp'd two stout spears, familiar to his hold.
One spear Achilles had, long, pond’rous, tough ;
But this he touch’d not; none of all the Greeks, 165
None, save Achilles’ self, that spear could poise ;
The far-fam’d Pelian ash, which to his sire,
On Pelion’s summit fell’d, to be the bane
Of mightiest chiefs, the Centaur Chiron gave.
Then to Automedon he gave command 170
To yoke the horses: him he honour’d most,
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Next ἰδ Achilles’ self; the trustiest he
In battle to await his chief’s behest.
The flying steeds he harness’d to the car.
Xanthus and Balius, fleeter than the winds;
Whom, grazing in the marsh by ocean's stream,
Podarge, swift of foot, to Zephyr bore:
And by their side the matchless Pedasus,
Whom from the capture of Eétion’s town
Achilles bore away; a mortal horse,
But with immortal coursers meet to vie.
Meantime Achilles, through their sev’ral tents,
Summon’d to arms the warlike Myrmidons.
They all, like ravning wolves, of courage high,
That on the mountain side have hunted down
An antler’d stag, and batten’d on his flesh:
Their chaps all dyed with blood, in troops they go,
180
With their lean tongues from some black-water’d fount
To lap the surface of the dark cool wave,
Their jaws with blood yet reeking, unsubdued
Their courage, and their bellies gorg’d with flesh ;
So round Pelides’ yaliant follower throng’d
The chiefs and rulers of the Myrmidons.
190
122 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVI.
Achilles in the midst to charioteers
And buekler’d warriors issued his commands.
Fifty swift ships Achilles, dear to Jove,
Led to the coast of Troy; and rang’d in each
Fifty brave comrades mann’d the rowers’ seats.
O’er these five chiefs, on whom he most relied,
He plac’d, himself the Sov’reign Lord of all.
One band Menestheus led, with glancing mail,
Son of Sperchius, Heav’n-descended stream ;
Him Peleus’ daughter, Polydora fair,
A mortal in a God’s embrace compress‘d,
To stout Sperchius bore; but, by repute,
To Borus, Perieres’ son, who her
In public, and with ample dow’r, espous’d.
The brave Eudorus led the second band,
Whom Phylas’ daughter, Polymele fair,
To Hermes bore; the maid he saw, and lovy’d,
Amid the virgins, mingling in the dance
Of golden-shafted Dian, Huntress-Queen ;
He to her chamber access found, and gain’d
By stealth her bed; a valiant son she bore,
Eudorus, swift of foot, in battle strong.
195
200
210
Book XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD.
But when her infant, by Lucina’s aid,
Was brought to light, and saw the face of day,
Her to his home, with ample dow’r enrich’d,
Echecles, son of Actor, bore away ;
While him the aged Phylas kept, and nurs’d
With tender care, and cherish’d as his own.
The brave Peisander, son of Mzemalus,
The third commanded ; of the Myrmidons,
Next to Pelides’ friend, the noblest spear.
The fourth, the aged warrior Phoenix led ;
The fifth, Alcimedon, Laerces’ son :
These in their order due Achilles first
Array’d, and next with stirring words address‘d :
“Ye Myrmidons, forget not now the vaunts
Which, while my wrath endur’d, ye largely pour’d
Upon the Trojans; me ye freely blam’d ;
‘Jll-omen’d son of Peleus, sure in wrath
Thou wast conceivy’d, implacable, who here
In idleness enfore’d thy comrades keep’st!
"[were better far our homeward way to take,
If such pernicious rancour fill thy soul!’
Thus ye reproach’d me oft! Lo! now ye have
220
230
124 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVI.
The great occasion which your souls desir’d!
Then on, and with brave hearts the Trojans meet!”
His words fresh courage rousd in evry breast; 240
And more compact, beneath their monarch’s eye,
Their ranks were form’d; as when the builder lays
The closely-fitting stones, to form the wall
Of some great house, and brave the winds of Heavn ;
So close were fitted helm and bossy shield ; 245
Buckler on buckler press’d, and helm on helm,
And man on man; the horsehair plumes above,
That nodded, fearful, from the warriors’ brows,
Each other touch’d; so closely mass’d they stood.
Before them all stood prominent in arms 250
Two chiefs, Patroclus and Automedon,
Both with one thought possess’d, to lead the fight
In the fore-front of all the Myrmidons.
Achilles then within his tent withdrew,
And of a gorgeous coffer rais‘'d the lid, 255
Well-wrought, by silver-footed Thetis plac’d
On board his ship, and fill’d with rich attire,
With store of wind-proof cloaks, and carpets soft.
There lay a goblet, richly chas’d, whence none,
Book XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD.
But he alone, might drink the ruddy wine,
Nor might libations thence to other Gods
Be made, save only Jove; this brought he forth,
And first with sulphur purified, and next
Wash’'d with pure water; then his hands he wash’d,
And drew the ruddy wine; then standing forth
Made in the centre of the court his pray’,
And as he pour’d the wine, look’d up to Heay’n,
Not unbeheld of Jove, the lightning’s Lord:
“Great King, Dodona’s Lord, Pelasgian Jove,
Who dwell’st on high, and rul’st with sovreign sway
Dodona’s wintry heights; where dwell around
Thy Sellian priests, men of unwashen feet,
That on the bare ground sleep; thou once before
Hast heard my pray’, and me with honour crown’d,
And on the Greeks inflicted all thy plagues ;
Hear yet again, and this my boon accord.
I ‘mid the throng of ships myself remain ;
But with a numrous force of Myrmidons
I send my comrade in my stead to fight:
On him, all-seeing Jove, thy favour pour;
Strengthen his heart, that Hector’s self may learn
os
125
260
270,
bo
“|
σι
126 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVI.
If, evn alone, my follower knows to fight,
Or only then resistless powr displays,
When I myself the toil of battle share.
And from our vessels when the foe is driv’n, 285
Grant that with all his arms and comrades true
He may in safety to the ships return.”
Thus pray’d he; Jove, the Lord of counsel, heard,
And half his pray’r he granted, half denied:
For from the ships the battle to repel 290
He granted; but denied his safe return.
His pray’rs and off’rings ended, to the tent
Achilles turn’d again, and in the chest
Replaced the cup; then issuing forth, he stood
Before the tent; for much he long’d to see 295
The Greeks and Trojans join in battle strife.
They who in arms round brave Patroclus stood
Their line of battle form’d, with courage high
To dash upon the Trojans; and as wasps
That have their nest beside the public road, 300
Which boys delight to vex and irritate
In wanton play, but to the gen’ral harm ;
Them if some passing trav ler unawares
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Disturb, with angry courage forth they rush
In one continuous swarm, to guard their nest:
Εν with such courage pour’d the Myrmidons
Forth from the ships; then uproar wild arose,
And loud Patroclus on his comrades eall’d:
“Ye valiant Myrmidons, who boast yourselves
Achilles’ comrades, quit ye now like men;
Your ancient valour prove; to Peleus’ son,
Of all the Greeks the noblest, so shall we,
His faithful followers, highest honour give ;
And Agamemnon’s haughty self shall mourn
The shght on Grecia’s bravest warrior cast.”
His words fresh courage rous’d in evry breast.
Thick on the Trojan host their masses fell ;
While loud the fleet re-echoed to the sound
Of Grecian cheers; but when the Trojans saw,
Blazing in arms, Mencetius’ godlike son,
Himself, and follower; quail’d the spirits of all;
Their firm-set ranks were shaken; for they deem’d
Achilles had beside the ships exchang’d
His wrath for friendship; and each sevral man
Look’d round, to find his own escape from death.
305
310
315
320
325
128 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVI.
Then first Patroclus aim’d his glitt’ring spear
Amid the crowd, where thickest rag’d the war,
Around the ship of brave Protesilas ;
And struck Pyrachmes, who from Amydon,
From the wide-flowing stream of Axius, led 330
The horsehair-crested Pseons; him he struck
Through the right shoulder; backwards in the dust,
Groaning, he fell; around him quail’d with fear
His Peeons all, such terror in their ranks
Patroclus threw, their bravest leader slain, 335
The foremost in the fight; the crowd he drove
Far from the ships, and quench’d the blazing fire.
There lay the half-burnt ship; with shouts confus’d
The Trojans fled; and from amid the ships
Forth pour’d the Greeks; and loud the clamour rose. 840
As when around a lofty mountain’s top
The lightning’s Lord dispels a mass of cloud,
And evry crag, and evry jutting peak s
Is plainly seen, and ev'ry forest glade ;
And the deep vault of Heav’n is open’d wide; 846
So when the Greeks had clear’d the ships of fire,
They breath’d awhile; yet ceas’d not so the strife;
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 129
For not in headlong panic from the ships
The Trojans by the valiant Greeks were driv’n,
But, though perforce retiring, still made head. 350
Then of the chiefs, as wider spread the fight,
Kach singled each; Mencetius’ noble son
First threw his pointed spear, and on the thigh
Struck Aréilochus, in act to turn;
σι
Right through the point was driv’n; the weighty spear 355
Shatter’d the bone, and prone to earth he fell.
The warlike Menelius aim’d his spear
Where Thoas’ breast, unguarded by his shield,
Was left expos’; and slack’d his limbs in death.
Phyleus’ brave son, as rush’d Amphiclus on, 360
Stood firm, with eye observant; then th’ attack
Preventing, through his thigh, high up, where lie
The strongest muscles, smote; the weapon’s point
Sever’d the tendons; darkness clos’d his eyes.
Of Nestor’s sons, Antilochus, the first, 365
Atymnius wounded, driving through his flank
The brazen spear; prone on his face he fell.
Then, burning to avenge his brother’s death,
Stood Maris o’er the corpse, and hand to hand
VOL. II. K
130 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boor XVI.
Engag’d Antilochus; but ere a blow | 370
Was struck, the godlike Thrasymedes drove
Through his right shoulder, with unerring aim,
His glitt’ring spear; the point his upper arm
Tore from the muscles, shatt’ring all the bone:
Thund’ring he fell, and darkness clos‘d his eyes. 375
So to the shades, by those two brethren’s hands
Subdued, Sarpedon’s comrades brave were sent,
The sons of Amisodarus, who rear’d
The dread Chimera, bane of mortal men.
On Cleobulus, wounded in the press, 380
Ajax Oileus sprang, and captive took,
Alive; but sudden on his neck let fall
His hilted sword, and quench’d the fire of life.
The hot blood dyed the sword; the darkling shades
Of death, and rig’rous fate, his eyes o’erspread. 385
‘Then Peneleus and Lycon, hand to hand,
Engae’d in combat; both had miss’d their aim,
And bootless hurl’d their weapons; then with swords
They met; first Lycon on the crested helm
Dealt a fierce blow; but in his hand the blade 390
Up to the hilt was shiver’d; then the sword
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 131
Of Peneleus his neck, below the ear,
Dissever’d; deeply in his throat the blade
Was plung’d, and by the skin alone was βίαν ἃ ;
Down droop’d his head, his limbs relax’d in death. 395
Meriones by speed of foot o’ertook,
And, as his car he mounted, Acamas
Through the right shoulder piere’d ; down from the car
He fell; the shades of death his eyes o’erspread.
Full on the mouth of Erymas was thrust 400
The weapon of Idomeneus; right through,
The white bones crashing, pass'd the brazen spear
Below the brain; his teeth were shatter’d all ;
With blood, which with convulsive sobs he blew
From mouth and nostril, both his eyes were fill’d; 405
And death’s dark cloud encompass’d him around.
Thus slew the Grecian leaders each his man.
As rayning wolves, that lambs or kids assail,
Stray’d from their dams, by careless shepherds left
Upon the mountain scatter’d; these they see, 410
And tear at once their unresisting prey ;
So on the Trojans fell the Greeks; in rout
Disastrous they, unmann’d by terror, fled.
132 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVI.
Great Ajax still, unwearied, long’d to hurl
His spear at Hector of the brazen helm ; 415
But he, well skill’d in war, his shoulders broad
Protected by his shield of tough bull’s hide,
Watch’d for the whizzing shafts, and javlins’ whirr.
Full well he knew the tide of battle turn’d,
Yet held his ground, his trusty friends to save. 420
As from Olympus, o’er the clear blue sky
Pour the dark clouds, when Jove the vault of Heavn
O’erspreads with storm and tempest, from the ships
So pour’d with panic cries the flying host,
And in disorder’d rout recross’d the trench. 425
Then Hector’s flying coursers bore him safe
Far from the struggling masses, whom the ditch
Detain’d perforce ; there many a royal car
With broken pole th’ unharness’d horses left.
On, shouting to the Greeks, Patroclus press’d 430
The flying Trojans; they, with panic cries,
Dispers’d, the roads encumber’d; high uprose
The storms of dust, as from the tents and ships
Back to the city stretch’d the flying steeds;
And ever where the densest throng appear’d 435
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 133
With furious threats Patroclus urg’d his course ;
His glowing axle trac’d by prostrate men
Hurl’d from their cars, and chariots overthrown.
Flew o’er the deep-sunk trench th’ immortal steeds,
The noble prize the Gods to Peleus gave, 440
Still onward straining; for he long’d to reach,
And hurl his spear at Hector; him meanwhile
His flying steeds in safety bore away.
As in th’ autumnal season, when the earth
With weight of rain is saturate; when Jove 445
Pours down his fiercest storms in wrath to men,
Who in their courts unrighteous judgments pass,
And justice yield to lawless violence,
The wrath of Heav’n despising ; evry stream
Is brimming o’er; the hills in gullies deep 450
Are by the torrents seam’d, which, rushing down
From the high mountains to the dark-blue sea,
With groans and tumult urge their headlong course,
Wasting the works of man; so urg’d their flight,
So, as they fled, the Trojan horses groan’d. 455
The foremost ranks cut off, back tow’'rd the ships
Patroclus drove them, baffling their attempts
134 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVI.
To gain the city ; and in middle space
Between the ships, the stream, and lofty wall,
Dealt slaughter round him, and of many a chief 460
The bitter penalty of death requir’d.
Then Prondus with his glitt’rmg spear he struck,
Where by the shield his breast was left expos’d,
And slack’d his limbs in death; thund’ring he fell.
Next Thestor, son of CGinops, he assail’d; 465
He on his polish’d car, down-crouching, sat,
His mind by fear disorder’d; from his hands
The reins had dropp’d; him, thrusting with the spear,
Through the right cheek and through the teeth he smote,
Then drage’d him, by the weapon, o’er the rail. 470
As when an angler on a prominent rock
Drags from the sea to shore with hook and line
A weighty fish; so him Patroclus ἀτὰρ ἢ,
Gaping, from off the car; and dash’d him down
Upon his face; and life forsook his limbs. 47
οι
Next Eryalus, eager for the fray,
On the mid forehead with a mighty stone
He struck; beneath the pond’rous helmet’s weight
The skull was split in twain; prostrate he fell,
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 135
By life-consuming death encompass’d round. 480
Forthwith Amphoterus, and Erymas,
Echius, Epaltes, and Tlepolemus,
Son of Damastor, Pyris, Ipheus brave,
Euippus, Polymelus, Argeas’ son,
In quick succession to the ground he brought. 485
Sarpedon his ungirdled forces saw
Promiscuous fall before Mencetius’ son,
And to the Lycians call’d in loud reproof:
“Shame, Lycians! whither fly ye? why this haste ?
I will myself this chief confront, and learn 490
Who this may be of bearing proud and high,
Who on the Trojans grievous harm hath wrought,
And many a warrior’s limbs relax’d in death.”
He said, and from his car, accoutred, sprang ;
Patroclus saw, and he too leap’d to earth. 495
As on a lofty rock, with angry screams,
Hook-beak’d, with talons curv’d, two vultures fight ;
So with loud shouts these two to battle rush’d.
The son of Saturn pitying saw, and thus
To Juno spoke, his sister and his wife: 500
“Woe, woe! that fate decrees my best-belov’d,
136 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVI.
Sarpedon, by Patroclus’ hand to fall;
Eyn now conflicting thoughts my soul divide,
To bear him from the fatal strife unhurt,
And set him down on Lycia’s fertile plains, 505
Or leave him by Patroclus’ hand to fall.”
Whom answer’d thus the stag-ey’d Queen of Heawn:
“What words, dread son of Saturn, dost thou speak ?
Wouldst thou a mortal man from death withdraw
Long since by fate decreed? Do what thou wilt; 510
Yet cannot we, the rest, applaud thine act.
This, too, I say, and turn it in thy mind:
If to his home Sarpedon thou restore
Alive, bethink thee, will not other Gods
Their sons too from the stubborn fight withdraw? 515
For in the field around the walls of Troy
Are many sons of Gods, in all of whom
This act of thine will angry feelings rouse.
But if thou love him, and thy soul deplore
σι
bo
ἴω
His coming doom, yet in the stubborn fight
Leave him beneath Patroclus’ hand to fall:
Then, when his spirit hath fled, the charge assign
To Death and gentle Sleep, that in their arms
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD.
They bear him safe to Lycia’s wide-spread plains:
There shall his brethren and his friends perform
His fun’ral rites, and mound and column raise,
The fitting tribute to the mighty dead.”
Thus she; the Sire of Gods and men complied:
But to the ground some drops of blood let fall,
In honour of his son, whom fate decreed,
Far from his country, on the fertile plains
Of Troy to perish by Patroclus’ hand.
As near the champions drew, Patroclus first
His weapon hurl’d, and Thrasymedes brave,
The faithful follower of Sarpedon, struck
Below the waist, and slack’d his limbs in death.
Thrown in his turn, Sarpedon’s glitt’ring spear
Flew wide; and Pedasus, the gallant horse,
Through the right shoulder wounded; with a scream
He fell, and in the dust breath’d forth his life,
As, shrieking loud, his noble spirit fled.
This way and that his two companions swervd ;
Creak’d the strong yoke, and tangled were the reins,
As in the dust the prostrate courser lay.
Automedon the means of safety saw ;
σι
bo
ert
5380
σι
qo
or
540
138 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVI.
And drawing from beside his brawny thigh
His keen-edg’d sword, with no uncertain blow
Out loose the fallen horse; again the twain
Were righted, and again the traces stretch’d.
Again in mortal strife the warriors clos’d: 550
Once more Sarpedon hurl’d his glitt’ring spear
In vain; above Patroclus’ shoulder flew
The point, innocuous; from his hand in turn
The spear not vainly thrown, Sarpedon struck
Where lies the diaphragm, below the heart. 555
He fell; as falls an oak, or poplar tall,
Or lofty pine, which on the mountain top
For some proud ship the woodman’s axe hath hewn;
So he, with death-cry sharp, before his car
Extended lay, and clutch’d the blood-stain’d soil. 560
As when a lion on the herd has sprung,
And, ‘mid the heifers seiz’d, the lordly bull
Lies bellowing, crush’d between the lion’s jaws;
So by Patroclus slain, the Lycian chief,
Undaunted still, his faithful comrade call’d: 565
“Good Glaucus, warrior tried, behoves thee now
Thy spearmanship to prove, and warlike might.
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD.
139
Welcome the fray; put forth thine utmost speed ;
Call on the Lycian chiefs, on ev'ry side,
To press around, and for Sarpedon fight ;
Thou too thine arms for my protection wield ;
For I to thee, through all thy future days,
Shall be a ceaseless scandal and reproach,
If me, thus slain before the Grecian ships,
The Greeks be suffer’d of my arms to spoil:
But stand thou fast, and others’ courage raise.”
Thus as he spoke, the shades of death o’erspread
His eyes and nostrils; then with foot firm-set
Upon his chest, Patroclus from the corpse
Drew, by main force, the fast-adhering spear ;
The life forth issuing with the weapon’s point.
Loos'd from the royal car, the snorting steeds,
Eager for flight, the Myrmidons detain’d.
Deep-grieving, Glaucus heard his comrade’s voice:
His spirit was stirr’d within him, impotent
To bear him succour; with his hand he grasp’d
His wounded arm, in torture from the wound
By Teucer’s arrow giv’n, as on he press’
To aid his friends, and scale the lofty wall.
140 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVI.
Then to Apollo thus address’d his pray’r : 590
“Hear me, great King, who, as on Lycia’s plains,
Art here in Troy; and hear’st in ev'ry place
Their voice who suffer, as I suffer now.
A grievous wound I bear, and sharpest pangs
My arm assail, nor may the blood be stanch’d: 595
The pain weighs down my shoulder; and my hand
Hath lost its pow’r to fight, or grasp my spear. τ
Sarpedon, bravest of the brave, is slain,
The son of Jove; yet Jove preserv’d him not.
But thou, O King, this grievous wound relieve; 600
Assuage the pain, and give me strength to urge
My Lycian comrades to maintain the war,
And fight myself to guard the noble dead.”
Thus, as he pray’d, his pray’r Apollo heard,
Assuae’d his pains, and from the grievous wound — 605
Stanch’d the dark blood, and fill’d his soul with strength.
Glaucus within himself perceiv’d, and knew,
Rejoicing, that the God had heard his pray’r.
The Lycian leaders first on evry side
He urg’d to hasten for their King to fight: 610
Then ’mid the Trojans went with lofty step,
Booz XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 141
And first to Panthéus’ son, Polydamas,
To brave Agenor and /Mneas next;
Then Hector of the brazen helm himself
Approaching, thus with wingéd words address’d: 615
“ Hector, forgett’st thou quite thy brave allies,
Who freely in thy cause pour forth their lives,
Far from their home and friends? but they from thee
No aid receive; Sarpedon lies in death,
The leader of the buckler’d Lycian bands, 620
Whose justice and whose powr were Lycia’s shield ;
Him by Patroclus’ hand hath Mars subdued.
But, friends, stand by me now! with just revenge
Inspir’d, determine that the Myrmidons
Shall not, how griev’d soe’er for all the Greeks 625
Who by our spears beside the ships have fall’n,
Our dead dishonour, and his arms obtain.”
He said; and through the Trojans thrill’d the sense
Of grief intolerable, unrestrain’d ;
For he, though stranger-born, was of the State 630
A mighty pillar; and his followers
A nunvrous host; and he himself in fight
Among the foremost; so, against the Greeks,
142 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XVI.
With fiery zeal they rush’d, by Hector led,
Griev’'d for Sarpedon’s loss; on th’ other side
Patroclus’ manly heart the Greeks arous’d,
And to th’ Ajaces first, themselves inspir’d
With martial ardour, thus address’d his speech :
“Ye sons of Ajax, now is come the time
Your former fame to rival, or surpass:
The man hath fall’n, who first o’erleap’d our wall,
Sarpedon ; now remains, that, having slain,
We should his corpse dishonour, and his arms
Strip off; and should some comrade dare attempt
His rescue, him too with our spears subdue.”
He said; and they, with martial ardour fir’d,
Rush’d to the conflict. When on either side
The reinfore’d battalions were array’d,
Trojans and Lycians, Myrmidons and Greeks
Around the dead in sternest combat met,
With fearful shouts; and loud their armour rang.
Then, to enhance the horror of the strife
Around his son, with darkness Jove o’erspread
The stubborn fight: the Trojans first drove back
The keen-ey’'d Greeks; for first a warrior fell,
635
640
645
650
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 143
Not of the meanest ’mid the Myrmidons,
Epegeus, son of valiant Agacles ;
Who in Budeeum’s thriving state bore rule
Erewhile; but flying for a kinsman slain,
To Peleus and the silver-footed Queen 660
He came a supplant; with Achilles thence
To Ilium sent, to join the war of Troy.
Him, as he stretch’d his hand to seize the dead,
Full on the forehead, with a massive stone
Great Hector smote; within the pond’rous helm 665
The skull was split in twain; prone on the corpse
He fell, by life-destroying death subdued.
Griev’'d was Patroclus for his comrade slain;
Forward he darted, as a swift-wing’d hawk,
That swoops amid the starlings and the daws; 670
So swift didst thou, Patroclus, car-borne chief,
Upon the Trojans and the Lycians spring,
Thy soul with anger for thy comrade fill’d.
A pond’rous stone he hurl’d at Sthenelas,
Son of Ithemenes; the mighty mass 675
Fell on his neck, and all the muscles crush’d.
Back drew great Hector and the chiefs of Troy ;
144 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVI.
Far as a javlin’s flight, in sportive strife,
Or in the deadly battle, hurl’d by one
His utmost strength exerting; back so far 680
The Trojans drew, so far the Greeks pursued.
Glaucus, the leader of the Lycian spears,
First turning, slew the mighty Bathycles,
The son of Chaleon; he in Hellas dwelt,
In wealth surpassing all the Myrmidons. 685
Him, as he gain’d upon him in pursuit,
Quick turning, Glaucus through the breast transfix’d ;
Thund’ring he fell; deep grief possess’d the Greeks
At loss of one so valiant; fiercely joyd
The Trojans, and around him crowded thick ; - 690
Nor of their wonted valour were the Greeks
Oblivious, but still onward held their course.
Then slew Meriones a crested chief,
The bold Laogonus, Onetor’s son ;
Onetor, of Idan Jove the priest, 695
And by the people as a God rever'd.
Below the ear he struck him; from his limbs
The spirit fled, and darkness veil’d his eyes.
Then at Meriones Atneas threw
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD.
His brazen spear, in hopes beneath his shield
To find a spot unguarded; he beheld,
And downward stooping, shunn’d the brazen death ;
Behind him far, deep in the soil infix’d,
The weapon stood; there Mars its impulse βίαν ἃ :
So, bootless hurl’d, though by no feeble hand,
fEneas’ spear stood quiv’ring in the ground;
Then thus in wrath he cried: “Meriones,
Had it but struck thee, nimble as thou art,
My spear had brought thy dancing to a close.”
To whom the spearman skill’d, Meriones:
“Brave as thou art, Aineas, ‘tis too much
For thee to hope the might of all to quell,
Who dare confront thee; thou art mortal too!
And if my aim be true, and should my spear
But strike thee fair, all valiant as thou art,
And confident, yet me thy fall shall crown
With triumph, and thy soul to Hades send.”
He said; and him Mencetius’ noble son
Address’d with grave rebuke: “ Meriones,
Brave warrior, why thus waste the time in words?
Trust me, good friend, ’tis not by vaunting speech,
VOL. II. L
145
705
710
146 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVI.
Unseconded by deeds, that we may hope
To scare away the Trojans from the slain:
Hands are for battle, words for council meet;
Boots it not now to wrangle, but to fight.”
“Δ
bo
or
He said, and led the way; him follow’d straight
The godlike chief; forthwith, as loudly rings,
Amid the mountain forest’s deep recess,
The woodman’s axe, and far is heard the sound ;
So from the wide-spread earth their clamour rose, 780
As brazen arms, and shields, and tough bull’s-hide
Encounter’d swords and double-pointed spears.
Nor might the sharpest sight Sarpedon know,
From head to foot with wounds and blood and dust
Disfigur’d; thickly round the dead they swarm’d. — 735
As when at spring-tide in the cattle-sheds
Around the milk-cans swarm the buzzing: flies,
While the warm milk is frothing in the pail;
So swarm’d they round the dead; nor Jove the while
Turn’d from the stubborn fight his piercing glance; 740
But still look’d down with gaze intent, and mus’
Upon Patroclus’ coming fate, in doubt,
If he too there beside Sarpedon slain,
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 147
Should perish by illustrious Hector’s hand,
Spoil’d of his arms; or yet be spar’d awhile 745
To swell the labours of the battle field.
He judg’d it best at length, that once again
The gallant follower of Peleus’ son
Should towrd the town with fearful slaughter drive
The Trojans, and their brazen-helmed chief. 750
First Hector’s soul with panic fear he fill’d;
Mounting his car, he fled, and urg’d to flight
The Trojans; for he saw the scales of Jove.
Then nor the valiant Lycians held their ground ;
All fled in terror, as they saw their King 755
Piere’d through the heart, amid a pile of dead ;
For o’er his body many a warrior fell,
When Saturn’s son the conflict fierce inflam’d.
Then from Sarpedon’s breast they stripp’d his arms,
Of brass refulgent; these Mencetius’ son 760
Sent by his comrades to the ships of Greece.
To Phoebus then the Cloud-compeller thus:
“ Hie thee, good Phcebus, from amid the spears
Withdraw Sarpedon, and from all his wounds
Cleanse the dark gore; then bear him far away, 765
ΤΠ
148 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XVI.
And lave his body in the flowing stream ;
Then with divine ambrosia all his limbs
Anointing, clothe him in immortal robes.
To two swift bearers give him then in charge,
To Sleep and Death, twin brothers, in their arms
To bear him safe to Lycia’s wide-spread plains:
There shall his brethren and his friends perform
His fun’ral rites, and mound and column raise,
The fitting tribute to the mighty dead.”
He said; obedient to his father’s words,
Down to the battle-field Apollo sped
From Ida’s height; and from amid the spears
Withdrawn, he bore Sarpedon far away,
And lay’d his body in the flowing stream;
Then with divine ambrosia all his limbs
Anointing, cloth’d him in immortal robes;
To two swift bearers gave him then in charge,
To Sleep and Death, twin brothers; in their arms
They bore him safe to Lycia’s wide-spread plains.
Then to Automedon Patroclus gave
His orders, and the flying foe pursued.
Oh much deceiv’d, insensate! had he now
“
=I
o
775
“780
785
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 149
But borne in mind the words of Peleus’ son,
He might have ’scap’d the bitter doom of death.
But still Jove’s will the will of man o’errules: 790
Who strikes with panic, and of vict’ry robs
The bravest; and anon excites to war;
Who now Patroclus’ breast with fury fill’d.
Whom then, Patroclus, first, whom slew’st thou last,
When summon’d by the Gods to meet thy doom? 795
Adrastus, and Autonéus, Perimus
The son of Meges, and Echeclus next ;
Epistor, Melanippus, Elasus,
And Mulius, and Pylartes; these he slew;
The others all in flight their safety found. 800
Then had the Greeks the lofty-gated town
Of Priam captur’d by Patroclus’ hand,
So forward and so fierce he bore his spear;
But on the well-built towr Apollo stood,
In hostile attitude, for Troy’s defence. 805
The jutting angle of the lofty wall
Patroclus thrice assail’d; his onset thrice
Apollo, with his own immortal hands
Repelling, backward thrust his glitt’ring shield.
150 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XVI.
But when again, with more than mortal force 810
He made his fourth attempt, with awful mien
And threat’ning voice the Far-destroyer spoke:
“ Back, Heav’n-born chief, Patroclus! not to thee
Hath fate decreed the triumph to destroy
The warlike Trojans’ city ; no, nor yet Seas
To great Achilles, mightier far than thou.”
Thus as he spoke, Patroclus backward stepp’d,
Shrinking before the Far-destroyer’s wrath. —
Still Hector kept before the Scean gates
His coursers; doubtful, if again to dare 820
The battle-throng, or summon all the host
To seek the friendly shelter of the wall.
Thus as he mus‘d, beside him Pheebus stood,
In likeness of a warrior stout and brave,
Brother of Heeuba, the uncle thence 825
Of noble Hector, Asius, Dymas’ son ;
Who dwelt in Phrygia, by Sangarius’ stream ;
His form assuming, thus Apollo spoke:
“ Hector, why shrink’st thou from the battle thus ?
It ill beseems thee! Would to Heay’n that I 830
So far thy greater were, as thou art mine;
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Then sorely shouldst thou rue this abstinence.
But, forward thou! against Patroclus urge
Thy fiery steeds, so haply by his death
Apollo thee with endless fame may crown.”
This said, the God rejoin’d the strife of men;
And noble Hector bade Cebriones
Drive ‘mid the fight his car; before him movd
Apollo, scatt’ring terror ‘mid the Greeks,
And lustre adaiad to the arms of Troy.
All others Hector pass’d unnotic’d by,
Nor stay’d to slay; Patroclus was the mark
At which his coursers’ clattring hoofs he drove.
On th’ other side, Patroclus from his car
Leap’d to the ground: his left hand held his spear ;
And in the right a pond’rous mass he bore
Of rugged stone, that fill’d his ample grasp:
This sent he whirling; not in vain it flew,
Nor miss’ its mark; but Hector’s charioteer
It struck, Cebriones, a bastard son
Of royal Priam, as the reins he held.
Full on his temples fell the jagged mass,
Drove both his eyebrows in, and crush’d the bone ;
835
840
845
152 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVI.
Before him in the dust his eyeballs fell ;
And, like a diver, from the well-wrought car
Headlong he plung’d; and life forsook his limbs.
O’er whom Patroclus thus with bitter jest:
“Heavn! what agility! how deftly thrown
That somersault! if only in the sea
Such feats he wrought, with him might few compete,
Diving for oysters, if with such a plunge
He left his boat, how rough soe’er the waves,
As from his car he plunges to the ground :
Troy can, it seems, accomplish’d tumblers boast.”
Thus saying, on Cebriones he sprang,
As springs a lion, through the breast transfix’d,
In act the sheepfold to despoil, and dies
The victim of his courage; so didst thou
Upon Cebriones, Patroclus, spring.
Down from his car too Hector leap’d to earth.
So, o’er Cebriones, oppos’d they stood ;
As on the mountain, o’er a slaughter’d stag,
Both hunger-pinch’d, two lions fiercely fight,
So oer Cebriones two mighty chiefs,
Mencetius’ son and noble Hector, strove,
855
860
865
870
875
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD.
153
Each in the other bent to plunge his spear.
The head, with grasp unyielding, Hector held;
Patroclus seiz’d the foot; and, crowding round,
Trojans and Greeks in stubborn conflict clos’d.
As when, encount’ring in some mountain-glen,
Eurus and Notus shake the forest deep,
Of oak, or ash, or slender cornel-tree,
Whose taping branches are together thrown,
With fearful dink and crash of broken boughs ;
So mix’d confus’dly, Greeks and Trojans fought,
No thought of flight by either entertain’d.
Thick o’er Cebriones the jav'lins flew,
And feather’d arrows, bounding from the string ;
And pond’rous stones that on the bucklers rang,
As round the dead they fought; amid the dust
That eddying rose, his art forgotten all,
A mighty warrior, mightily he lay.
While in mid Heav’n the sun pursued his course,
Thick flew the shafts, and fast the people fell
On either side; but when declining day
Brought on the hour that sees the loosen’d steers,
The Greeks were stronger far; and from the darts
880
890
895
154 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVI.
And Trojan battle-ery Cebriones
They drew, and from his breast his armour stripp’d.
Fiercely Patroclus on the Trojans fell :
Thrice he assail’d them, terrible as Mars,
With fearful shouts; and thrice nine foes he slew: -
But when again, with more than mortal force
His fourth assault he made, thy term of life,
Patroclus, then approach’d its final close:
For Phcebus’ awful self encounter’d thee,
Amid the battle throng, invisible,
In thickest darkness shrouded all his form :
He stood behind, and with extended palm
Dealt on Patroclus’ neck and shoulders broad
A mighty buffet; dizzy swam his eyes,
And from his head Apollo snatch’d the helm ;
Clank’d, as it roll’d beneath the horses’ feet,
The visor’'d helm; the horsehair plume with blood
And dust polluted; never till that day
Was that proud helmet so with dust defil’d,
That wont to deck a godlike chief, and guard
Achilles’ noble head, and graceful brow:
Now by the will of Jove to Hector giv’n.
900
905
910
915
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD.
155
Now death was near at hand; and in his grasp
His spear was shiver'd, pond’rous, long, and tough,
Brass-pointed ; with its belt, the ample shield
Fell from his shoulders; and Apollo’s hand,
The royal son of Jove, his corslet loos’d.
Then was his mind bewilder’d; and his limbs
Gave way beneath him; all aghast he stood:
Him, from behind, a Dardan, Panthéus’ son,
Euphorbus, peerless ’mid the Trojan youth,
To hurl the spear, to run, to drive the car,
Approaching close, between the shoulders stabb’d ;
He, train’d to warfare, from his car, ere this
A score of Greeks had from their chariots hurl’d:
Such was the man who thee, Patroclus, first
Wounded, but not subdued; the ashen spear
He, in all haste, withdrew; nor dar’d confront
Patroclus, though disarm’d, in deadly strife.
Back to his comrades’ shelt’ring ranks retir’d,
From certain death, Patroclus: by the stroke
Of Phcebus vanquish’d, and Euphorbus’ spear:
But Hector, when Patroclus from the fight
He saw retreating, wounded, through the ranks
925
930
939
940
156 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVI.
Advancing, smote him through the flank; right through
The brazen spear was drivn; thund’ring he fell ;
And deeply mourn’d his fall the Grecian host.
As when a lion hath in fight o’erborne
A tusked boar, when on the mountain top
They two have met, in all their pride of strength,
Both parch’d with thirst, around a scanty spring;
And vanquish’d by the lion’s force, the boar
Hath yielded, gasping; so Mencetius’ son,
Great deeds achiev'd, at length beneath the spear
Of noble Hector yielded up his life ;
Who o’er the vanquish’d thus, exulting, spoke:
“ Patroclus, but of late thou mad’st thy boast
To raze our city walls, and in your ships
To bear away to your far-distant land,
Their days of freedom lost, our Trojan dames:
Fool that thou wast! nor knew’st, in their defence,
That Hector’s flying coursers scour’d the plain ;
From them, the bravest of the Trojans, I
Avert the day of doom; while on our shores
Thy flesh shall glut the carrion birds of Troy.
Poor wretch! though brave he be, yet Peleus’ son
945
950
955
960
Boox XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 157
Avail’d thee nought, when, hanging back himself,
With sage advice he sent thee forth to fight: 965
‘Come not to me, Patroclus, car-borne chief,
Nor to the ships return, until thou bear
The warrior-slayer Hector’s bloody spoils,
Torn from his body ;’ such were, I suppose,
His counsels; thou, poor fool, becam’st his dupe.” 970
To whom Patroclus thus in accents faint :
“Hector, thou boastest loudly now, that Jove,
With Pheebus join’d, hath thee with ‘vict’ry crown’d:
They wrought my death, who stripp’d me of my arms.
Had I to deal with twenty such as thee, 975
They all should perish, vanquish’d by my spear:
Me fate hath slain, and Phoebus; and, of men,
Euphorbus; thou wast but the third to strike.
This too I say, and bear it in thy mind;
Not long shalt thou survive me; death e’en now 980
And final doom hangs o’er thee, by the hand
Of great Achilles, Peleus’ matchless son.”
Thus as he spoke, the gloom of death his eyes
O’erspread, and to the shades his spirit fled,
Mourning his fate, his youth and strength cut off. 980
158 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVI.
To whom, though dead, the noble Hector thus:
“ Patroclus, why predict my coming fate ?
Or who can say but fair-hair’d Thetis’ son,
Achilles, by my spear may first be slain?”
He said, and planting firm his foot, withdrew 990
The brazen spear, and backward drove the dead
From off the weapon’s point; then, spear in hand,
Intent to slay, Automedon pursued,
The godlike follower of Aacides:
But him in safety bore th’ immortal steeds, 995
The noble prize the Gods to Peleus gave. 996
Boox XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 15
-Ὁ'
BOOK 27 1L
OR was Patroclus’ fall, by Trojans slain,
Of warlike Menelaus unobserv’d ;
Forward he sprang, in dazzling arms array’d,
And round him moyd, as round her new-dropp’d calf,
Her first, a heifer moves with plaintive moan: 5
So round Patroclus Menelaus του ἢ,
His shield’s broad orb and spear before him held,
To all who might oppose him threat’ning death.
Nor, on his side, was Panthéus’ noble son
Unmindful of the slain; but, standing near, 10
The warlike Menelaus thus address’d :
“Tllustrious son of Atreus, Heav’n-born chief,
Quit thou the dead; yield up the bloody spoils;
For, of the Trojans and their fam’d Allies,
Mine was the hand that in the stubborn fight 15
First struck Patroclus; leave me then to wear
Among the men of Troy my honours due,
160 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVII.
Lest by my spear thou lose thy cherish’d life.”
To whom in anger Menelaus thus:
“O Father Jove, how ill this vaunting tone 20
Beseems this braggart! In their own esteem,
With Panthéus’ sons for courage none may vie;
Nor pard, nor lion, nor the forest boar,
Fiercest of beasts, and proudest of his strength.
Yet nought avail’d to Hyperenor’s might 25
His youthful vigour, when he held me cheap,
And my encounter dar’d; of all the Greeks
He deem’d my prowess least; yet he, I ween,
On his own feet return’d not, to rejoice
His tender wife’s and honour’d parents’ sight. 80
So shall thy pride be quell’d, if me thou dare
Encounter ; but I warn thee, while ’tis time,
Ere ill betide thee, ’mid the gen’ral throng
That thou withdraw, nor stand to me oppos’d.
After th’ event may evn a fool be wise.” 35
He spoke in vain; Euphorbus thus replied :
“Now, Heavn-born Menelaus, shalt thou pay
The forfeit for my brother’s life, o’er whom,
Slain by thy hand, thou mak’st thy boasting speech.
Boox XVIT. HOMER’S ILIAD. 161
Thou in the chambers of her new-found home 40
Hast made his bride a weeping widow; thou
Hast fill’d with bitt’rest grief his parents’ hearts:
Some solace might those hapless mourners find,
Could I thy head and armour in the hands
Of Panthéus and of honour’d Phrontis place ; 45
Nor uncontested shall the proof remain,
Nor long deferr’d, of vict’ry or defeat.”
He said, and struck the centre of the shield,
But broke not through; against the stubborn brass
The point was bent; then with a pray’r to Jove 50
The son of Atreus in his turn adyane’d;
And, backward as he stepp’d, below his throat
Took aim, and pressing hard with stalwart hand
Drove through the yielding neck the pond’rous spear :
Thund’ring he fell, and loud his armour rang. 55
Those locks, that with the Graces’ hair might vie,
Those tresses bright, with gold and silver bound,
Were dabbled all with blood. As when a man
Hath rear’d a fair and vig’rous olive plant,
In some lone spot, by copious-gushing springs, 60
And seen expanding, nurs’d by evry breeze,
VOL. II, M
162 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVII.
Its whitning blossoms; till with sudden gust
A sweeping hurricane of wind and rain
Uproots it from its bed, and prostrate lays ;
So lay the youthful son of Panthous, slain 65
By Atreus’ son, and of his arms despoil'd.
And as a lion, in the mountains bred,
In pride of strength, amid the pasturing herd
Seizes a heifer in his powrful jaws,
The choicest; and, her neck first broken, rends, 70
And, on her entrails gorging, laps the blood;
Though with loud clamour dogs and herdsmen round
Assail him from afar, yet ventures none
To meet his rage, for fear is on them all;
So there was none so bold, with dauntless breast 15.
The noble Menelaus’ wrath to meet.
Now had Atrides borne away with ease
The spoils of Panthéus’ son; but Phcebus grudg’d
His prize of vict’ry, and against him launch’d
The might of Hector, terrible as Mars: 80
To whom his winged words, in Mentes’ form,
Chief of the Cicones, he thus address’d :
“Hector, thy labour all is vain, pursuing
Boox XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 165
Pelides’ flying steeds; and hard are they
ΓΟ
σι
For mortal man to harness, or control,
Save for Achilles’ self, the Goddess-born.
The valiant Menelaus, Atreus’ son,
Defends meanwhile Patroclus; and evn now
Hath slain a noble Trojan, Panthéus’ son,
Euphorbus, and his youthful vigour quell’d.” 90
He said, and join’d again the strife of men:
Hector’s dark soul with bitter grief was fill’d;
He look’d amid the ranks, and saw the two,
One slain, the other stripping off his arms,
The blood outpouring from the gaping wound. 95
Forward he sprang, in dazzling arms array’d,
Loud shouting, blazing like the quenchless flames
Of Vulcan: Menelaus heard the shout,
And, troubled, commun’d with his valiant heart:
“Oh, woe is me! for should I now the spoils 100
Abandon, and Patroclus, who for me
And in my cause lies slain, of any Greek
Who saw me, I might well incur the blame:
And yet if here alone I dare to fight
With Hector and his Trojans, much I fear, 105
164 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XVII.
Singly, to be by numbers overwhelm’d ;
For Hector all the Trojans hither brings.
But wherefore entertain such thoughts, my soul?
Who strives, against the will divine, with one
Beloy’d of Heay’n, a bitter doom must meet. 110
Then none may blame me, though I should retreat
From Hector, who with Heav’n’s assistance wars.
Yet could I hear brave Ajax’ battle ery,
We two, returning, would th’ encounter dare,
Ev’n against Heay’n, if so for Peleus’ son 115
We might regain, and bear away the dead:
Some solace of our loss might then be ours.”
While in his mind and spirit thus he mus‘d,
By Hector led, the Trojan ranks adyane’d:
Backward he moyd, abandoning the dead ; 120
But turning oft, as when with shouts and spears
A bearded lion from the fold is drivn
By men and dogs; yet grieves his mighty heart,
And with reluctant step he quits the yard:
So from Patroclus Menelaus mowd ; 125
Yet when he reach’d his comrades’ ranks, he turn’d,
And look’d around, if haply he might find
Book XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 165
The mighty Ajax, son of 'Telamon.
Him on the battle’s farthest left he spied,
Cheering his friends and urging to the fight, 130
For sorely Phoebus had their courage tried ;
And hast’ning to his side, address’d him thus:
“ Ajax, haste hither; to the rescue come
Of slain Patroclus; if perchance we two
May to Achilles, Peleus’ son, restore 135
His body: his naked body, for his arms
Are prize to Hector of the glancing helm.”
He said, and Ajax’ spirit within him stirr’d;
Forward he sprang, and with him Atreus’ son.
Hector was dragging now Patroclus’ corpse, 140
Stripp’d of its glitt’ring armour, and intent
The head to sever with his sword, and give
The mangled carcase to the dogs of Troy:
But Ajax, with his tow’r-like shield, approach’d ;
Then Hector to his comrades’ ranks withdrew, 145
Rush’d to his car, and bade the Trojans bear
The glitt’ring arms, his glorious prize, to Troy:
While Ajax with his mighty shield o’erspread
Mencetius’ son; and stood, as for his cubs
166 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVII.
A lion stands, whom hunters, unaware, 150
Have with his offsprmg met amid the woods.
Proud in his strength he stands; and down are drawn,
Covring his eyes, the wrinkles of his brow:
So o’er Patroclus mighty Ajax stood,
And by his side, his heart with grief oppress’d, 155
The warlike Menelaus, Atreus’ son.
Then Glaucus, leader of the Lycian host,
To Hector thus, with scornful glance, address’d
His keen reproaches: “ Hector, fair of form,
How art thou wanting in the fight! thy fame, 160
Coward and runaway, thou hast belied.
Bethink thee now, if thou alone canst save
The city, aided but by Trojans born;
Henceforth no Lycian will go forth for Troy
To fight with Greeks; since favour none we gain 16
By unremitting toil against the foe.
How can a meaner man expect thine aid,
Who basely to the Greeks a prize and spoil
Sarpedon leav’st, thy comrade and thy guest?
Greatly he serv’d the city and thyself, 170
While yet he livd; and now thou dar’st not save
Boox XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 167
His body from the dogs! By my advice
If Lycians will be rul’d, we take at once
Our homeward way, and Troy may meet her doom.
But if in Trojan bosoms there abode 175
The daring, dauntless courage, meet for men
Who in their country’s cause against the foe
Endure both toil and war, we soon should see
Patroclus brought within the walls of Troy ;
Him from the battle could we bear away, 180
And, lifeless, bring to royal Priam’s town,
Soon would the Greeks Sarpedon’s arms release,
And we to Llium’s heights himself might bear:
For with his valiant comrades there lies slain
The follower of the bravest chief of Greece. 185
But thou before the mighty Ajax stood’st
With downcast eyes, nor durst in manly fight
Contend with one thy better far confess’d.”
To whom thus Hector of the glancing helm,
With stern regard, replied: “Why, Glaucus, speak, 190
Brave as thou art, in this oerbearing strain ?
Good friend, I heretofore have held thee wise
O’er all who dwell in Lycia’s tertile soil ;
168 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVII.
But now I change, and hold thy judgment cheap,
Who chargest me with flying from the might 195
Of giant Ajax; never have I shrunk
From the stern fight, and clatter of the cars ;
But all o’erruling is the mind of Jove,
Who strikes with panic, and of vict’ry robs
The bravest; and anon excites to war. 200
Stand now beside me, and behold my deeds,
And see if through the day I merit blame,
Or suffer that a Greek, how brave soe’er,
Shall rescue from my hands Patroclus’ corpse.”
He said, and loudly on the Trojans call’d: 205
“Trojans and Lycians, and ye Dardans, fam’d
In close encounter, quit ye now like men;
Maintain awhile the stubborn fight, while I
The splendid armour of Achilles don,
My glorious prize from slain Patroclus torn.” 210
So saying, Hector of the glancing helm,
Withdrawing from the field, with rapid steps
His comrades [ὉΠ] ον ἢ, and ere long o’ertook,
Who towrd the town Achilles’ armour bore ;
Then standing from the bloody fight aloof 215
Boox XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 169
The armour he exchang’d; his own he bade
The warlike Trojans to the city bear;
While he, of Peleus’ son, Achilles, donn’d
The heay’nly armour, which th’ immortal Gods
Gave to his sire; he to his son convey’; 220
Yet in that armour grew not old that son.
Him when apart the Cloud-compeller saw
Girt with the arms of Peleus’ godlike son,
He shook his head, as inly thus he mus’‘d:
οι
“Ah hapless! little deem’st thou of thy fate, 22
Though now so nigh! Thou of the prime of men,
The dread of all, hast donn’d th’ immortal arms,
Whose comrade, brave and good, thy hand hath slain;
And sham’d him, stripping from his head and breast
Helmet and cuirass; yet thy latest hours 230
Will I with glory crown; since ne’er from thee,
Return’d from battle, shall Andromache
Receive the spoils of Peleus’ godlike son.”
He said, and nodded with his shadowy brows ;
Then with the armour, fitted to his form
bo
2b
σι
By Jove himself, was Hector girt by Mars
The fierce and terrible; with vig’rous strength
170 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVII.
His limbs were strung, as ’mid his brave allies
He sprang, loud-shouting ; glitt’ring in his arms,
To all he seem’d Achilles’ godlike self. 240
To each and all in cheering tones he spoke,
Mesthles and Glaucus and Thersilochus,
Asteropeeus and Hippothous,
Medon, Deisenor, Phorcys, Chromius,
And Ennomus the seer: to all of these 245
His winged words he cheeringly address’d :
“Hear me, ye countless tribes, that dwelling round
Assist our cause! You from your sevral homes
Not for display of numbers have I call’d,
But that with willing hearts ye should defend 250
Our wives and infants from the warlike Greeks:
For this I drain my people’s stores, for food
And gifts for you, exalting your estate;
Then, who will boldly onward, he may fall,
Or safe escape, such is the chance of war ; 255
But aie within our valiant Trojans’ ranks
Shall but the body of Patroclus bring,
Despite the might of Ajax; half the spoils
To him I give, the other half myself
Boox XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 171
Retaining; and his praise shall equal mine.” 260
He said; and onward, with uplifted spears,
They march’d upon the Greeks; high rose their hopes
From Ajax Telamon to snatch the dead;
Vain hopes, which cost them many a life! Then thus
To valiant Menelaus Ajax spoke: 265
“OQ Heav’n-born Menelaus, noble friend,
For safe return I dare no longer hope:
Not for Patroclus’ corpse so much I fear,
Which soon will glut the dogs and birds of Troy,
bo
=
i)
As for my life and thine I tremble now:
For, like a war-cloud, Hector’s might I see
O’ershadowing all around; now is our doom
Apparent ; but do thou for succour call
On all the chiefs, if haply they may hear.”
bo
-
ὧι
Thus Ajax spoke: obedient to his word,
On all the chiefs Atrides call’d aloud:
«Q friends, the chiefs and councillors of Greece,
All ye that banquet at the gen’ral cost
With Atreus’ sons, and o’er your sevral states
Dominion hold; whose honour is of Jove; 280
"Twere hard to call by name each single man,
172 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVII.
So fierce the combat rages; but let each
And all their aid afford, and deem it shame
Patroclus’ corpse should glut the dogs of Troy.”
He said: first heard Oileus’ active son,
And hast’ning through the fray, beside him stood.
Next him Idomeneus, with whom there came,
Valiant as Mars, his friend Meriones.
But who can know or tell the names of all,
Who, following, swell’d the battle of the Greeks?
Onward the Trojans press’, by Hector led:
With such a sound, as when the ocean wave
Meets on the beach th’ outpouring of a stream,
Swoll’n by the rains of Heav’n; the lofty cliffs
Resound, and bellows the big sea without;
With such a sound advane’d the Trojan host:
While round Patroclus, with one heart and mind,
The Greeks a fence of brass-clad prickles rais‘d.
O’er their bright helms the son of Saturn shed
A veil of darkness; for Mencetius’ son,
While yet he liv’d, Achilles’ faithful friend,
Jove hated not, nor would that now his corpse
Should to the dogs of Troy remain a prey,
285
290
295
300
Boox XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 173
But to the rescue all his comrades stirr’d.
At first the Trojans drove the keen-ey’d Greeks ; 305
Leaving the corpse, they fled; nor with their spears
The valiant Trojans reach’d a single Greek ;
But on the dead they seiz’d; yet not for long
Endur’d their flight; them Ajax rallied soon,
In form pre-eminent, and deeds of arms, 310
O’er all the Greeks, save Peleus’ matchless son.
Onward he sprang, as springs a mountain boar,
Which, turning in the forest glade to bay,
Scatters with ease both dogs and stalwart youths;
So Ajax scatter’d soon the Trojan ranks, 315
That round Patroclus closing, hop’d to bear,
With glory to themselves, his corpse to Troy.
Hippothéus, Pelasgian Lethus’ son,
Was dragging by the feet the noble dead,
A leathern belt around his ancles bound, 320
The favour seeking of the men of Troy;
But on himself he brought destruction down,
Which none might turn aside; for from the crowd
Outsprang the son of Telamon, and struck,
In close encounter, on the brass-cheek’d helm ; 325
174 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XVII.
The plumed helm was shiver’d by the blow,
Dealt by a weighty spear and stalwart hand;
Gush’d from the wound the mingled blood and brain,
His vital spirit quench’d; and on the ground
Fell from his powrless grasp Patroclus’ foot ;
While he himself lay stretch’d beside the dead,
Far from his own Larissa’s teeming soil:
Not destin’d he his parents to repay
Their early care; for short his term of life,
By godlike Ajax’ mighty spear subdued.
At Ajax Hector threw his glitt’ring spear:
He saw, and narrowly the brazen death
Escap’d ; but Schedius, son of Iphitus,
(The bravest of the Phocian chiefs, who dwelt
In far-fam’d Panopeus, the mighty Lord
Of num’rous hosts,) below the collar-bone
It struck, and passing through, the brazen point
Came forth again beneath his shoulder-blade :
Thund’ring he fell, and loud his armour rang.
As Phorcys, son of Pheenops, kept his watch
O’er slain Hippothous, him Ajax smote
Below the waist; the weighty spear broke through
330
340
545
Boox XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
The hollow breastplate, and th’ intestines tore ;
Prone in the dust he fell, and clutch’d the ground.
At this the Trojan chiefs and Hector’s self
"Gan to give way; the Greeks, with joyful shouts,
Seiz’d both the dead, and stripp’d their armour off.
To Ilium now, before the warlike Greeks,
O’ercome by panic, had the Trojans fled ;
And now had Greeks, despite the will of Jove,
By their own strength and courage, won the day,
Had not Apollo’s self Aineas rous’d,
In likeness of a herald, Periphas,
The son of Epytus, now aged grown
In service of Aineas’ aged sire,
A man of kindliest soul: his form assum’d
Apollo, and Adneas thus address’d :
“ 7neas, how, against the will of Heav’n,
Could ye defend your city, as others now
In their own strength and courage confident,
Their numbers, and their troops’ undaunted hearts,
I see their cause maintaining; if when Jove
Rather to us than them the vict’ry wills,
With fear unspeakable ye shun the fight ?”
175
360
365
176 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVII.
He said: the presence of the Archer-God
Afineas knew, and loud to Hector call’d:
“ Hector, and all ye other chiefs of Troy,
And brave Allies, foul shame it were that we,
O’ercome by panic, should to Ilium now
In flight be driv’n before the warlike Greeks ;
And by my side, but now, some God there stood,
And told how Jove, the sov’reign arbiter
Of battle, on our side bestow’d his aid;
On then! nor undisturb’d allow the Greeks
To bear Patroclus’ body to their ships.”
He said, and far before the ranks advane’d ;
They rallying turn’d, and fac’d again the Greeks.
Then first Auneas’ spear the comrade brave
Of Lycomedes struck, Leocritus,
Son of Arisbas ; Lycomedes saw
With pitying eyes his gallant comrade’s fall ;
And standing near, his glitt’ring spear he threw,
And through the midriff Apisaon struck,
His people’s guardian chief, the valiant son
Of Hippasus, and slack’d his limbs in death.
He from Peeonia’s fertile fields had come,
370
380
390
Boox XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
O’er all his comrades eminent in fight,
All save Asteropzeus, who with eyes
Of pity saw his gallant comrade’s fall,
And forward sprang to battle with the Greeks;
Yet could not force his way; for all around
Patroclus rose a fence of serried shields,
And spears projecting: such the orders giv’n
By Ajax, and with earnest care enfore’d;
That from around the dead should none retire,
Nor any to the front advance alone
Before his fellows; but their steady guard
Maintain, and hand to hand the battle wage.
So order’d Ajax; then with crimson blood
The earth was wet; and hand to hand they fell,
Trojans alike, and brave Allies, and Greeks;
For neither these a bloodless fight sustain’d,
Though fewer far their losses; for they stood
Of mutual succour mindful, and support.
Thus, furious as the rage of fire, they fought ;
Nor might ye deem the glorious sun himself
Nor moon was safe; for darkest clouds of night
O’erspread the warriors, who the battle wag’d
VOL. II. N
395
400
405
410
178 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVII.
Around the body of Mencetius’ son:
Elsewhere the Trojans and the well-greay’d Greeks 415
Fought, undisturb’d, in the clear light of day ;
The sun’s bright beams were shed abroad; no cloud
Lay on the face of earth or mountain tops;
They but by fits, at distant intervals,
And far apart, each seeking to avoid 420
The hostile missiles, fought; but in the midst
The bravest all, in darkness and in strife
Sore press'd, toil’d on beneath their armour’s weight.
As yet no tidings of Patroclus’ fall
Had reach’d two valiant chiefs, Antilochus 425
And Thrasymedes; but they deem’d him still
Alive, and fighting in the foremost ranks.
They, witnessing their comrades’ flight and death,
Fought on apart, by Nestor so enjoin‘d,
When from the ships he bade them join the fray. 480
Great was meanwhile their labour, who sustain’d,
Throughout the livelong day, that weary fight ;
Reek’d with continuous toil and sweat, the knees,
And legs and feet, the arms, and eyes, of all
Who round Achilles’ faithful comrade fought. 435
Boox XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 179
As when a chief his people bids to stretch
A huge bull’s hide, all drench’d and soak’d with grease :
They in a circle rang’d, this way and that,
Pull the tough hide, till ent’ring in, the grease
Ts all absorb’d; and drage’d by num’rous hands 440)
The supple skin to th’ utmost length is stretch’d;
So these-in narrow space this way and that
The body drage’d; and high the hopes of each
To bear it off in triumph ; to their ships
The Greeks, to Troy the Trojans; fiercely rag’d 445
The struggle; spirit-stirrmg Mars himself,
Or Pallas to her utmost fury rous‘d,
Had not that struggle with contempt beheld :
Such grievous labour o’er Patroclus’ corpse
Had Jove to horses and to men decreed. 450
But of Patroclus’ fall no tidings yet
Had reach’d Achilles; for the war was wae’d
Far from the ships, beneath the walls of Troy ;
Nor look’d he of his death to hear, but deem’d
Ou
That when the Trojans to their gates were drivn, 4
He would return in safety; for no hope
Had he of taking by assault the town,
τῷ
Ν
180 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XVII.
With, or without, his aid; for oft apart
His Goddess-mother had his doom foretold,
Revealing to her son the mind of Jove; 460
Yet ne’er had warn’d him of such grief as this,
Which now befell, his dearest comrade’s loss.
Still round the dead they held their pointed spears,
Fought hand to hand, and mutual slaughter dealt ;
And thus perchance some brass-clad Greek would say : 465
“0 friends, *twere shameful should we to the ships
Ingloriously return; ere that should be,
Let earth engulph us all; so better far
Than let these Trojans to their city bear
Our dead, and boast them of their triumph gain’d.” 470
On th’ other hand some valiant Trojan thus
Would shout: “ O friends, though fate decreed that here
We all should die, yet let not one give way.”
Thus, cheering each his comrades, would they speak,
And thus they fought; the iron clangour piere’d 475
The empty air, and brazen vault of Heay’n.
But, from the fight withdrawn, Achilles’ steeds
Wept, as they heard how in the dust was laid
Their charioteer, by Hector’s murd’rous hand.
Boox XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 181
Automedon, Diores’ valiant son, 480
Essay’d in vain to rouse them with the lash,
In vain with honey’d words, in vain with threats;
Nor to the ships would they return again
By the broad Hellespont, nor join the fray ;
But as a column stands, which marks the tomb 485
Of man or woman, so immoyable
Beneath the splendid car they stood, their heads
Down-drooping to the ground, while scalding tears
Dropp’d earthward from their eyelids, as they mourn’d
Their charioteer ; and o’er the yoke-band shed 490
Down stream’d their ample manes, with dust defil’d.
The son of Saturn pitying saw their grief,
And sorrowing shook his head, as thus he mus‘d:
“ Ah hapless horses! wherefore gave we you
To royal Peleus, to a mortal man, 495
You that from age and death are both exempt!
Was it that you the miseries might share
Of wretched mortals? for of all that breathe,
And walk upon the earth, or creep, is nought
More wretched than th’ unhappy race of man. 500
Yet shall not ye, nor shall your well-wrought car,
182 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVII.
By Hector, son of Priam, be controll’d ;
I will not suffer it; enough for him
To hold, with vaunting boast, Achilles’ arms ;
But to your limbs and spirits will I impart
Such strength, that from the battle to the ships
Ye shall in safety bear Automedon ;
For yet I will the Trojans shall prevail,
And slay, until they reach the well-mann’d ships,
Till sets the sun, and darkness shrouds the earth.”
He said, and in their breasts fresh spirit infus’d ;
They, shaking from their manes the dust, the car
Amid the Greeks and Trojans lightly bore.
Then, as a vulture “mid a flock of geese,
Amid the battle rush’d Automedon,
His horses’ course directing, and their speed
Exciting, though he mourn’d his comrade slain.
Swiftly he fled from out the Trojan host ;
Swiftly again assail’d them in pursuit ;
Yet, speedy to pursue, he could not slay ;
Nor, in the car alone, had powyr at once
To guide the flying steeds, and hurl the spear.
At length a comrade brave, Alcimedon,
505
515
Boox XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
183
Laerces’ son, beheld; behind the car
He stood, and thus Automedon address’d:
“ Automedon, what God has fill’d thy mind
With counsels vain, and thee of sense bereit?
That with the Trojans, in the foremost ranks,
Thou fain wouldst fight alone, thy comrade slain,
While Hector proudly on his breast displays
The glorious arms of great Hacides.”
To whom Automedon, Diores’ son:
“ Alcimedon, since none of all the Greeks
May vie with thee, the mettle to control
Of these immortal horses, save indeed,
While yet he liv’d, Patroclus, godlike chief ;
But him stern death and fate have overta’en ;
Take thou the whip and shining reins, while I,
Descending from the car, engage in fight.”
He said; and, mounting on the war-car straight,
Alcimedon the whip and reins assum’d;
Down leap’'d Automedon; great Hector saw,
And thus address’d A®neas at his side:
« A€neas, prince and counsellor of Troy,
I see, committed to unskilful hands,
530
530
540
οι
ΤΣ
σι
184 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVII.
Achilles’ horses on the battle field:
These we may hope to take, if such thy will;
For they, methinks, will scarcely stand oppos’d,
Or dare th’ encounter of our joint assault.”
He said; Anchises’ valiant son complied ; 550
Forward they went, their shoulders cover'd o’er
With stout bull’s-hide, thick overlaid with brass.
With them both Chromius and Aretus went ;
And high their hopes were rais’d, the warriors both
To slay, and make the strong-neck’d steeds their prize: 555
Blind fools! nor destin’d scatheless to escape -
Automedon’s encounter; he his pray’r
To Jove address’d, and straight with added strength
His soul was fill’d; and to Alcimedon,
His trusty friend and comrade, thus he spoke: 560
“ Alcimedon, do thou the horses keep
Not far away, but breathing on my neck;
For Hector’s might will not, I deem, be stay’d,
Ere us he slay, and mount Achilles’ car,
And carry terror ‘mid the Grecian host, 565
Or in the foremost ranks himself be slain.”
Thus spoke Automedon, and loudly call’d
Book XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 185
On Menelaus and th’ Ajaces both:
“Ye two Ajaces, leaders of the host,
And, Menelaus, with our bravest all, 570
Ye on the dead alone your care bestow,
To guard him, and stave off the hostile ranks ;
But haste, and us, the living, save from death ;
For Hector and AXneas hitherward,
With weight o’erpowving, through the bloody press,
The bravest of the Trojans, force their way:
Yet is the issue in the hands of Heawn;
I hurl the spear, but Jove directs the blow.”
He said, and, poising, hurl’d his pond’rous spear ;
Full on Aretus’ broad-orb’d shield it struck ;
Nor stay’d the shield its course; the brazen point
Drove through the belt, and in his body lodg’d.
As with sharp axe in hand a stalwart man,
Striking behind the horns a sturdy bull,
Severs the neck; he, forward, plunging, falls;
So forward first he sprang, then backwards fell :
And quiv’ring, in his vitals deep infix’d,
The sharp spear soon relax’d his limbs in death.
Then at Automedon great Hector threw
580
σι
ioe
σι
186 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVII.
His glitt’rig spear; he saw, and forward stoop’d, 590
And shunn’d the brazen death; behind him far
Deep in the soil infix’d, with quiv’ring shaft
The weapon stood; there Mars its impulse βίαν ἃ.
And now with swords, and hand to hand, the fight
Had been renewd; but at their comrade’s eall 595
The two Ajaces, pressing through the throng,
Between the warriors interpos’d in haste.
Before them Hector and Aineas both,
And godlike Chromius, in alarm recoil’d ;
Pierced through the heart, Aretus there they left; 600
And, terrible as Mars, Automedon
Stripp’d off his arms, and thus exulting cried:
“ Of some small portion of its load of grief,
For slain Patroclus, is my heart reliev’d,
In slaying thee, all worthless as thou art.” 605
Then, throwing on the car the bloody spoils,
He mounted, hands and feet imbrued with blood,
As ’twere a lion, fresh from his repast
Upon the carcase of a slaughter’d bull.
Again around Patroclus’ body rag’d 610
The stubborn conflict, direful, sorrow-fraught :
Boox XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
187
From Heay’n descending, Pallas stirr’d the strife,
Sent by all-seeing Jove to stimulate
The warlike Greeks; for so his will inelin’d.
As oer the face of Heavn when Jove extends
His bright-hued bow, a sign to mortal men
Of war, or wintry storms, which bid surcease
The rural works of man, and pinch the flocks ;
So Pallas, in a bright-hued cloud array’d,
Pass‘d through the ranks, and rous’d each sev’ral man.
To noble Menelaus, Atreus’ son,
Who close beside her stood, the Goddess first,
The form of Pheenix and his pow xful voice
Assuming, thus her stirring words address‘:
“On thee, Ὁ Menelaus, foul reproach
Will fasten, if Achilles’ faithful friend
The dogs devour beneath the walls of Troy ;
Then hold thou firm, and all the host inspire.”
To whom thus Menelaus, good in fight :
“QO Phoenix, aged warrior, honour’d sire,
If Pallas would the needful pow’ impart,
And o’er me spread her egis, then would I
Undaunted for Patroclus’ rescue fight,
615
620
630
188 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVII.
For deeply by his death my heart is touch’d;
But valiant Hector, with the strength of fire 635
Still rages, and destruction deals around :
For Jove is with him, and his triumph wills.”
He said: the blue-ey’d Goddess heard with joy
That, chief of all the Gods, her aid he sought.
She gave fresh vigour to his arms and knees, 640
And to his breast the boldness of the fly,
Which, oft repell’d by man, renews th’ assault
Incessant, lur’d by taste of human blood;
Such boldness in Atrides’ manly breast
Pallas inspir’d; beside Patroclus’ corpse 645
Again he stood, and pois’d his glitt’ring spear.
There was one Podes in the Trojan ranks,
Son of Eétion, rich, of blameless life,
Of all the people most to Hector dear,
And at his table oft a welcome guest: 650
Him, as he turn’d to fly, beneath the waist
Atrides struck ; right through the spear was driv’n ;
Thund’ring he fell; and Atreus’ son the corpse
Drage’d from the Trojans ‘mid the ranks of Greece.
Then close at Hector’s side Apollo stood, 655
Boos XVI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 189
Clad in the form of Phzenops, Asius’ son,
Who in Abydos dwelt; of all th’ Allies
Honour’d of Hector most, and best belov’d ;
Clad in his form, the Far-destroyer spoke:
“ Hector, what other Greek will scare thee next? 660
Who shrink’st from Menelaus, heretofore
A warrior deem’d of no repute; but now,
Alone, he robs our Trojans of their dead ;
And in the foremost ranks e’en now hath slain
Podes, thine own good friend, Hétion’s son.” 665
He said; dark grief o’erclouded Hector’s brow,
As to the front in dazzling arms he sprang.
Then Saturn’s son his tassell’d egis wav'd,
All glitt’ring bright; and Ida’s lofty head
In clouds and darkness shrouded; then he bade 670
His lightning flash, his volleying thunder roar,
That shook the mountain; and with vict’ry crown’d
The Trojan arms, and panic-struck the Greeks.
The first who turn’d to fly was Peneleus,
οι
Beeotian chief; him, facing still the foe, 67
A spear had slightly on the shoulder struck,
The bone just grazing: by Polydamas,
190 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVII.
Who close before him stood, the spear was thrown.
Then Hector Léitus, Alectryon’s son,
Thrust through the wrist, and quell’d his warlike might; 680
Trembling, he look’d around, nor hop’d again
The Trojans, spear in hand, to meet in fight ;
But, onward as he rush’d on Léitus,
Idomeneus at Hector threw his spear:
Full on his breast it struck; but near the head 685
The sturdy shaft was on the breastplate snapp’d:
Loud was the Trojans’ shout; and he in turn
Aim’d at Idomeneus, Deucalion’s son,
Upstanding on his car; his mark he miss‘,
But Cceranus he struck, the charioteer 690
And faithful follower of Meriones,
Who with him came from Lyctus’ thriving town:
The chief had left on foot the well-trimm’d ships ;
And, had not Cceranus his car in haste
Drivn to the rescue, by his fall had giv’n 695
A Trojan triumph; to his Lord he brought
Safety, and rescue from unsparing death ;
But fell, himself, by Hector’s murd’rous hand.
Him Hector struck between the cheek and ear,
Boox XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
191
Crashing the teeth, and cutting through the tongue.
Headlong he fell to earth, and dropp’d the reins:
These, stooping from the car, Meriones
Caught up, and thus Idomeneus address’d :
“ Ply now the lash, until thou reach the ships:
Thyself must see how crush’d the strength of Greece.”
He said; and towrd the ships Idomeneus
Urg’d his fleet steeds; for fear was on his soul.
Nor did not Ajax and Atrides see
How in the Trojans’ favour Saturn’s son
The wayring scale of vict’ry turn’d; and thus
Great Ajax Telamon his grief express’d:
“QO Heavn! the veriest child might plainly see
That Jove the Trojans’ triumph has decreed :
Their weapons all, by whomsoever thrown,
Or weak, or strong, attain their mark; for Jove
Directs their course ; while ours upon the plain
Innocuous fall. But take we counsel now
How from the fray to bear away our dead,
And by our own return rejoice those friends
Who look with sorrow on our plight, and deem
That we, all pow’rless to resist the might
TOO
τοῦ
710
-
τὰ
σι
120
192 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVII.
Of Hector’s arm, beside the ships must fall.
Would that some comrade were at hand, to bear
A message to Achilles; him, I ween,
As yet the mournful tidings have not reach’d,
That on the field his dearest friend lies dead.
But such I see not; for a veil of cloud
O’er men and horses all around is spread.
O Father Jove, from o’er the sons of Greece
Remove this cloudy darkness; clear the sky,
That we may see our fate, and die at least,
Tf such thy will, in th’ open light of day.”
He said, and, pitying, Jove beheld his tears;
The clouds he scatter’d, and the mist dispers’d ;
The sun shone forth, and all the field was clear;
Then Ajax thus to Menelaus spoke:
“Now, Heavn-born Menelaus, look around
If haply ’mid the living thou mayst see
Antilochus, the noble Nestor’s son;
And bid him to Achilles bear in haste
The tidings, that his dearest friend lies dead.”
He said, nor did Atrides not comply ;
But slow as moves a lion from the fold,
-
bo
Ou
730
=I
we)
οι
740
Boox XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 193
Which dogs and youths with ceaseless toil hath worn,
Who all night long have kept their watch, to guard 745
From his assault the choicest of the herd;
He, hunger-pinch’d, hath oft th’ attempt renewd,
But nought prevail’d; by spears on ev'ry side,
And javlins met, wielded by stalwart hands,
And blazing torches, which his courage daunt ; 750
Till with the morn he sullenly withdraws ;
So from Patroclus, with reluctant step
Atrides mov’d; for much he fear’d the Greeks
Might to the Trojans, panic-struck, the dead
“1
σι
or
Abandon; and departing, he besought
The two Ajaces and Meriones :
“Ye two Ajaces, leaders of the Greeks,
And thou, Meriones, remember now
Our lost Patroclus’ gentle courtesy,
How kind and genial was his soul to all, 760
While yet he livd—now sunk, alas! in death.”
Thus saying, Menelaus took his way,
Casting his glance around on ev'ry side,
Like to an eagle, fam’d of sharpest sight
Of all that fly beneath the vault of Heay’n; 765
ΟΣ ἘΠῚ O
194 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVII.
Whom, soaring in the clouds, the crouching hare
Eludes not, though in leafiest covert hid ;
But swooping down, he rends her life away :
So, Menelaus, through the ranks of war
Thy piercing glances evry way were turn’d, 770
If Nestor’s son, alive, thou mightst descry ;
Him on the field’s extremest left he found,
Cheering his friends, and urging to the fight ;
He stood beside him, and address’d him thus:
“ Antilochus, come hither, godlike eae 775
And woful tidings hear, which would to Heayn
I had not to impart; thyself thou seest
How Jove hath heap’d disaster on the Greeks,
And vict’ry givn to Troy; but one has fall’n,
Our ΠΤ Ἢ best! Patroclus lies in death ; 780
And deeply must the Greeks his loss deplore:
But haste thee to the ships, to Peleus’ son
The tidings bear, if haply he may save
The body of Patroclus from the foe ;
His naked body, for his arms are now 785
The prize of Hector of the glancing helm.”
He said; and at his words Antilochus
Boox XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 195
Astounded stood; long time his tongue in vain
For utt’rance strove; his eyes were fill’d with tears,
His cheerful voice was mute; yet not the less 790
To Menelaus’ bidding gave his care:
Swiftly he sped; but to Laodocus,
His comrade brave, who waited with his car
In close attendance, first consign’d his arms;
Then from the field with active limbs he flew, 795
Weeping, with mournful news, to Peleus’ son.
Nor, noble Menelaus, did thy heart
Incline thee to remain, and aid thy friends,
Where from their war-worn ranks the Pylian troops
Deplor’d the absence of Antilochus ; 800
But these in godlike Thrasymedes’ charge
He left; and to Patroclus hast’ning back,
Beside th’ Ajaces stood, as thus he spoke:
“Him to Achilles, to the ships, in haste
I have despatch’d; yet fiercely as his wrath 805
May burn towrd Hector, I can scarce expect
His presence here; for how could he, unarm’d,
With Trojans fight? But take we counsel now
How from the field to bear away our dead,
196 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVII.
And ’scape ourselves from death by Trojan hands.” 810
Whom answer’d thus great Ajax Telamon:
“Tllustrious Menelaus, all thy words
Are just and true; then from amid the press,
Thou and Meriones, take up in haste,
And bear away the body; while behind 815
We two, in heart united, as in name,
Who side by side have still been wont to fight,
Will Hector and his Trojans hold at bay.”
He said; they, lifting in their arms the corpse,
Uprais’'d it high in air; then from behind 820
Loud yell’d the Trojans, as they saw the Greeks
Retiring with their dead; and on they rush’d,
As dogs that in advance of hunter youths
Pursue a wounded boar; awhile they run,
Eager for blood; but when, in pride of strength, 825
He turns upon them, backward they recoil,
This way and that in fear of death dispers’d:
So onward press’d awhile the Trojan crowd,
With thrust of swords, and double-pointed spears;
But ever as th’ Ajaces turn’d to bay, 830
Their colour chang’d to pale, not one so bold
Book XVII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 17
As, dashing on, to battle for the corpse.
Thus they, with anxious care, from off the field
Bore towrd the ships their dead; but on their track
Came sweeping on the storm of battle, fierce, 835
As, on a sudden breaking forth, the fire
Seizes some populous city, and devours
House after house amid the glare and blaze,
While roar the flames before the gusty wind;
So fiercely press’d upon the Greeks’ retreat 840
The clatt’rmg tramp of steeds and armed men.
But as the mules, with stubborn strength endued,
That down the mountain through the trackless waste
Drag some huge log, or timber for the aoe
And spent with toil and sweat, still labour on 845
Unflinching; so the Greeks with patient toil
Bore on their dead; th’ Ajaces in their rear
Stemming the war, as stems the torrent’s force
Some wooded cliff, far stretching o’er the plain ;
Checking the mighty river’s rushing stream, 850
And flinging it aside upon the plain,
Itself unbroken by the strength of flood :
So firmly, in the rear, th’ Ajaces stemm’d
198 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVII.
The Trojan force; yet these still onward press’d,
And, ’mid their comrades proudly eminent,
Two chiefs, Aineas, old Anchises’ son,
_ And glorious Hector, in the van were seen.
Then, as a cloud of starlings or of daws
Fly screaming, as they see the hawk approach,
To lesser birds the messenger of death;
So before Hector and AMneas fled,
Screaming, forgetful of their warlike fame,
The sons of Greece; and scatter’d here and there
Around the ditch lay store of goodly arms,
By Greeks abandon’d in their hasty flight.
Yet still, unintermitted, rag’d the war.
855
860
865
Boox XVIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 199
BOGK = VEL.
EUS, furious as the rage of fire, they fought.
Meantime Antilochus to Peleus’ son,
Swilt-footed messenger, his tidings bore.
Him by the high-beak’d ships he found, his mind
Th’ event presaging, fill’d with anxious thoughts, 5
As thus he commun’d with his mighty heart:
“ Alas! what means it, that the long-hai’d Greeks,
Chas'd from the plain, are thronging round the ships?
Let me not now, ye Gods, endure the grief
My mother once foretold, that I should live 10
To see the bravest of the Myrmidons
Cut off by Trojans from the light of day.
Mencetius’ noble son has surely fall’n;
Foolhardy ! yet I warn’d him, and besought,
Soon as the ships from hostile fires were sate, 15
Back to return, nor Hector’s onset meet.”
While in his mind and spirit thus he mus’d,
200 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVIII.
Beside him stood the noble Nestor’s son,
And weeping, thus his mournful message gave:
“Alas! great son of Peleus, woful news, 20
Which would to Heawn I had not to impart,
To thee I bring: Patroclus lies in death ;
And o’er his body now the war is wag’d;
His naked body, for his arms are now
The prize of Hector of the glancing helm.” 25
He said; and darkest clouds of grief o’erspread
Achilles’ brow; with both his hands he seiz’d
And pour’d upon his head the grimy dust,
Marring his graceful visage; and defil’d
With black’ning ashes all his costly robes. 30
Stretch’d in the dust his lofty stature lay,
As with his hands his flowing locks he tore ;
Loud was the wailing of the female band,
Achilles’ and Patroclus’ prize of war,
As round Achilles, rushing out of doors, 35
Beating their breasts, with tott’ring limbs they press’d.
In tears beside him stood Antilochus,
And in his own Achilles’ hand he held,
Groaning in spirit, fearful lest for grief
Boox XVIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 201
In his own bosom he should sheathe his sword. 40
Loud were his moans; his Goddess-mother heard,
Beside her aged father where she sat
In the deep ocean caves; she heard, and wept:
The Nereids all, in ocean’s depths who dwell,
Encireled her around ; Cymodoce,* 45
Neszee, ὥριο, and Cymothée,
The stag-ey’d Halia, and Amphithée,
Acteea, Limnorea, Melite,
Doris, and Galatea, Panope ;
There too were Oreithyia, Clymene, 50
And Amathea with the golden hair,
And all the denizens of ocean’s depths.
Filld was the glassy cave; in unison
They beat their breasts, as Thetis led the wail :
“Give ear, my sister Nereids all, and learn 5
σι
How deep the grief that in my breast I bear.
* L. 45 et seqq. I hope I may be pardoned for haying somewhat cur-
tailed the list of these ladies, which in the original extends over ten lines of
names only. In doing so, I haye followed the example of Virgil, who repre-
sents the same ladies, evidently the élite of submarine society (G. 4. 336), in
attendance on Cyrene; and has not only reduced the list, but added some
slight touches illustrating their occupations and private history: a liberty
permissible to an imitator, but not to a translator.
202 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVIII.
Me miserable! me, of noblest son
Unhappiest mother! me, a son who bore,
My brave, my beautiful, of heroes chief!
Like a young tree he throve: I tended him, | 60
In a rich vineyard as the choicest plant;
Till in the beaked ships I sent him forth
To war with Troy; him ne’er shall I behold,
Returning home, in aged Peleus’ house.
Eyn while he lives, and sees the light of day, 65
He lives in sorrow; nor, to soothe his grief,
My presence can avail; yet will I go,
That I may see my dearest child, and learn
What grief hath reach’d him, from the war withdrawn.”
She said, and left the cave; with her they went, τὸ
Weeping; before them parted th’ ocean wave.
But when they reach’d the fertile shore of Troy,
In order due they landed on the beach,
Where frequent, round Achilles swift of foot,
Were moor’d the vessels of the Myrmidons. 75
There, as he groan’d aloud, beside him stood
His Goddess-mother; weeping, in her hands
She held his head, while pitying thus she spoke :
Boox XVIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 203
“Why weeps my son? and what his cause of grief?
Speak out, and nought conceal; for all thy pray’r 80
Which with uplifted hands thou mad’st to J ove,
He hath fulfill’d, that, flying to their ships,
The routed sons of Greece should feel how much
They need thine aid, and mourn their insult past.”
To whom Achilles, deeply groaning, thus : 85
“ Mother, all this indeed hath Jove fulfill’d;
Yet what avails it, since my dearest friend
Is slain, Patroclus? whom I honour’d most
Of all my comrades, lov’'d him as my soul,
Him have I lost: and Hector from his corpse 90
Hath stripp’d those arms, those weighty, beauteous arms,
A marvel to behold, which from the Gods
Peleus receiy’d, a glorious gift, that day
When thou, a Goddess, shar’dst a mortal’s bed.
How better were it, if thy lot had been 95
Still ‘mid the Ocean deities to dwell,
And Peleus had espous’d a mortal bride !
For now is bitter grief for thee in store,
Mourning thy son; whom to his home return’d
Thou never more shalt see; nor would I wish 100
204 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVIII.
To live, and move amid my fellow-men,
Unless that Hector, vanquish’d by my spear,
May lose his forfeit life, and pay the price
Of foul dishonour to Patroclus done.”
To whom, her tears o’erflowing, Thetis thus : 105
“ Hv’n as thou sayst, my son, thy term is short;
Nor long shall Hector’s fate precede thine own.”
Achilles, answ’ring, spoke in passionate grief :
“Would I might die this hour, who fail’d to save
My comrade slain! far from his native land 110
He died, sore needing my protecting arm ;
And I, who ne’er again must see my home,
Nor to Patroclus, nor the many Greeks
Whom Hector’s hand hath slain, have render’d aid;
But idly here I sit, cumb’ring the ground: 115
I, who amid the Greeks no equal own
In fight; to others, in debate, I yield.
Accurs’d of Gods and men be hateful strife
And anger, which to violence provokes
Evn temprate souls; though sweeter be its taste 120
Than dropping honey, in the heart of man
Swelling, like smoke; such anger in my soul
Boox XVIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 905
Hath Agamemnon kindled, King of men.
But pass we that; though still my heart be sore,
Yet will I school my angry spirit down. 12:
Or
In search of Hector now, of him who slew
My friend, I go; prepar’d to meet my death,
When Jove shall will it, and th’ Immortals all.
From death not evn the might of Hercules,
Though best belov’d of Saturn’s son, could fly, 130
By fate and Juno’s bitter wrath subdued.
I too, since such my doom, must lie in death ;
Yet, ere I die, immortal fame will win;
And from their delicate cheeks, deep-bosom’d dames,
Dardan and Trojan, bitter tears shall wipe, 135
And groan in anguish; then shall all men know
How long I have been absent from the field ;
Then, though thou love me, seek not from the war
To stay my steps; for bootless were thy speech.”
Whom answer’d thus the silver-footed Queen: 140
“True are thy words, my son; and good it is,
And commendable, from the stroke of death
To save a worsted comrade; but thine arms,
Thy brazen, flashing arms, the Trojans hold :
206 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVIII.
Them Hector of the glancing helm himself 145
Bears on his breast, exulting; yet not long
Shall be his triumph, for his doom is nigh.
But thou, engage not in the toils of war,
Until thine eyes again behold me here ;
For with to-morrow’s sun will I return 150
With arms of heavnly mould, by Vulcan wrought.”
Thus saying, from her son she turn’d away,
And turning, to her sister Nereids spoke:
“ Back to the spacious bosom of the deep
Retire ye now; and to my father’s house, 155
The aged Ocean God, your tidings bear ;
While I to high Olympus speed, to crave
At Vulean’s hand, the skill’d artificer,
A boon of dazzling armour for my son.”
She said; and they beneath the ocean wave 160
Descended, while to high Olympus sped
The silver-footed Goddess, thence in hope
To bear the dazzling armour to her son.
She to Olympus sped; the Greeks meanwhile
Before the warrior-slayer Hector fled 165
With wild, tumultuous uproar, till they reach’d
Book XVIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 207
Their vessels and the shore of Hellespont.
Nor had the well-greav’d Greeks Achilles’ friend,
Patroclus, from amid the fray withdrawn ;
For close upon him followd horse and man, 170
And Hector, son of Priam, fierce as flame ;
Thrice noble Hector, seizing from behind,
Sought by the feet to drag away the dead,
Cheering his friends; thrice, clad in warlike might,
σι
The two Ajaces drove him from his prey. 17
Yet, fearless in his strength, now rushing on
He dash’d amid the fray; now, shouting loud,
Stood firm; but backward not a step retir’d.
As from a carcase herdsmen strive in vain
To scare a tawny lion, hunger-pinch’d ; 180
Eyn so th’ Ajaces, mail-clad warriors, fail’d
The son of Priam from the corpse to scare.
And now the body had he borne away,
With endless fame; but from Olympus’ height
Came storm-swift Iris down to Peleus’ son, 185
And bade him don his arms; by Juno sent,
Unknown to Jove, and to th’ Immortals all.
She stood beside him, and address’d him thus:
208 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVIII.
“Up, son of Peleus! up, thou prince of men!
Haste to Patroclus’ rescue; whom around,
Before the ships, is wag’d a fearful war,
With mutual slaughter; these the dead defending,
And those to Ilium’s breezy heights intent
To bear the body; noble Hector chief,
Who longs to sever from the tender neck,
And fix upon the ‘spikes, thy comrade’s head.
Up then! delay no longer; deem it shame
Patroclus’ corpse should glut the dogs of Troy,
Dishon’ring thee, if aught dishonour him.”
Whom answer’d thus Achilles, swift of foot:
“Say, heavnly Ivis, of th’ immortal Gods
Who bade thee seek me, and this message bring ?”
To whom swift Ins thus: “'To thee I come
By Juno sent, th’ imperial wife of Jove;
Unknown to Saturn’s son, and all the Gods
Who on Olympus’ snowy summit dwell.”
To whom again Achilles, swift of foot:
“ How in the battle toil can I engage ?
My arms are with the Trojans; and to boot
My mother warn’d me not to arm for fight,
190
200
Boox XVIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. ᾿ 209
Till I again should see her; for she hop’d
To bring me heawnly arms by Vulean wrought:
Nor know I well whose armour I could wear,
Save the broad shield of Ajax Telamon ;
And he, methinks, amid the foremost ranks 215
Kvn now is fighting o’er Patroclus’ corpse.”
Whom answer’d storm-swift Iris: “ Well we know
Thy glorious arms are by the Trojans held ;
But go thou forth, and from above the ditch
Appear before them; daunted at the sight, 220
Haply the Trojans may forsake the field,
And breathing-time afford the sons of Greece,
Toil-worn; for little pause has yet been theirs,”
Swift Iris said, and vanish’d; then uprose
Achilles, dear to Jove; and Pallas threw 225
Her tassell’d eegis o’er his shoulders broad ;
His head encircling with a coronet
Of golden cloud, whence fiery flashes gleam’d.
As from an island city up to Heav’n
The smoke ascends, which hostile forees round 230
Beleaguer, and all day with cruel war
From its own state cut off; but when the sun
VOL. II. EP
210 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVIII.
Hath set, blaze frequent forth the beacon fires ;
High rise the flames, and to the dwellers round
Their signal flash, if haply o’er the sea 235
May come the needful aid; so brightly flash’d
That fiery light around Achilles’ head.
He left the wall, and stood above the ditch,
But from the Greeks apart, rememb’ring well
His mother’s prudent counsel; there he stood, 240
And shouted loudly ; Pallas join’d her voice,
And fill’d with terror all the Trojan host.
Clear as the trumpet’s sound, which calls to arms
Some town, encompass’ round with hostile bands,
Rang out the voice of great Aacides. 245
But when Achilles’ voice of brass they heard,
They quail’d in spirit; the sleck-skinn’d steeds themselves,
Conscious of coming ill, bore back the cars:
Their charioteers, dismay’d, beheld the flame
Which, kindled by the blue-ey’d Goddess, blaz’d 250
Unquench’d around the head of Peleus’ son.
Thrice shouted from the ditch the godlike chief;
Thrice terror struck both Trojans and Allies;
And there and then beside their chariots fell
Boox XVIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 211
Twelve of their bravest; while the Greeks, well pleas’d, 255
Patroclus’ body from the fray withdrew,
And on a litter laid; around him stood
His comrades, mourning ; with them, Peleus’ son,
Shedding hot tears, as on his friend he gaz‘d,
Laid on the bier, and piere’d with deadly wounds: 2600
Him to the war with horses and with cars
He sent; but ne’er to welcome his return.
By stag-ey’d Juno sent, reluctant sank
Th’ unwearied sun beneath the ocean wave ;
The sun had set, and breath’d awhile the Greeks 265
From the fierce labours of the balane’d field ;
Nor less the Trojans, from the stubborn fight
Retiring, from the chariots loos’d their steeds:
But ere they shar’d the ewning meal, they met
In council; all stood up; none dar’d to sit; 270
For fear had fall’n on all, when reappear’d
Achilles, from the battle long withdrawn.
First Panthéus’ son, the sage Polydamas,
Address’d th’ assembly ; his sagacious mind
Alone beheld the future and the past ; 275
The friend of Hector, born the selfsame night;
p 2
212 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XVIII.
One in debate, the other best in arms;
Who thus with prudent speech began, and said:
“ Be well advis'd, my friends! my counsel is
That we regain the city, nor the morn
Here in,the plain, beside the ships, await,
So far remov’d from our protecting walls.
While fiercely burn’d ’gainst Atreus’ godlike son
That mighty warrior’s wrath, ’twas easier far
With th’ other Greeks to deal; and I rejoic’d
When by the ships we pass‘ the night, in hopes
We soon might call them ours; but now, I own,
Achilles, swift of foot, excites my fear.
His proud, impetuous spirit will spurn the plain,
Where Greeks and Trojans oft in warlike strife
Their balane’d strength exert; if he come forth,
Our fight will be to guard our homes and wives.
Gain we the city; trust me, so ’twere best.
Now, for a while, ambrosial night detains
The son of Peleus; but at early morn
If issuing forth in arms he find us here,
His prowess we shall know; and happy he
Who, flying, shall in safety reach the walls
280
285
295
Boox XVIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 213
Of sacred Troy; for many a ‘lrojan slain
Shall feed the vultures: Heav’n avert such fate! 300
But if, though loth, ye will by me be rul’d,
This night in council husband we our strength ;
While tow’rs, and lofty gates, and folding doors
Close join’d, well-fitting, shall our city guard:
Then issuing forth in arms at early morn 305
Man we the towrs; so harder were his task
If, from the ships advancing, round the wall
He offer battle; bootless to return,
His strong-neck’d horses worn with labour vain
In coursing, purposeless, around the town. 310
To force an entrance, or the town destroy,
Is not his aim; and ere that end be gain’d,
The dogs of Troy upon his flesh shall feed.”
To whom thus Hector of the glancing helm
With stern regard: “ Polydamas, thy words 315
Are such as grate unkindly on mine ear,
Who fain wouldst have us to the walls retire.
What? have ye not already long enough
Been coop’d within the towrs? the wealth of Troy,
Its brass, its gold, were once the common theme 320
Ve
214 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVIII.
Of ev'ry tongue; our hoarded treasures now
Are gone, to Phrygian and Meonian shores
For sale exported. costly merchandise,
Since on our city fell the wrath of Jove.
And now, when deep-designing Saturn’s son 325
Such glory gives me as to gain the ships,
And, crowded by the sea, hem in the Greeks,
Fool! put not thou these timid counsels forth,
Which none will follow, nor will I allow.
But hear ye all, and do as I advise: 330
Share now the meal, by ranks, throughout the host;
Then set your watch, and each keep careful guard;
And whom his spoils o’erload, if such there be,
Let him divide them with the gen’ral crowd ;
Better that they should hold them than the Greeks: 886
And with the morn, in arms, beside the ships,
Will we again awake the furious war.
But if indeed Achilles by the ships
Hath reappear’d, himself, if so he choose,
Shall be the suff’rer; from the perilous strife 840
I will not shrink, but his encounter meet:
So he, or I, shall gain immortal fame ;
Boox XVIII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Impartial Mars hath oft the slayer slain.”
Thus Hector spoke; the Trojans cheer’d aloud:
Fools, and by Pallas of their sense bereft,
Who all applauded Hector’s ill advice,
None the sage counsel of Polydamas!
215
Then through the camp they shar'd the evning meal.
Meantime the Greeks all night with tears and groans
Bewail’d Patroclus: on his comrade’s breast
Achilles laid his murder-dealing hands,
And led with bitter groans the loud lament.
As when the hunters, in the forest's depth,
Have robb’d a bearded lion of his eubs;
Too late arriving, he with anger chafes;
Then follows, if perchance he may o’ertake,
Through many a mountain glen, the hunters’ steps,
With grief and fury fill’d; so Peleus’ son,
With bitter groans, the Myrmidons address’d :
“Vain was, alas! the promise which I gave,
Seeking the brave Mencetius to console,
To bring to Opus back his gallant son,
Rich with his share of spoil from ‘Troy o’erthrown ;
But Jove fulfils not all that man designs:
900
900
216 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVIII.
For us hath fate decreed, that here in Troy
We two one soil should redden with our blood;
Nor me, returning to my native land,
Shall aged Peleus in his halls receive,
Nor Thetis; here must earth retain my bones.
But since, Patroclus, I am doom’d on earth
Behind thee to remain, thy fun’ral rites
I will not celebrate, till Hector’s arms,
And head, thy haughty slayer’s, here I bring ;
And on thy pyre twelve noble sons of Troy
Will sacrifice, in vengeance of thy death.
Thou by our beakéd ships till then must lie;
And weeping o’er thee shall deep-bosom’d dames,
Trojan and Dardan, mourn both night and day ;
The prizes of our toil, when wealthy towns
Before our valour and our spears have fall’n.”
He said, and bade his comrades on the fire
An ample tripod place, without delay
To cleanse Patroclus from the bloody gore:
They on the burning fire the tripod plac’d,
With water fill’d, and kindled wood beneath.
Around the bellying tripod rose the flames,
365
370
375
380
Boox XVIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 217
Heating the bath; within the glitt’ring brass
Soon as the water boil’d, they wash’d the corpse,
With lissom oils anointing, and the wounds
With fragrant ointments fill’d, of nine years old; 390
Then in fine linen they the body wrapp’d
From head to feet, and laid it on a couch,
And ecover’d over with a fair white sheet.
All night around Achilles swift of foot
The Myrmidons with tears Patroclus mourn’d. 395
To Juno then, his sister and his wife,
Thus Saturn’s son: “At length thou hast thy will, _
Imperial Juno, who hast stirr’d to war
Achilles swift of foot; well might one deem
These long-hair’d Greeks from thee deriv’d their birth.” 400
To whom in answer thus the stag-ey’d Queen:
“What words, dread son of Saturn, dost thou speak ?
Eyn man, though mortal, and inferior far
To us in wisdom, might so much effect
Against his fellow-man; then how should I, 405
By double title chief of Goddesses,
First by my birth, and next because thy wite
I boast me, thine, o’er all the Gods supreme,
218 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVIIT.
Not work my vengeance on the Trojan race ?”
Such converse while they held, to Vulean’s house, 410
Immortal, starlike bright, among the Gods
Unrivall’d, all of brass, by Vulcan’s self
Constructed, sped the silver-footed Queen.
Him swelt’ring at his forge she found, intent
On forming twenty tripods, which should stand
The wall surrounding of his well-built house ;
With golden wheels beneath he furnish’d each,
And to th’ assembly of the Gods endued
With pow’ to move spontaneous, and return,
A marvel to behold! thus far his work
He had completed; but not yet had fix’d
The rich-wrought handles; these his labour now
Engag’d, to fit them, and to rivet fast.
While thus he exercis’d his practis’d skill,
The silver-footed Queen approach’d the house.
Charis, the skilful artist’s wedded wife,
Beheld her coming, and advane’d to meet;
And, as her hand she clasp’d, address’d her thus:
“Say, Thetis of the flowing robe, belov’d
And honour’d, whence this visit to our house,
415
420
430
Boox XVIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 219
An unaccustom’d guest ? but come thou in,
That I may welcome thee with honour due.”
Thus, as she spoke, the Goddess led her in,
And on a seat with silver studs adorn’d,
Fair, richly wrought, a footstool at her feet, 435
She bade her sit; then thus to Vulcan call’d:
“Haste hither, Vulcan; Thetis asks thine -aid.”
Whom answer’d thus the skilld artificer:
“An honour’d and a venerated guest
Our house contains; who sav’d me once from woe, 440
When by my mother’s act from Heav’n I fell,
Who, for that I was crippled in my feet,
Deem’d it not shame to hide me; bard had then
My fortune been, had not Hurynome
And Thetis in their bosoms shelter’d me ; 445
Eurynome, from old Oceanus
Who drew her birth, the ever-circling flood.
Nine years with them I dwelt, and many a work
I fashion’d there of metal, clasps, and chains
Of spiral coil, rich cups, and collars fair, 450
Hid in a cave profound; where th’ ocean stream
With ceaseless murmur foam’d and moan’d around ;
220 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XVIII.
Unknown to God or man, but to those two
Who say'd me, Thetis and Eurynome.
Now to my house hath fair-hair’d Thetis come; 455
To her, my life preserv’d its tribute owes:
Then thou the hospitable rites perform,
While I my bellows and my tools lay by.”
He said, and from the anvil rear’d upright
His massive strength; and as he limp’d along, 460
His tott’rmg knees were bow’d beneath his weight.
The bellows from the fire he next withdrew,
And in a silver casket plac’d his tools;
Then with a sponge his brows and lusty arms
He wip’d, and sturdy neck and hairy chest. 465
He donn’d his robe, and took his weighty staff;
Then through the door with halting step he passd ;
There waited on their King th’ attendant maids;
In form as living maids, but wrought in gold;
Instinct with consciousness, with voice endued, 470
And strength, and skill from heaynly teachers drawn.
These ‘waited, duteous, at the Monarch’s side,
His steps supporting ; he, with halting gait,
Pass'd to a gorgeous chair by Thetis’ side,
Boox XVIII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
And, as her hand he clasp’d, address’d her thus:
“Say, Thetis of the flowing robe, belov’d
And honour’d, whence this visit to our house,
An unaccustom’d guest ? say what thy will,
And, if within my pow’, esteem it done.”
To whom in answer Thetis, weeping, thus:
“Vulcan, of all the Goddesses who dwell
On high Olympus, lives there one whose soul
Hath borne such weight of woe, so many griefs,
As Saturn’s son hath heap’d on me alone?
Me, whom he chose from all the sea-born nymphs,
And gave to Peleus, son of AMacus,
His subject; I endur’d a mortal’s bed,
Though sore against my will; he now, bent down
By feeble age, lies helpless in his house.
Now adds he farther grief; he granted me
To bear, and rear, a son, of heroes chief;
Like a young tree he throve; I tended him,
In a rich vineyard as the choicest plant:
Till in the beakéd ships I sent him forth
To war with Troy; him ne’er shall I behold,
Returning home, in aged Peleus’ house.
475
480
485
490
495
222 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XVITI.
Evn while he lives, and sees the light of day,
He lives in sorrow; nor, to soothe his grief,
My presence can avail; a girl, his prize,
Selected for him by the sons of Greece, 500
Great Agamemnon wrested from his arms:
In grief and rage he pin’d his soul away ;
Then by the Trojans were the Greeks hemm’d in
Beside their ships, and from within their camp
No outlet found; the Grecian Elders then 505
Implor’d his aid, and promis costly gifts.
With his own hand to save them he refus’d ;
But, in his armour clad, to battle sent
His friend Patroclus, with a num’rous band.
All day they fought before the Scean gates ; 510
And in that day had Ilium been destroy’d,
But in the van, Mencetius’ noble son,
After great deeds achiev’d, Apollo slew,
And crown’d with glory Hector, Priam’s son.
Therefore a suppliant to thy knees I come,
σι
μαι
σι
If to my son, to early death condemn’d,
Thou wilt accord the boon of shield and helm,
And well-wrought greaves with silver clasps secur’d,
Boox XVIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 223
And breastplate ; for his own, his faithful friend,
bo
By Trojan hands subdued, hath lost; and he, 520
O’erwhelm’d with grief, lies prostrate on the earth.”
Whom answer’d thus the skill’d artificer :
“Take comfort, nor let this disturb thy mind ;
Would that as surely, when his hour shall come,
I could defend him from the stroke of death, 525
As I can promise that he shall possess
Such arms as they shall marvel who behold.”
He left her thus, and to his forge return’d;
The bellows then directing to the fire,
He bade them work; through twenty pipes at once — 530
Forthwith they pour’d their diverse-temper’d blasts ;
Now briskly seconding his eager haste,
Now at his will, and as the work requir’d.
The stubborn brass, and tin, and precious gold,
Ε 3 ἘΣ
σι
And silver, first he melted in the fire;
σι
Then on its stand his weighty anvil plae’d;
And with one hand the hammer’s pond’rous weight
He wielded, while the other grasp’d the tongs.
And first a shield he fashion’d, vast and strong,
With rich adornment; circled with a rim, 540
224 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVIII.
Threefold, bright-gleaming, whence a silver belt
Depended ; of five folds the shield was form’d ;
And on its surface many a rare design
Of curious art his practis’d skill had wrought.
Thereon were figur’d earth, and sky, and sea, 545
The ever-circling sun, and full-orb’d moon,
And all the signs that crown the vault of Heavn;
Pleiads and Hyads, and Orion’s might,
And Arctos, call’d the Wain, who wheels on high
His circling course, and on Orion waits; 550
Sole star that never bathes in th’ ocean wave.
And two fair populous towns were sculptur’d there:
In one were marriage pomp and revelry,
And brides, in gay procession, through the streets
With blazing torches from their chambers borne,
ὧι
or
or
While frequent rose the hymeneal song.
Youths whirl’d around in joyous dance, with sound
Of flute and harp; and, standing at their doors,
Admiring women on the pageant gaz’d.
Meanwhile a busy throng the forum fill’d: 560
There between two a fierce contention rose,
About a death-fine ; to the public one
Boox XVIII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Appeal’d, asserting to have paid the whole ;
While one denied that he had aught receiv’d.
Both were desirous that before the Judge
The issue should be tried; with noisy shouts
Their sev’ral partisans encourag’d each.
The heralds still’d the tumult of the crowd:
On polish’d chairs, in solemn circle, sat
The rev’rend Elders; in their hands they held
The loud-voie'd heralds’ sceptres; waving these,
They heard th’ alternate pleadings; in the midst
Two talents lay of gold, which he should take
Who should before them prove his righteous cause.
Before the second town two armies lay,
In arms refulgent ; to destroy the town
Th’ assailants threaten’d, or among themselves
Of all the wealth within the city stor’d
An equal half, as ransom, to divide.
The terms rejecting, the defenders mann’d
A secret ambush; on the walls they plac’d
Women and children muster’d for defence,
And men by age enfeebled; forth they went,
By Mars and Pallas led; these, wrought in gold,
ὙΘΙ nr: Q
225
565
570
575
226 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVIII.
In golden arms array’d, above the crowd
For beauty and stature, as befitting Gods,
Conspicuous shone ; of lesser height the rest.
But when the destin’d ambuscade was reach’d,
Beside the river, where the shepherds drove
Their flocks and herds to water, down they lay,
In glitt’rmg arms accoutred; and apart
They plac’d two spies, to notify betimes
Th’ approach of flocks of sheep and lowing herds.
These, in two shepherds’ charge, ere long appear’d,
Who, unsuspecting as they moyd along,
Enjoy’ the music of their past’ral pipes.
They on the booty, from afar discerm’d,
Sprang from their ambuscade ; and cutting off
The herds, and fleecy fiocks, their guardians slew.
Their comrades heard the tumult, where they sat
Before their sacred altars, and forthwith
Sprang on their cars, and with fast-stepping steeds
Pursued the plund’rers, and o’ertook them soon.
There on the river’s bank they met in arms,
And each at other hurl’d their brazen spears.
And there were figur’d Strife, and Tumult wild,
600
Boor XVIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 227
And deadly Fate, who in her iron grasp
One newly-wounded, one unwounded bore,
While by the feet from out the press she drage’d
Another slain: about her shoulders hung 610
A garment crimson’d with the blood of men.
Like living men they seem’d to move, to fight,
To drag away the bodies of the slain.
And there was grav’n a wide-extended plain
Of fallow land, rich, fertile, mellow soil, 615
Thrice plough’d; where many ploughmen up and down
Their teams were driving; and as each attain’d
The limit of the field, would one advance,
And tender him a cup of gen’rous wine:
Then would he turn, and to the end again 620
Along the furrow cheerly drive his plough.
And still behind them darker show the soil,
The true presentment of a new-plough’d field,
Though wrought in gold; a miracle of art.
There too was gravn a corn-field, rich in grain, 62
οι
Where with sharp sickles reapers plied their task ;
The binders, following close, the bundles tied:
Three were the binders; and behind them boys
Q 2
228 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVIII.
In close attendance waiting, in their arms
Gather'd the bundles, and in order pild.
Amid them, staff in hand, in silence stood
The King, rejoicing in the plenteous swathe.
A little way remov’d, the heralds slew
A sturdy ox, and now beneath an oak
Prepar’d the feast; while women mix’d, hard by,
White barley porridge for the lab’rers’ meal.
And, with rich clusters laden, there was grav’n
A vineyard fair, all gold; of glossy black
The bunches were, on silver poles sustain’d ;
Around, a darksome trench; beyond, a fence
Was wrought, of shining tin; and through it led
One only path, by which the bearers pass’d,
Who gather’d in the vineyard’s bounteous store.
There maids and youths, in joyous spirits bright,
In woven baskets bore the luscious fruit.
A boy, amid them, from a clear-ton’d harp
Drew lovely music; well his liquid voice
The strings accompanied; they all with dance
And song harmonious join’d, and joyous shouts,
As the gay bevy lightly tripp’d along.
630
635
640
645
650
Booz XVIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 229
Of straight-horn’d cattle too a herd was gravn;
Of gold and tin the heifers all were wrought :
They to the pasture, from the cattle-yard,
With gentle lowings, by a babbling stream,
Where quivring reed-beds rustled, slowly mov’d. 655
Four golden shepherds walk’d beside the herd,
By nine swift dogs attended; then amid
The foremost heifers sprang two lions fierce
Upon the lordly bull: he, bellowing loud,
Was drage’d along, by dogs and youths pursued. 660
The tough bull’s-hide they tore, and gorging lapp’d
Th’ intestines and dark blood; with vain attempt
The herdsmen following closely, to th’ attack
Cheer’d their swift dogs; these shunn’d the lions’ jaws,
And close around them baying, held aloof. 665
And there the skilful artist’s hand had trac’d
A pasture broad, with fleecy flocks o’erspread,
In a fair glade, with fold, and tents, and pens.
There, too, the skilful artist's hand had wrought,
With curious workmanship, a mazy dance, 670
Like that which Deedalus in Cnossus erst
At fair-hair’'d Ariadne’s bidding fram’d.
230 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XVIII.
There, laying each on other’s wrists their hand,
Bright youths and many-suitor’d maidens dane’d:
In fair white linen these; in tunics those, 675
Well woven, shining soft with fragrant oils;
These with fair coronets were crown’d, while those
With golden swords from silver belts were girt.
Now whirl’d they round with nimble practis’d feet,
Easy, as when a potter, seated, turns 680
A wheel, new fashion’d by his skilful hand,
And spins it round, to prove if true it run:
Now featly mov’d in well-beseeming ranks.
A num’rous crowd, around, the lovely dance
Survey’d, delighted; while with measur’d chant 685
Two tumblers, in the midst, were whirling round.
About the margin of the massive shield
Was wrought the mighty strength of th’ ocean stream.
The shield completed, vast and strong, he forg’d
A breastplate, dazzling bright as flame of fire ; 690
And next, a weighty helmet for his head,
Fair, richly wrought, with crest of gold above ;
Then last, well-fitting greaves of pliant tin.
The skill’d artificer his works complete
Boox XVIII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Before Achilles’ Goddess-mother laid :
She, like a falcon, from the snow-clad heights
Of huge Olympus, darted swiftly down,
Charg’d with the glitt’ring arms by Vulcan wrought.
231
695
698
232 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIX.
BOOK XIX.
vee morn in saffron robe, from th’ ocean stream
Ascending, light diffus’d o'er Gods and men;
As Thetis, to the ships returning, bore
The gift of Vulean; there her son she found,
οι
Who oer Patroclus hung in bitter grief;
Around him mourn’d his comrades; in the midst
She stood, and clasp’d his hand, as thus she spoke :
“Leave we, my son, though deep our grief, the dead ;
Here let him lie, since Heav’n hath doom’d his fall ;
But thou these arms receive, by Vulcan sent, 10
Fairer than e’er on mortal breast were borne.”
The arms before Achilles, as she spoke,
The Goddess laid; loud rang the wondrous work.
With awe the Myrmidons beheld; nor dar’d
Affront the sight: but as Achilles gaz’d, 15
More fiery burn’d his wrath; beneath his brows
His eyes like lightning flash’d; with fierce delight
Boox XIX. HOMER’S ILIAD.
He seiz’'d the glorious gift; and when his soul
Had feasted on the miracle of art,
To Thetis thus his winged words address’d :
“Mother, the God hath giv’n me arms indeed,
Worthy a God, and such as mortal man
Could never forge; I go to arm me straight;
Yet fear I for Mencetius’ noble son,
Lest in his spear-inflicted wounds the flies
May gender worms, and desecrate the dead,
And, life extinct, corruption reach his flesh.”
Whom answer’d thus the silver-footed Queen:
“Let not such fears, my son, disturb thy mind;
I will myself the swarms of flies disperse,
That on the flesh of slaughter’d warriors prey ;
And should he here remain a year complete,
Still should his flesh be firm and fresh as now:
But thou to council call the chiefs of Greece ;
Against the monarch Agamemnon there,
The leader of the host, abjure thy wrath;
Then arm thee quickly, and put on thy might.”
Her words with dauntless courage fill’d his breast.
She in Patroclus’ nostrils, to preserve
20
bo
σι
234 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIX.
His flesh, red nectar and ambrosia pour’d.
Along the ocean beach Achilles pass’d,
And loudly shouting, call’d on all the chiefs ;
Then all who heretofore remain’d on board,
The steersmen, who the vessels’ rudders hold,
The very stewards that seryd the daily bread,
All to th’ assembly throng’d, when reappear’d
Achilles, from the fight so long withdrawn.
Two noble chiefs, two ministers of Mars,
Ulysses sage, and valiant Diomed,
Appear’d, yet crippled by their grievous wounds,
Their halting steps supporting with their spears,
And on the foremost seats their places took.
Next followd Agamemnon, King of men,
He also wounded; for Antenor’s son,
Codon, had stabb’d him in the stubborn fight.
When all the Greeks were closely throng’d around,
Up rose Achilles swift of foot, and said:
“Great son of Atreus, what hath been the gain
To thee or me, since heart-consuming strife
Hath fiercely rag’d between us, for a girl,
Who would to Heavn had died by Dian’s shafts
40
50
55
60
Boox XIX. HOMER’S ILIAD. 235
That day when from Lyrnessus’ captur’d town
I bore her off? so had not many a Greek
Bitten the bloody dust, by hostile hands
Subdued, while I in anger stood aloof. 65
Great was the gain to Troy; but Greeks, methinks,
Will long retain the mem’ry of our feud.
Yet pass we that; and though our hearts be sore,
Still let us school our angry spirits down.
My wrath I here abjure; it is not meet 70
It burn for ever unappeas'd; do thou
Muster to battle straight the long-hair’d Greeks ;
That, to the Trojans once again opposd,
I may make trial if beside the ships
τὰ
σι
They dare this night remain; but he, I ween,
Will gladly rest his limbs, who safe shall fly,
My spear escaping, from the battle field.”
He said: the well-greay’d Greeks rejoic'd to hear
His wrath abjur’d by Peleus’ godlike son;
And from his seat, not standing in the midst, 80
Thus to th’ assembly Agamemnon spoke:
“Friends, Grecian Heroes, Ministers of Mars,
When one stands up to speak, ‘tis meet for all
236 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIX.
To lend a patient ear, nor interrupt;
For evn to practisd speakers hard the task : 85
But, in this vast assembly, who can speak
That all may hear? the clearest voice must fail.
To Peleus’ son, Achiiles, I my mind
Will frankly open; ye among yourselves
Impart the words I speak, that all may know. 90
Oft hath this matter been by Greeks discuss’d,
And I their frequent censure have incurr’d:
Yet was not I the cause; but Jove, and Fate,
And gloomy Erinnys, who combin’d to throw
A strong delusion o’er my mind, that day 95
I robb’d Achilles of his lawful prize.
What could I do? a Goddess all o’er-rul’d,
Daughter of Jove, dread Até, baleful pow’r,
Misleading all; with lightest step she moves,
Not on the earth, but oer the heads of men, 100
With blighting touch; and many hath caus‘d to err.
Ev’n Jove, the wisest deem’d of Gods and men,
In errors she involy’d, when Juno’s art
By female stratagem the God deceiv’d,
When in well-girdled Thebes Alemena lay 105
Boox XTX. HOMER’S ILIAD. 237
In travail of the might of Hercules.
In boastful tone amid the Gods he spoke:
‘Hear all ye Gods, and all ye Goddesses,
The words I speak, the promptings of my soul.
This day Lucina shall to light bring forth 110
A child, the future Lord of all around,
Of mortal men, who trace to me their blood.
Whom answer’d Juno thus, with deep deceit:
‘Thou dost but feign, nor wilt fulfil thy word:
Come now, Olympian, swear a solemn oath 115
That he shall be the Lord of all around,
Who on this day shall be of woman born,
Of mortal men, who trace to thee their blood.’
She said, and Jove, the snare unseeing, swore
A solemn oath; but found his error soon. 120
Down from Olympus’ height she sped in haste
To Argos of Achaia; for the wife
Of Sthenelus, the son of Perseus, there,
She knew, was sevn months pregnant of a son;
Whom, though untimely born, she brought to light, 125
Staying meanwhile Alcmena’s labour-pangs.
To Saturn’s son herself the tidings brought,
238 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIX.
And thus address’d him: ‘Jove, the lightning’s Lord,
I bring thee news; this day a mighty man,
By thee ordain’d to be the Argives’ King,
Is born, Eurystheus, son of Sthenelus,
The son of Perseus, issue of thy blood ;
Well worthy he to be the Argives’ King,
She said: keen sorrow deeply pierc’d his soul ;
Then Até by the glossy locks he seiz’d
In mighty wrath; and swore a solemn oath,
That to Olympus and the starry Heav’n
She never should return, who all misleads.
His arm then whirling, from the starry Heay’n
He flung her down, to vex th’ affairs of men.
Yet oft her fraud remember’d he with groans,
When by Eurystheus’ hard commands he saw
Condemn’d to servile tasks his noble son.
“So, oft as Hector of the glancing helm
Beside the ships the Greeks to slaughter gave,
Back to my mind my former error came.
I err’d, for Jove my judgment took away ;
But friendly reconcilement now I seek,
And tender costly presents; then thyself
130
140
145
Boox XIX. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Uprouse thee, and excite the rest to arms.
While I prepare the gifts, whate’er of late*
The sage Ulysses promis’d in thy tent:
Or, if thou wilt, though eager for the fray,
Remain thou here awhile, till from my ship
I make my off’rings with no niggard hand.”
“Most mighty (See King of men,
The gifts thou deem’st befitting, ’tis for thee
To give, or to withhold; but now at once
Prepare we for the battle; ‘tis not meet
On trivial pretexts here to waste our time,
Or idly loiter; much remains to do:
Again be seen Achilles in the van,
239
150
My followers bring the gifts; that thou mayst see 155
Whom answer’d thus Achilles swift of foot :
160
165
Scatt’ring with brazen spear the Trojan ranks ;
And ye, forget not man with man to fight.”
To whom in answer sage Ulysses thus:
* L. 151. Χθιζὸς, yesterday. But either the word must have a more
extended signification than is usually given to it, or Homer must here have
fallen into an error; for two complete nights, and one day, that on which
Patroclus met his death, had intervened since the visit of Ajax and Ulysses
to the tent of Achilles. See also 1. 215.
240 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIX.
“Brave as thou art, Achilles, godlike chief,
Yet fasting lead not forth the sons of Greece
To fight the Trojans; for no little time
Will last the struggle, when the serried ranks
Are once engag’d in conflict, and the Gods
With equal courage either side inspire:
But bid them, by the ships, of food and wine
(Wherein are strength and courage) first partake ;
For none throughout the day till set of sun,
Fasting from food, may bear the toils of war;
His spirit may still be eager for the fray ;
Yet are his limbs by slow degrees weigh’d down,
Himself by thirst and hunger worn, his knees
Unable, as he moves, to bear his weight.
But he who, first with food and wine refresh’d,
All day maintains the combat with the foe,
His spirit retains unbroken, and his limbs
Unwearied, till both armies quit the field.
Disperse then now the crowd, and bid prepare
The morning meal; meantime to public view
Let Agamemnon, King of men, display
His costly gifts; that all the Greeks may see,
170
180
es ae ee
a
Book XIX. HOMER’S ILIAD.
And that thy heart within thee melt with joy:
And there in full assembly let him swear
A solemn oath, that he hath ne’er approach’d
The fair Briseis’ bed, nor held with her
Such intercourse as man with woman holds.
Be thou propitious, and accept his oath.
Then at a sumptuous banquet in his tent
Let him receive thee; that thine honour due
May nothing be and so, Atrides, thou
Shalt stand in sight of all men clear of blame;
For none can wonder that insulting speech
Should rouse the anger of a sceptred King.”
To whom thus Agamemnon, King of men:
“Son of Laertes, I accept thy speech
With cordial welcome: all that thou hast said
Is well and wisely spoken; for the oath,
I am prepar’d, with willing mind, to swear;
Nor in the sight of Heav’n will be forsworn.
Let then Achilles here awhile remain,
Though eager for the fray; ye too remain,
Until the presents from my tent be brought,
And we our solemn compact ratify.
VOL. τ:
241
190
200
205
210
242 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIX.
Then this command upon thyself I lay :
That thou the noblest youths of all the Greeks
Select, and bid them from my vessel bear
The gifts, which to Achilles yesternight
We promisd, and withal the women bring;
And let Talthybius through the host seek out
A boar, for sacrifice to Jove and Sol.”
Whom answer’d thus Achilles swift of foot:
“Most mighty Agamemnon, King of men,
These matters to some future time were best
Deferr’d, some hour of respite from the fight,
Of rage less fiercely burning in my breast;
But slaughter’d now they lie, whom Priam’s son,
Hector, hath slain, by Jove to vict’ry led.
Ye bid us take our food; if I might rule,
I would to battle lead the sons of Greece,
Unfed, and fasting; and at set of sun,
Our shame aveng’d, an ample feast prepare ;
Till then, nor food nor drink shall pass my lips,
My comrade slain; who pierc’d with mortal wounds,
Turn’d tow’rd the doorway, lies within my tent,
His mourning friends around; while there he lies,
215
220
Book XTX. HOMER’S ILIAD. 243
No thought have I for these or aught beside,
Save carnage, blood, and groans of dying men.” 235
To whom Ulysses, sage in council, thus:
“QO son of Peleus, noblest of the Greeks,
How far, Achilles, thou surpassest me
In deeds of arms, I know; but thou must yield
To me in counsel, for my years are more, 240
And my experience greater far than thine:
Then to my words incline a patient ear.
Men soonest weary of battle, where the sword
The bloodiest harvest reaps; the lightest crop
Of slaughter is where Jove inclines the scale, 245
Dispenser, at his will, of human wars.
The Greeks by fasting cannot mourn their dead ;
For day by day successive numbers fall ;
Where were the respite then from ceaseless fast ?
Behoves us bury out of sight our dead, 250
Steeling our hearts, and weeping but a day ;
And we, the rest, whom cruel war hath spar’d,
Should first with food and wine recruit our strength ;
Then, girding on our arms, the livelong day
LS)
Or
or
Maintain the war, unwearied; then let none
R 2
244 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boor XIX.
‘
Require a farther summons to the field;
(And woe to him who loit’ring by the ships
That summons hears;) but with united force
Against the Trojans wake the furious war.”
He said, and ecall’d on noble Nestor’s sons, 260
On Melanippus, and Meriones,
Thoas, and Lycomedes, Creon’s son,
And Meges, Phyleus’ son; with these he sought
The mighty monarch Agamemnon’s tent.
Soon as the word was giv’n, the work was done; 265
Sev’n tripods brought they out, the promis’d gifts;
Twelve horses, twenty caldrons glitt’ring bright ;
Sev’n beauteous women, skill’d in household cares,
With whom, the eighth, the fair Briseis came.
Ulysses led the way, and with him brought 270
Ten talents full of gold; th’ attendant youths
The other presents bore, and in the midst
Display’d before th’ assembly: then uprose
The monarch Agamemnon; by his side,
With voice of godlike pow’r, Talthybius stood, 275
Holding the victim: then Atrides drew
The dagger, ever hanging at his side,
|
Boox XIX. HOMER’S ILIAD. 245
Close by the scabbard of his mighty sword,
And from the victim’s head the bristles shore.
With hands uplifted then to Jove he pray’d; 280
While all around the Greeks in silence stood,
List’ning, decorous, to the monarch’s words,
As looking up to Heavn he made his pray’r:
“Be witness, Jove, thou King of Gods, most high,
And Sun, and Earth, and ye who vengeance wreak 285
Beneath the earth on souls of men forsworn,
Furies! that never, or to love unchaste
Soliciting, or otherwise, my hand
Hath fair Briseis touch’d; but in my tent
Still pure and undefil’d hath she remain’d : 290
And if in this I be forsworn, may Heav’n
With all the plagues afflict me, due to those
Who sin by perjur’d oaths against the Gods.”
Thus as he spoke, across the victim’s throat
He drew the pitiless blade; Talthybius then 295
To Ocean’s hoary depths the carcase threw,
Food for the fishes; then Achilles rose,
And thus before th’ assembled Greeks he spoke:
“Ὁ Father Jove, how dost thou lead astray
246 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XIX.
Our human judgments! ne’er had Atreus’ son 300
My bosom fill’d with wrath, nor from my arms,
To his own loss, against my will had torn
The girl I lovd, but that the will of Jove
To death predestin’d many a valiant Greek.
Now to the meal; anon the war renew.” 305
This said, th’ assembly he dismiss’d in haste,
The crowd dispersing to their sev’ral ships;
Upon the gifts the warlike Myrmidons
Bestow'd their care, and bore them to the ships
Of Peleus’ godlike son; within the tent 310
They laid them down, and there the women plac’d,
While to the drove the followers led the steeds.
Briseis, fair as golden Venus, saw
Patroclus lying, piere’d with mortal wounds,
Within the tent; and with a bitter ery, 315
She flung her down upon the corpse, and tore
Her breast, her delicate neck, and beauteous cheeks;
And, weeping, thus the lovely woman wail’d:
“ Patroclus, dearly lov’d of this sad heart!
When last I left this tent, I left thee full 320
Of healthy life; returning now, I find
Boox XIX. HOMER’S ILIAD. 247
Only thy lifeless corpse, thou Prince of men!
So sorrow still, on sorrow heap’d, I bear.
The husband of my youth, to whom my sire
And honour’d mother gave me, I beheld 325
Slain with the sword before the city walls:
Three brothers, whom with me one mother bore,
My dearly-loy’d ones, all were doom’d to death:
Nor wouldst thou, when Achilles swift of foot
My husband i= and royal Mynes’ town 330
In ruin laid, allow my tears to flow;
But thou wouldst make me (such was still thy speech)
The wedded wife of Peleus’ godlike son:
Thou wouldst to Phthia bear me in thy ship,
And there, thyself, amid the Myrmidons, 335
Wouldst give my marriage feast; then, unconsol'd,
I weep thy death, my ever-gentle friend !”
Weeping, she spoke; the women join’d her wail :
Patroclus’ death the pretext for their tears,
But each in secret wept her private griefs. 340
Around Achilles throng’d the elder men,
Urging to eat; but he, with groans, refus’d:
“JT pray you, would you show your love, dear friends,
248 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIX.
Ask me not now with food or drink to appease
Hunger or thirst; a load of bitter grief
Weighs heavy on my soul; till set of sun
Fasting will I remain, and still endure.”
The other monarchs at his word withdrew :
The two Atridz, and Ulysses sage,
And Nestor and Idomeneus remain’d,
And aged Pheenix, to divert his grief;
But comfort none, save in the bloody jaws
Of battle would he take; by memry stirr’d,
He heav’d a deep-drawn sigh, as thus he spoke:
“How oft hast thou, ill-fated, dearest friend,
Here in this tent with eager zeal prepar’d
The tempting meal, whene’er the sons of Greece
In haste would arm them for the bloody fray !
Now liest thou there, while I, for love of thee,
From food and drink, before me plac’d, refrain:
For ne'er shall I again such sorrow know,
Not though I heard of aged Peleus’ death,
Who now in Phthia mourns, with tender tears,
His absent son; he on a foreign shore
Is warring in that hateful Helen’s cause :
845
900
365
Boor XIX. HOMER’S ILIAD.
No, nor of his, who now in Scyros’ isle
Is growing up, if yet indeed he live,
Young Neoptolemus, my godlike son.
My hope had been indeed, that here in Troy,
Far from the plains of Argos, I alone
Was doom’d to die; and that to Phthia thou,
Return’d in safety, mightst my son convey
From Scyros home, and show him all my wealth,
My spoils, my slaves, my lofty, spacious house.
For Peleus or to death, methinks, e’en now
Hath yielded, or, not far from death remov’d,
Lives on in sorrow, bowd by gloomy age,
Expecting day by day the messenger
Who bears the mournful tidings of my death.”
Weeping, Achilles spoke; and with him wept
The Elders; each to fond remembrance του ἡ
Of all that in his home himself had left.
The son of Saturn, pitying, saw their grief,
And Pallas thus with winged words address’d :
“My child, dost thou a hero’s cause forsake,
Or does Achilles claim no more thy care,
Who sits in sorrow by the high-prow’d ships,
585
250 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIX.
Mourning his comrade slain; nor tastes of food,
Wherewith the other Greeks their strength recruit ?
Then haste thee, and, with hunger lest he faint, 390
Drop nectar and ambrosia on his breast.”
His words fresh impulse gave to Pallas’ zeal :
Down, like the long-wing’d falcon, shrill of voice,
Through the clear sky she swoop’d: the Greeks she found
Arm’d for the fight; Achilles she approach’d, 895
And nectar and ambrosia on his breast
Distill’d, lest hunger should his strength subdue ;
Back to her mighty Father’s ample house
Returning, as from out the ships they pour’d.
Thick as the snow-flakes that from Heav’n descend, 400
Before the sky-born Boreas’ chilling blast ;
So thick, outpouring from the ships, the stream
Of helmets polish’d bright, and bossy shields,
And breastplates firmly brac’d, and ashen spears:
Their brightness flash’d to Heav’n; and laugh’d the Earth 405
Beneath the brazen glare; loud rang the tramp
Of arméd men: Achilles in the midst,
The godlike chief, in dazzling arms arrayd.
His teeth were gnashing audibly; his eye
Boox XIX. HOMER’S ILIAD. 251
Blaz’d with the light of fire; but in his heart 410
Was grief unbearable; with furious wrath
He burn’d against the Trojans, as he donn’d
The heav’nly gifts, the work of Vulcan’s hand.
First on his legs the well-wrought greaves he fix’d,
Fasten’d with silver clasps; his breastplate next 415
Around his chest; and o’er his shoulders flung
His silver-studded sword, with blade of brass ;
Then took his vast and weighty shield, whence gleam’d
A light refulgent as the full-orb’d moon; |
Or as to seamen o'er the wave is borne 420
The watchfire’s light, which, high among the hills,
Some shepherd kindles in his lonely fold:
As they, reluctant, by the stormy winds,
Far from their friends are oer the waters driv’n;
So from Achilles’ shield, bright, richly wrought, 4
bo
The light was thrown. The weighty helm he rais’d,
And plae’d it on his head; the plumed helm
Shone like a star; and παν the hairs of gold,
Thick-set by Vulcan in the gleaming crest.
Then all the arms Achilles prov’d, to know 430
If well they fitted to his graceful limbs :
bo
or
bo
HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XIX.
Like wings, they seem’d to lift him from the ground.
Last, from its case he drew his father’s spear,
Long, pond’rous, tough; not one of all the Greeks,
None, save Achilles’ self, could poise that spear ; 485
The far-fam’d Pelian ash, which to his sire,
On Pelion’s summit fell’d, to be the bane
Of mighty chiefs, the Centaur Chiron gave.
With care Automedon and Alcimus
The horses yok’d, with collars fair attach’d: 440
Placed in their mouths the bits, and pass’d the reins
Back to the well-built car: Automedon
Sprang on the car, with shining lash in hand:
Behind, Achilles came, array’d for war,
In arms all glitt’ring as the gorgeous sun, 446
And loudly to his father’s steeds he call’d:
“ Xanthus and Balius, noble progeny
Of swift Podarge, now in other sort
Back to the Grecian ranks in safety bear,
When he shall quit the field, your charioteer ; 450
Nor leave him, as ye left Patroclus, slain.”
To whom in answer from beneath the yoke
Xanthus, the noble horse, with glancing feet :
Boox XIX. HOMER’S ILIAD. 253
Bowing his head the while, till all his mane
Down from the yoke-band streaming, reach’d the ground ; 455
By Juno, white-arm’d Queen, with speech endued :
“Yes, great Achilles, we this day again
Will bear thee safely; but thy day of doom
Is nigh at hand; nor we shall cause thy death,
But Heayn’s high will, and Fate’s imperious powr. 460
By no default of ours, nor lack of speed,
The Trojans stripp’d Patroclus of his arms:
The mighty God, fair-hair’'d Latona’s son,
Achiev'd his death, and Hector’s vict’ry gain’d.
Our speed of foot may vie with Zephyr’s breeze, 465
Deem’d swiftest of the winds; but thou art doom’d
To die, by force combin’d of God and man.”
He said; his farther speech the Furies βίαν ἢ.
To whom in wrath Achilles swift of foot:
“ Xanthus, why thus predict my coming fate ? 470
It ill beseems thee! well I know myself
That I am fated here in Troy to die,
Far from my home and parents; yet withal
I cease not, till these Trojans from the field
Before me fly.” He said, and to the front, 47!
or
His war-cry shouting, urg’d his fiery steeds.
254 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XX.
BOOK XA.
| ae D thee, Achilles, eager for the fray,
Stood thus accoutred, by their beakéd ships,
The sons of Greece; the Trojan host, oppos’d,
Stood on the sloping margin of the plain.
Then Jove to Themis gave command to call 5
The Gods to council from the lofty height
Of many-ridg’d Olympus; to the house
Of Jove she summon’d them from ev’ry side.
Thence of the Rivers, save Oceanus,
Not one was absent; nor of Nymphs, who haunt 10
Clear fount, or shady grove, or grassy mead.
They, at the Cloud-compeller’s house arrivd,
Within the polish’d corridor reclin’d,
Which Vulcan’s cunning hand for Jove had built.
There were they gather’d in th’ abode of Jove: 15
Nor did th’ Earth-shaking Neptune slight the call,
But came from ocean’s depths, and in the midst
Boox XX. HOMER’S ILIAD.
bo
Or
cr
He sat, and thus the will of Jove enquir’d:
“Why, Lord of lightning, hast thou summon’d here
- The Gods to council? dost thou aught devise 20
Touching the Greeks and Trojans? who e’en now
Kindle anew, it seems, the blaze of war.”
To whom the Cloud-compeller, answring, thus:
“The purpose, Neptune, well thou know’st thyself
For which I call’d ye; true, they needs must die, 25
But still they claim my care; yet here will I
Upon Olympus’ lofty ridge remain,
And view, serene, the combat; you, the rest,
Go, as you list, to Trojans or to Greeks,
And at your pleasure either party aid. 30
For if we leave Achilles thus alone
To fight against the Trojans, not an hour
Will they before the son of Peleus stand.
They dreaded him before; but now, I fear,
Since rous’d to fury by his comrade’s death, 35
He evn in fate’s despite may storm the wall.”
Thus Saturn’s son, and quenchless battle rous‘d :
The Gods, divided, hasten’d to the war:
Juno and Pallas to the ships of Greece,
256 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XX-
With them th’ Earth-shaker, and the helpful God, 40
Hermes, for cunning subtleties unmatch’d ;
And Vulcan too, exulting in his strength,
Yet halting, and on feeble limbs sustain’d.
Mars of the glancing helm took part with Troy,
And golden Pheebus with his locks unshorn, 45
Latona too, and Dian, Archer-Queen,
Xanthus, and Venus, laughter-loving dame.
While from the fight of men the Gods abstain’d,
High rose the Grecian vaunts, as, long withdrawn,
Achilles on the field again appear’d ; 50
And ev'ry Trojan’s limbs with terror quak’d,
Trembling, as Peleus’ godlike son they saw,
In arms all-glitt’ring, fierce as blood-stain’d Mars.
But when th’ Immortals mingled in the throng,
Then furious wax’d the spirit-stirring strife ; 55
Then Pallas rais’d her war-ery, standing now
Beside the deep-dug trench, without the wall,
Now shouting loud along the sounding beach.
On th’ other side, as with the tempest’s roar,
Mars to the Trojans shouted loud; one while 60
From Ihum’s topmost height; anon again
Boor XX. HOMER’S ILIAD.
From the fair hill, oerhanging Simdis’ stream.
Thus, either side exciting to the fray,
Th’ immortal Gods unchain’d the angry war.
Thunder’d on high the Sire of Gods and men
With awful din; while Neptune shook beneath
The boundless earth, and lofty mountain tops.
The spring-abounding Ida quak’d and rock’d
From her firm basis to her loftiest peak,
And Troy’s proud city, and the ships of Greece.
Pluto, th’ infernal monarch, heard alarm’d,
And, springing from his throne, cried out in fear,
Lest Neptune, breaking through the solid earth,
To mortals and Immortals should lay bare
His dark and drear abode, of Gods abhorr’d.
Such was the shock when Gods in battle met;
For there to royal Neptune stood oppos’d
Pheebus Apollo with his arrows keen;
The blue-ey’d Pallas to the God of War;
To Juno, Dian, heavnly Archeress,
Sister of Phcebus, golden-shafted Queen.
Stout Hermes, helpful God, Latona fac’d ;
While Vulcan met the mighty rolling stream,
VOL, Il. 5
257
65
70
~l
Or
80
258 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XX.
Xanthus by Gods, by men Scamander call’d.
Thus Gods encounter’d Gods: Achilles’ soul
Meantime was burning ’mid the throng to meet
Hector, the son of Priam; with whose blood
He long’d to glut th’ insatiate Lord of War.
Apollo then, the spirit-stirring God,
/Mueas mov’d Achilles to confront,
And fill’d with courage high; and thus, the voice
Assuming of Lycaon, Priam’s son,
Apollo, son of Jove, the chief address’d:
“ Aineas, prince and councillor of Troy,
Where are the vaunts, which oer the wine-cup late
Thou mad’st amid th’ assembled chiefs of Troy,
That hand to hand thou wouldst Achilles meet ?”
To whom Afneas thus in answer spoke:
“Why, son of Priam, urge me to contend,
Against my will, with Peleus’ mighty son ?
Not for the first time should I now engage
Achilles swift of foot: I met him once,
And fled before his spear, on Ida’s hill,
When on our herds he fell; Lyrnessus then
He raz’d, and Pedasus; me Jove preservd,
90
95
100
Boor XX. HOMER’S ILIAD. 259
With strength endowing, and with speed of foot.
Else had I fall’n beneath Achilles’ hand,
By Pallas aided; who before him moves,
Light of his life, and guides his brazen spear
Trojans and Leleges alike to slay. 110
‘Tis not in mortal man with him to fight,
Whom still some God attends, and guards from harm ;
And, ev’n unaided, to the mark his spear
Unerring flies, uncheck’d until it pierce Ὁ
A warrior’s breast; yet if the Gods the scale 115
Impartial held, all brass-clad as he is,
O’er me no easy triumph should he gain.”
To whom the King Apollo, son of Jove:
“Brave chief, do thou too to th’ immortal Gods
Address thy pray’r; men say that thou art sprung 120
From Venus, child of Jove; his mother owns
A humbler origin; one born to Jove,
The other to the aged Ocean God.
On then with dauntless spear, nor be dismay’d
σι
By his high tone and vaunting menaces.” 12
His words with courage fill’d the hero’s breast,
And on he sprang, in dazzling arms array’d ;
5.2
260 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boor XX.
But not unmark’d of white-arm’d Juno pass’,
To meet Achilles, through the press of men,
Who thus address’d the Gods, to council call’d:
“Neptune and Pallas both, bethink ye well
What now should be our course; Aineas comes,
In dazzling arms array’d, to meet in fight
The son of Peleus; Phoebus sends him forth.
Say, then, shall we, encount’ring, to retreat
Perforce constrain him? or shall one of us
Beside Achilles stand, and give him strength
That he may nothing lack; and know himself
By all the mightiest of th’ immortal Gods
Belov'd, and those how powrless, by whose aid
The Trojans yet maintain defensive war?
Therefore, to join the battle, came we all
From high Olympus, that in this day’s fight
No ill befall him; though the time shall come
For him to meet the doom, by fate decreed,
When at his birth his thread of life was spun.
But if Achilles from a voice divine
Receive not this assurance, he may well
Be struck with fear, if haply to some God
140
Boox ΧΧ.- HOMER’S ILIAD. 261
He find himself oppos’d: ’tis hard for man 150
To meet, in presence visible, a God.”
To whom Earth-shaking Neptune thus replied :
“Juno, thine anger carry not too far;
It ill beseems thee. Not with my consent
Shall we, the stronger far, provoke to arms 155
The other Gods; but rather, from the field
Retiring, let us from on high survey,
To mortals left, the turmoil of the war.
Should Mars or Phcebus then begin the fight,
Or stay Achilles, and his arm restrain, 160
Then in the contest we too may engage;
And soon, methinks, will they be fain to join,
Driv’n from the field, the Synod of the Gods,
Subdued perforce by our victorious hands.”
The dark-hair’'d monarch spoke; and led the way 165
To the high wall, by Trojans built of old,
With Pallas’ aid, for godlike Hercules ;
Within whose circle he might safety seek,
When from the beach the monster of the deep
Came, raging, to the plain; there Neptune sat, 170
And with him, th’ other Gods, a veil of cloud
262 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boor XX.
Impenetrable around their shoulders spread.
On th’ other side, upon the fair hill’s brow,
Pheebus with Mars the fort-destroyer sat.
On either side they sat, each facing each
With hostile counsels; yet reluctant both
To take th’ initiative of ruthless war;
Till Jove, enthron’d on high, the signal gave.
Then all the plain, with men and horses throng’d,
The brazen gleam illumin’d; rang the earth
Beneath their feet, as to the battle-shock
They rush’d; but in the midst, both hosts between,
Eager for fight, stood forth two warriors bold,
Proudly pre-eminent; Anchises’ son
/fineas, and Achilles’ godlike might.
/Eneas first with threat’ning mien advane’d,
Nodding his pond’rous helm ; before his breast
His shield he bore, and pois‘d his brazen spear.
Him met Achilles from th’ opposing ranks ;
Fierce as a ravning lion, whom to slay
Pour forth the stalwart youths, th’ united strength
Of the rous'd village; he unheeding moves
At first; but wounded by a jav’lin thrown
180
185
190
Boor XX. HOMER’S ILIAD. 263
By some bold youth, he turns, with gaping jaws,
And frothing fangs, collecting for the spring, 195
His breast too narrow for his mighty heart ;
And with his tail he lashes both his flanks
And sides, as though to rouse his utmost rage ;
Then on, in pride of strength, with glaring eyes
He dashes, if some hunter he may slay, 200
Or in the foremost rank himself be slain.
So mov’d his dauntless spirit Peleus’ son
/Eneas to confront; when near they came,
Thus first Achilles, swift of foot, began:
“ Aaneas, why so far before the ranks 205
Adyanc'd? dost thou presume with me to fight ?
Perchance expecting that the throne of Troy
And Priam’s royal honours may be thine.
Ey’n if thou slay me, deem not to obtain
Such boon from Priam; valiant sons are his, 210
And he not weak, but bears a constant mind.
Or have the Trojans set apart for thee
Some favour’d spot, the fairest of the land,
Orchard or corn-field, shouldst thou work my death ;
Which thou shalt find, I trust, too hard a task? 215
264 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XX.
Already hast thou fled before my spear;
Hast thou forgotten how amid thy herds
Alone I found thee, and with flying foot
Pursued thee down the steep of Ida’s hill?
Nor didst thou dare to turn, or pause in flight.
Thou to Lyrnessus fledd’st ; Lyrnessus I,
With Pallas’ aid and Jove’s, assail’d and took:
Their women thence, their days of freedom lost,
I bore away, my captives; thee from death
Jove and the other Gods defended then ;
But will not now bestow, though such thy hope,
Their succour; then I warn thee, while ’tis time,
Ere ill betide thee, to the gen’ral throng
That thou withdraw, nor stand to me oppos‘d:
After th’ event may evn a fool be wise.”
To whom in answer thus Adneas spoke:
“ Achilles, think not me, as though a fool,
To daunt with lofty speech; I too could well
With cutting words, and insult, answer thee.
Each other’s race and parents well we know
From tales of ancient days; although by sight
Nor mine to thee, nor thine to me are known.
220
225
230
bo
ce
σι
Boor XX. HOMER’S ILIAD.
To noble Peleus thou, ’tis said, wast born
Of Thetis, fair-hair’d daughter of the sea;
Of great Anchises, Heawn-descended chief,
I boast me sprung, to him by Venus borne.
Of these shall one or other have this day
To mourn their son; since not with empty words
Shall thou and I from mortal combat part.
But if thou farther wouldst enquire, and learn
The race I spring from, not unknown to men,
By Dardanus, of cloud-compelling Jove
Begotten, was Dardania peopled first,
Ere sacred Ilium, populous city of men,
Was founded on the plain; as yet they dwelt
On spring-abounding Ida’s lowest spurs.
To Dardanus was Erichthonius born,
Great King, the wealthiest of the sons of men;
For him were pastur’d in the marshy mead,
Rejoicing with their foals, three thousand mares ;
Them Boreas, in the pasture where they fed,
Beheld, enamour’d ; and amid the herd
In likeness of a coal-black steed appear’d ;
Twelve foals, by him conceiving, they produe’d.
240
266 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boor XX.
These, o’er the teeming corn-fields as they flew, 260
Skimm’d o’er the standing ears, nor broke the haulm;
And, o’er wide Ocean’s bosom as they flew,
Skimm’d o’er the topmost spray of th’ hoary sea.
Again, to Erichthonius Tros was born,
The King of Troy; three noble sons were his, 265
Tlus, Assaracus, and Ganymede ;
The fairest he of all the sons of men;
Him, for his beauty, bore the Gods away,
To minister as cup-bearer to Jove,
And dwell amid th’ Immortals: [lus next 270
Begot a noble son, Laomedon ;
Tithonus he, and Priam; Clytius,
Lampus and Icetion, plant of Mars;
Capys, begotten of Assaracus,
Begot Anchises, and Anchises me: 275
To Priam godlike Hector owes his birth.
Such is my race, and such the blood I boast;
But Jove, at will, to mortals valour gives
Or minishes; for he is Lord of all.
Then cease we now, like babbling fools, to prate - 280
Here in the centre of the coming fight.
Boor XX. HOMER’S ILIAD. 267
Terms of reproach we both might find, whose weight
Would sink a galley of a hundred oars ;
For glibly runs the tongue, and can at will
Give utt’rance to discourse in evry vein; 285
Wide is the range of language; and such words
As one may speak, another may return.
What need that we should insults interchange ?
Like women, who some paltry quarrel wage,
Scolding and brawling in the public street, 290
And in opprobrious terms their anger vent,
Some true, some false; for so their rage suggests.
With words thou shalt not turn me from the field,
Till we have met in arms; then try we now
Each other’s prowess with our brazen spears.” 295
He said, and hurl’d against the mighty shield
His brazen spear; loud rang the weapon’s point:
And at arm’s length Achilles held the shield
With his broad hand, in fear that through its folds
/Aneas’ spear would easy passage find ; 300
Blind fool! forgetful that the glorious gifts
Bestow'd by Gods, are not with ease o’ercome,
Nor yield before th’ assaults of mortal men.
268 | HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XX.
So broke not through Auneas’ sturdy spear,
Stay’d by the golden plate, the gift of Heavn; 305
Yet through two plates it pass’, but three remain’d,
For five were in the shield by Vulcan wrought;
Two were of brass, the inner two of tin,
And one of gold, which stay’d the brazen spear.
Achilles threw in turn his pond’rous spear, 310
And struck the circle of Auneas’ shield
Near the first rim, where thinnest lay the brass,
And thinnest too th’ o’erlying hide; right through
The Pelian shaft was drivn; wide gap’d the shield.
/Eneas crouch’d, in fear, as o'er his head 315
He held his shield; the eager weapon pass’d
Through both the circles of his ample shield,
And in the ground, behind him, quiv’ring, stood.
Escap'd the pond’rous weapon, sharpest pain
Flashing across his eyes, in fear he. stood, 320
So close the spear had pass’d him; onward then,
Drawing his trenchant blade, Achilles rush’d,
With fearful shout; a rocky fragment then
/Mneas lifted up, a mighty mass,
Which scarce two men, as men are now, could bear, 325
Boox XX. HOMER’S ILIAD. 269
But he, unaided, lifted it with ease.
Then had Aineas, with the massive stone,
Or on the helmet, or the shield, his death
Averting, struck Achilles; and himself
Had by the sword of Peleus’ son been slain,
ew)
Je)
o
Had not th’ Earth-shaking God his peril seen,
And to th’ Immortals thus address’d his speech:
“Oh, woe is me for great Aineas’ sake,
Who, by ΑΘ slain, must visit soon
The viewless shades; insensate, who relied 335
On Pheebus’ words; yet nought shall he avail
From death to save him. Yet oh why should he,
Blameless himself, the guilt of others rue ?
Who still his grateful sacrifice hath paid
To all the Gods in wide-spread Heav’n who dwell. 340
Let us then interpose to guard his life;
Lest, if Achilles slay him, Saturn’s son
Be του ἃ to anger; for his destiny
Would have him live; lest, heirless, from the earth
Should perish quite the race of Dardanus; 845
By Saturn’s son the best-belov’d of all
His sons, to him by mortal women born.
270 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XX.
For Jove the race of Priam hath abhorr’d ;
But o’er the Trojans shall AMneas reign,
And his sons’ sons, through ages yet unborn.” 350
Whom answer’d thus the stag-ey’'d Queen of Heav’n:
“ Neptune, do thou determine for thyself
/Eneas to withdraw, or leave to fall,
Good as he is, beneath Achilles’ sword ;
But we before th’ immortal Gods are bound, 355
Both I and Pallas, by repeated oaths,
Ne’er from his doom one Trojan life to save,
Though to devouring flames a prey, all Troy
Were blazing, kindled by the valiant Greeks.”
Th’ Earth-shaker heard ; and through the fight he pass’d, 360
And through the throng of spears, until he came
Where great Achilles and Aineas stood.
Around the eyes of Peleus’ son he spread
A veil of mist; then from /Mneas’ shield
The brass-tipp'd spear withdrawing, laid it down 365
Before Achilles’ feet; and lifting up
fEneas, bore him high above the ground.
O’er many a rank of warriors and of cars
fEneas flew, supported by the God;
Boor XX. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Till to the field’s extremest verge he came,
Where stood the Caucons, arming for the war.
There to Aineas, standing by his side,
Th’ Earth-shaker thus his winged words address‘d :
“ 7Rneas, say what God has moy'd thee thus
Against Achilles, reckless, to contend,
Thy stronger far, and dearer to the Gods?
If e’er he cross thy path, do thou retire,
Lest evn, despite of fate, thou find thy death.
But when Achilles hath to fate succumb’d,
Then, fearless, with the foremost join the fray:
No other Greek shall bear away thy spoils.”
Thus plainly warn’d, Auneas there he left.
Then from Achilles’ eyes he purg’d the film:
Astonish’d, he with eyes wide open gaz‘d,
As thus he commun’d with his mighty heart:
“QO Heav’n, what marvel do mine eyes behold ?
My spear before me laid, and vanish’d he
At whom I hurl’d it with intent to slay!
Then is /Mneas of th’ immortal Gods
In truth belov’d, though vain I deem’d his boast.
A curse go with him! yet methinks not soon
271
370
ς9
es)
σι
390
272 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XX.
Will he again presume to prove my might,
Who gladly now in flight escapes from death.
Then, to the valiant Greeks my orders giv’n,
Let me some other Trojan’s mettle prove.” 395
Then towrd the ranks he sprang, each sev'ral man
Exhorting: “From the Trojans, valiant Greeks,
No longer stand aloof; but man to man
Confront the foe, and nobly dare the fight.
"Twere hard for me, brave warrior though I be, 400
To face such numbers, and to fight with all:
Not Mars, nor Pallas, though immortal Gods,
Could face, and vanquish, such a mighty mass.
But what my single arm, and feet, and strength
May profit, not a jot will I relax; 405
Right through the ranks 1 mean to force my way;
And small shall be that Trojan’s cause for joy,
Who comes within the compass of my spear.”
Thus he, exhorting; Hector cheering on
Meanwhile the Trojans, with assurance giv’n 410
That he himself Achilles would confront.
“Ye valiant Trojans, fear not Peleus’ son;
I too in words could with the Gods contend,
Boox XX. HOMER’S ILIAD.
273
Though not in arms; so much the stronger they.
Not all his words Achilles shall make good ;
Fulfilling some, in others he shall fail,
His course midway arrested. Him will I
Encounter, though his hands were hands of fire,
Of fire his hands, his strength as burnish’d steel.”
Thus he, exhorting: with uplifted spears
Advane’d the Trojans; from the mingling hosts
Loud rose the clamour; then at Hector’s side
Apollo stood, and thus address’d the chief:
“ Hector, forbear Achilles to defy ;
And ‘mid the crowd withdraw thee from the fray ;
Lest with the spear he slay thee, thrown from far,
Or with the sword in combat hand to hand.”
He said; and troubled by the heavnly voice,
Hector amid the throng of men withdrew.
Then, girt with might, amid the Trojans sprang,
With fearful shouts, Achilles; first he slew
Otryntes’ son, Iphition, valiant chief
Of num’rous warriors; him a Naiad nymph,
In Hyde’s fertile vale, beneath the feet
Of snow-clad Tmolus, to Otryntes bore ;
VOL. II. Ἕ
415
420
425
430
435
274 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XX.
At him, as on he rush’d, Achilles hurl’d,
And through his forehead drove his glitt’ring spear ;
The head was cleft in twain; thund’ring he fell,
And o’er him thus Achilles made his boast:
“Son of Otryntes, lie thou there, of men 440
The most vain-glorious; here thou find’st thy death,
Far from thy place of birth, beside the lake
Gygean; there hadst thou thine heritage
Of old, beside the fish-abounding stream
Of Hyllus, and by Hermus’ eddying flood.” 445
Thus he, exulting: o’er Iphition’s eyes
Were spread the shades of death; his mangled corpse
Was crush’d beneath the Grecian chariot wheels,
In the first shock. Demoleon next he smote,
A helpful aid in war, Antenor’s son, 450
Piere’d through the temples, through the brass-bound helm ;
Nor check’d the brazen helm the spear, whose point
Went crashing through the bone, that all the brain
Was shatter’d; onward as he rush’d, he fell.
Then through the neck Hippodamas he smote, 455
Flying before him, mounted on his car.
Deep groan’d he, breathing out his soul, as groans
Boox XX. HOMER’S ILIAD. 275
A bull, by sturdy youths to th’ altar drage’d
Of Neptune, Kine divine of Helice ;
Th’ Earth-shaking God, well-pleas’d, the gift receives; 460
Ewn with such groans his noble spirit fled.
The godlike Polydore he next assail’d,
The son of Priam; him his aged sire
Would fain have kept at home, of all his sons
At once the youngest and the best-belov’d ; 465
Among them all for speed of foot unmatch’d;
Whose youthful folly, in the foremost ranks
His speed displaying, cost him now his life.
Him, as he darted by, Achilles’ spear
Struck through the centre of the back, where met 470
The golden clasps that held the glitt’ring belt,
And where the breastplate form’d a double guard :
Right through his body pass’d the weapon’s point;
Groaning, he fell upon his knees; dark clouds
σι
O’erspread his eyes; supporting with his hand 47
His wounded bowels, on the ground he writh’d.
When Hector saw his brother Polydore
Writhing in death, a mist o’erspread his eyes;
Nor longer could he bear to stand aloof,
T 2
276 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XX.
But sprang to meet Achilles, flashing fire, 480
His keen spear brandishing ; at sight of him
Up leap’d Achilles, and exulting cried:
“To, here the man who most hath wrung my soul,
Who slew my lov’d companion; now, methinks,
Upon the pass of war not long shall we 485
Stand separate, nor each the other shun.”
Then, with stern glance, to godlike Hector thus:
“Draw near, and quickly meet thy doom of death.”
To whom thus Hector of the glancing helm,
Unterrified: “ Achilles, think not me, 490
As though a fool and ignorant of war,
To daunt with lofty speech; I too could well
With cutting words and insult answer thee.
I know thee strong and valiant; and J know
Myself to thee inferior; but th’ event 495
Is with the Gods; and 1, if such their will,
The weaker, with my spear may reach thy life:
My point too hath, ere now, its sharpness provd.”
He said, and, poising, hurl’d his pond’rous spear,
Which from Achilles Pallas turn’d aside 500
With lightest breath; and back to Hector sent,
Boox XX. HOMER’S ILIAD.
And laid before his feet; intent to slay,
Onward Achilles rush’d, with fearful shout;
But Pheebus Hector from the field convey’d,
(As Gods can only,) veil’d in thickest cloud.
Thrice Peleus’ godlike son, with brazen spear,
His onset made ; thrice struck the misty cloud;
But when, with powr as of a God, he made
His fourth essay, in fury thus he cried:
“Yet once again, vile hound, hast thou escap’d;
Thy doom was nigh, but thee thy God hath sav’d,
Pheebus, to whom, amid the clash of spears,
Well mayst thou pray! We yet shall meet again ;
When I shall end thee, if a guardian God
I too may claim; meanwhile, from thee I turn,
And others seek on whom my hap may light.”
505
He said, and drove through Dryops’ neck his spear,
And stretch’d him at his feet, and pass him by.
Next with his spear he struck below the knee
Philetor’s son, Demuchus, stout and tall,
And check’d his forward course; then rushing on
Dealt with his mighty sword the mortal blow.
The sons of Bias next, Laogonus
520
278 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XX,
And Dardanus, he hurl’d from off their car,
One with the spear, and one by sword-stroke slain.
Tros too he slew, Alastor’s son, who came
To meet him, and embrace his knees, and pray
To spare his life, in pity of his youth:
Little he knew how vain would be his pray’r;
For not of temper soft, nor mild of mood
Was he, but sternly fierce; and as he knelt
And clasp’d his knees, and would his pray’r prefer,
Achilles clove him with his mighty sword,
Gash’d through the liver; as from out the wound
His liver dropp’d, the dark blood gushing forth
His bosom fill’d, and darkness clos’d his eyes,
As ebb’d his life away. Then through the ear
Mulius he thrust; at th’ other ear came forth
The brazen point. Hcheclus next he met,
Son of Agenor, and his hilted sword
Full on the centre of his head let fall.
The hot blood dy’d the blade; the darkling shades
Of death, and rig’rous fate, his eyes o’erspread.
Next, where the tendons bind the elbow-joint,
The brazen spear transfix’d Deucalion’s arm ;
530
535
540
545
Boox XX. HOMER’S ILIAD. 279
With death in prospect, with disabled arm
He stood, till on his neck Achilles’ sword
Descending, shar’d, and flung afar, both head
And helmet; from the sever’d vertebree
The marrow flow’, as stretch’d in dust he lay. 550
The noble son of Peireus next he slew,
Rigmus, who came from Thracia’s fertile plains;
Him through the waist he struck, the brazen spear
Plung’d in his bowels; from the car he fell;
σι
σι
σι
And as Areithdéus, his charioteer,
His horses turn’d, Achilles through the neck
His sharp spear thrusting, hurl’d him to the ground,
The startled steeds in wild confusion thrown.
As rage the fires amid the wooded glen
Of some parch’d mountain’s side, and fiercely burns 560
The copse-wood dry, while eddying here and there
The flames are whirl’d before the gusty wind;
So fierce Achilles rag’d, on evry side
Pursuing, slaught’ring; reek’d the earth with blood.
As when upon a well-roll’d threshing floor, 565
Two sturdy-fronted bulls, together yok’d,
Tread the white barley out; beneath their feet
280 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XX.
Fast flies the grain out-trodden from the husk;
So by Achilles driv’n, his flying steeds
His chariot bore, o’er corpses of the slain
And broken bucklers trampling; all beneath
Was plash’d with blood the axle, and the rails
Around the car, as from the horses’ feet
And from the felloes of the wheels were thrown
The bloody gouts; and onward still he press’d,
Panting for added triumphs, deeply dyed
With gore and carnage his unconquer’d hands.
575
Book XXI. HOMER’S ILIAD.
BOOK XXL
| ee when they came to eddying Xanthus’ ford,
Fair-flowing stream, born of immortal Jove,
Achilles cut in twain the flying host;
Part driving towrd the city, oer the plain,
Where on the former day the routed Greeks,
When Hector rag’d victorious, fled amain.
On, terror-struck, they rush’d; but Juno spread,
To baffle their retreat, before their path,
Clouds and thick darkness: half the fugitives
In the deep river's silv’ry eddies plung’d:
With clamour loud they fell; the torrent roar’d;
The banks around re-echoed; here and there,
They, with the eddies wildly struggling, swam.
As when, pursued by fire, a hovring swarm
Of locusts riverward direct their flight,
And, as th’ insatiate flames advance, they cow’r
Amid the waters; so a mingled mass
281
σι
10
15
282 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox ΧΧΙ.
Of men and horses, by Achilles driv’n,
The deeply-whirling stream of Xanthus chok’d.
His spear amid the tamarisks on the bank 20
The hero left; on savage deeds intent,
Arm’d with his sword alone, a God in pow’,
He sprang amid the torrent; right and left
He smote; then fearful rose the groans of men
Slain with the sword; the stream ran red with blood. 2
Or
As fishes, flying from a dolphin, crowd
The shoal recesses of some open bay,
In fear, for whom he catches he devours;
So crouch’d the Trojans in the mighty stream
Beneath the banks; and when at length his hand 80
Wearied of slaughter, from the stream, alive,
He drage’d twelve youths, whose forfeit lives should be
The bloody fine for slain Patroclus paid.
Helpless from fear, as fawns, he brought them forth;
Their hands secur’d behind them with the belts 35
Which o’er their shirts of twisted mail they wore,
And bade his comrades lead them to the ships.
Then on again he dash’d, athirst for blood ;
And first encounter’d, flying from the stream,
Boox XXI. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Lycaon, Priam’s son; him once before
He by a nightly onslaught had surpris’d,
And from his father’s vineyard captive borne:
Where, as he cut, to form his chariot rail,
A fig-tree’s tender shoots, unlook’d-for ill
O’ertook him in the form of Peleus’ son.
Thence in his ship to Lemnos’ thriving isle
He bore him, ransom’d there by Jason’s son.
His Imbrian host, Hétion, set him free
With lib’ral gifts, and to Arisba sent:
Escaping thence, he reach’d his native home.
Twelve days save one, rejoicing, with his friends
He spent, return’d from Lemnos: fate, the twelfth,
Again consign’d him to Achilles’ hands,
From him, reluctant, to receive his death.
Him when Achilles, swift of foot, beheld,
No spear in hand, of helm and shield bereft,
All flung in haste away, as from the stream,
Reeking with sweat, and faint with toil, he fled,
He commun’d, wrathful, with his mighty heart:
“Ye Gods, what marvel do mine eyes behold!
Methinks the valiant Trojans slain by me
283
40
σι
σι
60
284 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXI.
Ere long will from the realms of darkness rise;
Since, death escaping, but to slav’ry sold
In Lemnos’ isle, this fellow hath return’d,
Despite the hoary sea’s impediment,
Which many a man against his will hath stay’d:
Now shall he taste my spear, that I may see
If thence too he return, or if the earth
May keep him safe, which evn the strongest holds.”
Thus, as he stood, he mus‘; but all aghast
Approach’d Lycaon, trembling; and would fain
Have clasp’d his knees; for longingly he sought
Escape from bitter death and evil fate.
Achilles rais’d his spear, in act to strike;
He, stooping, ran beneath, and clasp’d his knees;
Above his back the murd’rous weapon pass‘,
And in the earth was fix’d: one suppliant hand
Achilles’ knees embrae’d; the other held,
With unrelaxing grasp, the pointed spear;
As he with wingéd words, imploring, spoke :
“T clasp thy knees, Achilles! look then down
With pity on my woes; and recognize,
Illustrious chief, a suppliant’s sacred claim :
70
=I
σι
80
Boox ΧΧΙ. HOMER’S ILIAD.
ho
[9.9]
σι
For in thy tent I first broke bread, that day,
When, in my father’s fruitful vineyard seiz’d,
I was thy captive, and to slawry sold,
Far from my sire and friends, in Lemnos’ isle.
A hundred oxen were my ransom then ;
At thrice so much I now would buy my lie.
This day is but the twelfth, since, sorely tried
By lengthen’d suffering, back to Troy I came.
Now to thy hands once more my cruel fate
Consigns me; surely by the wrath of Jove
Pursued, who gives me to thy powr again.
Me, doom’d to early death, my mother bore.
Old Altes’ daughter, fair Laothée ;
Altes, who rul’d the warlike Leleges,
In lofty Pedasus, by Satndis’ stream.
His child of Priam’s many wives was one;
Two sons she bore, and both by thee must die.
Already one, the godlike Polydore,
Amid the foremost ranks thy spear hath slain;
And now my doom is near; from thee to fly,
Since evil fate hath plac’d me in thy hands,
I may not hope; yet thus much let me say,
85
90
100
105
286 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXI.
And weigh it in thy mind, to spare my life:
I come not of that womb which Hector bore,
Who slew thy comrade, gentle, kind, and brave.”
Thus Priam’s noble son, imploring, spoke ;
But stern the answer fell upon his ear: 110
“Thou fool! no more to me of ransom prate!
Before Patroclus met the doom of death,
To spare the Trojans still my soul inclin’d;
And many captives, ta’en alive, I sold;
But from henceforth, before the walls of Troy, 115
Not one of all the Trojans, whom the Gods
May to my hands deliver, least of all
A son of Priam, shall escape the death.
Thou too, my friend, must die: why vainly wail ἢ
Dead is Patroclus too, thy better far. 120
Me too thou saat, how stalwart, tall, and fair,
Of noble sire, and Goddess-mother born:
Yet must I yield to death and stubborn fate,
Whene’er, at morn, or noon, or eve, the spear
Or arrow from the bow may reach my life.” 125
He said; and sank Lycaon’s limbs and heart;
He loos’d the spear, and sat, with both his hands
Book ΧΧΙ. HOMER’S ILIAD. 287
Uprais‘d, imploring ; but Achilles drew,
And on his neck beside the collar-bone
Let fall his trenchant sword; the two-edg’d blade 180
Was buried deep; prone on the earth he lay ;
Forth gush’d the crimson blood, and dyed the ground.
Him, dragging by the feet, Achilles threw
In the mid stream, and thus with vaunting speech :
“Lie there amid the fishes, who shall cleanse, 135
But not with kindly thought, thy gory wounds:
O’er thee, extended on thy bier, shall rise
No mother’s wail; Scamander’s eddying stream
Shall to the sea’s broad bosom roll thee down;
And, springing through the darkly rippling wave, 140
Fishes shall rise, and banquet on thy flesh.
On now the work of death! till, flying ye,
And slaughtring I, we reach the city wall.
Nor this fair-flowing, silver-eddying stream,
Shall aught avail ye, though to him ye pay 145
In sacrifice the blood of countless bulls,
And living horses in his waters sink.
Ye all shall perish, till Patroclus’ death
Be fully aveng’d, and slaughter of the Greeks,
288 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXI.
Whom, in my absence, by the ships ye slew.” 150
He said: the mighty River at his words
Indignant chaf’d, and ponder’d in his mind
How best to check Achilles’ warlike toil,
And from destruction guard the Trojan host.
Meantime Achilles with his pond’rous spear 155
Asteropzeus, son of Pelegon,
Assail’d with deadly purpose; Pelegon
To broadly-flowing Axius ow’d his birth,
The River-God commingling with the blood
Of Periboea, daughter eldest born 160
Of Acessamenus: on him he sprang ;
He, from the river rising, stood oppos’d,
Two lances in his hand; his courage rous’d
By Xanthus, who, indignant, saw his stream
Polluted by the blood of slaughter’d youths, 165
By fierce Achilles’ hand, unpitying, slain.
When near the warriors, each to other, came,
Achilles, swift of foot, took up the word:
“What man, and whence art thou, who dar’st to stand
Oppos’d to me? of most unhappy sires 170
The children they, who my encounter meet!”
Boox XXI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 289
To whom th’ illustrious son of Pelegon:
“Great son of Peleus, why enquire my race?
From far Peeonia’s fertile fields I come,
The leader of the long-spear’d Pzeon host. 175
Ten days have pass’d since I to Ilium came.
From widely-flowing Axius my descent,
Axius, the purest stream on earth that flows.
He Pelegon begot, the spear-renown’d ;
Of Pelegon I boast me sprung; and now 180
Address thee, brave Achilles, to the fight.”
Threat’ning he spoke: Achilles rais’d on high
The Pelian spear; but, ambidexter, he
From either hand at once a jav lin launch’d.
One struck, but piere’d not through, the mighty shield, 185
Stay’d by the golden plate, the gift of Heavn:
Achilles’ right fore-arm the other grazd:
Forth gush’d the crimson blood; but, glancing by,
And vainly longing for the taste of flesh,
The point behind him in the earth was fix’d. 190
Then at Asteropzeus in his turn
With deadly intent the son of Peleus threw
His straight-directed spear; his mark he miss‘,
VOL. Il. U
290 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXI.
But struck the lofty bank, where, deep infix’d
To half its length, the Pelian ash remain’d.
Then from beside his thigh Achilles drew
His trenchant blade, and, furious, onward rush’d ;
While from the cliff Asteropeeus strove
In vain, with stalwart hand, to wrench the spear.
Three times he shook it with impetuous force,
Three times relax’d his grasp; a fourth attempt
He made to bend and break the sturdy shaft;
But him, preventing, Peleus’ godlike son
With deadly stroke across the belly smote,
That gush’d his bowels forth; upon the ground
Gasping he lay, and darkness seal’d his eyes.
Then on his breast Achilles sprang, and stripp’d
His armour off, and thus with vaunting speech :
“So le thou there! ’tis hard for thee to fight,
Though river-born, against the progeny
Of mighty Jove; a widely-flowing stream
Thou claim’st as author of thy parentage ;
My high descent from Jove himself I boast.
My father Peleus, son of Macus,
Reigns oer the num’rous race of Myrmidons:
y 3
195
200
205
210
Boox ΧΧΙ. HOMER’S ILIAD.
The son of Jove himself was Hacus.
High o’er all rivers, that to th’ ocean flow,
Is Jove exalted; and in like degree
Superior is his race in powyr to theirs.
A mighty River hast thou here at hand,
If that might aught avail thee; but his powyr
Is impotent to strive with Saturn’s son.
With him, not Acheléus, King of streams,
Presumes to vie; nor evn the mighty strength
Of deeply-flowing, wide Oceanus ;
From whom all rivers, all the boundless sea,
All fountains, all deep wells derive their source ;
Yet him appals the lightning bolt of Jove,
And thunder, pealing from the vault of Heav’n.”
He said, and from the cliff withdrew his spear.
Him left he lifeless there upon the sand
Extended ; o’er him the dark waters wash’d,
And eels and fishes, thronging, gnaw’d his flesh.
Then ‘mid the Peeons’ plumed host he rush’d,
Who fled along the eddying stream, when him,
Their bravest in the stubborn fight, they saw
Slain by the sword and arm of Peleus’ son.
wee
230
235
292 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXI.
Thersilochus and Mydon then he slew,
Mnesus and Thrasius and Astypylus,
fE£nius and Ophelestes; and yet more 240
Had been the slaughter by Achilles wrought,
But from his eddying depths, in human form,
With wrathful tone the mighty River spoke:
“In strength, Achilles, and in deeds of arms,
All mortals thou surpassest; for the Gods 245
Themselves attend thee, and protect from harm ;
If Saturn’s son have giv’n thee utterly
The Trojans to destroy, yet, ere thou slay,
Far from my waters drive them o’er the plain;
For now my lovely stream is fill’d with dead; 250
Nor can I pour my current to the sea,
With floating corpses chok’d, whilst thou pursuest
The work of death, insatiate: stay thy hand!
With horror I behold thee, mighty chief!”
Whom answer’d thus Achilles, swift of foot: 255
“Be it as thou wilt, Scamander, Heavwn-born stream ;
Yet cease I not to slay until I drive
These vaunting Trojans to their walls, and prove
‘The force of Hector, if, in single fight,
Boox XXI. HOMER’S ILIAD.
I be by him, or he by me, subdued.”
He said, and fiercely on the Trojans rush’d,
A God in might! to Phcebus then his speech
The deeply-eddying River thus address’d : |
“God of the silver bow, great son of Jove,
Obey’st thou thus the will of Saturn’s son,
Who charg’d thee by the Trojans still to stand,
And aid their cause, till ewning’s late approach
Should cast its shadows o’er the fertile earth ?”
Thus as he spoke, from off the lofty bank
Achilles springing in mid current plung’d;
Then high the swelling stream, tumultuous, rose
In all its angry flood; and with a roar
As of a bellowing bull, cast forth to land
The num’rous corpses by Achilles slain;
And many living, in his cavern’d bed,
Conceal’d behind the whirling waters sav’d.
Fierce, round Achilles, rose the boiling wave,
And on his shield descending, drove him down;
Nor might he keep his foothold; but he grasp’d
A lofty elm, well-grown, which from the cliff
Uprooted, all the bank had torn away,
293
260
265
270
280
294 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXI.
And with its tangled branches check’d the flow
Of the fair river, which with all its length
It bridg’d across; then, springing from the deep,
Swiftly he fled in terror o’er the plain. 285
Nor ceasd the mighty River, but pursued,
With darkly-rufiling crest, intent to stay
Achilles’ course, and save the Trojan host.
Far as a jav'lin’s flight he rush’d, in speed
Like the dark hunter eagle, strongest deem’d, 290
And swiftest wing’d of all the feather’d race.
So on he sped; loud rattled on his breast
His brazen armour, as before the God,
Cowring, he fled; the God behind him still
With thund’ring sound pursued. As when a man 295
From some dark-water’d spring through trenches leads,
’Mid plants and gardens, th’ irrigating stream,
And, spade in hand, th’ appointed channel clears :
Down flows the stream anon, its pebbly bed
Disturbing; fast it flows with bubbling sound, 300
Down the steep slope, oertaking him who leads.
Achilles so th’ advancing wave o’ertook,
Though great his speed; but man must yield to Gods.
Book XXI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 295
Oft as Achilles, swift of foot, essay’d
To turn and stand, and know if all the Gods, 305
Who dwell in Heavn, were leagued to daunt his soul;
So oft the Heav’n-born River’s mighty wave
Above his shoulders dash’d; in deep distress
He sprang on high ; then rush’d the flood below,
And bore him off his legs, and wore away 310
The soil beneath his feet; then, groaning, thus,
As up to Heav’n he look’d, Achilles cried :
“QO Father Jove, will none of all the Gods
In pity save me from this angry flood?
Content, thereafter, would I meet my fate. 315
Of all the powrs of Heay’n, my mother most
Hath wrong’d me, who hath buoy’d me up with hope
Delusive, that, before the walls of Troy,
I should by Pheebus’ swift-wing’d arrows fall.
Would that by Hector’s hand ’twere mine to die, 820
The bravest of their brave! a warrior so
Were by a warrior slain! now am I doom’d
Ignobly here to sink, the mighty flood
O’erwhelming me, like some poor shepherd lad,
Borne down in crossing by a wintry brook.” 826
296 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXI.
He said; and quickly, cloth’d in mortal form,
Neptune and Pallas at his side appear’d;
With cheering words they took him by the hand,
And thus th’ Hartléghaking God his speech began:
“ Achilles, fear not thou, nor be dismay’d; 330
Such powrful aid, by Jove’s consent, we bring,
Pallas and I, from Heavn; ’tis not decreed
That thou shouldst by the River be o’erwhelm’d;
He shall retire ere long, and thou shalt see;
And more, if thou wilt hear, we undertake 335
That from the war thine arm shall not be stay’d,
Till thou shalt drive beneath the walls of Troy
The crowd of flying Trojans; thou thyself
Shalt Hector slay, and safe regain the ships:
Such high renown we give thee to achieve.” 340
They to the other Gods, this said, return’d ;
He, greatly strengthen’d by the voice divine,
Press'd onwards to the plain; the plain he found
All flooded o’er; and, floating, armour fair,
And many a corpse of men in battle slain ; 345
Yet onward, lifting high his feet, he press’d
Right towrd the stream; nor could the mighty stream
Boox XXI. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Check his advance, such vigour Pallas gave ;
Nor did Scamander yet his fury stay,
But fiercer rose his rage; and rearing high
His crested wave, to Simdis thus he cried:
“Dear brother, aid me with united force
This mortal’s course to check; he, unrestrain’d,
Will royal Priam’s city soon destroy,
Nor will the Trojans his assault endure.
Haste to the rescue then, and from their source
Fill all thy stream, and all thy channels swell;
Rouse thy big waves, and roll a torrent down
Of logs and stones, to whelm this man of might,
Who triumphs now, and bears him as a God.
Nought shall his strength or beauty then avail,
Or gallant arms, beneath the waters sunk,
Deep buried in the mud: himself will I
In sand imbed, and o’er his corpse a pile
Of shingly gravel heap; nor shall the Greeks
Be able to collect his bones, encas’d
By me so deep in slime. His monument
They here may raise; but when they celebrate
His fun’ral rites, no mound will he require.”
300
360
365
298 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXI.
He said; and on Achilles, from on high 370
Came boiling, rushing down, with thund’ring roar,
With foam and blood and corpses intermix’d.
High rose the Heavn-born River’s darkling wave,
And bore Achilles downward; then in fear
Lest the broad waters of the eddying stream 375
Should quite oerwhelm him, Juno cried aloud,
And Vulean thus, her son, in haste address’d:
“Up, Vulcan; up, my son; for we had deem’d
That eddying Xanthus stood to thee oppos’d :
Haste thee to aid; thy fiery strength display ; 380
While trom the sea I call the stormy blast
Ot Zephyr and brisk Notus, who shall drive
The raging flames ahead, and burn alike
The Trojans and their arms: do thou the while
Burn down the trees on Xanthus banks; himself 385
Assail with fire, nor by his honey’d words
Nor by his menaces be turn’d aside ;
Nor, till thou hear my voice, restrain thy powY’;
Then stay the raging flames’ unwearied course.”
Thus Juno spoke; and Vulcan straight prepar’d 890
The heav’nly fire; and first upon the plain
Boox XXI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 299
The flames he kindled, and the dead consum’d,
Who lay, promiscuous, by Achilles slain:
The plain was dried, and stay’d the wat’ry flood.
As when the breath of Boreas quickly dries 395
In Autumn-time a newly-water’d field,
The tiller’s heart rejoicing: so was dried
The spacious plain; then he, the dead consum’d,
Against the river turn’d the fiery glare:
Burnt were the willows, elms, and tamarisk shrubs, 400
The lotus, and the reeds, and galingal,
Which by the lovely river grew profuse.
‘The eels and fishes, “mid the eddying whul,
"Mid the clear wave were leaping here and there,
In dire distress from Vulcan’s fiery breath : 405
Scorch’d by the flames, the mighty River spoke :
“Vulcan, no God against thy powr can stand,
Nor with thy fiery flames will I contend ;
Restrain thy wrath; though Peleus’ godlike son
Should from their city drive the Trojans straight, 410 |
With rival parties what concern have I?”
All scorch’d he spoke; his fair stream bubbling up,
As when a caldron, on a blazing fire,
300 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXI.
Filld with the melting fat of well-fed swine,
Boils up within, and bubbles all around,
With well-dried wood beneath, so bubbling up
The waters of the lovely River boil’d:
Nor onward would he flow, but check’d his course,
By the hot blast o’er-borne, and fiery strength
Of skilful Vulcan; and to Juno thus,
Imploring, he his winged words address’d :
“Juno, what cause impels thy son, my stream,
O’er all the rest, to visit with his wrath ?
Ey’n less than others who the ‘Trojans aid,
Have I offended ; yet at thy command
Will I withdraw ; but bid that he too cease;
And this I swear, no Trojan more to save,
Though to devouring flames a prey, all Troy
Were blazing, kindled by the valiant Greeks.”
This when the white-arm’d Goddess Juno heard,
To Vulcan straight she thus address’d her speech :
“Vulcan, my glorious son, restrain thy hand:
In mortal men’s behalf, it is not meet
To press thus hardly an lnmortal God.”
She said, and Vulcan stay’d his fiery strength,
415
420
425
430
435
Book XXI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 301
And back returning in his wonted bed
Flowd the fair River. Xanthus thus subdued,
These two their warfare ceas’d, by Juno check’d,
Despite her wrath; but ’mid the other Gods
Arose contention fierce, and discord dire, 440
Their warring passions rous’d on either side.
With fearful crash they met: the broad Earth groan’d ;
Loud rang the Heav’n as with a trumpet’s sound:
Jove, on Olympus’ height, the tumult heard,
And in his heart he laugh’d a joyous laugh, 445
To see the Gods in angry battle met.
Not long they stood aloof, led on by Mars
The buckler-breaker, who to Pallas first,
Poising his spear, his bitter speech address’d :
“What dost thou here, thou saucy jade, to war 450
The Gods exciting, overbold of mood,
Led by thy haughty spirit? dost thou forget
How thou the son of Tydeus, Diomed,
Didst urge against me, and with visible spear
Direct his aim, and aid to wound my flesh ? 455
For all I suffer’d then, thou now shalt pay.”
Thus as he spoke, he struck the tassell’d shield,
302 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXT.
Awful to view, which not the lightning bolt
Of Jove himself could pierce: the blood-stain’d Mars
Against it thrust in vain his pond’rous spear. _ 460
The Goddess stoop’d, and in her ample hand
Took up a stone, that lay upon the plain,
Dark, rugged, vast, which men of elder days
Had set to mark the limits of their land.
Full on the neck of Mars she hurl’d the mass, 465
His limbs relaxing: o’er sev’n hundred feet
Prostrate he lay, his hair defil’d with dust:
Loud rang his armour; and with scornful smile
Pallas address’d him thus with vaunting speech :
“Fool, hast thou yet to learn how mightier far 4τὸ
My strength than thine, that me thou dar’st to meet?
Bear thus the burthen of thy mother’s curse,
Who works thee harm, in wrath that thou the Greeks
Deserting, aid’st the haughty Trojans’ cause.”
She said, and turn’d away her piercing glance: ἀ4τῦ
Him, deeply groaning, scarce to life restor’d,
Jove’s daughter Venus taking by the hand,
Led from the field; which when the white-arm’d Queen
Beheld, in haste to Pallas thus she cried:
Book XXI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 303
“O Heav’n, brave child of egis-bearing Jove, 480
Undaunted! lo again this saucy jade
Amid the press, the bane of mortals, Mars
Leads from the field; but haste thee in pursuit.”
Thus Juno: Pallas hasten’d in pursuit
Well pleas’d; and Venus with her powrful hand 485
Assailing, struck upon the breast ; at once
The Goddess’ courage and her limbs gave way.
There on the ground the two together lay,
While Pallas o’er them thus with vaunting speech :
“Would all were such, who aid the Trojan cause, 490
As valiant and as stout as Venus proves,
Who brings her aid to Mars, confronting me ;
Then had our warlike labours long been oer,
And Ilium’s strong-built citadel o’erthrown.”
Thus Pallas spoke: the white-arm’d Goddess smil’d, 495
And to Apollo thus th’ Earth-shaker spoke:
“Phebus, why stand we idly thus aloof?
The war begun by others, ‘tis not meet :
And shame it were, that to Olympus’ height
And to the brazen-floor’d abode of Jove 500
We two without a contest should return.
304 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boor XXI.
Thou then begin, as younger: ’twere not well
For me, in age and practice more advanc’d.
Feeble of soul, how senseless is thy heart!
Hast thou forgotten all the cruel wrongs 505
We two, alone of all th’ Immortals, bore,
When here, in Ilium, for a year, we serv,
By Jove’s command, the proud Laomedon,
For promis’d hire; and he our tasks assign’d ?
His fortress, and a wall both broad and fair 510
I built, the town’s impregnable defence ;
While thou didst tend his tardy-gaited herds,
In many-crested Ida’s woody glens.
But when the joyous seasons, in their course,
Had brought our labour’s term, the haughty King 516
Denied our guerdon, and with threats dismiss’d.
Bound hand and foot, he threaten’d thee to send
And sell to slav’ry in the distant Isles,
And with the sword cut off the ears of both.
So in indignant sorrow we return’d, 520
Robb’d of the hire he promis’d, but denied.
For this thy favour dost thou show to Troy ;
And dost not rather join thy force to ours,
Book ΧΧΙ. HOMER’S ILIAD.
(ois)
(cal
Or
That down upon their knees the Trojans all
Should perish, with their babes and matrons chaste.” 525
Whom answer’d thus the far-destroymg King :
“ Harth-shaking God, I should not gain with thee
Esteem of wise, if I with thee should fight
For mortal men; poor wretches, who like leaves
Flourish awhile, and eat the fruits of earth, 530
But, sapless, soon decay: from combat then
Refrain we, and to others leave the strife.”
He turn’d, thus saying: for he deem’d it shame
His father’s brother to assail in arms;
But him his sister, Goddess of the chase, 585
Rebuk’d, and thus with scornful speech address’d :
“Fliest thou, Apollo? and to Neptune leav’st
The triumph and the fruitless victory ?
Why oer thy shoulder hangs thine idle bow?
Ne’er in our father’s halls again, as erst 540
Among th’ Immortals, let me hear thee boast
How thou with Neptune wouldst in arms contend.”
Thus she; Apollo answer'd not a word ;
But Jove’s imperial consort, fill’d with wrath,
Assail’d with bitter words the Archer-Queen. 545
VOL. II. Xx
306 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boor XXI.
“How canst thou dare, thou saucy minx,* to stand
Oppos’d to me, too great for thine assault,
Despite thy bow? though Jove hath givn thee powr
O’er feeble women, whom thou wilt, to slay,
σι
οι
[--}
Evn as a lion; better were’t for thee
To chase the mountain beasts and flying hinds,
Than thy superiors thus to meet in arms.
But since thou dar’st confront me, thou shalt know
And feel how far my might surpasses thine.”
She said; and with the left hand both the wrists 555
Of Dian grasping, with her ample right
The bow and quiver from her shoulders tore;
And with them, as she turn’d away her head,
With scornful laughter buffeted her ears:
The arrows keen were scatter’d on the ground: 560
Weeping, the Goddess fled; as flies a dove
* L. 546. The terms made use of in this line, and in 481, may appear
somewhat coarse, as addressed by one Goddess to another : but I assure the
English reader that in this passage especially I have greatly softened down
the expression of the original ; a literal translation of which, however forcible,
would shock even the least fastidious critic. It must, indeed, be admitted
that the mode in which “the white-arm’d Goddess” proceeds to execute her
threat is hardly more dignified than the language, in which it is conveyed,
is refined.
Boox XXT. HOMER’S ILIAD. 307
The hawk’s pursuit, and in a hollow rock
Finds refuge, doom’d not yet to fall a prey;
So, weeping, Dian fled, and left her bow.
Then Hermes to Latona thus: “ With thee 565
I strive not; shame it were to meet in fight
A consort of the cloud-compelling Jove.
Freely amid th’ Immortals make thy boast,
That by thy prowess thou hast vanquish’d me.”
Thus he: Latona gather’d up the bow,
σι
-
9
And fallen arrows, scatter’d here and there
Amid the whirling dust; then, these regain’d,
Following her daughter, from the field withdrew.
Meanwhile to high Olympus fled the Maid,
And to the brazen-floor’d abode of Jove.
σι
Ou
There, weeping, on her father’s knees she sat,
While quiver’d round her form th’ ambrosial robe.
The son of Saturn towrds him drew his child,
And thus, with gracious smile, enquiry made:
“ Which of the heawnly pow’rs hath wrong’d thee thus, 580
My child, as guilty of some open shame ?”
To whom the bright-crown’d Goddess of the chase :
“Thy wife, my father, white-arm’d Juno; she
pap
308 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXI.
Hath dealt thus rudely with me; she, from whom
All jars and strife among the Gods proceed.” 585
Such converse while they held, the gates of Troy
Apollo enter’d, for the well-built wall
Alarm’d, lest evn against the will of fate
The Greeks that day should raze it to the ground.
The other Gods were to Olympus gone, 590
Triumphant these, and those in angry mood,
And took their seats before the cloud-girt Sire.
But on the Trojans pressing, Peleus’ son
Horses and men alike, promiscuous, slew.
As in a city, which the Gods in wrath 595
Have fir’d, whose volleying smoke ascends to Heavn,
On all her people grievous toil is cast,
On many, harm and loss; such toil, such loss
Achilles wrought amid the Trojan host.
Upon a lofty towr, the work of Gods, 600
The aged Priam stood, and thence beheld
Achilles raging with resistless might ;
The Trojans too he saw in fearful rout
Before him driv’n, their courage quite subdued :
And, groaning, from the towr he hasten’d down, 605
Boox XXI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 309
And to the warders cried along the wall:
“Stand to the gates, and hold them open’d wide,
That in the crowd of fugitives may pour,
And refuge find; for close upon their flight
Achilles hangs; disaster now is near. 610
But while our friends, receiv’d within the walls,
Find time to breathe again, replace in haste
The closely-fitting portals; for I fear
That man of blood may evn the city storm.”
He said; the gates they open’d, and drew back 615
The solid bars; the portals, op’ning wide,
Let in the light; but in the vacant space
Apollo stood, the Trojan host to save.
The flyers, parch’d with thirst and dust-begrim’d,
Straight for the city and the lofty wall 620
Made from the plain; Achilles, spear in hand,
Press‘ hotly on the rearmost; for his soul
With rage was fill’d, and madd’ning lust of fame.
And now the lofty-gated city of Troy
The sons of Greece had won; but Phoebus rousd 625
Agenor’s spirit, a valiant youth and strong,
Son of Antenor; he his bosom fill’d
310 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXI.
With dauntless courage, and beside him stood _
To turn aside the heavy hand of death,
As, veil’d in cloud, against the oak he lean’d. 630
He, when Achilles’ awful form he knew,
Yet ‘firmly stood, though much perplex’d in mind,
As thus he commun’d with his mighty heart:
“Oh woe is me! should I attempt to fly
Before Achilles’ might, where fly the rest 635
Across the plain, disorder’d, he would soon
O’ertake me, and in flight ignoble slay.
Or should I leave the others to their fate,
Scatter’'d by Peleus’ son; and from the wall
And o’er the plain of Troy direct my flight, 640
Far as the foot of Ida’s hill, and there
Lie hid in thickest covert; and at eve,
Refresh’d by bathing in the cooling stream,
And purg’d the sweat, retrace my steps to Troy?
Yet why, my soul, admit such thoughts as these? 645
For should he mark me flying from the town,
And overtake me by his speed of foot,
No hope were left me of escape from death,
So far his strength exceeds the strength of man.
Boox ΧΧΙ. HOMER’S ILIAD.
911
But how if boldly I await him here
Before the wall? his flesh is not to wounds
Impervious: but a single life is his,
Nor is he more, they say, than mortal man,
Though Jove assists him, and his triumph wills.”
He said, and stood collected, to await
Achilles’ onset; and his manly heart,
With courage fill’d, was eager for the fray.
As when a panther from the thicket’s depth
Comes forth to meet the hunter, undismay’d,
Nor turn’d to flight by baying of the hounds;
Nor, wounded or by jav'lin or by sword,
Or by the spear transfix’d, remits her rage,
But fights, until she reach her foe, or die;
Agenor so, Antenor’s godlike son,
Disdain’d to fly, ere prove Achilles’ might.
Before his breast his shield’s broad orb he bore,
And pois’d his spear, as thus he call’d aloud:
“Thy hope, renown’d Achilles, was this day
The valiant Trojans’ city to destroy ;
Unconscious of the toils, the woes, that yet
Around her walls await ye! for within
650
655
660
665
670
312 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXI.
Are warriors brave and num’rous, who will fight
In her defence, for parents, children, wives.
Thou too, Achilles, here shalt meet thy doom,
All-pow’rful as thou art, and warrior bold.” ~ 675
He said, and threw with stalwart hand the spear ;
Achilles’ leg he struck, below the knee,
Nor miss’d his aim; and loudly rang the greaves
Of new-wrought tin; but back the brazen point
Rebounded, nor the heav’nly armour piere’d. 680
In turn Achilles on Agenor sprang:
But Phcebus robb’d him of his hop’d-for prize,
Who, veil’d in thickest cloud, convey’d away
Antenor’s son, and from the battle bore
To rest in peace; while he by guile withdrew 685
The son of Peleus from the flying crowd :
For in Agenor’s very likeness clad,
Before him stood the far-destroying King:
Then fled, Achilles hast'ning in pursuit.
He oer the fertile plain with flying foot 690
Pursu’d ; beside Scamander’s eddying stream
Apollo turn’d, and still but little space
Before him flying, subtly lur'd him on,
Book XXI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 313
Each moment hoping to attain his prize.
Meantime the gen’ral crowd, in panic flight, 695
With eager haste the city’s refuge sought,
And all the town was fill’d with fugitives.
Nor did they dare without the walls to stand
For mutual aid; nor halt to know what friends
Were safe, who left upon the battle-field ; 700
But through the gates ρου ἃ in the hurrying mass
Who to their active limbs their safety ον ἃ. 702
14 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXII.
BOOK XXIL
HE fugitives, who thus, like tim’rous fawns,
Sought refuge in the city, dried their sweat,
And drank, and quench’d their thirst, reclining safe
On the fair battlements; but nearer drew,
With slanted shields, the Greeks; yet Hector still 5
In front of Ilium and the Scean gate,
Stay’d by his evil doom, remain’d without ;
Then Phoebus thus to Peleus’ godlike son:
“ Achilles, why with active feet pursue,
Thou mortal, me Immortal? know’st thou not 10
My Godhead, that so hot thy fury burns?
Or heed’st thou not that all the Trojan host
Whom thou hast scar’d, while thou art here withdrawn,
Within the walls a refuge safe have found ?-
On me thy sword is vain! I know not death !” 15
Enrag’d, Achilles, swift of foot, replied :
“Deep is the injury, far-darting King,
Boox XXII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Most hostile of the Gods, that at thy hand
I bear, who here hast lur’d me from the walls,
Which many a Trojan else had fail’d to reach,
Ere by my hand they bit the bloody dust.
Me of immortal honour thou hast robb’d,
And them, thyself from vengeance safe, hast sav'd.
Had I the powy, that vengeance thou shouldst feel.”
Thus saying, and on mightiest deeds intent,
He turn’d him city-ward, with fiery speed ;
As when a horse, contending for the prize,
Whirls the swift car, and stretches oer the plain,
Ev’n so, with active limbs, Achilles το.
Him first the aged Priam’s eyes discern’d,
Scouring the plain, in arms all dazzling bright,
Like to th’ autumnal star, whose brilliant ray
Shines eminent amid the depth of night,
Whom men the dog-star of Orion call;
The brightest he, but sign to mortal man
Of evil augury, and fiery heat:
So shone the brass upon the warrior’s breast.
The old man groan’d aloud, and lifting high
His hands, he pore his head, and with loud voice
(ov)
pay
or
30
ζῦ
οι
316 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXII.
Call’d on his son, imploring; he, unmoyd,
Held post before the gates, awaiting there
Achilles’ fierce encounter; him his sire,
With hands ‘outstretch’d and piteous tone, address‘:
“ Hector, my son, await not here alone
That warrior’s charge, lest thou to fate succumb,
Beneath Pelides’ arm, thy better far!
Accurs’d be he! would that th’ immortal Gods
So favour'd him as I! then should his corpse
Soon to the vultures and the dogs be givn!
(So should my heart a load of anguish lose)
By whom I am of many sons bereav ἃ,
Many and brave, whom he has slain, or sold
To distant isles in slavry; and een now,
Within the city walls I look in vain
For two, Lycaon brave, and Polydore,
My gallant sons, by fair Laothée:
If haply yet they live, with brass and gold
Their ransom shall be paid; good store of these
We can command; for with his daughter fair
A wealthy dowry aged Altes gave.
But to the viewless shades should they have gone,
45
50
55
60
Boox XXII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 317
Deep were their mother’s sorrow and my own;
But of the gen’ral public, well I know
Far lighter were the grief, than if they heard
᾿ That thou hadst fall’n beneath Achilles’ hand. 65
Then enter now, my son, the city gates,
And of the women and the men of Troy
Be still the guardian; nor to Peleus’ son,
With thine own life, immortal glory give.
Look too. on me with pity; me, on whom, 70
Ev’n on the threshold of mine age, hath Jove
A bitter burthen cast, condemn’d to see
My sons destroy’d, my daughters drage’d away
In servile bonds; our chambers’ sanctity
Invaded ; and our babes by hostile hands 75
Dash’d to the ground; and by ferocious Greeks
Enslav’d the widows of my slaughter’d sons.
On me at last the rav’ning dogs shall feed,
When by some foeman’s hand, by sword or lance,
My soul shall from my body be divore’d; 80
Those very dogs which I myself have bred,
Fed at my table, guardians of my gate,
Shall lap my blood, and over-gorg’d shall lie
318 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXII.
Ev’n on my threshold. That the young should fall
Victims to Mars, beneath a foeman’s spear, 85
Is only natural; and if he fall
With honour, though he die, yet glorious he!
But when the hoary head and hoary beard,
And naked ee to ravning dogs are giv’n,
No sadder sight can wretched mortals see.” 90
The old man spoke, and from his head he tore
The hoary hair; yet Hector firm remain’d.
Then to the front his mother rush’d, in tears,
Her bosom bare, with either hand her breast
Sustaining, and with tears address’ him thus: 95
“Hector, my child, thy mother’s breast revere;
And on this bosom if thine infant woes 7
Have eer been hush’d, bear now in mind, dear child,
The debt thou ow’st; and from within the walls
Ward off this fearful man, nor in the field 100
Encounter; curs’d be he! should he prevail,
And slay thee, not upon the fun’ral bed,
My child, my own, the offspring of my womb,
Shall I deplore thee, nor thy widowd wife,
But far away, beside the Grecian ships, 105
Boox XXII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 319
Thy corpse shall to the rav’ning dogs be giv’n.”
Thus they, with tears and earnest pray’rs imploring,
Address‘ their son; yet Hector firm remain’d,
Waiting th’ approach of Peleus’ godlike son.
As on the mountain side, some venomous snake, 110
With deadly poison charg’d, beside his hole
Awaits the traveller, and fill’d with rage,
Coil’d round his hole, his baleful glances darts ;
So fill’d with dauntless courage Hector stood,
Scorning retreat, his gleaming buckler propp’d 115
Against the jutting towr; then, deeply mowd,
Thus with his warlike soul communion held:
“Oh woe is me! if I should enter now
The city gates, I should the just reproach
Encounter of Polydamas, who first 120
His counsel gave within the walls to lead
The Trojan forces, on that fatal night
When great Achilles in the field appear’d.
I heeded not his counsel; would I had!
Now, since my folly hath the people slain, 125
I well might blush to meet the Trojan men,
And long-rob’d dames of Troy, lest some might say,
ie)
τῷ
ἘΞ
To me inferior far, ‘This woful loss
To Hector’s blind self-confidence we owe.’
Thus shall they say; for me, ’twere better far,
Or from Achilles, slain in open fight,
Back to return in triumph, or myself
To perish nobly in my country’s cause.
What if my bossy shield I lay aside,
And stubborn helmet, and my pond’rous spear
Propping against the wall, go forth to meet
Th’ unmatch’d Achilles? What if I engage
That Helen’s self, and with her all the spoil,
And all that Paris in his hollow ships
Brought here to Troy, whence first this war arose,
Should be restor’d; and to the Greeks be paid
An ample tribute from the city’s stores,
Her secret treasures; by a solemn oath
Binding the Trojans nothing to conceal,
But fairly to the distribution bring
Whate’er of wealth our lovely city holds?
But wherefore entertain such thoughts, my soul?
Should I so meet him, what if he should show
Nor pity nor remorse, but slay me there,
HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXII.
130
135
140
145
Boox XXIT. HOMER’S ILIAD. 321
Defenceless as a woman, and unarm’d ? 150
Not this the time, nor he the man, with whom
By forest oak or rock, like youth and maid,
To hold light talk, as youth and maid might hold.
Better to dare the fight, and know at once
To which the vict’ry is decreed by Heav’n.” 155
Thus, as he stood, he mus’; but near approach’d
Achilles, terrible as plumed Mars ;
From his right shoulder brandishing aloft
The ashen spear of Peleus, while around
Flash’d his bright armour, dazzling as the glare 160
Of burning fire, or of the rising sun.
Fear at the sight on valiant Hector seiz’d ;
Nor dar’d he there await th’ attack, but left
The gates behind, and, terror-stricken, fled.
Forward, with eager step, Pelides rush’d. 165
As when a falcon, bird of swittest flight,
From some high mountain-top, on εὐ ου βῆουο
Swoops fiercely down; she, from beneath, in fear,
Evades the stroke; he, dashing through the brake,
Shrill-shrieking, pounces on his destin’d prey ; 170
So, wing’d with desp’rate hate, Achilles flew,
VOL. If. Ni
322 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXII.
So Hector, flying from his keen pursuit,
Beneath the walls his active sinews plied.
They by the watch-tow’r, and beneath the wall
Where stood the wind-beat fig-tree, rac’d amain 175
Along the carriage road, until they reach’d
The fairly-flowine fount whence issued forth,
From double source, Scamander’s eddying streams.
One with hot current flows, and from beneath,
As from a furnace, clouds of steam aris? ; 180
"Mid summer’s heat the other rises cold
As hail, or snow, or water crystalliz’d ;
Beside the fountains stood the washing-troughs
Of well-wrought stone, where erst the wives of Troy
And daughters fair their choicest garments wash’d, 188
In peaceful times, ere came the sons of Greece.
There το ἡ they, one in flight, and one pursuing ;
Good he who fled, but better who pursu’d,
With fiery speed; for on that race was stak’d
No common victim, no ignoble ox: 190
The prize at stake was mighty Hectovr’s life.
As when the solid-footed horses fly}
Around the course, contending for the prize,
Book XXII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Tripod, or woman of her lord bereft ;
So rac’d they thrice around the walls of Troy
With active feet; and all the Gods beheld.
Then thus began the Sire of Gods and men:
“A woful sight mine eyes behold; a man
I love in flight around the walls! my heart
For Hector grieves, who, now upon the crown
Of deeply-furrow’d Ida, now again
On Ilium’s heights, with fat of choicest bulls
Has pil’d mine altar; whom around the walls,
With flying speed, Achilles now pursues.
Give me your counsel, Gods, and say, from death
If we shall rescue him, or must he die,
Brave as he is, beneath Pelides’ hand ?”
To whom the blue-ey’d Goddess, Pallas, thus:
“O Father, lightning-flashing, cloud-girt King,
What words are these? wouldst thou a mortal man,
Long doom’d by fate, again from death preserve ?
Do as thou wilt, but not with our consent.”
To whom the Cloud-compeller thus replied :
“Be of good cheer, my child! unwillingly
I speak, yet loth thy wishes to oppose :
195
200
205
210
bo
_—
or
324 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXII.
Have then thy will, and draw not back thy hand.”
His words fresh impulse gave to Pallas’ zeal,
And from Olympus’ heights in haste she sped.
Meanwhile on Hector, with untiring hate,
The swift Achilles press’d: as when a hound, 220
Through glen and tangled_brake, pursues a fawn,
Rous’d from its lair upon the mountain side ;
And if awhile it should evade pursuit,
Low crouching in the copse, yet quests he back,
Searching unwearied, till he find the trace ; 225
So Hector sought to baffle, but in vain,
The keen pursuit of Peleus’ active son.
Oft as he sought the shelter of the gates
Beneath the well-built towrs, if haply thence
His comrades’ weapons might some aid afford ; 230
So oft his foeman, with superior speed,
Would cut him off, and turn him to the plain.
He ἰον τα the city still essay’d his flight ;
And as in dreams, when one pursues in vain,
One seeks in vain to fly, the other seeks 235
As vainly to pursue; so could not now
Achilles reach, nor Hector quit, his foe.
Boox XXII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 325
Yet how should Hector now the doom of death
Have ’scap’d, had not Apollo once again,
And tor the last time, to his rescue come, 240)
And giv’n him strength and suppleness of limb ?
Then to the crowd Achilles with his head
Made sign that none at Hector should presume
To cast a spear, lest one might wound, and so
The greater glory obtain, while he himself 245
_ Must be contented with the second place.
But when the fourth time in their rapid course
The founts were reach’d, th’ Eternal Father hung
His golden scales aloft, and plac’d in each
The lots of doom, for great Achilles one, 250
For Hector one, and held them by the midst:
Down sank the scale, weighted with Hector’s death,
Down to the shades, and Phcebus left his side.
Then to Pelides came the blue-ey’d Maid,
And stood beside him, and bespoke him thus: 255
“ Achilles, lov’d of Heawn, I trust that now
To thee and me great glory shall accrue
In Hector’s fall, insatiate of the fight.
Escape he «ἢ now, though at the feet
326 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXII.
Of egis-bearing Jove, on his behalf, * 260
With earnest pray’ Apollo prostrate tall.
But stay thou here and take thy breath, while I
Persuade him to return and dare the fight.”
So Pallas spoke; and he with joy obeying,
Stood leaning on his brass-barb’d ashen spear. 265
The Goddess left him there, and went (the form
And voice assuming of Deiphobus)
In search of godlike Hector; him she found,
And standing near, with winged words address‘d:
“Sorely, good brother, hast thou been bested 270
By fierce Achilles, who around the walls
Hath chas’d thee with swift foot; now stand we both
For mutual suecour, and his onset wait.”
To whom great Hector of the glancing helm:
“ Deiphobus, of all my brothers, sons 275
Of Hecuba and Priam, thou hast been
Still dearest to my heart; and now the more
I honour thee who dar’st on my behalf,
Seeing my peril, from within the walls
To sally forth, while others skulk behind.” 280
To whom the blue-ey’d Goddess this Replied :
Book XXII. §$ HOMER’S ILIAD. 327
“With many prays, good brother, both our sire
And honour’d mother, and our comrades all
Suceessively implored me to remain ;
bo
(@ 8)
σι
Such fear is fall’n on all; but in my soul
On thine account too deep a grief I felt.
Now, forward boldly! spare we not our spears;
Make trial if Achilles to the ships
From both of us our bloody spoils can bear,
Or by thine arm himself may be subdued.” 290
Thus Pallas lur’d him on with treach’rous wile ;
But when the two were met, and close at hand,
First spoke great Hector of the glancing helm :
“No more betore thee, Peleus’ son, I fly :
Thrice have I fled around the walls, nor dar’d 295
Await thine onset; now my spirit is rous’d
‘To stand before thee, to be slain, or slay.
But let us first th’ immortal Gods invoke ;
The surest witnesses and guardians they
Of compacts: at my hand no foul disgrace 800
Shalt thou sustain, if Jove with victory
Shall crown my firm endurance, and thy lite
ΟΠ me be forfeit; of thine armour stripp’d
328 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXII.
I promise thee, Achilles, to the Greeks
Thy body to restore; do thou the like.”
With fierce regard Achilles answer’d thus:
“ Hector, thou object of my deadly hate,
Talk not to me of compacts; as tween men
And lions no firm concord can exist,
Nor wolves and lambs in harmony unite,
But ceaseless enmity between them dwells:
So not in friendly terms, nor compact firm,
Can thou and I unite, till one of us
Glut with his blood the mail-clad warrior Mars.
Mind thee of all thy fence; behoves thee now
To prove a spearman skill’d, and warrior brave.
Wor thee escape is none; now, by my spear,
Hath Pallas doom’d thy death; my comrades’ blood,
Which thou hast shed, shall all be now aveng’d.”
He said, and poising, hurl’d his weighty spear;
But Hector saw, and shunn’d the blow; he stoop’d,
And o’er his shoulder flew the brass-tipp’d spear,
And in the ground was fix’d; but Pallas drew
The weapon forth, and to Achilles’ hand,
All unobserv’d of Hector, gave it back.
305
“10
315
320
“
I
Boox XXII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 329
Then Hector thus to Peleus’ matchless son :
“'Thine aim has fail’d; nor truly has my fate,
Immortal son of Peleus, been to thee
From Heav’n reveal’d; such was indeed thy boast ;
But now it seems that flippant was thy speech, 330
And cunningly devis’d, in hopes that I
Might by thy vaunts be terrified, and so
Forgetful of my fame and prowess prove.
Not in my back will I receive thy spear,
But through my breast, confronting thee, if Jove 886
Have to thine arm indeed such triumph givn.
Now, if thou canst, my spear in turn elude,
May it be deeply buried in thy flesh!
For lighter were to Troy the load of war,
If thou, her greatest enemy, wert slain.” 340
He said, and poising, hurl’d his pond’rous spear ;
Nor miss’d his aim ; full in the midst he struck,
Pelides’ shield ; but glancing from the shield
‘The weapon bounded off. Hector was grievd,
That thus his spear had bootless left his hand. 345
He stood aghast; no second spear was nigh :
And loudly on Deiphobus he call’d
330 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXII.
A spear to bring; but he was far away.
Then Hector knew that he was dup’d, and cried,
“Oh Heav’ns ! the Gods above have doom’d my death ! 350
I deem’d indeed that brave Deiphobus
Was near at hand; but he within the walls
Is safe, and I by Pallas am betray’d.
Now is my death at hand, nor far away:
Escape is none; since so hath Jove decreed, 355
And Jove’s far-darting son, who heretofore
Have been my guards; my fate hath found me now.
Yet not without a struggle let me die,
Nor all inglorious; but let some great act,
Which future days may hear of, mark my fall.” 360
Thus as he spoke, his trenchant sword he drew,
Pond’rous and vast, suspended at his side;
Collected for the spring, and forward dash’d:
As when an eagle, bird of loftiest flight,
Through the dark clouds swoops downward on the plain, 365
To seize some tender lamb, or cowring hare ;
So Hector rush’d, and wav’d his sharp-edg’d sword.
Achilles’ wrath was rous’d: with fury wild
His soul was fill’: before his breast he bore
Boox XXII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 331
His well-wrought shield; and fiercely on his brow 370
Nodded the four-plum’d helm, as on the breeze
Floated the golden hairs, with which the crest
By Vulcan’s hand was thickly interlae’d ;
And as amid the stars’ unnumber’d host,
In the deep dead of night, one star appears,
(Ju)
=I
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Hesper, the brightest star that shines in Heav’n,
Gleam’d the sharp-pointed lance, which in his right
Achilles pois’d, on godlike Hector’s doom
Intent, and scanning eagerly to see
Where from attack his body least was fenced. 380
All else the glitt’rimg armour guarded well, |
Which Hector from Patroclus’ corpse had stripp’d ;
One chink appear’d, just where the collar-bone
The neck and shoulder parts, beside the throat,
Where lies expos’d the swiftest road of death. 385
There level’d he, as Hector onward rush’d;
Right through the yielding neck the lance was drivn,
But sever’d not the windpipe, nor destroy’d
His powr of speech; prone in the dust he fell;
And oer him, vaunting, thus Achilles spoke: 390
“ Hector, Patrocius stripping of his arms,
332 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXII.
Thy hope was that thyself wast safe; and I,
Not present, brought no terror to thy soul:
Fool! in the hollow ships I yet remain’d,
I, his avenger, mightier far than he ; 395
I, who am now thy conquror. By the dogs
And vultures shall thy corpse be foully torn,
While him the Greeks with fun’ral rites shall grace.”
Whom answer’d Hector of the glancing helm,
Prostrate and helpless: “By thy soul, thy knees, 400
Thy parents’ heads, Achilles, 1 beseech,
Let not my corpse by Grecian dogs be torn.
Accept the ample stores of brass and gold,
Which as my ransom by my honour’ sire
And mother shall be paid thee; but my corpse 405
Restore, that so the men and wives of ‘Troy
May deck with honours due my fun’ral pyre.”
To whom, with fierce aspect, Achilles thus:
“Knee me no knees, vile hound! nor prate to me
Of parents! such my hatred, that almost 410
I could persuade myself to tear and eat
Thy mangled flesh; such wrongs I have to avenge.
He lives not, who can save thee from the dogs;
Book XXII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Not though with ransom ten and twenty fold
He here should stand, and yet should promise more ;
No, not though Priam’s royal self should sue
To be allowd for gold to ransom thee ;
No, not evn so, thy mother shall obtain
To lay thee out upon the couch, and mourn
O’er thee, her offspring; but on all thy limbs
Shall dogs and carrion vultures make their feast.”
To whom thus Hector of the glancing helm,
Dying: “I know thee well; nor did I hope
To change thy purpose; iron is thy soul.
But see that on thy head I bring not down
The wrath of Heav’n, when by the Scean gate
The hand of Paris, with Apollo’s aid,
Brave warrior as thou art, shall strike thee down.”
Ev’n as he spoke, his eyes were clos’d in death ;
And to the viewless shades his spirit fled,
Mourning his fate, his youth and vigour lost.
To him, though dead, Achilles thus replied :
“Die thou! my fate I then shall meet, whene’er
Jove and th’ immortal Gods shall so decree.”
He said, and from the corpse his spear withdrew,
420
435
334 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXII.
And laid aside; then stripp’d the armour off,
With blood besmear’d; the Greeks around him throng’d,
Gazing on Hector’s noble form and face,
And none approach’d that did not add a wound:
And one to other look’d, and said, “ Good faith,
Hector is easier far to handle now,
Than when erewhile he wrappd our ships in fire.”
Thus would they say, then stab the dead anew.
But when the son of Peleus, swift of foot,
Had stripp’d the armour from the corpse, he rose,
And, standing, thus th’ assembled Greeks address’d :
“QO friends, the chiefs and councillors of Greece,
Since Heay’n hath granted us this man to slay,
Whose single arm hath wrought us more of ill
Than all the rest combin’d, advance we now
Before the city in arms, and trial make
What is the mind of Troy; if, Hector slain,
They from the citadel intend retreat,
Or still, despite their loss, their ground maintain.
But wherefore entertain such thoughts, my soul ?
Beside the ships, unwept, unburied, lies
Patroclus; whom I never can forget,
440
445
450
455
Boox XXII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
990
While number’d with the living, and my limbs
Have powr to move; in Hades though the dead
May be forgotten, yet evn there will I
The mem’ry of my Ιου ἃ companion keep.
Now to the ships return we, sons of Greece,
Glad peans singing! with us he shall go;
Great glory is ours, the godlike Hector slain,
The pride of Troy, and as a God rever’d.”
He said, and foully Hector’s corpse misus‘d :
Of either foot he pierc’d the tendon through,
That from the ancle passes to the heel,
And to his chariot bound with leathern thongs,
Leaving the head to trail alone the ground;
Then mounted, with the captur’d arms, his car,
And urg’d his horses; nothing loth they flew.
A cloud of dust the trailing body rais‘d:
Loose hung his glossy hair; and in the dust
Was laid that noble head, so graceful once ;
Now to foul insult doom’d by Jove’s decree,
In his own country, at a foeman’s hand.
So lay the head of Hector; at the sight
His aged mother tore her hair, and far
460
465
470
996 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXII.
From off her head the glitt’ring veil she threw,
And with loud cries her slaughter’d son bewail’d.
Piteous, his father groan’d; and all around
Was heard the voice of wailing and of woe.
Such was the cry, as if the beetling height
Of Ilium all were smould’ring in the fire.
Scarce was the old man by the crowd restrain’d
From issuing forth beyond the Dardan gates;
Low in the dust he roll’d, imploring all,
Entreating by his name each sevral man:
“ Forbear, my friends; though sorrowing, stay me not;
Leave me to reach alone the Grecian ships,
And there implore this man of violence,
This haughty chief, if haply he my years
May revvrence, and have pity on my age.
For he too has a father, like to me;
Peleus, by whom he was begot, and bred,
The bane of Troy; and, most of all, to me
The cause of endless grief, who by his hand
Have been of many stalwart sons bereft.
Yet all, though griev’d for all, I less lament,
Than one, whose loss will sink me to the grave,
480
490
495
500
Boox XXII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 337
Hector! oh would to Heay’n that in mine arms
He could have died; with mourning then and tears
We might have satisfied our grief, both she
Who bore him, hapless mother, and myself.” 505
Weeping, he spoke; and with him wept the crowd:
Then, ’mid the women, Hecuba pour’d forth
Her vehement grief: “My child, oh whither now,
Heart-stricken, shall I go, of thee bereft,
Of thee, who wast to me by night and day 510
A glory and a boast; the strength of all
The men of Troy, and women? as a God
They worshipp’d thee: for, living, thou on all
Great glory shedd’st; but fate hath found thee now.”
Weeping, she spoke ; but nought as yet was known 515
To Hector’s wife; to her no messenger
Had brought the tidings, that without the walls
Remain’d her husband; in her house withdrawn
A web she woye, all purple, double woof,
With varied flows in rich embroidery, 520
And to her neat-hair’d maids she gave command
To place the largest caldrons on the fire,
That with warm baths, returning from the fight,
VOL. II. Z
338 | HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXII.
Hector might be refresh’d ; unconscious she,
That by Achilles’ hand, with Pallas’ aid, © 525
Far from the bath, was godlike Hector slain.
.The sounds of wailing reach’d her from the towr;
Totter'd her limbs, the distaff left her hand,
And to her neat-hair’d maidens thus she spoke:
“Haste, follow me, some two, that I may know 530
What mean these sounds; my honour’d mother’s voice
I hear; and in my breast my beating heart
Leaps to my mouth; my limbs refuse to move;
Some evil, sure, on Priam’s house impends.
Be unfulfill’d my words! yet much I fear 535
Lest my brave Hector be cut off alone,
By great Achilles, from the walls of Troy,
Chas’d to the plain, the desp’rate courage quench’d,
Which ever led him from the gen’ral ranks
Far in advance, and bade him yield to none.” 540
Then from the house she rush’d, like one distract,
With beating heart; and with her went her maids.
But when the towr she reach’d, where stood the crowd,
And mounted on the wall, and look’d around,
And saw the body trailing in the dust, 545
Boox XXII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 339
Which the fleet steeds were dragging to the ships,
A sudden darkness overspread her eyes ;
Backward she fell, and gasp’d her spirit away.
Far off were flung th’ adornments of her head,
The net, the fillet, and the woven bands; 550
The nuptial veil by golden Venus giv’n,
That day when Hector of the glancing helm
Led from Eétion’s house his wealthy bride.
The sisters of her husband round her press’d,
And held, as in the deadly swoon she lay. 555
But when her breath and spirit return’d again,
With sudden burst of anguish thus she cried:
“ Hector, oh woe is me! to misery
We both were born alike; thou here in Troy
In Priam’s royal palace; I in Thebes, 560
By wooded Placos, in Hétion’s house,
Who nurs’ my infancy ; unhappy he,
Unhappier I! would I had ne’er been born!
Now thou beneath the depths of earth art gone,
Gone to the viewless shades; and me hast left 565
A widow in thy house, in deepest woe;
Our child, an infant still, thy child and mine,
2 2
340 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXII.
Ill-fated parents both! nor thou to him,
Hector, shalt be a guard, nor he to thee:
For though he ’scape this tearful war with Greece, 570
Yet nought for him remains but ceaseless woe,
And strangers on his heritage shall seize.
No young companions own the orphan boy:
With downcast eyes, and cheeks bedew’d with tears,
His father’s friends approaching, pinch’d with want, 575
He hangs upon the skirt of one, of one
He plucks the cloak; perchance in pity some
May at their tables let him sip the cup,
Moisten his lips, but scarce his palate touch ;
While youths, with both surviving parents bless’d, 580
May drive him from their feast with blows and taunts,
“Begone! thy father sits not at our board :”
Then weeping, to his widowd mother’s arms
He flies, that orphan boy, Astyanax,
Who on his father’s knees erewhile was fed 585
On choicest marrow, and the fat of lambs;
And, when in sleep his childish play was hush’d,
Was lull’d to slumber in his nurse’s arms
On softest couch, by all delights surrounded.
Boox XXIT. HOMER’S ILIAD. 341
But grief, his father lost, awaits him now, 590
Astyanax, of Trojans so surnam’d,
Since thou alone wast Troy’s defence and guard.
But now on thee, beside the beaked ships,
Far from thy parents, when the rav’ning dogs
Have had their fill, the wriggling worms shall feed; 595
On thee, all naked; while within thy house
Lies store of raiment, rich and rare, the work
Of women’s hands; these will I burn with fire;
Not for thy need—thou ne’er shalt wear them more,—
But for thine honour in the sight of Troy.” 600
Weeping she spoke; the women join’d her wail.
342 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
BOOK XXIII.
1" they throughout the city made their moan ;
But when the Greeks had come where lay their ships
By the broad Hellespont, their sev’ral ways
They each pursued, dispersing; yet not so
Achilles let his Myrmidons disperse, 5
But thus his warlike comrades he address’d :
“My faithful comrades, valiant Myrmidons,
Loose we not yet our horses from the cars ;
But for Patroclus mourn, approaching near,
With horse and car; such tribute claim the dead ; 10
Then, free indulgence to our sorrows giv’n,
Loose we the steeds, and share the evning meal.”
He said; and they with mingled voices rais’d
The solemn dirge; Achilles led the strain;
Thrice round the dead they drove their sleek-skinn’d steeds, 15
Mourning, with hearts by Thetis grief-inspir’d ;
With tears the sands, with tears the warriors’ arms,
Boox XXTIT. HOMER’S ILIAD. 343
Were wet; so mighty was the chief they mourn’d.
Then on his comrade’s breast Achilles laid
His blood-stain’d hands, and thus began the wail: 20
“ All hail, Patroclus, though in Pluto’s realm ;
All that I promis’d, lo! I now perform ;
That on the corpse of Hector, hither drage’d,
Our dogs should feed; and that twelve noble youths,
bo
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The sons of Troy, before thy fun’ral pyre,
My hand, in vengeance for thy death, should slay.”
He said, and foully Hector’s corpse misus’d,
Flung prostrate in the dust, beside the couch
Where lay Mencetius’ son. His comrades then
Their glitt’rmg armour doff’d, of polish’d brass, 30
And loos’d their neighing steeds; then round the ship
Of Peleus’ son in countless numbers sat,
While he th’ abundant fun’ral feast dispens’d.
There many a steer lay stretch’d beneath the knife.
And many a sheep, and many a bleating goat, 35
And many a white-tusk’d porker, rich in fat,
There lay extended, singeing o’er the fire;
And blood, in torrents, flow’d around the corpse.
To Agamemnon then the Kings of Greece
344 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
The royal son of Peleus, swift of foot,
Conducted; yet with him they scarce prevail’d ;
So fierce his anger for his comrade’s death.
But when to Agamemnon’s tent they came,
He to the clear-voie’d heralds gave command
An ample tripod on the fire to place;
If haply Peleus’ son he might persuade
To wash away the bloody stains of war:
But sternly he, and with an oath refus’d.
“No, by great Jove I swear, of all the Gods
Highest and mightiest, water shall not touch
This head of mine, till on the fun’ral pyre
I see the body of Patroclus laid,
And build his tomb, and cut my votive hair;
For while I live and move ‘mid mortal men,
No second grief like this can pierce my soul.
Observe we now the mournful fun’ral feast :
But thou, great Agamemnon, King of men,
Send forth at early dawn, and to the camp
Bring store of fuel, and all else prepare,
That with provision meet the dead may pass
Down to the realms of night; so shall the fire
40
Boox XXITT. HOMER’S ILIAD. 345
From out our sight consume our mighty dead,
And to their wonted tasks the troops return.”
He said; they listen’d, and his words obey’d ;
Then busily the evning meal prepar’d, 65
And shar’d the social feast; nor lack’d there aught.
The rage of thirst and hunger satisfied,
Each to their sev’ral tents the rest repair’d ;
But on the many-dashing ocean’s shore
Pelides lay, amid his Myrmidons, 70
With bitter groans; in a clear space he lay,
Where broke the waves, continuous, on the beach.
There, cireumfus’d around him, gentle sleep,
Lulling the sorrows of his heart to rest,
O’ercame his senses; for the hot pursuit 75
Of Hector round the breezy heights of Troy
His active limbs had wearied: as he slept,
Sudden appear’d Patroclus’ mournful shade,
His very self; his height, and beauteous eyes,
And voice; the very garb he wont to wear: 80
Above his head it stood, and thus it spoke:
“Sleep’st thou, Achilles, mindless of thy friend,
Neglecting, not the living, but the dead?
346 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
Hasten my fun’ral rites, that I may pass
Through Hades’ gloomy gates; ere those be done, — 85
The spirits and spectres of departed men
Drive me far from them, nor allow to cross
Th’ abhorréd river; but forlorn and sad
I wander through the wide-spread realms of night.
And give me now thy hand, whereon to weep ; 90
For never more, when laid upon the pyre,
Shall I return from Hades; never more,
Apart from all our comrades, shall we two,
As friends, sweet counsel take; for me, stern Death,
The common lot of man, has op’d his mouth ; 95
Thou too, Achilles, rival of the Gods,
Art destin’d here beneath the walls of Troy
To meet thy doom; yet one thing must I add,
And make, if thou wilt grant it, one request.
Let not my bones be laid apart from thine, 100
Achilles, but together, as our youth
Was spent together in thy father’s house,
Since first my sire Mencetius me a boy
From Opus brought, a luckless homicide,
Who of Amphidamas, by evil chance, 105
Book XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 347
Had slain the son, disputing o’er the dice:
Me noble Peleus in his house receiv’d,
And kindly nurs’d, and thine attendant nam/’d ;
So in one urn be now our bones enclos‘d,
The golden vase, thy Goddess-mother’s gift.” 110
Whom answer’d thus Achilles, swift of foot :
“Why art thou here, lov’d being? why on me
These ΒΟΥ Τὰ} charges lay? whate’er thou bidd’st
Will I perform, and all thy mind fulfil;
But draw thou near; and in one short embrace, 115
Let us, while yet we may, our grief indulge.”
Thus as he spoke, he spread his longing arms,
But nought he clasp’d; and with a wailing cry,
Vanish’d, like smoke, the spirit beneath the earth.
Up sprang Achilles, all amaz’d, and smote 120
His hands together, and lamenting cried :
“Q Heawn, there are then, in the realms below,
Spirits and spectres, unsubstantial all ;
For through the night Patroclus’ shade hath stood,
Weeping and wailing, at my side, and told 12
ou
His bidding; th’ image of himself it seem’d.”
He said; his words the gen’ral grief arous’d:
348 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
To them, as round the piteous dead they mourn’d,
Appear’d the rosy-finger’d morn; and straight,
From all the camp, by Agamemnon sent, 130
Went forth, in search of fuel,-men and mules,
Led by a valiant chief, Meriones,
The follower of renown’d Idomeneus.
Their felling axes in their hands they bore,
And twisted ropes; their mules before them drivn; 135
Now up, now down, now sideways, now aslope,
They journey’d on; but when they reach’d the foot
Of spring-abounding Ida, they began
With axes keen to hew the lofty oaks;
They, loudly crashing, fell: the wood they clove, 140
And bound it to the mules; these took their way
Through the thick brushwood, hurrying to the plain.
The axe-men too, so bade Meriones,
The follower of renown’d Idomeneus,
Were laden all with logs, which on the beach 145
They laid in order, where a lofty mound,
In mem’ry of Patroclus and himself,
Achilles had design’d. When all the store
Of wood was duly laid, the rest remain’d
Boox XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 349
In masses seated ; but Achilles bade 150
The warlike Myrmidons their armour don,
And harness each his horses to his ear;
They rose and donn’d their arms, and on the cars
Warriors and charioteers their places took:
First came the horse, and then a cloud of foot, 155
Unnumber’d ; in the midst Patroclus came,
Borne by his comrades; all the corpse with hair
They cover’d o’er, which from their heads they shore.
Behind, Achilles held his head, and mourn’d
The noble friend whom to the tomb he bore. 160
Then on the spot by Peleus’ son assign’d,
They laid him down, and pil’d the wood on high.
Then a fresh thought Achilles’ mind conceiv’d:
Standing apart, the yellow locks he shore,
Which as an off’ring to Sperchius’ stream, 165
He nurs’d in rich profusion; sorrowing then
Look’d o’er the dark-blue sea, as thus he spoke:
“Sperchius, all in vain to thee his pray’r
My father Peleus made, and γον ἃ that 1,
Return’d in safety to my native land, 170
To thee should dedicate my hair, and pay
350 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boot XRT.
A solemn hecatomb, with sacrifice
Of fifty rams, unblemish’d, to the springs
Where on thy consecrated soil is plac’d
Thine incense-honour’d altar; so he νον: 175
But thou the boon withhold’st; since I no more
My native land may see, the hair he vow 4d,
To brave Patroclus thus I dedicate.”
He said, and on his comrade’s hand he laid
The locks; his act the gen’ral grief arous’d ; 180
And now the setting sun had found them still
Indulging in their grief; but Peleus’ son
Approaching, thus to Agamemnon spoke :
“ Atrides, for to thee the people pay
Readiest obedience, mourning too prolong’d 185
May weary; thou then from the pyre the rest
Disperse, and bid prepare the morning meal ;
Ours be the farther charge, to whom the dead
Was chiefly dear; yet let the chiefs remain.”
The monarch Agamemnon heard, and straight 190
Dispers’d the crowd amid their sevral ships.
Th’ appointed band remain’d, and pil’d the wood.
A hundred feet each way they built the pyre,
Book XXITI. HOMER’S ILIAD. 351
And on the summit, sorrowing, laid the dead.
Then many a sheep and many a slow-pac’d ox 195
They flay’d and dress’d around the fun’ral pyre;
Of all the beasts Achilles took the fat,
And cover’d o’er the dead from head to foot,
And heap’d the slaughter’d carcases around ;
Then jars of honey plac’d, and fragrant oils, 200
Resting upon the couch; next, groaning loud,
Four powrful horses on the pyre he threw ;
Then, of nine dogs that at their master’s board
Had fed, he slaughter’d two upon his pyre ;
Last, with the sword, by evil counsel sway’d, 205
Twelve noble youths he slew, the sons of Troy.
The fire’s devouring might he then applied,
And, groaning, on his lov’d companion call’d:
“ All hail, Patroclus, though in Pluto’s realm !
All that I promis’d, lo! I now perform: 210
On twelve brave sons of Trojan sires, with thee,
The flames shall feed; but Hector, Priam’s son,
Not to the fire, but to the dogs I give.”
Such was Achilles’ threat, but him the dogs
Molested not; for Venus, night and day, 215
352 | HOMER’S ILIAD. _ Boox XXIII.
Daughter of Jove, the ravning dogs restrain’d ;
And all the corpse o’erlaid with roseate oil,
Ambrosial, that though drage’d along the earth,
The noble dead might not receive a wound.
Apollo too a cloudy veil from Heay’n 220
Spread o’er the plain, and cover'd all the space
Where lay the dead, nor let the blazing sun
The flesh upon his limbs and muscles parch.
Yet burnt not up Patroclus’ fun’ral pyre ;
Then a fresh thought Achilles’ mind conceiv’d : 225
Standing apart, on both the Winds he call’d,
Boreas and Zephyrus, and added vows
Of costly sacrifice; and pouring forth
Libations from a golden goblet, pray’d
Their πο that the wood might haste to burn, 280
And with the fire consume the dead; his pray’r
Swift Iris heard, and bore it to the Winds.
They in the hall of gusty Zephyrus
Were gather'd round the feast; in haste appearing,
Swift Iris on the stony threshold stood. 235
They saw, and rising all, besought her each
To sit beside him; she with their requests
Boox XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 353
Refus’d compliance, and address’d them thus:
“No seat for me; for I oer th’ ocean stream
From hence am bound to Aithiopia’s shore, 240
To share the sacred feast, and hecatombs,
Which there they offer to th’ immortal Gods ;
But, Boreas, thee, and loud-voic’d Zephyrus,
With vows of sacrifice, Achilles calls
To fan the fun’ral pyre, whereon is laid 245
Patroclus, mourn’d by all the host of Greece.”
She said, and vanish’d; they, with rushing sound,
Rose, and before them drove the hurrying clouds:
Soon o’er the sea they swept; the stirring breeze
Ruffled the waves; the fertile shores of Troy 250
They reach’d, and falling on the fun’ral pyre,
Loud roar’d the crackling flames; they all night long
With current brisk together fann’d the fire.
All night Achilles from a golden bowl
Drew forth, and, in his hand a double cup, 255
The wine outpouring, moisten’d all the earth,
Still calling on his lost Patroclus’ shade.
As mourns a father oer a youthful son,
Whose early death hath wrung his parents’ hearts ;
VOL. II. 2A
354 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
So mourn’d Achilles o’er his friend’s remains, 260
Prostrate beside the pyre, and groan’d aloud.
But when the star of Hesperus appear’d,
The harbinger of light, whom following close
Spreads o’er the sea the saffron-robed morn,
Then pal’d the smould’ring fire, and sank the flame; 200
And o’er the Thracian sea, that groan’d and πρᾶν ἃ
Beneath their passage, home the Winds return’d ;
And weary, from the pyre a space withdrawn,
Achilles lay, o'ercome by gentle sleep.
Anon, awaken’d by the tramp and din t 270
Of crowds that follow Atreus’ royal son,
He sat upright, and thus address‘d his speech :
“Thou son of Atreus, and ye chiefs of Greece,
Far as the flames extended, quench we first
With ruddy wine the embers of the pyre ; 275
And of Mencetius’ son, Patroclus, next
With care distinguishing, collect the bones ;
Nor are they hard to know; for in the midst
He lay, while round the edges of the pyre,
Horses and men commix’d, the rest a burnt. 280
Let these, between a double layer of fat
Boox XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 355
Enclos’d, and in a golden urn remain,
Till I myself shall in the tomb be laid ;
And o’er them build a mound, not over-large,
But of proportions meet; in days to come, 285
Ye Greeks, who after me shall here remain,
Complete the work, and build it broad and high.”
Thus spoke Achilles; they his words obey’d:
Far as the flames had reach’d, and thickly Sean
The embers lay, they quench’d with ruddy wine; 290
Then tearfully their gentle comrade’s bones
Collected, and with double layers of fat
Enclos’d, and in a golden urn encas’d ;
Then in the tent they laid them, overspread
With veil of linen fair; then meting out 295
Th’ allotted space, the deep foundations laid
Around the pyre, and o’er them heap’d the earth.
Their task accomplish’d, all had now withdrawn ;
But Peleus’ son the vast assembly stay’d,
And bade them sit; then, prizes of the games, 300
Tripods and caldrons from the tents he brought,
And noble steeds, and mules, and sturdy steers,
And women fair of form, and iron hoar.
2 wk 2
356 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
First, for the contest of the flying cars
The prizes he display’'d: a woman fair, 305
Well skill’d in household cares; a tripod vast,
Two-handled, two and twenty metres round;
These both were for the victor: for the next,
A mare, unbroken, six years old, in foal
Of a mule colt; the third, a caldron bright, 310
Capacious of four metres, white and pure,
By fire as yet untarnish’d; for the fourth,
Of gold two talents; for the fifth, a vase
With double cups, untouch’d by fire, he gave.
Then, standing up, he thus address’d the Greeks: 315
“Thou son of Atreus, and ye well-greav’d Greeks,
Before ye are the prizes, which await
The contest of the cars; but if, ye Greeks,
For any other cause these games were held,
I to my tent should bear the foremost prize ; 320
For well ye know how far my steeds excel,
Steeds of immortal race, which Neptune gave
To Peleus, he to me, his son, transferr’d.
But from the present strife we stand aloof,
My horses and myself; they now have lost 325
Boox XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 357
The daring courage and the gentle hand
Of him who drove them, and with water pure
Wash’d oft their manes, and bath’d with fragrant oil.
For him they stand and mourn, with drooping heads
Down to the ground, their hearts with sorrow fill’d; 330
But ye in order range yourselves, who boast
Your well-built chariots and your horses’ speed.”
He said: up sprang the eager charioteers ;
The first of all, Eumelus, King of men,
Admetus’ son, unmatch’d in horsemanship ; 335
Next, Tydeus’ son, the valiant Diomed,
With Trojan horses, from A‘neas won,
When by Apollo’s aid himself escap’d ;
Then Heav’n-born Menelaus, Atreus’ son,
Two flying coursers harness’d to his car; 340
His own, Podargus, had for yokefellow
Ethe, a mare by Agamemnon lent :
Her, Echepolus to Atrides gave,
Anchises’ son, that to the wars of Troy
He might not be compell’d, but safe at home 345
Enjoy his ease; for Jove had bless’d his store
With ample wealth, in Sicyon’s wide domain.
358 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
Her now he yok’d, impatient for the course.
The fourth, Antilochus, the gallant son
Of Nestor, mighty monarch, Neleus’ son, 350
Harness’d his sleek-skinn’d steeds; of Pylian race
Were they who bore his car; to him, his sire
Sage counsel pour’d in understanding ears :
“ Antilochus, though young in years thou art,
Yet Jove and Neptune love thee, and have well 355
Instructed thee in horsemanship; of me
Thou need’st no counsel; skill’d around the goal
To whirl the chariot; but thou hast, of all,
The slowest horses: whence I augur ill.
But though their horses have the speed of thine, 860
In skill not one of them surpasses thee.
Then thou, dear boy, exert thine ev'ry art,
That so thou mayst not fail to gain a prize.
By skill, far more than strength, the woodman fells
The sturdy oak; by skill the steersman guides 365
His flying ship across the dark-blue sea,
Though shatter’d by the blast; ’twixt charioteer
And charioteer ’tis skill that draws the line.
One, vainly trusting to his coursers’ speed,
Boox XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Drives reckless here and there; oer all the course,
His horses, unrestrain’d, at random run.
Another, with inferior horses far,
But better skill’d, still fixing on the goal
His eye, turns closely round, nor overlooks
The moment when to draw the rein; but holds
His steady course, and on the leader waits.
A mark I give thee now, thou canst not miss:
There stands a wither'd trunk, some six feet high,
Of oak, or pine, unrotted by the rain ;
On either side have two white stones been plac’d,
Where meet two roads; and all around there lies
A smooth and level course; here stood perchance
The tomb of one who died long years ago;
Or former generations here have plac’d,
As now Achilles hath decreed, a goal.
There drive, as only not to graze the post;
And leaning o’er the wicker body, leave
Close on the left the stones; thine offside horse
Then urge with voice and whip, and slack his rein,
And let the nearside horse so closely graze,
As that thy nave may seem to touch, the goal:
375
380
385
390
360 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXIII.
But yet beware, lest, striking on the stone,
Thy steeds thou injure, and thy chariot break,
A source of triumph to thy rivals all,
Of shame to thee; but thou sage caution use ; 895
For, following, if thou make the turn the first,
Not one of all shall pass thee, or oertake ;
Not though Arion’s self were in the car,
Adrastus’ flying steed, of heawnly race,
Nor those which here Laomedon possess’d.” 400
This said, and to his son his counsels giv’n,
The aged Nestor to his seat withdrew.
Fifth in the lists Meriones appear’d.
They mounted on their cars, and cast their lots:
Achilles shook the helmet; first outleap’d 405
The lot of Nestor’s son, Antilochus ;
Next came the King Eumelus; after whom
The valiant Menelaus, Atreus’ son ; .
The fourth, Meriones; and last of all,
But ablest far, Tydides drew his place. 410
They stood in line; Achilles pointed out,
r
teen Gee
Far on the level plain, the distant goal ;
And there in charge the godlike Pheenix plae’d,
Boox XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 361
His father’s ancient follower, to observe
The course assign’d, and true report to make. 415
Then all at once their whips they rais’d, and urg’d
By rein, and hand, and voice, their eager steeds.
They from the ships pursued their rapid course
Athwart the distant plain; beneath their chests
Rose like a cloud, or hurricane, the dust ; 420
Loose floated on the breeze their ample manes ;
The cars now skimm’d along the fertile ground,
Now bounded high in air; the charioteers
Stood up aloft, and evry bosom beat
With hope of vict’ry ; each with eager shout 425
Cheering his steeds, that scour’d the dusty plain.
) But when, the farthest limits of the course
| Attain’d, they turn’d beside the hoary sea,
Strain’d to their utmost speed, were plainly seen’
The qualities of each; then in the front 430
| Appear’d Eumelus’ flying mares, and next
The Trojan horses of Tydides came:
Nor these were far behind, but following close
They seem’d in act to leap upon the car.
Eumelus, on his neck and shoulders broad, 435
362 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
Felt their warm breath; for oer him, as they flew,
Their heads were downward bent; and now, perchance,
Had he or pass’d, or made an even race,
But that, incens’d with valiant Diomed,
Apollo wrested from his hands the whip. 440
Then tears of anger from his eyelids fell,
As gaining more and more the mares he saw,
While, urg’d no more, his horses slack’d their speed.
But Pallas mark’d Apollo’s treach’rous wile ;
And hasting to the chief, restor'd his whip, 445
And to his horses strength and courage gave.
The Goddess then Admetus’ son pursued,
And snapp’d his chariot yoke; the mares, releas’d,
Swerv’d from the track; the pole upon the ground
Lay loosen’d from the car; and he himself 450
Beside the wheel was from the chariot hurld.
From elbows, mouth, and nose, the skin was torn;
His forehead crush’d and batter’d in; his eyes
Were fill’d with tears, and lost his pow’ of speech.
Tydides turn’d aside, and far ahead 455
Of all the rest, passd on; for Pallas gave
His horses courage, and his triumph will’d.
Boox XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Next him, the fair-hair’d Menelaus came,
The son of Atreus; but Antilochus
Thus to his father’s horses eall’d aloud:
“Forward, and stretch ye to your utmost speed ;
I ask you not with those of Diomed
In vain to strive, whom Pallas hath endued
With added swiftness, and his triumph will’d;
But haste ye, and o’ertake Atrides’ car,
Nor be by Atthe, by a mare, disgrac’d.
Why, my brave horses, why be left behind ?
This too I warn ye, and will make it good:
No more at Nestor’s hand shall ye receive
Your provender, but with the sword be slain,
If by your faults a lower prize be ours ;
Then rouse ye now, and put forth all your speed,
And I will so contrive, as not to fail
Of slipping past them in the narrow way.”
He said; the horses, of his voice in awe,
Put forth their pow’rs awhile; before them soon
Antilochus the narrow pass espied.
It was a gully, where the winter’s rain
Had lain collected, and had broken through
363
460
470
475
364 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
A length of road, and hollow’d out the ground: 480
There Menelaus held his cautious course,
Fearing collision; but Antilochus,
Drawing his steeds a little from the track,
Bore down upon him sideways: then in fear,
The son of Atreus to Antilochus 485
Shouted aloud, “ Antilochus, thou driv’st
Like one insane; hold in awhile thy steeds;
Here is no space; where wider grows the road,
There thou mayst pass; but here, thou wilt but cause
Our cars to clash, and bring us both to harm.” 490
He said; but madlier drove Antilochus,
Plying the goad, as though he heard him not.
Far as a discus’ flight, by some stout youth,
That tests his vigour, from the shoulder hurl‘,
So far they ran together, side by side: 495
Then dropp’d Atrides’ horses to the rear,
For he himself forbore to urge their speed,
Lest, meeting in the narrow pass, the cars
Should be o’erthrown, and they themselves, in haste
To gain the vict’ry, in the dust be roll’d. 500
Then thus, reproachful, to Antilochus:
ee > ee.
Boox XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
“ Antilochus, thou most perverse of men!
Beshrew thy heart! we Greeks are much deceiv’d
Who give thee fame for wisdom! yet ev’n now
Thou shalt not gain, but on thine oath, the prize.”
He said, and to his horses call’d aloud:
“Slack not your speed, nor, as defeated, mourn ;
Their legs and feet will sooner tire than yours,
For both are past the vigour of their youth.”
Thus he; the horses, of his voice in awe,
Put forth their pow’rs, and soon the leaders near’d.
Meanwhile the chieftains, seated in the ring,
Look’d for the cars, that scour’d the dusty plain.
The first to see them was Idomeneus,
The Cretan King; for he, without the ring,
Was posted high aloft; and from afar
He heard and knew the foremost horseman’s voice ;
Well too he knew the gallant horse that led,
All bay the rest, but on his front alone
A star of white, full-orbed as the moon:
Then up he rose, and thus the Greeks address’d:
“QO friends, the chiefs and councillors of Greece,
Can ye too see, or I alone, the cars?
505
510
515
520
366 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
A diff’rent chariot seems to me in front,
A diff’rent charioteer ; and they who first 525
Were leading, must have met with some mischance.
I saw them late, ere round the goal they tum’d,
But see them now no more; though all around
My eyes explore the wide-spread plain of Troy.
Perchance the charioteer has dropp’d the reins, 530
Or round the goal he could not hold the mares;
Perchance has miss’ the turn, and on the plain
Is lying now beside his broken car,
While from the course his mettled steeds have flown.
Stand up, and look yourselves; I cannot well 535
Distinguish; but to me it seems a chief,
Who reigns o’er Greeks, though of AXtolian race,
The son of Tydeus, valiant Diomed.”
Sharply Oileus’ active son replied :
“Idomeneus, why thus, before the time, 540
So rashly speak? while the high-stepping steeds
Are speeding yet across the distant plain.
Thine eyes are not the youngest in the camp,
Nor look they out the sharpest from thy head ;
But thou art ever hasty in thy speech, 545
Boox XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 367
And ill becomes thee this precipitance,
Since others are there here, thy betters far.
The same are leading now, that led at first,
Eumelus’ mares; ’tis he that holds the reins.”
To whom in anger thus the Cretan chief: 550
« Ajax, at wrangling good, in judgment naught,
And for aught else, among the chiefs of Greece
Of small account—so stubborn is thy soul ;
Wilt thou a tripod or a caldron stake,
And Agamemnon, Atreus’ son, appoint 555
The umpire to decide whose steeds are first ?
So shalt thou gain thy knowledge at thy cost.”
He said: up sprang Oileus’ active son,
In anger to reply; and farther yet
Had gone the quarrel, but Achilles’ self 560
Stood up, and thus the rival chiefs address‘d:
“Forbear, both Ajax and Idomeneus,
This bitter interchange of wordy war ;
It is not seemly ; and yourselves, I know,
Another would condemn, who so should speak. 565
But stay ye here, and seated in the ring,
Their coming wait; they, hurrying to the goal,
368 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
Will soon be here; and then shall each man know
Whose horses are the second, whose the first.”
Thus he; but Tydeus’ son’ drew near, his lash 570
Still laid upon his horses’ shoulder-points ;
As lightly they, high-stepping, scour’d the plain.
Still on the charioteer the dust was flung ;
As close upon the flying-footed steeds
Follow the car with gold and tin inlaid ; 575
And lightly, as they flew along, were left
Impress'd the wheel-tracks on the sandy plain.
There in the midst he stood, the sweat profuse
Down-pouring from his horses’ heads and chests ;
Down from the glitt’ring car he leap’d to earth, 580
And lean’d his whip against the chariot yoke;
Nor long delay’d the valiant Sthenelus,
But eagerly sprang forth to claim the prize;
Then to his brave companions gave in charge
To lead away the woman, and to bear 585
The tripod, while himself unyok’d the steeds.
Next came the horses of Antilochus,
Who had by stratagem, and not by speed,
O’er Menelaus triumph’d; yet evn so
———-. ao
Book XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Atrides’ flying coursers press’d him hard;
For but so far as from the chariot-wheel
A horse, when harness’d to’ a royal car;
Whose tail, back-streaming, with the utmost hairs
Brushes the felloes; close before the wheel,
Small space between, he scours the wide-spread plain :
So far was Meneliius in the rear
Of Nestor’s son; at first, a discus’ cast
Between them lay; but rapidly his ground
He gain’d—so well the speed and courage serv’d
Of Aithe, Agamemnon’s beauteous mare ;
And, but a little farther were the course,
Had pass’d him by, nor left the race in doubt.
Behind the noble son of Atreus came,
A javlin’s flight apart, Meriones,
The faithful follower of Idomeneus :
His were the slowest horses, and himself
The least experienc’d in the rapid race.
Dragging his broken car, came last of all,
His horses driv’n in front, Admetus’ son; -
Achilles swift of foot with pity saw,
And to the Greeks his winged words address’d:
VO I 2B
600
605
610
370 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
“See where the best of all the last appears ;
But let him take, as meet, the second prize;
The first belongs of right to Tydeus’ son.”
Thus he; they all assented to his words ;
And, by the gen’ral voice of Greece, the mare
Had now been his; but noble Nestor’s son,
Antilochus, stood up, his right to claim,
And to Achilles, Peleus’ son, replied:
“ Achilles, thou wilt τ me grievous wrong,
If thou thy words accomplish ; for my prize
Thou tak’st away, because mishap befell
His car and horses, by no fault of his;
Yet had he to th’ Immortals made his pray’r,
He surely had not thus been last of all.
But, pitying him, if so thy mind incline,
Thy tents contain good store of gold, and brass,
And sheep, and female slaves, and noble steeds;
For him, of these, hereafter mayst thou take
A prize of higher value; or ev’n now,
And with th’ applause of all; but for the mare,
I will not give her up; and let who will
615
620
625
630
Stand forth, my own right hand shall guard my prize.”
Boox XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 371
He said; and smil’d Achilles swift of foot,
Delighted; for he lovd the noble youth, 635
To whom his wingéd words he thus address‘d :
“ Antilochus, if such be thy request,
That for Eumelus I should add a prize,
This too I grant thee; and to him I give
My breastplate, from Asteropeeus won, 640
Of brass, around whose edge is roll’d a stream
Of shining tin; a gift of goodly price.”
He said, and bade Automedon, his friend
And comrade, bring the breastplate from his tent;
He went, and brought it; in Eumelus’ hand 645
He plac’d it; he with joy the gift receiv’d.
Then Menelius, sad at heart, arose,
Burning with wrath against Antilochus ;
And while the herald in the monarch’s hand
His royal sceptre plac’d, and bade the Greeks 650
Keep silence, thus the godlike hero spoke:
“ Antilochus, till now reputed wise,
What hast thou done? thou hast impugn’d my skill,
And sham’d my horses, who hast brought thine own,
Inferior far, before them to the goal. 655
2. B ὦ
372 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
But come, ye chiefs and councillors of Greece,
Judge ye between us, faving neither side:
That none of all the brass-clad Greeks may say
That Meneliius hath by false reports
O’erborne Antilochus, and holds his prize:
His horses fairly worsted, and himself
Triumphant only by superior pow’.
Or come now, I myself will judgment give ;
Nor deem I any Greek will find to blame
In my decision, for ’tis fair and just.
Antilochus, come forward, noble chief;
And standing, as tis meet, before the car
And horses, in thy hand the slender whip
Wherewith thou drov’st, upon the horses lay
Thy hand, and by Earth-shaking Neptune swear
That not of malice, and by set design,
Thou didst by fraud impede my chariot’s course.”
To whom Antilochus with prudent speech:
“Have patience with me yet; for I, O King,
O Meneliius, am thy junior far;
My elder and superior thee I own.
Thou know’st th’ o’er-eager vehemence of youth,
660
665
670
675
Boox XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 373
How quick in temper, and in judgment weak.
Set then thy heart at ease; the mare I won
I freely give; and if aught else of mine 680
Thou shouldst desire, would sooner give it all,
Than all my life be lowr'd, illustrious King,
In thine esteem, and sin against the Gods.”
Thus saying, noble Nestor’s son led forth,
And plac’d in Menelaus’ hands the mare : 685
The monarch’s soul was melted, like the dew
Which glitters on the ears of growing corn,
That bristle o’er the plain; ev’n so thy soul,
O Meneliius, melted at his speech ;
To whom were thus address’d thy winged words: — 690
“ Antilochus, at once I lay aside
My anger; thou art prudent, and not apt
To be thus led astray; but now thy youth
Thy judgment hath o’erpow’r'd; seek not henceforth
By trick’ry o’er thine elders to prevail. 695
To any other man of all the Greeks
I searce so much had yielded; but for that
Thyself hast labour’d much, and much endur’d,
Thou, thy good sire, and brother, in my cause;
; - 3 ὃ .
374 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXIII.
I yield me to thy pray’rs; and give, to boot,
700
The mare, though mine of right; that these may know
I am not of a harsh, unyielding mood.”
He said, and to Noémon gave in charge,
The faithful comrade of Antilochus,
The mare; himself the slniieiar caldron took.
Of gold two talents, to the fourth assign’d,
Fourth in the race, Meriones receiv’d ;
Still the fifth prize, a vase with double cup,
Remain’d; Achilles this to Nestor gave,
Before th’ assembled Greeks, as thus he spoke:
“'Take this, old man, and for an heir-loom keep,
In mem’ry of Patroclus’ fun’ral games,
Whom thou no more amid the Greeks shalt see.
Freely I give it thee; for thou no more
Canst box, or wrestle, or in sportive strife
The javlin throw, or race with flying feet;
For age with heavy hand hath bowd thee down.”
He said, and plac’d it in his hand; th’ old man
Receiv’d with joy the gift, and thus replied:
« All thou hast said, my son, is simple truth:
No firmness now my limbs and feet retain,
~l]
ς
or
110
720
Boox XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 375
Nor can my arms with freedom, as of old,
Straight from the shoulder, right and left, strike out.
Oh that such youth and vigour yet were mine,
As when th’ Epeians in Buprasium held 725
The royal Amarynceus’ fun’ral games,
And when the monarch’s songs prizes gave!
Then could not one of all th’ Epeian race,
Or Pylians, or Aitolians, vie with me.
In boxing, Clytomedes, Cinops’ son, 730
I vanquish’d ; then Anchzeus, who stood up
To wrestle with me, I with ease oerthrew ;
Iphiclus I outran, though fleet of foot;
In hurling with the spear, with Phyleus strove,
And Polydorus, and surpass’d them both. 73
ra
The sons of Actor in the chariot-race
Alone o’ereame me; aided by the crowd
Who envied my success, and saw, displeas’d,
The richest prizes by a stranger gain’d.
They were twin brothers; one who held the reins, 740
Still drove, and drove; the other plied the whip.
Such was I once; but now must younger men
Engage in deeds like these; and I, the chief
376 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXIII.
Of heroes once, must bow to weary age.
But honour thou with fitting fun’ral games 745
Thy comrade; I accept, well-pleas’d, thy gift,
My heart rejoicing that thou still retain’st
Of me a kindly mem’ry, nor o’erlook’st
The place of honour, which among the Greeks
Belongs to me of right; for this, the Gods 750
Reward thee with a worthy recompense !”
He said; Achilles listen’d to the praise
Of Neleus’ son; then join’d the gen’ral throng.
Next, he set forth the prizes, to reward
The labours of the sturdy pugilists ; 755
A hardy mule he tether’d in the ring,
Unbroken, six years old, most hard to tame ;
And for the vanquish’d man, a double cup;
Then rose, and to the Greeks proclaim’d aloud:
“Thou son of Atreus, and ye well-greav’'d Greeks, 760
For these we bid two champions brave stand forth,
And in the boxer’s manly toil contend ;
And he, whose stern endurance Phoebus crowns
With vict’ry, recogniz’d by all the Greeks,
He to his tent shall lead the hardy mule ; 765
Boox XXIil. HOMER’S ILIAD. 377
The loser shall the double cup receive.”
He said; up sprang Epeius, tall and stout,
A boxer skill’d, the son of Panopeus,
Who laid his hand upon the mule, and said:
“Stand forth, if any care the cup to win; 770
The mule, methinks, no Greek can bear away
From me, who glory in the champion’s name.
15 not enough, that in the battle-field
I claim no special praise? ‘tis not for man
In all things to excel; but this I say,
1
And will make good my words, who meets me here,
I mean to pound his flesh, and smash his bones.
See that his seconds be at hand, and prompt
To bear him from the rmg, by me subdued.”
He said; they all in silence heard his speech: 780
Only Euryalus, a godlike chief,
Son of Mecistheus, Talaion’s son,
Stood forth opposing; he had once in Thebes
Join’d in the fun’ral games of Cidipus,
=I
10 9)
cr
And there had vanquish’d all of Cadmian race.
On him attended valiant Diomed,
With cheering words, and wishes for success.
378 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
Around his waist he fasten’d first the belt,
Then gave the well-cut gauntlets for his hands,
Of wild bull’s hide. When both were thus equipp’d, 790
Into the centre of the ring they stepp’d:
There, face to face, with sinewy arms uprais‘d,
They stood awhile, then clos’d; strong hand with hand
Mingling, in rapid interchange of blows.
Dire was the clatter of their jaws; the sweat 795
Pour’d forth, profuse, from ev'ry limb; then rush’d
Epeius on, and full upon the cheek,
Half turn’d aside, let fall a stage’ring blow;
Nor stood Euryalus; but, legs and feet
Knock’d from beneath him, prone to earth he fell; 800
And as a fish, that flounders on the sand,
Thrown by rude Boreas on the weedy beach,
Till cover’d o’er by the returning wave;
So flounder’d he beneath that stunning blow.
But brave Epetus took him by the hand, 805
And rais’d him up; his comrades crowded round
And bore him from the field, with dragging steps,
Spitting forth clotted gore, his heavy head
Rolling from side to side; within his tent
Boor XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 379
They laid him down, unconscious; to the ring 810
Then back returning, bore away the cup.
Achilles next before the Greeks display’d
The prizes of the hardy wrestlers’ skill:
The victor’s prize, a tripod vast, fire-proof,
And at twelve oxen by the Greeks apprais‘d ; 815
And for the vanquish’d man, a female slave
Prie’d at four oxen, skill’d in household work.
Then rose, and loudly to the Greeks proclaim’d,
“Stand forth, whoe’er this contest will essay.”
He said; and straight uprose the giant form 820
Of Ajax Telamon: with him uprose
Ulysses, skill’d in ev’ry crafty wile.
Girt with the belt, within the ring they stood,
And each, with stalwart grasp, laid hold on each;
As stand two rafters of a lofty house, 825
Each propping each, by skilful architect
Design’d the tempest’s fury to withstand.
Creak’d their backbones beneath the tug and strain
Of-those strong arms; their sweat ρου ἃ down like rain ;
And bloody weals of livid purple hue 830
Their sides and shoulders streak’d, as sternly they
380 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
For vict’ry and the well-wrought tripod strove.
Nor could Ulysses Ajax overthrow,
Nor Ajax bring Ulysses to the ground,
So stubbornly he stood; but when the Greeks 835
Were weary of the long-protracted strife,
Thus to Ulysses mighty Ajax spoke :
“ Ulysses sage, Laertes’ godlike son,
Or lift thou me, or I will thee uplift:
The issue of our struggle rests with Jove.” 840
He said, and rais’d Ulysses from the ground ; |
Nor he his ancient craft remember’d not,
But lock’d his leg around, and striking sharp
Upon the hollow of the knee, the joint
Gave way; the giant Ajax backwards fell, 845
Ulysses on his breast; the people saw,
And marvell’d. Then in turn Ulysses strove
Ajax to lift; a little way he mov’d,
But [ἃ to lift him fairly from the ground;
Yet crook’d his knee, that both together fell, 850
And side by side, defil’d with dust, they lay.
And now a third encounter had they tried,
But rose Achilles, and the combat stay’d:
Boox XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 381
“ Forbear, nor waste your strength in farther strife ;
Ye both are victors; both then bear away 855
An equal meed of honour; and withdraw,
That other Greeks may other contests wage.”
Thus spoke Achilles; they his words obey’d,
And brushing off the dust, their garments donn‘d.
The prizes of the runners, swift of foot, 860
Achilles next set forth; a silver bowl,
Six measures its content, for workmanship
Unmatch’d on earth, of Sidon’s costliest art
The product rare; thence o’er the misty sea
Brought by Phcenicians, who, in port arriv’d, 865
Gave it to Thoas: by Eunéus last,
The son of Jason, to Patroclus paid,
In ransom of Lycaon, Priam’s son;
Which now Achilles, on his friend’s behalf,
Assign’d as his reward, whoe’er should prove 870
The lightest foot, and speediest in the race.
A steer, well fatten’d, was the second prize,
And half a talent, for the third, of gold.
He rose, and to the Greeks proclaim’d aloud,
“Stand forth, whoe’er this contest will essay.” 87
Ou
382 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
He said: uprose Oileus’ active son ;
Uprose Ulysses, skill’d in ev'ry wile,
And noble Nestor’s son, Antilochus,
Who all the youth in speed of foot surpass‘d.
They stood in line: Achilles pointed out 880
The limits of the course; as from the goal
They stretch’d them to the race, Oileus’ son
First shot ahead ; Ulysses following close ;
Nor farther than the shuttle from the breast
Of some fair woman, when her outstretch’d arm 885
Has thrown the woof athwart the warp, and back
Withdraws it towrd her breast; so close behind
Ulysses press’ on Ajax, and his feet
Trod in his steps, ere settled yet the dust.
His breath was on his shoulders, as the plain 890
He lightly skimm’d; the Greeks with eager shouts
Still cheering, as he strain’d to win the prize.
But as they near’d the goal, Ulysses thus
To blue-ey’d Pallas made his mental pray’r:
ree i ἍἣΑ͂. -
“Now hear me, Goddess, and my feet befriend.” 895
Thus as he pray’d, his pray’r the Goddess heard,
And all his limbs with active vigour fill’d;
Boor XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 383
And, as they stretch’d their hands to seize the prize,
Tripp'd up by Pallas, Ajax slipp’d and fell,
Amid the offal of the lowing kine 900
Which o’er Patroclus Peleus’ son had slain.
His mouth and nostrils were with offal fill’d.
First in the race, Ulysses bore away
The silver bowl; the steer to Ajax fell ;
And as upon the horn he laid his hand, 905
Sputt’ring the offal out, he call’d aloud:
“Lo, how the Goddess has my steps bewray’d,
Who guards Ulysses with a mother’s care.”
Thus as he spoke, loud laugh’d the merry Greeks.
Antilochus the sole remaining prize 910
Receiv’d, and, laughing, thus the Greeks address’d:
“T tell you, friends, but what yourselves do know,
How of the elder men th’ immortal Gods
Take special care; for Ajax’ years not much
Exceed mine own; but here we see a man, 915
One of a former age, and race of men;
A hale old man we call him; but for speed
Not one can match him, save Achilles’ self.”
Thus he, with praise implied of Peleus’ son;
384 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
To whom in answer thus Achilles spoke : 920
“ Antilochus, not unobserv’d of me
Nor unrewarded shall thy praise remain:
To thy half talent add this second half.”
Thus saying, in his hand he plac’d the gold;
Antilochus with joy the gift receiv’d. 925
Next, in the ring the son of Peleus laid
A pond’rous spear, a helmet, and a shield,
By brave Patroclus from Sarpedon won ;
Then rose, and loudly to the Greeks proclaim’d :
_ “For these we call upon two champions brave 930
To don their arms, their sharp-edg’d weapons grasp,
And public trial of their prowess make ;
And he who first his rival’s flesh shall reach,
And, through his armour piercing, first draw blood,
He shall this silver-studded sword receive, 935
My trophy from Asteropeeus won,
Well-wrought, of Thracian metal; but the arms
Tn common property they both shall hold,
And in my tent a noble banquet share.”
He said; uprose great Ajax Telamon, 940
And Tydeus’ son, the valiant Diomed.
Book XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 385
First, from the crowd apart, they donn’d their arms;
Then, eager for the fight, with haughty stare
Stood in the midst; the Greeks admiring gaz’d.
When, each approaching other, near they came, 945
Thrice rush’d they on, and thrice in combat clos’d.
Then through the buckler round of Diomed
Great Ajax drove his spear; nor reach’d the point
Tydides’ body, by the breastplate βίαν ἃ :
While, aim’d above the mighty shield’s defence, 950
His glitt’ring weapon flash’d at Ajax’ throat.
For Ajax fearing, shouted then the Greeks
To cease the fight, and share alike the prize;
But from Achilles’ hand the mighty sword,
With belt and scabbard, Diomed receiv’d. 95!
cr
Next in the ring the son of Peleus plac’d
A pond’rous mass of iron, as a quoit
Once wielded by Hétion’s giant strength,
But to the ships with other trophies borne,
When by Achilles’ hand Hétion fell. 960
Then rose, and loudly to the Greeks proclaim’d:
“Stand forth, whoe’er this contest will essay.
This prize who wins, though widely may extend
VOL. I. DG
386 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXITI.
His fertile fields, for five revolving years
It will his wants supply; nor to the town
For lack of iron, with this mass in store,
Need he his shepherd or his ploughman send.”
He said; and valiant Polypcetes rose,
Epeius, and Leonteus’ godlike strength,
And mighty Ajax, son of Telamon.
In turns they took their stand; Epeius first
Uprais’d the pond’rous mass, and through the air
Hurl’d it, amid the laughter of the Greeks.
Next came Leonteus, scion true of Mars;
The third was Ajax; from whose stalwart hand
Beyond the farthest mark the missile flew.
But when the valiant Polypcetes took
The quoit in hand, far as a herdsman throws
His staff, that, whirling, flies among the herd;
So far beyond the ring’s extremest bound
965
970
975
980
He threw the pond’rous mass; loud were the shouts ;
And noble Polypcetes’ comrades rose,
And to the ships the monarch’s gift convey’d.
The archers’ prizes next, of iron hoar,
Ten sturdy axes, double-edg’d, he plac’d,
985
Book XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD. 387
And single hatchets ten; then far away
Rear’d on the sand a dark-prow’d vessel’s mast,
On which, with slender string, a tim’rous dove
Was fasten’d by the foot, the archers’ mark ;
That who should strike the dove, should to his tent 990
The axes bear away; but who the string
Should sever, but should fail to strike the bird,
As less in skill, the hatchets should receive.
Thus spoke Achilles; straight uprose the might
Of royal Teucer, and Meriones, 995
The faithful follower of Idomeneus.
They in a brass-bound helmet shook the lots.
The first was Teucer’s; with impetuous force
He shot; but vowd not to the Archer-King
Of firstling lambs a solemn hecatomb. 1000
The dove he struck not, for the Archer-God
Withheld his aid; but close beside her foot
The arrow sever'd the retaining string.
The bird releas’d, soar’d heav’nward; while the string
Dropp’d, from the mast suspended, tow’rds the earth, 1005
And loudly shouted their applause the Greeks.
Then snateh’d Meriones in haste the bow
388 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIII.
From Teucer’s hand; his own already held
His arrow, pointed straight; he drew the string,
And to the far-destroying King he vowd 1010
Of firstling lambs a solemn hecatomb.
Aloft amid the clouds he mark’d the dove,
And struck her, as she soar’d, beneath the wing:
Right through the arrow pass’; and to the earth
Returning, fell beside Meriones. 1015
The bird upon the dark-prow’d vessel’s mast
Lighted awhile; anon, with drooping head,
And pinions flutt’ring vain, afar she fell,
Lifeless; th’ admiring crowd with wonder gaz’d.
Meriones the axes bore away, 1020
While Teucer to the ships the hatchets bore.
Last, in the ring the son of Peleus laid
A pond’rous spear, and caldron, burnish’d bright,
Pric’d at an ox’s worth, untouch’d by fire,
For those who with the jav lin would contend. 1025
Uprose then Agamemnon, King of men,
The son of Atreus, and Meriones, y
The faithful follower of Idomeneus;
But Peleus’ godlike son address’d them. thus :
Boox XXIII. HOMER’S ILIAD.
“ How far, Atrides, thou excell’st us all,
And with the javlin what thy powr and skill
Pre-eminent, we know; take thou this prize,
And bear it to thy ships; and let us give
To brave Meriones the brazen spear ;
If so it please thee, such were my advice.”
He said; and Agamemnon, King of men,
Assenting, gave to brave Meriones
The brazen spear; while in Talthybius’ care,
His herald, plac’d the King his noble prize.
1035
1039
390 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXIV.
BOOK XXIV.
ie games were ended, and the multitude
Amid the ships their sev’ral ways dispers’d :
Some to their supper, some to gentle sleep
Yielding, delighted ; but Achilles still
Mourn’d o’er his lovd companion; not on him
Lighted all-conqu’ring sleep, but to and fro
Restless he toss’d, and on Patroclus thought,
His vigour and his courage; all the deeds
They two together had achieyd; the toils,
The perils they had undergone, amid
The strife of warriors, and the angry waves.
Stirr’d by such mem’ries, bitter tears he shed ;
Now turning on his side, and now again
Upon his back; then prone upon his face;
Then starting to his feet, along the shore
All objectless, despairing, would he roam ;
Nor did the morn, above the sea appearing,
σι
10
15
Boox XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Unmark’d of him arise; his flying steeds
He then would harness, and, behind the car
The corpse of Hector trailing in the dust,
Thrice make the circuit of Patroclus’ tomb ;
Then would he turn within his tent to rest,
Leaving the prostrate corpse with dust defil’d ;
But from unseemly marks the valiant dead
Apollo guarded, who with pity viewd
The hero, though in death; and round him threw
His golden gis; nor, though drage’d along,
Allow’d his body to receive a wound.
Thus foully did Achilles in his rage
Misuse the mighty dead; the blessed Gods
With pitying grief beheld the sight, and urg’d
That Hermes should by stealth the corpse remove.
The counsel pleas’d the rest; but Juno still,
And Neptune, and the blue-ey’d Maid, retain’d
The hatred, unappeas’d, with which of old
Troy and her King and people they pursued ;
Since Paris to the rival Goddesses,
Who to his sheepfold came, gave deep offence,
Preferrmg her who brought him in return
30
80
392 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIV.
The fatal boon of too successful love.
But when the twelfth revolving day was come,
Apollo thus th’ assembled Gods address’d :
“Shame on ye, Gods, ungrateful! have ye not,
At Hector’s hand, of bulls and choicest goats
Receiv’d your off’rings meet? and fear ye now
Ey’n his dead corpse to save, and grant his wife,
His mother, and his child, his aged sire
And people, to behold him, and to raise
His fun’ral pile, and with due rites entomb?
But fell Achilles all your aid commands ;
Of mind unrighteous, and inflexible
His stubborn heart; his thoughts are all of blood;
Ey’n as a lion, whom his mighty strength
And dauntless courage lead to leap the fold,
And ’mid the trembling flocks to seize his prey ;
Ey’n so Achilles hath discarded ruth,
And conscience, arbiter of good and ill.
A man may lose his best-lov’d friend, a son,
Or his own mother’s son, a brother dear:
He mourns and weeps, but time his grief allays,
For fate to man a patient mind hath givn:
40
45
50
0
60
Boox XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 393
But godlike Hector’s body, after death,
Achilles, unrelenting, foully drags,
Lash’d to his car, around his comrade’s tomb.
This is not to his praise; though brave he be, 65
Yet thus our anger he may justly rouse,
Who in his rage insults the senseless clay.”
To whom, indignant, white-arm’d Juno thus:
“Some show of reason were there in thy speech,
God of the silver bow, could Hector boast 70
Of equal dignity with Peleus’ son.
A mortal one, and nurs’ at woman’s breast ;
The other, of a Goddess born, whom I
Nurtur’d and rear’d, and to a mortal gave
In marriage; gave to Peleus, best belov’d
=~]
ou
By all th’ Immortals, of the race of man.
Ye, Gods, attended all the marriage rites ;
Thou too, companion base, false friend, wast there,
And, playing on thy lyre, didst share the feast.”
To whom the Cloud-compeller answer’d thus: 80
“Juno, restrain thy wrath; they shall not both
Attain like honour; yet was Hector once,
Of all the mortals that in [lium dwell,
394 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXIV.
Dearest to all the Gods, and chief to me ;
For never did he fail his gifts to bring,
And with burnt-off’rmgs and libations due
My altars crown; such worship I receiv’d.
Yet shall bold Hector’s body, not without
The knowledge of Achilles, be removd ;
For day and night his Goddess-mother keeps
Her constant watch beside him. Then, some God
Bid Thetis hither to my presence haste ;
And I with prudent words will counsel her,
That so Achilles may at Priam’s hand
Large ransom take, and set brave Hector free.”
He said; and promptly on his errand sprang
The storm-swift Iris; in the dark-blue sea
She plung’d, midway ’twixt Imbros’ rugged shore
And Samos’ isle; the parting waters plash’d,
As down to ocean’s lowest depths she dropp’d,
Like to a plummet, which the fisherman
Lets fall, encas'd in wild bull’s horn, to bear
Destruction to the sea’s voracious tribes.
There found she Thetis in a hollow cave,
Around her rang’d the Ocean Goddesses :
85
90
100
105
Book XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 395
She, in the midst, was weeping oer the fate
Her matchless son awaiting, doom’d to die
Far from his home, on fertile plains of Troy.
Swift-footed Iris at her side appear’d,
And thus address’d her: “ Hasten, Thetis; Jove, 110
Lord of immortal counsel, summons thee.”
To whom the silver-footed Goddess thus :
“What would with me the mighty King of Heav’n?
Press’'d as I am with grief, I am asham’d
To mingle with the Gods; yet will I go: 115
Nor shall he speak in vain, whate’er his words.”
Thus as she spoke, her veil the Goddess took,
All black, than which none deeper could be found ;
She rose to go; the storm-swift Iris led
The way before her; ocean’s parted waves 120
Around their path receded; to the beach
Ascending, upwards straight to Heav’n they sprang.
Th’ all-seemg son of Saturn there they found,
And rang’d around him all th’ immortal Gods.
Pallas made way; and by the throne of Jove 125
Sat Thetis, Juno proff’ring to her hand
A goblet fair of gold, and adding words
396 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXIV.
Of welcome; she the cup receiy’d, and drank.
Then thus began the sire of Gods and men:
“Thou, Thetis, sorrowing to Olympus com’st,
Borne down by ceaseless grief; I know it well;
Yet hear the cause for which I summon’d thee.
About Achilles, thy victorious son,
And yaliant Hector’s body, for nine days
Hath contest been in Heay’n; and some have urg’d
That Hermes should by stealth the corpse remove.
This to Achilles’ praise I mean to turn,
And thus thy rev’rence and thy love retain.
Then haste thee to the camp, and to thy son
My message bear; tell him that all the Gods
Are fill’d with wrath; and I above the rest
Am angry, that beside the beaked ships,
He, mad with rage, the corpse of Hector keeps :
So may he fear me, and the dead restore.
Iris meantime to Priam I will send,
And bid him seek the Grecian ships, and there
Obtain his son’s release; and with him bring
Such presents as may melt Achilles’ heart.”
He said; the silver-footed Queen obey’d ;
130
140
145
Boox XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 397
Down from Olympus’ heights in haste she sped, 150
And sought her son; him found she in his tent,
Groaning with anguish, while his comrades round,
Plying their tasks, the morning meal prepar’d.
For them a goodly sheep, full-fleec’d, was slain.
Ou
Close by his side his Goddess-mother stood, 15:
And gently touch’d him with her hand, and said,
“How long, my son, wilt thou thy soul consume
With grief and mourning, mindful nor of food
Nor sleep? nor dost thou wisely, to abstain
From woman’s love; for short thy time on earth: 160
Death and imperious fate are close at hand.
Hear then my words; a messenger from Jove
To thee I come, to tell thee that the Gods
Are fill’d with wrath, and he above the rest
Is angry, that beside the beakéd ships 165
Thou, mad with rage, the corpse of Hector keep’st.
Then ransom take, and liberate the dead.”
To whom Achilles, swift of foot, replied :
“So be it; ransom let him bring, and bear
His dead away, if such the will of Jove.” 170
Thus, in the concourse of the ships, they two,
398 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIV.
Mother and son, their lengthen’d converse held.
Then Saturn’s son to Iris gave command:
“ Haste thee, swift Iris, from th’ abodes of Heav’n,
To Troy, to royal Priam bear my words; 175
And bid him seek the Grecian ships, and there
Obtain his son’s release; and with him take
Such presents as may melt Achilles’ heart.
Alone, no Trojan with him, must he go;
Yet may a herald on his steps attend, 180
Some aged man, his smoothly-rolling car
And mules to drive; and to the city back
To bring his dead, whom great Achilles slew.
Nor let the fear of death disturb his mind :
Hermes shall with him, as his escort, go, 185
And to Achilles’ presence safely bring.
Arriv’d within the tent, nor he himself
Will slay him, but from others will protect.
Not ignorant is he, nor void of sense,
Nor disobedient to the Gods’ behest ; . 190
But will with pitying eyes his suppliant view.”
He said; and on his errand sped in haste
The storm-swift Iris; when to Priam’s house
Boox XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 399
She came, the sounds of wailing met her ear.
Within the court, around their father, sat 195
His sons, their raiment all bedew’d with tears ;
And in the midst, close cover’d with his robe,
Their sire, his head and neck with dirt defil’d,
Which, wallowing on the earth, himself had heap’d,
With his own hands, upon his hoary head. 200
Throughout the house his daughters loudly wail’d
In mem’ry of the many and the brave
Who lay in death, by Grecian warriors slain.
Beside him stood the messenger of Jove,
And whisper’d, while his limbs with terror shook: 200
“Fear nothing, Priam, son of Dates
Nor let thy mind be troubled; not for ill,
But here on kindly errand am I sent:
To thee I come, a messenger from Jove,
Who from on high looks down on thee with eyes 210
Of pitying love; he bids thee ransom home
The godlike Hector’s corpse ; and with thee take
Such presents as may melt Achilles’ heart.
Alone, no Trojan with thee, must thou go;
Yet may a herald on thy steps attend,
bo
ἘΣ
Ou
400 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIV.
Some aged man, thy smoothly-rolling car
And mules to drive, and to the city back
To bring thy dead, whom great Achilles slew.
Nor let the fear of death disturb thy mind:
Hermes shall with thee, as thine escort, go, | 220
And to Achilles’ presence safely bring.
Arriv’d within the tent, nor he himself
Will slay thee, but from others will protect ;
Not ignorant is he, nor void of sense,
Nor disobedient to the Gods’ behest, 225
But will with pitying eyes his suppliant view.”
Swift-footed Iris said, and vanish’d straight :
He to his sons commandment gave, the mules
To yoke beneath the smoothly-rolling car,
And on the axle fix the wicker seat. 230
Himself the lofty cedar-chamber sought,
Fragrant, high-roof’d, with countless treasures stor’d ;
And eall’d to Hecuba his wife, and said,
“Good wife, a messenger from Jove hath come,
Who bids me seek the Grecian ships, and there 235
Obtain my son’s release; and with me take
Such presents as may melt Achilles’ heart.
Boox XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 401
Say then, what think’st thou ? for my mind inclines
To seek the ships within the Grecian camp.”
So he; but Hecuba lamenting cried, 240
“ Alas, alas! where are thy senses gone?
And where the wisdom, once of high repute
"Mid strangers, and ’mid those o’er whom thou reign’st ?
How canst thou think alone to seek the ships,
Ent’ring his presence, who thy sons has slain, 245
Many and brave? an iron heart is thine!
Of that bloodthirsty and perfidious man,
_If thou within the sight and reach shalt come,
No pity will he feel, no rev’rence show:
Rather remain we here apart and mourn ; 250
For him, when at his birth his thread of life
Was spun by fate, twas destin’d that afar
From home and parents, he should glut the maw
Of ravning dogs, by that stern warrior’s tent,
Whose inmost heart I would I could devour: 25!
σι
Or
Such for my son were adequate revenge,
Whom not in ignominious flight he slew;
But standing, thoughtless of escape or flight,
For Trojan men and Troy’s deep-bosom’d dames.”
VOL. II. 2D
402 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXIV.
To whom in answer Priam, godlike sire : 260
“Seek not to hinder me; nor be thyself
A bird of evil omen in my house ;
For thou shalt not persuade me. If indeed
This message had been brought by mortal man,
Prophet, or seer, or sacrificing priest, 265
I should have deem’d it false, and laugh’d to scorn
The idle tale; but now (for I myself
Both saw and heard the Goddess) I must go;
Nor unfulfill’d shall be the words I speak :
And if indeed it be my fate to die ΕἾ ΣΥΝ
Beside the vessels of the brass-clad Greeks,
I am content! by fierce Achilles’ hand
Let me be slain, so once more in my arms
I hold my boy, and give my sorrow vent.”
Then raising up the coffer’s polish’d lid, 275
He chose twelve gorgeous shawls, twelve single cloaks,
As many rugs, as many splendid robes,
As many tunics; then of gold he took
Ten talents full; two tripods, burnish’d bright,
Four caldrons; then a cup of beauty rare, 280
A rich possession, which the men of Thrace
Boox XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 403
Had giv’n, when there he went ambassador ;
νὴ this he spar’d not, such his keen desire
His son to ransom. From the corridor
bo
(oe)
or
With angry words he drove the Trojans all:
“Out with ye, worthless rascals, vagabonds !
Have ye no griefs at home, that here ye come
To pester me? or is it not enough
That Jove with deep affliction visits me,
Slaying my bravest son? ye to your cost 290
Shall know his loss: since now that he is gone,
The Greeks shall find you easier far to slay.
But may my eyes be clos’d in death, ere see
The city sack’d, and utterly destroy’d.”
He said, and with his staff drove out the crowd; 295
Before the old man’s anger fled they all;
Then to his sons in threat’ning tone he cried ;
To Paris, Helenus, and Agathon,
Pammon, Antiphonus, Polites brave,
Deiphobus, and bold Hippothous, 300
And godlike Dius; all these nine with threats
And angry taunts the aged sire assail’d :
“ Haste, worthless sons, my scandal and my shame!
B12,
404 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIV.
Would that ye all beside the Grecian ships
In Hector’s stead had died! Oh woe is me, 305
Who have begotten sons, in all the land
The best and bravest; now remains not one;
Mestor, and Troilus, dauntless charioteer, *
And Heetor, who a God ’mid men appear’d,
Nor like a mortal’s offspring, but a God’s: 310
All these hath Mars cut off; and left me none,
None but the vile and refuse; liars all,
Vain skipping coxcombs, in the dance alone,
And in nought else renown’d; base plunderers,
From their own countrymen, of lambs and kids. 315
When, laggards, will ye harness me the car
Equippd with all things needed for the way ?”
He said; they quail’d beneath their father’s wrath,
And brought the smoothly-running mule-wain out,
Well-fram’d, new-built; and fix’d the wicker seat; 820
Then from the peg the mule-yoke down they took,
Of boxwood wrought, with boss and rings complete ;
And with the yoke, the yoke-band brought they forth,
Nine cubits long; and to the polish’d pole
At the far end attach’d; the breast-rings then 325
Boox XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 405
Fix’d to the pole-piece ; and on either side
Thrice round the knob the leathern thong they wound,
And bound it fast, and inward turn’d the tongue.
Then the rich ransom, from the chambers brought,
Of Hector’s head, upon the wain they pild; 330
And yok’d the strong-hoof’d mules, to harness train’d,
The Mysians’ splendid present to the King:
To Priam’s car they harness’d then the steeds,
Which he himself at polish’d manger fed.
Deep thoughts revolving, in the lofty halls 335
Were met the herald and the aged King,
When Hecuba with troubled mind drew near;
In her right hand a golden cup she bore
Of luscious wine, that ere they took their way
They to the Gods might due libations pour ; 340
Before the car she stood, and thus she spoke :
“Take, and to father Jove thine off’ring pour,
And pray that he may bring thee safely home
From all thy foes; since sore against my will
Thou needs wilt venture to the ships of Greece. 345
Then to Idean Jove, the cloud-girt son
Of Saturn, who th’ expanse of Troy surveys,
406 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXIV.
Prefer thy pray’r, beseeching him to send,
On thy right hand, a winged messenger,
The bird he loves the best, of strongest flight ;
That thou thyself mayst see and know the sign,
And, firm in faith, approach the ships of Greece.
But should th’ all-seeing Jove the sign withhold,
Then not with my consent shouldst thou attempt,
Whate’er thy wish, to reach the Grecian ships.”
To whom, in answer, godlike Priam thus :
“QO woman, I refuse not to obey
Thy counsel; good it is to raise the hands
In pray’ to Heav’n, and Jove’s protection seek.”
The old man said; and bade th’ attendant pour
Pure water on his hands; with ewer she,
And basin, stood beside him: from his wite,
The due ablutions made, he took the cup;
Then pour’d the wine, and looking up to Heawn
He rais‘d his voice, and thus he pray’d aloud:
“0 father Jove, who rul’st on Ida’s height,
Most great, most glorious! grant that I may find
Some pity in Achilles’ heart; and send,
On my right hand, a winged messenger,
360
365
Boox XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 407
The bird thou lov’st the best, of strongest flight, 370
That I myself may see and know the sign,
And, firm in faith, approach the ships of Greece.”
Thus as he pray’d, the Lord of counsel heard ;
And sent forthwith an eagle, feather’d king,
Dark bird of chase, and Dusky thence surnam’d: 375
Wide as the portals, well secur’d with bolts,
That guard some wealthy monarch’s lofty hall,
On either side his ample pinions spread.
On the right hand appear’d he, far above
The city soaring; they the favring sign 380
With joy beheld, and evry heart was cheer'd.
Mounting his car in haste, the aged King
Drove through the court, and through the echoing porch ;
The mules in front, by sage Ideeus driv’n,
That drew the four-wheel’d wain; behind them came 585
The horses, down the city’s steep descent
Ure’d by th’ old man to speed; the crowd of friends
That followd mourn’d for him, as doom’d to death.
Descended from the city to the plain,
His sons and sons-in-law to [lium took 390
Their homeward way; advancing o'er the plain
408 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXIV.
They two escap’d not Jove’s all-seeing eye;
Pitying he saw the aged sire; and thus
At once to Hermes spoke, his much-loy’d son:
“ Hermes, for thou in social converse loy’st
To mix with men, and hear’st whome’er thou wilt ;
Haste thee, and Priam to the Grecian ships
So lead, that none of all the Greeks may see
Ere to Achilles’ presence he attain.”
He said; nor disobey’d the heavnly Guide;
His golden sandals on his feet he bound,
Ambrosial work; which bore him o’er the waves,
Swift as the wind, and oer the wide-spread earth ;
Then took his rod, wherewith he seals at will
The eyes of men, and wakes again from sleep.
This in his hand he bore, and sprang for flight.
Soon the wide Hellespont he reach’d, and Troy,
And pass’d in likeness of a princely youth,
In op’ning manhood, fairest term of life.
The twain had pass’d by Ilus’ lofty tomb,
And halted there the horses and the mules
Beside the margin of the stream to drink;
For darkness now was creeping o'er the earth:
395
400
405
410
Boox XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 409
When through the gloom the herald Hermes saw
Approaching near, to Priam thus he cried: 415
“Q son of Dardanus, bethink thee well ;
Of prudent counsel great is now our need.
A man I see, and fear he means us ill.
Say, with the horses shall we fly at once,
Or clasp his knees, and for his mercy sue ?” 420
The old man heard, his mind confus’d with dread ;
So grievously he fear’d, that every hair
Upon his bended limbs did stand on end ;
He stood astounded; but the Guardian-God
Approach’d and took him by the hand, and said: 425
“Where, father, goest thou thus with horse and mule
In the still night, when men are sunk in sleep?
And fear’st thou not the slaughter-breathing Greeks,
Thine unrelenting foes, and they so near ?
If any one of them should see thee now, 430
So richly laden in the gloom of night,
How wouldst thou feel? thou art not young thyself,
And this old man, thy comrade, would avail
But little to protect thee from assault.
I will not harm thee, nay will shield from harm, 435
410 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIV.
For like my father’s is, methinks, thy face.”
To whom in answer Priam, godlike sire :
“"Tis as thou say’st, fair son; yet hath some God
Extended o’er me his protecting hand,
Who sends me such a guide, so opportune. 440
Bless’d are thy parents in a son so grac’d
In face and presence, and of mind so wise.”
To whom in answer thus the Guardian-God :
“O father, well and wisely dost thou speak ;
But tell me this, and truly: dost thou bear 445
These wealthy treasures to some foreign land,
That they for thee in safety may be βίοι ἃ ἢ
Or have ye all resolv’d to fly from Troy
In fear, your bravest slain, thy gallant son,
Who never from the Greeks’ encounter flinch’d?” 450
To whom in answer Priam, godlike sire :
“Who art thou, noble Sir, and what thy race,
That speak’st thus fairly of my hapless son ?”
To whom in answer thus the Guardian-God :
“Try me, old man; of godlike Hector ask; 455
For often in the glory-giving fight
These eyes have seen him; chief, when to the ships
Boox XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 411
The Greeks he drove, and with the sword destroy’d.
We gazd in wonder; from the fight restrain’d
By Peleus’ son, with Agamemnon wroth. 460
His follower I; one ship convey’d us both;
One of the Myrmidons I am; my sire
Polyctor, rich, but aged, evn as thou.
Six sons he hath, besides myself, the sevnth ;
And I by lot was drafted for the war. 465
I from the ships am to the plain come forth;
For with the dawn of day the keen-ey’d Greeks
Will round the city marshal their array.
They chafe in idleness; the chiefs in vain
Strive to restrain their ardour for the fight.” 470
To whom in answer Priam, godlike sire:
“Tf of Achilles, Peleus’ son, thou art
Indeed a follower, tell me all the truth;
Lies yet my son beside the Grecian ships,
ΟΣ hath Achilles torn him limb from limb, 475
And to his dogs the mangled carcase giv’n ?”
To whom in answer thus the Guardian-God:
“On him, old man, nor dogs nor birds have ted,
But by the ship of Peleus’ son he les
412 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIV.
Within the tent; twelve days he there hath lain,
Nor hath corruption touch’d his flesh, nor worms,
That wont to prey on men in battle slain.
The corpse, indeed, with each returning morn,
Around his comrade’s tomb Achilles drags,
Yet leaves it still uninjur’d; thou thyself
Mightst see how fresh, as dew-besprent, he lies,
480
485
From blood-stains cleans’d, and clos’d his many wounds,
For many a lance was buried in his corpse.
So, evn in death, the blessed Gods above,
Who lov’d him well, protect thy noble son.”
He said; th’ old man rejoicing heard his words,
And answer’d, “See, my son, how good it is
To give th’ immortal Gods their tribute due;
For never did my son, while yet he liv’d,
Neglect the Gods who on Olympus dwell ;
And thence have they remember’d him in death.
Accept, I pray, this goblet rich-emboss’d ;
Be thou my guard, and, under Heav’n, my guide,
Until I reach the tent of Peleus’ son.”
To whom in answer thus the Guardian-God :
“Old father, me thy younger wouldst thou tempt,
490
500
Book XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
In vain; who bidd’st me at thy hands accept
Thy proffer’d presents, to Achilles’ wrong.
I dread his anger; and should hold it shame
To plunder him, through fear of future ill.
But, as thy guide, I could conduct thee safe,
As far as Argos, journeying by thy side,
On ship-board or on foot; nor by the fault
Of thy conductor shouldst thou meet with harm.”
Thus spoke the heav’nly Guide, and on the car
Mounting in haste, he took the whip and reins,
And with fresh vigour mules and horses fill’d.
When to the ship-towrs and the trench they came,
The guard had late been busied with their meal;
And with deep sleep the heavnly Guide o’erspread
The eyes of all; then open’d wide the gates,
And push’d aside the bolts, and led within
Both Priam, and the treasure-laden wain.
But when they reach’d Achilles’ lofty tent,
(Which for their King the Myrmidons had built
Of fir-trees fell’d, and overlaid the roof
With rushes mown from off the neighb’ring mead ;
And all around a spacious court enclos’d
4135
510
520
414 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXIV.
With cross-set palisades; a single bar
Of fir the gateway guarded, which to shut
Three men, of all the others, scarce suffie’d,
And three to open; but Achilles’ hand
Unaided shut with ease the massive bar)
Then for the old man Hermes op’d the gate,
And brought within the court the gifts design’d
For Peleus’ godlike son; then from the car
Sprang to the ground, and thus to Priam spoke:
“Old man, a God hath hither been thy guide;
Hermes I am, and sent to thee from Jove,
Father of all, to bring thee safely here.
I now return, nor to Achilles’ eyes
Will I appear; beseems it not a God
To greet a mortal in the sight of all.
But go thou in, and clasp Achilles’ knees,
And supplicate him for his father’s sake,
His fair-hair’d mother’s, and his child’s, that so
Thy words may stir an answer in his heart.”
Thus saying, Hermes to Olympus’ heights
Return’d; and Priam from his chariot sprang,
And left Ideus there, in charge to keep
ὧι
So
1
530
5385
540
Book XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 415
The horses and the mules, while he himself
Enter’d the dwelling straight, where wont to sit
Achilles, lov’d of Heav’n. The chief he found
Within, his followers seated all apart;
Two only in his presence minister’d, 550
The brave Automedon, and Alcimus,
A warrior bold; scarce ended the repast
Of food and wine; the table still was set.
Great Priam enter’d, unperceiv’d of all ;
σι
And standing by Achilles, with his arms 55
Embraec’d his knees, and kiss’d those fearful hands,
Blood-stain’d, which many of his sons had slain.
As when a man, by cruel fate pursued,
In his own land hath shed another’s blood,
And flying, seeks beneath some wealthy house 560
A. foreign refuge ; wond’ring, all behold:
On godlike Priam so with wonder gaz’d
Achilles; wonder seiz'd th’ attendants all,
And one to other look’d; then Priam thus
To Peleus’ son his suppliant speech address’d : 565
“Think, great Achilles, rival of the Gods,
Upon thy father, evn as I myself
416 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXIV.
Upon the threshold of unjoyous age :
And haply he, from them that dwell around
May suffer wrong, with no protector near
To give him aid; yet he, rejoicing, knows
That thou still liv’st; and day by day may hope
To see his son returning safe from Troy ;
While I, all hapless, that have many sons,
The best and bravest through the breadth of Troy,
Begotten, deem that none are left me now.
Fifty there were, when came the sons of Greece ;
Nineteen the offspring of a single womb;
The rest, the women of my household bore.
Of these have many by relentless Mars
Been laid in dust; but he, my only one,
The city’s and his brethren’s sole defence,
He, bravely fighting in his country’s cause,
Hector, but lately by thy hand hath fall’n:
On his behalf I venture to approach
The Grecian ships; for his release to thee
To make my pray’r, and priceless ransom pay.
Then thou, Achilles, reverence the Gods;
And, for thy father’s sake, look pitying down
575
585
Book XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 417
On me, more needing pity; since I bear 590
Such grief as never man on earth hath borne,
Who stoop to kiss the hand that slew my son.”
| Thus as he spoke, within Achilles’ breast
Fond mem’ry of his father rose; he touch’d
The old man’s hand, and gently put him by; 595
Then wept they both, by various mem’ries stirr’d :
One, prostrate at Achilles’ feet, bewail’d
His warrior son; Achilles for his sire,
And for Patroclus wept, his comrade dear ;
And through the house their weeping loud was heard. 600
But when Achilles had indulg’d his grief,
And eas’d the yearning of his heart and limbs,
He rose, and with his hand the aged sire
He rais’d, and thus with gentle words address‘d :
“ Alas, what sorrows, poor old man, are thine! 605
How couldst thou venture to the Grecian ships
Alone, and to the presence of the man
Whose hand hath slain so many of thy sons,
Many and brave? an iron heart is thine!
But sit thou on this seat; and in our hearts, 610
Though fill’d with grief, let us that grief suppress ;
VOL. II. 2 i
418 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIV.
For woful lamentation nought avails.
Such is the thread the Gods for mortals spin,
To live in woe, while they from cares are free.
Two coffers lie beside the door of Jove,
With gifts for man: one good, the other ill;
To whom from each the Lord of lightning gives,
Him sometimes evil, sometimes good befalls ;
To whom the ill alone, him foul disgrace
And grinding mis’ry o’er the earth pursue:
By God and man alike despis’d he roams.
Thus from his birth the Gods to Peleus gave
Excellent gifts; with wealth and substance bless’d
Above his fellows; oer the Myrmidons
He rul’d with sov’reign sway ; and ραν ἢ bestowd
On him, a mortal, an immortal bride.
Yet this of ill was mingled in his lot,
That in his house no rising race he saw
Of future Kings; one only son he had,
One doom’d to early death; nor is it mine
To tend my father’s age; but far from home
Thee and thy sons in Troy I vex with war.
Much have we heard too of thy former wealth ;
615
620
625
630
Book XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 419
Above what Lesbos northward, Macar’s seat,
Contains, and Upper Phrygia, and the shores 635
Of boundless Hellespont, ’tis said that thou
In wealth and number of thy sons wast bless’d.
But since on thee this curse the Gods have brought,
Still round thy city war and slaughter rage.
Bear up, nor thus with grief incessant mourn; 640
Vain is thy sorrow for thy gallant son;
Thou canst not raise him, and mayst suffer more.”
To whom in answer Priam, godlike sire:
“Tell me not yet, illustrious chief, to sit,
While Hector lies, unear’d for, in the tent; 645
But let me quickly go, that with mine eyes
I may behold my son; and thou accept
The ample treasures which we tender thee:
Mayst thou enjoy them, and in safety reach
Thy native land, since thou hast spar’d my life, 650
And bidd’st me still behold the light of Heav’n.”
To whom Achilles thus with stern regard :
“Old man, incense me not; I mean myself
To give thee back thy son; for here of late
Despatch’d by Jove, my Goddess-mother came, 655
282
420 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIV.
The daughter of the aged Ocean-God :
And thee too, Priam, well I know, some God
(I cannot err) hath guided to our ships.
No mortal, though in vent’rous youth, would dare
Our camp to enter; nor could hope to pass
Unnotie’d by the watch, nor easily
Remove the pond’rous bar that guards our doors.
But stir not up my anger in my grief;
Lest, suppliant though thou be, within my tent
I brook thee not, and Jove’s command transgress.”
He said; the old man trembled, and obey’d;
Then to the door-way, with a lion’s spring,
Achilles rush’d; not unaccompanied ;
With him Automedon and Alcimus,
His two attendants, of his followers all,
Next to the lost Patroclus, best-esteem’d ;
They from the yoke the mules and horses loos’d ;
Then led the herald of the old man in,
And bade him sit; and from the polish’d wain
The costly ransom took of Hector’s head.
Two robes they left, and one well-woven vest,
To clothe the corpse, and send with honour home.
660
670
Book XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Then to the female slaves he gave command
To wash the body, and anoint with oil,
Apart, that Priam might not see his son;
Lest his griev’d heart its passion unrestrain’d
Should utter, and Achilles, rous’d to wrath,
His suppliant slay, and Jove’s command transgress.
When they had wash’d the body, and with oil
Anointed, and around it wrapp’d the robe
And vest, Achilles lifted up the dead
With his own hands, and laid him on the couch;
Which to the polish’d wain his followers rais’d.
Then groaning, on his friend by name he eall’d:
“Forgive, Patroclus! be not wroth with me,
If in the realm of darkness thou shouldst hear
That godlike Hector to his father’s arms,
For no mean ransom, I restore; whereof
A fitting share for thee I set aside.”
This said, Achilles to the tent return’d;
On the carvd couch, from whence he rose, he sat
Beside the wall; and thus to Priam spoke:
“Old man, thy son, according to thy pray’r,
Is giv’n thee back; upon the couch he lies;
680
685
690
695
422 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXIV.
Thyself shalt see him at the dawn of day. 700
Meanwhile the eyning meal demands our care.
Not fair-hair’d Niobe abstain’d from food
When in the house her children lay in death,
Six beauteous daughters and six stalwart sons.
The youths, Apollo with his silver bow, 705
The maids, the Archer-Queen, Diana, slew,
With anger fill’d that Niobe presum’d
Herself with fair Latona to compare,
Her many children with her ‘rival’s two;
So by the two were all the many slain. 710
Nine days in death they lay; and none was there
To pay their fun’ral rites; for Saturn’s son
Had giv’n to all the people hearts of stone.
At length th’ immortal Gods entomb’d the dead.
Nor yet did Niobe, when now her grief 715
Had pei itself in tears, from food refrain.
And now in Sipylus, amid the rocks,
And lonely mountains, where the Goddess nymphs
That love to dance by Acheldus’ stream,
"Tis said, were cradled, she, though turn’d to stone, 720
Broods o’er the wrongs inflicted by the Gods.
Book XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 423
So we too, godlike sire, the meal may share;
And later, thou thy noble son mayst mourn,
To Troy restor’d—well worthy he thy tears.”
This said, he slaughter’d straight a white-fleec’d sheep ; 725
His comrades then the carcase flay’d and dress’d:
The meat prepar’d, and fasten’d to the spits ;
Roasted with care, and from the fire withdrew.
The bread Automedon from baskets fair
Apportion’d out; the meat Achilles shar’d, 730
They on the viands set before them fell.
The rage of thirst and hunger satisfied,
In wonder Priam on Achilles gaz’d,
His form and stature; as a God he seem’d;
And he too look’d on Priam, and admir’d 735
His venerable face, and gracious speech.
With mutual pleasure each on other gaz’d,
Till godlike Priam first address’d his host :
“Dismiss me now, illustrious chief, to rest;
And lie we down, in gentle slumbers wrapp’d; 740
For never have mine eyes been clos’d in sleep,
Since by thy hand my gallant son was slain:
But groaning still, I brood upon my woes,
424 HOMER’S ILIAD. Book XXIV.
And in my court with dust my head defile.
Now have I tasted bread, now ruddy wine
Hath o’er my palate passd; but not till now.”
Thus he; his comrades and th’ attendant maids
Achilles order’d in the corridor
Two mattresses to place, with blankets fair
Of purple wool o’erlaid; and on the top
Rugs and soft sheets for upper cov’ring spread.
They from the chamber, torch in hand, withdrew,
And with obedient haste two beds prepar’d.
Then thus Achilles spoke in jesting tone:
“'Thou needs must sleep without, my good old friend ;
Lest any leader of the Greeks should come,
As is their custom, to confer with me;
Of them whoe’er should find thee here by night
Forthwith to Agamemnon would report,
And Hector might not be so soon restor’d.
But tell me truly this; how many days
For godlike Hector’s fun’ral rites ye need ;
That for so long a time I may myself
Refrain from combat, and the people stay.”
To whom in answer Priam, godlike sire:
745
750
Τοῦ
760
Boox XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 425
“If by thy leave we may indeed perform
His fun’ral rites, to thee, Achilles, great
Will be our gratitude, if this thou grant.
Thou know’st how close the town is hemm’d around;
And from the mountain, distant as it is, 770
The Trojans well may fear to draw the wood.
Nine days to public mourning would we give ;
The tenth, to fun’ral rites and fun’ral feast ;
Then on th’ eleyenth would we raise his mound ;
The twelfth, renew the war, if needs we must.” 775
To whom Achilles swift of foot replied :
“So shall it be, old Priam; I engage
To stay the battle for the time requir’d.”
Thus speaking, with his hand the old man’s wrist
He grasp’d, in token that he need not fear. 780
Then in the corridor lay down to rest
Old Priam and the herald, Elders sage ;
While in his tent’s recess Achilles slept,
The fair Briséis resting by his side.
In night-long slumbers lay the other Gods, 785
And helméd chiefs, by gentle sleep subdued ;
But on the eyes of Hermes, Guardian-God,
426 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIV.
No slumber fell, deep pond’ring in his mind
How from the ships in safety to conduct
The royal Priam, and the guard elude. 790
Above the sleeper’s head he stood, and cried:
“Old man, small heed thou tak’st of coming ill,
Who, when Achilles gives thee leave to go,
Sleep’st undisturb’d, surrounded by thy foes.
Thy son hath been restor’d, and thou hast paid 795
A gen’rous price; but to redeem thy life,
If Agamemnon and the other Greeks
Should know that thou art here, full thrice as much
Thy sons, who yet are left, would have to pay.”
He said; the old man trembled, and arous’d 800
The herald; while the horses and the mules
Were yok’d by Hermes, who with silent speed
Drove through th’ encampment, unobserv'd of all.
But when they came to eddying Xanthus’ ford,
Fair-flowing stream, born of immortal Jove, 805
To high Olympus Hermes took his flight,
As morn, in saffron robe, o’er all the earth
Was light diffusing; they with fun’ral wail
Drove cityward the horses; following came
Book XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 42
J]
The mules that drew the litter of the dead. 810
The plain they travers’d oer, observ’d of none,
Or man or woman, till Cassandra, fair
As golden Venus, from the topmost height
Of Pergamus, her father in his car
Upstanding saw, the herald at his side. 815
Him too she saw, who on the litter lay;
Then lifted up her voice, and cried aloud
To all the city, “ Hither, Trojans, come,
Both men and women, Hector see restor’d ;
If, while he liv’d, returning from the fight, 820
Ye met him e’er rejoicing, who indeed
Was all the city’s chiefest joy and pride.”
She said; nor man nor woman then was left
Within the city; oer the minds of all
Grief pass’d, resistless; to the gates in throngs 825
They press’d, to crowd round him who brought the dead.
The first to clasp the body were his wife
And honour’d mother; eagerly they sprang
On the smooth-rolling wain, to touch the head
Of Hector; round them, weeping, stood the crowd. 880
Weeping, till sunset, all the live-long day
428 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIV.
Had they before the gates for Hector mourn’d ;
Had not old Priam from the car address’d
The crowd: “Make way, that so the mules may pass;
When to my house I shall have brought my dead, 835
Ye there may vent your sorrow as ye will.”
Thus as he spoke, obedient to his word
They stood aside, and for the car made way:
But when to Priam’s lordly house they came,
They laid him on a rich-wrought couch, and call’d 840
The minstrels in, who by the hero’s bed
Should lead the melancholy chorus; they
Pour’d forth the music of the mournful dirge,
While women’s voices join’d in loud lament.
White-arm’d Andromache the wail began, 845
The head of Hector clasping in her hands:
“My husband, thou art gone in pride of youth,
And in thine house hast left me desolate ;
Thy child an infant still, thy child and mine,
Unhappy parents both! nor dare I hope 850
That he may reach the ripeness of his youth ;
For ere ‘that day shall Troy in ruin fall,
Since thou art gone, her guardian! thou whose arm
Boox XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD.
Defended her, her wives, and helpless babes !
They now shall shortly o’er the sea be borne,
And with them I shall go; thou too, my child,
Must follow me, to servile labour doom’d,
The suff'ring victim of a tyrant Lord ;
Unless perchance some angry Greek may seize
And dash thee from the towr—a woful death!
Whose brother, or whose father, or whose son
By Hector hath been slain; for many a Greek
By Hector’s hand hath bit the bloody dust ;
Not light in battle was thy father’s hand!
Therefore for him the gen’ral city mourns;
Thou to thy parents bitter grief hast caus‘d,
Hector! but bitt’rest grief of all hast left
To me! for not to me was givn to clasp
The hand extended from thy dying bed,
Nor words of wisdom catch, which night and day,
With tears, I might have treasur’d in my heart.”
Weeping she spoke—the women join’d the wail.
Then Hecuba took up the loud lament:
“ Hector, of all my children dearest thou!
Dear to th’ Immortals too in life wast thou,
855
860
ND
Su
ot
870
430 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIV.
And they in death have borne thee still in mind ;
For other of my sons, his captives made,
Across the wat’ry waste, to Samos’ isle
Or Inbros, or th’ inhospitable shore
Of Lemnos, hath Achilles, swift of foot, 880
To slav’ry sold; thee, when his sharp-edg’d spear
Had robb’d thee of thy life, he drage’d indeed
Around Patroclus’ tomb, his comrade dear,
Whom thou hadst slain; yet so he rais’d not up
His dead to life again; now liest thou here, 885
All fresh and fair, as dew-besprent; like one
Whom bright Apollo, with his arrows keen,
God of the silver bow, hath newly slain.”
Weeping, she spoke ; and rous’d the gen’ral grief.
Then Helen, third, the mournful strain renew’d: 890
“ Hector, of all my brethren dearest thou!
True, godlike Paris claims me as his wife,
Who bore me hither—would I then had died!
But twenty years have pass’d since here J came,
And left my native land; yet ne’er from thee 895
I heard one scornful, one degrading word;
And when from others I have borne reproach,
Book XXIV. HOMER’S ILIAD. 431
Thy brothers, sisters, or thy brothers’ wives,
Or mother, (for thy sire was ever kind
Ey’n as a father) thou hast check’d them still 900
With tender feeling, and with gentle words.
For thee I weep, and for myself no less ;
For, through the breadth of Troy, none love me now,
None kindly look on me, but all abhor.”
Weeping she spoke, and with her wept the crowd. — 905
At length the aged Priam gave command:
“Haste now, ye Trojans, to the city bring
Good store of fuel; fear no treach’rous wile;
For when he sent me from the dark-ribb’d ships,
Achilles promis’d that from hostile arms 910
Till the twelfth morn we should no harm sustain.”
He said; and they the oxen and the mules
Yok’d to the wains, and from the city throne’d:
Nine days they labour’d, and brought back to Troy
Good store of wood ; but when the tenth day’s light 915
Upon the earth appear’d, weeping, they bore
Brave Hector out; and on the fun’ral pile
Laying the glorious dead, applied the torch.
While yet the rosy-finger'd morn was young
432 HOMER’S ILIAD. Boox XXIV.
Round noble Hector’s pyre the people press’d: 920
When all were gather’d round, and closely throng’d,
First on the burning mass, as far as spread
The range of fire, they pour’d the ruddy wine,
And quench’d the flames: his brethren then and friends
Weeping, the hot tears flowing down their cheeks, 925
Collected from the pile the whiten’d bones ;
These in a golden casket they enclos’d,
And o’er it spread soft shawls of purple dye;
Then in a grave they laid it, and in haste
With stone in pond’rous masses cover’d o'er ; 930
And rais'd a mound, and watch’d on ev'ry side,
From sudden inroad of the Greeks to guard.
The mound erected, back they turn’d; and all
Assembled duly, shar’d the solemn feast
In Priam’s palace, Heay’n-descended King. 935
Such were the rites to glorious Hector paid.
THE END.
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