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diff --git a/3059-0.txt b/3059-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..de5ae6c --- /dev/null +++ b/3059-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14219 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 3059 *** +THE +ILIAD OF HOMER + + +Done into English Prose +by + +Andrew Lang, M.A. Walter Leaf, Litt. D. +Late fellow of Merton College, Late fellow of Trinity College, +Oxford Cambridge + +and + +Ernest Meyers, M.A. +Late fellow of Wadham College, +Oxford + +_REVISED EDITION_ + + + + +MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED +ST. MARTINS STREET, LONDON +1911 + + +Contents + + PREFATORY NOTE. + + THE ILIAD OF HOMER + BOOK I. + BOOK II. + BOOK III. + BOOK IV. + BOOK V. + BOOK VI. + BOOK VII. + BOOK VIII. + BOOK IX. + BOOK X. + BOOK XI. + BOOK XII. + BOOK XIII. + BOOK XIV. + BOOK XV. + BOOK XVI. + BOOK XVII. + BOOK XVIII. + BOOK XIX. + BOOK XX. + BOOK XXI. + BOOK XXII. + BOOK XXIII. + BOOK XXIV. + + + + +PREFATORY NOTE. + + +The execution of this version of the _Iliad_ has been entrusted to the +three Translators in the following three parts: + +Books I.—IX. . . . . W. LEAF. +Books X.—XVI. . . . . A. LANG. +Books XVII.—XXIV. . . . . E. MYERS. + + +Each Translator is therefore responsible for his own portion; but the +whole has been revised by all three Translators, and the rendering of +passages or phrases recurring in more than one portion has been +determined after deliberation in common. Even in these, however, a +certain elasticity has been deemed desirable. + +On a few doubtful points, though very rarely, the opinion of two of the +translators has had to be adopted to the suppression of that held by +the third. Thus, for instance, the Translator of Books X.—XVI. Would +have preferred “c” and “us” to “k” and “os” in the spelling of all +proper names. + +The text followed has been that of La Roche (Leipzig, 1873), except +where the adoption of a different reading has been specified in a +footnote. Where the balance of evidence, external and internal, has +seemed to the Translator to be against the genuineness of the passage, +such passage has been enclosed in brackets []. + +The Translator of Books X.—XVI. has to thank Mr. R.W. RAPER, Fellow of +Trinity College, Oxford, for his valuable aid in revising the +proof-sheets of these Books. + +NOTE TO REVISED EDITION + +In the present Edition the translation has been carefully revised +throughout, and numerous minor corrections have been made. The Notes at +the end of the volume have been, with a few exceptions, omitted; one of +the Translators hopes to publish very shortly a Companion to the Iliad +for English readers, which will deal fully with most of the points +therein referred to. + +The use of square brackets has in this edition been restricted to +passages where there is external evidence, such as absence from the +best MSS., for believing in interpolation. One or two departures from +this rule are noticed in footnotes. + +_November_ 1891 + + + + +The sacred soil of Ilios is rent +With shaft and pit; foiled waters wander slow +Through plains where Simois and Scamander went +To war with gods and heroes long ago. +Not yet to dark Cassandra lying low +In rich Mycenae do the Fates relent; +The bones of Agamemnon are a show, +And ruined is his royal monument. +The dust and awful treasures of the dead +Hath learning scattered wide; but vainly thee, +Homer, she meteth with her Lesbian lead, +And strives to rend thy songs, too blind is she +To know the crown on thine immortal head +Of indivisible supremacy. + + A.L. + + + + +Athwart the sunrise of our western day +The form of great Achilles, high and clear, +Stands forth in arms, wielding the Pelian spear. +The sanguine tides of that immortal fray, +Swept on by gods, around him surge and sway, +Wherethrough the helms of many a warrior peer, +Strong men and swift, their tossing plumes uprear. +But stronger, swifter, goodlier he than they, +More awful, more divine. Yet mark anigh; +Some fiery pang hath rent his soul within, +Some hovering shade his brows encompasseth. +What gifts hath Fate for all his chivalry? +Even such as hearts heroic oftenest win; +Honour, a friend, anguish, untimely death. + + E.M. + + + + +THE ILIAD OF HOMER + + + + +BOOK I. + + +How Agamemnon and Achilles fell out at the siege of Troy; and Achilles +withdrew himself from battle, and won from Zeus a pledge that his wrong +should be avenged on Agamemnon and the Achaians. + + +Sing, goddess, the wrath of Achilles Peleus’ son, the ruinous wrath +that brought on the Achaians woes innumerable, and hurled down into +Hades many strong souls of heroes, and gave their bodies to be a prey +to dogs and all winged fowls; and so the counsel of Zeus wrought out +its accomplishment from the day when first strife parted Atreides king +of men and noble Achilles. + +Who then among the gods set the twain at strife and variance? Even the +son of Leto and of Zeus; for he in anger at the king sent a sore plague +upon the host, that the folk began to perish, because Atreides had done +dishonour to Chryses the priest. For he had come to the Achaians’ fleet +ships to win his daughter’s freedom, and brought a ransom beyond +telling; and bare in his hands the fillet of Apollo the Far-darter upon +a golden staff; and made his prayer unto all the Achaians, and most of +all to the two sons of Atreus, orderers of the host: “Ye sons of Atreus +and all ye well-greaved Achaians, now may the gods that dwell in the +mansions of Olympus grant you to lay waste the city of Priam, and to +fare happily homeward; only set ye my dear child free, and accept the +ransom in reverence to the son of Zeus, far-darting Apollo.” + +Then all the other Achaians cried assent, to reverence the priest and +accept his goodly ransom; yet the thing pleased not the heart of +Agamemnon son of Atreus, but he roughly sent him away, and laid stern +charge upon him, saying: “Let me not find thee, old man, amid the +hollow ships, whether tarrying now or returning again hereafter, lest +the staff and fillet of the god avail thee naught. And her will I not +set free; nay, ere that shall old age come on her in our house, in +Argos, far from her native land, where she shall ply the loom and serve +my couch. But depart, provoke me not, that thou mayest the rather go in +peace.” + +So said he, and the old man was afraid and obeyed his word, and fared +silently along the shore of the loud-sounding sea. Then went that aged +man apart and prayed aloud to king Apollo, whom Leto of the fair locks +bare: “Hear me, god of the silver bow, that standest over Chryse and +holy Killa, and rulest Tenedos with might, O Smintheus! If ever I built +a temple gracious in thine eyes, or if ever I burnt to thee fat flesh +of thighs of bulls or goats, fulfil thou this my desire; let the +Danaans pay by thine arrows for my tears.” + +So spake he in prayer, and Phoebus Apollo heard him, and came down from +the peaks of Olympus wroth at heart, bearing on his shoulders his bow +and covered quiver. And the arrows clanged upon his shoulders in wrath, +as the god moved; and he descended like to night. Then he sate him +aloof from the ships, and let an arrow fly; and there was heard a dread +clanging of the silver bow. First did he assail the mules and fleet +dogs, but afterward, aiming at the men his piercing dart, he smote; and +the pyres of the dead burnt continually in multitude. + +Now for nine days ranged the god’s shafts through the host; but on the +tenth Achilles summoned the folk to assembly, for in his mind did +goddess Hera of the white arms put the thought, because she had pity on +the Danaans when she beheld them perishing. Now when they had gathered +and were met in assembly, then Achilles fleet of foot stood up and +spake among them: “Son of Atreus, now deem I that we shall return +wandering home again—if verily we might escape death—if war at once and +pestilence must indeed ravage the Achaians. But come, let us now +inquire of some soothsayer or priest, yea, or an interpreter of +dreams—seeing that a dream too is of Zeus—who shall say wherefore +Phoebus Apollo is so wroth, whether he blame us by reason of vow or +hecatomb; if perchance he would accept the savour of lambs or +unblemished goats, and so would take away the pestilence from us.” + +So spake he and sate him down; and there stood up before them Kalchas +son of Thestor, most excellent far of augurs, who knew both things that +were and that should be and that had been before, and guided the ships +of the Achaians to Ilios by his soothsaying that Phoebus Apollo +bestowed on him. He of good intent made harangue and spake amid them: +“Achilles, dear to Zeus, thou biddest me tell the wrath of Apollo, the +king that smiteth afar. Therefore will I speak; but do thou make +covenant with me, and swear that verily with all thy heart thou wilt +aid me both by word and deed. For of a truth I deem that I shall +provoke one that ruleth all the Argives with might, and whom the +Achaians obey. For a king is more of might when he is wroth with a +meaner man; even though for the one day he swallow his anger, yet doth +he still keep his displeasure thereafter in his breast till he +accomplish it. Consider thou, then, if thou wilt hold me safe.” + +And Achilles fleet of foot made answer and spake to him: “Yea, be of +good courage, speak whatever soothsaying thou knowest; for by Apollo +dear to Zeus, him by whose worship thou, O Kalchas, declarest thy +soothsaying to the Danaans, no man while I live and behold light on +earth shall lay violent hands upon thee amid the hollow ships, no man +of all the Danaans, not even if thou mean Agamemnon, that now avoweth +him to be greatest far of the Achaians.” + +Then was the noble seer of good courage, and spake: “Neither by reason +of a vow is he displeased, nor for any hecatomb, but for his priest’s +sake to whom Agamemnon did despite, and set not his daughter free and +accepted not the ransom; therefore hath the Far-darter brought woes +upon us, yea, and will bring. Nor will he ever remove the loathly +pestilence from the Danaans till we have given the bright-eyed damsel +to her father, unbought, unransomed, and carried a holy hecatomb to +Chryse; then might we propitiate him to our prayer.” + +So said he and sate him down, and there stood up before them the hero +son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, sore displeased; and his dark +heart within him was greatly filled with anger, and his eyes were like +flashing fire. To Kalchas first spake he with look of ill: “Thou seer +of evil, never yet hast thou told me the thing that is pleasant. Evil +is ever the joy of thy heart to prophesy, but never yet didst thou tell +any good matter nor bring to pass. And now with soothsaying thou makest +harangue among the Danaans, how that the Far-darter bringeth woes upon +them because, forsooth, I would not take the goodly ransom of the +damsel Chryseis, seeing I am the rather fain to keep her own self +within mine house. Yea, I prefer her before Klytaimnestra my wedded +wife; in no wise is she lacking beside her, neither in favour nor +stature, nor wit nor skill. Yet for all this will I give her back, if +that is better; rather would I see my folk whole than perishing. Only +make ye me ready a prize of honour forthwith, lest I alone of all the +Argives be disprized, which thing beseemeth not; for ye all behold how +my prize is departing from me.” + +To him then made answer fleet-footed goodly Achilles: “Most noble son +of Atreus, of all men most covetous, how shall the great-hearted +Achaians give thee a meed of honour? We know naught of any wealth of +common store, but what spoil soe’er we took from captured cities hath +been apportioned, and it beseemeth not to beg all this back from the +folk. Nay, yield thou the damsel to the god, and we Achaians will pay +thee back threefold and fourfold, if ever Zeus grant us to sack some +well-walled town of Troy-land.”* + +Reading with Cobet Τρῳήν for Τροίην. + + +To him lord Agamemnon made answer and said: “Not in this wise, strong +as thou art, O godlike Achilles, beguile thou me by craft; thou shalt +not outwit me nor persuade me. Dost thou wish, that thou mayest keep +thy meed of honour, for me to sit idle in bereavement, and biddest me +give her back? Nay, if the great-hearted Achaians will give me a meed +suited to my mind, that the recompense be equal—but if they give it +not, then I myself will go and take a meed of honour, thine be it or +Aias’, or Odysseus’ that I will take unto me; wroth shall he be to +whomsoever I come. But for this we will take counsel hereafter; now let +us launch a black ship on the great sea, and gather picked oarsmen, and +set therein a hecatomb, and embark Chryseis of the fair cheeks herself, +and let one of our counsellors be captain, Aias or Idomeneus or goodly +Odysseus, or thou, Peleides, most redoubtable of men, to do sacrifice +for us and propitiate the Far-darter.” + +Then Achilles fleet of foot looked at him scowling and said: “Ah me, +thou clothed in shamelessness, thou of crafty mind, how shall any +Achaian hearken to thy bidding with all his heart, be it to go a +journey or to fight the foe amain? Not by reason of the Trojan spearmen +came I hither to fight, for they have not wronged me; never did they +harry mine oxen nor my horses, nor ever waste my harvest in deep-soiled +Phthia, the nurse of men; seeing there lieth between us long space of +shadowy mountains and sounding sea; but thee, thou shameless one, +followed we hither to make thee glad, by earning recompense at the +Trojans’ hands for Menelaos and for thee, thou dog-face! All this thou +threatenest thyself to take my meed of honour, wherefor I travailed +much, and the sons of the Achaians gave it me. Never win I meed like +unto thine, when the Achaians sack any populous citadel of Trojan men; +my hands bear the brunt of furious war, but when the apportioning +cometh then is thy meed far ampler, and I betake me to the ships with +some small thing, yet mine own, when I have fought to weariness. Now +will I depart to Phthia, seeing it is far better to return home on my +beaked ships; nor am I minded here in dishonour to draw thee thy fill +of riches and wealth.” + +Then Agamemnon king of men made answer to him “Yea, flee, if thy soul +be set thereon. It is not I that beseech thee to tarry for my sake; I +have others by my side that shall do me honour, and above all Zeus, +lord of counsel. Most hateful art thou to me of all kings, fosterlings +of Zeus; thou ever lovest strife and wars and fightings. Though thou be +very strong, yet that I ween is a gift to thee of God. Go home with thy +ships and company and lord it among thy Myrmidons; I reck not aught of +thee nor care I for thine indignation; and all this shall be my threat +to thee: seeing Phoebus Apollo bereaveth me of Chryseis, her with my +ship and my company will I send back; and mine own self will I go to +thy hut and take Briseis of the fair cheeks, even that thy meed of +honour, that thou mayest well know how far greater I am than thou, and +so shall another hereafter abhor to match his words with mine and rival +me to my face.” + +So said he, and grief came upon Peleus’ son, and his heart within his +shaggy breast was divided in counsel, whether to draw his keen blade +from his thigh and set the company aside and so slay Atreides, or to +assuage his anger and curb his soul. While yet he doubted thereof in +heart and soul, and was drawing his great sword from his sheath, Athene +came to him from heaven, sent forth of the white-armed goddess Hera, +whose heart loved both alike and had care for them. She stood behind +Peleus’ son and caught him by his golden hair, to him only visible, and +of the rest no man beheld her. Then Achilles marvelled, and turned him +about, and straightway knew Pallas Athene; and terribly shone her eyes. +He spake to her winged words, and said: “Why now art thou come hither, +thou daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus? Is it to behold the insolence of +Agamemnon, son of Atreus. Yea, I will tell thee that I deem shall even +be brought to pass: by his own haughtinesses shall he soon lose his +life.” + +Then the bright-eyed goddess Athene spake to him again: “I came from +heaven to stay thine anger, if perchance thou wilt hearken to me, being +sent forth if the white-armed goddess Hera, that loveth you twain alike +and careth for you. Go to now, cease from strife, and let not thine +hand draw the sword; yet with words indeed revile him, even as it shall +come to pass. For thus will I say to thee, and so it shall be +fulfilled; hereafter shall goodly gifts come to thee, yea in threefold +measure, by reason of this despite; hold thou thine hand, and hearken +to us.” + +And Achilles fleet of foot made answer and said to her: “Goddess, needs +must a man observe the saying of you twain, even though he be very +wroth at heart; for so is the better way. Whosoever obeyeth the gods, +to him they gladly hearken.” + +He said, and stayed his heavy hand on the silver hilt, and thrust the +great sword back into the sheath, and was not disobedient to the saying +of Athene; and she forthwith was departed to Olympus, to the other gods +in the palace of aegis-bearing Zeus. + +Then Peleus’ son spake again with bitter words to Atreus’ son, and in +no wise ceased from anger: “Thou heavy with wine, thou with face of dog +and heart of deer, never didst thou take courage to arm for battle +among thy folk or to lay ambush with the princes of the Achaians; that +to thee were even as death. Far better booteth it, forsooth, to seize +for thyself the meed of honour of every man through the wide host of +the Achaians that speaketh contrary to thee. Folk-devouring king! +seeing thou rulest men of naught; else were this despite, thou son of +Atreus, thy last. But I will speak my word to thee, and swear a mighty +oath therewith: verily by this staff that shall no more put forth leaf +or twig, seeing it hath for ever left its trunk among the hills, +neither shall it grow green again, because the axe hath stripped it of +leaves and bark; and now the sons of the Achaians that exercise +judgment bear it in their hands, even they that by Zeus’ command watch +over the traditions—so shall this be a mighty oath in thine eyes—verily +shall longing for Achilles come hereafter upon the sons of the Achaians +one and all; and then wilt thou in no wise avail to save them, for all +thy grief, when multitudes fall dying before manslaying Hector. Then +shalt thou tear thy heart within thee for anger that thou didst in no +wise honour the best of the Achaians.” + +So said Peleides and dashed to earth the staff studded with golden +nails, and himself sat down; and over against him Atreides waxed +furious. Then in their midst rose up Nestor, pleasant of speech, the +clear-voiced orator of the Pylians, he from whose tongue flowed +discourse sweeter than honey. Two generations of mortal men already had +he seen perish, that had been of old time born and nurtured with him in +goodly Pylos, and he was king among the third. He of good intent made +harangue to them and said: “Alas, of a truth sore lamentation cometh +upon the land of Achaia. Verily Priam would be glad and Priam’s sons, +and all the Trojans would have great joy of heart, were they to hear +all this tale of strife between you twain that are chiefest of the +Danaans in counsel and chiefest in battle. Nay, hearken to me; ye are +younger both than I. Of old days held I converse with better men even +than you, and never did they make light of me. Yea, I never beheld such +warriors, nor shall behold, as were Peirithoos and Dryas shepherd of +the host and Kaineus and Exadios and godlike Polyphemos [and Theseus +son of Aigeus, like to the immortals]. Mightiest of growth were they of +all men upon the earth; mightiest they were and with the mightiest +fought they, even the wild tribes of the mountain caves, and destroyed +them utterly. And with these held I converse, being come from Pylos, +from a distant land afar; for of themselves they summoned me. So I +played my part in fight; and with them could none of men that are now +on earth do battle. And they laid to heart my counsels and hearkened to +my voice. Even so hearken ye also, for better is it to hearken. Neither +do thou, though thou art very great, seize from him his damsel, but +leave her as she was given at the first by the sons of the Achaians to +be a meed of honour; nor do thou, son of Peleus, think to strive with a +king, might against might; seeing that no common honour pertaineth to a +sceptred king to whom Zeus apportioneth glory. Though thou be strong, +and a goddess mother bare thee, yet his is the greater place, for he is +king over more. And thou, Atreides, abate thy fury; nay, it is even I +that beseech thee to let go thine anger with Achilles, who is made unto +all the Achaians a mighty bulwark of evil war.” + +Then lord Agamemnon answered and said: “Yea verily, old man, all this +thou sayest is according unto right. But this fellow would be above all +others, he would be lord of all and king among all and captain to all; +wherein I deem none will hearken to him. Though the immortal gods made +him a spearman, do they therefore put revilings in his mouth for him to +utter?” + +Then goodly Achilles brake in on him and answered: “Yea, for I should +be called coward and man of naught, if I yield to thee in every matter, +howsoe’er thou bid. To others give now thine orders, not to me [play +master; for thee I deem that I shall no more obey]. This, moreover, +will I say to thee, and do thou lay it to thy heart. Know that not by +violence will I strive for the damsel’s sake, neither with thee nor any +other; ye gave and ye have taken away. But of all else that is mine +beside my fleet black ship, thereof shalt thou not take anything or +bear it away against my will. Yea, go to now, make trial, that all +these may see; forthwith thy dark blood shall gush about my spear.” + +Now when the twain had thus finished the battle of violent words, they +stood up and dissolved the assembly beside the Achaian ships. Peleides +went his way to his huts and trim ships with Menoitios’ son* and his +company; and Atreides launched a fleet ship on the sea, and picked +twenty oarsmen therefor, and embarked the hecatomb for the god, and +brought Chryseis of the fair cheeks and set her therein; and Odysseus +of many devices went to be their captain. + +* Patroklos + + +So these embarked and sailed over the wet ways; and Atreides bade the +folk purify themselves. So they purified themselves, and cast the +defilements into the sea and did sacrifice to Apollo, even unblemished +hecatombs of bulls and goats, along the shore of the unvintaged sea; +and the sweet savour arose to heaven eddying amid the smoke. + +Thus were they busied throughout the host; but Agamemnon ceased not +from the strife wherewith he threatened Achilles at the first; he spake +to Talthybios and Eurybates that were his heralds and nimble squires: +“Go ye to the tent of Achilles Peleus’ son, and take Briseis of the +fair cheeks by the hand and lead her hither; and if he give her not, +then will I myself go, and more with me, and seize her; and that will +be yet more grievous for him.” + +So saying he sent them forth, and laid stern charge upon them. +Unwillingly went they along the beach of the unvintaged sea, and came +to the huts and ships of the Myrmidons. Him found they sitting beside +his hut and black ship; nor when he saw them was Achilles glad. So they +in dread and reverence of the king stood, and spake to him no word, nor +questioned him. But he knew in his heart, and spake to them: “All hail, +ye heralds, messengers of Zeus and men, come near; ye are not guilty in +my sight, but Agamemnon that sent you for the sake of the damsel +Briseis. Go now, heaven-sprung Patroklos, bring forth the damsel, and +give them her to lead away. Moreover, let the twain themselves be my +witnesses before the face of the blessed gods and mortal men, yea and +of him, that king untoward, against the day when there cometh need of +me hereafter to save them all from shameful wreck. Of a truth he raveth +with baleful mind, and hath not knowledge to look before and after, +that so his Achaians might battle in safety beside their ships.” + +So said he, and Patroklos hearkened to his dear comrade, and led forth +from the hut Briseis of the fair cheeks, and gave them her to lead +away. So these twain took their way back along the Achaians’ ships, and +with them went the woman all unwilling. Then Achilles wept anon, and +sat him down apart, aloof from his comrades on the beach of the grey +sea, gazing across the boundless main; he stretched forth his hands and +prayed instantly to his dear mother: “Mother, seeing thou didst of a +truth bear me to so brief span of life, honour at the least ought the +Olympian to have granted me, even Zeus that thundereth on high; but now +doth he not honour me, no, not one whit. Verily Atreus’ son, +wide-ruling Agamemnon, hath done me dishonour; for he hath taken away +my meed of honour and keepeth her of his own violent deed.” + +So spake he weeping, and his lady mother heard him as she sate in the +sea-depths beside her aged sire. With speed arose she from the grey +sea, like a mist, and sate her before the face of her weeping son, and +stroked him with her hand, and spake and called on his name: “My child, +why weepest thou? What sorrow hath entered into they heart? Speak it +forth, hide it not in thy mind, that both may know it.” + +Then with heavy moan Achilles fleet of foot spake to her: “Thou knowest +it; why should I tell this to thee that knowest all! We had fared to +Thebe, the holy city of Eëtion, and laid it waste and carried hither +all the spoils. So the sons of the Achaians divided among them all +aright; and for Atreides they set apart Chryseis of the fair cheeks. +But Chryses, priest of Apollo the Far-darter, came unto the fleet ships +of the mail-clad Achaians to win his daughter’s freedom, and brought a +ransom beyond telling, and bare in his hands the fillet of Apollo the +Far-darter upon a golden staff, and made his prayer unto all the +Achaians, and most of all to the two sons of Atreus, orderers of the +host. Then all the other Achaians cried assent, to reverence the priest +and accept his goodly ransom; yet the thing pleased not the heart of +Agamemnon son of Atreus, but he roughly sent him away and laid stern +charge upon him. So the old man went back in anger; and Apollo heard +his prayers, seeing he loved him greatly, and he aimed against the +Argives his deadly darts. So the people began to perish in multitudes, +and the god’s shafts ranged everywhither throughout the wide host of +the Achaians. Then of full knowledge the seer declared to us the oracle +of the Far-darter. Forthwith I first bade propitiate the god; but wrath +gat hold upon Atreus’ son thereat, and anon he stood up and spake a +threatening word, that hath now been accomplished. Her the +glancing-eyed Achaians are bringing on their fleet ship to Chryse, and +bear with them offerings to the king; and the other but now the heralds +went and took from my hut, even the daughter of Briseus, whom the sons +of the Achaians gave me. Thou therefore, if indeed thou canst, guard +thine own* son; betake thee to Olympus and beseech Zeus by any deed or +word whereby thou ever didst make glad his heart. For oft have I heard +thee proclaiming in my father’s halls and telling that thou alone amid +the immortals didst save the son of Kronos, lord of the storm-cloud, +from shameful wreck, when all the other Olympians would have bound him, +even Hera and Poseidon and Pallas Athene. Then didst thou, O goddess, +enter in and loose him from his bonds, having with speed summoned to +high Olympus him of the hundred arms whom gods call Briareus, but all +men call Aigaion; for he is mightier even than his father—so he sate +him by Kronion’s side rejoicing in his triumph, and the blessed gods +feared him withal and bound not Zeus. This bring thou to his +remembrance and sit by him and clasp his knees, if perchance he will +give succour to the Trojans; and for the Achaians, hem them among their +ships’ sterns about the bay, given over to slaughter; that they may +make trial of their king, and that even Atreides, wide-ruling +Agamemnon, may perceive his blindness, in that he honoured not at all +the best of the Achaians.” + +* Reading ἑοῖο. + + +Then Thetis weeping made answer to him: “Ah me, my child, why reared I +thee, cursed in my motherhood? Would thou hadst been left tearless and +griefless amid the ships, seeing thy lot is very brief and endureth no +long while; but now art thou made short-lived alike and lamentable +beyond all men; in an evil hour I bare thee in our halls. But I will go +myself to snow-clad Olympus to tell this thy saying to Zeus, whose joy +is in the thunder*, if perchance he may hearken to me. But tarry thou +now amid thy fleet-faring ships, and continue wroth with the Achaians, +and refrain utterly from battle: for Zeus went yesterday to Okeanos, +unto the noble Ethiopians for a feast, and all the gods followed with +him; but on the twelfth day will he return to Olympus, and then will I +fare to Zeus’ palace of the bronze threshold, and will kneel to him and +think to win him.” + +* perhaps rather, “hurler of the thunderbolt.” + + +So saying she went her way and left him there, vexed in spirit for the +fair-girdled woman’s sake, whom they had taken perforce despite his +will: and meanwhile Odysseus came to Chryse with the holy hecatomb. +When they were now entered within the deep haven, they furled their +sails and laid them in the black ship, and lowered the mast by the +forestays and brought it to the crutch with speed, and rowed her with +oars to the anchorage. Then they cast out the mooring stones and made +fast the hawsers, and so themselves went forth on to the sea-beach, and +forth they brought the hecatomb for the Far-darter Apollo, and forth +came Chryseis withal from the seafaring ship. Then Odysseus of many +counsels brought her to the altar and gave her into her father’s arms, +and spake unto him: “Chryses, Agamemnon king of men sent me hither to +bring thee thy daughter, and to offer to Phoebus a holy hecatomb on the +Danaans’ behalf, wherewith to propitiate the king that hath now brought +sorrow and lamentation on the Argives.” + +So saying he gave her to his arms, and he gladly took his dear child; +and anon they set in order for the god the holy hecatomb about his +well-builded altar; next washed they their hands and took up the barley +meal. Then Chryses lifted up his hands and prayed aloud for them: +“Hearken to me, god of the silver bow that standest over Chryse and +holy Killa, and rulest Tenedos with might; even as erst thou heardest +my prayer, and didst me honour, and mightily afflictest the people of +the Achaians, even so now fulfil me this my desire: remove thou from +the Danaans forthwith the loathly pestilence.” + +So spake he in prayer, and Phoebus Apollo heard him. Now when they had +prayed and sprinkled the barley meal, first they drew back the victims’ +heads and slaughtered them and flayed them, and cut slices from the +thighs and wrapped them in fat, making a double fold, and laid raw +collops thereon, and the old man burnt them on cleft wood and made +libation over them of gleaming wine; and at his side the young men in +their hands held five-pronged forks. Now when the thighs were burnt and +they had tasted the vitals, then sliced they all the rest and pierced +it through with spits, and roasted it carefully, and drew all off +again. So when they had rest from the task and had made ready the +banquet, they feasted, nor was their heart aught stinted of the fair +banquet. But when they had put away from them the desire of meat and +drink, the young men crowned the bowls with wine, and gave each man his +portion after the drink-offering had been poured into the cups. So all +day long worshipped they the god with music, singing the beautiful +paean, the sons of the Achaians making music to the Far-darter;* and +his heart was glad to hear. And when the sun went down and darkness +came on them, they laid them to sleep beside the ship’s hawsers; and +when rosy-fingered Dawn appeared, the child of morning, then set they +sail for the wide camp of the Achaians; and Apollo the Far-darter sent +them a favouring gale. They set up their mast and spread the white +sails forth, and the wind filled the sail’s belly and the dark wave +sang loud about the stem as the ship made way, and she sped across the +wave, accomplishing her journey. So when they were now come to the wide +camp of the Achaians, they drew up their black ship to land high upon +the sands, and set in line the long props beneath her; and themselves +were scattered amid their huts and ships. + +* Or, “the Averter” (of pestilence). + + +But he sat by his swift-faring ships, still wroth, even the +heaven-sprung son of Peleus, Achilles fleet of foot; he betook him +neither to the assembly that is the hero’s glory, neither to war, but +consumed his heart in tarrying in his place, and yearned for the +war-cry and for battle. + +Now when the twelfth morn thereafter was come, then the gods that are +for ever fared to Olympus all in company, led of Zeus. And Thetis +forgat not her son’s charge, but rose up from the sea-wave, and at +early morn mounted up to great heaven and Olympus. There found she +Kronos’ son of the far-sounding voice sitting apart from all on the +topmost peak of many-ridged Olympus. So she sat before his face and +with her left hand clasped his knees, and with her right touched him +beneath his chin, and spake in prayer to king Zeus son of Kronos: +“Father Zeus, if ever I gave thee aid amid the immortal gods, whether +by word or deed, fulfil thou this my desire: do honour to my son, that +is doomed to earliest death of all men: now hath Agamemnon king of men +done him dishonour, for he hath taken away his meed of honour and +keepeth her of his own violent deed. But honour thou him, Zeus of +Olympus, lord of counsel; grant thou victory to the Trojans the while +until the Achaians do my son honour and exalt him with recompense.” + +So spake she; but Zeus the cloud-gatherer said no word to her, and sat +long time in silence. But even as Thetis had clasped his knees, so held +she by him clinging, and questioned him yet a second time: “Promise me +now this thing verily, and bow thy head thereto; or else deny me, +seeing there is naught for thee to fear; that I may know full well how +I among all gods am least in honour.” + +Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer, sore troubled, spake to her: “Verily it +is a sorry matter, if thou wilt set me at variance with Hera, whene’er +she provoketh me with taunting words. Even now she upbraideth me ever +amid the immortal gods, and saith that I aid the Trojans in battle. But +do thou now depart again, lest Hera mark aught; and I will take thought +for these things to fulfil them. Come now, I will bow my head to thee, +that thou mayest be of good courage; for that, of my part, is the +surest token amid the immortals; no word of mine is revocable nor false +nor unfulfilled when the bowing of my head hath pledged it.” + +Kronion spake, and bowed his dark brow, and the ambrosial locks waved +from the king’s immortal head; and he made great Olympus quake. + +Thus the twain took counsel and parted; she leapt therewith into the +deep sea from glittering Olympus, and Zeus fared to his own palace. All +the gods in company arose from their seats before their father’s face; +neither ventured any to await his coming, but stood up all before him. +So he sate him there upon his throne; but Hera saw, and was not +ignorant how that the daughter of the Ancient of the sea, Thetis the +silver-footed, had devised counsel with him. Anon with taunting words +spake she to Zeus the son of Kronos: “Now who among the gods, thou +crafty of mind, hath devised counsel with thee? It is ever thy good +pleasure to hold aloof from me and in secret meditation to give thy +judgments, nor of thine own good will hast thou ever brought thyself to +declare unto me the thing thou purposest.” + +Then the father of gods and men made answer her: “Hera, think not thou +to know all my sayings; hard they are for thee, even though thou art my +wife. But whichsoever it is seemly for thee to hear, none sooner than +thou shall know, be he god or man. Only when I will to take thought +aloof from the gods, then do not thou ask of every matter nor make +question.” + +Then Hera the ox-eyed queen made answer to him. “Most dread son of +Kronos, what word is this thou hast spoken? Yea, surely of old I have +not asked thee nor made question, but in my heart sore afraid lest thou +have been won over by silver-footed Thetis, daughter of the Ancient of +the sea, for she at early morn sat by thee and clasped thy knees. To +her I deem thou gavest a sure pledge that thou wilt do honour to +Achilles, and lay many low beside the Achaians’ ships.” + +To her made answer Zeus the cloud-gatherer: “Lady, Good lack! ever art +thou imagining, nor can I escape thee; yet shalt thou in no wise have +power to fulfil, but wilt be the further from my heart; that shall be +even the worse for thee. And if it be so, then such must my good +pleasure be. Abide thou in silence and hearken to my bidding, lest all +the gods that are in Olympus keep not off from thee my visitation, when +I put forth my hands unapproachable against thee.” + +He said, and Hera the ox-eyed queen was afraid, and sat in silence, +curbing her heart; but throughout Zeus’ palace the gods of heaven were +troubled. Then Hephaistos the famed craftsman began to make harangue +among them, to do kindness to his mother, white-armed Hera: “Verily +this will be a sorry matter, neither any more endurable, if ye twain +thus fight for mortals’ sakes, and bring wrangling among the gods; +neither will there any more be joy of the goodly feast, seeing that +evil triumpheth. So I give counsel to my mother, though herself is +wise, to do kindness to our dear father Zeus, that our father upbraid +us not again and cast the banquet in confusion. What if the Olympian, +the lord of the lightning, will to dash us from our seats! for he is +strongest far. Nay, approach thou him with gentle words, then will the +Olympian forthwith be gracious unto us.” + +So speaking he rose up and sat in his dear mother’s hand the +twy-handled cup, and spake to her: “Be of good courage, mother mine, +and endure, though thou art vexed, lest I behold thee, thou art so +dear, chastised before mine eyes, and then shall I not be able for all +my sorrow to save thee; for the Olympian is a hard foe to face. Yea, +once ere this, when I was fain to save thee, he caught me by my foot +and hurled me from the heavenly threshold; all day I flew, and at the +set of sun I fell in Lemnos, and little life was in me. There did the +Sintian folk forthwith tend me for my fall.” + +He spake, and the white-armed goddess Hera smiled, and smiling took the +cup at her son’s hand. Then he poured wine to all the other gods from +right to left, ladling the sweet nectar from the bowl. And laughter +unquenchable arose amid the blessed gods to see Hephaistos bustling +through the palace. + +So feasted they all day till the setting of the sun; nor was their soul +aught stinted of the fair banquet, nor of the beauteous lyre that +Apollo held, and the Muses singing alternately with sweet voice. + +Now when the bright light of the sun was set, these went each to his +own house to sleep, where each one had his palace made with cunning +device by famed Hephaistos the lame god; and Zeus the Olympian, the +lord of lightning, departed to his couch where he was wont of old to +take his rest, whenever sweet sleep visited him. There went he up and +slept, and beside him was Hera of the golden throne. + + + + +BOOK II. + + +How Zeus beguiled Agamemnon by a dream; and of the assembly of the +Achaians and their marching forth to battle. And of the names and +numbers of the hosts of the Achaians and the Trojans. + + +Now all other gods and chariot-driving men slept all night long, only +Zeus was not holden of sweet sleep; rather was he pondering in his +heart how he should do honour to Achilles and destroy many beside the +Achaians’ ships. And this design seemed to his mind the best, to wit, +to send a baneful dream upon Agamemnon son of Atreus. So he spake, and +uttered to him winged words: “Come now, thou baneful Dream, go to the +Achaians’ fleet ships, enter into the hut of Agamemnon son of Atreus, +and tell him every word plainly as I charge thee. Bid him call to arms +the flowing-haired Achaians with all speed, for that now he may take +the wide-wayed city of the Trojans. For the immortals that dwell in the +halls of Olympus are no longer divided in counsel, since Hera hath +turned the minds of all by her beseeching, and over the Trojans sorrows +hang.” + +So spake he, and the Dream went his way when he had heard the charge. +With speed he came to the Achaians’ fleet ships, and went to Agamemnon +son of Atreus, and found him sleeping in his hut, and ambrosial slumber +poured over him. So he stood over his head in seeming like unto the son +of Neleus, even Nestor, whom most of all the elders Agamemnon honoured; +in his likeness spake to him the heavenly Dream: + +“Sleepest thou, son of wise Atreus tamer of horses? To sleep all night +through beseemeth not one that is a counsellor, to whom peoples are +entrusted and so many cares belong. But now hearken straightway to me, +for I am a messenger to thee from Zeus, who though he be afar yet hath +great care for thee and pity. He biddeth thee call to arms the +flowing-haired Achaians with all speed, for that now thou mayest take +the wide-wayed city of the Trojans. For the immortals that dwell in the +halls of Olympus are no longer divided in counsel, since Hera hath +turned the minds of all by her beseeching, and over the Trojans sorrows +hang by the will of Zeus. But do thou keep this in thy heart, not let +forgetfulness come upon thee when honeyed sleep shall leave thee.” + +So spake the Dream, and departed and left him there, deeming in his +mind things that were not to be fulfilled. For indeed he thought to +take Priam’s city that very day; fond man, in that he knew not the +plans that Zeus had in mind, who was willed to bring yet more grief and +wailing on Trojans alike and Danaans throughout the course of stubborn +fights. Then woke he from sleep, and the heavenly voice was in his +ears. So he rose up sitting, and donned his soft tunic, fair and +bright, and cast around him his great cloak, and beneath his glistering +feet he bound his fair sandals, and over his shoulders cast his +silver-studded sword, and grasped his sires’ sceptre, imperishable for +ever, wherewith he took his way amid the mail-clad Achaians’ ships. + +Now went the goddess Dawn to high Olympus, foretelling daylight to Zeus +and all the immortals; and the king bade the clear-voiced heralds +summon to the assembly the flowing-haired Achaians. So did those +summon, and these gathered with speed. + +But first the council of the great-hearted elders met beside the ship +of king Nestor the Pylos-born. And he that had assembled them framed +his cunning counsel: “Hearken, my friends. A dream from heaven came to +me in my sleep through the ambrosial night, and chiefly to goodly +Nestor was very like in shape and bulk and stature. And it stood over +my head and charged me saying: ‘Sleepest thou, son of wise Atreus tamer +of horses? To sleep all night through beseemeth not one that is a +counsellor, to whom peoples are entrusted and so many cares belong. But +now hearken straightway to me, for I am a messenger to thee from Zeus, +who though he be afar yet hath great care for thee and pity. He biddeth +thee call to arms the flowing-haired Achaians with all speed, for that +now thou mayest take the wide-wayed city of the Trojans. For the +immortals that dwell in the palaces of Olympus are no longer divided in +counsel, since Hera hath turned the minds of all by her beseeching, and +over the Trojans sorrows hang by the will of Zeus. But do thou keep +this in thy heart.’ So spake the dream and was flown away, and sweet +sleep left me. So come, let us now call to arms as we may the sons of +the Achaians. But first I will speak to make trial of them as is +fitting, and bid them flee with their benched ships; only do ye from +this side and from that speak to hold them back.” + +So spake he and sate him down; and there stood up among them Nestor, +who was king of sandy Pylos. He of good intent made harangue to them +and said: “My friends, captains and rulers of the Argives, had any +other of the Achaians told us this dream we might deem it a false +thing, and rather turn away therefrom; but now he hath seen it who of +all Achaians avoweth himself far greatest. So come, let us call to arms +as we may the sons of the Achaians.” + +So spake he, and led the way forth from the council, and all the other +sceptred chiefs rose with him and obeyed the shepherd of the host; and +the people hastened to them. Even as when the tribes of thronging bees +issue from the hollow rock, ever in fresh procession, and fly +clustering among the flowers of spring, and some on this hand and some +on that fly thick; even so from ships and huts before the low beach +marched forth their many tribes by companies to the place of assembly. +And in their midst blazed forth Rumour, messenger of Zeus, urging them +to go; and so they gathered. And the place of assemblage was in an +uproar, and the earth echoed again as the hosts sate them down, and +there was turmoil. Nine heralds restrained them with shouting, if +perchance they might refrain from clamour, and hearken to their kings, +the fosterlings of Zeus. And hardly at the last would the people sit, +and keep them to their benches and cease from noise. Then stood up lord +Agamemnon bearing his sceptre, that Hephaistos had wrought curiously. +Hephaistos gave it to king Zeus son of Kronos, and then Zeus gave it to +the messenger-god the slayer of Argus;* and king Hermes gave it to +Pelops the charioteer, and Pelops again gave it to Atreus shepherd of +the host. And Atreus dying left it to Thyestes rich in flocks, and +Thyestes in his turn left it to Agamemnon to bear, that over many +islands and all Argos he should be lord. Thereon he leaned and spake +his saying to the Argives: + +* Or, possibly, “the swift-appearing” + + +“My friends, Danaan warriors, men of Ares’ company, Zeus Kronos’ son +hath bound me with might in grievous blindness of soul; hard of heart +is he, for that erewhile he promised me and pledged his nod that not +till I had wasted well-walled Ilios should I return; but now see I that +he planned a cruel wile and biddeth me return to Argos dishonoured, +with the loss of many of my folk. So meseems it pleaseth most mighty +Zeus, who hath laid low the head of many a city, yea, and shall lay +low; for his is highest power. Shame is this even for them that come +after to hear; how so goodly and great a folk of the Achaians thus +vainly warred a bootless war, and fought scantier enemies, and no end +thereof is yet seen. For if perchance we were minded, both Achaians and +Trojans, to swear a solemn truce, and to number ourselves, and if the +Trojans should gather together all that have their dwellings in the +city, and we Achaians should marshal ourselves by tens, and every +company choose a Trojan to pour their wine, then would many tens lack a +cup-bearer: so much, I say, do the sons of the Achaians outnumber the +Trojans that dwell within the city. But allies from many cities, even +warriors that wield the spear, are therein, and they hinder me +perforce, and for all my will suffer me not to waste the populous +citadel of Ilios. Already have nine years of great Zeus passed away, +and our ships’ timbers have rotted and the tackling is loosed; while +there our wives and little children sit in our halls awaiting us; yet +is our task utterly unaccomplished wherefor we came hither. So come, +even as I bid let us all obey. Let us flee with our ships to our dear +native land; for now shall we never take wide-wayed Troy.” + +So spake he, and stirred the spirit in the breasts of all throughout +the multitude, as many as had not heard the council. And the assembly +swayed like high sea-waves of the Icarian Main that east wind and south +wind raise, rushing upon them from the clouds of father Zeus; and even +as when the west wind cometh to stir a deep cornfield with violent +blast, and the ears bow down, so was all the assembly stirred, and they +with shouting hasted toward the ships; and the dust from beneath their +feet rose and stood on high. And they bade each man his neighbor to +seize the ships and drag them into the bright salt sea, and cleared out +the launching-ways, and the noise went up to heaven of their hurrying +homewards; and they began to take the props from beneath the ships. + +Then would the Argives have accomplished their return against the will +of fate, but that Hera spake a word to Athene: “Out on it, daughter of +aegis-bearing Zeus, unwearied maiden! Shall the Argives thus indeed +flee homeward to their dear native land over the sea’s broad back? But +they would leave to Priam and the Trojans their boast, even Helen of +Argos, for whose sake many an Achaian hath perished in Troy, far away +from his dear native land. But go thou now amid the host of the +mail-clad Achaians; with thy gentle words refrain thou every man, +neither suffer them to draw their curved ships down to the salt sea.” + +So spake she, and the bright-eyed goddess Athene disregarded not; but +went darting down from the peaks of Olympus, and came with speed to the +fleet ships of the Achaians. There found she Odysseus standing, peer of +Zeus in counsel, neither laid he any hand upon his decked black ship, +because grief had entered into his heart and soul. And bright-eyed +Athene stood by him and said: “Heaven-sprung son of Laertes, Odysseus +of many devices, will ye indeed fling yourselves upon your benched +ships to flee homeward to your dear native land? But ye would leave to +Priam and the Trojans their boast, even Helen of Argos, for whose sake +many an Achaian hath perished in Troy, far from his dear native land. +But go thou now amid the host of the Achaians, and tarry not; and with +gentle words refrain every man, neither suffer them to draw their +curved ships down to the salt sea.” + +So said she, and he knew the voice of the goddess speaking to him, and +set him to run, and cast away his mantle, the which his herald gathered +up, even Eurybates of Ithaca, that waited on him. And himself he went +to meet Agamemnon son of Atreus, and at his hand received the sceptre +of his sires, imperishable for ever, wherewith he took his way amid the +ships of the mail-clad Achaians. + +Whenever he found one that was a captain and a man of mark, he stood by +his side, and refrained him with gentle words: “Good sir, it is not +seemly to affright thee like a coward, but do thou sit thyself and make +all thy folk sit down. For thou knowest not yet clearly what is the +purpose of Atreus’ son; now is he but making trial, and soon he will +afflict the sons of the Achaians. And heard we not all of us what he +spake in the council? Beware lest in his anger he evilly entreat the +sons of the Achaians. For proud is the soul of heaven-fostered kings; +because their honour is of Zeus, and the god of counsel loveth them.”* + +Reading διοτρεφέων βασιλήων with Zenodotos. + + +But whatever man of the people he saw and found him shouting, him he +drave with his sceptre and chode him with loud words: “Good sir, sit +still and hearken to the words of others that are thy betters; but thou +art no warrior, and a weakling, never reckoned whether in battle or in +council. In no wise can we Achaians all be kings here. A multitude of +masters is no good thing; let there be one master, one king, to whom +the son of crooked-counselling Kronos hath granted it, [even the +sceptre and judgments, that he may rule among you”]. + +So masterfully ranged he the host; and they hasted back to the assembly +from ships and huts, with noise as when a wave of loud-sounding sea +roareth on the long beach and the main resoundeth. + +Now all the rest sat down and kept their place upon the benches, only +Thersites still chattered on, the uncontrolled of speech, whose mind +was full of words many and disorderly, wherewith to strive against the +chiefs idly and in no good order, but even as he deemed that he should +make the Argives laugh. And he was ill-favored beyond all men that came +to Ilios. Bandy-legged was he, and lame of one foot, and his two +shoulders rounded, arched down upon his chest; and over them his head +was warped, and a scanty stubble sprouted on it. Hateful was he to +Achilles above all and to Odysseus, for them he was wont to revile. But +now with shrill shout he poured forth his upbraidings upon goodly +Agamemnon. With him the Achaians were sore vexed and had indignation in +their souls. But he with loud shout spake and reviled Agamemnon: +“Atreides, for what art thou now ill content and lacking? Surely thy +huts are full of bronze and many women are in they huts, the chosen +spoils that we Achaians give thee first of all, whene’er we take a +town. Can it be that thou yet wantest gold as well, such as some one of +the horse-taming Trojans may bring from Ilios to ransom his son, whom I +perchance or some other Achaian have led captive; or else some young +girl, to know in love, whom thou mayest keep apart to thyself? But it +is not seemly for one that is their captain to bring the sons of the +Achaians to ill. Soft fools, base things of shame, ye women of Achaia +and men no more, let us depart home with our ships, and leave this +fellow here in Troy-land to gorge him with meeds of honour, that he may +see whether our aid avail him aught or no; even he that hath now done +dishonour to Achilles, a far better man than he; for he hath taken away +his meed of honour and keepeth it by his own violent deed. Of a very +surety is there no wrath at all in Achilles’ mind, but he is slack; +else this despite, thou son of Atreus, were thy last.” + +So spake Thersites, reviling Agamemnon shepherd of the host. But goodly +Odysseus came straight to his side, and looking sternly at him with +hard words rebuked him: “Thersites, reckless in words, shrill orator +though thou art, refrain thyself, nor aim to strive singly against +kings. For I deem that no mortal is baser than thou of all that with +the sons of Atreus came before Ilios. Therefore were it well that thou +shouldest not have kings in thy mouth as thou talkest, and utter +revilings against them and be on the watch for departure. We know not +yet clearly how these things shall be, whether we sons of the Achaians +shall return for good or for ill. Therefore now dost thou revile +continually Agamemnon son of Atreus, shepherd of the host, because the +Danaan warriors give him many gifts, and so thou talkest tauntingly. +But I will tell thee plain, and that I say shall even be brought to +pass: if I find thee again raving as now thou art, then may Odysseus’ +head no longer abide upon his shoulders, nor may I any more be called +father of Telemachos, if I take thee not and strip from thee thy +garments, thy mantle and tunic that cover thy nakedness, and for +thyself send thee weeping to the fleet ships, and beat thee out of the +assembly with shameful blows.” + +So spake he, and with his staff smote his back and shoulders: and he +bowed down and a big tear fell from him, and a bloody weal stood up +from his back beneath the golden sceptre. Then he sat down and was +amazed, and in pain with helpless look wiped away the tear. But the +rest, though they were sotty, laughed lightly at him, and thus would +one speak looking at another standing by: “Go to, of a truth Odysseus +hath wrought good deeds without number ere now, standing foremost in +wise counsels and setting battle in array, but now is this thing the +best by far that he hath wrought among the Argives, to wit, that he +hath stayed this prating railer from his harangues. Never again, +forsooth, will his proud soul henceforth bid him revile the kings with +slanderous words.” + +So said the common sort; but up rose Odysseus waster of cities, with +sceptre in his hand. And by his side bright-eyed Athene in the likeness +of a herald bade the multitude keep silence, that the sons of the +Achaians, both the nearest and the farthest, might hear his words +together and give heed to his counsel. He of good intent made harangue +to them and said: “Atreides, now surely are the Achaians for making +thee, O king, most despised among all mortal men, nor will they fulfil +the promise that they pledged thee when they still were marching hither +from horse-pasturing Argos; that thou shouldest not return till thou +hadst laid well-walled Ilios waste. For like young children or widow +women do they wail each to the other of returning home. Yea, here is +toil to make a man depart disheartened. For he that stayeth away but +one single month far from his wife in his benched ship fretteth himself +when winter storms and the furious sea imprison him; but for us, the +ninth year of our stay here is upon us in its course. Therefore do I +not marvel that the Achaians should fret beside their beaked ships; yet +nevertheless is it shameful to wait long and to depart empty. Be of +good heart, my friends, and wait a while, until we learn whether +Kalchas be a true prophet or no. For this thing verily we know well in +our hearts, and ye all are witnesses thereof, even as many as the fates +of death have not borne away. It was as it were but yesterday or the +day before that the Achaians’ ships were gathering in Aulis, freighted +with trouble for Priam and the Trojans; and we round about a spring +were offering on the holy altars unblemished hecatombs to the +immortals, beneath a fair plane-tree whence flowed bright water, when +there was seen a great portent: a snake blood-red on the back, +terrible, whom the god of Olympus himself had sent forth to the light +of day, sprang from beneath the altar and darted to the plane-tree. Now +there were there the brood of a sparrow, tender little ones, upon the +topmost branch, nestling beneath the leaves; eight were they and the +mother of the little ones was the ninth, and the snake swallowed these +cheeping pitifully. And the mother fluttered around wailing for her +dear little ones; but he coiled himself and caught her by the wing as +she screamed about him. Now when he had swallowed the sparrow’s little +ones and the mother with them, the god who revealed him made of him a +sign; for the son of crooked-counselling Kronos turned him to stone, +and we stood by and marvelled to see what was done. So when the dread +portent brake in upon the hecatombs of the gods, then did Kalchas +forthwith prophesy, and said: ‘Why hold ye your peace, ye +flowing-haired Achaians? To us hath Zeus the counsellor shown this +great sign, late come, of late fulfilment, the fame whereof shall never +perish. Even as he swallowed the sparrow’s little ones and herself, the +eight wherewith the mother that bare the little ones was the ninth, so +shall we war there so many years, but in the tenth year shall we take +the wide-wayed city.’ So spake the seer; and now are all these things +being fulfilled. So come, abide ye all, ye well-greaved Achaians, even +where ye are, until we have taken the great city of Priam.” + +So spake he, and the Argives shouted aloud, and all round the ships +echoed terribly to the voice of the Achaians as they praised the saying +of god-like Odysseus. And then spake among them knightly Nestor of +Gerenia: “Out on it; in very truth ye hold assembly like silly boys +that have no care for deeds of war. What shall come of our covenants +and our oaths? Let all counsels be cast into the fire and all devices +of warriors and the pure drink-offerings and the right hands of +fellowship wherein we trusted. For we are vainly striving with words +nor can we find any device at all, for all our long tarrying here. Son +of Atreus, do thou still, as erst, keep steadfast purpose and lead the +Argives amid the violent fray; and for these, let them perish, the one +or two Achaians that take secret counsel—though fulfilment shall not +come thereof—to depart to Argos first, before they know whether the +promise of aegis-bearing Zeus be a lie or no. Yea, for I say that most +mighty Kronion pledged us his word that day when the Argives embarked +upon their fleet ships, bearing unto the Trojans death and fate; for by +his lightning upon our right he manifested signs of good. Therefore let +Trojan’s wife and paid back his strivings and groans for Helen’s sake. +But if any man is overmuch desirous to depart homewards, let him lay +his hand upon his decked black ship, that before all men he may +encounter death and fate. But do thou, my king, take good counsel +thyself, and hearken to another that shall give it; the word that I +speak, whate’er it be, shall not be cast away. Separate thy warriors by +tribes and by clans, Agamemnon, that clan may give aid to clan and +tribe to tribe. If thou do thus and the Achaians hearken to thee, then +wilt thou know who among thy captains and who of the common sort is a +coward, and who too is brave; for they will fight each after their +sort. So wilt thou know whether it is even by divine command that thou +shalt not take the city, or by the baseness of thy warriors and their +ill skill in battle.” + +And lord Agamemnon answered and said to him: “Verily hast thou again +outdone the sons of the Achaians in speech, old man. Ah, father Zeus +and Athene and Apollo, would that among the Achaians I had ten such +councillors; then would the city of king Priam soon bow beneath our +hands, captive and wasted. But aegis-bearing Zeus, the son of Kronos, +hath brought sorrows upon me, in that he casteth my lot amid fruitless +wranglings and strifes. For in truth I and Achilles fought about a +damsel with violent words, and I was first to be angry; but if we can +only be at one in council, then will there no more be any putting off +the day of evil for the Trojans, no not for an instant. But now go ye +to your meal that we may join battle. Let each man sharpen well his +spear and bestow well his shield, and let him well give his +fleet-footed steeds their meal, and look well to his chariot on every +side and take thought for battle, that all day long we may contend in +hateful war. For of respite shall there intervene no, not a whit, only +that the coming of night shall part the fury of warriors. On each man’s +breast shall the baldrick of his covering shield be wet with sweat, and +his hand shall grow faint about the spear, and each man’s horse shall +sweat as he draweth the polished chariot. And whomsoever I perceive +minded to tarry far from the fight beside the beaked ships, for him +shall there be no hope hereafter to escape the dogs and birds of prey.” + +So spake he, and the Argives shouted aloud, like to a wave on a steep +shore, when the south wind cometh and stirreth it; even on a jutting +rock, that is never left at peace by the waves of all winds that rise +from this side and from that. And they stood up and scattered in haste +throughout the ships, and made fires in the huts and took their meal. +And they did sacrifice each man to one of the everlasting gods, praying +for escape from death and the tumult of battle. But Agamemnon king of +men slew a fat bull of five years to most mighty Kronion, and called +the elders, the princes of the Achaian host, Nestor first and king +Idomeneus, and then the two Aiantes and Tydeus’ son, and sixthly +Odysseus peer of Zeus in counsel. And Menelaos of the loud war-cry came +to him unbidden, for he knew in his heart how his brother toiled. Then +stood they around the bull and took the barley-meal. And Agamemnon made +his prayer in their midst and said: “Zeus, most glorious, most great, +god of the storm-cloud, that dwellest in the heaven, vouchsafe that the +sun set not upon us nor the darkness come near, till I have laid low +upon the earth Priam’s palace smirched with smoke, and burnt the +doorways thereof with consuming fire, and rent on Hector’s breast his +doublet cleft with the blade; and about him may full many of his +comrades prone in the dust bite the earth.” + +So spake he, but not as yet would Kronion grant him fulfilment; he +accepted the sacrifice, but made toil to wax increasingly. + +Now when they had prayed and sprinkled the barley-meal they first drew +back the bull’s head and cut his throat and flayed him, and cut slices +from the thighs and wrapped them in fat, making a double fold, and laid +raw collops thereon. And these they burnt on cleft wood stript of +leaves, and spitted the vitals and held them over Hephaistos’ flame. +Now when the thighs were burnt and they had tasted the vitals, then +sliced they all the rest and pierced it through with spits, and roasted +it carefully and drew all off again. So when they had rest from the +task and had made ready the banquet, they feasted, nor was their heart +aught stinted of the fair banquet. But when they had put away from them +the desire of meat and drink, then did knightly Nestor of Gerenia open +his saying to them: “Most noble son of Atreus, Agamemnon king of men, +let us not any more hold long converse here, nor for long delay the +work that god putteth in our hands; but come, let the heralds of the +mail-clad Achaians make proclamation to the folk and gather them +throughout the ships; and let us go thus in concert through the wide +host of the Achaians, that the speedier we may arouse keen war.” + +So spake he and Agamemnon king of men disregarded not. Straightway he +bade the clear-voiced heralds summon to battle the flowing-haired +Achaians. So those summoned and these gathered with all speed. And the +kings, the fosterlings of Zeus that were about Atreus’ son, eagerly +marshalled them, and bright-eyed Athene in the midst, bearing the holy +aegis that knoweth neither age nor death, whereon wave an hundred +tassels of pure gold, all deftly woven and each one an hundred oxen +worth. Therewith she passed dazzling through the Achaian folk, urging +them forth; and in every man’s heart she roused strength to battle +without ceasing and to fight. So was war made sweeter to them than to +depart in their hollow ships to their dear native land. Even as +ravaging fire kindleth a boundless forest on a mountain’s peaks, and +the blaze is seen from afar, even so as they marched went the dazzling +gleam from the innumerable bronze through the sky even unto the +heavens. + +And as the many tribes of feathered birds, wild geese or cranes or +long-necked swans, on the Asian mead by Kaystrios’ stream, fly hither +and thither joying in their plumage, and with loud cries settle ever +onwards, and the mead resounds; even so poured forth the many tribes of +warriors from ships and huts into the Skamandrian plain. And the earth +echoed terribly beneath the tread of men and horses. So stood they in +the flowery Skamandrian plain, unnumbered as are leaves and flowers in +their season. Even as the many tribes of thick flies that hover about a +herdsman’s steading in the spring season, when milk drencheth the +pails, even in like number stood the flowing-haired Achaians upon the +plain in face of the Trojans, eager to rend them asunder. And even as +the goatherds easily divide the ranging flocks of goats when they +mingle in the pasture, so did their captains marshal them on this side +and that, to enter into the fray, and in their midst lord Agamemnon, +his head and eyes like unto Zeus whose joy is in the thunder, and his +waist like unto Ares and his breast unto Poseidon. Even as a bull +standeth out far foremost amid the herd, for he is pre-eminent amid the +pasturing kine, even such did Zeus make Atreides on that day, +pre-eminent among many and chief amid heroes. + +Tell me now, ye Muses that dwell in the mansions of Olympus—seeing that +ye are goddesses and are at hand and know all things, but we hear only +a rumour and know not anything—who were the captains of the Danaans and +their lords. But the common sort could I not number nor name, nay, not +if ten tongues were mine and ten mouths, and a voice unwearied, and my +heart of bronze within me, did not the Muses of Olympus, daughters of +aegis-bearing Zeus, put into my mind all that came to Ilios. So will I +tell the captains of the ships and all the ships in order. + +Of the Boiotians Peneleos and Leitos were captains, and Arkesilaos and +Prothoënor and Klonios; these were they that dwelt in Hyria and rocky +Aulis and Schoinos and Skolos and Eteonos full of ridges, Thespeia and +Graia and Mykalessos with wide lawns; and that dwelt about Harma and +Eilesion and Erythrai, and they that possessed Eleon and Peteon and +Hyle, Okalea and the stablished fortress of Medeon, Kopai and Eutresis +and Thisbe haunt of doves; and they of Koroneia and grassy Haliartos, +and that possessed Plataia and that dwelt in Glisas, and that possessed +the stablished fortress of lesser Thebes and holy Onchestos, Poseidon’s +bright grove; and that possessed Arne rich in vineyards, and Mideia and +sacred Nisa and Anthedon on the furthest borders. Of these there came +fifty ships, and in each one embarked young men of the Boiotians an +hundred and twenty. And they that dwelt in Aspledon and Orchomenos of +the Minyai were led of Askalaphos and Ialmenos, sons of Ares, whom +Astyoche conceived of the mighty god in the palace of Aktor son of +Azeus, having entered her upper chamber, a stately maiden; for mighty +Ares lay with her privily. And with them sailed thirty hollow ships. + +And the Phokians were led of Schedios and Epistrophos, sons of +great-hearted Iphitos son of Naubolos; these were they that possessed +Kyparissos and rocky Pytho and sacred Krisa and Daulis and Panopeus, +and they that dwelt about Anemoreia and Hyampolis, yea, and they that +lived by the goodly river Kephisos and possessed Lilaia by Kephisos’ +springs. And with them followed forty black ships. So they marshalled +the ranks of the Phokians diligently, and had their station hard by the +Boiotians on the left. + +And of the Lokrians the fleet son of Oileus was captain, Aias the less, +that was not so great as was the Telamonian Aias but far less. Small +was he, with linen corslet, but with the spear he far outdid all the +Hellenes and Achaians. These were they that dwelt in Kynos and Opus and +Kalliaros and Bessa and Skarphe and lovely Augeiai and Tarphe and +Thronion, about the streams of Boagrios. And with Aias followed forty +black ships of the Lokrians that dwell over against holy Euboia. + +And the Abantes breathing fury, they that possessed Euboia and Chalkis +and Eiretria and Histiaia rich in vines, and Kerinthos by the sea and +the steep fortress of Dios, and they that possessed Karytos, and they +that dwelt in Styra, all these again were led of Elephenor of the stock +of Ares, even the son of Chalkodon, and captain of the proud Abantes. +And with him followed the fleet Abantes with hair flowing behind, +spearmen eager with ashen shafts outstretched to tear the corslets on +the breasts of the foes. And with him forty black ships followed. + +And they that possessed the goodly citadel of Athens, the domain of +Erechtheus the high-hearted, whom erst Athene daughter of Zeus fostered +when Earth, the grain-giver, brought him to birth;—and she gave him a +resting-place in Athens in her own rich sanctuary; and there the sons +of the Athenians worship him with bulls and rams as the years turn in +their courses—these again were led of Menestheus son of Peteos. And +there was no man upon the face of earth that was like him for the +marshalling of horsemen and warriors that bear the shield. Only Nestor +rivalled him, for he was the elder by birth. And with him rivalled him, +for he was the elder by birth. And with him fifty black ships followed. + +And Aias led twelve ships from Salamis, [and brought them and set them +where the battalions of the Athenians stood.] + +And they that possessed Argos and Tiryns of the great walls, Hermione +and Asine that enfold the deep gulf, Troizen and Eïonai and Epidauros +full of vines, and the youths of the Achaians that possessed Aigina and +Mases, these were led of Diomedes of the loud war-cry and Sthenelos, +dear son of famous Kapaneus. And the third with them came Euryalos, a +godlike warrior, the son of king Mekisteus son of Talaos. But Diomedes +of the loud war-cry was lord over all. And with them eighty black ships +followed. + +And of them that possessed the stablished fortress of Mykene and +wealthy Corinth and stablished Kleonai, and dwelt in Orneiai and lovely +Araithyrea and Sikyon, wherein Adrestos was king at the first; and of +them that possessed Hyperesie and steep Gonoessa and Pellene, and dwelt +about Aigion and through all the coast-land and about broad Helike, of +them did lord Agamemnon son of Atreus lead an hundred ships. With him +followed most and goodliest folk by far; and in their midst himself was +clad in flashing bronze, all glorious, and was pre-eminent amid all +warriors, because he was goodliest and led folk far greatest in number. + +And of them that possessed Lakedaimon lying low amid the rifted hills, +and Pharis and Sparta and Messe, the haunt of doves, and dwelt in +Bryseiai and lovely Augeiai, and of them too that possessed Amyklai and +the sea-coast fortress of Helos, and that possessed Laas and dwelt +about Oitylos, of these was the king’s brother leader, even Menelaos of +the loud war-cry, leader of sixty ships, and these were arrayed apart. +And himself marched among them confident in his zeal, urging his men to +battle: and his heart most of all was set to take vengeance for his +strivings and groans for Helen’s sake.* + +* Or, “for Helen’s searchings of heart and groans.” + + +And of them that dwelt in Pylos and lovely Arene and Thryon the +fording-place of Alpheios, and in established Aipy, and were +inhabitants of Kyparisseis and Amphigeneia and Pteleos and Helos and +Dorion—where the Muses met Thamyris the Thracian, and made an end of +his singing, as he was faring from Oichalia, from Eurytos the +Oichalian; for he averred with boasting that he would conquer, even did +the Muses themselves sing against him, the daughters of aegis-bearing +Zeus; but they in their anger maimed him, moreover they took from him +the high gift of song and made him to forget his harping—of all these +was knightly Nestor of Gerenia leader, and with him sailed ninety +hollow ships. + +And of them that possessed Arkadia beneath the steep mountain of +Kyllene, beside the tomb of Aipytos, where are warriors that fight hand +to hand; and of them that dwelt in Pheneos and Orchomenos abounding in +flocks, and Rhipe and Stratie and windy Enispe, and that possessed +Tegea and lovely Mantineia, and possessed Stymphelos and dwelt in +Parrhasie, of these was Ankaios’ son lord Agapenor leader, even of +sixty ships; and in each ship embarked many Arkadian warriors skilled +in fight. For Agamemnon king of men himself gave them benched ships +wherewith to cross the wine-dark sea, even he the son of Atreus; for +matters of seafaring concerned them not. + +And they too that inhabited Bouprasion and goodly Elis, so much thereof +as Hyrmine and Myrsinos upon the borders and the Olenian rock and +Aleision bound between them, of these men there were four captains, and +ten swift ships followed each one, and many Epeians embarked thereon. +So some were led of Amphimachos and Thalpios, of the lineage of Aktor, +sons one of Kteatos and one of Eurytos; and of some was stalwart Diores +captain, son of Amarynkes; and of the fourth company godlike Polyxeinos +was captain, son of king Agasthenes Augeias’ son. + +And them of Doulichion and the holy Echinean Isles that stand beyond +the sea over against Elis, even these did Meges lead, the peer of Ares, +Phyleides to wit, for he was begotten of knightly Phyleus dear to Zeus, +him that erst changed his habitation to Doulichion for anger against +his father. And with him followed forty black ships. + +And Odysseus led the great-hearted Kephallenians, them that possessed +Ithaka and Neriton with quivering leafage, and dwelt in Krokyleia and +rugged Aigilips, and them that possessed Zakynthos and that dwelt in +Samos, and possessed the mainland and dwelt in the parts over against +the isles. Them did Odysseus lead, the peer of Zeus in counsel, and +with him followed twelve ships with vermillion prow. + +And of the Aitolians Thoas was captain, the son of Andraimon, even of +them that dwelt in Pleuron and Olenos and Pylene, and Chalkis on the +sea-shore and rocky Kalydon. For the sons of great-hearted Oineus were +no more, neither did he still live, and golden-haired Meleagros was +dead, to whose hands all had been committed, for him to be king of the +Aitolians. And with Thoas there followed forty black ships. + +And of the Cretans Idomeneus the famous spearman was leader, even of +them that possessed Knosos and Gortys of the great walls, Lyktos and +Miletos and chalky Lykastos and Phaistos and Rhytion, stablished cities +all; and of all others that dwelt in Crete of the hundred cities. Of +these men was Idomeneus the famous spearman leader, and Meriones peer +of the man-slaying war-god. With these followed eighty black ships. + +And Tlepolemmos, Herakles’ son goodly and tall, led from Rhodes nine +ships of the lordly Rhodians, that dwelt in Rhodes in threefold +ordering, in Lindos and Ialysos and chalky Kameiros. These were led of +Tlepolemos the famous spearman, that was born to great Herakles by +Astyocheia, whom he had brought away from Ephyre by the river Selleëis, +when he laid waste many cities of strong men, fosterlings of Zeus. Now +when Tlepolemos had grown to manhood within the strong palace walls, +anon he slew his own father’s dear uncle, an old man now, Likymnios of +the stock of Ares. Then with speed built he ships and gathered much +folk together, and went fleeing across the deep, because the other sons +and grandsons of great Herakles threatened him. So he came to Rhodes a +wanderer, enduring hardships, and his folk settled by kinship in three +tribes, and were loved of Zeus that is king among gods and men; and +Kronion poured upon them exceeding great wealth. + +Nireus, moreover, led three trim ships from Syme, Nireus son of Aglaia +and king Charopos, Nireus the most beauteous man that came up under +Ilios of all the Danaans, after the noble son of Peleus. Howbeit he was +a weakling, and a scanty host followed him. + +And of them that possessed Nisyros and Krapathos and Kasos and Kos the +city of Eurypylos, and the Kalydnian Isles, of them Pheidippos and +Antiphos were leaders, the two sons of king Thessalos son of Herakles. +With them were arrayed thirty hollow ships. + +Now all moreover that dwelt in the Pelasgian Argos and inhabited Alos +and Alope and Trachis and possessed Phthia and Hellas the home of fair +women, and were called Myrmidons and Hellenes and Achaians; of all +these, even fifty ships, Achilles was captain. But these took no +thought of noisy war; for there was no man to array them in line of +battle. For fleet-footed goodly Achilles lay idle amid the ships, wroth +for the sake of a damsel, Briseis of the lovely hair, whom he had won +from Lyrnessos with much travail, what time he laid waste Lyrnessos and +the walls of Thebe, and overthrew Mynes and Epistrophos, warriors that +bare the spear, sons of king Euenos Selepos’ son. For her sake lay +Achilles sorrowing; but soon was he to arise again. + +And of them that possessed Phylake and flowery Pyrasos, Demeter’s +sanctuary, and Iton mother of flocks, and Antron by the sea-shore and +Pteleos couched in grass, of all these was warlike Protesilaos leader +while yet he lived; but now ere this the black earth held him fast. His +wife with marred visage was left alone in Phylake, yea, and his bridal +chamber half builded; for a Dardanian warrior slew him as he leapt from +his ship far first of the Achaians. Yet neither were his men +leaderless, though they sorrowed for their leader; for Podarkes of the +stock of Ares marshalled them, son of Phylakos’ son Iphiklos was he, +the lord of many flocks, own brother of great-hearted Protesilaos, and +younger-born than he: but the other was alike the elder and the braver, +even Protesilaos, that mighty man of war. Yet did not the host lack at +all a leader, only they yearned for the noble dead. With him followed +forty black ships. + +And of them that dwelt in Pherai by the Boibeian mere, in Boibe and +Glaphyre and stablished Iolkos, of them, even eleven ships, Admetos’ +dear son was leader, Eumelos whom Alkestis, fair among women, bare to +Admetos, she that was most beauteous to look upon of the daughters of +Pelias. + +And of them that dwelt in Methone and Thaumakie, and possessed Meliboia +and rugged Olizon, of these, even seven ships, was Philoktetes leader, +the cunning archer; and in each ship sailed fifty oarsmen skilled to +fight amain with the bow. But their captain lay enduring sore pain in +the isle of goodly Lemnos, where the sons of the Achaians left him sick +of a grievous wound from a deadly water-snake. There lay he pining; yet +were the Argives soon to bethink them beside their ships of king +Philoktetes. Yet neither were his men leaderless, only they sorrowed +for their leader; but Medon marshalled them, Oileus’ bastard son, whom +Rhene bare to Oileus waster of cities. + +And of them that possessed Trikke and terraced Ithome and that +possessed Oichalia city of Eurytos the Oichalian, of these again +Asklepios’ two sons were leaders, the cunning leeches Podaleirios and +Machaon. And with them were arrayed thirty hollow ships. + +And of them that possessed Ormenios and the fountain of Hypereia, and +possessed Asterion and the white crests of Titanos, of these was +Eurypylos leader, Euaimon’s glorious son; and with him forty black +ships followed. + +And of them that possessed Argissa and dwelt in Gyrtona, Orthe and +Elone and the white city of Oloosson, of these was captain unflinching +Polypoites, son of Peirithoos that immortal Zeus begat: and Polypoites +did famed Hippodameia conceive of Peirithoos on that day when he took +vengeance of the shaggy wild folk, and thrust them forth from Pelion +and drave them to the Aithikes. And Polypoites ruled not alone, but +with him was Leonteus of the stock of Ares, son of high-hearted Koronos +Kaineus’s son. And with them forty black ships followed. + +And Gouneus from Kyphos led two-and-twenty ships, and with him followed +the Enienes and unflinching Peraibians that had pitched their homes +about wintry Dodona, and dwelt on the tilth about lovely Titaresios +that poureth his fair-flowing stream into Peneios. Yet doth he not +mingle with the silver eddies of Peneios, but floweth on over him like +unto oil, seeing that he is an offspring from the water of Styx, the +dread river of the oath. + +And the Magnetes were led of Prothoos son of Tenthredon, even they that +dwelt about Peneios and Pelion with trembling leafage. These did fleet +Prothoos lead, and with him forty black ships followed. + +So these were the leaders of the Danaans and their captains. Now tell +me, O Muse, who among them was first and foremost, of warriors alike +and horses that followed the sons of Atreus. Of horses they of Pheres’ +son were far goodliest, those that Eumelos drave, swift as birds, like +of coat, like of age, matched to the measure of a levelling line across +their backs. These were reared in Peraia by Apollo of the silver bow, +two mares carrying onward the terror of battle. But of warriors far +best was the Telamonian Aias, while the wrath of Achilles yet endured; +for he was greatest of all, he and his horses that bore him, even +Peleus’ noble son. But he lay idle among his seafaring ships, in sore +wrath against Agamemnon Atreus’ son, shepherd of the host; and his folk +along the sea-shore sported with quoits and with casting of javelins +and archery; and the horses each beside his own chariot stood idle, +champing clover and parsley of the marsh, and their lords’ chariots lay +well covered up within the huts, while the men yearned for their +warrior chief, and wandered hither and thither through the camp and +fought not. + +So marched they then as though all the land were consuming with fire; +and the earth groaned beneath them as at the wrath of Zeus whose joy is +in the thunder, when he lasheth the earth about Typhoeus in the country +of the Arimoi, where men say is Typhoeus’ couch. Even so groaned the +earth aloud at their tread as they went: and with speed advanced they +across the plain. + +Now fleet Iris the wind-footed went to the Trojans, a messenger from +aegis-bearing Zeus, with a grievous message. These were holding +assembly at Priam’s gate, being gathered all together both young men +and old. And fleet-footed Iris stood hard by and spake to them; and she +made her voice like to the voice of Polites son of Priam, who was the +sentinel of the Trojans and was wont to sit trusting in his fleetness +upon the barrow of Aisyetes of old, and on the top thereof wait the +sallying of the Achaians forth from their ships. Even in his likeness +did fleet-footed Iris speak to Priam: “Old man, words beyond number are +still pleasant to thee as erst in the days of peace; but war without +respite is upon us. Of a truth have I very oft ere now entered into +battles of the warriors, yet have I never seen so goodly a host and so +great; for in the very likeness of the leaves of the forest or the +sands of the sea are they marching along the plain to fight against the +city. But Hector, thee do I charge beyond all to do even as I shall +say. Seeing that the allies are very many throughout Priam’s great +city, and diverse men, being scattered abroad, have diverse tongues; +therefore let each one give the word to those whose chieftain he is, +and them let him lead forth and have the ordering of his countrymen.” + +So spake she, and Hector failed not to know the voice of the goddess, +and straightway dismissed the assembly, and they rushed to arms. And +the gates were thrown open wide, and the host issued forth, footmen and +horsemen, and mighty din arose. + +Now there is before the city a certain steep mound apart in the plain, +with a clear way about it on this side and on that; and men indeed call +this “Batieia,” but the immortals call it “The tomb of lithe Myrine.” +There did the Trojans and their allies divide their companies. + +Amid the Trojans great Hector of the glancing helm was leader, the son +of Priam; with him the greatest hosts by far and the goodliest were +arrayed, eager warriors of the spear. + +But the Dardanians were led of the princely son of Anchises, Aineias, +whom bright Aphrodite conceived to Anchises amids the spurs of Ida, a +goddess wedded to a mortal. Neither was he alone; with him were +Antenor’s two sons, Archelochos and Akamas, well skilled in all the +ways of war. + +And of them that dwelt in Zeleia beneath the nethermost foot of Ida, +the men of substance that drink the dark waters of Aisepos, even the +Troes; of these Lykaon’s glorious son was leader, Pandaros, to whom +Apollo himself gave the bow. + +And of them that possessed Adresteia and the land of Apaisos and +possessed Pityeia and the steep hill of Tereia, of these Adrestos was +captain, and Amphios of the linen corslet, the two sons of Merops of +Perkote, that beyond all men knew soothsaying, and would have hindered +his children marching to murderous war. But they gave him no heed, for +the fates of black death led them on. + +And they that dwelt about Perkote and Praktios and possessed Sestos and +Abydos and bright Arisbe, these were led of Hyrtakos’ son Asios, a +prince of men, Asios son of Hyrtakos, whom his tall sorrel steeds +brought from Arisbe, from the river Selleëis. + +And Hippothoos led the tribes of the Pelasgians that fight with spears, +them that inhabited deep-soiled Larisa. These were led of Hippothoos +and Pylaios of the stock of Ares, twain sons of Pelasgian Lethos son of +Teutamos. + +And the Thracians were led of Akamas and hero Peiroos, even all they +that the strong stream of Hellespont shutteth in. And Euphemos was +captain of the Kikonian spearmen, the son of Troizenos Keos’ son, +fosterling of Zeus. + +But Pyraichmes led the Paionians with curving bows, from far away in +Amydon, from the broad stream of Axios, Axios whose water is the +fairest that floweth over the face of the earth. + +And Pylaimenes of rugged heart led the Paphlagonians from the land of +the Eneti, whence is the breed of wild mules. This folk were they that +possessed Kytoros and dwelt about Sesamon, and inhabited their famed +dwellings round the river Parthenios and Kromna and Aigialos and lofty +Erythini. + +And the Alizones were led of Odios and Epistrophos, from far away in +Alybe, where is the birthplace of silver. + +And the Mysians were led of Chromis and Ennomos the augur, yet with all +his auguries warded he not black fate from him, but was vanguished by +the hand of fleet-footed Aiakides in the river, when he made havoc of +the Trojans there and of the rest. + +And Phorkys and godlike Askanios led the Phrygians from far Askania, +and these were eager to fight in the battle-throng. + +And the Maionians were commanded of Mesthles and Antiphos, Talaimenes’ +two sons, whose mother was the Gygaian mere. So these led the +Maionians, whose birthplace was under Tmolos. + +But Nastes led the Karians, uncouth of speech, that possessed Miletos +and the mountain of Phthires, of leafage numberless, and the streams of +Maiandros and the steep crest of Mykale. These were led of Amphimachos +and Nastes: Nastes and Amphimachos the glorious children of Nomion. And +he came, forsooth, to battle with golden attire like a girl—fond man: +that held not back in any wise grievous destruction, but he was +vanguished by the hands of fleet-footed Aiakides in the river, and +wise-hearted Achilles carried away his gold. + +And Sarpedon and blameless Glaukos led the Lykians from far away in +Lykia by eddying Xanthos. + + + + +BOOK III. + + +How Menelaos and Paris fought in single combat; and Aphrodite rescued +Paris. And how Helen and Priam beheld the Achaian host from the walls +of Troy. + + +Now when they were arrayed, each company with their captains, the +Trojans marched with clamour and with shouting like unto birds, even as +when there goeth up before heaven a clamour of cranes which flee from +the coming of winter and sudden rain, and fly with clamour towards the +streams of ocean, bearing slaughter and fate to the Pigmy men, and in +early morn offer cruel battle. But on the other side marched the +Achaians in silence breathing courage, eager at heart to give succour +man to man. + +Even as when the south wind sheddeth mist over the crests of a +mountain, mist unwelcome to the shepherd, but to the robber better than +night, and a man can see no further than he casteth a stone; even so +thick arose the gathering dust-clouds at their tread as they went; and +with all speed they advanced across the plain. + +So when they were now come nigh in onset on each other, godlike +Alexandros played champion to the Trojans, wearing upon his shoulders +panther-skin and curved bow and sword; and he brandished two +bronze-headed spears and challenged all the chieftains of the Argives +to fight him man to man in deadly combat. But when Menelaos dear to +Ares marked him coming in the forefront of the multitude with long +strides, then even as a lion is glad when he lighteth upon a great +carcase, a horned stag, or a wild goat that he hath found, being an +hungered; and so he devoureth it amain, even though the fleet hounds +and lusty youths set upon him; even thus was Menelaos glad when his +eyes beheld godlike Alexandros; for he thought to take vengeance upon +the sinner. So straightway he leapt in his armour from his chariot to +the ground. + +But when godlike Alexandros marked him appear amid the champions, his +heart was smitten, and he shrank back into the host of his comrades, +avoiding death. And even as a man that hath seen a serpent in a +mountain glade starteth backward and trembling seizeth his feet beneath +him, and he retreateth back again, and paleness hath hold of his +cheeks, even so did godlike Alexandros for fear of Atreus’ son shrink +back into the throng of lordly Trojans. But Hector beheld and upbraided +him with scornful words: “Ill Paris, most fair in semblance, thou +deceiver woman-mad, would thou hadst been unborn and died unwed. Yea, +that were my desire, and it were far better than thus to be our shame +and looked at askance of all men. I ween that the flowing-haired +Achaians laugh, deeming that a prince is our champion only because a +goodly favour is his; but in his heart is there no strength nor any +courage. Art thou indeed such an one that in thy seafaring ships thou +didst sail over the deep with the company of thy trusty comrades, and +in converse with strangers didst bring back a fair woman from a far +country, one that was by marriage daughter to warriors that bear the +spear, that she might be a sore mischief to thy father and city and all +the realm, but to our foes a rejoicing, and to thyself a hanging of the +head? And canst thou not indeed abide Menelaos dear to Ares? Thou +mightest see what sort of warrior is he whose lovely wife thou hast. +Thy lyre will not avail thee nor the gifts of Aphrodite, those thy +locks and fair favour, when thou grovellest in the dust. But the +Trojans are very cowards: else ere this hadst thou donned a robe of +stone* for all the ill thou hast wrought.” + +* _i.e_., been stoned by the people. + + +And godlike Alexandros made answer to him again: “Hector, since in +measure thou chidest me and not beyond measure—thy heart is ever keen, +even as an axe that pierceth a beam at the hand of a man that shapeth a +ship’s timber with skill, and thereby is the man’s blow strengthened; +even such is thy heart undaunted in thy breast. Cast not in my teeth +the lovely gifts of golden Aphrodite; not to be flung aside are the +gods’ glorious gifts that of their own good will they give; for by his +desire can no man win them. But now if thou wilt have me do battle and +fight, make the other Trojans sit down and all the Achaians, and set ye +me in the midst, and Menelaos dear to Ares, to fight for Helen and all +her wealth. And whichsoever shall vanquish and gain the upper hand, let +him take all the wealth aright, and the woman, and bear them home. And +let the rest pledge friendship and sure oaths; so may ye dwell in +deep-soiled Troy, and let them depart to Argos pasture-land of horses, +and Achaia home of fair women.” + +So spake he, and Hector rejoiced greatly to hear his saying, and went +into the midst and restrained the battalions of the Trojans, with his +spear grasped by the middle; and they all sate them down. But the +flowing-haired Achaians kept shooting at him, aiming with arrows and +casting stones. But Agamemnon king of men cried aloud: “Refrain, ye +Argives; shoot not, ye sons of the Achaians; for Hector of the glancing +helm hath set himself to say somewhat.” + +So spake he, and they refrained from battle and made silence speedily. +And Hector spake between the two hosts, “Hear of me, Trojans and +well-greaved Achaians, the saying of Alexandros, for whose sake strife +hath come about. He biddeth the other Trojans and all the Achaians to +lay down their goodly armour on the bounteous earth, and himself in the +midst and Menelaos dear to Ares to fight alone for Helen and all her +wealth. And whichsoever shall vanquish and gain the upper hand, let him +take all the wealth aright, and the woman, and bear them home; but let +all of us pledge friendship and sure oaths.” + +So spake he, and they all kept silence and were still. Then in their +midst spake Menelaos of the loud war-cry: “Hearken ye now to me, too; +for into my heart most of all is grief entered; and I deem that the +parting of Argives and Trojans hath come at last; seeing ye have +endured many ills because of my quarrel and the first sin of +Alexandros. And for whichsoever of us death and fate are prepared, let +him lie dead: and be ye all parted with speed. Bring ye two lambs, one +white ram and one black ewe, for earth and sun; and let us bring one +for Zeus. And call hither great Priam, that he may pledge the oath +himself, seeing he hath sons that are overweening and faithless, lest +any by transgression do violence to the oath of Zeus; for young men’s +hearts are ever lifted up. But wheresoever an old man entereth in, he +looketh both before and after, whereby the best issue shall come for +either side.” + +So spake he, and Achaians and Trojans were glad, deeming that they +should have rest from grievous war. So they refrained their chariots to +the ranks, and themselves alighted and doffed their arms. And these +they laid upon the earth each close to each, and there was but small +space between. And Hector sent two heralds to the city will all speed, +to bring the lambs, and to call Priam. And lord Agamemnon sent forth +Talthybios to go to the hollow ships, and bade him bring a ram; and he +was not disobedient to noble Agamemnon. + +Now Iris went with a message to white-armed Helen in the likeness of +her husband’s sister, the spouse of Antenor’s son, even her that lord +Helikaon Antenor’s son had to wife, Laodike fairest favoured of Priam’s +daughters. And in the hall she found Helen weaving a great purple web +of double fold, and embroidering thereon many battles of horse-taming +Trojans and mail-clad Achaians, that they had endured for her sake at +the hands of Ares. So fleet-footed Iris stood by her side and said: +“Come hither, dear sister, that thou mayest see the wondrous doings of +horse-taming Trojans and mail-clad Achaians. They that erst waged +tearful war upon each other in the plain, eager for deadly battle, even +they sit now in silence, and the tall spears are planted by their +sides. But Alexandros and Menelaos dear to Ares will fight with their +tall spears for thee; and thou wilt be declared the dear wife of him +that conquereth.” + +So spake the goddess, and put into her heart sweet longing for her +former husband and her city and parents. + +Forthwith she veiled her face in shining linen, and hastened from her +chamber, letting fall a round tear; not unattended, for there followed +with her two handmaidens, Aithre daughter of Pittheus and ox-eyed +Klymene. Then came she straightway to the place of the Skaian gates. +And they that were with Priam and Panthoos and Thymoites and Lampos and +Klytios and Hiketaon of the stock of Ares, Oukalegon withal and +Antenor, twain sages, being elders of the people, sat at the Skaian +gates. These had now ceased from battle for old age, yet were they +right good orators, like grasshoppers that in a forest sit upon a tree +and utter their lily-like* voice; even so sat the elders of the Trojans +upon the tower. Now when they saw Helen coming to the tower they softly +spake winged words one to the other: “Small blame is it that Trojans +and well-greaved Achaians should for such a woman long time suffer +hardships; marvellously like is she to the immortal goddesses to look +upon. Yet even so, though she be so goodly, let her go upon their ships +and not stay to vex us and our children after us.” + +* Supposed to mean “delicate” or “tender”. + + +So said they, and Priam lifted up his voice and called to Helen: “Come +hither, dear child, and sit before me, that thou mayest see thy former +husband and they kinsfolk and thy friends. I hold thee not to blame; +nay, I hold the gods to blame who brought on me the dolorous war of the +Achaians—so mayest thou now tell me who is this huge hero, this Achaian +warrior so goodly and great. Of a truth there are others even taller by +a head; yet mine eyes never behold a man so beautiful nor so royal; for +he is like unto one that is a king.” + +And Helen, fair among women, spake and answered him: “Reverend art thou +to me and dread, dear father of my lord; would that sore death had been +my pleasure when I followed thy son hither, and left my home and my +kinsfolk and my daughter in her girlhood and the lovely company of mine +age-fellows. But that was not so, wherefore I pine with weeping. Now +will I tell thee that whereof thou askest me and enquirest. This is +Atreides, wide-ruling Agamemnon, one that is both a goodly king and +mighty spearman. And he was my husband’s brother to me, ah shameless +me; if ever such an one there was.” + +So said she, and the old man marvelled at him, and said: “Ah, happy +Atreides, child of fortune, blest of heaven; now know I that many sons +of the Achaians are subject to thee. Erewhile fared I to Phrygia, the +land of vines, and there saw I that the men of Phrygia, they of the +nimble steeds, were very many, even the hosts of Otreus and godlike +Mygdon, that were then encamped along the banks of Sangarios. For I too +being their ally was numbered among them on the day that the Amazons +came, the peers of men. Yet were not even they so many as are the +glancing-eyed Achaians.” + +And next the old man saw Odysseus, and asked: “Come now, tell me of +this man too, dear child, who is he, shorter by a head than Agamemnon +son of Atreus, but broader of shoulder and of chest to behold? His +armour lieth upon the bounteous earth, and himself like a bell-wether +rangeth the ranks of warriors. Yea, I liken him to a thick-fleeced ram +ordering a great flock of ewes.” + +Then Helen sprung of Zeus made answer to him: “Now this is Laertes’ +son, crafty Odysseus, that was reared in the realm of Ithaka, rugged +though it be, and skilled in all the ways of wile and cunning device.” + +Then sage Antenor made answer to her: “Lady, verily the thing thou +sayest is true indeed, for erst came goodly Odysseus hither also on an +embassage for thee, in the company of Menelaos dear to Ares; and I gave +them entertainment and welcomed them in my halls, and learnt the aspect +of both and their wise devices. Now when they mingled with the Trojans +in the assembly, while all stood up Menelaos overpassed them all by the +measure of his broad shoulders; but when both sat down, Odysseus was +the more stately. And when they began to weave the web of words and +counsel in the face of all, then Menelaos harangued fluently, in few +words, but very clearly, seeing he was not long of speech, neither +random, though in years he was the younger. But whenever Odysseus full +of wiles rose up, he stood and looked down, with eyes fixed upon the +ground, and waved not his staff whether backwards or forwards, but held +it stiff, like to a man of no understanding; one would deem him to be +churlish, and naught but a fool. But when he uttered his great voice +from his chest, and words like unto the snowflakes of winter, then +could no mortal man contend with Odysseus; then marvelled we not thus +to behold Odysseus’ aspect.” + +And thirdly the old man say Aias, and asked: “Who then is this other +Achaian warrior, goodly and great, preeminent among the Archives by the +measure of his head and broad shoulders?” + +And long-robed Helen, fair among women, answered: “This is huge Aias, +bulwark of the Achaians. And on the other side amid the Cretans +standeth Idomeneus like a god, and about him are gathered the captains +of the Cretans. Oft did Menelaos dear to Ares entertain him in our +house whene’er he came from Crete. And now behold I all the other +glancing-eyed Achaians, whom well I could discern and tell their names; +but two captains of the host can I not see, even Kastor tamer of horses +and Polydeukes the skilful boxer, mine own brethren, whom the same +mother bare. Either they came not in the company from lovely +Lakedaimon; or they came hither indeed in their seafaring ships, but +now will not enter into the battle of the warriors, for fear of the +many scornings and revilings that are mine.” + +So said she; but them the life-giving earth held fast there in +Lakedaimon, in their dear native land. + +Meanwhile were the heralds bearing through the city the holy +oath-offerings, two lambs and strong-hearted wine, the fruit of the +earth, in a goat-skin bottle. And the herald Idaios bare the shining +bowl and golden cups; and came to the old man and summoned him and +said: “Rise, thou son of Laomedon. The chieftains of the horse-taming +Trojans and mail-clad Achaians call on thee to go down into the plain, +that ye may pledge a trusty oath. But Alexandros and Menelaos dear to +Ares will fight with their long spears for the lady’s sake; and let +lady and treasure go with him that shall conquer. And may we that are +left pledge friendship and trusty oaths and dwell in deep-soiled Troy, +and they shall depart to Argos pasture-land of horses and Achaia home +of fair women.” + +So said he, and the old man shuddered and base his companions yoke the +horses; and they with speed obeyed. Then Priam mounted and drew back +the reins, and by his side Antenor mounted the splendid chariot. So the +two drave the fleet horses through the Skaian gates to the plain. And +when they had come even to the Trojans and Achaians, they went down +from the chariots upon the bounteous earth, and marched into the midst +of Trojans and Achaians. Then forthwith rose up Agamemnon king of men, +and up rose Odysseus the man of wiles; and the lordly heralds gathered +together the holy oath-offerings of the gods, and mingled the wine in a +bowl, and poured water over the princes’ hands. And Atreides put forth +his hand and drew his knife that hung ever beside his sword’s great +sheath, and cut the hair from off the lambs’ heads; and then the +heralds portioned it among the chief of the Trojans and Achaians. Then +in their midst Atreus’ son lifted up his hands and prayed aloud: +“Father Zeus, that rulest from Ida, most glorious, most great, and thou +Sun that seest all things and hearest all things, and ye Rivers and +thou Earth, and ye that in the underworld punish men outworn, whosoever +sweareth falsely; be ye witnesses, and watch over the faithful oath. If +Alexandros slay Menelaos, then let him have Helen to himself and all +her possessions; and we will depart on our seafaring ships. But if +golden-haired Menelaos slay Alexandros, then let the Trojans give back +Helen and all her possessions and pay the Argives the recompense that +is seemly, such as shall live among men that shall be hereafter. But if +so be that Priam and Priam’s sons will not pay the recompense unto me +when Alexandros falleth, then will I fight on thereafter for the price +of sin, and abide here till I compass the end of war.” + +So said he, and cut the lambs’ throats with the pitiless knife. Them he +laid gasping upon the ground, failing of breath, for the knife had +taken their strength from them; and next they drew the wine from the +bowl into the cups, and poured it forth and prayed to the gods that +live for ever. And thus would say many an one of Achaians and Trojans: +“Zeus most glorious, most great, and all ye immortal gods, which folk +soe’er be first to sin against the oaths, may their brains be so poured +forth upon the earth even as this wine, theirs and their children’s; +and let their wives be made subject unto strangers.” + +So spake they, but the son of Kronos vouchsafed not yet fulfilment. And +in their midst Priam of the seed of Dardanos uttered his saying: +“Hearken to me, Trojans and well-greaved Achaians. I verily will return +back to windy Ilios, seeing that I can in no wise bear to behold with +mine eyes my dear son fighting with Menelaos dear to Ares. But Zeus +knoweth, and all the immortal gods, for whether of the twain the doom +of death is appointed.” + +So spake the godlike man, and laid the lambs in his chariot, and +entered in himself, and drew back the reins; and by his side Antenor +mounted the splendid chariot. So they departed back again to Ilios; and +Hector son of Priam and goodly Odysseus first meted out a space, and +then they took the lots, and shook them in a bronze-bound helmet, to +know whether of the twain should first cast his spear of bronze. And +the people prayed and lifted up their hands to the gods; and thus would +say many an one of Achaians and Trojans: “Father Zeus, that rulest from +Ida, most glorious, most great; whichsoe’er it be that brought this +trouble upon both peoples, vouchsafe that he may die and enter the +house of Hades; that so for us peace may be assured and trusty oaths.” + +So said they; and great Hector of the glancing plume shook the helmet, +looking behind him; and quickly leapt forth the lot of Paris. Then the +people sat them down by ranks where each man’s high-stepping horses and +inwrought armour lay. And upon his shoulders goodly Alexandros donned +his beauteous armour, even he that was lord to Helen of the lovely +hair. First upon his legs set he his greaves, beautiful, fastened with +silver ankle-clasps; next upon his breast he donned the corslet of his +brother Lykaon, and fitted it upon himself. And over his shoulders cast +he his silver-studded sword of bronze, and then a shield great and +sturdy. And on his mighty head he set a wrought helmet of horse-hair +crest, whereover the plume nodded terribly, and he took him a strong +spear fitted to his grasp. And in like wise warlike Menelaos donned his +armour. + +So when they had armed themselves on either side in the throng, they +strode between Trojans and Achaians, fierce of aspect, and wonder came +on them that beheld, both on the Trojans tamers of horses and on the +well-greaved Achaians. Then took they their stand near together in the +measured space, brandishing their spears in wrath each against other. +First Alexandros hurled his far shadowing spear, and smote on Atreides’ +round shield; but the bronze brake not through, for its point was +turned in the stout shield. Next Menelaos son of Atreus lifted up his +hand to cast, and made prayer to father Zeus: “King Zeus, grant me +revenge on him that was first to do me wrong, even on goodly +Alexandros, and subdue thou him at my hands; so that many an one of men +that shall be hereafter may shudder to wrong his host that hath shown +him kindness.” + +So said he, and poised his far-shadowing spear, and hurled, and smote +on the round shield of the son of Priam. Through the bright shield went +the ponderous spear and through the inwrought breastplate it pressed +on; and straight beside his flank the spear rent the tunic, but he +swerved and escaped black death. Then Atreides drew his silver-studded +sword, and lifted up his hand and smote the helmet-ridge; but the sword +shattered upon it into three, yea four, and fell from his hand. Thereat +Atreides looked up to the wide heaven and cried: “Father Zeus, surely +none of the gods is crueller than thou. Verily I thought to have gotten +vengeance on Alexandros for his wickedness, but now my sword breaketh +in my hand, and my spear sped from my grasp in vain, and I have not +smitten him.” + +So saying, he leapt upon him and caught him by his horse-hair crest, +and swinging him round dragged him towards the well-greaved Achaians; +and he was strangled by the embroidered strap beneath his soft throat, +drawn tight below his chin to hold his helm. Now would Menelaos have +dragged him away and won glory unspeakable, but that Zeus’ daughter +Aphrodite was swift to mark, and tore asunder for him the strap of +slaughtered ox’s hide; so the helmet came away empty in his stalwart +hand. Thereat Menelaos cast it with a swing toward the well-greaved +Achaians, and his trusty comrades took it up; and himself sprang back +again eager to slay him with spear of bronze. But Aphrodite snatched up +Paris, very easily as a goddess may, and hid him in thick darkness, and +sent him down in his fragrant perfumed chamber; and herself went to +summon Helen. Her she found on the high tower, and about her the Trojan +women thronged. So with her hand she plucked her perfumed raiment and +shook it and spake to her in the likeness of an aged dame, a woolcomber +that was wont to work for her fair wool when she dwelt in Lakedaimon, +whom too she greatly loved. Even in her likeness fair Aphrodite spake: +“Come hither; Alexandros summoneth thee to go homeward. There is he in +his chamber and inlaid bed, radiant in beauty and vesture; nor wouldst +thou deem him to be come from fighting his foe, but rather to be faring +to the dance, or from the dance to be just resting and set down.” + +So said she, and stirred Helen’s soul within her breast; and when now +she marked the fair neck and lovely breast and sparkling eyes of the +goddess, she marvelled straightway and spake a word and called upon her +name: “Strange queen, why art thou desirous now to beguile me? Verily +thou wilt lead me further on to some one of the people cities of +Phrygia or lovely Maionia, if there too thou hast perchance some other +darling among mortal men, because even now Menelaos hath conquered +goodly Alexandros, and will lead me, accursed me, to his home. +Therefore thou comest hither with guileful intent. Go and sit thou by +his side, and depart from the way of the gods; neither let thy feet +ever bear thee back to Olympus, but still be vexed for his sake and +guard him till he make thee his wife or perchance his slave. But +thither will I not go— that were a sinful thing—to array the bed of +him; all the women of Troy will blame me hereafter; and I have griefs +untold within my soul.” + +Then in wrath bright Aphrodite spake to her: “Provoke me not, rash +woman, lest in mine anger I desert thee, and hate thee even as now I +love thee beyond measure, and lest I devise grievous enmities between +both, even betwixt Trojans and Achaians, and so thou perish in evil +wise.” + +So said she, and Helen sprung of Zeus was afraid, and went wrapped in +her bright radiant vesture, silently, and the Trojan women marked her +not; and the goddess led the way. + +Now when they were come to the beautiful house of Alexandros the +handmaidens turned straightway to their tasks, and the fair lady went +to the high-roofed chamber; and laughter-loving Aphrodite took for her +a chair and brought it, even she the goddess, and set it before the +face of Paris. There Helen took her seat, the child of aegis-bearing +Zeus, and with eyes turned askance spake and chode her lord: “Thou +comest back from battle; would thou hadst perished there, vanquished of +that great warrior that was my former husband. Verily it was once thy +boast that thou wast a better man than Menelaos dear to Ares, in the +might of thine arm and thy spear. But go now, challenge Menelaos, dear +to Ares to fight thee again face to face. Nay, but I, even I, bid thee +refrain, nor fight a fight with golden-haired Menelaos man to man, +neither attack him recklessly, lest perchance thou fall to his spear +anon.” + +And Paris made answer to her and said: “Chide not my soul, lady, with +cruel taunts. For now indeed hath Menelaos vanquished me with Athene’s +aid, but another day may I do so unto him; for we too have gods with +us. But come now, let us have joy of love upon our couch; for never yet +hath love so enwrapped my heart—not even then when first I snatched +thee from lovely Lakedaimon and sailed with thee on my seafaring ships, +and in the isle of Kranaë had converse with thee upon thy couch in +love—as I love thee now and sweet desire taketh hold upon me.” So +saying he led the way to the couch, and the lady followed with him. + +Thus laid they them upon their fretted couch; but Atreides the while +strode through the host like to a wild beast, if anywhere he might set +eyes on godlike Alexandros. But none of the Trojans or their famed +allies could discover Alexandros to Menelaos dear to Ares. Yet surely +did they in no wise hide him for kindliness, could any have seen him; +for he was hated of all even as black death. So Agamemnon king of men +spake among them there: “Hearken to me, Trojans and Dardanians and +allies. Now is victory declared for Menelaos dear to Ares; give ye back +Helen of Argos and the possessions with her, and pay ye the recompense +such as is seemly, that it may live even among men that shall be +hereafter.” So said Atreides, and all the Achaians gave assent. + + + + +BOOK IV. + + +How Pandaros wounded Menelaos by treachery; and Agamemnon exhorted his +chief captains to battle. + + +Now the gods sat by Zeus and held assembly on the golden floor, and in +the midst the lady Hebe poured them their nectar: they with golden +goblets pledged one another, and gazed upon the city of the Trojans. +Then did Kronos’ son essay to provoke Hera with vexing words, and spake +maliciously: “Twain goddesses hath Menelaos for his helpers, even Hera +of Argos and Alalkomenean Athene. Yet these sit apart and take their +pleasure in beholding; but beside that other ever standeth +laughter-loving Aphrodite and wardeth off fate from him, and now hath +she saved him as he thought to perish. But of a truth the victory is to +Menelaos dear to Ares; so let us take thought how these things shall +be; whether once more we shall arouse ill war and the dread battle-din, +or put friendship between the foes. Moreover if this were welcome to +all and well pleasing, may the city of king Priam yet be an habitation, +and Menelaos take back Helen of Argos.” + +So said he, but Athene and Hera murmured thereat, who were sitting by +him and devising ills for the Trojans. Now Athene held her peace and +said not anything, for wrath at father Zeus, and fierce anger gat hold +upon her: But Hera’s breast contained not her anger, and she spake: +“Most dread son of Kronos, what word is this thou hast spoken? How hast +thou the will to make my labour void and of none effect, and the sweat +of my toil that I sweated, when my horses were wearied with my +summoning of the host, to be the plague of Priam and his sons? Do as +thou wilt; but we other gods do not all approve thee.” + +Then in sore anger Zeus the cloud-gatherer spake to her: “Good lack, +how have Priam and Priam’s sons done thee such great wrong that thou +art furiously minded to sack the stablished citadel of Ilios? Perchance +wert thou to enter within the gates and long walls and devour Priam +raw, and Priam’s sons and all the Trojans, then mightest thou assuage +thine anger. Do as thou art minded, only let not this quarrel hereafter +be to me and thee a sore strife between us both. And this moreover will +I say to thee, and do thou lay it to thy heart; whene’er I too be of +eager mind to lay waste a city where is the race of men that are dear +to thee, hinder thou not my wrath, but let me be, even as I yield to +thee of free will, yet with soul unwilling. For of all cities beneath +sun and starry heaven that are the dwelling of mortal men, holy Ilios +was most honoured of my heart, and Priam and the folk of Priam of the +good ashen spear. For never did mine altar lack the seemly feast, even +drink-offering and burnt-offering, the worship that is our due.” + +Then Helen the ox-eyed queen made answer to him: “Of a surety three +cities are there that be dearest far to me, Argos and Sparta and +wide-wayed Mykene; these lay thou waste whene’er they are found hateful +to thy heart; not for them will I stand forth, nor do I grudge thee +them. For even if I be jealous and would forbid thee to overthrow them, +yet will my jealousy not avail, seeing that thou art stronger far than +I. Still must my labour too not be made of none effect; for I also am a +god, and my lineage is even as thine, and Kronos the crooked counsellor +begat me to the place of honour in double wise, by birthright, and +because I am named thy spouse, and thou art king among all the +immortals. Let us indeed yield each to other herein, I to thee and thou +to me, and the rest of the immortal gods will follow with us; and do +thou with speed charge Athene to betake her to the fierce battle din of +Trojans and Achaians, and to essay that the Trojans may first take upon +them to do violence to the Achaians in their triumph, despite the +oaths.” + +So said she, and the father of men and gods disregarded not; forthwith +he spake to Athene winged words: “Betake thee with all speed to the +host, to the midst of Trojans and Achaians, and essay that the Trojans +may first take upon them to do violence to the Achaians in their +triumph, despite the oaths.” + +So spake he, and roused Athene that already was set thereon; and from +Olympus’ heights she darted down. Even as the son of Kronos the crooked +counsellor sendeth a star, a portent for mariners or a wide host of +men, bright shining, and therefrom are scattered sparks in multitude; +even in such guise sped Pallas Athene to earth, and leapt into their +midst; and astonishment came on them that beheld, on horse-taming +Trojans and well-greaved Achaians. And thus would many an one say, +looking at his neighbor: “Of a surety either shall sore war and the +fierce battle din return again; or else Zeus doth stablish peace +between the foes, even he that is men’s dispenser of battle.” + +Thus would many an one of Achaians and Trojans say. Then the goddess +entered the throng of Trojans in the likeness of a man, even Antenor’s +son Laodokos, a stalwart warrior, and sought for godlike Pandaros, if +haply she might find him. Lykaon’s son found she, the noble and +stalwart, standing, and about him the stalwart ranks of the +shield-bearing host that followed him from the streams of Aisepos. So +she came near and spake winged words: “Wilt thou now hearken to me, +thou wise son of Lykaon? Then wouldst thou take heart to shoot a swift +arrow at Menelaos, and wouldst win favour and glory before all the +Trojans, and before king Alexandros most of all. Surely from him first +of any wouldst thou receive glorious gifts, if perchance he see +Menelaos, Atreus’ warrior son, vanquished by thy dart and brought to +the grievous pyre. Go to now, shoot at glorious Menelaos, and vow to +Apollo, the son of light,* the lord of archery, to sacrifice a goodly +hecatomb of firstling lambs when thou art returned to thy home, in the +city of holy Zeleia.” + +* Or, perhaps, “the Wolf-born.” + + +So spake Athene, and persuaded his fool’s heart. Forthwith he +unsheathed his polished bow of horn of a wild ibex that he himself had +erst smitten beneath the breast as it came forth from a rock, the while +he awaited in a lurking-place; and had pierced it in the chest, so that +it fell backward on the rock. Now from its head sprang there horns of +sixteen palms; these the artificer, even the worker in horn, joined +cunningly together, and polished them all well and set the top of gold +thereon. So he laid it down when he had well strung it, by resting it +upon the ground; and his staunch comrades held their shields before +him, lest the warrior sons of the Achaians should first set on them, +ere Menelaos, Atreus’ warrior son, were smitten. Then opened he the lid +of his quiver and took forth a feathered arrow, never yet shot, a +source of grievous pangs; and anon he laid the bitter dart upon the +string and vowed to Apollo, the son of light, the lord of archery, to +sacrifice a goodly hecatomb of firstling lambs when he should have +returned to his home in the city of holy Zeleia. Then he took the notch +and string of oxes’ sinew together, and drew, bringing to his breast +the string, and to the bow the iron head. So when he had now bent the +great bow into a round, the horn twanged, and the string sang aloud, +and the keen arrow leapt eager to wing his way amid the throng. + +But the blessed gods immortal forgat not thee, Menelaos; and before all +the daughter of Zeus, the driver of the spoil, who stood before thee +and warded off the piercing dart. She turned it just aside from the +flesh, even as a mother driveth a fly from her child that lieth in +sweet slumber; and with her own hand guided it where the golden buckles +of the belt were clasped and the doubled breastplate met them. So the +bitter arrow lighted upon the firm belt; through the inwrought belt it +sped and through the curiously wrought breastplate it pressed on and +through the taslet* he wore to shield his flesh, a barrier against +darts; and this best shielded him, yet it passed on even through this. +Then did the arrow graze the warrior’s outermost flesh, and forthwith +the dusky blood flowed from the wound. + +* An apron or belt set with metal, worn below the corslet. + + +As when some woman of Maionia or Karia staineth ivory with purple, to +make a cheek-piece for horses, and it is laid up in the treasure +chamber, and many a horseman prayeth for it to wear; but it is laid up +to be a king’s boast, alike an adornment for his horse and a glory for +his charioteer; even in such wise, Menelaos, were thy shapely thighs +stained with blood and thy legs and thy fair ankles beneath. + +Thereat shuddered Agamemnon king of men when he saw the black blood +flowing from the wound. And Menelaos dear to Ares likewise shuddered; +but when he saw how thread* and barbs were without, his spirit was +gathered in his breast again. Then lord Agamemnon moaned deep, and +spake among them, holding Menelaos by the hand; and his comrades made +moan the while: “Dear brother, to thy death, meseemeth, pledged I these +oaths, setting thee forth to fight the Trojans alone before the face of +the Achaians; seeing that the Trojans have so smitten thee, and trodden +under foot the trusty oaths. Yet in no wise is an oath of none effect, +and the blood of lambs and pure drink-offerings and the right hands of +fellowship wherein we trusted. For even if the Olympian bring not about +the fulfilment forthwith, yet doth he fulfil at last, and men make dear +amends, even with their own heads and their wives and little ones. Yea +of a surety I know this in heart and soul; the day shall come for holy +Ilios to be laid low, and Priam and the folk of Priam of the good ashen +spear; and Zeus the son of Kronos enthroned on high, that dwelleth in +the heaven, himself shall brandish over them all his lowring aegis, in +indignation at this deceit. Then shall all this not be void; yet shall +I have sore sorrow for thee, Menelaos, if thou die and fulfil the lot +of life. Yea in utter shame should I return to thirsty Argos, seeing +that the Achaians will forthwith bethink them of their native land, and +so should we leave to Priam and the Trojans their boast, even Helen of +Argos. And the earth shall rot thy bones as thou liest in Troy with thy +task unfinished: and thus shall many an overweening Trojan say as he +leapeth upon the tomb of glorious Menelaos: ‘Would to God Agamemnon +might so fulfil his wrath in every matter, even as now he led hither +the host of the Achaians for naught, and hath gone home again to his +dear native land with empty ships, and hath left noble Menelaos +behind.’ Thus shall men say hereafter: in that day let the wide earth +gape for me.” + +* By which the iron head was attached to the shaft. + + +But golden-haired Menelaos encouraged him and said: “Be of good +courage, neither dismay at all the host of the Achaians. The keen dart +lighted not upon a deadly spot; my glistening belt in front stayed it, +and the kirtle of mail beneath, and the taslet that the coppersmiths +fashioned.” + +Then lord Agamemnon answered him and said: “Would it may be so, dear +Menelaos. But the leech shall feel the wound, and lay thereon drugs +that shall assuage thy dire pangs.” + +So saying he spake to godlike Talthybios, his herald: “Talthybios, with +all speed call Machaon hither, the hero son of Asklepios the noble +leech, to see Menelaos, Atreus’ warrior son, whom one well skilled in +archery, some Trojan or Lykian, hath wounded with a bow-shot, to his +glory and our grief.” + +So said he, and the herald heard him and disregarded not, and went his +way through the host of mail-clad Achaians to spy out the hero Machaon. +Him he found standing, and about him the stalwart ranks of the +shield-bearing host that followed him from Trike, pasture land of +horses. So he came near and spake his winged words: “Arise, thou son of +Asklepios. Lord Agamemnon calleth thee to see Menelaos, captain of the +Achaians, whom one well skilled in archery, some Trojan or Lykian, hath +wounded with a bow-shot, to his glory and our grief.” + +So saying he aroused his spirit in his breast, and they went their way +amid the throng, through the wide host of the Achaians. And when they +were now come where was golden-haired Menelaos wounded, and all as many +as were chieftains gathered around him in a circle, the godlike hero +came and stood in their midst, and anon drew forth the arrow from the +clasped belt; and as it was drawn forth the keen barbs were broken +backwards. Then he loosed the glistering belt and kirtle of mail +beneath and taslet that the coppersmiths fashioned; and when he saw the +wound where the bitter arrow had lighted, he sucked out the blood and +cunningly spread thereon soothing drugs, such as Cheiron of his good +will had imparted to his sire. + +While these were tending Menelaos of the loud war-cry, the ranks of +shield-bearing Trojans came on; so the Achaians donned their arms +again, and bethought them of the fray. Now wouldest thou not see noble +Agamemnon slumbering, nor cowering, nor unready to fight, but very +eager for glorious battle. He left his horses and his chariot adorned +with bronze; and his squire, even Eurymedon son of Ptolemaios +Peiraieus’ son, kept apart the snorting steeds; and he straitly charged +him to have them at hand whenever weariness should come upon his limbs +with marshalling so many; and thus on foot ranged he through the ranks +of warriors. And whomsoever of all the fleet-horsed Danaans he found +eager, he stood by them and by his words encouraged them: “Ye Argives, +relax not in any wise your impetuous valour; for father Zeus will be no +helper of liars, but as these were first to transgress against the +oaths, so shall their own tender flesh be eaten of the vultures, and we +shall bear away their dear wives and little children in our ships, when +once we take the stronghold.” + +But whomsoever he found shrinking from hateful battle, these he chode +sore with angry words: “Ye Argives, warriors of the bow, ye men of +dishonour, have ye no shame? Why stand ye thus dazed like fawns that +are weary with running over the long plain and so stand still, and no +valour is found in their hearts at all? Even thus stand ye dazed, and +fight not. Is it that ye wait for the Trojans to come near where your +good ships’ sterns are drawn up on the shore of the grey sea, to see if +Kronion will stretch his arm over you indeed?” + +So masterfully ranged he through the ranks of warriors. Then came he to +the Cretans as he went through the throng of warriors; and these were +taking arms around wise Idomeneus; Idomeneus amid the foremost, valiant +as a wild boar, and Meriones the while was hastening his hindermost +battalions. Then Agamemnon king of men rejoiced to see them, and anon +spake to Idomeneus with kindly words: “Idomeneus, more than all the +fleet-horsed Danaans do I honour thee, whether in war or in task of +other sort or in the feast, when the chieftains of the Argives mingle +in the bowl the gleaming wine of the counsellor. For even though all +the other flowing-haired Achaians drink one allotted portion, yet thy +cup standeth ever full even as mine, to drink as oft as they soul +biddeth thee. Now arouse thee to war like such an one as thou avowest +thyself to be of old.” + +And Idomeneus the captain of the Cretans made answer to him: “Atreides, +of very truth will I be to thee a trusty comrade even as at the first I +promised and gave my pledge; but do thou urge on all the flowing-haired +Achaians, that we may fight will all speed, seeing the Trojans have +disannulled the oaths. But for all that death and sorrow hereafter +shall be their lot, because they were the first to transgress against +the oaths.” + +So said he, and Agamemnon passed on glad at heart. Then came he to the +Aiantes as he went through the throng of warriors; and these twain were +arming, and a cloud of footmen followed with them. Even as when a +goatherd from a place of outlook seeth a cloud coming across the deep +before the blast of the west wind; and to him being afar it seemeth +ever blacker, even as pitch, as it goeth along the deep, and bringeth a +great whirlwind, and he shuddereth to see it and driveth his flock +beneath a cave; even in such wise moved the serried battalions of young +men, the fosterlings of Zeus, by the side of the Aiantes into furious +war, battalions dark of line, bristling with shields and spears. And +lord Agamemnon rejoiced to see them and spake to them winged words, and +said: “Aiantes, leaders of the mail-clad Argives, to you twain, seeing +it is not seemly to urge you, give I no charge; for of your own selves +ye do indeed bid your folk to fight amain. Ah, father Zeus and Athene +and Apollo, would that all had like spirit in their breasts; then would +king Priam’s city soon bow captive and wasted beneath our hands.” + +So saying he left them there, and went to others. Then found he Nestor, +the clear-voiced orator of the Pylians, arraying his comrades, and +urging them to fight, around great Pelagon and Alastor and Chromios and +lord Haimon and Bias shepherd of the host. And first he arrayed the +horsemen with horses and chariots, and behind them the footmen many and +brave, to be a bulwark of battle; but the cowards he drave into the +midst, that every man, even though he would not, yet of necessity must +fight. First he laid charge upon the horsemen; these he bade hold in +their horses nor be entangled in the throng. “Neither let any man, +trusting in his horsemanship and manhood, be eager to fight the Trojans +alone before the rest, nor yet let him draw back, for so will ye be +enfeebled. But whomsoever a warrior from the place of his own car can +come at a chariot of the foe, let him thrust forth with his spear; even +so is the far better way. Thus moreover did men of old time lay low +cities and walls, because they had this mind and spirit in their +breasts.” + +So did the old man charge them, being well skilled of yore in battles. +And lord Agamemnon rejoiced to see hem, and spake to him winged words, +and said: “Old man, would to god that, even as thy spirit is in thine +own breast, thy limbs might obey and thy strength be unabated. But the +common lot of age is heavy upon thee; would that it had come upon some +other man, and thou wert amid the young.” + +Then knightly Nestor of Gerenia answered him: “Atreides, I verily, even +I too, would wish to be as on the day when I slew noble Ereuthalion. +But the gods in no wise grant men all things at once. As I was then a +youth, so doth old age now beset me. Yet even so will I abide among the +horsemen and urge them by counsel and words; for that is the right of +elders. But the young men shall wield the spear, they that are more +youthful than I and have confidence in their strength.” + +So spake he, and Atreides passed on glad at heart. He found Menestheus +the charioteer, the son of Peteos, standing still, and round him were +the Athenians, masters of the battle-cry. And hard by stood crafty +Odysseus, and round about him the ranks of Kephallenians, no feeble +folk, stood still; for their host had not yet heard the battle-cry, +seeing the battalions of horse-taming Trojans and Achaians had but just +bestirred them to move; so these stood still tarrying till some other +column of the Achaians should advance to set upon the Trojans and begin +the battle. But when Agamemnon king of men saw it, he upbraided them, +and spake to them winged words, saying: “O son of king Peteos +fosterling of Zeus, and thou skilled in evil wiles, thou cunning of +mind, why stand ye shrinking apart, and tarry for others? You beseemeth +it to stand in your place amid the foremost and to front the fiery +battle; for ye are the first to hear my bidding to the feast, as oft as +we Achaians prepare a feast for the counsellors. Then are ye glad to +eat roast meat and drink your cups of honey-sweet wine as long as ye +will. But now would ye gladly behold it, yea, if ten columns of +Achaians in front of you were fighting with the pitiless sword.” + +But Odysseus of many counsels looked fiercely at him and said: +“Atreides, what word is this that hath escaped the barrier of thy lips? +How sayest thou that we are slack in battle? When once our* Achaians +launch furious war on the Trojans, tamers of horses, then shalt thou, +if thou wilt, and if thou hast any care therefor, behold Telemachos’ +dear father mingling with the champions of the Trojans, the tamers of +horses. But that thou sayest is empty as air.” + +* Or, “that we are slack in battle, when once we Achaians,” putting the +note of interrogation after “tamers of horses.” + + +Then lord Agamemnon spake to him smiling, seeing how he was wroth, and +took back his saying: “Heaven-sprung son of Laertes, Odysseus full of +devices, neither do I chide thee beyond measure nor urge thee; for I +know that thy heart within thy breast is kindly disposed; for thy +thoughts are as my thoughts. Go to, we will make amends hereafter, if +any ill word hath been spoken now; may the gods bring it all to none +effect.” + +So saying he left them there and went on to others. The son of Tydeus +found he, high-hearted Diomedes, standing still with horses and chariot +well compact; and by him stood Sthenelos son of Kapaneus. Him lord +Agamemnon saw and upbraided, and spake to him winged words, and said: +“Ah me, thou son of wise Tydeus tamer of horses, why shrinkest thou, +why gazest thou at the highways of the battle? Not thus was Tydeus wont +to shrink, but rather to fight his enemies far in front of his dear +comrades, as they say that beheld him at the task; for never did I meet +him nor behold him, but men say that he was preeminent amid all. Of a +truth he came to Mykene, not in enmity, but as a guest with godlike +Polyneikes, to raise him an army for the war that they were levying +against the holy walls of Thebes; and they besought earnestly that +valiant allies might be given them, and our folk were fain to grant +them and made assent to their entreaty, only Zeus showed omens of ill +and turned their minds. So when these were departed and were come on +their way, and had attained to Asopos deep in rushes, that maketh his +bed in grass, there did the Achaians appoint Tydeus to be their +ambassador. So he went and found the multitude of the sons of Kadmos +feasting in the palace of mighty Eteokles. Yet was knightly Tydeus, +even though a stranger, not afraid, being alone amid the multitude of +the Kadmeians, but challenged them all to feats of strength, and in +every one vanquished he them easily; so present a helper was Athene +unto him. But the Kadmeians, the urgers of horses, were wroth, and as +he fared back again they brought and set a strong ambush, even fifty +young men, whose leaders were twain, Maion son of Haimon, like to the +immortals, and Autophonos’ son Polyphontes staunch in battle. Still +even on the Tydeus brought shameful death; he slew them all, save one +that he sent home alone; Maion to wit he sent away in obedience to the +omens of heaven. Such was Tydeus of Aitolia; but he begat a son that in +battle is worse than he; only in harangue is he the better.” + +So said he, and stalwart Diomedes made no answer, but had respect to +the chiding of the king revered. But the son of glorious Kapaneus +answered him: “Atreides, utter not falsehood, seeing thou knowest how +to speak truly. We avow ourselves to be better men by far than our +fathers were: we did take the seat of Thebes the seven gated, though we +led a scantier host against a stronger wall, because we followed the +omens of the gods and the salvation of Zeus; but they perished by their +own iniquities. Do not thou therefore in any wise have our fathers in +like honour with us.” + +But stalwart Diomedes looked sternly at him, and said: “Brother, sit +silent and obey my saying. I grudge not that Agamemnon shepherd of the +host should urge on the well-greaved Achaians to fight; for him the +glory will attend if the Achaians lay the Trojans low and take holy +Ilios; and his will be the great sorrow if the Achaians be laid low. Go +to now, let us too bethink us of impetuous valour.” + +He spake and leapt in his armour from the chariot to earth, and +terribly rang the bronze upon the chieftain’s breast as he moved; +thereat might fear have come even upon one stout-hearted. + +As when on the echoing beach the sea-wave lifteth up itself in close +array before the driving of the west wind; out on the deep doth it +first raise its head, and then breaketh upon the land and belloweth +aloud and goeth with arching crest about the promontories, and speweth +the foaming brine afar; even so in close array moved the battalions of +the Danaans without pause to battle. Each captain gave his men the +word, and the rest went silently; thou wouldest not deem that all the +great host following them had any voice within their breasts; in +silence feared they their captains. On every man glittered the +inwrought armour wherewith they went clad. But for the Trojans, like +sheep beyond number that stand in the courtyard of a man of great +substance, to be milked of their white milk, and bleat without ceasing +to hear their lambs’ cry, even so arose the clamour of the Trojans +through the wide host. For they had not all like speech nor one +language, but their tongues were mingled, and they were brought from +many lands. These were urged on of Ares, and those of bright-eyed +Athene, and Terror and Rout, and Strife whose fury wearieth not, sister +and friend of murderous Ares; her crest is but lowly at the first, but +afterward she holdeth up her head in heaven and her feet walk upon the +earth. She now cast common discord in their midst, as she fared through +the throng and made the lamentation of men to wax. + +Now when they were met together and come unto one spot, then clashed +they targe and spear and fury of bronze-clad warrior; the bossed +shields pressed each on each and mighty din arose. Then were heard the +voice of groaning and the voice of triumph together of the slayers and +the slain, and the earth streamed with blood. As when two winter +torrents flow down the mountains to a watersmeet and join their furious +flood within the deep ravine from their great springs, and the shepherd +heareth the roaring far off among the hills: even so from the joining +of battle came there forth shouting and travail. Antilochos first slew +a Trojan warrior in full array, valiant amid the champions, Echepolos +son of Thalysios; him was he first to smite upon the ridge of his +crested helmet, and he drave the spear into his brow and the point of +bronze passed within the bone; darkness clouded his eyes, and he +crashed like a tower amid the press of fight. As he fell lord Elephenor +caught him by the foot, Chalkodon’s son, captain of the great-hearted +Abantes, and dragged him from beneath the darts, eager with all speed +to despoil him of his armour. Yet but for a little endured his essay; +great-hearted Agenor saw him haling away the corpse, and where his side +was left uncovered of his buckler as he bowed him down, there smote he +him with bronze-tipped spear-shaft and unstrung his limbs. So his life +departed from him, and over his corpse the task of Trojans and Achaians +grew hot; like wolves leapt they one at another, and man lashed at man. + +Next Telamonian Aias smote Anthemion’s son, the lusty stripling +Simoeisios, whose erst his mother bare beside the banks of Simoeis on +the way down from Ida whither she had followed with her parents to see +their flocks. Therefore they called him Simoeisios, but he repaid not +his dear parents the recompense of his nurture; scanty was his span of +life by reason of the spear of great-hearted Aias that laid him low. +For as he went he first was smitten on his right breast beside the pap; +straight through his shoulder passed the spear of bronze, and he fell +to the ground in the dust like a poplar-tree, that hath grown up smooth +in the lowland of a great marsh, and its branches grow upon the top +thereof; this hath a wainwright felled with gleaming steel, to bend him +a felloe for a goodly chariot, and so it lies drying by a river’s +banks. In such a fashion did heaven-sprung Aias slay Simoeisios son of +Anthemion; then at him Antiphos of the glancing corslet, Priam’s son, +made a cast with his keen javelin across the throng. Him he missed, but +smote Odysseus’ valiant comrade Leukos in the groin as he drew the +corpse his way, so that he fell upon it and the body dropped from his +hands. Then Odysseus was very wroth at heart for the slaying of him, +and strode through the forefront of the battle harnessed in flashing +bronze, and went and stood hard by and glanced around him, and cast his +bright javelin; and the Trojans shrank before the casting of the hero. +He sped not the dart in vain, but smote Demokoon, Priam’s bastard son +that had come to him from tending his fleet mares in Abydos. Him +Odysseus, being wroth for his comrade’s sake, smote with his javelin on +one temple; and through both temples passed the point of bronze, and +darkness clouded his eyes, and he fell with a crash and his armour +clanged upon him. Then the forefighters and glorious Hector yielded, +and the Argives shouted aloud, and drew the bodies unto them, and +pressed yet further onward. But Apollo looked down from Pergamos, and +had indignation, and with a shout called to the Trojans: “Arise, ye +Trojans, tamers of horses; yield not to the Argives in fight; not of +stone nor iron is their flesh, that it should resist the piercing +bronze when they are smitten. Moreover Achilles, son of Thetis of the +fair tresses, fighteth not, but amid the ships broodeth on his bitter +anger.” + +So spake the dread god from the city; and the Achaians likewise were +urged on of Zeus’ daughter the Triton-born, most glorious, as she +passed through the throng wheresoever she beheld them slackening. + +Next was Diores son of Amrynkeus caught in the snare of fate; for he +was smitten by a jagged stone on the right leg hard by the ankle, and +the caster thereof was captain of the men of Thrace, Peiroös son of +Imbrasos that had come from Ainos. The pitiless stone crushed utterly +the two sinews and the bones; back fell he in the dust, and stretched +out both his hands to his dear comrades, gasping out his soul. Then he +that smote him, even Peiroos, sprang at him and pierced him with a +spear beside the navel; so all his bowels gushed forth upon the ground, +and darkness clouded his eyes. But even as Peiroos departed from him +Thoas of Aitolia smote with a spear his chest above the pap, and the +point fixed in his lung. Then Thoas came close, and plucked out from +his breast the ponderous spear, and drew his sharp sword, wherewith he +smote his belly in the midst, and took his life. Yet he stripped not +off his armour; for his comrades, the men of Thrace that wear the +top-knot, stood around, their long spears in their hands, and albeit he +was great and valiant and proud they drave him off from them and he +gave ground reeling. So were the two captains stretched in the dust +side by side, he of the Thracians and he of the mail-clad Epeians; and +around them were many others likewise slain. + +Now would none any more enter in and make light of the battle, could it +be that a man yet unwounded by dart or thrust of keen bronze might roam +in the midst, being led of Pallas Athene by the hand, and by her +guarded from the flying shafts. For many Trojans that day and many +Achaians were laid side by side upon their faces in the dust. + + + + +BOOK V. + + +How Diomedes by his great valour made havoc of the Trojans, and wounded +even Aphrodite and Ares by the help of Athene. + + +But now to Tydeus’ son Diomedes Pallas Athene gave might and courage, +for him to be pre-eminent amid all the Argives and win glorious renown. +She kindled flame unwearied from his helmet and shield, like to the +star of summer that above all others glittereth bright after he hath +bathed in the ocean stream. In such wise kindled she flame from his +head and shoulders and sent him into the midst, where men thronged the +thickest. + +Now there was amid the Trojans one Dares, rich and noble, priest of +Hephaistos; and he had two sons, Phegeus and Idaios, well skilled in +all the art of battle. These separated themselves and assailed him face +to face, they setting on him from their car and he on foot upon the +ground. And when they were now come near in onset on each other, first +Phegeus hurled his far-shadowing spear; and over Tydeides’ left +shoulder the spear point passed, and smote not his body. Then next +Tydeides made a spear-cast, and the javelin sped not from his hand in +vain, but smote his breast between the nipples, and thrust him from the +chariot. So Idaios sprang away, leaving his beautiful car, and dared +not to bestride his slain brother; else had neither he himself escaped +black fate: but Hephaistos guarded him and saved him in a veil of +darkness, that he might not have his aged priest all broken with +sorrow. And the son of great-hearted Tydeus drave away the horses and +gave them to his men to take to the hollow ships. But when the +great-hearted Trojans beheld the sons of Dares, how one was fled, and +one was slain beside his chariot, the spirit of all was stirred. But +bright-eyed Athene took impetuous Ares by the hand and spake to him and +said: “Ares, Ares, blood-stained bane of mortals, thou stormer of +walls, can we not now leave the Trojans and Achaians to fight, on +whichsoever it be that father Zeus bestoweth glory? But let us twain +give place, and escape the wrath of Zeus.” + +So saying she led impetuous Ares from the battle. Then she made him sit +down beside loud Skamandros, and the Danaans pushed the Trojans back. +Each one of the captains slew his man; first Agamemnon king of men +thrust from his chariot the lord of the Halizonians, great Odios; for +as he first turned to flight Agamemnon thrust his dart into his back +between his shoulders, and drave it through his breast. And he fell +with a crash, and his armour clanged upon him. + +And Idomeneus slew Phaistos son of Boros the Maionian, that came from +deep-soiled Tarne. Him in the act to mount upon his car spear-famed +Idomeneus pierced with his long dart through his right shoulder; and he +fell from the car and hateful darkness gat hold of him. + +Him then Idomeneus’ squires despoiled; and Skamandrios, son of +Strophios, cunning in the chase, fell to the keen-pointed spear of +Menelaos son of Atreus; even he the mighty hunter, whom Artemis herself +had taught to shoot all manner of wild things that the mountain forest +breedeth. But now did Archer Artemis avail him naught nor all his +marksmanship wherein of old time he excelled; but spear-famed Menelaos +son of Atreus smote him with his dart as he fled before him, in his +back [between his shoulders, and pierced through his breast]. So he +fell prone and his armour clanged upon him. + +And Meriones slew Phereklos, son of Tekton Harmon’s son, whose hands +were cunning to make all manner of curious work; for Pallas Athene +loved him more than all men. He likewise built Alexandros the trim +ships, source of ills, that were made the bane of all the Trojans and +of himself, because he knew not the oracles of heaven. Him Meriones +pursued, and overtaking him smote him in the right buttock, and right +through passed the point straight to the bladder beneath the bone; and +he fell to his knees with a cry, and death overshadowed him. + +Then Meges slew Pedaios Antenor’s son, that was a bastard; yet goodly +Theano nurtured him carefully like to her own children, to do her +husband pleasure. To him Phyleus’ spear-famed son came near, and with +keen dart smote him upon the sinew of the head; and right through amid +the teeth the point of bronze cleft the tongue’s root. So he fell in +the dust, and bit the cold bronze with his teeth. + +And by Eurypylos, Euaimon’s son, noble Hypsenor son of high-hearted +Dolopion that was appointed Skamandros’ priest and like to a god was +held in honour of the folk—by Eurypylos Euaimon’s glorious son, he as +he fled before him was pursued and smitten on the shoulder with a +sword-thrust, and his heavy arm was shorn away. All bleeding the arm +fell upon the earth; and over his eyes came gloomy death and forceful +fate. + +So laboured these in the violent mellay; but of Tydeides man could not +tell with whom he were joined, whether he consorted with Trojans or +with Achaians. For he stormed across the plain like a winter torrent at +the full, that in swift course scattereth the causeys; neither can the +long lines of* causeys hold it in, nor the fences of fruitful orchards +stay its sudden coming when the rain of heaven driveth it; and so +before it perish in multitudes the fair works of the sons of men. Thus +before Tydeides the serried battalions of the Trojans were overthrown, +and they abode him not for all they were so many. + +* Reading ἐερμέναι, with Aristarchos. + + +But when Lykaon’s glorious son marked him storming across the plain, +overthrowing battalions before him, anon he bent his crooked bow +against Tydeides, and smote him as he sped onwards, hitting hard by his +right shoulder the plate of his corslet; the bitter arrow flew through +and held straight upon its way, and the corslet was dabbled with blood. +Over him then loudly shouted Lykaon’s glorious son: “Bestir you, +great-hearted Trojans, urgers of horses; the best man of the Achaians +is wounded, and I deem that he shall not for long endure the violent +dart, if verily the king, the son of Zeus,* sped me on my way from +Lykia.” + +* Apollo + + +So spake he boasting; yet was the other not vanquished of the swift +dart, only he gave place and stood before his horses and his chariot +and spake to Sthenelos son of Kapaneus: “Haste thee, dear son of +Kapaneus; descend from thy chariot, to draw me from my shoulder the +bitter arrow.” + +So said he, and Sthenelos leapt from his chariot to earth and stood +beside him and drew the swift shaft right through, out of his shoulder; +and the blood darted up through the pliant tunic. Then Diomedes of the +loud war-cry prayed thereat: “Hear me, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, +unwearied maiden! If ever in kindly mood thou stoodest by my father in +the heat of battle, even so now be thou likewise kind to me, Athene. +Grant me to slay this man, and bring within my spear-cast him that took +advantage to shoot me, and boasteth over me, deeming that not for long +shall I see the bright light of the sun.” + +So spake he in prayer, and Pallas Athene heard him, and made his limbs +nimble, his feet and his hands withal, and came near and spake winged +words: “Be of good courage now, Diomedes, to fight the Trojans; for in +thy breast I have set thy father’s courage undaunted, even as it was in +knightly Tydeus, wielder of the buckler. Moreover I have taken from +thine eyes the mist that erst was on them, that thou mayest well +discern both god and man. Therefore if any god come hither to make +trial of thee, fight not thou face to face with any of the immortal +gods; save only if Aphrodite daughter of Zeus enter into the battle, +her smite thou with the keen bronze.” + +So saying bright-eyed Athene went her way and Tydeides returned and +entered the forefront of the battle; even though erst his soul was +eager to do battle with the Trojans, yet now did threefold courage come +upon him, as upon a lion whom some shepherd in the field guarding his +fleecy sheep hath wounded, being sprung into the fold, yet hath not +vanquished him; he hath roused his might, and then cannot beat him +back, but lurketh amid the steading, and his forsaken flock is +affrighted; so the sheep are cast in heaps, one upon the other, and the +lion in his fury leapeth out of the high fold; even so in fury mingled +mighty Diomedes with the Trojans. + +There slew he Astynoos and Hypeiron shepherd of the host; the one he +pierced above the nipple with his bronze-shod dart, the other with his +great sword upon the collar-bone beside the shoulder he smote, and +severed the shoulder from neck and back. Them left he there, and +pursued after Abas and Polyidos, sons of old Eurydamas dreamer of +dreams; yet discerned he no dreams for them when they went,* but +stalwart Diomedes despoiled them. Then went he after Xanthos and Thoon, +sons of Phainops, striplings both; but their father was outworn of +grievous age, and begat no other son for his possessions after him. +Then Diomedes slew them and bereft the twain of their dear life, and +for their father left only lamentation and sore distress, seeing he +welcomed them not alive returned from battle; and kinsmen divided his +substance. + +* Or, “yet came they not home for him to discern dreams for them.” + + +Then caught he two sons of Priam of the seed of Dardanos, riding in one +chariot, Echemmon and Chromios. As a lion leapeth among the kine and +breaketh the neck of cow or heifer grazing in a woodland pasture, so +Tydeus’ son thrust in ill wise from their chariot both of them +unwilling, and thereafter despoiled them of their arms; and the horses +gave he to his comrades to drive them to the ships. + +Him Aineias beheld making havoc of the ranks of warriors, and went his +way along the battle and amid the hurtling of spears, seeking godlike +Pandaros, if haply he might find him. Lykaon’s son he found, the noble +and stalwart, and stood before his face, and spake a word unto him. +“Pandaros, where now are thy bow and thy winged arrows, and the fame +wherein no man of this land rivalleth thee, nor any in Lykia boasteth +to be thy better? Go to now, lift thy hands in prayer to Zeus and shoot +thy dart at this fellow, whoe’er he be that lordeth it here and hath +already wrought the Trojans much mischief, seeing he hath unstrung the +knees of many a brave man; if indeed it be not some god wroth with the +Trojans, in anger by reason of sacrifices; the wrath of god is a sore +thing to fall on men.”* + +* Or, “and the wrath of gods be heavy upon us.” + + +And Lykaon’s glorious son made answer to him: “Aineias, counsellor of +the mail-clad Trojans, in everything liken I him to the wise son of +Tydeus; I discern him by his shield and crested helmet, and by the +aspect of his horses; yet know I not surely if it be not a god. But if +it be the man I deem, even the wise son of Tydeus, then not without +help of a god is he thus furious, but some immortal standeth beside him +with a cloud wrapped about his shoulders and turned aside from him my +swift dart even as it lighted. For already have I shot my dart at him +and smote his right shoulder right through the breastplate of his +corslet, yea and I thought to hurl him headlong to Aidoneus, yet I +vanquished him not; surely it is some wrathful god. And I have no +steeds at hand nor any chariot whereon to mount—yet in Lykaon’s halls +are eleven fair chariots, new wrought, with gear all fresh, and cloths +spread over them; and beside each standeth a yoke of horses, champing +white barley and spelt. Moreover Lykaon the aged spearman at my +departing laid instant charge upon me in our well-builded house; he +bade me mount horse and chariot to lead the Trojans in the violent +mellay; but I obeyed him not—far better had that been!—but spared the +horses lest in the great crowd of men they should lack fodder that had +been wont to feed their fill. Therefore I left them and am come on foot +to Ilios, trusting to my bow; and now must my bow not help me! Already +have I aimed at two princes, Tydeus’ and Atreus’ sons, and both I smote +and surely drew forth blood, yet only roused them the more. Therefore +in an evil hour I took from the peg my curved bow on that day when I +led my Trojans to lovely Ilios, to do noble Hector pleasure. But if I +return and mine eyes behold my native land and wife and great palace +lofty-roofed, then may an alien forthwith cut my head from me if I +break not this bow with mine hands and cast it upon the blazing fire; +worthless is its service to me as air.” + +Then Aineias captain of the Trojans answered him: “Nay, talk not thus; +naught shall be mended before that we with horses and chariot have gone +to face this man, and made trial of him in arms. Come then, mount upon +my car that thou mayest see of what sort are the steeds of Tros, well +skilled for following or for fleeing hither or thither very fleetly +across the plain; they will e’en bring us to the city safe and sound, +even though Zeus hereafter give victory to Diomedes son of Tydeus. Come +therefore, take thou the lash and shining reins, and I will stand upon +the car to fight;* or else withstand thou him, and to the horses will I +look.” + +* Reading ἐπιβήσομαι, with Zenodotos. + + +To him made answer Lykaon’s glorious son: “Aineias, take thou thyself +the reins and thine own horses; better will they draw the curved car +for their wonted charioteer, if perchance it hap that we must flee from +Tydeus’ son; lest they go wild for fear and will not take us from the +fight, for lack of thy voice, and so the son of great-hearted Tydeus +attack us and slay us both and drive away the whole-hooved horses. So +drive thou thyself thy chariot and thy horses, and I will await his +onset with my keen spear.” So saying mounted they upon the well-dight +chariot, and eagerly drave the fleet horses against Tydeides. And +Sthenelos, the glorious son of Kapaneus, saw them, and anon spake to +Tydeides winged words: “Diomedes son of Tydeus, dear to mine heart, I +behold two stalwart warriors eager to fight against thee, endued with +might beyond measure. The one is well skilled in the bow, even +Pandaros, and he moreover boasteth him to be Lykaon’s son; and Aineias +boasteth himself to be born son of great-hearted Anchises, and his +mother is Aphrodite. Come now, let us give place upon the chariot, +neither rage thou thus, I pray thee, in the forefront of battle, lest +perchance thou lose thy life.” + +Then stalwart Diomedes looked sternly at him and said: “Speak to me no +word of flight, for I ween that thou shalt not at all persuade me; not +in my blood is it to fight a skulking fight or cower down; my force is +steadfast still. I have no mind to mount the chariot, nay, even as I am +will I go to face them; Pallas Athene biddeth me not be afraid. And as +for these, their fleet horses shall not take both back from us again, +even if one or other escape. And this moreover tell I thee, and lay +thou it to heart: if Athene rich in counsel grant me this glory, to +slay them both, then refrain thou here these my fleet horses, and bind +the reins tight to the chariot rim; and be mindful to leap upon +Aineias’ horses, and drive them forth from the Trojans amid the +well-greaved Achaians. For they are of that breed whereof farseeing* +Zeus gave to Tros recompense for Ganymede his child, because they were +the best of all horses beneath the daylight and the sun. That blood +Anchises king of men stole of Laomedon, privily putting mares to them. +Thereof a stock was born him in his palace, even six; four kept he +himself and reared them at the stall, and the other twain gave he to +Aineias deviser of rout.** Them could we seize, we should win us great +renown.” + +* Or, “Zeus of the far-borne voice.” + + +** Reading μήστωρι. + + +In such wise talked they one to the other, and anon those other twain +came near, driving their fleet horses. First to him spake Lykaon’s +glorious son: “O thou strong-souled and cunning, son of proud Tydeus, +verily my swift dart vanquished thee not, the bitter arrow; so now will +I make trial with my spear if I can hit thee.” + +He spake and poised and hurled his far-shadowing spear, and smote upon +Tydeides’ shield; right through it sped the point of bronze and reached +the breastplate. So over him shouted loudly Lykaon’s glorious son: +“Thou art smitten on the belly right through, and I ween thou shalt not +long hold up thine head; so thou givest me great renown.” + +But mighty Diomedes unaffrighted answered him: “Thou hast missed, and +not hit; but ye twain I deem shall not cease till one or other shall +have fallen and glutted with blood Ares the stubborn god of war.” + +So spake he and hurled; and Athene guided the dart upon his nose beside +the eye, and it pierced through his white teeth. So the hard bronze cut +through his tongue at the root and the point issued forth by the base +of the chin. He fell from his chariot, and his splendid armour gleaming +clanged upon him, and the fleet-footed horses swerved aside; so there +his soul and strength were unstrung. + +Then Aineias leapt down with shield and long spear, fearing lest +perchance the Achaians might take from him the corpse; and strode over +him like a lion confident in his strength, and held before him his +spear and the circle of his shield, eager to slay whoe’er should come +to face him, crying his terrible cry. Then Tydeides grasped in his hand +a stone—a mighty deed—such as two men, as men now are, would not avail +to lift; yet he with ease wielded it all alone. Therewith he smote +Aineias on the hip where the thigh turneth in the hip-joint, and this +men call the “cup-bone.” So he crushed his cup-bone, and brake both +sinews withal, and the jagged stone tore apart the skin. Then the hero +stayed fallen upon his knees and with stout hand leant upon the earth; +and the darkness of night veiled his eyes. And now might Aineias king +of men have perished, but that Aphrodite daughter of Zeus was swift to +mark, even his mother that conceived him by Anchises as he tended the +kine. About her dear son wound she her white arms, and spread before +his face a fold of her radiant vesture, to be a covering from the +darts, lest any of the fleet-horsed Danaans might hurl the spear into +his breast and take away his life. + +So was she bearing her dear son away from battle; but the son of +Kapaneus forgat not the behest that Diomedes of the loud war-cry had +laid upon him; he refrained his own whole-hooved horses away from the +tumult, binding the reins tight to the chariot-rim, and leapt on the +sleek-coated horses of Aineias, and drave them from the Trojans to the +well-greaved Achaians, and gave them to Deïpylos his dear comrade whom +he esteemed above all that were his age-fellows, because he was +like-minded with himself; and bade him drive them to the hollow ships. +Then did the hero mount his own chariot and take the shining reins and +forthwith drive his strong-hooved horses in quest of Tydeides, eagerly. +Now Tydeides had made onslaught with pitiless weapon on Kypris,* +knowing how she was a coward goddess and none of those that have +mastery in battle of the warriors—no Athene she nor Enyo waster of +cities. Now when he had pursued her through the dense throng and come +on her, then great-hearted Tydeus’ son thrust with his keen spear, and +leapt on her and wounded the skin of her weak hand; straight through +the ambrosial raiment that the Graces themselves had woven her pierced +the dart into the flesh, above the springing of the palm. Then flowed +the goddess’s immortal blood, such ichor as floweth in the blessed +gods; for they eat no bread neither drink they gleaming wine, wherefore +they are bloodless and are named immortals. And she with a great cry +let fall her son: him Phoebus Apollo took into his arms and saved him +in a dusky cloud, lest any of the fleet-horsed Danaans might hurl the +spear into his breast and take away his life. But over her Diomedes of +the loud war-cry shouted afar: “Refrain thee, thou daughter of Zeus, +from war and fighting. Is it not enough that thou beguilest feeble +women? But if in battle thou wilt mingle, verily I deem that thou shalt +shudder at the name of battle, if thou hear it even afar off.” + +* Aphrodite. + + +So spake he, and she departed in amaze and was sore troubled: and +wind-footed Iris took her and led her from the throng tormented with +her pain, and her fair skin was stained. There found she impetuous Ares +sitting, on the battle’s left; and his spear rested upon a cloud, and +his fleet steeds. Then she fell on her knees and with instant prayer +besought of her dear brother his golden-frontleted steeds: “Dear +brother, save me and give me thy steeds, that I may win to Olympus, +where is the habitation of the immortals. Sorely am I afflicted with a +wound wherewith a mortal smote me, even Tydeides, who now would fight +even with father Zeus.” + +So spake she, and Ares gave her his golden-frontleted steeds, and she +mounted on the chariot sore at heart. By her side mounted Iris, and in +her hands grasped the reins and lashed the horses to start them; and +they flew onward nothing loth. Thus soon they came to the habitation of +the gods, even steep Olympus. There wind-footed fleet Iris loosed the +horses from the chariot and stabled them, and set ambrosial forage +before them; but fair Aphrodite fell upon Dione’s knees that was her +mother. She took her daughter in her arms and stroked her with her +hand, and spake and called upon her name: “Who now of the sons of +heaven, dear child, hath entreated thee thus wantonly, as though thou +wert a wrong-doer in the face of all?” + +Then laughter-loving Aphrodite made answer to her: “Tydeus’ son wounded +me, high-hearted Diomedes, because I was saving from the battle my dear +son Aineias, who to me is dearest far of all men. For no more is the +fierce battle-cry for Trojans and Achaians, but the Danaans now are +fighting even the immortals.” + +Then the fair goddess Dione answered her: “Be of good heart, my child, +and endure for all thy pain; for many of us that inhabit the mansions +of Olympus have suffered through men, in bringing grievous woes one +upon another. So suffered Ares, when Otos and stalwart Ephialtes, sons +of Aloeus, bound him in a strong prison-house; yea in a vessel of +bronze lay he bound thirteen months. Then might Ares insatiate of +battle have perished, but that the step-mother of Aloeus’ sons, fair +Eëriboia, gave tidings to Hermes, and he stole away Ares, already +pining; for the grievous prison-house was wearing him out. So suffered +Hera when Amphitryon’s stalwart son smote her on the right breast with +a three-barbed arrow, so that pain unassuageable gat hold of her +likewise. So suffered awful Hades a swift arrow like the rest, when +this same man, the son of aegis-bearing Zeus, smote him in Pylos* amid +the dead and gave him over to anguish. And he went to the mansion of +Zeus and to high Olympus, grieved at heart, pierced through with +anguish; for the arrow was driven into his stout shoulder, and vexed +his soul. But Paieon spread soothing drugs upon the wound and healed +him; seeing that verily he was of no mortal substance. Headstrong man +and violent of deed, that recked not of his evil doings, and with his +archery vexed the gods that dwell in Olympus! So upon thee was this man +sent by the bright-eyed goddess Athene; fond man—for the heart of +Tydeus’ son knoweth not this, that he of a surety is not long-lived +that fighteth with immortals, nor ever do his children prattle upon his +knees at his returning from war and terrible fray. Therefore now let +Tydeides, though he be very mighty, beware lest one better than thou +encounter him; and so Aigialeia, wise daughter of Adrestos, wake from +sleep with lamentations all her household, bewailing her wedded lord, +the best man of the Achaians, even she that is the brave wife of +horse-taming Diomedes.” + +* Or, “at the gate of hell.” according to Aristarchos. + + +So saying with both hands she wiped the ichor from the arm; her arm was +comforted, and the grievous pangs assuaged. But Athene and Hera beheld, +and with bitter words provoked Zeus the son of Kronos. Of them was the +bright-eyed goddess Athene first to speak: “Father Zeus, wilt thou +indeed be wroth with me whate’er I say? Verily I ween that Kypris was +urging some woman of Achaia to join her unto the Trojans whom she so +marvellously loveth; and stroking such an one of the fair-robed women +of Achaia, she tore upon the golden brooch her delicate hand.” + +So spake she, and the father of gods and men smiled, and called unto +him golden Aphrodite and said: “Not unto thee, my child, are given the +works of war; but follow thou after the loving tasks of wedlock, and to +all these things shall fleet Ares and Athene look.” + +Now while they thus spake in converse one with the other, Diomedes of +the loud war-cry leapt upon Aineias, knowing full well that Apollo +himself had spread his arms over him; yet reverenced he not even the +great god, but still was eager to slay Aineias and strip from him his +glorious armour. So thrice he leapt on him, fain to slay him, and +thrice Apollo beat back his glittering shield. And when the fourth time +he sprang at him like a god, then Apollo the Far-darter spake to him +with terrible shout: “Think, Tydeides, and shrink, nor desire to match +thy spirit with gods; seeing there is no comparison of the race of +immortal gods and of men that walk upon the earth.” + +So said he, and Tydeides shrank a short space backwards, to avoid the +wrath of Apollo the Far-darter. Then Apollo set Aineias away from the +throng in holy Pergamos where his temple stood. There Leto and Archer +Artemis healed him in the mighty sanctuary, and gave him glory; but +Apollo of the silver bow made a wraith like unto Aineias’ self, and in +such armour as his; and over the wraith Trojans and goodly Achaians +each hewed the others’ bucklers on their breasts, their round shields +and fluttering targes. + +Then to impetuous Ares said Phoebus Apollo: “Ares, Ares, blood-stained +bane of mortals, thou stormer of walls, wilt thou not follow after this +man and withdraw him from the battle, this Tydeides, who now would +fight even with father Zeus? First in close fight he wounded Kypris in +her hand hard by the wrist, and then sprang he upon myself like unto a +god.” + +So saying he sate himself upon the height of Pergamos, and baleful Ares +entered among the Trojan ranks and aroused them in the likeness of +fleet Akamas, captain of the Thracians. On the heaven-nurtured sons of +Priam he called saying: “O ye sons of Priam, the heaven-nurtured king, +how long will ye yet suffer your host to be slain of the Achaians? +Shall it be even until they fight about our well-builded gates? Low +lieth the warrior whom we esteemed like unto goodly Hector, even +Aineias son of Anchises great of heart. Go to now, let us save from the +tumult our valiant comrade.” + +So saying he aroused the spirit and soul of every man. Thereat Sarpedon +sorely chode noble Hector: “Hector, where now is the spirit gone that +erst thou hadst? Thou saidst forsooth that without armies or allies +thou wouldest hold the city, alone with thy sisters’ husbands and thy +brothers; but now can I not see any of these neither perceive them, but +they are cowering like hounds about a lion; and we are fighting that +are but allies among you. Yea I being an ally am come from very far; +far off is Lykia upon eddying Xanthos, where I left my dear wife and +infant son, and left my great wealth that each one coveteth that is in +need. Yet for all that I urge on my Lykians, and myself am eager to +fight my man, though here is naught of mine such as the Achaians might +plunder or harry. But thou standest, nay thou dost not even urge all +thine hosts to abide and guard their wives. Only beware lest, as though +tangled in meshes of all-ensnaring flax, ye be made unto your foemen a +prey and a spoil; and they will soon lay waste your well-peopled city. +Thee it behoveth to give thought to all these things both by night and +day, and to beseech the captains of thy far-famed allies to hold on +unflinchingly; and so shalt thou put away their sore rebuking from +thee.” + +So spake Sarpedon, and his word stung Hector to the heart, Forthwith he +leapt from his chariot in his armour to the earth, and brandishing two +keen spears went everywhere through the host, urging them to fight, and +roused the dread battle-cry. So they were rallied and stood to face the +Achaians: and the Argives withstood them in close array and fled not. +Even as a wind carrieth the chaff about the sacred threshing-floors +when men are winnowing, what time golden-haired Demeter in rush of wind +maketh division of grain and chaff, and so the chaff-heaps grow +white—so now grew the Achaians white with falling dust which in their +midst the horses’ hooves beat up into the brazen heaven, as fight was +joined again, and the charioteers wheeled round. Thus bare they forward +the fury of their hands: and impetuous Ares drew round them a veil of +night to aid the Trojans in the battle,* ranging everywhere; so +fulfilled he the behest of Phoebus Apollo of the golden sword, who bade +him rouse the Trojans’ spirit when he beheld Pallas Athene departed; +for she was helper to the Danaans. And Apollo himself sent forth +Aineias from his rich sanctuary and put courage in the heart of him, +shepherd of the hosts. So Aineias took his place amid his comrades, and +they were glad to see him come among them alive and sound and full of +valiant spirit. Yet they questioned him not at all, for all the toil +forbade them that the god of the silver bow was stirring and Ares bane +of men and Strife raging insatiably. + +* Or, drew round the battle a veil of night to help the Trojans. + + +And on the other side the two Aiantes and Odysseus and Diomedes stirred +the Danaans to fight; yet these of themselves feared neither the +Trojans’ violence nor assaults, but stood like mists that Kronos’ son +setteth in windless air on the mountain tops, at peace, while the might +of the north wind sleepeth and of all the violent winds that blow with +keen breath and scatter apart the shadowing clouds. Even so the Danaans +withstood the Trojans steadfastly and fled not. And Atreides ranged +through the throng exhorting instantly: “My friends, quit you like men +and take heart of courage, and shun dishonour in one another’s eyes +amid the stress of battle. Of men that shun dishonour more are saved +than slain, but for them that flee is neither glory found nor any +safety.” + +So saying he darted swiftly with his javelin and smote a foremost +warrior, even great-hearted Aineias’ comrade Deïkoon son of Pergasos, +whom the Trojans held in like honour with Priam’s sons, because he was +swift to do battle amid the foremost. Him lord Agamemnon smote with his +dart upon the shield, and it stayed not the spear, but the point passed +through, so that he drave it through the belt into his nethermost +belly: and he fell with a crash and his armour clanged upon him. + +Then did Aineias slay two champions of the Danaans, even the sons of +Diokles, Krethon and Orsilochos, whose father dwelt in stablished +Phere, a man full of substance, whose lineage was of the river +Alpheios, that floweth in broad stream through the land of the Pylians; +Alpheios begat Orsilochos to be king of many men, and Orsilochos begat +great-hearted Diokles, and of Diokles were born twin sons, even Krethon +and Orsilochos, well skilled in all the ways of war. Now when these +were of full age, they bare the Argives company on their black ships to +Ilios home of horses, to win recompense for Atreus’ sons, Agamemnon and +Menelaos; but now the issue of death shrouded them about. Like them, +two lions on the mountain tops are nurtured by their dam in the deep +forest thickets; and these harry the kine and goodly sheep and make +havoc of the farmsteads of men, till in their turn they too are slain +at men’s hands with the keen bronze; in such wise were these twain +vanquished at Aineias’ hands and fell like tall pine-trees. + +But Menelaos dear to Ares had pity of them in their fall, and strode +through the forefront, harnessed in flashing bronze, brandishing his +spear; and Ares stirred his courage, with intent that he might fall +beneath Aineias’ hand. But Antilochos, great-hearted Nestor’s son, +beheld him, and strode through the forefront; because he feared +exceedingly for the shepherd of the host, lest aught befall him and +disappoint them utterly of their labour. So those two were now holding +forth their hands and sharp spears each against the other, eager to do +battle; when Antilochos came and stood hard by the shepherd of the +host. But Aineias faced them not, keen warrior though he was, when he +beheld two men abiding side by side; so these haled away the corpses to +the Achaians’ host, and laid the hapless twain in their comrades’ arms, +and themselves turned back and fought on amid the foremost. + +Then slew they Pylaimenes, peer of Ares, captain of the great-hearted +Paphlagonians bearers of the shield. Him as he stood still Atreus’ son, +spear-famed Menelaos, pierced with his javelin, smiting upon the +collar-bone; and Antilochos hurled at Mydon, his squire and charioteer, +Atymnios’ brave son, even as he was wheeling the whole-hooved horses, +and with a stone smote his elbow in the midst; so the reins white with +ivory fell from his hands to earth, even into the dust. Then Antilochos +sprang on him and drave the sword into his temple, and he fell gasping +from the well-wrought chariot headlong in the dust on crown and +shoulders. A while he stood there, being lighted on deep sand, until +his horses spurned him and cast him to earth, even in the dust; and +them Antilochos lashed, and drave them to the Achaians’ host. + +But Hector marked them across the ranks, and sprang on them with a +shout, and the battalions of the Trojans followed him in their might: +and Ares led them on and dread Enyo, she bringing ruthless turmoil of +war, the while Ares wielded in his hands his monstrous spear, and +ranged now before Hector’s face, and now behind. + +Then Diomedes of the loud war-cry shuddered to behold him; and even as +a shiftless man crossing a great plain cometh on a swift-streaming +river flowing on to the sea, and seeing it boil with foam springeth +backwards, even so now Tydeides shrank back and spake to the host: +“Friends, how marvel we that noble Hector is a spearman and bold man of +war! Yet ever is there beside him some god that wardeth off +destruction; even as now Ares is there by him in likeness of a mortal +man. But with faces towards the Trojans still give ground backwards, +neither be desirous to fight amain with gods.” + +So said he, and the Trojans came very close upon them. Then Hector slew +two that knew well the battle joy, riding in one chariot, even +Menesthes and Anchialos. And the great Telamonian Aias had pity of them +in their fall, and came hard by and darted with his bright javelin, and +smote Amphios son of Selagos, that dwelt in Paisos, a man rich in +substance, rich in meadow land; but fate led him to bring succour to +Priam and his sons. Him Telamonian Aias smote upon the belt, and in his +nether belly the far-shadowing spear stuck and he fell with a crash. +Then glorious Aias ran at him to strip him of his armour, and the +Trojans rained on him keen javelins glittering, and his shield caught +many thereof. But he set his heel upon the corpse and plucked forth the +spear of bronze; only he could not strip from his shoulders all the +fair armour therewith, being overwhelmed of spears. Moreover he feared +the haughty Trojans’ stout defence, they being many and brave that with +their spears pressed on him, so that for all he was so great and +valiant and proud they thrust him from them; and he was shaken and +shrank back. + +Thus toiled these in violent battle; and Tlepolemos son of Herakles, +valiant and tall, was driven of forceful fate against godlike Sarpedon. +Then when the twain were come nigh in onset on each other, even the son +and grandson of Zeus the cloud-gatherer, then first to the other spake +Tlepolemos: “Sarpedon, counsellor of the Lykians, why must thou be +skulking here, being a man unskilled in battle? Falsely do men say that +thou art offspring of aegis-bearing Zeus, seeing thou art found lacking +greatly beside those men that in days of old were born of Zeus. Ah, +what an one do men say* was mighty Herakles, even my father the +steadfast lion-heart, who erst came hither for Laomedon’s mares with +but six ships and a scantier host, yet sacked the city of Ilios and +made her highways desolate. But thine is a base spirit, and thy folk +are minishing. I ween that thou art in no wise come from Lykia to be a +bulwark unto the Trojans, for all thy great strength, but that thou +shalt be vanquished at my hand and pass the gates of Hades.” + +* Or, “of other sort, men say,” if we read ἀλλοῖον for ἀλλ’ οῖον. + + +Then Sarpedon captain of the Lykians answered him: “Tlepolemos, he +verily overthrew holy Ilios by the folly of the proud man Laomedon, +that rewarded his good deed with harsh upbraiding, and paid him not the +steeds wherefor he came from afar. And for thee I say that slaughter +and black death shall come about here at my hands; vanquished by my +spear thou shalt yield to me my glory, and thy life to Hades of the +goodly steeds.” + +So spake Sarpedon, and Tlepolemos lifted his ashen spear, and both +their long javelins sped from their hands together. Sarpedon smote the +midst of his neck, and the grievous point past right through, and the +darkness of night fell on his eyes and shrouded him: and Tlepolemos +with long spear smote the other’s left thigh, and the point sped +through furiously, grazing the bone; but his father yet warded off +destruction. + +So his goodly comrades bare away godlike Sarpedon from the battle, but +the long spear dragging was heavy upon him, and no man marked it or +took thought in their haste to draw the ashen spear out from his thigh +that he might stand upright; such labour had they in tending him. And +over against them the well-greaved Achaians bare Tlepolemos from the +battle. And noble Odysseus of the patient soul marked it, and his heart +was stirred within him. Then doubted he in mind and soul whether first +to pursue the son of Zeus the loud thunderer, or take the lives of the +common sort of the Lykians. But it was not destined to great-hearted +Odysseus to slay with his keen blade the mighty son of Zeus; so Athene +turned his fury upon the multitude of the Lykians. Then slew he +Koiranos and Alastor and Chromios and Alkandros and Halios and Noëmon +and Prytanis; and yet more Lykians had noble Odysseus slain but that +great Hector of the glancing helm was swift to mark him, and strode +through the forefront of battle, harnessed in flashing bronze, and +brought terror to the Danaans; but Sarpedon the son of Zeus was glad at +his coming, and spake to him a word of pain: “O son of Priam, let me +not now be left a prey unto the Danaans, but bring me succour; howbeit +thereafter let my life depart from me in your city, seeing it might not +be that I should return home to my dear native land, to make glad my +dear wife and infant son.” + +So said he, but Hector of the glancing helm spake no word to him, but +hastened on, desirous with all speed to thrust back the Argives and +take the lives of many. So his goodly comrades made godlike Sarpedon to +sit beneath a fair oak-tree of aegis-bearing Zeus, and valiant Pelagon +that was his dear comrade thrust forth from his thigh the ashen spear; +and his spirit failed him and mist overspread his eyes. Then breathed +he again, and the breath of the north wind blew round about him and +brought him to life from the grievous swoon of his soul. + +Now the Argives before the face of Ares and mail-clad Hector neither +turned them round about toward their black ships, nor charged forward +in battle, but still fell backward, when they heard of Ares amid the +Trojans. And now who first was slaughtered, and who last, by Hector son +of Priam and brazen Ares? Even godlike Teuthras, and thereafter Orestes +the charioteer, and Trechos spearman of Aitolia, and Oinomaos and +Helenos son of Oinops and Oresbios with gleaming taslets, who dwelt in +Hyle and had great care of his substance, lying beside the Kephisian +mere; and near him dwelt all the Boiotians, inhabiters of a full rich +domain. + +Now when the white-armed goddess Hera marked them making havoc of the +Argives in the press of battle, anon she spake winged words to Athene: +“Out on it, thou daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, unwearied maiden! Was +it for naught we pledged our word to Menelaos, that he should not +depart till he had laid waste well-walled Ilios,—if thus we let baleful +Ares rage? Go to now, let us twain also take thought of impetuous +valour.” + +So said she, and the bright-eyed goddess Athene disregarded not. So +Hera the goddess queen, daughter of Kronos, went her way to harness the +gold-frontleted steeds; and Hebe quickly put to the car the curved +wheels of bronze, eight-spoked, upon their axle-tree of iron. Golden is +their felloe, imperishable, and tires of bronze are fitted thereover, a +marvel to look upon; and the naves are of silver, to turn about on +either side. And the car is plaited tight with gold and silver thongs, +and two rails run round about it. And the silver pole stood out +therefrom; upon the end bound she the fair golden yoke, and set thereon +the fair breaststraps of gold, and Hera led beneath the yoke the horses +fleet of foot, and hungered for strife and the battle-cry. And Athene, +daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, cast down at her father’s threshold her +woven vesture many-coloured, that herself had wrought and her hands had +fashioned, and put on her the tunic of Zeus the cloud-gatherer, and +arrayed her in her armour for dolorous battle. About her shoulders cast +she the tasselled aegis terrible, whereon is Panic as a crown all round +about, and Strife is therein and Valour and horrible Onslaught withal, +and therein is the dreadful monster’s Gorgon head, dreadful and grim, +portent of aegis-bearing Zeus. Upon her head set she the two-crested +golden helm with fourfold plate, bedecked with men-at-arms of a hundred +cities. Upon the flaming chariot set she her foot, and grasped her +heavy spear, great and stout, wherewith she vanquisheth the ranks of +men, even of heroes with whom she of the awful sire is wroth. Then Hera +swiftly smote the horses with the lash; self-moving groaned upon their +hinges the gates of heaven whereof the Hours are warders, to whom is +committed great heaven and Olympus, whether to throw open the thick +cloud or set it to. There through the gates guided they their horses +patient of the lash. And they found the son of Kronos sitting apart +from all the gods on the topmost peak of many-ridged Olympus. Then the +white-armed goddess Hera stayed her horses and questioned the most high +Zeus, the son of Kronos, and said: “Father Zeus, hast thou no +indignation with Ares for these violent deeds? How great and goodly a +company of Achaians hath he destroyed recklessly and in unruly wise, +unto my sorrow. But here in peace Kypris and Apollo of the silver bow +take their pleasure, having set on this mad one that knoweth not any +law. Father Zeus, wilt thou at all be wroth with me if I smite Ares and +chase him from the battle in sorry plight?” + +And Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered and said to her: “Go to now, set +upon him Athene driver of the spoil, who most is wont to bring sore +pain upon him.” + +So spake he, and the white-armed goddess Hera disregarded not, and +lashed her horses; they nothing loth flew on between earth and starry +heaven. As far as a man seeth with his eyes into the haze of distance +as he sitteth on a place of outlook and gazeth over the wine-dark sea, +so far leap the loudly neighing horses of the gods. Now when they came +to Troy and the two flowing rivers, even to where Simoeis and +Skamandros join their streams, there the white-armed goddess Hera +stayed her horses and loosed them from the car and poured thick mist +round about them, and Simoeis made ambrosia spring up for them to +graze. So the goddesses went their way with step like unto +turtle-doves, being fain to bring succour to the men of Argos. And when +they were now come where the most and most valiant stood, thronging +about mighty Diomedes tamer of horses, in the semblance of ravening +lions or wild boars whose strength is nowise feeble, then stood the +white-armed goddess Hera and shouted in the likeness of great-hearted +Stentor with voice of bronze, whose cry was loud as the cry of fifty +other men: “Fie upon you, Argives, base things of shame, so brave in +semblance! While yet noble Achilles entered continually into battle, +then issued not the Trojans even from the Dardanian gate; for they had +dread of his terrible spear. But now fight they far from the city at +the hollow ships.” + +So saying she aroused the spirit and soul of every man. And to +Tydeides’ side sprang the bright-eyed goddess Athene. That lord she +found beside his horses and chariot, cooling the wound that Pandaros +with his dart had pierced, for his sweat vexed it by reason of the +broad baldrick of his round shield; therewith was he vexed and his arm +grew weary, so he was lifting up the baldrick and wiping away the dusky +blood. Then the goddess laid her hand on his horses’ yoke, and said: +“Of a truth Tydeus begat a son little after his own likeness. Tydeus +was short of stature, but a man of war; yea even when I would not have +him fight nor make display—what time he came apart from the Achaians on +an embassage to Thebes, to the midst of the multitude of the Kadmeians, +I bade him feast in their halls at peace; but he, possessing his +valiant soul as of old time, challenged the young men of the Kadmeians +and in everything vanquished them [easily; so sure a helper was I unto +him]. But for thee, beside thee stand I and guard thee and with all my +heart bid thee fight the Trojans; yet either hath weariness of much +striving entered into thy limbs, or disheartening terror hath taken +hold of thee. If that be so, no offspring art thou of Tydeus, the wise +son of Oineus.” + +And stalwart Diomedes made answer to her and said: “I know thee, +goddess daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus: therefore with my whole heart +will I tell thee my thought and hide it not. Neither hath disheartening +terror taken hold upon me, nor any faintness, but I am still mindful of +thy behest that thou didst lay upon me. Thou forbadest me to fight face +to face with all the blessed gods, save only if Zeus’ daughter +Aphrodite should enter into battle, then to wound her with the keen +bronze. Therefore do I now give ground myself and have bidden all the +Argives likewise to gather here together; for I discern Ares lording it +in the fray.” + +Then the bright-eyed goddess Athene answered him: “Diomedes son of +Tydeus, thou joy of mine heart, fear thou, for that, neither Ares nor +any other of the immortals; so great a helper am I to thee. Go to now, +at Ares first guide thou thy whole-hooved horses, and smite him hand to +hand, nor have any awe of impetuous Ares, raving here, a curse +incarnate, the renegade that of late in converse with me and Hera +pledged him to fight against the Trojans and give succour to the +Argives, but now consorteth with the Trojans and hath forgotten these.” + +So speaking, with her hand she drew back Sthenelos and thrust him from +the chariot to earth, and instantly leapt he down; so the goddess +mounted the car by noble Diomedes’ side right eagerly. The oaken axle +creaked loud with its burden, bearing the dread goddess and the man of +might. Then Pallas Athene grasped the whip and reins; forthwith against +Ares first guided she the whole-hooved horses. Now he was stripping +huge Periphas, most valiant far of the Aitolians, Ochesios’ glorious +son. Him was blood-stained Ares stripping; and Athene donned the helm +of Hades, that terrible Ares might not behold her. Now when Ares +scourge of mortals beheld noble Diomedes, he left huge Periphas lying +there, where at the first he had slain him and taken away his life, and +made straight at Diomedes tamer of horses. Now when they were come nigh +in onset on one another, first Ares thrust over the yoke and horse’s +reins with spear of bronze, eager to take away his life. But the +bright-eyed goddess Athene with her hand seized the spear and thrust it +up over* the car, to spend itself in vain. Next Diomedes of the loud +war-cry attacked with spear of bronze; and Pallas Athene drave it home +against Ares’ nethermost belly, where his taslets were girt about him. +There smote he him and wounded him, rending through his fair skin, and +plucked forth the spear again. Then brazen Ares bellowed loud as nine +thousand warriors or ten thousand cry in battle as they join in strife +and fray. Thereat trembling gat hold of Achaians and Trojans for fear, +so mightily bellowed Ares insatiate of battle. + +Reading ὑπέρ with the best MS. for ὐπ’ ἐκ. + + +Even as gloomy mist appeareth from the clouds when after heat a stormy +wind ariseth, even so to Tydeus’ son Diomedes brazen Ares appeared amid +clouds, faring to wide heaven. Swiftly came he to the gods’ dwelling, +steep Olympus, and sat beside Zeus son of Kronos with grief at heart, +and shewed the immortal blood flowing from the wound, and piteously +spake to him winged words: “Father Zeus, hast thou no indignation to +behold these violent deeds? For ever cruelly suffer we gods by one +another’s devices, in shewing men grace. With thee are we all at +variance, because thou didst beget that reckless maiden and baleful, +whose thought is ever of iniquitous deeds. For all the other gods that +are in Olympus hearken to thee, and we are subject every one; only her +thou chastenest not, neither in deed nor word, but settest her on, +because this pestilent one is thine own offspring. Now hath she urged +on Tydeus’ son, even overweening Diomedes, to rage furiously against +the immortal gods. Kypris first he wounded in close fight, in the wrist +of her hand, and then assailed he me, even me, with the might of a god. +Howbeit my swift feet bare me away; else had I long endured anguish +there amid the grisly heaps of dead, or else had lived strengthless +from the smitings of the spear.” + +Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer looked sternly at him and said: “Nay, thou +renegade, sit not by me and whine. Most hateful to me art thou of all +gods that dwell in Olympus: thou ever lovest strife and wars and +battles. Truly thy mother’s spirit is intolerable, unyielding, even +Hera’s; her can I scarce rule with words. Therefore I deem that by her +prompting thou art in this plight. Yet will I no longer endure to see +thee in anguish; mine offspring art thou, and to me thy mother bare +thee. But wert thou born of any other god unto this violence, long ere +this hadst thou been lower than the sons of Heaven.”* + +* The Titans, imprisoned in Tartaros. Others explain “lower than the +heavenly gods.” Zenodotos read ἐνέρτατος, “lowest of the sons of +heaven.” + + +So spake he and bade Paieon heal him. And Paieon laid assuaging drugs +upon the wound [and healed him; seeing he was verily of no mortal +substance]. Even as fig juice maketh haste to thicken white milk, that +is liquid but curdleth speedily as a man stirreth, even so swiftly +healed he impetuous Ares. And Hebe bathed him, and clothed him in +gracious raiment, and he sate him down by Zeus son of Kronos, glorying +in his might. + +Then fared the twain back to the mansion of great Zeus, even Hera of +Argos and Alalkomenean Athene, having stayed Ares scourge of mortals +from his man-slaying. + + + + +BOOK VI. + + +How Diomedes and Glaukos, being about to fight, were known to each +other, and parted in friendliness. And how Hector returning to the city +bade farewell to Andromache his wife. + + +So was the dread fray of Trojans and Achaians left to itself, and the +battle swayed oft this way and that across the plain, as they aimed +against each other their bronze-shod javelins, between Simoeis and the +streams of Xanthos. + +First Aias son of Telamon, bulwark of the Achaians, brake a battalion +of the Trojans and brought his comrades salvation, smiting a warrior +that was chiefest among the Thracians, Eussoros’ son Akamas the goodly +and great. Him first he smote upon his thick-crested helmet-ridge and +drave into his forehead, so that the point of bronze pierced into the +bone; and darkness shrouded his eyes. + +Then Diomedes of the loud wrar-cry slew Axylos Teuthranos’ son that +dwelt in stablished Arisbe, a man of substance dear to his fellows; for +his dwelling was by the roadside and he entertained all men. Howbeit of +all these was there then not one to meet the foe before his face and +save him from fell destruction; but Diomedes took the life of both of +them, even of him and Kalesios his squire that now was the driver of +his chariot; so passed both below the earth. + +And Euryalos slew Dresos and Opheltios, and followed after Aisepos and +Pedasos whom erst the fountain-nymph Abarbarea bare to noble Boukolion. +Now Boukolion was son of proud Laomedon, his eldest born, begotten of a +mother unwedded; and as he tended his flocks he had converse with the +nymph in love, and she conceived and bare twin sons. And lo, the +strength of these and their glorious limbs Mekisteus’ son unstrung, and +stripped the armour from their shoulders. And stubborn Polypoites slew +Astyalos, and Odysseus with spear of bronze laid low Pidytes of +Perkote, and so did Teukros to goodly Aretaon. Then was Ableros killed +by the glistening spear of Antilochos, Nestor’s son, and Elatos by +Agamemnon king of men; beside the banks of fair-flowing Satnioeis dwelt +he in steep Pedasos. And Leïtos the warrior caught Phylakos, as he +fled; and Eurypylos slew Melanthios. + +Now did Menelaos of the loud war-cry take Adrestos alive; for his +horses took flight across the plain, and stumbling in a tamarisk bough +brake the curved car at the pole’s foot; so they themselves fared +towards the city where the rest were fleeing in rout, and their lord +rolled from out the car beside the wheel, prone in the dust upon his +face. Then came Atreus’ son Menelaos to his side bearing his far- +shadowing spear. Thereat Adrestos caught him by his knees and besought +him: “Take me captive, thou son of Atreus, and accept a worthy ransom; +many a treasure is stored up in my father’s rich palace, bronze and +gold and smithied iron; thereof would my father yield thee ransom +beyond the telling, if he but heard that I am alive at the ships of the +Achaians.” + +So spake he, and moved the spirit in his breast. And now had he +forthwith given him to his squire to lead him to the Achaians’ fleet +ships, but that Agamemnon came running to meet him, and spake a word of +chiding to him: “Good Menelaos, why art thou so careful of the foemen? +Have then such good deeds been wrought thee in thy house by Trojans? Of +them let not one escape sheer destruction at our hands, not even the +man-child that the mother beareth in her womb; let not even him escape, +but all perish together out of Ilios, uncared for and unknown.” + +So spake the hero and turned his brother’s mind with righteous +persuasion; so with his hand he thrust the hero Adrestos from him, and +lord Agamemnon smote him in the flank, and he was overthrown, and +Atreus’ son set his heel upon his chest and plucked forth his ashen +spear. + +Then Nestor called to the Argives with far-reaching shout: “My friends, +Danaan warriors, men of Ares’ company, let no man now take thought of +spoils to tarry behind, that he may bring the greatest burden to the +ships; but let us slay the foemen. Thereafter shall ye at your ease +also strip of their spoil the dead corpses about the plain.” + +So spake he and stirred the spirit and soul of every man. Now had the +Trojans been chased again by the Achaians, dear to Ares, up into Ilios, +in their weakness overcome, but that Priam’s son Helenos, far best of +augurs, stood by Aineias’ side and Hector’s, and spake to them: +“Aineias and Hector, seeing that on you lieth the task of war in chief +of Trojans and Lykians, because for every issue ye are foremost both +for fight and counsel, stand ye your ground, and range the host +everywhither to rally them before the gates, ere yet they fall fleeing +in their women’s arms, and be made a rejoicing to the foe. Then when ye +have aroused all our battalions we will abide here and fight the +Danaans, though in sore weariness; for necessity presseth us hard: but +thou, Hector, go into the city, and speak there to thy mother and mine; +let her gather the aged wives to bright-eyed Athene’s temple in the +upper city, and with her key open the doors of the holy house; and let +her lay the robe, that seemeth to her the most gracious and greatest in +her hall and far dearest unto herself, upon the knees of +beauteous-haired Athene; and vow to her to sacrifice in her temple +twelve sleek kine, that have not felt the goad, if she will have mercy +on the city and the Trojans’ wives and little children. So may she +perchance hold back Tydeus’ son from holy Ilios, the furious spearman, +the mighty deviser of rout, whom in good sooth I deem to have proved +himself mightiest of the Achaians. Never in this wise feared we +Achilles, prince of men, who they say is born of a goddess; nay, but he +that we see is beyond measure furious; none can match him for might.” + +So spake he, and Hector disregarded not his brother’s word, but leapt +forthwith from his chariot in his armour to earth, and brandishing two +sharp spears passed everywhere through the host, rousing them to +battle, and stirred the dread war-cry. So they were rallied and stood +to face the Achaians, and the Argives gave ground and ceased from +slaughter, and deemed that some immortal had descended from starry +heaven to bring the Trojans succour, in such wise rallied they. Then +Hector called to the Trojans with far-reaching shout: “O high-souled +Trojans and ye far-famed allies, quit you like men, my friends, and +take thought of impetuous courage, while I depart to Ilios and bid the +elders of the council and our wives pray to the gods and vow them +hecatombs.” + +So saying Hector of the glancing helm departed, and the black hide beat +on either side against his ankles and his neck, even the rim that ran +uttermost about his bossed shield. + +Now Glaukos son of Hippolochos and Tydeus’ son met in the mid-space of +the foes, eager to do battle. Thus when the twain were come nigh in +onset on each other, to him first spake Diomedes of the loud war-cry: +“Who art thou, noble sir, of mortal men? For never have I beheld thee +in glorious battle ere this, yet now hast thou far outstripped all men +in thy hardihood, seeing thou abidest my far-shadowing spear. Luckless +are the fathers whose children face my might. But if thou art some +immortal come down from heaven, then will not I fight with heavenly +gods. Nay moreover even Dryas’ son mighty Lykurgos was not for long +when he strove with heavenly gods, he that erst chased through the +goodly land of Nysa the nursing-mothers of frenzied Dionysos; and they +all cast their wands upon the ground, smitten with murderous Lykurgos’ +ox-goad. Then Dionysos fled and plunged beneath the salt sea-wave, and +Thetis took him to her bosom, affrighted, for a mighty trembling had +seized him at his foe’s rebuke. But with Lykurgos the gods that live at +ease were wroth, and Kronos’ son made him blind, and he was not for +long, because he was hated of all the immortal gods. So would neither I +be fain to fight the blessed gods. But if thou art of men that eat the +fruit of the field, come nigh, that anon thou mayest enter the toils of +destruction.” + +Then Hippolochos’ glorious son made answer to him: “Great-hearted +Tydeides, why enquirest thou of my generation? Even as are the +generations of leaves such are those likewise of men; the leaves that +be the wind scattereth on the earth, and the forest buddeth and putteth +forth more again, when the season of spring is at hand; so of the +generations of men one putteth forth and another ceaseth. Yet if thou +wilt, have thine answer, that thou mayest well know our lineage, +whereof many men have knowledge. There is a city Ephyre in the heart of +Argos, pasture land of horses, and there dwelt Sisyphos that was +craftiest of men, Sisyphos son of Aiolos; and he begat a son, even +Glaukos, and Glaukos begat noble Bellerophon. To him the gods granted +beauty and lovely manhood; but Proitos in his heart devised ill for +him, and being mightier far drave him from the land of the Argives, +whom Zeus had made subject to his sceptre.* Now Proitos’ wife, goodly +Anteia, lusted after him, to have converse in secret love, but no whit +prevailed she, for the uprightness of his heart, on wise Bellerophon. +Then spake she lyingly to king Proitos: “Die, Proitos, or else slay +Bellerophon, that would have converse in love with me against my will.” +So spake she, and anger gat hold upon the king at that he heard. To +slay him he forbare, for his soul had shame of that; but he sent him to +Lykia, and gave him tokens of woe, graving in a folded tablet many +deadly things, and bade him shew these to Anteia’s father, that he +might be slain. So fared he to Lykia by the blameless convoy of the +gods. Now when he came to Lykia and the stream of Xanthos, then did the +king of wide Lykia honour him with all his heart; nine days he +entertained him and killed nine oxen. And when on the tenth day +rosy-fingered dawn appeared, then he questioned him and asked to see +what token he bare from his son-in-law, even Proitos. Now when he had +received of him Proitos’ evil token, first he bade him slay Chimaira +the unconquerable. Of divine birth was she and not of men, in front a +lion, and behind a serpent, and in the midst a goat; and she breathed +dread fierceness of blazing fire. And her he slew, obedient to the +signs of heaven. Next fought he with the famed Solymi; this, said he, +was the mightiest battle of warriors wherein he entered. And thirdly he +slew the Amazons, women peers of men. And as he turned back therefrom, +the king devised another cunning wile; he picked from wide Lykia the +bravest men, and set an ambush. But these returned nowise home again; +for noble Bellerophon slew them all. So when the king now knew that he +was the brave offspring of a god, he kept him there, and plighted him +his daughter, and gave him the half of all the honour of his kingdom; +moreover the Lykians meted him a domain preeminent above all, fair with +vineyards and tilth to possess it.** And his wife bare wise Bellerophon +three children, Isandros and Hippolochos and Laodameia. With Laodameia +lay Zeus the lord of counsel, and she bare godlike Sarpedon, the +warrior with arms of bronze. But when even Bellerophon came to be hated +of all the gods, then wandered he alone in the Aleian plain, devouring +his own soul, and avoiding the paths of men; and Isandros his son was +slain by Ares insatiate of battle, as he fought against the famed +Solymi, and his daughter was slain in wrath of gold-gleaming*** +Artemis. But Hippolochos begat me, and of him do I declare me to be +sprung; he sent me to Troy and bade me very instantly to be ever the +best and to excel all other men, nor put to shame the lineage of my +fathers that were of noblest blood in Ephyre and in wide Lykia. This is +the lineage and blood whereof I avow myself to be.” + +* Or, “for Zeus had brought him [Bellerophon] under his sceptre’s +sway.” + + +** Or, if we read πυροφόροιο, “tilth of wheat-land.” + + +*** Or, “Artemis of the golden reins.” + + +So said he, and Diomedes of the loud war-cry was glad. He planted his +spear in the bounteous earth and with soft words spake to the shepherd +of the host: “Surely then thou art to me a guest-friend of old times +through my father: for goodly Oineus of yore entertained noble +Bellerophon in his halls and kept him twenty days. Moreover they gave +each the other goodly gifts of friendship; Oineus gave a belt bright +with purple, and Bellerophon a gold twy-handled cup, the which when I +came I left in my palace. But of Tydeus I remember naught, seeing I was +yet little when he left me, what time the Achaian host perished at +Thebes. Therefore now am I to thee a dear guest-friend in midmost +Argos, and thou in Lykia, whene’er I fare to your land. So let us shun +each other’s spears, even amid the throng; Trojans are there in +multitudes and famous allies for me to slay, whoe’er it be that God +vouchsafeth me and my feet overtake; and for thee are there Achaians in +multitude, to slay whome’er thou canst. But let us make exchange of +arms between us, that these also may know how we avow ourselves to be +guest-friends by lineage.” + +So spake the twain, and leaping from their cars clasped each the other +by his hand, and pledged their faith. But now Zeus son of Kronos took +from Glaukos his wits, in that he made exchange with Diomedes Tydeus’ +son of golden armour for bronze, the price of five score oxen for the +price of nine. + +Now when Hector came to the Skaian gates and to the oak-tree, there +came running round about him the Trojans’ wives and daughters, +enquiring of sons and brethren and friends and husbands. But he bade +them thereat all in turn pray to the gods; but sorrow hung over many. + +But when he came to Priam’s beautiful palace, adorned with polished +colonnades—and in it were fifty chambers of polished stone, builded +hard by one another, wherein Priam’s sons slept beside their wedded +wives; and for his daughters over against them on the other side within +the courtyard were twelve roofed chambers of polished stone builded +hard by one another, wherein slept Priam’s sons-in-law beside their +chaste wives—then came there to meet him his bountiful mother, leading +with her Laodike, fairest of her daughters to look on; and she clasped +her hand in his, and spake, and called upon his name: “My son, why hast +thou left violent battle to come hither? Surely the sons of the +Achaians—name of evil!—press thee hard in fight about thy city, and so +thy spirit hath brought thee hither, to come and stretch forth thy +hands to Zeus from the citadel. But tarry till I bring thee honey-sweet +wine, that thou mayest pour libation to Zeus and all the immortals +first, and then shalt thou thyself also be refreshed if thou wilt +drink. When a man is awearied wine greatly maketh his strength to wax, +even as thou art awearied in fighting for thy fellows.” + +Then great Hector of the glancing helm answered her: “Bring me no +honey-hearted wine, my lady mother, lest thou cripple me of my courage +and I be forgetful of my might.* Moreover I have awe to make libation +of gleaming wine to Zeus with hands unwashen; nor can it be in any wise +that one should pray to the son of Kronos, god of storm-cloud, all +defiled with blood and filth. But go thou to the temple of Athene, +driver of the spoil, with offerings, and gather the aged wives +together; and the robe that seemeth to thee the most gracious and +greatest in thy palace, and dearest unto thyself, that lay thou upon +the knees of beauteous-haired Athene, and vow to her to sacrifice in +her temple twelve sleek kine, that have not felt the goad, if she will +have mercy on the city and the Trojans’ wives and little children. So +may she perchance hold back Tydeus’ son from holy Ilios, the furious +spearman, the mighty deviser of rout. So go thou to the temple of +Athene, driver of the spoil; and I will go after Paris, to summon him, +if perchance he will hearken to my voice. Would that the earth +forthwith might swallow him up! The Olympian fostered him to be a sore +bane to the Trojans and to great-hearted Priam, and to Priam’s sons. If +I but saw him going down to the gates of death, then might I deem that +my heart had forgotten its sorrow.”** + +* Omitting δ’ after μένεος, with the best MSS. and probably +Aristarchos. So also Plato, Crat. 415 A. + + +** Reading with Zenodotos φίλον for φρέν’ ἀτέρπου. + + +So said he, and she went unto the hall, and called to her handmaidens, +and they gathered the aged wives throughout the city. Then she herself +went down to her fragrant chamber where were her embroidered robes, the +work of Sidonian women, whom godlike Alexandros himself brought from +Sidon, when he sailed over the wide sea, that journey wherein he +brought home high-born Helen. Of these Hekabe took one to bear for an +offering to Athene, the one that was fairest for adornment and +greatest, and shone like a star, and lay nethermost of all. Then went +she her way and the multitude of aged wives hasted after her. + +Now when they came to the temple of Athene in the citadel, fair-cheeked +Theano opened them the doors, even Kisseus’ daughter, wife of +horse-taming Antenor; for her the Trojans had made priestess of Athene. +Then lifted they all their hands to Athene with lamentation: and +fair-cheeked Theano took the robe and laid it on the knees of +beauteous-haired Athene, and lifted up her voice and prayed to the +daughter of great Zeus: “Lady Athene, saviour of the city, fair among +goddesses, break now Diomedes’ spear, and grant moreover that himself +may fall prone before the Skaian gates; that we may sacrifice thee now +forthwith in thy temple twelve sleek kine, that have not felt the goad, +if thou wilt have mercy on the city and the Trojans’ wives and little +children.” So spake she praying, but Pallas Athene denied the prayer. + +So were these praying to the daughter of great Zeus; and Hector was +come to Alexandros’ fair palace, that himself had builded with them +that were most excellent carpenters then in deep-soiled Troy-land; +these made him his chamber and hall and courtyard hard by to Priam and +Hector, in the upper city. There entered in Hector dear to Zeus, and +his hand bare his spear, eleven cubits long: before his face glittered +the bronze spear-point, and a ring of gold ran round about it. And he +found Paris in his chamber busied with his beauteous arms, his shield +and breastplate, and handling his curved bow; and Helen of Argos sate +among her serving-women and appointed brave handiwork for her +handmaidens. Then when Hector saw him he rebuked him with scornful +words: “Good sir, thou dost not well to cherish this rancour in thy +heart. The folk are perishing about the city and high wall in battle, +and for thy sake the battle-cry is kindled and war around this city; +yea thyself wouldest thou fall out with another, didst thou see him +shrinking from hateful war. Up then, lest the city soon be scorched +with burning fire.” + +And godlike Alexandros answered him: “Hector, since in measure thou +chidest me and not beyond measure, therefore will I tell thee; lay thou +it to thine heart and hearken to me. Not by reason so much of the +Trojans, for wrath and indignation, sate I me in my chamber, but fain +would I yield me to my sorrow. Even now my wife hath persuaded me with +soft words, and urged me into battle; and I moreover, even I, deem that +it will be better so; for victory shifteth from man to man. Go to then, +tarry awhile, let me put on my armour of war; or else fare thou forth, +and I will follow; and I think to overtake thee.” + +So said he, but Hector of the glancing helm answered him not a word. +But Helen spake to him with gentle words: “My brother, even mine that +am a dog, mischievous and abominable, would that on the day when my +mother bare me at the first, an evil storm-wind had caught me away to a +mountain or a billow of the loud-sounding sea, where the billow might +have swept me away before all these things came to pass. Howbeit, +seeing the gods devised all these ills in this wise, would that then I +had been mated with a better man, that felt dishonour and the multitude +of men’s reproachings. But as for him, neither hath he now sound heart, +nor ever will have; thereof deem I moreover that he will reap the +fruit. But now come, enter in and sit thee here upon this bench, my +brother, since thy heart chiefly trouble hath encompassed, for the sake +of me, that am a dog, and for Alexandros’ sin; on whom Zeus bringeth +evil doom, that even in days to come we may be a song in the ears of +men that shall be hereafter.” + +Then great Hector of the glancing helm answered her: “Bid me not sit, +Helen, of thy love; thou wilt not persuade me. Already my heart is set +to succour the men of Troy, that have great desire for me that am not +with them. But rouse thou this fellow, yea let himself make speed, to +overtake me yet within the city. For I shall go into mine house to +behold my housefolk and my dear wife, and infant boy; for I know not if +I shall return home to them again, or if the gods will now overthrow me +at the hands of the Achaians.” + +So spake Hector of the glancing helm and departed; and anon he came to +his well stablished house. But he found not white-armed Andromache in +the halls; she with her boy and fair-robed handmaiden had taken her +stand upon the tower, weeping and wailing. And when Hector found not +his noble wife within, he came and stood upon the threshold and spake +amid the serving women: “Come tell me now true, my serving women. +Whither went white-armed Andromache forth from the hall? Hath she gone +out to my sisters or unto my brothers’ fair-robed wives, or to Athene’s +temple, where all the fair-tressed Trojan women propitiate the awful +goddess?” + +Then a busy housedame spake in answer to him: “Hector, seeing thou +straitly chargest us tell thee true, neither hath she gone out to any +of thy sisters or thy brothers’ fair-robed wives, neither to Athene’s +temple, where all the fair-tressed Trojan women are propitiating the +awful goddess; but she went to the great tower of Ilios, because she +heard the Trojans were hard pressed, and great victory was for the +Achaians. So hath she come in haste to the wall, like unto one +frenzied; and the nurse with her beareth the child.” + +So spake the housedame, and Hector hastened from his house back by the +same way down the well-builded streets. When he had passed through the +great city and was come to the Skaian gates, whereby he was minded to +issue upon the plain, then came his dear-won* wife, running to meet +him, even Andromache daughter of great-hearted Eëtion, Eëtion that +dwelt beneath wooded Plakos, in Thebe under Plakos, and was king of the +men of Kilikia; for his daughter was wife to bronze-harnessed Hector. +So she met him now, and with her went the handmaid bearing in her bosom +the tender boy, the little child, Hector’s loved son, like unto a +beautiful star. Him Hector called Skamandrios, but all the folk +Astyanax; for only Hector guarded Ilios.** So now he smiled and gazed +at his boy silently, and Andromache stood by his side weeping, and +clasped her hand in his, and spake and called upon his name. “Dear my +lord, this thy hardihood will undo thee, neither hast thou any pity for +thine infant boy, nor for me forlorn that soon shall be thy widow; for +soon will the Achaians all set upon thee and slay thee. But it were +better for me to go down to the grave if I lose thee; for never more +will any comfort be mine, when once thou, even thou, hast met thy fate, +but only sorrow. Moreover I have no father nor lady mother: my father +was slain of goodly Achilles, for he wasted the populous city of the +Kilikians, even high-gated Thebe, and slew Eëtion; yet he despoiled him +not, for his soul had shame of that, but he burnt him in his inlaid +armour and raised a barrow over him; and all about were elm-trees +planted by the mountain nymphs, daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus. And +the seven brothers that were mine within our halls, all these on the +selfsame day went within the house of Hades; for fleet-footed goodly +Achilles slew them all amid their kine of trailing gait and +white-fleeced sheep. And my mother, that was queen beneath wooded +Plakos, her brought he hither with the other spoils, but afterward took +a ransom untold to set her free; but in her father’s halls was she +smitten by the Archer Artemis. Nay, Hector, thou art to me father and +lady mother, yea and brother, even as thou art my goodly husband. Come +now, have pity and abide here upon the tower, lest thou make thy child +an orphan and thy wife a widow. And stay thy folk beside the fig-tree, +where best the city may be scaled and the wall is assailable. Thrice +came thither the most valiant that are with the two Aiantes and famed +Idomeneus and the sons of Atreus and Tydeus’ valiant son, and essayed +to enter; whether one skilled in soothsaying revealed it to them, or +whether their own spirit urgeth and biddeth them on.” + +* Or, “bounteous.” + + +** Astyanax = “City King.” + + +Then great Hector of the glancing helm answered her: “Surely I take +thought for all these things, my wife; but I have very sore shame of +the Trojans and Trojan dames with trailing robes, if like a coward I +shrink away from battle. Moreover mine own soul forbiddeth me, seeing I +have learnt ever to be valiant and fight in the forefront of the +Trojans, winning my father’s great glory and mine own. Yea of a surety +I know this in heart and soul; the day shall come for holy Ilios to be +laid low, and Priam and the folk of Priam of the good ashen spear. Yet +doth the anguish of the Trojans hereafter not so much trouble me, +neither Hekabe’s own, neither king Priam’s, neither my brethren’s, the +many and brave that shall fall in the dust before their foemen, as doth +thine anguish in the day when some mail-clad Achaian shall lead thee +weeping and rob thee of the light of freedom. So shalt thou abide in +Argos and ply the loom at another woman’s bidding, and bear water from +fount Messeis or Hypereia, being grievously entreated, and sore +constraint shall be laid upon thee. And then shall one say that +beholdeth thee weep: ‘This is the wife of Hector, that was foremost in +battle of the horse-taming Trojans when men fought about Ilios.’ Thus +shall one say hereafter, and fresh grief will be thine for lack of such +an husband as thou hadst to ward off the day of thraldom. But me in +death may the heaped-up earth be covering, ere I hear thy crying and +thy carrying into captivity.” + +So spake glorious Hector, and stretched out his arm to his boy. But the +child shrunk crying to the bosom of his fair-girdled nurse, dismayed at +his dear father’s aspect, and in dread at the bronze and horse-hair +crest that he beheld nodding fiercely from the helmet’s top. Then his +dear father laughed aloud, and his lady mother; forthwith glorious +Hector took the helmet from his head, and laid it, all gleaming, upon +the earth; then kissed he his dear son and dandled him in his arms, and +spake in prayer to Zeus and all the gods, “O Zeus and all ye gods, +vouchsafe ye that this my son may likewise prove even as I, pre-eminent +amid the Trojans, and as valiant in might, and be a great king of +Ilios. Then may men say of him, ‘Far greater is he than his father’ as +he returneth home from battle; and may he bring with him blood-stained +spoils from the foeman he hath slain, and may his mother’s heart be +glad.” + +So spake he, and laid his son in his dear wife’s arms; and she took him +to her fragrant bosom, smiling tearfully. And her husband had pity to +see her, and caressed her with his hand, and spake and called upon her +name: “Dear one, I pray thee be not of oversorrowful heart; no man +against my fate shall hurl me to Hades; only destiny, I ween, no man +hath escaped, be he coward or be he valiant, when once he hath been +born. But go thou to thine house and see to thine own tasks, the loom +and distaff, and bid thine handmaidens ply their work; but for war +shall men provide, and I in chief of all men that dwell in Ilios.” + +So spake glorious Hector, and took up his horse-hair crested helmet; +and his dear wife departed to her home, oft looking back, and letting +fall big tears. Anon she came to the well-stablished house of +man-slaying Hector, and found therein her many handmaidens, and stirred +lamentation in them all. So bewailed they Hector, while yet he lived, +within his house: for they deemed that he would no more come back to +them from battle, nor escape the fury of the hands of the Achaians. + +Neither lingered Paris long in his lofty house, but clothed on him his +brave armour, bedight with bronze, and hasted through the city, +trusting to his nimble feet. Even as when a stalled horse, full-fed at +the manger, breaketh his tether and speedeth at the gallop across the +plain, being wont to bathe him in the fair-flowing stream, exultingly; +and holdeth his head on high, and his mane floateth about his +shoulders, and he trusteth in his glory, and nimbly his limbs bear him +to the haunts and pasturages of mares; even so Priam’s son Paris, +glittering in his armour like the shining sun, strode down from high +Pergamos laughingly, and his swift feet bare him. Forthwith he overtook +his brother noble Hector, even as he was on the point to turn him away +from the spot where he had dallied with his wife. To him first spake +godlike Alexandros: “Sir, in good sooth I have delayed thee in thine +haste by my tarrying, and came not rightly as thou badest me.” + +And Hector of the glancing helm answered him and said: “Good brother, +no man that is rightminded could make light of thy doings in fight, +seeing thou art strong: but thou art wilfully remiss and hast no care; +and for this my heart is grieved within me, that I hear shameful words +concerning thee in the Trojans’ mouths, who for thy sake endure much +toil. But let us be going; all this will we make good hereafter, if +Zeus ever vouchsafe us to set before the heavenly gods that are for +everlasting the cup of deliverance in our halls, when we have chased +out of Troy-land the well-greaved Achaians.” + + + + +BOOK VII. + + +Of the single combat between Aias and Hector, and of the burying of the +dead, and the building of a wall about the Achaian ships. + + +So spake glorious Hector and issued from the gates, and with him went +his brother Alexandros; and both were eager of soul for fight and +battle. Even as God giveth to longing seamen fair wind when they have +grown weary of beating the main with polished oars, and their limbs are +fordone with toil, even so appeared these to the longing Trojans. + +Then the one of them slew king Areïthoös’ son, Menesthios dwelling in +Arne, whom Areïthoös the Mace-man and ox-eyed Phylomedusa begat; and +the other, even Hector, with his sharp spear smote Eïoneus’ neck +beneath his bronze helmet-rim, and unstrung his limbs. And Glaukos son +of Hippolochos, captain of the men of Lykia, cast his spear at Iphinoos +through the press of battle, even at the son of Dexios, as he sprang up +behind his fleet mares, and smote his shoulder; so fell he from his +chariot to earth and his limbs were unstrung. + +Now when the goddess bright-eyed Athene marked them making havoc of the +Argives in the press of battle, she darted down from the crests of +Olympus to holy Ilios. But Apollo rose to meet her, for he beheld her +from Pergamos, and would have victory for the Trojans. So the twain met +each the other by the oak-tree. To her spake first king Apollo son of +Zeus: “Why now art thou come thus eagerly from Olympus, thou daughter +of great Zeus, and why hath thy high heart sent thee? Surely it is to +give the Danaans unequal victory in battle! seeing thou hast no mercy +on the Trojans, that perish. But if thou wouldest hearken to me—and it +were far better so—let us now stay battle and warring for the day; +hereafter shall they fight again, till they reach the goal of Ilios, +since thus it seemeth good to your hearts, goddesses immortal, to lay +waste this city.” + +And the goddess bright-eyed Athene made answer to him: “So be it, +Far-darter; in this mind I likewise came from Olympus to the midst of +Trojans and Achaians. But come, how thinkest thou to stay the battle of +the warriors?” + +And king Apollo, son of Zeus, made answer to her: “Let us arouse the +stalwart spirit of horse-taming Hector, if so be he will challenge some +one of the Danaans in single fight man to man to meet him in deadly +combat. So shall the bronze-greaved Achaians be jealous and stir up one +to fight singly with goodly Hector.” + +So spake he and the bright-eyed goddess Athene disregarded not. Now +Helenos Priam’s dear son understood in spirit their resolve that the +gods in counsel had approved; and he went to Hector and stood beside +him, and spake a word to him: “Hector son of Priam, peer of Zeus in +counsel, wouldest thou now hearken at all to me? for I am thy brother. +Make the other Trojans sit, and all the Achaians, and thyself challenge +him that is best of the Achaians to meet thee man to man in deadly +combat. It is not yet thy destiny to die and meet thy doom; for thus +heard I the voice of the gods that are from everlasting.” + +So said he, and Hector rejoiced greatly to hear his saying, and went +into the midst and refrained the battalions of the Trojans with his +spear grasped by the middle; and they all sate them down: and Agamemnon +made the well-greaved Achaians sit. And Athene withal and Apollo of the +silver bow, in the likeness of vulture birds, sate them upon a tall oak +holy to aegis-bearing father Zeus, rejoicing in their warriors; and the +ranks of all of them sate close together, bristling with shields and +plumes and spears. Even as there spreadeth across the main the ripple +of the west wind newly risen, and the sea grows black beneath it, so +sate the ranks of Achaians and Trojans upon the plain. And Hector spake +between both hosts: “Hearken to me, Trojans and well-greaved Achaians, +that I may speak what my mind within my breast biddeth me. Our oaths of +truce Kronos’ son, enthroned on high, accomplished not; but evil is his +intent and ordinance for both our hosts, until either ye take +fair-towered Troy or yourselves be vanquished beside your seafaring +ships. But in the midst of you are the chiefest of all the Achaians; +therefore now let the man whose heart biddeth him fight with me come +hither from among you all to be your champion against goodly Hector. +And this declare I, and be Zeus our witness thereto; if that man slay +me with the long-edged sword, let him spoil me of my armour and bear it +to the hollow ships, but give back my body to my home, that Trojans and +Trojans’ wives may give me my due of burning in my death. But if I slay +him and Apollo vouchsafe me glory, I will spoil him of his armour and +bear it to holy Ilios and hang it upon the temple of far-darting +Apollo, but his corpse will I render back to the well-decked ships, +that the flowing-haired Achaians may entomb him, and build him a barrow +beside wide Hellespont. So shall one say even of men that be late born, +as he saileth in his benched ship over the wine-dark sea: ‘This is the +barrow of a man that died in days of old, a champion whom glorious +Hector slew.’ So shall a man say hereafter, and this my glory shall +never die.” + +So spake he and they all were silent and held their peace; to deny him +they were ashamed, and feared to meet him. But at the last stood up +Menelaos and spake amid them and chiding upbraided them, and groaned +deep at heart: “Ah me, vain threateners, ye women of Achaia and no more +men, surely all this shall be a shame, evil of evil, if no one of the +Danaans now goeth to meet Hector. Nay, turn ye all to earth and water, +sitting there each man disheartened, helplessly inglorious; against him +will I myself array me; and from on high the threads of victory are +guided of the immortal gods.” + +So spake he and donned his fair armour. And now, O Menelaos, had the +end of life appeared for thee at Hector’s hands, seeing he was stronger +far, but that the princes of the Achaians started up and caught thee. +And Atreus’ son himself, wide-ruling Agamemnon, took him by his right +hand and spake a word and called upon his name: “Thou doest madly, +Menelaos fosterling of Zeus; yet is it no time for this thy madness. +Draw back, though it be with pain, nor think for contention’s sake to +fight with one better than thou, with Hector Priam’s son, whom others +beside thee abhor. Yea, this man even Achilles dreadeth to meet in +battle, wherein is the warrior’s glory; and Achilles is better far than +thou. Go therefore now and sit amid the company of thy fellows; against +him shall the Achaians put forth another champion. Fearless though he +be and insatiate of turmoil, I ween that he shall be fain to rest his +knees, if he escape from the fury of war and terrible fray.” + +So spake the hero and persuaded his brother’s heart with just counsel; +and he obeyed. So his squires thereat with gladness took his armour +from his shoulders; and Nestor stood up and spake amid the Argives: +“Fie upon it, verily sore lamentation cometh on the land of Achaia. +Verily old Peleus driver of chariots would groan sore, that goodly +counsellor of the Myrmidons and orator, who erst questioned me in his +house, and rejoiced greatly, inquiring of the lineage and birth of all +the Argives. If he heard now of those that all were cowering before +Hector, then would he lift his hands to the immortals, instantly +praying that his soul might depart from his limbs down to the house of +Hades. Ah would to father Zeus and Athene and Apollo I were young as +when beside swift-flowing Keladon the Pylians gathered together to +battle and the Arkadians that bear the spear, beneath the walls of +Pheia, about the streams of Iardanos. Then stood up for their champion +Ereuthalion, a man the peer of gods, bearing upon his shoulders the +armour of king Areïthoös, goodly Areïthoös that by men and fair-girdled +women was surnamed the Mace-man, because he fought not with bow and +long spear, but with an iron mace clave the battalions. Him Lykurgos +slew by guile, and not by strength, in a narrow way, where his mace of +iron saved him not from destruction: ere that, Lykurgos came on him +unawares and pierced him through the midst with his dart, and he was +hurled backward upon the earth. Then Lykurgos despoiled him of his arms +that brazen Ares had given him; and these himself he bare thereafter +into the mellay of war. But when Lykurgos grew old within his halls he +gave them to Ereuthalion his dear squire to wear. So with his arms upon +him he challenged all our best; but they trembled sore and were afraid, +and no man took heart. But me my hardy spirit aroused to meet him in my +confidence;* yet was I youngest in years of all. So fought I with him +and Athene vouchsafed me glory. Tallest was he and strongest of men +that I have slain; as one of huge bulk he lay spread this way and that. +Would to God I were thus young and my strength were sound; then would +Hector of the glancing helm soon find his combat. But of those of you +that be chieftains of the host of the Achaians, yet desireth no man of +good heart to meet Hector face to face.” + +* Or, “to meet his might,” according to the usual interpretation of ᾦ. + + +So the old man upbraided them, and there stood up nine in all. Far +first arose Agamemnon king of men, and after him rose Tydeus’ son +stalwart Diomedes, and after them the Aiantes clothed with impetuous +might, and after them Idomeneus and Idomeneus’ brother-in-arms +Meriones, peer of Enyalios slayer of men, and after them Eurypylos +Euaimon’s glorious son; and up rose Thoas Andraimon’s son and goodly +Odysseus. So all these were fain to fight with goodly Hector. And among +them spake again knightly Nestor of Gerenia: “Now cast ye the lot from +the first unto the last, for him that shall be chosen; for he shall in +truth profit the well-greaved Achaians, yea and he shall have profit of +his own soul, if he escape from the fury of war and terrible fray.” + +So said he, and they marked each man his lot and cast them in the +helmet of Agamemnon Atreus’ son; and the hosts prayed and lifted up +their hands to the gods. And thus would one say, looking up to wide +heaven: “O father Zeus, vouchsafe that the lot fall upon Aias or +Tydeus’ son, or else on the king of Mykene rich in gold.” + +So spake they, and knightly Nestor of Gerenia shook the helmet, and +there leapt forth the lot that themselves desired, even the lot of +Aias. The herald bare it everywhither through the throng, shewing it +from right to left to all the princes of the Achaians; but they knew it +not, and every man denied it. But when he came, bearing it everywhither +through the throng, to him that had marked it and cast it in the helm, +even glorious Aias, then he held forth his hand, and the herald stood +by him and put it therein. And Aias saw and knew the token upon the +lot, and rejoiced in heart. He cast it by his foot upon the earth, and +spake: “My friends, verily the lot is mine, yea and myself am glad at +heart, because I deem that I shall vanquish goodly Hector. But come +now, while I clothe me in my armour of battle, pray ye the while to +Kronos’ son king Zeus, in silence to yourselves, that the Trojans hear +you not—nay rather, openly if ye will, for we have no fear of any man +soever. For none by force shall chase me, he willing me unwilling, +neither by skill; seeing I hope that not so skill-less, either, was I +born in Salamis nor nurtured.” + +So said he, and they prayed to Kronos’ son, king Zeus; and thus would +one speak, looking up to wide heaven: “O father Zeus that rulest from +Ida, most glorious, most great, vouchsafe to Aias victory and the +winning of great glory. But if thou so lovest Hector indeed, and carest +for him, grant unto either equal prowess and renown.” + +So said they, while Aias arrayed him in flashing bronze. And when he +had now clothed upon his flesh all his armour, then marched he as huge +Ares coming forth, when he goeth to battle amid heroes whom Kronos’ son +setteth to fight in fury of heart-consuming strife. So rose up huge +Aias, bulwark of the Achaians, with a smile on his grim face: and went +with long strides of his feet beneath him, shaking his far-shadowing +spear. Then moreover the Argives rejoiced to look upon him, but sore +trembling came upon the Trojans, on the limbs of every man, and +Hector’s own heart beat within his breast. But in no wise could he now +flee nor shrink back into the throng of the host, seeing he had +challenged him to battle. And Aias came near bearing his tower-like +shield of bronze, with sevenfold ox-hide, that Tychios had wrought him +cunningly; Tychios far best of curriers, that had his home in Hyle, who +made him his glancing shield, of sevenfold hides of stalwart bulls, and +overlaid the seven with bronze. This bare Telamonian Aias before his +breast, and stood near to Hector, and spake to him threatening: +“Hector, now verily shalt thou well know, man to man, what manner of +princes the Danaans likewise have among them, even after Achilles, +render of men, the lion-hearted. But he amid his beaked seafaring ships +lieth in sore wrath with Agamemnon shepherd of the host; yet are we +such as to face thee, yea and many of us. But make thou beginning of +war and battle.” + +And great Hector of the glancing helm answered him: “Aias of the seed +of Zeus, son of Telamon, chieftain of the host, tempt not thou me like +some puny boy or woman that knoweth not deeds of battle. But I well +know wars and slaughterings. To right know I, to left know I the +wielding of my tough targe; therein I deem is stalwart soldiership. And +I know how to charge into the mellay of fleet chariots, and how in +close battle to join in furious Ares’ dance. Howbeit, I have no mind to +smite thee, being such an one as thou art, by spying thee unawares; but +rather openly, if perchance I may hit thee.” + +He spake, and poised his far-shadowing spear, and hurled and smote +Aias’ dread shield of sevenfold hide upon the uttermost bronze, the +eighth layer that was thereon. Through six folds went the stubborn +bronze cleaving, but in the seventh hide it stayed. Then heaven-sprung +Aias hurled next his far-shadowing spear, and smote upon the circle of +the shield of Priam’s son. Through the bright shield passed the violent +spear, and through the curiously wrought corslet pressed it on; and +straight forth beside the flank the spear rent his doublet; but he +swerved aside and escaped black death. Then both together with their +hands plucked forth their long spears and fell to like ravening lions +or wild boars whose might is nowise feeble. Then Priam’s son smote the +shield’s midst with his dart, but the bronze brake not through, for the +point turned back; but Aias leapt on him and pierced his buckler, and +straight through went the spear and staggered him in his onset, and +cleft its way unto his neck, so that the dark blood gushed up. Yet even +then did not Hector of the glancing helm cease from fight, but yielded +ground and with stout hand seized a stone lying upon the plain, black +and rugged and great; therewith hurled he and smote Aias’ dread shield +of sevenfold ox-hide in the midst upon the boss, and the bronze +resounded. Next Aias lifted a far greater stone, and swung and hurled +it, putting might immeasurable therein. So smote he the buckler and +burst it inwards with the rock like unto a millstone, and beat down his +knees; and he was stretched upon his back, pressed into his shield; but +Apollo straightway raised him up. And now had they been smiting hand to +hand with swords, but that the heralds, messengers of gods and men, +came, one from the Trojans, one from the mail-clad Achaians, even +Talthybios and Idaios, both men discreet. Between the two held they +their staves, and herald Idaios spake a word, being skilled in wise +counsel: “Fight ye no more, dear sons, neither do battle; seeing Zeus +the cloud-gatherer loveth you both, and both are men of war; that +verily know we all. But night already is upon us: it is well withal to +obey the hest of night.” + +Then Telamonian Aias answered and said to him: “Idaios, bid ye Hector +to speak those words; of his own self he challenged to combat all our +best. Let him be first, and I will surely follow as he saith.” + +Then great Hector of the glancing helm said to him: “Aias, seeing God +gave thee stature and might and wisdom, and with the spear thou art +excellent above all the Achaians, let us now cease from combat and +battle for the day; but hereafter will we fight until God judge between +us, giving to one of us the victory. But night already is upon us; it +is well withal to obey the hest of night; that so thou mayest rejoice +all the Achaians beside their ships, and chiefly the kinsmen and +fellows that are thine; and I throughout the great city of king Priam +will rejoice the Trojan men and Trojan dames with trailing robes, that +with prayer I ween will enter the holy assemblage. But come, let us +give each the other famous gifts, that men may thus say, Achaians alike +and Trojans: ‘These, having fought for sake of heart-consuming strife, +parted again reconciled in friendship.’” + +So said he, and gave him his silver-studded sword, with scabbard and +well-cut baldrick; and Aias gave his belt bright with purple. So they +parted, and one went to the Achaian host, and one betook him to the +throng of Trojans. And these rejoiced to behold him come to them alive +and sound, escaped from the fury of Aias and his hands unapproachable; +and they brought him to the city saved beyond their hope. And Aias on +their side the well-greaved Achaians brought to noble Agamemnon, +exulting in his victory. + +So when these were come unto the huts of Atreides, then did Agamemnon +king of men slay them an ox, a male of five years old, for the most +mighty son of Kronos. This they flayed and made ready, and divided it +all, and minced it cunningly, and pierced it through with spits, and +roasted it carefully, and drew all off again. Then as soon as they had +rest from the task and had made ready the meal, they began the feast, +nor was their soul aught stinted of the equal banquet. And the hero son +of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, gave to Aias slices of the chine’s +full length for his honour. And when they had put from them the desire +of meat and drink, then first the old man began to weave the web of +counsel, even Nestor whose rede of old time was proved most excellent. +He of good intent made harangue among them and said: “Son of Atreus and +ye other princes of the Achaians, seeing that many flowing-haired +Achaians are dead, and keen Ares hath spilt their dusky blood about +fair-flowing Skamandros, and their souls have gone down to the house of +Hades; therefore it behoveth thee to make the battle of the Achaians +cease with daybreak; and we will assemble to wheel hither the corpses +with oxen and mules; so let us burn them [a little way from the ships, +that each man may bear their bones home to their children, whene’er we +return again to our native land]; and let us heap one barrow about the +pyre, rearing it from the plain for all alike; and thereto build with +speed high towers, a bulwark for our ships and for ourselves. In the +midst thereof let us make gates well compact, that through them may be +a way for chariot-driving. And without let us dig a deep foss hard by, +to be about it and to hinder horses and footmen, lest the battle of the +lordly Trojans be heavy on us hereafter.” + +So spake he and all the chiefs gave assent. But meanwhile there was in +the high town of Ilios an assembly of the Trojans, fierce, confused, +beside Priam’s gate. To them discreet Antenor began to make harangue: +“Hearken to me, Trojans and Dardanians and allies, that I may tell you +that my soul within my breast commandeth me. Lo, go to now, let us give +Helen of Argos and the wealth with her for the sons of Atreus to take +away. Now fight we in guilt against the oaths of faith; therefore is +there no profit for us that I hope to see fulfilled, unless we do +thus.” + +So spake he and sate him down; and there stood up among them noble +Alexandros, lord of Helen beautiful-haired; he made him answer and +spake winged words: “Antenor, these words from thee are no longer to my +pleasure; yet thou hast it in thee to devise other sayings more +excellent than this. But if indeed thou sayest this in earnest, then +verily the gods themselves have destroyed thy wit. But I will speak +forth amid the horse-taming Trojans, and declare outright; my wife will +I not give back; but the wealth I brought from Argos to our home, all +that I have a mind to give, and add more of mine own substance.” + +So spake he and sate him down, and there stood up among them Priam of +the seed of Dardanos, the peer of gods in counsel; he made harangue to +them, and said: “Hearken to me, Trojans and Dardanians and allies, that +I may tell you that my soul within my breast commandeth me. Now eat +your supper throughout the city as of old, and take thought to keep +watch, and be wakeful every man. And at dawn let Idaios fare to the +hollow ships to tell to Atreus’ sons Agamemnon and Menelaos the saying +of Alexandros, for whose sake strife is come about: and likewise to ask +them this wise word, whether they are minded to refrain from noisy war +till we have burned our dead; afterwards will we fight again, till +heaven part us and give one or other victory.” + +So spake he, and they hearkened diligently to him and obeyed; [then +took they their supper throughout the host by ranks,] and at dawn +Idaios fared to the hollow ships. He found the Danaans in assembly, the +men of Ares’ company, beside the stern of Agamemnon’s ship; and so the +loud-voiced herald stood in their midst and said unto them: “Atreides +and ye other princes of the Achaians, Priam and all the noble Trojans +bade me tell you—if perchance it might find favour and acceptance with +you—the saying of Alexandros, for whose sake strife hath come about. +The wealth that Alexandros brought in his hollow ships to Troy—would he +had perished first!—all that he hath a mind to give, and to add more +thereto of his substance. But the wedded wife of glorious Menelaos he +saith he will not give; yet verily the Trojans bid him do it. Moreover +they bade me ask this thing of you; whether ye are minded to refrain +from noisy war until we have burned our dead; afterwards will we fight +again, till heaven part us and give one or other victory.” + +So said he and they all kept silence and were still. But at the last +spake Diomedes of the loud war-cry in their midst: “Let no man now +accept Alexandros’ substance, neither Helen’s self; known is it, even +to him that hath no wit at all, how that the issues of destruction hang +already over the Trojans.” + +So spake he, and all the sons of the Achaians shouted, applauding the +saying of horse-taming Diomedes. And then lord Agamemnon spake to +Idaios: “Idaios, thyself thou hearest the saying of the Achaians, how +they answer thee; and the like seemeth good to me. But as concerning +the dead, I grudge you not to burn them; for dead corpses is there no +stinting; when they once are dead, of the swift propitiation of fire. +And for the oaths let Zeus be witness, the loud-thundering lord of +Hera.” + +So saying he lifted up his sceptre in the sight of all the gods, and +Idaios departed back to holy Ilios. Now Trojans and Dardanians sate in +assembly, gathered all together to wait till Idaios should come; and he +came and stood in their midst and declared his message. Then they made +them ready very swiftly for either task, some to bring the dead, and +some to seek for wood. And on their part the Argives hasted from their +well-decked ships, some to bring the dead and some to seek for wood. + +Now the sun was newly beating on the fields as he climbed heaven from +the deep stream of gently-flowing Ocean, when both sides met together. +Then was it a hard matter to know each man again; but they washed them +with water clean of clotted gore, and with shedding of hot tears lifted +them upon the wains. But great Priam bade them not wail aloud; so in +silence heaped they the corpses on the pyre, stricken at heart; and +when they had burned them with fire departed to holy Ilios. And in like +manner on their side the well-greaved Achaians heaped the corpses on +the pyre, stricken at heart, and when they had burned them with fire +departed to the hollow ships. + +And when day was not yet, but still twilight of night, then was the +chosen folk of the Achaians gathered together* around the pyre, and +made one barrow about it, rearing it from the plain for all alike; and +thereto built they a wall and lofty towers, a bulwark for their ships +and for themselves. In the midst thereof made they gates +well-compacted, that through them might be a way for chariot-driving. +And without they dug a deep foss beside it, broad and great, and +planted a palisade therein. + +Reading ἤγρετο for ἔγρετο. + + +Thus toiled the flowing-haired Achaians: and the gods sate by Zeus, the +lord of lightning, and marvelled at the great work of the mail-clad +Achaians. And Poseidon shaker of earth spake first to them: “O father +Zeus, is there any man throughout the boundless earth that will any +more declare to the immortals his mind and counsel? Seest thou not how +the flowing-haired Achaians have now again built them a wall before +their ships, and drawn a foss around it, but gave not excellent +hecatombs to the gods? Verily the fame thereof shall reach as far as +the dawn spreadeth, and men will forget the wall that I and Phoebus +Apollo built with travail for the hero Laomedon.” + +And Zeus the cloud-gatherer said to him, sore troubled: “Out on it, +far-swaying Shaker of earth, for this thing thou sayest. Well might +some other god fear this device, one that were far feebler than thou in +the might of his hands: but thine shall be the fame as far as the dawn +spreadeth. Go to now, hereafter when the flowing-haired Achaians be +departed upon their ships to their dear native land, then burst thou +this wall asunder and scatter it all into the sea, and cover the great +sea-beach over with sand again, that the great wall of the Achaians be +brought to naught.” + +Such converse held these one with the other, and the sun went down, and +the work of the Achaians was accomplished; and they slaughtered oxen +amid the huts, and took supper. And many ships from Lemnos, bearing +wine, were at hand, sent of Jason’s son Euneos, whom Hypsipyle bare to +Jason shepherd of the host. And specially for Atreus’ sons, Agamemnon +and Menelaos, Jason’s son gave a freight of wine, even a thousand +measures. So the flowing-haired Achaians bought them wine thence, some +for bronze and some for gleaming iron, and some with hides and some +with whole kine, and some with captives; and they set a rich feast +before them. Then all night long feasted the flowing-haired Achaians, +and in the city the Trojans and allies; and all night long Zeus the +lord of counsel devised them ill with terrible thunderings. Then pale +fear gat hold upon them, and they spilt wine from their cups upon the +earth, neither durst any drink till he had made libation to most mighty +Kronion. Then laid they them to rest and took the boon of sleep. + + + + +BOOK VIII. + + +How Zeus bethought him of his promise to avenge Achilles’ wrong on +Agamemnon: and therefore bade the gods refrain from war, and gave +victory to the Trojans. + + +Now Dawn the saffron-robed was spreading over all the earth, and Zeus +whose joy is in the thunder let call an assembly of the gods upon the +topmost peak of many-ridged Olympus, and himself made harangue to them +and all the gods gave ear: “Hearken to me, all gods and all ye +goddesses, that I may tell you what my heart within my breast +commandeth me. One thing let none essay, be it goddess or be it god, to +wit, to thwart my saying; approve ye it all together, that with all +speed I may accomplish these things. Whomsoever I shall perceive minded +to go, apart from the gods, to succour Trojans or Danaans, chastened in +no seemly wise shall he return to Olympus, or I will take and cast him +into misty Tartaros, right far away, where is the deepest gulf beneath +the earth; there are the gate of iron and threshold of bronze, as far +beneath Hades as heaven is high above the earth: then shall he know how +far I am mightiest of all gods. Go to now, ye gods, make trial that ye +all may know. Fasten ye a rope of gold from heaven, and all ye gods lay +hold thereof and all goddesses; yet could ye not drag from heaven to +earth Zeus, counsellor supreme, not though ye toiled sore. But once I +likewise were minded to draw with all my heart, then should I draw you +up with very earth and sea withal. Thereafter would I bind the rope +about a pinnacle of Olympus, and so should all those things be hung in +air. By so much am I beyond gods and beyond men.” + +So said he, and they all kept silence and were still, marvelling at his +saying; for he spake very masterfully. But at the last there spake to +them the bright-eyed goddess Athene: “O our father Kronides, supreme of +lords, well we know, even we, that thy might is unyielding; yet still +have we pity for the Danaan spearmen, that now shall perish and fulfil +a grievous fate. Yet will we refrain from battle as thou biddest us, +but counsel will we offer to the Argives for their profit, that they +perish not all at thy wrath.” + +Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer smiled at her and said: “Be of good +comfort, dear child, Trito-born; I speak not at all of earnest purpose, +but I am minded to be kindly to thee” + +So saying he let harness to his chariot his bronze-shod horses, fleet +of foot, with flowing manes of gold; and himself clad him with gold +upon his flesh, and grasped the whip of gold, well-wrought, and mounted +upon his car, and lashed the horses to start them; they nothing loth +sped on between earth and starry heaven. So fared he to many-fountained +Ida, mother of wild beasts, even unto Gargaros, where is his demesne +and fragrant altar. There did the father of men and gods stay his +horses, and unloose them from the car, and cast thick mist about them; +and himself sate on the mountain-tops rejoicing in his glory, to behold +the city of the Trojans and ships of the Achaians. + +Now the flowing-haired Achaians took meat hastily among the huts and +thereafter arrayed themselves. Likewise the Trojans on their side armed +them throughout the town—a smaller host, yet for all that were they +eager to fight in battle, of forceful need, for their children’s sake +and their wives’. And the gates were opened wide and the host issued +forth, footmen and horsemen; and mighty din arose. + +So when they were met together and come unto one spot, then clashed +they targe and spear and fury of bronze-clad warrior; the bossed +shields pressed each on each, and mighty din arose. Then were heard the +voice of groaning and the voice of triumph together of the slayers and +the slain, and the earth streamed with blood. + +Now while it yet was morn and the divine day waxed, so long from either +side lighted the darts amain and the people fell. But when the sun +bestrode mid-heaven, then did the Father balance his golden scales, and +put therein two fates of death that layeth men at their length,* one +for horse-taming Trojans, one for mail-clad Achaians; and he took the +scale-yard by the midst and lifted it, and the Achaians’ day of destiny +sank down. So lay the Achaians’ fates on the bounteous earth, and the +Trojans’ fates were lifted up towards wide heaven. And the god +thundered aloud from Ida, and sent his blazing flash amid the host of +the Achaians; and they saw and were astonished, and pale fear gat hold +upon all. + +* Perhaps rather “death that bringeth long woe.” + + +Then had Idomeneus no heart to stand, neither Agamemnon, neither stood +the twain Aiantes, men of Ares’ company. Only Nestor of Gerenia stood +his ground, he the Warden of the Achaians; neither he of purpose, but +his horse was fordone, which noble Alexandros, beauteous-haired Helen’s +lord, had smitten with an arrow upon the top of the crest where the +foremost hairs of horses grow upon the skull; and there is the most +deadly spot. So the horse leapt up in anguish and the arrow sank into +his brain, and he brought confusion on the steeds as he writhed upon +the dart. While the old man leapt forth and with his sword began to hew +the traces, came Hector’s fleet horses through the tumult, bearing a +bold charioteer, even Hecktor. And now had the old man lost his life, +but that Diomedes of the loud war-cry was swift to mark. Terribly +shouted he, summoning Odysseus: “Heaven-born son of Laertes, Odysseus +of many wiles, whither fleest thou with thy back turned, like a coward +in the throng? Beware lest as thou fleest one plant a spear between thy +shoulders. Nay, stand thy ground, till we thrust back from the old man +his furious foe.” + +So spake he, but much-enduring noble Odysseus heard him not, but +hastened by to the hollow ships of the Achaians. Yet Tydeides, though +but one, mingled amid the fighters in the forefront, and took his stand +before the steeds of the old man, Neleus’ son, and spake to him winged +words, and said: “Old man, of a truth young warriors beset thee hard; +and thy force is abated, and old age is sore upon thee, and thy squire +is but a weakling, and thy steeds are slow. Come then, mount upon my +car, that thou mayest see of what sort are the steeds of Tros, well +skilled for following or fleeing hither or thither very fleetly across +the plain, even those that erst I took from Aineias inspirer of fear.* +Thine let our squires tend, and these let us guide straight against the +horse-taming Trojans, that even Hector may know whether my spear also +rageth in my hands.” + +* Reading μήστωρα. See Book V. 272. + + +So said he, and knightly Nestor of Gerenia disregarded not. Then the +two squires tended Nestor’s horses, even Sthenelos the valiant and +kindly Eurymedon: and the other twain both mounted upon Diomedes’ car. +And Nestor took into his hands the shining reins, and lashed the +horses; and soon they drew nigh Hector. Then Tydeus’ son hurled at him +as he charged straight upon them: him missed he, but his squire that +drave his chariot, Eniopeus, high-hearted Thebaios’ son, even him as he +held the reins, he smote upon the breast beside the nipple. So he fell +from out the car, and his fleet-footed horses swerved aside; and there +his soul and spirit were unstrung. Then sore grief encompassed Hector’s +soul for sake of his charioteer. Yet left he him there lying, though he +sorrowed for his comrade, and drave in quest of a bold charioteer; and +his horses lacked not long a master, for anon he found Iphitos’ son, +bold Archeptolemos, and him he made mount behind his fleet horses, and +gave the reins into his hands. + +Then had destruction come and deeds beyond remedy been wrought, and so +had they been penned in Ilios like lambs, had not the father of gods +and men been swift to mark. So he thundered terribly and darted his +white lightning and hurled it before Diomedes’ steeds to earth; and +there arose a terrible flame of sulphur burning, and the two horses +were affrighted and cowered beneath the car. And the shining reins +dropped from Nestor’s hands, and he was afraid at heart and spake to +Diomedes: “Come now Tydeides, turn back thy whole-hooved horses to +flight: seest thou not that victory from Zeus attendeth not on thee? +Now doth Kronos’ son vouchsafe glory to this Hector, for the day; +hereafter shall he grant it us likewise, if he will. A man may not at +all ward off the will of Zeus, not though one be very valiant; he +verily is mightier far.” + +Then Diomedes of the loud war-cry answered him: “Yea verily, old man, +all this thou sayest is according unto right. But this is the sore +grief that entereth my heart and soul; Hector some day shall say as he +maketh harangue amid the Trojans: ‘Tydeides betook him to the ships in +flight before my face.’ So shall he boast—in that day let the wide +earth yawn for me.” + +Then knightly Nestor of Gerenia answered him: “Ah me, thou son of wise +Tydeus, that thou shouldest speak on this wise! Even though Hector call +thee a base man and coward, yet will not the Trojans hearken to him nor +the Dardanians, neither the wives of the great-hearted men of Troy, +bearers of the shield, the wives whose lusty bedfellows thou hast laid +low in the dust.” + +So spake he and turned the whole-hooved horses to flight, back through +the tumult; and the Trojans and Hector with wondrous uproar poured upon +them their dolorous darts. And over him shouted loudly great Hector of +the glancing helm: “Tydeides, the fleet-horsed Danaans were wont to +honour thee with the highest place, and meats, and cups brimful, but +now will they disdain thee; thou art after all no better than a woman. +Begone, poor puppet; not for my flinching shalt thou climb on our +towers, neither carry our wives away upon thy ships; ere that will I +deal thee thy fate.” + +So said he, and Tydeides was of divided mind, whether to wheel his +horses and fight him face to face. Thrice doubted he in heart and soul, +and thrice from Ida’s mountains thundered Zeus the lord of counsel, and +gave to the Trojans a sign, the turning of the course of battle. And +Hector with loud shout called to the Trojans: “Trojans and Lykians and +Dardanians that love close fight, be men, my friends, and bethink you +of impetuous valour. I perceive that of good will Kronion vouchsafest +me victory and great glory, and to the Danaans destruction. Fools, that +devised these walls weak and of none account; they shall not withhold +our fury, and lightly shall our steeds overleap the delved foss. But +when I be once come amid the hollow ships, then be thought taken of +consuming fire, that with fire I may burn the ships and slay the men, +even the Argives amid their ships, in confusion beneath the smoke.” + +So spake he and shouted to his steeds, and said: “Xanthos, and thou +Podargos, and Aithon and goodly Lampos, now pay me back your tending, +even the abundance that Andromache, great-hearted Eëtion’s daughter, +set before you of honey-hearted wheat, and mingled wine to drink at the +heart’s bidding, sooner than for me, that verily avow me to be her +lusty spouse. Pursue ye now and haste, that we may seize Nestor’s +shield, the fame whereof now reacheth unto heaven, how that it is of +gold throughout, armrods and all; and may seize moreover from +horse-taming Diomedes’ shoulders his richly dight breastplate that +Hephaistos wrought cunningly. Could we but take these, then might I +hope this very night to make the Achaians to embark on their fleet +ships.” + +So spake he boastfully, and queen Hera had indignation, and stirred her +upon her throne and made high Olympus quake, and answered and said to +the great god Poseidon: “Out on it, far-swaying Shaker of Earth; not +even thine heart within thy breast hath pity on the Danaans perishing. +Yet bring they to thee in Helike and Aigai offerings many and gracious: +wish thou them victory. Did we but will, we that are confederate with +the Danaans, to drive the Trojans back and withhold far-seeing Zeus, +then would he vex himself that he should sit there alone in Ida.” + +Then was the lord the Shaker of earth sore troubled and made answer: +“Hera headstrong in speech, what is this thing thou sayest? I am not he +that would fain see us all at strife with Zeus Kronion, for he verily +is mightier far.” + +Thus spake they to each other; and now was all the space that from the +ships the moat enclosed, even unto the wall, filled full of horses +together and shield-bearing warriors pent: so pent them Hector Priam’s +son, peer of fleet Ares, now that Zeus vouchsafed him glory. And now +had he burned the trim ships with blazing fire, but that queen Hera put +it in Agamemnon’s heart himself to bestir him and swiftly arouse the +Achaians. So he went his way along the huts and ships of the Achaians, +holding a great cloak of purple in his stalwart hand, and stood by +Odysseus’ black ship of mighty burden, that was in the midst, so that a +voice could be heard to either end, whether to the huts of Aias son of +Telamon, or of Achilles; for these had drawn their trim ships up at the +uttermost ends, trusting to their valour and to the might of their +hands. Then shouted he in a piercing voice, and called to the Danaans +aloud: “Fie upon you, Argives, ye sorry things of shame, so brave in +semblance! Whither are gone our boastings when we said that we were +bravest, the boasts ye uttered vaingloriously when in Lemnos, as ye ate +your fill of flesh of tall-horned oxen and drank goblets crowned with +wine, and said that every man should stand in war to face fivescore yea +tenscore Trojans? yet now can we not match one, even this Hector that +anon will burn our ships with flame of fire. O Father Zeus, didst ever +thou blind with such a blindness any mighty king, and rob him of great +glory? Yet I ween that never in my benched ship passed I by a fair +altar of thine on my mad way hither, but upon all I burnt fat and +thighs of oxen, being eager to lay waste well-walled Troy. Nay, Zeus, +this hope fulfil thou me; suffer that we ourselves at least flee and +escape, neither suffer that the Achaians be thus vanquished of the +Trojans.” + +So spake he, and the Father had pity on him as he wept, and vouchsafed +him that his folk should be saved and perish not. Forthwith sent he an +eagle—surest sign among winged fowl—holding in his claws a fawn, the +young of a fleet hind; beside the beautiful altar of Zeus he let fall +the fawn, where the Achaians did sacrifice unto Zeus lord of all +oracles. So when they saw that the bird was come from Zeus, they sprang +the more upon the Trojans and bethought them of the joy of battle. + +Now could no man of the Danaans, for all they were very many, boast +that he before Tydeus’ son had guided his fleet horses forth, and +driven them across the trench and fought man to man; first by far was +Tydeides to slay a warrior of the Trojans in full array, even Agelaos +son of Phradmon. Now he had turned his steeds to flee; but as he +wheeled the other plunged the spear into his back between his +shoulders, and drave it through his breast. So fell he from his +chariot, and his armour clanged upon him. + +And after him came Atreus’ sons, even Agamemnon and Menelaos, and after +them the Aiantes clothed upon with impetuous valour, and after them +Idomeneus and Idomeneus’ brother in arms Meriones, peer of Enyalios +slayer of men, and after them Eurypylos, Euaimon’s glorious son. And +ninth came Teukros, stretching his back-bent bow, and took his stand +beneath the shield of Aias son of Telamon. And so Aias would stealthily +withdraw the shield, and Teukros would spy his chance; and when he had +shot and smitten one in the throng, then fell such an one and gave up +the ghost, and Teukros would return, and as a child beneath his mother, +so gat he him to Aias; who hid him with the shining shield. + +Now who first of the Trojans was slain of noble Teukros? Orsilochos +first and Ormenos and Ophelestes and Daitor and Chromios and godlike +Lykophontes and Amopaon Polyaimon’s son and Melanippos; all these in +turn laid he upon the bounteous earth. And Agamemnon king of men +rejoiced to behold him making havoc with his stalwart bow of the +battalions of the Trojans, and he came and stood by his side and spake +to him, saying: “Teukros, dear heart, thou son of Telamon, prince of +the host, shoot on in this wise, if perchance thou mayest be found the +salvation of the Danaans and glory of thy father Telamon; who nurtured +thee when thou wast little, and reared thee, though a bastard, in his +house; exalt thou him to honour, though he be afar. Moreover I will say +to thee that which shall indeed be fulfilled. If aegis-bearing Zeus and +Athene vouchsafe me to lay waste the stablished city of Ilios, in thine +hand first, after myself, will I bestow the meed of honour, be it a +tripod or two steeds with their chariot, or a woman that shall go up +into thy bed.” + +And noble Teukros made answer and said to him: “Most noble son of +Atreus, why urgest thou me that myself am eager? Verily with such +strength as is in me forbear I not, but ever since we drave them +towards Ilios I watch with my bow to slay the foemen. Eight long-barbed +arrows have I now sped, and all are buried in the flesh of young men +swift in battle; only this mad dog can I not smite.” + +He said, and shot another arrow from the string right against Hector; +and his heart was fain to smite him. Yet him he missed, but noble +Gorgythion, Priam’s good son, he smote with an arrow in the breast, him +born of a mother wedded from Aisyme, even fair Kastianeira, of favour +like unto the gods. Even as in a garden a poppy droopeth its head +aside, being heavy with fruit and the showers of spring; so bowed he +aside his head laden with his helm. + +And Teukros shot another arrow from the string, right against Hector, +and his heart was fain to smite him. Yet missed he once again, for +Apollo turned the dart away; but Archeptolemos, Hector’s bold +charioteer, he smote on the breast beside the nipple as he hasted into +battle: so he fell from his car and his fleet-footed horses swerved +aside; and there his soul and spirit were unstrung. Then sore grief +encompassed Hector’s soul for his charioteer’s sake; yet left he him, +though he sorrowed for his comrade, and bade Kebriones his own brother, +being hard by, take the chariot reins; and he heard and disregarded +not. And himself he leapt to earth from the resplendent car, with a +terrible shout; and in his hand he caught a stone, and made right at +Teukros, and his heart bade him smite him. Now Teukros had plucked +forth from his quiver a keen arrow, and laid it on the string; but even +as he drew it back, Hector of the glancing helm smote him with the +jagged stone, as he aimed eagerly against him, even beside his +shoulder, where the collar-bone fenceth off neck and breast, and where +is the most deadly spot; and he brake the bowstring,* and his hand from +the wrist grew numb, and he stayed fallen upon his knee, and his bow +dropped from his hand. But Aias disregarded not his brother’s fall, but +ran and strode across him and hid him with his shield. Then two trusty +comrades bent down to him, even Mekisteus son of Echios and goodly +Alastor, and bare him, groaning sorely, to the hollow ships. And once +again the Olympian aroused the spirit of the Trojans. So they drove the +Achaians straight toward the deep foss, and amid the foremost went +Hector exulting in his strength. And even as when a hound behind wild +boar or lion, with swift feet pursuing snatcheth at him, at flank or +buttock, and watcheth for him as he wheeleth, so Hector pressed hard on +the flowing-haired Achaians, slaying ever the hindmost, and they fled +on. But when they were passed in flight through palisade and foss, and +many were fallen beneath the Trojans’ hands, then halted they and +tarried beside the ships, calling one upon another, and lifting up +their hands to all the gods prayed each one instantly. But Hector +wheeled round his beauteous-maned steeds this way and that, and his +eyes were as the eyes of Gorgon or Ares bane of mortals. + +* νευρήν may mean “the sinew of his arm.” + + +Now at the sight of them the white-armed goddess Hera had compassion, +and anon spake winged words to Athene: “Out on it, thou child of +aegis-bearing Zeus, shall not we twain any more take thought for the +Danaans that perish, if only for this last time? Now will they fill up +the measure of evil destiny and perish by one man’s onslaught; seeing +that he is furious now beyond endurance, this Hector son of Priam, and +verily hath wrought many a deed of ill.” + +And the bright-eyed goddess Athene made answer to her, “Yea in good +sooth, may this fellow yield up strength and life, and perish at the +Argives’ hands in his native land; only mine own sire is furious, with +no good intent, headstrong, ever sinful, the foiler of my purposes. +Neither remembereth he at all those many times and oft that I saved his +son fordone with Eurystheus’ tasks. For he would make lament toward +heaven, and me would Zeus speed forth from heaven to succour him. Had I +but known all this in my prudent heart, what time Eurystheus sent him +forth to the house of Hades the Warder of the Gate, to bring from +Erebos the hound of loathed Hades, then had he not escaped the sheer +stream of the water of Styx. But now Zeus hateth me, and fulfilleth the +purposes of Thetis, that kissed his knees and with her hand touched his +beard, beseeching him to do honour to Achilles waster of cities. Verily +the day shall come when he shall call me again his bright-eyed darling. +But now make thou ready our whole-hooved horses, while I enter into the +palace of aegis-bearing Zeus and gird me in my armour for battle, that +I may see if Priam’s son, Hector of the glancing helm, shall be glad at +the appearing of us twain amid the highways of the battle. Surely shall +many a Trojan likewise glut dogs and birds with fat and flesh, fallen +dead at the ships of the Achaians.” + +So said she, and the white-armed goddess Hera disregarded not. So Hera, +the goddess queen, daughter of great Kronos, went her way and harnessed +the golden-frontleted steeds; and Athene, daughter of aegis-bearing +Zeus, cast down at her father’s threshold her woven vesture +many-coloured, that herself had wrought and her hands had fashioned; +and put on her the tunic of Zeus the cloud-gatherer, and arrayed her in +her armour for dolorous battle. Upon the flaming chariot set she her +foot, and grasped her heavy spear great and stout, wherewith she +vanquisheth the ranks of men, even of heroes with whom she of the awful +sire is wroth. Then Hera swiftly smote the horses with the lash; +self-moving groaned upon their hinges the gates of heaven whereof the +Hours are warders, to whom is committed great heaven and Olympus, +whether to throw open the thick cloud or set it to. There through the +gates guided they their horses patient of the lash. + +But when father Zeus beheld from Ida, he was sore wroth, and sped Iris +golden-winged to bear a message: “Go thy way, fleet Iris, turn them +back neither suffer them to face me; for in no happy wise shall we join +in combat. For thus will I declare, and even so shall the fulfilment +be; I will maim their fleet horses in the chariot, and them will I hurl +out from the car, and will break in pieces the chariot; neither within +the courses of ten years shall they heal them of the wounds the +thunderbolt shall tear; that the bright-eyed one may know the end when +she striveth against her father. But with Hera have I not so great +indignation nor wrath: seeing it ever is her wont to thwart me, +whate’er I have decreed.” + +So said he, and whirlwind-footed Iris arose to bear the message, and +departed from the mountains of Ida unto high Olympus. And even at the +entrance of the gates of Olympus many-folded she met them and stayed +them, and told them the saying of Zeus: “Whither hasten ye? Why are +your hearts furious within your breasts? Kronides forbiddeth you to +give the Argives succour. For thus the son of Kronos threateneth, even +as he will fulfil; to wit, to maim your fleet horses in the chariot, +and you will he hurl out from the car, and break the chariot in pieces; +neither within the courses of ten years shall ye heal you of the wounds +that the thunderbolt shall tear; that thou, bright-eyed goddess, mayst +know the end when thou strivest against thy father. But with Hera hath +he not so great indignation nor wrath; seeing it ever is her wont to +thwart him, whate’er he have decreed. But most fell art thou, reckless +vixen! if thou indeed wilt dare to lift thy huge spear against the face +of Zeus.” + +So said fleet-footed Iris, and departed; but Hera spake to Athene and +said: “Out on it, thou child of aegis-bearing Zeus, I verily would no +more have us war against Zeus for mortals’ sake. Of them let one man +perish and another live, even as the lot falleth; and for him, let him +take counsel for himself in his heart, and give judgment for Trojans +and for Danaans, as is meet.” + +So saying she turned back her whole-hooved horses. Then the Hours +unyoked them their beauteous-maned horses, and tethered them to their +ambrosial mangers, and leant the chariots against the shining faces of +the gateway; and the goddesses sate them upon their golden thrones amid +the throng of all the gods, and were grieved at heart. + +And father Zeus drave from Ida his fair-wheeled chariot and horses unto +Olympus, and came unto the session of the gods. For him also the noble +Shaker of Earth unyoked the steeds, and set the car upon the stand, and +spread a cloth thereover; and far-seeing Zeus himself sate upon his +golden throne, and beneath his feet great Olympus quaked. Only Athene +and Hera sate apart from Zeus, and spake no word to him neither +questioned him. But he was ware thereof in his heart, and said, “Why +are ye thus vexed, Athene and Hera? Surely ye are not wearied of making +havoc in glorious battle of the Trojans, for whom ye cherish bitter +hate! Howsoever, seeing that my might is so great and my hands +invincible, all the gods that are in Olympus could not turn me: and for +you twain, trembling erst gat hold upon your bright limbs ere that ye +beheld war and war’s fell deeds. For thus will I declare, and even so +had the fulfilment been—never had ye, once smitten with the +thunderbolt, fared on your chariots back unto Olympus where is the +habitation of the immortals.” + +So spake he, and Athene and Hera murmured, that were sitting by him and +devising ills for the Trojans. Now Athene held her peace, and said not +anything, for wrath at father Zeus, and fierce anger gat hold upon her; +but Hera’s heart contained not her anger, and she spake: “Most dread +son of Kronos, what word is this thou hast said? Well know we, even we, +that thy might is no wise puny; yet still have we pity for the Danaan +spearmen, that now shall perish and fill up the measure of grievous +fate. Yet will we refrain from battle, if thou biddest us; but counsel +will we offer to the Argives, such as shall profit them, that they +perish not all at thy wrath.” + +And Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered and said: “At morn shalt thou +behold most mighty Kronion, if thou wilt have it so, O Hera, ox-eyed +queen, making yet more havoc of the vast army of Argive spearmen; for +headlong Hector shall not refrain from battle till that Peleus’ son +fleet of foot have arisen beside the ships, that day when these shall +fight amid the sterns in most grievous stress, around Patroklos fallen. +Such is the doom of heaven. And for thine anger reck I not, not even +though thou go to the nethermost bounds of earth and sea, where sit +Iapetos and Kronos and have no joy in the beams of Hyperion the +Sun-god, neither in any breeze, but deep Tartaros is round about them. +Though thou shouldest wander till thou come even thither, yet reck I +not of thy vexation, seeing there is no thing more unabashed than +thou.” + +So said he, but white-armed Hera spake him no word. And the sun’s +bright light dropped into Ocean, drawing black night across Earth the +grain-giver. Against the Trojans’ will daylight departed, but welcome, +thrice prayed for, to the Achaians came down the murky night. + +Now glorious Hector made an assembly of the Trojans, taking them apart +from the ships, beside the eddying river, in an open space where was +found a spot clear of dead. And they came down from their chariots to +the ground to hear the word that Hector, dear unto Zeus, proclaimed. He +in his hand held his spear eleven cubits long; before his face gleamed +the spear-head of bronze, and a ring of gold ran round about it. +Thereon he leaned and spake to the Trojans, saying: “Hearken to me, +Trojans and Dardanians and allies. I thought but now to make havoc of +the ships and all the Achaians and depart back again to windy Ilios; +but dusk came too soon, and that in chief hath now saved the Argives +and the ships beside the beach of the sea. So let us now yield to black +night, and make our supper ready; unyoke ye from the chariots your +fair-maned horses, and set fodder beside them. And from the city bring +kine and goodly sheep with speed; and provide you with honey-hearted +wine, and corn from your houses, and gather much wood withal, that all +night long until early-springing dawn we may burn many fires, and the +gleam may reach to heaven; lest perchance even by night the +flowing-haired Achaians strive to take flight over the broad back of +the sea. Verily must they not embark upon their ships unvexed, at ease: +but see ye that many a one of them have a wound to nurse even at home, +being stricken with arrow or keen-pointed spear as he leapeth upon his +ship; that so many another man may dread to wage dolorous war on the +horse-taming men of Troy. And let the heralds dear to Zeus proclaim +throughout the city that young maidens and old men of hoary heads camp +round the city on the battlements builded of the gods; and let the +women folk burn a great fire each in her hall; and let there be a sure +watch set, lest an ambush enter the city when the host is absent. Thus +be it, great-hearted Trojans, as I proclaim; the counsel that now is +sound, let that stand spoken; further will I proclaim at dawn amid the +horse-taming men of Troy. I pray with good hope to Zeus and all the +gods, to drive from hence these dogs borne onward by the fates, them +that the fates bear on in the black ships. Howbeit for the night will +we guard our own selves, and at morn by daybreak, arrayed in our +armour, let us awake keen battle at the hollow ships. I will know +whether Tydeus’ son stalwart Diomedes shall thrust me from the ships +back to the wall, or I shall lay him low with my spear and bear away +his gory spoils. Tomorrow shall he prove his valour, whether he can +abide the onslaught of my spear. But he amid the foremost, I ween, +shall lie stricken, and many comrades round about their lord at the +rising of tomorrow’s sun. Would that I were immortal and ageless all my +days and honoured like as Athene is honoured and Apollo, so surely as +this day bringeth the Argives ill.” + +So Hector made harangue, and the Trojans clamoured applause. And they +loosed their sweating steeds from the yoke, and tethered them with +thongs, each man beside his chariot; and from the city they brought +kine and goodly sheep with speed, and provided them with honey-hearted +wine and corn from their houses, and gathered much wood withal; and +sacrificed to the immortals unblemished hecatombs. And from the plain +the winds bare into heaven the sweet savour. But the blessed gods +regaled not themselves nor would they aught thereof; for sore was holy +Ilios hated of them, and Priam and the folk of Priam of the good ashen +spear. But these with high hopes sate them all night along the highways +of the battle, and their watchfires burned in multitude. Even as when +in heaven the stars about the bright moon shine clear to see, when the +air is windless, and all the peaks appear and the tall headlands and +glades, and from heaven breaketh open the infinite air, and all stars +are seen, and the shepherd’s heart is glad; even in like multitude +between the ships and the streams of Xanthos appeared the watchfires +that the Trojans kindled in front of Ilios. A thousand fires burned in +the plain and by the side of each sate fifty in the gleam of blazing +fire. And the horses champed white barley and spelt, and standing by +their chariots waited for the throned Dawn. + + + + +BOOK IX. + + +How Agamemnon sent an embassage to Achilles, beseeching him to be +appeased; and how Achilles denied him. + + +Thus kept the Trojans watch; but the Achaians were holden of +heaven-sent panic, handmaid of palsying fear, and all their best were +stricken to the heart with grief intolerable. Like as two winds stir up +the main, the home of fishes, even the north wind and the west wind +that blow from Thrace, coming suddenly; and the dark billow straightway +lifteth up its crest and casteth much tangle out along the sea; even so +was the Achaians’ spirit troubled in their breast. + +But Atreides was stricken to the heart with sore grief, and went about +bidding the clear-voiced heralds summon every man by name to the +assembly, but not to shout aloud; and himself he toiled amid the +foremost. So they sat sorrowful in assembly, and Agamemnon stood up +weeping like unto a fountain of dark water that from a beetling cliff +poureth down its black stream; even so with deep groaning he spake amid +the Argives and said: “My friends, leaders and captains of the Argives, +Zeus son of Kronos hath bound me with might in grievous blindness of +soul; hard of heart is he, for that erewhile he promised and gave his +pledge that not till I had laid waste well-walled Ilios should I +depart, but now hath planned a cruel wile, and biddeth me return in +dishonour to Argos with the loss of many of my folk. Such meseemeth is +the good pleasure of most mighty Zeus, that hath laid low the heads of +many cities, yea and shall lay low; for his is highest power. So come, +even as I shall bid let us all obey; let us flee with our ships to our +dear native land, for now shall we never take wide-wayed Troy.” + +So said he, and they all held their peace and kept silence. Long time +were the sons of the Achaians voiceless for grief, but at the last +Diomedes of the loud war-cry spake amid them and said: “Atreides: with +thee first in thy folly will I contend, where it is just, O king, even +in the assembly; be not thou wroth therefor. My valour didst thou blame +in chief amid the Danaans, and saidst that I was no man of war but a +coward; and all this know the Argives both young and old. But the son +of crooked-counselling Kronos hath endowed thee but by halves; he +granted thee to have the honour of the sceptre above all men, but +valour he gave thee not, wherein is highest power. Sir, deemest thou +that the sons of the Achaians are thus indeed cowards and weaklings as +thou sayest? If thine own heart be set on departing, go thy way; the +way is before thee, and thy ships stand beside the sea, even the great +multitude that followed thee from Mykene. But all the other +flowing-haired Achaians will tarry here until we lay waste Troy. Nay, +let them too flee on their ships to their dear native land; yet will we +twain, even I and Sthenelos, fight till we attain the goal of Ilios; +for in God’s name are we come.” + +So said he, and all the sons of the Achaians shouted aloud, applauding +the saying of horse-taming Diomedes. Then knightly Nestor arose and +said amid them: “Tydeides, in battle art thou passing mighty, and in +council art thou best among thine equals in years; none of all the +Achaians will make light of thy word nor gainsay it; but thou hast not +made a full end of thy words. Moreover thou art a young man indeed, and +mightest even be my son, my youngest-born; yet thou counsellest +prudently the princes of the Achaians, because thou speakest according +unto right. But lo, I that avow me to be older than thou will speak +forth and expound everything; neither shall any man despise my saying, +not even the lord Agamemnon. A tribeless, lawless, homeless man is he +that loveth bitter civil strife. Howbeit now let us yield to black +night and make ready now let us yield to black night and make ready our +meal; and let the sentinels bestow them severally along the deep-delved +foss without the wall. This charge give I to the young men; and thou, +Atreides, lead then the way, for thou art the most royal. Spread thou a +feast for the councillors; that is thy place and seemly for thee. Thy +huts are full of wine that the ships of the Achaians bring thee by day +from Thrace across the wide sea; all entertainment is for thee, being +king over many. In the gathering of many shalt thou listen to him that +deviseth the most excellent counsel; sore need have all the Achaians of +such as is good and prudent, because hard by the ships our foemen are +burning their watch-fires in multitude; what man can rejoice thereat? +This night shall either destroy or save the host.” + +So said he, and they gladly hearkened to him and obeyed. Forth sallied +the sentinels in their harness, around Thrasymedes Nestor’s son, +shepherd of the host, and Askalaphos and Ialmenos sons of Ares, and +Meriones and Aphareus and Deïpyros and Kreion’s son noble Lykomedes. +Seven were the captains of the sentinels, and with each went fivescore +young men bearing their long spears in their hands; and they took post +midway betwixt foss and wall, and kindled a fire and made ready each +man his meal. + +Then Atreides gathered the councillors of the Achaians, and led them to +his hut, and spread before them an abundant feast. So they put forth +their hands to the good cheer that lay before them. And when they had +put away from them the desire of meat and drink, then the old man first +began to weave his counsel, even Nestor, whose rede of old time was +approved the best. He of good intent spake to them and said: “Most +noble son of Atreus, Agamemnon king of men, in thy name will I end and +with thy name begin, because thou art king over many hosts, and to thy +hand Zeus hath entrusted sceptre and law, that thou mayest take counsel +for thy folk. Thee therefore more than any it behoveth both to speak +and hearken, and to accomplish what another than thou may say, when his +heart biddeth him speak for profit: wheresoever thou leadest all shall +turn on thee, so I will speak as meseemeth best. No other man shall +have a more excellent thought than this that I bear in mind from old +time even until now, since the day when thou, O heaven-sprung king, +didst go and take the damsel Briseis from angry Achilles’ hut by no +consent of ours. Nay, I right heartily dissuaded thee; but thou +yieldedst to thy proud spirit, and dishonouredst a man of valour whom +even the immortals honoured; for thou didst take and keepest from him +his meed of valour. Still let us even now take thought how we may +appease him and persuade him with gifts of friendship and kindly +words.” + +And Agamemnon king of men answered and said to him: “Old sir, in no +false wise hast thou accused my folly. Fool was I, I myself deny it +not. Worth many hosts is he whom Zeus loveth in his heart, even as now +he honoureth this man and destroyeth the host of the Achaians. But +seeing I was a fool in that I yielded to my sorry passion, I will make +amends and give a recompense beyond telling. In the midst of you all I +will name the excellent gifts; seven tripods untouched of fire, and ten +talents of gold and twenty gleaming caldrons, and twelve stalwart +horses, winners in the race, that have taken prizes by their speed. No +lackwealth were that man, neither undowered of precious gold, whose +substance were as great as the prizes my whole-hooved steeds have borne +me off. And seven women will I give, skilled in excellent handiwork, +Lesbians whom I chose me from the spoils the day that he himself took +stablished Lesbos, surpassing womankind in beauty. These will I give +him, and with them shall be she whom erst I took from him, even the +daughter of Briseus; moreover I will swear a great oath that never I +went up into her bed nor had with her converse as is the wont of +mankind, even of men and women. All these things shall be set +straightway before him; and if hereafter the gods grant us to lay waste +the great city of Priam, then let him enter in when we Achaians be +dividing the spoil, and lade his ship full of gold and bronze, and +himself choose twenty Trojan women, the fairest that there be after +Helen of Argos. And if we win to the richest of lands, even Achaian +Argos, he shall be my son and I will hold him in like honour with +Orestes, my stripling boy that is nurtured in all abundance. Three +daughters are mine in my well-builded hall, Chrysothemis and Laodike +and Iphianassa; let him take of them which he will, without gifts of +wooing, to Peleus’ house; and I will add a great dower such as no man +ever yet gave with his daughter. And seven well-peopled cities will I +give him, Kardamyle and Enope and grassy Hire and holy Pherai and +Antheia deep in meads, and fair Aipeia and Pedasos land of vines. And +all are nigh to the salt sea, on the uttermost border of sandy Pylos; +therein dwell men abounding in flocks and kine, men that shall worship +him like a god with gifts, and beneath his sway fulfil his prosperous +ordinances. All this will I accomplish so he but cease from wrath. Let +him yield; Hades I ween is not to be softened neither overcome, and +therefore is he hatefullest of all gods to mortals. Yea, let him be +ruled by me, inasmuch as I am more royal and avow me to be the elder in +years.” + +Then knightly Nestor of Gerenia answered and said: “Most noble son of +Atreus, Agamemnon king of men, now are these gifts not lightly to be +esteemed that thou offerest king Achilles. Come therefore, let us speed +forth picked men to go with all haste to the hut of Peleus’ son +Achilles. Lo now, whomsoever I appoint let them consent. First let +Phoinix dear to Zeus lead the way, and after him great Aias and noble +Odysseus; and for heralds let Odios and Eurybates be their companions. +And now bring water for our hands, and bid keep holy silence, that we +may pray unto Zeus the son of Kronos, if perchance he will have mercy +upon us.” + +So said he, and spake words that were well-pleasing unto all. Forthwith +the heralds poured water on their hands, and the young men crowned the +bowls with drink and gave each man his portion after they had poured +the libation in the cups. And when they had made libation and drunk as +their heart desired, they issued forth from the hut of Agamemnon son of +Atreus. And knightly Nestor of Gerenia gave them full charge, with many +a glance to each, and chiefest to Odysseus, how they should essay to +prevail on Peleus’ noble son. + +So the twain went along the shore of the loud-sounding sea, making +instant prayer to the earth-embracer, the Shaker of the Earth, that +they might with ease prevail on Aiakides’ great heart. So they came to +the huts and ships of the Myrmidons, and found their king taking his +pleasure of a loud lyre, fair, of curious work, with a silver cross-bar +upon it; one that he had taken from the spoils when he laid Eëtion’s +city waste. Therein he was delighting his soul, and singing the glories +of heroes. And over against him sate Patroklos alone in silence, +watching till Aiakides should cease from singing. So the twain came +forward, and noble Odysseus led the way, and they stood before his +face; and Achilles sprang up amazed with the lyre in his hand, and left +the seat where he was sitting, and in like manner Patroklos when he +beheld the men arose. Then Achilles fleet of foot greeted them and +said: “Welcome; verily ye are friends that are come—sore indeed is the +need—even ye that are dearest of the Achaians to me even in my wrath.” + +So spake noble Achilles and led them forward, and made them sit on +settles and carpets of purple; and anon he spake to Patroklos being +near: “Bring forth a greater bowl, thou son of Menoitios; mingle +stronger drink, and prepare each man a cup, for dearest of men are +these that are under my roof.” + +So said he, and Patroklos hearkened to his dear comrade. He cast down a +great fleshing-block in the fire-light, and laid thereon a sheep’s back +and a fat goat’s, and a great hog’s chine rich with fat. And Automedon +held them for him, while Achilles carved. Then he sliced well the meat +and pierced it through with spits, and Menoitios’ son, that godlike +hero, made the fire burn high. Then when the fire was burned down and +the flame waned, he scattered the embers and laid the spits thereover, +resting them on the spit-racks, when he had sprinkled them with holy +salt. Then when he had roasted the meat and apportioned it in the +platters, Patroklos took bread and dealt it forth on the table in fair +baskets, and Achilles dealt the meat. And he sate him over against +godlike Odysseus by the other wall, and bade his comrade Patroklos do +sacrifice to the gods; so he cast the first-fruits into the fire. Then +put they forth their hands to the good cheer lying before them. And +when they had put from them the desire of meat and drink, Aias nodded +to Phoinix. But noble Odysseus marked it, and filled a cup with wine +and pledged Achilles: “Hail, O Achilles! The fair feast lack we not +either in the hut of Agamemnon son of Atreus neither now in thine; for +feasting is there abundance to our heart’s desire, but our thought is +not for matters of the delicious feast; nay, we behold very sore +destruction, thou fosterling of Zeus, and are afraid. Now is it in +doubt whether we save the benched ships or behold them perish, if thou +put not on thy might. Nigh unto ships and wall have the high-hearted +Trojans and famed allies pitched their camp, and kindled many fires +throughout their host, and ween that they shall no more be withheld but +will fall on our black ships. And Zeus son of Kronos sheweth them signs +upon the right by lightning, and Hector greatly exulteth in his might +and rageth furiously, trusting in Zeus, and recketh not of god nor man, +for mighty madness hath possessed him. He prayeth bright Dawn to shine +forth with all speed, for he bath passed his word to smite off from the +ships the ensigns’ tops, and to fire the hulls with devouring flame, +and hard thereby to make havoc of the Achaians confounded by the smoke. +Therefore am I sore afraid in my heart lest the gods fulfil his +boastings, and it be fated for us to perish here in Troy-land, far from +Argos pasture-land of horses. Up then! if thou art minded even at the +last to save the failing sons of the Achaians from the war-din of the +Trojans. Thyself shalt have grief hereafter, and when the ill is done +is there no way to find a cure therefor; in good time rather take thou +thought to ward the evil day from the Danaans. Friend, surely to thee +thy father Peleus gave commandment the day he sent thee to Agamemnon +forth from Phthia: ‘My son, strength shall Athene and Hera give thee if +they will; but do thou refrain thy proud soul in thy breast, for +gentlemindedness is the better part; and withdraw from mischievous +strife, that so the Argives may honour thee the more, both young and +old.’ Thus the old man charged thee, but thou forgettest. Yet cease now +at the last, and eschew thy grievous wrath; Agamemnon offereth thee +worthy gifts, so thou wilt cease from anger. Lo now, hearken thou to +me, and I will tell thee all the gifts that in his hut Agamemnon +promised thee: seven tripods untouched of fire, and ten talents of gold +and twenty gleaming caldrons and twelve stalwart horses, winners in the +race, that have taken prizes by their speed. No lackwealth were that +man, neither undowered of precious gold, whose substance were as great +as the prizes Agamemnon’s steeds have borne him off. And seven women +will he give, skilled in excellent handiwork, Lesbians whom he chose +him from the spoils the day that thou thyself tookest Lesbos, +surpassing womankind in beauty. These will he give thee, and with them +shall be she whom erst he took from thee, even the daughter of Briseus; +moreover he will swear a great oath that never he went up into her bed +nor had with her converse as is the wont of mankind, O king, even of +men and women. All these things shall be set straightway before thee; +and if hereafter the gods grant us to lay waste the great city of +Priam, then enter thou in when we Achaians be dividing the spoil, and +lade thy ship full of gold and bronze, and thyself choose twenty Trojan +women, the fairest that there be after Helen of Argos. And if we win to +the richest of lands, even Achaian Argos, thou shalt be his son and he +will hold thee in like honour with Orestes, his stripling boy that is +nurtured in all abundance. Three daughters are his in his well-builded +hall, Chrysothemis and Laodike and Iphianassa; take thou of them which +thou wilt, without gifts of wooing, to Peleus’ house; and he will add a +great dower such as no man ever yet gave with his daughter. And seven +well-peopled cities will he give thee, Kardamyle and Enope and grassy +Hire and holy Pherai and Antheia deep in meads, and fair Aipeia and +Pedasos land of vines. And all are nigh to the sea, on the uttermost +border of sandy Pylos; therein dwell men abounding in flocks and kine, +men that shall worship thee like a god with gifts, and beneath thy sway +fulfil thy prosperous ordinances. All this will he accomplish so thou +but cease from wrath. But and if Agamemnon be too hateful to thy heart, +both he and his gifts, yet have thou pity on all the Achaians that +faint throughout the host; these shall honour thee as a god, for verily +thou wilt earn exceeding great glory at their hands. Yea now mightest +thou slay Hector, for he would come very near thee in his deadly +madness, because he deemeth that there is no man like unto him among +the Danaans that the ships brought hither.” + +And Achilles fleet of foot answered and said unto him: “Heaven-sprung +son of Laertes, Odysseus of many wiles, in openness must I now declare +unto you my saying, even as I am minded and as the fulfilment thereof +shall be, that ye may not sit before me and coax this way and that. For +hateful to me even as the gates of hell is he that hideth one thing in +his heart and uttereth another: but I will speak what meseemeth best. +Not me, I ween, shall Agamemnon son of Atreus persuade, nor the other +Danaans, seeing we were to have no thank for battling with the foemen +ever without respite. He that abideth at home hath equal share with him +that fighteth his best, and in like honour are held both the coward and +the brave; death cometh alike to the untoiling and to him that hath +toiled long. Neither have I any profit for that I endured tribulation +of soul, ever staking my life in fight. Even as a hen bringeth her +unfledged chickens each morsel as she winneth it, and with herself it +goeth hard, even so I was wont to watch out many a sleepless night and +pass through many bloody days of battle, warring with folk for their +women’s sake. Twelve cities of men have I laid waste from ship-board, +and from land eleven, I do you to wit, throughout deep-soiled +Troy-land; out of all these took I many goodly treasures and would +bring and give them all to Agamemnon son of Atreus, and he staying +behind amid the fleet ships would take them and portion out some few +but keep the most. Now some he gave to be meeds of honour to the +princes and the kings, and theirs are left untouched; only from me of +all the Achaians took he my darling lady and keepeth her—let him sleep +beside her and take his joy! But why must the Argives make war on the +Trojans? why hath Atreides gathered his host and led them hither? is it +not for lovely-haired Helen’s sake? Do then the sons of Atreus alone of +mortal men love their wives? surely whatsoever man is good and sound of +mind loveth his own and cherisheth her, even as I too loved mine with +all my heart, though but the captive of my spear. But now that he hath +taken my meed of honour from mine arms and hath deceived me, let him +not tempt me that know him full well; he shall not prevail. Nay, +Odysseus, let him take counsel with thee and all the princes to ward +from the ships the consuming fire. Verily without mine aid he hath +wrought many things, and built a wall and dug a foss about it wide and +deep, and set a palisade therein; yet even so can he not stay murderous +Hector’s might. But so long as I was fighting amid the Achaians, Hector +had no mind to array his battle far from the wall, but scarce came unto +the Skaian gates and to the oak-tree; there once he awaited me alone +and scarce escaped my onset. But now, seeing I have no mind to fight +with noble Hector, I will to-morrow do sacrifice to Zeus and all the +gods, and store well my ships when I have launched them on the salt +sea—then shalt thou see, if thou wilt and hast any care therefor, my +ships sailing at break of day over Hellespont, the fishes’ home, and my +men right eager at the oar; and if the great Shaker of the Earth grant +me good journey, on the third day should I reach deep-soiled Phthia. +There are my great possessions that I left when I came hither to my +hurt; and yet more gold and ruddy bronze shall I bring from hence, and +fair-girdled women and grey iron, all at least that were mine by lot; +only my meed of honour hath he that gave it me taken back in his +despitefulness, even lord Agamemnon son of Atreus. To him declare ye +everything even as I charge you, openly, that all the Achaians likewise +may have indignation, if haply he hopeth to beguile yet some other +Danaan, for that he is ever clothed in shamelessness. Verily not in my +face would he dare to look, though he have the front of a dog. Neither +will I devise counsel with him nor any enterprise, for utterly he hath +deceived me and done wickedly; but never again shall he beguile me with +fair speech—let this suffice him. Let him begone in peace; Zeus the +lord of counsel hath taken away his wits. Hateful to me are his gifts, +and I hold him at a straw’s worth. Not even if he gave me ten times, +yea twenty, all that now is his, and all that may come to him +otherwhence, even all the revenue of Orchomenos or Egyptian Thebes +where the treasure-houses are stored fullest—Thebes of the hundred +gates, whence sally forth two hundred warriors through each with horses +and chariots—nay, nor gifts in number as sand or dust; not even so +shall Agamemnon persuade my soul till he have paid me back all the +bitter despite. And the daughter of Agamemnon son of Atreus will I not +wed, not were she rival of golden Aphrodite for fairness and for +handiwork matched bright-eyed Athene—not even then will I wed her; let +him choose him of the Achaians another that is his peer and is more +royal than I. For if the gods indeed preserve me and I come unto my +home, then will Peleus himself seek me a wife. Many Achaian maidens are +there throughout Hellas and Phthia, daughters of princes that ward +their cities; whomsoever of these I wish will I make my dear lady. Very +often was my high soul moved to take me there a wedded wife, a help +meet for me, and have joy of the possessions that the old man Peleus +possesseth. For not of like worth with life hold I even all the wealth +that men say was possessed of the well-peopled city of Ilios in days of +peace gone by, before the sons of the Achaians came; neither all the +treasure that the stone threshold of the archer Phoebus Apollo +encompasseth in rocky Pytho. For kine and goodly flocks are to be had +for the harrying, and tripods and chestnut horses for the purchasing; +but to bring back man’s life neither harrying nor earning availeth when +once it hath passed the barrier of his lips. For thus my goddess mother +telleth me, Thetis the silver-footed, that twain fates are bearing me +to the issue of death. If I abide here and besiege the Trojans’ city, +then my returning home is taken from me, but my fame shall be +imperishable; but if I go home to my dear native land, my high fame is +taken from me, but my life shall endure long while, neither shall the +issue of death soon reach me. Moreover I would counsel you all to set +sail homeward, seeing ye shall never reach your goal of steep Ilios; of +a surety far-seeing Zeus holdeth his hand over her and her folk are of +good courage. So go your way and tell my answer to the princes of the +Achaians, even as is the office of elders, that they may devise in +their hearts some other better counsel, such as shall save them their +ships and the host of the Achaians amid the hollow ships: since this +counsel availeth them naught that they have now devised, by reason of +my fierce wrath. But let Phoinix now abide with us and lay him to rest, +that he may follow with me on my ships to our dear native land +to-morrow, if he will; for I will not take him perforce.” + +So spake he, and they all held their peace and were still, and +marvelled at his saying; for he denied them very vehemently. But at the +last spake to them the old knight Phoinix, bursting into tears, because +he was sore afraid for the ships of the Achaians: “If indeed thou +ponderest departure in thy heart, glorious Achilles, and hast no mind +at all to save the fleet ships from consuming fire, because that wrath +hath entered into thy heart; how can I be left of thee, dear son, alone +thereafter? To thee did the old knight Peleus send me the day he sent +thee to Agamemnon forth from Phthia, a stripling yet unskilled in equal +war and in debate wherein men wax pre-eminent. Therefore sent he me to +teach thee all these things, to be both a speaker of words and a doer +of deeds. So would I not be left alone of thee, dear son, not even if +god himself should take on him to strip my years from me, and make me +fresh and young as in the day when first I left Hellas the home of fair +women, fleeing from strife against my father Amyntor son of Ormenos: +for he was sore angered with me by reason of his lovely-haired +concubine, whom he ever cherished and wronged his wife my mother. So +she besought me continually by my knees to go in first unto the +concubine, that the old man might be hateful to her. I hearkened to her +and did the deed; but my sire was ware thereof forthwith and cursed me +mightily, and called the dire Erinyes to look that never should any +dear son sprung of my body sit upon my* knees: and the gods fulfilled +his curse, even Zeus of the underworld and dread Persephone. [Then took +I counsel to slay him with the keen sword; but some immortal stayed +mine anger, bringing to my mind the people’s voice and all the +reproaches of men, lest I should be called a father-slayer amid the +Achaians.] Then would my soul no more be refrained at all within my +breast to tarry in the halls of mine angered father. Now my fellows and +my kinsmen came about me with many prayers, and refrained me there +within the halls, and slaughtered many goodly sheep and shambling kine +with crooked horns; and many swine rich with fat were stretched to +singe over the flames of Hephaistos, and wine from that old man’s jars +was drunken without stint. Nine nights long slept they all night around +my body; they kept watch in turn, neither were the fires quenched, one +beneath the colonnade of the fenced courtyard and another in the porch +before the chamber doors. But when the tenth dark night was come upon +me, then burst I my cunningly fitted chamber doors, and issued forth +and overleapt the courtyard fence lightly, unmarked of watchmen and +handmaidens. Then fled I far through Hellas of wide lawns, and came to +deep-soiled Phthia, mother of flocks, even unto king Peleus; and he +received me kindly and cherished me as a father cherisheth his only +son, his stripling heir of great possessions; and he made me rich and +gave much people to me, and I dwelt in the uttermost part of Phthia and +was king over the Dolopians. Yea, I reared thee to this greatness, thou +godlike Achilles, with my heart’s love; for with none other wouldest +thou go unto the feast, neither take meat in the hall, till that I had +set thee upon my knees and stayed thee with the savoury morsel cut +first for thee, and put the wine-cup to thy lips. Oft hast thou stained +the doublet on my breast with sputtering of wine in thy sorry +helplessness. Thus I suffered much with thee and much I toiled, being +mindful that the gods in nowise created any issue of my body; but I +made thee my son, thou godlike Achilles, that thou mayest yet save me +from grievous destruction. Therefore, Achilles, rule thy high spirit; +neither beseemeth it thee to have a ruthless heart. Nay, even the very +gods can bend, and theirs withal is loftier majesty and honour and +might. Their hearts by incense and reverent vows and drink-offering and +burnt-offering men turn with prayer, so oft as any transgresseth and +doeth sin. Moreover Prayers of penitence are daughters of great Zeus, +halting and wrinkled and of eyes askance, that have their task withal +to go in the steps of Sin. For Sin is strong and fleet of foot, +wherefore she far outrunneth all prayers, and goeth before them over +all the earth making men fall, and Prayers follow behind to heal the +harm. Now whosoever reverenceth Zeus’ daughters when they draw near, +him they greatly bless and hear his petitions; but when one denieth +them and stiffly refuseth, then depart they and make prayer unto Zeus +the son of Kronos that sin may come upon such an one, that he may fall +and pay the price. Nay, Achilles, look thou too that there attend upon +the daughters of Zeus the reverence that bendeth the heart of all men +that be right-minded. For if Atreides brought thee not gifts and +foretold thee not more hereafter, but were ever furiously wroth, then I +were not he that should bid thee cast aside thine anger and save the +Argives, even in their sore need of thee. But now he both offereth thee +forthwith many gifts, and promiseth thee more hereafter, and hath sent +heroes to beseech thee, the best men chosen throughout the host of the +Achaians and that to thyself are dearest of the Argives; dishonour not +thou their petition nor their journey hither; though erst it were no +wrong that thou wast wroth. Even in like manner have we heard the fame +of those heroes that were of old, as oft as furious anger came on any; +they might be won by gifts and prevailed upon by speech. This tale have +I in mind of old time and not of yesterday, even as it was; and I will +tell it among you that all are friends. The Kuretes** fought and the +staunch Aitolians about the city of Kalydon, and slew one another, the +Aitolians defending lovely Kalydon, the Kuretes eager to lay it waste +in war. For Artemis of the golden throne had brought a plague upon +them, in wrath that Oineus offered her not the harvest first-fruits on +the fat of his garden land; for all the other gods had their feast of +hecatombs, and only to the daughter of great Zeus offered he not, +whether he forgat or marked it not; and therein sinned he sore in his +heart. So the Archer-goddess was wroth and sent against him a creature +of heaven, a fierce wild boar, white-tusked, that wrought sore ill +continually on Oineus’ garden land; many a tall tree laid he low +utterly, even root and apple blossom therewith. But him slew Meleagros +the son of Oineus, having gathered together from many cities huntsmen +and hounds; for not of few men could the boar be slain, so mighty was +he; and many an one brought he to the grievous pyre. But the goddess +made much turmoil over him and tumult concerning the boar’s head and +shaggy hide, between the Kuretes and great-hearted Aitolians. Now so +long as Meleagros dear to Ares fought, so long it went ill with the +Kuretes, neither dared they face him without their city walls, for all +they were very many. But when Meleagros grew full of wrath, such as +swelleth the hearts of others likewise in their breasts, though they be +wise of mind, then in anger of heart at his dear mother Althaia he +tarried beside his wedded wife, fair Kleopatra, daughter of Marpessa +fair-ankled daughter of Euenos, and of Ides that was strongest of men +that were then upon the earth; he it was that took the bow to face the +king Phoebus Apollo for sake of the fair-ankled damsel***. And she was +called Alkyone of her father and lady mother by surname in their hall, +because her mother in the plight of the plaintive halcyon-bird wept +when the far-darter Phoebus Apollo snatched her away. By her side lay +Meleagros, brooding on his grievous anger, being wroth by reason of his +mother’s curses: for she, grieved for her brethren’s death, prayed +instantly to the gods, and with her hands likewise beat instantly upon +the fertile earth, calling on Hades and dread Persephone, while she +knelt upon her knees and made her bosom wet with tears, to bring her +son to death; and Erinnys that walketh in darkness, whose heart knoweth +not ruth, heard her from Erebos, Now was the din of foemen about their +gates quickly risen, and a noise of battering of towers; and the elders +of the Aitolians sent the best of the gods’ priests and besought him to +come forth and save them, with promise of a mighty gift; to wit, they +bade him, where the plain of lovely Kalydon was fattest, to choose him +out a fair demesne of fifty plough-gates, the half thereof vine-land +and the half open plough-land, to be cut from out the plain. And old +knightly Oineus prayed him instantly, and stood upon the threshold of +his high-roofed chamber, and shook the morticed doors to beseech his +son; him too his sisters and his lady mother prayed instantly—but he +denied them yet more—instantly too his comrades prayed, that were +nearest him and dearest of all men. Yet even so persuaded they not his +heart within his breast, until his chamber was now hotly battered and +the Kuretes were climbing upon the towers and firing the great city. +Then did his fair-girdled wife pray Meleagros with lamentation, and +told him all the woes that come on men whose city is taken; the +warriors are slain, and the city is wasted of fire, and the children +and the deep-girdled women are led captive of strangers. And his soul +was stirred to hear the grievous tale, and he went his way and donned +his glittering armour. So he saved the Aitolians from the evil day, +obeying his own will; but they paid him not now the gifts many and +gracious; yet nevertheless he drave away destruction. But be not thine +heart thus minded, neither let heaven so guide thee, dear son; that +were a hard thing, to save the ships already burning. Nay, come for the +gifts; the Achaians shall honour thee even as a god. But if without +gifts thou enter into battle the bane of men, thou wilt not be held in +like honour, even though thou avert the fray.” + +* Or “his knees,” according to the more usual interpretation of οῖσιν. + + +** Note 2. + + +*** Note 3. + + +And Achilles fleet of foot made answer and said to him: “Phoinix my +father, thou old man fosterling of Zeus, such honour need I in no wise; +for I deem that I have been honoured by the judgment of Zeus, which +shall abide upon me amid my beaked ships as long as breath tarrieth in +my body and my limbs are strong. Moreover I will say this thing to thee +and lay thou it to thine heart; trouble not my soul by weeping and +lamentation, to do the pleasure of warrior Atreides; neither beseemeth +it thee to cherish him, lest thou be hated of me that cherish thee. It +were good that thou with me shouldest vex him that vexeth me. Be thou +king even as I, and share my sway by halves, but these shall bear my +message. So tarry thou here and lay thee to rest in a soft bed, and +with break of day will we consider whether to depart unto our own, or +to abide.” + +He spake, and nodded his brow in silence unto Patroklos to spread for +Phoinix a thick couch, that the others might bethink them to depart +from the hut with speed. Then spake to them Aias, Telamon’s godlike +son, and said: “Heaven-sprung son of Laertes, Odysseus of many wiles, +let us go hence; for methinks the purpose of our charge will not by +this journey be accomplished; and we must tell the news, though it be +no wise good, with all speed unto the Danaans, that now sit awaiting. +But Achilles hath wrought his proud soul to fury within him—stubborn +man, that recketh naught of his comrades’ love, wherein we worshipped +him beyond all men amid the ships—unmerciful! Yet doth a man accept +recompense of his brother’s murderer or for his dead son; and so the +man-slayer for a great price abideth in his own land, and the kinsman’s +heart is appeased, and his proud soul, when he hath taken the +recompense. But for thee, the gods have put within thy breast a spirit +implacable and evil, by reason of one single damsel. And now we offer +thee seven damsels, far best of all, and many other gifts besides; +entertain thou then a kindly spirit, and have respect unto thine home; +because we are guests of thy roof, sent of the multitude of Danaans, +and we would fain be nearest to thee and dearest beyond all other +Achaians, as many as there be.” + +And Achilles fleet of foot made answer and said to him: “Aias sprung of +Zeus, thou son of Telamon, prince of the folk, thou seemest to speak +all this almost after mine own mind; but my heart swelleth with wrath +as oft as I bethink me of those things, how Atreides entreated me +arrogantly among the Argives, as though I were some worthless +sojourner. But go ye and declare my message; I will not take thought of +bloody war until that wise Priam’s son, noble Hector, come to the +Myrmidons’ huts and ships, slaying the Argives, and smirch the ships +with fire. But about mine hut and black ship I ween that Hector, though +he be very eager for battle, shall be refrained.” + +So said he, and they took each man a two-handled cup, and made libation +and went back along the line of ships; and Odysseus led the way. And +Patroklos bade his fellows and handmaidens spread with all speed a +thick couch for Phoinix; and they obeyed and spread a couch as he +ordained, fleeces and rugs and fine flock of linen. Then the old man +laid him down and tarried for bright Dawn. And Achilles slept in the +corner of the morticed hut, and by his side lay a woman that he brought +from Lesbos, even Phorbas’ daughter fair-cheeked Diomede. And on the +other side Patroklos lay, and by his side likewise fair-girdled Iphis, +whom noble Achilles gave him at the taking of steep Skyros, the city of +Enyeus. + + +Now when those were come unto Atreides’ huts, the sons of the Achaians +stood up on this side and on that, and pledged them in cups of gold, +and questioned them; and Agamemnon king of men asked them first: “Come +now, tell me, Odysseus full of praise, thou great glory of the +Achaians; will he save the ships from consuming fire, or said he nay, +and hath wrath yet hold of his proud spirit?” + +And steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him: “Most noble son of Atreus, +Agamemnon king of men, he yonder hath no mind to quench his wrath, but +is yet more filled of fury, and spurneth thee and thy gifts. He biddeth +thee take counsel for thyself amid the Argives, how to save the ships +and folk of the Achaians. And for himself he threateneth that at break +of day he will launch upon the sea his trim well-benched ships. +Moreover he said that he would counsel all to sail for home, because ye +now shall never reach your goal of steep Ilios; surely far-seeing Zeus +holdeth his hand over her and her folk are of good courage. Even so +said he, and here are also these to tell the tale that were my +companions, Aias and the two heralds, both men discreet. But the old +man Phoinix laid him there to rest, even as Achilles bade him, that he +may follow with him on his ships to his dear native land to-morrow, if +he will; for he will not take him perforce.” + +So said he, and they all held their peace and were still, marvelling at +his saying, for he harangued very vehemently. Long were the sons of the +Achaians voiceless for grief, but at the last Diomedes of the loud +war-cry spake amid them: “Most noble son of Atreus, Agamemnon king of +men, would thou hadst never besought Peleus’ glorious son with offer of +gifts innumerable; proud is he at any time, but now hast thou yet far +more encouraged him in his haughtiness. Howbeit we will let him bide, +whether he go or tarry; hereafter he shall fight, whenever his heart +within him biddeth and god arouseth him. Come now, even as I shall say +let us all obey. Go ye now to rest, full to your hearts’ desire of meat +and wine, wherein courage is and strength; but when fair rosy-fingered +Dawn appeareth, array thou with all speed before the ships thy folk and +horsemen, and urge them on; and fight thyself amid the foremost.” + +So said he, and all the princes gave assent, applauding the saying of +Diomedes tamer of horses. And then they made libation and went every +man to his hut, and there laid them to rest and took the boon of sleep. + + + + +BOOK X. + + +How Diomedes and Odysseus slew Dolon, a spy of the Trojans, and +themselves spied on the Trojan camp, and took the horses of Rhesos, the +Thracian king. + + +Now beside the ships the other leaders of the whole Achaian host were +sleeping all night long, by soft Sleep overcome, but Agamemnon son of +Atreus, shepherd of the host, sweet Sleep held not, so many things he +debated in his mind. And even as when the lord of fair-tressed Hera +lighteneth, fashioning either a mighty rain unspeakable, or hail, or +snow, when the flakes sprinkle all the ploughed lands, or fashioning +perchance the wide mouth of bitter war, even so oft in his breast +groaned Agamemnon, from the very deep of his heart, and his spirits +trembled within him. And whensoever he looked toward that Trojan plain, +he marvelled at the many fires that blazed in front of Ilios, and at +the sound of flutes and pipes, and the noise of men; but whensoever to +the ships he glanced and the host of the Achaians, then rent he many a +lock clean forth from his head, to Zeus that is above, and greatly +groaned his noble heart. + +And this in his soul seemed to him the best counsel, to go first of all +to Nestor son of Neleus, if perchance he might contrive with him some +right device that should be for the warding off of evil from all the +Danaans. + +Then he rose, and did on his doublet about his breast, and beneath his +shining feet he bound on fair sandals, and thereafter clad him in the +tawny skin of a lion fiery and great, a skin that reached to the feet, +and he grasped his spear. + +And even in like wise did trembling fear take hold on Menelaos, (for +neither on his eyelids did Sleep settle down,) lest somewhat should +befall the Argives, who verily for his sake over wide waters were come +to Troy-land, with fierce war in their thoughts. + +With a dappled pard’s skin first he covered his broad shoulders, and he +raised and set on his head a casque of bronze, and took a spear in his +strong hand. Then went he on his way to rouse his brother, that +mightily ruled over all the Argives, and as a god was honoured by the +people. Him found he harnessing his goodly gear about his shoulders, by +the stern of the ship, and glad to his brother was his coming. Then +Menelaos of the loud war-cry first accosted him: “Wherefore thus, dear +brother, art thou arming? Wilt thou speed forth any of thy comrades to +spy on the Trojans? Nay, terribly I fear lest none should undertake for +thee this deed, even to go and spy out the foeman alone through the +ambrosial night; needs must he be a man right hardy of heart.” + +Then the lord Agamemnon answered him and spake: “Need of good counsel +have I and thou, Menelaos fosterling of Zeus, of counsel that will help +and save the Argives and the ships, since the heart of Zeus hath turned +again. Surely on the sacrifices of Hector hath he set his heart rather +than on ours. For never did I see, nor heard any tell, that one man +devised so many terrible deeds in one day, as Hector, dear to Zeus, +hath wrought on the sons of the Achaians, unaided; though no dear son +of a goddess is he, nor of a god. He hath done deeds that methinks will +be a sorrow to the Argives, lasting and long, such evils hath he +devised against the Achaians. But go now, run swiftly by the ships, and +summon Aias and Idomeneus, but I will betake me to noble Nestor, and +bid him arise, if perchance he will be fain to go to the sacred company +of the sentinels and lay on them his command. For to him above others +would they listen, for his own son is chief among the sentinels, he and +the brother in arms of Idomeneus, even Meriones, for to them above all +we entrusted this charge.” + +Then Menelaos of the loud war-cry answered him: “How meanest thou this +word wherewith thou dost command and exhort me? Am I to abide there +with them, waiting till thou comest, or run back again to thee when I +have well delivered to them thy commandment?” + +Then the king of men, Agamemnon, answered him again: “There do thou +abide lest we miss each other as we go, for many are the paths through +the camp. But call aloud, wheresoever thou goest, and bid men awake, +naming each man by his lineage, and his father’s name, and giving all +their dues of honour, nor be thou proud of heart. Nay rather let us +ourselves be labouring, for even thus did Zeus from our very birth +dispense to us the heaviness of toil.” + +So he spake, and sent his brother away, having clearly laid on him his +commandment. Then went he himself after Nestor, the shepherd of the +host, whom he found by his hut and black ship, in his soft bed: beside +him lay his fair dight arms, a shield, and two spears, and a shining +helmet. Beside him lay his glittering girdle wherewith the old man was +wont to gird himself when he harnessed him for war, the bane of men, +and led on the host, for he yielded not to grievous old age. Then he +raised him on his elbow, lifting his head, and spake to the son of +Atreus, inquiring of him with this word: “Who art thou that farest +alone by the ships, through the camp in the dark night, when other +mortals are sleeping? Seekest thou one of thy mules, or of thy +comrades? speak, and come not silently upon me. What need hast thou?” + +Then the king of men, Agamemnon, answered him: “O Nestor, son of +Neleus, great glory of the Achaians, thou shalt know Agamemnon, son of +Atreus, whom above all men Zeus hath planted for ever among labours, +while my breath abides within my breast, and my knees move. I wander +thus, for that sweet sleep rests not on mine eyes, but war is my care, +and the troubles of the Achaians. Yea, greatly I fear for the sake of +the Danaans, nor is my heart firm, but I am tossed to and fro, and my +heart is leaping from my breast, and my good knees tremble beneath me. +But if thou wilt do aught, since neither on thee cometh sleep, let us +go thither to the sentinels, that we may see them, lest they be fordone +with toil and drowsihead, and so are slumbering, and have quite +forgotten to keep watch. And hostile men camp hard by, nor know we at +all but that they are keen to do battle in the night.” + +Then knightly Nestor of Gerenia answered him: “Most renowned son of +Atreus, Agamemnon king of men, assuredly not all his designs will +wise-counselling Zeus fulfil for Hector, even all that now he thinketh; +nay methinks he will contend with even more troubles if but Achilles +turn back his heart from grievous anger. And verily will I follow after +thee, but let us also rouse others again, both the son of Tydeus, +spearman renowned, and Odysseus, and swift Aias, and the strong son of +Phyleus. But well it would be if one were to go and call those also, +the godlike Aias, and Idomeneus the prince; for their ships are +furthest of all, and nowise close at hand. But Menelaos will I blame, +dear as he is and worshipful, yea, even if thou be angry with me, nor +will I hide my thought, for that he slumbereth, and to thee alone hath +left the toil; now should he be toiling among all the chiefs and +beseeching them, for need no longer tolerable is coming upon us.” + +And the king of men, Agamemnon, answered him again: “Old man, another +day I even bid thee blame him, for often is he slack, and willeth not +to labour, yielding neither to unreadiness nor heedlessness of heart, +but looking toward me, and expecting mine instance. But now he awoke +far before me, and came to me, and him I sent forward to call those +concerning whom thou inquirest. But let us be gone, and them shall we +find before the gates, among the sentinels, for there I bade them +gather.” + +Then knightly Nestor of Gerenia answered him: “So will none of the +Argives be wroth with him or disobey him, when soever he doth urge any +one, and give him his commands.” + +So spake he and did on his doublet about his breast, and beneath his +bright feet he bound goodly shoon, and all around him buckled a purple +cloak, with double folds and wide, and thick down all over it. + +And he took a strong spear, pointed with sharp bronze, and he went +among the ships of the mail-clad Achaians. Then Odysseus first, the +peer of Zeus in counsel, did knightly Gerenian Nestor arouse out of +sleep, with his voice, and quickly the cry came all about his heart, +and he came forth from the hut and spake to them saying: “Wherefore +thus among the ships and through the camp do ye wander alone, in the +ambrosial night; what so great need cometh upon you?” + +Then knightly Nestor of Gerenia answered him: “Laertes’ son, of the +seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many a wile, be not wroth, for great trouble +besetteth the Achaians. Nay follow, that we may arouse others too, even +all that it behoveth to take counsel, whether we should fly, or fight.” + +So spake he, and Odysseus of the many counsels came to the hut, and +cast a shield bedight about his shoulders, and went after them. + +And they went to seek Diomedes, son of Tydeus, and him they found +outside his hut, with his arms, and around him his comrades were +sleeping with their shields beneath their heads, but their spears were +driven into the ground erect on the spikes of the butts, and afar shone +the bronze, like the lightning of father Zeus. Now that hero was +asleep, and under him was strewn the hide of an ox of the field, but +beneath his head was stretched a shining carpet. Beside him went and +stood knightly Nestor of Gerenia and stirred him with a touch of his +foot, and aroused him, chiding him to his face, saying: “Wake, son of +Tydeus, why all night long dost thou sleep? Knowest thou not that the +Trojans on the high place of the plain are camped near the ships, and +but a little space holdeth them apart?” + +So spake he, and Diomedes sprang swiftly up out of sleep, and spake to +him winged words: “Hard art thou, old man, and from toil thou never +ceasest. Now are there not other younger sons of the Achaians, who +might rouse when there is need each of the kings, going all around the +host? but thou, old man, art indomitable.” + +And him knightly Nestor of Gerenia answered again, “Nay verily, my son, +all this that thou sayest is according unto right. Noble sons have I, +and there be many of the host, of whom each man might go and call the +others. But a right great need hath assailed the Achaians. For now to +all of us it standeth on a razor’s edge, either pitiful ruin for the +Achaians, or life. But come now, if indeed thou dost pity me, rouse +swift Aias, and the son of Phyleus, for thou art younger than I.” + +So spake he, and Diomedes cast round his shoulders the skin of a great +fiery lion, that reached to his feet, and he grasped his spear, and +started on his way, and roused the others from their place and led them +on. + +Now when they had come among the assembled sentinels, they found not +the leaders of the sentinels asleep, but they all sat wide awake with +their arms. And even as hounds keep difficult guard round the sheep in +a fold, having heard a hardy wild beast that cometh through the wood +among the hills, and much clamour riseth round him of hounds and men, +and sleep perisheth from them, even so sweet sleep did perish from +their eyes, as they watched through the wicked night, for ever were +they turning toward the plains, when they heard the Trojans moving. + +And that old man was glad when he saw them, and heartened them with his +saying, and calling out to them he spake winged words: “Even so now, +dear children, do ye keep watch, nor let sleep take any man, lest we +become a cause of rejoicing to them that hate us.” + +So saying he sped through the moat, and they followed with him, the +kings of the Argives, who had been called to the council. And with them +went Meriones, and the glorious son of Nestor, for they called them to +share their counsel. So they went clean out of the delved foss, and sat +down in the open, where the mid-space was clear of dead men fallen, +where fierce Hector had turned again from destroying the Argives, when +night covered all. There sat they down, and declared their saying each +to the other, and to them knightly Nestor of Gerenia began discourse: +“O friends, is there then no man that would trust to his own daring +spirit, to go among the great-hearted Trojans, if perchance he might +take some straggler of the enemy, yea, or hear perchance some rumour +among the Trojans, and what things they devise among themselves, +whether they are fain to abide there by the ships, away from the city, +or will retreat again to the city, now that they have conquered the +Achaians? All this might such an one learn, and back to us come +scathless: great would be his fame under heaven among all men, and a +goodly gift will be given him. For all the best men that bear sway by +the ships, each and all of them will give him a black ewe, with her +lamb at her foot,—no chattel may compare with her,—and ever will he be +present at feasts and clan-drinkings.” + +So spake he, and thereon were they all silent, holding their peace, but +to them spake Diomedes of the loud war-cry: “Nestor, my heart and +manful spirit urge me to enter the camp of the foemen hard by, even of +the Trojans: but and if some other man will follow with me, more +comfort and more courage will there be. If two go together, one before +another perceiveth a matter, how there may be gain therein; but if one +alone perceive aught, even so his wit is shorter, and weak his device.” + +So spake he, and many were they that wished to follow Diomedes. The two +Aiantes were willing, men of Ares’ company, and Meriones was willing, +and right willing the son of Nestor, and the son of Atreus, Menelaos, +spearman renowned, yea and the hardy Odysseus was willing to steal into +the throng of Trojans, for always daring was his heart within him. But +among them spake the king of men, Agamemnon: “Diomedes son of Tydeus, +joy of mine heart, thy comrade verily shalt thou choose, whomsoever +thou wilt, the best of them that be here, for many are eager. But do +not thou, out of reverent heart, leave the better man behind, and give +thyself the worse companion, yielding to regard for any, and looking to +their lineage, even if one be more kingly born.” + +So spake he, but was in fear for the sake of fair-haired Menelaos. But +to them again answered Diomedes of the loud war-cry: “If indeed ye bid +me choose myself a comrade, how then could I be unmindful of godlike +Odysseus, whose heart is passing eager, and his spirit so manful in all +manner of toils; and Pallas Athene loveth him. But while he cometh with +me, even out of burning fire might we both return, for he excelleth in +understanding.” + +Then him again answered the steadfast noble Odysseus: “Son of Tydeus, +praise me not overmuch, neither blame me aught, for thou speakest thus +among the Argives that themselves know all. But let us be going, for +truly the night is waning, and near is the dawn, and the stars have +gone onward, and the night has advanced more than two watches, but the +third watch is yet left.” + +So spake they, and harnessed them in their dread armour. To the son of +Tydeus did Thrasymedes steadfast in war give a two-edged sword (for his +own was left by his ship) and a shield, and about his head set a helm +of bull’s hide, without cone or crest, that is called a skull-cap, and +keeps the heads of stalwart youths. And Meriones gave Odysseus a bow +and a quiver, and a sword, and on his head set a helm made of leather, +and with many a thong was it stiffly wrought within, while without the +white teeth of a boar of flashing tusks were arrayed thick set on +either side, well and cunningly, and in the midst was fixed a cap of +felt. This casque Autolykos once stole from Amyntor son of Ormenos, out +of Eleon, breaking into his well-builded house; and he gave it to +Amphidamas of Kythera to take to Skandeia and Amphidamas gave it for a +guest-gift to Molos, who gave it to his own son Meriones to wear, and +now it was set to cover the head of Odysseus. + +So when these twain had harnessed them in their dread armour, they set +forth to go, and left there all the best of the host. And to them did +Pallas Athene send forth an omen on the right, a heron hard by the way, +and they beheld it not with their eyes, through the dark night, but +they heard its shrill cry. And Odysseus was glad in the omen of the +bird, and prayed to Athene: “Listen to me, thou child of aegis-bearing +Zeus, that ever in all toils dost stand by me, nor doth any motion of +mine escape thee: but now again above all be thou friendly to me, +Athene, and grant that we come back with renown to the ships, having +wrought a great work, that shall be sorrow to the Trojans.” + +Next again prayed Diomedes of the loud war-cry: “Listen now likewise to +me, thou child of Zeus, unwearied maiden, and follow with me as when +with my father thou didst follow, even noble Tydeus, into Thebes, when +he went forth as a messenger from the Achaians. And them he left by the +Asopos, the mail-clad Achaians, and a honeyed word he bare to the +Kadmeians in that place; but on his backward way he devised right +terrible deeds, with thee, fair goddess, for eager didst thou stand by +him. Even so now stand thou by me willingly, and protect me. And to +thee will I sacrifice a yearling heifer, broad of brow, unbroken, that +never yet hath man led below the yoke. Her will I sacrifice to thee, +and gild her horns with gold.” + +So spake they in their prayer, and Pallas Athene heard them. And when +they had prayed to the daughter of mighty Zeus, they went forth on +their way, like two lions, through the dark night, amid the slaughter, +amid the slain men, through the arms and the black blood. + +Nay, nor the stout-hearted Trojans did Hector suffer to sleep, but he +called together all the best of them, all that were chiefs and leaders +of the Trojans, them did he call together, and contrived a crafty +counsel: “Who is there that would promise and perform for me this deed, +for a great gift? yea his reward shall be sufficient. For I will give +him a chariot, and two horses of arching neck, the best that be at the +swift ships of the Achaians, to whosoever shall dare the deed, and for +himself shall win glory. And the deed is this; to go near the +swift-faring ships, and seek out whether the swift ships are guarded, +as of old, or whether already, being subdued beneath our hands, the +foes are devising of flight among themselves, and have no care to watch +through the night, being fordone with dread weariness.” + +So spake he, but they were all silent and held their peace. Now there +was among the Trojans one Dolon, the son of Eumedes the godlike herald, +and he was rich in gold, and rich in bronze: and verily he was ill +favoured to look upon, but swift of foot; now he was an only son among +five sisters. So he spake then a word to the Trojans and to Hector: +“Hector, my heart and manful spirit urge me to go near the swift-faring +ships, and spy out all. But come, I pray thee, hold up the staff, and +swear to me, that verily thou wilt give me the horses and the chariots +bedight with bronze that bear the noble son of Peleus. But to thee I +will prove no vain spy, nor disappoint thy hope. For I will go straight +to the camp, until I may come to the ship of Agamemnon, where surely +the chiefs are like to hold council, whether to fight or flee.” + +So spake he, and Hector took the staff in his hand, and sware to him: +“Now let Zeus himself be witness, the loud-thundering lord of Hera, +that no other man of the Trojans shall mount those horses, but thou, I +declare, shalt rejoice in them for ever.” + +So spake he, and sware a bootless oath thereto, and aroused Dolon to +go. And straightway he cast on his shoulders his crooked bow, and did +on thereover the skin of a grey wolf, and on his head a helm of +ferret-skin, and took a sharp javelin, and went on his way to the ships +from the host. But he was not like to come back from the ships and +bring word to Hector. + +But when he had left the throng of men and horses, he went forth +eagerly on the way, and Odysseus of the seed of Zeus was ware of him as +he approached, and said unto Diomedes: “Lo, here is some man, Diomedes, +coming from the camp, I know not whether as a spy to our ships, or to +strip certain of the dead men fallen. But let us suffer him to pass by +us a little way on the plain, and thereafter may we rush on him and +take him speedily, and if it chance that he outrun us by speed of foot, +ever do thou hem him in towards the ships and away from the camp, +rushing on him with thy spear, lest in any wise he escape towards the +city.” + +So they spake, and turning out of the path they lay down among the +bodies of the dead; and swiftly Dolon ran past them in his witlessness. +But when he was as far off as is the length of the furrow made by +mules, (for better far are they than kine, tho drag the jointed plough +through the deep fallow,) these twain ran after him, and he stood still +when he heard the sound, supposing in his heart that they were friends +come from among the Trojans to turn him back, at the countermand of +Hector. But when they were about a spear-cast off, or even less, he +knew them for foemen, and stirred his swift limbs to fly, and speedily +they started in pursuit. + +And as when two sharp-toothed hounds, well skilled in the chase, press +ever hard on a doe or a hare through a wooded land, and it runs +screaming before them, even so Tydeus’ son and Odysseus the sacker of +cities cut Dolon off from the host, and ever pursued hard after him. +But when he was just about to come among the sentinels, in his flight +towards the ships, then Athene poured strength into the son of Tydeus, +that none of the mail-clad Achaians might boast himself the first to +smite, and he come second. And strong Diomedes leaped upon him with the +spear, and said: “Stand, or I shall overtake thee with the spear, and +methinks that thou shalt not long avoid sheer destruction at my hand.” + +So spake he, and threw his spear, but of his own will he missed the +man, and passing over his right shoulder the point of the polished +spear stuck fast in the ground: and Dolon stood still, in great dread +and trembling, and the teeth chattered in his mouth, and he was green +with fear. Then the twain came up with him, panting, and gripped his +hands, and weeping he spake: “Take me alive, and I will ransom myself, +for within our house there is bronze, and gold, and smithied iron, +wherefrom my father would do you grace with ransom untold, if he should +learn that I am alive among the ships of the Achaians.” + +Then Odysseus of the many counsels answered him and said: “Take +courage, let not death be in thy mind, but come speak and tell me truly +all the tale, why thus from the host lost thou come all alone among the +ships, through the black night, when other mortals are sleeping? Comest +thou to strip certain of the dead men fallen, or did Hector send thee +forth to spy out everything at the hollow ships, or did thine own +spirit urge thee on?” + +Then Dolon answered him, his limbs trembling beneath him: “With many a +blind hope did Hector lead my wits astray, who vowed to give me the +whole-hooved horses of the proud son of Peleus, and his car bedight +with bronze: and he bade me fare through the swift black night, and +draw nigh the foemen, and seek out whether the swift ships are guarded, +as of old, or whether, already, being subdued beneath our hands, they +are devising of flight among themselves, and have no care to watch +through the night, being fordone with dread weariness.” + +And smiling thereat did Odysseus of the many counsels make him answer: +“Verily now thy soul was set on great rewards, even the horses of the +wise son of Aiakos, but hard are they for mortal men to master, and +hard to drive, for any but Achilles only, whom a deathless mother bare. +But come, tell me all this truly, all the tale: where when thou camest +hither didst thou leave Hector, shepherd of the host, and where lie his +warlike gear, and where his horses? And how are disposed the watches, +and the beds of the other Trojans? And what counsel take they among +themselves; are they fain to abide there nigh the ships, afar from the +city, or will they return to the city again, seeing that they have +subdued unto them the Achaians?” + +Then Dolon son of Eumedes made him answer again: “Lo, now all these +things will I recount to thee most truly. Hector with them that are +counsellors holdeth council by the barrow of godlike Ilos, apart from +the din, but as for the guards whereof thou askest, oh hero, no chosen +watch nor guard keepeth the host. As for all the watch fires of the +Trojans—on them is necessity, so that they watch and encourage each +other to keep guard; but, for the allies called from many lands, they +are sleeping and to the Trojans they leave it to keep watch, for no +wise near dwell the children and wives of the allies.” + +Then Odysseus of the many counsels answered him and said: “How stands +it now, do they sleep amidst the horse-taming Trojans, or apart? tell +me clearly, that I may know.” + +Then answered him Dolon son of Eumedes: “Verily all this likewise will +I recount to thee truly. Towards the sea lie the Karians, and Paionians +of the bended bow, and the Leleges and Kaukones, and noble Pelasgoi. +And towards Thymbre the Lykians have their place, and the haughty +Mysians, and the Phrygians that fight from chariots, and Maionians +lords of chariots. But wherefore do ye inquire of me throughly +concerning all these things? for if ye desire to steal into the throng +of Trojans, lo, there be those Thracians, new comers, at the furthest +point apart from the rest, and among them their king Rhesos, son of +Eïoneus. His be the fairest horses that ever I beheld, and the +greatest, whiter than snow, and for speed like the winds. And his +chariot is fashioned well with gold and silver, and golden is his +armour that he brought with him, marvellous, a wonder to behold; such +as it is in no wise fit for mortal men to bear, but for the deathless +gods. But bring me now to the swift ships, or leave me here, when ye +have bound me with a ruthless bond, that ye may go and make trial of me +whether I have spoken to you truth, or lies.” + +Then strong Diomedes, looking grimly on him, said: “Put no thought of +escape, Dolon, in thy heart, for all the good tidings thou hast +brought, since once thou hast come into our hands. For if now we +release thee or let thee go, on some later day wilt thou come to the +swift ships of the Achaians, either to play the spy, or to fight in +open war, but if subdued beneath my hands thou lose thy life, never +again wilt thou prove a bane to the Argives.” + +He spake, and that other with strong hand was about to touch his chin, +and implore his mercy, but Diomedes smote him on the midst of the neck, +rushing on him with the sword, and cut through both the sinews, and the +head of him still speaking was mingled with the dust. And they stripped +him of the casque of ferret’s skin from off his head, and of his +wolf-skin, and his bended bow, and his long spear, and these to Athene +the Giver of Spoil did noble Odysseus hold aloft in his hand, and he +prayed and spake a word: “Rejoice, O goddess, in these, for to thee +first of all the Immortals in Olympus will we call for aid; nay, but +yet again send us on against the horses and the sleeping places of the +Thracian men.” + +So spake he aloud, and lifted from him the spoils on high, and set them +on a tamarisk bush, and raised thereon a mark right plain to see, +gathering together reeds, and luxuriant shoots of tamarisk, lest they +should miss the place as they returned again through the swift dark +night. + +So the twain went forward through the arms, and the black blood, and +quickly they came to the company of Thracian men. Now they were +slumbering, fordone with toil, but their goodly weapons lay by them on +the ground, all orderly, in three rows, and by each man his pair of +steeds. And Rhesos slept in the midst, and beside him his swift horses +were bound with thongs to the topmost rim of the chariot. Him Odysseus +spied from afar, and showed him unto Diomedes: “Lo, Diomedes, this is +the man, and these are the horses whereof Dolon that we slew did give +us tidings. But come now, put forth thy great strength; it doth not +behove thee to stand idle with thy weapons: nay, loose the horses; or +do thou slay the men, and of the horses will I take heed.” + +So spake he, and into that other bright-eyed Athene breathed might, and +he began slaying on this side and on that, and hideously went up their +groaning, as they were smitten with the sword, and the earth was +reddened with blood. And like as a lion cometh on flocks without a +herdsman, on goats or sheep, and leaps upon them with evil will, so set +the son of Tydeus on the men of Thrace, till he had slain twelve. But +whomsoever the son of Tydeus drew near and smote with the sword, him +did Odysseus of the many counsels seize by the foot from behind, and +drag him out of the way, with this design in his heart, that the +fair-maned horses might lightly issue forth, and not tremble in spirit, +when they trod over the dead; for they were not yet used to dead men. +But when the son of Tydeus came upon the king, he was the thirteenth +from whom he took sweet life away, as he was breathing hard, for an +evil dream stood above his head that night, even the seed of Oineus, +through the device of Athene. Meanwhile the hardy Odysseus loosed the +whole-hooved horses, and bound them together with thongs, and drave +them out of the press, smiting them with his bow, since he had not +taken thought to lift the shining whip with his hands from the +well-dight chariot: then he whistled for a sign to noble Diomedes. + +But Diomedes stood and pondered what most daring deed he might do, +whether he should take the chariot, where lay the fair-dight armour, +and drag it out by the pole, or lift it upon high, and so bear it +forth, or whether he should take the life away from yet more of the +Thracians. And while he was pondering this in his heart, then Athene +drew near, and stood, and spake to noble Diomedes: “Bethink thee of +returning, O son of great-hearted Tydeus, to the hollow ships, lest +perchance thou come thither in flight, and perchance another god rouse +up the Trojans likewise.” + +So spake she, and he observed the voice of the utterance of the +goddess, and swiftly he sprang upon the steeds, and Odysseus smote them +with his bow, and they sped to the swift ships of the Achaians. + +Nay, nor a vain watch kept Apollo of the silver bow, when he beheld +Athene caring for the son of Tydeus; in wrath against her he stole +among the crowded press of Trojans, and aroused a counsellor of the +Thracians, Hippokoon, the noble kinsman of Rhesos. And he started out +of sleep, when he beheld the place desolate where the swift horses had +stood, and beheld the men gasping in the death struggle; then he +groaned aloud, and called out by name to his comrade dear. And a +clamour arose and din unspeakable of the Trojans hasting together, and +they marvelled at the terrible deeds, even all that the heroes had +wrought, and had gone thereafter to the hollow ships. + +But when those others came to the place where they had slain the spy of +Hector, there Odysseus, dear to Zeus, checked the swift horses, and +Tydeus’ son, leaping to the ground, set the bloody spoil in the hands +of Odysseus, and again mounted, and lashed the horses, and they sped +onward nothing loth. [to the hollow ships, for there they fain would +be]. But Nestor first heard the sound, and said: “O friends, leaders +and counsellors of the Argives, shall I be wrong or speak sooth? for my +heart bids me speak. The sound of swift-footed horses strikes upon mine +ears. Would to god that Odysseus and that strong Diomedes may even +instantly be driving the whole-hooved horses from among the Trojans; +but terribly I fear in mine heart lest the bravest of the Argives +suffer aught through the Trojans’ battle din.” + +Not yet was his whole word spoken, when they came themselves, and +leaped down to earth, but gladly the others welcomed them with +hand-clasping, and with honeyed words. And first did knightly Nestor of +Gerenia make question: “Come, tell me now, renowned Odysseus, great +glory of the Achaians, how ye twain took those horses? Was it by +stealing into the press of Trojans? Or did some god meet you, and give +you them? Wondrous like are they to rays of the sun. Ever with the +Trojans do I mix in fight, nor methinks do I tarry by the ships, old +warrior as I am. But never yet saw I such horses, nor deemed of such. +Nay, methinks some god must have encountered you and given you these. +For both of you doth Zeus the cloud-gatherer love, and the maiden of +aegis-bearing Zeus, bright-eyed Athene.” + +And him answered Odysseus of the many counsels: “O Nestor, son of +Neleus, great glory of the Achaians, lightly could a god, if so he +would, give even better steeds than these, for the gods are far +stronger than we. But as for these new come horses, whereof, old man, +thou askest me, they are Thracian, but their lord did brave Diomedes +slay, and beside him all the twelve best men of his company. The +thirteenth man was a spy we took near the ships, one that Hector and +the other haughty Trojans sent forth to pry upon our camp.” + +So spake he, and drave the whole-hooved horses through the fosse, +laughing; and the other Achaians went with him joyfully. But when they +had come to the well-built hut of the son of Tydeus, they bound the +horses with well-cut thongs, at the mangers where the swift horses of +Diomedes stood eating honey-sweet barley. + +And Odysseus placed the bloody spoils of Dolon in the stern of the +ship, that they might make ready a sacred offering to Athene. But for +themselves, they went into the sea, and washed off the thick sweat from +shins, and neck, and thighs. But when the wave of the sea had washed +the thick sweat from their skin, and their hearts revived again, they +went into polished baths, and were cleansed. + +And when they had washed, and anointed them with olive oil, they sat +down at supper, and from the full mixing bowl they drew off the +honey-sweet wine, and poured it forth to Athene. + + + + +BOOK XI. + + +Despite the glorious deeds of Agamemnon, the Trojans press hard on the +Achaians, and the beginning of evil comes on Patroklos. + + +Now Dawn arose from her couch beside proud Tithonos, to bring light to +the Immortals and to mortal men. But Zeus sent forth fierce Discord +unto the fleet ships of the Achaians, and in her hands she held the +signal of war. And she stood upon the huge black ship of Odysseus, that +was in the midst, to make her voice heard on either side, both to the +huts of Aias, son of Telamon, and to the huts of Achilles, for these +twain, trusting in their valour and the might of their hands, had drawn +up their trim ships at the two ends of the line. There stood the +goddess and cried shrilly in a great voice and terrible, and mighty +strength she set in the heart of each of the Achaians, to war and fight +unceasingly. And straightway to them war grew sweeter than to depart in +the hollow ships to their dear native land. + +Then the son of Atreus cried aloud, and bade the Argives arm them, and +himself amid them did on the flashing bronze. First he fastened fair +greaves about his legs, fitted with ankle-clasps of silver; next again +he did his breastplate about his breast, the breastplate that in time +past Kinyras gave him for a guest-gift. For afar in Cyprus did Kinyras +hear the mighty rumour how that the Achaians were about to sail forth +to Troy in their ships, wherefore did Kinyras give him the breastplate, +to do pleasure to the king. Now therein were ten courses of black +cyanus, and twelve of gold, and twenty of tin, and dark blue snakes +writhed up towards the neck, three on either side, like rainbows that +the son of Kronos hath set in the clouds, a marvel of the mortal tribes +of men. And round his shoulders he cast his sword, wherein shone studs +of gold, but the scabbard about it was silver, fitted with golden +chains. And he took the richly-dight shield of his valour that covereth +all the body of a man, a fair shield, and round about it were ten +circles of bronze, and thereon were twenty white bosses of tin, and one +in the midst of black cyanus. And thereon was embossed the Gorgon fell +of aspect glaring terribly, and about her were Dread and Terror. And +from the shield was hung a baldric of silver, and thereon was curled a +snake of cyanus; three heads interlaced had he, growing out of one +neck. And on his head Agamemnon set a two-crested helm with fourfold +plate, and plume of horse-hair, and terribly the crest nodded from +above. And he grasped two strong spears, shod with bronze and keen, and +far forth from him into the heaven shone the bronze; and thereat Hera +and Athene thundered, honouring the king of Mykene rich in gold. + +Then each man gave in charge his horses to his charioteer, to hold them +in by the fosse, well and orderly, and themselves as heavy men at arms +were hasting about, being harnessed in their gear, and unquenchable the +cry arose into the Dawn. And long before the charioteers were they +arrayed at the fosse, but after them a little way came up the drivers. +And among them the son of Kronos aroused an evil din, and from above +rained down dew danked with blood out of the upper air, for that he was +about to send many strong men down to Hades. + +But the Trojans on the other side, on the high ground of the plain, +gathered them around great Hector, and noble Polydamus, and Aineias +that as a god was honoured by the people of the Trojans, and the three +sons of Antenor, Polybos, and noble Agenor, and young Akamas like unto +the Immortals. And Hector in the foremost rank bare the circle of his +shield. And as from amid the clouds appeareth glittering a baneful +star, and then again sinketh within the shadowy clouds, even so Hector +would now appear among the foremost ranks, and again would be giving +command in the rear, and all in bronze he shone, like the lightning of +aegis-bearing father Zeus. + +And even as when reapers over against each other drive their swaths +through a rich man’s field of wheat or barley, and thick fall the +handfuls, even so the Trojans and Achaians leaped upon each other, +destroying, and neither side took thought of ruinous flight; and equal +heads had the battle, and they rushed on like wolves. And woful Discord +was glad at the sight, for she alone of the gods was with them in the +war; for the other gods were not beside them, but in peace they sat +within their halls, where the goodly mansion of each was builded in the +folds of Olympus. And they all were blaming the son of Kronos, lord of +the storm-cloud, for that he willed to give glory to the Trojans. But +of them took the father no heed, but aloof from the others he sat +apart, glad in his glory, looking toward the city of the Trojans, and +the ships of the Achaians, and the glitter of bronze, and the slayers +and the slain. + +So long as morning was, and the sacred day still waxed, so long did the +shafts of both hosts strike, and the folk fell, but about the hour when +a woodman maketh ready his meal, in the dells of a mountain, when he +hath tired his hands with felling tall trees, and weariness cometh on +his soul, and desire of sweet food taketh his heart, even then the +Danaans by their valour brake the battalions, and called on their +comrades through the lines. And in rushed Agamemnon first of all, and +slew a man, even Bienor, shepherd of the hosts, first himself, and next +his comrade Oïleus, the charioteer. He verily leaped from the chariot +and stood and faced Agamemnon, but the king smote the brow of him with +the sharp spear as he came eagerly on, and his vizor heavy with bronze +held not off the spear, but through vizor and bone it sped, and the +brain within was all scattered, and so was Oïleus overcome despite his +eagerness. + +And them did Agamemnon king of men leave in that place, with their +breasts gleaming, when he had stripped them of their corslets, and he +went on to destroy Isos and Antiphos, two sons of Priam, one born in +wedlock, the other a bastard, and both were in one chariot: the bastard +held the reins, but renowned Antiphos was fighting by him. These twain +did Achilles on the spurs of Ida once bind with fresh withes, taking +them as they herded the sheep, and he ransomed them for a price. But +now Agamemnon, son of Atreus, of the wide domain, smote Isos on the +breast, above the nipple, with his spear, but Antiphos he struck hard +by the ear, with the sword, and dashed him from the chariot. Then made +he haste, and stripped from them their goodly harness, well knowing who +they were, for he had seen them before beside the fleet ships when +swift-footed Achilles led them from Ida. And as a lion easily crusheth +the young fawns of a swift hind, when that he hath seized them in his +strong teeth, and hath come to their lair, and taketh their tender life +away,—and the hind, even if she chance to be near at hand, cannot help +them, for on herself too cometh dread terror, and swiftly she speedeth +through the thick coppice and the woodland, hasting and sweating before +the onslaught of the mighty beast,—even so not one of the Trojans did +avail to save them from their bane, but themselves were fleeing in fear +before the Argives. + +Next took he Peisandros and Hippolochos, steadfast in fight. These were +sons of wise-hearted Antimachos, who chiefly had taken the gold of +Alexandros, goodly gifts, and therefore never would consent to give +Helen to fair-haired Menelaos. His two sons then lord Agamemnon took, +both being in one car, and together they were driving the swift steeds; +for the shining reins had fallen from their hands, and the horses were +all distraught with dread, and he set on against them, like a +lion,—even the son of Atreus,—but from their chariot the twain did +supplicate him: “Take us alive, O son of Atreus, and receive worthy +ransom, for in the halls of Antimachos lie many possessions, bronze, +and gold, and smithied iron; out of these could our father do thee +grace with ransom past telling, if he heard that we twain were alive by +the ships of the Achaians.” + +So did the twain weeping beseech the king with soft words, but they +heard a voice wherein was no softness at all: “If indeed ye be the sons +of wise Antimachos, who once in the assembly of the Trojans bade slay +Menelaos there, when he came on an embassy with godlike Odysseus, nor +ever let him return to the Achaians, now verily shall ye pay the price +of your father’s foul shame.” + +He spake and dashed Peisandros from his chariot to the earth, smiting +him with the spear upon the breast, and he lay supine on the ground. +But Hippolochos rushed away, and him too he smote to earth, and cut off +his arms and his neck with the sword, then tossed him like a ball of +stone to roll through the throng. Then left he them, and where thickest +clashed the battalions, there he set on, and with him all the +well-greaved Achaians. Footmen kept slaying footmen as they were driven +in flight, and horsemen slaying horsemen with the sword, and from +beneath them rose up the dust from the plain, stirred by the thundering +hooves of horses. And the lord Agamemnon, ever slaying, followed after, +calling on the Argives. And as when ruinous fire falleth on dense +woodland, and the whirling wind beareth it everywhere, and the thickets +fall utterly before it, being smitten by the onset of the fire, even so +beneath Agamemnon son of Atreus fell the heads of the Trojans as they +fled; and many strong-necked horses rattled empty cars along the +highways of the battle, lacking their noble charioteers; but they on +the earth were lying, far more dear to the vultures than to their +wives. + +But Hector did Zeus draw forth from the darts and the dust, from the +man-slaying, and the blood, and the din, and the son of Atreus followed +on, crying eagerly to the Danaans. And past the tomb of ancient Ilos, +son of Dardanos, across the mid plain, past the place of the wild +fig-tree they sped, making for the city, and ever the son of Atreus +followed shouting, and his invincible hands were defiled with gore. But +when they were come to the Skaian gates, and the oak-tree, there then +they halted, and awaited each other. But some were still in full flight +through the mid plain, like kine that a lion hath scattered, coming on +them in the dead of night; all hath he scattered, but to one sheer +death appeareth instantly, and he breaketh her neck first, seizing her +with strong teeth, and thereafter swalloweth greedily the blood and all +the guts; even so lord Agamemnon son of Atreus followed hard on the +Trojans, ever slaying the hindmost man, and they were scattered in +flight, and on face or back many of them fell from their chariots +beneath the hands of Agamemnon, for mightily he raged with the spear. +But when he was now about coming below the city, and the steep wall, +then did the father of men and gods sit him down on the crests of +many-fountained Ida, from heaven descending, with the thunderbolt in +his hands. + +Then sent he forth Iris of the golden wings, to bear his word: “Up and +go, swift Iris, and tell this word unto Hector: So long as he sees +Agamemnon, shepherd of the host, raging among the foremost fighters, +and ruining the ranks of men, so long let him hold back, but bid the +rest of the host war with the foe in strong battle. But when, or +smitten with the spear or wounded with arrow shot, Agamemnon leapeth +into his chariot, then will I give Hector strength to slay till he come +even to the well-timbered ships, and the sun go down, and sacred +darkness draw on.” + +So spake he, and wind-footed swift Iris disobeyed him not, but she went +down from the hills of Ida to sacred Ilios, and she found the son of +wise-hearted Priam, noble Hector, standing among the horses, and +firm-bound chariots, and swift-footed Iris drew near and spake to him: +“Hector, son of Priam, peer of Zeus in counsel; lo, Zeus the father +hath sent me forth, to bear thee this command: So long as thou seest +Agamemnon, the shepherd of the host, raging among the foremost +fighters, and ruining the ranks of men, so long hold back from the +fight, but bid the rest of the host war with the foe in strong battle. +But when, or smitten with the spear or wounded with arrow shot, +Agamemnon leapeth into his chariot, then will Zeus give thee strength +to slay till thou come even to the well-timbered ships, and the sun go +down and sacred darkness draw on.” + +So spake swift-footed Iris and departed, but Hector with his harness +leaped from the chariot to the ground, and, shaking his sharp spears +went through all the host, stirring up his men to fight, and he roused +the dread din of battle. And they wheeled round, and stood and faced +the Achaians, while the Argives on the other side strengthened their +battalions. And battle was made ready, and they stood over against each +other, and Agamemnon first rushed in, being eager to fight far in front +of all. + +Tell me now, ye Muses that inhabit mansions in Olympus, who was he that +first encountered Agamemnon, whether of the Trojans themselves, or of +their allies renowned? It was Iphidamas, son of Antenor, great and +mighty, who was nurtured in Thrace rich of soil, the mother of sheep, +and Kisses his mother’s father reared him in the halls, while he was +but a little child,—even the father of Theano fair of face. Then when +he came to the measure of glorious youth, he tried to keep him there, +and offered him his own daughter; but a bridegroom new wed, he went +from his bridal chamber after the tidings of the coming of the +Achaians, with twelve beaked ships that followed after him. These trim +ships he left in Perkote, but himself came by land to Ilios; he it was +that then encountered Agamemnon son of Atreus. And when they were come +near in onset against each other, Atreus’ son missed, and his spear was +turned aside, but Iphidamas smote him on the girdle, below the corslet, +and himself pressed on, trusting to his heavy hand, but pierced not the +gleaming girdle, for long ere that the point struck on the silver, and +was bent like lead. Then wide-ruling Agamemnon caught the spear with +his hand and drew it toward him furiously, like a lion, and snatched it +out of the hand of Iphidamas, and smote his neck with the sword, and +unstrung his limbs. So even there he fell, and slept a sleep of bronze +most piteously, far from his wedded wife, helping the folk of the +city,—far from his bride, of whom he had known no joy, and much had he +given for her: first a hundred kine he gave, and thereafter promised a +thousand, goats and sheep together, whereof he had herds unspeakable. +Then did Agamemnon son of Atreus strip him, and went bearing his goodly +harness into the throng of the Achaians. + +Now when Koön beheld him, Koön Antenor’s eldest son, illustrious among +men, strong sorrow came on him, covering his eyes, for his brother’s +fall: and he stood on one side with his spear, and unmarked of noble +Agamemnon smote him on the mid-arm, beneath the elbow, and clean +through went the point of the shining spear. Then Agamemnon king of men +shuddered, yet not even so did he cease from battle and war, but rushed +against Koön, grasping his wind-nurtured spear. Verily then Koön seized +right lustily by the foot Iphidamas, his brother, and his father’s son, +and called to all the best of his men; but him, as he dragged the dead +through the press, beneath his bossy shield Agamemnon wounded with a +bronze-shod spear, and unstrung his limbs, and drew near and cut off +his head over Iphidamas. There the sons of Antenor, at the hands of +Agamemnon the king, filled up the measure of their fate, and went down +within the house of Hades. + +But Agamemnon ranged among the ranks of men, with spear, and sword, and +great stones for throwing, while yet the blood welled warm from his +wound. But when the wound waxed dry, and the blood ceased to flow, then +keen pangs came on the might of the son of Atreus. And even as when the +keen shaft cometh upon a woman in her travail, the piercing shaft that +the goddesses of the birth-pangs send, even the Eilithyiai, the +daughters of Hera that have hitter pangs in their gift, even so keen +pains sank into the might of the son of Atreus. Then leaped he into his +chariot, and bade his charioteer drive to the hollow ships, for he was +sore vexed at heart. And he called in a piercing voice, and shouted to +the Danaans: “O friends, leaders and counsellors of the Argives, do ye +now ward from the seafaring ships the harsh din of battle, for Zeus the +counsellor suffers me not all day to war with the Trojans.” + +So spake he, and his charioteer lashed the fair-maned steeds toward the +hollow ships, and they flew onward nothing loth, and their breasts were +covered with foam, and their bellies were stained with dust, as they +bore the wounded king away from the war. + +But Hector, when he beheld Agamemnon departed, cried to the Trojans and +Lykians with a loud shout: “Ye Trojans and Lykians, and Dardanians that +war in close fight, be men, my friends, and be mindful of your +impetuous valour. The best man of them hath departed and to me hath +Zeus, the son of Kronos, given great renown. But straightway drive ye +the whole-hooved horses against the mighty Danaans, that ye may be the +masters and bear away the higher glory.” + +So spake he, and aroused the might and spirit of every man. And even as +when some hunter tars on his white-toothed hounds against a boar of the +wild, or a lion, even so did Hector, son of Priam, like unto Ares the +bane of men, tar on the great-hearted Trojans against the Achaians. +Himself with high thoughts he fared among the foremost, and fell upon +the fight; like a roaring blast, that leapeth down and stirreth the +violet-coloured deep. There whom first, whom last did he slay, even +Hector, son of Priam, when Zeus vouchsafed him renown? + +Asaios first, and Autonoos, and Opites, and Dolops, son of Klytios, and +Opheltios, and Agelaos, and Aisymnos, and Oros, and Hipponoos steadfast +in the fight; these leaders of the Danaans he slew, and thereafter +smote the multitude, even as when the West Wind driveth the clouds of +the white South Wind, smiting with deep storm, and the wave swelleth +huge, rolling onward, and the spray is scattered on high beneath the +rush of the wandering wind; even so many heads of the host were smitten +by Hector. + +There had ruin begun, and deeds remedeless been wrought, and now would +all the Achaians have fled and fallen among the ships, if Odysseus had +not called to Diomedes, son of Tydeus: “Tydeus’ son, what ails us that +we forget our impetuous valour? Nay, come hither, friend, and take thy +stand by me, for verily it will be shame if Hector of the glancing helm +take the ships.” + +And to him strong Diomedes spake in answer: “Verily will I abide and +endure, but short will be all our profit, for Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, +clearly desireth to give victory to the Trojans rather than to us.” + +He spake, and drave Thymbraios from his chariot to the ground, smiting +him with the spear in the left breast, and Odysseus smote Molion the +god-like squire of that prince. These then they let be, when they had +made them cease from war, and then the twain fared through the crowd +with a din, as when two boars full of valour fall on the hunting +hounds; so rushed they on again, and slew the Trojans, while gladly the +Achaians took breath again in their flight from noble Hector. + +There took they a chariot and two of the best men of the people, two +sons of Merops of Perkote, who above all men was skilled in +soothsaying, nor would he suffer his children to go to ruinous war; but +in nowise did the twain obey him, for the Fates of black death led them +on. Them did the son of Tydeus, Diomedes, spearman renowned, deprive of +life and spirit, and took away their glorious harness. And Odysseus +stripped Hippodamos and Hypeirochos. Then Kronion stretched for them +the line of battle level, as he looked down from Ida, and they kept +slaying each other. Then Tydeus’ son smote the hero Agastrophos, son of +Paion, on the hip-joint, with his spear; nor were his horses near, for +him to flee, and great blindness was on his spirit; for the squire held +them aloof, but on foot he was charging through the foremost fighters, +till he lost his life. But Hector quickly spied them among the ranks, +and rushed upon them shouting, and with him followed the battalions of +the Trojans. And beholding him, Diomedes of the loud war-cry shuddered, +and straightway spake to Odysseus that was hard by: “Lo, on us this +ruin, even mighty Hector, is rolling: let us stand, and await him, and +ward off his onset.” + +So spake he, and swayed and sent forth his far-shadowing spear, and +smote him nor missed, for he aimed at the head, on the summit of the +crest, and bronze by bronze was turned, nor reached his fair flesh, for +it was stopped by the threefold helm with its socket, that Phoebus +Apollo to Hector gave. But Hector sprang back a wondrous way, and +mingled with the throng, and he rested, fallen on his knee, and leaned +on the ground with his stout hand, and dark night veiled his eyes. + +But while Tydeus’ son was following after his spear-cast, far through +the foremost fighters, where he saw it sink into the earth, Hector gat +breath again, and leaping back into his chariot drave out into the +throng, and avoided black Fate. Then rushing on with his spear mighty +Diomedes spake to him: “Dog, thou art now again escaped from death; yet +came ill very nigh thee: but now hath Phoebus Apollo saved thee, to +whom thou must surely pray when thou goest amid the clash of spears. +Verily I will slay thee yet when I meet thee hereafter, if any god is +helper of me too. Now will I make after the rest, whomsoever I may +seize.” + +So spake he, and stripped the son of Paeon, spearman renowned. But +Alexandros, the lord of fair-tressed Helen, aimed with his arrows at +Tydeides, shepherd of the host; leaning as he aimed against a pillar on +the barrow, by men fashioned, of Ilos, son of Dardanos, an elder of the +people in time gone by. Now Diomedes was stripping the shining corslet +of strong Agastrophos from about his breast, and the shield from his +shoulders, and his strong helmet, when Paris drew the centre of his +bow; nor vainly did the shaft fly from his hand, for he smote the flat +of the right foot of Diomedes, and the arrow went clean through, and +stood fixed in the earth; and right sweetly laughing Paris leaped up +from his lair, and boasted, and said: “Thou art smitten, nor vainly +hath the dart flown forth; would that I had smitten thee in the nether +belly, and taken thy life away. So should the Trojans have breathed +again from their trouble, they that shudder at thee, as bleating goats +at a lion.” + +But him answered strong Diomedes, no wise dismayed: “Bowman, reviler, +proud in thy bow of horn*, thou gaper after girls, verily if thou +madest trial in full harness, man to man, thy bow and showers of shafts +would nothing avail thee, but now thou boastest vainly, for that thou +hast grazed the sole of my foot. I care not, more than if a woman had +struck me or a senseless boy, for feeble is the dart of a craven man +and a worthless. In other wise from my hand, yea, if it do but touch, +the sharp shaft flieth, and straightway layeth low its man, and torn +are the cheeks of his wife, and fatherless his children, and he, +reddening the earth with his blood, doth rot away, more birds than +women round him.” + +* Or, rather, “resplendent with thy lovelock.” + + +So spake he, and Odysseus, spearman renowned, drew near, and stood in +front of him, and Diomedes sat down behind him, and drew the sharp +arrow from his foot, and a sore pang passed through his flesh. Then +sprang he into his car, and bade his charioteer drive back to the +hollow ships, for he was hurt at heart. Then Odysseus, spearman +renowned, was left alone, nor did one of the Argives abide by him, for +fear had fallen on them all. Then in heaviness he spoke to his own +great-hearted spirit: “Ah me, what thing shall befall me! A great evil +it is if I flee, in dread of the throng; yet worse is this, if I be +taken all alone, for the other Danaans hath Kronion scattered in +flight. But wherefore doth my heart thus converse with herself? for I +know that they are cowards, who flee the fight, but whosoever is a hero +in war, him it mainly behoves to stand stubbornly, whether he be +smitten, or whether he smite another.” + +While he pondered thus in heart and spirit, the ranks came on of the +Trojans under shield, and hemmed him in the midst, setting among them +their own bane. And even as when hounds and young men in their bloom +press round a boar, and he cometh forth from his deep lair, whetting +his white tusk between crooked jaws, and round him they rush, and the +sound of the gnashing of tusks ariseth, and straightway they await his +assault, so dread as he is, even so then round Odysseus, dear to Zeus, +rushed the Trojans. And first he wounded noble Deïopites, from above, +in the shoulder, leaping on him with sharp spear, and next he slew +Thoon and Ennomos, and next Chersidamas, being leapt down from his +chariot, he smote with the spear on the navel beneath the bossy shield, +and he fell in the dust and clutched the ground with the hollow of his +hand. These left he, and wounded Charops, son of Hippasos, with the +spear, the brother of high-born Sokos. And to help him came Sokos, a +godlike man, and stood hard by him, and spake saying: “O renowned +Odysseus, insatiable of craft and toil, to-day shalt thou either boast +over two sons of Hippasos, as having slain two such men of might, and +stripped their harness, or smitten by my spear shalt lose thy life.” + +So spake he, and smote him on the circle of his shield; through the +shining shield passed the strong spear, and through the fair-dight +corslet it was thrust, and tore clean off the flesh of the flanks, but +Pallas Athene did not suffer it to mingle with the bowels of the hero, +and Odysseus knew that the dart had in nowise lighted on a deadly spot, +and drawing backward, he spake unto Sokos: “Ah, wretched one, verily +sheer destruction is come upon thee. Surely thou hast made me to cease +from warring among the Trojans, but here to thee I declare that slaying +and black Fate will be upon thee this day, and beneath my spear +overthrown shalt thou give glory to me, and thy soul to Hades of the +noble steeds.” + +He spake, and the other turned, and started to flee, and in his back as +he turned he fixed the spear, between the shoulders, and drave it +through the breast. Then he fell with a crash, and noble Odysseus +boasted over him: “Ah, Sokos, son of wise-hearted Hippasos the tamer of +horses, the end of death hath come upon and caught thee, nor hast thou +avoided. Ah, wretch, thy father and lady mother shall not close thine +eyes in death, but birds that eat flesh raw shall tear thee, shrouding +thee in the multitude of their wings. But to me, if I die, the noble +Achaians will yet give due burial.” + +So spake he, and drew the mighty spear of wise-hearted Sokos forth from +his flesh, and from his bossy shield, and his blood flowed forth when +the spear was drawn away, and afflicted his spirit. And the +great-hearted Trojans when they beheld the blood of Odysseus, with +clamour through the throng came all together against him. But he gave +ground, and shouted unto his comrades: thrice he shouted then, as loud +as man’s mouth might cry, and thrice did Menelaos dear to Zeus hear his +call, and quickly he spake to Aias that was hard by him: “Aias, of the +seed of Zeus, child of Telamon, lord of the hosts, the shout of +Odysseus of the hardy heart rings round me, like as though the Trojans +were oppressing him alone among them, and had cut him off in the strong +battle. Nay, let us speed into the throng, for better it is to rescue +him. I fear lest he suffer some evil, being alone among the Trojans, so +brave as he is, and lest great sorrow for his loss come upon the +Danaans.” + +So spake he, and led the way, and the other followed him, a godlike +man. Then found they Odysseus dear to Zeus, and the Trojans beset him +like tawny jackals from the hills round a wounded horned stag, that a +man hath smitten with an arrow from the bow-string, and the stag hath +fled from him by speed of foot, as long as the blood is warm and his +limbs are strong, but when the swift arrow hath overcome him, then do +the ravening jackals rend him in the hills, in a dark wood, and then +god leadeth a murderous lion thither, and the jackals flee before him, +but he rendeth them, so then, round wise-hearted Odysseus of the crafty +counsels, did the Trojans gather, many and mighty, but that hero +thrusting on with the spear held off the pitiless day. Then Aias drew +near, bearing his shield like a tower, and stood thereby, and the +Trojans fled from him, where each man might. Then warlike Menelaos led +Odysseus out of the press, holding him by the hand, till the squire +drave up the horses. + +Then Aias leaped on the Trojans, and slew Doyrklos, bastard son of +Priam, and thereafter wounded he Pandokos, and he wounded Lysandros, +and Pyrasos, and Pylartes. And as when a brimming river cometh down +upon the plain, in winter flood from the hills, swollen by the rain of +Zeus, and many dry oaks and many pines it sucketh in, and much soil it +casteth into the sea, even so renowned Aias charged them, pursuing +through the plain, slaying horses and men. Nor wist Hector thereof at +all, for he was fighting on the left of all the battle, by the banks of +the river Skamandros, whereby chiefly fell the heads of men, and an +unquenchable cry arose, around great Nestor and warlike Idomeneus. And +Hector with them was warring, and terrible things did he, with the +spear and in horsemanship, and he ravaged the battalions of the young +men. Nor would the noble Achaians have yet given ground from the path, +if Alexandros, the lord of fair-tressed Helen, had not stayed Machaon +shepherd of the host in his valorous deeds, and smitten him on the +right shoulder with a three-barbed arrow. Therefore were the Achaians, +breathing valour, in great fear, lest men should seize Machaon in the +turning of the fight. + +Then Idomeneus spake to noble Nestor: “O Nestor, son of Neleus, great +glory of the Achaians, arise, get thee up into thy chariot, and with +thee let Machaon go, and swiftly drive to the ships the whole-hooved +horses. For a leech is worth many other men, to cut out arrows, and +spread soothing medicaments.” + +So spake he, nor did knightly Nestor of Gerenia disobey him, but +straightway gat up into his chariot, and with him went Machaon, son of +Asklepios the good leech, and he lashed the horses, and willingly flew +they forward to the hollow ships, where they desired to be. + +But Kebriones, the charioteer of Hector, beheld the Trojans driven in +flight, and spake to him, and said: “Hector, here do we contend with +the Danaans, at the limit of the wailful war, but, lo, the other +Trojans are driven in flight confusedly, men and horses. And Aias son +of Telamon is driving them; well I know him, for wide is the shield +round his shoulders. Nay, let us too urge thither the horses and +chariot, there where horsemen and footmen thickest in the forefront of +evil strife are slaying each other, and the cry goes up unquenchable.” + +So spake he, and smote the fair-maned horses with the shrill-sounding +whip, and they felt the lash, and fleetly bore the swift chariot among +the Trojans and Achaians, treading on the dead, and the shields, and +with blood was sprinkled all the axle-tree beneath, and the rims round +the car with the drops from the hooves of the horses, and with drops +from the tires about the wheels. And Hector was eager to enter the +press of men, and to leap in and break through, and evil din of battle +he brought among the Danaans, and brief space rested he from smiting +with the spear. Nay, but he ranged among the ranks of other men, with +spear, and sword, and with great stones, but he avoided the battle of +Aias son of Telamon, [for Zeus would have been wroth with him, if he +fought with a better man than himself]. + +Now father Zeus, throned in the highest, roused dread in Aias, and he +stood in amaze, and cast behind him his sevenfold shield of bull’s +hide, and gazed round in fear upon the throng, like a wild beast, +turning this way and that, and slowly retreating step by step. And as +when hounds and country folk drive a tawny lion from the mid-fold of +the kine, and suffer him not to carry away the fattest of the herd; all +night they watch, and he in great desire for the flesh maketh his +onset, but takes nothing thereby, for thick the darts fly from strong +hands against him, and the burning brands, and these he dreads for all +his fury, and in the dawn he departeth with vexed heart; even so at +that time departed Aias, vexed at heart, from among the Trojans, right +unwillingly, for he feared sore for the ships of the Achaians. And as +when a lazy ass going past a field hath the better of the boys with +him, an ass that hath had many a cudgel broken about his sides, and he +fareth into the deep crop, and wasteth it, while the boys smite him +with cudgels, and feeble is the force of them, but yet with might and +main they drive him forth, when he hath had his fill of fodder, even so +did the high-hearted Trojans and allies, called from many lands, smite +great Aias, son of Telamon, with darts on the centre of his shield, and +ever followed after him. And Aias would now be mindful of his impetuous +valour, and turn again, and hold at bay the battalions of the +horse-taming Trojans, and once more he would turn him again to flee. +Yet he hindered them all from making their way to the fleet ships, and +himself stood and smote between the Trojans and the Achaians, and the +spears from strong hands stuck some of them in his great shield, fain +to win further, and many or ever they reached his white body stood fast +halfway in the earth, right eager to sate themselves with his flesh. + +But when Eurypylos, the glorious son of Euaimon, beheld him oppressed +by showers of darts, he went and took his stand by him, and cast with +his shining spear, and smote Apisaon, son of Phausios, shepherd of the +host, in the liver, below the midriff, and straightway loosened his +knees; and Eurypylos sprang on him, and stripped the harness from his +shoulders. + +But when godlike Alexandros beheld him stripping the harness from +Apisaon, straightway he drew his bow against Eurypylos, and smote him +with a shaft on the right thigh, and the reed of the shaft brake, and +weighed down the thigh. Then Eurypylos withdrew back into the host of +his comrades, avoiding fate, and with a piercing voice he shouted to +the Danaans: “O friends, leaders and counsellors of the Argives, turn +and stand and ward off the pitiless day from Aias, that is oppressed +with darts, nor methinks will he escape out of the evil din of battle. +Nay, stand ye the rather at bay round great Aias, son of Telamon.” + +So spake Eurypylos being wounded, and they stood close together beside +him, sloping the shields on their shoulders, and holding up their +spears, and Aias came to meet them, and turned and stood when he +reached the host of his comrades. + +So they fought like unto burning fire. + +But the mares of Neleus all sweating bare Nestor out of the battle, and +also carried they Machaon, shepherd of the host. Then the noble +Achilles, swift of foot, beheld and was ware of him, for Achilles was +standing by the stern of his great ship, watching the dire toil, and +the woful rout of battle. And straightway he spake to his own comrade, +Patroklos, calling to him from beside the ship, and he heard, and from +the hut he came, like unto Ares; and this to him was the beginning of +evil. Then the strong son of Menoitios spake first to Achilles: “Why +dost thou call me, Achilles, what need hast thou of me?” + +Then swift-footed Achilles answered him and spake: “Noble son of +Menoitios, dear to my heart, now methinks that the Achaians will stand +in prayer about my knees, for need no longer tolerable cometh upon +them. But go now, Patroklos dear to Zeus, and ask Nestor who is this +that he bringeth wounded from the war. Verily from behind he is most +like Machaon, that child of Asklepios, but I beheld not the eyes of the +man, for the horses sped past me, straining forward eagerly.” + +So spake he and Patroklos obeyed his dear comrade, and started and ran +past the ships, and the huts of the Achaians. + +Now when they came to the hut of the son of Neleus, they lighted down +on the bounteous earth, and the squire, Eurymedon, loosed the horses of +that old man from the car, and they dried the sweat from their +doublets, standing before the breeze, by the shore of the sea, and +thereafter came they to the hut, and sat them down on chairs. And +fair-tressed Hekamede mixed for them a mess, Hekamede that the old man +won from Tenedos, when Achilles sacked it, and she was the daughter of +great-hearted Arsinoos, and her the Achaians chose out for him, because +always in counsel he excelled them all. First she drew before them a +fair table, polished well, with feet of cyanus, and thereon a vessel of +bronze, with onion, for relish to the drink, and pale honey, and the +grain of sacred barley, and beside it a right goodly cup, that the old +man brought from home, embossed with studs of gold, and four handles +there were to it, and round each two golden doves were feeding, and to +the cup were two feet below. Another man could scarce have lifted the +cup from the table, when it was full, but Nestor the Old raised it +easily. In this cup the woman, like unto the goddesses, mixed a mess +for them, with Pramnian wine, and therein grated cheese of goats’ milk, +with a grater of bronze, and scattered white barley thereover, and bade +them drink, whenas she had made ready the mess. + +So when the twain had drunk, and driven away parching thirst, they took +their pleasure in discourse, speaking each to the other. Now Patroklos +stood at the doors, a godlike man, and when the old man beheld him, he +arose from his shining chair, and took him by the hand, and led him in, +and bade him be seated. But Patroklos, from over against him, was for +refusing, and spake and said: “No time to sit have I, old man, +fosterling of Zeus, nor wilt thou persuade me. Revered and dreaded is +he that sent me forth to ask thee who this man is that thou bringest +home wounded. Nay, but I know myself, for I see Machaon, shepherd of +the host. And now will I go back again, a messenger, to speak a word to +Achilles. And well dost thou know, old man, fosterling of Zeus, how +terrible a man he is; lightly would he blame even one that is +blameless.” + +Then knightly Nestor of Gerenia answered him again: “Wherefore is +Achilles thus sorry for the sons of the Achaians, for as many as are +wounded with darts? He knoweth not at all what grief hath arisen in the +camp: for the best men lie in the ships, wounded by shaft or smitten by +spear. Wounded with the shaft is strong Diomedes, son of Tydeus, and +smitten is Odysseus, spearman renowned, and Agamemnon, [and Eurypylos +hath been shot with an arrow in the thigh], and this other have I but +newly carried out of battle, wounded with an arrow from the bowstring. +But Achilles, for all his valiance, careth not for the Danaans, nor +pities them at all. Doth he wait till the fleet ships hard by the shore +shall burn, maugre the Archives, in the consuming fire, and till we be +slain one upon another? For my strength is no longer what it was before +in my supple limbs. Would that I were in such youth, and my might as +steadfast, as when a strife was set between the Eleians and ourselves, +about a raid on the kine; what time I slew Itymoneus, the brave son of +Hypeirochos, a dweller in Elis, when I was driving the spoil. And in +fighting for his kine was he smitten in the foremost rank by a spear +from my hand, and he fell, and about him were the country folk in great +fear. And a prey exceeding abundant did we drive together out of the +plain, fifty herds of kine, and as many flocks of sheep, and as many +droves of swine, and as many wide flocks of goats, and chestnut horses +a hundred and fifty, all mares, and many with their foals at their +feet. And these by night we drave within Neleian Pylos to the citadel, +and Neleus was glad at heart, for that so much wealth came to me, the +first time I went to war. And the heralds cried aloud, with the coming +of the dawn, that all men should meet that had a debt owing to them in +goodly Elis. And the men that were leaders of the Pylians gathered +together and divided all, for to many did the Epeians owe a debt, for +few we were, and oppressed, that dwelt in Pylos. For the mighty +Herakles had come and oppressed us, in the former years, and all our +best men were slain. For twelve sons were we of noble Neleus, whereof I +alone was left, and all the others perished. And being lifted up with +pride because of these things, the mail-clad Epeians did us despite, +and devised deeds of violence. And out of the spoil that old man, even +Neleus, took him a herd of kine, and a great flock of sheep, choosing +three hundred, and the shepherds with them. For to him was a great debt +owing in goodly Elis: four horses, winners of prizes, with their +chariot had gone to the games, and were to run for a tripod; but these +did Augeias, king of men, hold in bond in that place, but sent away the +driver sorrowing for the horses. By which words and deeds was the old +man angered, so he chose out much booty, uncountable, and the rest he +gave to the people to divide, lest any man should depart deprived by +him of his equal share. So we ordered each thing, and offered victims +to the gods about the city; and on the third day all the Eleians came +together, many men and whole-hooved horses in full array, and with them +the two Moliones in their harness, being still but lads, nor yet well +skilled in impetuous valour. Now there is a certain city, Thryoessa, a +steep burg, far off on Alpheios, the uttermost city of sandy Pylos, +round this they pitched their camp, being eager to raze it utterly. But +when they had passed through all the plain, to us came Athene by night +rushing down from Olympus, with the message that we should arm us. Nor +were the folk unwilling that she gathered in Pylos, but right eager for +war. Now Neleus would not suffer me to arm myself, but hid my horses +away, for he deemed that I knew naught as yet of the deeds of war. Yet +even so did I shine among our horsemen, on foot though I was, for so +Athene led the fight. There is a river Minyeïos, that falleth into the +sea near Arene, where the horsemen of us Pylians waited the fair dawn, +and thither those ranks of footmen flowed onward. Thence in full array, +and harnessed in our gear, we came at midday to the sacred stream of +Alpheios. There to Zeus pre-eminent in might we sacrificed goodly +victims, and a bull to Alpheios, and a bull to Poseidon, but to +bright-eyed Athene a heifer of the herd, and thereafter took we supper +in ranks throughout the camp, and lay down to sleep each man in his +arms, about the streams of the river. Now the great-hearted Epeians +were gathered round the citadel, being eager to sack it utterly. But +ere that might be, there appeared unto them a great deed of war. For +when the bright sun came up above the earth, we joined battle, with +prayer to Zeus, and Athene. But when the strife of the Pylians and +Epeians began, I was the first that slew a man, and got me his +whole-hooved steeds,—the warrior Mulios was he, who had to wife +fair-haired Agamede, the eldest daughter of Augeias, and she knew all +drugs that the wide earth nourisheth. Him as he came on I smote with a +bronze-shod spear, and he fell in the dust and I leaped into the car, +and stood among the foremost fighters. But the great-hearted Epeians +fled this way and that when they saw the man fall, even the leader of +the horsemen, who excelled in battle. But I sprang upon them, like a +black tempest, and fifty chariots I took, and beside each chariot two +men bit the earth with their teeth, subdued beneath my spear. And now +should I have overthrown the twin Moliones, sons of Aktor, if their +sire, the Earthshaker of wide sway, had not saved them out of the +battle, and covered them with a thick mist.* There Zeus gave great +might to the Pylians, for we followed through the wide plain, slaying +the foe and gathering their goodly arms, even till we brought our +horses to Bouprasion, rich in wheat, and the rock Olenian, and where is +the hill called the hill of Alision, whence Athene turned the people +again. There slew I the last man and left him there, but the Achaians +drave back their swift horses from Bouprasion to Pylos, and all gave +praise, among the gods to Zeus, and among men to Nestor. Such was I, if +ever among men I was such an one. But Achilles is for reaping alone the +reward of his valour; surely methinks that he will repent, and lament +sore when the host perisheth. O friend, surely Menoitios thus gave thee +command, on that day when he sent thee out of Phthia to Agamemnon. And +we twain were within the house, I and goodly Odysseus, and in the halls +heard we all things even as he commanded thee. For we had come to the +fair-set halls of Peleus, gathering the host throughout Achaia of the +fair dames. There then we found the hero Menoitios within, and thee, +and with thee Achilles. And Peleus the Old, the lord of horses, was +burning the fat thighs of kine to Zeus, whose joy is in the thunder, in +the precinct of his court, and held in his hand a chalice of gold, +pouring forth the bright wine upon the burning offerings. And ye were +busy about the flesh of the ox, and then stood we in the doorway, and +Achilles leaped up in amazement, and took us by the hand, and led us +in, and bade us be seated, and set before us well the entertainment of +strangers, all that is their due. But when we had taken delight in +eating and drinking, I began the discourse, and bade you follow with +us, and ye were right eager, and those twain laid on you many commands. +Peleus the Old bade his son Achilles be ever the boldest in fight, and +pre-eminent over others, but to thee did Menoitios thus give command, +the son of Aktor: ‘My child, of lineage is Achilles higher than thou, +and thou art elder, but in might he is better far. But do thou speak to +him well a word of wisdom, and put it to him gently, and show him what +things he should do, and he will obey thee to his profit.’ So did the +old man give thee command, but thou art forgetful. Nay, but even now +speak thou thus and thus to wise-hearted Achilles, if perchance he will +obey thee. Who knows but that, God helping, thou mightst stir his +spirit with thy persuading? and good is the persuasion of a friend. But +if in his heart he be shunning some oracle of God, and his lady mother +hath told him somewhat from Zeus, natheless let him send forth thee, +and let the rest of the host of the Myrmidons follow with thee, if +perchance any light shall arise from thee to the Danaans; and let him +give thee his fair harness, to bear into the war, if perchance the +Trojans may take thee for him, and withhold them from the strife, and +the warlike sons of the Achaians might take breath, being wearied; for +brief is the breathing time in battle. And lightly might ye, being +unwearied, drive men wearied in the war unto the city, away from the +ships and the huts.” + +* Aktor was the putative, Poseidon the real father of the Moliones. + + +So spake he, and roused his heart within his breast, and he started and +ran by the ships to Achilles of the seed of Aiakos. But when Patroklos +came in his running to the ships of godlike Odysseus, where was their +assembly and place of law, and whereby also were their altars of the +gods established, there did Eurypylos meet him, Euaimon’s son, of the +seed of Zeus, wounded in the thigh with an arrow, and limping out of +the battle. And sweat ran down streaming from his head and shoulders, +and from his cruel wound the black blood was welling, but his mind was +unshaken. And the strong son of Menoitios had pity on him when he +beheld him, and lamenting he spake winged words: “Ah, wretched men, ye +leaders and counsellors of the Danaans. How are ye now doomed, far from +your friends and your own country, to feed full with your white fat the +swift hounds in Troia! But come, tell me this, Eurypylos, hero and +fosterling of Zeus, will the Achaians yet in any wise restrain mighty +Hector, or will they perish even now, subdued beneath his spear?” + +And to him again did the wounded Eurypylos make answer: “No more, +Patroklos of the seed of Zeus, will there be any defence of the +Achaians, but they will fall among the black ships. For verily all of +them, that afore were bravest, are lying in the ships wounded and +smitten by the hands of the Trojans, whose strength is waxing always. +But me do thou succour, and lead me to the black ship, and cut the +arrow out of my thigh, and wash away the black blood from it with warm +water, and smear soft healing drugs thereover, these good herbs whereof +they say that thou hast learned from Achilles, whom Cheiron taught, the +most righteous of the Centaurs. For of the leeches, Podaleirios and +Machaon, one methinks, is wounded in the huts, and himself hath need of +a good leech, and the other on the plain abideth the keen battle of the +Trojans.” + +Then the strong son of Menoitios answered him again: “How should these +things be? what shall we do, hero Eurypylos? I am on my way to carry a +saying to wise-hearted Achilles, even the command of Nestor of Gerenia, +warden of the Achaians; nay, but not even so will I be heedless of thee +that art wounded.” + +So spake he, and clasped the shepherd of the host below the breast, and +led him to the hut; and the squire when he beheld them cast on the +ground the skins of oxen. There he stretched him at length, and cut +with a knife the sharp arrow from his thigh, and washed from it the +black blood with warm water. And thereon he cast a bitter root rubbing +it between his hands, a root that took pain away, and ended all his +anguish, and the wound began to dry, and the blood ceased. + + + + +BOOK XII. + + +How the Trojans and allies broke within the wall of the Achaians. + + +So in the huts the strong son of Menoitios was tending the wounded +Eurypylos, but still they fought confusedly, the Argives and Trojans. +Nor were the fosse of the Danaans and their wide wall above, long to +protect them, the wall they had builded for defence of the ships, and +the fosse they had drawn round about; for neither had they given goodly +hecatombs to the gods, that it might guard with its bounds their swift +ships, and rich spoil. Nay, maugre the deathless gods was it builded, +wherefore it abode steadfast for no long time. While Hector yet lived, +and yet Achilles kept his wrath, and unsacked was the city of Priam the +king, so long the great wall of the Achaians likewise abode steadfast. +But when all the bravest of the Trojans died, and many of the +Argives,—some were taken, and some were left,—and the city of Priam was +sacked in the tenth year, and the Argives had gone back in their ships +to their own dear country, then verily did Poseidon and Apollo take +counsel to wash away the wall, bringing in the might of the rivers, of +all that flow from the hills of Ida to the sea. Rhesos there was, and +Heptaporos, and Karesos, and Rhodios, Grenikos, and Aisepos, and goodly +Skamandros, and Simoeis, whereby many shields and helms fell in the +dust, and the generation of men half divine; the mouths of all these +waters did Phoebus Apollo turn together, and for nine days he drave +their stream against the wall; and still Zeus rained unceasingly, that +the quicker he might mingle the wall with the salt sea. And the Shaker +of the earth, with his trident in his hands, was himself the leader, +and sent forth into the waves all the foundations of beams and stones +that the Achaians had laid with toil, and made all smooth by the strong +current of the Hellespont, and covered again the great beach with sand, +when he had swept away the wall, and turned the rivers back to flow in +their channel, where of old they poured down their fair flow of water. + +So were Poseidon and Apollo to do in the aftertime; but then war and +the din of war sounded about the well-builded wall, and the beams of +the towers rang beneath the strokes; while the Argives, subdued by the +scourge of Zeus, were penned and driven in by the hollow ships, in +dread of Hector, the mighty maker of flight, but he, as aforetime, +fought like a whirlwind. And as when, among hounds and hunting men, a +boar or lion wheeleth him about, raging in his strength, and these +array themselves in fashion like a tower, and stand up against him, +casting many javelins from their hands; but never is his stout heart +confused nor afraid, and his courage is his bane, and often he wheeleth +him about, and maketh trial of the ranks of men, and wheresoever he +maketh onset there the ranks of men give way, even so Hector went and +besought his comrades through the press, and spurred them on to cross +the dyke. But his swift-footed horses dared not, but loud they neighed, +standing by the sheer edge, for the wide fosse affrighted them, neither +easy to leap from hard by, nor to cross, for overhanging banks stood +round about it all on either hand, and above it was furnished with +sharp stakes that the sons of the Achaians had planted there, thick set +and great, a bulwark against hostile men. Thereby not lightly might a +horse enter, drawing a well-wheeled chariot; but the footmen were +eager, if they might accomplish it. Then Polydamas drew near valiant +Hector, and spake to him: “Hector and ye other leaders of the Trojans +and allies, foolishly do we drive our fleet horses through the dyke; +nay right hard it is to cross, for sharp stakes stand in it, and over +against them the wall of the Achaians. Thereby none may go down and +fight in chariots, for strait is the place wherein, methinks, we might +come by a mischief. For if Zeus that thunders on high is utterly to +destroy them in his evil will, and is minded to help the Trojans, +verily then I too would desire that even instantly this might be, that +the Achaians should perish here nameless far from Argos: but and if +they turn again, and we flee back from among the ships, and rush into +the delved ditch, then methinks that not even one from among us to bear +the tidings will win back to the city before the force of the Achaians +when they rally. But come as I declare, let us all obey. Let our +squires hold the horses by the dyke, while we being harnessed in our +gear as foot soldiers follow all together with Hector, and the Achaians +will not withstand us, if indeed the bands of death be made fast upon +them.” + +So spake Polydamas, and his wise word pleased Hector well, and +straightway in his harness he leaped from his chariot to the ground. +Nor were the other Trojans gathered upon the chariots, but they all +leaped forth, when they beheld goodly Hector. There each gave it into +the charge of his own charioteer, to keep the horses orderly there by +the fosse. And they divided, and arrayed themselves, and ordered in +five companies they followed with the leaders. + +Now they that went with Hector and noble Polydamas, these were most, +and bravest, and most were eager to break the wall, and fight by the +hollow ships; and with them followed Kebriones for the third, for +Hector had left another man with his chariot, a weaker warrior than +Kebriones. The second company Paris led, and Alkathoos, and Agenor: and +the third company Helenos led, and godlike Deiphobos,—two sons of +Priam,—the third was the warrior Asios, Asios Hyrtakos’ son, whom his +tall sorrel steeds brought out of Arisbe, from the river Selleëis. And +of the fourth company was the brave son of Anchises leader, even +Aineias; and with him were two sons of Antenor, Archelochos and Akamas, +both well skilled in all warfare. + +And Sarpedon led the glorious allies, and to be with him he chose +Glaukos and warlike Asteropaios, for they seemed to him to be +manifestly the bravest of all after himself but he was excellent, yea, +above all the host. And these when they had arrayed one another with +well-fashioned shields of bulls’ hide, went straight and eager against +the Danaans, nor deemed that they could longer resist them, but that +themselves should fall on the black ships. + +Then the rest of the Trojans and the far-famed allies obeyed the +counsel of blameless Polydamas, but Asios, son of Hyrtakos, leader of +men, willed not to leave his horses there, and his squire the +charioteer, but with them he drew near the swift ships, fond man! for +never was he, avoiding evil Fates, to return, rejoicing in his horses +and chariot, back from the ships to windy Ilios. Nay, ere that the Fate +of ill name overshadowed him, by the spear of Idomeneus, the haughty +son of Deukalion. For Asios went against the left flank of the ships, +whereby the Achaians returned out of the plain with chariots and +horses: there he drave through his horses and his car, nor found he the +doors shut on the gates, and the long bar, but men were holding them +open if perchance they might save any of their comrades fleeing out of +the battle towards the ships. Straight thereby held he his horses with +unswerving aim, and his men followed him, crying shrilly, for they +deemed that the Achaians could no longer hold them off, but that +themselves would fall on the black ships: fools, for in the gates they +found two men of the bravest, the high-hearted sons of the warrior +Lapithae, one the son of Peirithoos, strong Polypoites, and one +Leonteus, peer of Ares the bane of men. These twain stood in front of +the lofty gates, like high-crested oak trees in the hills, that for +ever abide the wind and rain, firm fixed with roots great and long; +even so these twain, trusting to the mightiness of their hands, abode +the coming of great Asios, and fled not. But straight came the Trojans +against the well-builded wall, holding their shields of dry bulls’ hide +on high, with mighty clamour, round the prince Asios, and Iamenos, and +Orestes, and Adamas, son of Asios, and Thoon, and Oinomaos. But the +other twain for a while, being within the wall, urged the well-greaved +Achaians to fight for the ships; but when they saw the Trojans +assailing the wall, while the Danaans cried and turned in flight, then +forth rushed the twain, and fought in front of the gates like wild +boars that in the mountains abide the assailing crew of men and dogs, +and charging on either flank they crush the wood around them, cutting +it at the root, and the clatter of their tusks waxes loud, till one +smite them and take their life away: so clattered the bright bronze on +the breasts of the twain, as they were smitten in close fight, for +right hardily they fought, trusting to the host above them, and to +their own strength. + +For the men above were casting with stones from the well-builded towers +in defence of themselves and of the huts, and of the swift-faring +ships. And like snowflakes the stones fell earthward, flakes that a +tempestuous wind, as it driveth the dark clouds, rains thickly down on +the bounteous earth: so thick fell the missiles from the hands of +Achaians and Trojans alike, and their helms rang harsh and their bossy +shields, being smitten with mighty stones. Verily then Asios, son of +Hyrtakos, groaned and smote both his thighs, and indignantly he spake: +“Father Zeus, verily thou too dost greatly love a lie, for I deemed not +that the Achaian heroes could withstand our might and our hands +invincible. But they like wasps of nimble body, or bees that have made +their dwellings in a rugged path, and leave not their hollow hold, but +abide and keep the hunters at bay for the sake of their little ones, +even so these men have no will to give ground from the gates, though +they are but two, ere they slay or be slain.” + +So spake he, nor with his speech did he persuade the mind of Zeus, for +his will was to give renown to Hector. + +[But the others were fighting about the other gates, and hard it were +for me like a god to tell all these things, for everywhere around the +wall of stone rose the fire divine; the Argives, for all their sorrow, +defending the ships of necessity; and all the gods were grieved at +heart, as many as were defenders of the Danaans in battle. And together +the Lapithae waged war and strife.] + +There the son of Peirithoos, mighty Polypoites, smote Damasos with the +spear, through the helmet with cheekpieces of bronze; nor did the +bronze helm stay the spear, but the point of bronze brake clean through +the bone, and all the brain within was scattered, and the spear +overcame him in his eagerness. Thereafter he slew Pylon and Ormenos. +And Leonteus of the stock of Ares smote Hippomachos, son of Antimachos, +with the spear, striking him on the girdle. Then again he drew his +sharp sword from the sheath, and smote Antiphates first in close fight, +rushing on him through the throng, that he fell on his back on the +ground; and thereafter he brought down Menon, and Iamenos, and Orestes +one after the other, to the bounteous earth. + +While they were stripping from these the shining arms, the young men +who followed with Polydamas and Hector, they that were most in number +and bravest, and most were eager to break the wall and set the ships on +fire, these still stood doubtful by the fosse, for as they were eager +to pass over a bird had appeared to them, an eagle of lofty flight, +skirting the host on the left hand. In its talons it bore a blood-red +monstrous snake, alive, and struggling still; yea, not yet had it +forgotten the joy of battle, but writhed backward and smote the bird +that held it on the breast, beside the neck, and the bird cast it from +him down to the earth, in sore pain, and dropped it in the midst of the +throng; then with a cry sped away down the gusts of the wind. And the +Trojans shuddered when they saw the gleaming snake lying in the midst +of them; an omen of aegis-bearing Zeus. + +Then verily Polydamas stood by brave Hector, and spake: “Hector, ever +dost thou rebuke me in the assemblies, though I counsel wisely; since +it by no means beseemeth one of the people to speak contrary to thee, +in council or in war, but always to increase thy power; but now again +will I say all that seemeth to me to be best. Let us not advance and +fight with the Danaans for the ships. For even thus, methinks, the end +will be, if indeed this bird hath come for the Trojans when they were +eager to cross the dyke, this eagle of lofty flight, skirting the host +on the left hand, bearing in his talons a blood-red monstrous snake, +yet living; then straightway left he hold of him, before he reached his +own nest, nor brought him home in the end to give to his nestlings. +Even so shall we, though we burst with mighty force the gates and wall +of the Achaians, and the Achaians give ground, even so we shall return +in disarray from the ships by the way we came; for many of the Trojans +shall we leave behind, whom the Achaians will slay with the sword, in +defence of the ships. Even so would a soothsayer interpret that in his +heart had clear knowledge of omens, and whom the people obeyed.” + +Then Hector of the glancing helm lowered on him and said: “Polydamas, +that thou speakest is no longer pleasing to me; yea, thou knowest how +to conceive another counsel better than this. But if thou verily +speakest thus in earnest, then the gods themselves have utterly +destroyed thy wits; thou that bidst us forget the counsels of +loud-thundering Zeus, that himself promised me, and confirmed with a +nod of his head! But thou bidst us be obedient to birds long of wing, +whereto I give no heed, nor take any care thereof, whether they fare to +the right, to the dawn and to the sun, or to the left, to mist and +darkness. Nay, for us, let us trust to the counsel of mighty Zeus, who +is king over all mortals and immortals. One omen is best, to fight for +our own country. And wherefore dost thou fear war and battle? For if +all the rest of us be slain by the ships of the Argives, yet needst +thou not fear to perish, for thy heart is not warlike, nor enduring in +battle. But if thou dost hold aloof from the fight, or winnest any +other with thy words to turn him from war, straightway by my spear +shalt thou be smitten, and lose thy life.” + +So spake he, and led on, and they followed with a wondrous din; and +Zeus that joyeth in the thunder roused from the hills of Ida a blast of +wind, which bare the dust straight against the ships; and he made weak +the heart of the Achaians, but gave renown to the Trojans and to +Hector. Trusting then in his omens, and their might, they strove to +break the great wall of the Achaians. They dragged down the +machicolations of the towers, and overthrew the battlements, and heaved +up the projecting buttresses, that the Achaians set first in the earth, +to be the props of the towers. These they overthrew, and hoped to break +the wall of the Achaians. Nor even now did the Danaans give ground from +the path, but closed up the battlements with shields of bulls’ hides, +and cast from them at the foemen as they went below the walls. + +Now the two Aiantes went everywhere on the towers, ever urging, and +arousing the courage of the Achaians. One they would accost with +honeyed words, another with hard words they would rebuke, whomsoever +they saw utterly giving ground from the fight: “O friends, whosoever is +eminent, or whosoever is of middle station among the Argives, ay, or +lower yet, for in no wise are all men equal in war, now is there work +for all, and this yourselves well know. Let none turn back to the +ships, for that he hath heard one threatening aloud; nay, get ye +forward, and cheer another on, if perchance Olympian Zeus, the lord of +lightning, will grant us to drive back the assault, and push the foe to +the city.” + +So these twain shouted in the front, and aroused the battle of the +Achaians. But as flakes of snow fall thick on a winter day, when Zeus +the Counsellor hath begun to snow, showing forth these arrows of his to +men, and he hath lulled the winds, and he snoweth continually, till he +hath covered the crests of the high hills, and the uttermost headlands, +and the grassy plains, and rich tillage of men; and the snow is +scattered over the havens and shores of the grey sea, and only the wave +as it rolleth in keeps off the snow, but all other things are swathed +over, when the shower of Zeus cometh heavily, so from both sides their +stones flew thick, some towards the Trojans, and some from the Trojans +against the Achaians, while both sides were smitten, and over all the +wall the din arose. + +Yet never would the Trojans, then, and renowned Hector have broken the +gates of the wall, and the long bar, if Zeus the Counsellor had not +roused his son Sarpedon against the Argives, like a lion against the +kine of crooked horn. Straightway he held forth his fair round shield, +of hammered bronze, that the bronze-smith had hammered out, and within +had stitched many bulls’ hides with rivets of gold, all round the +circle, this held he forth, and shook two spears; and sped on his way, +like a mountain-nurtured lion, that long lacketh meat, and his brave +spirit urgeth him to make assail on the sheep, and come even against a +well-builded homestead. Nay, even if he find herdsmen thereby, guarding +the sheep with hounds and spears, yet hath he no mind to be driven +without an effort from the steading, but he either leapeth on a sheep, +and seizeth it, or himself is smitten in the foremost place with a dart +from a strong hand. So did his heart then urge on the godlike Sarpedon +to rush against the wall, and break through the battlements. And +instantly he spake to Glaukos, son of Hippolochos: “Glaukos, wherefore +have we twain the chiefest honour,—seats of honour, and messes, and +full cups in Lykia, and all men look on us as gods? And wherefore hold +we a great demesne by the banks of Xanthos, a fair demesne of +orchard-land, and wheat-bearing tilth? Therefore now it behoveth us to +take our stand in the first rank of the Lykians, and encounter fiery +battle, that certain of the well-corsleted Lykians may say, ‘Verily our +kings that rule Lykia be no inglorious men, they that eat fat sheep, +and drink the choice wine honey-sweet: nay, but they are also of +excellent might, for they war in the foremost ranks of the Lykians.’ +Ah, friend, if once escaped from this battle we were for ever to be +ageless and immortal, neither would I fight myself in the foremost +ranks, nor would I send thee into the war that giveth men renown, but +now—for assuredly ten thousand fates of death do every way beset us, +and these no mortal may escape nor avoid—now let us go forward, whether +we shall give glory to other men, or others to us.” + +So spake he, and Glaukos turned not apart, nor disobeyed him, and they +twain went straight forward, leading the great host of the Lykians. + +Then Menestheus son of Peteos shuddered when he beheld them, for +against his tower they went, bringing with them ruin; and he looked +along the tower of the Achaians if perchance he might see any of the +leaders, that would ward off destruction from his comrades, and he +beheld the two Aiantes, insatiate of war, standing there, and Teukros +hard by, newly come from his hut; but he could not cry to be heard of +them, so great was the din, and the noise went up unto heaven of +smitten shields and helms with horse-hair crests, and of the gates, for +they had all been shut, and the Trojans stood beside them, and strove +by force to break them, and enter in. Swiftly then to Aias he sent the +herald Thoötes: “Go, noble Thoötes, and run, and call Aias: or rather +the twain, for that will be far the best of all, since quickly here +will there be wrought utter ruin. For hereby press the leaders of the +Lykians, who of old are fierce in strong battle. But if beside them too +war and toil arise, yet at least let the strong Telamonian Aias come +alone, and let Teukros the skilled bowman follow with him.” + +So spake he, and the herald listened and disobeyed him not, but started +and ran by the wall of the mail-clad Achaians, and came, and stood by +the Aiantes, and straightway spake: “Ye twain Aiantes, leaders of the +mail-clad Achaians, the dear son of Peteos, fosterling of Zeus, biddeth +you go thither, that, if it be but for a little while, ye may take your +part in battle: both of you he more desireth, for that will be far the +best of all, since quickly there will there be wrought utter ruin. For +thereby press the leaders of the Lykians, who of old are fierce in +strong battle. But if beside you too war and toil arise, yet at least +let the strong Telamonian Aias come alone, and let Teukros the skilled +bowman follow with him.” + +So spake he, nor did the strong Telamonian Aias disobey, but instantly +spake winged words to the son of Oileus: “Aias, do ye twain stand here, +thyself and strong Lykomedes, and urge the Danaans to war with all +their might; but I go thither, to take my part in battle, and quickly +will I come again, when I have well aided them.” + +So spake Telamonian Aias and departed, and Teukros went with him, his +brother by the same father, and with them Pandion bare the bended bow +of Teukros. + +Now when they came to the tower of great-hearted Menestheus, passing +within the wall,—and to men sore pressed they came,—the foe were +climbing upon the battlements, like a dark whirlwind, even the strong +leaders and counsellors of the Lykians; and they hurled together into +the war and the battle-cry arose. Now first did Aias Telamon’s son slay +a man, Epikles great of heart, the comrade of Sarpedon. With a jagged +stone he smote him, a great stone that lay uppermost within the wall, +by the battlements. Not lightly could a man hold it in both hands, +however strong in his youth, of such mortals as now are, but Aias +lifted it, and cast it from above, and shattered the helm of fourfold +crest, and broke the bones of the head, and he fell like a diver from +the lofty tower, and his life left his bones. And Teukros smote +Glaukos, the strong son of Hippolochos, as he came on, with an arrow +from the lofty wall; even where he saw his shoulder bare he smote him, +and made him cease from delight in battle. Back from the wall he leapt +secretly, lest any of the Achaians should see him smitten, and speak +boastfully. But sorrow came on Sarpedon when Glaukos departed, so soon +as he was aware thereof, but he forgot not the joy of battle. He aimed +at Alkmaon, son of Thestor, with the spear, and smote him, and drew out +the spear. And Alkmaon following the spear fell prone, and his +bronze-dight arms rang round him. Then Sarpedon seized with strong +hands the battlement, and dragged, and it all gave way together, while +above the wall was stripped bare, and made a path for many. + +Then Aias and Teukros did encounter him: Teukros smote him with an +arrow, on the bright baldric of his covering shield, about the breast, +but Zeus warded off the Fates from his son, that he should not be +overcome beside the ships’ sterns. Then Aias leaped on and smote his +shield, nor did the spear pass clean through, yet shook he Sarpedon in +his eagerness. He gave ground a little way from the battlement, yet +retreated not wholly, since his heart hoped to win renown. Then he +turned and cried to the godlike Lykians: “O Lykians, wherefore thus are +ye slack in impetuous valour. Hard it is for me, stalwart as I am, +alone to break through, and make a path to the ships, nay, follow hard +after me, for the more men, the better work.” + +So spake he, and they, dreading the rebuke of their king, pressed on +the harder around the counsellor and king. And the Argives on the other +side made strong their battalions within the wall, and mighty toil +began for them. For neither could the strong Lykians burst through the +wall of the Danaans, and make a way to the ships, nor could the warlike +Danaans drive back the Lykians from the wall, when once they had drawn +near thereto. But as two men contend about the marches of their land, +with measuring rods in their hands, in a common field, when in narrow +space they strive for equal shares, even so the battlements divided +them, and over those they smote the round shields of ox hide about the +breasts of either side, and the fluttering bucklers. And many were +wounded in the flesh with the ruthless bronze, whensoever the back of +any of the warriors was laid bare as he turned, ay, and many clean +through the very shield. Yea, everywhere the towers and battlements +swam with the blood of men shed on either side, by Trojans and +Achaians. But even so they could not put the Argives to rout, but they +held their ground, as an honest woman that laboureth with her hands +holds the balance, and raises the weight and the wool together, +balancing them, that she may win scant wages for her children; so +evenly was strained their war and battle, till the moment when Zeus +gave the greater renown to Hector, son of Priam, who was the first to +leap within the wall of the Achaians. In a piercing voice he cried +aloud to the Trojans: “Rise, ye horse-taming Trojans, break the wall of +the Argives, and cast among the ships fierce blazing fire.” + +So spake he, spurring them on, and they all heard him with their ears, +and in one mass rushed straight against the wall, and with sharp spears +in their hands climbed upon the machicolations of the towers. And +Hector seized and carried a stone that lay in front of the gates, thick +in the hinder part, but sharp at point: a stone that not the two best +men of the people, such as mortals now are, could lightly lift from the +ground on to a wain, but easily he wielded it alone, for the son of +crooked-counselling Kronos made it light for him. And as when a +shepherd lightly beareth the fleece of a ram, taking it in one hand, +and little doth it burden him, so Hector lifted the stone, and bare it +straight against the doors that closely guarded the stubborn-set +portals, double gates and tall, and two cross bars held them within, +and one bolt fastened them. And he came, and stood hard by, and firmly +planted himself, and smote them in the midst, setting his legs well +apart, that his cast might lack no strength. And he brake both the +hinges, and the stone fell within by reason of its weight, and the +gates rang loud around, and the bars held not, and the doors burst this +way and that beneath the rush of the stone. Then glorious Hector leaped +in, with face like the sudden night, shining in wondrous mail that was +clad about his body, and with two spears in his hands. No man that met +him could have held him back when once he leaped within the gates: none +but the gods, and his eyes shone with fire. Turning towards the throng +he cried to the Trojans to overleap the wall, and they obeyed his +summons, and speedily some overleaped the wall, and some poured into +the fair-wrought gateways, and the Danaans fled in fear among the +hollow ships, and a ceaseless clamour arose. + + + + +BOOK XIII. + + +Poseidon stirreth up the Achaians to defend the ships. The valour of +Idomeneus. + + +Now Zeus, after that he had brought the Trojans and Hector to the +ships, left them to their toil and endless labour there, but otherwhere +again he turned his shining eyes, and looked upon the land of the +Thracian horsebreeders, and the Mysians, fierce fighters hand to hand, +and the proud Hippemolgoi that drink mare’s milk, and the Abioi, the +most righteous of men. To Troy no more at all he turned his shining +eyes, for he deemed in his heart that not one of the Immortals would +draw near, to help either Trojans or Danaans. + +But the mighty Earthshaker held no blind watch, who sat and marvelled +on the war and strife, high on the topmost crest of wooded Samothrace, +for thence all Ida was plain to see; and plain to see were the city of +Priam, and the ships of the Achaians. Thither did he go from the sea +and sate him down, and he had pity on the Achaians, that they were +subdued to the Trojans, and strong was his anger against Zeus. + +Then forthwith he went down from the rugged hill, faring with swift +steps, and the high hills trembled, and the woodland, beneath the +immortal footsteps of Poseidon as he moved. Three strides he made, and +with the fourth he reached his goal, even Aigae, and there was his +famous palace in the deeps of the mere, his glistering golden mansions +builded, imperishable for ever. Thither went he, and let harness to the +car his bronze-hooved horses, swift of flight, clothed with their +golden manes. He girt his own golden array about his body, and seized +the well-wrought lash of gold, and mounted his chariot, and forth he +drove across the waves. And the sea beasts frolicked beneath him, on +all sides out of the deeps, for well they knew their lord, and with +gladness the sea stood asunder, and swiftly they sped, and the axle of +bronze was not wetted beneath, and the bounding steeds bare him on to +the ships of the Achaians. + +Now there is a spacious cave in the depths of the deep mere, between +Tenedos and rugged Imbros; there did Poseidon, the Shaker of the earth, +stay his horses, and loosed them out of the chariot, and cast before +them ambrosial food to graze withal, and golden tethers he bound about +their hooves, tethers neither to be broken nor loosed, that there the +horses might continually await their lord’s return. And he went to the +host of the Achaians. + +Now the Trojans like flame or storm-wind were following in close array, +with fierce intent, after Hector, son of Priam. With shouts and cries +they came, and thought to take the ships of the Achaians, and to slay +thereby all the bravest of the host. But Poseidon, that girdleth the +world, the Shaker of the earth, was urging on the Argives, and forth he +came from the deep salt sea, in form and untiring voice like unto +Kalchas. First he spake to the two Aiantes, that themselves were eager +for battle: “Ye Aiantes twain, ye shall save the people of the +Achaians, if ye are mindful of your might, and reckless of chill fear. +For verily I do not otherwhere dread the invincible hands of the +Trojans, that have climbed the great wall in their multitude, nay, the +well-greaved Achaians will hold them all at bay; but hereby verily do I +greatly dread lest some evil befall us, even here where that furious +one is leading like a flame of fire, Hector, who boasts him to be son +of mighty Zeus. Nay, but here may some god put it into the hearts of +you twain, to stand sturdily yourselves, and urge others to do the +like; thereby might ye drive him from the fleet-faring ships, despite +his eagerness, yea, even if the Olympian himself is rousing him to +war.” + +Therewith the Shaker of the world, the girdler of the earth, struck the +twain with his staff, and filled them with strong courage, and their +limbs he made light, and their feet, and their hands withal. Then, even +as a swift-winged hawk speeds forth to fly, poised high above a tall +sheer rock, and swoops to chase some other bird across the plain, even +so Poseidon sped from them, the Shaker of the world. And of the twain +Oileus’ son, the swift-footed Aias, was the first to know the god, and +instantly he spake to Aias, son of Telamon: “Aias, since it is one of +the gods who hold Olympus, that in the semblance of a seer commands us +now to fight beside the ships—not Kalchas is he, the prophet and +soothsayer, for easily I knew the tokens of his feet and knees as he +turned away, and the gods are easy to discern—lo, then mine own heart +within my breast is more eagerly set on war and battle, and my feet +beneath and my hands above are lusting for the fight.” + +Then Aias, son of Telamon, answered him saying: “Even so, too, my hands +invincible now rage about the spear-shaft, and wrath has risen within +me, and both my feet are swift beneath me; yea, I am keen to meet, even +in single fight, the ceaseless rage of Hector son of Priam.” + +So they spake to each other, rejoicing in the delight of battle, which +the god put in their heart. Then the girdler of the earth stirred up +the Achaians that were in the rear and were renewing their strength +beside the swift ships. Their limbs were loosened by their grievous +toil, yea, and their souls filled with sorrow at the sight of the +Trojans, that had climbed over the great wall in their multitude. And +they looked on them, and shed tears beneath their brows, thinking that +never would they escape destruction. But the Shaker of the earth right +easily came among them, and urged on the strong battalions of warriors. +Teukros first he came and summoned, and Leïtos, and the hero Peneleos, +and Thoas, and Deïpyros, and Meriones, and Antilochos, lords of the +war-cry, all these he spurred on with winged words: “Shame on you, +Argives, shame, ye striplings, in your battle had I trusted for the +salvation of our ships. But if you are to withdraw from grievous war, +now indeed the day doth shine that shall see us conquered by the +Trojans. Out on it, for verily a great marvel is this that mine eyes +behold, a terrible thing that methought should never come to pass, the +Trojans advancing against our ships! Of yore they were like fleeting +hinds, that in the wild wood are the prey of jackals, and pards, and +wolves, and wander helpless, strengthless, empty of the joy of battle. +Even so the Trojans of old cared never to wait and face the wrath and +the hands of the Achaians, not for a moment. But now they are fighting +far from the town, by the hollow ships, all through the baseness of our +leader and the remissness of the people, who, being at strife with the +chief, have no heart to defend the swift-faring ships, nay, thereby +they are slain. But if indeed and in truth the hero Agamemnon, the +wide-ruling son of Atreus, is the very cause of all, for that he did +dishonour the swift-footed son of Peleus, not even so may we refrain in +any wise from war. Nay, let us right our fault with speed, for easily +righted are the hearts of the brave. No longer do ye well to refrain +from impetuous might, all ye that are the best men of the host. I +myself would not quarrel with one that, being a weakling, abstained +from war, but with you I am heartily wroth. Ah, friends, soon shall ye +make the mischief more through this remissness,—but let each man +conceive shame in his heart, and indignation, for verily great is the +strife that hath arisen. Lo, the mighty Hector of the loud war-cry is +fighting at the ships, and the gates and the long bar he hath burst in +sunder.” + +On this wise did the Earth-enfolder call to and spur on the Achaians. +And straightway they made a stand around the two Aiantes, strong bands +that Ares himself could not enter and make light of, nor Athene that +marshals the host. Yea, they were the chosen best that abode the +Trojans and goodly Hector, and spear on spear made close-set fence, and +shield on serried shield, buckler pressed on buckler, and helm on helm, +and man on man. The horse-hair crests on the bright helmet-ridges +touched each other as they nodded, so close they stood each by other, +and spears brandished in bold hands were interlaced; and their hearts +were steadfast and lusted for battle. + +Then the Trojans drave forward in close array, and Hector led them, +pressing straight onwards, like a rolling rock from a cliff, that the +winter-swollen water thrusteth from the crest of a hill, having broken +the foundations of the stubborn rock with its wondrous flood; leaping +aloft it flies, and the wood echoes under it, and unstayed it runs its +course, till it reaches the level plain, and then it rolls no more for +all its eagerness,—even so Hector for a while threatened lightly to win +to the sea through the huts and the ships of the Achaians, slaying as +he came, but when he encountered the serried battalions, he was stayed +when he drew near against them. But they of the other part, the sons of +the Achaians, thrust with their swords and double-pointed spears, and +drave him forth from them, that he gave ground and reeled backward. +Then he cried with a piercing voice, calling on the Trojans: “Trojans, +and Lykians, and close-fighting Dardanians, hold your ground, for the +Achaians will not long ward me off, nay, though they have arrayed +themselves in fashion like a tower. Rather, methinks, they will flee +back before the spear, if verily the chief of gods has set me on, the +loud-thundering lord of Hera.” + +Therewith he spurred on the heart and spirit of each man; and +Deïphobos, the son of Priam, strode among them with high thoughts, and +held in front of him the circle of his shield, and lightly he stepped +with his feet, advancing beneath the cover of his shield. Then Meriones +aimed at him with a shining spear, and struck, and missed not, but +smote the circle of the bulls’-hide shield, yet no whit did he pierce +it; nay, well ere that might be, the long spear-shaft snapped in the +socket. Now Deiphobos was holding off from him the bulls’-hide shield, +and his heart feared the lance of wise Meriones, but that hero shrunk +back among the throng of his comrades, greatly in wrath both for the +loss of victory, and of his spear, that he had shivered. So he set +forth to go to the huts and the ships of the Achaians, to bring a long +spear, that he had left in his hut. + +Meanwhile the others were fighting on, and there arose an +inextinguishable cry. First Teukros, son of Telamon, slew a man, the +spearman Imbrios, the son of Mentor rich in horses. In Pedaion he +dwelt, before the coming of the sons of the Achaians, and he had for +wife a daughter of Priam, born out of wedlock, Medesikaste; but when +the curved ships of the Danaans came, he returned again to Ilios, and +was pre-eminent among the Trojans, and dwelt with Priam, who honoured +him like his own children. Him the son of Telemon pierced below the ear +with his long lance, and plucked back the spear. Then he fell like an +ash that on the crest of a far-seen hill is smitten with the axe of +bronze, and brings its delicate foliage to the ground; even so he fell, +and round him rang his armour bedight with bronze. Then Teukros rushed +forth, most eager to strip his armour, and Hector cast at him as he +came with his shining spear. But Teukros, steadily regarding him, +avoided by a little the spear of bronze; so Hector struck Amphimachos, +son of Kteatos, son of Aktor, in the breast with the spear, as he was +returning to the battle. With a crash he fell, and his armour rang upon +him. + +Then Hector sped forth to tear from the head of great-hearted +Amphimachos the helmet closely fitted to his temples, but Aias aimed at +Hector as he came, with a shining spear, yet in no wise touched his +body, for he was all clad in dread armour of bronze; but he smote the +boss of his shield, and drave him back by main force, and he gave place +from behind the two dead men, and the Achaians drew them out of the +battle. So Stichios and goodly Menestheus, leaders of the Athenians, +conveyed Amphimachos back among the host of the Achaians, but Imbrios +the two Aiantes carried, with hearts full of impetuous might. And as +when two lions have snatched away a goat from sharp-toothed hounds, and +carry it through the deep thicket, holding the body on high above the +ground in their jaws, so the two warrior Aiantes held Imbrios aloft and +spoiled his arms. Then the son of Oileus cut his head from his delicate +neck, in wrath for the sake of Amphimachos, and sent it rolling like a +ball through the throng, and it dropped in the dust before the feet of +Hector. + +Then verily was Poseidon wroth at heart, when his son’s son fell in the +terrible fray.* So he set forth to go by the huts and the ships of the +Achaians, to spur on the Danaans, and sorrows he was contriving for the +Trojans. Then Idomeneus, spearman renowned, met him on his way from his +comrade that had but newly returned to him out of the battle, wounded +on the knee with the sharp bronze. Him his comrades carried forth, and +Idomeneus gave charge to the leeches, and so went on to his hut, for he +still was eager to face the war. Then the mighty Shaker of the earth +addressed him, in the voice of Thoas, son of Andraimon, that ruled over +the Aitolians in all Pleuron, and mountainous Kalydon, and was honoured +like a god by the people: “Idomeneus, thou counsellor of the Cretans, +say, whither have thy threats fared, wherewith the sons of the Achaians +threatened the Trojans?” + +* Kteatos, father of Amphimachos, was Poseidon’s son. + + +Then Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, answered him again: “O Thaos, +now is there no man to blame, that I wot of, for we all are skilled in +war. Neither is there any man that spiritless fear holds aloof, nor any +that gives place to cowardice, and shuns the cruel war, nay, but even +thus, methinks, must it have seemed good to almighty Kronion, even that +the Achaians should perish nameless here, far away from Argos. But +Thoas, seeing that of old thou wert staunch, and dost spur on some +other man, wheresoever thou mayst see any give ground, therefore +slacken not now, but call aloud to every warrior.” + +Then Poseidon, the Shaker of the earth, answered him again: “Idomeneus, +never may that man go forth out of Troy-land, but here may he be the +sport of dogs, who this day wilfully is slack in battle. Nay, come, +take thy weapons and away: herein we must play the man together, if any +avail there may be, though we are no more than two. Ay, and very +cowards get courage from company, but we twain know well how to battle +even with the brave.” + +Therewith the god went back again into the strife of men, but +Idomeneus, so soon as he came to his well-builded hut, did on his fair +armour about his body, and grasped two spears, and set forth like the +lightning that Kronion seizes in his hand and brandishes from radiant +Olympus, showing forth a sign to mortal men, and far seen are the +flames thereof. Even so shone the bronze about the breast of Idomeneus +as he ran, and Meriones, his good squire, met him, while he was still +near his hut,—he was going to bring his spear of bronze,—and mighty +Idomeneus spake to him: “Meriones son of Molos, fleet of foot, dearest +of my company, wherefore hast thou come hither and left the war and +strife? Art thou wounded at all, and vexed by a dart’s point, or dost +thou come with a message for me concerning aught? Verily I myself have +no desire to sit in the huts, but to fight.” + +Then wise Meriones answered him again, saying: “[Idomeneus, thou +counsellor of the mail-clad Cretans,] I have come to fetch a spear, if +perchance thou hast one left in the huts, for that which before I +carried I have shivered in casting at the shield of proud Deiphobos.” + +Then Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, answered him again: “Spears, if +thou wilt, thou shalt find, one, ay, and twenty, standing in the hut, +against the shining side walls, spears of the Trojans whereof I have +spoiled their slain. Yea, it is not my mood to stand and fight with +foemen from afar, wherefore I have spears, and bossy shields, and +helms, and corslets of splendid sheen.” + +Then wise Meriones answered him again: “Yea, and in mine own hut and my +black ship are many spoils of the Trojans, but not ready to my hand. +Nay, for methinks that neither am I forgetful of valour; but stand +forth among the foremost to face the glorious war, whensoever ariseth +the strife of battle. Any other, methinks, of the mail-clad Achaians +should sooner forget my prowess, but thou art he that knoweth it.” + +Then Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, answered him again: “I know what +a man of valour thou art, wherefore shouldst thou tell me thereof? Nay, +if now beside the ships all the best of us were being chosen for an +ambush—wherein the valour of men is best discerned; there the coward, +and the brave man most plainly declare themselves: for the colour of +the coward changes often, and his spirit cannot abide firm within him, +but now he kneels on one knee, now on the other, and rests on either +foot, and his heart beats noisily in his breast, as he thinks of doom, +and his teeth chatter loudly. But the colour of the brave man does not +change, nor is he greatly afraid, from the moment that he enters the +ambush of heroes, but his prayer is to mingle instantly in woful war. +Were we being chosen for such an ambush, I say, not even then would any +man reckon lightly of thy courage and thy strength. Nay, and even if +thou wert stricken in battle from afar, or smitten in close fight, the +dart would not strike thee in the hinder part of the neck, nor in the +back, but would encounter thy breast or belly, as thou dost press on, +towards the gathering of the foremost fighters. But come, no more let +us talk thus, like children, loitering here, lest any man be vehemently +wroth, but go thou to the hut, and bring the strong spear.” + +Thus he spake, and Meriones, the peer of swift Ares, quickly bare the +spear of bronze from the hut, and went after Idomeneus, with high +thoughts of battle. And even as Ares, the bane of men, goes forth into +the war, and with him follows his dear son Panic, stark and fearless, +that terrifies even the hardy warrior; and these twain leave Thrace, +and harness them for fight with the Ephyri, or the great-hearted +Phlegyans, yet hearken not to both peoples, but give honour to one +only; like these gods did Meriones and Idomeneus, leaders of men, set +forth into the fight, harnessed in gleaming bronze. And Meriones spake +first to Idomeneus saying: “Child of Deukalion, whither art thou eager +to enter into the throng: on the right of all the host, or in the +centre, or on the left? Ay, and no other where, methinks, are the +flowing-haired Achaians so like to fail in fight.” + +Then Idomeneus, the leader of the Cretans, answered him again: “In the +centre of the ships there are others to bear the brunt, the two +Aiantes, and Teukros, the best bowman of the Achaians, ay, and a good +man in close fight; these will give Hector Priam’s son toil enough, +howsoever keen he be for battle; yea, though he be exceeding stalwart. +Hard will he find it, with all his lust for war, to overcome their +strength and their hands invincible, and to fire the ships, unless +Kronion himself send down on the swift ships a burning brand. But not +to a man would he yield, the great Telamonian Aias, to a man that is +mortal and eateth Demeter’s grain, and may be cloven with the sword of +bronze, and with hurling of great stones. Nay, not even to Achilles the +breaker of the ranks of men would he give way, not in close fight; but +for speed of foot none may in any wise strive with Achilles. But guide +us twain, as thou sayest, to the left hand of the host, that speedily +we may learn whether we are to win glory from others, or other men from +us.” + +So he spake, and Meriones, the peer of swift Ares, led the way, till +they came to the host, in that place whither he bade him go. + +And when the Trojans saw Idomeneus, strong as flame, and his squire +with him, and their glorious armour, they all shouted and made for him +through the press. Then their mellay began, by the sterns of the ships. +And as the gusts speed on, when shrill winds blow, on a day when dust +lies thickest on the roads, and the winds raise together a great cloud +of dust, even so their battle clashed together, and all were fain of +heart to slay each other in the press with the keen bronze. And the +battle, the bane of men, bristled with the long spears, the piercing +spears they grasped, and the glitter of bronze from gleaming helmets +dazzled the eyes, and the sheen of new-burnished corslets, and shining +shields, as the men thronged all together. Right hardy of heart would +he have been that joyed and sorrowed not at the sight of this labour of +battle. + +Thus the two mighty sons of Kronos, with contending will, were +contriving sorrow and anguish for the heroes. Zeus desired victory for +the Trojans and Hector, giving glory to swift-footed Achilles; yet he +did not wish the Achaian host to perish utterly before Ilios, but only +to give renown to Thetis and her strong-hearted son. But Poseidon went +among the Argives and stirred them to war, stealing secretly forth from +the grey salt sea: for he was sore vexed that they were overcome by the +Trojans, and was greatly in wrath against Zeus. Verily both were of the +same lineage and the same place of birth, but Zeus was the elder and +the wiser. Therefore also Poseidon avoided to give open aid, but +secretly ever he spurred them on, throughout the host, in the likeness +of a man. These twain had strained the ends of the cords of strong +strife and equal war, and had stretched them over both Trojans and +Achaians, a knot that none might break nor undo, for the loosening of +the knees of many. + +Even then Idomeneus, though his hair was flecked with grey, called on +the Danaans, and leaping among the Trojans, roused their terror. For he +slew Othryoneus of Kabesos, a sojourner there, who but lately had +followed after the rumour of war, and asked in marriage the fairest of +the daughters of Priam, Kassandra, without gifts of wooing, but with +promise of mighty deed, namely that he would drive perforce out of +Troy-land the sons of the Achaians. To him the old man Priam promised +and appointed that he would give her, so he fought trusting in his +promises. And Idomeneus aimed at him with a bright spear, and cast and +smote him as he came proudly striding on, and the corslet of bronze +that he wore availed not, but the lance struck in the midst of his +belly. And he fell with a crash, and Idomeneus boasted over him, and +lifted up his voice, saying: “Othryoneus, verily I praise thee above +all mortal men, if indeed thou shalt accomplish all that thou hast +promised to Priam, son of Dardanos, that promised thee again his own +daughter. Yea, and we likewise would promise as much to thee, and +fulfil it, and would give thee the fairest daughter of the son of +Atreus, and bring her from Argos, and wed her to thee, if only thou +wilt aid us to take the fair-set citadel of Ilios. Nay, follow us that +we may make a covenant of marriage by the seafaring ships, for we are +no hard exacters of gifts of wooing.” + +Therewith the hero Idomeneus dragged him by the foot across the fierce +mellay. But Asios came to his aid, on foot before his horses that the +charioteer guided so that still their breath touched the shoulders of +Asios. And the desire of his heart was to cast at Idomeneus, who was +beforehand with him, and smote him with the spear in the throat, below +the chin, and drove the point straight through. And he fell as an oak +falls, or a poplar, or tall pine tree, that craftsmen have felled on +the hills with new whetted axes, to be a ship’s timber, even so he lay +stretched out before the horses and the chariot, groaning, and +clutching the bloody dust. And the charioteer was amazed, and kept not +his wits, as of old, and dared not turn his horses and avoid out of the +hands of foemen; and Antilochos the steadfast in war smote him, and +pierced the middle of his body with a spear. Nothing availed the +corslet of bronze he was wont to wear, but he planted the spear fast in +the midst of his belly. Therewith he fell gasping from the well-wrought +chariot, and Antilochos, the son of great-hearted Nestor, drave the +horses out from the Trojans, among the well-greaved Achaians. Then +Deiphobos, in sorrow for Asios, drew very nigh Idomeneus, and cast at +him with his shining spear. But Idomeneus steadily watching him, +avoided the spear of bronze, being hidden beneath the circle of his +shield, the shield covered about with ox-hide and gleaming bronze, that +he always bore, fitted with two arm-rods: under this he crouched +together, and the spear of bronze flew over. And his shield rang +sharply, as the spear grazed thereon. Yet it flew not vainly from the +heavy hand of Deiphobos, but smote Hypsenor, son of Hippasos, the +shepherd of the hosts, in the liver, beneath the midriff, and instantly +unstrung his knees. And Deiphobos boasted over him terribly, crying +aloud: “Ah, verily, not unavenged lies Asios, nay, methinks, that even +on his road to Hades, strong Warden of the gate, he will rejoice at +heart, since, lo, I have sent him escort for the way!” + +So spake he, but grief came on the Argives by reason of his boast, and +stirred above all the soul of the wise-hearted Antilochos, yet, despite +his sorrow, he was not heedless of his dear comrade, but ran and stood +over him, and covered him with his buckler. Then two trusty companions, +Mekisteus, son of Echios, and goodly Alastor, stooped down and lifted +him, and with heavy groaning bare him to the hollow ships. + +And Idomeneus relaxed not his mighty force, but ever was striving, +either to cover some one of the Trojans with black night, or himself to +fall in warding off death from the Achaians. There the dear son of +Aisyetes, fosterling of Zeus, even the hero Alkathoos, was slain, who +was son-in-law of Anchises, and had married the eldest of his +daughters, Hippodameia, whom her father and her lady mother dearly +loved in the halls, for she excelled all the maidens of her age in +beauty, and skill, and in wisdom, wherefore the best man in wide Troy +took her to wife. This Alkathoos did Poseidon subdue to Idomeneus, +throwing a spell over his shining eyes, and snaring his glorious limbs; +so that he might neither flee backwards, nor avoid the stroke, but +stood steady as a pillar, or a tree with lofty crown of leaves, when +the hero Idomeneus smote him in the midst of the breast with the spear, +and rent the coat of bronze about him, that aforetime warded death from +his body, but now rang harsh as it was rent by the spear. And he fell +with a crash, and the lance fixed in his heart, that, still beating, +shook the butt-end of the spear. Then at length mighty Ares spent its +fury there; but Idomeneus boasted terribly, and cried aloud: +“Deiphobos, are we to deem it fair acquittal that we have slain three +men for one, since thou boastest thus? Nay, sir, but stand thou up also +thyself against me, that thou mayst know what manner of son of Zeus am +I that have come hither! For Zeus first begat Minos, the warden of +Crete, and Minos got him a son, the noble Deukalion, and Deukalion +begat me, a prince over many men in wide Crete, and now have the ships +brought me hither, a bane to thee and thy father, and all the Trojans.” + +Thus he spake, but the thoughts of Deiphobos were divided, whether he +should retreat, and call to his aid some one of the great-hearted +Trojans, or should try the adventure alone. And on this wise to his +mind it seemed the better, to go after Aineias, whom he found standing +the last in the press, for Aineias was ever wroth against goodly Priam, +for that Priam gave him no honour, despite his valour among men. So +Deiphobos stood by him, and spake winged words to him: “Aineias, thou +counsellor of the Trojans, now verily there is great need that thou +shouldst succour thy sister’s husband, if any care for kin doth touch +thee. Nay follow, let us succour Alkathoos, thy sister’s husband, who +of old did cherish thee in his hall, while thou wert but a little one, +and now, lo, spear-famed Idomeneus hath stripped him of his arms!” + +So he spake, and roused the spirit in the breast of Aineias, who went +to seek Idomeneus, with high thoughts of war. But fear took not hold +upon Idomeneus, as though he had been some tender boy, but he stood at +bay, like a boar on the hills that trusteth to his strength, and abides +the great assailing throng of men in a lonely place, and he bristles up +his back, and his eyes shine with fire, while he whets his tusks, and +is right eager to keep at bay both men and hounds. Even so stood +spear-famed Idomeneus at bay against Aineias, that came to the rescue, +and gave ground no whit, but called on his comrades, glancing to +Askalaphos, and Aphareus, and Deipyros, and Meriones, and Antilochos, +all masters of the war-cry; them he spurred up to battle, and spake +winged words: “Hither, friends, and rescue me, all alone as I am, and +terribly I dread the onslaught of swift-footed Aineias, that is +assailing me; for he is right strong to destroy men in battle, and he +hath the flower of youth, the greatest avail that may be. Yea, if he +and I were of like age, and in this spirit whereof now we are, speedily +should he or I achieve high victory.” + +So he spake, and they all, being of one spirit in their hearts, stood +hard by each other, with buckler laid on shoulder. But Aineias, on the +other side, cried to his comrades, glancing to Deiphobos, and Paris, +and noble Agenor, that with him were leaders of the Trojans; and then +the hosts followed them, as sheep follow their leader to the water from +the pasture, and the shepherd is glad at heart; even so the heart of +Aineias was glad in his breast, when he saw the hosts of the people +following to aid him. + +Then they rushed in close fight around Alkathoos with their long +spears, and round their breasts the bronze rang terribly, as they aimed +at each other in the press, while two men of war beyond the rest, +Aineias and Idomeneus, the peers of Ares, were each striving to hew the +flesh of the other with the pitiless bronze. Now Aineias first cast at +Idomeneus, who steadily watching him avoided the spear of bronze, and +the point of Aineias went quivering in the earth, since vainly it had +flown from his stalwart hand. But Idomeneus smote Oinomaos in the midst +of the belly, and brake the plate of his corslet, and the bronze let +forth the bowels through the corslet, and he fell in the dust and +clutched the earth in his palms. And Idomeneus drew forth the +far-shadowing spear from the dead, but could not avail to strip the +rest of the fair armour from his shoulders, for the darts pressed hard +on him. Nay, and his feet no longer served him firmly in a charge, nor +could he rush after his own spear, nor avoid the foe. Wherefore in +close fight he still held off the pitiless day of destiny, but in +retreat his feet no longer bore him swiftly from the battle. And as he +was slowly departing, Deiphobos aimed at him with his shining spear, +for, verily he ever cherished a steadfast hatred against Idomeneus. But +this time, too, he missed him, and smote Askalaphos, the son of +Enyalios, with his dart, and the strong spear passed through his +shoulder, and he fell in the dust, and clutched the earth in his +outstretched hand. But loud-voiced awful Ares was not yet aware at all +that his son had fallen in strong battle, but he was reclining on the +peak of Olympus, beneath the golden clouds, being held there by the +design of Zeus, where also were the other deathless gods, restrained +from the war. + +Now the people rushed in close fight around Askalaphos, and Deiphobos +tore from Askalaphos his shining helm, but Meriones, the peer of swift +Ares, leaped forward and smote the arm of Deiphobos with his spear, and +from his hand the vizored casque fell clanging to the ground. And +Meriones sprang forth instantly, like a vulture, and drew the strong +spear from the shoulder of Deiphobos, and fell back among the throng of +his comrades. But the own brother of Deiphobos, Polites, stretched his +hands round his waist, and led him forth from the evil din of war, even +till he came to the swift horses, that waited for him behind the battle +and the fight, with their charioteer, and well-dight chariot. These +bore him heavily groaning to the city, worn with his hurt, and the +blood ran down from his newly wounded arm. + +But the rest still were fighting, and the war-cry rose unquenched. +There Aineias rushed on Aphareus, son of Kaletor, and struck his +throat, that chanced to be turned to him, with the keen spear, and his +head dropped down and his shield and helm fell with him, and death that +slays the spirit overwhelmed him. And Antilochos watched Thoon as he +turned the other way, and leaped on him, and wounded him, severing all +the vein that runs up the back till it reaches the neck; this he +severed clean, and Thoon fell on his back in the dust, stretching out +both his hands to his comrades dear. Then Antilochos rushed on, and +stripped the armour from his shoulders, glancing around while the +Trojans gathered from here and there, and smote his wide shining +shield, yet did not avail to graze, behind the shield, the delicate +flesh of Antilochos with the pitiless bronze. For verily Poseidon, the +Shaker of the earth, did guard on every side the son of Nestor, even in +the midst of the javelins. And never did Antilochos get free of the +foe, but turned him about among them, nor ever was his spear at rest, +but always brandished and shaken, and the aim of his heart was to smite +a foeman from afar, or to set on him at close quarters. But as he was +aiming through the crowd, he escaped not the ken of Adamas, son of +Asios, who smote the midst of his shield with the sharp bronze, setting +on nigh at hand; but Poseidon of the dark locks made his shaft of no +avail, grudging him the life of Antilochos. And part of the spear abode +there, like a burned stake, in the shield of Antilochos, and half lay +on the earth, and back retreated Adamas to the ranks of his comrades, +avoiding Fate. But Meriones following after him as he departed, smote +him with a spear between the privy parts and the navel, where a wound +is most baneful to wretched mortals. Even there he fixed the spear in +him and he fell, and writhed about the spear, even as a bull that +herdsmen on the hills drag along perforce when they have bound him with +withes, so he when he was smitten writhed for a moment, not for long, +till the hero Meriones came near, and drew the spear out of his body. +And darkness covered his eyes. + +And Helenos in close fight smote Deipyros on the temple, with a great +Thracian sword, and tore away the helm, and the helm, being dislodged, +fell on the ground, and one of the Achaians in the fight picked it up +as it rolled between his feet. But dark night covered the eyes of +Deipyros. + +Then grief took hold of the son of Atreus, Menelaos of the loud +war-cry, and he went with a threat against the warrior Helenos, the +prince, shaking his sharp spear, while the other drew the centre-piece +of his bow. And both at once were making ready to let fly, one with his +sharp spear, the other with the arrow from the string. Then the son of +Priam smote Menelaos on the breast with his arrow, on the plate of the +corslet, and off flew the bitter arrow. Even as from a broad shovel in +a great threshing floor, fly the black-skinned beans and pulse, before +the whistling wind, and the stress of the winnower’s shovel, even so +from the corslet of the renowned Menelaos flew glancing far aside the +bitter arrow. But the son of Atreus, Menelaos of the loud war-cry, +smote the hand of Helenos wherein he held the polished bow, and into +the bow, clean through the hand, was driven the spear of bronze. Back +he withdrew to the ranks of his comrades, avoiding Fate, with his hand +hanging down at his side, for the ashen spear dragged after him. And +the great-hearted Agenor drew the spear from his hand, and himself +bound up the hand with a band of twisted sheep’s-wool, a sling that a +squire carried for him, the shepherd of the host. + +Then Peisandros made straight for renowned Menelaos, but an evil Fate +was leading him to the end of Death; by thee, Menelaos, to be overcome +in the dread strife of battle. Now when the twain had come nigh in +onset upon each other, the son of Atreus missed, and his spear was +turned aside, but Peisandros smote the shield of renowned Menelaos, yet +availed not to drive the bronze clean through, for the wide shield +caught it, and the spear brake in the socket, yet Peisandros rejoiced +in his heart, and hoped for the victory. But the son of Atreus drew his +silver-studded sword, and leaped upon Peisandros. And Peisandros, under +his shield, clutched his goodly axe of fine bronze, with long and +polished haft of olive-wood, and the twain set upon each other. Then +Peisandros smote the crest of the helmet shaded with horse hair, close +below the very plume, but Menelaos struck the other, as he came +forward, on the brow, above the base of the nose, and the bones +cracked, and the eyes, all bloody, fell at his feet in the dust. Then +he bowed and fell, and Menelaos set his foot on his breast, and +stripped him of his arms, and triumphed, saying: “Even thus then +surely, ye will leave the ships of the Danaans of the swift steeds, ye +Trojans overweening, insatiate of the dread din of war. Yea, and ye +shall not lack all other reproof and shame, wherewith ye made me +ashamed, ye hounds of evil, having no fear in your hearts of the strong +wrath of loud-thundering Zeus, the god of guest and host, who one day +will destroy your steep citadel. O ye that wantonly carried away my +wedded wife and many of my possessions, when ye were entertained by +her, now again ye are fain to throw ruinous fire on the seafaring +ships, and to slay the Achaian heroes. Nay, but ye will yet refrain you +from battle, for as eager as ye be. O father Zeus, verily they say that +thou dost excel in wisdom all others, both gods and men, and all these +things are from thee. How wondrously art thou favouring men of +violence, even the Trojans, whose might is ever iniquitous, nor can +they have their fill of the din of equal war. Of all things there is +satiety, yea, even of love and sleep, and of sweet song, and dance +delectable, whereof a man would sooner have his fill than of war, but +the Trojans are insatiable of battle.” + +Thus noble Menelaos spake, and stripped the bloody arms from the body, +and gave them to his comrades, and instantly himself went forth again, +and mingled in the forefront of the battle. Then Harpalion, the son of +king Pylaimenes, leaped out against him, Harpalion that followed his +dear father to Troy, to the war, nor ever came again to his own +country. He then smote the middle of the shield of Atreus’ son with his +spear, in close fight, yet availed not to drive the bronze clean +through, but fell back into the host of his comrades, avoiding Fate, +glancing round every way, lest one should wound his flesh with the +bronze. But Meriones shot at him as he retreated with a bronze-shod +arrow, and smote him in the right buttock, and the arrow went right +through the bladder and came out under the bone. And sitting down, even +there, in the arms of his dear comrades, he breathed away his soul, +lying stretched like a worm on the earth, and out flowed the black +blood, and wetted the ground. And the Paphlagonians great of heart, +tended him busily, and set him in a chariot, and drove him to sacred +Ilios sorrowing, and with them went his father, shedding tears, and +there was no atonement for his dead son. + +Now Paris was very wroth at heart by reason of his slaying, for he had +been his host among the many Paphlagonions, wherefore, in wrath for his +sake, he let fly a bronze-shod arrow. Now there was a certain Euchenor, +the son of Polyidos the seer, a rich man and a good, whose dwelling was +in Corinth. And well he knew his own ruinous fate, when he went on +ship-board, for often would the old man, the good Polyidos, tell him, +that he must either perish of a sore disease in his halls, or go with +the ships of the Achaians, and be overcome by the Trojans. Wherefore he +avoided at once the heavy war-fine of the Achaians, and the hateful +disease, that so he might not know any anguish. This man did Paris +smite beneath the jaw and under the ear, and swiftly his spirit +departed from his limbs, and, lo, dread darkness overshadowed him. + +So they fought like flaming fire, but Hector, beloved of Zeus, had not +heard nor knew at all that, on the left of the ships, his host was +being subdued by the Argives, and soon would the Achaians have won +renown, so mighty was the Holder and Shaker of the earth that urged on +the Argives; yea, and himself mightily defended them. But Hector kept +where at first he had leaped within the walls and the gate, and broken +the serried ranks of shield-bearing Danaans, even where were the ships +of Aias and Protesilaos, drawn up on the beach of the hoary sea, while +above the wall was builded lowest, and thereby chiefly the heroes and +their horses were raging in battle. + +There the Boiotians, and Ionians with trailing tunics, and Lokrians and +Phthians and illustrious Epeians scarcely availed to stay his onslaught +on the ships, nor yet could they drive back from them noble Hector, +like a flame of fire. And there were the picked men of the Athenians; +among them Menestheus son of Peteos was the leader; and there followed +with him Pheidas and Stichios, and brave Bias, while the Epeians were +led by Meges, son of Phyleus, and Amphion and Drakios, and in front of +the Phthians were Medon, and Podarkes resolute in war. Now the one, +Medon, was the bastard son of noble Oileus, and brother of Aias, and he +dwelt in Phylake, far from his own country, for that he had slain a +man, the brother of his stepmother Eriopis, wife of Oileus. But the +other, Podarkes, was the son of Iphiklos son of Phylakos, and they in +their armour, in the van of the great-hearted Phthians, were defending +the ships, and fighting among the Boiotians. + +Now never at all did Aias, the swift son of Oileus, depart from the +side of Aias, son of Telamon, nay, not for an instant, but even as in +fallow land two wine-dark oxen with equal heart strain at the shapen +plough, and round the roots of their horns springeth up abundant sweat, +and nought sunders them but the polished yoke, as they labour through +the furrow, till the end of the furrow brings them up, so stood the two +Aiantes close by each other. Now verily did many and noble hosts of his +comrades follow with the son of Telamon, and bore his shield when +labour and sweat came upon his limbs. But the Lokrians followed not +with the high-hearted son of Oileus, for their hearts were not +steadfast in close brunt of battle, seeing that they had no helmets of +bronze, shadowy with horse-hair plumes, nor round shields, nor ashen +spears, but trusting in bows and well-twisted slings of sheep’s wool, +they followed with him to Ilios. Therewith, in the war, they shot thick +and fast, and brake the ranks of the Trojans. So the one party in +front, with their well-dight arms contended with the Trojans, and with +Hector arrayed in bronze, while the others from behind kept shooting +from their ambush, and the Trojans lost all memory of the joy of +battle, for the arrows confounded them. + +There then right ruefully from the ships and the huts would the Trojans +have withdrawn to windy Ilios, had not Polydamas come near valiant +Hector and said: “Hector, thou art hard to be persuaded by them that +would counsel thee; for that god has given thee excellence in the works +of war, therefore in council also thou art fain to excel other men in +knowledge. But in nowise wilt thou be able to take everything on +thyself. For to one man has god given for his portion the works of war, +[to another the dance, to another the lute and song,] but in the heart +of yet another hath far-seeing Zeus placed an excellent understanding, +whereof many men get gain, yea he saveth many an one, and himself best +knoweth it. But, lo, I will speak even as it seemeth best to me. Behold +all about thee the circle of war is blazing, but the great-hearted +Trojans, now that they have got down the wall, are some with their arms +standing aloof and some are fighting, few men against a host, being +scattered among the ships. Nay, withdraw thee, and call hither all the +best of the warriors. Thereafter shall we take all counsel carefully, +whether we should fall on the ships of many benches, if indeed god +willeth to give us victory, or after counsel held, should return +unharmed from the ships. For verily I fear lest the Achaians repay +their debt of yesterday, since by the ships there tarrieth a man +insatiate of war, and never, methinks, will he wholly stand aloof from +battle.” + +So spake Polydamas, and his safe counsel pleased Hector well, who +[straightaway sprang to earth from the chariot with his arms, and] +spake to him winged words and said: “Polydamas, do thou stay here all +the best of the host, but I will go thither to face the war, and +swiftly will return again, when I have straitly laid on them my +commands.” + +So he spake, and set forth, in semblance like a snowy mountain, and +shouting aloud he flew through the Trojans and allies. And they all +sped to Polydamas, the kindly son of Panthoos, when they heard the +voice of Hector. But he went seeking Deiphobos, and the strong prince +Helenos, and Adamas son of Asios, and Asios son of Hyrtakos, among the +warriors in the foremost line, if anywhere he might find them. But them +he found not at all unharmed, nor free of bane, but, lo, some among the +sterns of the ships of the Achaians lay lifeless, slain by the hands of +the Argives, and some were within the wall wounded by thrust or cast. +But one he readily found, on the left of the dolorous battle, goodly +Alexandros, the lord of fair-tressed Helen, heartening his comrades and +speeding them to war. And he drew near to him, and addressed him with +words of shame: “Thou evil Paris, fairest of face, thou that lustest +for women, thou seducer, where, prithee, are Deiphobos, and the strong +prince Helenos, and Adamas son of Asios, and Asios son of Hyrtakos, and +where is Othryoneus? Now hath all high Ilios perished utterly. Now, +too, thou seest, is sheer destruction sure.” + +Then godlike Alexandros answered him again saying: “Hector, since thy +mind is to blame one that is blameless, some other day might I rather +withdraw me from the war, since my mother bare not even me wholly a +coward. For from the time that thou didst gather the battle of thy +comrades about the ships, from that hour do we abide here, and war with +the Danaans ceaselessly; and our comrades concerning whom thou +inquirest are slain. Only Deiphobos and the strong prince Helenos have +both withdrawn, both of them being wounded in the hand with long +spears, for Kronion kept death away from them. But now lead on, +wheresoever thy heart and spirit bid thee, and we will follow with thee +eagerly, nor methinks shall we lack for valour, as far as we have +strength; but beyond his strength may no man fight, howsoever eager he +be.” + +So spake the hero, and persuaded his brother’s heart, and they went +forth where the war and din were thickest, round Kebriones, and noble +Polydamas, and Phalkes, and Orthaios, and godlike Polyphetes, and +Palmys, and Askanios, and Morys, son of Hippotion, who had come in +their turn, out of deep-soiled Askanie, on the morn before, and now +Zeus urged them to fight. And these set forth like the blast of violent +winds, that rushes earthward beneath the thunder of father Zeus, and +with marvellous din doth mingle with the salt sea, and therein are many +swelling waves of the loud roaring sea, arched over and white with +foam, some vanward, others in the rear; even so the Trojans arrayed in +van and rear and shining with bronze, followed after their leaders. And +Hector son of Priam was leading them, the peer of Ares, the bane of +men. In front he held the circle of his shield, thick with hides, and +plates of beaten bronze, and on his temples swayed his shining helm. +And everywhere he went in advance and made trial of the ranks, if +perchance they would yield to him as he charged under cover of his +shield. But he could not confound the heart within the breast of the +Achaians. And Aias, stalking with long strides, challenged him first: +“Sir, draw nigh, wherefore dost thou vainly try to dismay the Argives? +We are in no wise ignorant of war, but by the cruel scourge of Zeus are +we Achaians vanquished. Surely now thy heart hopes utterly to spoil the +ships, but we too have hands presently to hold our own. Verily your +peopled city will long ere that beneath our hands be taken and sacked. +But for thee, I tell thee that the time is at hand, when thou shalt +pray in thy flight to father Zeus, and the other immortal gods, that +thy fair-maned steeds may be fleeter than falcons: thy steeds that are +to bear thee to the city, as they storm in dust across the plain.” + +And even as he spake, a bird flew forth on the right hand, an eagle of +lofty flight, and the host of the Achaians shouted thereat, encouraged +by the omen, but renowned Hector answered: “Aias, thou blundering +boaster, what sayest thou! Would that indeed I were for ever as surely +the son of aegis-bearing Zeus, and that my mother were lady Hera, and +that I were held in such honour as Apollo and Athene, as verily this +day is to bring utter evil on all the Argives! And thou among them +shalt be slain, if thou hast the heart to await my long spear, which +shall rend thy lily skin, and thou shalt glut with thy fat and flesh +the birds and dogs of the Trojans, falling among the ships of the +Achaians.” + +So he spake and led the way, and they followed with wondrous din, and +the whole host shouted behind. And the Argives on the other side +answered with a shout, and forgot not their valiance, but abode the +onslaught of the bravest of the Trojans. And the cry of the two hosts +went up through the higher air, to the splendour of Zeus. + + + + +BOOK XIV. + + +How Sleep and Hera beguiled Zeus to slumber on the heights of Ida, and +Poseidon spurred on the Achaians to resist Hector, and how Hector was +wounded. + + +Yet the cry of battle escaped not Nestor, albeit at his wine, but he +spake winged words to the son of Asklepios: “Bethink thee, noble +Machaon, what had best be done; lo, louder waxes the cry of the strong +warriors by the ships. Nay, now sit where thou art, and drink the +bright wine, till Hekamede of the fair tresses shall heat warm water +for the bath, and wash away the clotted blood, but I will speedily go +forth and come to a place of outlook.” + +Therewith he took the well-wrought shield of his son, horse-taming +Thrasymedes, which was lying in the hut, all glistering with bronze, +for the son had the shield of his father. And he seized a strong spear, +with a point of keen bronze, and stood outside the hut, and straightway +beheld a deed of shame, the Achaians fleeing in rout, and the +high-hearted Trojans driving them, and the wall of the Achaians was +overthrown. And as when the great sea is troubled with a dumb wave, and +dimly bodes the sudden paths of the shrill winds, but is still unmoved +nor yet rolled forward or to either side, until some steady gale comes +down from Zeus, even so the old man pondered,—his mind divided this way +and that,—whether he should fare into the press of the Danaans of the +swift steeds, or go after Agamemnon, son of Atreus, shepherd of the +host. And thus as he pondered, it seemed to him the better counsel to +go to the son of Atreus. Meanwhile they were warring and slaying each +other, and the stout bronze rang about their bodies as they were thrust +with swords and double-pointed spears. + +Now the kings, the fosterlings of Zeus, encountered Nestor, as they +went up from the ships, even they that were wounded with the bronze, +Tydeus’ son, and Odysseus, and Agamemnon, son of Atreus. For far apart +from the battle were their ships drawn up, on the shore of the grey +sea, for these were the first they had drawn up to the plain, but had +builded the wall in front of the hindmost. For in no wise might the +beach, for as wide as it was, hold all the ships, and the host was +straitened. Wherefore they drew up the ships row within row, and filled +up the wide mouth of all the shore that the headlands held between +them. Therefore the kings were going together, leaning on their spears, +to look on the war and fray, and the heart of each was sore within his +breast. And the old man met them, even Nestor, and caused the spirit to +fail within the breasts of the Achaians. + +And mighty Agamemnon spake and accosted him: “O Nestor, son of Neleus, +great glory of the Achaians, wherefore dost thou come hither and hast +deserted the war, the bane of men? Lo, I fear the accomplishment of the +word that dread Hector spake, and the threat wherewith he threatened +us, speaking in the assembly of the Trojans, namely, that never would +he return to Ilios from the ships, till he had burned the ships with +fire, and slain the men. Even so he spake, and, lo, now all these +things are being fulfilled. Alas, surely even the other well-greaved +Achaians store wrath against me in their hearts, like Achilles, and +have no desire to fight by the rearmost ships.” + +Then Nestor of Gerenia the knight answered him saying “Verily these +things are now at hand, and being accomplished, nor otherwise could +Zeus himself contrive them, he that thundereth on high. For, lo, the +wall is overthrown, wherein we trusted that it should be an unbroken +bulwark of the ships and of our own bodies. And these men by the swift +ships have endless battle without sparing, and no more couldst thou +tell, howsoever closely thou mightst spy, from what side the Achaians +are driven in rout, so confusedly are they slain, and the cry of battle +goeth up to heaven. But let us take counsel, how these things may best +be done, if wit may do aught: but into the war I counsel not that we +should go down, for in no wise may a wounded man do battle.” + +Then Agamemnon king of men answered him again: “Nestor, for that they +are warring by the rearmost ships, and the well-builded wall hath +availed not, nor the trench, whereat the Achaians endured so much +labour, hoping in their hearts that it should be the unbroken bulwark +of the ships, and of their own bodies—such it seemeth must be the will +of Zeus supreme, [that the Achaians should perish here nameless far +from Argos]. For I knew it when he was forward to aid the Danaans, and +now I know that he is giving to the Trojans glory like that of the +blessed gods, and hath bound our hands and our strength. But come, as I +declare, let us all obey. Let us drag down the ships that are drawn up +in the first line near to the sea, and speed them all forth to the salt +sea divine, and moor them far out with stones, till the divine night +comes, if even at night the Trojans will refrain from war, and then +might we drag down all the ships. For there is no shame in fleeing from +ruin, yea, even in the night. Better doth he fare who flees from +trouble, than he that is overtaken.” + +Then, looking on him sternly, spake Odysseus of many counsels: “Atreus’ +son, what word hath passed the door of thy lips? Man of mischief, sure +thou shouldst lead some other inglorious army, not be king among us, to +whom Zeus hath given it, from youth even unto age, to wind the skein of +grievous wars, till every man of us perish. Art thou indeed so eager to +leave the wide-wayed city of the Trojans, the city for which we endure +with sorrow so many evils? Be silent, lest some other of the Achaians +hear this word, that no man should so much as suffer to pass through +his mouth, none that understandeth in his heart how to speak fit +counsel, none that is a sceptred king, and hath hosts obeying him so +many as the Argives over whom thou reignest. And now I wholly scorn thy +thoughts, such a word as thou hast uttered, thou that, in the midst of +war and battle, dost bid us draw down the well-timbered ships to the +sea, that even more than ever the Trojans may possess their desire, +albeit they win the mastery even now, and sheer destruction fall upon +us. For the Achaians will not make good the war, when the ships are +drawn down to the salt sea, but will look round about to flee, and +withdraw from battle. There will thy counsel work a mischief, O marshal +of the host!” + +Then the king of men, Agamemnon, answered him: “Odysseus, right sharply +hast thou touched my heart with thy stern reproof: nay, I do not bid +the sons of the Achaians to drag, against their will, the well-timbered +ships to the salt sea. Now perchance there may be one who will utter a +wiser counsel than this of mine,—a young man or an old,—welcome would +it be to me.” + +Then Diomedes of the loud war-cry spake also among them: “The man is +near,—not long shall we seek him, if ye be willing to be persuaded of +me, and each of you be not resentful at all, because in years I am the +youngest among you. Nay, but I too boast me to come by lineage of a +noble sire, Tydeus, whom in Thebes the piled-up earth doth cover. For +Portheus had three well-born children, and they dwelt in Pleuron, and +steep Kalydon, even Agrios and Melas, and the third was Oineus the +knight, the father of my father, and in valour he excelled the others. +And there he abode, but my father dwelt at Argos, whither he had +wandered, for so Zeus and the other gods willed that it should be. And +he wedded one of the daughters of Adrastos, and dwelt in a house full +of livelihood, and had wheat-bearing fields enow, and many orchards of +trees apart, and many sheep were his, and in skill with the spear he +excelled all the Achaians: these things ye must have heard, if I speak +sooth. Therefore ye could not say that I am weak and a coward by +lineage, and so dishonour my spoken counsel, that well I may speak. Let +us go down to the battle, wounded as we are, since we needs must; and +then might we hold ourselves aloof from the battle, beyond the range of +darts, lest any take wound upon wound; but the others will we spur on, +even them that aforetime gave place to their passion, and stand apart, +and fight not.” + +So he spake, and they all heard him readily, and obeyed him. And they +set forth, led by Agamemnon the king of men. + +Now the renowned Earth-shaker held no vain watch, but went with them in +the guise of an ancient man, and he seized the right hand of Agamemnon, +Atreus’ son, and uttering winged words he spake to him, saying: +“Atreides, now methinks the ruinous heart of Achilles rejoices in his +breast, as he beholds the slaughter and flight of the Achaians, since +he hath no wisdom, not a grain. Nay, even so may he perish likewise, +and god mar him. But with thee the blessed gods are not utterly wroth, +nay, even yet methinks the leaders and rulers of the Trojans will cover +the wide plain with dust, and thyself shalt see them fleeing to the +city from the ships and the huts.” + +So spake he, and shouted mightily, as he sped over the plain. And loud +as nine thousand men, or ten thousand cry in battle, when they join the +strife of war, so mighty was the cry that the strong Shaker of the +earth sent forth from his breast, and great strength he put into the +heart of each of the Achaians, to strive and war unceasingly. + +Now Hera of the golden throne stood on the peak of Olympus, and saw +with her eyes, and anon knew him that was her brother and her lord’s +going to and fro through the glorious fight, and she rejoiced in her +heart. And she beheld Zeus sitting on the topmost crest of +many-fountained Ida, and to her heart he was hateful. Then she took +thought, the ox-eyed lady Hera, how she might beguile the mind of +aegis-bearing Zeus. And this seemed to her in her heart to be the best +counsel, namely to fare to Ida, when she had well adorned herself, if +perchance he would desire to sleep beside her and embrace her body in +love, and a sweet sleep and a kindly she could pour on his eyelids and +his crafty wits. And she set forth to her bower, that her dear son +Hephaistos had fashioned, and therein had made fast strong doors on the +pillars, with a secret bolt, that no other god might open. There did +she enter in and closed the shining doors. With ambrosia first did she +cleanse every stain from her winsome body, and anointed her with olive +oil, ambrosial, soft, and of a sweet savour; if it were but shaken, in +the bronze-floored mansion of Zeus, the savour thereof went right forth +to earth and heaven. Therewith she anointed her fair body, and combed +her hair, and with her hands plaited her shining tresses, fair and +ambrosial, flowing from her immortal head. Then she clad her in her +fragrant robe that Athene wrought delicately for her, and therein set +many things beautifully made, and fastened it over her breast with +clasps of gold. And she girdled it with a girdle arrayed with a hundred +tassels, and she set earrings in her pierced ears, earrings of three +drops, and glistering, therefrom shone grace abundantly. And with a +veil over all the peerless goddess veiled herself, a fair new veil, +bright as the sun, and beneath her shining feet she bound goodly +sandals. But when she had adorned her body with all her array, she went +forth from her bower, and called Aphrodite apart from the other gods, +and spake to her, saying: “Wilt thou obey me, dear child, in that which +I shall tell thee? or wilt thou refuse, with a grudge in thy heart, +because I succour the Danaans, and thou the Trojans?” + +Then Aphrodite the daughter of Zeus answered her: “Hera, goddess queen, +daughter of mighty Kronos, say the thing that is in thy mind, my heart +bids me fulfil it, if fulfil it I may, and if it may be accomplished.” + +Then with crafty purpose the lady Hera answered her: “Give me now Love +and Desire wherewith thou dost overcome all the Immortals, and mortal +men. For I am going to visit the limits of the bountiful Earth, and +Okeanos, father of the gods, and mother Tethys, who reared me well and +nourished me in their halls, having taken me from Rhea, when far-seeing +Zeus imprisoned Kronos beneath the earth and the unvintaged sea. Them +am I going to visit, and their endless strife will I loose, for already +this long time they hold apart from each other, apart from love and the +marriage bed, since wrath hath settled in their hearts. If with words I +might persuade their hearts, and bring them back to love and the +marriage bed, ever should I be called dear to them and worshipful.” + +Then laughter-loving Aphrodite answered her again: “It may not be, nor +seemly were it to deny that thou askest, for thou sleepest in the arms +of Zeus, the chief of gods.” + +Therewith from her breast she loosed the broidered girdle, +fair-wrought, wherein are all her enchantments; therein are love, and +desire, and loving converse, that steals the wits even of the wise. +This girdle she laid in her hands, and spake, and said: “Lo now, take +this girdle and lay it up in thy bosom, this fair-wrought girdle, +wherein all things are fashioned; methinks thou wilt not return with +that unaccomplished, which in thy heart thou desirest.” + +So spake she, and the ox-eyed lady Hera smiled, and smiling laid up the +zone within her breast. + +Then the daughter of Zeus, Aphrodite, went to her house, and Hera, +rushing down, left the peak of Olympus, and touched on Pieria and +pleasant Emathia, and sped over the snowy hills of the Thracian +horsemen, even over the topmost crests, nor grazed the ground with her +feet, and from Athos she fared across the foaming sea, and came to +Lemnos, the city of godlike Thoas. There she met Sleep, the brother of +Death, and clasped her hand in his, and spake and called him by name: +“Sleep, lord of all gods and of all men, if ever thou didst hear my +word, obey me again even now, and I will be grateful to thee always. +Lull me, I pray thee, the shining eyes of Zeus beneath his brows, so +soon as I have laid me down by him in love. And gifts I will give to +thee, even a fair throne, imperishable for ever, a golden throne, that +Hephaistos the Lame, mine own child, shall fashion skilfully, and will +set beneath it a footstool for the feet, for thee to set thy shining +feet upon, when thou art at a festival.” + +Then sweet Sleep answered her and said: “Hera, goddess and queen, +daughter of mighty Kronos, another of the eternal gods might I lightly +lull to slumber, yea, were it the streams of Okeanos himself, that is +the father of them all. But to Zeus the son of Kronos might I not draw +near, nor lull him to slumber, unless himself commanded it. For ere now +did a behest of thine teach me a lesson, on the day when that famed +high-hearted son of Zeus sailed from Ilios, when he had sacked the city +of the Trojans. Then verily I lulled the soul of aegis-bearing Zeus, +with my sweet influence poured about him, and thou didst contrive evil +against him in thy heart, and didst rouse over the sea the blasts of +violent winds, and Herakles thou then didst bear to well-peopled Kos, +far from all his friends. But Zeus, when he wakened, was wrathful, and +dashed the gods about his mansion, and me above all he sought, and he +would have cast me from the upper air to perish in the deep, if Night +had not saved me, Night, that subdues both gods and men. To her I came +as a suppliant in my flight, and he ceased from pursuing, wrathful as +he was, for he was in awe of doing aught displeasing to swift Night. +And now again thou biddest me accomplish this other task that may not +be accomplished.” + +Then the ox-eyed lady Hera answered him again: “Sleep, wherefore dost +thou consider these things in thy heart? dost thou deem that Zeus of +the far-borne voice will succour the Trojans even as he was wroth for +the sake of Herakles, his own child? Nay come, and I will give thee one +of the younger of the Graces, to wed and to be called thy wife [even +Pasithea, that ever thou longest for all thy days].” + +So she spake, and Sleep was glad, and answered and said: “Come now, +swear to me by the inviolable water of Styx, and with one of thy hands +grasp the bounteous earth, and with the other the shining sea, that all +may be witnesses to us, even all the gods below that are with Kronos, +that verily thou wilt give me one of the younger of the Graces, even +Pasithea, that myself do long for all my days.” + +So spake he, nor did she disobey, the white-armed goddess Hera; she +sware as he bade her, and called all the gods by name, even those below +Tartaros that are called Titans. But when she had sworn and ended that +oath, the twain left the citadel of Lemnos, and of Imbros, clothed on +in mist, and swiftly they accomplished the way. To many-fountained Ida +they came, the mother of wild beasts, to Lekton, where first they left +the sea, and they twain fared above the dry land, and the topmost +forest waved beneath their feet. There Sleep halted, ere the eyes of +Zeus beheld him, and alighted on a tall pine tree, the loftiest pine +that then in all Ida rose through the nether to the upper air. Therein +sat he, hidden by the branches of the pine, in the likeness of the +shrill bird that on the mountains the gods call _chalkis_, but men +_kymindis_.* But Hera swiftly drew nigh to topmost Gargaros, the +highest crest of Ida, and Zeus the cloud-gatherer beheld her. And as he +saw her, so love came over his deep heart, even as when first they +mingled with each other in delight, and went together to the couch, +their dear parents knowing it not. And he stood before her, and spoke, +and said: “Hera, with what desire comest thou thus hither from Olympus, +and thy horses and chariot are not here, whereon thou mightst ascend?” + +* The names of Night-jar, Goat-sucker, Doehawk, and Fern-owl are given +in Bewick for this bird, which is really a kind of swift.—R. W. R. + + +Then with crafty purpose lady Hera answered him: “I am going to visit +the limits of the bountiful Earth, and Okeanos, father of the gods, and +mother Tethys, who reared me well and cherished me in their halls. Them +am I going to visit, and their endless strife will I loose, for already +this long time they hold apart from each other, from love and the +marriage bed, since wrath hath settled in their hearts. But my horses +are standing at the foot of many-fountained Ida, my horses that shall +bear me over wet and dry. And now it is because of thee that I am thus +come hither, down from Olympus, lest perchance thou mightest be wroth +with me hereafter, if silently I were gone to the mansion of +deep-flowing Okeanos.” + +Then Zeus, the gatherer of the clouds, answered her and said: “Hera, +thither mayst thou go on a later day. But come let us twain take +pleasure in the bed of love. For never once as thus did the love of +goddess or woman so mightily overflow and conquer the heart within my +breast. Not when I loved the wife of Ixion, who bore Pirithoos, the +peer of gods in counsel, nor when I loved Danae of the fair ankles, +daughter of Akrisios, who bore Perseus, most renowned of all men, nor +when I loved the famed daughter of Phoinix, who bore me Minos, and +godlike Rhadamanthys, nay, nor even when I loved Semele, nor Alkmene in +Thebes, and she bore Herakles, a child hardy of heart, but Semele bore +Dionysos, a delight to mortals, nay, nor when I loved the fair-tressed +queen, Demeter, nor renowned Leto, nay, nor thy very self, as now I +love thee, and sweet desire possesses me.” + +And him the lady Hera answered with crafty purpose: “Most dread son of +Kronos, what a word thou hast spoken! If now thou dost long to be +couched in love on the crests of Ida, and all stands plain to view, how +would it be if someone of the eternal gods should see us slumbering, +and go and tell it to all the gods? It is not I that could arise from +the couch and go again to thy house, nay, it would be a thing for +righteous anger. But if thou wilt, and it is dear to thy heart, thou +hast a chamber that thine own son Hephaistos builded, and fastened +strong doors to the pillars, thither let us go and lie down, if the +couch be thy desire.” + +Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered her and said: “Hera, fear not +lest any god, or any man should spy the thing, so great a golden cloud +will I cast all over thee. Nay, methinks not even the sun might see +through it, the sun, whose light is keenest of all to behold.” + +So spake he, and the son of Kronos clasped his consort in his arms. And +beneath them the divine earth sent forth fresh new grass, and dewy +lotus, and crocus, and hyacinth, thick and soft, that raised them aloft +from the ground. Therein they lay, and were clad on with a fair golden +cloud, whence fell drops of glittering dew. + +Thus slept the Father in quiet on the crest of Gargaros, by Sleep and +love overcome, with his bedfellow in his arms. But sweet Sleep started +and ran to the ships of the Achaians, to tell his tidings to the god +that holdeth and shaketh the earth. And he stood near him, and spake +winged words: “Eagerly now, Poseidon, do thou aid the Danaans, and give +them glory for a little space, while yet Zeus sleepeth, for over him +have I shed soft slumber, and Hera hath beguiled him to couch in love.” + +So he spake, and passed to the renowned tribes of men, and still the +more did he set on Poseidon to aid the Danaans, who straightway sprang +far afront of the foremost, and called to them: “Argives, are we again +to yield the victory to Hector, son of Priam, that he may take our +ships and win renown? Nay, even so he saith and declareth that he will +do, for that Achilles by the hollow ships abides angered at heart. But +for him there will be no such extreme regret, if we spur us on to aid +each the other. Nay come, as I command, let us all obey. Let us harness +us in the best shields that are in the host, and the greatest, and +cover our heads with shining helms, and take the longest spears in our +hands, and so go forth. Yea, and I will lead the way, and methinks that +Hector, son of Priam, will not long await us, for all his eagerness. +And whatsoever man is steadfast in battle, and hath a small buckler on +his shoulder, let him give it to a worse man, and harness him in a +larger shield.” + +So spake he, and they heard him eagerly and obeyed him. And them the +kings themselves arrayed, wounded as they were, Tydeus’ son, and +Odysseus, and Agamemnon, son of Atreus. They went through all the host, +and made exchange of weapons of war. The good arms did the good warrior +harness him in, the worse he gave to the worse. But when they had done +on the shining bronze about their bodies, they started on the march, +and Poseidon led them, the Shaker of the earth, with a dread sword of +fine edge in his strong hand, like unto lightning; wherewith it is not +permitted that any should mingle in woful war, but fear holds men afar +therefrom. But the Trojans on the other side was renowned Hector +arraying. Then did they now strain the fiercest strife of war, even +dark-haired Poseidon and glorious Hector, one succouring the Trojans, +the other with the Argives. And the sea washed up to the huts and ships +of the Argives, and they gathered together with a mighty cry. Not so +loudly bellows the wave of the sea against the land, stirred up from +the deep by the harsh breath of the north wind, nor so loud is the roar +of burning fire in the glades of a mountain, when it springs to burn up +the forest, nor calls the wind so loudly in the high leafy tresses of +the trees, when it rages and roars its loudest, as then was the cry of +the Trojans and Achaians, shouting dreadfully as they rushed upon each +other. + +First glorious Hector cast with his spear at Aias, who was facing him +full, and did not miss, striking him where two belts were stretched +across his breast, the belt of his shield, and of his silver-studded +sword; these guarded his tender flesh. And Hector was enraged because +his swift spear had flown vainly from his hand, and he retreated into +the throng of his fellows, avoiding Fate. + +Then as he was departing the great Telamonian Aias smote him with a +huge stone; for many stones, the props of swift ships, were rolled +among the feet of the fighters; one of these he lifted, and smote +Hector on the breast, over the shield-rim, near the neck, and made him +spin like a top with the blow, that he reeled round and round. And even +as when an oak falls uprooted beneath the stroke of father Zeus, and a +dread savour of brimstone arises therefrom, and whoso stands near and +beholds it has no more courage, for dread is the bolt of great Zeus, +even so fell mighty Hector straightway in the dust. And the spear fell +from his hand, but his shield and helm were made fast to him, and round +him rang his arms adorned with bronze. + +Then with a loud cry they ran up, the sons of the Achaians, hoping to +drag him away, and they cast showers of darts. But not one availed to +wound or smite the shepherd of the host, before that might be the +bravest gathered about him, Polydamas, and Aineias, and goodly Agenor, +and Sarpedon, leader of the Lykians, and noble Glaukos, and of the rest +not one was heedless of him, but they held their round shields in front +of him, and his comrades lifted him in their arms, and bare him out of +the battle, till he reached his swift horses that were standing waiting +for him, with the charioteer and the fair-dight chariot at the rear of +the combat and the war. These toward the city bore him heavily moaning. +Now when they came to the ford of the fair-flowing river, of eddying +Xanthos, that immortal Zeus begat, there they lifted him from the +chariot to the ground, and poured water over him, and he gat back his +breath, and looked up with his eyes, and sitting on his heels kneeling, +he vomited black blood. Then again he sank back on the ground, and +black night covered his eyes, the stroke still conquering his spirit. + +Now the Argives when they saw Hector departed rushed yet the more upon +the Trojans, and were mindful of the delight of battle. There far the +foremost did swift Aias, son of Oileus, leap on Satnios, son of Enops, +and wounded him with his sharp spear; Satnios whom the fair Naiad-nymph +bore to Enops as he herded his flocks by the banks of Satnioeis. Him +did the spear-famed son of Oileus draw nigh, and wounded him on the +flank, and he fell, and round him did Trojans and Danaans join in +strong battle. Then to his aid came Polydamas, the wielder of the +spear, son of Panthoos, and smote Prothoenor on the right shoulder, +Prothoenor, son of Areïlykos, and through his shoulder went the mighty +spear, and he fell in the dust, and clutched the earth with his palm. +And Polydamas boasted over him terribly, crying aloud: “Verily methinks +that again from the strong hand of the high-hearted son of Panthoos, +the spear hath not leaped in vain. Nay, one of the Argives hath caught +it in his flesh, and leaning thereon for a staff, methinks that he will +go down within the house of Hades.” + +So spake he, and sorrow came on the Argives by reason of his boasting. +And chiefly he roused the wrath of the wise son of Telamon, Aias, for +the man fell close by him. Swiftly he cast at the other, as he +departed, with his shining spear. And Polydamas himself avoided black +Fate, starting to one side, but Archelochos, son of Antenor, received +the spear, for the gods had willed his death. Him the spear struck at +the meeting of the head and neck, on the last joint of the spine, and +cut in twain both the tendons. And his head, and mouth, and nose, as he +fell, reached the earth long before his legs and knees, and Aias again +shouted to noble Polydamas: “Consider, Polydamas, and tell me truly, +whether thou sayst not that this man is worth slaying in place of +Prothoenor: he seems to me no coward, nor born of cowards, but a +brother of horse-taming Antenor, or a child, for he most closely +favoureth his house.” + +So he spake, knowing the truth right well, and sorrow seized the hearts +of the Trojans. Then Akamas wounded Promachos the Boiotian with his +spear, from where he stood above his brother, that Promachos was +dragging away by the feet. Over him Akamas boasted terribly, shouting +aloud: “Ye Argive bowmen, insatiate of threats, verily not for us alone +shall there be struggle and toil, nay, but even as we shall ye likewise +perish. Consider how your Promachos sleepeth, vanquished by my spear, +that my brother’s blood-price may not be long unpaid. Even for this it +is that a man may well pray to leave some kinsman in his halls, that +will avenge his fall.” + +So he spake, and sorrow came on the Argives at his boast. And chiefly +he stirred the heart of the wise Peneleos, who made for Akamas, and +Akamas abode not the onset of the prince Peneleos. But Peneleos wounded +Ilioneus, the son of Phorbas, rich in herds, that Hermes loved most +dearly of all the Trojans, and gave him wealth. Now his mother bare +Ilioneus, an only child, to Phorbas. Him did Peneleos wound beneath the +brows, at the bases of the eye, and drave out the eyeball, and the +spear went clean through the eye and through the nape of the neck, and +he fell back, stretching out both his hands. And Peneleos, drawing +forth his sharp sword, smote him on the middle of the neck, and smote +off even to the ground the head with the helmet, and still the strong +spear stood in the eye, and lifting it up like a poppy head, he showed +it to the Trojans, and spoke his boastful words: “Ye Trojans, I pray +you bid the dear father and the mother of proud Ilioneus to wail in +their halls, for neither will the wife of Promachos, son of Alegenor, +rejoice in her dear husband’s coming, in that hour when we youths of +the Achaians return with our ships out of Troy-land.” + +So he spake, and fear fell on the limbs of all of them; and each man +looked about to see where he might flee sheer destruction. + +Tell me now, ye Muses, that dwell in the mansions of Olympus, who was +the first of the Achaians to lift the bloody spoils, when once the +renowned Shaker of the earth turned the battle. + +Verily it was Aias, son of Telamon, that first wounded Hyrtios, the son +of Gyrtias, the leader of the Mysians strong of heart, and Antilochos +stripped the spoils from Phalkes and Mermeros, and Meriones slew Morys +and Hippotion, and Teukros slew Prothoon and Periphetes, and next +Atreus’ son wounded in the flank Hyperenor, the shepherd of the host, +and the bronze point tore through and let out the entrails, and the +soul through the stricken wound fled hastily, and darkness covered his +eyes. But most men did Aias slay, the swift-footed son of Oileus, for +there was none so speedy of foot as he, to follow when men fled, when +Zeus sent terror among them. + + + + +BOOK XV. + + +Zeus awakening, biddeth Apollo revive Hector, and restore the fortunes +of the Trojans. Fire is thrown on the ship of Protesilaos. + + +Now when they had sped in flight across the palisade and trench, and +many were overcome at the hands of the Danaans, the rest were stayed, +and abode beside the chariots in confusion, and pale with terror, and +Zeus awoke, on the peaks of Ida, beside Hera of the golden throne. Then +he leaped up, and stood, and beheld the Trojans and Achaians, those in +flight, and these driving them on from the rear, even the Argives, and +among them the prince Poseidon. And Hector he saw lying on the plain, +and around him sat his comrades, and he was gasping with difficult +breath, and his mind wandering, and was vomiting blood, for it was not +the weakest of the Achaians that had smitten him. Beholding him, the +father of men and gods had pity on him, and terribly he spoke to Hera, +with fierce look: “O thou ill to deal with, Hera, verily it is thy +crafty wile that has made noble Hector cease from the fight, and has +terrified the host. Nay, but yet I know not whether thou mayst not be +the first to reap the fruits of thy cruel treason, and I beat thee with +stripes. Dost thou not remember, when thou wert hung from on high, and +from thy feet I suspended two anvils,* and round thy hands fastened a +golden bond that might not be broken? And thou didst hang in the clear +air and the clouds, and the gods were wroth in high Olympus, but they +could not come round and unloose thee.” Nay, whomsoever I might take, I +would clutch, and throw from the threshold, to come fainting to the +earth, yd verily not even so did the ceaseless sorrow leave my soul +free: sorrow for godlike Herakles. Him didst thou drive, when thou +hadst suborned the tempest, with the help of the North Wind, over the +unvintaged deep, out of thine evil counsel, and then didst carry him +away to well-peopled Kos. Him did I rescue thence, and lead again to +Argos, the pastureland of horses, after his much labour. Of these +things will I mind thee again, that thou mayst cease from thy wiles, +that thou mayst know if it profit thee at all, the dalliance and the +love, wherein thou didst lie with me, when thou hadst come from among +the gods, and didst beguile me.” + +* Or, “thunderbolts”; _i.e._ meteoric stones. + + +So spake he, and the ox-eyed lady Hera shuddered, and spake unto him +winged words, saying: “Let earth now be witness hereto, and wide heaven +above, and that falling water of Styx, the greatest oath and the most +terrible to the blessed gods, and thine own sacred head, and our own +bridal bed, whereby never would I forswear myself, that not by my will +does earth-shaking Poseidon trouble the Trojans and Hector, and succour +them of the other part. Nay, it is his own soul that urgeth and +commandeth him, and he had pity on the Achaians, when he beheld them +hard pressed beside the ships. I would even counsel him also to go even +where thou, lord of the storm-cloud, mayst lead him.” + +So spake she, and the father of gods and men smiled, and answering her +he spake winged words: “If thou, of a truth, O ox-eyed lady Hera, +wouldst hereafter abide of one mind with me among the immortal gods, +thereon would Poseidon, howsoever much his wish be contrariwise, +quickly turn his mind otherwhere, after thy heart and mine. But if +indeed thou speakest the truth and soothly, go thou now among the +tribes of the gods, and call Iris to come hither, and Apollo, the +renowned archer, that Iris may go among the host of mail-clad Achaians +and tell Poseidon the prince to cease from the war, and get him unto +his own house. But let Phoebus Apollo spur Hector on to the war, and +breathe strength into him again, and make him forget his anguish, that +now wears down his heart, and drive the Achaians back again, when he +hath stirred in them craven fear. Let them flee and fall among the +many-benched ships of Achilles son of Peleus, and he shall rouse his +own comrade, Patroklos; and him shall renowned Hector slay with the +spear, in front of Ilios, after that he has slain many other youths, +and among them my son, noble Sarpedon. In wrath therefor shall goodly +Achilles slay Hector. From that hour verily will I cause a new pursuit +from the ships, that shall endure continually, even until the Achaians +take steep Ilios, through the counsels of Athene. But before that hour +neither do I cease in my wrath, nor will I suffer any other of the +Immortals to help the Danaans there, before I accomplish that desire of +the son of Peleus, as I promised him at the first, and confirmed the +same with a nod of my head, on that day when the goddess Thetis clasped +my knees, imploring me to honour Achilles, the sacker of cities.” + +So spake he, nor did the white-armed goddess Hera disobey him, and she +sped down from the hills of Ida to high Olympus. And even as when the +mind of a man darts speedily, of one that hath travelled over far +lands, and considers in his wise heart, “Would that I were here or +there,” and he thinketh him of many things, so swiftly fled she in her +eagerness, the lady Hera, and came to steep Olympus, and went among the +gathering of the immortal gods in the house of Zeus, and when they +beheld her they all rose up together, and held out their cups to her in +welcome. The others she left alone, but took the cup of Themis of the +fair cheeks, for she was the first that came running to meet her, and +speaking winged words accosted her: “Hera, wherefore hast thou come? +thou seemest like one confounded; verily the son of Kronos hath made +thee adread, thine own husband.” + +Then the white-armed goddess Hera answered her, saying: “Ask me not +concerning this, O goddess Themis; thyself knowest it, how overweening +is his heart, and unyielding. But do thou begin the equal banquet of +the gods in the halls, and thus shalt thou hear among all the +Immortals, even what evil deeds Zeus declareth. Nay, methinks, not +equally will it delight the minds of all, neither of gods nor mortals, +if even now any still sit with pleasure at the feast.” + +So spake the lady Hera, and sat her down, while the gods were heavy at +heart in the hall of Zeus. And she laughed with her lips, but her +forehead above her dark brows was not gladdened, and indignantly she +spake among them all: “Witless that we are to be wroth in our folly +against Zeus! Even still we are eager to draw nigh to him, and let him +from his will, by word or deed, but he sits apart and careth not, nor +takes any thought thereof, for he deems that among the immortal gods he +is manifestly pre-eminent in force and might. Wherefore do ye content +yourselves with whatsoever sorrow he sends on each of you. Already, +methinks, has sorrow been wrought for Ares, for his son has fallen in +the fight, even the dearest of men, Askalaphos, that dread Ares deemeth +to be verily his own.” + +So spake she, but Ares smote his strong thighs with his hands +flatlings, and sorrowing he spake: “Hold me not now to blame, ye that +keep the mansions of Olympus, if I avenge the slaying of my son, and go +to the ships of the Achaians, even if it be my doom to be smitten with +the bolt of Zeus, and lie among the dead, in the dust and blood.” + +So spake he, and bade yoke his horses, Fear and Dread, and himself did +on his shining harness. Thereby would yet a greater and more implacable +wrath and anger have been caused between Zeus and the Immortals, had +not Athene, in terror for the sake of all the gods, leaped out through +the doorway, and left the throne wherein she sat, and taken from Ares’ +head the helmet, and the shield from his shoulders, and drawn the spear +of bronze from his stalwart hand, and set it apart, and then with words +she rebuked the impetuous Ares: “Mad that thou art, and distraught of +wit—this is thy bane! Verily thou hast ears and hearest not, and +perished have thine understanding and thine awe. Hearest thou not what +she saith, the white-armed goddess Hera, that even now is come from +Olympian Zeus? Dost thou wish both thyself to fill up the measure of +mischief and so return to Olympus ruefully, of necessity, and for all +the other gods to sow the seed of a great wrong? For straightway will +he leave the high-hearted Trojans and the Achaians, and to us will he +come to make tumult in Olympus: and he will clutch us each in turn, the +blameless with the guilty. Wherefore now again I bid thee to abate +thine anger for thy son, for already many a man stronger than he, and +more hardy of his hands, has fallen, or yet will fall; and a hard thing +it is to save the lineage and offspring of all men.” + +So spake she, and made impetuous Ares sit down on his throne. But Hera +called Apollo without the hall and Iris, that is the messenger of the +immortal gods, and she spake winged words, and addressed them, saying: +“Zeus bids you go to Ida as swiftly as may be, and when ye have gone, +and looked on the face of Zeus, do ye whatsoever he shall order and +command.” + +So spake she, and returned again, the lady Hera, and sat down on her +throne, and they flew forward speedily, and came to many-fountained +Ida, mother of wild beasts, and found far-seeing Zeus seated on topmost +Gargaros, and round him a fragrant cloud was circled like a crown. And +these twain came before the face of Zeus the cloud-gatherer, and stood +there, and he was no wise displeased at heart when he beheld them, for +that speedily they had obeyed the words of his dear wife. And to Iris +first he spake winged words: “Go, get thee, swift Iris, to the prince +Poseidon, and tell him all these things, nor be a false messenger. +Command him to cease from war and battle, and to go among the tribes of +the gods, or into the bright sea. But if he will not obey my words, but +will hold me in no regard, then let him consider in his heart and mind, +lest he dare not for all his strength to abide me when I come against +him, since I deem me to be far mightier than he, and elder born. But +this his heart feareth not,—to call himself the peer of me whom even +the other gods do hold in dread.” + +So spake he, nor did the wind-footed fleet Iris disobey him, but went +down the hills of Ida to sacred Ilios. And as when snow or chill hail +fleets from the clouds beneath the stress of the North Wind born in the +clear air, so fleetly she fled in her eagerness, swift Iris, and drew +near the renowned Earth-shaker and spake to him, saying: “A certain +message to thee, O dark-haired embracer of the earth, have I come +hither to bring from aegis-bearing Zeus. He biddeth thee cease from the +battle and war, and go among the tribes of the gods, or into the bright +sea. And if thou wilt not obey his word, but wilt hold him in no +regard, he threatens that even himself will come hither against thee in +battle, and he biddeth thee avoid thee out of his hands since he +deemeth him far mightier than thou, and elder born, but thy heart +feareth not to call thyself the peer of him whom even the other gods do +hold in dread.” + +Then, in great displeasure the renowned Shaker of the earth answered +her: “Out on it, verily now, for as strong as he is, he hath spoken +over-haughtily, if indeed he will subdue by force, against my will, me +that am his equal in honour. For three brethren are we, and sons of +Kronos, whom Rhea bare, Zeus, and myself, and Hades is the third, the +ruler of the folk in the under-world. And in three lots are all things +divided, and each drew a domain of his own, and to me fell the hoary +sea, to be my habitation for ever, when we shook the lots: and Hades +drew the murky darkness, and Zeus the wide heaven, in clear air and +clouds, but the earth and high Olympus are yet common to all. Wherefore +no whit will I walk after the will of Zeus, but quietly let him abide, +for all his strength, in his third portion. And with the might of his +hands let him not strive to terrify me withal, as if I were a coward. +Better for him were it to threaten with terrible words his daughters +and his sons, that himself begat, who will perforce listen to whatso he +enjoins.” + +Then the fleet wind-footed Iris answered him: “Is it indeed thy will, O +dark-haired embracer of the earth, that even thus I shall carry to Zeus +this message, hard and froward, or wilt thou turn thee at all, for the +hearts of the good may be turned? Thou knowest how the Erinyes do +always follow to aid the elder-born.” + +Then he answered her again, Poseidon, the Shaker of the earth: “Goddess +Iris, most duly hast thou spoken this word. Yea, an excellent thing is +this, when the bearer of a message has a prudent wit. Yet this is a +terrible grief that cometh on heart and spirit, whenso any desireth to +upbraid with angry words his peer to whom fate hath assigned an equal +share with himself. But verily now will I yield, for all mine anger; +but another thing will I tell thee, and make this threat in my heart, +that if against my will, and the will of Athene, the driver of the +prey, and of Hera and Hermes, and prince Hephaistos, Zeus shall spare +steep Ilios, nor choose utterly to destroy it, and give great might to +the Argives, let him know this, that our wrath will be inappeasable.” + +So spake the Shaker of the earth, and left the host of the Achaians, +and passed to the sea, and sank, and sorely they missed him, the heroes +of the Achaians. + +Then Zeus, the gatherer of the clouds, spake to Apollo, saying: “Go +now, dear Phoebus, to Hector of the helm of bronze, for, lo, already +the embracer of the world, the Earthshaker, is gone to the bright sea, +shunning our utter wrath, ay, and had he not done so, even the others +would have heard of our strife, even the gods of the nether world, that +are with Kronos. But better far is this, both for me, and for him, +that, despite his wrath, he should yield to my hands, for not without +sweat would this strife have been accomplished. But do thou take in thy +hands the tasselled aegis, and shake it fiercely and affright the +Achaian heroes. But, thou Archer-God, let glorious Hector be thy care, +and rouse in him great wrath even till the Achaians come in their +flight to the ships, and the Hellespont. And from that moment will I +devise word and deed wherewithal the Achaians may take breath again +from their toil.” + +So spake he, nor was Apollo deaf to the word of the Father, but he went +down the hills of Ida like a fleet falcon, the bane of doves, that is +the swiftest of flying things. And he found the son of wise-hearted +Priam, noble Hector, sitting up, no longer lying, for he had but late +got back his life, and knew the comrades around him, and his gasping +and his sweat had ceased, from the moment when the will of +aegis-bearing Zeus began to revive him. Then far-darting Apollo stood +near him, and spake to him: “Hector, son of Priam, why dost thou sit +fainting apart from the others? Is it perchance that some trouble +cometh upon thee?” + +Then, with faint breath answered him Hector of the glancing helm: “Nay, +but who art thou, best of the gods, who enquirest of me face to face? +Dost thou not know that by the hindmost row of the ships of the +Achaians, Aias of the loud war-cry smote me on the breast with a stone, +as I was slaying his comrades, and made me cease from mine impetuous +might? And verily I deemed that this very day I should pass to the +dead, and the house of Hades, when I had gasped my life away.” + +Then prince Apollo the Far-darter answered him again: “Take courage +now, so great an ally hath the son of Kronos sent thee out of Ida, to +stand by thee and defend thee, even Phoebus Apollo of the golden sword, +me who of old defend thee, thyself and the steep citadel. But come now +bid thy many charioteers drive their swift steeds against the hollow +ships, and I will go before and make smooth all the way for the +chariots, and will put to flight the Achaian heroes.” + +So he spake, and breathed great might into the shepherd of the host, +and even as when a stalled horse, full fed at the manger, breaks his +tether and speedeth at the gallop over the plain exultingly, being wont +to bathe in the fair-flowing stream, and holds his head on high, and +the mane floweth about his shoulders, and he trusteth in his glory, and +nimbly his knees bear him to the haunts and pasture of the mares, even +so Hector lightly moved his feet and knees, urging on his horsemen, +when he heard the voice of the god. But as when hounds and country folk +pursue a horned stag, or a wild goat, that steep rock and shady wood +save from them, nor is it their lot to find him, but at their clamour a +bearded lion hath shown himself on the way, and lightly turned them all +despite their eagerness, even so the Danaans for a while followed on +always in their companies, smiting with swords and double-pointed +spears, but when they saw Hector going up and down the ranks of men, +then were they afraid, and the hearts of all fell to their feet. + +Then to them spake Thoas, son of Andraimon, far the best of the +Aitolians, skilled in throwing the dart, and good in close fight, and +in council did few of the Achaians surpass him, when the young men were +striving in debate; with good intent he made harangue and spake among +them: “Alas, and verily a great marvel is this I behold with mine eyes, +how he hath again arisen, and hath avoided the Fates, even Hector. +Surely each of us hoped in his heart, that he had died beneath the hand +of Aias, son of Telamon. But some one of the gods again hath delivered +and saved Hector, who verily hath loosened the knees of many of the +Danaans, as methinks will befall even now, for not without the will of +loud-thundering Zeus doth he rise in the front ranks, thus eager for +battle. But come, as I declare let us all obey. Let us bid the throng +turn back to the ships, but let us as many as avow us to be the best in +the host, take our stand, if perchance first we may meet him, and hold +him off with outstretched spears, and he, methinks, for all his +eagerness, will fear at heart to enter into the press of the Danaans.” + +So spake he, and they heard him eagerly, and obeyed him. They that were +with Aias and the prince Idomeneus, and Teukros, and Meriones, and +Meges the peer of Ares, called to all the best of the warriors and +sustained the fight with Hector and the Trojans, but behind them the +multitude returned to the ships of the Achaians. + +Now the Trojans drave forward in close ranks, and with long strides +Hector led them, while in front of him went Phoebus Apollo, his +shoulders wrapped in cloud, and still he held the fell aegis, dread, +circled with a shaggy fringe, and gleaming, that Hephaistos the smith +gave to Zeus, to bear for the terror of men; with this in his hands did +he lead the host. + +Now the Argives abode them in close ranks, and shrill the cry arose on +both sides, and the arrows leaped from the bow-strings, and many spears +from stalwart hands, whereof some stood fast in the flesh of young men +swift in fight, but many halfway, ere ever they reached the white +flesh, stuck in the ground, longing to glut themselves with flesh. Now +so long as Phoebus Apollo held the aegis unmoved in his hands, so long +the darts smote either side amain, and the folk fell. But when he +looked face to face on the Danaans of the swift steeds, and shook the +aegis, and himself shouted mightily, he quelled their heart in their +breast, and they forgot their impetuous valour. And as when two wild +beasts drive in confusion a herd of kine, or a great flock of sheep, in +the dark hour of black night, coming swiftly on them when the herdsman +is not by, even so were the Achaians terror-stricken and strengthless, +for Apollo sent a panic among them, but still gave renown to the +Trojans and Hector. + +Then man fell upon man, when the close fight was scattered. Hector slew +Stichios, and Arkesilaos, one a leader of the mail-clad Boiotians, the +other the true comrade of great-hearted Menestheus. And Aineias slew +Medon and Iasos, whereof one was the bastard son of divine Oileus, even +Medon, brother of Aias, but he dwelt in Phylake, far from his own +country, for that he had slain a man the brother of his stepmother +Eriopis, the wife of Oileus. But Iasos was a leader of the Athenians, +and was called the son of Sphelos, the son of Boukolos. And Polydamas +slew Mekisteus, and Polites Echios in the forefront of the battle, and +noble Agenor overcame Klonios. And Deïochos as he was flying among the +fighters in the foremost rank Paris smote behind the lower part of the +shoulder, and drave the bronze clean through. + +Now while they were stripping the spoil from these, even then the +Achaians were dashing into the delved fosse, and against the palisade, +fleeing hither and thither in their terror, and were driven perforce +within the wall, but Hector called with a loud shout to the Trojans: +“Make ye against the ships, and leave the bloody spoils. Whomsoever I +shall see apart from the ships on the other side, his death will I +there devise, nor forthwith shall his kinsmen and kinswomen lay him +dead on the funeral fire, but dogs shall tear him in front of our +citadel.” + +So speaking he smote his horses on the shoulder with the lash, and +called aloud on the Trojans along the ranks. And they all cried out, +and level with his held the steeds that drew their chariots, with a +marvellous din, and in front of them Phoebus Apollo lightly dashed down +with his feet the banks of the deep ditch, and cast them into the midst +thereof, making a bridgeway long and wide as is a spear-cast, when a +man throws to make trial of his strength. Thereby the Trojans poured +forward in their battalions, while in their van Apollo held the +splendid aegis. And most easily did he cast down the wall of the +Achaians, as when a boy scatters the sand beside the sea, first making +sand buildings for sport in his childishness, and then again, in his +sport, confounding them with his feet and hands; even so didst thou, +archer Apollo, confound the long toil and labour of the Argives, and +among them rouse a panic fear. + +So they were halting, and abiding by the ships, calling each to other; +and lifting their hands to all the gods did each man pray vehemently, +and chiefly prayed Gerenian Nestor, the Warden of the Achaians, +stretching his hand towards the starry heaven: “O father Zeus, if ever +any one of us in wheat-bearing Argos did burn to thee fat thighs of +bull or sheep, and prayed that he might return, and thou didst promise +and assent thereto, of these things be thou mindful, and avert, +Olympian, the pitiless day, nor suffer the Trojans thus to overcome the +Achaians.” + +So spake he in his prayer, and Zeus, the Lord of counsel, thundered +loudly, hearing the prayers of the ancient son of Neleus. + +But the Trojans when they heard the thunder of aegis-bearing Zeus, +rushed yet the more eagerly upon the Argives, and were mindful of the +joy of battle. And as when a great wave of the wide sea sweeps over the +bulwarks of a ship, the might of the wind constraining it, which +chiefly swells the waves, even so did the Trojans with a great cry +bound over the wall, and drave their horses on, and at the hindmost row +of the ships were fighting hand to hand with double-pointed spears, the +Trojans from the chariots, but the Achaians climbing up aloft, from the +black ships with long pikes that they had lying in the ships for battle +at sea, jointed pikes shod at the head with bronze. + +Now Patroklos, as long as the Achaians and Trojans were fighting about +the wall, without the swift ships, sat in the hut of kindly Eurypylos, +and was making him glad with talk, and on his cruel wound was laying +herbs, to medicine his dark pain. But when he perceived the Trojans +rushing over the wall, and the din and flight of the Danaans began, +then did he groan, and smote his two thighs with his hands flatlings, +and sorrowing he spake: “Eurypylos, no longer at all may I abide with +thee here, though great thy need, for verily a great strife has arisen. +But thee let thy squire comfort, while I hasten to Achilles, that I may +urge him to join the battle. Who knows but with god’s help I may arouse +his spirit with my persuasion? and a good thing is the persuasion of a +friend.” + +Even as he spake, his feet were bearing him away, but the Achaians abode the +onset of the Trojans steadfastly, yet availed not to drive them, though fewer +they were, from the ships: neither at all could the Trojans break the ranks of +the Danaans and pour among the huts and the ships. But even as the carpenter’s +line doth straighten the timber of a ship, in the hands of a cunning shipwright +that is well skilled in all craft, by the inspiration of Athene, so equally was +strained their war and battle, and divers of them were fighting about divers +ships. Now Hector made for renowned Aias, and they twain were warring about the +same ship, nor could the one drive back the other and set fire to the ship, nor +could the other thrust him away, since the god urged him on. There did glorious +Aias smite Kaletor son of Klytios in the breast with a spear, as he was +carrying fire against the ship, and he fell with a crash, and the torch dropped +from his hand. But Hector, when he beheld with his eyes his cousin fallen in +the dust, in front of the black ship, called with a loud cry to the Trojans and +Lykians: “Ye Trojans, and Lykians, and Dardanians that fight hand to hand, +slacken not at all from the battle in this strait, but save the son of Klytios; +lest the Achaians spoil him of his harness, now that he hath fallen in the +precinct of the ships.” + +So spake he, and hurled at Aias with a shining spear and Aias he +missed, but Lykophron, the son of Mastor, the Kytherian squire of Aias, +who dwelt with him, having slain a man in divine Kythera, him Hector +smote on the head above the ear with the sharp bronze, even as he stood +near Aias; and backward in the dust he fell to earth from the stern of +the ship, and his limbs were loosened. And Aias shuddered, and spake to +his brother: “Dear Teukros, lo our true comrade hath been slain, even +the son of Mastor out of Kythera whom we honoured at home in the halls +like our own parents. Him hath great-hearted Hector slain. Where now +are thy swift shafts of doom, and the bow that Phoebus Apollo gave +thee?” + +So spake he, and the other marked him, and ran, and came and stood +close by him, with the bended bow in his hand, and the quiver with the +arrows, and right swiftly he showered his shafts upon the Trojans. And +he smote Kleitos, the splendid son of Peisenor, the comrade of +Polydamas, the haughty son of Panthoos, with the reins in his hand, as +he was busy with the horses, for thither was he driving them where far +the most of the companies were broken in confusion, and he was showing +a favour to Hector and the Trojans. But swiftly on himself came his +bane, that not one of them could ward off from him, despite their +desire. For the woful arrow lighted on the back of his neck, and he +fell from the chariot, and back started his horses, shaking the empty +car. But straightway the prince Polydamas beheld it, and was the first +to come over against the horses. Them he gave to Astynoos, the son of +Protiaon, and enjoined him straitly to hold the horses close at hand, +and look on, and himself went back, and mingled with the foremost +fighters. Then Teukros aimed another shaft against Hector of the helm +of bronze, and would have made cease the battle by the ships of the +Achaians, if he had smitten him in his prowess and taken his life away. +But he escaped not the wise mind of Zeus, who guarded Hector, but took +away the praise from Teukros son of Telamon, for he brake the +well-twisted string on the goodly bow, even as Teukros was aiming at +Hector, and his arrow weighted with bronze wandered otherwhere, and the +bow fell from his hands. But Teukros shuddered, and spake to his +brother saying: “Alas, now verily the god breaks altogether the purpose +of our battle, in that he hath cast the bow from my hand, and hath +broken the newly twisted cord, which I bound on but this morning, that +it might sustain the many shafts that should leap from the bow.” + +Then the great Aias son of Telamon answered him saying: “Yea, friend, +but let the bow and the many arrows lie, even so, since the god has +confounded them, being jealous of the Danaans, but take in thy hands a +long spear, and a shield on thy shoulder, and war with the Trojans, and +arouse the rest of the host. Verily not without labour, for all their +victory, let them take the well-timbered ships, nay, let us be mindful +of the delight of battle.” + +So spake he, and Teukros set the bow within the huts again, but round +his shoulder he set a fourfold shield, and on his mighty head a +well-wrought helmet, [with a horse-hair plume, and terribly the crest +nodded above.] And he seized a strong spear, shod with sharp bronze, +and started on his way, and started and running right speedily stood +beside Aias. + +But when Hector saw the artillery of Teukros harmed, he cried, with a +mighty shout, to the Trojans and Lykians: “Trojans, and Lykians, and +Dardanians that love close fight, play the man, my friends, and be +mindful of impetuous valour, here by the hollow ships, for I have seen +with mine eyes, how the artillery of the bravest warrior was harmed by +Zeus. And most easily discerned is the aid of Zeus to men both to +whomso he gives the meed of the greater honour and whom he would minish +and hath no will to aid, as even now he minisheth the strength of the +Argives, but us he aideth. But fight in your firm companies at the +ships, and whosoever of you be smitten by dart or blow and meeteth +death and fate, so let him die. Lo, it is no dishonourable thing for +him to fall fighting for his country, but his wife and his children +after him are safe, and his house unharmed, and his lot of land, if but +the Achaians fare with their ships to their dear native land.” + +So spake he and aroused the might and the spirit of every man. + +But Aias again, on the other side, called unto his comrades: “Shame on +you, Argives: now is one thing sure, either that we must perish +utterly, or be saved and drive the peril from the ships. Think ye that +if Hector of the glancing helm take the ships, ye will come by dry land +each to his own country? Hear ye not Hector exhorting all the host, so +eager, verily, is he to burn the ships? Truly he bids not men to the +dance but to battle. And for us there is no better counsel nor device, +but to put forth our hands and all our might in close combat. Better it +were to risk life or death, once for all, than long to be straitened in +the dread stress of battle, thus vainly by the ships, at the hands of +worse men than we be.” + +So spake he, and aroused the might and the spirit of every man. Then +Hector slew Schedios, the son of Perimedes, a leader of the Phokians, +while Aias slew Laodamas, the leader of the foot-men, the noble son of +Antenor, and Polydamas slew Otos, of Kyllene, comrade of Phyleides, a +chief of the high-hearted Epeians. And Meges, when he beheld it rushed +on him, but Polydamas stooped downwards, and him Meges missed,—for +Apollo suffered not the son of Panthoos to be smitten among the +foremost fighters,—but he wounded Kroismos in the midst of the breast +with his spear. And he fell with a crash, and the other set to +stripping the harness from his shoulders. Then Dolops rose against him, +a warrior skilled, Dolops son of Lampos, whom Lampos Laomedon’s son +begat, his bravest son, well skilled in impetuous valour; who then +smote the midst of the shield of Phyleus’ son, setting on him at close +quarters. But his well-wrought corslet guarded him, the corslet that he +wore, fashioned of plates of mail. This corslet did Phyleus once bear +out of Ephyre, from the river Selleëis. For a guest friend of his had +given him the same, even Euphetes, king of men, that he might bear it +in war, a defence against foemen; and now from his son’s flesh too it +warded off his bane. Now Meges smote with sharpened spear at the +topmost crest of his helmet of bronze with horse-hair plume, and brake +off his plume of horse-hair, and it all fell earthward in the dust, +shining with its new scarlet dye. Now while he abode, and fought, and +yet hoped for victory, there came against him to the rescue warlike +Menelaos, and stood unmarked on his flank with his spear, and smote him +on the shoulder from behind, and the eager spear rushed through his +breast, in forward flight, and then fell he forward. Then the twain +made for him to strip from his shoulders his harness of bronze. But +Hector called to all his kinsmen, and first he chid the son of +Hiketaon, the strong Melanippos. Now till then was Melanippos wont to +feed his kine of trailing gait in Perkote, far off from hostile men, +but when the curved ships of the Danaans came, he returned to Ilios, +and excelled among the Trojans, and dwelt hard by Priam, who honoured +him equally with his own children. Him did Hector chide, and spake out, +and called him by name: “Melanippos, are we to be thus slack? Is thy +heart not moved at all, at sight of thy kinsman slain? Seest thou not +how they are busied about the harness of Dolops? nay, follow on, for no +longer may we fight with the Argives from afar, till either we slay +them, or they utterly take steep Ilios, and slay her people.” + +So spake he, and led on, while the other followed him, a godlike man. +But the great Aias, son of Telamon, exhorted the Argives, saying: “O +friends, play the man, and take shame in your hearts; yea, have shame +each of the other’s contempt, in the strong battle. For of men thus +shamefast more escape than fall, but of men that flee cometh neither +glory, nor any avail.” + +So spake he, and they likewise themselves were eager to drive off the +others, and laid up his word in their hearts, and begirt the ships with +a ring of bronze, while Zeus urged on the Trojans. Then Menelaos of the +loud war-cry exhorted Antilochos, “Antilochos, not one of the Achaians +is younger than thou, nor swifter of foot, nor strong as art thou in +fight; see now if thou canst leap out, and smite some man of the +Trojans.” + +So spake he, and hasted back again, having heartened the other, and +forth Antilochos leaped from the foremost ranks, and cast his shining +spear, glancing all around him, and the Trojans gave ground before him +when he threw. And no vain dart threw he, but smote Melanippos, the +proud son of Hiketaon, as he was returning to the combat; on the breast +hard by the nipple he smote him. And he fell with a crash, and darkness +covered his eyes. And Antilochos set on like a hound that rushes upon a +wounded fawn, that the hunter hath aimed at and smitten as it leaped +from its lair, and hath loosened all its limbs. Even so upon thee, +Melanippos, leaped Antilochos steadfast in battle, to spoil thy +harness. But noble Hector marked him, and came running against him +through the battle. But Antilochos abode not his onset, swift warrior +though he was, but he fled, like a wild beast that hath done some evil +thing, having slain a dog, or a herdsman by the kine, and flees, before +the press of men can gather; even so fled the son of Nestor. Now the +Trojans and Hector, with wonderful clamour, showered upon him their +dolorous darts, but he turned, and stood, when he had reached the host +of his comrades. + +Now the Trojans, like ravening lions, rushed upon the ships, fulfilling +the behests of Zeus, that ever was rousing their great wrath, but +softened the temper of the Argives, and took away their glory, while he +spurred on the others. For the heart of Zeus was set on giving glory to +Hector, the son of Priam, that withal he might cast fierce-blazing +fire, unwearied, upon the beaked ships, and so fulfil all the +presumptuous prayer of Thetis; wherefore wise-counselling Zeus awaited, +till his eyes should see the glare of a burning ship. For even from +that hour was he to ordain the backward chase of the Trojans from the +ships, and to give glory to the Danaans. With this design was he +rousing Hector, Priam’s son, that himself was right eager, against the +hollow ships. And he was raging, like Ares, the brandisher of the +spear, or as when ruinous fire rages on the hills, in the folds of a +deep woodland; and foam grew about his mouth, and his eyes shone +beneath his dreadful brows, and around the temples of Hector as he +fought his helm shook terribly. For Zeus out of heaven was his ally, +and gave him honour and renown, he being but one man against so many. +For short of life was he to be, yea, and already Pallas Athene was +urging against him the day of destiny, at the hand of the son of +Peleus. And fain he was to break the ranks of men, trying them +wheresoever he saw the thickest press, and the goodliest harness. Yet +not even so might he break them for all his eagerness. Nay, they stood +firm, and embattled like a steep rock and a great, hard by the hoary +sea, a rock that abides the swift paths of the shrill winds, and the +swelling waves that roar against it. Even so the Danaans steadfastly +abode the Trojans and fled not away. But Hector shining with fire on +all sides leaped on the throng, and fell upon them, as when beneath the +storm-clouds a fleet wave reared of the winds falls on a swift ship, +and she is all hidden with foam, and the dread blast of the wind roars +against the sail, and the sailors fear, and tremble in their hearts, +for by but a little way are they borne forth from death, even so the +spirit was torn in the breasts of the Achaians. But he came on like a +ravening lion making against the kine, that are feeding innumerable in +the low-lying land of a great marsh, and among them is a herdsman that +as yet knoweth not well how to fight with a wild beast concerning the +slaughter of the kine of crooked horn, and ever he paces abreast with +the rear or the van of the cattle, but the lion leaps into the midst, +and devours a cow, and they all tremble for fear, even so the Achaians +all were made terribly adread by Hector and father Zeus. But Hector +slew Periphetes of Mykene only, the dear son of Kopreus, that was wont +to go on the errands of Eurystheus, to the mighty Herakles. From him, a +far baser father, was born a better son, in all manner of excellence, +in fleetness of foot, and in war, and of mind he was wise among the +first of the Mykenaeans. He thus then yielded Hector the greater glory. +For as he turned back, he tripped against the rim of his shield which +he was wont to bear, a shield that reached to the feet, a fence against +javelins—thereon he stumbled, and fell back, and his helm rang +wrondrously around his temples as he fell. And Hector quickly spied it, +and ran up swiftly and stood by him, and fixed a spear in his breast, +and slew him hard by his dear comrades that could not aid him, despite +all their sorrow for their friend, for themselves greatly dreaded noble +Hector. + +Now were they come between the ships, and the prows protected them, the +prows of the ships drawn up in the first line, but the Trojans rushed +in after them. And the Argives were compelled even of necessity to give +back from the foremost ships, yet there they abode in close rank beside +the huts, and did not scatter throughout the camp. For shame and fear +restrained them and ceaselessly they kept shouting each to other. Now +Gerenian Nestor above all, the Warden of the Achaians, implored each +man by the memory of them that begat him, and spake beseechingly: “O +friends, play the man, and set shame of other men’s contempt in hearts. +Let each also be mindful of children and wives, and of his possessions, +and of them that begat him, whether any have parents yet alive or they +be already dead. For their sake do I here beseech you, for the sake of +them that are not with us, to stand stoutly, nor turn to flight.” + +So spake he, and roused each man’s courage and might, and from their +eyes Athene lifted the wondrous cloud of mist, and light came mightily +upon them from either side, both from the side of the ships, and from +the quarter of even-balanced war. And they beheld Hector of the loud +war-cry, and his comrades, both them that stood in the rear and were +not fighting, and all them that fought in the battle by the swift +ships. + +Nor yet did it please the spirit of high-hearted Aias, to stand in the +place whereto the other sons of the Achaians had withdrawn, but he kept +faring with long strides, up and down the decks of the ships, and he +wielded in his hands a great pike for sea-battles, jointed with rings, +two and twenty cubits in length. And even as a man right well skilled +in horsemanship that couples four horses out of many, and hurrying them +from the plain towards a great city, drives along the public way, many +men and women marvelling on him, and firmly ever he leaps, and changes +his stand from horse to horse, while they fly along, even so Aias went +with long strides, over many a deck of the swift ships, and his voice +went up unto heaven. And always with terrible cries he summoned the +Danaans to defend the ships and the huts. Nor did Hector abide in the +throng of well-armed Trojans, but even as a tawny eagle rushes on a +flock of winged fowl, that are feeding by a riverside, a flock of +geese, or cranes, or long-necked swans, even so Hector made straight +for a black-beaked ship, rushing right on it, and mightily Zeus urged +him on from behind with his strong hand, and roused on the host along +with him. + +So again keen battle was set by the ships. Thou wouldst deem that +unwearied and unworn they met each other in war, so eagerly they +fought. And in their striving they were minded thus; the Achaians +verily deemed that never would they flee from the danger, but perish +there, but the heart of each Trojan hoped in his breast, that they +should fire the ships, and slay the heroes of the Achaians. With these +imaginations they stood to each other, and Hector seized the stern of a +seafaring ship, a fair ship, swift on the brine, that had borne +Protesilaos to Troia, but brought him not back again to his own +country. Now round his ship the Achaians and Trojans warred on each +other hand to hand, nor far apart did they endure the flights of +arrows, nor of darts, but standing hard each by other, with one heart, +with sharp axes and hatchets they fought, and with great swords, and +double-pointed spears. And many fair brands, dark-scabbarded and +hilted, fell to the ground, some from the hands, some from off the +shoulders of warring men, and the black earth ran with blood. But +Hector, after that once he had seized the ship’s stern, left not his +hold, keeping the ensign in his hands, and he called to the Trojans: +“Bring fire, and all with one voice do ye raise the war-cry; now hath +Zeus given us the dearest day of all,—to take the ships that came +hither against the will of the gods, and brought many woes upon us, by +the cowardice of the elders, who withheld me when I was eager to fight +at the sterns of the ships, and kept back the host. But if even then +far-seeing Zeus did harm our wits, now he himself doth urge and command +us onwards.” + +So spake he, and they set yet the fiercer on the Argives. And Aias no +longer abode their onset, for he was driven back by the darts, but he +withdrew a little,—thinking that now he should die,—on to the oarsman’s +bench of seven feet long, and he left the decks of the trim ship. There +then he stood on the watch, and with his spear he ever drave the +Trojans from the ships, whosoever brought unwearied fire, and ever he +shouted terribly, calling to the Danaans: “O friends, Danaan heroes, +men of Ares’ company, play the man, my friends, and be mindful of +impetuous valour. Do we deem that there be allies at our backs, or some +wall stronger than this to ward off death from men? Verily there is not +hard by any city arrayed with towers, whereby we might defend +ourselves, having a host that could turn the balance of battle. Nay, +but we are set down in the plain of the mailed men of Troy, with our +backs against the sea, and far off from our own land. Therefore is +safety in battle, and not in slackening from the fight.” + +So spake he, and rushed on ravening for battle, with his keen spear. +And whosoever of the Trojans was coming against the ship with blazing +fire, to pleasure Hector at his urging, him would Aias wound, awaiting +him with his long spear, and twelve men in front of the ships at close +quarters did he wound. + + + + +BOOK XVI. + + +How Patroklos fought in the armour of Achilles, and drove the Trojans +from the ships, but was slain at last by Hector. + + +So they were warring round the well-timbered ship, but Patroklos drew +near Achilles, shepherd of the host, and he shed warm tears, even as a +fountain of dark water that down a steep cliff pours its cloudy stream. +And noble swift-footed Achilles when he beheld him was grieved for his +sake, and accosted him, and spake winged words, saying: “Wherefore +weepest thou, Patroklos, like a fond little maid, that runs by her +mother’s side, and bids her mother take her up, snatching at her gown, +and hinders her in her going, and tearfully looks at her, till the +mother takes her up? like her, Patroklos, dost thou let fall soft +tears. Hast thou aught to tell to the Myrmidons, or to me myself, or is +it some tidings out of Phthia that thou alone hast beard? Or dost thou +lament for the sake of the Argives,—how they perish by the hollow ships +through their own transgression? Speak out, and hide it not within thy +spirit, that we may both know all.” + +But with a heavy groan didst thou speak unto him, O knight Patroklos: +“O Achilles, son of Peleus, far the bravest of the Achaians, be not +wroth, seeing that so great calamity has beset the Achaians. For verily +all of them that aforetime were the best are lying among the ships, +smitten and wounded. Smitten is the son of Tydeus, strong Diomedes, and +wounded is Odysseus, spearman renowned, and Agamemnon; and smitten is +Eurypylos on the thigh with an arrow. And about them the leeches +skilled in medicines are busy, healing their wounds, but thou art hard +to reconcile, Achilles. Never then may such wrath take hold of me as +that thou nursest; thou brave to the hurting of others. What other men +later born shall have profit of thee, if thou dost not ward off base +ruin from the Argives? Pitiless that thou art, the knight Peleus was +not then thy father, nor Thetis thy mother, but the grey sea bare thee, +and the sheer cliffs, so untoward is thy spirit. But if in thy heart +thou art shunning some oracle, and thy lady mother hath told thee +somewhat from Zeus, yet me do thou send forth quickly, and make the +rest of the host of the Myrmidons follow me, if yet any light may arise +from me to the Danaans. And give me thy harness to buckle about my +shoulders, if perchance the Trojans may take me for thee, and so +abstain from battle, and the warlike sons of the Achaians may take +breath, wearied as they be, for brief is the breathing in war. And +lightly might we that are fresh drive men wearied with the battle back +to the citadel, away from the ships and the huts.” + +So he spake and besought him, in his unwittingness, for truly it was to +be his own evil death and fate that he prayed for. Then to him in great +heaviness spake swift-footed Achilles: “Ah me, Patroklos of the seed of +Zeus, what word hast thou spoken? Neither take I heed of any oracle +that I wot of, nor yet has my lady mother told me somewhat from Zeus, +but this dread sorrow comes upon my heart and spirit, from the hour +that a man wishes to rob me who am his equal, and to take away my +prize, for that he excels me in power. A dread sorrow to me is this, +after all the toils that my heart hath endured. The maiden that the +sons of the Achaians chose out for me as my prize, and that I won with +my spear when I sacked a well-walled city, her has mighty Agamemnon the +son of Atreus taken back out of my hands, as though I were but some +sojourner dishonourable. But we will let bygones be bygones. No man may +be angry of heart for ever, yet verily I said that I would not cease +from my wrath, until that time when to mine own ships should come the +war-cry and the battle. But do thou on thy shoulders my famous harness, +and lead the war-loving Myrmidons to the fight, to ward off destruction +from the ships, lest they even burn the ships with blazing fire, and +take away our desired return. But when thou hast driven them from the +ships, return, and even if the loud-thundering lord of Hera grant thee +to win glory, yet long not thou apart from me to fight with the +war-loving Trojans; thereby wilt thou minish mine honour. Neither do +thou, exulting in war and strife, and slaying the Trojans, lead on +toward Ilios, lest one of the eternal gods from Olympus come against +thee; right dearly doth Apollo the Far-darter love them. Nay, return +back when thou halt brought safety to the ships, and suffer the rest to +fight along the plain. For would, O father Zeus, and Athene, and +Apollo, would that not one of all the Trojans might escape death, nor +one of the Argives, but that we twain might avoid destruction, that +alone we might undo the sacred coronal of Troy.” + +So spake they each to other, but Aias no longer abode the onset, for he +was overpowered by darts; the counsel of Zeus was subduing him, and the +shafts of the proud Trojans; and his bright helmet, being smitten, kept +ringing terribly about his temples: for always it was smitten upon the +fair-wrought cheek-pieces. Moreover his left shoulder was wearied, as +steadfastly he held up his glittering shield, nor yet could they make +him give ground, as they pressed on with their darts around him. And +ever he was worn out with difficult breath, and much sweat kept running +from all his limbs, nor had he a moment to draw breath, so on all sides +was evil heaped on evil. + +Tell me now, ye Muses that have mansions in Olympus, how first fire +fell on the ships of the Achaians. Hector drew near, and the ashen +spear of Aias he smote with his great sword, hard by the socket, behind +the point, and shore it clean away, and the son of Telamon brandished +in his hand no more than a pointless spear, and far from him the head +of bronze fell ringing on the ground. + +And Aias knew in his noble heart, and shuddered at the deeds of the +gods, even how Zeus that thundereth on high did utterly cut off from +him avail in war, and desired victory for the Trojans. Then Aias gave +back out of the darts. But the Trojans cast on the swift ship +unwearying fire, and instantly the inextinguishable flame streamed over +her: so the fire begirt the stern, whereon Achilles smote his thighs, +and spake to Patroklos: “Arise, Patroklos of the seed of Zeus, +commander of the horsemen, for truly I see by the ships the rush of the +consuming fire. Up then, lest they take the ships, and there be no more +retreat; do on thy harness speedily, and I will summon the host.” + +So spake he, while Patroklos was harnessing him in shining bronze. His +goodly greaves, fitted with silver clasps, he first girt round his +legs, and next did on around his breast the well-dight starry corslet +of the swift-footed son of Aiakos. And round his shoulders he cast a +sword of bronze, with studs of silver, and next took the great and +mighty shield, and on his proud head set a well-wrought helm with a +horse-hair crest, and terribly nodded the crest from above. Then seized +he two strong lances that fitted his grasp, only he took not the spear +of the noble son of Aiakos, heavy, and huge, and stalwart, that none +other of the Achaians could wield. And Patroklos bade Automedon to yoke +the horses speedily, even Automedon whom most he honoured after +Achilles, the breaker of the ranks of men, and whom he held trustiest +in battle to abide his call. And for him Automedon led beneath the yoke +the swift horses, Xanthos and Balios, that fly as swift as the winds, +the horses that the harpy Podarge bare to the West Wind, as she grazed +on the meadow by the stream of Okeanos. And in the side-traces he put +the goodly Pedasos, that Achilles carried away, when he took the city +of Eetion; and being but a mortal steed, he followed with the immortal +horses. + +Meanwhile Achilles went and harnessed all the Myrmidons in the huts +with armour, and they gathered like ravening wolves with strength in +their hearts unspeakable. And among them all stood warlike Achilles +urging on the horses and the targeteers. And he aroused the heart and +valour of each of them, and the ranks were yet the closer serried when +they heard the prince. And as when a man builds the wall of a high +house with close-set stones, to avoid the might of the winds, even so +close were arrayed the helmets and bossy shields, and shield pressed on +shield, helm on helm, and man on man, and the horse-hair crests on the +bright helmet-ridges touched each other when they nodded, so close they +stood by each other. + +And straightway they poured forth like wasps that have their dwelling +by the wayside, and that boys are ever wont to vex, always tormenting +them in their nests beside the way in childish sport, and a common evil +they make for many. With heart and spirit like theirs the Myrmidons +poured out now from the ships, and a cry arose unquenchable, and +Patroklos called on his comrades, shouting aloud: “Myrmidons, ye +comrades of Achilles son of Peleus, be men, my friends, and be mindful +of your impetuous valour, that so we may win honour for the son of +Peleus, that is far the bravest of the Argives by the ships, and whose +close-fighting squires are the best. And let wide-ruling Agamemnon the +son of Atreus learn his own blindness of heart, in that he nothing +honoured the best of the Achaians.” + +So spake he, and aroused each man’s heart and courage, and all in a +mass they fell on the Trojans, and the ships around echoed wondrously +to the cry of the Achaians. But when the Trojans beheld the strong son +of Menoitios, himself and his squire, shining in their armour, the +heart was stirred in all of them, and the companies wavered, for they +deemed that by the ships the swift-footed son of Peleus had cast away +his wrath, and chosen reconcilement: then each man glanced round, to +see where he might flee sheer destruction. + +But Patroklos first with a shining spear cast straight into the press, +where most men were thronging, even by the stern of the ship of +great-hearted Protesilaos, and he smote Pyraichmes, who led his +Paionian horsemen out of Amydon, from the wide water of Axios; him he +smote on the right shoulder, and he fell on his back in the dust with a +groan, and his comrades around him, the Paionians, were afraid, for +Patroklos sent fear among them all, when he slew their leader that was +ever the best in fight. Then he drove them out from the ships, and +quenched the burning fire. And the half-burnt ship was left there, and +the Trojans fled, with a marvellous din, and the Danaans poured in +among the hollow ships, and ceaseless was the shouting. And as when +from the high crest of a great hill Zeus, the gatherer of the +lightning, hath stirred a dense cloud, and forth shine all the peaks, +and sharp promontories, and glades, and from heaven the infinite air +breaks open, even so the Danaans, having driven the blazing fire from +the ships, for a little while took breath, but there was no pause in +the battle. For not yet were the Trojans driven in utter rout by the +Achaians, dear to Ares, from the black ships, but they still stood up +against them, and only perforce gave ground from the ships. But even as +robber wolves fall on the lambs or kids, choosing them out of the +herds, when they are scattered on hills by the witlessness of the +shepherd, and the wolves behold it, and speedily harry the younglings +that have no heart of courage,—even so the Danaans fell on the Trojans, +and they were mindful of ill-sounding flight, and forgot their +impetuous valour. + +But that great Aias ever was fain to cast his spear at Hector of the +helm of bronze, but he, in his cunning of war, covered his broad +shoulders with his shield of bulls’ hide, and watched the hurtling of +the arrows, and the noise of spears. And verily well he knew the change +in the mastery of war, but even so he abode, and was striving to rescue +his trusty comrades. + +And as when from Olympus a cloud fares into heaven, from the sacred +air, when Zeus spreadeth forth the tempest, even so from the ships came +the war-cry and the rout, nor in order due did they cross the ditch +again. But his swift-footed horses bare Hector forth with his arms, and +he left the host of Troy, whom the delved trench restrained against +their will. And in the trench did many swift steeds that draw the car +break the fore-part of the pole, and leave the chariots of their +masters. + +But Patroklos followed after, crying fiercely to the Danaans, and full +of evil will against the Trojans, while they with cries and flight +filled all the ways, for they were scattered, and on high the storm of +dust was scattered below the clouds, and the whole-hooved horses +strained back towards the city, away from the ships and the huts. + +But even where Patroklos saw the folk thickest in the rout, thither did +he guide his horses with a cry, and under his axle-trees men fell prone +from their chariots, and the cars were overturned with a din of +shattering. But straight over the ditch, in forward flight, leaped the +swift horses. And the heart of Patroklos urged him against Hector, for +he was eager to smite him, but his swift steeds bore Hector forth and +away. And even as beneath a tempest the whole black earth is oppressed, +on an autumn day, when Zeus pours forth rain most vehemently, and all +the rivers run full, and many a scaur the torrents tear away, and down +to the dark sea they rush headlong from the hills, roaring mightily, +and minished are the works of men, even so mighty was the roar of the +Trojan horses as they ran. + +Now Patroklos when he had cloven the nearest companies, drave them +backward again to the ships, nor suffered them to approach the city, +despite their desire, but between the ships, and the river, and the +lofty wall, he rushed on them, and slew them, and avenged many a +comrade slain. There first he smote Pronoos with a shining spear, where +the shield left bare the breast, and loosened his limbs, and he fell +with a crash. Then Thestor the son of Enops he next assailed, as he sat +crouching in the polished chariot, for he was struck distraught, and +the reins flew from his hands. Him he drew near, and smote with the +lance on the right jaw, and clean pierced through his teeth. And +Patroklos caught hold of the spear and dragged him over the rim of the +car, as when a man sits on a jutting rock, and drags a sacred fish +forth from the sea, with line and glittering hook of bronze; so on the +bright spear dragged he Thestor gaping from the chariot, and cast him +down on his face and life left him as he fell. Next, as Euryalos came +on, he smote him on the midst of the head with a stone, and all his +head was shattered within the strong helmet, and prone on the earth he +fell, and death that slayeth the spirit overwhelmed him. Next Erymas, +and Amphoteros, and Epaltes and Tlepolemos son of Damastor, and Echios +and Pyris, and Ipheus and Euippos, and Polymelos son of Argeas, all +these in turn he brought low to the bounteous earth. But when Sarpedon +beheld his comrades with ungirdled doublets, subdued beneath the hands +of Patroklos son of Menoitios, he cried aloud, upbraiding the godlike +Lykians: “Shame, ye Lykians, whither do ye flee? Now be ye strong, for +I will encounter this man that I may know who he is that conquers here, +and verily many evils hath he wrought the Trojans, in that he hath +loosened the knees of many men and noble.” + +So spake he, and leaped with his arms from the chariot to the ground. +But Patroklos, on the other side, when he beheld him leaped from his +chariot. And they, like vultures of crooked talons and curved beaks, +that war with loud yells on some high cliff, even so they rushed with +cries against each other. And beholding then the son of Kronos of the +crooked counsels took pity on them, and he spake to Hera, his sister +and wife: “Ah woe is me for that it is fated that Sarpedon, the +best-beloved of men to me, shall be subdued under Patroklos son of +Menoitios. And in two ways my heart within my breast is divided, as I +ponder whether I should catch him up alive out of the tearful war, and +set him down in the rich land of Lykia, or whether I should now subdue +him beneath the hands of the son of Menoitios.” + +Then the ox-eyed lady Hera made answer to him: “Most dread son of +Kronos, what word is this thou hast spoken? A mortal man long doomed to +fate dost thou desire to deliver again from death of evil name? Work +thy will, but all we other gods will in no wise praise thee. And +another thing I will tell thee, and do thou lay it up in thy heart; if +thou dost send Sarpedon living to his own house, consider lest thereon +some other god likewise desire to send his own dear son away out of the +strong battle. For round the great citadel of Priam war many sons of +the Immortals, and among the Immortals wilt thou send terrible wrath. +But if he be dear to thee, and thy heart mourns for him, truly then +suffer him to be subdued in the strong battle beneath the hands of +Patroklos son of Menoitios, but when his soul and life leave that +warrior, send Death and sweet Sleep to bear him, even till they come to +the land of wide Lykia, there will his kindred and friends bury him, +with a barrow and a pillar, for this is the due of the dead.” + +So spake she, nor did the father of gods and men disregard her. But he +shed bloody raindrops on the earth, honouring his dear son, that +Patroklos was about to slay in the deep-soiled land of Troia, far off +from his own country. Now when they were come near each other in onset, +there verily did Patroklos smite the renowned Thrasymelos, the good +squire of the prince Sarpedon, on the lower part of the belly, and +loosened his limbs. But Sarpedon missed him with his shining javelin, +as he in turn rushed on, but wounded the horse Pedasos on the right +shoulder with the spear, and he shrieked as he breathed his life away, +and fell crying in the dust, and his spirit fled from him. But the +other twain reared this way and that, and the yoke creaked, and the +reins were confused on them, when their trace-horse lay in the dust. +But thereof did Automedon, the spearman renowned, find a remedy, and +drawing his long-edged sword from his stout thigh, he leaped forth, and +cut adrift the horse, with no delay, and the pair righted themselves, +and strained in the reins, and they met again in life-devouring war. + +Then again Sarpedon missed with his shining dart, and the point of the +spear flew over the left shoulder of Patroklos and smote him not, but +he in turn arose with the bronze, and his javelin flew not vainly from +his hand, but struck Sarpedon even where the midriff clasps the beating +heart. And he fell as falls an oak, or a silver poplar, or a slim pine +tree, that on the hills the shipwrights fell with whetted axes, to be +timber for ship-building; even so before the horses and chariot he lay +at length, moaning aloud, and clutching at the bloody dust. And as when +a lion hath fallen on a herd, and slain a bull, tawny and high of +heart, among the kine of trailing gait, and he perishes groaning +beneath the claws of the lion, even so under Patroklos did the leader +of the Lykian shieldmen rage, even in death, and he called to his dear +comrade: “Dear Glaukos, warrior among warlike men, now most doth it +behove thee to be a spearman, and a hardy fighter: now let baneful war +be dear to thee, if indeed thou art a man of might. First fare all +about and urge on the heroes that be leaders of the Lykians, to fight +for Sarpedon, and thereafter thyself do battle for me with the sword. +For to thee even in time to come shall I be shame and disgrace for +ever, all thy days, if the Achaians strip me of mine armour, fallen in +the gathering of the ships. Nay, hold out manfully, and spur on all the +host.” + +Even as he spake thus, the end of death veiled over his eyes and his +nostrils, but Patroklos, setting foot on his breast drew the spear out +of his flesh, and the midriff followed with the spear, so that he drew +forth together the spear point, and the soul of Sarpedon; and the +Myrmidons held there his panting steeds, eager to fly afar, since the +chariot was reft of its lords. + +Then dread sorrow came on Glaukos, when he heard the voice of Sarpedon, +and his heart was stirred, that he availed not to succour him. And with +his hand he caught and held his arm, for the wound galled him, the +wound of the arrow wherewith, as he pressed on towards the lofty wall, +Teukros had smitten him, warding off destruction from his fellows. Then +in prayer spake Glaukos to far-darting Apollo: “Hear, O Prince that art +somewhere in the rich land of Lykia, or in Troia, for thou canst listen +everywhere to the man that is in need, as even now need cometh upon me. +For I have this stark wound, and mine arm is thoroughly pierced with +sharp pains, nor can my blood be stanched, and by the wound is my +shoulder burdened, and I cannot hold my spear firm, nor go and fight +against the enemy. And the best of men has perished, Sarpedon, the son +of Zeus, and he succours not even his own child. But do thou, O Prince, +heal me this stark wound, and lull my pains, and give me strength, that +I may call on my Lykian kinsmen, and spur them to the war, and myself +may fight about the dead man fallen.” + +So spake he in his prayer, and Phoebus Apollo heard him. Straightway he +made his pains to cease, and in the grievous wound stanched the black +blood, and put courage into his heart. And Glaukos knew it within him, +and was glad, for that the great god speedily heard his prayer. First +went he all about and urged on them that were leaders of the Lykians to +fight around Sarpedon, and thereafter he went with long strides among +the Trojans, to Polydamas son of Panthoos and noble Agenor, and he went +after Aineias, and Hector of the helm of bronze, and standing by them +spake winged words: “Hector, now surely art thou utterly forgetful of +the allies, that for thy sake, far from their friends and their own +country, breathe their lives away! but thou carest not to aid them! +Sarpedon lies low, the leader of the Lykian shieldmen, he that defended +Lykia by his dooms and his might, yea him hath mailed Ares subdued +beneath the spear of Patroklos. But, friends, stand by him, and be +angry in your hearts lest the Myrmidons strip him of his harness, and +dishonour the dead, in wrath for the sake of the Danaans, even them +that perished, whom we slew with spears by the swift ships.” + +So spake he, and sorrow seized the Trojans utterly, ungovernable and +not to be borne; for Sarpedon was ever the stay of their city, all a +stranger as he was, for many people followed with him, and himself the +best warrior of them all. Then they made straight for the Danaans +eagerly, and Hector led them, being wroth for Sarpedon’s sake. But the +fierce heart of Patrokloa son of Menoitios urged on the Achaians. And +he spake first to the twain Aiantes that themselves were right eager: +“Aiantes, now let defence be your desire, and be such as afore ye were +among men, or even braver yet. That man lies low who first leaped on to +the wall of the Achaians, even Sarpedon. Nay, let us strive to take +him, and work his body shame, and strip the harness from his shoulders, +and many a one of his comrades fighting for his sake let us subdue with +the pitiless bronze.” + +So spake he, and they themselves were eager in defence. So on both +sides they strengthened the companies, Trojans and Lykians, Myrmidons +and Achaians, and they joined battle to fight around the dead man +fallen; terribly they shouted, and loud rang the harness of men. And as +the din ariseth of woodcutters in the glades of a mountain, and the +sound thereof is heard far away, so rose the din of them from the +wide-wayed earth, the noise of bronze and of well-tanned bulls’ hides +smitten with swords and double-pointed spears. And now not even a +clear-sighted man could any longer have known noble Sarpedon, for with +darts and blood and dust was he covered wholly from head to foot. And +ever men thronged about the dead, as in a steading flies buzz around +the full milk-pails, in the season of spring, when the milk drenches +the bowls, even so thronged they about the dead. Nor ever did Zeus turn +from the strong fight his shining eyes, but ever looked down on them, +and much in his heart he debated of the slaying of Patroklos, whether +there and then above divine Sarpedon glorious Hector should slay him +likewise in strong battle with the sword, and strip his harness from +his shoulders, or whether to more men yet he should deal sheer labour +of war. And thus to him as he pondered it seemed the better way, that +the gallant squire of Achilles, Peleus’ son, should straightway drive +the Trojans and Hector of the helm of bronze towards the city, and +should rob many of their life. And in Hector first he put a weakling +heart, and leaping into his car Hector turned in flight, and cried on +the rest of the Trojans to flee, for he knew the turning of the sacred +scales of Zeus. Thereon neither did the strong Lykians abide, but fled +all in fear, when they beheld their king stricken to the heart, lying +in the company of the dead, for many had fallen above him, when Kronion +made fierce the fight. Then the others stripped from the shoulders of +Sarpedon his shining arms of bronze, and these the strong son of +Menoitios gave to his comrades to bear to the hollow ships. Then Zeus +that gathereth the clouds spake to Apollo: “Prithee, dear Phoebus, go +take Sarpedon out of range of darts, and cleanse the black blood from +him, and thereafter bear him far away, and bathe him in the streams of +the river, and anoint him with ambrosia, and clothe him in garments +that wax not old, and send him to be wafted by fleet convoy, by the +twin brethren Sleep and Death, that quickly will set him in the rich +land of wide Lykia. There will his kinsmen and clansmen give him +burial, with barrow and pillar, for such is the due of the dead.” + +So spake he, nor was Apollo disobedient to his father. He went down the +hills of Ida to the dread battle din, and straight way bore goodly +Sarpedon out of the darts, and carried him far away and bathed him in +the streams of the river, and anointed him with ambrosia, and clad him +in garments that wax not old, and sent him to be wafted by fleet +convoy, the twin brethren Sleep and Death, that swiftly set him down in +the rich land of wide Lykia. But Patroklos cried to his horses and +Automedon, and after the Trojans and Lykians went he, and so was +blindly forgetful, in his witlessness, for if he had kept the saying of +the son of Peleus, verily he should have escaped the evil fate of black +death. But ever is the wit of Zeus stronger than the wit of men, so now +he roused the spirit of Patroklos in his breast. There whom first, whom +last didst thou slay, Patroklos, when the gods called thee deathward? +Adrestos first, and Autonoos, and Echeklos, and Perimos, son of Megas, +and Epistor, and Melanippos, and thereafter Elasos, and Moulios, and +Pylartes; these he slew, but the others were each man of them fain of +flight. Then would the sons of the Achaians have taken high-gated Troy, +by the hands of Patroklos, for around and before him he raged with the +spear, but that Phoebus Apollo stood on the well-builded wall, with +baneful thoughts towards Patroklos, and succouring the Trojans. Thrice +clomb Patroklos on the corner of the lofty wall, and thrice did Apollo +force him back and smote the shining shield with his immortal hands. +But when for the fourth time he came on like a god, then cried +far-darting Apollo terribly, and spake winged words: “Give back, +Patroklos of the seed of Zeus! Not beneath thy spear is it fated that +the city of the valiant Trojans shall fall, nay nor beneath Achilles, a +man far better than thou.” + +So spake he, and Patroklos retreated far back, avoiding the wrath of +far-darting Apollo. But Hector within the Skaian gates was restraining +his whole-hooved horses, pondering whether he should drive again into +the din and fight, or should call unto the host to gather to the wall. +While thus he was thinking, Phoebus Apollo stood by him in the guise of +a young man and a strong, Asios, who was the mother’s brother of +horse-taming Hector, being own brother of Hekabe, and son of Dymas, who +dwelt in Phrygia, on the streams of Sangarios. In his guise spake +Apollo, son of Zeus, to Hector: “Hector, wherefore dost thou cease from +fight? It doth not behove thee. Would that I were as much stronger than +thou as I am weaker, thereon quickly shouldst thou stand aloof from war +to thy hurt. But come, turn against Patroklos thy strong-hooved horses, +if perchance thou mayst slay him, and Apollo give thee glory.” + +So spake the god, and went back again into the moil of men. But +renowned Hector bade wise-hearted Kebriones to lash his horses into the +war. Then Apollo went and passed into the press, and sent a dread panic +among the Argives, but to the Trojans and Hector gave he renown. And +Hector let the other Argives be, and slew none of them, but against +Patroklos he turned his strong-hooved horses, and Patroklos on the +other side leaped from his chariot to the ground, with a spear in his +left hand, and in his other hand grasped a shining jagged stone, that +his hand covered. Firmly he planted himself and hurled it, nor long did +he shrink from his foe, nor was his cast in vain, but he struck +Kebriones the charioteer of Hector, the bastard son of renowned Priam, +on the brow with the sharp stone, as he held the reins of the horses. +Both his brows the stone drave together, and his bone held not, but his +eyes fell to the ground in the dust, there, in front of his feet. Then +he, like a diver, fell from the well-wrought car, and his spirit left +his bones. Then taunting him didst thou address him, knightly +Patroklos: “Out on it, how nimble a man, how lightly he diveth! Yea, if +perchance he were on the teeming deep, this man would satisfy many by +seeking for oysters, leaping from the ship, even if it were stormy +weather, so lightly now he diveth from the chariot into the plain. +Verily among the Trojans too there be diving men.” + +So speaking he set on the hero Kebriones with the rush of a lion, that +while wasting the cattle-pens is smitten in the breast, and his own +valour is his bane, even so against Kebriones, Patroklos, didst thou +leap furiously. But Hector, on the other side, leaped from his chariot +to the ground. And these twain strove for Kebriones like lions, that on +the mountain peaks fight, both hungering, both high of heart, for a +slain hind. Even so for Kebriones’ sake these two masters of the +war-cry, Patroklos son of Menoitios, and renowned Hector, were eager +each to hew the other’s flesh with the ruthless bronze. + +Hector then seized him by the head, and slackened not hold, while +Patroklos on the other side grasped him by the foot, and thereon the +others, Trojans and Danaans, joined strong battle. And as the East wind +and the South contend with one another in shaking a deep wood in the +dells of a mountain, shaking beech, and ash, and smooth-barked cornel +tree, that clash against each other their long boughs with marvellous +din, and a noise of branches broken, so the Trojans and Achaians were +leaping on each other and slaying, nor had either side any thought of +ruinous flight. And many sharp darts were fixed around Kebriones, and +winged arrows leaping from the bow-string, and many mighty stones smote +the shields of them that fought around him. But he in the whirl of dust +lay mighty and mightily fallen, forgetful of his chivalry. + +Now while the sun was going about mid-heaven, so long the darts smote +either side, and the host fell, but when the sun turned to the time of +the loosing of oxen, lo, then beyond their doom the Achaians proved the +better. The hero Kebriones drew they forth from the darts, out of the +tumult of the Trojans, and stripped the harness from his shoulders, and +with ill design against the Trojans, Patroklos rushed upon them. Three +times then rushed he on, peer of swift Ares, shouting terribly, and +thrice he slew nine men. But when the fourth time he sped on like a +god, thereon to thee, Patroklos, did the end of life appear, for +Phoebus met thee in the strong battle, in dreadful wise. And Patroklos +was not ware of him coming through the press, for hidden in thick mist +did he meet him, and stood behind him, and smote his back and broad +shoulders with a down-stroke of his hand, and his eyes were dazed. And +from his head Phoebus Apollo smote the helmet that rolled rattling away +with a din beneath the hooves of the horses, the helm with upright +socket, and the crests were defiled with blood and dust. And all the +long-shadowed spear was shattered in the hands of Patroklos, the spear +great and heavy and strong, and sharp, while from his shoulders the +tasselled shield with the baldric fell to the ground. + +And the prince Apollo, son of Zeus, loosed his corslet, and blindness +seized his heart and his shining limbs were unstrung, and he stood in +amaze, and at close quarters from behind a Dardanian smote him on the +back, between the shoulders, with a sharp spear, even Euphorbos, son of +Panthoos, who excelled them of his age in casting the spear, and in +horsemanship, and in speed of foot. Even thus, verily, had he cast down +twenty men from their chariots, though then first had he come with his +car to learn the lesson of war. He it was that first smote a dart into +thee, knightly Patroklos, nor overcame thee, but ran back again and +mingled with the throng, first drawing forth from the flesh his ashen +spear, nor did he abide the onset of Patroklos, unarmed as he was, in +the strife. But Patroklos, being overcome by the stroke of the god, and +by the spear, gave ground, and retreated to the host of his comrades, +avoiding Fate. But Hector, when he beheld great-hearted Patroklos give +ground, being smitten with the keen bronze, came nigh unto him through +the ranks, and wounded him with a spear, in the lowermost part of the +belly, and drave the bronze clean through. And he fell with a crash, +and sorely grieved the host of Achaians. And as when a lion hath +overcome in battle an untiring boar, they twain fighting with high +heart on the crests of a hill, about a little well, and both are +desirous to drink, and the lion hath by force overcome the boar that +draweth difficult breath; so after that he had slain many did Hector +son of Priam take the life away from the strong son of Menoitios, +smiting him at close quarters with the spear; and boasting over him he +spake winged words: “Patroklos, surely thou saidst that thou wouldst +sack my town, and from Trojan women take away the day of freedom, and +bring them in ships to thine own dear country: fool! nay, in front of +these were the swift horses of Hector straining their speed for the +fight; and myself in wielding the spear excel among the war-loving +Trojans, even I who ward from them the day of destiny: but thee shall +vultures here devour. Ah, wretch, surely Achilles for all his valour, +availed thee not, who straitly charged thee as thou camest, he abiding +there, saying, ‘Come not to me, Patroklos lord of steeds, to the hollow +ships, till thou hast torn the gory doublet of man-slaying Hector about +his breast;’ so, surely, he spake to thee, and persuaded the wits of +thee in thy witlessness.” + +Then faintly didst thou answer him, knightly Patroklos: “Boast greatly, +as now, Hector, for to thee have Zeus, son of Kronos, and Apollo given +the victory, who lightly have subdued me; for themselves stripped my +harness from my shoulders. But if twenty such as thou had encountered +me, here had they all perished, subdued beneath my spear. But me have +ruinous Fate and the son of Leto slain, and of men Euphorbos, but thou +art the third in my slaying. But another thing will I tell thee, and do +thou lay it up in thy heart: verily thou thyself art not long to live, +but already doth Death stand hard by thee, and strong Fate, that thou +art to be subdued by the hands of noble Achilles, of the seed of +Aiakos.” + +Even as so he spake the end of death overshadowed him. And his soul, +fleeting from his limbs, went down to the house of Hades, wailing its +own doom, leaving manhood and youth. + +Then renowned Hector spake to him even in his death: “Patroklos, +wherefore to me dolt thou prophesy sheer destruction? who knows but +that Achilles, the child of fair-tressed Thetis, will first be smitten +by my spear, and lose his life?” + +So spake he, and drew the spear of bronze from the wound, setting his +foot on the dead, and cast him off on his back from the spear. And +straightway with the spear he went after Automedon, the godlike squire +of the swift-footed Aiakides, for he was eager to smite him; but his +swift-footed immortal horses bare him out of the battle, horses that +the gods gave to Peleus, a splendid gift. + + + + +BOOK XVII. + + +Of the battle around the body of Patroklos. + + +But Atreus’ son, Menelaos dear to Ares, was not unaware of the slaying +of Patroklos by the Trojans in the fray. He went up through the front +of the fight harnessed in flashing bronze, and strode over the body as +above a first-born calf standeth lowing its mother. Thus above +Patroklos strode fair-haired Menelaos, and before him held his spear +and the circle of his shield, eager to slay whoever should encounter +him. Then was Panthoos’ son of the stout ashen spear not heedless of +noble Patroklos as he lay, and he smote on the circle of the shield of +Menelaos, but the bronze spear brake it not, but the point was bent +back in the stubborn shield. And Menelaos Atreus’ son in his turn made +at him with his bronze spear, having prayed unto father Zeus, and as he +gave back pierced the nether part of his throat, and threw his weight +into the stroke, following his heavy hand; and sheer through the tender +neck went the point of the spear. And he fell with a crash, and his +armour rang upon him. In blood was his hair drenched that was like unto +the hair of the Graces, and his tresses closely knit with bands of +silver and gold. + +Then easily would the son of Atreus have borne off the noble spoils of +Panthoos’ son, had not Phoebus Apollo grudged it to him, and aroused +against him Hector peer of swift Ares, putting on the semblance of a +man, of Mentes chief of the Kikones. And he spake aloud to him winged +words: “Hector, now art thou hasting after things unattainable, even +the horses of wise Aiakides; for hard are they to be tamed or driven by +mortal man, save only Achilles whom an immortal mother bare. Meanwhile +hath warlike Menelaos Atreus’ son stridden over Patroklos and slain the +best of the Trojans there, even Panthoos’ son Euphorbos, and hath +stayed him in his impetuous might.” + +Thus saying the god went back into the strife of men, but dire grief +darkened Hectors inmost soul, and then he gazed searchingly along the +lines, and straightway was aware of the one man stripping off the noble +arms, and the other lying on the earth; and blood was flowing about the +gaping wound. Then he went through the front of the fight harnessed in +flashing bronze, crying a shrill cry, like unto Hephaistos’ flame +unquenchable. Not deaf to his shrill cry was Atreus’ son, and sore +troubled he spake to his great heart: “Ay me, if I shall leave behind +me these goodly arms, and Patroklos who here lieth for my vengeance’ +sake, I fear lest some Danaan beholding it be wroth against me. But if +for honour’s sake I do battle alone with Hector and the Trojans, I fear +lest they come about me many against one; for all the Trojans is +bright-helmed Hector leading hither. But if I might somewhere find Aias +of the loud war-cry, then both together would we go and be mindful of +battle even were it against the power of heaven, if haply we might save +his dead for Achilles Peleus’ son: that were best among these ills.” + +While thus he communed with his mind and heart, therewithal the Trojan +ranks came onward, and Hector at their head. Then Menelaos gave +backward, and left the dead man, turning himself ever about like a +deep-waned lion which men and dogs chase from a fold with spears and +cries; and his strong heart within him groweth chill, and loth goeth he +from the steading; so from Patroklos went fair-haired Menelaos, and +turned and stood, when he came to the host of his comrades, searching +for mighty Aias Telamon’s son. Him very speedily he espied on the left +of the whole battle, cheering his comrades and rousing them to fight, +for great terror had Phoebus Apollo sent on them; and he hasted him to +run, and straightway stood by him and said: “This way, beloved Aias; +let us bestir us for the dead Patroklos, if haply his naked corpse at +least we may carry to Achilles, though his armour is held by Hector of +the glancing helm.” + +Thus spake he, and aroused the heart of wise Aias. And he went up +through the front of the fight, and with him fair-haired Menelaos. Now +Hector, when he had stripped from Patroklos his noble armour, was +dragging him thence that he might cut off the head from the shoulders +with the keen bronze and carry his body to give to the dogs of Troy. +But Aias came anigh, and the shield that he bare was as a tower; then +Hector gave back into the company of his comrades, and sprang into his +chariot; and the goodly armour he gave to the Trojans to carry to the +city, to be great glory unto him. But Aias spread his broad shield over +the son of Menoitios and stood as it were a lion before his whelps when +huntsmen in a forest encounter him as he leadeth his young. And by his +side stood Atreus’ son, Menelaos dear to Ares, nursing great sorrow in +his breast. + +Then Hector called on the Trojans with a mighty shout; “Trojans and +Lykians and Dardanians that fight hand to hand, be men, my friends, and +bethink you of impetuous valour, until I do on me the goodly arms of +noble Achilles that I stripped from brave Patroklos when I slew him.” + +Thus having spoken went Hector of the glancing helm forth out of the +strife of war, and ran and speedily with fleet feet following overtook +his comrades, not yet far off, who were bearing to the city Peleides’ +glorious arms. And standing apart from the dolorous battle he changed +his armour; his own he gave the warlike Trojans to carry to sacred +Ilios, and he put on the divine arms of Achilles, Peleus’ son. + +But when Zeus that gathereth the clouds beheld from afar off Hector +arming him in the armour of Peleus’ godlike son, he shook his head and +spake thus unto his soul: “Ah, hapless man, no thought is in thy heart +of death that yet draweth nigh unto thee; thou doest on thee the divine +armour of a peerless man before whom the rest have terror. His comrade, +gentle and brave, thou hast slain, and unmeetly hast stripped the +armour from his head and shoulders; yet now for a while at least I will +give into thy hands great might, in recompense for this, even that +nowise shalt thou come home out of the battle, for Andromache to +receive from thee Peleides’ glorious arms.” + +Thus spake the son of Kronos, and bowed his dark brows therewithal. + +But the armour fitted itself unto Hectors body, and Ares the dread +war-god entered into him, and his limbs were filled within with valour +and strength. Then he sped among the noble allies with a mighty cry, +and in the flashing of his armour he seemed to all of them like unto +Peleus’ great-hearted son. And he came to each and encouraged him with +his words—Mesthles and Glaukos and Medon and Thersilochos and +Asteropaios and Deisenor and Hippothoos and Phorkys and Chromios and +the augur Ennomos—these encouraged he and spake to them winged words: +“Listen, ye countless tribes of allies that dwell round about. It was +not for mere numbers that I sought or longed when I gathered each of +you from your cities, but that ye might zealously guard the Trojans’ +wives and infant little ones from the war-loving Achaians. For this end +am I wearying my people by taking gifts and food from them, and nursing +thereby the courage of each of you. Now therefore let all turn straight +against the foe and live or die, for such is the dalliance of war. And +whoso shall drag Patroklos, dead though he be, among the horse-taming +men of Troy, and make Aias yield, to him will I award half the spoils +and keep half myself; so shall his glory be great as mine.” + +Thus spake he, and they against the Danaans charged with all their +weight, levelling their spears, and their hearts were high of hope to +drag the corpse from under Aias, Telamon’s son. Fond men! from full +many reft he life over that corpse. And then spake Aias to Menelaos of +the loud war-cry: “Dear Menelaos, fosterling of Zeus, no longer count I +that we two of ourselves shall return home out of the war. Nor have I +so much dread for the corpse of Patroklos, that shall soon glut the +dogs and birds of the men of Troy, as for thy head and mine lest some +evil fall thereon, for all is shrouded by a storm-cloud of war, even by +Hector, and sheer doom stareth in our face. But come, call thou to the +best men of the Danaans, if haply any hear.” + +Thus spake he, and Menelaos of the loud war-cry disregarded him not, +but shouted unto the Danaans, crying a far-heard cry: “O friends, ye +leaders and counsellors of the Argives, who by the side of the sons of +Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaos, drink at the common cost and are all +commanders of the host, on whom wait glory and honour from Zeus, hard +is it for me to distinguish each chief amid the press—such blaze is +there of the strife of war. But let each go forward of himself and be +wroth at heart that Patroklos should become a sport among the dogs of +Troy.” + +Thus spake he, and Oileus’ son fleet Aias heard him clearly, and was +first to run along the mellay to meet him, and after him Idomeneus, and +Idomeneus’ brother-in-arms, Meriones, peer of the man-slaying war-god. +And who shall of his own thought tell the names of the rest, even of +all that after these aroused the battle of the Achaians? + +Now the Trojans charged forward in close array, and Hector led them. +And as when at the mouth of some heaven-born river a mighty wave +roareth against the stream, and arouseth the high cliffs’ echo as the +salt sea belloweth on the beach, so loud was the cry wherewith the +Trojans came. But the Achaians stood firm around Menoitios’ son with +one soul all, walled in with shields of bronze. And over their bright +helmets the son of Kronos shed thick darkness, for in the former time +was Menoitios’ son not unloved of him, while he was yet alive and +squire of Aiakides. So was Zeus loth that he should become a prey of +the dogs of his enemies at Troy, and stirred his comrades to do battle +for him. + +Now first the Trojans thrust back the glancing-eyed Achaians, who +shrank before them and left the dead, yet the proud Trojans slew not +any of them with spears, though they were fain, but set to hale the +corpse. But little while would the Achaians hold back therefrom, for +very swiftly Aias rallied them, Aias the first in presence and in deeds +of all the Danaans after the noble son of Peleus. Right through the +fighters in the forefront rushed he like a wild boar in his might that +in the mountains when he turneth at bay scattereth lightly dogs and +lusty young men through the glades. Thus did proud Telamon’s son the +glorious Aias press on the Trojan battalions and lightly scatter them, +as they had bestrode Patroklos and were full fain to drag him to their +city and win renown. + +Then would the Trojans in their turn in their weakness overcome have +been driven back into Ilios by the Achaians dear to Ares, and the +Argives would have won glory even against the appointment of Zeus by +their power and might. But Apollo himself aroused Aineias, putting on +the semblance of Periphas the herald, the son of Epytos, who grew old +with his old father in his heraldship, of friendly thought toward +Aineias. In his similitude spake Apollo, son of Zeus: “Aineias, how +could ye ever guard high Ilios if it were against the will of God? +Other men have I seen that trust in their own might and power and +valour, and in their host, even though they have scant folk to lead. +But here, albeit Zeus is fainer far to give victory to us than to the +Danaans, yet ye are dismayed exceedingly and fight not.” + +Thus spake he, and Aineias knew far-darting Apollo when he looked upon +his face, and spake unto Hector, shouting loud “Hector and ye other +leaders of the Trojans and their allies, shame were this if in our +weakness overcome we were driven back into Ilios by the Achaians dear +to Ares. Nay, thus saith a god, who standeth by my side: Zeus, highest +Orderer, is our helper in this fight. Therefore let us go right onward +against the Danaans. Not easily at least let them take the dead +Patroklos to the ships.” + +Thus spake he, and leapt forth far before the fighters in the front. +And the Trojans rallied and stood up against the Achaians. Thus strove +they as it had been fire, nor wouldst thou have thought there was still +sun or moon, for over all the battle where the chiefs stood around the +slain son of Menoitios they were shrouded in darkness, while the other +Trojans and well-greaved Achaians fought at ease in the clear air, and +piercing sunlight was spread over them, and on all the earth and hills +there was no cloud seen; and they ceased fighting now sad again, +avoiding each other’s dolorous darts and standing far apart. But they +who were in the midst endured affliction of the darkness and the +battle, and all the best men of them were wearied by the pitiless +weight of their bronze arms. + +Thus all day long waxed the mighty fray of their sore strife; and +unabatingly ever with the sweat of toil were the knees and legs and +feet of each man and arms anal eyes bedewed as the two hosts did battle +around the brave squire of fleet Aiakides. And as when a man giveth the +hide of a great bull to his folk to stretch, all soaked in fat, and +they take and stretch it standing in a circle, and straightway the +moisture thereof departeth and the fat entereth in under the haling of +many hands, and it is all stretched throughout,—thus they on both sides +haled the dead man this way and that in narrow space, for their hearts +were high of hope, the Trojans that they should drag him to Ilios and +the Achaians to the hollow ships; and around him the fray waxed wild, +nor might Ares rouser of hosts nor Athene despise the sight thereof, +albeit their anger were exceeding great. + +Such was the grievous travail of men and horses over Patroklos that +Zeus on that day wrought. But not as yet knew noble Achilles aught of +Patroklos’ death, for far away from the swift ships they were fighting +beneath the wall of the men of Troy. Therefore never deemed he in his +heart that he was dead, but that he should come back alive, after that +he had touched the gates; for neither that other thought had he +anywise, that Patroklos should sack the stronghold without his aid. + +Now the rest continually around the dead man with their keen spears +made onset relentlessly and slew each the other. And thus would one +speak among the mail-clad Achaians: “Friends, it were verily not +glorious for us to go back to the hollow ships; rather let the black +earth yawn for us all beneath our feet. Far better were that +straightway for us if we suffer the horse-taming Trojans to hale this +man to their city and win renown.” + +And thus on the other side would one of the great-hearted Trojans say: +“Friends, though it were our fate that all together we be slain beside +this man, let none yet give backward from the fray.” + +Thus would one speak, and rouse the spirit of each. So they fought on, +and the iron din went up through the high desert air unto the brazen +heaven. But the horses of Aiakides that were apart from the battle were +weeping, since first they were aware that their charioteer was fallen +in the dust beneath the hand of man-slaying Hector. Verily Automedon, +Diores’ valiant son, plied them oft with blows of the swift lash, and +oft with gentle words he spake to them and oft with chiding, yet would +they neither go back to the ships at the broad Hellespont nor yet to +the battle after the Achaians, but as a pillar abideth firm that +standeth on the tomb of a man or woman dead, so abode they immovably +with the beautiful chariot, abasing their heads unto the earth. And hot +tears flowed from their eyes to the ground as they mourned in sorrow +for their charioteer, and their rich manes were soiled as they drooped +from beneath the yoke-cushion on both sides beside the yoke. And when +the son of Kronos beheld them mourning he had compassion on them, and +shook his head and spake to his own heart: “Ah, hapless pair, why gave +we you to king Peleus, a mortal man, while ye are deathless and ever +young? Was it that ye should suffer sorrows among ill-fated men? For +methinketh there is nothing more piteous than a man among all things +that breathe and creep upon the earth. But verily Hector Priam’s son +shall not drive you and your deftly-wrought car; that will I not +suffer. Is it a small thing that he holdeth the armour and vaunteth +himself vainly thereupon? Nay, I will put courage into your knees and +heart that ye may bring Automedon also safe out of the war to the +hollow ships. For yet further will I increase victory to the men of +Troy, so that they slay until they come unto the well-timbered ships, +and the sun set and divine night come down.” + +Thus saying he breathed good courage into the horses. And they shook to +earth the dust from their manes, and lightly bare the swift car amid +Trojans and Achaians. And behind them fought Automedon, albeit in grief +for his comrade, swooping with his chariot as a vulture on wild geese; +for lightly he would flee out of the onset of the Trojans and lightly +charge, pursuing them through the thick mellay. Yet could he not slay +any man as he halted to pursue them, for it was impossible that being +alone in his sacred car he should at once assail them with the spear +and hold his fleet horses. Then at last espied him a comrade, even +Alkimedon son of Laerkes, son of Haimon, and he halted behind the car +and spake unto Automedon: “Automedon, what god hath put into thy breast +unprofitable counsel and taken from thee wisdom, that thus alone thou +art fighting against the Trojans in the forefront of the press? Thy +comrade even now was slain, and Hector goeth proudly, wearing on his +own shoulders the armour of Aiakides.” + +And Automedon son of Diores answered him, saying: “Alkimedon, what +other Achaian hath like skill to guide the spirit of immortal steeds, +save only Patroklos, peer of gods in counsel, while he yet lived? but +now have death and fate overtaken him. But take thou the lash and +shining reins, and I will get me down from my horses, that I may +fight.” + +Thus spake he, and Alkimedon leapt on the fleet war-chariot and swiftly +took the lash and reins in his hands, and Automedon leapt down. And +noble Hector espied them, and straightway spake unto Aineias as he +stood near: “Aineias, counsellor of mail-clad Trojans, I espy here the +two horses of fleet Aiakides come forth to battle with feeble +charioteers. Therefore might I hope to take them if thou in thy heart +art willing, since they would not abide our onset and stand to do +battle against us.” + +Thus spake he, and the brave son of Anchises disregarded him not. And +they twain went right onward, their shoulders shielded by ox-hides +dried and tough, and bronze thick overlaid. And with them went both +Chromios and godlike Aretos, and their hearts were of high hope to slay +the men and drive off the strong-necked horses—fond hope, for not +without blood lost were they to get them back from Automedon. He +praying to father Zeus was filled in his inmost heart with valour and +strength. And straightway he spake to Alkimedon, his faithful comrade: +“Alkimedon, hold the horses not far from me, but with their very breath +upon my back; for I deem that Hector the son of Priam will not refrain +him from his fury until he mount behind Achilles’ horses of goodly +manes after slaying us twain, and dismay the ranks of Argive men, or +else himself fall among the foremost.” + +Thus said he, and called upon the Aiantes and Menelaos: “Aiantes, +leaders of the Argives, and Menelaos, lo now, commit ye the corpse unto +whoso may best avail to bestride it and resist the ranks of men, and +come ye to ward the day of doom from us who are yet alive, for here in +the dolorous war are Hector and Aineias, the best men of the Trojans, +pressing hard. Yet verily these issues lie in the lap of the gods: I +too will cast my spear, and the rest shall Zeus decide.” + +He said, and poised his far-shadowing spear and hurled it, and smote on +the circle of the shield of Aretos, and the shield sustained not the +spear, but right through went the bronze, and he forced it into his +belly low down through his belt. And as when a strong man with a sharp +axe smiting behind the horns of an ox of the homestead cleaveth the +sinew asunder, and the ox leapeth forward and falleth, so leapt Aretos +forward and fell on his back; and the spear in his entrails very +piercingly quivering unstrung his limbs. And Hector hurled at Automedon +with his bright spear, but he looked steadfastly on the bronze javelin +as it came at him and avoided it, for he stooped forward, and the long +spear fixed itself in the ground behind, and the javelin-butt quivered, +and there dread Ares took away its force. And then had they lashed at +each other with their swords hand to hand, had not the Aiantes parted +them in their fury, when they were come through the mellay at their +comrades’ call. Before them Hector and Aineias and godlike Chromios +shrank backward and gave ground and left Aretos wounded to the death as +he lay. And Automedon, peer of swift Ares, stripped off the armour of +the dead, and spake exultingly: “Verily, I have a little eased my heart +of grief for the death of Menoitios’ son, albeit a worse man than him +have I slain.” + +Thus saying he took up the gory spoils and set them in his car, and gat +him thereon, with feet and hands all bloody, as a lion that hath +devoured a bull. + +Now great-hearted Aias and Menelaos were aware of Zeus how he gave the +Trojans their turn to victory. First of these to speak was great Aias +son of Telamon: “Ay me, now may any man, even though he be a very fool, +know that father Zeus himself is helping the Trojans. Come, let us +ourselves devise some excellent means, that we may both hale the corpse +away and ourselves return home to the joy of our friends, who grieve as +they look hitherward and deem that no longer shall the fury of +man-slaying Hector’s unapproachable hand refrain itself, but fall upon +the black ships. And would there were some comrade to carry tidings +with all speed unto the son of Peleus, since I deem that he hath not +even heard the grievous tidings, how his dear comrade is slain. But +nowhere can I behold such an one among the Achaians, for themselves and +their horses likewise are wrapped in darkness. O father Zeus, deliver +thou the sons of the Achaians from the darkness, and make clear sky and +vouchsafe sight unto our eyes. In the light be it that thou slayest us, +since it is thy good pleasure that we die.” + +Then fair-haired Menelaos departed glancing everywhither, as an eagle +which men say hath keenest sight of all birds under heaven, and though +he be far aloft the fleet-footed hare eludeth him not by crouching +beneath a leafy bush, but the eagle swoopeth thereon and swiftly +seizeth her and taketh her life. Thus in that hour, Menelaos fosterling +of Zeus, ranged thy shining eyes everywhither through the multitude of +the host of thy comrades, if haply they might behold Nestor’s son yet +alive. Him quickly he perceived at the left of the whole battle, +heartening his comrades and rousing them to fight. And fair-haired +Menelaos came and stood nigh and said unto him: “Antilochos, fosterling +of Zeus, come hither that thou mayest learn woful tidings—would it had +never been. Ere now, I ween, thou too hast known by thy beholding that +God rolleth mischief upon the Danaans, and with the Trojans is victory. +And slain is the best man of the Achaians, Patroklos, and great sorrow +is wrought for the Danaans. But run thou to the ships of the Achaians +and quickly tell this to Achilles, if haply he may straightway rescue +to his ship the naked corpse: but his armour is held by Hector of the +glancing helmet.” + +Thus spake he, and Antilochos had horror of the word he heard. And long +time speechlessness possessed him, and his eyes were filled with tears, +and his full voice choked. Yet for all this disregarded he not the +bidding of Menelaos, but set him to run, when he had given his armour +to a noble comrade, Laodokos, who close anigh him was wheeling his +whole-hooved horses. + +So him his feet bare out of the battle weeping, to Achilles son of +Peleus carrying an evil tale. But thy heart, Menelaos fosterling of +Zeus, chose not to stay to aid the wearied comrades from whom +Antilochos departed, and great sorrow was among the Pylians. But to +them Menelaos sent noble Thrasymedes, and himself went again to +bestride the hero Patroklos. And he hasted and stood beside the Aiantes +and straightway spake to them: “So have I sent that man to the swift +ships to go to fleet-footed Achilles. Yet deem I not that he will now +come, for all his wrath against noble Hector, for he could not fight +unarmed against the men of Troy. But let us ourselves devise some +excellent means, both how we may hale the dead away, and how we +ourselves may escape death and fate amid the Trojans’ battle-cry.” + +Then answered him great Aias Telamon’s son, saying: “All this hast thou +said well, most noble Menelaos. But do thou and Meriones put your +shoulders beneath the dead and lift him and bear him swiftly out of the +fray, while we twain behind you shall do battle with the Trojans and +noble Hector, one in heart as we are in name, for from of old time we +are wont to await fierce battle side by side.” + +Thus spake he, and the others took the dead man in their arms and +lifted him mightily on high. But the Trojan host behind cried aloud +when they saw the Achaians lifting the corpse, and charged like hounds +that spring in front of hunter-youths upon a wounded wild boar, and for +a while run in haste to rend him, but when he wheeleth round among +them, trusting in his might, then they give ground and shrink back here +and there. Thus for a while the Trojans pressed on with all their +power, striking with swords and double-headed spears, but when the +Aiantes turned about and halted over against them, then they changed +colour, and none dared farther onset to do battle around the dead. + + + + +BOOK XVIII. + + +How Achilles grieved for Patroklos, and how Thetis asked for him new +armour of Hephaistos; and of the making of the armour. + + +Thus fought the rest in the likeness of blazing fire, while to Achilles +came Antilochos, a messenger fleet of foot. Him found he in front of +his ships of upright horns, boding in his soul the things which even +now were accomplished. And sore troubled he spake to his great heart: +“Ay me, wherefore again are the flowing-haired Achaians flocking to the +ships and flying in rout over the plain? May the gods not have wrought +against me the grievous fears at my heart, even as my mother revealed +and told me that while I am yet alive the best man of the Myrmidons +must by deed of the men of Troy forsake the light of the sun. Surely +now must Menoitios’ valiant son be dead—foolhardy! surely I bade him +when he should have beaten off the fire of the foe to come back to the +ships nor with Hector fight amain.” + +While thus he held debate in his heart and soul, there drew nigh unto +him noble Nestor’s son, shedding hot tears, and spake his grievous +tidings: “Ay me, wise Peleus’ son, very bitter tidings must thou hear, +such as I would had never been. Fallen is Patroklos, and they are +fighting around his body, naked, for his armour is held by Hector of +the glancing helm.” + +Thus spake he, and a black cloud of grief enwrapped Achilles, and with +both hands he took dark dust and poured it over his head and defiled +his comely face, and on his fragrant doublet black ashes fell. And +himself in the dust lay mighty and mightily fallen, and with his own +hands tore and marred his hair. And the handmaidens, whom Achilles and +Patroklos took captive, cried aloud in the grief of their hearts, and +ran forth around valiant Achilles, and all beat on their breasts with +their hands, and the knees of each of them were unstrung. And +Antilochos on the other side wailed and shed tears, holding Achilles’ +hands while he groaned in his noble heart, for he feared lest he should +cleave his throat with the sword. Then terribly moaned Achilles; and +his lady mother heard him as she sate in the depths of the sea beside +her ancient sire. And thereon she uttered a cry, and the goddesses +flocked around her, all the daughters of Nereus that were in the deep +of the sea. With these the bright cave was filled, and they all beat +together on their breasts, and Thetis led the lament: “Listen, sister +Nereids, that ye all hear and know well what sorrows are in my heart. +Ay me unhappy, ay me that bare to my sorrow the first of men! For after +I had borne a son noble and strong, the chief of heroes, and he shot up +like a young branch, then when I had reared him as a plant in a very +fruitful field I sent him in beaked ships to Ilios to fight against the +men of Troy; but never again shall I welcome him back to his home, to +the house of Peleus. And while he yet liveth in my sight and beholdeth +the light of the sun, he sorroweth, neither can I help him any whit +though I go unto him. But I will go, that I may look upon my dear +child, and learn what sorrow hath come to him though he abide aloof +from the war.” + +Thus spake she and left the cave; and the nymphs went with her weeping, +and around them the surge of the sea was sundered. And when they came +to deep-soiled Troy-land they went up upon the shore in order, where +the ships of the Myrmidons were drawn up thickly around fleet Achilles. +And as he groaned heavily his lady mother stood beside him, and with a +shrill cry clasped the bead of her child, and spake unto him winged +words of lamentation: “My child, why weepest thou? what sorrow hath +come to thy heart? Tell it forth, hide it not. One thing at least hath +been accomplished of Zeus according to the prayer thou madest, holding +up to him thy hands, that the sons of the Achaians should all be pent +in at the ships, through lack of thee, and should suffer hateful +things.” + +Then groaning heavily spake unto her Achilles fleet of foot: “My +mother, that prayer truly hath the Olympian accomplished for me. But +what delight have I therein, since my dear comrade is dead, Patroklos, +whom I honoured above all my comrades as it were my very self! Him have +I lost, and Hector that slew him hath stripped from him the armour +great and fair, a wonder to behold, that the gods gave to Peleus a +splendid gift, on the day when they laid thee in the bed of a mortal +man. Would thou hadst abode among the deathless daughters of the sea, +and Peleus had wedded a mortal bride! But now, that thou mayest have +sorrow a thousand fold in thy heart for a dead son, never shalt thou +welcome him back home, since my soul biddeth me also live no longer nor +abide among men, if Hector be not first smitten by my spear and yield +his life, and pay for his slaughter of Patroklos, Menoitios’ son.” + +Then answered unto him Thetis shedding tears: “Short-lived, I ween, +must thou be then, my child, by what thou sayest, for straightway after +Hector is death appointed unto thee.” + +Then mightily moved spake unto her Achilles fleet of foot: “Straightway +may I die, since I might not succour my comrade at his slaying. He hath +fallen afar from his country and lacked my help in his sore need. Now +therefore, since I go not back to my dear native land, neither have at +all been succour to Patroklos nor to all my other comrades that have +been slain by noble Hector, but I sit beside my ships a profitless +burden of the earth, I that in war am such an one as is none else of +the mail-clad Achaians, though in council are others better—may strife +perish utterly among gods and men, and wrath that stirreth even a wise +man to be vexed, wrath that far sweeter than trickling honey waxeth +like smoke in the breasts of men, even as I was wroth even now against +Agamemnon king of men. But bygones will we let be, for all our pain, +curbing the heart in our breasts under necessity. Now go I forth, that +I may light on the destroyer of him I loved, on Hector: then will I +accept my death whensoever Zeus willeth to accomplish it and the other +immortal gods. For not even the mighty Herakles escaped death, albeit +most dear to Kronian Zeus the king, but Fate overcame him and Hera’s +cruel wrath. So also shall I, if my fate hath been fashioned likewise, +lie low when I am dead. But now let me win high renown, let me set some +Trojan woman, some deep-bosomed daughter of Dardanos, staunching with +both hands the tears upon her tender cheeks and wailing bitterly; yea, +let them know that I am come back, though I tarried long from the war. +Hold not me then from the battle in thy love, for thou shalt not +prevail with me.” + +Then Thetis the silver-footed goddess answered him, saying: “Yea +verily, my child, no blame is in this, that thou ward sheer destruction +from thy comrades in their distress. But thy fair glittering armour of +bronze is held among the Trojans. Hector of the glancing helm beareth +it on his shoulders in triumph, yet not for long, I ween, shall he +glory therein, for death is hard anigh him. But thou, go not yet down +into the mellay of war until thou see me with thine eyes come hither. +In the morning will I return, at the coming up of the sun, bearing fair +armour from the king Hephaistos.” + +Thus spake she and turned to go from her son, and as she turned she +spake among her sisters of the sea: “Ye now go down within the wide +bosom of the deep, to visit the Ancient One of the Sea and our father’s +house, and tell him all. I am going to high Olympus to Hephaistos of +noble skill, if haply he will give unto my son noble armour shining +gloriously.” + +Thus spake she, and they forthwith went down beneath the surge of the +sea. And the silver-footed goddess Thetis went on to Olympus that she +might bring noble armour to her son. + +So her unto Olympus her feet bore. But the Achaians with terrible cries +were fleeing before man-slaying Hector till they came to the ships and +to the Hellespont. Nor might the well-greaved Achaians drag the corpse +of Patroklos Achilles’ squire out of the darts, for now again overtook +him the host and the horses of Troy, and Hector son of Priam, in might +as it were a flame of fire. Thrice did glorious Hector seize him from +behind by the feet, resolved to drag him away, and mightily called upon +the men of Troy. Thrice did the two Aiantes, clothed on with impetuous +might, beat him off from the dead man, but he nathless, trusting in his +might, anon would charge into the press, anon would stand and cry +aloud, but he gave ground never a whit. As when shepherds in the field +avail nowise to chase a fiery lion in fierce hunger away from a +carcase, so availed not the two warrior Aiantes to scare Hector son of +Priam from the dead. And now would he have won the body and gained +renown unspeakable, had not fleet wind-footed Iris come speeding from +Olympus with a message to the son of Peleus to array him, unknown of +Zeus and the other gods, for Hera sent her. And she stood anigh and +spake to him winged words: “Rouse thee, son of Peleus, of all men most +redoubtable! Succour Patroklos, for whose body is terrible battle afoot +before the ships. There slay they one another, these guarding the dead +corpse, while the men of Troy are fierce to hale him unto windy Ilios, +and chiefliest noble Hector is fain to drag him, and his heart biddeth +him fix the head on the stakes of the wall when he hath sundered it +from the tender neck. But arise, lie thus no longer! let awe enter thy +heart to forbid that Patroklos become the sport of dogs of Troy. Thine +were the shame if he go down mangled amid the dead.” + +Then answered her fleet-footed noble Achilles: “Goddess Iris, what god +sent thee a messenger unto me?” + +And to him again spake wind-footed fleet Iris: “It was Hera that sent +me, the wise wife of Zeus, nor knoweth the high-throned son of Kronos +nor any other of the Immortals that on snowy Olympus have their +dwelling-place.” + +And Achilles fleet of foot made answer to her and said: “And how may I +go into the fray? The Trojans hold my arms; and my dear mother bade me +forbear to array me until I behold her with my eyes returned, for she +promised to bring fair armour from Hephaistos. Other man know I none +whose noble armour I might put on, save it were the shield of Aias +Telamon’s son. But himself, I ween, is in the forefront of the press, +dealing death with his spear around Patroklos dead.” + +Then again spake unto him wind-footed fleet Iris: “Well are we also +aware that thy noble armour is held from thee. But go forth unto the +trench as thou art and show thyself to the men of Troy, if haply they +will shrink back and refrain them from battle, and the warlike sons of +the Achaians take breath.” + +Thus spake fleet-footed Iris and went her way. But Achilles dear to +Zeus arose, and around his strong shoulders Athene cast her tasselled +aegis, and around his head the bright goddess set a crown of a golden +cloud, and kindled therefrom a blazing flame. And as when a smoke +issueth from a city and riseth up into the upper air, from an island +afar off that foes beleaguer, while the others from their city fight +all day in hateful war,—but with the going down of the sun blaze out +the beacon-fires in line, and high aloft rusheth up the glare for +dwellers round about to behold, if haply they may come with ships to +help in need—thus from the head of Achilles soared that blaze toward +the heavens. And he went and stood beyond the wall beside the trench, +yet mingled not among the Achaians, for he minded the wise bidding of +his mother. There stood he and shouted aloud, and afar off Pallas +Athene uttered her voice, and spread terror unspeakable among the men +of Troy. Clear as the voice of a clarion when it soundeth by reason of +slaughterous foemen that beleaguer a city, so clear rang forth the +voice of Aiakides. And when they heard the brazen voice of Aiakides, +the souls of all of them were dismayed, and the horses of goodly manes +were fain to turn the chariots backward, for they boded anguish in +their hearts, And the charioteers were amazed when they saw the +unwearying fire blaze fierce on the head of the great-hearted son of +Peleus, for the bright-eyed goddess Athene made it blaze. Thrice from +over the trench shouted mightily noble Achilles, and thrice were the +men of Troy confounded and their proud allies. Yea there and then +perished twelve men of their best by their own chariot wheels and +spears. But the Achaians with joy drew Patroklos forth of the darts and +laid him on a litter, and his dear comrades stood around lamenting him; +and among them followed fleet-footed Achilles, shedding hot tears, for +his true comrade he saw lying on the bier, mangled by the keen bronze. +Him sent he forth with chariot and horses unto the battle, but home +again welcomed never more. + +Then Hera the ox-eyed queen sent down the unwearying Sun to be gone +unwillingly unto the streams of Ocean. So the Sun set, and the noble +Achaians made pause from the stress of battle and the hazardous war. + +But the Achaians all night made moan in lamentation for Patroklos. And +first of them in the loud lamentation was the son of Peleus, laying +upon the breast of his comrade his man-slaying hands and moaning very +sore, even as a deep-bearded lion whose whelps some stag-hunter hath +snatched away out of a deep wood; and the lion coming afterward +grieveth and through many glens he rangeth on the track of the +footsteps of the man, if anywhere he might find him, for most bitter +anger seizeth him;—thus Achilles moaning heavily spake among the +Myrmidons: “Ay me, vain verily was the word I uttered on that day when +I cheered the hero Menoitios in his halls and said that I would bring +back to Opoeis his son in glory from the sack of Ilios with the share +of spoil that should fall unto him. Not all the purposes of men doth +Zeus accomplish for them. It is appointed that both of us redden the +same earth with our blood here in Troy-land, for neither shall the old +knight Peleus welcome me back home within his halls, nor my mother +Thetis, but even here shall earth keep hold on me. Yet now, O +Patroklos, since I follow thee under earth, I will not hold thy funeral +till I have brought hither the armour and the head of Hector, thy +high-hearted slayer, and before thy pyre I will cut the throats of +twelve noble sons of the men of Troy, for mine anger thou art slain. +Till then beside the beaked ships shalt thou lie as thou art, and +around thee deep-bosomed women, Trojan and Dardanian, shall mourn thee +weeping night and day, even they whom we toiled to win by our strength +and, our long spears when we sacked rich cities of mortal men.” + +Thus spake noble Achilles, and bade his comrades set a great tripod on +the fire, that with all speed they might wash from Patroklos the bloody +gore. So they set a tripod of ablution on the burning fire, and poured +therein water and took wood and kindled it beneath; and the fire +wrapped the belly of the tripod, and the water grew hot. And when the +water boiled in the bright bronze, then washed they him and anointed +with olive oil, and filled his wounds with fresh ointment, and laid him +on a bier and covered him with soft cloth from head to foot, and +thereover a white robe. Then all night around Achilles fleet of foot +the Myrmidons made lament and moan for Patroklos. + +Meanwhile Zeus spake unto Hera his sister and wife: “Thou hast +accomplished this, O Hera, ox-eyed queen, thou hast aroused Achilles +fleet of foot. Verily of thine own children must the flowing-haired +Achaians be.” + +Then answered unto him Hera the ox-eyed queen: “Most dread son of +Kronos, what is this word thou hast said? Truly even a man, I ween, is +to accomplish what he may for another man, albeit he is mortal and hath +not wisdom as we. How then was I who avow me the first of goddesses +both by birth and for that I am called thy wife, and thou art king +among all Immortals—how was I not in mine anger to devise evil against +the men of Troy?” + +So debated they on this wise with one another. But Thetis of the silver +feet came unto the house of Hephaistos, imperishable, starlike, far +seen among the dwellings of Immortals, a house of bronze, wrought by +the crook-footed god himself. Him found she sweating in toil and busy +about his bellows, for he was forging tripods twenty in all to stand +around the wall of his stablished hall, and beneath the base of each he +had set golden wheels, that of their own motion they might enter the +assembly of the gods and again return unto his house, a marvel to look +upon. Thus much were they finished that not yet were away from the +fire, and gathered all his gear wherewith he worked into a silver +chest; and with a sponge he wiped his face and hands and sturdy neck +and shaggy breast, and did on his doublet, and took a stout staff and +went forth limping; but there were handmaidens of gold that moved to +help their lord, the semblances of living maids. In them is +understanding at their hearts, in them are voice and strength, and they +have skill of the immortal gods. These moved beneath their lord, and he +gat him haltingly near to where Thetis was, and set him on a bright +seat, and clasped her hand in his and spake and called her by her name: +“Wherefore, long-robed Thetis, comest thou to our house, honoured that +thou art and dear? No frequent comer art thou hitherto. Speak what thou +hast at heart; my soul is fain to accomplish it; if accomplish it I +can, and if it be appointed for accomplishment.” + +Then answered unto him Thetis shedding tears: “Hephaistos, hath there +verily been any of all goddesses in Olympus that hath endured so many +grievous sorrows at heart as are the woes that Kronian Zeus hath laid +upon me above all others? He chose me from among the sisters of the sea +to enthrall me to a man, even Peleus Aiakos’ son, and with a man I +endured wedlock sore against my will. Now lieth he in his halls +forspent with grievous age, but other griefs are mine. A son he gave me +to bear and nourish, the chief of heroes, and he shot up like a young +branch. Like a plant in a very fruitful field I reared him and sent him +forth on beaked ships to Ilios to fight against the men of Troy, but +never again shall I welcome him back to his home within the house of +Peleus. And while he yet liveth in my sight and beholdeth the light of +the sun, he sorroweth, neither can I help him any whit though I go unto +him. The maiden whom the sons of the Achaians chose out to be his +prize, her hath the lord Agamemnon taken back out of his hands. In +grief for her wasted he his heart, while the men of Troy were driving +the Achaians on their ships, nor suffered them to come forth. And the +elders of the Argives entreated him, and told over many noble gifts. +Then albeit himself he refused to ward destruction from them, he put +his armour on Patroklos and sent him to the war, and much people with +him. All day they fought around the Skaian gates and that same day had +sacked the town, but that when now Menoitios’ valiant son had wrought +much harm, Apollo slew him in the forefront of the battle, and gave +glory unto Hector. Therefore now come I a suppliant unto thy knees, if +haply thou be willing to give my short-lived son shield and helmet, and +goodly greaves fitted with ankle-pieces, and cuirass. For the armour +that he had erst, his trusty comrade lost when he fell beneath the men +of Troy; and my son lieth on the earth with anguish in his soul.” + +Then made answer unto her the lame god of great renown: “Be of good +courage, let not these things trouble thy heart. Would that so might I +avail to hide him far from dolorous death, when dread fate cometh upon +him, as surely shall goodly armour be at his need, such as all men +afterward shall marvel at, whatsoever may behold.” + +Thus saying he left her there and went unto his bellows and turned them +upon the fire and bade them work. And the bellows, twenty in all, blew +on the crucibles, sending deft blasts on every side, now to aid his +labour and now anon howsoever Hephaistos willed and the work went on. +And he threw bronze that weareth not into the fire, and tin and +precious gold and silver, and next he set on an anvil-stand a great +anvil, and took in his hand a sturdy hammer, and in the other he took +the tongs. + +First fashioned he a shield great and strong, adorning it all over, and +set thereto a shining rim, triple, bright-glancing, and therefrom a +silver baldric. Five were the folds of the shield itself; and therein +fashioned he much cunning work from his wise heart. + +There wrought he the earth, and the heavens, and the sea, and the +unwearying sun, and the moon waxing to the full, and the signs every +one wherewith the heavens are crowned, Pleiads and Hyads and Orion’s +might, and the Bear that men call also the Wain, her that turneth in +her place and watcheth Orion, and alone hath no part in the baths of +Ocean. + +Also he fashioned therein two fair cities of mortal men. In the one +were espousals and marriage feasts, and beneath the blaze of torches +they were leading the brides from their chambers through the city, and +loud arose the bridal song. And young men were whirling in the dance, +and among them flutes and viols sounded high; and women standing each +at her door were marvelling. But the folk were gathered in the assembly +place; for there a strife was arisen, two men striving about the +blood-price of a man slain; the one claimed to pay full atonement, +expounding to the people, but the other denied him and would take +naught. And the folk were cheering both, as they took part on either +side. And heralds kept order among the folk, while the elders on +polished stones were sitting in the sacred circle, and holding in their +hands staves from the loud-voiced heralds. Then before the people they +rose up and gave judgment each in turn. And in the midst lay two +talents of gold, to be given unto him who should plead among them most +righteously. + +But around the other city were two armies in siege with glittering +arms. And two counsels found favour among them, either to sack the town +or to share all with the townsfolk even whatsoever substance the fair +city held within. But the besieged were not yet yielding, but arming +for an ambushment. On the wall there stood to guard it their dear wives +and infant children, and with these the old men; but the rest went +forth, and their leaders were Ares and Pallas Athene, both wrought in +gold, and golden was the vesture they had on. Goodly and great were +they in their armour, even as gods, far seen around, and the folk at +their feet were smaller. And when they came where it seemed good to +them to lay ambush, in a river bed where there was a common +watering-place of herds, there they set them, clad in glittering +bronze. And two scouts were posted by them afar off to spy the coming +of flocks and of oxen with crooked horns. And presently came the +cattle, and with them two herdsmen playing on pipes, that took no +thought of the guile. Then the others when they beheld these ran upon +them and quickly cut off the herds of oxen and fair flocks of white +sheep, and slew the shepherds withal. But the besiegers, as they sat +before the speech-places [from which the orators spoke] and heard much +din among the oxen, mounted forthwith behind their high-stepping +horses, and came up with speed. Then they arrayed their battle and +fought beside the river banks, and smote one another with bronze-shod +spears. And among them mingled Strife and Tumult, and fell Death, +grasping one man alive fresh-wounded, another without wound, and +dragging another dead through the mellay by the feet; and the raiment +on her shoulders was red with the blood of men. Like living mortals +they hurled together and fought, and haled the corpses each of the +other’s slain. + +Furthermore he set in the shield a soft fresh-ploughed field, rich +tilth and wide, the third time ploughed; and many ploughers therein +drave their yokes to and fro as they wheeled about. Whensoever they +came to the boundary of the field and turned, then would a man come to +each and give into his hands a goblet of sweet wine, while others would +be turning back along the furrows, fain to reach the boundary of the +deep tilth. And the field grew black behind and seemed as it were +a-ploughing, albeit of gold, for this was the great marvel of the work. + +Furthermore he set therein the demesne-land of a king, where hinds were +reaping with sharp sickles in their hands. Some armfuls along the +swathe were falling in rows to the earth, whilst others the +sheaf-binders were binding in twisted bands of straw. Three +sheaf-binders stood over them, while behind boys gathering corn and +bearing it in their arms gave it constantly to the binders; and among +them the king in silence was standing at the swathe with his staff, +rejoicing in his heart. And henchmen apart beneath an oak were making +ready a feast, and preparing a great ox they had sacrificed; while the +women were strewing much white barley to be a supper for the hinds. + +Also he set therein a vineyard teeming plenteously with clusters, +wrought fair in gold; black were the grapes, but the vines hung +throughout on silver poles. And around it he ran a ditch of cyanus, and +round that a fence of tin; and one single pathway led to it, whereby +the vintagers might go when they should gather the vintage. And maidens +and striplings in childish glee bare the sweet fruit in plaited +baskets. And in the midst of them a boy made pleasant music on a +clear-toned viol, and sang thereto a sweet Linos-song [probably a +lament for departing summer] with delicate voice; while the rest with +feet falling together kept time with the music and song. + +Also he wrought therein a herd of kine with upright horns, and the kine +were fashioned of gold and tin, and with lowing they hurried from the +byre to pasture beside a murmuring river, beside the waving reed. And +herdsmen of gold were following with the kine, four of them, and nine +dogs fleet of foot came after them. But two terrible lions among the +foremost kine had seized a loud-roaring bull that bellowed mightily as +they haled him, and the dogs and the young men sped after him. The +lions rending the great bull’s hide were devouring his vitals and his +black blood; while the herdsmen in vain tarred on their fleet dogs to +set on, for they shrank from biting the lions but stood hard by and +barked and swerved away. + +Also the glorious lame god wrought therein a pasture in a fair glen, a +great pasture of white sheep, and a steading, and roofed huts, and +folds. + +Also did the glorious lame god devise a dancing-place like unto that +which once in wide Knosos Daidalos wrought for Ariadne of the lovely +tresses. There were youths dancing and maidens of costly wooing, their +hands upon one another’s wrists. Fine linen the maidens had on, and the +youths well-woven doublets faintly glistening with oil. Fair wreaths +had the maidens, and the youths daggers of gold hanging from silver +baldrics. And now would they run round with deft feet exceeding +lightly, as when a potter sitting by his wheel that fitteth between his +hands maketh trial of it whether it run: and now anon they would run in +lines to meet each other. And a great company stood round the lovely +dance in joy; and through the midst of them, leading the measure, two +tumblers whirled. + +Also he set therein the great might of the River of Ocean around the +uttermost rim of the cunningly-fashioned shield. + +Now when he had wrought the shield great and strong, then wrought he +him a corslet brighter than a flame of fire, and he wrought him a +massive helmet to fit his brows, goodly and graven, and set thereon a +crest of gold, and he wrought him greaves of pliant tin. + +So when the renowned lame god had finished all the armour, he took and +laid it before the mother of Achilles. Then she like a falcon sprang +down from snowy Olympus, bearing from Hephaistos the glittering arms. + + + + +BOOK XIX. + + +How Achilles and Agamemnon were reconciled before the assembly of the +Achaians, and Achilles went forth with them to battle. + + +Now Morning saffron-robed arose from the streams of Ocean to bring +light to gods and men, and Thetis came to the ships, bearing his gift +from the god. Her dear son she found fallen about Patroklos and +uttering loud lament; and round him many of his company made moan. And +the bright goddess stood beside him in their midst, and clasped her +hand in his and spake and called upon his name: “My child, him who +lieth here we must let be, for all our pain, for by the will of gods +from the beginning was he brought low. But thou take from Hephaistos +arms of pride, arms passing goodly, such as no man on his shoulders yet +hath borne.” + +Thus spake the goddess and in front of Aehifies laid the arms, and they +rang all again in their glory. And awe fell on all the Myrmidons, nor +dared any to gaze thereon, for they were awe-stricken. But when +Achilles looked thereon, then came fury upon him the more, and his eyes +blazed terribly forth as it were a flame beneath their lids: glad was +he as he held in his hands that splendid gift of a god. But when he had +satisfied his soul in gazing on the glory of the arms, straightway to +his mother spake he winged words: “My mother, the arms the god has +given are such as it beseemeth that the work of Immortals should be, +and that no mortal man should have wrought. Now therefore will I arm me +in them, but I have grievous fear lest meantime on the gashed wounds of +Menoitios’ valiant son flies light and breed worms therein, and defile +his corpse—for the life is slain out of him—and so all his flesh shall +rot.” + +Then answered him Thetis, goddess of the silver feet: “Child, have no +care for this within thy mind. I will see to ward from him the cruel +tribes of flies which prey on men slain in fight: for even though he +lie till a whole year’s course be run, yet his flesh shall be sound +continually, or better even than now. But call thou the Achaian +warriors to the place of assembly, and unsay thy wrath against +Agamemnon shepherd of the host, and then arm swiftly for battle, and +clothe thee with thy strength.” + +Thus saying she filled him with adventurous might, while on Patroklos +she shed ambrosia and red nectar through his nostrils, that his flesh +might abide the same continually. + +But noble Achilles went down the beach of the sea, crying his terrible +cry, and roused the Achaian warriors. And they who before were wont to +abide in the circle of the ships, and they who were helmsmen and kept +the steerage of the ships, or were stewards there and dealt out food, +even these came then to the place of assembly, because Achilles was +come forth, after long ceasing from grievous war. Limping came two of +Ares’ company, Tydeus’ son staunch in fight and noble Odysseus, each +leaning on his spear, for their wounds were grievous still; and they +went and sate them down in the forefront of the assembly. And last came +Agamemnon king of men, with his wound upon him, for him too in the +stress of battle Kooen Antenor’s son had wounded with his bronze-tipped +spear. But when all the Achaians were gathered, then uprose +fleet-footed Achilles and spake in their midst: “Son of Atreus, was +this in any wise the better way for both thee and me, what time with +grief at our hearts we waxed fierce in soul-devouring strife for the +sake of a girl? Would that Artemis had slain her with her arrow at the +ships, on the day whereon I took her to me, when I had spoiled +Lyrnessos; so should not then so many Achaians have bitten the wide +earth beneath their enemies’ hands, by reason of my exceeding wrath. It +hath been well for Hector and the Trojans, but the Achaians I think +shall long remember the strife that was betwixt thee and me. But +bygones will we let be, for all our pain, and curb under necessity the +spirit within our breasts. I now will stay my anger: it beseems me not +implacably for ever to be wroth; but come rouse speedily to the fight +the flowing-haired Achaians, that I may go forth against the men of +Troy and put them yet again to the proof, if they be fain to couch hard +by the ships. Methinks that some among them shall be glad to rest their +knees when they are fled out of the fierceness of the battle, and from +before our spear.” + +He spake, and the well-greaved Achaians rejoiced that the great-hearted +son of Peleus had made renouncement of his wrath. Then among them spake +Agamemnon king of men, speaking from the place where he sat, not arisen +to stand forth in their midst: “O Danaan friends and heroes, men of +Ares’ company, seemly is it to listen to him who standeth up to speak, +nor behoveth it to break in upon his words: even toward a skilled man +that were hard. For amid the uproar of many men how should one listen, +or yet speak? even the clearest-voiced speech is marred. To the son of +Peleus I will declare myself, but ye other Argives give heed, and each +mark well my word. Oft have the Achaians spoken thus to me, and +upbraided me; but it is not I who am the cause, but Zeus and Destiny +and Erinys that walketh in the darkness, who put into my soul fierce +madness on the day when in the assembly I, even I, bereft Achilles of +his meed. What could I do? it is God who accomplisheth all. Eldest +daughter of Zeus is Ate who blindeth all, a power of bane: delicate are +her feet, for not upon the earth she goeth, but walketh over the heads +of men, making men fall; and entangleth this one or that. Ye even Zeus +was blinded upon a time, he who they say is greatest among gods and +men; yet even him Hera with a female wile deceived, on the day when +Alkmene in fair-crowned Thebes was to bring forth the strength of +Herakles. For then proclaimed he solemnly among the gods: ‘Here me ye +all, both gods and goddesses, while I utter the council of my soul +within my heart. This day shall Eileithuia, the help of travailing +women, bring to the light a man who shall be lord over all that dwell +round about, among the raise of men who are sprung of me by blood.’ And +to him in subtlety queen Hera spake: ‘Though wilt play the cheat and +not accomplish thy word. Come now, Olympian, swear me a firm oath that +verily and indeed shall that man be lord over all that dwell round +about, who this day shall fall between a woman’s feet, even he among +all men who are of the lineage of thy blood.’ So spake she, and Zeus no +wise perceived her subtlety but sware a mighty oath, and therewith was +he sore blinded. For Hera darted from Olympus’ peak and came swiftly to +Achaian Argus, were she knew was the stately wife of Sthenelos son of +Perseus, who was also great with child, and her seventh month had come. +Her son Hera brought to the light, though his tale of months was +untold, but she stayed Alkmene’s bearing and kept the Eileithuiai from +her aid. Then she brought the tidings herself and to Kronos’ son Zeus +she spake: ‘Father Zeus of the bright lightning, a word will I speak to +thee for my heed. Today is born a man of valor who shall rule among the +Archives, Eurystheus, son of Sthenelos the son of Perseus, of thy +lineage; not unmeet is it that he be lord among Argives.’ She said, but +sharp pain smote him in the depths of his soul, and straightway he +seized Ate by her bright-haired head in the anger of his soul, and +sware a mighty oath that never again to Olympus and the starry heaven +should Ate come, who blindeth all alike. He said, and whirling her in +his hand flung her from the starry heaven, and quickly came she down +among the works of men. Yet ever he groaned against her when he beheld +his beloved son in cruel travail at Eurystheus’ hest. Thus also I, what +time great Hector of the glancing helm was slaying Argives at the +sterns of our ships, could not be unmindful of Ate, who blinded me at +the first. But since thus blinded was I, and Zeus bereft me of my wit, +fain am I to make amends, and recompense manifold for the wrong. Only +arise thou to the battle and rouse the rest of the host. Gifts am I +ready to offer, even all that noble Odysseus went yesterday to promise +in thy hut. So, if thou wilt, stay awhile, though eager, from battle, +and squires shall take the gifts from my ship and carry them to thee, +that thou mayest see that what I give sufficeth thee.” + +Then answered him Achilles swift of foot: “Most noble son of Atreus, +Agamemnon king of men, for the gifts, to give them as it beseemeth, if +so thou wilt, or to withhold, is in thy choice. But now let us bethink +us of battle with all speed; this is no time to dally here with +subtleties, for a great work is yet undone. Once more must Achilles be +seen in the forefront of the battle, laying waste with his brazen spear +the battalions of the men of Troy. Thereof let each of you think as he +fighteth with his man.” + +Then Odysseus of many counsels answered him and said: “Nay yet, for all +thy valour, godlike Achilles, not against Ilios lead thou the sons of +Achaians fasting to fight the men of Troy, since not of short spell +shall the battle be, when once the ranks of men are met, and God shall +breathe valour into both. But bid the Achaians taste at the swift ships +food and wine; for thence is vigour and might. For no man fasting from +food shall be able to fight with the foe all day till the going down of +the sun; for though his spirit be eager for battle yet his limbs +unaware grow weary, and thirst besetteth him, and hunger, and his knees +in his going fail. But the man who having his fill of food and wine +fighteth thus all day against the enemy, his heart is of good cheer +within him, nor anywise tire his limbs, ere all give back from battle. +So come, disperse the host and bid them make ready their meal. And the +gifts let Agamemnon king of men bring forth into the midst of the +assembly, that all Achaians may behold them with their eyes, and thou +be glad at heart. And let him swear to thee an oath, standing in the +midst of the Argives, that he hath never gone up into the damsel’s bed +or lain with her, [O prince, as is the wont of man with woman]; and let +thine own spirit be placable within thy breast. Then let him make thee +a rich feast of reconcilement in his hut, that thou have nothing +lacking of thy right. And thou, son of Atreus, toward others also shalt +be more righteous hereafter; for no shame it is that a man that is a +king should make amends if he have been the first to deal violently.” + +Then to him spake Agamemnon king of men: “Son of Laertes, I rejoice to +listen to thy speech; for rightfully hast thou told over all. And the +oath I am willing to swear, yea my heart biddeth it, nor will I +forswear myself before God. Let Achilles abide for a space, eager for +battle though he be, and all ye others abide together, until the gifts +come forth from my hut, and we make faithful oath with sacrifice. But +thee thyself I thus charge and bid. Choose thee young men, princes of +the Achaian folk, and bear my gifts from my ship, even all that we +promised yesterday to Achilles, and take with thee the women. And let +Talthybios speedily make me ready a boar-swine in the midst of the wide +Achaian host, to sacrifice to Zeus and to the Sun.” + +And to him in answer swift-footed Achilles spake: “Most noble son of +Atreus, Agamemnon king of men, at some other time were it even better +ye should be busied thus, when haply there shall be some pause of war, +and the spirit within my breast shall be less fierce. But now they lie +mangled on the field—even they whom Hector son of Priam slew, when Zeus +gave him glory—and ye call men to their food. Verily for my part I +would bid the sons of the Achaians to fight now unfed and fasting, and +with the setting sun make ready a mighty meal, when we shall have +avenged the shame. Till then down my throat at least nor food nor drink +shall go, since my comrade is dead, who in my hut is lying mangled by +the sharp spear, with his feet toward the door, and round him our +comrades mourn, wherefore in my heart to no thought of those matters, +but of slaying, and blood, and grievous moans of men.” + +Then answered him Odysseus of many counsels: “O Achilles, Peleus’ son, +mightiest of Achaians far, better and mightier not a little art thou +than I with the spear, but in counsel I may surpass thee greatly, since +I was born first and know more things: wherefore let thy heart endure +to listen to my speech. Quickly have men surfeit of battle, of that +wherein the sword streweth most straw yet is the harvest scantiest, +[i.e., in a pitched battle there is little plunder, the hope of which +might help to sustain men’s efforts in storming a town] when Zeus +inclineth his balance, who is disposer of the wars of men. But it +cannot be that the Achaians fast to mourn a corpse; for exceeding many +and thick fall such on every day; when then should there be rest from +toil? Nay, it behoveth to bury him who is dead, steeling our hearts, +when once we have wept him for a day; but such as are left alive from +hateful war must take thought of meat and drink, that yet more against +our foes we may fight relentlessly ever, clad in unyielding bronze. +Then let none of the host hold back awaiting other summons; this is the +summons, and ill shall it be for whoso is left behind at the Argive +ships; but all together as one we will rouse against the horse-taming +Trojans the fury of war.” + +He spoke, and took with him the sons of noble Nestor, and Meges son of +Phyleus, and Thoas, and Meriones, and Lykomedes son of Kreiontes, and +Melanippos. And they went on their way to the hut of Agamemnon, Atreus’ +son. Forthwith as the word was spoken so was the deed done. Seven +tripods they bare from the hut, as he promised him, and twenty bright +caldrons, and twelve horses, and anon they led forth women skilled in +goodly arts, seven, and the eighth was fair-faced Briseis. Then +Odysseus, having weighed ten talents of gold in all, led the way, and +with him young men of the Achaians bare the gifts. These they set in +the midst of the place of assembly, and Agamemnon rose up, and beside +that shepherd of the host stood Talthybios, whose voice was like a +god’s, and held a boar between his hands. And the son of Atreus drawing +with his hands his knife, which ever hung beside the mighty scabbard of +his sword, cut off the first hairs from the boar, and lifting up his +hands he prayed to Zeus, and all the Argives sat silent in their +places, duly hearkening to the king. And he prayed aloud, looking up to +the wide heaven: “Be Zeus before all witness, highest and best of the +gods, and Earth, and Sun, and Erinyes, who under earth take vengeance +upon men, whosoever for-sweareth himself, that never have I laid hand +on the damsel Briseis, neither to lie with her nor anywise else, but +she has abode untouched within my huts. And if aught that I swear be +false, may the gods give me all sorrows manifold, that they send on him +who sinneth against them in his oath.” + +He said, and cut the boar’s throat with the pitiless knife. And the +body Taithybios whirled and threw into the great wash of the hoary sea, +to be the food of fishes; but Achilles arose up and spake in the midst +of the warrior Argives: “Father Zeus, sore madness dealest thou verily +to men. Never could the son of Atreus have stirred the soul within my +breast, nor led off the damsel implacably against my will, had not Zeus +willed that on many of the Achaians death should come. But now go forth +to your meal, that we may join battle thereupon.” + +Thus he spake and dispersed the assembly with all speed. The rest were +scattered each to his own ship, but the great-hearted Myrmidons took up +the gifts, and bare them to the ship of godlike Achilles. And they laid +them in the huts and set the women there, and gallant squires drave the +horses among their troop. + +But Briseis that was like unto golden Aphrodite, when she beheld +Patroklos mangled by the keen spear, fell about him and made shrill +lament, and tore with her hands her breast and tender neck, and +beautiful face. And she spake amid her weeping, that woman like unto +goddesses: “Patroklos, dearest to my hapless heart, alive I left thee +when I left this hut, but now, O prince of the people, I am come back +to find thee dead; thus evil ever followeth evil in my lot. My husband, +unto whom my father and lady mother gave me, I beheld before our city +mangled with the keen spear, and my three brothers whom my own mother +bore, my near and dear, who all met their day of doom. But thou, when +swift Achilles slew my husband and wasted godlike Mynes’ city, wouldest +ever that I should not even weep, and saidest that thou wouldst make me +godlike Achilles’ wedded wife, and that ye would take me in your ships +to Phthia and make me a marriage feast among the Myrmidons. Therefore +with all my soul I mourn thy death, for thou wert ever kind.” + +Thus spake she weeping, and thereon the women wailed, in semblance for +Patroklos, but each for her own woe. But round Achilles gathered the +elders of the Achaians, praying him that he would eat; but he denied +them with a groan: “I pray you, if any kind comrade will hearken to me, +bid me not sate my heart with meat and drink, since terrible grief is +come upon me. Till the sun go down I will abide, and endure continually +until then.” + +He spoke, and his speech made the other chiefs depart, but the two sons +of Atreus stayed, and noble Odysseus, and Nestor and Idomeneus and +Phoinox, ancient knight, soothing him in his exceeding sorrow, but he +could no whit be soothed until he had entered the mouth of bloody war. +And bethinking him he sighed very heavily and spake aloud: “Thou too, O +hapless, dearest of my friends, thyself wouldst verily of yore set +forth in out hut with ready speed a savoury meal, what time the +Achaians hasted to wage against the horse-taming Trojans dolorous war. +But now thou liest mangled, and my heart will none of meat and drink, +that stand within, for desire of thee. Nought worse than this could I +endure, not though I should hear of my father’s death, who now I ween +in Phthia is shedding big tears for lack of a son so dear, even me that +in an alien land for sake of baleful Helen do battle with the men of +Troy; nor though it were my beloved son who is reared for me in Skyros +(if still at least is godlike Neoptolemos alive). For hitherto had my +soul within me trusted that I alone should perish far from +horse-pasturing Argos, here in the Trojan land, but that thou shouldest +return to Phthia, so that thou mightest take me the child in thy swift +black ship from Skyros and show him everything—my substance and +servants, and high-roofed mighty hall. For Peleus I ween already must +be dead and gone, or else in feeble life he hath sorrow of age, and of +waiting ever for bitter news of me, till he hear that I am dead.” + +Thus spake he weeping, and the elders mourned with him, bethinking them +what each had left at home. And when the son of Kronos beheld them +sorrowing he pitied them, and forthwith to Athene spake he winged +words: “My child, thou hast then left utterly the man of thy heart. +Hath Achilles then no longer a place within thy thought? He before the +steep-prowed ships sits mourning his dear comrade; the rest are gone to +their meal, but he is fasting and unfed. But go, distil into his breast +nectar and pleasant ambrosia, that no pains of hunger come on him.” + +Thus saying he sped forward Athene who before was fain. And she, like a +falcon wide-winged and shrill-voiced, hurled herself forth from heaven +through the upper air. So while the Achaians were arming presently +throughout the camp, she in Achilles’ breast distilled nectar and +pleasant ambrosia, that grievous hunger might not assail his knees, and +then herself was gone to the firm house of her mighty father. Then the +Achaians poured forth from the swift ships. As when thick snowflakes +flutter down from Zeus, chill beneath the blast of Boreas born in the +upper air, so thick from the ships streamed forth bright glittering +helms and bossy shields, strong-plaited cuirasses and ashen spears. And +the sheen thereof went up to heaven and all the earth around laughed in +the flash of bronze, and there went a sound beneath the feet of the +men, and in the midst of them noble Achilles harnessed him. His teeth +gnashed together, and his eyes blazed as it were the flame of a fire, +for into his heart was intolerable anguish entered in. Thus wroth +against the men of Troy he put on the gift of the god, which Hephaistos +wrought him by his art. First on his legs he set the fair greaves +fitted with silver ankle-pieces, and next he donned the cuirass about +his breast. Then round his shoulders he slung the bronze sword +silver-studded; then lastly he took the great and strong shield, and +its brightness shone afar off as the moon’s. Or as when over the sea +there appeareth to sailors the brightness of a burning fire, and it +burneth on high among the mountains in some lonely steading—sailors +whom storm-blasts bear unwilling over the sea, the home of fishes, afar +from them they love:— so from Achilles’ goodly well-dight shield the +brightness thereof shot up toward heaven. And he lifted the stout +helmet and set it on his head, and like a star it shone, the horse-hair +crested helmet, and around it waved plumes of gold that Hephaistos had +set thick about the crest. Then noble Achilles proved him in his armour +to know whether it fitted unto him, and whether his glorious limbs ran +free; and it became to him as it were wings, and buoyed up the shepherd +of hosts. + +And forth from its stand he drew his father’s spear, heavy and great +and strong: that spear could none other of the Achaians wield, but +Achilles alone awaited to wield it, the Pelian ashen spear that Cheiron +gave to his father dear, from a peak of Pelion, to be the death of +warriors. And Automedon and Alkimos went about to yoke the horses, and +put on them fair breast-straps, and bits within their jaws, and +stretched the reins behind to the firm-built chariot. Then Automedon +took the bright lash, fitted to his hand, and sprang up behind the +horses, and after him mounted Achilles armed, effulgent in his armour +like bright Hyperion. And terribly he called upon the horses of his +sire: “Xanthos and Balios, famed children of Podarge, in other sort +take heed to bring your charioteer safe back to the Danaan host, when +we have done with battle, and leave him not as ye left Patroklos to lie +there dead.” + +Then the horse Xanthos of glancing feet made answer unto him from +beneath the yoke;—and he bowed with his head, and all his mane fell +from the yoke-cushion beside the yoke and touched the ground;—for the +white-armed goddess Hera gave him speech: “Yea verily for this hour, +dread Achilles, we will still bear thee safe, yet is thy death day nigh +at hand, neither shall we be cause thereof, but a mighty god, and +forceful Fate. For not through sloth or heedlessness of ours did the +men of Troy from Patrokios’ shoulders strip his arms, but the best of +the gods, whom bright-haired Leto bore, slew him in the forefront of +the battle, and to Hector gave renown. We even with the wind of Zephyr, +swiftest, they say, of all winds, well might run; nathless to thee +thyself it is appointed to be slain in fight by a god and by a man.” + +Now when he had thus spoken the Erinyes stayed his voice. And sore +troubled did fleet-footed Achilles answer him: “Xanthos, why +prophesiest thou my death? no wise behoveth it thee. Well know I of +myself that it is appointed me to perish here, far from my father dear +and mother; howbeit anywise I will not refrain till I give the Trojans +surfeit of war.” + +He said, and with a cry among the foremost held on his whole-hooved +steeds. + + + + +BOOK XX. + + +How Achilles made havoc among the men of Troy. + + +So by the beaked ships around thee, son of Peleus, hungry for war, the +Achaians armed; and over against them the men of Troy, upon the high +ground of the plain. + +But Zeus bade Themis call the gods to council from many-folded Olympus’ +brow; and she ranged all about and bade them to the house of Zeus. +There was no River came not up, save only Ocean, nor any nymph, of all +that haunt fair thickets and springs of rivers and grassy +water-meadows. And they came to the house of Zeus who gathereth the +clouds, and sat them down in the polished colonnades which Hephaistos +in the cunning of his heart had wrought for father Zeus. + +Thus gathered they within the doors of Zeus; nor was the Earthshaker +heedless of the goddess’ call, but from the salt sea came up after the +rest, and set him in the midst, and inquired concerning the purpose of +Zeus: “Wherefore, O Lord of the bright lightning, hast thou called the +gods again to council? Say, ponderest thou somewhat concerning the +Trojans and Achaians? for lo, the war and the fighting of them are +kindled very nigh.” + +And Zeus, who gathered the clouds, answered him, saying: “Thou knowest, +O Earthshaker, the purpose within my breast, wherefor I gathered you +hither; even in their perishing have I regard unto them. But for me I +will abide here, sitting within a fold of Olympus, where I will gladden +my heart with gazing; but go all ye forth that ye come among the +Trojans and Achaians and succour these or those, howsoever each of you +hath a mind. For if Achilles alone shall fight against the Trojans, not +even a little while shall they hold back the son of Peleus, the fleet +of foot. Nay, but even aforetime they trembled when they looked upon +him; now therefore that his wrath for his friend is waxen terrible I +fear me lest he overleap the bound of fate, and storm the wall.” + +Thus spake the son of Kronos, and roused unabating war. For on this +side and on that the gods went forth to war: to the company of the +ships went Hera, and Pallas Athene, and Poseidon, Earth-enfolder, and +the Helper Hermes, pro-eminent in subtle thoughts; and with these went +Hephaistos in the greatness of his strength, halting, but his shrunk +legs moved nimbly under him: but to the Trojans went Ares of the +glancing helm, and with him Phoebus of the unshorn hair, and archer +Artemis, and Leto and Xanthos and laughter-loving Aphrodite. + +Now for so long as gods were afar from mortal men, so long waxed the +Achaians glorious, for that Achilles was come forth among them, and his +long ceasing from grim battle was at an end. And the Trojans were +smitten with sore trembling in the limbs of every one of them, in +terror when they beheld the son of Peleus, fleet of foot, blazing in +his arms, peer of man-slaying Ares. But when among the mellay of men +the Olympians were come down, then leapt up in her might Strife, rouser +of hosts, then sent forth Athene a cry, now standing by the hollowed +trench without the wall, and now on the echoing shores she shouted +aloud. And a shout uttered Ares against her, terrible as the blackness +of the storm, now from the height of the city to the Trojans calling +clear, or again along Simois shore over Kallikolon he sped. + +So urged the blessed gods both hosts to battle, then themselves burst +into fierce war. And terribly thundered the father of gods and men from +heaven above; and from beneath Poseidon made the vast earth shake and +the steep mountain tops. Then trembled all the spurs of many-fountained +Ida, and all her crests, and the city of the Trojans, and the ships of +the Achaians. And the Lord of the Underworld, Aiedoneus, had terror in +hell, and leapt from his throne in that terror and cried aloud, lest +the world be cloven above him by Poseidon, Shaker of earth, and his +dwelling-place be laid bare to mortals and immortals—grim halls, and +vast, and lothly to the gods. So loud the roar rose of that battle of +gods. For against King Poseidon stood Phoebus Apollo with his winged +arrows, and against Enyalios stood Athene, bright-eyed goddess, and +against Hera she of the golden shafts and echoing chase, even archer +Artemis, sister of the Far-darter; and against Leto the strong Helper +Hermes, and against Hephaistos the great deep-eddying River, whom gods +call Xanthos and men Skamandros. + +Thus gods with gods were matched. Meanwhile Achilles yearned above all +to meet Hector, son of Priam, in the fray; for with that blood +chiefliest his spirit bade him sate Ares, stubborn lord of war. But +straightway Apollo, rouser of hosts, moved Aineias to go to meet the +son of Peleus, and filled him with brave spirit: and he made his own +voice like the voice of Lykaon the son of Priam; in his semblance spake +Apollo, son of Zeus: “Aineias, counsellor of Trojans, where now are thy +threats wherewith thou didst boast to the Trojan lords over thy wine, +saying thou wouldest stand up in battle against Achilles, Peleus’ son?” + +And to him Aineias answered and said: “Son of Priam, why biddest thou +me thus face the fierce son of Peleus in battle, though I be not fain +thereto? Not for the first time now shall I match me with Achilles, +fleet of foot; once before drave he me with his spear from Ida, when he +harried our kine and wasted Lyrnessos and Pedasos; but Zeus delivered +me out of his hand and put strength into my knees that they were swift. +Else had I fallen beneath the hands of Achilles, and of Athene who went +before and gave him light, and urged him to slay Leleges and Trojans +with his spear of bronze. Therefore it is impossible for man to face +Achilles in fight, for that ever some god is at his side to ward off +death. Ay, and at any time his spear flieth straight, neither ceaseth +till it have pierced through flesh of man. But if God once give us fair +field of battle, not lightly shall he overcome me, not though he boast +him made of bronze throughout.” + +And to him in answer spake Apollo son of Zeus: “Yea, hero, pray thou +too to the everliving gods; for thou too, men say, wast born of +Aphrodite daughter of Zeus, and Achilles’ mother is of less degree +among the gods. For thy mother is child of Zeus, his but of the Ancient +One of the Sea. Come, bear up thy unwearying spear against him, let him +no wise turn thee back with revilings and bitter words.” + +He said, and breathed high spirit into the shepherd of the host, and he +went onward through the forefront of the fighting, harnessed in +flashing bronze. But white-armed Hera failed not to discern Anchises’ +son as he went through the press of men to meet the son of Peleus, and +gathering the gods about her she spake among them thus: “Consider ye +twain, Poseidon and Athene, within your hearts, what shall come of +these things that are done. Here is Aineias gone forth harnessed in +flashing bronze, to meet the son of Peleus, and it is Phoebus Apollo +that hath sent him. Come then, be it ours to turn him back straightway; +or else let some one of us stand likewise beside Achilles and give him +mighty power, so that he fail not in his spirit, but know that they who +love him are the best of the Immortals, and that they who from of old +ward war and fighting from the Trojans are vain as wind. All we from +Olympus are come down to mingle in this fight that he take no hurt +among the Trojans on this day—afterward he shall suffer whatsoever +things Fate span for him with her thread, at his beginning, when his +mother bare him. If Achilles learn not this from voice divine, then +shall he be afraid when some god shall come against him in the battle; +for gods revealed are hard to look upon.” + +Then to her made answer Poseidon, Shaker of the earth: “Hera, be not +fierce beyond wisdom; it behoveth thee not. Not fain am I at least to +match gods with gods in strife. Let us go now into some high place +apart and seat us there to watch, and battle shall be left to men. Only +if Ares or Phoebus Apollo fall to fighting, or put constraint upon +Achilles and hinder him from fight, then straightway among us too shall +go up the battle-cry of strife; right soon, methinks, shall they hie +them from the issue of the fray back to Olympus to the company of the +gods, overcome by the force of our hands.” + +Thus spake the blue-haired god, and led the way to the mounded wall of +heaven-sprung Herakles, that lofty wall built him by the Trojans and +Pallas Athene, that he might escape the monster and be safe from him, +what time he should make his onset from the beach to the plain. There +sate them down Poseidon and the other gods, and clothed their shoulders +with impenetrable cloud. And they of the other part sat down on the +brows of Kallikolon around thee, Archer Phoebus, and Ares waster of +cities. Thus they on either side sat devising counsels, but shrank all +from falling to grievous war, and Zeus from his high seat commanded +them. + +Meanwhile the whole plain was filled with men and horses and ablaze +with bronze; and the earth rang with the feet of them as they rushed +together in the fray. Two men far better than the rest were meeting in +the midst between the hosts, eager for battle, Aineias, Anchises’ son, +and noble Achilles. First came on Aineias threateningly, tossing his +strong helm; his rapid shield he held before his breast, and brandished +his bronze spear. And on the other side the son of Peleus rushed to +meet him like a lion, a ravaging lion whom men desire to slay, a whole +tribe assembled: and first he goeth his way unheeding, but when some +warrior youth hath smitten him with a spear, the he gathereth himself +open-mouthed, and foam cometh forth about his teeth, and his stout +spirit groaneth in his heart, and with his tail he scourgeth either +side his ribs and flanks and goadeth himself on to fight, and glaring +is borne straight on them by his passion, to try whether he shall slay +some man of them, or whether himself shall perish in the forefront of +the throng: thus was Achilles driven of his passion and valiant spirit +to go forth to meet Aineias great of heart. And when they were come +near against each other, then first to Aineias spake fleet-footed noble +Achilles: “Aineias, wherefore hast thou so far come forward from the +crowd to stand against me: doth thy heart bid thee fight with me in +hope of holding Priam’s honour and lordship among the horse-taming +Trojans? Nay, though thou slay me, not for that will Priam lay his +kingdom in thy hands, for he hath sons, and is sound and of unshaken +mind. Or have the Trojans allotted thee some lot of ground more choice +than all the rest, fair land of tilth and orchard, that thou mayest +dwell therein, if thou slay me? But methinks thou wilt find the slaying +hard; for once before, I ween, have I made thee flee before my spear. +Host thou forgotten the day when thou wert alone with the kine, and I +made thee run swift-footed down Ida’s steeps in haste?—then didst thou +not look behind thee in thy flight. Thence fleddest thou to Lernessos, +but I wasted it, having fought against it with the help of Athene and +of father Zeus, and carried away women captive, bereaving them of their +day of freedom: only thee Zeus shielded, and other gods. But not this +time, methinks, shall they shield thee, as thou imaginest in thy heart: +therefore I bid thee go back into the throng and come not forth against +me, while as yet thou art unhurt—after the event even a fool is wise.” + +Then to him in answer again Aineias spake: “Son of Peleus, think not +with words to affright me as a child, since I too well know myself how +to speak taunts and unjust speech. We know each other’s race and +lineage in that we have heard the fame proclaimed by mortal men, but +never hast thou set eyes on my parents, or I on thine. Thou, they say, +art son of nobie Peleus, and of Thetis of the fair tresses, the +daughter of the sea: the sire I boast is Anchises great of heart, and +my mother is Aphrodite. Of these shall one pair or the other mourn +their dear son today; for verily not with idle words shall we two +satisfy our strife and depart out of the battle. But, if thou wilt, +learn also this, that thou mayest well know our lineage, known to full +many men: First Zeus the cloud-gatherer begat Dardanos, and he +stablished Dardania, for not yet was holy Ilios built upon the plain to +be a city of mortal men, but still they dwelt on slopes of +many-fountained Ida. Then Dardanos begat a son, king Erichthonios, who +became richest of mortal men. Three thousand mares had he that pastured +along the marsh meadow, rejoicing in their tender foals. Of them was +Boreas enamoured as they grazed, and in semblance of a dark-maned horse +he covered them: then they having conceived bare twelve fillies. These +when they bounded over Earth the grain-giver would run upon the topmost +ripened ears of corn and break them not; and when they bounded over the +broad backs of the sea they would run upon the crests of the breakers +of the hoary brine. Then Erichthonios begat Tros to be load over the +Trojans, and to Tros three noble sons were born, Ilos and Assarakos and +godlike Ganymedes, who became the most beautiful of mortal men. Him the +gods caught up to be cupbearer to Zeus, for sake of his beauty, that he +might dwell among immortals. Then Ilos again begat a son, noble +Laomedon, and Laomedon begat Tithonos and Priam and Lamppos and Klytios +and Hiketaon, of the stock of Ares. And Assarakos begat Kapys, and +Kapys Anchises, and Anchises me; but Priam begat the goodly Hector. + +“Lo then of this blood and lineage declare I myself unto thee. But for +valour, Zeus increaseth it in men or minisheth it according as he will, +for he is lord of all. But come, let us talk thus together no longer +like children, standing in mid onset of war. For there are revilings in +plenty for both of us to utter—a hundred-thwarted ship would not +suffice for the load of them. Glib is the tongue of man, and many words +are therein of every kind, and wide is the range of his speech hither +and thither. Whatsoever word thou speak, such wilt thou hear in answer. +But what need that we should bandy strife and wrangling each against +each. Not by speech shalt thou turn me from the battle that I desire, +until we have fought together, point to point: come then, and +straightway we will each try the other with bronze-headed spears.” + +He said, and against that other’s dread and mighty shield hurled his +great spear, and the shield rang loud beneath the spear-point. And the +son of Peleus held away the shield from him with his stout hand, in +fear, for he thought that the far-shadowing spear of Aineias great of +heart would lightly pierce it through—fond man, and knew not in his +mind and heart that not lightly do the glorious gifts of gods yield to +force of mortal men. So did not the great spear of wise Aineias pierce +that shield, for the gold resisted it, even the gift of the god. Yet +through two folds he drave it, but three remained, for five folds had +the lame god welded, two bronze, and two inside of tin, and one of +gold; therein was stayed the ashen spear. + +Then Achilles in his turn hurled his far-shadowing spear, and smote +upon the circle of the shield of Aineias, beneath the edge of the rim, +where the bronze ran thinnest round, and the bull-hide was thinnest +thereon; and right through sped the Pelian ashen spear, and the shield +cracked under it. And Aineias crouched and held up the shield away from +him in dread; and the spear flew over his back and fixed itself in the +earth, having divided asunder the two circles of the sheltering shield. +And having escaped the long spear he stood still, and a vast anguish +drowned his eyes, affrighted that the spear was planted by him so nigh. +But Achilles drew his sharp sword and furiously made at him, crying his +terrible cry: then Aineias grasped in his hand a stone (a mighty deed) +such as two men, as men now are, would not avail to lift, but he with +ease wielded it all alone. Then would Aineias have smitten him with the +stone as he charged, either on helm or shield, which had warded from +him bitter death, and then would the son of Peleus have closed and +slain him with his sword, had not Poseidon, Shaker of earth, marked it +with speed, and straightway spoken among the immortal gods: “Alas, woe +is me for Aineias great of heart, who quickly will go down to Hades +slain by the son of Peleus, for that he will obey the words of Apollo +the far-darter, fond man, but nowise shall the god help him from +grievous death. But wherefore now is he to suffer ill in his innocence, +causelessly for others’ wickedness, yet welcome ever are his offerings +to the gods who inhabit the spacious heaven? Come, let us guide him out +of death’s way, lest the son of Kronos be wroth, if Achilles slay him; +for it is appointed to him to escape, that the race of Dardanos perish +not without seed or sign, even Dardanos whom the son of Kronos loved +above all the children born to him from the daughters of men. For the +race of Priam hath Zeus already hated. But thus shall the might of +Aineias reign among the Trojans, and his children’s children, who shall +be born in the aftertime.” + +And him then answered Hera the ox-eyed queen: “Shaker of earth, thyself +with thine own mind take counsel, whether thou wilt save Aineias, or +leave him [to be slain, brave though he be, by Achilles, Peleus’ son]. +For by many oaths among all the Immortals have we two sworn, even +Pallas Athene and I, never to help the Trojans from their evil day, not +even when all Troy shall burn in the burning of fierce fire, and they +that burn her shall be the warlike sons of the Achaians.” + +Now when Poseidon Shaker of earth heard that, he went up amid the +battle and the clash of spears, and came where Aineias and renowned +Achilles were. Then presently he shed mist over the eyes of Achilles, +Peleus’ son, and drew the bronze-headed ashen spear from the shield of +Aineias great of heart, and set it before Achilles’ feet, and lifted +Aineias and swung him high from off the earth. Over many ranks of +warriors, of horses many, sprang Aineias soaring in the hand of the +god, and lighted at the farthest verge of the battle of many onsets, +where the Kaukones were arraying them for the fight. Then hard beside +him came Poseidon, Shaker of earth, and spake aloud to him winged +words: “Aineias, what god is it that biddeth thee fight infatuate +against Peleus’ vehement son, who is both a better man than thou and +dearer to Immortals? Rather withdraw thee whensoever thou fallest in +with him, lest even contrary to thy fate thou enter the house of Hades. +But when Achilles shall have met his death and doom, then be thou of +good courage to fight among the foremost, for there shall none other of +the Achaians slay thee.” + +He spoke, and left him there, when he had shown him all these things. +Then quickly from Achilles’ eyes he purged the magic mist; and he +stared with wide eyes, and in trouble spake unto his proud soul: “Ha! +verily a great marvel behold I here with mine eyes. My spear lieth here +upon the ground, nor can I anywise see the man at whom I hurled it with +intent to slay him. Truly then is Aineias likewise dear to the immortal +gods, howbeit I deemed that his boosting thereof was altogether vanity. +Away with him! not again will he find heart to make trial of me, now +that once more he has escaped death to his joy. But come, I will call +on the warlike Danaans and go forth to make trial of some other Trojan +face to face.” + +He said, and leapt along the lines, and called upon each man: “No +longer stand afar from the men of Troy, noble Achaians, but come let +man match man and throw his soul into the fight. Hard is it for me, +though I be strong, to assail so vast a folk and fight them all: not +even Ares, though an immortal god, nor Athene, could plunge into the +jaws of such a fray and toil therein. But to my utmost power with hands +and feet and strength no whit, I say, will I be slack, nay, never so +little, but right through their line will I go forward, nor deem I that +any Trojan shall be glad who shall come nigh my spear.” + +Thus spake he urging them. But to the Trojans glorious Hector called +aloud, and proclaimed that he would go forth against Achilles: +“High-hearted Trojans, fear not Peleus’ son. I too in words could fight +even Immortals, but with the spear it were hard, for they are stronger +far. Neither shall Achilles accomplish all his talk, but part thereof +he is to accomplish, and part to break asunder in the midst. And +against him will I go forth, though the hands of him be even as fire, +yea though his hands be as fire and his fierceness as the flaming +steel.” + +Thus spake he urging them, and the Trojans raised their spears for +battle; and their fierceness was mingled confusedly, and the battle-cry +arose. Then Phoebus Apollo stood by Hector and spake to him: “Hector, +no longer challenge Achilles at all before the lines, but in the throng +await him and from amid the roar of the battle, lest haply he spear +thee or come near and smite thee with his sword.” + +Thus spake he, and Hector again fell back into the crowd of men, for he +was amazed when he heard the sound of a god’s voice. + +But Achilles sprang in among the Trojans, his heart clothed with +strength, crying his terrible cry, and first he took Iphition, +Otrynteus’ valiant son, a leader of much people, born of a Naiad nymph +to Otrynteus waster of cities, beneath snowy Tmolos, in Hyde’s rich +domain. Him as he came right on did goodly Achilles smite with his +hurled spear, down through the midst of his head, and it was rent +asunder utterly. And he fell with a crash, and goodly Achilles exulted +over him; “here is thy death, thy birth was on the Gygaian lake, where +is thy sire’s demesne, by Hyllos rich in fish and eddying Hermos.” + +Thus spake he exultant, but darkness fell upon the eyes of Iphition: +him the chariots of the Achaians clave with their tires asunder in the +forefront of the battle, and over him Achilles pierced in the temples, +through his bronze-cheeked helmet, Demoleon, brave stemmer of battle, +Antenor’s son. No stop made the bronze helmet, but therethrough sped +the spear-head and clave the bone, and the brain within was all +scattered: that stroke made ending of his zeal. Then Hippodamas, as he +leapt from his chariot and fled before him, Achilles wounded in the +back with his spear: and he breathed forth his spirit with a roar, as +when a dragged bull roareth that the young men drag to the altar of the +Lord of Helike; for in such hath the Earthshaker his delight: thus +roared Hippodamas as from his bones fled forth his haughty spirit. But +Achilles with his spear went on after godlike Polydoros, Priam’s son. +Him would his sire continually forbid to fight, for that among his +children he was youngest born and best beloved, and overcame all in +fleetness of foot. Just then in boyish folly, displaying the swiftness +of his feet, he was rushing through the forefighters, until he lost his +life. Him in the midst did fleet-footed noble Achilles smite with a +javelin, in his back as he darted by, where his belt’s golden buckles +clasped, and the breast and back plates overlapped: and right through +beside the navel went the spear-head, and he fell on his knee with a +cry, and dark cloud covered him round about, and he clasped his bowels +to him with his hands as he sank. + +Then when Hector saw his brother Polydoros clasping his bowels with his +hands, and sinking to the earth, a mist fell over his eyes, nor longer +might he endure to range so far apart, but he came up against Achilles +brandishing his sharp spear, and like flame of fire. And Achilles when +he saw him, sprang up, and spake exultingly: “Behold the man who hath +deepest stricken into my soul, who slew my dear-prized friend; not long +shall we now shrink from each other along the highways of the war.” + +He said, and looking grimly spake unto goodly Hector: “Come thou near, +that the sooner thou mayest arrive at the goal of death.” + +Then to him, unterrified, said Hector of the glancing helm: “Son of +Peleus, think not with words to affright me as a child, since I too +know myself how to speak taunts and unjust speech. And I know that thou +art a man of might, and a far better man than I. Yet doth this issue +lie in the lap of the gods, whether I though weaker shall take thy life +with my hurled spear, for mine too hath been found keen ere now.” + +He said, and poised his spear and hurled it, and Athene with a breath +turned it back from glorious Achilles, breathing very lightly; and it +came back to goodly Hector, and fell there before his feet. Then +Achilles set fiercely upon him, eager to slay him, crying his terrible +cry. But Apollo caught Hector up, very easily, as a god may, and hid +him in thick mist. Thrice then did fleet-footed noble Achilles make +onset with his spear of bronze, and thrice smote the thick mist. [But +when the fourth time he had come godlike on,] then with dread shout he +spake to him winged words: “Dog, thou art now again escaped from death; +yet came ill very nigh thee; but now hath Phoebus Apollo saved thee, to +whom thou must surely pray when thou goest forth amid the clash of +spears. Verily I will slay thee yet when I meet thee hereafter, if any +god is helper of me too. Now will I make after the rest, whomsoever I +may seize.” + +Thus speaking he pierced Dryops in the midst of his neck with his +spear, and he fell down before his feet. But he left him where he lay, +and hurled at Demuchos Philetor’s son, a good man and a tall, and +stayed him with a stroke upon his knees; then smote him with his mighty +sword and reft him of life. Then springing on Laogonos and Dardanos, +sons of Bias, he thrust both from their chariot to the ground, one with +a spear-cast smiting and the other in close battle with his sword. Then +Tros, Alastor’s son—he came and clasped his knees to pray him to spare +him, and let him live, and slay him not, having compassion on his like +age, fond fool, and knew not that he might not gain his prayers; for +nowise soft of heart or tender was that man, but of fierce mood—with +his hands he touched Achilles’ knees, eager to entreat him, but he +smote him in the liver with his sword, and his liver fell from him, and +black blood therefrom filled his bosom, and he swooned, and darkness +covered his eyes. Then Achilles came near and struck Mulios in the ear, +and right through the other ear went the bronze spear-head. Then he +smote Agenor’s son Echeklos on the midst of the head with his hilted +sword, and all the sword grew hot thereat with blood; and dark death +seized his eyes, and forceful fate. Then next Deukalion, just where the +sinews of the elbow join, there pierced he him through the forearm with +his bronze spear-head; so abode he with his arm weighed down, beholding +death before him; and Achilles smiting the neck with his sword swept +far both head and helm, and the marrow rose out of the backbone, and +the corpse lay stretched upon the earth. Then went he onward after +Peires’ noble son, Rhigmos, who had come from deep-soiled Thrace: him +in the midst he smote with his hurled javelin, and the point fixed in +his lung, and he fell forth of his chariot. And Areithoos his squire, +as he turned the horses round, he pierced in the back with his sharp +spear, and thrust him from the car, and the horse ran wild with fear. + +As through deep glens rageth fierce fire on some parched mountain-side, +and the deep forest burneth, and the wind driving it whirleth every way +the flame, so raged he every way with his spear, as it had been a god, +pressing hard on the men he slew; and the black earth ran with blood. +For even as when one yoketh wide-browed bulls to tread white barley in +a stablished threshing-floor, and quickly is it trodden out beneath the +feet of the loud-lowing bulls, thus beneath great-hearted Achilles his +whole-hooved horses trampled corpses and shields together; and with +blood all the axletree below was sprinkled and the rims that ran around +the car, for blood-drops from the horses’ hooves splashed them, and +blood-drops from the tires of the wheels. But the son of Peleus pressed +on to win him glory, flecking with gore his irresistible hands. + + + + +BOOK XXI. + + +How Achilles fought with the River, and chased the men of Troy within +their gates. + + +But when now they came unto the ford of the fair-flowing river, even +eddying Xanthos, whom immortal Zeus begat, there sundering them he +chased the one part to the plain toward the city, even where the +Achaians were flying in affright the day before, when glorious Hector +was in his fury—thither poured some in flight, and Hera spread before +them thick mist to hinder them:—but half were pent into the +deep-flowing silver eddied river, and fell therein with a mighty noise, +and the steep channel sounded, and the banks around rang loudly; for +with shouting they swam therein hither and thither whirled round the +eddies. And as when at the rush of fire locusts take wing to fly unto a +river, and the unwearying fire flameth forth on them with sudden onset, +and they huddle in the water; so before Achilles was the stream of +deep-eddying Xanthos filled with the roar and the throng of horses and +men. + +Then the seed of Zeus left behind him his spear upon the bank, leant +against tamarisk bushes, and leapt in, as it were a god, keeping his +sword alone, and devised grim work at heart, and smote as he turned him +every way about: and their groaning went up ghastly as they were +stricken by the sword, and the water reddened with blood. As before a +dolphin of huge maw fly other fish and fill the nooks of some +fair-havened bay, in terror, for he devoureth amain whichsoever of them +he may catch; so along the channels of that dread stream the Trojans +crouched beneath the precipitous sides. And when his hands were weary +of slaughter he chose twelve young men alive out of the river, an +atonement for Patroklos, Menoitios’ son that was dead. These brought he +forth amazed like fawns, and bound behind them their hands with +well-cut thongs, which they themselves wore on their pliant doublets, +and gave them to his comrades to lead down to the hollow ships. Then +again he made his onset, athirst for slaying. + +There met he a son of Dardanid Priam, in flight out of the river, +Lykaon, whom once himself he took and brought unwilling out of his +father’s orchard, in a night assault; he was cutting with keen bronze +young shoots of a wild fig tree, to be hand-rails of a chariot; but to +him an unlooked-for bane came goodly Achilles. And at that time he sold +him into well-peopled Lemnos, sending him on ship board, and the son of +Jason gave a price for him; and thence a guest friend freed him with a +great ransom, Eetion of Imbros, and sent him to goodly Arisbe; whence +flying secretly he came to his father’s house. Eleven days he rejoiced +among his friends after he was come from Lemnos, but on the twelfth +once more God brought him into the hands of Achilles, who was to send +him to the house of Hades though nowise fain to go. Him when +fleet-footed noble Achilles saw bare of helm and shield, neither had he +a spear, but had thrown all to the ground; for he sweated grievously as +he tried to flee out of the river, and his knees were failing him for +weariness: then in wrath spake Achilles to his great heart: “Ha! verily +great marvel is this that I behold with my eyes. Surely then will the +proud Trojans whom I have slain rise up again from beneath the murky +gloom, since thus hath this man come back escaped from his pitiless +fate, though sold into goodly Lemnos, neither hath the deep of the +hoary sea stayed him, that holdeth many against their will. But come +then, of our spear’s point shall he taste, that I may see and learn in +my mind whether likewise he shall come back even from beneath, or +whether the life-giving Earth shall hold him down, she that holdeth so +even the strong.” + +Thus pondered he in his place; but the other came near amazed, fain to +touch his knees, for his soul longed exceedingly to flee from evil +death and black destruction. Then goodly Achilles lifted his long spear +with intent to smite him, but he stooped and ran under it and caught +his knees; and the spear went over his back and stood in the ground, +hungering for flesh of men. Then Lykaon besought him, with one hand +holding his knees, while with the other he held the sharp spear and +loosed it not, and spake to him winged words: “I cry thee mercy, +Achilles; have thou regard and pity for me: to thee, O fosterling of +Zeus, am I in the bonds of suppliantship. For at thy table first I +tasted meal of Demeter on the day when thou didst take me captive in +the well-ordered orchard, and didst sell me away from my father and my +friends unto goodly Lemnos, and I fetched thee the price of a hundred +oxen. And now have I been ransomed for thrice that, and this is my +twelfth morn since I came to Ilios after much pain. Now once again hath +ruinous fate delivered me unto thy hands; surely I must be hated of +father Zeus, that he hath given me a second time unto thee; and to +short life my mother bare me, Laothoe, old Altes’ daughter—Altes who +ruleth among the war-loving Leleges, holding steep Pedasos on the +Satnioeis. His daughter Priam had to wife, with many others, and of her +were we two born, and thou wilt butcher both. Him among the foremost of +the foot-soldiers didst thou lay low, even godlike Polydoros, when thou +smotest him with they sharp spear: and now will it go hard with me +here, for no hope have I to escape thy hands, since God hath delivered +me thereunto. Yet one thing will I tell thee, and do thou lay it to +heart: slay me not, since I am not of the same mother as Hector, who +slew thy comrade the gentle and brave.” + +Thus spake to him the noble son of Priam, beseeching him with words, +but he heard a voice implacable: “Fond fool, proffer me no ransom, nor +these words. Until Patroklos met his fated day, then was it welcomer to +my soul to spare the men of Troy, and many I took alive and sold beyond +the sea: but now there is none shall escape death, whomsoever before +Ilios God shall deliver into my hands—yes, even among all Trojans, but +chiefest among Priam’s sons. Ay, friend, thou too must die: why +lamentest thou? Patroklos is dead, who was better far than thou. Seest +thou not also what manner of man am I for might and goodliness? and a +good man was my father, and a goddess mother bare me. Yet over me too +hang death and forceful fate. There cometh morn or eve or some noonday +when my life too some man shall take in battle, whether with spear he +smite or arrow from the string.” + +Thus spake he, and the other’s knees and heart were unstrung. He let go +Achilles’ spear, and sat with both hands outspread. But Achilles drew +his sharp sword and smote on the collar-bone beside the neck, and all +the two-edged sword sank into him, and he lay stretched prone upon the +earth, and blood flowed dark from him and soaked the earth. Him seized +Achilles by the foot and sent him down the stream, and over him +exulting spake winged words: “There lie thou among the fishes, which +shall lick off thy wound’s blood heedlessly, nor shall thy mother lay +thee on a bed and mourn for thee, but Skamandros shall bear thee on his +eddies into the broad bosom of the sea. Leaping along the wave shall +many a fish dart up to the dark ripple to eat of the white flesh of +Lykaon. So perish all, until we reach the citadel of sacred Ilios, ye +flying and I behind destroying. Nor even the River, fair-flowing, +silver-eddied, shall avail you, to whom long time forsooth ye sacrifice +many bulls, and among his eddies throw whole-hooved horses down alive. +For all this yet shall ye die the death, until ye pay all for +Patroklos’ slaying and the slaughter of Achaians whom at the swift +ships ye slew while I tarried afar.” + +Thus spake he, but the River waxed ever more wroth in his heart, and +sought in his soul how he should stay goodly Achilles from his work, +and ward destruction from the Trojans. Meanwhile the son of Peleus with +his far-shadowing spear leapt, fain to slay him, upon Asteropaios son +of Pelegon, whom wide-flowing Axios begat of Periboia eldest of the +daughters of Akessamenos. Upon him set Achilles, and Asteropaios stood +against him from the river, holding two spears; for Xanthos put courage +into his heart, being angered for the slaughtered youths whom Achilles +was slaughtering along the stream and had no pity on them. Then when +the twain were come nigh in onset on each other, unto him first spake +fleet-footed noble Achilles: “Who and whence art thou of men, that +darest to come against me? Ill-fated are they whose children match them +with my might.” + +And to him, made answer Pelegon’s noble son: “High-hearted son of +Peleus, why askest thou my lineage? I come from deep-soiled Paionia, a +land far off, leading Paionian men with their long spears, and this now +is the eleventh morn since I am come to Ilios. My lineage is of +wide-flowing Axios, who begat Pelegon famous with the spear, and he, +men say, was my father. Now fight we, noble Achilles!” + +Thus spake he in defiance, and goodly Achilles lifted the Pelian ash: +but the warrior Asteropaios hurled with both spears together, for he +could use both hands alike, and with the one spear smote the shield, +but pierced it not right through, for the gold stayed it, the gift of a +god; and with the other he grazed the elbow of Achilles’ right arm, and +there leapt forth dark blood, but the point beyond him fixed itself in +the earth, eager to batten on flesh. Then in his turn Achilles hurled +on Asteropaios his straight-flying ash, fain to have slain him, but +missed the man and struck the high bank, and quivering half its length +in the bank he left the ashen spear. Then the son of Peleus drew his +sharp sword from his thigh and leapt fiercely at him, and he availed +not to draw with his stout hand Achilles’ ashen shaft from the steep +bank. Thrice shook he it striving to draw it forth, and thrice gave up +the strain, but the fourth time he was fain to bend and break the ashen +spear of the seed of Aiakos, but ere that Achilles closing on him reft +him of life with his sword. For in the belly he smote him beside the +navel, and all his bowels gushed out to the earth, and darkness covered +his eyes as he lay gasping. Then Achilles trampling on his breast +stripped off his armour and spake exultingly: “Lie there! It is hard to +strive against children of Kronos’ mighty son, even though one be +sprung from a River-god. Thou truly declarest thyself the seed of a +wide-flowing River, but I avow me of the linkage of great Zeus. My sire +is a man ruling many Myrmidons, Peleus the son of Aiakos, and Aiakos +was begotten of Zeus. As Zeus is mightier than seaward-murmuring +rivers, so is the seed of Zeus made mightier than the seed of a river. +Nay, there is hard beside thee a great river, if he may anywise avail; +but against Zeus the son of Kronos it is not possible to fight. For him +not even king Acheloios is match, nor yet the great strength of +deep-flowing Ocean, from whom all rivers flow and every sea, and all +springs and deep wells: yea, even he hath fear of the lightning of +great Zeus and his dread thunder, when it pealeth out of heaven.” + +He said, and from the steep bank drew his bronze spear, and left there +Asteropaios whom he had slain, lying in the sands, and the dark water +flooded him. Around him eels and fishes swarmed, tearing and gnawing +the fat about his kidneys. But Achilles went on after the charioted +Paiones who still along the eddying river huddled in fear, when they +saw their best man in the stress of battle slain violently by the hands +and the sword of the son of Peleus. There slew he Thersilochos and +Mydon and Astypylos and Mnesos and Thrasios and Ainios and Ophelestes; +and more yet of the Paiones would swift Achilles have slain, had not +the deep-eddying River called unto him in wrath, in semblance of a man, +and from an eddy’s depth sent forth a voice: “O Achilles, thy might and +thy evil work are beyond the measure of men; for gods themselves are +ever helping thee. If indeed the son of Kronos hath delivered thee all +the Trojans to destroy, at least drive them forth from me and do thy +grim deeds on the plain, for filled with dead men is my pleasant bed, +nor can I pour my stream to the great sea, being choked with dead, and +thou slayest ruthlessly. Come then, let be; I am astonished, O captain +of hosts.” + +And to him answered Achilles fleet of foot: “So be it, heaven-sprung +Skamandros, even as thou biddest. But the proud Trojans I will not +cease from slaying until I have driven them into their city, and have +made trial with Hector face to face whether he is to vanquish me or I +him.” + +Thus saying, he set upon the Trojans, like a god. Then unto Apollo +spake the deep-eddying River: “Out on it, lord of the silver bow, child +of Zeus, thou hast not kept the ordinance of Kronos’ son, who charged +thee straitly to stand by the Trojans and to help them, until eve come +with light late-setting, and darken the deep-soiled earth.” + +He said, and spear-famed Achilles sprang from the bank and leapt into +his midst; but he rushed on him in a furious wave, and stirred up all +his streams in tumult, and swept down the many dead who lay thick in +him, slain by Achilles; these out to land he cast with bellowing like a +bull, and saved the living under his fair streams, hiding them within +eddies deep and wide. But terribly around Achilles arose his tumultuous +wave, and the stream smote violently against his shield, nor availed he +to stand firm upon his feet. Then he grasped a tall fair-grown elm, and +it fell uprooted and tore away all the bank, and reached over the fair +river bed with its thick shoots, and stemmed the River himself, falling +all within him: and Achilles, struggling out of the eddy, made haste to +fly over the plain with his swift feet, for he was afraid. But the +great god ceased not, but arose upon him with darkness on his crest, +that he might stay noble Achilles from slaughter, and ward destruction +from the men of Troy. And the son of Peleus rushed away a spear’s +throw, with the swoop of a black eagle, the mighty hunter, strongest at +once and swiftest of winged birds. Like him he sped, and on his breast +the bronze rang terribly as he fled from beneath the onset, and behind +him the River rushed on with a mighty roar. As when a field-waterer +from a dark spring leadeth water along a bed through crops and garden +grounds, a mattock in his hands, casting forth hindrances from the +ditch, and as it floweth all pebbles are swept down, and swiftly +gliding it murmureth down a sloping place, and outrunneth him that is +its guide:—thus ever the river wave caught up Achilles for all his +speed; for gods are mightier than men. For whensoever fleet-footed +noble Achilles struggled to stand against it, and know whether all +immortals be upon him who inhabit spacious heaven, then would a great +wave of the heaven-sprung River beat upon his shoulders from above, and +he sprang upward with his feet, sore vexed at heart; and the River was +wearying his knees with violent rush beneath, devouring the earth from +under his feet. Then the son of Peleus cried aloud, looking up to the +broad heaven: “Zeus, Father, how doth none of the gods take it on him +in pity to save me from the River! after that let come to me what may. +None other of the inhabitants of Heaven is chargeable so much, but only +my dear mother, who beguiled me with false words, saying that under the +wall of the mail-clad men of Troy I must die by the swift arrows of +Apollo. Would that Hector had slain me, the best of men bred here: then +brave had been the slayer, and a brave man had he slain. But now by a +sorry death am I doomed to die, pent in this mighty river, like a +swineherd boy whom a torrent sweepeth down as he essayeth to cross it +in a storm.” + +Thus spake he, and quickly Poseidon and Athene came near and stood +beside him, in the likeness of men, and taking his hands in theirs +pledged him in words. And the first that spake was Poseidon, Shaker of +the earth: “Son of Peleus, tremble not, neither be afraid; such helpers +of thee are we from the gods, approved of Zeus, even Pallas Athene and +I, for to be vanquished of a river is not appointed thee, but he will +soon give back, and thou wilt thyself perceive it: but we will give +thee wise counsel, if thou wilt obey it; hold not thy hand from +hazardous battle until within Ilios’ famous walls thou have pent the +Trojan host, even all that flee before thee. But do thou, when thou +hast taken the life of Hector, go back unto the ships; this glory we +give unto thee to win.” + +They having thus spoken departed to the immortals, but he toward the +plain—for the bidding of gods was strong upon him—went onward; and all +the plain was filled with water-flood, and many beautiful arms and +corpses of slain youths were drifting there. So upward sprang his knees +as he rushed against the stream right on, nor stayed him the +wide-flowing River, for Athene put great strength in him. Neither did +Skamandros slacken his fierceness, but yet more raged against the son +of Peleus, and he curled crestwise the billow of his stream, lifting +himself on high, and on Simoeis he called with a shout: “Dear brother, +the strength of this man let us both join to stay, since quickly he +will lay waste the great city of king Priam, and the Trojans abide not +in the battle. Help me with speed, and fill thy streams with water from +thy springs, and urge on all thy torrents, and raise up a great wave, +and stir huge roaring of tree-stumps and stones, that we may stay the +fierce man who now is lording it, and deeming himself match for gods. +For neither, I ween, will strength avail him nor comeliness anywise, +nor that armour beautiful, which deep beneath the flood shall be +o’erlaid with slime, and himself I will wrap him in my sands and pour +round him countless shingle without stint, nor shall the Achaians know +where to gather his bones, so vast a shroud of silt will I heap over +them. Where he dieth there shall be his tomb, neither shall he have +need of any barrow to be raised, when the Achaians make his funeral.” + +He said, and rushed in tumult on Achilles, raging from on high, +thundering with foam and blood and bodies of dead men. Then did a dark +wave of the heaven-sprung River stand towering up and overwhelm the son +of Peleus. But Hera cried aloud in terror of Achilles, lest the great +deep-eddying River sweep him away, and straightway she called to +Hephaistos, her dear son: “Rise, lame god, O my son; it was against +thee we thought that eddying Xanthos was matched in fight. Help with +all speed, put forth large blast of flame. Then will I go to raise a +strong storm out of the sea of the west wind and the white south which +shall utterly consume the dead Trojans and their armour, blowing the +angry flame. Thou along Xanthos’ banks burn up his trees and wrap +himself in fire, nor let him anywise turn thee back by soft words or by +threat, nor stay thy rage—only when I cry to thee with my voice, then +hold the unwearying fire.” + +Thus spake she, and Hephaistos made ready fierce-blazing fire. First on +the plain fire blazed, and burnt the many dead who lay there thick, +slain by Achilles; and all the plain was parched and the bright water +stayed. And as when in late summer the north wind swiftly parcheth a +new watered orchard, and he that tilleth it is glad, thus was the whole +plain parched, and Hephaistos consumed the dead; then against the river +he turned his gleaming flame. Elms burnt and willow trees and +tamarisks, and lotos burnt and rush and galingale which round the fair +streams of the river grew in multitude. And the eels and fishes beneath +the eddies were afflicted, which through the fair streams tumbled this +way and that, in anguish at the blast of crafty Hephaistos. And the +strong River burned, and spake and called to him by name: “Hephaistos, +there is no god can match with thee, nor will I fight thee thus ablaze +with fire. Cease strife, yea, let noble Achilles drive the Trojans +forthwith out of their city; what have I to do with strife and +succour?” + +Thus spake he, burnt with fire, for his fair streams were bubbling. And +as a cauldron boileth within, beset with much fire, melting the lard of +some fatted hog spurting up on all sides, and logs of firewood lie +thereunder,—so burned his fair streams in the fire, and the water +boiled. He had no mind to flow, but refrained him, for the breath of +cunning Hephaistos violently afflicted him. Then unto Hera, earnestly +beseeching her,’ he spake winged words: “Hera, wherefore hath thy son +assailed my stream to vex it above others? I am less chargeable than +all the rest that are helpers of the Trojans. But lo, I will give over, +if thou wilt, and let thy son give over too. And I further will swear +even this, that never will I ward the day of evil from the Trojans, not +even when all Troy is burning in the blaze of hungry fire, and the +warlike sons of Achaians are the burners thereof.” + +Then when the white-armed goddess Hera heard his speech, straightway +she spake unto Hephaistos her dear son: “Hephaistos, hold, famed son; +it befitteth not thus for mortals’ sake to do violence to an immortal +god.” + +Thus said she and Hephaistos quenched the fierce-blazing fire, and the +wave once more rolled down the fair river-bed. + +So when the rage of Xanthos was overcome, both ceased, for Hera stayed +them, though in wrath. But among the other gods fell grievous bitter +strife, and their hearts were carried diverse in their breasts. And +they clashed together with a great noise, and the wide earth groaned, +and the clarion of great Heaven rang around. Zeus heard as he sate upon +Olympus, and his heart within him laughed pleasantly when he beheld +that strife of gods. Then no longer stood they asunder, for Ares +piercer of shields began the battle and first made for Athene with his +bronze spear, and spake a taunting word: “Wherefore, O dogfly, dost +thou match gods with gods in strife, with stormy daring, as thy great +spirit moveth thee? Rememberest thou not how thou movedst Diomedes +Tydeus’ son to wound me, and thyself didst take a visible spear and +thrust it straight at me and pierce through my fair skin? Therefore +deem I now that thou shalt pay me for all that thou hast done.” + +Thus saying he smote on the dread tasselled aegis that not even the +lightning of Zeus can overcome—thereon smote bloodstained Ares with his +long spear. But she, giving back, grasped with stout hand a stone that +lay upon the plain, black, rugged, huge, which men of old time set to +be the landmark of a field; this hurled she, and smote impetuous Ares +on the neck, and unstrung his limbs. Seven roods he covered in his +fall, and soiled his hair with dust, and his armour rang upon him. And +Pallas Athene laughed, and spake to him winged words exultingly: “Fool, +not even yet hast thou learnt how far better than thou I claim to be, +that thus thou matchest thy might with mine. Thus shalt thou satisfy +thy mother’s curses, who deviseth mischief against thee in her wrath, +for that thou hast left the Achaians and givest the proud Trojan’s +aid.” + +Thus having said she turned from him her shining eyes. Him did +Aphrodite daughter of Zeus take by the hand and lead away, groaning +continually, for scarce gathered he his spirit back to him. But when +the white-armed goddess Hera was aware of them, straightway she spake +unto Athene winged words: “Out on it, child of aegis-bearing Zeus, +maiden invincible, lo there the dogfly is leading Ares destroyer of men +out of the fray of battle down the throng—nay then, pursue her.” + +She said, and Athene sped after her with heart exultant, and made at +her and smote her with stout hand upon the breast, and straightway her +knees and heart were unstrung. So they twain lay on the bounteous +earth, and she spake winged words exultingly: “Such let all be who give +the Trojans aid when they fight against the mailed Argives. Be they +even so bold and brave as Aphrodite when she came to succour Ares and +defied my might. Then should we long ago have ceased from war, having +laid waste the stablished citadel of Ilios.” + +[She said, and the white-armed goddess Hera smiled.] Then to Apollo +spake the earth-shaking lord: “Phoebus, why stand we apart? It +befitteth not after the rest have begun: that were the more shameful if +without fighting we should go to Olympus to the bronze-thresholded +house of Zeus. Begin, for thou art younger; it were not meet for me, +since I was born first and know more. Fond god, how foolish is thy +heart! Thou rememberest not all the ills we twain alone of gods endured +at Ilios, when by ordinance of Zeus we came to proud Laomedon and +served him through a year for promised recompense, and he laid on us +his commands. I round their city built the Trojans a wall, wide and +most fair, that the city might be unstormed, and thou Phoebus, didst +herd shambling crook-horned kine among the spurs of woody many-folded +Ida. But when the joyous seasons were accomplishing the term of hire, +then redoubtable Laomedon robbed us of all hire, and sent us off with +threats. He threatened that he would bind together our feet and hands +and sell us into far-off isles, and the ears of both of us he vowed to +shear off with the sword. So we went home with angry hearts, wroth for +the hire he promised and gave us not. To his folk not thou showest +favour, nor essayest with us how the proud Trojans may be brought low +and perish miserably with their children and noble wives.” + +Then to him answered King Apollo the Far-darter: “Shaker of the earth, +of no sound mind wouldst thou repute me if I should fight against thee +for the sake of pitiful mortals, who like unto leaves now live in +glowing life, consuming the fruit of the earth, and now again pine into +death. Let us with all speed cease from combat, and let them do battle +by themselves.” + +Thus saying he turned away, for he felt shame to deal in blows with his +father’s brother. But his sister upbraided him sore, the queen of wild +beasts, huntress Artemis, and spake a taunting word: “So then thou +fleest, Far-darter, hast quite yielded to Poseidon the victory, and +given him glory for naught! Fond god, why bearest thou an ineffectual +bow in vain? Let me not hear thee again in the halls of our sire boast +as before among the immortal gods thou wouldst stand up to fight +against Poseidon.” + +Thus spake she, but far-darting Apollo answered her not. But angrily +the noble spouse of Zeus [upbraided the Archer Queen with taunting +words:] “How now art thou fain, bold vixen, to set thyself against me? +Hard were it for thee to match my might, bow-bearer though thou art, +since against women Zeus made thee a lion, and giveth thee to slay +whomso of them thou wilt. Truly it is better on the mountains to slay +wild beasts and deer than to fight amain with mightier than thou. But +if thou wilt, try war, that thou mayest know well how far stronger am +I, since thou matchest thy might with mine.” + +She said, and with her left hand caught both the other’s hands by the +wrist, and with her right took the bow from off her shoulders, and +therewith, smiling, beat her on the ears as she turned this way and +that; and the swift arrows fell out of her quiver. And weeping from +before her the goddess fled like a dove that from before a falcon +flieth to a hollow rock, a cleft—for she was not fated to be +caught;—thus Artemis fled weeping, and left her bow and arrows where +they lay. Then to Leto spake the Guide, the slayer of Argus: “Leto, +with thee will I no wise fight; a grievous thing it is to come to blows +with wives of cloud-gathering Zeus; but boast to thy heart’s content +among the immortal gods that thou didst vanquish me by might and main.” + +Thus said he, and Leto gathered up the curved bow and arrows fallen +hither and thither amid the whirl of dust: so taking her daughter’s bow +she went back. And the maiden came to Olympus, to the +bronze-thresholded house of Zeus, and weeping set herself on her +father’s knee, while round her her divine vesture quivered: and her +father, Kronos’ son, took her to him and asked of her, laughing gently: +“Who of the inhabitants of heaven, dear child, hath dealt with thee +thus [hastily, as though thou hadst been doing some wrong thing +openly]?” + +And to him in answer spake the fair-crowned queen of the echoing chase: +“It was thy wife that buffeted me, father, the white-armed Hera, from +whom are strife and contention come upon the immortals.” + +Thus talked they unto one another. Then Phoebus Apollo entered into +sacred Ilios, for he was troubled for the wall of the well-builded +city, lest the Danaans waste it before its hour upon that day. But the +other ever-living gods went to Olympus, some angry and some greatly +triumphing, and sat down beside Zeus who hideth himself in dark clouds. + +Now Achilles was still slaying the Trojans, both themselves and their +whole-hooved horses. And as when a smoke goeth up to the broad heaven, +when a city burneth, kindled by the wrath of gods, and causeth toil to +all, and griefs to many, thus caused Achilles toil and griefs to the +Trojans. And the old man Priam stood on the sacred tower, and was aware +of dread Achilles, how before him the Trojans thronged in rout, nor was +any succour found of them. Then with a cry he went down from the tower, +to rouse the gallant warders along the walls: “Hold open the gates in +your hands until the folk come to the city in their rout, for closely +is Achilles chasing them—now trow I there will be deadly deeds. And +when they are gathered within the wall and are taking breath, then +again shut back the gate-wings firmly builded; for I fear lest that +murderous man spring in within the wall.” + +Thus spake he, and they opened the gates and thrust back the bolts; and +the gates flung back gave safety. Then Apollo leapt forth to the front +that he might ward destruction from the Trojans. They straight for the +city and the high wall were fleeing, parched with thirst and +dust-grimed from the plain, and Achilles chased them vehemently with +his spear, for strong frenzy possessed his heart continually, and he +thirsted to win him renown. Then would the sons of the Achaians have +taken high-gated Troy, had not Phoebus Apollo aroused goodly Agenor, +Antenor’s son, a princely man and strong. In his heart he put good +courage, and himself stood by his side that he might ward off the +grievous visitations of death, leaning against the oak, and he was +shrouded in thick mist. So when Agenor was aware of Achilles waster of +cities, he halted, and his heart much wavered as he stood; and in +trouble he spake to his great heart: “Ay me, if I flee before mighty +Achilles, there where the rest are driven terror-struck, nathless will +he overtake me and slaughter me as a coward. Or what if I leave these +to be driven before Achilles the son of Peleus, and flee upon my feet +from the wall by another way to the Ileian plain, until I come to the +spurs of Ida, and hide me in the underwood? So then at evening, having +bathed in the river and refreshed me of sweat, I might return to Ilios. +Nay, why doth my heart debate thus within me? Lest he might be aware of +me as I get me from the city for the plain, and speeding after overtake +me with swift feet; then will it no more be possible to avoid the +visitation of death, for he is exceeding mighty above all mankind. What +then if in front of the city I go forth to meet him? Surely his flesh +too is penetrable by sharp bronze, and there is but one life within, +and men say he is mortal, howbeit Zeus the son of Kronos giveth him +renown.” + +Thus saying, he gathered himself to await Achilles, and within him his +stout heart was set to strive and fight. As a leopardess goeth forth +from a deep thicket to affront a huntsman, nor is afraid at heart, nor +fleeth when she heareth the bay of hounds; for albeit the man first +smite her with thrust or throw, yet even pierced through with the spear +she ceaseth not from her courage until she either grapple or be slain, +so noble Antenor’s son, goodly Agenor, refused to flee till he should +put Achilles to the proof, but held before him the circle of his +shield, and aimed at him with his spear, and cried aloud: “Doubtless +thou hopest in thy heart, noble Achilles, on this day to sack the city +of the proud men of Troy. Fond man, there shall many woful things yet +be wrought before it, for within it we are many men and staunch, who in +front of our parents dear and wives and sons keep Ilios safe; but thou +shalt here meet death, albeit so redoubtable and bold a man of war.” + +He said, and hurled his sharp spear with weighty hand, and smote him on +the leg beneath the knee, nor missed his mark, and the greave of +new-wrought tin rang terribly on him; but the bronze bounded back from +him it smote, nor pierced him, for the god’s gift drave it back. Then +the son of Peleus in his turn made at godlike Agenor, but Apollo +suffered him not to win renown, but caught away Agenor, and shrouded +him in thick mist, and sent him in peace to be gone out of the war. +Then by wile kept the son of Peleus away from the folk, for in complete +semblance of Agenor himself he stood before the feet of Achilles, who +hasted to run upon him and chase him. And while he chased him over the +wheat-bearing plain, edging him toward the deep-eddying river +Skamandros, as he ran but a little in front of him (for by wile Apollo +beguiled him that he kept ever hoping to overtake him in the race), +meantime the other Trojans in common rout came gladly unto their +fastness, and the city was filled with the throng of them. Neither had +they heart to await one another outside the city and wall, and to know +who might have escaped and who had perished in the fight, but +impetuously they poured into the city, whomsoever of them his feet and +knees might save. + + + + +BOOK XXII. + + +How Achilles fought with Hector, and slew him, and brought his body to +the ships. + + +Thus they throughout the city, scared like fawns, were cooling their +sweat and drinking and slaking their thirst, leaning on the fair +battlements, while the Achaians drew near the wall, setting shields to +shoulders. But Hector deadly fate bound to abide in his place, in front +of Ilios and the Skaian gates. Then to the son of Peleus spake Phoebus +Apollo: “Wherefore, son of Peleus, pursuest thou me with swift feet, +thyself being mortal and I a deathless god? Thou hast not even yet +known me, that I am a god, but strivest vehemently. Truly thou +regardest not thy task among the affliction of the Trojans whom thou +affrightedst, who now are gathered into the city, while thou heat +wandered hither. Me thou wilt never slay, for I am not subject unto +death.” + +Then mightily moved spake unto him Achilles fleet of foot: “Thou hast +baulked me, Far-darter, most mischievous of all the gods, in that thou +hast turned me hither from the wall: else should full many yet have +bitten the dust or ever within Ilios had they come. Now hast thou +robbed me of great renown, and lightly hast saved them, because thou +hadst no vengeance to fear thereafter. Verily I would avenge me on +thee, had I but the power.” + +Thus saying toward the city he was gone in pride of heart, rushing like +some victorious horse in a chariot, that runneth lightly at full speed +over the plain; so swiftly plied Achilles his feet and knees. Him the +old man Priam first beheld as he sped across the plain, blazing as the +star that cometh forth at harvest-time, and plain seen his rays shine +forth amid the host of stars in the darkness of night, the star whose +name men call Orion’s Dog. Brightest of all is he, yet for an evil sign +is he set, and bringeth much fever upon hapless men. Even so on +Achilles’ breast the bronze gleamed as he ran. And the old man cried +aloud and beat upon his head with his hands, raising them on high, and +with a cry called aloud beseeching his dear son; for he before the +gates was standing, all hot for battle with Achilles. And the old man +spake piteously unto him, stretching forth his hands: “Hector, beloved +son, I pray thee await not this man alone with none beside thee, lest +thou quickly meet thy doom, slain by the son of Peleus, since he is +mightier far, a merciless man. Would the gods loved him even as do I! +then quickly would dogs and vultures devour him on the field—thereby +would cruel pain go from my heart—the man who hath bereft me of many +valiant sons, slaying them and selling them captive into far-off isles. +Ay even now twain of my children, Lykaon and Polydoros, I cannot see +among the Trojans that throng into the fastness, sons whom Laothoe bare +me, a princess among women. If they be yet alive amid the enemy’s host, +then will we ransom them with bronze and gold, for there is store +within, for much goods gave the old man famous Altes to his child. If +they be dead, then even in the house of Hades shall they be a sorrow to +my soul and to their mother, even to us who gave them birth, but to the +rest of the folk a briefer sorrow, if but thou die not by Achilles’ +hand. Nay, come within the wall, my child, that thou preserve the men +and women of Troy, neither give great triumph to the son of Peleus, and +be thyself bereft of sweet life. Have compassion also on me, the +helpless one, who still can feel, ill-fated; whom the father, Kronos’ +son, will bring to naught by a grievous doom in the path of old age, +having seen full many ills, his sons perishing and his daughters +carried away captive, and his chambers laid waste and infant children +hurled to the ground in terrible war, and his sons’ wives dragged away +by the ruinous hands of the Achaians. Myself then last of all at the +street door will ravening dogs tear, when some one by stroke or throw +of the sharp bronze hath bereft my limbs of life—even the dogs I reared +in my halls about my table and to guard my door, which then having +drunk my blood, maddened at heart shall lie in the gateway. A young man +all beseemeth, even to be slain in war, to be torn by the sharp bronze +and lie on the field; though he be dead yet is all honourable to him, +whate’er be seen: but when dogs defile the hoary head and hoary beard +of an old man slain, this is the most piteous thing that cometh upon +hapless men.” + +Thus spake the old man, and grasped his hoary hairs, plucking them from +his head, but he persuaded not Hector’s soul. Then his mother in her +turn wailed tearfully, loosening the folds of her robe, while with the +other hand she showed her breast; and through her tears spake to him +winged words: “Hector, my child, have regard unto this bosom and pity +me, if ever I gave thee consolation of my breast. Think of it, dear +child, and from this side the wall drive back the foe, nor stand in +front to meet him. He is merciless; if he slay thee it will not be on a +bed that I or thy wife shall bewail thee, my own dear child, but far +away from us by the ships of the Argives will swift dogs devour thee.” + +Thus they with wailing spake to their dear son, beseeching him sore, +yet they persuaded not Hector’s soul, but he stood awaiting Achilles as +he drew nigh in giant might. As a serpent of the mountains upon his den +awaiteth a man, having fed on evil poisons, and fell wrath hath entered +into him, and terribly he glared as he coileth himself about his den, +so Hector with courage unquenchable gave not back, leaning his shining +shield against a jutting tower. Then sore troubled he spake to his +great heart: “Ay me, if I go within the gates and walls, Polydamas will +be first to bring reproach against me, since he bade me lead the +Trojans to the city during this ruinous night, when noble Achilles +arose. But I regarded him not, yet surely it had been better far. And +now that I have undone the host by my wantonness, I am ashamed before +the men of Troy and women of trailing robes, lest at any time some +worse man than I shall say: ‘Hector by trusting his own might undid the +host.’ So will they speak; then to me would it be better far to face +Achilles and either slay him and go home, or myself die gloriously +before the city. Or what if I lay down my bossy shield and my stout +helm, and lean my spear against the wall, and go of myself to meet +noble Achilles and promise him that Helen, and with her all possessions +that Alexandros brought in hollow ships to Troy, the beginning of +strife, we will give to the Sons of Atreus to take away, and +therewithal to divide in half with the Achaians all else that this city +holdeth: and if thereafter I obtain from the Trojans an oath of the +Elders that they will hide nothing but divide all in twain [whatever +wealth the pleasant city hold within]? But wherefore doth my heart +debate thus? I might come unto him and he would not pity or regard me +at all, but presently slay me unarmed as it were but a woman, if I put +off my armour. No time is it now to dally with him from oaktree or from +rock, like youth with maiden, as youth and maiden hold dalliance one +with another. Better is it to join battle with all speed: let us know +upon which of us twain the Olympian shall bestow renown.” + +Thus pondered he as he stood, but nigh on him came Achilles, peer of +Enyalios warrior of the waving helm, brandishing from his right +shoulder the Pelian ash, his terrible spear; and all around the bronze +on him flashed like the gleam of blazing fire or of the Sun as he +ariseth. And trembling seized Hector as he was aware of him, nor +endured he to abide in his place, but left the gates behind him and +fled in fear. And the son of Peleus darted after him, trusting in his +swift feet. As a falcon upon the mountains, swiftest of winged things, +swoopeth fleetly after a trembling dove; and she before him fleeth, +while he with shrill screams hard at hand still darteth at her, for his +heart urgeth him to seize her; so Achilles in hot haste flew straight +for him, and Hector fled beneath the Trojans’ wall, and plied swift +knees. They past the watch-place and wind-waved wild fig-tree sped +ever, away from under the wall, along the waggon-track, and came to the +two fair-flowing springs, where two fountains rise that feed +deep-eddying Skamandros. The one floweth with warm water, and smoke +goeth up therefrom around as it were from a blazing fire, while the +other even in summer floweth forth like cold hail or snow or ice that +water formeth. And there beside the springs are broad washing-troughs +hard by, fair troughs of stone, where wives and fair daughters of the +men of Troy were wont to wash bright raiment, in the old time of peace, +before the sons of the Achaians came. Thereby they ran, he flying, he +pursuing. Valiant was the flier but far mightier he who fleetly pursued +him. For not for beast of sacrifice or for an oxhide were they +striving, such as are prizes for men’s speed of foot, but for the life +of horse-taming Hector was their race. And as when victorious +whole-hooved horses run rapidly round the turning-points, and some +great prize lieth in sight, be it a tripod or a woman, in honour of a +man that is dead, so thrice around Priam’s city circled those twain +with flying feet, and all the gods were gazing on them. Then among them +spake first the father of gods and men: “Ay me, a man beloved I see +pursued around the wall. My heart is woe for Hector, who hath burnt for +me many thighs of oxen amid the crests of many-folded Ida, and other +times on the city-height; but now is goodly Achilles pursuing him with +swift feet round Priam’s town. Come, give your counsel, gods, and +devise whether we shall save him from death or now at last slay him, +valiant though he be, by the hand of Achilles Peleus’ son.” + +Then to him answered the bright-eyed goddess Athene: “O Father, Lord of +the bright lightning and the dark cloud, what is this thou hast said? A +man that is a mortal, doomed long ago by fate, wouldst thou redeem back +from ill-boding death? Do it, but not all we other gods approve.” + +And unto her in answer spake cloud-gathering Zeus: “Be of good cheer, +Trito-born, dear child: not in full earnest speak I, and I would fain +be kind to thee. Do as seemeth good to thy mind, and draw not back.” + +Thus saying he roused Athene, that already was set thereon, and from +the crests of Olympus she darted down. + +But after Hector sped fleet Achilles chasing him vehemently. And as +when on the mountains a hound hunteth the fawn of a deer, having +started it from its covert, through glens and glades, and if it crouch +to baffle him under a bush, yet scenting it out the hound runneth +constantly until he find it; so Hector baffled not Peleus’ fleet-footed +son. Oft as he set himself to dart under the well-built walls over +against the Dardanian gates, if haply from above they might succour him +with darts, so oft would Achilles gain on him and turn him toward the +plain, while himself he sped ever on the city-side. And as in a dream +one faileth in chase of a flying man, the one faileth in his flight and +the other in his chase—so failed Achilles to overtake him in the race, +and Hector to escape. And thus would Hector have avoided the visitation +of death, had not this time been utterly the last wherein Apollo came +nigh to him, who nerved his strength and his swift knees. For to the +host did noble Achilles sign with his head, and forbade them to hurl +bitter darts against Hector, lest any smiting him should gain renown, +and he himself come second. But when the fourth time they had reached +the springs, then the Father hung his golden balances, and set therein +two lots of dreary death, one of Achilles, one of horse-taming Hector, +and held them by the midst and poised. Then Hector’s fated day sank +down, and fell to the house of Hades, and Phoebus Apollo left him. But +to Peleus’ son came the bright-eyed goddess Athene, and standing near +spake to him winged words: “Now verily, glorious Achilles dear to Zeus, +I have hope that we twain shall carry off great glory to the ships for +the Achaians, having slain Hector, for all his thirst for fight. No +longer is it possible for him to escape us, not even though far-darting +Apollo should travail sore, grovelling before the Father, aegis-bearing +Zeus. But do thou now stand and take breath, and I will go and persuade +this man to confront thee in fight.” + +Thus spake Athene, and he obeyed, and was glad at heart, and stood +leaning on his bronze-pointed ashen-spear. And she left him and came to +noble Hector, like unto Deiphobos in shape and in strong voice, and +standing near spake to him winged words: “Dear brother, verily fleet +Achilles doth thee violence, chasing thee round Priam’s town with swift +feet: but come let us make a stand and await him on our defence.” + +Then answered her great Hector of the glancing helm: “Deiphobos, verily +aforetime wert thou far dearest of my brothers, but now methinks I +shall honour thee even more, in that thou hast dared for my sake, when +thou sawest me, to come forth of the wall, while the others tarry +within.” + +Then to him again spake the bright-eyed goddess Athene: “Dear brother, +of a truth my father and lady mother and my comrades around besought me +much, entreating me in turn, to tarry there, so greatly do they all +tremble before him; but my heart within was sore with dismal grief. And +now fight we with straight-set resolve and let there be no sparing of +spears, that we may know whether Achilles is to slay us and carry our +bloody spoils to the hollow ships, or whether he might be vanquished by +thy spear.” + +Thus saying Athene in her subtlety led him on. And when they were come +nigh in onset on one another, to Achilles first spake great Hector of +the glancing helm: “No longer, son of Peleus, will I fly thee, as +before I thrice ran round the great town of Priam, and endured not to +await thy onset. Now my heart biddeth me stand up against thee; I will +either slay or be slain. But come hither and let us pledge us by our +gods, for they shall be best witnesses and beholders of covenants: I +will entreat thee in no outrageous sort, if Zeus grant me to outstay +thee, and if I take thy life, but when I have despoiled thee of thy +glorious armour, O Achilles, I will give back thy dead body to the +Achaians, and do thou the same.” + +But unto him with grim gaze spake Achilles fleet of foot: “Hector, talk +not to me, thou madman, of covenants. As between men and lions there is +no pledge of faith, nor wolves and sheep can be of one mind, but +imagine evil continually against each other, so is it impossible for +thee and me to be friends, neither shall be any pledge between us until +one or other shall have fallen and glutted with blood Ares, the +stubborn god of war. Bethink thee of all thy soldiership: now behoveth +it thee to quit thee as a good spearman and valiant man of war. No +longer is there way of escape for thee, but Pallas Athene will +straightway subdue thee to my spear; and now in one hour shalt thou pay +back for all my sorrows for my friends whom thou hast slain in the fury +of thy spear.” + +He said, and poised his far-shadowing spear and hurled. And noble +Hector watched the coming thereof and avoided it; for with his eye on +it he crouched, and the bronze spear flew over him, and fixed itself in +the earth; but Pallas Athene caught it up and gave it back to Achilles, +unknown of Hector shepherd of hosts. Then Hector spake unto the noble +son of Peleus: “Thou hast missed, so no wise yet, godlike Achilles, has +thou known from Zeus the hour of my doom, though thou thoughtest it. +Cunning of tongue art thou and a deceiver in speech, that fearing thee +I might forget my valour and strength. Not as I flee shalt thou plant +thy spear in my reins, but drive it straight through my breast as I set +on thee, if God hath given thee to do it. Now in thy turn avoid my +spear of bronze. O that thou mightst take it all into thy flesh! Then +would the war be lighter to the Trojans, if but thou wert dead, for +thou art their greatest bane.” + +He said, and poised his long-shadowed spear and hurled it, and smote +the midst of the shield of Peleus’ son, and missed him not: but far +from the shield the spear leapt back. And Hector was wroth that his +swift weapon had left his hand in vain, and he stood downcast, for he +had no second ashen spear. And he called with a loud shout to Deiphobos +of the white shield, and asked of him a long spear, but he was no wise +nigh. Then Hector knew he truth in his heart, and spake and said: “Ay +me, now verily the gods have summoned me to death. I deemed the warrior +Deiphobos was by my side, but he is within the wall, and it was Athene +who played me false. Now therefore is evil death come very nigh me, not +far off, nor is there way of escape. This then was from of old the +pleasure of Zeus and of the far-darting son of Zeus, who yet before +were fain to succour me: but now my fate hath found me. At least let me +not die without a struggle or ingloriously, but in some great deed of +arms whereof men yet to be born shall hear.” + +Thus saying he drew his sharp sword that by his flank hung great and +strong, and gathered himself and swooped like a soaring eagle that +darteth to the plain through the dark clouds to seize a tender lamb or +crouching hare. So Hector swooped, brandishing his sharp sword. And +Achilles made at him, for his heart was filled with wild fierceness, +and before his breast he made a covering with his fair graven shield, +and tossed his bright four-plated helm; and round it waved fair golden +plumes [that Hephaistos had set thick about the crest.]. As a star +goeth among stars in the darkness of night, Hesperos, fairest of all +stars set in heaven, so flashed there forth a light from the keen spear +Achilles poised in his right hand, devising mischief against noble +Hector, eyeing his fair flesh to find the fittest place. Now for the +rest of him his flesh was covered by the fair bronze armour he stripped +from strong Patroklos when he slew him, but there was an opening where +the collar bones coming from the shoulders clasp the neck, even at the +gullet, where destruction of life cometh quickliest; there, as he came +on, noble Achilles drave at him with his spear, and right through the +tender neck went the point. Yet the bronze-weighted ashen spear clave +not the windpipe, so that he might yet speak words of answer to his +foe. And he fell down in the dust, and noble Achilles spake exultingly: +“Hector, thou thoughtest, whilst thou wert spoiling Patroklos, that +thou wouldst be safe, and didst reck nothing of me who was afar, thou +fool. But away among the hollow ships his comrade, a mightier far, even +I, was left behind, who now have unstrung thy knees. Thee shall dogs +and birds tear foully, but his funeral shall the Achaians make.” + +Then with faint breath spake unto him Hector of the glancing helm: “I +pray thee by thy life and knees and parents leave me not for dogs of +the Achaians to devour by the ships, but take good store of bronze and +gold, gifts that my father and lady mother shall give to thee, and give +them home my body back again, that the Trojans and Trojans’ wives give +me my due of fire after my death.” + +But unto him with grim gaze spake Achilles fleet of foot: “Entreat me +not, dog, by knees or parents. Would that my heart’s desire could so +bid me myself to carve and eat raw thy flesh, for the evil thou hast +wrought me, as surely is there none that shall keep the dogs from thee, +not even should they bring ten or twenty fold ransom and here weigh it +out, and promise even more, not even were Priam Dardanos’ son to bid +pay thy weight in gold, not even so shall thy lady mother lay thee on a +bed to mourn her son, but dogs and birds shall devour thee utterly.” + +Then dying spake unto him Hector of the glancing helm: “Verily I know +thee and behold thee as thou art, nor was I destined to persuade thee; +truly thy heart is iron in thy breast. Take heed now lest I draw upon +thee wrath of gods, in the day when Paris and Phoebus Apollo slay thee, +for all thy valour, at the Skaian gate.” + +He ended, and the shadow of death came down upon him, and his soul flew +forth of his limbs and was gone to the house of Hades, wailing her +fate, leaving her vigour and youth. Then to the dead man spake noble +Achilles: “Die: for my death, I will accept it whensoever Zeus and the +other immortal gods are minded to accomplish it.” + +He said, and from the corpse drew forth his bronze spear, and set it +aside, and stripped the bloody armour from the shoulders. And other +sons of Achaians ran up around, who gazed upon the stature and +marvellous goodliness of Hector. Nor did any stand by but wounded him, +and thus would many a man say looking toward his neighbour: “Go to, of +a truth far easier to handle is Hector now than when he burnt the ships +with blazing fire.” Thus would many a man say, and wound him as he +stood hard by. And when fleet noble Achilles had despoiled him, he +stood up among the Achaians and spake winged words: “Friends, chiefs +and counsellors of the Argives, since the gods have vouchsafed us to +vanquish this man who hath done us more evil than all the rest +together, come let us make trial in arms round about the city, that we +may know somewhat of the Trojans’ purpose, whether since he hath fallen +they will forsake the citadel, or whether they are minded to abide, +albeit Hector is no more. But wherefore doth my heart debate thus? +There lieth by the ships a dead man unbewailed, unburied, Patroklos; +him will I not forget, while I abide among the living and my knees can +stir. Nay if even in the house of Hades the dead forget their dead, yet +will I even there be mindful of my dear comrade. But come, ye sons of +the Achaians, let us now, singing our song of victory, go back to the +hollow ships and take with us our foe. Great glory have we won; we have +slain the noble Hector, unto whom the Trojans prayed throughout their +city, as he had been a god.” + +He said, and devised foul entreatment of noble Hector. The tendons of +both feet behind he slit from heel to ankle-joint, and thrust +therethrough thongs of ox-hide, and bound him to his chariot, leaving +his head to trail. And when he had mounted the chariot and lifted +therein the famous armour, he lashed his horses to speed, and they +nothing loth flew on. And dust rose around him that was dragged, and +his dark hair flowed loose on either side, and in the dust lay all his +once fair head, for now had Zeus given him over to his foes to entreat +foully in his own native land. + +Thus was his head all grimed with dust. But his mother when she beheld +her son, tore her hair and cast far from her her shining veil, and +cried aloud with an exceeding bitter cry. And piteously moaned his +father, and around them the folk fell to crying and moaning throughout +the town. Most like it seemed as though all beetling Ilios were burning +utterly in fire. Scarcely could the folk keep back the old man in his +hot desire to get him forth of the Dardanian gates. For he besought +them all, casting himself down in the mire, and calling on each man by +his name: “Hold, friends, and though you love me leave me to get me +forth of the city alone and go unto the ships of the Achaians. Let me +pray this accursed horror-working man, if haply he may feel shame +before his age-fellows and pity an old man. He also hath a father such +as I am, Peleus, who begat and reared him to be a bane of Trojans—and +most of all to me hath he brought woe. So many sons of mine hath he +slain in their flower—yet for all my sorrow for the rest I mourn them +all less than this one alone, for whom my sharp grief will bring me +down to the house of Hades—even Hector. Would that he had died in my +arms; then would we have wept and wailed our fill, his mother who bore +him to her ill hap, and I myself.” + +Thus spake he wailing, and all the men of the city made moan with him. +And among the women of Troy, Hekabe led the wild lament: “My child, ah, +woe is me! wherefore should I live in my pain, now thou art dead, who +night and day wert my boast through the city, and blessing to all, both +men and women of Troy throughout the town, who hailed thee as a god, +for verily an exceeding glory to them wert thou in thy life:—now death +and fate have overtaken thee.” + +Thus spake she wailing. But Hector’s wife knew not as yet, for no true +messenger had come to tell her how her husband abode without the gates, +but in an inner chamber of the lofty house she was weaving a double +purple web, and broidering therein manifold flowers. Then she called to +her goodly-haired handmaids through the house to set a great tripod on +the fire, that Hector might have warm washing when he came home out of +the battle fond heart, and was unaware how, far from all washings, +bright-eyed Athene had slain him by the hand of Achilles. But she heard +shrieks and groans from the battlements, and her limbs reeled, and the +shuttle fell from her hands to earth. Then again among her +goodly-haired maids she spake: “Come two of ye this way with me that I +may see what deeds are done. It was the voice of my husband’s noble +mother that I heard, and in my own breast my heart leapeth to my mouth +and my knees are numbed beneath me: surely some evil thing is at hand +against the children of Priam. Would that such word might never reach +my ear! yet terribly I dread lest noble Achilles have cut off bold +Hector from the city by himself and chased him to the plain and ere +this ended his perilous pride that possessed him, for never would he +tarry among the throng of men but ran out before them far, yielding +place to no man in his hardihood.” + +Thus saying she sped through the chamber like one mad, with beating +heart, and with her went her handmaidens. But when she came to the +battlements and the throng of men, she stood still upon the wall and +gazed, and beheld him dragged before the city:—swift horses dragged him +recklessly toward the hollow ships of the Achaians. Then dark night +came on her eyes and shrouded her, and she fell backward and gasped +forth her spirit. From off her head she shook the bright attiring +thereof, frontlet and net and woven band, and veil, the veil that +golden Aphrodite gave her on the day when Hector of the glancing helm +led her forth of the house of Eetion, having given bride-gifts untold. +And around her thronged her husband’s sisters and his brothers’ wives, +who held her up among them, distraught even to death. But when at last +she came to herself and her soul returned into her breast, then wailing +with deep sobs she spake among the women of Troy: “O Hector, woe is me! +to one fate then were we both born, thou in Troy in the house of Priam, +and I in Thebe under woody Plakos, in the house of Eetion, who reared +me from a little one—ill-fated sire of cruel-fated child. Ah, would he +have begotten me not. Now thou to the house of Hades beneath the secret +places of the earth departest, and me in bitter mourning thou leavest a +widow in thy halls: and thy son is but an infant child—son of unhappy +parents, thee and me—nor shalt thou profit him, Hector, since thou art +dead, neither he thee. For even if he escape the Achaians’ woful war, +yet shall labour and sorrow cleave unto him hereafter, for other men +shall seize his lands. The day of orphanage sundereth a child from his +fellows, and his head is bowed down ever, and his cheeks are wet with +tears. And in his need the child seeketh his father’s friends, plucking +this one by cloak and that by coat, and one of them that pity him +holdeth his cup a little to his mouth, and moisteneth his lips, but his +palate he moisteneth not. And some child unorphaned thrusteth him from +the feast with blows and taunting words, ‘Out with thee! no father of +thine is at our board.’ Then weeping to his widowed mother shall he +return, even Astyanax, who erst upon his father’s knee ate only marrow +and fat flesh of sheep; and when sleep fell on him and he ceased from +childish play, then in bed in his nurse’s arms he would slumber softly +nested, having satisfied his heart with good things; but now that he +hath lost his father he will suffer many ills, Astyanax—that name the +Trojans gave him, because thou only wet the defence of their gates and +their long walls. But now by the beaked ships, far from thy parents, +shall coiling worms devour thee when the dogs have had their fill, as +thou liest naked; yet in these halls lieth raiment of thine, delicate +and fair, wrought by the hands of women. But verily all these will I +consume with burning fire—to thee no profit, since thou wilt never lie +therein, yet that his be honour to thee from the men and the women of +Troy.” + +Thus spake she wailing, and the women joined their moan. + + + + +BOOK XXIII. + + +Of the funeral of Patroklos, and the funeral games. + + +Thus they throughout the city made moan: but the Achaians when they +were come to the ships and to the Hellespont were scattered each to his +own ship: only the Myrmidons Achilles suffered not to be scattered, but +spake among his comrades whose delight was in war: “Fleet-horsed +Myrmidons, my trusty comrades, let us not yet unyoke our whole-hooved +steeds from their cars, but with horses and chariots let us go near and +mourn Patroklos, for such is the honour of the dead. Then when we have +our fill of grievous wailing, we will unyoke the horses and all sup +here.” + +He said, and they with one accord made lamentation, and Achilles led +their mourning. So thrice around the dead they drave their well-maned +steeds, moaning; and Thetis stirred among them desire of wailing. +Bedewed were the sands with tears, bedewed the warriors’ arms; so great +a lord of fear they sorrowed for. And Peleus’ son led their loud wail, +laying his man-slaying hands on his comrade’s breast: “All hail, +Patroklos, even in the house of Hades; for all that I promised thee +before am I accomplishing, seeing I have dragged hither Hector to give +raw unto dogs to devour, and twelve noble children of the Trojans to +slaughter before thy pyre, because of mine anger at thy slaying.” + +He said, and devised foul entreatment of noble Hector, stretching him +prone in the dust beside the bier of Menoitios’ son. And the rest put +off each his glittering bronze arms, and unyoked their high-neighing +horses, and sate them down numberless beside the ship of fleet-footed +Aiakides, and he gave them ample funeral feast. Many sleek oxen were +stretched out, their throats cut with steel, and many sheep and +bleating goats, and many white-tusked boars well grown in fat were +spitted to singe in the flame of Hephaistos; so on all sides round the +corpse in cupfuls blood was flowing. + +But the fleet-footed prince, the son of Peleus, was brought to noble +Agamemnon by the Achaian chiefs, hardly persuading him thereto, for his +heart was wroth for his comrade. And when they were come to Agamemnon’s +hut, forthwith they bade clear-voiced heralds set a great tripod on the +fire, if haply they might persuade the son of Peleus to wash from him +the bloody gore. But he denied them steadfastly, and sware moreover an +oath: “Nay, verily by Zeus, who is highest and best of gods, not lawful +is it that water should come nigh my head or ever I shall have laid +Patroklos on the fire, and heaped a barrow, and shaved my hair, since +never again shall second grief thus reach my heart, while I remain +among the living. Yet now for the present let us yield us to our +mournful meal: but with the morning, O king of men Agamemnon, rouse the +folk to bring wood and furnish all that it beseemeth a dead man to have +when he goeth beneath the misty gloom, to the end that untiring fire +may burn him quickly from sight, and the host betake them to their +work.” + +Thus spake he, and they listened readily to him and obeyed, and eagerly +making ready each his meal they supped, and no lack had their soul of +equal feast. But when they had put off from them the desire of meat and +drink, the rest went down each man to his tent to take his rest, but +the son of Peleus upon the beach of the sounding sea lay groaning +heavily, amid the host of Myrmidons, in an open place, where waves were +breaking on the shore. Now when sleep took hold on him, easing the +cares of his heart, deep sleep that fell about him, (for sore tired +were his glorious knees with onset upon Hector toward windy Ilios), +then came there unto him the spirit of hapless Patroklos, in all things +like his living self, in stature, and fair eyes, and voice, and the +raiment of his body was the same; and he stood above Achilles’ head and +spake to him: “Thou sleepest, and hast forgotten me, O Achilles. Not in +my life wast thou ever unmindful of me, but in my death. Bury me with +all speed, that I pass the gates of Hades. Far off the spirits banish +me, the phantoms of men outworn, nor suffer me to mingle with them +beyond the River, but vainly I wander along the wide-gated dwelling of +Hades. Now give me, I pray pitifully of thee, thy hand, for never more +again shall I come back from Hades, when ye have given me my due of +fire. Never among the living shall we sit apart from our dear comrades +and take counsel together, but me hath the harsh fate swallowed up +which was appointed me even from my birth. Yea and thou too thyself, +Achilles peer of gods, beneath the wall of the noble Trojans art doomed +to die. Yet one thing will I say, and charge thee, if haply thou wilt +have regard thereto. Lay not my bones apart from thine, Achilles, but +together, even as we were nurtured in your house, when Menoitios +brought me yet a little one from Opoeis to your country by reason of a +grievous man-slaying, on the day when I slew Amphidamas’ son, not +willing it, in childish wrath over the dice. Then took me the knight +Peleus into his house and reared me kindly and named me thy squire: so +therefore let one coffer hide our bones [a golden coffer, two handled, +thy lady mother’s gift].” + +Then made answer unto him Achilles fleet of foot: “Wherefore, O my +brother, hast thou come hither, and chargest me everything that I +should do? Verily I will accomplish all, and have regard unto thy +bidding. But stand more nigh me; for one moment let us throw our arms +around each other, and take our fill of dolorous lament.” + +He spake, and reached forth with his hands, but clasped him not; for +like a vapour the spirit was gone beneath the earth with a faint +shriek. And Achilles sprang up marvelling, and smote his hands +together, and spake a word of woe: “Ay me, there remaineth then even in +the house of Hades a spirit and phantom of the dead, albeit the life be +not anywise therein: for all night long hath the spirit of hapless +Patroklos stood over me, wailing and making moan, and charged me +everything that I should do, and wondrous like his living self it +seemed.” + +Thus said he, and stirred in all of them yearning to make lament; and +rosy-fingered Morn shone forth on them while they still made moan +around the piteous corpse. Then lord Agamemnon sped mules and men from +all the huts to fetch wood; and a man of valour watched thereover, even +Meriones, squire of kindly Idomeneus. And they went forth with +wood-cutting axes in their hands and well-woven ropes, and before them +went the mules, and uphill and downhill and sideways and across they +went. But when they came to the spurs of many-fountained Ida, +straightway they set them lustily to hew high-foliaged oaks with the +long-edged bronze, and with loud noise fell the trees. Then splitting +them asunder the Achaians bound them behind the mules, and they tore up +the earth with their feet as they made for the plain through the thick +underwood. And all the wood-cutters bare logs; for thus bade Meriones, +squire of kindly Idomeneus. And on the Shore they threw them down in +line, where Achilles purposed a mighty tomb for Patroklos and for +himself. + +Then when they had laid down all about great piles of wood, they sate +them down all together and abode. Then straightway Achilles bade the +warlike Myrmidons gird on their arms and each yoke the horses to his +chariot; and they arose and put their armour on, and mounted their +chariots, both fighting men and charioteers. In front were the men in +chariots, and a cloud of footmen followed after, numberless; and in the +midst his comrades bare Patroklos. And they heaped all the corpse with +their hair that they cut off and threw thereon; and behind did goodly +Achilles bear the head, sorrowing; for a noble comrade was he speeding +forth unto the realm of Hades. + +And when they came to the place where Achilles had bidden them, they +set down the dead, and piled for him abundant wood. Then fleet-footed +noble Achilles bethought him of one thing more: standing apart from the +pyre he shore off a golden lock, the lock whose growth he nursed to +offer unto the River Spercheios, and sore troubled spake be, looking +forth over the wine-dark sea: “Spercheios, in other wise vowed my +father Peleus unto thee that I returning thither to my native land +should shear my hair for thee and offer a holy hecatomb, and fifty rams +should sacrifice there above thy springs, where is the sacred close and +altar burning spice. So vowed the old man, but thou hast not +accomplished him his desire. And now since I return not to my dear +native land, unto the hero Patroklos I may give this hair to take +away.” + +Thus saying he set the hair in the hands of his dear comrade, and +stirred in all of them yearning to make lament. And so would the light +of the sun have gone down on their lamentation, had not Achilles said +quickly to Agamemnon as he stood beside him: “Son of Atreus—for to thy +words most will the host of the Achaians have regard—of lamentation +they may sate them to the full. But now disperse them from the burning +and bid them make ready their meal, and we to whom the dead is dearest +will take pains for these things; yet let the chiefs tarry nigh unto +us.” + +Then when Agamemnon king of men heard that, he forthwith dispersed the +host among the trim ships, but the nearest to the dead tarried there +and piled the wood, and made a pyre a hundred feet this way and that, +and on the pyre’s top set the corpse, with anguish at their hearts. And +many lusty sheep and shambling crook-horned oxen they flayed and made +ready before the pyre; and taking from all of them the fat, great +hearted Achilles wrapped the corpse therein from head to foot, and +heaped the flayed bodies round. And he set therein two-handled jars of +honey and oil, leaning them against the bier; and four strong-necked +horses he threw swiftly on the pyre, and groaned aloud. Nine house-dogs +had the dead chief: of them did Achilles slay twain and throw them on +the pyre. And twelve valiant sons of great-hearted Trojans he slew with +the sword—for he devised mischief in his heart and he set to the +merciless might of the fire, to feed thereon. Then moaned he aloud, and +called on his dear comrade by his name: “All hail to thee, O Patroklos, +even in the house of Hades, for all that I promised thee before am I +now accomplishing. Twelve valiant sons of great-hearted Trojans, behold +these all in company with thee the fire devoureth: but Hector son of +Priam will I nowise give to the fire to feed upon, but to dogs.” + +Thus spake he threatening, but no dogs might deal with Hector, for day +and night Aphrodite daughter of Zeus kept off the dogs, and anointed +him with rose-sweet oil ambrosial that Achilles might not tear him when +he dragged him. And over him Phoebus Apollo brought a dark cloud from +heaven to earth and covered all that place whereon the dead man lay, +lest meanwhile the sun’s strength shrivel his flesh round about upon +his sinews and limbs. + +But the pyre of dead Patroklos kindled not. Then fleet-footed noble +Achilles had a further thought: standing aside from the pyre he prayed +to the two Winds of North and West, and promised them fair offerings, +and pouring large libations from a golden cup besought them to come, +that the corpses might blaze up speedily in the fire, and the wood make +haste to be enkindled. Then Iris, when she heard his prayer, went +swiftly with the message to the Winds. They within the house of the +gusty West Wind were feasting all together at meat, when Iris sped +thither, and halted on the threshold of stone. And when they saw her +with their eyes, they sprang up and called to her every one to sit by +him. But she refused to sit, and spake her word: “No seat for me; I +must go back to the streams of Ocean, to the Ethiopians’ land where +they sacrifice hecatombs to the immortal gods, that I too may feast at +their rites. But Achilles is praying the North Wind and the loud West +to come, and promising them fair offerings, that ye may make the pyre +be kindled whereon lieth Patroklos, for whom all the Achaians are +making moan.” + +She having thus said departed, and they arose with a mighty sound, +rolling the clouds before them. And swiftly they came blowing over the +sea, and the wave rose beneath their shrill blast; and they came to +deep-soiled Troy, and fell upon the pile, and loudly roared the mighty +fire. So all night drave they the flame of the pyre together, blowing +shrill; and all night fleet Achilles, holding a two-handled cup, drew +wine from a golden bowl, and poured it forth and drenched the earth, +calling upon the spirit of hapless Patroklos. As a father waileth when +he burneth the bones of his son, new-married, whose death is woe to his +hapless parents, so wailed Achilles as he burnt the bones of his +comrade, going heavily round the burning pile, with many moans. + +But at the hour when the Morning star goeth forth to herald light upon +the earth, the star that saffron-mantled Dawn cometh after, and +spreadeth over the salt sea, then grew the burning faint, and the flame +died down. And the Winds went back again to betake them home over the +Thracian main, and it roared with a violent swell. Then the son of +Peleus turned away from the burning and lay down wearied, and sweet +sleep leapt on him. But they who were with Atreus’ son gathered all +together, and the noise and clash of their approach aroused him; and he +sate upright and spake a word to them: “Son of Atreus and ye other +chiefs of the Achaians, first quench with gleaming wine all the burning +so far as the fire’s strength hath reached, and then let us gather up +the bones of Patroklos, Menoitios’ son, singling them well, and easy +are they to discern, for he lay in the middle of the pyre, while the +rest apart at the edge burnt-confusedly, horses and men. And his bones +let us put within a golden urn, and double-folded fat, until that I +myself be hidden in Hades. But no huge barrow I bid you toil to raise—a +seemly one, no more: then afterward do ye Achaians build it broad and +high, whosoever of you after I am gone may be left in the benched +ships.” + +Thus spake he, and they hearkened to the fleet-footed son of Peleus. +First quenched they with gleaming wine the burning so far as the flame +went, and the ash had settled deep: then with lamentation they gathered +up the white bones of their gentle comrade into a golden urn and +double-folded fat, and placed the urn in the hut and covered it with a +linen veil. And they marked the circle of the barrow, and set the +foundations thereof around the pyre, and straightway heaped thereon a +heap of earth. Then when they had heaped up the barrow they were for +going back. But Achilles stayed the folk in that place, and made them +sit in wide assembly, and from his ships he brought forth prizes, +caldrons and tripods, and horses and mules and strong oxen, and +fair-girdled women, and grey iron. + +First for fleet chariot-racers he ordained a noble prize, a woman +skilled in fair handiwork for the winner to lead home, and an eared +tripod that held two-and-twenty measures; these for the first man; and +for the second he ordained a six-year-old mare unbroke with a mule foal +in her womb; and for the third he gave a goodly caldron yet untouched +by fire, holding four measures, bright as when first made; and for the +fourth he ordained two talents of gold; and for the fifth a two-handled +urn untouched of fire, Then he stood up and spake a word among the +Argives: “Son of Atreus and ye other well-greaved Achaians, for the +chariot-racers these prizes lie awaiting them in the lists. If in some +other’s honour we Achaians were now holding our games, it would be I +who should win the first prize and bear it to my hut; for ye know how +far my pair of horses are first in excellence, for they are immortal +and Poseidon gave them to my father Peleus, and he again to me. But +verily I will abide, I and my whole-hooved horses, so glorious a +charioteer have they lost, and one so kind, who on their manes full +often poured smooth oil, when he had washed them in clear water. For +him they stand and mourn, and their manes are trailing on the ground, +and there stand they with sorrow at their hearts. But ye others +throughout the host get ye to your places, whosoever of the Achalans +hath trust in his horses and firm-jointed car.” + +Thus spake the son of Peleus, and the fleet chariot-racers were +gathered. First of all arose up Eumelos king of men, Admetos’ son, a +skilful charioteer; and next to him arose Tydeus’ son, valiant +Diomedes, and yoked his horses of the breed of Tros, which on a time he +seized from Aineias, when Apollo saved their lord. And after him arose +Atreus’ son, fair-haired heaven-sprung Menelaos, and yoked him a swift +pair Aithe, Agamemnon’s mare, and his own horse Podargos. Her unto +Agamemnon did Anchises’ son Echepolos give in fee, that he might escape +from following him to windy Ilios and take his pleasure at home; for +great wealth had Zeus given him, and he dwelt in Sikyon of spacious +lawns:— so Menelaos yoked her, and she longed exceedingly for the race. +And fourth, Antilochos made ready his fair-maned horses, even the noble +son of Nestor, high-hearted king, who was the son of Neleus; and fleet +horses bred at Pylos drew his car. And his father standing by his side +spake counselling him to his profit, though himself was well advised: +“Antilochos, verily albeit thou art young, Zeus and Poseidon have loved +thee and taught thee all skill with horses; wherefore to teach thee is +no great need, for thou well knowest how to wheel round the post; yet +are thy horses very slow in the race: therefore methinks there will be +sad work for thee. For the horses of the others are fleeter, yet the +men know not more cunning than thou hast. So come, dear son, store thy +mind with all manner of cunning, that the prize escape thee not. By +cunning is a woodman far better than by force; by cunning doth a +helmsman on the wine-dark deep steer his swift ship buffeted by winds; +by cunning hath charioteer the better of charioteer. For whoso trusting +in his horses and car alone wheeleth heedlessly and wide at either end, +his horses swerve on the course, and he keepeth them not in hand. But +whoso is of crafty mind, though he drive worse horses, he ever keeping +his eye upon the post turneth closely by it, neither is unaware how far +at first to force his horses by the ox-hide reins, but holdeth them +safe in hand and watcheth the leader in the race. Now will I tell thee +a certain sign, and it shall not escape thee. A fathom’s height above +the ground standeth a withered stump, whether of oak or pine: it +decayeth not in the rain, and two white stones on either side thereof +are fixed at the joining of the track, and all round it is smooth +driving ground. Whether it be a monument of some man dead long ago, or +have been made their goal in the race by ancient men, this now is the +mark fixed by fleet-footed Achilles. Wherefore do thou drive close and +bear thy horses and chariot hard thereon, and lean thy body on the +well-knit car slightly to their left, and call upon the off-horse with +voice and lash, and give him rein from thy hand. But let the near horse +hug the post so that the nave of the well-wrought wheel seem to graze +it—yet beware of touching the stone, lest thou wound the horses and +break the chariot; so would that be triumph to the rest and reproach +unto thyself. But, dear son, be wise and on thy guard; for if at the +turning-post thou drive past the rest, there is none shall overtake +thee from behind or pass thee by, not though he drave the goodly Arion +in pursuit, the fleet horse of Adrastos, of divine descent, or the +horses of Laomedon, best of all bred in this land.” + +Thus spake Neleian Nestor and sate him down again in his place, when he +had told his son the sum of every matter. + +And Meriones was the fifth to make ready his sleek-coated steeds. Then +went they up into their chariots, and cast in the lots: and Achilles +shook them, and forth leapt the lot of Antilochos Nestor’s son, and the +next lot had lord Eumelos, and next to him the son of Atreus, +spear-famed Menelaos, and next to him drew Meriones his place; then +lastly Tydeides, far the best of all, drew his lot for his chariot’s +place. Then they stood side by side, and Achilles showed to them the +turning post, far off in the smooth plain; and beside it he placed an +umpire, godlike Phoinix, his father’s follower, that he might note the +running and tell the truth thereof. + +Then all together lifted the lash above their steeds, and smote them +with the reins, and called on them eagerly with words: and they +forthwith sped swiftly over the plain, leaving the ships behind; and +beneath their breasts stood the rising dust like a cloud or whirlwind, +and their manes waved on the blowing wind. And the chariots ran +sometimes on the bounteous earth, and other whiles would bound into the +air. And the drivers stood in the cars, and the heart of every man beat +in desire of victory, and they called every man to his horses, that +flew amid their dust across the plain. + +But when the fleet horses were now running the last part of the course, +back toward the grey sea, then was manifest the prowess of each, and +the horses strained in the race; and presently to the front rushed the +fleet mares of Pheres’ grandson, and next to them Diomedes’ stallions +of the breed of Tros, not far apart, but hard anigh, for they seemed +ever as they would mount Eumelos’ car, and with their breath his back +was warm and his broad shoulders, for they bent their heads upon him as +they flew along. Thus would Tydeus’ son have either outstripped the +other or made it a dead heat, had not Phoebus Apollo been wroth with +him and smitten from his hand the shining lash. Then from his eyes ran +tears of anger, for that he saw the mares still at speed, even +swiftlier than before, while his own horses were thrown out, as running +without spur. But Athene was not unaware of Apollo’s guile against +Tydeides, and presently sped after the shepherd of hosts, and gave him +back the lash, and put spirit into his steeds. Then in wrath after the +son of Admetos was the goddess gone, and brake his steeds’ yoke, and +the mares ran sideways off the course, and the pole was twisted to the +ground. And Eumelos was hurled out of the car beside the wheel, and his +elbows and mouth and nose were flayed, and his forehead bruised above +his eyebrows; and his eyes filled with tears and his lusty voice was +choked. Then Tydeides held his whole-hooved horses on one side, darting +far out before the rest, for Athene put spirit into his steeds and shed +glory on himself. Now next after him came golden-haired Menelaos +Atreus’ son. But Antilochos called to his father’s horses: “Go ye too +in, strain to your fleetest pace. Truly I nowise bid you strive with +those, the horses of wise Tydeides, unto which Athene hath now given +speed, and shed glory on their charioteer. But overtake Atreides’ +horses with all haste, and be not outstripped by them, lest Aithe that +is but a mare pour scorn on you. Why are ye outstripped, brave steeds? +Thus will I tell you, and verily it shall be brought to pass—ye will +find no tendance with Nestor shepherd of hosts, but straightway he will +slay you with the edge of the sword if through heedlessness we win but +the worse prize. Have after them at your utmost speed, and I for my +part will devise a plan to pass them in the strait part of the course, +and this shall fail me not.” + +Thus spake he, and they fearing the voice of the prince ran swiftlier +some little while; and presently did the good warrior Antilochos espy a +strait place in a sunk part of the way. There was a rift in the earth, +where torrent water gathered and brake part of the track away, and +hollowed all the place; there drave Menelaos, shunning the encounter of +the wheels. But Antilochos turned his whole-hooved horses out of the +track, and followed him a little at one side. And the son of Atreus +took alarm and shouted to Antilochos: “Antilochos, thou art driving +recklessly—hold in thy horses! The road is straitened, soon thou mayest +pass me in a wider place, lest thou foul my chariot and undo us both.” + +Thus spake he, but Antilochos drave even fiercelier than before, plying +his lash, as though he heard him not. As far as is the range of a disk +swung from the shoulder when a young man hurleth it, making trial of +his force, even so far ran they on; then the mares of Atreus’ son gave +back, for he ceased of himself to urge them on, lest the whole-hooved +steeds should encounter on the track, and overset the well-knit cars, +and the drivers fall in the dust in their zeal for victory. So +upbraiding Antilochos spake golden-haired Menelaos: “Antilochos, no +mortal man is more malicious than thou. Go thy mad way, since falsely +have we Achaians called thee wise. Yet even so thou shalt not bear off +the prize unchallenged to an oath.” + +Thus saying he called aloud to his horses: “Hold ye not back nor stand +still with sorrow at heart. Their feet and knees will grow weary before +yours, for they both lack youth.” + +Thus spake he, and they fearing the voice of the prince sped faster on, +and were quickly close upon the others. + +Now the Argives sitting in concourse were gazing at the horses, and +they came flying amid their dust over the plain. And the first aware of +them was Idomeneus, chief of the Cretans, for he was sitting outside +the concourse in the highest place of view, and when he heard the voice +of one that shouted, though afar off, he knew it; and he was aware of a +horse showing plainly in the front, a chestnut all the rest of him, but +in the forehead marked with a white star round like the moon. And he +stood upright and spoke among the Argives: “Friends, chiefs, and +counsellors of the Argives, is it I alone who see the horses, or do ye +also? A new pair seem to me now to be in front, and a new charioteer +appeareth; the mares which led in the outward course must have been +thrown out there in the plain. For I saw them turning first the hither +post, but now can see them nowhere, though my eyes are gazing +everywhere along the Trojan plain. Did the reins escape the charioteer +so that he could not drive aright round the post and failed in the +turn? There, methinks, must he have been cast forth, and have broken +his chariot, and the mares must have left the course, in the wildness +of their heart. But stand up ye too and look, for myself I discern not +certainly, but the first man seemeth to me one of Aitolian race, and he +ruleth among Argives, the son of horse-taming Tydeus, stalwart +Diomedes.” + +Then fleet Aias Oileus’ son rebuked him in unseemly sort: “Idomeneus, +why art thou a braggart of old? As yet far off the high-stepping mares +are coursing over the wide plain. Neither art thou so far the youngest +among the Argives, nor do thy eyes look so far the keenliest from thy +head, yet continually braggest thou. It beseemeth thee not to be a +braggart, for there are here better men. And the mares leading are they +that led before, Eumelos’ mares, and he standeth and holdeth the reins +within the car.” + +Then wrathfully in answer spake the chief of Cretans: “Aias, master of +railing, ill-counselled, in all else art thou behind other Argives, for +thy mind is unfriendly. Come then let us wager a tripod or caldron, and +make Agamemnon Atreus’ son our umpire, which mares are leading, that +thou mayest pay and learn.” + +Thus said he, and straightway fleet Aias Oileus’ son arose angrily to +answer with harsh words: and strife between the twain would have gone +further, had not Achilles himself stood up and spake a word: “No longer +answer each other with harsh words, Aias and Idomeneus, ill words, for +it beseemeth not. Surely ye are displeased with any other who should do +thus. Sit ye in the concourse and keep your eyes upon the horses; soon +they in zeal for victory will come hither, and then shall ye know each +of you the Argives’ horses, which follow, and which lead.” + +He said, and the son of Tydeus came driving up, and with his lash smote +now and again from the shoulder, and his horses were stepping high as +they sped swiftly on their way. And sprinklings of dust smote ever the +charioteer, and his chariot overlaid with gold and tin ran behind his +fleet-footed steeds, and small trace was there of the wheel-tires +behind in the fine dust, as they flew speeding on. Then he drew up in +the mid concourse, and much sweat poured from the horses’ heads and +chests to the ground. And Diomedes leapt to earth from the shining car, +and leant his lash against the yoke. Then stalwart Sthenelos tarried +not, but promptly took the prize, and gave to his proud comrades the +woman to lead and the eared tripod to bear away, and he loosed the +horses from the yoke. + +And next after him drave Neleian Antilochos his horses, by craft, not +swiftness, having passed by Menelaos; yet even now Menelaos held his +swift steeds hard anigh. As far as a horse is from the wheel, which +draweth his master, straining with the car over the plain—his hindmost +tail-hairs touch the tire, for the wheel runneth hard anigh nor is much +space between, as he speedeth far over the plain—by so much was +Menelaos behind high-born Antilochos, howbeit at first he was a whole +disk-cast behind, but quickly he was catching Antilochos up, for the +high mettle of Agamemnon’s mare, sleek-coated Aithe, was rising in her. +And if yet further both had had to run he would have passed his rival +nor left it even a dead heat. But Meriones, stout squire of Idomeneus, +came in a spear-throw behind famous Menelaos, for tardiest of all were +his sleek-coated horses, and slowest he himself to drive a chariot in +the race. Last of them all came Admetos’ son, dragging his goodly car +driving his steeds in front. Him when fleet-footed noble Achilles +beheld he pitied him, and he stood up and spake winged words among the +Argives: “Last driveth his whole-hooved horses the best man of them +all. But come let us give him a prize, as is seemly, prize for the +second place, but the first let the son of Tydeus take.” + +Thus spake he, and all applauded that he bade. And he would have given +him the mare, for the Achaians applauded, had not Antilochos, son of +great-hearted Nestor; risen up and answered Peleian Achilles on behalf +of his right: “O Achilles, I shall be sore angered with thee if thou +accomplish this word, for thou art minded to take away my prize, +because thou thinkest of how his chariot and fleet steeds miscarried, +and himself withal, good man though he be. Nay, it behoved him to pray +to the Immortals, then would he not have come in last of all in the +race. But if thou pitiest him and he be dear to thy heart, there is +much gold in thy hut, bronze is there and sheep, hand-maids are there +and whole-hooved horses. Thereof take thou and give unto him afterward +even a richer prize, or even now at once, that the Achaians may applaud +thee. But the mare I will not yield; for her let what man will essay +the battle at my hands.” + +Thus spake he, and fleet-footed noble Achilles smiled, pleased with +Antilochos, for he was his dear comrade; and spake in answer to him +winged words: “Antilochos, if thou wouldst have me give Eumelos some +other thing beside from out my house, that also will I do. I will give +unto him a breast-plate that I took from Asteropaios, of bronze, +whereon a casting of bright tin is overlaid, and of great worth will it +be to him.” He said, and bade his dear comrade Automedon bring it from +the hut, and he went and brought it. [Then he placed it in Eumelos’ +hands, and he received it gladly.] + +But Menelaos also arose among them, sore at heart, angered exceedingly +against Antilochos; and the herald set the staff in his hand, and +called for silence among the Argives; then spake among them that +godlike man: “Antilochos, who once wert wise, what thing is this thou +hast done? Thou hast shamed my skill and made my horses fail, thrusting +thine own in front that are far worse. Come now, ye chiefs and +counsellors of the Argives, give judgment between us both, and favour +neither: lest some one of the mail-clad Achalans say at any time: ‘By +constraining Antilochos through false words hath Menelaos gone off with +the mare, for his horses were far worse, howbeit he hath advantage in +rank and power.’ Nay, I myself will bring the issue about, and I deem +that none other of the Danaans shall reproach me, for the trial shall +be just. Antilochos, fosterling of Zeus, come thou hither and as it is +ordained stand up before thy horses and chariot and take in thy hand +the pliant lash wherewith thou dravest erst, and touching thy horses +swear by the Enfolder and Shaker of the earth that not wilfully didst +thou hinder my chariot by guile.” + +Then answered him wise Antilochos: “Bear with me now, for far younger +am I than thou, king Menelaos, and thou art before me and my better. +Thou knowest how a young man’s transgressions come about, for his mind +is hastier and his counsel shallow. So let thy heart suffer me, and I +will of myself give to thee the mare I have taken. Yea, if thou +shouldst ask some other greater thing from my house, I were fain to +give it thee straightway, rather than fall for ever from my place in +thy heart, O fosterling of Zeus, and become a sinner against the gods.” + +Thus spake great-hearted Nestor’s son, and brought the mare and put her +in the hand of Menelaos. And his heart was gladdened as when the dew +cometh upon the ears of ripening harvest-corn, what time the fields are +bristling. So gladdened was thy soul, Menelaos, within thy heart. And +he spake unto Antilochos and uttered winged words: “Antilochos, now +will I of myself put away mine anger against thee, since no wise +formerly wert thou flighty or light-minded, howbeit now thy reason was +overcome of youthfulness. Another time be loth to outwit better men. +Not easily should another of the Achaians have persuaded me, but thou +hast suffered and toiled greatly, and thy brave father and brother, for +my sake: therefore will I hearken to thy prayer, and will even give +unto thee the mare, though she is mine, that these also may know that +my heart was never overweening or implacable.” + +He said, and gave the mare to Noemon Antilochos’ comrade to lead away, +and then took the shining caldron. And Meriones took up the two talents +of gold in the fourth place, as he had come in. So the fifth prize was +left unclaimed, a two-handled cup; to Nester gave Achilles this, +bearing it to him through the concourse of Argives, and stood by him +and said: “Lo now for thee too, old man, be this a treasure, a memorial +of Patroklos’ burying; for no more shalt thou behold him among the +Argives. Now give I thee this prize unwon, for not in boxing shalt thou +strive, neither wrestle, nor enter on the javelin match, nor race with +thy feet; for grim old age already weigheth on thee.” + +Thus saying he placed it in his hand, and Nestor received it gladly, +and spake unto him winged words: “Ay, truly all this, my son, thou hast +meetly said; for no longer are my limbs, friend, firm, nor my feet, nor +do my arms at all swing lightly from my shoulders either side. Would +that my youth were such and my force so firm as when the Epeians were +burying lord Amarynkes at Buprasion, and his sons held the king’s +funeral games. Then was no man found like me, neither of the Epeians +nor of the Pylians themselves or the great-hearted Aitolians. In boxing +I overcame Klytomedes, son of Enops, and in wrestling Ankaios of +Pleuron, who stood up against me, and in the foot-race I outran +Iphiklos, a right good man, and with the spear outthrew Phyleus and +Polydoros; only in the chariot-race the two sons of Aktor beat me [by +crowding their horses in front of me, jealous for victory, because the +chief prizes were left at home.] Now they were twins—one ever held the +reins, the reins he ever held, the other called on the horses with the +lash. Thus was I once, but now let younger men join in such feats; I +must bend to grievous age, but then was I of mark among heroes. But +come hold funeral for thy comrade too with with games. This gift do I +accept with gladness, and my heart rejoiceth that thou rememberest ever +my friendship to thee—(nor forget I thee)—and the honour wherewith it +is meet that I be honoured among the Achaians. And may the gods for +this grant thee due grace.” + +Thus spake he, and Peleides was gone down the full concourse of +Achaians, when he had hearkened to all the thanks of Neleus’ son. Then +he ordained prizes of the violent boxing match; a sturdy mule he led +forth and tethered amid the assembly, a six-year mule unbroken, hardest +of all to break; and for the loser set a two-handled cup. Then he stood +up and spake a word among the Argives: “Son of Atreus and ye other +well-greaved Achaians, for these rewards we summon two men of the best +to lift up their hands to box amain. He to whom Apollo shall grant +endurance to the end, and all the Achaians acknowledge it, let him take +the sturdy mule and return with her to his hut; and the loser shall +take with him the two-handled-cup.” + +Thus spake he, and forthwith arose a man great and valiant and skilled +in boxing, Epeios son of Panopeus, and laid his hand on the sturdy mule +and said aloud: “Let one come nigh to bear off the two-handled cup; the +mule I say none other of the Achaians shall take for victory with his +fists, for I claim to be the best man here. Sufficeth it not that I +fall short of you in battle? Not possible is it that in all arts a man +be skilled. Thus proclaim I, and it shall be accomplished: I will +utterly bruise mine adversary’s flesh and break his bones, so let his +friends abide together here to bear him forth when vanquished by my +hands.” + +Thus spake he, and they all kept deep silence. And alone arose against +him Euryalos, a godlike man, son of king Mekisteus the son of Talaos, +Mekisteus, who came on a time to Thebes when Oedipus had fallen, to his +burial, and there he overcame all the sons of Kadmos. Thus Tydeides +famous with the spear made ready Euryalos for the fight, cheering him +with speech, and greatly desired for him victory. And first he cast +about him a girdle, and next gave him well-cut thongs of the hide of an +ox of the field. And the two boxers being girt went into the midst of +the ring, and both lifting up their stalwart hands fell to, and their +hands joined battle grievously. Then was there terrible grinding of +teeth, and sweat flowed from all their limbs. And noble Epeios came on, +and as the other spied for an opening, smote him on the cheek, nor +could he much more stand, for his limbs failed straightway under him. +And as when beneath the North Wind’s ripple a fish leapeth on a +tangle-covered beach, and then the black wave hideth it, so leapt up +Euryalos at that blow. But great-hearted Epeios took him in his hands +and set him upright, and his dear comrades stood around him, and led +him through the ring with trailing feet, spitting out clotted blood, +drooping his head awry, and they set him down in his swoon among them +and themselves went forth and fetched the two-handled cup. + +Then Peleus’ son ordained straightway the prizes for a third contest, +offering them to the Danaans, for the grievous wrestling match: for the +winner a great tripod for standing on the fire, prized by the Achaians +among them at twelve oxens’ worth; and for the loser he brought a woman +into the midst, skilled in manifold work, and they prized her at four +oxen. And he stood up and spake a word among the Argives: “Rise, ye who +will essay this match.” + +Thus said he, and there arose great Aias son of Telamon, and Odysseus +of many wiles stood up, the crafty-minded. And the twain being girt +went into the midst of the ring, and clasped each the other in his arms +with stalwart hands, like gable rafters of a lofty house which some +famed craftsman joineth, that he may baffle the wind’s force. And their +backs creaked, gripped firmly under the vigorous hands, and sweat ran +down in streams, and frequent weals along their ribs and shoulders +sprang up, red with blood, while ever they strove amain for victory, to +win the wrought tripod. Neither could Odysseus trip Aias and bear him +to the ground, nor Aias him, for Odysseus’ strength withheld him. But +when they began to irk the well-greaved Achaians, then said to Odysseus +great Aias, Telamon’s son: “Heaven-sprung son of Laertes, Odysseus of +many wiles, or lift thou me, or I will thee, and the issue shall be +with Zeus.” + +Having thus said he lifted him, but Odysseus was not unmindful of his +craft. He smote deftly from behind the hollow of Aias’ knee, and loosed +his limbs, and threw him down backward, and Odysseus fell upon his +chest, and the folk gazed and marvelled. Then in his turn much-enduring +noble Odysseus tried to lift, and moved him a little from the ground, +but lifted him not, so he crooked his knee within the other’s, and both +fell on the ground nigh to each other, and were soiled with dust, And +now starting up again a third time would they have wrestled, had not +Achilles himself arisen and held them back: “No longer press each the +other, nor wear you out with pain. Victory is with both; take equal +prizes and depart, that other Achaians may contend.” + +Thus spake he, and they were fain to hear and to obey, and wiped the +dust from them and put their doublets on. + +Then straightway the son of Peleus set forth other prizes for fleetness +of foot; a mixing-bowl of silver, chased; six measures it held, and in +beauty it was far the best in all the earth, for artificers of Sidon +wrought it cunningly, and men of the Phoenicians brought it over the +misty sea, and landed it in harbour, and gave it a gift to Thoas; and +Euneos son of Jason gave it to the hero Patroklos a ransom for Lykaon +Priam’s son. Now this cup did Achilles set forth as a prize in honour +of his friend, for whoso should be fleetest in speed of foot. For the +second he set an ox great and very fat, and for the last prize half a +talent of gold. And he stood up and spake a word among the Argives: +“Rise, ye who will essay this match.” + +Thus spake he, and straightway arose fleet Aias Oileus’ son, and +Odysseus of many wiles, and after them Nestor’s son Antilochos, for he +was best of all the youth in the foot-race. Then they stood side by +side, and Achilles showed to them the goal. Right eager was the running +from the start, but Oileus’ son forthwith shot to the front, and close +behind him came noble Odysseus, as close as is a weaving-rod to a +fair-girdled woman’s breast when she pulleth it deftly with her hands, +drawing the spool along the warp, and holdeth the rod nigh her breast— +so close ran Odysseus behind Aias and trod in his footsteps or ever the +dust had settled there, and on his head fell the breath of noble +Odysseus as he ran ever lightly on, and all the Achaians applauded his +struggle for the victory and called on him as he laboured hard. But +when they were running the last part of the course, forthwith Odysseus +prayed in his soul to bright-eyed Athene: “Hearken, goddess, come thou +a good helper of my feet.” + +Thus prayed he, and Pallas Athene hearkened to him, and made his limbs +feel light, both feet and hands. But when they, were now nigh darting +on the prize, then Aias slipped as he ran, for Athene marred his race, +where filth was strewn from the slaughter of loud-bellowing oxen that +fleet Achilles slew in honour of Patroklos: and Aias’ mouth and +nostrils were filled with that filth of oxen. So much-enduring noble +Odysseus, as he came in first, took up the mixing-bowl, and famous Aias +took the ox. And he stood holding in his hand the horn of the ox of the +field, sputtering away the filth, and spake among the Argives: “Out on +it, it was the goddess who marred my running, she who from of old like +a mother standeth by Odysseus’ side and helpeth him.” + +So spake he, but they all laughed pleasantly to behold him. Then +Antilochos smiling bore off the last prize, and spake his word among +the Argives: “Friends, ye will all bear me witness when I say that even +herein also the immortals favour elder men. For Aias is a little older +than I, but Odysseus of an earlier generation and earlier race of men. +A green old age is his, they say, and hard were it for any Achaian to +rival him in speed, save only Achilles.” + +Thus spake he, and gave honour to the fleet son of Peleus. And Achilles +answered him and said: “Antilochos, not unheeded shall thy praise be +given; a half-talent of gold I will give thee over and above.” He said, +and set it in his hands, and Antilochos received it gladly. + +Then Peleus’ son brought and set in the ring a far-shadowing spear and +a chaldron that knew not the fire, an ox’s worth, embossed with +flowers; and men that were casters of the javelin arose up. There rose +Atreus’ son wide-ruling Agamemnon, and Meriones, Idomeneus’ brave +squire. And swift-footed noble Achilles spake among them: “Son of +Atreus, for that we know how far thou excellest all, and how far the +first thou art in the might of thy throw, take thou this prize with +thee to the hollow ships, and to the hero Meriones let us give the +spear, if thou art willing in thy heart: thus I at least advise.” + +Thus spake he, nor disregarded him Agamemnon king of men. So to +Meriones he gave the spear of bronze, but to the herald Talthybios the +hero gave the goodliest prize. + + + + +BOOK XXIV. + + +How the body of Hector was ransomed, and of his funeral. + + +Then the assembly was broken up, and the tribes were scattered to +betake them each to their own swift ships. The rest bethought them of +supper and sweet sleep to have joy thereof; but Achilles wept, +remembering his dear comrade, nor did sleep that conquereth all take +hold on him, but he kept turning him to this side and to that, yearning +for Patroklos’ manhood and excellent valour, and all the toils he +achieved with him and the woes he bare, cleaving the battles of men and +the grievous waves. As he thought thereon be shed big tears, now lying +on his side, now on his back, now on his face; and then anon he would +arise upon his feet and roam wildly beside the beach of the salt sea. +Nor would he be unaware of the Dawn when she arose over the sea and +shores. But when he had yoked the swift steeds to his car he would bind +Hector behind his chariot to drag him withal; and having thrice drawn +him round the barrow of the dead son of Menoitios he rested again in +his hut, and left Hector lying stretched on his face in the dust. But +Apollo kept away all defacement from his flesh, for he had pity on him +even in death, and covered him all with his golden aegis, that Achilles +might not tear him when he dragged him. + +Thus Achilles in his anger entreated noble Hector shamefully; but the +blessed gods when they beheld him pitied him, and urged the +clear-sighted slayer of Argus to steal the corpse away. So to all the +others seemed it good, yet not to Hera or Poseidon or the bright-eyed +Maiden, but they continued as when at the beginning sacred Ilios became +hateful to them, and Priam and his people, by reason of the sin of +Alexandros in that he contemned those goddesses when they came to his +steading, and preferred her who brought him deadly lustfulness. But +when the twelfth morn from that day arose, then spake among the +Immortals Phoebus Apollo: “Hard of heart are ye, O gods, and cruel Hath +Hector never burnt for you thigh-bones of unblemished bulls and goats? +Now have ye not taken heart to rescue even his corpse for his wife to +look upon and his mother and his child and his father Priam and his +people, who speedily would burn him in the fire and make his funeral. +But fell Achilles, O gods, ye are fain to abet, whose mind is nowise +just nor the purpose in his breast to be turned away, but he is cruelly +minded as a lion that in great strength and at the bidding of his proud +heart goeth forth against men’s flocks to make his meal; even thus +Achilles hath cast out pity, neither hath he shame, that doth both harm +and profit men greatly. It must be that many a man lose even some +dearer one than was this, a brother of the same womb born or perchance +a son; yet bringeth he his wailing and lamentation to an end, for an +enduring soul have the Fates given unto men. But Achilles after +bereaving noble Hector of his life bindeth him behind his horses and +draggeth him around the tomb of his dear comrade: not, verily, is that +more honourable or better for him. Let him take heed lest we wax wroth +with him, good man though he be, for in his fury he is entreating +shamefully the senseless clay.” + +Then in anger spake unto him white-armed Hera: “Even thus mightest thou +speak, O Lord of the silver bow, if ye are to give equal honour to +Achilles and to Hector. Hector is but a mortal and was suckled at a +woman’s breast, but Achilles is child of a goddess whom I myself bred +up and reared and gave to a man to be his wife, even to Peleus who was +dearest of all men to the Immortals’ heart. And all ye gods came to her +bridal, and thou among them wert feasting with thy lyre, O lover of ill +company, faithless ever.” + +Then to her in answer spake Zeus who gathereth the clouds: “Hera, be +not wroth utterly with the gods: for these men’s honour is not to be +the same, yet Hector also was dearest to the gods of all mortals that +are in Ilios. So was he to me at least, for nowise failed he in the +gifts I loved. Never did my altar lack seemly feast, drink-offering and +the steam of sacrifice, even the honour that falleth to our due. But +verily we will say no more of stealing away brave Hector, for it cannot +be hidden from Achilles, for his mother abideth ever nigh to him night +and day. But I were fain that some one of the gods would call Thetis to +come near to me, that I may speak unto her a wise word, so that +Achilles may take gifts from Priam and give Hector back.” Thus spake +he, and airy-footed Iris sped forth upon the errand and between +Samothrace and rocky Imbros leapt into the black sea, and the waters +closed above her with a noise. And she sped to the bottom like a weight +of lead that mounted on horn of a field-ox goeth down bearing death to +ravenous fishes. And she found Thetis in a hollow cave; about her sat +gathered other goddesses of the seas and she in their midst was wailing +for the fate of her noble son who must perish in deep-soiled Troy, far +from his native land. And standing near, fleet-footed Iris spake to +her: “Rise, Thetis; Zeus of immortal counsels calleth thee.” + +And to her made answer Thetis the silver-footed goddess: “Wherefore +biddeth me that mighty god? I shrink from mingling among the Immortals, +for I have countless woes at heart. Yet go I, nor shall his word be in +vain, whatsoever he saith.” + +Thus having said the noble goddess took to her a dark-hued robe, no +blacker raiment was there found than that. Then she went forth, and +wind-footed swift Iris led the way before her, and around them the +surge of the sea was sundered. And when they had come forth upon the +shore they sped up to heaven, and found the far-seeing son of Kronos, +and round him sat gathered all the other blessed gods that are for +ever. Then she sat down beside father Zeus, and Athene gave her place. +And Hera set a fair golden cup in her hand and cheered her with words, +and Thetis drank, and gave back the cup. Then began speech to them the +father of gods and men: “Thou art come to Olympus, divine Thetis, in +thy sorrow, with violent grief at thy heart; I know it of myself. +Nevertheless will I tell thee wherefore I called thee hither. Nine days +hath dispute arisen among the Immortals concerning the corpse of Hector +and Achilles waster of cities. Fain are they to send clear-sighted +Hermes to steal the body away, but now hear what glory I accord herein +to Achilles, that I may keep through times to come thy honour and good +will. Go with all speed to the host and bear to thy son my bidding. Say +to him that the gods are displeased at him, and that I above all +Immortals am wroth, because with furious heart be holdeth Hector at the +beaked ships and hath not given him back, if haply he may fear me and +give Hector back. But I will send Iris to great-hearted Priam to bid +him go to the ships of the Achaians to ransom his dear son, and carry +gifts to Achilles that may gladden his heart.” + +Thus spake he, and Thetis the silver-footed goddess was not disobedient +to his word, and sped darting upon her way down from the peaks of +Olympus. And she came to her son’s hut; there found she him making +grievous moan, and his dear comrades round were swiftly making ready +and furnishing their early meal, and a sheep great and fleecy was being +sacrificed in the hut. Then his lady-mother sate her down close beside +him, and stroked him with her hand and spake to him by his name: “My +child, how long with lamentation and woe wilt thou devour thine heart, +taking thought of neither food nor rest? good were even a woman’s +embrace, for not long shalt thou be left alive to me; already death and +forceful fate are standing nigh thee. But hearken forthwith unto me, +for I am the messenger of Zeus to thee. He saith that the gods are +displeased at thee, and that himself above all Immortals is wroth, +because with furious heart thou holdest Hector at the beaked ships and +hast not given him back. But come restore him, and take ransom for the +dead.” + +Then to her in answer spake fleet-footed Achilles: “So be it: whoso +bringeth ransom let him take back the dead, if verily with heart’s +intent the Olympian biddeth it himself.” + +So they in the assembly of the ships, mother and son, spake to each +other many winged words. But the son of Kronos thus bade Iris go to +holy Ilios: “Go forth, fleet Iris, leave the abode of Olympus and bear +my message within Ilios to great-hearted Priam that he go to the ships +of the Achaians and ransom his dear son and carry gifts to Achilles +that may gladden his heart; let him go alone, and no other man of the +Trojans go with him. Only let some elder herald attend on him to guide +the mules and smooth-wheeled waggon and carry back to the city the dead +man whom noble Achilles slew. Let not death be in his thought nor any +fear; such guide will we give unto him, even the slyer of Argus who +shall lead him until his leading bring him to Achilles. And when he +shall have led him within the hut, neither shall Achilles himself slay +him nor suffer any other herein, for not senseless is he or +unforeseeing or wicked, but with all courtesy he will spare a suppliant +man.” + +Thus spake he, and airy-footed Iris sped forth upon the errand. And she +came to the house of Priam, and found therein crying and moan. His +children sitting around their father within the court were bedewing +their raiment with their tears, and the old man in their midst was +close wrapped all over in his cloak; and on his head and neck was much +mire that he had gathered in his hands as he grovelled upon the earth. +And his daughters and his sons’ wives were wailing throughout the +house, bethinking them of all those valiant men who had lost their +lives at the hands of the Argives and were lying low. And the messenger +of Zeus stood beside Priam and spake softly unto him, and trembling +came upon his limbs: “Be of good cheer in thy heart, O Priam son of +Dardanos, and be not dismayed for anything, for no evil come I hither +to forebode to thee, but with good will. I am the messenger of Zeus to +thee, who, though he be afar off, hath great care and pity for thee. +The Olympian biddeth thee ransom noble Hector and carry gifts to +Achilles that may gladden his heart: go thou alone, let none other of +the Trojans go with thee. Only let some elder herald attend on thee to +guide the mules and the smooth-wheeled waggon to carry back to the city +the dead man whom noble Achilles slew. Let not death be in thy thought, +nor any fear; such guide shall go with thee, even the slayer of Argus, +who shall lead thee until his leading bring thee to Achilles. And when +he shall have led thee into the hut, neither shall Achilles himself +slay thee, nor suffer any other herein, for not senseless is he or +unforeseeing or wicked, but with all courtesy he will spare a suppliant +man.” + +Thus having spoken fleet Iris departed from him; and he bade his sons +make ready the smooth-wheeled mule waggon, and bind the wicker carriage +thereon. And himself he went down to his fragrant chamber, of cedar +wood, high-roofed, that held full many jewels: and to Hekabe his wife +he called and spake: “Lady, from Zeus hath an Olympian messenger come +to me, that I go to the ships of the Achaians and ransom my dear son, +and carry gifts to Achilles that may gladden his heart. Come tell me +how seemeth it to thy mind, for of myself at least my desire and heart +bid me mightily to go thither to the ships and enter the wide camp of +the Achaians.” + +Thus spake he, but his wife lamented aloud and made answer to him: “Woe +is me, whither is gone thy mind whereby aforetime thou wert famous +among stranger men and among them thou rulest? How art thou fain to go +alone to the ships of the Achaians, to meet the eyes of the man who +hath slain full many of thy brave sons? of iron verily is thy heart. +For if he light on thee and behold thee with his eyes, a savage and +ill-trusted man is this, and he will not pity thee, neither reverence +thee at all. Nay, now let us sit in the hall and make lament afar off. +Even thus did forceful Fate erst spin for Hector with her thread at his +beginning when I bare him, even I, that he should glut fleet-footed +dogs, far from his parents, in the dwelling of a violent man whose +inmost vitals I were fain to fasten and feed upon; then would his deeds +against my son be paid again to him, for not playing the coward was he +slain of him, but championing the men and deep-bosomed women of Troy, +neither bethought he him of shelter or of flight.” + +The to her in answer spake the old man godlike Priam: “Stay me not, for +I am fain to go, neither be thyself a bird of ill boding in my halls, +for thou wilt not change my mind. Were it some other and a child of +earth that bade me this, whether some seer or of the priests that +divine from sacrifice, then would we declare it false and have no part +therein; but now, since I have heard the voice of the goddess myself +and looked upon her face, I will go forth, and her word shall not be +void. And if it be my fate to die by the ships of the mail-clad +Achaians, so would I have it; let Achilles slay me with all speed, when +once I have taken in my arms my son, and have satisfied my desire with +moan.” + +He spake, and opened fair lids of chests wherefrom he chose twelve very +goodly women’s robes and twelve cloaks of single fold and of coverlets +a like number and of fair sheets, and of doublets thereupon. And he +weighed and brought forth talents of gold ten in all, and two shining +tripods and four caldrons, and a goblet exceeding fair that men of +Thrace had given him when he went thither on an embassy, a chattel of +great price, yet not that even did the old man grudge from his halls, +for he was exceeding fain at heart to ransom his dear son. Then he +drave out all the Trojans from the colonnade, chiding them with words +of rebuke: “Begone, ye that dishonour and do me shame! Have ye no +mourning of your own at home that ye come to vex me here? Think ye it a +small thing that Zeus Kronos’ son hath given me this sorrow, to lose +him that was the best man of my sons? Nay, but ye too shall feel it, +for easier far shall ye be to the Achaians to slay now he is dead. But +for me, ere I behold with mine eyes the city sacked and wasted, let me +go down into the house of Hades.” + +He said, and with his staff chased forth the men, and they went forth +before the old man in his haste. Then he called unto his sons, chiding +Helenos and Paris and noble Agathon and Pammon and Antiphonos, and +Polites of the loud war-cry, and Deiphobos and Hippothoos and proud +Dios; nine were they whom the old man called and bade unto him: “Haste +ye, ill sons, my shame; would that ye all in Hector’s stead had been +slain at the swift ships! Woe is me all unblest, since I begat sons the +best men in wide Troy-land, but none of them is left for me to claim, +neither godlike Mestor, nor Troilos with his chariot of war, nor Hector +who was a god among men, neither seemed he as the son of a mortal man +but of a god:—all these hath Ares slain, and here are my shames all +left to me, false-tongued, light-heeled, the heroes of dance, +plunderers of your own people’s sheep and kids. Will ye not make me +ready a wain with all speed, and lay all these thereon, that we get us +forward on our way?” + +Thus spake he, and they fearing their father’s voice brought forth the +smooth-running mule chariot, fair and new, and bound the body thereof +on the frame; and from its peg they took down the mule yoke, a boxwood +yoke with knob well fitted with guiding-rings; and they brought forth +the yoke-band of nine cubits with the yoke. The yoke they set firmly on +the polished pole on the rest at the end thereof, and slipped the ring +over the upright pin, which with three turns of the band they lashed to +the knob, and then belayed it close round the pole and turned the +tongue thereunder. Then they brought from the chamber and heaped on the +polished wain the countless ransom of Hector’s head, and yoked +strong-hooved harness mules, which on a time the Mysians gave to Priam, +a splendid gift. But to Priam’s car they yoked the horses that the old +man kept for his use and reared at the polished crib. + +Thus in the high palace were Priam and the herald letting yoke their +cars, with wise thoughts at their hearts, when nigh came Hekabe sore at +heart, with honey-sweet wine in her right hand in a golden cup that +they might make libation ere they went. And she stood before the horses +and spake a word to Priam by name: “Lo now make libation to father Zeus +and pray that thou mayest come back home from among the enemy, since +thy heart speedeth thee forth to the ships, though fain were I thou +wentest not. And next pray to Kronion of the Storm-cloud, the gods of +Ida, that beholdeth all Troy-land beneath, and ask of him a bird of +omen, even the swift messenger that is dearest of all birds to him and +of mightiest strength, to appear upon thy right, that seeing the sign +with thine own eyes thou mayest go in trust thereto unto the ships of +the fleet-horsed Danaans. But if far-seeing Zeus shall not grant unto +thee his messenger, I at least shall not bid thee on to go among the +ships of the Achaians how fain soever thou mayest be.” + +Then answered and spake unto her godlike Priam: “Lady, I will not +disregard this hest of thine, for good it is to lift up hands to Zeus, +if haply he will have pity.” + +Thus spake the old man, and bade a house-dame that served him pour pure +water on his hands; and she came near to serve him with water in a ewer +to wash withal. And when he had washed his hands he took a goblet from +his wife: then he stood in the midst of the court and prayed and poured +forth wine as he looked up to heaven, and spake a word aloud: “Father +Zeus that bearest sway from Ida, most glorious and most great, grant +that I find welcome and pity under Achilles’ roof, and send a bird of +omen, even the swift messenger that is dearest of all birds to thee and +of mightiest strength, to appear upon the right, that seeing this sign +with mine eyes I may go trusting therein unto the ships of the +fleet-horsed Danaans.” + +Thus spake he praying, and Zeus of wise counsels hearkened unto him, +and straightway sent forth an eagle, surest omen of winged birds, the +dusky hunter called of men the Black Eagle. Wide as the door, well +locking, fitted close, of some rich man’s high-roofed hall, so wide +were his wings either way; and he appeared to them speeding on the +right hand above the city. And when they saw the eagle they rejoiced +and all their hearts were glad within their breasts. + +Then the old man made haste to go up into his car, and drave forth from +the doorway and the echoing portico. In front the mules drew the +four-wheeled wain, and wise Idaios drave them; behind came the horses +which the old man urged with the lash at speed along the city: and his +friends all followed lamenting loud as though he were faring to his +death. And when they were come down from the city and were now on the +plain, then went back again to Ilios his sons and marriage kin. But the +two coming forth upon the plain were not unbeheld of far-seeing Zeus. +But he looked upon the old man and had compassion on him, and +straightway spake unto Hermes his dear son: “Hermes, since unto thee +especially is it dear to companion men, and thou hearest whomsoever +thou wilt, go forth and so guide Priam to the hollow ships of the +Achaians that no man behold or be aware of him, among all the Danaans’ +host, until he come to the son of Peleus.” + +Thus spake he, and the Messenger, the slayer of Argus, was not +disobedient unto his word. Straightway beneath his feet he bound on his +fair sandals, golden, divine, that bare him over wet sea and over the +boundless land with the breathings of the wind. And he took up his wand +wherewith he entranceth the eyes of such men as he will, and others he +likewise waketh out of sleep: this did the strong slayer of Argus take +in his hand, and flew. And quickly came he to Troy-land and the +Hellespont, and went on his way in semblance as a young man that is a +prince, with the new down on his chin, as when the youth of men is the +comeliest. + +Now the others, when they had driven beyond the great barrow of Ilios, +halted the mules and horses at the river to drink; for darkness was +come down over the earth. Then the herald beheld Hermes from hard by, +and marked him, and spake and said to Priam: “Consider, son of +Dardanos; this is matter of prudent thought. I see a man, methinks we +shall full soon be rent in pieces. Come, let us flee in our chariot, or +else at least touch his knees and entreat him that he have mercy on +us.” + +Thus spake he, and the old man was confounded, and he was dismayed +exceedingly, and the hair on his pliant limbs stood up, and he stood +still amazed. But the Helper came nigh of himself and took the old +man’s hand, and spake and questioned him: “Whither, father, dost thou +thus guide these horses and mules through the divine night, when other +mortals are asleep? Hadst thou no fear of the fierce-breathing +Achaians, thy bitter foes that are hard anigh thee? If one of them +should espy thee carrying such treasures through the swift black night, +what then would be thy thought? Neither art thou young thyself, and thy +companion here is old, that ye should make defence against a man that +should assail thee first. But I will no wise harm thee, yea I will keep +any other from thy hurt: for the similitude of my dear father I see in +thee.” + +And to him in answer spake the old man, godlike Priam: “Even so, kind +son, are all these things as thou sayest. Nevertheless hath some god +stretched forth his hand even over me in that he hath sent a wayfarer +such as thou to meet me, a bearer of good luck, by the nobleness of thy +form and semblance; and thou art wise of heart and of blessed parents +art thou sprung.” + +And to him again spake the Messenger, the slayer of Argus: “All this, +old sire, hast thou verily spoken aright. But come say this and tell me +truly whether thou art taking forth a great and goodly treasure unto +alien men, where it may abide for thee in safety, or whether by this ye +are all forsaking holy Ilios in fear; so far the best man among you +hath perished, even thy son; for of battle with the Achaians abated he +never a jot.” + +And to him in answer spake the old man, godlike Priam, “Who art thou, +noble sir, and of whom art born? For meetly hast thou spoken of the +fate of my hapless son.” + +And to him again spake the Messenger, the slayer of Argus: “Thou art +proving me, old sire, in asking me of noble Hector. Him have I full oft +seen with mine eyes in glorious battle, and when at the ships he was +slaying the Argives he drave thither, piercing them with the keen +bronze, and we stood still and marvelled thereat, for Achilles suffered +us not to fight, being wroth against Atreus’ son. His squire am I, and +came in the same well-wrought ship. From the Myrmidons I come, and my +father is Polyktor. Wealthy is he, and an old man even as thou, and six +other sons hath he, and I am his seventh. With the others I cast lots, +and it fell to me to fare hither with the host. And now am I come from +the ships to the plain, for at day-break the glancing-eyed Achaians +will set the battle in array around the town. For it chafeth them to be +sitting here, nor can the Achaian lords hold in their fury for the +fray.” + +And the old man, godlike Priam, answered him, saying: “If verily thou +art a squire of Achilles Peleus’ son, come tell me all the truth, +whether still my son is by the ships, or whether ere now Achilles hath +riven him limb from limb and cast him to the dogs.” + +Then to him again spake the Messenger the slayer of Argus: “Old sire, +not yet have dogs or birds devoured him, but there lieth he still by +Achilles’ ship, even as he fell, among the huts, and the twelfth morn +now hath risen upon him, nor doth his flesh corrupt at all, neither +worms consume it, such as devour men slain in war. Truly Achilles +draggeth him recklessly around the barrow of his dear comrade so oft as +divine day dawneth, yet marreth he him not; thou wouldst marvel if thou +couldst go see thyself how dewy fresh he lieth, and is washed clean of +blood, nor anywhere defiled; and all his wounds wherewith he was +stricken are closed; howbeit many of thy son, though he be but a dead +corpse, for they held him dear at heart.” + +Thus spake he, and the old man rejoiced, and answered him, saying: “My +son, it is verily a good thing to give due offerings withal to the +Immortals, for never did my child—if that child indeed I had—forget in +our halls the gods who inhabit Olympus. Therefore have they remembered +this for him, albeit his portion is death. But come now take from me +this goodly goblet, and guard me myself and guide me, under Heaven, +that I may come unto the hut of Peleus’ son.” + +Then spake unto him again the Messenger the slayer of Argus: “Thou art +proving me, old sire, who am younger than thou, but thou wilt not +prevail upon me, in that thou biddest me take gifts from thee without +Achilles’ privity. I were afraid and shamed at heart to defraud him, +lest some evil come to pass on me hereafter. But as thy guide I would +go even unto famous Argos, accompanying thee courteously in swift ship +or on foot. Not from scorn of thy guide would any assail thee then.” + +Thus spake the Helper, and leaping on the chariot behind the horses he +swiftly took lash and reins into his hand, and breathed brave spirit +into horses and mules. But when they were come to the towers and trench +of the ships, there were the sentinels just busying them about their +supper. Then the Messenger, the slayer of Argus, shed sleep upon them +all, and straightway opened the gates and thrust back the bars, and +brought within Priam and the splendid gifts upon his wain. And they +came to the lofty hut of the son of Peleus, which the Myrmidons made +for their king and hewed therefor timber of the pine, and thatched it +with downy thatching-rush that they mowed in the meadows, and around it +made for him their lord a great court with close-set palisades; and the +door was barred by a single bolt of pine that three Achaians wont to +drive home, and three drew back that mighty bar—three of the rest, but +Achilles by himself would drive it home. Then opened the Helper Hermes +the door for the old man, and brought in the splendid gifts for Peleus’ +fleet-footed son, and descended from the chariot to the earth and spake +aloud: “Old sire, I that have come to thee am an immortal god, even +Hermes, for my father sent me to companion thee on thy way. But now +will I depart from thee nor come within Achilles’ sight; it were cause +of wrath that an immortal god should thus show favour openly unto +mortals. But thou go in and clasp the knees of Peleus’ son and entreat +him for his father’s sake and his mother’s of the lovely hair and for +his child’s sake that thou mayest move his soul.” + +Thus Hermes spake, and departed unto high Olympus. But Priam leapt from +the car to the earth, and left Idaios in his place; he stayed to mind +the horses and mules; but the old man made straight for the house where +Achilles dear to Zeus was wont to sit. And therein he found the man +himself, and his comrades sate apart: two only, the hero Automedon and +Alkimos, of the stock of Ares, were busy in attendance; and he was +lately ceased from meat, even from eating and drinking: and still the +table stood beside him. But they were unaware of great Priam as he came +in, and so stood he anigh and clasped in his hands the knees of +Achilles, and kissed his hands, terrible, man-slaying, that slew many +of Priam’s sons. And as when a grievous curse cometh upon a man who in +his own country hath slain another and escapeth to a land of strangers, +to the house of some rich man, and wonder possesseth them that look on +him—so Achilles wondered when he saw godlike Priam, and the rest +wondered likewise, and looked upon one another. Then Priam spake and +entreated him, saying: “Bethink thee, O Achilles like to gods, of thy +father that is of like years with me, on the grievous pathway of old +age. Him haply are the dwellers round about entreating evilly, nor is +there any to ward from him ruin and bane. Nevertheless while he heareth +of thee as yet alive he rejoiceth in his heart, and hopeth withal day +after day that he shall see his dear son returning from Troy-land. But +I, I am utterly unblest, since I begat sons the best men in wide +Troy-land, but declare unto thee that none of them is left. Fifty I +had, when the sons of the Achaians came; nineteen were born to me of +one mother, and concubines bare the rest within my halls. Now of the +more part had impetuous Ares unstrung the knees, and he who was yet +left and guarded city and men, him slewest thou but now as he fought +for his country, even Hector. For his sake come I unto the ships of the +Achaians that I may win him back from thee, and I bring with me untold +ransom. Yea, fear thou the gods, Achilles, and have compassion on me, +even me, bethinking thee of thy father. Lo, I am yet more piteous than +he, and have braved what none other man on earth hath braved before, to +stretch forth my hand toward the face of the slayer of my sons.” + +Thus spake he, and stirred within Achilles desire to make lament for +his father. And he touched the old man’s hand and gently moved him +back. And as they both bethought them of their dead, so Priam for +man-slaying Hector wept sore as he was fallen before Achilles’ feet, +and Achilles wept for his own father, and now again for Patroklos, and +their moan went up throughout the house. But when noble Achilles had +satisfied him with lament, and the desire thereof departed from his +heart and limbs, straightway he sprang from his seat and raised the old +man by his hand, pitying his hoary head and hoary beard, and spake unto +him winged words and said: “Ah hapless! many ill things verily thou +hast endured in thy heart. How durst thou come alone to the ships of +the Achaians and to meet the eyes of the man who hath slain full many +of the brave sons? of iron verily is thy heart. But come then set thee +on a seat, and we will let our sorrows lie quiet in our hearts for all +our pain, for no avail cometh of chill lament. This is the lot the gods +have spun for miserable men, that they should live in pain; yet +themselves are sorrowless. For two urns stand upon the floor of Zeus +filled with his evil gifts, and one with blessings. To whomsoever Zeus +whose joy is in the lightning dealeth a mingled lot, that man chanceth +now upon ill and now again on good, but to whom he giveth but of the +bad kind him he bringeth to scorn, and evil famine chaseth him over the +goodly earth, and he is a wanderer honoured of neither gods nor men. +Even thus to Peleus gave the gods splendid gifts from his birth, for he +excelled all men in good fortune and wealth, and was king of the +Myrmidons, and mortal though he was the gods gave him a goddess to be +his bride. Yet even on him God brought evil, seeing that there arose to +him no offspring of princely sons in his halls, save that he begat one +son to an untimely death. Neither may I tend him as he groweth old, +since very far from my country I am dwelling in Troy-land, to vex thee +and thy children. And of thee, old sire, we have heard how of old time +thou wert happy, even how of all that Lesbos, seat of Makar, boundeth +to the north thereof and Phrygia farther up and the vast Hellespont—of +all these folk, men say, thou wert the richest in wealth and in sons, +but after that the Powers of Heaven brought this bane on thee, ever are +battles and man-slayings around thy city. Keep courage, and lament not +unabatingly in thy heart. For nothing wilt thou avail by grieving for +thy son, neither shalt thou bring him back to life or ever some new +evil come upon thee.” + +Then made answer unto him the old man, godlike Priam: “Bid me not to a +seat, O fosterling of Zeus, so long as Hector lieth uncared for at the +huts, but straightway give him back that I may behold him with mine +eyes; and accept thou the great ransom that we bring. So mayest thou +have pleasure thereof, and come unto thy native land, since thou hast +spared me from the first.” + +Then fleet-footed Achilles looked sternly upon him and said: “No longer +chafe me, old sire; of myself am I minded to give Hector back to thee, +for there came to me a messenger from Zeus, even my mother who bare me, +daughter of the Ancient One of the Sea. And I know, O Priam, in my +mind, nor am unaware that some god it is that hath guided thee to the +swift ships of the Achaians. For no mortal man, even though in prime of +youth, would dare to come among the host, for neither could he escape +the watch, nor easily thrust back the bolt of our doors. Therefore now +stir my heart no more amid my troubles, lest I leave not even thee in +peace, old sire, within my hut, albeit thou art my suppliant, and lest +I transgress the commandment of Zeus.” + +Thus spake he, and the old man feared, and obeyed his word. And the son +of Peleus leapt like a lion through the door of the house, not alone, +for with him went two squires, the hero Automedon and Alkimos, they +whom above all his comrades Achilles honoured, save only Patroklos that +was dead. They then loosed from under the yoke the horses and mules, +and led in the old man’s crier-herald and set him on a chair, and from +the wain of goodly felloes they took the countless ransom set on +Hector’s head. But they left two robes and a well-spun doublet, that +Achilles might wrap the dead therein when he gave him to be carried +home. And he called forth handmaids and bade them wash and anoint him +when they had borne him apart, so that Priam should not look upon his +son, lest he should not refrain the wrath at his sorrowing heart when +he should look upon his son, and lest Achilles’ heart be vexed thereat +and he slay him and transgress the commandment of Zeus. So when the +handmaids had washed the body and anointed it with oil, and had thrown +over it a fair robe and a doublet, then Achilles himself lifted it and +laid it on a bier, and his comrades with him lifted it on to the +polished waggon. Then he groaned aloud and called on his dear comrade +by his name: “Patroklos, be not vexed with me if thou hear even in the +house of Hades that I have given back noble Hector unto his dear +father, for not unworthy is the ransom he hath given me, whereof I will +deal to thee again thy rightful share.” + +Thus spake noble Achilles, and went back into the hut, and sate him +down on the cunningly-wrought couch whence he had arisen by the +opposite wall, and spake a word to Priam: “Thy son, old sire, is given +back as thou wouldest and lieth on a bier, and with the break of day +thou shalt see him thyself as thou carriest him. But now bethink we us +of supper. For even fair-haired Niobe bethought her of meat, she whose +twelve children perished in her halls, six daughters and six lusty +sons. The sons Apollo, in his anger against Niobe, slew with arrows +from his silver bow, and the daughters archer Artemis, for that Niobe +matched herself against fair-cheeked Leto, saying that the goddess bare +but twain but herself many children: so they though they were but twain +destroyed the other all. Nine days they lay in their blood, nor was +there any to bury them, for Kronion turned the folk to stones. Yet on +the tenth day the gods of heaven buried them, and she then bethought +her of meat, when she was wearied out with weeping tears. And somewhere +now among the cliffs, on the lonely mountains, even on Sipylos, where +they say are the couching-places of nymphs that dance around Acheloos, +there she, albeit a stone, broodeth still over her troubles from the +gods. But come let us too, noble father, take thought of meat, and +afterward thou shalt mourn over thy dear son as thou carriest him to +Ilios; and many tears shall be his due.” + +Thus spake fleet Achilles, and sprang up, and slew a pure white sheep, +and his comrades skinned and made it ready in seemly fashion, and +divided it cunningly and pierced it with spits, and roasted it +carefully and drew all off. And Automedon took bread and served it on a +table in fair baskets, while Achilles dealt out the flesh. And they +stretched forth their hands to the good cheer lying ready before them. +But when they had put off the desire of meat and drink, then Priam son +of Dardanos marvelled at Achilles to see how great he was and how +goodly, for he was like a god to look upon. And Achilles marvelled at +Priam son of Dardanos, beholding his noble aspect and hearkening to his +words. But when they had gazed their fill upon one another, then first +spake the old man, godlike Priam, to Achilles: “Now presently give me +whereon to lie, fosterling of Zeus, that of sweet sleep also we may now +take our fill at rest: for never yet have mine eyes closed beneath +their lids since at thy hands my son lost his life, but I continually +mourn and brood over countless griefs, grovelling in the +courtyard-close amid the mire. Now at last have I tasted bread and +poured bright wine down my throat, but till now I had tasted naught.” + +He said, and Achilles bade his comrades and handmaids to set a bedstead +beneath the portico, and to cast thereon fair shining rugs and spread +coverlets above and thereon to lay thick mantles to be a clothing over +all. And the maids went forth from the inner hail with torches in their +hands, and quickly spread two beds in haste. Then with bitter meaning +[in his reference to Agamemnon] said fleet-footed Achilles unto Priam: +“Lie thou without, dear sire, lest there come hither one of the +counsellors of the Achaians, such as ever take counsel with me by my +side, as custom is. If any of such should behold thee through the swift +black night, forthwith he might haply tell it to Agamemnon shepherd of +the host, and thus would there be delay in giving back the dead. But +come say this to me and tell it true, how many days’ space thou art +fain to make funeral for noble Hector, so that for so long I may myself +abide and may keep back the host.” + +And the old man, godlike Priam, answered him, saying: “If thou art +verily willing that I accomplish noble Hector’s funeral, by doing as +thou sayest, O Achilles, thou wilt do me grace. For thou knowest how we +are pent within the city, and wood from the mountain is far to fetch, +and the Trojans are much in fear. Nine days will we make moan for him +in our halls, and on the tenth we will hold funeral and the folk shall +feast, and on the eleventh we will make, a barrow over him, and on the +twelfth we will do battle if need be.” + +Then again spake the fleet noble Achilles unto him, saying: “All this, +O ancient Priam, shall be as thou biddest; for I will hold back the +battle even so long a time as thou tellest me.” + +Thus speaking he clasped the old man’s right hand at the wrist, lest he +should be anywise afraid at heart. So they in the forepart of the house +laid them down, Priam and the herald, with wise thoughts at their +hearts, but Achilles slept in a recess of the firm-wrought hut, and +beside him lay fair-cheeked Briseis. + +Now all other gods and warriors lords of chariots slumbered all night, +by soft sleep overcome. But not on the Helper Hermes did sleep take +hold as he sought within his heart how he should guide forth king Priam +from the ships unespied of the trusty sentinels. And he stood above his +head and spake a word to him: “Old sire, no thought then hast thou of +any evil, seeing thou yet sleepest among men that are thine enemies, +for that Achilles spared thee. Truly now hast thou won back thy dear +son, and at great price. But for thy life will thy sons thou hast left +behind be offering threefold ransom, if but Agamemnon Atreus’ son be +aware of thee, and aware be all the Achaians.” + +Thus spake he, and the old man feared, and roused the herald. And +Hermes yoked the horses and mules for them, and himself drave them +lightly through the camp, and none was aware of them. + +But when they came to the ford of the fair-flowing river, [even eddying +Xanthos, begotten of immortal Zeus,] then Hermes departed up to high +Olympus, and Morning of the saffron robe spread over all the earth. And +they with wail and moan drave the horses to the city, and the mules +drew the dead. Nor marked them any man or fair-girdled woman until +Kassandra, peer of golden Aphrodite, having gone up upon Pergamos, was +aware of her dear father as he stood in the car, and the herald that +was crier to the town. Then beheld she him that lay upon the bier +behind the mules, and thereat she wailed and cried aloud throughout all +the town: “O men and women of Troy, come ye hither and look upon +Hector, if ever while he was alive ye rejoiced when he came back from +battle, since great joy was he to the city and all the folk.” + +Thus spake she, nor was man or woman left within the city, for upon all +came unendurable grief. And near the gates they met Priam bringing home +the dead. First bewailed him his dear wife and lady mother, as they +cast them on the fair-wheeled wain and touched his head; and around +them stood the throng and wept. So all day long unto the setting of the +sun they had lamented Hector in tears without the gate, had not the old +man spoken from the car among the folk: “Give me place for the mules to +pass through; hereafter ye shall have your fill of wailing, when I have +brought him unto his home.” + +Thus spake he, and they parted asunder and gave place to the wain. And +the others when they had brought him to the famous house, laid him on a +fretted bed, and set beside him minstrel leaders of the dirge, who +wailed a mournful lay, while the women made moan with them. And among +the women white-armed Andromache led the lamentation, while in her +hands she held the head of Hector slayer of men: “Husband, thou art +gone young from life, and leavest me a widow in thy halls. And the +child is yet but a little one, child of ill-fated parents, thee and me; +nor methinks shall he grow up to manhood, for ere then shall this city +be utterly destroyed. For thou art verily perished who didst watch over +it, who guardedst it and keptest safe its noble wives and infant little +ones. These soon shall be voyaging in the hollow ships, yea and I too +with them, and thou, my child, shalt either go with me unto a place +where thou shalt toil at unseemly tasks, labouring before the face of +some harsh lord, or else some Achaian will take thee by the arm and +hurl thee from the battlement, a grievous death, for that he is wroth +because Hector slew his brother or father or son, since full many of +the Achaians in Hector’s hands have bitten the firm earth. For no light +hand had thy father in the grievous fray. Therefore the folk lament him +throughout the city, and woe unspeakable and mourning hast thou left to +thy parents, Hector, but with me chiefliest shall grievous pain abide. +For neither didst thou stretch thy hands to me from a bed in thy death, +neither didst speak to me some memorable word that I might have thought +on evermore as my tears fall night and day.” + +Thus spake she wailing, and the women joined their moan. And among them +Hekabe again led the loud lament: “Hector, of all my children far +dearest to my heart, verily while thou wert alive dear wert thou to the +gods, and even in thy doom of death have they had care for thee. For +other sons of mine whom he took captive would fleet Achilles sell +beyond the unvintaged sea unto Samos and Imbros and smoking Lemnos, but +when with keen-edged bronze he had bereft thee of thy life he was fain +to drag thee oft around the tomb of his comrade, even Patroklos whom +thou slewest, yet might he not raise him up thereby. But now all dewy +and fresh thou liest in our halls, like one on whom Apollo, lord of the +silver bow, hath descended and slain him with his gentle darts.” + +Thus spake she wailing, and stirred unending moan. Then thirdly Helen +led their sore lament: “Hector, of all my brethren of Troy far dearest +to my heart! Truly my lord is godlike Alexandros who brought me to +Troy-land—would I had died ere then. For this is now the twentieth year +since I went thence and am gone from my own native land, but never yet +heard I evil or despiteful word from thee; nay, if any other haply +upbraided me in the palace-halls, whether brother or sister of thine or +brother’s fair-robed wife, or thy mother—but thy father is ever kind to +me as he were my own—then wouldst thou soothe such with words and +refrain them, by the gentleness of thy spirit and by thy gentle words. +Therefore bewail I thee with pain at heart, and my hapless self with +thee, for no more is any left in wide Troy-land to be my friend and +kind to me, but all men shudder at me.” + +Thus spake she wailing, and therewith the great multitude of the people +groaned. But the old man Priam spake a word among the folk: “Bring +wood, men of Troy, unto the city, and be not anywise afraid at heart of +a crafty ambush of the Achaians; for this message Achilles gave me when +he sent me from the black ships, that they should do us no hurt until +the twelfth morn arise.” + +Thus spake he, and they yoked oxen and mules to wains, and quickly then +they flocked before the city. So nine days they gathered great store of +wood. But when the tenth morn rose with light for men, then bare they +forth brave Hector, weeping tears, and on a lofty pyre they laid the +dead man, and thereon cast fire. + +But when the daughter of Dawn, rosy-fingered Morning, shone forth, then +gathered the folk around glorious Hector’s pyre. First quenched they +with bright wine all the burning, so far as the fire’s strength went, +and then his brethren and comrades gathered his white bones lamenting, +and big tears flowed down their cheeks. And the bones they took and +laid in a golden urn, shrouding them in soft purple robes, and +straightway laid the urn in a hollow grave and piled thereon great +close-set stones, and heaped with speed a barrow, while watchers were +set everywhere around, lest the well-greaved Achaians should make onset +before the time. And when they had heaped the barrow they went back, +and gathered them together and feasted right well in noble feast at the +palace of Priam, Zeus-fostered king. + +Thus held they funeral for Hector tamer of horses. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 3059 *** |