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diff --git a/3059-h/3059-h.htm b/3059-h/3059-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5e9c12e --- /dev/null +++ b/3059-h/3059-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,15248 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Iliad, by Homer</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify;} + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h3 {font-size: 130%; margin-top: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +p.letter {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +p.footnote {font-size: 90%; + text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 3059 ***</div> + +<h1>THE<br/> +ILIAD OF HOMER</h1> + +<h4>Done into English Prose<br/> +by<br/> +Andrew Lang, M.A. Walter Leaf, Litt. D.<br/> +Late fellow of Merton College, Late fellow of Trinity College,<br/> +Oxford Cambridge<br/> +and<br/> +Ernest Meyers, M.A.<br/> +Late fellow of Wadham College,<br/> +Oxford<br /><br /></h4> + +<h4><i>REVISED EDITION</i><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></h4> + +<h5>MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED<br /> +ST. MARTINS STREET, LONDON<br /> +1911</h5> + +<hr /> + +<h2>Contents</h2> + +<table summary="" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto"> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#pref01">PREFATORY NOTE.</a><br/><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap00">THE ILIAD OF HOMER</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap01">BOOK I.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap02">BOOK II.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap03">BOOK III.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap04">BOOK IV.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap05">BOOK V.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap06">BOOK VI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap07">BOOK VII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap08">BOOK VIII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap09">BOOK IX.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap10">BOOK X.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap11">BOOK XI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap12">BOOK XII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap13">BOOK XIII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap14">BOOK XIV.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap15">BOOK XV.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap16">BOOK XVI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap17">BOOK XVII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap18">BOOK XVIII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap19">BOOK XIX.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap20">BOOK XX.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap21">BOOK XXI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap22">BOOK XXII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap23">BOOK XXIII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap24">BOOK XXIV.</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="pref01"></a>PREFATORY NOTE.</h2> + +<p> +The execution of this version of the <i>Iliad</i> has been entrusted to the +three Translators in the following three parts: +</p> + +<p class="letter"> +Books I.—IX. . . . . W. L<small>EAF</small>.<br/> +Books X.—XVI. . . . . A. L<small>ANG</small>.<br/> +Books XVII.—XXIV. . . . . E. M<small>YERS</small>. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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 []. +</p> + +<p> +The Translator of Books X.—XVI. has to thank Mr. R.W. R<small>APER</small>, +Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford, for his valuable aid in revising the +proof-sheets of these Books. +</p> + +<h3>NOTE TO REVISED EDITION</h3> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p class="letter"> +<i>November</i> 1891 +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p class="noindent"> +The sacred soil of Ilios is rent<br/> +With shaft and pit; foiled waters wander slow<br/> +Through plains where Simois and Scamander went<br/> +To war with gods and heroes long ago.<br/> +Not yet to dark Cassandra lying low<br/> +In rich Mycenae do the Fates relent;<br/> +The bones of Agamemnon are a show,<br/> +And ruined is his royal monument.<br/> +The dust and awful treasures of the dead<br/> +Hath learning scattered wide; but vainly thee,<br/> +Homer, she meteth with her Lesbian lead,<br/> +And strives to rend thy songs, too blind is she<br/> +To know the crown on thine immortal head<br/> +Of indivisible supremacy.<br/> +<br/> + A.L.<br/> + <br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Athwart the sunrise of our western day<br/> +The form of great Achilles, high and clear,<br/> +Stands forth in arms, wielding the Pelian spear.<br/> +The sanguine tides of that immortal fray,<br/> +Swept on by gods, around him surge and sway,<br/> +Wherethrough the helms of many a warrior peer,<br/> +Strong men and swift, their tossing plumes uprear.<br/> +But stronger, swifter, goodlier he than they,<br/> +More awful, more divine. Yet mark anigh;<br/> +Some fiery pang hath rent his soul within,<br/> +Some hovering shade his brows encompasseth.<br/> +What gifts hath Fate for all his chivalry?<br/> +Even such as hearts heroic oftenest win;<br/> +Honour, a friend, anguish, untimely death.<br/> +<br/> + E.M. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap00"></a>THE ILIAD OF HOMER</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap01"></a>BOOK I.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.”* +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +Reading with Cobet Τρῳήν for +Τροίην. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Patroklos +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Reading ἑοῖο. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* perhaps rather, “hurler of the thunderbolt.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Or, “the Averter” (of pestilence). +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +Kronion spake, and bowed his dark brow, and the ambrosial locks waved from the +king’s immortal head; and he made great Olympus quake. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap02"></a>BOOK II.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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: +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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: +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Or, possibly, “the swift-appearing” +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.”* +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +Reading διοτρεφέων +βασιλήων with Zenodotos. +</p> + +<p> +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”]. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +So spake he, but not as yet would Kronion grant him fulfilment; he accepted the +sacrifice, but made toil to wax increasingly. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And Aias led twelve ships from Salamis, [and brought them and set them where +the battalions of the Athenians stood.] +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.* +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Or, “for Helen’s searchings of heart and groans.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And the Alizones were led of Odios and Epistrophos, from far away in Alybe, +where is the birthplace of silver. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And Phorkys and godlike Askanios led the Phrygians from far Askania, and these +were eager to fight in the battle-throng. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +And Sarpedon and blameless Glaukos led the Lykians from far away in Lykia by +eddying Xanthos. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap03"></a>BOOK III.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* <i>i.e</i>., been stoned by the people. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +So spake the goddess, and put into her heart sweet longing for her former +husband and her city and parents. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Supposed to mean “delicate” or “tender”. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +So said she; but them the life-giving earth held fast there in Lakedaimon, in +their dear native land. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap04"></a>BOOK IV.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Pandaros wounded Menelaos by treachery; and Agamemnon exhorted his chief +captains to battle. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Or, perhaps, “the Wolf-born.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* An apron or belt set with metal, worn below the corslet. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* By which the iron head was attached to the shaft. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Or, “that we are slack in battle, when once we Achaians,” putting the note of +interrogation after “tamers of horses.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap05"></a>BOOK V.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Diomedes by his great valour made havoc of the Trojans, and wounded even +Aphrodite and Ares by the help of Athene. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Reading ἐερμέναι, with Aristarchos. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Apollo +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Or, “yet came they not home for him to discern dreams for them.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.”* +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Or, “and the wrath of gods be heavy upon us.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Reading ἐπιβήσομαι, with +Zenodotos. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Or, “Zeus of the far-borne voice.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +** Reading μήστωρι. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Aphrodite. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Or, “at the gate of hell.” according to Aristarchos. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Or, drew round the battle a veil of night to help the Trojans. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Or, “of other sort, men say,” if we read +ἀλλοῖον for ἀλλ’ +οῖον. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +Reading ὑπέρ with the best MS. for ὐπ’ +ἐκ. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.”* +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* The Titans, imprisoned in Tartaros. Others explain “lower than the heavenly +gods.” Zenodotos read ἐνέρτατος, +“lowest of the sons of heaven.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap06"></a>BOOK VI.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Or, “for Zeus had brought him [Bellerophon] under his sceptre’s sway.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +** Or, if we read +πυροφόροιο, “tilth of +wheat-land.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +*** Or, “Artemis of the golden reins.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.”** +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Omitting δ’ after μένεος, with the best +MSS. and probably Aristarchos. So also Plato, Crat. 415 A. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +** Reading with Zenodotos φίλον for +φρέν’ ἀτέρπου. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Or, “bounteous.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +** Astyanax = “City King.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap07"></a>BOOK VII.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Or, “to meet his might,” according to the usual interpretation of ᾦ. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.’” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +Reading ἤγρετο for +ἔγρετο. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap08"></a>BOOK VIII.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Perhaps rather “death that bringeth long woe.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Reading μήστωρα. See Book V. 272. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* νευρήν may mean “the sinew of his arm.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap09"></a>BOOK IX.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Agamemnon sent an embassage to Achilles, beseeching him to be appeased; and +how Achilles denied him. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Or “his knees,” according to the more usual interpretation of +οῖσιν. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +** Note 2. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +*** Note 3. +</p> + + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. + +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap10"></a>BOOK X.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap11"></a>BOOK XI.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +Despite the glorious deeds of Agamemnon, the Trojans press hard on the +Achaians, and the beginning of evil comes on Patroklos. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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? +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Or, rather, “resplendent with thy lovelock.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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]. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +So they fought like unto burning fire. +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +So spake he and Patroklos obeyed his dear comrade, and started and ran past the +ships, and the huts of the Achaians. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Aktor was the putative, Poseidon the real father of the Moliones. +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap12"></a>BOOK XII.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the Trojans and allies broke within the wall of the Achaians. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +So spake he, nor with his speech did he persuade the mind of Zeus, for his will +was to give renown to Hector. +</p> + +<p> +[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.] +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +So spake he, and Glaukos turned not apart, nor disobeyed him, and they twain +went straight forward, leading the great host of the Lykians. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap13"></a>BOOK XIII.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +Poseidon stirreth up the Achaians to defend the ships. The valour of Idomeneus. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Kteatos, father of Amphimachos, was Poseidon’s son. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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!” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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!” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap14"></a>BOOK XIV.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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!” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +So he spake, and they all heard him readily, and obeyed him. And they set +forth, led by Agamemnon the king of men. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +So spake she, and the ox-eyed lady Hera smiled, and smiling laid up the zone +within her breast. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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].” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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 <i>chalkis</i>, but men +<i>kymindis</i>.* 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?” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* 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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap15"></a>BOOK XV.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +Zeus awakening, biddeth Apollo revive Hector, and restore the fortunes of the +Trojans. Fire is thrown on the ship of Protesilaos. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Or, “thunderbolts”; <i>i.e.</i> meteoric stones. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +So spake he in his prayer, and Zeus, the Lord of counsel, thundered loudly, +hearing the prayers of the ancient son of Neleus. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.”</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +So spake he and aroused the might and the spirit of every man. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap16"></a>BOOK XVI.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Patroklos fought in the armour of Achilles, and drove the Trojans from the +ships, but was slain at last by Hector. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap17"></a>BOOK XVII.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +Of the battle around the body of Patroklos. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +Thus spake the son of Kronos, and bowed his dark brows therewithal. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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? +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap18"></a>BOOK XVIII.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Achilles grieved for Patroklos, and how Thetis asked for him new armour of +Hephaistos; and of the making of the armour. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +Then answered her fleet-footed noble Achilles: “Goddess Iris, what god sent +thee a messenger unto me?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Also he set therein the great might of the River of Ocean around the uttermost +rim of the cunningly-fashioned shield. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap19"></a>BOOK XIX.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Achilles and Agamemnon were reconciled before the assembly of the Achaians, +and Achilles went forth with them to battle. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +He said, and with a cry among the foremost held on his whole-hooved steeds. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap20"></a>BOOK XX.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Achilles made havoc among the men of Troy. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +“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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +He said, and looking grimly spake unto goodly Hector: “Come thou near, that the +sooner thou mayest arrive at the goal of death.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap21"></a>BOOK XXI.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Achilles fought with the River, and chased the men of Troy within their +gates. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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!” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +Thus said she and Hephaistos quenched the fierce-blazing fire, and the wave +once more rolled down the fair river-bed. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +[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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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]?” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap22"></a>BOOK XXII.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How Achilles fought with Hector, and slew him, and brought his body to the +ships. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +Thus saying he roused Athene, that already was set thereon, and from the crests +of Olympus she darted down. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +Thus spake she wailing, and the women joined their moan. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap23"></a>BOOK XXIII.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +Of the funeral of Patroklos, and the funeral games. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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].” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +Thus spake Neleian Nestor and sate him down again in his place, when he had +told his son the sum of every matter. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +Thus spake he, and they fearing the voice of the prince sped faster on, and +were quickly close upon the others. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.] +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +Thus spake he, and they were fain to hear and to obey, and wiped the dust from +them and put their doublets on. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap24"></a>BOOK XXIV.</h2> + +<p class="letter"> +How the body of Hector was ransomed, and of his funeral. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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?” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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.” +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +Thus held they funeral for Hector tamer of horses. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 3059 ***</div> +</body> + +</html> + + |