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diff --git a/16452-0.txt b/16452-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6814915 --- /dev/null +++ b/16452-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,23377 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Iliad, by Homer + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: The Iliad + Translated into English Blank Verse + +Author: Homer + +Translator: William Cowper + +Release Date: August 5, 2005 [eBook #16452] +[Most recently updated: September 4, 2021] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: Ted Garvin, Melissa Er-Raqabi, Fred Robinson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ILIAD *** + + + + +There are several editions of this ebook in the Project Gutenberg +collection. Various characteristics of each ebook are listed to aid in +selecting the preferred file. Click on any of the filenumbers below to +quickly view each ebook. + +22382 (With 800 linked footnotes, No illustrations) +16452 (In blank verse, Many footnotes.) +2199 (No footnotes or illustrations) +6130 (Many line drawings, and 300 footnotes) +3059 +6150 + + + + +THE +ILIAD OF HOMER, + +TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BLANK VERSE +BY WILLIAM COWPER. + +Zeus (Jupiter), seated upon an eagle + +EDITED BY ROBERT SOUTHEY. LL.D. + + +WITH NOTES, +BY M.A. DWIGHT, +AUTHOR OF “GRECIAN AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY.” + + +NEW-YORK: +D. APPLETON & CO., 346 & 348 BROADWAY. +M.DCCC.LX. + + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, + +By M.A. DWIGHT, + +in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court for the Southern District +of New York. + + +TO THE +RIGHT HONORABLE +EARL COWPER, +THIS +TRANSLATION OF THE ILIAD, +THE INSCRIPTION OF WHICH TO HIMSELF, +THE LATE LAMENTED EARL, +BENEVOLENT TO ALL, +AND ESPECIALLY KIND TO THE AUTHOR, +HAD NOT DISDAINED TO ACCEPT +IS HUMBLY OFFERED, +AS A SMALL BUT GRATEFUL TRIBUTE, +TO THE MEMORY OF HIS FATHER, +BY HIS LORDSHIP’S +AFFECTIONATE KINSMAN AND SERVANT + +WILLIAM COWPER. +_June 4, 1791._ + + + + +PREFACE. + +Whether a translation of Homer may be best executed in blank verse or +in rhyme, is a question in the decision of which no man can find +difficulty, who has ever duly considered what translation ought to be, +or who is in any degree practically acquainted with those very +different kinds of versification. I will venture to assert that a just +translation of any ancient poet in rhyme, is impossible. No human +ingenuity can be equal to the task of closing every couplet with sounds +homotonous, expressing at the same time the full sense, and only the +full sense of his original. The translator’s ingenuity, indeed, in this +case becomes itself a snare, and the readier he is at invention and +expedient, the more likely he is to be betrayed into the widest +departures from the guide whom he professes to follow. Hence it has +happened, that although the public have long been in possession of an +English Homer by a poet whose writings have done immortal honor to his +country, the demand of a new one, and especially in blank verse, has +been repeatedly and loudly made by some of the best judges and ablest +writers of the present day. + +I have no contest with my predecessor. None is supposable between +performers on different instruments. Mr. Pope has surmounted all +difficulties in his version of Homer that it was possible to surmount +in rhyme. But he was fettered, and his fetters were his choice. +Accustomed always to rhyme, he had formed to himself an ear which +probably could not be much gratified by verse that wanted it, and +determined to encounter even impossibilities, rather than abandon a +mode of writing in which he had excelled every body, for the sake of +another to which, unexercised in it as he was, he must have felt strong +objections. + +I number myself among the warmest admirers of Mr. Pope as an original +writer, and I allow him all the merit he can justly claim as the +translator of this chief of poets. He has given us the _Tale of Troy +divine_ in smooth verse, generally in correct and elegant language, and +in diction often highly poetical. But his deviations are so many, +occasioned chiefly by the cause already mentioned, that, much as he has +done, and valuable as his work is on some accounts, it was yet in the +humble province of a translator that I thought it possible even for me +to fellow him with some advantage. + +That he has sometimes altogether suppressed the sense of his author, +and has not seldom intermingled his own ideas with it, is a remark +which, on this occasion, nothing but necessity should have extorted +from me. But we differ sometimes so widely in our matter, that unless +this remark, invidious as it seems, be premised, I know not how to +obviate a suspicion, on the one hand, of careless oversight, or of +factitious embellishment on the other. On this head, therefore, the +English reader is to be admonished, that the matter found in me, +whether he like it or not, is found also in Homer, and that the matter +not found in me, how much soever he may admire it, is found only in Mr. +Pope. I have omitted nothing; I have invented nothing. + +There is indisputably a wide difference between the case of an original +writer in rhyme and a translator. In an original work the author is +free; if the rhyme be of difficult attainment, and he cannot find it in +one direction, he is at liberty to seek it in another; the matter that +will not accommodate itself to his occasions he may discard, adopting +such as will. But in a translation no such option is allowable; the +sense of the author is required, and we do not surrender it willingly +even to the plea of necessity. Fidelity is indeed of the very essence +of translation, and the term itself implies it. For which reason, if we +suppress the sense of our original, and force into its place our own, +we may call our work an _imitation_, if we please, or perhaps a +_paraphrase_, but it is no longer the same author only in a different +dress, and therefore it is not translation. Should a painter, +professing to draw the likeness of a beautiful woman, give her more or +fewer features than belong to her, and a general cast of countenance of +his own invention, he might be said to have produced a _jeu d’esprit_, +a curiosity perhaps in its way, but by no means the lady in question. + +It will however be necessary to speak a little more largely to this +subject, on which discordant opinions prevail even among good judges. + +The free and the close translation have, each, their advocates. But +inconveniences belong to both. The former can hardly be true to the +original author’s style and manner, and the latter is apt to be +servile. The one loses his peculiarities, and the other his spirit. +Were it possible, therefore, to find an exact medium, a manner so close +that it should let slip nothing of the text, nor mingle any thing +extraneous with it, and at the same time so free as to have an air of +originality, this seems precisely the mode in which an author might be +best rendered. I can assure my readers from my own experience, that to +discover this very delicate line is difficult, and to proceed by it +when found, through the whole length of a poet voluminous as Homer, +nearly impossible. I can only pretend to have endeavored it. + +It is an opinion commonly received, but, like many others, indebted for +its prevalence to mere want of examination, that a translator should +imagine to himself the style which his author would probably have used, +had the language into which he is rendered been his own. A direction +which wants nothing but practicability to recommend it. For suppose six +persons, equally qualified for the task, employed to translate the same +Ancient into their own language, with this rule to guide them. In the +event it would be found, that each had fallen on a manner different +from that of all the rest, and by probable inference it would follow +that none had fallen on the right. On the whole, therefore, as has been +said, the translation which partakes equally of fidelity and +liberality, that is close, but not so close as to be servile, free, but +not so free as to be licentious, promises fairest; and my ambition will +be sufficiently gratified, if such of my readers as are able, and will +take the pains to compare me in this respect with Homer, shall judge +that I have in any measure attained a point so difficult. + +As to energy and harmony, two grand requisites in a translation of this +most energetic and most harmonious of all poets, it is neither my +purpose nor my wish, should I be found deficient in either, or in both, +to shelter myself under an unfilial imputation of blame to my +mother-tongue. Our language is indeed less musical than the Greek, and +there is no language with which I am at all acquainted that is not. But +it is musical enough for the purposes of melodious verse, and if it +seem to fail, on whatsoever occasion, in energy, the blame is due, not +to itself, but to the unskilful manager of it. For so long as Milton’s +works, whether his prose or his verse, shall exist, so long there will +be abundant proof that no subject, however important, however sublime, +can demand greater force of expression than is within the compass of +the English language. + +I have no fear of judges familiar with original Homer. They need not be +told that a translation of him is an arduous enterprise, and as such, +entitled to some favor. From these, therefore, I shall expect, and +shall not be disappointed, considerable candor and allowance. +Especially _they_ will be candid, and I believe that there are many +such, who have occasionally tried their own strength in this _bow of +Ulysses_. They have not found it supple and pliable, and with me are +perhaps ready to acknowledge that they could not always even approach +with it the mark of their ambition. But I would willingly, were it +possible, obviate uncandid criticism, because to answer it is lost +labor, and to receive it in silence has the appearance of stately +reserve, and self-importance. + +To those, therefore, who shall be inclined to tell me hereafter that my +diction is often plain and unelevated, I reply beforehand that I know +it,—that it would be absurd were it otherwise, and that Homer himself +stands in the same predicament. In fact, it is one of his numberless +excellences, and a point in which his judgment never fails him, that he +is grand and lofty always in the right place, and knows infallibly how +to rise and fall with his subject. _Big words on small matters_ may +serve as a pretty exact definition of the burlesque; an instance of +which they will find in the Battle of the Frogs and Mice, but none in +the Iliad. + +By others I expect to be told that my numbers, though here and there +tolerably smooth, are not always such, but have, now and then, an ugly +hitch in their gait, ungraceful in itself, and inconvenient to the +reader. To this charge also I plead guilty, but beg leave in +alleviation of judgment to add, that my limping lines are not numerous, +compared with those that limp not. The truth is, that not one of them +all escaped me, but, such as they are, they were all made such with a +wilful intention. In poems of great length there is no blemish more to +be feared than sameness of numbers, and every art is useful by which it +may be avoided. A line, rough in itself, has yet its recommendations; +it saves the ear the pain of an irksome monotony, and seems even to add +greater smoothness to others. Milton, whose ear and taste were +exquisite, has exemplified in his Paradise Lost the effect of this +practice frequently. + +Having mentioned Milton, I cannot but add an observation on the +similitude of his manner to that of Homer. It is such, that no person +familiar with both, can read either without being reminded of the +other; and it is in those breaks and pauses, to which the numbers of +the English poet are so much indebted both for their dignity and +variety, that he chiefly copies the Grecian. But these are graces to +which rhyme is not competent; so broken, it loses all its music; of +which any person may convince himself by reading a page only of any of +our poets anterior to Denham, Waller, and Dryden. A translator of +Homer, therefore, seems directed by Homer himself to the use of blank +verse, as to that alone in which he can be rendered with any tolerable +representation of his manner in this particular. A remark which I am +naturally led to make by a desire to conciliate, if possible, some, +who, rather unreasonably partial to rhyme, demand it on all occasions, +and seem persuaded that poetry in our language is a vain attempt +without it. Verse, that claims to be verse in right of its metre only, +they judge to be such rather by courtesy than by kind, on an +apprehension that it costs the writer little trouble, that he has only +to give his lines their prescribed number of syllables, and so far as +the mechanical part is concerned, all is well. Were this true, they +would have reason on their side; for the author is certainly best +entitled to applause who succeeds against the greatest difficulty, and +in verse that calls for the most artificial management in its +construction. But the case is not as they suppose. To rhyme, in our +language, demands no great exertion of ingenuity, but is always easy to +a person exercised in the practice. Witness the multitudes who rhyme, +but have no other poetical pretensions. Let it be considered too, how +merciful we are apt to be to unclassical and indifferent language for +the sake of rhyme, and we shall soon see that the labor lies +principally on the other side. Many ornaments of no easy purchase are +required to atone for the absence of this single recommendation. It is +not sufficient that the lines of blank verse be smooth in themselves, +they must also be harmonious in the combination. Whereas the chief +concern of the rhymist is to beware that his couplets and his sense be +commensurate, lest the regularity of his numbers should be (too +frequently at least) interrupted. A trivial difficulty this, compared +with those which attend the poet unaccompanied by his bells. He, in +order that he may be musical, must exhibit all the variations, as he +proceeds, of which ten syllables are susceptible; between the first +syllable and the last there is no place at which he must not +occasionally pause, and the place of the pause must be perpetually +shifted. To effect this variety, his attention must be given, at one +and the same time, to the pauses he has already made in the period +before him, as well as to that which he is about to make, and to those +which shall succeed it. On no lighter terms than these is it possible +that blank verse can be written which will not, in the course of a long +work, fatigue the ear past all endurance. If it be easier, therefore, +to throw five balls into the air and to catch them in succession, than +to sport in that manner with one only, then may blank verse be more +easily fabricated than rhyme. And if to these labors we add others +equally requisite, a style in general more elaborate than rhyme +requires, farther removed from the vernacular idiom both in the +language itself and in the arrangement of it, we shall not long doubt +which of these two very different species of verse threatens the +composer with most expense of study and contrivance. I feel it +unpleasant to appeal to my own experience, but, having no other voucher +at hand, am constrained to it. As I affirm, so I have found. I have +dealt pretty largely in both kinds, and have frequently written more +verses in a day, with tags, than I could ever write without them. To +what has been here said (which whether it have been said by others or +not, I cannot tell, having never read any modern book on the subject) I +shall only add, that to be poetical without rhyme, is an argument of a +sound and classical constitution in any language. + +A word or two on the subject of the following translation, and I have +done. + +My chief boast is that I have adhered closely to my original, convinced +that every departure from him would be punished with the forfeiture of +some grace or beauty for which I could substitute no equivalent. The +epithets that would consent to an English form I have preserved as +epithets; others that would not, I have melted into the context. There +are none, I believe, which I have not translated in one way or other, +though the reader will not find them repeated so often as most of them +are in Homer, for a reason that need not be mentioned. + +Few persons of any consideration are introduced either in the Iliad or +Odyssey by their own name only, but their patronymic is given also. To +this ceremonial I have generally attended, because it is a circumstance +of my author’s manner. + +Homer never allots less than a whole line to the introduction of a +speaker. No, not even when the speech itself is no longer than the line +that leads it. A practice to which, since he never departs from it, he +must have been determined by some cogent reason. He probably deemed it +a formality necessary to the majesty of his narration. In this article, +therefore, I have scrupulously adhered to my pattern, considering these +introductory lines as heralds in a procession; important persons, +because employed to usher in persons more important than themselves. + +It has been my point every where to be as little verbose as possible, +though; at the same time, my constant determination not to sacrifice my +author’s full meaning to an affected brevity. + +In the affair of style, I have endeavored neither to creep nor to +bluster, for no author is so likely to betray his translator into both +these faults, as Homer, though himself never guilty of either. I have +cautiously avoided all terms of new invention, with an abundance of +which, persons of more ingenuity than judgment have not enriched our +language, but incumbered it. I have also every where used an +unabbreviated fullness of phrase as most suited to the nature of the +work, and, above all, have studied perspicuity, not only because verse +is good for little that wants it, but because Homer is the most +perspicuous of all poets. + +In all difficult places I have consulted the best commentators, and +where they have differed, or have given, as is often the case, a +variety of solutions, I have ever exercised my best judgment, and +selected that which appears, at least to myself, the most probable +interpretation. On this ground, and on account of the fidelity which I +have already boasted, I may venture, I believe, to recommend my work as +promising some usefulness to young students of the original. + +The passages which will be least noticed, and possibly not at all, +except by those who shall wish to find me at a fault, are those which +have cost me abundantly the most labor. It is difficult to kill a sheep +with dignity in a modern language, to flay and to prepare it for the +table, detailing every circumstance of the process. Difficult also, +without sinking below the level of poetry, to harness mules to a wagon, +particularizing every article of their furniture, straps, rings, +staples, and even the tying of the knots that kept all together. Homer, +who writes always to the eye, with all his sublimity and grandeur, has +the minuteness of a Flemish painter. + +But in what degree I have succeeded in my version either of these +passages, and such as these, or of others more buoyant and +above-ground, and especially of the most sublime, is now submitted to +the decision of the reader, to whom I am ready enough to confess that I +have not at all consulted their approbation, who account nothing grand +that is not turgid, or elegant that is not bedizened with metaphor. + +I purposely decline all declamation on the merits of Homer, because a +translator’s praises of his author are liable to a suspicion of dotage, +and because it were impossible to improve on those which this author +has received already. He has been the wonder of all countries that his +works have ever reached, even deified by the greatest names of +antiquity, and in some places actually worshipped. And to say truth, +were it possible that mere man could entitle himself by pre-eminence of +any kind to divine honors, Homer’s astonishing powers seem to have +given him the best pretensions. + +I cannot conclude without due acknowledgments to the best critic in +Homer I have ever met with, the learned and ingenious Mr. Fuseli. +Unknown as he was to me when I entered on this arduous undertaking +(indeed to this moment I have never seen him) he yet voluntarily and +generously offered himself as my revisor. To his classical taste and +just discernment I have been indebted for the discovery of many +blemishes in my own work, and of beauties, which would otherwise have +escaped me, in the original. But his necessary avocations would not +suffer him to accompany me farther than to the latter books of the +Iliad, a circumstance which I fear my readers, as well as myself, will +regret with too much reason.[1] + +I have obligations likewise to many friends, whose names, were it +proper to mention them here, would do me great honor. They have +encouraged me by their approbation, have assisted me with valuable +books, and have eased me of almost the whole labor of transcribing. + +And now I have only to regret that my pleasant work is ended. To the +illustrious Greek I owe the smooth and easy flight of many thousand +hours. He has been my companion at home and abroad, in the study, in +the garden, and in the field; and no measure of success, let my labors +succeed as they may, will ever compensate to me the loss of the +innocent luxury that I have enjoyed, as a translator of Homer. + +Footnote: + +Some of the few notes subjoined to my translation of the Odyssey are by +Mr. Fuseli, who had a short opportunity to peruse the MSS. while the +Iliad was printing. They are marked with his initial. + + + + +PREFACE + + +PREPARED BY MR. COWPER, +FOR A +SECOND EDITION. + +Soon after my publication of this work, I began to prepare it for a +second edition, by an accurate revisal of the first. It seemed to me, +that here and there, perhaps a slight alteration might satisfy the +demands of some, whom I was desirous to please; and I comforted myself +with the reflection, that if I still failed to conciliate all, I should +yet have no cause to account myself in a singular degree unfortunate. +To please an unqualified judge, an author must sacrifice too much; and +the attempt to please an uncandid one were altogether hopeless. In one +or other of these classes may be ranged all such objectors, as would +deprive blank verse of one of its principal advantages, the variety of +its pauses; together with all such as deny the good effect, on the +whole, of a line, now and then, less harmonious than its fellows. + +With respect to the pauses, it has been affirmed with an unaccountable +rashness, that Homer himself has given me an example of verse without +them. Had this been true, it would by no means have concluded against +the use of them in an English version of Homer; because, in one +language, and in one species of metre, that may be musical, which in +another would be found disgusting. But the assertion is totally +unfounded. The pauses in Homer’s verse are so frequent and various, +that to name another poet, if pauses are a fault, more faulty than he, +were, perhaps, impossible. It may even be questioned, if a single +passage of ten lines flowing with uninterrupted smoothness could be +singled out from all the thousands that he has left us. He frequently +pauses at the first word of the line, when it consists of three or more +syllables; not seldom when of two; and sometimes even when of one only. +In this practice he was followed, as was observed in my Preface to the +first edition, by the Author of the Paradise Lost. An example +inimitable indeed, but which no writer of English heroic verse without +rhyme can neglect with impunity. + +Similar to this is the objection which proscribes absolutely the +occasional use of a line irregularly constructed. When Horace censured +Lucilius for his lines _incomposite pede currentes_, he did not mean to +say, that he was chargeable with such in some instances, or even in +many, for then the censure would have been equally applicable to +himself; but he designed by that expression to characterize all his +writings. The censure therefore was just; Lucilius wrote at a time when +the Roman verse had not yet received its polish, and instead of +introducing artfully his rugged lines, and to serve a particular +purpose, had probably seldom, and never but by accident, composed a +smooth one. Such has been the versification of the earliest poets in +every country. Children lisp, at first, and stammer; but, in time, +their speech becomes fluent, and, if they are well taught, harmonious. + +Homer himself is not invariably regular in the construction of his +verse. Had he been so, Eustathius, an excellent critic and warm admirer +of Homer, had never affirmed, that some of his lines want a head, some +a tail, and others a middle. Some begin with a word that is neither +dactyl nor spondee, some conclude with a dactyl, and in the +intermediate part he sometimes deviates equally from the established +custom. I confess that instances of this sort are rare; but they are +surely, though few, sufficient to warrant a sparing use of similar +license in the present day. + +Unwilling, however, to seem obstinate in both these particulars, I +conformed myself in some measure to these objections, though +unconvinced myself of their propriety. Several of the rudest and most +unshapely lines I composed anew; and several of the pauses least in use +I displaced for the sake of an easier enunciation.—And this was the +state of the work after the revisal given it about seven years since. + +Between that revisal and the present a considerable time intervened, +and the effect of long discontinuance was, that I became more +dissatisfied with it myself, than the most difficult to be pleased of +all my judges. Not for the sake of a few uneven lines or unwonted +pauses, but for reasons far more substantial. The diction seemed to me +in many passages either not sufficiently elevated, or deficient in the +grace of ease, and in others I found the sense of the original either +not adequately expressed or misapprehended. Many elisions still +remained unsoftened; the compound epithets I found not always happily +combined, and the same sometimes too frequently repeated. + +There is no end of passages in Homer, which must creep unless they are +lifted; yet in such, all embellishment is out of the question. The hero +puts on his clothes, or refreshes himself with food and wine, or he +yokes his steed, takes a journey, and in the evening preparation is +made for his repose. To give relief to subjects prosaic as these +without seeming unreasonably tumid is extremely difficult. Mr. Pope +much abridges some of them, and others he omits; but neither of these +liberties was compatible with the nature of my undertaking. These, +therefore, and many similar to these, have been new-modeled; somewhat +to their advantage I hope, but not even now entirely to my +satisfaction. The lines have a more natural movement, the pauses are +fewer and less stately, the expression as easy as I could make it +without meanness, and these were all the improvements that I could give +them. + +The elisions, I believe, are all cured, with only one exception. An +alternative proposes itself to a modern versifier, from which there is +no escape, which occurs perpetually, and which, choose as he may, +presents him always with an evil. I mean in the instance of the +particle (_the_). When this particle precedes a vowel, shall he melt it +into the substantive, or leave the _hiatus_ open? Both practices are +offensive to a delicate ear. The particle absorbed occasions harshness, +and the open vowel a vacuity equally inconvenient. Sometimes, +therefore, to leave it open, and sometimes to ingraft it into its +adjunct seems most advisable; this course Mr. Pope has taken, whose +authority recommended it to me; though of the two evils I have most +frequently chosen the elision as the least. + +Compound epithets have obtained so long in the poetical language of our +country, that I employed them without fear or scruple. To have +abstained from them in a blank verse translation of Homer, who abounds +with them, and from whom our poets probably first adopted them, would +have been strange indeed. But though the genius of our language favors +the formation of such words almost as much as that of the Greek, it +happens sometimes, that a Grecian compound either cannot be rendered in +English at all, or, at best, but awkwardly. For this reason, and +because I found that some readers much disliked them, I have expunged +many; retaining, according to my best judgment, the most eligible only, +and making less frequent the repetitions even of these. + +I know not that I can add any thing material on the subject of this +last revisal, unless it be proper to give the reason why the Iliad, +though greatly altered, has undergone much fewer alterations than the +Odyssey. The true reason I believe is this. The Iliad demanded my +utmost possible exertions; it seemed to meet me like an ascent almost +perpendicular, which could not be surmounted at less cost than of all +the labor that I could bestow on it. The Odyssey on the contrary seemed +to resemble an open and level country, through which I might travel at +my ease. The latter, therefore, betrayed me into some negligence, +which, though little conscious of it at the time, on an accurate +search, I found had left many disagreeable effects behind it. + +I now leave the work to its fate. Another may labor hereafter in an +attempt of the same kind with more success; but more industriously, I +believe, none ever will. + + + + +PREFACE + + +BY +J. JOHNSON, LL.B. +CHAPLAIN TO THE BISHOP OF PETERBOROUGH. + +I have no other pretensions to the honorable name of Editor on this +occasion, than as a faithful transcriber of the Manuscript, and a +diligent corrector of the Press, which are, doubtless, two of the very +humblest employments in that most extensive province. I have wanted the +ability to attempt any thing higher; and, fortunately for the reader, I +have also wanted the presumption. What, however, I can do, I will. +Instead of critical remark, I will furnish him with anecdote. He shall +trace from beginning to end the progress of the following work; and in +proportion as I have the happiness to engage his attention, I shall +merit the name of a fortunate editor. + +It was in the darkest season of a most calamitous depression of his +spirits, that I was summoned to the house of my inestimable friend the +Translator, in the month of January, 1794. He had happily completed a +revisal of his Homer, and was thinking of the preface to his new +edition, when all his satisfaction in the one, and whatever he had +projected for the other, in a moment vanished from his mind. He had +fallen into a deplorable illness; and though the foremost wish of my +heart was to lessen the intenseness of his misery, I was utterly unable +to afford him any aid. + +I had, however, a pleasing though a melancholy opportunity of tracing +his recent footsteps in the Field of Troy, and in the Palace of Ithaca. +He had materially altered both the Iliad and Odyssey; and, so far as my +ability allowed me to judge, they were each of them greatly improved. +He had also, at the request of his bookseller, interspersed the two +poems with copious notes; for the most part translations of the ancient +Scholia, and gleaned, at the cost of many valuable hours, from the +pages of Barnes, Clarke, and Villoisson. It has been a constant subject +of regret to the admirers of “The Task,” that the exercise of such +marvelous original powers, should have been so long suspended by the +drudgery of translation; and in this view, their quarrel with the +illustrious Greek will be, doubtless, extended to his commentators.[1] + +During two long years from this most anxious period, the translation +continued as it was; and though, in the hope of its being able to +divert his melancholy, I had attempted more than once to introduce it +to its Author, I was every time painfully obliged to desist. But in the +summer of ninety-six, when he had resided with me in Norfolk twelve +miserable months, the introduction long wished for took place. To my +inexpressible astonishment and joy, I surprised him, one morning, with +the Iliad in his hand; and with an excess of delight, which I am still +more unable to describe, I the next day discovered that he had been +writing.—Were I to mention one of the happiest moments of my life, it +might be that which introduced me to the following lines:— + +Mistaken meanings corrected, +admonente G. Wakefield. B. XXIII. L. 429. that the nave +Of thy neat wheel seem e’en to grind upon it. L. 865. As when (the +north wind freshening) near the bank +Up springs a fish in air, then falls again +And disappears beneath the sable flood, +So at the stroke, he bounded. L. 1018. Thenceforth Tydides o’er his +ample shield +Aim’d and still aim’d to pierce him in the neck. Or better thus— +Tydides, in return, with spear high-poised +O’er the broad shield, aim’d ever at his neck, Or best of all— Then +Tydeus’ son, with spear high-poised above +The ample shield, stood aiming at his neck. + +He had written these lines with a pencil, on a leaf at the end of his +Iliad; and when I reflected on the cause which had given them birth, I +could not but admire its disproportion to the effect. What the voice of +persuasion had failed in for a year, accident had silently accomplished +in a single day. The circumstance I allude to was this: I received a +copy of the Iliad and Odyssey of Pope, then recently published by the +Editor above mentioned, with illustrative and critical notes of his +own. As it commended Mr. Cowper’s Translation in the Preface, and +occasionally pointed out its merits in the Notes, I was careful to +place it in his way; though it was more from a habit of experiment +which I had contracted, than from well-grounded hopes of success. But +what a fortunate circumstance was the arrival of this Work! and by what +name worthy of its influence shall I call it? In the mouth of an +indifferent person it might be Chance; but in mine; whom it rendered so +peculiarly happy, common gratitude requires that it should be +Providence. + +As I watched him with an indescribable interest in his progress, I had +the satisfaction to find, that, after a few mornings given to +promiscuous correction, and to frequent perusal of the above-mentioned +Notes, he was evidently settling on the sixteenth Book. This he went +regularly through, and the fruits of an application so happily resumed +were, one day with another, about sixty new lines. But with the end of +the sixteenth Book he had closed the corrections of the year. An +excursion to the coast, which immediately followed, though it promised +an accession of strength to the body, could not fail to interfere with +the pursuits of the mind. It was therefore with much less surprise than +regret, that I saw him relinquish the “_Tale of Troy Divine_.” + +Such was the prelude to the last revisal, which, in the month of +January, ninety-seven, Mr. Cowper was persuaded to undertake; and to a +faithful copy, as I trust, of which, I have at this time the honor to +conduct the reader. But it may not be amiss to observe, that with +regard to the earlier books of the Iliad, it was less a revisal of the +altered text, than of the text as it stands in the first edition. For +though the interleaved copy was always at hand, and in the multitude of +its altered places could hardly fail to offer some things worthy to be +preserved, but which the ravages of illness and the lapse of time might +have utterly effaced from his mind, I could not often persuade the +Translator to consult it. I was therefore induced, in the course of +transcribing, to compare the two revisals as I went along, and to plead +for the continuance of the first correction, when it forcibly struck me +as better than the last. This, however, but seldom occurred; and the +practice, at length, was completely left off, by his consenting to +receive into the number of the books which were daily laid open before +him, the interleaved copy to which I allude. + +At the end of the first six books of the Iliad, the arrival of spring +brought the usual interruptions of exercise and air, which increased as +the summer advanced to a degree so unfavorable to the progress of +Homer, that in the requisite attention to their salutary claims, the +revisal was, at one time, altogether at a stand. Only four books were +added in the course of nine months; but opportunity returning as the +winter set in, there were added, in less than seven weeks, four more: +and thus ended the year ninety-seven. + +As the spring that succeeded was a happier spring, so it led to a +happier summer. We had no longer air and exercise alone, but exercise +and Homer hand in hand. He even followed us thrice to the sea: and +whether our walks were + +“on the margin of the land, +O’er the green summit of the” cliffs, “whose base +Beats back the roaring surge,” +“or on the shore +Of the untillable and barren deep,” + +they were always within hearing of his magic song. About the middle of +this busy summer, the revisal of the Iliad was brought to a close; and +on the very next day, the 24th of July, the correction of the Odyssey +commenced,—a morning rendered memorable by a kind and unexpected visit +from the patroness of that work, the Dowager Lady Spencer! + +It is not my intention to detain the reader with a progressive account +of the Odyssey revised, as circumstantial as that of the Iliad, because +it went on smoothly from beginning to end, and was finished in less +than eight months. + +I cannot deliver these volumes to the public without feeling emotions +of gratitude toward Heaven, in recollecting how often this corrected +Work has appeared to me an instrument of Divine mercy, to mitigate the +sufferings of my excellent relation. Its progress in our private hours +was singularly medicinal to his mind: may its presentment to the Public +prove not less conducive to the honor of the departed Author, who has +every claim to my veneration! As a copious life of the Poet is already +in the press, from the pen of his intimate friend Mr. Hayley, it is +unnecessary for me to enter on such extensive commendation of his +character, as my own intimacy with him might suggest; but I hope the +reader will kindly allow me the privilege of indulging, in some degree, +the feelings of my heart, by applying to him, in the close of this +Preface, an expressive verse (borrowed from Homer) which he inscribed +himself, with some little variation, on a bust of his Grecian Favorite. + + +Ως τε πατηρ ω παιδι, και ουποτε λησομαι αυτε. + +Loved as his Son, in him I early found +A Father, such as I will ne’er forget. + + +Footnote: + +Very few signatures had at this time been affixed to the notes; but I +afterward compared them with the Greek, note by note, and endeavored to +supply the defect; more especially in the last three Volumes, where the +reader will be pleased to observe that all the notes without signatures +are Mr. Cowper’s, and that those marked B.C.V. are respectively found +in the editions of Homer by Barnes, Clarke, and Villoisson. But the +employment was so little to the taste and inclination of the poet, that +he never afterward revised them, or added to their number more than +these which follow;—In the Odyssey, Vol. I. Book xi., the note 32.—Vol. +II. Book xv., the note 13.—The note10 Book xvi., of that volume, and +the note 14, Book xix., of the same. + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT TO SOUTHEY’S EDITION + + +It is incumbent upon the present Editor to state the reasons which have +induced him, between two editions of Cowper’s Homer, differing so +materially from each other that they might almost be deemed different +versions, to prefer the first. + +Whoever has perused the Translator’s letters, must have perceived that +he had considered with no ordinary care the scheme of his +versification, and that when he resolved upon altering it in a second +edition, it was in deference to the opinion of others. + +It seems to the Editor that Cowper’s own judgment is entitled to more +respect, than that of any, or all his critics; and that the version +which he composed when his faculties were most active and his spirits +least subject to depression,—indeed in the happiest part of his +life,—ought not to be superseded by a revisal, or rather +reconstruction, which was undertaken three years before his death,—not +like the first translation as “a pleasant work, an innocent luxury,” +the cheerful and delightful occupation of hope and ardor and +ambition,—but as a “hopeless employment,” a task to which he gave “all +his miserable days, and often many hours of the night,” seeking to +beguile the sense of utter wretchedness, by altering as if for the sake +of alteration. + +The Editor has been confirmed in this opinion by the concurrence of +every person with whom he has communicated on the subject. Among others +he takes the liberty of mentioning Mr. Cary, whose authority upon such +a question is of especial weight, the Translator of Dante being the +only one of our countrymen who has ever executed a translation of equal +magnitude and not less difficulty, with the same perfect fidelity and +admirable skill. + +In support of this determination, the case of Tasso may be cited as +curiously in point. The great Italian poet altered his Jerusalem like +Cowper, against his own judgment, in submission to his critics: he made +the alteration in the latter years of his life, and in a diseased state +of mind; and he proceeded upon the same prescribed rule of smoothing +down his versification, and removing all the elisions. The consequence +has been that the reconstructed poem is utterly neglected, and has +rarely, if ever, been reprinted, except in the two great editions of +his collected works; while the original poem has been and continues to +be in such demand, that the most diligent bibliographer might vainly +attempt to enumerate all the editions through which it has passed. + + + + +EDITOR’S NOTE. + + +It will be seen by the Advertisement to Southey’s edition of Cowper’s +Translation of the Iliad, that he has the highest opinion of its +merits, and that he also gives the preference to Cowper’s unrevised +edition. The Editor of the present edition is happy to offer it to the +public under the sanction of such high authority. + +In the addition of notes I have availed myself of the learning of +various commentators (Pope, Coleridge, Müller, etc.) and covet no +higher praise than the approval of my judgment in the selection. + +Those bearing the signature E.P.P., were furnished by my friend Miss +Peabody, of Boston. I would also acknowledge my obligations to C.C. +Felton, Eliot Professor of Greek in Harvard University. It should be +observed, that the remarks upon the language of the poem refer to it in +the original. + +For a definite treatment of the character of each deity introduced in +the Iliad, and for the fable of the Judgment of Paris, which was the +primary cause of the Trojan war, the reader is referred to “Grecian and +Roman Mythology.” + +It is intended that this edition of the Iliad shall be followed by a +similar one of the Odyssey, provided sufficient encouragement is given +by the demand for the present volume. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + BOOK I. + BOOK II. + BOOK III. + BOOK IV. + BOOK V. + BOOK VI. + BOOK VII. + BOOK VIII. + BOOK IX. + BOOK X. + BOOK XI. + BOOK XII. + BOOK XIII. + BOOK XIV. + BOOK XV. + BOOK XVI. + BOOK XVII. + BOOK XVIII. + BOOK XIX. + BOOK XX. + BOOK XXI. + BOOK XXII. + BOOK XXIII. + BOOK XXIV. + + + + +THE +ILIAD OF HOMER, +TRANSLATED INTO +ENGLISH BLANK VERSE. + + + + +BOOK I. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST BOOK. + +The book opens with an account of a pestilence that prevailed in the +Grecian camp, and the cause of it is assigned. A council is called, in +which fierce altercation takes place between Agamemnon and Achilles. +The latter solemnly renounces the field. Agamemnon, by his heralds, +demands Brisëis, and Achilles resigns her. He makes his complaint to +Thetis, who undertakes to plead his cause with Jupiter. She pleads it, +and prevails. The book concludes with an account of what passed in +Heaven on that occasion. + + +[The reader will please observe, that by Achaians, Argives, Danaï, are +signified Grecians. Homer himself having found these various +appellatives both graceful and convenient, it seemed unreasonable that +a Translator of him should be denied the same advantage.—Tr.] + + +BOOK I. + + +Achilles sing, O Goddess! Peleus’ son; +His wrath pernicious, who ten thousand woes +Caused to Achaia’s host, sent many a soul +Illustrious into Ades premature, +And Heroes gave (so stood the will of Jove)5 +To dogs and to all ravening fowls a prey, +When fierce dispute had separated once +The noble Chief Achilles from the son +Of Atreus, Agamemnon, King of men. +Who them to strife impell’d? What power divine?10 +Latona’s son and Jove’s.[1] For he, incensed +Against the King, a foul contagion raised +In all the host, and multitudes destroy’d, +For that the son of Atreus had his priest +Dishonored, Chryses. To the fleet he came15 +Bearing rich ransom glorious to redeem +His daughter, and his hands charged with the wreath +And golden sceptre[2] of the God shaft-arm’d. +His supplication was at large to all +The host of Greece, but most of all to two,20 +The sons of Atreus, highest in command. +Ye gallant Chiefs, and ye their gallant host, +(So may the Gods who in Olympus dwell +Give Priam’s treasures to you for a spoil +And ye return in safety,) take my gifts25 +And loose my child, in honor of the son +Of Jove, Apollo, archer of the skies.[3] +At once the voice of all was to respect +The priest, and to accept the bounteous price; +But so it pleased not Atreus’ mighty son,30 +Who with rude threatenings stern him thence dismiss’d. +Beware, old man! that at these hollow barks +I find thee not now lingering, or henceforth +Returning, lest the garland of thy God +And his bright sceptre should avail thee nought.35 +I will not loose thy daughter, till old age +Steal on her. From her native country far, +In Argos, in my palace, she shall ply +The loom, and shall be partner of my bed. +Move me no more. Begone; hence while thou may’st.40 +He spake, the old priest trembled and obey’d. +Forlorn he roamed the ocean’s sounding shore, +And, solitary, with much prayer his King +Bright-hair’d Latona’s son, Phœbus, implored.[4] +God of the silver bow, who with thy power45 +Encirclest Chrysa, and who reign’st supreme +In Tenedos and Cilla the divine, +Sminthian[5] Apollo![6] If I e’er adorned +Thy beauteous fane, or on the altar burn’d +The fat acceptable of bulls or goats,50 +Grant my petition. With thy shafts avenge +On the Achaian host thy servant’s tears. +Such prayer he made, and it was heard.[7] The God, +Down from Olympus with his radiant bow +And his full quiver o’er his shoulder slung,55 +Marched in his anger; shaken as he moved +His rattling arrows told of his approach. +Gloomy he came as night; sat from the ships +Apart, and sent an arrow. Clang’d the cord +[8]Dread-sounding, bounding on the silver bow.[9]60 +Mules first and dogs he struck,[10] but at themselves +Dispatching soon his bitter arrows keen, +Smote them. Death-piles on all sides always blazed. +Nine days throughout the camp his arrows flew; +The tenth, Achilles from all parts convened65 +The host in council. Juno the white-armed +Moved at the sight of Grecians all around +Dying, imparted to his mind the thought.[11] +The full assembly, therefore, now convened, +Uprose Achilles ardent, and began.70 + +Atrides! Now, it seems, no course remains +For us, but that the seas roaming again, +We hence return; at least if we survive; +But haste, consult we quick some prophet here +Or priest, or even interpreter of dreams,75 +(For dreams are also of Jove,) that we may learn +By what crime we have thus incensed Apollo, +What broken vow, what hecatomb unpaid +He charges on us, and if soothed with steam +Of lambs or goats unblemish’d, he may yet80 +Be won to spare us, and avert the plague. +He spake and sat, when Thestor’s son arose +Calchas, an augur foremost in his art, +Who all things, present, past, and future knew, +And whom his skill in prophecy, a gift85 +Conferred by Phœbus on him, had advanced +To be conductor of the fleet to Troy; +He, prudent, them admonishing, replied.[12] +Jove-loved Achilles! Wouldst thou learn from me +What cause hath moved Apollo to this wrath,90 +The shaft-arm’d King? I shall divulge the cause. +But thou, swear first and covenant on thy part +That speaking, acting, thou wilt stand prepared +To give me succor; for I judge amiss, +Or he who rules the Argives, the supreme95 +O’er all Achaia’s host, will be incensed. +Wo to the man who shall provoke the King +For if, to-day, he smother close his wrath, +He harbors still the vengeance, and in time +Performs it. Answer, therefore, wilt thou save me?100 +To whom Achilles, swiftest of the swift. +What thou hast learn’d in secret from the God +That speak, and boldly. By the son of Jove, +Apollo, whom thou, Calchas, seek’st in prayer +Made for the Danaï, and who thy soul105 +Fills with futurity, in all the host +The Grecian lives not, who while I shall breathe, +And see the light of day, shall in this camp +Oppress thee; no, not even if thou name +Him, Agamemnon, sovereign o’er us all.110 +Then was the seer embolden’d, and he spake. +Nor vow nor hecatomb unpaid on us +He charges, but the wrong done to his priest +Whom Agamemnon slighted when he sought +His daughter’s freedom, and his gifts refused.115 +He is the cause. Apollo for his sake +Afflicts and will afflict us, neither end +Nor intermission of his heavy scourge +Granting, till unredeem’d, no price required, +The black-eyed maid be to her father sent,120 +And a whole hecatomb in Chrysa bleed. +Then, not before, the God may be appeased. +He spake and sat; when Atreus’ son arose, +The Hero Agamemnon, throned supreme. +Tempests of black resentment overcharged125 +His heart, and indignation fired his eyes. +On Calchas lowering, him he first address’d. +Prophet of mischief! from whose tongue no note +Of grateful sound to me, was ever heard; +Ill tidings are thy joy, and tidings glad130 +Thou tell’st not, or thy words come not to pass. +And now among the Danaï thy dreams +Divulging, thou pretend’st the Archer-God +For his priest’s sake, our enemy, because +I scorn’d his offer’d ransom of the maid135 +Chrysëis, more desirous far to bear +Her to my home, for that she charms me more +Than Clytemnestra, my own first espoused, +With whom, in disposition, feature, form, +Accomplishments, she may be well compared.140 +Yet, being such, I will return her hence +If that she go be best. Perish myself— +But let the people of my charge be saved +Prepare ye, therefore, a reward for me, +And seek it instant. It were much unmeet145 +That I alone of all the Argive host +Should want due recompense, whose former prize +Is elsewhere destined, as ye all perceive. +To whom Achilles, matchless in the race. +Atrides, glorious above all in rank,150 +And as intent on gain as thou art great, +Whence shall the Grecians give a prize to thee? +The general stock is poor; the spoil of towns +Which we have taken, hath already passed +In distribution, and it were unjust155 +To gather it from all the Greeks again. +But send thou back this Virgin to her God, +And when Jove’s favor shall have given us Troy, +A threefold, fourfold share shall then be thine. +To whom the Sovereign of the host replied.160 +Godlike Achilles, valiant as thou art, +Wouldst thou be subtle too? But me no fraud +Shall overreach, or art persuade, of thine. +Wouldst thou, that thou be recompensed, and I +Sit meekly down, defrauded of my due?165 +And didst thou bid me yield her? Let the bold +Achaians give me competent amends, +Such as may please me, and it shall be well. +Else, if they give me none, I will command +Thy prize, the prize of Ajax, or the prize170 +It may be of Ulysses to my tent, +And let the loser chafe. But this concern +Shall be adjusted at convenient time. +Come—launch we now into the sacred deep +A bark with lusty rowers well supplied;175 +Then put on board Chrysëis, and with her +The sacrifice required. Go also one +High in authority, some counsellor, +Idomeneus, or Ajax, or thyself, +Thou most untractable of all mankind;180 +And seek by rites of sacrifice and prayer +To appease Apollo on our host’s behalf. +Achilles eyed him with a frown, and spake. +Ah! clothed with impudence as with a cloak, +And full of subtlety, who, thinkest thou—185 +What Grecian here will serve thee, or for thee +Wage covert war, or open? Me thou know’st, +Troy never wronged; I came not to avenge +Harm done to me; no Trojan ever drove +My pastures, steeds or oxen took of mine,190 +Or plunder’d of their fruits the golden fields +Of Phthia[13] the deep-soil’d. She lies remote, +And obstacles are numerous interposed, +Vale-darkening mountains, and the dashing sea. +No, [14]Shameless Wolf! For thy good pleasure’s sake195 +We came, and, [15]Face of flint! to avenge the wrongs +By Menelaus and thyself sustain’d, +On the offending Trojan—service kind, +But lost on thee, regardless of it all. +And now—What now? Thy threatening is to seize200 +Thyself, the just requital of my toils, +My prize hard-earn’d, by common suffrage mine. +I never gain, what Trojan town soe’er +We ransack, half thy booty. The swift march +And furious onset—these I largely reap,205 +But, distribution made, thy lot exceeds +Mine far; while I, with any pittance pleased, +Bear to my ships the little that I win +After long battle, and account it much. +But I am gone, I and my sable barks210 +(My wiser course) to Phthia, and I judge, +Scorn’d as I am, that thou shalt hardly glean +Without me, more than thou shalt soon consume.[16] +He ceased, and Agamemnon thus replied +Fly, and fly now; if in thy soul thou feel215 +Such ardor of desire to go—begone! +I woo thee not to stay; stay not an hour +On my behalf, for I have others here +Who will respect me more, and above all +All-judging Jove. There is not in the host220 +King or commander whom I hate as thee, +For all thy pleasure is in strife and blood, +And at all times; yet valor is no ground +Whereon to boast, it is the gift of Heaven +Go, get ye back to Phthia, thou and thine!225 +There rule thy Myrmidons.[17] I need not thee, +Nor heed thy wrath a jot. But this I say, +Sure as Apollo takes my lovely prize +Chrysëis, and I shall return her home +In mine own bark, and with my proper crew,230 +So sure the fair Brisëis shall be mine. +I shall demand her even at thy tent. +So shalt thou well be taught, how high in power +I soar above thy pitch, and none shall dare +Attempt, thenceforth, comparison with me.235 +He ended, and the big, disdainful heart +Throbbed of Achilles; racking doubt ensued +And sore perplex’d him, whether forcing wide +A passage through them, with his blade unsheathed +To lay Atrides breathless at his foot,240 +Or to command his stormy spirit down. +So doubted he, and undecided yet +Stood drawing forth his falchion huge; when lo! +Down sent by Juno, to whom both alike +Were dear, and who alike watched over both,245 +Pallas descended. At his back she stood +To none apparent, save himself alone, +And seized his golden locks. Startled, he turned, +And instant knew Minerva. Flashed her eyes +Terrific;[18] whom with accents on the wing250 +Of haste, incontinent he questioned thus. +Daughter of Jove, why comest thou? that thyself +May’st witness these affronts which I endure +From Agamemnon? Surely as I speak, +This moment, for his arrogance, he dies.255 +To whom the blue-eyed Deity. From heaven +Mine errand is, to sooth, if thou wilt hear, +Thine anger. Juno the white-arm’d alike +To him and thee propitious, bade me down: +Restrain thy wrath. Draw not thy falchion forth.260 +Retort, and sharply, and let that suffice. +For I foretell thee true. Thou shalt receive, +Some future day, thrice told, thy present loss +For this day’s wrong. Cease, therefore, and be still. +To whom Achilles. Goddess, although much265 +Exasperate, I dare not disregard +Thy word, which to obey is always best.[19] +Who hears the Gods, the Gods hear also him. +He said; and on his silver hilt the force +Of his broad hand impressing, sent the blade270 +Home to its rest, nor would the counsel scorn +Of Pallas. She to heaven well-pleased return’d, +And in the mansion of Jove Ægis[20]-armed +Arriving, mingled with her kindred Gods. +But though from violence, yet not from words275 +Abstained Achilles, but with bitter taunt +Opprobrious, his antagonist reproached. +Oh charged with wine, in steadfastness of face +Dog unabashed, and yet at heart a deer! +Thou never, when the troops have taken arms,280 +Hast dared to take thine also; never thou +Associate with Achaia’s Chiefs, to form +The secret ambush.[21] No. The sound of war +Is as the voice of destiny to thee. +Doubtless the course is safer far, to range285 +Our numerous host, and if a man have dared +Dispute thy will, to rob him of his prize. +King! over whom? Women and spiritless— +Whom therefore thou devourest; else themselves +Would stop that mouth that it should scoff no more.290 +But hearken. I shall swear a solemn oath. +By this same sceptre,[22] which shall never bud, +Nor boughs bring forth as once, which having left +Its stock on the high mountains, at what time +The woodman’s axe lopped off its foliage green,295 +And stript its bark, shall never grow again; +Which now the judges of Achaia bear, +Who under Jove, stand guardians of the laws, +By this I swear (mark thou the sacred oath) +Time shall be, when Achilles shall be missed;300 +When all shall want him, and thyself the power +To help the Achaians, whatsoe’er thy will; +When Hector at your heels shall mow you down: +The Hero-slaughtering Hector! Then thy soul, +Vexation-stung, shall tear thee with remorse,305 +That thou hast scorn’d, as he were nothing worth, +A Chief, the soul and bulwark of your cause. +So saying, he cast his sceptre on the ground +Studded with gold, and sat. On the other side +The son of Atreus all impassion’d stood,310 +When the harmonious orator arose +Nestor, the Pylian oracle, whose lips +Dropped eloquence—the honey not so sweet. +Two generations past of mortals born +In Pylus, coëtaneous with himself,315 +He govern’d now the third—amid them all +He stood, and thus, benevolent, began. +Ah! what calamity hath fall’n on Greece! +Now Priam and his sons may well exult, +Now all in Ilium shall have joy of heart320 +Abundant, hearing of this broil, the prime +Of Greece between, in council and in arms. +But be persuaded; ye are younger both +Than I, and I was conversant of old +With Princes your superiors, yet from them325 +No disrespect at any time received. +Their equals saw I never; never shall; +Exadius, Cœneus, and the Godlike son +Of Ægeus, mighty Theseus; men renown’d +For force superior to the race of man,330 +Brave Chiefs they were, and with brave foes they fought, +With the rude dwellers on the mountain-heights +The Centaurs,[23] whom with havoc such as fame +Shall never cease to celebrate, they slew. +With these men I consorted erst, what time335 +From Pylus, though a land from theirs remote, +They called me forth, and such as was my strength, +With all that strength I served them. Who is he? +What Prince or Chief of the degenerate race +Now seen on earth who might with these compare?340 +Yet even these would listen and conform +To my advice in consultation given, +Which hear ye also; for compliance proves +Oft times the safer and the manlier course. +Thou, Agamemnon! valiant as thou art,345 +Seize not the maid, his portion from the Greeks, +But leave her his; nor thou, Achilles, strive +With our imperial Chief; for never King +Had equal honor at the hands of Jove +With Agamemnon, or was throned so high.350 +Say thou art stronger, and art Goddess-born, +How then? His territory passes thine, +And he is Lord of thousands more than thou. +Cease, therefore, Agamemnon; calm thy wrath; +And it shall be mine office to entreat355 +Achilles also to a calm, whose might +The chief munition is of all our host. +To whom the sovereign of the Greeks replied, +The son of Atreus. Thou hast spoken well, +Old Chief, and wisely. But this wrangler here—360 +Nought will suffice him but the highest place: +He must control us all, reign over all, +Dictate to all; but he shall find at least +One here, disposed to question his commands. +If the eternal Gods have made him brave,365 +Derives he thence a privilege to rail? +Whom thus Achilles interrupted fierce. +Could I be found so abject as to take +The measure of my doings at thy lips, +Well might they call me coward through the camp,370 +A vassal, and a fellow of no worth. +Give law to others. Think not to control +Me, subject to thy proud commands no more. +Hear yet again! And weigh what thou shalt hear. +I will not strive with thee in such a cause,375 +Nor yet with any man; I scorn to fight +For her, whom having given, ye take away. +But I have other precious things on board; +Of those take none away without my leave. +Or if it please thee, put me to the proof380 +Before this whole assembly, and my spear +Shall stream that moment, purpled with thy blood. +Thus they long time in opposition fierce +Maintained the war of words; and now, at length, +(The grand consult dissolved,) Achilles walked385 +(Patroclus and the Myrmidons his steps +Attending) to his camp and to his fleet. +But Agamemnon order’d forth a bark, +A swift one, manned with twice ten lusty rowers; +He sent on board the Hecatomb:[24] he placed390 +Chrysëis with the blooming cheeks, himself, +And to Ulysses gave the freight in charge. +So all embarked, and plow’d their watery way. +Atrides, next, bade purify the host; +The host was purified, as he enjoin’d,395 +And the ablution cast into the sea. +Then to Apollo, on the shore they slew, +Of the untillable and barren deep, +Whole Hecatombs of bulls and goats, whose steam +Slowly in smoky volumes climbed the skies.400 +Thus was the camp employed; nor ceased the while +The son of Atreus from his threats denounced +At first against Achilles, but command +Gave to Talthybius and Eurybates +His heralds, ever faithful to his will.405 +Haste—Seek ye both the tent of Peleus’ son +Achilles. Thence lead hither by the hand +Blooming Brisëis, whom if he withhold, +Not her alone, but other spoil myself +Will take in person—He shall rue the hour.410 +With such harsh message charged he them dismissed +They, sad and slow, beside the barren waste +Of Ocean, to the galleys and the tents +Moved of the Myrmidons. Him there they found +Beneath the shadow of his bark reclined,415 +Nor glad at their approach. Trembling they stood, +In presence of the royal Chief, awe-struck, +Nor questioned him or spake. He not the less +Knew well their embassy, and thus began. +Ye heralds, messengers of Gods and men,420 +Hail, and draw near! I bid you welcome both. +I blame not you; the fault is his alone +Who sends you to conduct the damsel hence +Brisëis. Go, Patroclus, generous friend! +Lead forth, and to their guidance give the maid.425 +But be themselves my witnesses before +The blessed Gods, before mankind, before +The ruthless king, should want of me be felt +To save the host from havoc[25]—Oh, his thoughts +Are madness all; intelligence or skill,430 +Forecast or retrospect, how best the camp +May be secured from inroad, none hath he. +He ended, nor Patroclus disobey’d, +But leading beautiful Brisëis forth +Into their guidance gave her; loth she went435 +From whom she loved, and looking oft behind. +Then wept Achilles, and apart from all, +With eyes directed to the gloomy Deep +And arms outstretch’d, his mother suppliant sought. +Since, mother, though ordain’d so soon to die,440 +I am thy son, I might with cause expect +Some honor at the Thunderer’s hands, but none +To me he shows, whom Agamemnon, Chief +Of the Achaians, hath himself disgraced, +Seizing by violence my just reward.445 +So prayed he weeping, whom his mother heard +Within the gulfs of Ocean where she sat +Beside her ancient sire. From the gray flood +Ascending sudden, like a mist she came, +Sat down before him, stroked his face, and said.450 +Why weeps my son? and what is thy distress? +Hide not a sorrow that I wish to share. +To whom Achilles, sighing deep, replied. +Why tell thee woes to thee already known? +At Thebes, Eëtion’s city we arrived,455 +Smote, sack’d it, and brought all the spoil away. +Just distribution made among the Greeks, +The son of Atreus for his lot received +Blooming Chrysëis. Her, Apollo’s priest +Old Chryses followed to Achaia’s camp,460 +That he might loose his daughter. Ransom rich +He brought, and in his hands the hallow’d wreath +And golden sceptre of the Archer God +Apollo, bore; to the whole Grecian host, +But chiefly to the foremost in command465 +He sued, the sons of Atreus; then, the rest +All recommended reverence of the Seer, +And prompt acceptance of his costly gifts. +But Agamemnon might not so be pleased, +Who gave him rude dismission; he in wrath470 +Returning, prayed, whose prayer Apollo heard, +For much he loved him. A pestiferous shaft +He instant shot into the Grecian host, +And heap’d the people died. His arrows swept +The whole wide camp of Greece, till at the last475 +A Seer, by Phœbus taught, explain’d the cause. +I first advised propitiation. Rage +Fired Agamemnon. Rising, he denounced +Vengeance, and hath fulfilled it. She, in truth, +Is gone to Chrysa, and with her we send480 +Propitiation also to the King +Shaft-arm’d Apollo. But my beauteous prize +Brisëis, mine by the award of all, +His heralds, at this moment, lead away. +But thou, wherein thou canst, aid thy own son!485 +Haste hence to Heaven, and if thy word or deed +Hath ever gratified the heart of Jove, +With earnest suit press him on my behalf. +For I, not seldom, in my father’s hall +Have heard thee boasting, how when once the Gods,490 +With Juno, Neptune, Pallas at their head, +Conspired to bind the Thunderer, thou didst loose +His bands, O Goddess! calling to his aid +The Hundred-handed warrior, by the Gods +Briareus, but by men, Ægeon named.[26]495 +For he in prowess and in might surpassed +His father Neptune, who, enthroned sublime, +Sits second only to Saturnian Jove, +Elate with glory and joy. Him all the Gods +Fearing from that bold enterprise abstained.500 +Now, therefore, of these things reminding Jove, +Embrace his knees; entreat him that he give +The host of Troy his succor, and shut fast +The routed Grecians, prisoners in the fleet, +That all may find much solace[27] in their King,505 +And that the mighty sovereign o’er them all, +Their Agamemnon, may himself be taught +His rashness, who hath thus dishonor’d foul +The life itself, and bulwark of his cause. +To him, with streaming eyes, Thetis replied.510 +Born as thou wast to sorrow, ah, my son! +Why have I rear’d thee! Would that without tears, +Or cause for tears (transient as is thy life, +A little span) thy days might pass at Troy! +But short and sorrowful the fates ordain515 +Thy life, peculiar trouble must be thine, +Whom, therefore, oh that I had never borne! +But seeking the Olympian hill snow-crown’d, +I will myself plead for thee in the ear +Of Jove, the Thunderer. Meantime at thy fleet520 +Abiding, let thy wrath against the Greeks +Still burn, and altogether cease from war. +For to the banks of the Oceanus,[28] +Where Æthiopia holds a feast to Jove,[29] +He journey’d yesterday, with whom the Gods525 +Went also, and the twelfth day brings them home. +Then will I to his brazen-floor’d abode, +That I may clasp his knees, and much misdeem +Of my endeavor, or my prayer shall speed. +So saying, she went; but him she left enraged530 +For fair Brisëis’ sake, forced from his arms +By stress of power. Meantime Ulysses came +To Chrysa with the Hecatomb in charge. +Arrived within the haven[30] deep, their sails +Furling, they stowed them in the bark below.535 +Then by its tackle lowering swift the mast +Into its crutch, they briskly push’d to land, +Heaved anchors out, and moor’d the vessel fast. +Forth came the mariners, and trod the beach; +Forth came the victims of Apollo next,540 +And, last, Chrysëis. Her Ulysses led +Toward the altar, gave her to the arms +Of her own father, and him thus address’d. +O Chryses! Agamemnon, King of men, +Hath sent thy daughter home, with whom we bring545 +A Hecatomb on all our host’s behalf +To Phœbus, hoping to appease the God +By whose dread shafts the Argives now expire. +So saying, he gave her to him, who with joy +Received his daughter. Then, before the shrine550 +Magnificent in order due they ranged +The noble Hecatomb.[31] Each laved his hands +And took the salted meal, and Chryses made +His fervent prayer with hands upraised on high. +God of the silver bow, who with thy power555 +Encirclest Chrysa, and who reign’st supreme +In Tenedos, and Cilla the divine! +Thou prov’dst propitious to my first request, +Hast honor’d me, and punish’d sore the Greeks; +Hear yet thy servant’s prayer; take from their host560 +At once the loathsome pestilence away! +So Chryses prayed, whom Phœbus heard well-pleased; +Then prayed the Grecians also, and with meal +Sprinkling the victims, their retracted necks +First pierced, then flay’d them; the disjointed thighs565 +They, next, invested with the double caul, +Which with crude slices thin they overspread. +The priest burned incense, and libation poured +Large on the hissing brands, while, him beside, +Busy with spit and prong, stood many a youth570 +Trained to the task. The thighs with fire consumed, +They gave to each his portion of the maw, +Then slashed the remnant, pierced it with the spits, +And managing with culinary skill +The roast, withdrew it from the spits again.575 +Their whole task thus accomplish’d, and the board +Set forth, they feasted, and were all sufficed. +When neither hunger more nor thirst remained +Unsatisfied, boys crown’d the beakers high +With wine delicious, and from right to left580 +Distributing the cups, served every guest. +Thenceforth the youths of the Achaian race +To song propitiatory gave the day, +Pæans[32] to Phœbus, Archer of the skies, +Chaunting melodious. Pleased, Apollo heard.585 +But, when, the sun descending, darkness fell, +They on the beach beside their hawsers slept; +And, when the day-spring’s daughter rosy-palm’d +Aurora look’d abroad, then back they steer’d +To the vast camp. Fair wind, and blowing fresh,590 +Apollo sent them; quick they rear’d the mast, +Then spread the unsullied canvas to the gale, +And the wind filled it. Roared the sable flood +Around the bark, that ever as she went +Dash’d wide the brine, and scudded swift away.595 +Thus reaching soon the spacious camp of Greece, +Their galley they updrew sheer o’er the sands +From the rude surge remote, then propp’d her sides +With scantlings long,[33] and sought their several tents. +But Peleus’ noble son, the speed-renown’d600 +Achilles, he, his well-built bark beside, +Consumed his hours, nor would in council more, +Where wise men win distinction, or in fight +Appear, to sorrow and heart-withering wo +Abandon’d; though for battle, ardent, still605 +He panted, and the shout-resounding field. +But when the twelfth fair morrow streak’d the East, +Then all the everlasting Gods to Heaven +Resorted, with the Thunderer at their head, +And Thetis, not unmindful of her son,610 +Prom the salt flood emerged, seeking betimes +Olympus and the boundless fields of heaven. +High, on the topmost eminence sublime +Of the deep-fork’d Olympian she perceived +The Thunderer seated, from the Gods apart.615 +She sat before him, clasp’d with her left hand +His knees, her right beneath his chin she placed, +And thus the King, Saturnian Jove, implored. +Father of all, by all that I have done +Or said that ever pleased thee, grant my suit.620 +Exalt my son, by destiny short-lived +Beyond the lot of others. Him with shame +The King of men hath overwhelm’d, by force +Usurping his just meed; thou, therefore, Jove, +Supreme in wisdom, honor him, and give625 +Success to Troy, till all Achaia’s sons +Shall yield him honor more than he hath lost! +She spake, to whom the Thunderer nought replied, +But silent sat long time. She, as her hand +Had grown there, still importunate, his knees630 +Clasp’d as at first, and thus her suit renew’d.[34] +Or grant my prayer, and ratify the grant, +Or send me hence (for thou hast none to fear) +Plainly refused; that I may know and feel +By how much I am least of all in heaven.635 +To whom the cloud-assembler at the last +Spake, deep-distress’d. Hard task and full of strife +Thou hast enjoined me; Juno will not spare +For gibe and taunt injurious, whose complaint +Sounds daily in the ears of all the Gods,640 +That I assist the Trojans; but depart, +Lest she observe thee; my concern shall be +How best I may perform thy full desire. +And to assure thee more, I give the sign +Indubitable, which all fear expels645 +At once from heavenly minds. Nought, so confirmed, +May, after, be reversed or render’d vain. +He ceased, and under his dark brows the nod +Vouchsafed of confirmation. All around +The Sovereign’s everlasting head his curls650 +Ambrosial shook,[35] and the huge mountain reeled. +Their conference closed, they parted. She, at once, +From bright Olympus plunged into the flood +Profound, and Jove to his own courts withdrew. +Together all the Gods, at his approach,655 +Uprose; none sat expectant till he came, +But all advanced to meet the Eternal Sire. +So on his throne he sat. Nor Juno him +Not understood; she, watchful, had observed, +In consultation close with Jove engaged660 +Thetis, bright-footed daughter of the deep, +And keen the son of Saturn thus reproved. +Shrewd as thou art, who now hath had thine ear? +Thy joy is ever such, from me apart +To plan and plot clandestine, and thy thoughts,665 +Think what thou may’st, are always barred to me. +To whom the father, thus, of heaven and earth. +Expect not, Juno, that thou shalt partake +My counsels at all times, which oft in height +And depth, thy comprehension far exceed,670 +Jove’s consort as thou art. When aught occurs +Meet for thine ear, to none will I impart +Of Gods or men more free than to thyself. +But for my secret thoughts, which I withhold +From all in heaven beside, them search not thou675 +With irksome curiosity and vain. + +Him answer’d then the Goddess ample-eyed.[36] +What word hath passed thy lips, Saturnian Jove, +Thou most severe! I never search thy thoughts, +Nor the serenity of thy profound680 +Intentions trouble; they are safe from me: +But now there seems a cause. Deeply I dread +Lest Thetis, silver-footed daughter fair +Of Ocean’s hoary Sovereign, here arrived +At early dawn to practise on thee, Jove!685 +I noticed her a suitress at thy knees, +And much misdeem or promise-bound thou stand’st +To Thetis past recall, to exalt her son, +And Greeks to slaughter thousands at the ships. +To whom the cloud-assembler God, incensed.690 +Ah subtle! ever teeming with surmise, +And fathomer of my concealed designs, +Thy toil is vain, or (which is worse for thee,) +Shall but estrange thee from mine heart the more. +And be it as thou sayest,—I am well pleased695 +That so it should be. Be advised, desist, +Hold thou thy peace. Else, if my glorious hands +Once reach thee, the Olympian Powers combined +To rescue thee, shall interfere in vain. +He said,—whom Juno, awful Goddess, heard700 +Appall’d, and mute submitted to his will. +But through the courts of Jove the heavenly Powers +All felt displeasure; when to them arose +Vulcan, illustrious artist, who with speech +Conciliatory interposed to sooth705 +His white-armed mother Juno, Goddess dread. +Hard doom is ours, and not to be endured, +If feast and merriment must pause in heaven +While ye such clamor raise tumultuous here +For man’s unworthy sake: yet thus we speed710 +Ever, when evil overpoises good. +But I exhort my mother, though herself +Already warn’d, that meekly she submit +To Jove our father, lest our father chide +More roughly, and confusion mar the feast.715 +For the Olympian Thunderer could with ease +Us from our thrones precipitate, so far +He reigns to all superior. Seek to assuage +His anger therefore; so shall he with smiles +Cheer thee, nor thee alone, but all in heaven.720 +So Vulcan, and, upstarting, placed a cup +Full-charged between his mother’s hands, and said, +My mother, be advised, and, though aggrieved, +Yet patient; lest I see thee whom I love +So dear, with stripes chastised before my face,725 +Willing, but impotent to give thee aid.[37] +Who can resist the Thunderer? Me, when once +I flew to save thee, by the foot he seized +And hurl’d me through the portal of the skies. +“From morn to eve I fell, a summer’s day,”730 +And dropped, at last, in Lemnos. There half-dead +The Sintians found me, and with succor prompt +And hospitable, entertained me fallen. +So He; then Juno smiled, Goddess white-arm’d, +And smiling still, from his unwonted hand[38]735 +Received the goblet. He from right to left +Rich nectar from the beaker drawn, alert +Distributed to all the powers divine. +Heaven rang with laughter inextinguishable +Peal after peal, such pleasure all conceived740 +At sight of Vulcan in his new employ. +So spent they in festivity the day, +And all were cheered; nor was Apollo’s harp +Silent, nor did the Muses spare to add +Responsive melody of vocal sweets.745 +But when the sun’s bright orb had now declined, +Each to his mansion, wheresoever built +By the lame matchless Architect, withdrew.[39] +Jove also, kindler of the fires of heaven, +His couch ascending as at other times750 +When gentle sleep approach’d him, slept serene, +With golden-sceptred Juno at his side. + + +The first book contains the preliminaries to the commencement of +serious action. First, the visit of the priest of Apollo to ransom his +captive daughter, the refusal of Agamemnon to yield her up, and the +pestilence sent by the god upon the Grecian army in consequence. +Secondly, the restoration, the propitiation of Apollo, the quarrel of +Agamemnon and Achilles, and the withdrawing of the latter from the +Grecian army. Thirdly, the intercession of Thetis with Jupiter; his +promise, unwillingly given, to avenge Achilles; and the assembly of the +gods, in which the promise is angrily alluded to by Juno, and the +discussion peremptorily checked by Jupiter. The poet, throughout this +book, maintains a simple, unadorned style, but highly descriptive, and +happily adapted to the nature of the subject.—Felton. + + + + +BOOK II. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE SECOND BOOK. + +Jupiter, in pursuance of his purpose to distress the Grecians in answer +to the prayer of Thetis, deceives Agamemnon by a dream. He, in +consequence of it, calls a council, the result of which is that the +army shall go forth to battle. Thersites is mutinous, and is chastised +by Ulysses. Ulysses, Nestor, and Agamemnon, harangue the people; and +preparation is made for battle. An exact account follows of the forces +on both sides. + + +BOOK II. + + +[1]All night both Gods and Chiefs equestrian slept, +But not the Sire of all. He, waking soon, +Mused how to exalt Achilles, and destroy +No few in battle at the Grecian fleet. +This counsel, at the last, as best he chose5 +And likeliest; to dispatch an evil Dream +To Agamemnon’s tent, and to his side +The phantom summoning, him thus addressed. +Haste, evil Dream! Fly to the Grecian fleet, +And, entering royal Agamemnon’s tent,10 +His ear possess thou thus, omitting nought +Of all that I enjoin thee. Bid him arm +His universal host, for that the time +When the Achaians shall at length possess +Wide Ilium, hath arrived. The Gods above15 +No longer dwell at variance. The request +Of Juno hath prevail’d; now, wo to Troy! +So charged, the Dream departed. At the ships +Well-built arriving of Achaia’s host, +He Agamemnon, son of Atreus, sought.20 +Him sleeping in his tent he found, immersed +In soft repose ambrosial. At his head +The shadow stood, similitude exact +Of Nestor, son of Neleus; sage, with whom +In Agamemnon’s thought might none compare.25 +His form assumed, the sacred Dream began. +Oh son of Atreus the renown’d in arms +And in the race! Sleep’st thou? It ill behoves +To sleep all night the man of high employ, +And charged, as thou art, with a people’s care.30 +Now, therefore, mark me well, who, sent from Jove, +Inform thee, that although so far remote, +He yet compassionates and thinks on thee +With kind solicitude. He bids thee arm +Thy universal host, for that the time35 +When the Achaians shall at length possess +Wide Ilium, hath arrived. The Gods above +No longer dwell at variance. The requests +Of Juno have prevail’d. Now, wo to Troy +From Jove himself! Her fate is on the wing.40 +Awaking from thy dewy slumbers, hold +In firm remembrance all that thou hast heard. +So spake the Dream, and vanishing, him left +In false hopes occupied and musings vain. +Full sure he thought, ignorant of the plan45 +By Jove design’d, that day the last of Troy. +Fond thought! For toils and agonies to Greeks +And Trojans both, in many a bloody field +To be endured, the Thunderer yet ordain’d. +Starting he woke, and seeming still to hear50 +The warning voice divine, with hasty leap +Sprang from his bed, and sat.[2] His fleecy vest +New-woven he put on, and mantle wide; +His sandals fair to his unsullied feet +He braced, and slung his argent-studded sword.55 +Then, incorruptible for evermore +The sceptre of his sires he took, with which +He issued forth into the camp of Greece. +Aurora now on the Olympian heights +Proclaiming stood new day to all in heaven,60 +When he his clear-voiced heralds bade convene +The Greeks in council. Went the summons forth +Into all quarters, and the throng began. +First, at the ship of Nestor, Pylian King,[3] +The senior Chiefs for high exploits renown’d65 +He gather’d, whom he prudent thus address’d. +My fellow warriors, hear! A dream from heaven, +Amid the stillness of the vacant night +Approach’d me, semblance close in stature, bulk, +And air, of noble Nestor. At mine head70 +The shadow took his stand, and thus he spake. +Oh son of Atreus the renown’d in arms +And in the race, sleep’st thou? It ill behoves +To sleep all night the man of high employ, +And charged as thou art with a people’s care.75 +Now, therefore, mark me well, who, sent from Jove, +Inform thee, that although so far remote, +He yet compassionates and thinks on thee +With kind solicitude. He bids thee arm +Thy universal host; for that the time80 +When the Achaians shall at length possess +Wide Ilium, hath arrived. The Gods above +No longer dwell at variance. The requests +Of Juno have prevail’d. Now, wo to Troy +From Jove himself! Her fate is on the wing.85 +Charge this on thy remembrance. Thus he spake, +Then vanished suddenly, and I awoke. +Haste therefore, let us arm, if arm we may,[4] +The warlike sons of Greece; but first, myself +Will prove them, recommending instant flight90 +With all our ships, and ye throughout the host +Dispersed, shall, next, encourage all to stay. +He ceased, and sat; when in the midst arose +Of highest fame for wisdom, Nestor, King +Of sandy Pylus, who them thus bespake.95 +Friends, Counsellors, and Leaders of the Greeks! +Had any meaner Argive told his dream, +We had pronounced it false, and should the more +Have shrunk from battle; but the dream is his +Who boasts himself our highest in command.100 +Haste, arm we, if we may, the sons of Greece. +So saying, he left the council; him, at once +The sceptred Chiefs, obedient to his voice, +Arising, follow’d; and the throng began. +As from the hollow rock bees stream abroad,105 +And in succession endless seek the fields, +Now clustering, and now scattered far and near, +In spring-time, among all the new-blown flowers, +So they to council swarm’d, troop after troop, +Grecians of every tribe, from camp and fleet110 +Assembling orderly o’er all the plain +Beside the shore of Ocean. In the midst +A kindling rumor, messenger of Jove, +Impell’d them, and they went. Loud was the din +Of the assembling thousands; groan’d the earth115 +When down they sat, and murmurs ran around. +Nine heralds cried aloud—Will ye restrain +Your clamors, that your heaven-taught Kings may speak? +Scarce were they settled, and the clang had ceased, +When Agamemnon, sovereign o’er them all,120 +Sceptre in hand, arose. (That sceptre erst +Vulcan with labor forged, and to the hand +Consign’d it of the King, Saturnian Jove; +Jove to the vanquisher[5] of Ino’s[6] guard, +And he to Pelops; Pelops in his turn,125 +To royal Atreus; Atreus at his death +Bequeath’d it to Thyestes rich in flocks, +And rich Thyestes left it to be borne +By Agamemnon, symbol of his right +To empire over Argos and her isles)130 +On that he lean’d, and rapid, thus began.[7] +Friends, Grecian Heroes, ministers of Mars! +Ye see me here entangled in the snares +Of unpropitious Jove. He promised once, +And with a nod confirm’d it, that with spoils135 +Of Ilium laden, we should hence return; +But now, devising ill, he sends me shamed, +And with diminished numbers, home to Greece. +So stands his sovereign pleasure, who hath laid +The bulwarks of full many a city low,140 +And more shall level, matchless in his might. +That such a numerous host of Greeks as we, +Warring with fewer than ourselves, should find +No fruit of all our toil, (and none appears) +Will make us vile with ages yet to come.145 +For should we now strike truce, till Greece and Troy +Might number each her own, and were the Greeks +Distributed in bands, ten Greeks in each, +Our banded decads should exceed so far +Their units, that all Troy could not supply150 +For every ten, a man, to fill us wine; +So far the Achaians, in my thought, surpass +The native Trojans. But in Troy are those +Who baffle much my purpose; aids derived +From other states, spear-arm’d auxiliars, firm155 +In the defence of Ilium’s lofty towers. +Nine years have passed us over, nine long years; +Our ships are rotted, and our tackle marr’d, +And all our wives and little-ones at home +Sit watching our return, while this attempt160 +Hangs still in doubt, for which that home we left. +Accept ye then my counsel. Fly we swift +With all our fleet back to our native land, +Hopeless of Troy, not yet to be subdued. +So spake the King, whom all the concourse heard165 +With minds in tumult toss’d; all, save the few, +Partners of his intent. Commotion shook +The whole assembly, such as heaves the flood +Of the Icarian Deep, when South and East +Burst forth together from the clouds of Jove.170 +And as when vehement the West-wind falls +On standing corn mature, the loaded ears +Innumerable bow before the gale, +So was the council shaken. With a shout +All flew toward the ships; uprais’d, the dust175 +Stood o’er them; universal was the cry, +“Now clear the passages, strike down the props, +Set every vessel free, launch, and away!” +Heaven rang with exclamation of the host +All homeward bent, and launching glad the fleet.180 +Then baffled Fate had the Achaians seen +Returning premature, but Juno thus, +With admonition quick to Pallas spake. +Unconquer’d daughter of Jove Ægis-arm’d! +Ah foul dishonor! Is it thus at last185 +That the Achaians on the billows borne, +Shall seek again their country, leaving here, +To be the vaunt of Ilium and her King, +Helen of Argos, in whose cause the Greeks +Have numerous perish’d from their home remote?190 +Haste! Seek the mail-arm’d multitude, by force +Detain them of thy soothing speech, ere yet +All launch their oary barks into the flood. +She spake, nor did Minerva not comply, +But darting swift from the Olympian heights,195 +Reach’d soon Achaia’s fleet. There, she perceived +Prudent as Jove himself, Ulysses; firm +He stood; he touch’d not even with his hand +His sable bark, for sorrow whelm’d his soul. +The Athenæan Goddess azure-eyed200 +Beside him stood, and thus the Chief bespake. +Laertes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d! +Why seek ye, thus precipitate, your ships? +Intend ye flight? And is it thus at last, +That the Achaians on the billows borne,205 +Shall seek again their country, leaving here, +To be the vaunt of Ilium and her King, +Helen of Argos, in whose cause the Greeks +Have numerous perish’d from their home remote? +Delay not. Rush into the throng; by force210 +Detain them of thy soothing speech, ere yet +All launch their oary barks into the flood. +She ceased, whom by her voice Ulysses knew, +Casting his mantle from him, which his friend +Eurybates the Ithacensian caught,215 +He ran; and in his course meeting the son +Of Atreus, Agamemnon, from his hand +The everlasting sceptre quick received, +Which bearing, through Achaia’s fleet he pass’d. +What King soever, or distinguish’d Greek220 +He found, approaching to his side, in terms +Of gentle sort he stay’d him. Sir, he cried, +It is unseemly that a man renown’d +As thou, should tremble. Go—Resume the seat +Which thou hast left, and bid the people sit.225 +Thou know’st not clearly yet the monarch’s mind. +He proves us now, but soon he will chastize. +All were not present; few of us have heard +His speech this day in council. Oh, beware, +Lest in resentment of this hasty course230 +Irregular, he let his anger loose. +Dread is the anger of a King; he reigns +By Jove’s own ordinance, and is dear to Jove, +But what plebeian base soe’er he heard +Stretching his throat to swell the general cry,235 +He laid the sceptre smartly on his back, +With reprimand severe. Fellow, he said, +Sit still; hear others; thy superiors hear. +For who art thou? A dastard and a drone, +Of none account in council, or in arms.240 +By no means may we all alike bear sway +At Ilium; such plurality of Kings +Were evil. One suffices. One, to whom +The son of politic Saturn hath assign’d +The sceptre, and inforcement of the laws,245 +That he may rule us as a monarch ought.[8] +With such authority the troubled host +He sway’d; they, quitting camp and fleet again +Rush’d back to council; deafening was the sound +As when a billow of the boisterous deep250 +Some broad beach dashes, and the Ocean roars. +The host all seated, and the benches fill’d, +Thersites only of loquacious tongue +Ungovern’d, clamor’d mutinous; a wretch +Of utterance prompt, but in coarse phrase obscene255 +Deep learn’d alone, with which to slander Kings. +Might he but set the rabble in a roar, +He cared not with what jest; of all from Greece +To Ilium sent, his country’s chief reproach. +Cross-eyed he was, and halting moved on legs260 +Ill-pair’d; his gibbous shoulders o’er his breast +Contracted, pinch’d it; to a peak his head +Was moulded sharp, and sprinkled thin with hair +Of starveling length, flimsy and soft as down. +Achilles and Ulysses had incurr’d265 +Most his aversion; them he never spared; +But now, imperial Agamemnon self +In piercing accents stridulous he charged +With foul reproach. The Grecians with contempt +Listen’d, and indignation, while with voice270 +At highest pitch, he thus the monarch mock’d. +What wouldst thou now? Whereof is thy complaint +Now, Agamemnon? Thou hast fill’d thy tents +With treasure, and the Grecians, when they take +A city, choose the loveliest girls for thee.275 +Is gold thy wish? More gold? A ransom brought +By some chief Trojan for his son’s release +Whom I, or other valiant Greek may bind? +Or wouldst thou yet a virgin, one, by right +Another’s claim, but made by force thine own?280 +It was not well, great Sir, that thou shouldst bring +A plague on the Achaians, as of late. +But come, my Grecian sisters, soldiers named +Unfitly, of a sex too soft for war, +Come, let us homeward: let him here digest285 +What he shall gorge, alone; that he may learn +If our assistance profit him or not. +For when he shamed Achilles, he disgraced +A Chief far worthier than himself, whose prize +He now withholds. But tush,—Achilles lacks290 +Himself the spirit of a man; no gall +Hath he within him, or his hand long since +Had stopp’d that mouth,[9] that it should scoff no more. +Thus, mocking royal Agamemnon, spake +Thersites. Instant starting to his side, 295 +Noble Ulysses with indignant brows +Survey’d him, and him thus reproved severe. + +Thersites! Railer!—peace. Think not thyself, +Although thus eloquent, alone exempt +From obligation not to slander Kings.300 +I deem thee most contemptible, the worst +Of Agamemnon’s followers to the war; +Presume not then to take the names revered +Of Sovereigns on thy sordid lips, to asperse +Their sacred character, and to appoint305 +The Greeks a time when they shall voyage home. +How soon, how late, with what success at last +We shall return, we know not: but because +Achaia’s heroes numerous spoils allot +To Agamemnon, Leader of the host,310 +Thou therefore from thy seat revilest the King. +But mark me. If I find thee, as even now, +Raving and foaming at the lips again, +May never man behold Ulysses’ head +On these my shoulders more, and may my son315 +Prove the begotten of another Sire, +If I not strip thee to that hide of thine +As bare as thou wast born, and whip thee hence +Home to thy galley, sniveling like a boy. +He ceased, and with his sceptre on the back320 +And shoulders smote him. Writhing to and fro, +He wept profuse, while many a bloody whelk +Protuberant beneath the sceptre sprang. +Awe-quell’d he sat, and from his visage mean, +Deep-sighing, wiped the rheums. It was no time325 +For mirth, yet mirth illumined every face, +And laughing, thus they spake. A thousand acts +Illustrious, both by well-concerted plans +And prudent disposition of the host +Ulysses hath achieved, but this by far330 +Transcends his former praise, that he hath quell’d +Such contumelious rhetoric profuse. +The valiant talker shall not soon, we judge, +Take liberties with royal names again.[10] +So spake the multitude. Then, stretching forth335 +The sceptre, city-spoiler Chief, arose +Ulysses. Him beside, herald in form, +Appeared Minerva. Silence she enjoined +To all, that all Achaia’s sons might hear, +Foremost and rearmost, and might weigh his words.340 +He then his counsel, prudent, thus proposed. +Atrides! Monarch! The Achaians seek +To make thee ignominious above all +In sight of all mankind. None recollects +His promise more in steed-famed Argos pledged,345 +Here to abide till Ilium wall’d to heaven +Should vanquish’d sink, and all her wealth be ours. +No—now, like widow’d women, or weak boys, +They whimper to each other, wishing home. +And home, I grant, to the afflicted soul350 +Seems pleasant.[11] The poor seaman from his wife +One month detain’d, cheerless his ship and sad +Possesses, by the force of wintry blasts, +And by the billows of the troubled deep +Fast lock’d in port. But us the ninth long year355 +Revolving, finds camp’d under Ilium still. +I therefore blame not, if they mourn beside +Their sable barks, the Grecians. Yet the shame +That must attend us after absence long +Returning unsuccessful, who can bear?360 +Be patient, friends! wait only till we learn +If Calchas truly prophesied, or not; +For well we know, and I to all appeal, +Whom Fate hath not already snatch’d away, +(It seems but yesterday, or at the most365 +A day or two before) that when the ships +Wo-fraught for Priam, and the race of Troy, +At Aulis met, and we beside the fount +With perfect hecatombs the Gods adored +Beneath the plane-tree, from whose root a stream370 +Ran crystal-clear, there we beheld a sign +Wonderful in all eyes. A serpent huge, +Tremendous spectacle! with crimson spots +His back all dappled, by Olympian Jove +Himself protruded, from the altar’s foot375 +Slipp’d into light, and glided to the tree. +There on the topmost bough, close-cover’d sat +With foliage broad, eight sparrows, younglings all, +Then newly feather’d, with their dam, the ninth. +The little ones lamenting shrill he gorged,380 +While, wheeling o’er his head, with screams the dam +Bewail’d her darling brood. Her also next, +Hovering and clamoring, he by the wing +Within his spiry folds drew, and devoured. +All eaten thus, the nestlings and the dam,385 +The God who sent him, signalized him too, +For him Saturnian Jove transform’d to stone. +We wondering stood, to see that strange portent +Intrude itself into our holy rites, +When Calchas, instant, thus the sign explain’d.390 +Why stand ye, Greeks, astonish’d? Ye behold +A prodigy by Jove himself produced, +An omen, whose accomplishment indeed +Is distant, but whose fame shall never die.[12] +E’en as this serpent in your sight devour’d395 +Eight youngling sparrows, with their dam, the ninth, +So we nine years must war on yonder plain, +And in the tenth, wide-bulwark’d Troy is ours. +So spake the seer, and as he spake, is done. +Wait, therefore, brave Achaians! go not hence400 +Till Priam’s spacious city be your prize. +He ceased, and such a shout ensued, that all +The hollow ships the deafening roar return’d +Of acclamation, every voice the speech +Extolling of Ulysses, glorious Chief.405 +Then Nestor the Gerenian,[13] warrior old, +Arising, spake; and, by the Gods, he said, +Ye more resemble children inexpert +In war, than disciplined and prudent men. +Where now are all your promises and vows,410 +Councils, libations, right-hand covenants?[14] +Burn them, since all our occupation here +Is to debate and wrangle, whereof end +Or fruit though long we wait, shall none be found. +But, Sovereign, be not thou appall’d. Be firm.415 +Relax not aught of thine accustomed sway, +But set the battle forth as thou art wont. +And if there be a Grecian, here and there, +One,[15] adverse to the general voice, let such +Wither alone. He shall not see his wish420 +Gratified, neither will we hence return +To Argos, ere events shall yet have proved +Jove’s promise false or true. For when we climb’d +Our gallant barks full-charged with Ilium’s fate, +Saturnian Jove omnipotent, that day,425 +(Omen propitious!) thunder’d on the right. +Let no man therefore pant for home, till each +Possess a Trojan spouse, and from her lips +Take sweet revenge for Helen’s pangs of heart. +Who then? What soldier languishes and sighs430 +To leave us? Let him dare to lay his hand +On his own vessel, and he dies the first. +But hear, O King! I shall suggest a course +Not trivial. Agamemnon! sort the Greeks +By districts and by tribes, that tribe may tribe435 +Support, and each his fellow. This performed, +And with consent of all, thou shalt discern +With ease what Chief, what private man deserts, +And who performs his part. The base, the brave, +Such disposition made, shall both appear;440 +And thou shalt also know, if heaven or we, +The Gods, or our supineness, succor Troy. +To whom Atrides, King of men, replied. +Old Chief! Thou passest all Achaia’s sons +In consultation; would to Jove our Sire,445 +To Athenæan Pallas, and Apollo! +That I had ten such coadjutors, wise +As thou art, and the royal city soon +Of Priam, with her wealth, should all be ours.[16] +But me the son of Saturn, Jove supreme450 +Himself afflicts, who in contentious broils +Involves me, and in altercation vain. +Thence all that wordy tempest for a girl +Achilles and myself between, and I +The fierce aggressor. Be that breach but heal’d!455 +And Troy’s reprieve thenceforth is at an end. +Go—take refreshment now that we may march +Forth to our enemies. Let each whet well +His spear, brace well his shield, well feed his brisk +High-mettled horses, well survey and search460 +His chariot on all sides, that no defect +Disgrace his bright habiliments of war. +So will we give the day from morn to eve +To dreadful battle. Pause there shall be none +Till night divide us. Every buckler’s thong465 +Shall sweat on the toil’d bosom, every hand +That shakes the spear shall ache, and every steed +Shall smoke that whirls the chariot o’er the plain. +Wo then to whom I shall discover here +Loitering among the tents; let him escape470 +My vengeance if he can. The vulture’s maw +Shall have his carcase, and the dogs his bones. +He spake; whom all applauded with a shout +Loud as against some headland cliff the waves +Roll’d by the stormy South o’er rocks that shoot475 +Afar into the deep, which in all winds +The flood still overspreads, blow whence they may. +Arising, forth they rush’d, among the ships +All scatter’d; smoke from every tent arose, +The host their food preparing; next, his God480 +Each man invoked (of the Immortals him +Whom he preferr’d) with sacrifice and prayer +For safe escape from danger and from death. +But Agamemnon to Saturnian Jove +Omnipotent, an ox of the fifth year485 +Full-flesh’d devoted, and the Princes call’d +Noblest of all the Grecians to his feast. +First, Nestor with Idomeneus the King, +Then either Ajax, and the son he call’d +Of Tydeus, with Ulysses sixth and last,490 +Jove’s peer in wisdom. Menelaus went, +Heroic Chief! unbidden, for he knew +His brother’s mind with weight of care oppress’d. +The ox encircling, and their hands with meal +Of consecration fill’d, the assembly stood,495 +When Agamemnon thus his prayer preferred. +Almighty Father! Glorious above all! +Cloud-girt, who dwell’st in heaven thy throne sublime, +Let not the sun go down, till Priam’s roof +Fall flat into the flames; till I shall burn500 +His gates with fire; till I shall hew away +His hack’d and riven corslet from the breast +Of Hector, and till numerous Chiefs, his friends, +Around him, prone in dust, shall bite the ground. +So prayed he, but with none effect, The God505 +Received his offering, but to double toil +Doom’d them, and sorrow more than all the past. +They then, the triturated barley grain +First duly sprinkling, the sharp steel infix’d +Deep in the victim’s neck reversed, then stripp’d510 +The carcase, and divided at their joint +The thighs, which in the double caul involved +They spread with slices crude, and burn’d with fire +Ascending fierce from billets sere and dry. +The spitted entrails next they o’er the coals515 +Suspended held. The thighs with fire consumed, +They gave to each his portion of the maw, +Then slash’d the remnant, pierced it with the spits, +And managing with culinary skill +The roast, withdrew it from the spits again.520 +Thus, all their task accomplished, and the board +Set forth, they feasted, and were all sufficed. +When neither hunger more nor thirst remain’d +Unsatisfied, Gerenian Nestor spake. +Atrides! Agamemnon! King of men!525 +No longer waste we time in useless words, +Nor to a distant hour postpone the work +To which heaven calls thee. Send thine heralds forth. +Who shall convene the Achaians at the fleet, +That we, the Chiefs assembled here, may range,530 +Together, the imbattled multitude, +And edge their spirits for immediate fight. +He spake, nor Agamemnon not complied. +At once he bade his clear-voiced heralds call +The Greeks to battle. They the summons loud535 +Gave forth, and at the sound the people throng’d. +Then Agamemnon and the Kings of Greece +Dispatchful drew them into order just, +With whom Minerva azure-eyed advanced, +The inestimable Ægis on her arm,540 +Immortal, unobnoxious to decay +A hundred braids, close twisted, all of gold, +Each valued at a hundred beeves,[17] around +Dependent fringed it. She from side to side +Her eyes cerulean rolled, infusing thirst545 +Of battle endless into every breast. +War won them now, war sweeter now to each +Than gales to waft them over ocean home.[18] +As when devouring flames some forest seize +On the high mountains, splendid from afar550 +The blaze appears, so, moving on the plain, +The steel-clad host innumerous flash’d to heaven. +And as a multitude of fowls in flocks +Assembled various, geese, or cranes, or swans +Lithe-neck’d, long hovering o’er Caÿster’s banks555 +On wanton plumes, successive on the mead +Alight at last, and with a clang so loud +That all the hollow vale of Asius rings; +In number such from ships and tents effused, +They cover’d the Scamandrian plain; the earth560 +Rebellow’d to the feet of steeds and men. +They overspread Scamander’s grassy vale, +Myriads, as leaves, or as the flowers of spring. +As in the hovel where the peasant milks +His kine in spring-time, when his pails are fill’d,565 +Thick clouds of humming insects on the wing +Swarm all around him, so the Grecians swarm’d +An unsumm’d multitude o’er all the plain, +Bright arm’d, high crested, and athirst for war. +As goat-herds separate their numerous flocks570 +With ease, though fed promiscuous, with like ease +Their leaders them on every side reduced +To martial order glorious;[19] among whom +Stood Agamemnon “with an eye like Jove’s, +To threaten or command,” like Mars in girth,575 +And with the port of Neptune. As the bull +Conspicuous among all the herd appears, +For he surpasses all, such Jove ordain’d +That day the son of Atreus, in the midst +Of Heroes, eminent above them all.580 +Tell me, (for ye are are heavenly, and beheld[20] +A scene, whereof the faint report alone +Hath reached our ears, remote and ill-informed,) +Tell me, ye Muses, under whom, beneath +What Chiefs of royal or of humbler note585 +Stood forth the embattled Greeks? The host at large; +_They_ were a multitude in number more +Than with ten tongues, and with ten mouths, each mouth +Made vocal with a trumpet’s throat of brass +I might declare, unless the Olympian nine,590 +Jove’s daughters, would the chronicle themselves +Indite, of all assembled, under Troy. +I will rehearse the Captains and their fleets. +[21]Bœotia’s sturdy sons Peneleus led, +And Leïtus, whose partners in command595 +Arcesilaus and Prothoenor came, +And Clonius. Them the dwellers on the rocks +Of Aulis followed, with the hardy clans +Of Hyrie, Schoenos, Scholos, and the hills +Of Eteon; Thespia, Græa, and the plains600 +Of Mycalessus them, and Harma served, +Eleon, Erythræ, Peteon; Hyle them, +Hesius and Ocalea, and the strength +Of Medeon; Copæ also in their train +Marched, with Eutresis and the mighty men605 +Of Thisbe famed for doves; nor pass unnamed +Whom Coronæa, and the grassy land +Of Haliartus added to the war, +Nor whom Platæa, nor whom Glissa bred, +And Hypothebæ,[22] and thy sacred groves610 +To Neptune, dark Onchestus. Arne claims +A record next for her illustrious sons, +Vine-bearing Arne. Thou wast also there +Mideia, and thou Nissa; nor be thine +Though last, Anthedon, a forgotten name.615 +These in Bœotia’s fair and gallant fleet +Of fifty ships, each bearing o’er the waves +Thrice forty warriors, had arrived at Troy. +In thirty ships deep-laden with the brave, +Aspledon and Orchomenos had sent620 +Their chosen youth; them ruled a noble pair, +Sons of Astyoche; she, lovely nymph, +Received by stealth, on Actor’s stately roof, +The embraces of a God, and bore to Mars +Twins like himself, Ascalaphus the bold,625 +And bold Iälmenus, expert in arms. +Beneath Epistrophus and Schedius, took +Their destined station on Bœotia’s left, +The brave Phocensians; they in forty ships +From Cyparissus came, and from the rocks630 +Of Python, and from Crissa the divine; +From Anemoria, Daulis, Panopeus, +And from Hyampolis, and from the banks +Of the Cephissus, sacred stream, and from +Lilæa, seated at its fountain-head.635 +Next from beyond Eubœa’s happy isle +In forty ships conveyed, stood forth well armed +The Locrians; dwellers in Augeia some +The pleasant, some of Opoëis possessed, +Some of Calliarus; these Scarpha sent,640 +And Cynus those; from Bessa came the rest, +From Tarpha, Thronius, and from the brink +Of loud Boagrius; Ajax them, the swift, +Son of Oïleus led, not such as he +From Telamon, big-boned and lofty built,645 +But small of limb, and of an humbler crest; +Yet he, competitor had none throughout +The Grecians of what land soe’er, for skill +In ushering to its mark the rapid lance. +Elphenor brought (Calchodon’s mighty son)650 +The Eubœans to the field. In forty ships +From Histrïæa for her vintage famed, +From Chalcis, from Iretria, from the gates +Of maritime Cerinthus, from the heights +Of Dios rock-built citadel sublime,655 +And from Caristus and from Styra came +His warlike multitudes, all named alike +Abantes, on whose shoulders fell behind +Their locks profuse,[23] and they were eager all +To split the hauberk with the pointed spear.660 +Nor Athens had withheld her generous sons, +The people of Erectheus. Him of old +The teeming glebe produced, a wondrous birth! +And Pallas rear’d him: her own unctuous fane +She made his habitation, where with bulls665 +The youth of Athens, and with slaughter’d lambs +Her annual worship celebrate. Then led +Menestheus, whom, (sage Nestor’s self except, +Thrice school’d in all events of human life,) +None rivall’d ever in the just array670 +Of horse and man to battle. Fifty ships +Black-prowed, had borne them to the distant war. +Ajax from Salamis twelve vessels brought, +And where the Athenian band in phalanx stood +Marshall’d compact, there station’d he his powers.675 +The men of Argos and Tyrintha next, +And of Hermione, that stands retired +With Asine, within her spacious bay; +Of Epidaurus, crown’d with purple vines, +And of Trœzena, with the Achaian youth680 +Of sea-begirt Ægina, and with thine, +Maseta, and the dwellers on thy coast, +Wave-worn Eïonæ; these all obeyed +The dauntless Hero Diomede, whom served +Sthenelus, son of Capaneus, a Chief685 +Of deathless fame, his second in command, +And godlike man, Euryalus, the son +Of King Mecisteus, Talaüs’ son, his third. +But Diomede controll’d them all, and him +Twice forty sable ships their leader own’d.690 +Came Agamemnon with a hundred ships, +Exulting in his powers; more numerous they, +And more illustrious far than other Chief +Could boast, whoever. Clad in burnish’d brass, +And conscious of pre-eminence, he stood.695 +He drew his host from cities far renown’d, +Mycenæ, and Corinthus, seat of wealth, +Orneia, and Cleonæ bulwark’d strong, +And lovely Aræthyria; Sicyon, where +His seat of royal power held at the first700 +Adrastus: Hyperesia, and the heights +Of Gonoëssa; Ægium, with the towns +That sprinkle all that far-extended coast, +Pellene also and wide Helice +With all their shores, were number’d in his train.705 +From hollow Lacedæmon’s glen profound, +From Phare, Sparta, and from Messa, still +Resounding with the ring-dove’s amorous moan, +From Brysia, from Augeia, from the rocks +Of Laas, from Amycla, Otilus,710 +And from the towers of Helos, at whose foot +The surf of Ocean falls, came sixty barks +With Menelaus. From the monarch’s host +The royal brother ranged his own apart, +and panted for revenge of Helen’s wrongs,715 +And of her sighs and tears.[24] From rank to rank, +Conscious of dauntless might he pass’d, and sent +Into all hearts the fervor of his own. +Gerenian Nestor in thrice thirty ships +Had brought his warriors; they from Pylus came,720 +From blithe Arene, and from Thryos, built +Fast by the fords of Alpheus, and from steep +And stately Æpy. Their confederate powers +Sent Amphigenia, Cyparissa veiled +With broad redundance of funereal shades,725 +Pteleos and Helos, and of deathless fame +Dorion. In Dorion erst the Muses met +Threïcian Thamyris, on his return +From Eurytus, Oechalian Chief, and hush’d +His song for ever; for he dared to vaunt730 +That he would pass in song even themselves +The Muses, daughters of Jove Ægis-arm’d. +They therefore, by his boast incensed, the bard +Struck blind, and from his memory dash’d severe +All traces of his once celestial strains.735 +Arcadia’s sons, the dwellers at the foot +Of mount Cyllene, where Æpytus sleeps +Intomb’d; a generation bold in fight, +And warriors hand to hand; the valiant men +Of Pheneus, of Orchomenos by flocks740 +Grazed numberless, of Ripe, Stratia, bleak +Enispe; Mantinea city fair, +Stymphelus and Parrhasia, and the youth +Of Tegea; royal Agapenor these, +Ancæus’ offspring, had in sixty ships745 +To Troy conducted; numerous was the crew, +And skilled in arms, which every vessel brought, +And Agamemnon had with barks himself +Supplied them, for, of inland realms possessed, +They little heeded maritime employs.[25]750 +The dwellers in Buprasium, on the shores +Of pleasant Elis, and in all the land +Myrsinus and the Hyrminian plain between, +The rock Olenian, and the Alysian fount; +These all obey’d four Chiefs, and galleys ten755 +Each Chief commanded, with Epeans filled. +Amphimachus and Thalpius govern’d these, +This, son of Cteatus, the other, sprung +From Eurytus, and both of Actor’s house. +Diores, son of Amarynceus, those760 +Led on, and, for his godlike form renown’d, +Polyxenus was Chieftain o’er the rest, +Son of Agasthenes, Augeias’ son. +Dulichium, and her sister sacred isles +The Echinades, whose opposite aspect765 +Looks toward Elis o’er the curling waves, +Sent forth their powers with Meges at their head, +Brave son of Phyleus, warrior dear to Jove. +Phyleus in wrath, his father’s house renounced, +And to Dulichium wandering, there abode.770 +Twice twenty ships had follow’d Meges forth. +Ulysses led the Cephallenians bold. +From Ithaca, and from the lofty woods +Of Neritus they came, and from the rocks +Of rude Ægilipa. Crocylia these,775 +And these Zacynthus own’d; nor yet a few +From Samos, from Epirus join’d their aid, +And from the opposite Ionian shore. +Them, wise as Jove himself, Ulysses led +In twelve fair ships, with crimson prows adorn’d.780 +From forty ships, Thoas, Andræmon’s son, +Had landed his Ætolians; for extinct +Was Meleager, and extinct the house +Of Oeneus all, nor Oeneus self survived; +To Thoas therefore had Ætolia fallen;785 +Him Olenos, Pylene, Chalcis served, +With Pleuro, and the rock-bound Calydon. +Idomeneus, spear-practised warrior, led +The numerous Cretans. In twice forty ships +He brought his powers to Troy. The warlike bands790 +Of Cnossus, of Gortyna wall’d around, +Of Lyctus, of Lycastus chalky-white, +Of Phæstus, of Miletus, with the youth +Of Rhytius him obey’d; nor these were all, +But others from her hundred cities Crete795 +Sent forth, all whom Idomeneus the brave +Commanded, with Meriones in arms +Dread as the God of battles blood-imbrued. +Nine ships Tlepolemus, Herculean-born, +For courage famed and for superior size,800 +Fill’d with his haughty Rhodians. They, in tribes +Divided, dwelt distinct. Jelyssus these, +Those Lindus, and the rest the shining soil +Of white Camirus occupied. Him bore +To Hercules, (what time he led the nymph805 +From Ephyre, and from Sellea’s banks, +After full many a city laid in dust.) +Astyocheia. In his father’s house +Magnificent, Tlepolemus spear-famed +Had scarce up-grown to manhood’s lusty prime810 +When he his father’s hoary uncle slew +Lycimnius, branch of Mars. Then built he ships, +And, pushing forth to sea, fled from the threats +Of the whole house of Hercules. Huge toil +And many woes he suffer’d, till at length815 +At Rhodes arriving, in three separate bands +He spread himself abroad, Much was he loved +Of all-commanding Jove, who bless’d him there, +And shower’d abundant riches on them all. +Nireus of Syma, with three vessels came;820 +Nireus, Aglæa’s offspring, whom she bore +To Charopus the King; Nireus in form, +(The faultless son of Peleus sole except,) +Loveliest of all the Grecians call’d to Troy. +But he was heartless and his men were few.[26]825 +Nisyrus, Casus, Crapathus, and Cos +Where reign’d Eurypylus, with all the isles +Calydnæ named, under two valiant Chiefs +Their troops disposed; Phidippus one, and one, +His brother Antiphus, begotten both830 +By Thessalus, whom Hercules begat. +In thirty ships they sought the shores of Troy. +The warriors of Pelasgian Argos next, +Of Alus, and Alope, and who held +Trechina, Phthia, and for women fair835 +Distinguish’d, Hellas; known by various names +Hellenes, Myrmidons, Achæans, them +In fifty ships embark’d, Achilles ruled. +But these were deaf to the hoarse-throated war, +For there was none to draw their battle forth,840 +And give them just array. Close in his ships +Achilles, after loss of the bright-hair’d +Brisëis, lay, resentful; her obtained +Not without labor hard, and after sack +Of Thebes and of Lyrnessus, where he slew845 +Two mighty Chiefs, sons of Evenus both, +Epistrophus and Mynes, her he mourn’d, +And for her sake self-prison’d in his fleet +And idle lay, though soon to rise again. +From Phylace, and from the flowery fields850 +Of Pyrrhasus, a land to Ceres given +By consecration, and from Iton green, +Mother of flocks; from Antron by the sea, +And from the grassy meads of Pteleus, came +A people, whom while yet he lived, the brave855 +Protesilaüs led; but him the earth +Now cover’d dark and drear. A wife he left, +To rend in Phylace her bleeding cheeks, +And an unfinish’d mansion. First he died +Of all the Greeks; for as he leap’d to land860 +Foremost by far, a Dardan struck him dead. +Nor had his troops, though filled with deep regret, +No leader; them Podarces led, a Chief +Like Mars in battle, brother of the slain, +But younger born, and from Iphiclus sprung865 +Who sprang from Phylacus the rich in flocks. +But him Protesilaüs, as in years, +So also in desert of arms excell’d +Heroic, whom his host, although they saw +Podarces at their head, still justly mourn’d;870 +For he was fierce in battle, and at Troy +With forty sable-sided ships arrived. +Eleven galleys, Pheræ on the lake, +And Boebe, and Iölchus, and the vale +Of Glaphyræ supplied with crews robust875 +Under Eumelus; him Alcestis, praised +For beauty above all her sisters fair, +In Thessaly to King Admetus bore. +Methone, and Olizon’s craggy coast, +With Melibœa and Thaumasia sent880 +Seven ships; their rowers were good archers all, +And every vessel dipped into the wave +Her fifty oars. Them Philoctetes, skill’d +To draw with sinewy arm the stubborn bow, +Commanded; but he suffering anguish keen885 +Inflicted by a serpent’s venom’d tooth, +Lay sick in Lemnos; him the Grecians there +Had left sore-wounded, but were destined soon +To call to dear remembrance whom they left. +Meantime, though sorrowing for his sake, his troops890 +Yet wanted not a chief; them Medon ruled, +Whom Rhena to the far-famed conqueror bore +Oïleus, fruit of their unsanction’d loves. +From Tricca, from Ithome rough and rude +With rocks and glens, and from Oechalia, town895 +Of Eurytus Oechalian-born, came forth +Their warlike youth by Podalirius led +And by Machaon, healers both expert +Of all disease, and thirty ships were theirs. +The men of Ormenus, and from beside900 +The fountain Hypereia, from the tops +Of chalky Titan, and Asteria’s band; +Them ruled Eurypylus, Evæmon’s son +Illustrious, whom twice twenty ships obeyed. +Orthe, Gyrtone, Oloösson white,905 +Argissa and Helone; they their youth +Gave to control of Polypœtes, son +Undaunted of Pirithoüs, son of Jove. +Him, to Pirithoüs, (on the self-same day +When he the Centaurs punish’d and pursued910 +Sheer to Æthicæ driven from Pelion’s heights +The shaggy race) Hippodamia bore. +Nor he alone them led. With him was join’d +Leonteus dauntless warrior, from the bold +Coronus sprung, who Cæneus call’d his sire.915 +Twice twenty ships awaited their command. +Guneus from Cyphus twenty and two ships +Led forth; the Enienes him obey’d, +And the robust Perœbi, warriors bold, +And dwellers on Dodona’s wintry brow.920 +To these were join’d who till the pleasant fields +Where Titaresius winds; the gentle flood +Pours into Peneus all his limpid stores, +But with the silver-eddied Peneus flows +Unmixt as oil;[27] for Stygian is his stream,925 +And Styx is the inviolable oath. +Last with his forty ships, Tenthredon’s son, +The active Prothoüs came. From the green banks +Of Peneus his Magnesians far and near +He gather’d, and from Pelion forest-crown’d.930 +These were the princes and the Chiefs of Greece. +Say, Muse, who most in personal desert +Excell’d, and whose were the most warlike steeds +And of the noblest strain. Their hue, their age, +Their height the same, swift as the winds of heaven935 +And passing far all others, were the mares +Which drew Eumelus; on Pierian hills +The heavenly Archer of the silver bow, +Apollo, bred them. But of men, the chief +Was Telamonian Ajax, while wrath-bound940 +Achilles lay; for he was worthier far, +And more illustrious were the steeds which bore +The noble son of Peleus; but revenge +On Agamemnon leader of the host +Was all his thought, while in his gallant ships945 +Sharp-keel’d to cut the foaming flood, he lay. +Meantime, along the margin of the deep +His soldiers hurled the disk, or bent the bow. +Or to its mark dispatch’d the quivering lance. +Beside the chariots stood the unharness’d steeds950 +Cropping the lotus, or at leisure browsed +On celery wild, from watery freshes gleaned. +Beneath the shadow of the sheltering tent +The chariot stood, while they, the charioteers +Roam’d here and there the camp, their warlike lord955 +Regretting sad, and idle for his sake. +As if a fire had burnt along the ground, +Such seem’d their march; earth groan’d their steps beneath; +As when in Arimi, where fame reports +Typhoëus stretch’d, the fires of angry Jove960 +Down darted, lash the ground, so groan’d the earth +Beneath them, for they traversed swift the plain. +And now from Jove, with heavy tidings charged, +Wind-footed Iris to the Trojans came. +It was the time of council, when the throng965 +At Priam’s gate assembled, young and old: +Them, standing nigh, the messenger of heaven +Accosted with the voice of Priam’s son, +Polites. He, confiding in his speed +For sure deliverance, posted was abroad970 +On Æsyeta’s tomb,[28] intent to watch +When the Achaian host should leave the fleet. +The Goddess in his form thus them address’d. +Oh, ancient Monarch! Ever, evermore +Speaking, debating, as if all were peace;975 +I have seen many a bright-embattled field, +But never one so throng’d as this to-day. +For like the leaves, or like the sands they come +Swept by the winds, to gird the city round. +But Hector! chiefly thee I shall exhort.980 +In Priam’s spacious city are allies +Collected numerous, and of nations wide +Disseminated various are the tongues. +Let every Chief his proper troop command, +And marshal his own citizens to war.985 +She ceased; her Hector heard intelligent, +And quick dissolved the council. All took arms. +Wide flew the gates; forth rush’d the multitude, +Horsemen and foot, and boisterous stir arose. +In front of Ilium, distant on the plain,990 +Clear all around from all obstruction, stands +An eminence high-raised, by mortal men +Call’d Bateia, but the Gods the tomb +Have named it of Myrinna swift in fight. +Troy and her aids there set the battle forth.995 +Huge Priameian Hector, fierce in arms, +Led on the Trojans; with whom march’d the most +And the most valiant, dexterous at the spear. +Æneas, (on the hills of Ida him +The lovely Venus to Anchises bore,1000 +A Goddess by a mortal man embraced) +Led the Dardanians; but not he alone; +Archilochus with him and Acamas +Stood forth, the offspring of Antenor, each, +And well instructed in all forms of war.1005 +Fast by the foot of Ida, where they drank +The limpid waters of Æsepus, dwelt +The Trojans of Zeleia. Rich were they +And led by Pandarus, Lycaon’s son, +Whom Phœbus self graced with the bow he bore.1010 +Apæsus, Adrastea, Terie steep, +And Pitueia—them, Amphius clad +In mail thick-woven, and Adrastus, ruled. +They were the sons of the Percosian seer +Merops, expert in the soothsayers’ art1015 +Above all other; he his sons forbad +The bloody fight, but disobedient they +Still sought it, for their destiny prevailed. +The warriors of Percote, and who dwelt +In Practius, in Arisba, city fair,1020 +In Sestus, in Abydus, march’d behind +Princely Hyrtacides; his tawny steeds, +Strong-built and tall, from Sellcentes’ bank +And from Arisba, had him borne to Troy. +Hippothous and Pilmus, branch of Mars,1025 +Both sons of Lethus the Pelasgian, they, +Forth from Larissa for her fertile soil +Far-famed, the spear-expert Pelasgians brought. +The Thracians (all whom Hellespont includes +Within the banks of his swift-racing tide)1030 +Heroic Acamas and Pirous led. +Euphemus, offspring of Trœzenus, son +Of Jove-protected Ceas, was the Chief +Whom the spear-arm’d Ciconian band obey’d. +Pæonia’s archers follow’d to the field1035 +Pyræchmes; they from Amydon remote +Were drawn, where Axius winds; broad Axius, stream +Diffused delightful over all the vale. +Pylæmenes, a Chief of giant might +From the Eneti for forest-mules renowned1040 +March’d with his Paphlagonians; dwellers they +In Sesamus and in Cytorus were, +And by the stream Parthenius; Cromna these +Sent forth, and those Ægialus on the lip +And margin of the land, and some, the heights1045 +Of Erythini, rugged and abrupt. +Epistrophus and Odius from the land +Of Alybe, a region far remote, +Where veins of silver wind, led to the field +The Halizonians. With the Mysians came1050 +Chromis their Chief, and Ennomus; him skill’d +In augury, but skill’d in vain, his art +Saved not, but by Æacides[29] the swift, +With others in the Xanthus[30] slain, he died. +Ascanius, lovely youth, and Phorcis, led1055 +The Phrygians from Ascania far remote, +Ardent for battle. The Mœonian race, +(All those who at the foot of Tmolus dwelt,) +Mesthles and Antiphus, fraternal pair, +Sons of Pylæmenes commanded, both1060 +Of the Gygæan lake in Lydia born. +Amphimachus and Nastes led to fight +The Carians, people of a barbarous speech,[31] +With the Milesians, and the mountain-race +Of wood-crown’d Phthira, and who dwelt beside1065 +Mæander, or on Mycale sublime. +Them led Amphimachus and Nastes, sons +Renown’d of Nomion. Like a simple girl +Came forth Amphimachus with gold bedight, +But him his trappings from a woful death1070 +Saved not, when whirled beneath the bloody tide +To Peleus’ stormy son his spoils he left. +Sarpedon with the noble Glaucus led +Their warriors forth from farthest Lycia, where +Xanthus deep-dimpled rolls his oozy tide.1075 + + + + +BOOK III. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE THIRD BOOK. + +The armies meet. Paris throws out a challenge to the Grecian Princes. +Menelaus accepts it. The terms of the combat are adjusted solemnly by +Agamemnon on the part of Greece, and by Priam on the part of Troy. The +combat ensues, in which Paris is vanquished, whom yet Venus rescues. +Agamemnon demands from the Trojans a performance of the covenant. + + +BOOK III. + + +[1]Now marshall’d all beneath their several chiefs, +With deafening shouts, and with the clang of arms, +The host of Troy advanced. Such clang is heard +Along the skies, when from incessant showers +Escaping, and from winter’s cold, the cranes5 +Take wing, and over Ocean speed away;[2] +Wo to the land of dwarfs! prepared they fly +For slaughter of the small Pygmæan race. +Not so the Greeks; they breathing valor came, +But silent all, and all with faithful hearts10 +On succor mutual to the last, resolved. +As when the south wind wraps the mountain top +In mist the shepherd’s dread, but to the thief +Than night itself more welcome, and the eye +Is bounded in its ken to a stone’s cast,15 +Such from beneath their footsteps dun and dense +Uprose the dust, for swift they cross the plain. + +When, host to host opposed, full nigh they stood, +Then Alexander[3] in the Trojan van +Advanced was seen, all beauteous as a God;20 +His leopard’s skin, his falchion and his bow +Hung from his shoulder; bright with heads of brass +He shook two spears, and challenged to the fight +The bravest Argives there, defying all. +Him, striding haughtily his host before25 +When Menelaus saw, such joy he felt +As hunger-pinch’d the lion feels, by chance +Conducted to some carcase huge, wild goat, +Or antler’d stag; huntsmen and baying hounds +Disturb not _him_, he gorges in their sight.30 +So Menelaus at the view rejoiced +Of lovely Alexander, for he hoped +His punishment at hand. At once, all armed, +Down from his chariot to the ground he leap’d +When godlike Paris him in front beheld35 +Conspicuous, his heart smote him, and his fate +Avoiding, far within the lines he shrank.[4] +As one, who in some woodland height descrying +A serpent huge, with sudden start recoils, +His limbs shake under him; with cautious step40 +He slow retires; fear blanches cold his cheeks; +So beauteous Alexander at the sight +Of Atreus’ son dishearten’d sore, the ranks +Of haughty Trojans enter’d deep again: +Him Hector eyed, and thus rebuked severe.45 +Curst Paris! Fair deceiver! Woman-mad! +I would to all in heaven that thou hadst died +Unborn, at least unmated! happier far +Than here to have incurr’d this public shame! +Well may the Grecians taunt, and laughing loud,50 +Applaud the champion, slow indeed to fight +And pusillanimous, but wondrous fair. +Wast thou as timid, tell me, when with those +Thy loved companions in that famed exploit, +Thou didst consort with strangers, and convey55 +From distant lands a warrior’s beauteous bride +To be thy father’s and his people’s curse, +Joy to our foes, but to thyself reproach? +Behold her husband! Darest thou not to face +The warlike prince? Now learn how brave a Chief60 +Thou hast defrauded of his blooming spouse. +Thy lyre, thy locks, thy person, specious gifts +Of partial Venus, will avail thee nought, +Once mixt by Menelaus with the dust. +But we are base ourselves, or long ago,65 +For all thy numerous mischiefs, thou hadst slept +Secure beneath a coverlet[5] of stone.[6] +Then godlike Alexander thus replied. +Oh Hector, true in temper as the axe +Which in the shipwright’s hand the naval plank70 +Divides resistless, doubling all his force, +Such is thy dauntless spirit whose reproach +Perforce I own, nor causeless nor unjust. +Yet let the gracious gifts uncensured pass +Of golden Venus; man may not reject75 +The glorious bounty by the Gods bestow’d, +Nor follows their beneficence our choice. +But if thy pleasure be that I engage +With Menelaus in decision fierce +Of desperate combat bid the host of Troy80 +And bid the Grecians sit; then face to face +Commit us, in the vacant field between, +To fight for Helen and for all her wealth. +Who strongest proves, and conquers, he, of her +And hers possess’d shall bear them safe away;85 +While ye (peace sworn and firm accord) shall dwell +At Troy, and these to Argos shall return +And to Achaia praised for women fair. +He ceased, whom Hector heard with joy; he moved +Into the middle space, and with his spear90 +Advanced athwart push’d back the Trojan van, +And all stood fast. Meantime at him the Greeks +Discharged full volley, showering thick around +From bow and sling;[7] when with a mighty voice +Thus Agamemnon, leader of the host.95 +Argives! Be still—shoot not, ye sons of Greece! +Hector bespeaks attention. Hear the Chief! +He said, at once the Grecians ceased to shoot, +And all sat silent. Hector then began. +Hear me, ye Trojans, and ye Greeks mail-arm’d,100 +While I shall publish in your ears the words +Of Alexander, author of our strife. +Trojans, he bids, and Grecians on the field +Their arms dispose; while he, the hosts between, +With warlike Menelaus shall in fight105 +Contend for Helen, and for all her wealth. +Who strongest proves, and conquers, he, of her +And hers possess’d, shall bear them safe away, +And oaths of amity shall bind the rest. +He ceased, and all deep silence held, amazed;110 +When valiant Menelaus thus began. +Hear now me also, on whose aching heart +These woes have heaviest fallen. At last I hope +Decision near, Trojans and Greeks between, +For ye have suffer’d in my quarrel much,115 +And much by Paris, author of the war. +Die he who must, and peace be to the rest. +But ye shall hither bring two lambs, one white, +The other black;[8] this to the Earth devote, +That to the Sun. We shall ourselves supply120 +A third for Jove. Then bring ye Priam forth, +Himself to swear the covenant, (for his sons +Are faithless) lest the oath of Jove be scorn’d. +Young men are ever of unstable mind; +But when an elder interferes, he views125 +Future and past together, and insures +The compact, to both parties, uninfringed. +So Menelaus spake; and in all hearts +Awaken’d joyful hope that there should end +War’s long calamities. Alighted each,130 +And drew his steeds into the lines. The field +Glitter’d with arms put off, and side by side, +Ranged orderly, while the interrupted war +Stood front to front, small interval between. +Then Hector to the city sent in haste135 +Two heralds for the lambs, and to invite +Priam; while Agamemnon, royal Chief, +Talthybius to the Grecian fleet dismiss’d +For a third lamb to Jove; nor he the voice +Of noble Agamemnon disobey’d.140 +Iris, ambassadress of heaven, the while, +To Helen came. Laödice she seem’d, +Loveliest of all the daughters of the house +Of Priam, wedded to Antenor’s son, +King Helicäon. Her she found within,145 +An ample web magnificent she wove,[9] +Inwrought with numerous conflicts for her sake +Beneath the hands of Mars endured by Greeks +Mail-arm’d, and Trojans of equestrian fame. +Swift Iris, at her side, her thus address’d.150 +Haste, dearest nymph! a wondrous sight behold! +Greeks brazen-mail’d, and Trojans steed-renown’d. +So lately on the cruel work of Mars +Intent and hot for mutual havoc, sit +Silent; the war hath paused, and on his shield155 +Each leans, his long spear planted at his side. +Paris and Menelaus, warrior bold, +With quivering lances shall contend for thee, +And thou art his who conquers; his for ever. +So saying, the Goddess into Helen’s soul160 +Sweetest desire infused to see again +Her former Lord, her parents, and her home. +At once o’ermantled with her snowy veil +She started forth, and as she went let fall +A tender tear; not unaccompanied165 +She went, but by two maidens of her train +Attended, Æthra, Pittheus’ daughter fair, +And soft-eyed Clymene. Their hasty steps +Convey’d them quickly to the Scæan gate. +There Priam, Panthous, Clytius, Lampus sat,170 +Thymoetes, Hicetaon, branch of Mars, +Antenor and Ucalegon the wise, +All, elders of the people; warriors erst, +But idle now through age, yet of a voice +Still indefatigable as the fly’s[10]175 +Which perch’d among the boughs sends forth at noon +Through all the grove his slender ditty sweet. +Such sat those Trojan leaders on the tower, +Who, soon as Helen on the steps they saw, +In accents quick, but whisper’d, thus remark’d.180 +Trojans and Grecians wage, with fair excuse, +Long war for so much beauty.[11] Oh, how like +In feature to the Goddesses above! +Pernicious loveliness! Ah, hence away, +Resistless as thou art and all divine,185 +Nor leave a curse to us, and to our sons. +So they among themselves; but Priam call’d +Fair Helen to his side.[12] My daughter dear! +Come, sit beside me. Thou shalt hence discern +Thy former Lord, thy kindred and thy friends.190 +I charge no blame on thee. The Gods have caused, +Not thou, this lamentable war to Troy.[13] +Name to me yon Achaian Chief for bulk +Conspicuous, and for port. Taller indeed +I may perceive than he; but with these eyes195 +Saw never yet such dignity, and grace. +Declare his name. Some royal Chief he seems. +To whom thus Helen, loveliest of her sex, +My other Sire! by me for ever held +In reverence, and with filial fear beloved!200 +Oh that some cruel death had been my choice, +Rather than to abandon, as I did, +All joys domestic, matrimonial bliss, +Brethren, dear daughter, and companions dear, +A wanderer with thy son. Yet I alas!205 +Died not, and therefore now, live but to weep. +But I resolve thee. Thou behold’st the son +Of Atreus, Agamemnon, mighty king, +In arms heroic, gracious in the throne, +And, (though it shame me now to call him such,)210 +By nuptial ties a brother once to me. +Then him the ancient King-admiring, said. +Oh blest Atrides, happy was thy birth, +And thy lot glorious, whom this gallant host +So numerous, of the sons of Greece obey!215 +To vine-famed Phrygia, in my days of youth, +I journey’d; many Phrygians there I saw, +Brave horsemen, and expert; they were the powers +Of Otreus and of Mygdon, godlike Chief, +And on the banks of Sangar’s stream encamp’d.220 +I march’d among them, chosen in that war +Ally of Phrygia, and it was her day +Of conflict with the man-defying race, +The Amazons; yet multitudes like these +Thy bright-eyed Greeks, I saw not even there.225 +The venerable King observing next +Ulysses, thus inquired. My child, declare +Him also. Shorter by the head he seems +Than Agamemnon, Atreus’ mighty son, +But shoulder’d broader, and of ampler chest;230 +He hath disposed his armor on the plain, +But like a ram, himself the warrior ranks +Ranges majestic; like a ram full-fleeced +By numerous sheep encompass’d snowy-white. +To whom Jove’s daughter Helen thus replied.235 +In him the son of old Laërtes know, +Ulysses; born in Ithaca the rude, +But of a piercing wit, and deeply wise. +Then answer thus, Antenor sage return’d. +Princess thou hast described him: hither once240 +The noble Ithacan, on thy behalf +Ambassador with Menelaus, came: +Beneath my roof, with hospitable fare +Friendly I entertained them. Seeing then +Occasion opportune, I closely mark’d245 +The genius and the talents of the Chiefs, +And this I noted well; that when they stood +Amid the assembled counsellors of Troy, +Then Menelaus his advantage show’d, +Who by the shoulders overtopp’d his friend.250 +But when both sat, Ulysses in his air +Had more of state and dignity than he. +In the delivery of a speech address’d +To the full senate, Menelaus used +Few words, but to the matter, fitly ranged,255 +And with much sweetness utter’d; for in loose +And idle play of ostentatious terms +He dealt not, thhugh he were the younger man. +But when the wise Ulysses from his seat +Had once arisen, he would his downcast eyes260 +So rivet on the earth, and with a hand +That seem’d untutor’d in its use, so hold +His sceptre, swaying it to neither side, +That hadst thou seen him, thou hadst thought him, sure, +Some chafed and angry idiot, passion-fixt.265 +Yet, when at length, the clear and mellow base +Of his deep voice brake forth, and he let fall +His chosen words like flakes of feather’d snow, +None then might match Ulysses; leisure, then, +Found none to wonder at his noble form.270 +The third of whom the venerable king +Inquired, was Ajax.—Yon Achaian tall, +Whose head and shoulders tower above the rest, +And of such bulk prodigious—who is he? +Him answer’d Helen, loveliest of her sex.275 +A bulwark of the Greeks. In him thou seest +Gigantic Ajax. Opposite appear +The Cretans, and among the Chiefs of Crete +stands, like a God, Idomeneus. Him oft +From Crete arrived, was Menelaüs wont280 +To entertain; and others now I see, +Achaians, whom I could recall to mind, +And give to each his name; but two brave youths +I yet discern not; for equestrian skill +One famed, and one a boxer never foiled;285 +My brothers; born of Leda; sons of Jove; +Castor and Pollux. Either they abide +In lovely Sparta still, or if they came, +Decline the fight, by my disgrace abash’d +And the reproaches which have fallen on me.[14]290 +She said; but they already slept inhumed +In Lacedemon, in their native soil. +And now the heralds, through the streets of Troy +Charged with the lambs, and with a goat-skin filled +With heart-exhilarating wine prepared295 +For that divine solemnity, return’d. +Idæus in his hand a beaker bore +Resplendent, with its fellow cups of gold, +And thus he summon’d ancient Priam forth. +Son of Laömedon, arise. The Chiefs300 +Call thee, the Chiefs of Ilium and of Greece. +Descend into the plain. We strike a truce, +And need thine oath to bind it. Paris fights +With warlike Menelaüs for his spouse; +Their spears decide the strife. The conqueror wins305 +Helen and all her treasures. We, thenceforth, +(Peace sworn and amity) shall dwell secure +In Troy, while they to Argos shall return +And to Achaia praised for women fair. +He spake, and Priam, shuddering, bade his train310 +Prepare his steeds; they sedulous obey’d. +First, Priam mounting, backward stretch’d the reins; +Antenor, next, beside him sat, and through +The Scæan gate they drove into the plain. +Arriving at the hosts of Greece and Troy315 +They left the chariot, and proceeded both +Into the interval between the hosts. +Then uprose Agamemnon, and uprose +All-wise Ulysses. Next, the heralds came +Conspicuous forward, expediting each320 +The ceremonial; they the beaker fill’d +With wine, and to the hands of all the kings +Minister’d water. Agamemnon then +Drawing his dagger which he ever bore +Appendant to his heavy falchion’s sheath,325 +Cut off the forelocks of the lambs,[15] of which +The heralds gave to every Grecian Chief +A portion, and to all the Chiefs of Troy. +Then Agamemnon raised his hands, and pray’d. +Jove, Father, who from Ida stretchest forth330 +Thine arm omnipotent, o’erruling all, +And thou, all-seeing and all-hearing Sun, +Ye Rivers, and thou conscious Earth, and ye +Who under earth on human kind avenge +Severe, the guilt of violated oaths,335 +Hear ye, and ratify what now we swear! +Should Paris slay the hero amber-hair’d, +My brother Menelaüs, Helen’s wealth +And Helen’s self are his, and all our host +Shall home return to Greece; but should it chance340 +That Paris fall by Menelaüs’ hand, +Then Troy shall render back what she detains, +With such amercement as is meet, a sum +To be remember’d in all future times. +Which penalty should Priam and his sons345 +Not pay, though Paris fall, then here in arms +I will contend for payment of the mulct +My due, till, satisfied, I close the war. +He said, and with his ruthless steel the lambs +Stretch’d panting all, but soon they ceased to pant,350 +For mortal was the stroke.[16] Then drawing forth +Wine from the beaker, they with brimming cups +Hail’d the immortal Gods, and pray’d again, +And many a Grecian thus and Trojan spake. +All-glorious Jove, and ye the powers of heaven,355 +Whoso shall violate this contract first, +So be the brains of them and of their sons +Pour’d out, as we this wine pour on the earth, +And may their wives bring forth to other men! +So they: but them Jove heard not. Then arose360 +Priam, the son of Dardanus, and said, +Hear me, ye Trojans and ye Greeks well-arm’d. +Hence back to wind-swept Ilium I return, +Unable to sustain the sight, my son +With warlike Menelaüs match’d in arms.365 +Jove knows, and the immortal Gods, to whom +Of both, this day is preordain’d the last. +So spake the godlike monarch, and disposed +Within the royal chariot all the lambs; +Then, mounting, check’d the reins; Antenor next370 +Ascended, and to Ilium both return’d. +First, Hector and Ulysses, noble Chief, +Measured the ground; then taking lots for proof +Who of the combatants should foremost hurl +His spear, they shook them in a brazen casque;375 +Meantime the people raised their hands on high, +And many a Grecian thus and Trojan prayed. +Jove, Father, who on Ida seated, seest +And rulest all below, glorious in power! +Of these two champions, to the drear abodes380 +Of Ades him appoint who furnish’d first +The cause of strife between them, and let peace +Oath-bound, and amity unite the rest! +So spake the hosts; then Hector shook the lots, +Majestic Chief, turning his face aside.385 +Forth sprang the lot of Paris. They in ranks +Sat all, where stood the fiery steeds of each, +And where his radiant arms lay on the field. +Illustrious Alexander his bright arms +Put on, fair Helen’s paramour. [17]He clasp’d390 +His polish’d greaves with silver studs secured; +His brother’s corselet to his breast he bound, +Lycaon’s, apt to his own shape and size, +And slung athwart his shoulders, bright emboss’d, +His brazen sword; his massy buckler broad395 +He took, and to his graceful head his casque +Adjusted elegant, which, as he moved, +Its bushy crest waved dreadful; last he seized, +Well fitted to his gripe, his ponderous spear. +Meantime the hero Menelaüs made400 +Like preparation, and his arms put on. +When thus, from all the multitude apart, +Both combatants had arm’d, with eyes that flash’d +Defiance, to the middle space they strode, +Trojans and Greeks between. Astonishment405 +Seized all beholders. On the measured ground +Full near they stood, each brandishing on high +His massy spear, and each was fiery wroth. +First, Alexander his long-shadow’d spear +Sent forth, and on his smooth shield’s surface struck410 +The son of Atreus, but the brazen guard +Pierced not, for at the disk, with blunted point +Reflex, his ineffectual weapon stay’d. +Then Menelaüs to the fight advanced +Impetuous, after prayer offer’d to Jove.[18]415 +King over all! now grant me to avenge +My wrongs on Alexander; now subdue +The aggressor under me; that men unborn +May shudder at the thought of faith abused, +And hospitality with rape repaid.420 +He said, and brandishing his massy spear, +Dismiss’d it. Through the burnish’d buckler broad +Of Priam’s son the stormy weapon flew, +Transpierced his costly hauberk, and the vest +Ripp’d on his flank; but with a sideward bend425 +He baffled it, and baulk’d the dreadful death. +Then Menelaüs drawing his bright blade, +Swung it aloft, and on the hairy crest +Smote him; but shiver’d into fragments small +The falchion at the stroke fell from his hand.430 +Vexation fill’d him; to the spacious heavens +He look’d, and with a voice of wo exclaim’d— +Jupiter! of all powers by man adored +To me most adverse! Confident I hoped +Revenge for Paris’ treason, but my sword435 +Is shivered, and I sped my spear in vain. +So saying, he sprang on him, and his long crest +Seized fast; then, turning, drew him by that hold +Toward the Grecian host. The broider’d band +That underbraced his helmet at the chin,440 +Strain’d to his smooth neck with a ceaseless force, +Chok’d him; and now had Menelaus won +Deathless renown, dragging him off the field, +But Venus, foam-sprung Goddess, feeling quick +His peril imminent, snapp’d short the brace445 +Though stubborn, by a slaughter’d[19] ox supplied, +And the void helmet follow’d as he pull’d. +That prize the Hero, whirling it aloft, +Threw to his Greeks, who caught it and secured, +Then with vindictive strides he rush’d again450 +On Paris, spear in hand; but him involved +In mist opaque Venus with ease divine +Snatch’d thence, and in his chamber placed him, fill’d +With scents odorous, spirit-soothing sweets. +Nor stay’d the Goddess, but at once in quest455 +Of Helen went; her on a lofty tower +She found, where many a damsel stood of Troy, +And twitch’d her fragrant robe. In form she seem’d +An ancient matron, who, while Helen dwelt +In Lacedæmon, her unsullied wool460 +Dress’d for her, faithfullest of all her train. +Like her disguised the Goddess thus began. +Haste—Paris calls thee—on his sculptured couch, +(Sparkling alike his looks and his attire) +He waits thy wish’d return. Thou wouldst not dream465 +That he had fought; he rather seems prepared +For dance, or after dance, for soft repose. +So saying, she tumult raised in Helen’s mind. +Yet soon as by her symmetry of neck, +By her love-kindling breasts and luminous eyes470 +She knew the Goddess, her she thus bespake. +Ah whence, deceitful deity! thy wish +Now to ensnare me? Wouldst thou lure me, say, +To some fair city of Mæonian name +Or Phrygian, more remote from Sparta still?475 +Hast thou some human favorite also there? +Is it because Atrides hath prevailed +To vanquish Paris, and would bear me home +Unworthy as I am, that thou attempt’st +Again to cheat me? Go thyself—sit thou480 +Beside him—for his sake renounce the skies; +Watch him, weep for him; till at length his wife +He deign to make thee, or perchance his slave. +I go not (now to go were shame indeed) +To dress his couch; nor will I be the jest485 +Of all my sex in Ilium. Oh! my griefs +Are infinite, and more than I can bear. +To whom, the foam-sprung Goddess, thus incensed. +Ah wretch! provoke not me; lest in my wrath +Abandoning thee, I not hate thee less490 +Than now I fondly love thee, and beget +Such detestation of thee in all hearts, +Grecian and Trojan, that thou die abhorr’d. +The Goddess ceased. Jove’s daughter, Helen, fear’d, +And, in her lucid veil close wrapt around,495 +Silent retired, of all those Trojan dames +Unseen, and Venus led, herself, the way. +Soon then as Alexander’s fair abode +They reach’d, her maidens quick their tasks resumed, +And she to her own chamber lofty-roof’d500 +Ascended, loveliest of her sex. A seat +For Helen, daughter of Jove Ægis-arm’d, +To Paris opposite, the Queen of smiles +Herself disposed; but with averted eyes +She sat before him, and him keen reproach’d.505 +Thou hast escaped.—Ah would that thou hadst died +By that heroic arm, mine husband’s erst! +Thou once didst vaunt thee in address and strength +Superior. Go then—challenge yet again +The warlike Menelaüs forth in fight.510 +But hold. The hero of the amber locks +Provoke no more so rashly, lest the point +Of his victorious spear soon stretch thee dead. +She ended, to whom Paris thus replied. +Ah Helen, wound me not with taunt severe!515 +Me, Menelaüs, by Minerva’s aid, +Hath vanquish’d now, who may hereafter, him. +We also have our Gods. But let us love. +For never since the day when thee I bore +From pleasant Lacedæmon o’er the waves520 +To Cranäe’s fair isle, and first enjoy’d +Thy beauty, loved I as I love thee now, +Or felt such sweetness of intense desire. + +He spake, and sought his bed, whom follow’d soon +Jove’s daughter, reconciled to his embrace.525 +But Menelaüs like a lion ranged +The multitude, inquiring far and near +For Paris lost. Yet neither Trojan him +Nor friend of Troy could show, whom, else, through love +None had conceal’d, for him as death itself530 +All hated, but his going none had seen. +Amidst them all then spake the King of men. +Trojans, and Dardans, and allies of Troy! +The warlike Menelaüs hath prevailed, +As is most plain. Now therefore bring ye forth535 +Helen with all her treasures, also bring +Such large amercement as is meet, a sum +To be remember’d in all future times. +So spake Atrides, and Achaia’s host +With loud applause confirm’d the monarch’s claim.540 + + + + +BOOK IV. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE FOURTH BOOK. + +In a Council of the Gods, a dispute arises between Jupiter and Juno, +which is at last compromised, Jove consenting to dispatch Minerva with +a charge to incite some Trojan to a violation of the truce. Minerva +descends for that purpose, and in the form of Laodocus, a son of Priam, +exhorts Pandarus to shoot at Menelaus, and succeeds. Menelaus is +wounded, and Agamemnon having consigned him to the care of Machaon, +goes forth to perform the duties of commander-in-chief, in the +encouragement of his host to battle. The battle begins. + + +BOOK IV. + + +Now, on the golden floor of Jove’s abode +The Gods all sat consulting; Hebe them, +Graceful, with nectar served;[1] they pledging each +His next, alternate quaff’d from cups of gold, +And at their ease reclined, look’d down on Troy,5 +When, sudden, Jove essay’d by piercing speech +Invidious, to enkindle Juno’s ire. +Two Goddesses on Menelaus’ part +Confederate stand, Juno in Argos known, +Pallas in Alalcomene;[2] yet they10 +Sequester’d sit, look on, and are amused. +Not so smile-loving Venus; she, beside +Her champion station’d, saves him from his fate, +And at this moment, by her aid, he lives. +But now, since victory hath proved the lot15 +Of warlike Menelaus, weigh ye well +The matter; shall we yet the ruinous strife +Prolong between the nations, or consent +To give them peace? should peace your preference win, +And prove alike acceptable to all,20 +Stand Ilium, and let Menelaus bear +Helen of Argos back to Greece again. + +He ended; Juno and Minerva heard, +Low-murmuring deep disgust; for side by side +They forging sat calamity to Troy.25 +Minerva through displeasure against Jove +Nought utter’d, for with rage her bosom boil’d; +But Juno check’d not hers, who thus replied. +What word hath pass’d thy lips, Jove most severe! +How? wouldst thou render fruitless all my pains?30 +The sweat that I have pour’d? my steeds themselves +Have fainted while I gather’d Greece in arms +For punishment of Priam and his sons. +Do it. But small thy praise shall be in heaven. +Then her the Thunderer answer’d sore displeased.35 +Ah shameless! how have Priam and his sons +So much transgress’d against thee, that thou burn’st +With ceaseless rage to ruin populous Troy? +Go, make thine entrance at her lofty gates, +Priam and all his house, and all his host40 +Alive devour; then, haply, thou wilt rest; +Do even as thou wilt, that this dispute +Live not between us a consuming fire +For ever. But attend; mark well the word. +When I shall also doom in future time45 +Some city to destruction, dear to thee, +Oppose me not, but give my fury way +As I give way to thine, not pleased myself, +Yet not unsatisfied, so thou be pleased. +For of all cities of the sons of men,50 +And which the sun and stars from heaven behold, +Me sacred Troy most pleases, Priam me +Most, and the people of the warrior King. +Nor without cause. They feed mine altar well; +Libation there, and steam of savory scent55 +Fail not, the tribute which by lot is ours. +Him answer’d, then, the Goddess ample-eyed,[3] +Majestic Juno: Three fair cities me, +Of all the earth, most interest and engage, +Mycenæ for magnificence renown’d,60 +Argos, and Sparta. Them, when next thy wrath +Shall be inflamed against them, lay thou waste; +I will not interpose on their behalf; +Thou shalt not hear me murmur; what avail +Complaint or force against thy matchless arm?65 +Yet were it most unmeet that even I +Should toil in vain; I also boast a birth +Celestial; Saturn deeply wise, thy Sire, +Is also mine; our origin is one. +Thee I acknowledge Sovereign, yet account70 +Myself entitled by a twofold claim +To veneration both from Gods and men, +The daughter of Jove’s sire, and spouse of Jove. +Concession mutual therefore both thyself +Befits and me, whom when the Gods perceive75 +Disposed to peace, they also shall accord. +Come then.—To yon dread field dispatch in haste +Minerva, with command that she incite +The Trojans first to violate their oath +By some fresh insult on the exulting Greeks.80 +So Juno; nor the sire of all refused, +But in wing’d accents thus to Pallas spake. +Begone; swift fly to yonder field; incite +The Trojans first to violate their oath +By some fresh insult on the exulting Greeks.85 +The Goddess heard, and what she wish’d, enjoin’d, +Down-darted swift from the Olympian heights, +In form a meteor, such as from his hand +Not seldom Jove dismisses, beaming bright +And breaking into stars, an omen sent90 +To mariners, or to some numerous host. +Such Pallas seem’d, and swift descending, dropp’d +Full in the midst between them. They with awe +That sign portentous and with wonder view’d, +Achaians both and Trojans, and his next95 +The soldier thus bespake. Now either war +And dire hostility again shall flame, +Or Jove now gives us peace. Both are from Jove. +So spake the soldiery; but she the form +Taking of brave Laodocus, the son100 +Of old Antenor, throughout all the ranks +Sought godlike Pandarus.[4] Ere long she found +The valiant son illustrious of Lycaon, +Standing encompass’d by his dauntless troops, +Broad-shielded warriors, from Æsepus’ stream105 +His followers; to his side the Goddess came, +And in wing’d accents ardent him bespake. +Brave offspring of Lycaon, is there hope +That thou wilt hear my counsel? darest thou slip +A shaft at Menelaus? much renown110 +Thou shalt and thanks from all the Trojans win, +But most of all, from Paris, prince of Troy. +From him illustrious gifts thou shalt receive +Doubtless, when Menelaus he shall see +The martial son of Atreus by a shaft115 +Subdued of thine, placed on his funeral pile. +Come. Shoot at Menelaus, glorious Chief! +But vow to Lycian Phœbus bow-renown’d +A hecatomb, all firstlings of the flock, +To fair Zeleia’s[5] walls once safe restored.120 +So Pallas spake, to whom infatuate he +Listening, uncased at once his polished bow.[6] +That bow, the laden brows of a wild goat +Salacious had supplied; him on a day +Forth-issuing from his cave, in ambush placed125 +He wounded with an arrow to his breast +Dispatch’d, and on the rock supine he fell. +Each horn had from his head tall growth attain’d, +Full sixteen palms; them shaven smooth the smith +Had aptly join’d, and tipt their points with gold.130 +That bow he strung, then, stooping, planted firm +The nether horn, his comrades bold the while +Screening him close with shields, lest ere the prince +Were stricken, Menelaus brave in arms, +The Greeks with fierce assault should interpose.135 +He raised his quiver’s lid; he chose a dart +Unflown, full-fledged, and barb’d with pangs of death. +He lodged in haste the arrow on the string, +And vow’d to Lycian Phœbus bow-renown’d +A hecatomb, all firstlings of the flock,140 +To fair Zeleia’s walls once safe restored. +Compressing next nerve and notch’d arrow-head +He drew back both together, to his pap +Drew home the nerve, the barb home to his bow, +And when the horn was curved to a wide arch,145 +He twang’d it. Whizz’d the bowstring, and the reed +Leap’d off, impatient for the distant throng. +Thee, Menelaus, then the blessed Gods +Forgat not; Pallas huntress of the spoil, +Thy guardian then, baffled the cruel dart.150 +Far as a mother wafts the fly aside[7] +That haunts her slumbering babe, so far she drove +Its course aslant, directing it herself +Against the golden clasps that join’d his belt; +For there the doubled hauberk interposed.155 +The bitter arrow plunged into his belt. +It pierced his broider’d belt, stood fixt within +His twisted hauberk, nor the interior quilt, +Though penetrable least to arrow-points +And his best guard, withheld it, but it pass’d160 +That also, and the Hero’s skin inscribed. +Quick flowed a sable current from the wound. +As when a Carian or Mæonian maid +Impurples ivory ordain’d to grace +The cheek of martial steed; safe stored it lies,165 +By many a Chief desired, but proves at last +The stately trapping of some prince,[8] the pride +Of his high pamper’d steed, nor less his own; +Such, Menelaus, seem’d thy shapely thighs, +Thy legs, thy feet, stained with thy trickling blood.170 +Shudder’d King Agamemnon when he saw +The blood fast trickling from the wound, nor less +Shudder’d himself the bleeding warrior bold. +But neck and barb observing from the flesh +Extant, he gather’d heart, and lived again.175 +The royal Agamemnon, sighing, grasp’d +The hand of Menelaus, and while all +Their followers sigh’d around them, thus began.[9] + +I swore thy death, my brother, when I swore +This truce, and set thee forth in sight of Greeks180 +And Trojans, our sole champion; for the foe +Hath trodden underfoot his sacred oath, +And stained it with thy blood. But not in vain, +The truce was ratified, the blood of lambs +Poured forth, libation made, and right hands join’d185 +In holy confidence. The wrath of Jove +May sleep, but will not always; they shall pay +Dear penalty; their own obnoxious heads +Shall be the mulct, their children and their wives. +For this I know, know surely; that a day190 +Shall come, when Ilium, when the warlike King +Of Ilium and his host shall perish all. +Saturnian Jove high-throned, dwelling in heaven, +Resentful of this outrage, then shall shake +His storm-clad Ægis over them. He will;195 +I speak no fable. Time shall prove me true. +But, oh my Menelaus, dire distress +Awaits me, if thy close of life be come, +And thou must die. Then ignominy foul +Shall hunt me back to Argos long-desired;200 +For then all here will recollect their home, +And, hope abandoning, will Helen yield +To be the boast of Priam, and of Troy. +So shall our toils be vain, and while thy bones +Shall waste these clods beneath, Troy’s haughty sons205 +The tomb of Menelaus glory-crown’d +Insulting barbarous, shall scoff at me. +So may Atrides, shall they say, perform +His anger still as he performed it here, +Whither he led an unsuccessful host,210 +Whence he hath sail’d again without the spoils, +And where he left his brother’s bones to rot. +So shall the Trojan speak; then open earth +Her mouth, and hide me in her deepest gulfs! +But him, the hero of the golden locks215 +Thus cheer’d. My brother, fear not, nor infect +With fear the Grecians; the sharp-pointed reed +Hath touch’d no vital part. The broider’d zone, +The hauberk, and the tough interior quilt, +Work of the armorer, its force repress’d.220 +Him answer’d Agamemnon, King of men. +So be it brother! but the hand of one +Skilful to heal shall visit and shall dress +The wound with drugs of pain-assuaging power. +He ended, and his noble herald, next,225 +Bespake, Talthybius. Haste, call hither quick +The son of Æsculapius, leech renown’d, +The prince Machaon. Bid him fly to attend +The warlike Chieftain Menelaus; him +Some archer, either Lycian or of Troy,230 +A dexterous one, hath stricken with a shaft +To his own glory, and to our distress. +He spake, nor him the herald disobey’d, +But through the Greeks bright-arm’d his course began +The Hero seeking earnest on all sides235 +Machaon. Him, ere long, he station’d saw +Amid the shielded-ranks of his brave band +From steed-famed Tricca drawn, and at his side +With accents ardor-wing’d, him thus address’d. +Haste, Asclepiades! The King of men240 +Calls thee. Delay not. Thou must visit quick +Brave Menelaus, Atreus’ son, for him +Some archer, either Lycian or of Troy, +A dexterous one, hath stricken with a shaft +To his own glory, and to our distress.245 +So saying, he roused Machaon, who his course +Through the wide host began. Arriving soon +Where wounded Menelaus stood, while all +The bravest of Achaia’s host around +The godlike hero press’d, he strove at once250 +To draw the arrow from his cincture forth. +But, drawing, bent the barbs. He therefore loosed +His broider’d belt, his hauberk and his quilt, +Work of the armorer, and laying bare +His body where the bitter shaft had plow’d255 +His flesh, he suck’d the wound, then spread it o’er +With drugs of balmy power, given on a time +For friendship’s sake by Chiron to his sire. +While Menelaus thus the cares engross’d +Of all those Chiefs, the shielded powers of Troy260 +’Gan move toward them, and the Greeks again +Put on their armor, mindful of the fight. +Then hadst thou[10] not great Agamemnon seen +Slumbering, or trembling, or averse from war, +But ardent to begin his glorious task.265 +His steeds, and his bright chariot brass-inlaid +He left; the snorting steeds Eurymedon, +Offspring of Ptolemy Piraïdes +Detain’d apart; for him he strict enjoin’d +Attendance near, lest weariness of limbs270 +Should seize him marshalling his numerous host. +So forth he went, and through the files on foot +Proceeding, where the warrior Greeks he saw +Alert, he roused them by his words the more.[11] +Argives! abate no spark of all your fire.275 +Jove will not prosper traitors. Them who first +Transgress’d the truce the vultures shall devour, +But we (their city taken) shall their wives +Lead captive, and their children home to Greece. +So cheer’d he them. But whom he saw supine,280 +Or in the rugged work of war remiss, +In terms of anger them he stern rebuked. +Oh Greeks! The shame of Argos! Arrow-doom’d! +Blush ye not? Wherefore stand ye thus aghast, +Like fawns which wearied after scouring wide285 +The champain, gaze and pant, and can no more? +Senseless like them ye stand, nor seek the fight. +Is it your purpose patient here to wait +Till Troy invade your vessels on the shore +Of the grey deep, that ye may trial make290 +Of Jove, if he will prove, himself, your shield? +Thus, in discharge of his high office, pass’d +Atrides through the ranks, and now arrived +Where, hardy Chief! Idomeneus in front +Of his bold Cretans stood, stout as a boar295 +The van he occupied, while in the rear +Meriones harangued the most remote. +Them so prepared the King of men beheld +With joyful heart, and thus in courteous terms +Instant the brave Idomeneus address’d.300 +Thee fighting, feasting, howsoe’er employed, +I most respect, Idomeneus, of all +The well-horsed Danäi; for when the Chiefs +Of Argos, banqueting, their beakers charge +With rosy wine the honorable meed305 +Of valor, thou alone of all the Greeks +Drink’st not by measure.[12] No—thy goblet stands +Replenish’d still, and like myself thou know’st +No rule or bound, save what thy choice prescribes. +March. Seek the foe. Fight now as heretofore,310 +To whom Idomeneus of Crete replied, +Atrides! all the friendship and the love +Which I have promised will I well perform. +Go; animate the rest, Chief after Chief +Of the Achaians, that the fight begin.315 +For Troy has scatter’d to the winds all faith, +All conscience; and for such her treachery foul +Shall have large recompence of death and wo. +He said, whom Agamemnon at his heart +Exulting, pass’d, and in his progress came320 +Where stood each Ajax; them he found prepared +With all their cloud of infantry behind. +As when the goat-herd on some rocky point +Advanced, a cloud sees wafted o’er the deep +By western gales, and rolling slow along,325 +To him, who stands remote, pitch-black it seems, +And comes with tempest charged; he at the sight +Shuddering, his flock compels into a cave; +So moved the gloomy phalanx, rough with spears, +And dense with shields of youthful warriors bold,330 +Close-following either Ajax to the fight. +Them also, pleased, the King of men beheld, +And in wing’d accents hail’d them as he pass’d. +Brave leaders of the mail-clad host of Greece! +I move not you to duty; ye yourselves335 +Move others, and no lesson need from me. +Jove, Pallas, and Apollo! were but all +Courageous as yourselves, soon Priam’s towers +Should totter, and his Ilium storm’d and sack’d +By our victorious bands, stoop to the dust.340 +He ceased, and still proceeding, next arrived +Where stood the Pylian orator, his band +Marshalling under all their leaders bold +Alastor, Chromius, Pelagon the vast, +Hæmon the prince, and Bias, martial Chief.345 +Chariot and horse he station’d in the front; +His numerous infantry, a strong reserve +Right valiant, in the rear; the worst, and those +In whom he trusted least, he drove between, +That such through mere necessity might act.350 +First to his charioteers he gave in charge +Their duty; bade them rein their horses hard, +Shunning confusion. Let no warrior, vain +And overweening of his strength or skill, +Start from his rank to dare the fight alone,355 +Or fall behind it, weakening whom he leaves. +[13]And if, dismounted from his own, he climb +Another’s chariot, let him not affect +Perverse the reins, but let him stand, his spear +Advancing firm, far better so employ’d.360 +Such was the discipline, in ancient times, +Of our forefathers; by these rules they fought +Successful, and laid many a city low. +So counsell’d them the venerable Chief +Long time expert in arms; him also saw365 +King Agamemnon with delight, and said, +Old Chief! ah how I wish, that thy firm heart +Were but supported by as firm a knee! +But time unhinges all. Oh that some youth +Had thine old age, and thou wast young again!370 +To whom the valiant Nestor thus replied. +Atrides, I could also ardent wish +That I were now robust as when I struck +Brave Ereuthalion[14] breathless to the ground! +But never all their gifts the Gods confer375 +On man at once; if then I had the force +Of youth, I suffer now the effects of age. +Yet ancient as I am, I will be seen +Still mingling with the charioteers, still prompt +To give them counsel; for to counsel youth380 +Is the old warrior’s province. Let the green +In years, my juniors, unimpaired by time, +Push with the lance, for they have strength to boast. +So he, whom Agamemnon joyful heard, +And passing thence, the son of Peteos found385 +Menestheus, foremost in equestrian fame, +Among the brave Athenians; near to him +Ulysses held his station, and at hand +The Cephallenians stood, hardy and bold; +For rumor none of the approaching fight390 +Them yet had reach’d, so recent had the stir +Arisen in either host; they, therefore, watch’d +Till the example of some other band +Marching, should prompt them to begin the fight, +But Agamemnon, thus, the King of men395 +Them seeing, sudden and severe reproved. +Menestheus, son of Peteos prince renown’d, +And thou, deviser of all evil wiles! +Adept in artifice! why stand ye here +Appall’d? why wait ye on this distant spot400 +Till others move? I might expect from you +More readiness to meet the burning war, +Whom foremost I invite of all to share +The banquet, when the Princes feast with me. +There ye are prompt; ye find it pleasant there405 +To eat your savory food, and quaff your wine +Delicious till satiety ensue; +But here you could be well content to stand +Spectators only, while ten Grecian troops +Should wage before you the wide-wasting war.410 +To whom Ulysses, with resentful tone +Dark-frowning, thus replied. What words are these +Which have escaped thy lips; and for what cause, +Atrides, hast thou call’d me slow to fight? +When we of Greece shall in sharp contest clash415 +With you steed-tamer Trojans, mark me then; +Then thou shalt see (if the concerns of war +So nearly touch thee, and thou so incline) +The father of Telemachus, engaged +Among the foremost Trojans. But thy speech420 +Was light as is the wind, and rashly made. +When him thus moved he saw, the monarch smiled +Complacent, and in gentler terms replied. +Laërtes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d! +Short reprimand and exhortation short425 +Suffice for thee, nor did I purpose more. +For I have known thee long, that thou art one +Of kindest nature, and so much my friend +That we have both one heart. Go therefore thou, +Lead on, and if a word have fallen amiss,430 +We will hereafter mend it, and may heaven +Obliterate in thine heart its whole effect! +He ceased, and ranging still along the line, +The son of Tydeus, Diomede, perceived, +Heroic Chief, by chariots all around435 +Environ’d, and by steeds, at side of whom +Stood Sthenelus, the son of Capaneus. +Him also, Agamemnon, King of men, +In accents of asperity reproved. +Ah, son of Tydeus, Chief of dauntless heart440 +And of equestrian fame! why standest thou +Appall’d, and peering through the walks of war? +So did not Tydeus. In the foremost fight +His favorite station was, as they affirm +Who witness’d his exploits; I never saw445 +Or met him, but by popular report +He was the bravest warrior of his day. +Yet came he once, but not in hostile sort, +To fair Mycenæ, by the godlike prince +Attended, Polynices, at what time450 +The host was called together, and the siege +Was purposed of the sacred city Thebes. +Earnest they sued for an auxiliar band, +Which we had gladly granted, but that Jove +By unpropitious tokens interfered.455 +So forth they went, and on the reedy banks +Arriving of Asopus, there thy sire +By designation of the Greeks was sent +Ambassador, and enter’d Thebes. He found +In Eteocles’ palace numerous guests,460 +The sons of Cadmus feasting, among whom, +Although a solitary stranger, stood +Thy father without fear, and challenged forth +Their best to cope with him in manly games. +Them Tydeus vanquish’d easily, such aid465 +Pallas vouchsafed him. Then the spur-arm’d race +Of Cadmus was incensed, and fifty youths +In ambush close expected his return. +Them, Lycophontes obstinate in fight, +Son of Autophonus, and Mæon, son470 +Of Hæmon, Chief of godlike stature, led. +Those also Tydeus slew; Mæon except, +(Whom, warned from heaven, he spared, and sent him home +With tidings of the rest) he slew them all. +Such was Ætolian Tydeus; who begat475 +A son in speech his better, not in arms. +He ended, and his sovereign’s awful voice +Tydides reverencing, nought replied; +But thus the son of glorious Capaneus. +Atrides, conscious of the truth, speak truth.480 +We with our sires compared, superior praise +Claim justly.[15] We, confiding in the aid +Of Jove, and in propitious signs from heaven, +Led to the city consecrate to Mars +Our little host, inferior far to theirs,485 +And took seven-gated Thebes, under whose walls +Our fathers by their own imprudence fell. +Their glory, then, match never more with ours. +He spake, whom with a frowning brow the brave +Tydides answer’d. Sthenelus, my friend!490 +I give thee counsel. Mark it. Hold thy peace. +If Agamemnon, who hath charge of all, +Excite his well-appointed host to war, +He hath no blame from me. For should the Greeks +(Her people vanquished) win imperial Troy,495 +The glory shall be his; or, if his host +O’erpower’d in battle perish, his the shame. +Come, therefore; be it ours to rouse at once +To action all the fury of our might. +He said, and from his chariot to the plain500 +Leap’d ardent; rang the armor on the breast +Of the advancing Chief; the boldest heart +Had felt emotion, startled at the sound. +As when the waves by Zephyrus up-heaved +Crowd fast toward some sounding shore, at first,505 +On the broad bosom of the deep their heads +They curl on high, then breaking on the land +Thunder, and o’er the rocks that breast the flood +Borne turgid, scatter far the showery spray; +So moved the Greeks successive, rank by rank,510 +And phalanx after phalanx, every Chief +His loud command proclaiming, while the rest, +As voice in all those thousands none had been +Heard mute; and, in resplendent armor clad, +With martial order terrible advanced.515 +Not so the Trojans came. As sheep, the flock +Of some rich man, by thousands in his court +Penn’d close at milking time, incessant bleat, +Loud answering all their bleating lambs without, +Such din from Ilium’s wide-spread host arose.520 +Nor was their shout, nor was their accent one, +But mingled languages were heard of men +From various climes. These Mars to battle roused, +Those Pallas azure-eyed; nor Terror thence +Nor Flight was absent, nor insatiate Strife,525 +Sister and mate of homicidal Mars, +Who small at first, but swift to grow, from earth +Her towering crest lifts gradual to the skies. +She, foe alike to both, the brands dispersed +Of burning hate between them, and the woes530 +Enhanced of battle wheresoe’er she pass’d. +And now the battle join’d. Shield clash’d with shield[16] +And spear with spear, conflicting corselets rang, +Boss’d bucklers met, and tumult wild arose. +Then, many a yell was heard, and many a shout535 +Loud intermix’d, the slayer o’er the maim’d +Exulting, and the field was drench’d with blood. +As when two winter torrents rolling down +The mountains, shoot their floods through gulleys huge +Into one gulf below, station’d remote540 +The shepherd in the uplands hears the roar; +Such was the thunder of the mingling hosts. +And first, Antilochus a Trojan Chief +Slew Echepolus, from Thalysias sprung, +Contending valiant in the van of Troy.545 +Him smiting on his crested casque, he drove +The brazen lance into his front, and pierced +The bones within; night overspread his eyes, +And in fierce battle, like a tower, he fell. +Him fallen by both feet Calchodon’s son550 +Seized, royal Elephenor, leader brave +Of the Abantes, and in haste to strip +His armor, drew him from the fight aside. +But short was that attempt. Him so employ’d +Dauntless Agenor mark’d, and as he stoop’d,555 +In his unshielded flank a pointed spear +Implanted deep; he languid sunk and died. +So Elephenor fell, for whom arose +Sharp conflict; Greeks and Trojans mutual flew +Like wolves to battle, and man grappled man.560 +Then Telamonian Ajax, in his prime +Of youthful vigor Simöisius slew,[17] +Son of Anthemion. Him on Simoïs’ banks +His mother bore, when with her parents once +She came from Ida down to view the flocks,565 +And thence they named him; but his parents’ +He lived not to requite, in early youth +Slain by the spear of Ajax famed in arms. +For him advancing Ajax at the pap +Wounded; right through his shoulder driven the point570 +Stood forth behind; he fell, and press’d the dust. +So in some spacious marsh the poplar falls +Smooth-skinn’d, with boughs unladen save aloft; +Some chariot-builder with his axe the trunk +Severs, that he may warp it to a wheel575 +Of shapely form; meantime exposed it lies +To parching airs beside the running stream; +Such Simöisius seemed, Anthemion’s son, +Whom noble Ajax slew. But soon at him +Antiphus, son of Priam, bright in arms,580 +Hurl’d through the multitude his pointed spear. +He erred from Ajax, but he pierced the groin +Of Leucus, valiant warrior of the band +Led by Ulysses. He the body dragg’d +Apart, but fell beside it, and let fall,585 +Breathless himself, the burthen from his hand. +Then burn’d Ulysses’ wrath for Leucus slain, +And through the foremost combatants, array’d +In dazzling arms, he rush’d. Full near he stood, +And, looking keen around him, hurl’d a lance.590 +Back fell the Trojans from before the face +Dispersed of great Ulysses. Not in vain +His weapon flew, but on the field outstretch’d +A spurious son of Priam, from the shores +Call’d of Abydus famed for fleetest mares,595 +Democoon; him, for Leucus’ sake enraged, +Ulysses through both temples with his spear +Transpierced. The night of death hung on his eyes, +And sounding on his batter’d arms he fell. +Then Hector and the van of Troy retired;600 +Loud shout the Grecians; these draw off the dead, +Those onward march amain, and from the heights +Of Pergamus Apollo looking down +In anger, to the Trojans called aloud. +Turn, turn, ye Trojans! face your Grecian foes.605 +They, like yourselves, are vulnerable flesh, +Not adamant or steel. Your direst dread +Achilles, son of Thetis radiant-hair’d, +Fights not, but sullen in his fleet abides.[18] +Such from the citadel was heard the voice610 +Of dread Apollo. But Minerva ranged +Meantime, Tritonian progeny of Jove, +The Grecians, rousing whom she saw remiss. +Then Amarynceus’ son, Diores, felt +The force of fate, bruised by a rugged rock615 +At his right heel, which Pirus, Thracian Chief, +The son of Imbrasus of Ænos, threw. +Bones and both tendons in its fall the mass +Enormous crush’d. He, stretch’d in dust supine, +With palms outspread toward his warrior friends620 +Lay gasping life away. But he who gave +The fatal blow, Pirus, advancing, urged +Into his navel a keen lance, and shed +His bowels forth; then, darkness veil’d his eyes. +Nor Pirus long survived; him through the breast625 +Above the pap, Ætolian Thoas pierced, +And in his lungs set fast the quivering spear. +Then Thoas swift approach’d, pluck’d from the wound +His stormy spear, and with his falchion bright +Gashing his middle belly, stretch’d him dead.630 +Yet stripp’d he not the slain, whom with long spears +His Thracians hairy-scalp’d[19] so round about +Encompassed, that though bold and large of limb +Were Thoas, from before them him they thrust +Staggering and reeling in his forced retreat.635 +They therefore in the dust, the Epean Chief +Diores, and the Thracian, Pirus lay +Stretch’d side by side, with numerous slain around. +Then had Minerva led through all that field +Some warrior yet unhurt, him sheltering safe640 +From all annoyance dread of dart or spear, +No cause of blame in either had he found +That day, so many Greeks and Trojans press’d, +Extended side by side, the dusty plain. + + + + +BOOK V. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE FIFTH BOOK. + +Diomede is extraordinarily distinguished. He kills Pandarus, who had +violated the truce, and wounds first Venus and then Mars. + + +BOOK V. + + +Then Athenæan Pallas on the son +Of Tydeus,[1] Diomede, new force conferr’d +And daring courage, that the Argives all +He might surpass, and deathless fame achieve. +Fires on his helmet and his shield around5 +She kindled, bright and steady as the star +Autumnal,[2] which in Ocean newly bathed +Assumes fresh beauty; with such glorious beams +His head encircling and his shoulders broad, +She urged him forth into the thickest fight.10 +There lived a man in Troy, Dares his name, +The priest of Vulcan; rich he was and good, +The father of two sons, Idæus this, +That, Phegeus call’d; accomplish’d warriors both. +These, issuing from their phalanx, push’d direct15 +Their steeds at Diomede, who fought on foot. +When now small interval was left between, +First Phegeus his long-shadow’d spear dismiss’d; +But over Diomede’s left shoulder pass’d +The point, innocuous. Then his splendid lance20 +Tydides hurl’d; nor ineffectual flew +The weapon from his hand, but Phegeus pierced +His paps between, and forced him to the ground. +At once, his sumptuous chariot left, down leap’d +Idæsus, wanting courage to defend25 +His brother slain; nor had he scaped himself +His louring fate, but Vulcan, to preserve +His ancient priest from unmixt sorrow, snatch’d +The fugitive in darkness wrapt, away. +Then brave Tydides, driving off the steeds,30 +Consign’d them to his fellow-warriors’ care, +That they might lead them down into the fleet. +The valiant Trojans, when they saw the sons +Of Dares, one beside his chariot slain, +And one by flight preserved, through all their host35 +Felt consternation. Then Minerva seized +The hand of fiery Mars, and thus she spake. +Gore-tainted homicide, town-battering Mars! +Leave we the Trojans and the Greeks to wage +Fierce fight alone, Jove prospering whom he will,40 +So shall we not provoke our father’s ire. +She said, and from the fight conducted forth +The impetuous Deity, whom on the side +She seated of Scamander deep-embank’d.[3] +And now the host of Troy to flight inclined45 +Before the Grecians, and the Chiefs of Greece +Each slew a warrior. Agamemnon first +Gigantic Odius from his chariot hurl’d. +Chief of the Halizonians. He to flight +Turn’d foremost, when the monarch in his spine50 +Between the shoulder-bones his spear infixt, +And urged it through his breast. Sounding he fell, +And loud his batter’d armor rang around. +By brave Idomeneus a Lydian died, +Phæstus, from fruitful Tarne sent to Troy,55 +Son of Mæonian Borus; him his steeds +Mounting, Idomeneus the spear-renown’d +Through his right shoulder pierced; unwelcome night +Involved him; from his chariot down he fell,[4] +And the attendant Cretans stripp’d his arms.60 +But Menelaus, son of Atreus slew +With his bright spear Scamandrius, Stropius’ son, +A skilful hunter; for Diana him, +Herself, the slaughter of all savage kinds +Had taught, on mountain or in forest bred.65 +But she, shaft-aiming Goddess, in that hour +Avail’d him not, nor his own matchless skill; +For Menelaus, Atreus son spear-famed, +Him flying wounded in the spine between +His shoulders, and the spear urged through his breast.70 +Prone on his loud-resounding arms he fell. +Next, by Meriones, Phereclus died, +Son of Harmonides. All arts that ask +A well-instructed hand his sire had learn’d, +For Pallas dearly loved him. He the fleet,75 +Prime source of harm to Troy and to himself, +For Paris built, unskill’d to spell aright +The oracles predictive of the wo. +Phereclus fled; Meriones his flight +Outstripping, deep in his posterior flesh80 +A spear infix’d; sliding beneath the bone +It grazed his bladder as it pass’d, and stood +Protruded far before. Low on his knees +Phereclus sank, and with a shriek expired. +Pedæus, whom, although his spurious son,85 +Antenor’s wife, to gratify her lord, +Had cherish’d as her own—him Meges slew. +Warlike Phylides[5] following close his flight, +His keen lance drove into his poll, cut sheer +His tongue within, and through his mouth enforced90 +The glittering point. He, prostrate in the dust, +The cold steel press’d between his teeth and died. +Eurypylus, Evemon’s son, the brave +Hypsenor slew; Dolopion was his sire, +Priest of Scamander, reverenced as a God.95 +In vain before Eurypylus he fled; +He, running, with his falchion lopp’d his arm +Fast by the shoulder; on the field his hand +Fell blood-distained, and destiny severe +With shades of death for ever veil’d his eyes.100 +Thus strenuous they the toilsome battle waged. +But where Tydides fought, whether in aid +Of Ilium’s host, or on the part of Greece, +Might none discern. For as a winter-flood +Impetuous, mounds and bridges sweeps away;[6]105 +The buttress’d bridge checks not its sudden force, +The firm inclosure of vine-planted fields +Luxuriant, falls before it; finish’d works +Of youthful hinds, once pleasant to the eye, +Now levell’d, after ceaseless rain from Jove;110 +So drove Tydides into sudden flight +The Trojans; phalanx after phalanx fled +Before the terror of his single arm. +When him Lycaon’s son illustrious saw +Scouring the field, and from before his face115 +The ranks dispersing wide, at once he bent +Against Tydides his elastic bow. +The arrow met him in his swift career +Sure-aim’d; it struck direct the hollow mail +Of his right shoulder, with resistless force120 +Transfix’d it, and his hauberk stain’d with blood. +Loud shouted then Lycaon’s son renown’d. +Rush on, ye Trojans, spur your coursers hard. +Our fiercest foe is wounded, and I deem +His death not distant far, if me the King[7]125 +Jove’s son, indeed, from Lycia sent to Troy. +So boasted Pandarus. Yet him the dart +Quell’d not. Retreating, at his coursers’ heads +He stood, and to the son of Capaneus +His charioteer and faithful friend he said.130 +Arise, sweet son of Capaneus, dismount, +And from my shoulder draw this bitter shaft. +He spake; at once the son of Capaneus +Descending, by its barb the bitter shaft +Drew forth; blood spouted through his twisted mail135 +Incontinent, and thus the Hero pray’d. +Unconquer’d daughter of Jove Ægis-arm’d! +If ever me, propitious, or my sire +Thou hast in furious fight help’d heretofore, +Now aid me also. Bring within the reach140 +Of my swift spear, Oh grant me to strike through +The warrior who hath check’d my course, and boasts +The sun’s bright beams for ever quench’d to me![8] +He prayed, and Pallas heard; she braced his limbs, +She wing’d him with alacrity divine,145 +And, standing at his side, him thus bespake. +Now Diomede, be bold! Fight now with Troy. +To thee, thy father’s spirit I impart +Fearless; shield-shaking Tydeus felt the same. +I also from thine eye the darkness purge150 +Which dimm’d thy sight[9] before, that thou may’st know +Both Gods and men; should, therefore, other God +Approach to try thee, fight not with the powers +Immortal; but if foam-born Venus come, +Her spare not. Wound her with thy glittering spear.155 +So spake the blue-eyed Deity, and went, +Then with the champions in the van again +Tydides mingled; hot before, he fights +With threefold fury now, nor less enraged +Than some gaunt lion whom o’erleaping light160 +The fold, a shepherd hath but gall’d, not kill’d, +Him irritating more; thenceforth the swain +Lurks unresisting; flies the abandon’d flock; +Heaps slain on heaps he leaves, and with a bound +Surmounting all impediment, escapes;165 +Such seem’d the valiant Diomede incensed +To fury, mingling with the host of Troy. +Astynoüs and Hypenor first he slew; +One with his brazen lance above the pap +He pierced, and one with his huge falchion smote170 +Fast by the key-bone,[10] from the neck and spine +His parted shoulder driving at a blow. +Them leaving, Polyides next he sought +And Abas, sons of a dream-dealing seer, +Eurydamas; their hoary father’s dreams175 +Or not interpreted, or kept concealed, +Them saved not, for by Diomede they died. +Xanthus and Thöon he encounter’d next, +Both sons of Phænops, sons of his old age, +Who other heir had none of all his wealth,180 +Nor hoped another, worn with many years. +Tydides slew them both; nor aught remain’d +To the old man but sorrow for his sons +For ever lost, and strangers were his heirs. +Two sons of Priam in one chariot borne185 +Echemon next, and Chromius felt his hand +Resistless. As a lion on the herd +Leaping, while they the shrubs and bushes browse, +Breaks short the neck of heifer or of steer, +So them, though clinging fast and loth to fall,190 +Tydides hurl’d together to the ground, +Then stripp’d their splendid armor, and the steeds +Consigned and chariot to his soldiers’ care. +Æneas him discern’d scattering the ranks, +And through the battle and the clash of spears195 +Went seeking godlike Pandarus; ere long +Finding Lycaon’s martial son renown’d, +He stood before him, and him thus address’d. +Thy bow, thy feather’d shafts, and glorious name +Where are they, Pandarus? whom none of Troy200 +Could equal, whom of Lycia, none excel. +Come. Lift thine hands to Jove, and at yon Chief +Dispatch an arrow, who afflicts the host +Of Ilium thus, conquering where’er he flies, +And who hath slaughter’d numerous brave in arms,205 +But him some Deity I rather deem +Avenging on us his neglected rites, +And who can stand before an angry God? +Him answer’d then Lycaon’s son renown’d. +Brave leader of the Trojans brazen-mail’d,210 +Æneas! By his buckler which I know, +And by his helmet’s height, considering, too +His steeds, I deem him Diomede the bold; +Yet such pronounce him not, who seems a God. +But if bold Diomede indeed he be215 +Of whom I speak, not without aid from heaven +His fury thus prevails, but at his side +Some God, in clouds enveloped, turns away +From him the arrow to a devious course. +Already, at his shoulder’s hollow mail220 +My shaft hath pierced him through, and him I deem’d +Dismiss’d full sure to Pluto ere his time +But he survives; whom therefore I at last +Perforce conclude some angry Deity. +Steeds have I none or chariot to ascend,225 +Who have eleven chariots in the stands +Left of Lycaon, with fair hangings all +O’ermantled, strong, new finish’d, with their steeds +In pairs beside them, eating winnow’d grain. +Me much Lycaon my old valiant sire230 +At my departure from his palace gates +Persuaded, that my chariot and my steeds +Ascending, I should so conduct my bands +To battle; counsel wise, and ill-refused! +But anxious, lest (the host in Troy so long235 +Immew’d) my steeds, fed plenteously at home, +Should here want food, I left them, and on foot +To Ilium came, confiding in my bow +Ordain’d at last to yield me little good. +Twice have I shot, and twice I struck the mark,240 +First Menelaus, and Tydides next; +From each I drew the blood, true, genuine blood, +Yet have but more incensed them. In an hour +Unfortunate, I therefore took my bow +Down from the wall that day, when for the sake245 +Of noble Hector, to these pleasant plains +I came, a leader on the part of Troy. +But should I once return, and with these eyes +Again behold my native land, my sire, +My wife, my stately mansion, may the hand,250 +That moment, of some adversary there +Shorten me by the head, if I not snap +This bow with which I charged myself in vain, +And burn the unprofitable tool to dust. +To whom Æneas, Trojan Chief, replied.255 +Nay, speak not so. For ere that hour arrive +We will, with chariot and with horse, in arms +Encounter him, and put his strength to proof. +Delay not, mount my chariot. Thou shalt see +With what rapidity the steeds of Troy260 +Pursuing or retreating, scour the field. +If after all, Jove purpose still to exalt +The son of Tydeus, these shall bear us safe +Back to the city. Come then. Let us on. +The lash take thou, and the resplendent reins,265 +While I alight for battle, or thyself +Receive them, and the steeds shall be my care. +Him answer’d then Lycaon’s son renown’d. +Æneas! manage thou the reins, and guide +Thy proper steeds. If fly at last we must270 +The son of Tydeus, they will readier draw +Directed by their wonted charioteer. +Else, terrified, and missing thy control, +They may refuse to bear us from the fight, +And Tydeus’ son assailing us, with ease275 +Shall slay us both, and drive thy steeds away. +Rule therefore thou the chariot, and myself +With my sharp spear will his assault receive. +So saying, they mounted both, and furious drove +Against Tydides. Them the noble son280 +Of Capaneus observed, and turning quick +His speech to Diomede, him thus address’d. +Tydides, Diomede, my heart’s delight! +Two warriors of immeasurable force +In battle, ardent to contend with thee,285 +Come rattling on. Lycaon’s offspring one, +Bow-practised Pandarus; with whom appears +Æneas; he who calls the mighty Chief +Anchises father, and whom Venus bore. +Mount—drive we swift away—lest borne so far290 +Beyond the foremost battle, thou be slain. +To whom, dark-frowning, Diomede replied +Speak not of flight to me, who am disposed +To no such course. I am ashamed to fly +Or tremble, and my strength is still entire;295 +I cannot mount. No. Rather thus, on foot, +I will advance against them. Fear and dread +Are not for me; Pallas forbids the thought. +One falls, be sure; swift as they are, the steeds +That whirl them on, shall never rescue both.300 +But hear my bidding, and hold fast the word. +Should all-wise Pallas grant me my desire +To slay them both, drive not my coursers hence, +But hook the reins, and seizing quick the pair +That draw Æneas, urge them from the powers305 +Of Troy away into the host of Greece. +For they are sprung from those which Jove to Tros +In compensation gave for Ganymede; +The Sun himself sees not their like below. +Anchises, King of men, clandestine them310 +Obtain’d, his mares submitting to the steeds +Of King Laomedon. Six brought him foals; +Four to himself reserving, in his stalls +He fed them sleek, and two he gave his son: +These, might we win them, were a noble prize.315 +Thus mutual they conferr’d; those Chiefs, the while, +With swiftest pace approach’d, and first his speech +To Diomede Lycaon’s son address’d. +Heroic offspring of a noble sire, +Brave son of Tydeus! false to my intent320 +My shaft hath harm’d thee little. I will now +Make trial with my spear, if that may speed. +He said, and shaking his long-shadow’d spear, +Dismiss’d it. Forceful on the shield it struck +Of Diomede, transpierced it, and approach’d325 +With threatening point the hauberk on his breast. +Loud shouted Pandarus—Ah nobly thrown! +Home to thy bowels. Die, for die thou must, +And all the glory of thy death is mine. +Then answer thus brave Diomede return’d330 +Undaunted. I am whole. Thy cast was short. +But ye desist not, as I plain perceive, +Till one at least extended on the plain +Shall sate the God of battles with his blood. +He said and threw. Pallas the spear herself335 +Directed; at his eye fast by the nose +Deep-entering, through his ivory teeth it pass’d, +At its extremity divided sheer +His tongue, and started through his chin below. +He headlong fell, and with his dazzling arms340 +Smote full the plain. Back flew the fiery steeds +With swift recoil, and where he fell he died. +Then sprang Æneas forth with spear and shield, +That none might drag the body;[11] lion-like +He stalk’d around it, oval shield and spear345 +Advancing firm, and with incessant cries +Terrific, death denouncing on his foes. +But Diomede with hollow grasp a stone +Enormous seized, a weight to overtask +Two strongest men of such as now are strong,350 +Yet he, alone, wielded the rock with ease. +Full on the hip he smote him, where the thigh +Rolls in its cavity, the socket named. +He crushed the socket, lacerated wide +Both tendons, and with that rough-angled mass355 +Flay’d all his flesh, The Hero on his knees +Sank, on his ample palm his weight upbore +Laboring, and darkness overspread his eyes. +There had Æneas perish’d, King of men, +Had not Jove’s daughter Venus quick perceived360 +His peril imminent, whom she had borne +Herself to Anchises pasturing his herds. +Her snowy arras her darling son around +She threw maternal, and behind a fold +Of her bright mantle screening close his breast365 +From mortal harm by some brave Grecian’s spear, +Stole him with eager swiftness from the fight. +Nor then forgat brave Sthenelus his charge +Received from Diomede, but his own steeds +Detaining distant from the boisterous war,370 +Stretch’d tight the reins, and hook’d them fast behind. +The coursers of Æneas next he seized +Ardent, and them into the host of Greece +Driving remote, consign’d them to his care, +Whom far above all others his compeers375 +He loved, Deipylus, his bosom friend +Congenial. Him he charged to drive them thence +Into the fleet, then, mounting swift his own, +Lash’d after Diomede; he, fierce in arms, +Pursued the Cyprian Goddess, conscious whom,380 +Not Pallas, not Enyo, waster dread +Of cities close-beleaguer’d, none of all +Who o’er the battle’s bloody course preside, +But one of softer kind and prone to fear. +When, therefore, her at length, after long chase385 +Through all the warring multitude he reach’d, +With his protruded spear her gentle hand +He wounded, piercing through her thin attire +Ambrosial, by themselves the graces wrought, +Her inside wrist, fast by the rosy palm.390 +Blood follow’d, but immortal; ichor pure, +Such as the blest inhabitants of heaven +May bleed, nectareous; for the Gods eat not +Man’s food, nor slake as he with sable wine +Their thirst, thence bloodless and from death exempt.395 +She, shrieking, from her arms cast down her son, +And Phœbus, in impenetrable clouds +Him hiding, lest the spear of some brave Greek +Should pierce his bosom, caught him swift away. +Then shouted brave Tydides after her—400 +Depart, Jove’s daughter! fly the bloody field. +Is’t not enough that thou beguilest the hearts +Of feeble women? If thou dare intrude +Again into the war, war’s very name +Shall make thee shudder, wheresoever heard.405 +He said, and Venus with excess of pain +Bewilder’d went; but Iris tempest-wing’d +Forth led her through the multitude, oppress’d +With anguish, her white wrist to livid changed. +They came where Mars far on the left retired410 +Of battle sat, his horses and his spear +In darkness veil’d. Before her brother’s knees +She fell, and with entreaties urgent sought +The succor of his coursers golden-rein’d. +Save me, my brother! Pity me! Thy steeds415 +Give me, that they may bear me to the heights +Olympian, seat of the immortal Gods! +Oh! I am wounded deep; a mortal man +Hath done it, Diomede; nor would he fear +This day in fight the Sire himself of all.420 +Then Mars his coursers gold-caparison’d +Resign’d to Venus; she, with countenance sad, +The chariot climb’d, and Iris at her side +The bright reins seizing lash’d the ready steeds. +Soon as the Olympian heights, seat of the Gods,425 +They reach’d, wing-footed Iris loosing quick +The coursers, gave them large whereon to browse +Ambrosial food; but Venus on the knees +Sank of Dione, who with folded arms +Maternal, to her bosom straining close430 +Her daughter, stroked her cheek, and thus inquired. +My darling child! who? which of all the Gods +Hath rashly done such violence to thee +As if convicted of some open wrong? +Her then the Goddess of love-kindling smiles435 +Venus thus answer’d; Diomede the proud, +Audacious Diomede; he gave the wound, +For that I stole Æneas from the fight +My son of all mankind my most beloved; +Nor is it now the war of Greece with Troy,440 +But of the Grecians with the Gods themselves. +Then thus Dione, Goddess all divine. +My child! how hard soe’er thy sufferings seem +Endure them patiently. Full many a wrong +From human hands profane the Gods endure,445 +And many a painful stroke, mankind from ours. +Mars once endured much wrong, when on a time +Him Otus bound and Ephialtes fast, +Sons of Alöeus, and full thirteen moons +In brazen thraldom held him. There, at length,450 +The fierce blood-nourished Mars had pined away, +But that Eëribœa, loveliest nymph, +His step-mother, in happy hour disclosed +To Mercury the story of his wrongs; +He stole the prisoner forth, but with his woes455 +Already worn, languid and fetter-gall’d. +Nor Juno less endured, when erst the bold +Son of Amphytrion with tridental shaft +Her bosom pierced; she then the misery felt +Of irremediable pain severe.460 +Nor suffer’d Pluto less, of all the Gods +Gigantic most, by the same son of Jove +Alcides, at the portals of the dead +Transfix’d and fill’d with anguish; he the house +Of Jove and the Olympian summit sought465 +Dejected, torture-stung, for sore the shaft +Oppress’d him, into his huge shoulder driven. +But Pæon[12] him not liable to death +With unction smooth of salutiferous balms +Heal’d soon. Presumptuous, sacrilegious man!470 +Careless what dire enormities he wrought, +Who bent his bow against the powers of heaven! +But blue-eyed Pallas instigated him +By whom thou bleed’st. Infatuate! he forgets +That whoso turns against the Gods his arm475 +Lives never long; he never, safe escaped +From furious fight, the lisp’d caresses hears +Of his own infants prattling at his knees. +Let therefore Diomede beware, lest strong +And valiant as he is, he chance to meet490 +Some mightier foe than thou, and lest his wife, +Daughter of King Adrastus, the discrete +Ægialea, from portentous dreams +Upstarting, call her family to wail +Her first-espoused, Achaia’s proudest boast,485 +Diomede, whom she must behold no more. +She said, and from her wrist with both hands wiped +The trickling ichor; the effectual touch +Divine chased all her pains, and she was heal’d. +Them Juno mark’d and Pallas, and with speech490 +Sarcastic pointed at Saturnian Jove +To vex him, blue-eyed Pallas thus began. +Eternal father! may I speak my thought, +And not incense thee, Jove? I can but judge +That Venus, while she coax’d some Grecian fair495 +To accompany the Trojans whom she loves +With such extravagance, hath heedless stroked +Her golden clasps, and scratch’d her lily hand. +So she; then smiled the sire of Gods and men, +And calling golden Venus, her bespake.500 +War and the tented field, my beauteous child, +Are not for thee. Thou rather shouldst be found +In scenes of matrimonial bliss. The toils +Of war to Pallas and to Mars belong. +Thus they in heaven. But Diomede the while505 +Sprang on Æneas, conscious of the God +Whose hand o’ershadow’d him, yet even him +Regarding lightly; for he burn’d to slay +Æneas, and to seize his glorious arms. +Thrice then he sprang impetuous to the deed,510 +And thrice Apollo with his radiant shield +Repulsed him. But when ardent as a God +The fourth time he advanced, with thundering-voice +Him thus the Archer of the skies rebuked. +Think, and retire, Tydides! nor affect515 +Equality with Gods; for not the same +Our nature is and theirs who tread the ground. +He spake, and Diomede a step retired, +Not more; the anger of the Archer-God +Declining slow, and with a sullen awe.520 +Then Phœbus, far from all the warrior throng +To his own shrine the sacred dome beneath +Of Pergamus, Æneas bore; there him +Latona and shaft-arm’d Diana heal’d +And glorified within their spacious fane.525 +Meantime the Archer of the silver bow +A visionary form prepared; it seem’d +Himself Æneas, and was arm’d as he. +At once, in contest for that airy form, +Grecians and Trojans on each other’s breasts530 +The bull-hide buckler batter’d and light targe. +Then thus Apollo to the warrior God. +Gore-tainted homicide, town-batterer Mars! +Wilt thou not meet and from the fight withdraw +This man Tydides, now so fiery grown535 +That he would even cope with Jove himself? +First Venus’ hand he wounded, and assail’d +Impetuous as a God, next, even me. +He ceased, and on the topmost turret sat +Of Pergamus. Then all-destroyer Mars540 +Ranging the Trojan host, rank after rank +Exhorted loud, and in the form assumed +Of Acamas the Thracian leader bold, +The godlike sons of Priam thus harangued. +Ye sons of Priam, monarch Jove-beloved!545 +How long permit ye your Achaian foes +To slay the people?—till the battle rage +(Push’d home to Ilium) at her solid gates? +Behold—a Chief disabled lies, than whom +We reverence not even Hector more,550 +Æneas; fly, save from the roaring storm +The noble Anchisiades your friend. +He said; then every heart for battle glow’d; +And thus Sarpedon with rebuke severe +Upbraiding generous Hector, stern began.555 +Where is thy courage, Hector? for thou once +Hadst courage. Is it fled? In other days +Thy boast hath been that without native troops +Or foreign aids, thy kindred and thyself +Alone, were guard sufficient for the town.560 +But none of all thy kindred now appears; +I can discover none; they stand aloof +Quaking, as dogs that hear the lion’s roar. +We bear the stress, who are but Troy’s allies; +Myself am such, and from afar I came;565 +For Lycia lies far distant on the banks +Of the deep-eddied Xanthus. There a wife +I left and infant son, both dear to me, +With plenteous wealth, the wish of all who want. +Yet urge I still my Lycians, and am prompt570 +Myself to fight, although possessing here +Nought that the Greeks can carry or drive hence. +But there stand’st thou, neither employed thyself, +Nor moving others to an active part +For all their dearest pledges. Oh beware!575 +Lest, as with meshes of an ample net, +At one huge draught the Grecians sweep you all, +And desolate at once your populous Troy! +By day, by night, thoughts such as these should still +Thy conduct influence, and from Chief to Chief580 +Of the allies should send thee, praying each +To make firm stand, all bickerings put away. +So spake Sarpedon, and his reprimand +Stung Hector; instant to the ground he leap’d +All arm’d, and shaking his bright spears his host585 +Ranged in all quarters animating loud +His legions, and rekindling horrid war. +Then, rolling back, the powers of Troy opposed +Once more the Grecians, whom the Grecians dense +Expected, unretreating, void of fear.590 +As flies the chaff wide scatter’d by the wind +O’er all the consecrated floor, what time +Ripe Ceres[13] with brisk airs her golden grain +Ventilates, whitening with its husk the ground; +So grew the Achaians white, a dusty cloud595 +Descending on their arms, which steeds with steeds +Again to battle mingling, with their hoofs +Up-stamp’d into the brazen vault of heaven; +For now the charioteers turn’d all to fight. +Host toward host with full collected force600 +They moved direct. Then Mars through all the field +Took wide his range, and overhung the war +With night, in aid of Troy, at the command +Of Phœbus of the golden sword; for he +Perceiving Pallas from the field withdrawn,605 +Patroness of the Greeks, had Mars enjoin’d +To rouse the spirit of the Trojan host. +Meantime Apollo from his unctuous shrine +Sent forth restored and with new force inspired +Æneas. He amidst his warriors stood,610 +Who him with joy beheld still living, heal’d, +And all his strength possessing unimpair’d. +Yet no man ask’d him aught. No leisure now +For question was; far other thoughts had they; +Such toils the archer of the silver bow,615 +Wide-slaughtering Mars, and Discord as at first +Raging implacable, for them prepared. +Ulysses, either Ajax, Diomede— +These roused the Greeks to battle, who themselves +The force fear’d nothing, or the shouts of Troy,620 +But steadfast stood, like clouds by Jove amass’d +On lofty mountains, while the fury sleeps +Of Boreas, and of all the stormy winds +Shrill-voiced, that chase the vapors when they blow, +So stood the Greeks, expecting firm the approach625 +Of Ilium’s powers, and neither fled nor fear’d. +Then Agamemnon the embattled host +On all sides ranging, cheer’d them. Now, he cried, +Be steadfast, fellow warriors, now be men! +Hold fast a sense of honor. More escape630 +Of men who fear disgrace, than fall in fight, +While dastards forfeit life and glory both. +He said, and hurl’d his spear. He pierced a friend +Of brave Æneas, warring in the van, +Deicöon son of Pergasus, in Troy635 +Not less esteem’d than Priam’s sons themselves, +Such was his fame in foremost fight acquired. +Him Agamemnon on his buckler smote, +Nor stayed the weapon there, but through his belt +His bowels enter’d, and with hideous clang640 +And outcry[14] of his batter’d arms he fell. +Æneas next two mightiest warriors slew, +Sons of Diocles, of a wealthy sire, +Whose house magnificent in Phæræ stood, +Orsilochus and Crethon. Their descent645 +From broad-stream’d Alpheus, Pylian flood, they drew. +Alpheus begat Orsilochus, a prince +Of numerous powers. Orsilochus begat +Warlike Diodes. From Diodes sprang +Twins, Crethon and Orsilochus, alike650 +Valiant, and skilful in all forms of war. +Their boyish prime scarce past, they, with the Greeks +Embarking, in their sable ships had sail’d +To steed-fam’d Ilium; just revenge they sought +For Atreus’ sons, but perished first themselves.655 +As two young lions, in the deep recess +Of some dark forest on the mountain’s brow +Late nourished by their dam, forth-issuing, seize +The fatted flocks and kine, both folds and stalls +Wasting rapacious, till, at length, themselves660 +Deep-wounded perish by the hand of man, +So they, both vanquish’d by Æneas, fell, +And like two lofty pines uprooted, lay. +Them fallen in battle Menelaus saw +With pity moved; radiant in arms he shook665 +His brazen spear, and strode into the van. +Mars urged him furious on, conceiving hope +Of his death also by Æneas’ hand. +But him the son of generous Nestor mark’d +Antilochus, and to the foremost fight670 +Flew also, fearing lest some dire mischance +The Prince befalling, at one fatal stroke +Should frustrate all the labors of the Greeks. +They, hand to hand, and spear to spear opposed, +Stood threatening dreadful onset, when beside675 +The Spartan chief Antilochus appear’d. +Æneas, at the sight of two combined, +Stood not, although intrepid. They the dead +Thence drawing far into the Grecian host +To their associates gave the hapless pair,680 +Then, both returning, fought in front again. +Next, fierce as Mars, Pylæmenes they slew, +Prince of the shielded band magnanimous +Of Paphlagonia. Him Atrides kill’d +Spear-practised Menelaus, with a lance685 +His throat transpiercing while erect he rode. +Then, while his charioteer, Mydon the brave, +Son of Atymnias, turn’d his steeds to flight, +Full on his elbow-point Antilochus, +The son of Nestor, dash’d him with a stone.690 +The slack reins, white as ivory,[15] forsook +His torpid hand and trail’d the dust. At once +Forth sprang Antilochus, and with his sword +Hew’d deep his temples. On his head he pitch’d +Panting, and on his shoulders in the sand695 +(For in deep sand he fell) stood long erect, +Till his own coursers spread him in the dust; +The son of Nestor seized, and with his scourge +Drove them afar into the host of Greece. +Them Hector through the ranks espying, flew700 +With clamor loud to meet them; after whom +Advanced in phalanx firm the powers of Troy, +Mars led them, with Enyo terror-clad; +She by the maddening tumult of the fight +Attended, he, with his enormous spear705 +in both hands brandish’d, stalking now in front +Of Hector, and now following his steps. +Him Diomede the bold discerning, felt +Himself no small dismay; and as a man +Wandering he knows not whither, far from home,710 +If chance a rapid torrent to the sea +Borne headlong thwart his course, the foaming flood +Obstreperous views awhile, then quick retires, +So he, and his attendants thus bespake. +How oft, my countrymen! have we admired715 +The noble Hector, skillful at the spear +And unappall’d in fight? but still hath he +Some God his guard, and even now I view +In human form Mars moving at his side. +Ye, then, with faces to the Trojans turn’d,720 +Ceaseless retire, and war not with the Gods. +He ended; and the Trojans now approach’d. +Then two bold warriors in one chariot borne, +By valiant Hector died, Menesthes one, +And one, Anchialus. Them fallen in fight725 +Ajax the vast, touch’d with compassion saw; +Within small space he stood, his glittering spear +Dismiss’d, and pierced Amphius. Son was he +Of Selagus, and Pæsus was his home, +Where opulent he dwelt, but by his fate730 +Was led to fight for Priam and his sons. +Him Telamonian Ajax through his belt +Wounded, and in his nether bowels deep +Fix’d his long-shadow’d spear. Sounding he fell. +Illustrious Ajax running to the slain735 +Prepared to strip his arms, but him a shower +Of glittering-weapons keen from Trojan hands +Assail’d, and numerous his broad shield received. +He, on the body planting firm his heel, +Forth drew the polish’d spear, but his bright arms740 +Took not, by darts thick-flying sore annoy’d, +Nor fear’d he little lest his haughty foes, +Spear-arm’d and bold, should compass him around; +Him, therefore, valiant though he were and huge, +They push’d before them. Staggering he retired.745 +Thus toil’d both hosts in that laborious field. +And now his ruthless destiny impell’d +Tlepolemus, Alcides’ son, a Chief +Dauntless and huge, against a godlike foe +Sarpedon. They approaching face to face750 +Stood, son and grandson of high-thundering Jove, +And, haughty, thus Tlepolemus began. +Sarpedon, leader of the Lycian host, +Thou trembler! thee what cause could hither urge +A man unskill’d in arms? They falsely speak755 +Who call thee son of Ægis-bearing Jove, +So far below their might thou fall’st who sprang +From Jove in days of old. What says report +Of Hercules (for him I boast my sire) +All-daring hero with a lion’s heart?760 +With six ships only, and with followers few, +He for the horses of Laomedon +Lay’d Troy in dust, and widow’d all her streets. +But thou art base, and thy diminish’d powers +Perish around thee; think not that thou earnest765 +For Ilium’s good, but rather, whatsoe’er +Thy force in fight, to find, subdued by me, +A sure dismission to the gates of hell. +To whom the leader of the Lycian band. +Tlepolemus! he ransack’d sacred Troy,770 +As thou hast said, but for her monarch’s fault +Laomedon, who him with language harsh +Requited ill for benefits received, +Nor would the steeds surrender, seeking which +He voyaged from afar. But thou shalt take775 +Thy bloody doom from this victorious arm, +And, vanquish’d by my spear, shalt yield thy fame +To me, thy soul to Pluto steed-renown’d. +So spake Sarpedon, and his ashen beam +Tlepolemus upraised. Both hurl’d at once780 +Their quivering spears. Sarpedon’s through the neck +Pass’d of Tlepolemus, and show’d beyond +Its ruthless point; thick darkness veil’d his eyes. +Tlepolemus with his long lance the thigh +Pierced of Sarpedon; sheer into his bone785 +He pierced him, but Sarpedon’s father, Jove, +Him rescued even on the verge of fate. +His noble friends conducted from the field +The godlike Lycian, trailing as he went +The pendent spear, none thinking to extract790 +For his relief the weapon from his thigh, +Through eagerness of haste to bear him thence. +On the other side, the Grecians brazen-mail’d +Bore off Tlepolemus. Ulysses fill’d +With earnest thoughts tumultuous them observed,795 +Danger-defying Chief! Doubtful he stood +Or to pursue at once the Thunderer’s son +Sarpedon, or to take more Lycian lives. +But not for brave Ulysses had his fate +That praise reserved, that he should slay the son800 +Renown’d of Jove; therefore his wavering mind +Minerva bent against the Lycian band. +Then Cœranus, Alastor, Chromius fell, +Alcander, Halius, Prytanis, and brave +Noëmon; nor had these sufficed the Chief805 +Of Ithaca, but Lycians more had fallen, +Had not crest-tossing Hector huge perceived +The havoc; radiant to the van he flew, +Filling with dread the Grecians; his approach +Sarpedon, son of Jove, joyful beheld,810 +And piteous thus address’d him as he came. +Ah, leave not me, Priamides! a prey +To Grecian hands, but in your city, at least, +Grant me to die: since hither, doom’d, I came +Never to gratify with my return815 +To Lycia, my loved spouse, or infant child. +He spake; but Hector unreplying pass’d +Impetuous, ardent to repulse the Greeks +That moment, and to drench his sword in blood. +Then, under shelter of a spreading beech820 +Sacred to Jove, his noble followers placed +The godlike Chief Sarpedon, where his friend +Illustrious Pelagon, the ashen spear +Extracted. Sightless, of all thought bereft, +He sank, but soon revived, by breathing airs825 +Refresh’d, that fann’d him gently from the North. +Meantime the Argives, although press’d alike +By Mars himself and Hector brazen-arm’d, +Neither to flight inclined, nor yet advanced +To battle, but inform’d that Mars the fight830 +Waged on the side of Ilium, slow retired.[16] +Whom first, whom last slew then the mighty son +Of Priam, Hector, and the brazen Mars! +First godlike Teuthras, an equestrian Chief, +Orestes, Trechus of Ætolian race,835 +Œnomaüs, Helenus from Œnops’ sprung, +And brisk[17] in fight Oresbius; rich was he, +And covetous of more; in Hyla dwelt +Fast by the lake Cephissus, where abode +Bœotian Princes numerous, rich themselves840 +And rulers of a people wealth-renown’d. +But Juno, such dread slaughter of the Greeks +Noting, thus, ardent, to Minerva spake. +Daughter of Jove invincible! Our word +That Troy shall perish, hath been given in vain845 +To Menelaus, if we suffer Mars +To ravage longer uncontrol’d. The time +Urges, and need appears that we ourselves +Now call to mind the fury of our might. +She spake; nor blue-eyed Pallas not complied.850 +Then Juno, Goddess dread, from Saturn sprung, +Her coursers gold-caparison’d prepared +Impatient. Hebe to the chariot roll’d +The brazen wheels,[18] and joined them to the smooth +Steel axle; twice four spokes divided each855 +Shot from the centre to the verge. The verge +Was gold by fellies of eternal brass +Guarded, a dazzling show! The shining naves +Were silver; silver cords and cords of gold +The seat upbore; two crescents[19] blazed in front.860 +The pole was argent all, to which she bound +The golden yoke, and in their place disposed +The breast-bands incorruptible of gold; +But Juno to the yoke, herself, the steeds +Led forth, on fire to reach the dreadful field.865 +Meantime, Minerva, progeny of Jove, +On the adamantine floor of his abode +Let fall profuse her variegated robe, +Labor of her own hands. She first put on +The corselet of the cloud-assembler God,870 +Then arm’d her for the field of wo complete. +She charged her shoulder with the dreadful shield +The shaggy Ægis,[20] border’d thick around +With terror; there was Discord, Prowess there, +There hot Pursuit, and there the feature grim875 +Of Gorgon, dire Deformity, a sign +Oft borne portentous on the arm of Jove. +Her golden helm, whose concave had sufficed +The legions of an hundred cities, rough +With warlike ornament superb, she fix’d880 +On her immortal head. Thus arm’d, she rose +Into the flaming chariot, and her spear +Seized ponderous, huge, with which the Goddess sprung +From an Almighty father, levels ranks +Of heroes, against whom her anger burns.885 +Juno with lifted lash urged quick the steeds; +At her approach, spontaneous roar’d the wide- +Unfolding gates of heaven;[21] the heavenly gates +Kept by the watchful Hours, to whom the charge +Of the Olympian summit appertains,890 +And of the boundless ether, back to roll, +And to replace the cloudy barrier dense. +Spurr’d through the portal flew the rapid steeds; +Apart from all, and seated on the point +Superior of the cloven mount, they found895 +The Thunderer. Juno the white-arm’d her steeds +There stay’d, and thus the Goddess, ere she pass’d, +Question’d the son of Saturn, Jove supreme. +Jove, Father, seest thou, and art not incensed, +These ravages of Mars? Oh what a field,900 +Drench’d with what Grecian blood! All rashly spilt, +And in despite of me. Venus, the while, +Sits, and the Archer of the silver bow +Delighted, and have urged, themselves, to this +The frantic Mars within no bounds confined905 +Of law or order. But, eternal sire! +Shall I offend thee chasing far away +Mars deeply smitten from the field of war? +To whom the cloud-assembler God replied. +Go! but exhort thou rather to the task910 +Spoil-huntress Athenæan Pallas, him +Accustom’d to chastise with pain severe. +He spake, nor white-arm’d Juno not obey’d. +She lash’d her steeds; they readily their flight +Began, the earth and starry vault between.915 +Far as from his high tower the watchman kens +O’er gloomy ocean, so far at one bound +Advance the shrill-voiced coursers of the Gods. +But when at Troy and at the confluent streams +Of Simoïs and Scamander they arrived,920 +There Juno, white-arm’d Goddess, from the yoke +Her steeds releasing, them in gather’d shades +Conceal’d opaque, while Simoïs caused to spring +Ambrosia from his bank, whereon they browsed. +Swift as her pinions waft the dove away925 +They sought the Grecians, ardent to begin: +Arriving where the mightiest and the most +Compass’d equestrian Diomede around, +In aspect lion-like, or like wild boars +Of matchless force, there white-arm’d Juno stood,930 +And in the form of Stentor for his voice +Of brass renown’d, audible as the roar +Of fifty throats, the Grecians thus harangued. +Oh shame, shame, shame! Argives in form alone, +Beautiful but dishonorable race!935 +While yet divine Achilles ranged the field, +No Trojan stepp’d from yon Dardanian gates +Abroad; all trembled at his stormy spear; +But now they venture forth, now at your ships +Defy you, from their city far remote.940 +She ceased, and all caught courage from the sound. +But Athenæan Pallas eager sought +The son of Tydeus; at his chariot side +She found the Chief cooling his fiery wound +Received from Pandarus; for him the sweat945 +Beneath the broad band of his oval shield +Exhausted, and his arm fail’d him fatigued; +He therefore raised the band and wiped the blood +Coagulate; when o’er his chariot yoke +Her arm the Goddess threw, and thus began.950 +Tydeus, in truth, begat a son himself +Not much resembling. Tydeus was of size +Diminutive, but had a warrior’s heart. +When him I once commanded to abstain +From furious fight (what time he enter’d Thebes955 +Ambassador, and the Cadmeans found +Feasting, himself the sole Achaian there) +And bade him quietly partake the feast. +He, fired with wonted ardor, challenged forth +To proof of manhood the Cadmean youth,960 +Whom easily, through my effectual aid, +In contests of each kind he overcame. +But thou, whom I encircle with my power, +Guard vigilant, and even bid thee forth +To combat with the Trojans, thou, thy limbs965 +Feel’st wearied with the toils of war, or worse, +Indulgest womanish and heartless fear. +Henceforth thou art not worthy to be deem’d +Son of Oenides, Tydeus famed in arms. +To whom thus valiant Diomede replied.970 +I know thee well, oh Goddess sprung from Jove! +And therefore willing shall, and plain, reply. +Me neither weariness nor heartless fear +Restrains, but thine injunctions which impress +My memory, still, that I should fear to oppose975 +The blessed Gods in fight, Venus except, +Whom in the battle found thou badest me pierce +With unrelenting spear; therefore myself +Retiring hither, I have hither call’d +The other Argives also, for I know980 +That Mars, himself in arms, controls the war. +Him answer’d then the Goddess azure-eyed. +Tydides! Diomede, my heart’s delight! +Fear not this Mars,[22] nor fear thou other power +Immortal, but be confident in me.985 +Arise. Drive forth. Seek Mars; him only seek; +Him hand to hand engage; this fiery Mars +Respect not aught, base implement of wrong +And mischief, shifting still from side to side. +He promised Juno lately and myself990 +That he would fight for Greece, yet now forgets +His promise, and gives all his aid to Troy. +So saying, she backward by his hand withdrew +The son of Capaneus, who to the ground +Leap’d instant; she, impatient to his place995 +Ascending, sat beside brave Diomede. +Loud groan’d the beechen axle, under weight +Unwonted, for it bore into the fight +An awful Goddess, and the chief of men. +Quick-seizing lash and reins Minerva drove1000 +Direct at Mars. That moment he had slain +Periphas, bravest of Ætolia’s sons, +And huge of bulk; Ochesius was his sire. +Him Mars the slaughterer had of life bereft +Newly, and Pallas to elude his sight1005 +The helmet fixed of Ades on her head.[23] +Soon as gore-tainted Mars the approach perceived +Of Diomede, he left the giant length +Of Periphas extended where he died, +And flew to cope with Tydeus’ valiant son.1010 +Full nigh they came, when Mars on fire to slay +The hero, foremost with his brazen lance +Assail’d him, hurling o’er his horses’ heads. +But Athenæan Pallas in her hand +The flying weapon caught and turn’d it wide,1015 +Baffling his aim. Then Diomede on him +Rush’d furious in his turn, and Pallas plunged +The bright spear deep into his cinctured waist +Dire was the wound, and plucking back the spear +She tore him. Bellow’d brazen-throated Mars1020 +Loud as nine thousand warriors, or as ten +Join’d in close combat. Grecians, Trojans shook +Appall’d alike at the tremendous voice +Of Mars insatiable with deeds of blood. +Such as the dimness is when summer winds1025 +Breathe hot, and sultry mist obscures the sky, +Such brazen Mars to Diomede appear’d +By clouds accompanied in his ascent +Into the boundless ether. Reaching soon +The Olympian heights, seat of the Gods, he sat1030 +Beside Saturnian Jove; wo fill’d his heart; +He show’d fast-streaming from the wound his blood +Immortal, and impatient thus complain’d. +Jove, Father! Seest thou these outrageous acts +Unmoved with anger? Such are day by day1035 +The dreadful mischiefs by the Gods contrived +Against each other, for the sake of man. +Thou art thyself the cause. Thou hast produced +A foolish daughter petulant, addict +To evil only and injurious deeds;1040 +There is not in Olympus, save herself, +Who feels not thy control; but she her will +Gratifies ever, and reproof from thee +Finds none, because, pernicious as she is, +She is thy daughter. She hath now the mind1045 +Of haughty Diomede with madness fill’d +Against the immortal Gods; first Venus bled; +Her hand he pierced impetuous, then assail’d, +As if himself immortal, even me, +But me my feet stole thence, or overwhelm’d1050 +Beneath yon heaps of carcases impure, +What had I not sustain’d? And if at last +I lived, had halted crippled by the sword. +To whom with dark displeasure Jove replied. +Base and side-shifting traitor! vex not me1055 +Here sitting querulous; of all who dwell +On the Olympian heights, thee most I hate +Contentious, whose delight is war alone. +Thou hast thy mother’s moods, the very spleen +Of Juno, uncontrolable as she.1060 +Whom even I, reprove her as I may, +Scarce rule by mere commands; I therefore judge +Thy sufferings a contrivance all her own. +But soft. Thou art my son whom I begat. +And Juno bare thee. I can not endure1065 +That thou shouldst suffer long. Hadst thou been born +Of other parents thus detestable, +What Deity soe’er had brought thee forth, +Thou shouldst have found long since a humbler sphere. +He ceased, and to the care his son consign’d1070 +Of Pæon; he with drugs of lenient powers, +Soon heal’d whom immortality secured +From dissolution. As the juice from figs +Express’d what fluid was in milk before +Coagulates, stirr’d rapidly around,1075 +So soon was Mars by Pæon skill restored. +Him Hebe bathed, and with divine attire +Graceful adorn’d; when at the side of Jove +Again his glorious seat sublime he took. +Meantime to the abode of Jove supreme1080 +Ascended Juno throughout Argos known +And mighty Pallas; Mars the plague of man, +By their successful force from slaughter driven. + + + + +BOOK VI. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE SIXTH BOOK. + +The battle is continued. The Trojans being closely pursued, Hector by +the advice of Helenus enters Troy, and recommends it to Hecuba to go in +solemn procession to the temple of Minerva; she with the matrons goes +accordingly. Hector takes the opportunity to find out Paris, and +exhorts him to return to the field of battle. An interview succeeds +between Hector and Andromache, and Paris, having armed himself in the +mean time, comes up with Hector at the close of it, when they sally +from the gate together. + + +BOOK VI. + + +Thus was the field forsaken by the Gods. +And now success proved various; here the Greeks +With their extended spears, the Trojans there +Prevail’d alternate, on the champain spread +The Xanthus and the Simoïs between.[1]5 +First Telamonian Ajax,[2] bulwark firm +Of the Achaians, broke the Trojan ranks, +And kindled for the Greeks a gleam of hope, +Slaying the bravest of the Thracian band, +Huge Acamas, Eusorus’ son; him first10 +Full on the shaggy crest he smote, and urged +The spear into his forehead; through his skull +The bright point pass’d, and darkness veil’d his eyes. +But Diomede, heroic Chief, the son +Of Teuthras slew, Axylus.[3] Rich was he,15 +And in Arisba (where he dwelt beside +The public road, and at his open door +Made welcome all) respected and beloved. +But of his numerous guests none interposed +To avert his woful doom; nor him alone20 +He slew, but with him also to the shades +Calesius sent, his friend and charioteer. +Opheltius fell and Dresus, by the hand +Slain of Euryalus, who, next, his arms +On Pedasus and on Æsepus turned25 +Brethren and twins. Them Abarbarea bore, +A Naiad, to Bucolion, son renown’d +Of King Laomedon, his eldest born, +But by his mother, at his birth, conceal’d. +Bucolion pasturing his flocks, embraced30 +The lovely nymph; she twins produced, both whom, +Brave as they were and beautiful, thy son[4] +Mecisteus! slew, and from their shoulders tore +Their armor. Dauntless Polypœtes slew +Astyalus. Ulysses with his spear35 +Transfixed Pydites, a Percosian Chief, +And Teucer Aretaön; Nestor’s pride +Antilochus, with his bright lance, of life +Bereft Ablerus, and the royal arm +Of Agamemnon, Elatus; he dwelt40 +Among the hills of lofty Pedasus, +On Satnio’s banks, smooth-sliding river pure +Phylacus fled, whom Leïtus as swift +Soon smote. Melanthius at the feet expired +Of the renown’d Eurypylus, and, flush’d45 +With martial ardor, Menelaus seized +And took alive Adrastus. As it chanced +A thicket his affrighted steeds detain’d +Their feet entangling; they with restive force +At its extremity snapp’d short the pole,50 +And to the city, whither others fled, +Fled also. From his chariot headlong hurl’d, +Adrastus press’d the plain fast by his wheel. +Flew Menelaus, and his quivering spear +Shook over him; he, life imploring, clasp’d55 +Importunate his knees, and thus exclaim’d. +Oh, son of Atreus, let me live! accept +Illustrious ransom! In my father’s house +Is wealth abundant, gold, and brass, and steel +Of truest temper, which he will impart60 +Till he have gratified thine utmost wish, +Inform’d that I am captive in your fleet. +He said, and Menelaus by his words +Vanquish’d, him soon had to the fleet dismiss’d +Given to his train in charge, but swift and stern65 +Approaching, Agamemnon interposed. +Now, brother, whence this milkiness of mind, +These scruples about blood? Thy Trojan friends +Have doubtless much obliged thee. Die the race! +May none escape us! neither he who flies,70 +Nor even the infant in his mother’s womb +Unconscious. Perish universal Troy +Unpitied, till her place be found no more![5] +So saying, his brother’s mind the Hero turn’d, +Advising him aright; he with his hand75 +Thrust back Adrastus, and himself, the King, +His bowels pierced. Supine Adrastus fell, +And Agamemnon, with his foot the corse +Impressing firm, pluck’d forth his ashen spear. +Then Nestor, raising high his voice, exclaim’d.80 +Friends, Heroes, Grecians, ministers of Mars! +Let none, desirous of the spoil, his time +Devote to plunder now; now slay your foes, +And strip them when the field shall be your own.[6] + +He said, and all took courage at his word.85 +Then had the Trojans enter’d Troy again +By the heroic Grecians foul repulsed, +So was their spirit daunted, but the son +Of Priam, Helenus, an augur far +Excelling all, at Hector’s side his speech90 +To him and to Æneas thus address’d. +Hector, and thou, Æneas, since on you +The Lycians chiefly and ourselves depend, +For that in difficult emprize ye show +Most courage; give best counsel; stand yourselves,95 +And, visiting all quarters, cause to stand +Before the city-gates our scatter’d troops, +Ere yet the fugitives within the arms +Be slaughter’d of their wives, the scorn of Greece. +When thus ye shall have rallied every band100 +And roused their courage, weary though we be, +Yet since necessity commands, even here +Will we give battle to the host of Greece. +But, Hector! to the city thou depart; +There charge our mother, that she go direct,105 +With the assembled matrons, to the fane +Of Pallas in the citadel of Troy. +Opening her chambers’ sacred doors, of all +Her treasured mantles there, let her select +The widest, most magnificently wrought,110 +And which she values most; _that_ let her spread +On Athenæan Pallas’ lap divine.[7] +Twelve heifers of the year yet never touch’d +With puncture of the goad, let her alike +Devote to her, if she will pity Troy,115 +Our wives and little ones, and will avert +The son of Tydeus from these sacred towers, +That dreadful Chief, terror of all our host, +Bravest, in my account, of all the Greeks. +For never yet Achilles hath himself120 +So taught our people fear, although esteemed +Son of a Goddess. But this warrior’s rage +Is boundless, and his strength past all compare. +So Helenus; nor Hector not complied. +Down from his chariot instant to the ground125 +All arm’d he leap’d, and, shaking his sharp spears, +Through every phalanx pass’d, rousing again +Their courage, and rekindling horrid war. +They, turning, faced the Greeks; the Greeks repulsed, +Ceased from all carnage, nor supposed they less130 +Than that some Deity, the starry skies +Forsaken, help’d their foes, so firm they stood. +But Hector to the Trojans call’d aloud. +Ye dauntless Trojans and confederate powers +Call’d from afar! now be ye men, my friends,135 +Now summon all the fury of your might! +I go to charge our senators and wives +That they address the Gods with prayers and vows +For our success, and hecatombs devote. +So saying the Hero went, and as he strode140 +The sable hide that lined his bossy shield +Smote on his neck and on his ancle-bone. +And now into the middle space between +Both hosts, the son of Tydeus and the son +Moved of Hippolochus, intent alike145 +On furious combat; face to face they stood, +And thus heroic Diomede began. +Most noble Champion! who of human kind +Art thou,[8] whom in the man-ennobling fight +I now encounter first? Past all thy peers150 +I must esteem thee valiant, who hast dared +To meet my coming, and my spear defy. +Ah! they are sons of miserable sires +Who dare my might; but if a God from heaven +Thou come, behold! I fight not with the Gods.155 +That war Lycurgus son of Dryas waged, +And saw not many years. The nurses he +Of brain-disturbing Bacchus down the steep +Pursued of sacred Nyssa; they their wands +Vine-wreathed cast all away, with an ox-goad160 +Chastised by fell Lycurgus. Bacchus plunged +Meantime dismay’d into the deep, where him +Trembling, and at the Hero’s haughty threats +Confounded, Thetis in her bosom hid.[9] +Thus by Lycurgus were the blessed powers165 +Of heaven offended, and Saturnian Jove +Of sight bereaved him, who not long that loss +Survived, for he was curst by all above. +I, therefore, wage no contest with the Gods; +But if thou be of men, and feed on bread170 +Of earthly growth, draw nigh, that with a stroke +Well-aim’d, I may at once cut short thy days.[10] +To whom the illustrious Lycian Chief replied. +Why asks brave Diomede of my descent? +For, as the leaves, such is the race of man.[11]175 +The wind shakes down the leaves, the budding grove +Soon teems with others, and in spring they grow. +So pass mankind. One generation meets +Its destined period, and a new succeeds. +But since thou seem’st desirous to be taught180 +My pedigree, whereof no few have heard, +Know that in Argos, in the very lap +Of Argos, for her steed-grazed meadows famed, +Stands Ephyra;[12] there Sisyphus abode, +Shrewdest of human kind; Sisyphus, named185 +Æolides. Himself a son begat, +Glaucus, and he Bellerophon, to whom +The Gods both manly force and beauty gave. +Him Prœtus (for in Argos at that time +Prœtus was sovereign, to whose sceptre Jove190 +Had subjected the land) plotting his death, +Contrived to banish from his native home. +For fair Anteia, wife of Prœtus, mad +Through love of young Bellerophon, him oft +In secret to illicit joys enticed;195 +But she prevail’d not o’er the virtuous mind +Discrete of whom she wooed; therefore a lie +Framing, she royal Prœtus thus bespake. +Die thou, or slay Bellerophon, who sought +Of late to force me to his lewd embrace.200 +So saying, the anger of the King she roused. +Slay him himself he would not, for his heart +Forbad the deed; him therefore he dismiss’d +To Lycia, charged with tales of dire import +Written in tablets,[13] which he bade him show,205 +That he might perish, to Anteia’s sire. +To Lycia then, conducted by the Gods, +He went, and on the shores of Xanthus found +Free entertainment noble at the hands +Of Lycia’s potent King. Nine days complete210 +He feasted him, and slew each day an ox. +But when the tenth day’s ruddy morn appear’d, +He asked him then his errand, and to see +Those written tablets from his son-in-law. +The letters seen, he bade him, first, destroy215 +Chimæra, deem’d invincible, divine +In nature, alien from the race of man, +Lion in front, but dragon all behind, +And in the midst a she-goat breathing forth +Profuse the violence of flaming fire.220 +Her, confident in signs from heaven, he slew. +Next, with the men of Solymæ[14] he fought, +Brave warriors far renown’d, with whom he waged, +In his account, the fiercest of his wars. +And lastly, when in battle he had slain225 +The man-resisting Amazons, the king +Another stratagem at his return +Devised against him, placing close-conceal’d +An ambush for him from the bravest chosen +In Lycia; but they saw their homes no more;230 +Bellerophon the valiant slew them all. +The monarch hence collecting, at the last, +His heavenly origin, him there detain’d, +And gave him his own daughter, with the half +Of all his royal dignity and power.235 +The Lycians also, for his proper use, +Large lot assigned him of their richest soil,[15] +Commodious for the vine, or for the plow. +And now his consort fair three children bore +To bold Bellerophon; Isandrus one,240 +And one, Hippolochus; his youngest born +Laodamia was for beauty such +That she became a concubine of Jove. +She bore Sarpedon of heroic note. +But when Bellerophon, at last, himself245 +Had anger’d all the Gods, feeding on grief +He roam’d alone the Aleian field, exiled, +By choice, from every cheerful haunt of man. +Mars, thirsty still for blood, his son destroy’d +Isandrus, warring with the host renown’d250 +Of Solymæ; and in her wrath divine +Diana from her chariot golden-rein’d +Laodamia slew. Myself I boast +Sprung from Hippolochus; he sent me forth +To fight for Troy, charging me much and oft255 +That I should outstrip always all mankind +In worth and valor, nor the house disgrace +Of my forefathers, heroes without peer +In Ephyra, and in Lycia’s wide domain. +Such is my lineage; such the blood I boast.260 +He ceased. Then valiant Diomede rejoiced. +He pitch’d his spear, and to the Lycian Prince +In terms of peace and amity replied. +Thou art my own hereditary friend, +Whose noble grandsire was the guest of mine.[16]265 +For Oeneus, on a time, full twenty days +Regaled Bellerophon, and pledges fair +Of hospitality they interchanged. +Oeneus a belt radiant with purple gave +To brave Bellerophon, who in return270 +Gave him a golden goblet. Coming forth +I left the kind memorial safe at home. +A child was I when Tydeus went to Thebes, +Where the Achaians perish’d, and of him +Hold no remembrance; but henceforth, my friend,275 +Thine host am I in Argos, and thou mine +In Lycia, should I chance to sojourn there. +We will not clash. Trojans or aids of Troy +No few the Gods shall furnish to my spear, +Whom I may slaughter; and no want of Greeks280 +On whom to prove thy prowess, thou shalt find. +But it were well that an exchange ensued +Between us; take mine armor, give me thine, +That all who notice us may understand +Our patrimonial[17] amity and love.285 +So they, and each alighting, hand in hand +Stood lock’d, faith promising and firm accord. +Then Jove of sober judgment so bereft +Infatuate Glaucus that with Tydeus’ son +He barter’d gold for brass, an hundred beeves290 +In value, for the value small of nine. +But Hector at the Scæan gate and beech[18] +Meantime arrived, to whose approach the wives +And daughters flock’d of Troy, inquiring each +The fate of husband, brother, son, or friend.295 +He bade them all with solemn prayer the Gods +Seek fervent, for that wo was on the wing. +But when he enter’d Priam’s palace, built +With splendid porticoes, and which within +Had fifty chambers lined with polish’d stone,300 +Contiguous all, where Priam’s sons reposed +And his sons’ wives, and where, on the other side. +In twelve magnificent chambers also lined +With polish’d marble and contiguous all, +The sons-in-law of Priam lay beside305 +His spotless daughters, there the mother queen +Seeking the chamber of Laodice, +Loveliest of all her children, as she went +Met Hector. On his hand she hung and said: +Why leavest thou, O my son! the dangerous field?310 +I fear that the Achaians (hateful name!) +Compass the walls so closely, that thou seek’st +Urged by distress the citadel, to lift +Thine hands in prayer to Jove? But pause awhile +Till I shall bring thee wine, that having pour’d315 +Libation rich to Jove and to the powers +Immortal, thou may’st drink and be refresh’d. +For wine is mighty to renew the strength +Of weary man, and weary thou must be +Thyself, thus long defending us and ours.320 +To whom her son majestic thus replied. +My mother, whom I reverence! cheering wine +Bring none to me, lest I forget my might.[19] +I fear, beside, with unwash’d hands to pour +Libation forth of sable wine to Jove,325 +And dare on none account, thus blood-defiled,[20] +Approach the tempest-stirring God in prayer. +Thou, therefore, gathering all our matrons, seek +The fane of Pallas, huntress of the spoil, +Bearing sweet incense; but from the attire330 +Treasured within thy chamber, first select +The amplest robe, most exquisitely wrought, +And which thou prizest most—then spread the gift +On Athenæan Pallas’ lap divine. +Twelve heifers also of the year, untouch’d335 +With puncture of the goad, promise to slay +In sacrifice, if she will pity Troy, +Our wives and little ones, and will avert +The son of Tydeus from these sacred towers, +That dreadful Chief, terror of all our host.340 +Go then, my mother, seek the hallowed fane +Of the spoil-huntress Deity. I, the while, +Seek Paris, and if Paris yet can hear, +Shall call him forth. But oh that earth would yawn +And swallow him, whom Jove hath made a curse345 +To Troy, to Priam, and to all his house; +Methinks, to see him plunged into the shades +For ever, were a cure for all my woes. +He ceased; the Queen, her palace entering, charged +Her maidens; they, incontinent, throughout350 +All Troy convened the matrons, as she bade. +Meantime into her wardrobe incense-fumed, +Herself descended; there her treasures lay, +Works of Sidonian women,[21] whom her son +The godlike Paris, when he cross’d the seas355 +With Jove-begotten Helen, brought to Troy. +The most magnificent, and varied most +With colors radiant, from the rest she chose +For Pallas; vivid as a star it shone, +And lowest lay of all. Then forth she went,360 +The Trojan matrons all following her steps. +But when the long procession reach’d the fane +Of Pallas in the heights of Troy, to them +The fair Theano ope’d the portals wide, +Daughter of Cisseus, brave Antenor’s spouse,365 +And by appointment public, at that time, +Priestess of Pallas. All with lifted hands[22] +In presence of Minerva wept aloud. +Beauteous Theano on the Goddess’ lap +Then spread the robe, and to the daughter fair370 +Of Jove omnipotent her suit address’d. +Goddess[23] of Goddesses, our city’s shield, +Adored Minerva, hear! oh! break the lance +Of Diomede, and give himself to fall +Prone in the dust before the Scæan gate.375 +So will we offer to thee at thy shrine, +This day twelve heifers of the year, untouch’d +By yoke or goad, if thou wilt pity show +To Troy, and save our children and our wives. +Such prayer the priestess offer’d, and such prayer380 +All present; whom Minerva heard averse. +But Hector to the palace sped meantime +Of Alexander, which himself had built, +Aided by every architect of name +Illustrious then in Troy. Chamber it had,385 +Wide hall, proud dome, and on the heights of Troy +Near-neighboring Hector’s house and Priam’s stood. +There enter’d Hector, Jove-beloved, a spear +Its length eleven cubits in his hand, +Its glittering head bound with a ring of gold.390 +He found within his chamber whom he sought, +Polishing with exactest care his arms +Resplendent, shield and hauberk fingering o’er +With curious touch, and tampering with his bow.[24] +Helen of Argos with her female train395 +Sat occupied, the while, to each in turn +Some splendid task assigning. Hector fix’d +His eyes on Paris, and him stern rebuked. +Thy sullen humors, Paris, are ill-timed. +The people perish at our lofty walls;400 +The flames of war have compass’d Troy around +And thou hast kindled them; who yet thyself +That slackness show’st which in another seen +Thou would’st resent to death. Haste, seek the field +This moment, lest, the next, all Ilium blaze.405 +To whom thus Paris, graceful as a God. +Since, Hector, thou hast charged me with a fault, +And not unjustly, I will answer make, +And give thou special heed. That here I sit, +The cause is sorrow, which I wish’d to soothe410 +In secret, not displeasure or revenge. +I tell thee also, that even now my wife +Was urgent with me in most soothing terms +That I would forth to battle; and myself, +Aware that victory oft changes sides,415 +That course prefer. Wait, therefore, thou awhile, +Till I shall dress me for the fight, or go +Thou first, and I will overtake thee soon. +He ceased, to whom brave Hector answer none +Return’d, when Helen him with lenient speech420 +Accosted mild.[25] My brother! who in me +Hast found a sister worthy of thy hate, +Authoress of all calamity to Troy, +Oh that the winds, the day when I was born, +Had swept me out of sight, whirl’d me aloft425 +To some inhospitable mountain-top, +Or plunged me in the deep; there I had sunk +O’erwhelm’d, and all these ills had never been. +But since the Gods would bring these ills to pass, +I should, at least, some worthier mate have chosen,430 +One not insensible to public shame. +But this, oh this, nor hath nor will acquire +Hereafter, aught which like discretion shows +Or reason, and shall find his just reward. +But enter; take this seat; for who as thou435 +Labors, or who hath cause like thee to rue +The crime, my brother, for which Heaven hath doom’d +Both Paris and my most detested self +To be the burthens of an endless song? +To whom the warlike Hector huge[26] replied.440 +Me bid not, Helen, to a seat, howe’er +Thou wish my stay, for thou must not prevail. +The Trojans miss me, and myself no less +Am anxious to return. But urge in haste +This loiterer forth; yea, let him urge himself445 +To overtake me ere I quit the town. +For I must home in haste, that I may see +My loved Andromache, my infant boy, +And my domestics, ignorant if e’er +I shall behold them more, or if my fate450 +Ordain me now to fall by Grecian hands. +So spake the dauntless hero, and withdrew. +But reaching soon his own well-built abode +He found not fair Andromache; she stood +Lamenting Hector, with the nurse who bore455 +Her infant, on a turret’s top sublime. +He then, not finding his chaste spouse within, +Thus from the portal, of her train inquired. +Tell me, ye maidens, whither went from home +Andromache the fair?[27] Went she to see460 +Her female kindred of my father’s house, +Or to Minerva’s temple, where convened +The bright-hair’d matrons of the city seek +To soothe the awful Goddess? Tell me true. +To whom his household’s governess discreet.465 +Since, Hector, truth is thy demand, receive +True answer. Neither went she forth to see +Her female kindred of thy father’s house, +Nor to Minerva’s temple, where convened +The bright-haired matrons of the city seek470 +To soothe the awful Goddess; but she went +Hence to the tower of Troy: for she had heard +That the Achaians had prevail’d, and driven +The Trojans to the walls; she, therefore, wild +With grief, flew thither, and the nurse her steps475 +Attended, with thy infant in her arms. +So spake the prudent governess; whose words +When Hector heard, issuing from his door +He backward trod with hasty steps the streets +Of lofty Troy, and having traversed all480 +The spacious city, when he now approach’d +The Scæan gate, whence he must seek the field, +There, hasting home again his noble wife +Met him, Andromache the rich-endow’d +Fair daughter of Eëtion famed in arms.485 +Eëtion, who in Hypoplacian Thebes +Umbrageous dwelt, Cilicia’s mighty lord— +His daughter valiant Hector had espoused. +There she encounter’d him, and with herself +The nurse came also, bearing in her arms490 +Hectorides, his infant darling boy, +Beautiful as a star. Him Hector called +Scamandrios, but Astyanax[28] all else +In Ilium named him, for that Hector’s arm +Alone was the defence and strength of Troy.495 +The father, silent, eyed his babe, and smiled. +Andromache, meantime, before him stood, +With streaming cheeks, hung on his hand, and said. +Thy own great courage will cut short thy days, +My noble Hector! neither pitiest thou500 +Thy helpless infant, or my hapless self, +Whose widowhood is near; for thou wilt fall +Ere long, assail’d by the whole host of Greece. +Then let me to the tomb, my best retreat +When thou art slain. For comfort none or joy505 +Can I expect, thy day of life extinct, +But thenceforth, sorrow. Father I have none; +No mother. When Cilicia’s city, Thebes +The populous, was by Achilles sack’d. +He slew my father; yet his gorgeous arms510 +Stripp’d not through reverence of him, but consumed, +Arm’d as it was, his body on the pile, +And heap’d his tomb, which the Oreades, +Jove’s daughters, had with elms inclosed around.[29] +My seven brothers, glory of our house,515 +All in one day descended to the shades; +For brave Achilles,[30] while they fed their herds +And snowy flocks together, slew them all. +My mother, Queen of the well-wooded realm +Of Hypoplacian Thebes, her hither brought520 +Among his other spoils, he loosed again +At an inestimable ransom-price, +But by Diana pierced, she died at home. +Yet Hector—oh my husband! I in thee +Find parents, brothers, all that I have lost.525 +Come! have compassion on us. Go not hence, +But guard this turret, lest of me thou make +A widow, and an orphan of thy boy. +The city walls are easiest of ascent +At yonder fig-tree; station there thy powers;530 +For whether by a prophet warn’d, or taught +By search and observation, in that part +Each Ajax with Idomeneus of Crete, +The sons of Atreus, and the valiant son +Of Tydeus, have now thrice assail’d the town.535 +To whom the leader of the host of Troy. +These cares, Andromache, which thee engage, +All touch me also; but I dread to incur +The scorn of male and female tongues in Troy, +If, dastard-like, I should decline the fight.540 +Nor feel I such a wish. No. I have learn’d +To be courageous ever, in the van +Among the flower of Ilium to assert +My glorious father’s honor, and my own. +For that the day shall come when sacred Troy,545 +When Priam, and the people of the old +Spear-practised King shall perish, well I know. +But for no Trojan sorrows yet to come +So much I mourn, not e’en for Hecuba, +Nor yet for Priam, nor for all the brave550 +Of my own brothers who shall kiss the dust, +As for thyself, when some Achaian Chief +Shall have convey’d thee weeping hence, thy sun +Of peace and liberty for ever set. +Then shalt thou toil in Argos at the loom555 +For a task-mistress, and constrain’d shalt draw +From Hypereïa’s fount,[31] or from the fount +Messeïs, water at her proud command. +Some Grecian then, seeing thy tears, shall say— +“This was the wife of Hector, who excell’d560 +All Troy in fight when Ilium was besieged.” +Such he shall speak thee, and thy heart, the while, +Shall bleed afresh through want of such a friend +To stand between captivity and thee. +But may I rest beneath my hill of earth565 +Or ere that day arrive! I would not live +To hear thy cries, and see thee torn away. +So saying, illustrious Hector stretch’d his arms +Forth to his son, but with a scream, the child +Fell back into the bosom of his nurse,570 +His father’s aspect dreading, whose bright arms +He had attentive mark’d and shaggy crest +Playing tremendous o’er his helmet’s height. +His father and his gentle mother laugh’d,[32] +And noble Hector lifting from his head575 +His dazzling helmet, placed it on the ground, +Then kiss’d his boy and dandled him, and thus +In earnest prayer the heavenly powers implored. +Hear all ye Gods! as ye have given to me, +So also on my son excelling might580 +Bestow, with chief authority in Troy. +And be his record this, in time to come, +When he returns from battle. Lo! how far +The son excels the sire! May every foe +Fall under him, and he come laden home585 +With spoils blood-stain’d to his dear mother’s joy. +He said, and gave his infant to the arms +Of his Andromache, who him received +Into her fragrant bosom, bitter tears +With sweet smiles mingling; he with pity moved590 +That sight observed, soft touch’d her cheek, and said, +Mourn not, my loved Andromache, for me +Too much; no man shall send me to the shades +Of Tartarus, ere mine allotted hour, +Nor lives he who can overpass the date595 +By heaven assign’d him, be he base or brave.[33] +Go then, and occupy content at home +The woman’s province; ply the distaff, spin +And weave, and task thy maidens. War belongs +To man; to all men; and of all who first600 +Drew vital breath in Ilium, most to me.[34] + +He ceased, and from the ground his helmet raised +Hair-crested; his Andromache, at once +Obedient, to her home repair’d, but oft +Turn’d as she went, and, turning, wept afresh.605 +No sooner at the palace she arrived +Of havoc-spreading Hector, than among +Her numerous maidens found within, she raised +A general lamentation; with one voice, +In his own house, his whole domestic train610 +Mourn’d Hector, yet alive; for none the hope +Conceived of his escape from Grecian hands, +Or to behold their living master more. +Nor Paris in his stately mansion long +Delay’d, but, arm’d resplendent, traversed swift615 +The city, all alacrity and joy. +As some stall’d horse high-fed, his stable-cord +Snapt short, beats under foot the sounding plain, +Accustomed in smooth-sliding streams to lave +Exulting; high he bears his head, his mane620 +Undulates o’er his shoulders, pleased he eyes +His glossy sides, and borne on pliant knees +Shoots to the meadow where his fellows graze; +So Paris, son of Priam, from the heights +Of Pergamus into the streets of Troy,625 +All dazzling as the sun, descended, flush’d +With martial pride, and bounding in his course. +At once he came where noble Hector stood +Now turning, after conference with his spouse, +When godlike Alexander thus began.630 +My hero brother, thou hast surely found +My long delay most irksome. More dispatch +Had pleased thee more, for such was thy command. +To whom the warlike Hector thus replied. +No man, judicious, and in feat of arms635 +Intelligent, would pour contempt on thee +(For thou art valiant) wert thou not remiss +And wilful negligent; and when I hear +The very men who labor in thy cause +Reviling thee, I make thy shame my own.640 +But let us on. All such complaints shall cease +Hereafter, and thy faults be touch’d no more, +Let Jove but once afford us riddance clear +Of these Achaians, and to quaff the cup +Of liberty, before the living Gods.645 + + +It may be observed, that Hector begins to resume his hope of success, +and his warlike spirit is roused again, as he approaches the field of +action. The depressing effect of his sad interview is wearing away from +his mind, and he is already prepared for the battle with Ajax, which +awaits him. + +The student who has once read this book, will read it again and again. +It contains much that is addressed to the deepest feelings of our +common nature, and, despite of the long interval of time which lies +between our age and the Homeric—despite the manifold changes of +customs, habits, pursuits, and the advances that have been made in +civilization and art—despite of all these, the universal spirit of +humanity will recognize in these scenes much of that true poetry which +delights alike all ages, all nations, all men.—Felton. + + + + +BOOK VII. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE SEVENTH BOOK. + +Ajax and Hector engage in single combat. The Grecians fortify their +camp. + + +BOOK VII. + + +So saying, illustrious Hector through the gates +To battle rush’d, with Paris at his side, +And both were bent on deeds of high renown. +As when the Gods vouchsafe propitious gales +To longing mariners, who with smooth oars5 +Threshing the waves have all their strength consumed, +So them the longing Trojans glad received. +At once each slew a Grecian. Paris slew +Menesthius who in Arna dwelt, the son +Of Areithoüs, club-bearing chief,10 +And of Philomedusa radiant-eyed. +But Hector wounded with his glittering spear +Eïoneus; he pierced his neck beneath +His brazen morion’s verge, and dead he fell. +Then Glaucus, leader of the Lycian host,15 +Son of Hippolochus, in furious fight +Iphinoüs son of Dexias assail’d, +Mounting his rapid mares, and with his lance +His shoulder pierced; unhorsed he fell and died. +Such slaughter of the Grecians in fierce fight20 +Minerva noting, from the Olympian hills +Flew down to sacred Ilium; whose approach +Marking from Pergamus, Apollo flew +To meet her, ardent on the part of Troy. +Beneath the beech they join’d, when first the King,25 +The son of Jove, Apollo thus began. + +Daughter of Jove supreme! why hast thou left +Olympus, and with such impetuous speed? +Comest thou to give the Danaï success +Decisive? For I know that pity none30 +Thou feel’st for Trojans, perish as they may +But if advice of mine can influence thee +To that which shall be best, let us compose +This day the furious fight which shall again +Hereafter rage, till Ilium be destroy’d.35 +Since such is Juno’s pleasure and thy own. +Him answer’d then Pallas cærulean-eyed. +Celestial archer! be it so. I came +Myself so purposing into the field +From the Olympian heights. But by what means40 +Wilt thou induce the warriors to a pause? +To whom the King, the son of Jove, replied. +The courage of equestrian Hector bold +Let us excite, that he may challenge forth +To single conflict terrible some chief45 +Achaian. The Achaians brazen-mail’d +Indignant, will supply a champion soon +To combat with the noble Chief of Troy. +So spake Apollo, and his counsel pleased +Minerva; which when Helenus the seer,50 +Priam’s own son, in his prophetic soul +Perceived, approaching Hector, thus he spake. +Jove’s peer in wisdom, Hector, Priam’s son! +I am thy brother. Wilt thou list to me? +Bid cease the battle. Bid both armies sit.55 +Call first, thyself, the mightiest of the Greeks +To single conflict. I have heard the voice +Of the Eternal Gods, and well-assured +Foretell thee that thy death not now impends. +He spake, whom Hector heard with joy elate.60 +Before his van striding into the space +Both hosts between, he with his spear transverse[1] +Press’d back the Trojans, and they sat. Down sat +The well-greaved Grecians also at command +Of Agamemnon; and in shape assumed65 +Of vultures, Pallas and Apollo perch’d +High on the lofty beech sacred to Jove +The father Ægis-arm’d; delighted thence +They view’d the peopled plain horrent around +With shields and helms and glittering spears erect.70 +As when fresh-blowing Zephyrus the flood +Sweeps first, the ocean blackens at the blast, +Such seem’d the plain whereon the Achaians sat +And Trojans, whom between thus Hector spake. +Ye Trojans and Achaians brazen-greaved,75 +Attend while I shall speak! Jove high-enthroned +Hath not fulfill’d the truce, but evil plans +Against both hosts, till either ye shall take +Troy’s lofty towers, or shall yourselves in flight +Fall vanquish’d at your billow-cleaving barks.80 +With you is all the flower of Greece.[2] Let him +Whose heart shall move him to encounter sole +Illustrious Hector, from among you all +Stand forth, and Jove be witness to us both. +If he, with his long-pointed lance, of life85 +Shall me bereave, my armor is his prize, +Which he shall hence into your fleet convey; +Not so my body; that he shall resign +For burial to the men and wives of Troy. +But if Apollo make the glory mine,90 +And he fall vanquish’d, him will I despoil, +And hence conveying into sacred Troy +His arms, will in the temple hang them high[3] +Of the bow-bender God, but I will send +His body to the fleet, that him the Greeks95 +May grace with rights funereal. On the banks +Of wide-spread Hellespont ye shall upraise +His tomb, and as they cleave with oary barks +The sable deep, posterity shall say— +“It is a warrior’s tomb; in ancient days100 +The Hero died; him warlike Hector slew.” +So men shall speak hereafter, and my fame +Who slew him, and my praise, shall never die. +He ceased, and all sat mute. His challenge bold +None dared accept, which yet they blush’d to shun,105 +Till Menelaus, at the last, arose +Groaning profound, and thus reproach’d the Greeks. +Ah boasters! henceforth women—men no more— +Eternal shame, shame infinite is ours, +If none of all the Grecians dares contend110 +With Hector. Dastards—deaf to glory’s call— +Rot where ye sit! I will myself take arms +Against him, for the gods alone dispose, +At their own pleasure, the events of war. +He ended, and put on his radiant arms.115 +Then, Menelaus, manifest appear’d +Thy death approaching by the dreadful hands +Of Hector, mightier far in arms than thou, +But that the Chiefs of the Achaians all +Upstarting stay’d thee, and himself the King,120 +The son of Atreus, on thy better hand +Seizing affectionate, thee thus address’d. +Thou ravest, my royal brother! and art seized +With needless frenzy. But, however chafed, +Restrain thy wrath, nor covet to contend125 +With Priameian Hector, whom in fight +All dread, a warrior thy superior far. +Not even Achilles, in the glorious field +(Though stronger far than thou) this hero meets +Undaunted. Go then, and thy seat resume130 +In thy own band; the Achaians shall for him, +Doubtless, some fitter champion furnish forth. +Brave though he be, and with the toils of war +Insatiable, he shall be willing yet, +Seated on his bent knees, to breathe a while,135 +Should he escape the arduous brunt severe. +So saying, the hero by his counsel wise +His brother’s purpose alter’d; he complied, +And his glad servants eased him of his arms. +Then Nestor thus the Argive host bespake.140 +Great wo, ye Gods! hath on Achaia fallen. +Now may the warlike Pelaus, hoary Chief, +Who both with eloquence and wisdom rules +The Myrmidons, our foul disgrace deplore. +With him discoursing, erst, of ancient times,145 +When all your pedigrees I traced, I made +His heart bound in him at the proud report. +But now, when he shall learn how here we sat +Cowering at the foot of Hector, he shall oft +His hands uplift to the immortal Gods,150 +Praying a swift release into the shades. +Jove! Pallas! Phœbus! Oh that I were young +As when the Pylians in fierce fight engaged +The Arcadians spear-expert, beside the stream +Of rapid Celadon! Beneath the walls155 +We fought of Pheia, where the Jardan rolls. +There Ereuthalion, Chief of godlike form, +Stood forth before his van, and with loud voice +Defied the Pylians. Arm’d he was in steel +By royal Areïthous whilom worn;160 +Brave Areïthous, Corynetes[4] named +By every tongue; for that in bow and spear +Nought trusted he, but with an iron mace +The close-embattled phalanx shatter’d wide. +Him by address, not by superior force,165 +Lycurgus vanquish’d, in a narrow pass, +Where him his iron whirl-bat[5] nought avail’d. +Lycurgus stealing on him, with his lance +Transpierced and fix’d him to the soil supine. +Him of his arms, bright gift of brazen Mars,170 +He stripp’d, which after, in the embattled field +Lycurgus wore himself, but, growing old, +Surrender’d them to Ereuthalion’s use +His armor-bearer, high in his esteem, +And Ereuthalion wore them on the day175 +When he defied our best. All hung their heads +And trembled; none dared meet him; till at last +With inborn courage warm’d, and nought dismayed, +Though youngest of them all, I undertook +That contest, and, by Pallas’ aid, prevail’d.180 +I slew the man in height and bulk all men +Surpassing, and much soil he cover’d slain. +Oh for the vigor of those better days! +Then should not Hector want a champion long, +Whose call to combat, ye, although the prime185 +And pride of all our land, seem slow to hear. +He spake reproachful, when at once arose +Nine heroes. Agamemnon, King of men, +Foremost arose; then Tydeus’ mighty son, +With either Ajax in fierce prowess clad;190 +The Cretan next, Idomeneus, with whom +Uprose Meriones his friend approved, +Terrible as the man-destroyer Mars. +Evæmon’s noble offspring next appear’d +Eurypylus; Andræmon’s son the next195 +Thoas; and last, Ulysses, glorious Chief. +All these stood ready to engage in arms +With warlike Hector, when the ancient King, +Gerenian Nestor, thus his speech resumed. +Now cast the lot for all. Who wins the chance200 +Shall yield Achaia service, and himself +Serve also, if successful he escape +This brunt of hostile hardiment severe. +So Nestor. They, inscribing each his lot, +Into the helmet cast it of the son205 +Of Atreus, Agamemnon. Then the host +Pray’d all, their hands uplifting, and with eyes +To the wide heavens directed, many said[6]— +Eternal sire! choose Ajax, or the son +Of Tydeus, or the King himself[7] who sways210 +The sceptre in Mycenæ wealth-renown’d! +Such prayer the people made; then Nestor shook +The helmet, and forth leaped, whose most they wished, +The lot of Ajax. Throughout all the host +To every chief and potentate of Greece,215 +From right to left the herald bore the lot +By all disown’d; but when at length he reach’d +The inscriber of the lot, who cast it in, +Illustrious Ajax, in his open palm +The herald placed it, standing at his side.220 +He, conscious, with heroic joy the lot +Cast at his foot, and thus exclaim’d aloud. +My friends! the lot is mine,[8] and my own heart +Rejoices also; for I nothing doubt +That noble Hector shall be foil’d by me.225 +But while I put mine armor on, pray all +In silence to the King Saturnian Jove, +Lest, while ye pray, the Trojans overhear. +Or pray aloud, for whom have we to dread? +No man shall my firm standing by his strength230 +Unsettle, or for ignorance of mine +Me vanquish, who, I hope, brought forth and train’d +In Salamis, have, now, not much to learn. +He ended. They with heaven-directed eyes +The King in prayer address’d, Saturnian Jove.235 +Jove! glorious father! who from Ida’s height +Controlest all below, let Ajax prove +Victorious; make the honor all his own! +Or, if not less than Ajax, Hector share +Thy love and thy regard, divide the prize240 +Of glory, and let each achieve renown! +Then Ajax put his radiant armor on, +And, arm’d complete, rush’d forward. As huge Mars +To battle moves the sons of men between +Whom Jove with heart-devouring thirst inspires245 +Of war, so moved huge Ajax to the fight, +Tower of the Greeks, dilating with a smile +His martial features terrible; on feet, +Firm-planted, to the combat he advanced +Stride after stride, and shook his quivering spear.250 +Him viewing, Argos’ universal host +Exulted, while a panic loosed the knees +Of every Trojan; even Hector’s heart +Beat double, but escape for him remain’d +None now, or to retreat into his ranks255 +Again, from whom himself had challenged forth. +Ajax advancing like a tower his shield +Sevenfold, approach’d. It was the labor’d work +Of Tychius, armorer of matchless skill, +Who dwelt in Hyla; coated with the hides260 +Of seven high-pamper’d bulls that shield he framed +For Ajax, and the disk plated with brass. +Advancing it before his breast, the son +Of Telamon approach’d the Trojan Chief, +And face to face, him threatening, thus began.265 +Now, Hector, prove, by me alone opposed, +What Chiefs the Danaï can furnish forth +In absence of the lion-hearted prince +Achilles, breaker of the ranks of war. +He, in his billow-cleaving barks incensed270 +Against our leader Agamemnon, lies; +But warriors of my measure, who may serve +To cope with thee, we want not; numerous such +Are found amongst us. But begin the fight. +To whom majestic Hector fierce in arms.275 +Ajax! heroic leader of the Greeks! +Offspring of Telamon! essay not me +With words to terrify, as I were boy. +Or girl unskill’d in war;[9] I am a man +Well exercised in battle, who have shed280 +The blood of many a warrior, and have learn’d, +From hand to hand shifting my shield, to fight +Unwearied; I can make a sport of war, +In standing fight adjusting all my steps +To martial measures sweet, or vaulting light285 +Into my chariot, thence can urge the foe. +Yet in contention with a Chief like thee +I will employ no stratagem, or seek +To smite thee privily, but with a stroke +(If I may reach thee) visible to all.290 +So saying, he shook, then hurl’d his massy spear +At Ajax, and his broad shield sevenfold +On its eighth surface of resplendent brass +Smote full; six hides the unblunted weapon pierced, +But in the seventh stood rooted. Ajax, next,295 +Heroic Chief, hurl’d his long shadow’d spear +And struck the oval shield of Priam’s son. +Through his bright disk the weapon tempest-driven +Glided, and in his hauberk-rings infixt +At his soft flank, ripp’d wide his vest within.300 +Inclined oblique he ’scaped the dreadful doom +Then each from other’s shield his massy spear +Recovering quick, like lions hunger-pinch’d +Or wild boars irresistible in force, +They fell to close encounter. Priam’s son305 +The shield of Ajax at its centre smote, +But fail’d to pierce it, for he bent his point. +Sprang Ajax then, and meeting full the targe +Of Hector, shock’d him; through it and beyond +He urged the weapon with its sliding edge310 +Athwart his neck, and blood was seen to start. +But still, for no such cause, from battle ceased +Crest-tossing Hector, but retiring, seized +A huge stone angled sharp and black with age +That on the champain lay. The bull-hide guard315 +Sevenfold of Ajax with that stone he smote +Full on its centre; sang the circling brass. +Then Ajax far a heavier stone upheaved; +He whirled it, and with might immeasurable +Dismiss’d the mass, which with a mill-stone weight320 +Sank through the shield of Hector, and his knees +Disabled; with his shield supine he fell, +But by Apollo raised, stood soon again. +And now, with swords they had each other hewn, +Had not the messengers of Gods and men325 +The heralds wise, Idæus on the part +Of Ilium, and Talthybius for the Greeks, +Advancing interposed. His sceptre each +Between them held, and thus Idæus spake.[10] +My children, cease! prolong not still the fight.330 +Ye both are dear to cloud-assembler Jove, +Both valiant, and all know it. But the Night +Hath fallen, and Night’s command must be obeyed. +To him the son of Telamon replied. +Idæus! bid thy master speak as thou.335 +He is the challenger. If such his choice, +Mine differs not; I wait but to comply. +Him answer’d then heroic Hector huge. +Since, Ajax, the immortal powers on thee +Have bulk pre-eminent and strength bestow’d,340 +With such address in battle, that the host +Of Greece hath not thine equal at the spear, +Now let the combat cease. We shall not want +More fair occasion; on some future day +We will not part till all-disposing heaven345 +Shall give thee victory, or shall make her mine. +But Night hath fallen, and Night must be obey’d, +That them may’st gratify with thy return +The Achaians, and especially thy friends +And thy own countrymen. I go, no less350 +To exhilarate in Priam’s royal town +Men and robed matrons, who shall seek the Gods +For me, with pious ceremonial due. +But come. We will exchange, or ere we part, +Some princely gift, that Greece and Troy may say355 +Hereafter, with soul-wasting rage they fought, +But parted with the gentleness of friends. +So saying, he with his sheath and belt a sword +Presented bright-emboss’d, and a bright belt +Purpureal[11] took from Ajax in return.360 +Thus separated, one the Grecians sought, +And one the Trojans; they when him they saw +From the unconquer’d hands return’d alive +Of Ajax, with delight their Chief received, +And to the city led him, double joy365 +Conceiving all at his unhoped escape. +On the other side, the Grecians brazen-mail’d +To noble Agamemnon introduced +Exulting Ajax, and the King of men +In honor of the conqueror slew an ox370 +Of the fifth year to Jove omnipotent. +Him flaying first, they carved him next and spread +The whole abroad, then, scoring deep the flesh, +They pierced it with the spits, and from the spits +(Once roasted well) withdrew it all again.375 +Their labor thus accomplish’d, and the board +Furnish’d with plenteous cheer, they feasted all +Till all were satisfied; nor Ajax miss’d +The conqueror’s meed, to whom the hero-king +Wide-ruling Agamemnon, gave the chine[12]380 +Perpetual,[13] his distinguish’d portion due. +The calls of hunger and of thirst at length +Both well sufficed, thus, foremost of them all +The ancient Nestor, whose advice had oft +Proved salutary, prudent thus began.385 +Chiefs of Achaia, and thou, chief of all, +Great Agamemnon! Many of our host +Lie slain, whose blood sprinkles, in battle shed, +The banks of smooth Scamander, and their souls +Have journey’d down into the realms of death.390 +To-morrow, therefore, let the battle pause +As need requires, and at the peep of day +With mules and oxen, wheel ye from all parts +The dead, that we may burn them near the fleet. +So, home to Greece returning, will we give395 +The fathers’ ashes to the children’s care. +Accumulating next, the pile around, +One common tomb for all, with brisk dispatch +We will upbuild for more secure defence +Of us and of our fleet, strong towers and tall400 +Adjoining to the tomb, and every tower +Shall have its ponderous gate, commodious pass +Affording to the mounted charioteer. +And last, without those towers and at their foot, +Dig we a trench, which compassing around405 +Our camp, both steeds and warriors shall exclude, +And all fierce inroad of the haughty foe. +So counsell’d he, whom every Chief approved. +In Troy meantime, at Priam’s gate beside +The lofty citadel, debate began410 +The assembled senators between, confused, +Clamorous, and with furious heat pursued, +When them Antenor, prudent, thus bespake. +Ye Trojans, Dardans, and allies of Troy, +My counsel hear! Delay not. Instant yield415 +To the Atridæ, hence to be convey’d, +Helen of Greece with all that is her own. +For charged with violated oaths we fight, +And hope I none conceive that aught by us +Design’d shall prosper, unless so be done.420 +He spake and sat; when from his seat arose +Paris, fair Helen’s noble paramour, +Who thus with speech impassion’d quick replied. +Antenor! me thy counsel hath not pleased; +Thou could’st have framed far better; but if this425 +Be thy deliberate judgment, then the Gods +Make thy deliberate judgment nothing worth. +But I will speak myself. Ye Chiefs of Troy, +I tell you plain. I will not yield my spouse. +But all her treasures to our house convey’d430 +From Argos, those will I resign, and add +Still other compensation from my own. +Thus Paris said and sat; when like the Gods +Themselves in wisdom, from his seat uprose +Dardanian Priam, who them thus address’d.435 +Trojans, Dardanians, and allies of Troy! +I shall declare my sentence; hear ye me. +Now let the legions, as at other times, +Take due refreshment; let the watch be set, +And keep ye vigilant guard. At early dawn440 +We will dispatch Idæus to the fleet, +Who shall inform the Atridæ of this last +Resolve of Paris, author of the war. +Discreet Idæus also shall propose +A respite (if the Atridæ so incline)445 +From war’s dread clamor, while we burn the dead. +Then will we clash again, till heaven at length +Shall part us, and the doubtful strife decide. +He ceased, whose voice the assembly pleased, obey’d. +Then, troop by troop, the army took repast,450 +And at the dawn Idæus sought the fleet. +He found the Danaï, servants of Mars, +Beside the stern of Agamemnon’s ship +Consulting; and amid the assembled Chiefs +Arrived, with utterance clear them thus address’d.455 +Ye sons of Atreus, and ye Chiefs, the flower +Of all Achaia! Priam and the Chiefs +Of Ilium, bade me to your ear impart +(If chance such embassy might please your ear) +The mind of Paris, author of the war.460 +The treasures which on board his ships he brought +From Argos home (oh, had he perish’d first!) +He yields them with addition from his own. +Not so the consort of the glorious prince +Brave Menelaus; her (although in Troy465 +All counsel otherwise) he still detains. +Thus too I have in charge. Are ye inclined +That the dread sounding clamors of the field +Be caused to cease till we shall burn the dead? +Then will we clash again, till heaven at length470 +Shall part us, and the doubtful strife decide. +So spake Idæus, and all silent sat; +Till at the last brave Diomede replied. +No. We will none of Paris’ treasures now, +Nor even Helen’s self. A child may see475 +Destruction winging swift her course to Troy. +He said. The admiring Greeks with loud applause +All praised the speech of warlike Diomede, +And answer thus the King of men return’d. +Idæus! thou hast witness’d the resolve480 +Of the Achaian Chiefs, whose choice is mine. +But for the slain, I shall not envy them +A funeral pile; the spirit fled, delay +Suits not. Last rites can not too soon be paid. +Burn them. And let high-thundering Jove attest485 +Himself mine oath, that war shall cease the while. +So saying, he to all the Gods upraised +His sceptre, and Idæus homeward sped +To sacred Ilium. The Dardanians there +And Trojans, all assembled, his return490 +Expected anxious. He amid them told +Distinct his errand, when, at once dissolved, +The whole assembly rose, these to collect +The scatter’d bodies, those to gather wood; +While on the other side, the Greeks arose495 +As sudden, and all issuing from the fleet +Sought fuel, some, and some, the scatter’d dead. +Now from the gently-swelling flood profound +The sun arising, with his earliest rays +In his ascent to heaven smote on the fields.500 +When Greeks and Trojans met. Scarce could the slain +Be clear distinguish’d, but they cleansed from each +His clotted gore with water, and warm tears +Distilling copious, heaved them to the wains. +But wailing none was heard, for such command505 +Had Priam issued; therefore heaping high +The bodies, silent and with sorrowing hearts +They burn’d them, and to sacred Troy return’d. +The Grecians also, on the funeral pile +The bodies heaping sad, burn’d them with fire510 +Together, and return’d into the fleet. +Then, ere the peep of dawn, and while the veil +Of night, though thinner, still o’erhung the earth, +Achaians, chosen from the rest, the pile +Encompass’d. With a tomb (one tomb for all)515 +They crown’d the spot adust, and to the tomb +(For safety of their fleet and of themselves) +Strong fortress added of high wall and tower, +With solid gates affording egress thence +Commodious to the mounted charioteer;520 +Deep foss and broad they also dug without, +And planted it with piles. So toil’d the Greeks. + +The Gods, that mighty labor, from beside +The Thunderer’s throne with admiration view’d, +When Neptune, shaker of the shores, began.525 +Eternal father! is there on the face +Of all the boundless earth one mortal man +Who will, in times to come, consult with heaven? +See’st thou yon height of wall, and yon deep trench +With which the Grecians have their fleet inclosed,530 +And, careless of our blessing, hecatomb +Or invocation have presented none? +Far as the day-spring shoots herself abroad, +So far the glory of this work shall spread, +While Phœbus and myself, who, toiling hard,535 +Built walls for king Laomedon, shall see +Forgotten all the labor of our hands. +To whom, indignant, thus high-thundering Jove. +Oh thou, who shakest the solid earth at will, +What hast thou spoken? An inferior power,540 +A god of less sufficiency than thou, +Might be allowed some fear from such a cause. +Fear not. Where’er the morning shoots her beams, +Thy glory shall be known; and when the Greeks +Shall seek their country through the waves again,545 +Then break this bulwark down, submerge it whole, +And spreading deep with sand the spacious shore +As at the first, leave not a trace behind. +Such conference held the Gods; and now the sun +Went down, and, that great work perform’d, the Greeks550 +From tent to tent slaughter’d the fatted ox +And ate their evening cheer. Meantime arrived +Large fleet with Lemnian wine; Euneus, son +Of Jason and Hypsipile, that fleet +From Lemnos freighted, and had stow’d on board555 +A thousand measures from the rest apart +For the Atridæ; but the host at large +By traffic were supplied; some barter’d brass, +Others bright steel; some purchased wine with hides, +These with their cattle, with their captives those,560 +And the whole host prepared a glad regale. +All night the Grecians feasted, and the host +Of Ilium, and all night deep-planning Jove +Portended dire calamities to both, +Thundering tremendous!—Pale was every cheek;565 +Each pour’d his goblet on the ground, nor dared +The hardiest drink, till he had first perform’d +Libation meet to the Saturnian King +Omnipotent; then, all retiring, sought +Their couches, and partook the gift of sleep.570 + + + + +BOOK VIII. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE EIGHTH BOOK. + +Jove calls a council, in which he forbids all interference of the Gods +between the Greeks and Trojans. He repairs to Ida, where, having +consulted the scales of destiny, he directs his lightning against the +Grecians. Nestor is endangered by the death of one of his horses. +Diomede delivers him. In the chariot of Diomede they both hasten to +engage Hector, whose charioteer is slain by Diomede. Jupiter again +interposes by his thunders, and the whole Grecian host, discomfited, is +obliged to seek refuge within the rampart. Diomede, with others, at +sight of a favorable omen sent from Jove in answer to Agamemnon’s +prayer, sallies. Teucer performs great exploits, but is disabled by +Hector. Juno and Pallas set forth from Olympus in aid of the Grecians, +but are stopped by Jupiter, who reascends from Ida, and in heaven +foretells the distresses which await the Grecians. + +Hector takes measures for the security of Troy during the night, and +prepares his host for an assault to be made on the Grecian camp in the +morning. + + +BOOK VIII. + + +The saffron-mantled morning[1] now was spread +O’er all the nations, when the Thunderer Jove +On the deep-fork’d Olympian topmost height +Convened the Gods in council, amid whom +He spake himself; they all attentive heard.5 +Gods! Goddesses! Inhabitants of heaven! +Attend; I make my secret purpose known. +Let neither God nor Goddess interpose +My counsel to rescind, but with one heart +Approve it, that it reach, at once, its end.10 +Whom I shall mark soever from the rest +Withdrawn, that he may Greeks or Trojans aid, +Disgrace shall find him; shamefully chastised +He shall return to the Olympian heights, +Or I will hurl him deep into the gulfs15 +Of gloomy Tartarus, where Hell shuts fast +Her iron gates, and spreads her brazen floor, +As far below the shades, as earth from heaven. +There shall he learn how far I pass in might +All others; which if ye incline to doubt,20 +Now prove me. Let ye down the golden chain[2] +From heaven, and at its nether links pull all, +Both Goddesses and Gods. But me your King, +Supreme in wisdom, ye shall never draw +To earth from heaven, toil adverse as ye may.25 +Yet I, when once I shall be pleased to pull, +The earth itself, itself the sea, and you +Will lift with ease together, and will wind +The chain around the spiry summit sharp +Of the Olympian, that all things upheaved30 +Shall hang in the mid heaven. So far do I, +Compared with all who live, transcend them all. +He ended, and the Gods long time amazed +Sat silent, for with awful tone he spake: +But at the last Pallas blue-eyed began.35 +Father! Saturnian Jove! of Kings supreme! +We know thy force resistless; but our hearts +Feel not the less, when we behold the Greeks +Exhausting all the sorrows of their lot. +If thou command, we, doubtless, will abstain40 +From battle, yet such counsel to the Greeks +Suggesting still, as may in part effect +Their safety, lest thy wrath consume them all. +To whom with smiles answer’d cloud-gatherer Jove. +Fear not, my child! stern as mine accent was,45 +I forced a frown—no more. For in mine heart +Nought feel I but benevolence to thee. +He said, and to his chariot join’d his steeds +Swift, brazen-hoof’d, and mailed with wavy gold; +He put on golden raiment, his bright scourge50 +Of gold receiving rose into his seat, +And lash’d his steeds; they not unwilling flew +Midway the earth between and starry heaven. +To spring-fed Ida, mother of wild beasts, +He came, where stands in Gargarus[3] his shrine55 +Breathing fresh incense! there the Sire of all +Arriving, loosed his coursers, and around +Involving them in gather’d clouds opaque, +Sat on the mountain’s head, in his own might +Exulting, with the towers of Ilium all60 +Beneath his eye, and the whole fleet of Greece. +In all their tents, meantime, Achaia’s sons +Took short refreshment, and for fight prepared. +On the other side, though fewer, yet constrain’d +By strong necessity, throughout all Troy,65 +In the defence of children and wives +Ardent, the Trojans panted for the field. +Wide flew the city gates: forth rush’d to war +Horsemen and foot, and tumult wild arose. +They met, they clash’d; loud was the din of spears70 +And bucklers on their bosoms brazen-mail’d +Encountering, shields in opposition from +Met bossy shields, and tumult wild arose.[4] +There many a shout and many a dying groan +Were heard, the slayer and the maim’d aloud75 +Clamoring, and the earth was drench’d with blood. +Till sacred morn[5] had brighten’d into noon, +The vollied weapons on both sides their task +Perform’d effectual, and the people fell. +But when the sun had climb’d the middle skies,80 +The Sire of all then took his golden scales;[6] +Doom against doom he weigh’d, the eternal fates +In counterpoise, of Trojans and of Greeks. +He rais’d the beam; low sank the heavier lot +Of the Achaians; the Achaian doom85 +Subsided, and the Trojan struck the skies. +Then roar’d the thunders from the summit hurl’d +of Ida, and his vivid lightnings flew +Into Achaia’s host. They at the sight +Astonish’d stood; fear whiten’d every cheek.[7]90 +Idomeneus dared not himself abide +That shock, nor Agamemnon stood, nor stood +The heroes Ajax, ministers of Mars. +Gerenian Nestor, guardian of the Greeks, +Alone fled not, nor he by choice remain’d,95 +But by his steed retarded, which the mate +Of beauteous Helen, Paris, with a shaft +Had stricken where the forelock grows, a part +Of all most mortal. Tortured by the wound +Erect he rose, the arrow in his brain,100 +And writhing furious, scared his fellow-steeds. +Meantime, while, strenuous, with his falchion’s edge +The hoary warrior stood slashing the reins, +Through multitudes of fierce pursuers borne +On rapid wheels, the dauntless charioteer105 +Approach’d him, Hector. Then, past hope, had died +The ancient King, but Diomede discern’d +His peril imminent, and with a voice +Like thunder, called Ulysses to his aid. +Laertes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d!110 +Art thou too fugitive, and turn’st thy back +Like the base multitude? Ah! fear a lance +Implanted ignominious in thy spine. +Stop—Nestor dies. Fell Hector is at hand. +So shouted Diomede, whose summons loud,115 +Ulysses yet heard not, but, passing, flew +With headlong haste to the Achaian fleet. +Then, Diomede, unaided as he was, +Rush’d ardent to the vanward, and before +The steeds of the Neleian sovereign old120 +Standing, in accents wing’d, him thus address’d. +Old Chief! these youthful warriors are too brisk +For thee, press’d also by encroaching age, +Thy servant too is feeble, and thy steeds +Are tardy. Mount my chariot. Thou shalt see125 +With what rapidity the steeds of Troy, +Pursuing or retreating, scour the field. +I took them from that terror of his foes, +Æneas. Thine to our attendants leave, +While these against the warlike powers of Troy130 +We push direct; that Hector’s self may know +If my spear rage not furious as his own. +He said, nor the Gerenian Chief refused. +Thenceforth their servants, Sthenelus and good +Eurymedon, took charge of Nestor’s steeds,135 +And they the chariot of Tydides both +Ascended; Nestor seized the reins, plied well +The scourge, and soon they met. Tydides hurl’d +At Hector first, while rapid he advanced; +But missing Hector, wounded in the breast140 +Eniopeus his charioteer, the son +Of brave Thebæus, managing the steeds. +He fell; his fiery coursers at the sound +Startled, recoil’d, and where he fell he died. +Deep sorrow for his charioteer o’erwhelm’d145 +The mind of Hector; yet, although he mourn’d +He left him, and another sought as brave. +Nor wanted long his steeds a charioteer, +For finding soon the son of Iphitus, +Bold Archeptolemus, he bade him mount150 +His chariot, and the reins gave to his hand. +Then deeds of bloodiest note should have ensued, +Penn’d had the Trojans been, as lambs, in Troy, +But for quick succor of the sire of all. +Thundering, he downward hurled his candent bolt155 +To the horse-feet of Diomede; dire fumed +The flaming sulphur, and both horses drove +Under the axle, belly to the ground. +Forth flew the splendid reins from Nestor’s hand, +And thus to Diomede, appall’d, he spake.160 + +Back to the fleet, Tydides! Can’st not see +That Jove ordains not, now, the victory thine? +The son of Saturn glorifies to-day +This Trojan, and, if such his will, can make +The morrow ours; but vain it is to thwart165 +The mind of Jove, for he is Lord of all. +To him the valiant Diomede replied. +Thou hast well said, old warrior! but the pang +That wrings my soul, is this. The public ear +In Ilium shall from Hector’s lips be told—170 +I drove Tydides—fearing me he fled. +So shall he vaunt, and may the earth her jaws +That moment opening swallow me alive! +Him answer’d the Gerenian warrior old. +What saith the son of Tydeus, glorious Chief?175 +Should Hector so traduce thee as to call +Thee base and timid, neither Trojan him +Nor Dardan would believe, nor yet the wives +Of numerous shielded warriors brave of Troy, +Widow’d by thy unconquerable arm.180 +So saying, he through the fugitives his steeds +Turn’d swift to flight. Then Hector and his host +With clamor infinite their darts wo-wing’d +Shower’d after them, and Hector, mighty Chief +Majestic, from afar, thus call’d aloud.185 +Tydides! thee the Danaï swift-horsed +Were wont to grace with a superior seat, +The mess of honor, and the brimming cup, +But now will mock thee. Thou art woman now. +Go, timorous girl! Thou never shalt behold190 +Me flying, climb our battlements, or lead +Our women captive. I will slay thee first. +He ceased. Then Diomede in dread suspense +Thrice purposed, turning, to withstand the foe, +And thrice in thunder from the mountain-top195 +Jove gave the signal of success to Troy. +When Hector thus the Trojans hail’d aloud. +Trojans and Lycians, and close-warring sons +Of Dardanus, oh summon all your might, +Now, now be men! I know that from his heart200 +Saturnian Jove glory and bright success +For me prepares, but havoc for the Greeks. +Fools! they shall find this wall which they have raised +Too weak to check my course, a feeble guard +Contemptible; such also is the trench;205 +My steeds shall slight it with an easy leap. +But when ye see me in their fleet arrived, +Remember fire. Then bring me flaming brands +That I may burn their galleys and themselves +Slaughter beside them, struggling in the smoke.[8]210 +He spake, and thus encouraged next his steeds. +Xanthus! Podargus! and ye generous pair +Æthon and glossy Lampus! now requite +Mine, and the bounty of Andromache, +Far-famed Eëtion’s daughter; she your bowl215 +With corn fresh-flavor’d and with wine full oft +Hath mingled, your refreshment seeking first +Ere mine, who have a youthful husband’s claim.[9] +Now follow! now be swift; that we may seize +The shield of Nestor, bruited to the skies220 +As golden all, trappings and disk alike. +Now from the shoulders of the equestrian Chief +Tydides tear we off his splendid mail, +The work of Vulcan.[10] May we take but these, +I have good hope that, ere this night be spent,225 +The Greeks shall climb their galleys and away. +So vaunted he, but Juno with disdain +His proud boast heard, and shuddering in her throne, +Rock’d the Olympian; turning then toward +The Ocean’s mighty sovereign, thus she spake.230 +Alas! earth-shaking sovereign of the waves, +Feel’st thou no pity of the perishing Greeks? +Yet Greece, in Helice, with gifts nor few +Nor sordid, and in Ægæ, honors thee, +Whom therefore thou shouldst prosper. Would we all235 +Who favor Greece associate to repulse +The Trojans, and to check loud-thundering Jove, +On Ida seated he might lour alone. +To whom the Sovereign, Shaker of the Shores, +Indignant. Juno! rash in speech! what word240 +Hath ’scaped thy lips? never, with my consent, +Shall we, the powers subordinate, in arms +With Jove contend. He far excels us all. +So they. Meantime, the trench and wall between,[11] +The narrow interval with steeds was fill’d245 +Close throng’d and shielded warriors. There immew’d +By Priameian Hector, fierce as Mars, +They stood, for Hector had the help of Jove. +And now with blazing fire their gallant barks +He had consumed, but Juno moved the mind250 +Of Agamemnon, vigilant himself, +To exhortation of Achaia’s host. +Through camp and fleet the monarch took his way, +And, his wide robe imperial in his hand, +High on Ulysses’ huge black galley stood,255 +The central ship conspicuous; thence his voice +Might reach the most remote of all the line +At each extreme, where Ajax had his tent +Pitch’d, and Achilles, fearless of surprise. +Thence, with loud voice, the Grecians thus he hail’d.260 +Oh shame to Greece! Warriors in show alone! +Where is your boasted prowess? Ye profess’d +Vain-glorious erst in Lemnos, while ye fed +Plenteously on the flesh of beeves full-grown, +And crown’d your beakers high, that ye would face265 +Each man a hundred Trojans in the field— +Ay, twice a hundred—yet are all too few +To face one Hector now; nor doubt I aught +But he shall soon fire the whole fleet of Greece. +Jove! Father! what great sovereign ever felt270 +Thy frowns as I? Whom hast thou shamed as me? +Yet I neglected not, through all the course +Of our disasterous voyage (in the hope +That we should vanquish Troy) thy sacred rites, +But where I found thine altar, piled it high275 +With fat and flesh of bulls, on every shore. +But oh, vouchsafe to us, that we at least +Ourselves, deliver’d, may escape the sword, +Nor let their foes thus tread the Grecians down! +He said. The eternal father pitying saw280 +His tears, and for the monarch’s sake preserved +The people. Instant, surest of all signs, +He sent his eagle; in his pounces strong +A fawn he bore, fruit of the nimble hind, +Which fast beside the beauteous altar raised285 +To Panomphæan[12] Jove sudden he dropp’d.[13] +They, conscious, soon, that sent from Jove he came, +More ardent sprang to fight. Then none of all +Those numerous Chiefs could boast that he outstripp’d +Tydides, urging forth beyond the foss290 +His rapid steeds, and rushing to the war. +He, foremost far, a Trojan slew, the son +Of Phradmon, Ageläus; as he turn’d +His steeds to flight, him turning with his spear +Through back and bosom Diomede transpierced.295 +And with loud clangor of his arms he fell. +Then, royal Agamemnon pass’d the trench +And Menelaus; either Ajax, then, +Clad with fresh prowess both; them follow’d, next, +Idomeneus, with his heroic friend300 +In battle dread as homicidal Mars, +Meriones; Evæmon’s son renown’d +Succeeded, bold Eurypylus; and ninth +Teucer, wide-straining his impatient bow. +He under covert fought of the broad shield305 +Of Telamonian Ajax; Ajax high +Upraised his shield; the hero from beneath +Took aim, and whom his arrow struck, he fell; +Then close as to his mother’s side a child +For safety creeps, Teucer to Ajax’ side310 +Retired, and Ajax shielded him again. +Whom then slew Teucer first, illustrious Chief? +Orsilochus, and Ophelestes, first, +And Ormenus he slew, then Dætor died, +Chromius and Lycophontes brave in fight315 +With Amopaon Polyæmon’s son, +And Melanippus. These, together heap’d, +All fell by Teucer on the plain of Troy. +The Trojan ranks thinn’d by his mighty bow +The King of armies Agamemnon saw320 +Well-pleased, and him approaching, thus began. +Brave Telamonian Teucer, oh, my friend, +Thus shoot, that light may visit once again +The Danaï, and Telamon rejoice! +Thee Telamon within his own abode325 +Rear’d although spurious; mount him, in return, +Although remote, on glory’s heights again. +I tell thee, and the effect shall follow sure, +Let but the Thunderer and Minerva grant +The pillage of fair Ilium to the Greeks,330 +And I will give to thy victorious hand, +After my own, the noblest recompense, +A tripod or a chariot with its steeds, +Or some fair captive to partake thy bed. +To whom the generous Teucer thus replied.335 +Atrides! glorious monarch! wherefore me +Exhortest thou to battle? who myself +Glow with sufficient ardor, and such strength +As heaven affords me spare not to employ. +Since first we drove them back, with watchful eye340 +Their warriors I have mark’d; eight shafts my bow +Hath sent long-barb’d, and every shaft, well-aim’d. +The body of some Trojan youth robust +Hath pierced, but still you ravening wolf escapes. +He said, and from the nerve another shaft345 +Impatient sent at Hector; but it flew +Devious, and brave Gorgythion struck instead. +Him beautiful Castianira, brought +By Priam from Æsyma, nymph of form +Celestial, to the King of Ilium bore.350 +As in the garden, with the weight surcharged +Of its own fruit, and drench’d by vernal rains +The poppy falls oblique, so he his head +Hung languid, by his helmet’s weight depress’d.[14] +Then Teucer yet an arrow from the nerve355 +Dispatch’d at Hector, with impatience fired +To pierce him; but again his weapon err’d +Turn’d by Apollo, and the bosom struck +Of Archeptolemus, his rapid steeds +To battle urging, Hector’s charioteer.360 +He fell, his fiery coursers at the sound +Recoil’d, and lifeless where he fell he lay. +Deep sorrow for his charioteer the mind +O’erwhelm’d of Hector, yet he left the slain, +And seeing his own brother nigh at hand,365 +Cebriones, him summon’d to the reins, +Who with alacrity that charge received. +Then Hector, leaping with a dreadful shout +From his resplendent chariot, grasp’d a stone, +And rush’d on Teucer, vengeance in his heart.370 +Teucer had newly fitted to the nerve +An arrow keen selected from the rest, +And warlike Hector, while he stood the cord +Retracting, smote him with that rugged rock +Just where the key-bone interposed divides375 +The neck and bosom, a most mortal part. +It snapp’d the bow-string, and with numbing force +Struck dead his hand; low on his knees he dropp’d, +And from his opening grasp let fall the bow. +Then not unmindful of a brother fallen380 +Was Ajax, but, advancing rapid, stalk’d +Around him, and his broad shield interposed, +Till brave Alaster and Mecisteus, son +Of Echius, friends of Teucer, from the earth +Upraised and bore him groaning to the fleet.385 +And now again fresh force Olympian Jove +Gave to the Trojans; right toward the foss +They drove the Greeks, while Hector in the van +Advanced, death menacing in every look. +As some fleet hound close-threatening flank or haunch390 +Of boar or lion, oft as he his head +Turns flying, marks him with a steadfast eye, +So Hector chased the Grecians, slaying still +The hindmost of the scatter’d multitude. +But when, at length, both piles and hollow foss395 +They had surmounted, and no few had fallen +By Trojan hands, within their fleet they stood +Imprison’d, calling each to each, and prayer +With lifted hands, loud offering to the Gods. +With Gorgon looks, meantime, and eyes of Mars,400 +Hector impetuous his mane-tossing steeds +From side to side before the rampart drove, +When white-arm’d Juno pitying the Greeks, +In accents wing’d her speech to Pallas turn’d. +Alas, Jove’s daughter! shall not we at least405 +In this extremity of their distress +Care for the Grecians by the fatal force +Of this one Chief destroy’d? I can endure +The rage of Priameïan Hector now +No longer; such dire mischiefs he hath wrought.410 +Whom answer’d thus Pallas, cærulean-eyed. +—And Hector had himself long since his life +Resign’d and rage together, by the Greeks +Slain under Ilium’s walls, but Jove, my sire, +Mad counsels executing and perverse,415 +Me counterworks in all that I attempt, +Nor aught remembers how I saved ofttimes +His son enjoin’d full many a task severe +By King Eurystheus; to the Gods he wept, +And me Jove sent in haste to his relief.420 +But had I then foreseen what now I know, +When through the adamantine gates he pass’d +To bind the dog of hell, by the deep floods +Hemm’d in of Styx, he had return’d no more. +But Thetis wins him now; her will prevails,425 +And mine he hates; for she hath kiss’d his knees +And grasp’d his beard, and him in prayer implored +That he would honor her heroic son +Achilles, city-waster prince renown’d. +’Tis well—the day shall come when Jove again430 +Shall call me darling, and his blue-eyed maid +As heretofore;—but thou thy steeds prepare, +While I, my father’s mansion entering, arm +For battle. I would learn by trial sure, +If Hector, Priam’s offspring famed in fight435 +(Ourselves appearing in the walks of war) +Will greet us gladly. Doubtless at the fleet +Some Trojan also, shall to dogs resign +His flesh for food, and to the fowls of heaven. + +So counsell’d Pallas, nor the daughter dread440 +Of mighty Saturn, Juno, disapproved, +But busily and with dispatch prepared +The trappings of her coursers golden-rein’d. +Meantime, Minerva progeny of Jove, +On the adamantine floor of his abode445 +Let fall profuse her variegated robe, +Labor of her own hands. She first put on +The corslet of the cloud-assembler God, +Then arm’d her for the field of wo, complete. +Mounting the fiery chariot, next she seized450 +Her ponderous spear, huge, irresistible, +With which Jove’s awful daughter levels ranks +Of heroes against whom her anger burns. +Juno with lifted lash urged on the steeds. +At their approach, spontaneous roar’d the wide-455 +Unfolding gates of heaven; the heavenly gates +Kept by the watchful Hours, to whom the charge +Of the Olympian summit appertains, +And of the boundless ether, back to roll, +And to replace the cloudy barrier dense.460 +Spurr’d through the portal flew the rapid steeds: +Which when the Eternal Father from the heights +Of Ida saw, kindling with instant ire +To golden-pinion’d Iris thus he spake. +Haste, Iris, turn them thither whence they came;465 +Me let them not encounter; honor small +To them, to me, should from that strife accrue. +Tell them, and the effect shall sure ensue, +That I will smite their steeds, and they shall halt +Disabled; break their chariot, dash themselves470 +Headlong, and ten whole years shall not efface +The wounds by my avenging bolts impress’d. +So shall my blue-eyed daughter learn to dread +A father’s anger; but for the offence +Of Juno, I resent it less; for she475 +Clashes[15] with all my counsels from of old. +He ended; Iris with a tempest’s speed +From the Idæan summit soar’d at once +To the Olympian; at the open gates +Exterior of the mountain many-valed480 +She stayed them, and her coming thus declared. +Whither, and for what cause? What rage is this? +Ye may not aid the Grecians; Jove forbids; +The son of Saturn threatens, if ye force +His wrath by perseverance into act,485 +That he will smite your steeds, and they shall halt +Disabled; break your chariot, dash yourselves +Headlong, and ten whole years shall not efface +The wounds by his avenging bolts impress’d. +So shall his blue-eyed daughter learn to dread490 +A father’s anger; but for the offence +Of Juno, he resents it less; for she +Clashes with all his counsels from of old. +But thou, Minerva, if thou dare indeed +Lift thy vast spear against the breast of Jove,495 +Incorrigible art and dead to shame. +So saying, the rapid Iris disappear’d, +And thus her speech to Pallas Juno turn’d. +Ah Pallas, progeny of Jove! henceforth +No longer, in the cause of mortal men,500 +Contend we against Jove. Perish or live +Grecians or Trojans as he wills; let him +Dispose the order of his own concerns, +And judge between them, as of right he may. +So saying, she turn’d the coursers; them the Hours505 +Released, and to ambrosial mangers bound, +Then thrust their chariot to the luminous wall. +They, mingling with the Gods, on golden thrones +Dejected sat, and Jove from Ida borne +Reach’d the Olympian heights, seat of the Gods.510 +His steeds the glorious King of Ocean loosed, +And thrust the chariot, with its veil o’erspread. +Into its station at the altar’s side. +Then sat the Thunderer on his throne of gold +Himself, and the huge mountain shook. Meantime515 +Juno and Pallas, seated both apart, +Spake not or question’d him. Their mute reserve +He noticed, conscious of the cause, and said. +Juno and Pallas, wherefore sit ye sad? +Not through fatigue by glorious fight incurr’d520 +And slaughter of the Trojans whom ye hate. +Mark now the difference. Not the Gods combined +Should have constrain’d _me_ back, till all my force, +Superior as it is, had fail’d, and all +My fortitude. But ye, ere ye beheld525 +The wonders of the field, trembling retired. +And ye did well—Hear what had else befallen. +My bolts had found you both, and ye had reach’d, +In your own chariot borne, the Olympian height, +Seat of the blest Immortals, never more.530 +He ended; Juno and Minerva heard +Low murmuring deep disgust, and side by side +Devising sat calamity to Troy. +Minerva, through displeasure against Jove, +Nought utter’d, for her bosom boil’d with rage;535 +But Juno check’d not hers, who thus replied. +What word hath pass’d thy lips, Jove most severe? +We know thy force resistless; yet our hearts +Feel not the less when we behold the Greeks +Exhausting all the sorrows of their lot.540 +If thou command, we doubtless will abstain +From battle, yet such counsel to the Greeks +Suggesting still, as may in part effect +Their safety, lest thy wrath consume them all. +Then answer, thus, cloud-gatherer Jove return’d.545 +Look forth, imperial Juno, if thou wilt, +To-morrow at the blush of earliest dawn, +And thou shalt see Saturn’s almighty son +The Argive host destroying far and wide. +For Hector’s fury shall admit no pause550 +Till he have roused Achilles, in that day +When at the ships, in perilous straits, the hosts +Shall wage fierce battle for Patroclus slain. +Such is the voice of fate. But, as for thee— +Withdraw thou to the confines of the abyss555 +Where Saturn and Iäpetus retired, +Exclusion sad endure from balmy airs +And from the light of morn, hell-girt around, +I will not call thee thence. No. Should thy rage +Transport thee thither, there thou may’st abide,560 +There sullen nurse thy disregarded spleen +Obstinate as thou art, and void of shame. +He ended; to whom Juno nought replied. +And now the radiant Sun in Ocean sank, +Drawing night after him o’er all the earth;565 +Night, undesired by Troy, but to the Greeks +Thrice welcome for its interposing gloom. +Then Hector on the river’s brink fast by +The Grecian fleet, where space he found unstrew’d +With carcases convened the Chiefs of Troy.570 +They, there dismounting, listen’d to the words +Of Hector Jove-beloved; he grasp’d a spear +In length eleven cubits, bright its head +Of brass, and color’d with a ring of gold. +He lean’d on it, and ardent thus began.575 +Trojans, Dardanians, and allies of Troy! +I hoped, this evening (every ship consumed, +And all the Grecians slain) to have return’d +To wind-swept Ilium. But the shades of night +Have intervened, and to the night they owe,580 +In chief, their whole fleet’s safety and their own. +Now, therefore, as the night enjoins, all take +Needful refreshment. Your high-mettled steeds +Release, lay food before them, and in haste +Drive hither from the city fatted sheep585 +And oxen; bring ye from your houses bread, +Make speedy purchase of heart-cheering wine, +And gather fuel plenteous; that all night, +E’en till Aurora, daughter of the morn +Shall look abroad, we may with many fires590 +Illume the skies; lest even in the night, +Launching, they mount the billows and escape. +Beware that they depart not unannoy’d, +But, as he leaps on board, give each a wound +With shaft or spear, which he shall nurse at home.595 +So shall the nations fear us, and shall vex +With ruthless war Troy’s gallant sons no more. +Next, let the heralds, ministers of Jove, +Loud notice issue that the boys well-grown, +And ancients silver-hair’d on the high towers600 +Built by the Gods, keep watch; on every hearth +In Troy, let those of the inferior sex +Make sprightly blaze, and place ye there a guard +Sufficient, lest in absence of the troops +An ambush enter, and surprise the town.605 +Act thus, ye dauntless Trojans; the advice +Is wholesome, and shall serve the present need, +And so much for the night; ye shall be told +The business of the morn when morn appears. +It is my prayer to Jove and to all heaven610 +(Not without hope) that I may hence expel +These dogs, whom Ilium’s unpropitious fates +Have wafted hither in their sable barks. +But we will also watch this night, ourselves, +And, arming with the dawn, will at their ships615 +Give them brisk onset. Then shall it appear +If Diomede the brave shall me compel +Back to our walls, or I, his arms blood-stain’d, +Torn from his breathless body, bear away. +To-morrow, if he dare but to abide620 +My lance, he shall not want occasion meet +For show of valor. But much more I judge +That the next rising sun shall see him slain +With no few friends around him. Would to heaven! +I were as sure to ’scape the blight of age625 +And share their honors with the Gods above, +As comes the morrow fraught with wo to Greece. +So Hector, whom his host with loud acclaim +All praised. Then each his sweating steeds released, +And rein’d them safely at his chariot-side.630 +And now from Troy provision large they brought, +Oxen, and sheep, with store of wine and bread, +And fuel much was gather’d. [16]Next the Gods +With sacrifice they sought, and from the plain +Upwafted by the winds the smoke aspired635 +Savoury, but unacceptable to those +Above; such hatred in their hearts they bore +To Priam, to the people of the brave +Spear-practised Priam, and to sacred Troy. +Big with great purposes and proud, they sat,640 +Not disarray’d, but in fair form disposed +Of even ranks, and watch’d their numerous fires, +As when around the clear bright moon, the stars +Shine in full splendor, and the winds are hush’d, +The groves, the mountain-tops, the headland-heights645 +Stand all apparent, not a vapor streaks +The boundless blue, but ether open’d wide +All glitters, and the shepherd’s heart is cheer’d;[17] +So numerous seem’d those fires the bank between +Of Xanthus, blazing, and the fleet of Greece,650 +In prospect all of Troy; a thousand fires, +Each watch’d by fifty warriors seated near. +The steeds beside the chariots stood, their corn +Chewing, and waiting till the golden-throned +Aurora should restore the light of day.655 + + + + +BOOK IX. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE NINTH BOOK. + +By advice of Nestor, Agamemnon sends Ulysses, Phœnix, and Ajax to the +tent of Achilles with proposals of reconciliation. They execute their +commission, but without effect. Phœnix remains with Achilles; Ulysses +and Ajax return. + + +BOOK IX. + + +So watch’d the Trojan host; but thoughts of flight, +Companions of chill fear, from heaven infused, +Possess’d the Grecians; every leader’s heart +Bled, pierced with anguish insupportable. +As when two adverse winds blowing from Thrace,5 +Boreas and Zephyrus, the fishy Deep +Vex sudden, all around, the sable flood +High curl’d, flings forth the salt weed on the shore +Such tempest rent the mind of every Greek. + Forth stalk’d Atrides with heart-riving wo10 +Transfixt; he bade his heralds call by name +Each Chief to council, but without the sound +Of proclamation; and that task himself +Among the foremost sedulous perform’d. +The sad assembly sat; when weeping fast15 +As some deep[1] fountain pours its rapid stream +Down from the summit of a lofty rock, +King Agamemnon in the midst arose, +And, groaning, the Achaians thus address’d. + Friends, counsellors and leaders of the Greeks!20 +In dire perplexity Saturnian Jove +Involves me, cruel; he assured me erst, +And solemnly, that I should not return +Till I had wasted wall-encircled Troy; +But now (ah fraudulent and foul reverse!)25 +Commands me back inglorious to the shores +Of distant Argos, with diminish’d troops. +So stands the purpose of almighty Jove, +Who many a citadel hath laid in dust, +And shall hereafter, matchless in his power.30 +Haste therefore. My advice is, that we all +Fly with our fleet into our native land, +For wide-built Ilium shall not yet be ours. + He ceased, and all sat silent; long the sons +Of Greece, o’erwhelm’d with sorrow, silent sat,35 +When thus, at last, bold Diomede began. + Atrides! foremost of the Chiefs I rise +To contravert thy purpose ill-conceived, +And with such freedom as the laws, O King! +Of consultation and debate allow.40 +Hear patient. Thou hast been thyself the first +Who e’er reproach’d me in the public ear +As one effeminate and slow to fight; +How truly, let both young and old decide. +The son of wily Saturn hath to thee45 +Given, and refused; he placed thee high in power, +Gave thee to sway the sceptre o’er us all, +But courage gave thee not, his noblest gift.[2] +Art thou in truth persuaded that the Greeks +Are pusillanimous, as thou hast said?50 +If thy own fears impel thee to depart, +Go thou, the way is open; numerous ships, +Thy followers from Mycenæ, line the shore. +But we, the rest, depart not, till the spoil +Of Troy reward us. Or if all incline55 +To seek again their native home, fly all; +Myself and Sthenelus will persevere +Till Ilium fall, for with the Gods we came. + He ended; all the admiring sons of Greece +With shouts the warlike Diomede extoll’d,60 +When thus equestrian Nestor next began. + Tydides, thou art eminently brave +In fight, and all the princes of thy years +Excell’st in council. None of all the Greeks +Shall find occasion just to blame thy speech65 +Or to gainsay; yet thou hast fallen short. +What wonder? Thou art young; and were myself +Thy father, thou should’st be my latest born. +Yet when thy speech is to the Kings of Greece, +It is well-framed and prudent. Now attend!70 +Myself will speak, who have more years to boast +Than thou hast seen, and will so closely scan +The matter, that Atrides, our supreme, +Himself shall have no cause to censure _me_. +He is a wretch, insensible and dead75 +To all the charities of social life, +Whose pleasure is in civil broils alone.[3] +But Night is urgent, and with Night’s demands +Let all comply. Prepare we now repast, +And let the guard be stationed at the trench80 +Without the wall; the youngest shall supply +That service; next, Atrides, thou begin +(For thou art here supreme) thy proper task. +Banquet the elders; it shall not disgrace +Thy sovereignty, but shall become thee well.85 +Thy tents are fill’d with wine which day by day +Ships bring from Thrace; accommodation large +Hast thou, and numerous is thy menial train. +Thy many guests assembled, thou shalt hear +Our counsel, and shalt choose the best; great need90 +Have all Achaia’s sons, now, of advice +Most prudent; for the foe, fast by the fleet +Hath kindled numerous fires, which who can see +Unmoved? This night shall save us or destroy.[4] + He spake, whom all with full consent approved.95 +Forth rush’d the guard well-arm’d; first went the son +Of Nestor, Thrasymedes, valiant Chief; +Then, sons of Mars, Ascalaphus advanced, +And brave Iälmenus; whom follow’d next +Deipyrus, Aphareus, Meriones,100 +And Lycomedes, Creon’s son renown’d. +Seven were the leaders of the guard, and each +A hundred spearmen headed, young and bold. +Between the wall and trench their seat they chose, +There kindled fires, and each his food prepared.105 + Atrides, then, to his pavilion led +The thronging Chiefs of Greece, and at his board +Regaled them; they with readiness and keen +Dispatch of hunger shared the savory feast, +And when nor thirst remain’d nor hunger more110 +Unsated, Nestor then, arising first, +Whose counsels had been ever wisest deem’d, +Warm for the public interest, thus began. + Atrides! glorious sovereign! King of men! +Thou art my first and last, proem and close,115 +For thou art mighty, and to thee are given +From Jove the sceptre and the laws in charge, +For the advancement of the general good. +Hence, in peculiar, both to speak and hear +Become thy duty, and the best advice,120 +By whomsoever offer’d, to adopt +And to perform, for thou art judge alone. +I will promulge the counsel which to me +Seems wisest; such, that other Grecian none +Shall give thee better; neither is it new,125 +But I have ever held it since the day +When, most illustrious! thou wast pleased to take +By force the maid Briseïs from the tent +Of the enraged Achilles; not, in truth, +By my advice, who did dissuade thee much;130 +But thou, complying with thy princely wrath, +Hast shamed a Hero whom themselves the Gods +Delight to honor, and his prize detain’st. +Yet even now contrive we, although late, +By lenient gifts liberal, and by speech135 +Conciliatory, to assuage his ire. + Then answer’d Agamemnon, King of men. +Old Chief! there is no falsehood in thy charge; +I have offended, and confess the wrong. +The warrior is alone a host, whom Jove140 +Loves as he loves Achilles, for whose sake +He hath Achaia’s thousands thus subdued. +But if the impulse of a wayward mind +Obeying, I have err’d, behold me, now, +Prepared to soothe him with atonement large145 +Of gifts inestimable, which by name +I will propound in presence of you all. +Seven tripods, never sullied yet with fire; +Of gold ten talents; twenty cauldrons bright; +Twelve coursers, strong, victorious in the race;150 +No man possessing prizes such as mine +Which they have won for me, shall feel the want +Of acquisitions splendid or of gold. +Seven virtuous female captives will I give +Expert in arts domestic, Lesbians all,155 +Whom, when himself took Lesbos, I received +My chosen portion, passing womankind +In perfect loveliness of face and form. +These will I give, and will with these resign +Her whom I took, Briseïs, with an oath160 +Most solemn, that unconscious as she was +Of my embraces, such I yield her his. +All these I give him now; and if at length +The Gods vouchsafe to us to overturn +Priam’s great city, let him heap his ships165 +With gold and brass, entering and choosing first +When we shall share the spoil. Let him beside +Choose twenty from among the maids of Troy, +Helen except, loveliest of all their sex. +And if once more, the rich milk-flowing land170 +We reach of Argos, he shall there become +My son-in-law, and shall enjoy like state +With him whom I in all abundance rear, +My only son Orestes. At my home +I have three daughters; let him thence conduct175 +To Phthia, her whom he shall most approve. +Chrysothemis shall be his bride, or else +Laodice; or if she please him more, +Iphianassa; and from him I ask +No dower;[5] myself will such a dower bestow180 +As never father on his child before. +Seven fair well-peopled cities I will give +Cardamyle and Enope, and rich +In herbage, Hira; Pheræ stately-built, +And for her depth of pasturage renown’d185 +Antheia; proud Æpeia’s lofty towers, +And Pedasus impurpled dark with vines. +All these are maritime, and on the shore +They stand of Pylus, by a race possess’d +Most rich in flocks and herds, who tributes large,190 +And gifts presenting to his sceptred hand, +Shall hold him high in honor as a God. +These will I give him if from wrath he cease. +Let him be overcome. Pluto alone +Is found implacable and deaf to prayer,195 +Whom therefore of all Gods men hate the most. +My power is greater, and my years than his +More numerous, therefore let him yield to me. + To him Gerenian Nestor thus replied. +Atrides! glorious sovereign! King of men!200 +No sordid gifts, or to be view’d with scorn, +Givest thou the Prince Achilles. But away! +Send chosen messengers, who shall the son +Of Peleus, instant, in his tent address. +Myself will choose them, be it theirs to obey.205 +Let Phœnix lead, Jove loves him. Be the next +Huge Ajax; and the wise Ulysses third. +Of heralds, Odius and Eurybates +Shall them attend. Bring water for our hands; +Give charge that every tongue abstain from speech210 +Portentous, and propitiate Jove by prayer. + He spake, and all were pleased. The heralds pour’d +Pure water on their hands;[6] attendant youths +The beakers crown’d, and wine from right to left +Distributed to all. Libation made,215 +All drank, and in such measure as they chose, +Then hasted forth from Agamemnon’s tent. +Gerenian Nestor at their side them oft +Instructed, each admonishing by looks +Significant, and motion of his eyes,220 +But most Ulysses, to omit no means +By which Achilles likeliest might be won. +Along the margin of the sounding deep +They pass’d, to Neptune, compasser of earth, +Preferring vows ardent with numerous prayers,225 +That they might sway with ease the mighty mind +Of fierce Æacides. And now they reach’d +The station where his Myrmidons abode. +Him solacing they found his heart with notes +Struck from his silver-framed harmonious lyre;230 +Among the spoils he found it when he sack’d +Eëtion’s city; with that lyre his cares +He sooth’d, and glorious heroes were his theme.[7] +Patroclus silent sat, and he alone, +Before him, on Æacides intent,235 +Expecting still when he should cease to sing. +The messengers advanced (Ulysses first) +Into his presence; at the sight, his harp +Still in his hand, Achilles from his seat +Started astonish’d; nor with less amaze240 +Patroclus also, seeing them, arose. +Achilles seized their hands, and thus he spake.[8] + + Hail friends! ye all are welcome. Urgent cause +Hath doubtless brought you, whom I dearest hold +(Though angry still) of all Achaia’s host.245 + So saying, he introduced them, and on seats +Placed them with purple arras overspread, +Then thus bespake Patroclus standing nigh. + Son of Menætius! bring a beaker more +Capacious, and replenish it with wine250 +Diluted[9] less; then give to each his cup; +For dearer friends than these who now arrive +My roof beneath, or worthier, have I none. + He ended, and Patroclus quick obey’d, +Whom much he loved. Achilles, then, himself255 +Advancing near the fire an ample[10] tray, +Spread goats’ flesh on it, with the flesh of sheep +And of a fatted brawn; of each a chine. +Automedon attending held them fast, +While with sharp steel Achilles from the bone260 +Sliced thin the meat, then pierced it with the spits. +Meantime the godlike Menætiades +Kindled fierce fire, and when the flame declined, +Raked wide the embers, laid the meat to roast, +And taking sacred salt from the hearth-side265 +Where it was treasured, shower’d it o’er the feast. +When all was finish’d, and the board set forth, +Patroclus furnish’d it around with bread +In baskets, and Achilles served the guests. +Beside the tent-wall, opposite, he sat270 +To the divine Ulysses; first he bade +Patroclus make oblation; he consign’d +The consecrated morsel to the fire, +And each, at once, his savoury mess assail’d. +When neither edge of hunger now they felt275 +Nor thirsted longer, Ajax with a nod +Made sign to Phœnix, which Ulysses mark’d, +And charging high his cup, drank to his host. + Health to Achilles! hospitable cheer +And well prepared, we want not at the board280 +Of royal Agamemnon, or at thine, +For both are nobly spread; but dainties now, +Or plenteous boards, are little our concern.[11] +Oh godlike Chief! tremendous ills we sit +Contemplating with fear, doubtful if life285 +Or death, with the destruction of our fleet, +Attend us, unless thou put on thy might. +For lo! the haughty Trojans, with their friends +Call’d from afar, at the fleet-side encamp, +Fast by the wall, where they have kindled fires290 +Numerous, and threaten that no force of ours +Shall check their purposed inroad on the ships. +Jove grants them favorable signs from heaven, +Bright lightnings; Hector glares revenge, with rage +Infuriate, and by Jove assisted, heeds295 +Nor God nor man, but prays the morn to rise +That he may hew away our vessel-heads, +Burn all our fleet with fire, and at their sides +Slay the Achaians struggling in the smoke. +Horrible are my fears lest these his threats300 +The Gods accomplish, and it be our doom +To perish here, from Argos far remote. +Up, therefore! if thou canst, and now at last +The weary sons of all Achaia save +From Trojan violence. Regret, but vain,305 +Shall else be thine hereafter, when no cure +Of such great ill, once suffer’d, can be found. +Thou therefore, seasonably kind, devise +Means to preserve from such disast’rous fate +The Grecians. Ah, my friend! when Peleus thee310 +From Phthia sent to Agamemnon’s aid, +On that same day he gave thee thus in charge. +“Juno, my son, and Pallas, if they please, +Can make thee valiant; but thy own big heart +Thyself restrain. Sweet manners win respect.315 +Cease from pernicious strife, and young and old +Throughout the host shall honor thee the more.” +Such was thy father’s charge, which thou, it seems, +Remember’st not. Yet even now thy wrath +Renounce; be reconciled; for princely gifts320 +Atrides gives thee if thy wrath subside. +Hear, if thou wilt, and I will tell thee all, +How vast the gifts which Agamemnon made +By promise thine, this night within his tent. +Seven tripods never sullied yet with fire;325 +Of gold ten talents; twenty cauldrons bright; +Twelve steeds strong-limb’d, victorious in the race; +No man possessing prizes such as those +Which they have won for him, shall feel the want +Of acquisitions splendid, or of gold.330 +Seven virtuous female captives he will give, +Expert in arts domestic, Lesbians all, +Whom when thou conquer’dst Lesbos, he received +His chosen portion, passing woman-kind +In perfect loveliness of face and form.335 +These will he give, and will with these resign +Her whom he took, Briseïs, with an oath +Most solemn, that unconscious as she was +Of his embraces, such he yields her back. +All these he gives thee now! and if at length340 +The Gods vouchsafe to us to overturn +Priam’s great city, thou shalt heap thy ships +With gold and brass, entering and choosing first, +When we shall share the spoil; and shalt beside +Choose twenty from among the maids of Troy,345 +Helen except, loveliest of all their sex. +And if once more the rich milk-flowing land +We reach of Argos, thou shalt there become +His son-in-law, and shalt enjoy like state +With him, whom he in all abundance rears,350 +His only son Orestes. In his house +He hath three daughters; thou may’st home conduct +To Phthia, her whom thou shalt most approve. +Chrysothemis shall be thy bride; or else +Laodice; or if she please thee more355 +Iphianassa; and from thee he asks +No dower; himself will such a dower bestow +As never father on his child before. +Seven fair well-peopled cities will he give; +Cardamyle and Enope; and rich360 +In herbage, Hira; Pheræ stately-built, +And for her depth of pasturage renown’d, +Antheia; proud Æpeia’s lofty towers, +And Pedasus impurpled dark with vines. +All these are maritime, and on the shore365 +They stand of Pylus, by a race possess’d +Most rich in flocks and herds, who tribute large +And gifts presenting to thy sceptred hand, +Shall hold thee high in honor as a God. +These will he give thee, if thy wrath subside.370 + But should’st thou rather in thine heart the more +Both Agamemnon and his gifts detest, +Yet oh compassionate the afflicted host +Prepared to adore thee. Thou shalt win renown +Among the Grecians that shall never die.375 +Now strike at Hector. He is here;—himself +Provokes thee forth; madness is in his heart, +And in his rage he glories that our ships +Have hither brought no Grecian brave as he. + Then thus Achilles matchless in the race.380 +Laertes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d! +I must with plainness speak my fixt resolve +Unalterable; lest I hear from each +The same long murmur’d melancholy tale. +For I abhor the man, not more the gates385 +Of hell itself, whose words belie his heart. +So shall not mine. My judgment undisguised +Is this; that neither Agamemnon me +Nor all the Greeks shall move; for ceaseless toil +Wins here no thanks; one recompense awaits390 +The sedentary and the most alert, +The brave and base in equal honor stand, +And drones and heroes fall unwept alike. +I after all my labors, who exposed +My life continual in the field, have earn’d395 +No very sumptuous prize. As the poor bird +Gives to her unfledged brood a morsel gain’d +After long search, though wanting it herself, +So I have worn out many sleepless nights, +And waded deep through many a bloody day400 +In battle for their wives.[12] I have destroy’d +Twelve cities with my fleet, and twelve, save one, +On foot contending in the fields of Troy. +From all these cities, precious spoils I took +Abundant, and to Agamemnon’s hand405 +Gave all the treasure. He within his ships +Abode the while, and having all received, +Little distributed, and much retained; +He gave, however, to the Kings and Chiefs +A portion, and they keep it. Me alone410 +Of all the Grecian host he hath despoil’d; +My bride, my soul’s delight is in his hands, +And let him, couch’d with her, enjoy his fill +Of dalliance. What sufficient cause, what need +Have the Achaians to contend with Troy?415 +Why hath Atrides gather’d such a host, +And led them hither? Was’t not for the sake +Of beauteous Helen? And of all mankind +Can none be found who love their proper wives +But the Atridæ? There is no good man420 +Who loves not, guards not, and with care provides +For his own wife, and, though in battle won, +I loved the fair Briseïs at my heart. +But having dispossess’d me of my prize +So foully, let him not essay me now,425 +For I am warn’d, and he shall not prevail. +With thee and with thy peers let him advise, +Ulysses! how the fleet may likeliest ’scape +Yon hostile fires; full many an arduous task +He hath accomplished without aid of mine;430 +So hath he now this rampart and the trench +Which he hath digg’d around it, and with stakes +Planted contiguous—puny barriers all +To hero-slaughtering Hector’s force opposed. +While I the battle waged, present myself435 +Among the Achaians, Hector never fought +Far from his walls, but to the Scæan gate +Advancing and the beech-tree, there remain’d. +Once, on that spot he met me, and my arm +Escaped with difficulty even there.440 +But, since I feel myself not now inclined +To fight with noble Hector, yielding first +To Jove due worship, and to all the Gods, +To-morrow will I launch, and give my ships +Their lading. Look thou forth at early dawn,445 +And, if such spectacle delight thee aught, +Thou shalt behold me cleaving with my prows +The waves of Hellespont, and all my crews +Of lusty rowers active in their task. +So shall I reach (if Ocean’s mighty God450 +Prosper my passage) Phthia the deep-soil’d +On the third day. I have possessions there, +Which hither roaming in an evil hour +I left abundant. I shall also hence +Convey much treasure, gold and burnish’d brass,455 +And glittering steel, and women passing fair +My portion of the spoils. But he, your King, +The prize he gave, himself resumed, +And taunted at me. Tell him my reply, +And tell it him aloud, that other Greeks460 +May indignation feel like me, if arm’d +Always in impudence, he seek to wrong +Them also. Let him not henceforth presume, +Canine and hard in aspect though he be, +To look me in the face. I will not share465 +His counsels, neither will I aid his works. +Let it suffice him, that he wrong’d me once, +Deceived me once, henceforth his glozing arts +Are lost on me. But let him rot in peace +Crazed as he is, and by the stroke of Jove470 +Infatuate. I detest his gifts, and him +So honor as the thing which most I scorn. +And would he give me twenty times the worth +Of this his offer, all the treasured heaps +Which he possesses, or shall yet possess,475 +All that Orchomenos within her walls, +And all that opulent Egyptian Thebes +Receives, the city with a hundred gates, +Whence twenty thousand chariots rush to war, +And would he give me riches as the sands,480 +And as the dust of earth, no gifts from him +Should soothe me, till my soul were first avenged +For all the offensive license of his tongue. +I will not wed the daughter of your Chief, +Of Agamemnon. Could she vie in charms485 +With golden Venus, had she all the skill +Of blue-eyed Pallas, even so endow’d +She were no bride for me. No. He may choose +From the Achaians some superior Prince, +One more her equal. Peleus, if the Gods490 +Preserve me, and I safe arrive at home, +Himself, ere long, shall mate me with a bride. +In Hellas and in Phthia may be found +Fair damsels many, daughters of the Chiefs +Who guard our cities; I may choose of them,495 +And make the loveliest of them all my own. +There, in my country, it hath ever been +My dearest purpose, wedded to a wife +Of rank convenient, to enjoy in peace +Such wealth as ancient Peleus hath acquired.500 +For life, in my account, surpasses far +In value all the treasures which report +Ascribed to populous Ilium, ere the Greeks +Arrived, and while the city yet had peace; +Those also which Apollo’s marble shrine505 +In rocky Pytho boasts. Fat flocks and beeves +May be by force obtain’d, tripods and steeds +Are bought or won, but if the breath of man +Once overpass its bounds, no force arrests +Or may constrain the unbodied spirit back.510 +Me, as my silver-footed mother speaks +Thetis, a twofold consummation waits. +If still with battle I encompass Troy, +I win immortal glory, but all hope +Renounce of my return. If I return515 +To my beloved country, I renounce +The illustrious meed of glory, but obtain +Secure and long immunity from death. +And truly I would recommend to all +To voyage homeward, for the fall as yet520 +Ye shall not see of Ilium’s lofty towers, +For that the Thunderer with uplifted arm +Protects her, and her courage hath revived. +Bear ye mine answer back, as is the part +Of good ambassadors, that they may frame525 +Some likelier plan, by which both fleet and host +May be preserved; for, my resentment still +Burning, this project is but premature. +Let Phœnix stay with us, and sleep this night +Within my tent, that, if he so incline,530 +He may to-morrow in my fleet embark, +And hence attend me; but I leave him free. + He ended; they astonish’d at his tone +(For vehement he spake) sat silent all, +Till Phœnix, aged warrior, at the last535 +Gush’d into tears (for dread his heart o’erwhelm’d +Lest the whole fleet should perish) and replied. + If thou indeed have purposed to return, +Noble Achilles! and such wrath retain’st +That thou art altogether fixt to leave540 +The fleet a prey to desolating fires, +How then, my son! shall I at Troy abide +Forlorn of thee? When Peleus, hoary Chief, +Sent thee to Agamemnon, yet a child,[13] +Unpractised in destructive fight, nor less545 +Of councils ignorant, the schools in which +Great minds are form’d, he bade me to the war +Attend thee forth, that I might teach thee all, +Both elocution and address in arms. +Me therefore shalt thou not with my consent550 +Leave here, my son! no, not would Jove himself +Promise me, reaping smooth this silver beard, +To make me downy-cheek’d as in my youth; +Such as when erst from Hellas beauty-famed +I fled, escaping from my father’s wrath555 +Amyntor, son of Ormenus, who loved +A beauteous concubine, and for her sake +Despised his wife and persecuted me. +My mother suppliant at my knees, with prayer +Perpetual importuned me to embrace560 +The damsel first, that she might loathe my sire. +I did so; and my father soon possess’d +With hot suspicion of the fact, let loose +A storm of imprecation, in his rage +Invoking all the Furies to forbid565 +That ever son of mine should press his knees. +Tartarian Jove[14] and dread Persephone +Fulfill’d his curses; with my pointed spear +I would have pierced his heart, but that my wrath +Some Deity assuaged, suggesting oft570 +What shame and obloquy I should incur, +Known as a parricide through all the land. +At length, so treated, I resolved to dwell +No longer in his house. My friends, indeed, +And all my kindred compass’d me around575 +With much entreaty, wooing me to stay; +Oxen and sheep they slaughter’d, many a plump +Well-fatted brawn extended in the flames, +And drank the old man’s vessels to the lees. +Nine nights continual at my side they slept,580 +While others watch’d by turns, nor were the fires +Extinguish’d ever, one, beneath the porch +Of the barr’d hall, and one that from within +The vestibule illumed my chamber door. +But when the tenth dark night at length arrived,585 +Sudden the chamber doors bursting I flew +That moment forth, and unperceived alike +By guards and menial woman, leap’d the wall. +Through spacious Hellas flying thence afar, +I came at length to Phthia the deep-soil’d,590 +Mother of flocks, and to the royal house +Of Peleus; Peleus with a willing heart +Receiving, loved me as a father loves +His only son, the son of his old age, +Inheritor of all his large demesnes.595 +He made me rich; placed under my control +A populous realm, and on the skirts I dwelt +Of Phthia, ruling the Dolopian race. +Thee from my soul, thou semblance of the Gods, +I loved, and all illustrious as thou art,600 +Achilles! such I made thee. For with me, +Me only, would’st thou forth to feast abroad, +Nor would’st thou taste thy food at home, till first +I placed thee on my knees, with my own hand +Thy viands carved and fed thee, and the wine605 +Held to thy lips; and many a time, in fits +Of infant frowardness, the purple juice +Rejecting thou hast deluged all my vest, +And fill’d my bosom. Oh, I have endured +Much, and have also much perform’d for thee,610 +Thus purposing, that since the Gods vouchsaf’d +No son to me, thyself shouldst be my son, +Godlike Achilles! who shouldst screen perchance +From a foul fate my else unshelter’d age. +Achilles! bid thy mighty spirit down.615 +Thou shouldst not be thus merciless; the Gods, +Although more honorable, and in power +And virtue thy superiors, are themselves +Yet placable; and if a mortal man +Offend them by transgression of their laws,620 +Libation, incense, sacrifice, and prayer, +In meekness offer’d turn their wrath away. +Prayers are Jove’s daughters,[15] wrinkled,[16] lame, slant-eyed, +Which though far distant, yet with constant pace +Follow Offence. Offence, robust of limb,625 +And treading firm the ground, outstrips them all, +And over all the earth before them runs +Hurtful to man. They, following, heal the hurt. +Received respectfully when they approach, +They help us, and our prayers hear in return.630 +But if we slight, and with obdurate heart +Resist them, to Saturnian Jove they cry +Against us, supplicating that Offence +May cleave to us for vengeance of the wrong. +Thou, therefore, O Achilles! honor yield635 +To Jove’s own daughters, vanquished, as the brave +Have ofttimes been, by honor paid to thee. +For came not Agamemnon as he comes +With gifts in hand, and promises of more +Hereafter; burn’d his anger still the same,640 +I would not move thee to renounce thy own, +And to assist us, howsoe’er distress’d. +But now, not only are his present gifts +Most liberal, and his promises of more +Such also, but these Princes he hath sent645 +Charged with entreaties, thine especial friends, +And chosen for that cause, from all the host. +Slight not their embassy, nor put to shame +Their intercession. We confess that once +Thy wrath was unreprovable and just.650 +Thus we have heard the heroes of old times +Applauded oft, whose anger, though intense, +Yet left them open to the gentle sway +Of reason and conciliatory gifts. +I recollect an ancient history,655 +Which, since all here are friends, I will relate. +The brave Ætolians and Curetes met +Beneath the walls of Calydon, and fought +With mutual slaughter; the Ætolian powers +In the defence of Calydon the fair,660 +And the Curetes bent to lay it waste: +That strife Diana of the golden throne +Kindled between them, with resentment fired +That Oeneus had not in some fertile spot +The first fruits of his harvest set apart665 +To her; with hecatombs he entertained +All the Divinities of heaven beside, +And her alone, daughter of Jove supreme, +Or through forgetfulness, or some neglect, +Served not; omission careless and profane!670 +She, progeny of Jove, Goddess shaft-arm’d, +A savage boar bright-tusk’d in anger sent, +Which haunting Oeneus’ fields much havoc made. +Trees numerous on the earth in heaps he cast +Uprooting them, with all their blossoms on.675 +But Meleager, Oeneus’ son, at length +Slew him, the hunters gathering and the hounds +Of numerous cities; for a boar so vast +Might not be vanquish’d by the power of few, +And many to their funeral piles he sent.680 +Then raised Diana clamorous dispute, +And contest hot between them, all alike, +Curetes and Ætolians fierce in arms +The boar’s head claiming, and his bristly hide. +So long as warlike Meleager fought,685 +Ætolia prosper’d, nor with all their powers +Could the Curetes stand before the walls. +But when resentment once had fired the heart +Of Meleager, which hath tumult oft +Excited in the breasts of wisest men,690 +(For his own mother had his wrath provoked +Althæa) thenceforth with his wedded wife +He dwelt, fair Cleopatra, close retired. +She was Marpessa’s daughter, whom she bore +To Idas, bravest warrior in his day695 +Of all on earth. He fear’d not ’gainst the King +Himself Apollo, for the lovely nymph +Marpessa’s sake, his spouse, to bend his bow. +Her, therefore, Idas and Marpessa named +Thenceforth Alcyone, because the fate700 +Of sad Alcyone Marpessa shared, +And wept like her, by Phœbus forced away. +Thus Meleager, tortured with the pangs +Of wrath indulged, with Cleopatra dwelt, +Vex’d that his mother cursed him; for, with grief705 +Frantic, his mother importuned the Gods +To avenge her slaughter’d brothers[17] on his head. +Oft would she smite the earth, while on her knees +Seated, she fill’d her bosom with her tears, +And call’d on Pluto and dread Proserpine710 +To slay her son; nor vain was that request, +But by implacable Erynnis heard +Roaming the shades of Erebus. Ere long +The tumult and the deafening din of war +Roar’d at the gates, and all the batter’d towers715 +Resounded. Then the elders of the town +Dispatch’d the high-priests of the Gods to plead +With Meleager for his instant aid, +With strong assurances of rich reward. +Where Calydon afforded fattest soil720 +They bade him choose to his own use a farm +Of fifty measured acres, vineyard half, +And half of land commodious for the plow. +Him Oeneus also, warrior grey with age, +Ascending to his chamber, and his doors725 +Smiting importunate, with earnest prayers +Assay’d to soften, kneeling to his son. +Nor less his sisters woo’d him to relent, +Nor less his mother; but in vain; he grew +Still more obdurate. His companions last,730 +The most esteem’d and dearest of his friends, +The same suit urged, yet he persisted still +Relentless, nor could even they prevail. +But when the battle shook his chamber-doors +And the Curetes climbing the high towers735 +Had fired the spacious city, then with tears +The beauteous Cleopatra, and with prayers +Assail’d him; in his view she set the woes +Numberless of a city storm’d—the men +Slaughter’d, the city burnt to dust, the chaste740 +Matrons with all their children dragg’d away. +That dread recital roused him, and at length +Issuing, he put his radiant armor on. +Thus Meleager, gratifying first +His own resentment from a fatal day745 +Saved the Ætolians, who the promised gift +Refused him, and his toils found no reward. +But thou, my son, be wiser; follow thou +No demon who would tempt thee to a course +Like his; occasion more propitious far750 +Smiles on thee now, than if the fleet were fired. +Come, while by gifts invited, and receive +From all the host, the honors of a God; +For shouldst thou, by no gifts induced, at last +Enter the bloody field, although thou chase755 +The Trojans hence, yet less shall be thy praise. + Then thus Achilles, matchless in the race. +Phœnix, my guide, wise, noble and revered! +I covet no such glory! the renown +Ordain’d by Jove for me, is to resist760 +All importunity to quit my ships +While I have power to move, or breath to draw. +Hear now, and mark me well. Cease thou from tears. +Confound me not, pleading with sighs and sobs +In Agamemnon’s cause; O love not him,765 +Lest I renounce thee, who am now thy friend. +Assist me rather, as thy duty bids, +Him to afflict, who hath afflicted me, +So shalt thou share my glory and my power. +These shall report as they have heard, but here770 +Rest thou this night, and with the rising morn +We will decide, to stay or to depart. + He ceased, and silent, by a nod enjoin’d +Patroclus to prepare an easy couch +For Phœnix, anxious to dismiss the rest775 +Incontinent; when Ajax, godlike son +Of Telamon, arising, thus began. + Laertes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d: +Depart we now; for I perceive that end +Or fruit of all our reasonings shall be none.780 +It is expedient also that we bear +Our answer back (unwelcome as it is) +With all dispatch, for the assembled Greeks +Expect us. Brave Achilles shuts a fire +Within his breast; the kindness of his friends,785 +And the respect peculiar by ourselves +Shown to him, on his heart work no effect. +Inexorable man! others accept +Even for a brother slain, or for a son +Due compensation;[18] the delinquent dwells790 +Secure at home, and the receiver, soothed +And pacified, represses his revenge. +But thou, resentful of the loss of one, +One virgin (such obduracy of heart +The Gods have given thee) can’st not be appeased795 +Yet we assign thee seven in her stead, +The most distinguish’d of their sex, and add +Large gifts beside. Ah then, at last relent! +Respect thy roof; we are thy guests; we come +Chosen from the multitude of all the Greeks,800 +Beyond them all ambitious of thy love. + To whom Achilles, swiftest of the swift. +My noble friend, offspring of Telamon! +Thou seem’st sincere, and I believe thee such. +But at the very mention of the name805 +Of Atreus’ son, who shamed me in the sight +Of all Achaia’s host, bearing me down +As I had been some vagrant at his door, +My bosom boils. Return ye and report +Your answer. I no thought will entertain810 +Of crimson war, till the illustrious son +Of warlike Priam, Hector, blood-embrued, +Shall in their tents the Myrmidons assail +Themselves, and fire my fleet. At my own ship, +And at my own pavilion it may chance815 +That even Hector’s violence shall pause.[19] + He ended; they from massy goblets each +Libation pour’d, and to the fleet their course +Resumed direct, Ulysses at their head. +Patroclus then his fellow-warriors bade,820 +And the attendant women spread a couch +For Phœnix; they the couch, obedient, spread +With fleeces, with rich arras, and with flax +Of subtlest woof. There hoary Phœnix lay +In expectation of the sacred dawn.825 +Meantime Achilles in the interior tent, +With beauteous Diomeda by himself +From Lesbos brought, daughter of Phorbas, lay. +Patroclus opposite reposed, with whom +Slept charming Iphis; her, when he had won830 +The lofty towers of Scyros, the divine +Achilles took, and on his friend bestow’d. + But when those Chiefs at Agamemnon’s tent +Arrived, the Greeks on every side arose +With golden cups welcoming their return.835 +All question’d them, but Agamemnon first. + Oh worthy of Achaia’s highest praise, +And her chief ornament, Ulysses, speak! +Will he defend the fleet? or his big heart +Indulging wrathful, doth he still refuse?840 + To whom renown’d Ulysses thus replied. +Atrides, Agamemnon, King of men! +He his resentment quenches not, nor will, +But burns with wrath the more, thee and thy gifts +Rejecting both. He bids thee with the Greeks845 +Consult by what expedient thou may’st save +The fleet and people, threatening that himself +Will at the peep of day launch all his barks, +And counselling, beside, the general host +To voyage homeward, for that end as yet850 +Of Ilium wall’d to heaven, ye shall not find, +Since Jove the Thunderer with uplifted arm +Protects her, and her courage hath revived. +Thus speaks the Chief, and Ajax is prepared, +With the attendant heralds to report855 +As I have said. But Phœnix in the tent +Sleeps of Achilles, who his stay desired, +That on the morrow, if he so incline, +The hoary warrior may attend him hence +Home to his country, but he leaves him free.860 + He ended. They astonish’d at his tone +(For vehement he spake) sat silent all. +Long silent sat the afflicted sons of Greece, +When thus the mighty Diomede began. + Atrides, Agamemnon, King of men!865 +Thy supplications to the valiant son +Of Peleus, and the offer of thy gifts +Innumerous, had been better far withheld. +He is at all times haughty, and thy suit +Hath but increased his haughtiness of heart870 +Past bounds: but let him stay or let him go +As he shall choose. He will resume the fight +When his own mind shall prompt him, and the Gods +Shall urge him forth. Now follow my advice. +Ye have refresh’d your hearts with food and wine875 +Which are the strength of man; take now repose. +And when the rosy-finger’d morning fair +Shall shine again, set forth without delay +The battle, horse and foot, before the fleet, +And where the foremost fight, fight also thou.880 + + He ended; all the Kings applauded warm +His counsel, and the dauntless tone admired +Of Diomede. Then, due libation made, +Each sought his tent, and took the gift of sleep. + + +There is much in this book which is worthy of close attention. The +consummate genius, the varied and versatile power, the eloquence, +truth, and nature displayed in it, will always be admired. Perhaps +there is no portion of the poem more remarkable for these +attributes.—Felton. + + + + +BOOK X. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE TENTH BOOK. + +Diomede and Ulysses enter the Trojan host by night, and slay Rhesus. + + +BOOK X. + + +All night the leaders of the host of Greece +Lay sunk in soft repose, all, save the Chief,[1] +The son of Atreus; him from thought to thought +Roving solicitous, no sleep relieved. +As when the spouse of beauteous Juno, darts5 +His frequent fires, designing heavy rain +Immense, or hail-storm, or field-whitening snow, +Or else wide-throated war calamitous, +So frequent were the groans by Atreus’ son +Heaved from his inmost heart, trembling with dread.10 +For cast he but his eye toward the plain +Of Ilium, there, astonish’d he beheld +The city fronted with bright fires, and heard +Pipes, and recorders, and the hum of war; +But when again the Grecian fleet he view’d,15 +And thought on his own people, then his hair +Uprooted elevating to the Gods, +He from his generous bosom groan’d again. +At length he thus resolved; of all the Greeks +To seek Neleian Nestor first, with whom20 +He might, perchance, some plan for the defence +Of the afflicted Danaï devise. +Rising, he wrapp’d his tunic to his breast, +And to his royal feet unsullied bound +His sandals; o’er his shoulders, next, he threw25 +Of amplest size a lion’s tawny skin +That swept his footsteps, dappled o’er with blood, +Then took his spear. Meantime, not less appall’d +Was Menelaus, on whose eyelids sleep +Sat not, lest the Achaians for his sake30 +O’er many waters borne, and now intent +On glorious deeds, should perish all at Troy. +With a pard’s spotted hide his shoulders broad +He mantled over; to his head he raised +His brazen helmet, and with vigorous hand35 +Grasping his spear, forth issued to arouse +His brother, mighty sovereign of the host, +And by the Grecians like a God revered. +He found him at his galley’s stern, his arms +Assuming radiant; welcome he arrived40 +To Agamemnon, whom he thus address’d. + Why arm’st thou, brother? Wouldst thou urge abroad +Some trusty spy into the Trojan camp?[2] +I fear lest none so hardy shall be found +As to adventure, in the dead still night,45 +So far, alone; valiant indeed were he! + To whom great Agamemnon thus replied. +Heaven-favor’d Menelaus! We have need, +Thou and myself, of some device well-framed, +Which both the Grecians and the fleet of Greece50 +May rescue, for the mind of Jove hath changed, +And Hector’s prayers alone now reach his ear. +I never saw, nor by report have learn’d +From any man, that ever single chief +Such awful wonders in one day perform’d55 +As he with ease against the Greeks, although +Nor from a Goddess sprung nor from a God. +Deeds he hath done, which, as I think, the Greeks +Shall deep and long lament, such numerous ills +Achaia’s host hath at his hands sustain’d.60 +But haste, begone, and at their several ships +Call Ajax and Idomeneus; I go +To exhort the noble Nestor to arise, +That he may visit, if he so incline, +The chosen band who watch, and his advice65 +Give them; for him most prompt they will obey, +Whose son, together with Meriones, +Friend of Idomeneus, controls them all, +Entrusted by ourselves with that command. + Him answer’d Menelaus bold in arms.70 +Explain thy purpose. Wouldst thou that I wait +Thy coming, there, or thy commands to both +Given, that I incontinent return? + To whom the Sovereign of the host replied. +There stay; lest striking into different paths75 +(For many passes intersect the camp) +We miss each other; summon them aloud +Where thou shalt come; enjoin them to arise; +Call each by his hereditary name, +Honoring all. Beware of manners proud,80 +For we ourselves must labor, at our birth +By Jove ordain’d to suffering and to toil. + So saying, he his brother thence dismiss’d +Instructed duly, and himself, his steps +Turned to the tent of Nestor. Him he found85 +Amid his sable galleys in his tent +Reposing soft, his armor at his side, +Shield, spears, bright helmet, and the broider’d belt +Which, when the Senior arm’d led forth his host +To fight, he wore; for he complied not yet90 +With the encroachments of enfeebling age. +He raised his head, and on his elbow propp’d, +Questioning Agamemnon, thus began. + But who art thou, who thus alone, the camp +Roamest, amid the darkness of the night,95 +While other mortals sleep? Comest thou abroad +Seeking some friend or soldier of the guard? +Speak—come not nearer mute. What is thy wish? + To whom the son of Atreus, King of men. +Oh Nestor, glory of the Grecian name,100 +Offspring of Neleus! thou in me shalt know +The son of Atreus, Agamemnon, doom’d +By Jove to toil, while life shall yet inform +These limbs, or I shall draw the vital air. +I wander thus, because that on my lids105 +Sweet sleep sits not, but war and the concerns +Of the Achaians occupy my soul. +Terrible are the fears which I endure +For these my people; such as supersede +All thought; my bosom can no longer hold110 +My throbbing heart, and tremors shake my limbs. +But if thy mind, more capable, project +Aught that may profit us (for thee it seems +Sleep also shuns) arise, and let us both +Visit the watch, lest, haply, overtoil’d115 +They yield to sleep, forgetful of their charge. +The foe is posted near, and may intend +(None knows his purpose) an assault by night. + To him Gerenian Nestor thus replied. +Illustrious Agamemnon, King of men!120 +Deep-planning Jove the imaginations proud +Of Hector will not ratify, nor all +His sanguine hopes effectuate; in his turn +He also (fierce Achilles once appeased) +Shall trouble feel, and haply, more than we.125 +But with all readiness I will arise +And follow thee, that we may also rouse +Yet others; Diomede the spear-renown’d, +Ulysses, the swift Ajax, and the son +Of Phyleus, valiant Meges. It were well130 +Were others also visited and call’d, +The godlike Ajax, and Idomeneus, +Whose ships are at the camp’s extremest bounds. +But though I love thy brother and revere, +And though I grieve e’en thee, yet speak I must,135 +And plainly censure him, that thus he sleeps +And leaves to thee the labor, who himself +Should range the host, soliciting the Chiefs +Of every band, as utmost need requires. + Him answer’d Agamemnon, King of men.140 +Old warrior, times there are, when I could wish +Myself thy censure of him, for in act +He is not seldom tardy and remiss. +Yet is not sluggish indolence the cause, +No, nor stupidity, but he observes145 +Me much, expecting till I lead the way. +But he was foremost now, far more alert +This night than I, and I have sent him forth +Already, those to call whom thou hast named. +But let us hence, for at the guard I trust150 +To find them, since I gave them so in charge.[3] + To whom the brave Gerenian Chief replied. +Him none will censure, or his will dispute, +Whom he shall waken and exhort to rise. + So saying, he bound his corselet to his breast,155 +His sandals fair to his unsullied feet, +And fastening by its clasps his purple cloak +Around him, double and of shaggy pile, +Seized, next, his sturdy spear headed with brass, +And issued first into the Grecian fleet.160 +There, Nestor, brave Gerenian, with a voice +Sonorous roused the godlike counsellor +From sleep, Ulysses; the alarm came o’er +His startled ear, forth from his tent he sprang +Sudden, and of their coming, quick, inquired.165 + Why roam ye thus the camp and fleet alone +In darkness? by what urgent need constrain’d? + To whom the hoary Pylian thus replied. +Laertes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d! +Resent it not, for dread is our distress.170 +Come, therefore, and assist us to convene +Yet others, qualified to judge if war +Be most expedient, or immediate flight. + He ended, and regaining, quick, his tent, +Ulysses slung his shield, then coming forth175 +Join’d them. The son of Tydeus first they sought. +Him sleeping arm’d before his tent they found, +Encompass’d by his friends also asleep; +His head each rested on his shield, and each +Had planted on its nether point[4] erect180 +His spear beside him; bright their polish’d heads, +As Jove’s own lightning glittered from afar. +Himself, the Hero, slept. A wild bull’s hide +Was spread beneath him, and on arras tinged +With splendid purple lay his head reclined.185 +Nestor, beside him standing, with his heel +Shook him, and, urgent, thus the Chief reproved. + Awake, Tydides! wherefore givest the night +Entire to balmy slumber? Hast not heard +How on the rising ground beside the fleet190 +The Trojans sit, small interval between? + He ceased; then up sprang Diomede alarm’d +Instant, and in wing’d accents thus replied. + Old wakeful Chief! thy toils are never done. +Are there not younger of the sons of Greece,195 +Who ranging in all parts the camp, might call +The Kings to council? But no curb controls +Or can abate activity like thine. + To whom Gerenian Nestor in return. +My friend! thou hast well spoken. I have sons,200 +And they are well deserving; I have here +A numerous people also, one of whom +Might have sufficed to call the Kings of Greece. +But such occasion presses now the host +As hath not oft occurr’d; the overthrow205 +Complete, or full deliverance of us all, +In balance hangs, poised on a razor’s edge. +But haste, and if thy pity of my toils +Be such, since thou art younger, call, thyself, +Ajax the swift, and Meges to the guard.210 + Then Diomede a lion’s tawny skin +Around him wrapp’d, dependent to his heels, +And, spear in hand, set forth. The Hero call’d +Those two, and led them whither Nestor bade. + They, at the guard arrived, not sleeping found215 +The captains of the guard, but sitting all +In vigilant posture with their arms prepared. +As dogs that, careful, watch the fold by night, +Hearing some wild beast in the woods,[5] which hounds +And hunters with tumultuous clamor drive220 +Down from the mountain-top, all sleep forego; +So, sat not on their eyelids gentle sleep +That dreadful night, but constant to the plain +At every sound of Trojan feet they turn’d. +The old Chief joyful at the sight, in terms225 +Of kind encouragement them thus address’d. + So watch, my children! and beware that sleep +Invade none here, lest all become a prey. + So saying, he traversed with quick pace the trench +By every Chief whom they had thither call’d230 +Attended, with whom Nestor’s noble son +Went, and Meriones, invited both +To join their consultation. From the foss +Emerging, in a vacant space they sat, +Unstrew’d with bodies of the slain, the spot,235 +Whence furious Hector, after slaughter made +Of numerous Greeks, night falling, had return’d. +There seated, mutual converse close they held, +And Nestor, brave Gerenian, thus began. + + Oh friends! hath no Achaian here such trust240 +In his own prowess, as to venture forth +Among yon haughty Trojans? He, perchance, +Might on the borders of their host surprise +Some wandering adversary, or might learn +Their consultations, whether they propose245 +Here to abide in prospect of the fleet, +Or, satiate with success against the Greeks +So signal, meditate retreat to Troy. +These tidings gain’d, should he at last return +Secure, his recompense will be renown250 +Extensive as the heavens, and fair reward. +From every leader of the fleet, his gift +Shall be a sable[6] ewe, and sucking lamb, +Rare acquisition! and at every board +And sumptuous banquet, he shall be a guest.255 + He ceased, and all sat silent, when at length +The mighty son of Tydeus thus replied. + Me, Nestor, my courageous heart incites +To penetrate into the neighbor host +Of enemies; but went some other Chief260 +With me, far greater would my comfort prove, +And I should dare the more. Two going forth, +One quicker sees than other, and suggests +Prudent advice; but he who single goes, +Mark whatsoe’er he may, the occasion less265 +Improves, and his expedients soon exhausts. + He ended, and no few willing arose +To go with Diomede. Servants of Mars +Each Ajax willing stood; willing as they +Meriones; most willing Nestor’s son;270 +Willing the brother of the Chief of all, +Nor willing less Ulysses to explore +The host of Troy, for he possess’d a heart +Delighted ever with some bold exploit. + Then Agamemnon, King of men, began.275 +Now Diomede, in whom my soul delights! +Choose whom thou wilt for thy companion; choose +The fittest here; for numerous wish to go. +Leave not through deference to another’s rank, +The more deserving, nor prefer a worse,280 +Respecting either pedigree or power. + Such speech he interposed, fearing his choice +Of Menelaus; then, renown’d in arms +The son of Tydeus, rising, spake again. + Since, then, ye bid me my own partner choose285 +Free from constraint, how can I overlook +Divine Ulysses, whose courageous heart +With such peculiar cheerfulness endures +Whatever toils, and whom Minerva loves? +Let _him_ attend me, and through fire itself290 +We shall return; for none is wise as he.[7] + To him Ulysses, hardy Chief, replied. +Tydides! neither praise me much, nor blame, +For these are Grecians in whose ears thou speak’st, +And know me well. But let us hence! the night295 +Draws to a close; day comes apace; the stars +Are far advanced; two portions have elapsed +Of darkness, but the third is yet entire. + So they; then each his dreadful arms put on. +To Diomede, who at the fleet had left300 +His own, the dauntless Thrasymedes gave +His shield and sword two-edged, and on his head +Placed, crestless, unadorn’d, his bull-skin casque. +It was a stripling’s helmet, such as youths +Scarce yet confirm’d in lusty manhood, wear.305 +Meriones with quiver, bow and sword +Furnish’d Ulysses, and his brows enclosed +In his own casque of hide with many a thong +Well braced within;[8] guarded it was without +With boar’s teeth ivory-white inherent firm310 +On all sides, and with woolen head-piece lined. +That helmet erst Autolycus[9] had brought +From Eleon, city of Amyntor son +Of Hormenus, where he the solid walls +Bored through, clandestine, of Amyntor’s house.315 +He on Amphidamas the prize bestow’d +In Scandia;[10] from Amphidamas it pass’d +To Molus as a hospitable pledge; +He gave it to Meriones his son, +And now it guarded shrewd Ulysses’ brows.320 +Both clad in arms terrific, forth they sped, +Leaving their fellow Chiefs, and as they went +A heron, by command of Pallas, flew +Close on the right beside them; darkling they +Discern’d him not, but heard his clanging plumes.[11]325 +Ulysses in the favorable sign +Exulted, and Minerva thus invoked.[12] + + Oh hear me, daughter of Jove Ægis-arm’d! +My present helper in all straits, whose eye +Marks all my ways, oh with peculiar care330 +Now guard me, Pallas! grant that after toil +Successful, glorious, such as long shall fill +With grief the Trojans, we may safe return +And with immortal honors to the fleet. + Valiant Tydides, next, his prayer preferr’d.335 +Hear also me, Jove’s offspring by the toils +Of war invincible! me follow now +As my heroic father erst to Thebes +Thou followedst, Tydeus; by the Greeks dispatch’d +Ambassador, he left the mail-clad host340 +Beside Asopus, and with terms of peace +Entrusted, enter’d Thebes; but by thine aid +Benevolent, and in thy strength, perform’d +Returning, deeds of terrible renown. +Thus, now, protect me also! In return345 +I vow an offering at thy shrine, a young +Broad-fronted heifer, to the yoke as yet +Untamed, whose horns I will incase with gold. + Such prayer they made, and Pallas heard well pleased. +Their orisons ended to the daughter dread350 +Of mighty Jove, lion-like they advanced +Through shades of night, through carnage, arms and blood. + Nor Hector to his gallant host indulged +Sleep, but convened the leaders; leader none +Or senator of all his host he left355 +Unsummon’d, and his purpose thus promulged. + Where is the warrior who for rich reward, +Such as shall well suffice him, will the task +Adventurous, which I propose, perform? +A chariot with two steeds of proudest height,360 +Surpassing all in the whole fleet of Greece +Shall be his portion, with immortal praise, +Who shall the well-appointed ships approach +Courageous, there to learn if yet a guard +As heretofore, keep them, or if subdued365 +Beneath us, the Achaians flight intend, +And worn with labor have no will to watch. + So Hector spake, but answer none return’d. +There was a certain Trojan, Dolon named,[13] +Son of Eumedes herald of the Gods,370 +Rich both in gold and brass, but in his form +Unsightly; yet the man was swift of foot, +Sole brother of five sisters; he his speech +To Hector and the Trojans thus address’d. + My spirit, Hector, prompts me, and my mind375 +Endued with manly vigor, to approach +Yon gallant ships, that I may tidings hear. +But come. For my assurance, lifting high +Thy sceptre, swear to me, for my reward, +The horses and the brazen chariot bright380 +Which bear renown’d Achilles o’er the field. +I will not prove a useless spy, nor fall +Below thy best opinion; pass I will +Their army through, till I shall reach the ship +Of Agamemnon, where the Chiefs, perchance,385 +Now sit consulting, or to fight, or fly.[14] + + Then raising high his sceptre, Hector sware +Know, Jove himself, Juno’s high-thundering spouse! +That Trojan none shall in that chariot ride +By those steeds drawn, save Dolon; on my oath390 +I make them thine; enjoy them evermore. + He said, and falsely sware, yet him assured. +Then Dolon, instant, o’er his shoulder slung +His bow elastic, wrapp’d himself around +With a grey wolf-skin, to his head a casque395 +Adjusted, coated o’er with ferret’s felt, +And seizing his sharp javelin, from the host +Turn’d right toward the fleet, but was ordain’d +To disappoint his sender, and to bring +No tidings thence. The throng of Trojan steeds400 +And warriors left, with brisker pace he moved, +When brave Ulysses his approach perceived, +And thus to Diomede his speech address’d. + Tydides! yonder man is from the host; +Either a spy he comes, or with intent405 +To spoil the dead. First, freely let him pass +Few paces, then pursuing him with speed, +Seize on him suddenly; but should he prove +The nimbler of the three, with threatening spear +Enforce him from his camp toward the fleet,410 +Lest he elude us, and escape to Troy. + So they; then, turning from the road oblique, +Among the carcases each laid him down. +Dolon, suspecting nought, ran swiftly by. +[15]But when such space was interposed as mules415 +Plow in a day (for mules the ox surpass +Through fallows deep drawing the ponderous plow) +Both ran toward him. Dolon at the sound +Stood; for he hoped some Trojan friends at hand +From Hector sent to bid him back again.420 +But when within spear’s cast, or less they came, +Knowing them enemies he turn’d to flight +Incontinent, whom they as swift pursued. +As two fleet hounds sharp fang’d, train’d to the chase, +Hang on the rear of flying hind or hare,425 +And drive her, never swerving from the track, +Through copses close; she screaming scuds before; +So Diomede and dread Ulysses him +Chased constant, intercepting his return. +And now, fast-fleeting to the ships, he soon430 +Had reach’d the guard, but Pallas with new force +Inspired Tydides, lest a meaner Greek +Should boast that he had smitten Dolon first, +And Diomede win only second praise. +He poised his lifted spear, and thus exclaim’d.435 + Stand! or my spear shall stop thee. Death impends +At every step; thou canst not ’scape me long. + He said, and threw his spear, but by design, +Err’d from the man. The polish’d weapon swift +O’er-glancing his right shoulder, in the soil440 +Stood fixt, beyond him. Terrified he stood, +Stammering, and sounding through his lips the clash +Of chattering teeth, with visage deadly wan. +They panting rush’d on him, and both his hands +Seized fast; he wept, and suppliant them bespake.445 + Take me alive, and I will pay the price +Of my redemption. I have gold at home, +Brass also, and bright steel, and when report +Of my captivity within your fleet +Shall reach my father, treasures he will give450 +Not to be told, for ransom of his son. + To whom Ulysses politic replied. +Take courage; entertain no thought of death.[16] +But haste! this tell me, and disclose the truth. +Why thus toward the ships comest thou alone455 +From yonder host, by night, while others sleep? +To spoil some carcase? or from Hector sent +A spy of all that passes in the fleet? +Or by thy curiosity impell’d? + Then Dolon, his limbs trembling, thus replied.460 +To my great detriment, and far beyond +My own design, Hector trepann’d me forth, +Who promised me the steeds of Peleus’ son +Illustrious, and his brazen chariot bright. +He bade me, under night’s fast-flitting shades465 +Approach our enemies, a spy, to learn +If still as heretofore, ye station guards +For safety of your fleet, or if subdued +Completely, ye intend immediate flight, +And worn with labor, have no will to watch.470 + To whom Ulysses, smiling, thus replied. +Thou hadst, in truth, an appetite to gifts +Of no mean value, coveting the steeds +Of brave Æacides; but steeds are they +Of fiery sort, difficult to be ruled475 +By force of mortal man, Achilles’ self +Except, whom an immortal mother bore. +But tell me yet again; use no disguise; +Where left’st thou, at thy coming forth, your Chief, +The valiant Hector? where hath he disposed480 +His armor battle-worn, and where his steeds? +What other quar4ers of your host are watch’d? +Where lodge the guard, and what intend ye next? +Still to abide in prospect of the fleet? +Or well-content that ye have thus reduced485 +Achaia’s host, will ye retire to Troy? + To whom this answer Dolon straight returned +Son of Eumedes. With unfeigning truth +Simply and plainly will I utter all. +Hector, with all the Senatorial Chiefs,490 +Beside the tomb of sacred Ilius sits +Consulting, from the noisy camp remote. +But for the guards, Hero! concerning whom +Thou hast inquired, there is no certain watch +And regular appointed o’er the camp;495 +The native[17] Trojans (for _they_ can no less) +Sit sleepless all, and each his next exhorts +To vigilance; but all our foreign aids, +Who neither wives nor children hazard here, +Trusting the Trojans for that service, sleep.500 + To whom Ulysses, ever wise, replied. +How sleep the strangers and allies?—apart? +Or with the Trojans mingled?—I would learn. + So spake Ulysses; to whom Dolon thus, +Son of Eumedes. I will all unfold,505 +And all most truly. By the sea are lodged +The Carians, the Pæonians arm’d with bows, +The Leleges, with the Pelasgian band, +And the Caucones. On the skirts encamp +Of Thymbra, the Mæonians crested high,510 +The Phrygian horsemen, with the Lycian host, +And the bold troop of Mysia’s haughty sons. +But wherefore these inquiries thus minu4e? +For if ye wish to penetrate the host, +These who possess the borders of the camp515 +Farthest removed of all, are Thracian powers +Newly arrived; among them Rhesus sleeps, +Son of Eïoneus, their Chief and King. +His steeds I saw, the fairest by these eyes +Ever beheld, and loftiest; snow itself520 +They pass in whiteness, and in speed the winds, +With gold and silver all his chariot burns, +And he arrived in golden armor clad +Stupendous! little suited to the state +Of mortal man—fit for a God to wear!525 +Now, either lead me to your gallant fleet, +Or where ye find me leave me straitly bound +Till ye return, and after trial made, +Shall know if I have spoken false or true. + + But him brave Diomede with aspect stern530 +Answer’d. Since, Dolon! thou art caught, although +Thy tidings have been good, hope not to live; +For should we now release thee and dismiss, +Thou wilt revisit yet again the fleet +A spy or open foe; but smitten once535 +By this death-dealing arm, thou shall return +To render mischief to the Greeks no more. + He ceased, and Dolon would have stretch’d his hand +Toward his beard, and pleaded hard for life, +But with his falchion, rising to the blow,540 +On the mid-neck he smote him, cutting sheer +Both tendons with a stroke so swift, that ere +His tongue had ceased, his head was in the dust.[18] +They took his helmet clothed with ferret’s felt, +Stripp’d off his wolf-skin, seized his bow and spear,545 +And brave Ulysses lifting in his hand +The trophy to Minerva, pray’d and said: + Hail Goddess; these are thine! for thee of all +Who in Olympus dwell, we will invoke +First to our aid. Now also guide our steps,550 +Propitious, to the Thracian tents and steeds. + He ceased, and at arm’s-length the lifted spoils +Hung on a tamarisk; but mark’d the spot, +Plucking away with handful grasp the reeds +And spreading boughs, lest they should seek the prize555 +Themselves in vain, returning ere the night, +Swift traveller, should have fled before the dawn. +Thence, o’er the bloody champain strew’d with arms +Proceeding, to the Thracian lines they came. +They, wearied, slept profound; beside them lay,560 +In triple order regular arranged, +Their radiant armor, and their steeds in pairs. +Amid them Rhesus slept, and at his side +His coursers, to the outer chariot-ring +Fasten’d secure. Ulysses saw him first,565 +And, seeing, mark’d him out to Diomede. + Behold the man, Tydides! Lo! the steeds +By Dolon specified whom we have slain. +Be quick. Exert thy force. Arm’d as thou art, +Sleep not. Loose thou the steeds, or slaughter thou570 +The Thracians, and the steeds shall be my care. + He ceased; then blue-eyed Pallas with fresh force +Invigor’d Diomede. From side to side +He slew; dread groans arose of dying men +Hewn with the sword, and the earth swam with blood.575 +As if he find a flock unguarded, sheep +Or goats, the lion rushes on his prey, +With such unsparing force Tydides smote +The men of Thrace, till he had slaughter’d twelve; +And whom Tydides with his falchion struck580 +Laertes’ son dragg’d by his feet abroad, +Forecasting that the steeds might pass with ease, +Nor start, as yet uncustom’d to the dead. +But when the son of Tydeus found the King, +Him also panting forth his last, last, breath,585 +He added to the twelve; for at his head +An evil dream that night had stood, the form +Of Diomede, by Pallas’ art devised. +Meantime, the bold Ulysses loosed the steeds, +Which, to each other rein’d, he drove abroad,590 +Smiting them with his bow (for of the scourge +He thought not in the chariot-seat secured) +And as he went, hiss’d, warning Diomede. +But he, projecting still some hardier deed, +Stood doubtful, whether by the pole to draw595 +The chariot thence, laden with gorgeous arms, +Or whether heaving it on high, to bear +The burthen off, or whether yet to take +More Thracian lives; when him with various thoughts +Perplex’d, Minerva, drawing near, bespake.600 + Son of bold Tydeus! think on thy return +To yonder fleet, lest thou depart constrain’d. +Some other God may rouse the powers of Troy. + She ended, and he knew the voice divine. +At once he mounted. With his bow the steeds605 +Ulysses plyed, and to the ships they flew. + Nor look’d the bender of the silver bow, +Apollo, forth in vain, but at the sight +Of Pallas following Diomede incensed, +Descended to the field where numerous most610 +He saw the Trojans, and the Thracian Chief +And counsellor, Hippocoön aroused,[19] +Kinsman of Rhesus, and renown’d in arms. +He, starting from his sleep, soon as he saw +The spot deserted where so lately lay615 +Those fiery coursers, and his warrior friends +Gasping around him, sounded loud the name +Of his loved Rhesus. Instant, at the voice, +Wild stir arose and clamorous uproar +Of fast-assembling Trojans. Deeds they saw—620 +Terrible deeds, and marvellous perform’d, +But not their authors—they had sought the ships. + Meantime arrived where they had slain the spy +Of Hector, there Ulysses, dear to Jove, +The coursers stay’d, and, leaping to the ground,625 +The son of Tydeus in Ulysses’ hands +The arms of Dolon placed foul with his blood, +Then vaulted light into his seat again. +He lash’d the steeds, they, not unwilling, flew +To the deep-bellied barks, as to their home.630 +First Nestor heard the sound, and thus he said. + Friends! Counsellors! and leaders of the Greeks! +False shall I speak, or true?—but speak I must. +The echoing sound of hoofs alarms my ear. +Oh, that Ulysses, and brave Diomede635 +This moment might arrive drawn into camp +By Trojan steeds! But, ah, the dread I feel! +Lest some disaster have for ever quell’d +In yon rude host those noblest of the Greeks. + He hath not ended, when themselves arrived,640 +Both quick dismounted; joy at their return +Fill’d every bosom; each with kind salute +Cordial, and right-hand welcome greeted them, +And first Gerenian Nestor thus inquired. + Oh Chief by all extoll’d, glory of Greece,645 +Ulysses! how have ye these steeds acquired? +In yonder host? or met ye as ye went +Some God who gave them to you? for they show +A lustre dazzling as the beams of day. +Old as I am, I mingle yet in fight650 +With Ilium’s sons—lurk never in the fleet— +Yet saw I at no time, or have remark’d +Steeds such as these; which therefore I believe +Perforce, that ye have gained by gift divine; +For cloud-assembler Jove, and azure-eyed655 +Minerva, Jove’s own daughter, love you both. + To whom Ulysses, thus, discreet, replied. +Neleian Nestor, glory of the Greeks! +A God, so willing, could have given us steeds +Superior, for their bounty knows no bounds.660 +But, venerable Chief! these which thou seest +Are Thracians new-arrived. Their master lies +Slain by the valiant Diomede, with twelve +The noblest of his warriors at his side, +A thirteenth[20] also, at small distance hence665 +We slew, by Hector and the Chiefs of Troy +Sent to inspect the posture of our host. + He said; then, high in exultation, drove +The coursers o’er the trench, and with him pass’d +The glad Achaians; at the spacious tent670 +Of Diomede arrived, with even thongs +They tied them at the cribs where stood the steeds +Of Tydeus’ son, with winnow’d wheat supplied. +Ulysses in his bark the gory spoils +Of Dolon placed, designing them a gift675 +To Pallas. Then, descending to the sea, +Neck, thighs, and legs from sweat profuse they cleansed, +And, so refresh’d and purified, their last +Ablution in bright tepid baths perform’d. +Each thus completely laved, and with smooth oil680 +Anointed, at the well-spread board they sat, +And quaff’d, in honor of Minerva, wine +Delicious, from the brimming beaker drawn. + + +The vividness of the scenes presented to us in this Book constitute its +chief beauty. The reader sees the most natural night-scene in the +world. He is led step by step with the adventurers, and made the +companion of all their expectations and uncertainties. We see the very +color of the sky; know the time to a minute; are impatient while the +heroes are arming; our imagination follows them, knows all their +doubts, and even the secret wishes of their hearts sent up to Minerva. +We are alarmed at the approach of Dolon, hear his very footsteps, +assist the two chiefs in pursuing him, and stop just with the spear +that arrests him. We are perfectly acquainted with the situation of all +the forces, with the figure in which they lie, with the disposition of +Rhesus and the Thracians, with the posture of his chariot and horses. +The marshy spot of ground where Dolon is killed, the tamarisk, or +aquatic plant upon which they hung his spoils, and the reeds that are +heaped together to mark the place, are circumstances the most +picturesque imaginable. + + + + +BOOK XI. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE ELEVENTH BOOK. + +Agamemnon distinguishes himself. He is wounded, and retires. Diomede is +wounded by Paris; Ulysses by Socus. Ajax with Menelaus flies to the +relief of Ulysses, and Eurypylus, soon after, to the relief of Ajax. +While he is employed in assisting Ajax, he is shot in the thigh by +Paris, who also wounds Machaon. Nestor conveys Machaon from the field. +Achilles dispatches Patroclus to the tent of Nestor, and Nestor takes +that occasion to exhort Patroclus to engage in battle, clothed in the +armor of Achilles. + + +BOOK XI. + + +Aurora from Tithonus’ side arose +With light for heaven and earth, when Jove dispatch’d +Discord, the fiery signal in her hand +Of battle bearing, to the Grecian fleet. +High on Ulysses’ huge black ship she stood5 +The centre of the fleet, whence all might hear, +The tent of Telamon’s huge son between, +And of Achilles; for confiding they +In their heroic fortitude, their barks +Well-poised had station’d utmost of the line.10 +There standing, shrill she sent a cry abroad +Among the Achaians, such as thirst infused +Of battle ceaseless into every breast. +All deem’d, at once, war sweeter, than to seek +Their native country through the waves again.15 +Then with loud voice Atrides bade the Greeks +Gird on their armor, and himself his arms +Took radiant. First around his legs he clasp’d +His shining greaves with silver studs secured, +Then bound his corselet to his bosom, gift20 +Of Cynyras long since;[1] for rumor loud +Had Cyprus reached of an Achaian host +Assembling, destined to the shores of Troy: +Wherefore, to gratify the King of men, +He made the splendid ornament his own.25 +Ten rods of steel cœrulean all around +Embraced it, twelve of gold, twenty of tin; +Six[2] spiry serpents their uplifted heads +Cœrulean darted at the wearer’s throat, +Splendor diffusing as the various bow30 +Fix’d by Saturnian Jove in showery clouds, +A sign to mortal men.[3] He slung his sword +Athwart his shoulders; dazzling bright it shone +With gold emboss’d, and silver was the sheath +Suspended graceful in a belt of gold.35 +His massy shield o’ershadowing him whole, +High-wrought and beautiful, he next assumed. +Ten circles bright of brass around its field +Extensive, circle within circle, ran; +The central boss was black, but hemm’d about40 +With twice ten bosses of resplendent tin. +There, dreadful ornament! the visage dark +Of Gorgon scowl’d, border’d by Flight and Fear. +The loop was silver, and a serpent form +Cœrulean over all its surface twined,45 +Three heads erecting on one neck, the heads +Together wreath’d into a stately crown. +His helmet quâtre-crested,[4] and with studs +Fast riveted around he to his brows +Adjusted, whence tremendous waved his crest50 +Of mounted hair on high. Two spears he seized +Ponderous, brass-pointed, and that flash’d to heaven. +Sounds[5] like clear thunder, by the spouse of Jove +And by Minerva raised to extol the King +Of opulent Mycenæ, roll’d around.55 +At once each bade his charioteer his steeds +Hold fast beside the margin of the trench +In orderly array; the foot all arm’d +Rush’d forward, and the clamor of the host +Rose infinite into the dawning skies.60 +First, at the trench, the embattled infantry[6] +Stood ranged; the chariots follow’d close behind; +Dire was the tumult by Saturnian Jove +Excited, and from ether down he shed +Blood-tinctured dews among them, for he meant65 +That day to send full many a warrior bold +To Pluto’s dreary realm, slain premature. + Opposite, on the rising-ground, appear’d +The Trojans; them majestic Hector led, +Noble Polydamas, Æneas raised70 +To godlike honors in all Trojan hearts, +And Polybus, with whom Antenor’s sons +Agenor, and young Acamas advanced. +Hector the splendid orb of his broad shield +Bore in the van, and as a comet now75 +Glares through the clouds portentous, and again, +Obscured by gloomy vapors, disappears, +So Hector, marshalling his host, in front +Now shone, now vanish’d in the distant rear. +All-cased he flamed in brass, and on the sight80 +Flash’d as the lightnings of Jove Ægis-arm’d. +As reapers, toiling opposite,[7] lay bare +Some rich man’s furrows, while the sever’d grain, +Barley or wheat, sinks as the sickle moves, +So Greeks and Trojans springing into fight85 +Slew mutual; foul retreat alike they scorn’d, +Alike in fierce hostility their heads +Both bore aloft, and rush’d like wolves to war. +Discord, spectatress terrible, that sight +Beheld exulting; she, of all the Gods,90 +Alone was present; not a Power beside +There interfered, but each his bright abode +Quiescent occupied wherever built +Among the windings of the Olympian heights; +Yet blamed they all the storm-assembler King95 +Saturnian, for his purposed aid to Troy. +The eternal father reck’d not; he, apart, +Seated in solitary pomp, enjoy’d +His glory, and from on high the towers survey’d +Of Ilium and the fleet of Greece, the flash100 +Of gleaming arms, the slayer and the slain. + While morning lasted, and the light of day +Increased, so long the weapons on both sides +Flew in thick vollies, and the people fell. +But, what time his repast the woodman spreads105 +In some umbrageous vale, his sinewy arms +Wearied with hewing many a lofty tree, +And his wants satisfied, he feels at length +The pinch of appetite to pleasant food,[8] +Then was it, that encouraging aloud110 +Each other, in their native virtue strong, +The Grecians through the phalanx burst of Troy. +Forth sprang the monarch first; he slew the Chief +Bianor, nor himself alone, but slew +Oïleus also driver of his steeds.115 +Oïleus, with a leap alighting, rush’d +On Agamemnon; he his fierce assault +Encountering, with a spear met full his front. +Nor could his helmet’s ponderous brass sustain +That force, but both his helmet and his skull120 +It shatter’d, and his martial rage repress’d. +The King of men, stripping their corselets, bared +Their shining breasts, and left them. Isus, next, +And Antiphus he flew to slay, the sons +Of Priam both, and in one chariot borne,125 +This spurious, genuine that. The bastard drove, +And Antiphus, a warrior high-renown’d, +Fought from the chariot; them Achilles erst +Feeding their flocks on Ida had surprised +And bound with osiers, but for ransom loosed.130 +Of these, imperial Agamemnon, first, +Above the pap pierced Isus; next, he smote +Antiphus with his sword beside the ear, +And from his chariot cast him to the ground. +Conscious of both, their glittering arms he stripp’d,135 +For he had seen them when from Ida’s heights +Achilles led them to the Grecian fleet. +As with resistless fangs the lion breaks +The young in pieces of the nimble hind, +Entering her lair, and takes their feeble lives;140 +She, though at hand, can yield them no defence, +But through the thick wood, wing’d with terror, starts +Herself away, trembling at such a foe; +So them the Trojans had no power to save, +Themselves all driven before the host of Greece.145 +Next, on Pisandrus, and of dauntless heart +Hippolochus he rush’d; they were the sons +Of brave Antimachus, who with rich gifts +By Paris bought, inflexible withheld +From Menelaus still his lovely bride.150 +His sons, the monarch, in one chariot borne +Encounter’d; they (for they had lost the reins) +With trepidation and united force +Essay’d to check the steeds; astonishment +Seized both; Atrides with a lion’s rage155 +Came on, and from the chariot thus they sued. + Oh spare us! son of Atreus, and accept +Ransom immense. Antimachus our sire +Is rich in various treasure, gold and brass, +And temper’d steel, and, hearing the report160 +That in Achaia’s fleet his sons survive, +He will requite thee with a glorious price. + So they, with tears and gentle terms the King +Accosted, but no gentle answer heard. + Are ye indeed the offspring of the Chief165 +Antimachus, who when my brother once +With godlike Laertiades your town +Enter’d ambassador, his death advised +In council, and to let him forth no more? +Now rue ye both the baseness of your sire.170 + He said, and from his chariot to the plain +Thrust down Pisandrus, piercing with keen lance +His bosom, and supine he smote the field. +Down leap’d Hippolochus, whom on the ground +He slew, cut sheer his hands, and lopp’d his head,175 +And roll’d it like a mortar[9] through the ranks. +He left the slain, and where he saw the field +With thickest battle cover’d, thither flew +By all the Grecians follow’d bright in arms. +The scatter’d infantry constrained to fly,180 +Fell by the infantry; the charioteers, +While with loud hoofs their steeds the dusty soil +Excited, o’er the charioteers their wheels +Drove brazen-fellied, and the King of men +Incessant slaughtering, called his Argives[10] on.185 +As when fierce flames some ancient forest seize, +From side to side in flakes the various wind +Rolls them, and to the roots devour’d, the trunks +Fall prostrate under fury of the fire, +So under Agamemnon fell the heads190 +Of flying Trojans. Many a courser proud +The empty chariots through the paths of war +Whirl’d rattling, of their charioteers deprived; +They breathless press’d the plain, now fitter far +To feed the vultures than to cheer their wives.195 + Conceal’d, meantime, by Jove, Hector escaped +The dust, darts, deaths, and tumult of the field; +And Agamemnon to the swift pursuit +Call’d loud the Grecians. Through the middle plain +Beside the sepulchre of Ilus, son200 +Of Dardanus, and where the fig-tree stood, +The Trojans flew, panting to gain the town, +While Agamemnon pressing close the rear, +Shout after shout terrific sent abroad, +And his victorious hands reek’d, red with gore.205 +But at the beech-tree and the Scæan gate +Arrived, the Trojans halted, waiting there +The rearmost fugitives; they o’er the field +Came like a herd, which in the dead of night +A lion drives; all fly, but one is doom’d210 +To death inevitable; her with jaws +True to their hold he seizes, and her neck +Breaking, embowels her, and laps the blood; +So, Atreus’ royal son, the hindmost still +Slaying, and still pursuing, urged them on.215 +Many supine, and many prone, the field +Press’d, by the son of Atreus in their flight +Dismounted; for no weapon raged as his. +But now, at last, when he should soon have reach’d +The lofty walls of Ilium, came the Sire220 +Of Gods and men descending from the skies, +And on the heights of Ida fountain-fed, +Sat arm’d with thunders. Calling to his foot +Swift Iris golden-pinion’d, thus he spake. + Iris! away. Thus speak in Hector’s ears.225 +While yet he shall the son of Atreus see +Fierce warring in the van, and mowing down +The Trojan ranks, so long let him abstain +From battle, leaving to his host the task +Of bloody contest furious with the Greeks.230 +But soon as Atreus’ son by spear or shaft +Wounded shall climb his chariot, with such force +I will endue Hector, that he shall slay +Till he have reach’d the ships, and till, the sun +Descending, sacred darkness cover all.235 + He spake, nor rapid Iris disobey’d +Storm-wing’d ambassadress, but from the heights +Of Ida stoop’d to Ilium. There she found +The son of royal Priam by the throng +Of chariots and of steeds compass’d about240 +She, standing at his side, him thus bespake. + Oh, son of Priam! as the Gods discreet! +I bring thee counsel from the Sire of all. +While yet thou shalt the son of Atreus see +Fierce warring in the van, and mowing down245 +The warrior ranks, so long he bids thee pause +From battle, leaving to thy host the task +Of bloody contest furious with the Greeks. +But soon as Atreus’ son, by spear or shaft +Wounded, shall climb his chariot, Jove will then250 +Endue thee with such force, that thou shalt slay +Till thou have reach’d the ships, and till, the sun +Descending, sacred darkness cover all. + So saying, swift-pinion’d Iris disappear’d. +Then Hector from his chariot at a leap255 +Came down all arm’d, and, shaking his bright spears, +Ranged every quarter, animating loud +The legions, and rekindling horrid war. +Back roll’d the Trojan ranks, and faced the Greeks; +The Greeks their host to closer phalanx drew;260 +The battle was restored, van fronting van +They stood, and Agamemnon into fight +Sprang foremost, panting for superior fame. + Say now, ye Nine, who on Olympus dwell! +What Trojan first, or what ally of Troy265 +Opposed the force of Agamemnon’s arm? +Iphidamas, Antenor’s valiant son, +Of loftiest stature, who in fertile Thrace +Mother of flocks was nourish’d, Cisseus him +His grandsire, father of Theano praised270 +For loveliest features, in his own abode +Rear’d yet a child, and when at length he reach’d +The measure of his glorious manhood firm +Dismiss’d him not, but, to engage him more, +Gave him his daughter. Wedded, he his bride275 +As soon deserted, and with galleys twelve +Following the rumor’d voyage of the Greeks, +The same course steer’d; but at Percope moor’d, +And marching thence, arrived on foot at Troy. +He first opposed Atrides. They approach’d.280 +The spear of Agamemnon wander’d wide; +But him Iphidamas on his broad belt +Beneath the corselet struck, and, bearing still +On his spear-beam, enforced it; but ere yet +He pierced the broider’d zone, his point, impress’d285 +Against the silver, turn’d, obtuse as lead. +Then royal Agamemnon in his hand +The weapon grasping, with a lion’s rage +Home drew it to himself, and from his gripe +Wresting it, with his falchion keen his neck290 +Smote full, and stretch’d him lifeless at his foot. +So slept Iphidamas among the slain; +Unhappy! from his virgin bride remote, +Associate with the men of Troy in arms +He fell, and left her beauties unenjoy’d.295 +He gave her much, gave her a hundred beeves, +And sheep and goats a thousand from his flocks +Promised, for numberless his meadows ranged; +But Agamemnon, son of Atreus, him +Slew and despoil’d, and through the Grecian host300 +Proceeded, laden with his gorgeous arms. +Coön that sight beheld, illustrious Chief, +Antenor’s eldest born, but with dim eyes +Through anguish for his brother’s fall. Unseen +Of noble Agamemnon, at his side305 +He cautious stood, and with a spear his arm, +Where thickest flesh’d, below his elbow, pierced, +Till opposite the glittering point appear’d. +A thrilling horror seized the King of men +So wounded; yet though wounded so, from fight310 +He ceased not, but on Coön rush’d, his spear +Grasping, well-thriven growth[11] of many a wind. +He by the foot drew off Iphidamas, +His brother, son of his own sire, aloud +Calling the Trojan leaders to his aid;315 +When him so occupied with his keen point +Atrides pierced his bossy shield beneath. +Expiring on Iphidamas he fell +Prostrate, and Agamemnon lopp’d his head. +Thus, under royal Agamemnon’s hand,320 +Antenor’s sons their destiny fulfill’d, +And to the house of Ades journey’d both. +Through other ranks of warriors then he pass’d, +Now with his spear, now with his falchion arm’d, +And now with missile force of massy stones,325 +While yet his warm blood sallied from the wound. +But when the wound grew dry, and the blood ceased, +Anguish intolerable undermined +Then all the might of Atreus’ royal son. +As when a laboring woman’s arrowy throes330 +Seize her intense, by Juno’s daughters dread +The birth-presiding Ilithyæ deep +Infixt, dispensers of those pangs severe; +So, anguish insupportable subdued +Then all the might of Atreus’ royal son.335 +Up-springing to his seat, instant he bade +His charioteer drive to the hollow barks, +Heart-sick himself with pain; yet, ere he went, +With voice loud-echoing hail’d the Danaï. + Friends! counsellors and leaders of the Greeks!340 +Now drive, yourselves, the battle from your ships. +For me the Gods permit not to employ +In fight with Ilium’s host the day entire. + He ended, and the charioteer his steeds +Lash’d to the ships; they not unwilling flew,345 +Bearing from battle the afflicted King +With foaming chests and bellies grey with dust. +Soon Hector, noting his retreat, aloud +Call’d on the Trojans and allies of Troy. + Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting sons350 +Of Dardanus! oh summon all your might; +Now, now be men! Their bravest is withdrawn! +Glory and honor from Saturnian Jove +On me attend; now full against the Greeks +Drive all your steeds, and win a deathless name.355 + He spake—and all drew courage from his word. +As when his hounds bright-tooth’d some hunter cheers +Against the lion or the forest-boar, +So Priameïan Hector cheer’d his host +Magnanimous against the sons of Greece,360 +Terrible as gore-tainted Mars. Among +The foremost warriors, with success elate +He strode, and flung himself into the fight +Black as a storm which sudden from on high +Descending, furrows deep the gloomy flood.365 + Then whom slew Priameïan Hector first, +Whom last, by Jove, that day, with glory crown’d? +Assæus, Dolops, Orus, Agelaüs, +Autonoüs, Hipponoüs, Æsymnus, +Opheltius and Opites first he slew,370 +All leaders of the Greeks, and, after these, +The people. As when whirlwinds of the West +A storm encounter from the gloomy South, +The waves roll multitudinous, and the foam +Upswept by wandering gusts fills all the air,375 +So Hector swept the Grecians. Then defeat +Past remedy and havoc had ensued, +Then had the routed Grecians, flying, sought +Their ships again, but that Ulysses[12] thus +Summon’d the brave Tydides to his aid.380 + Whence comes it, Diomede, that we forget +Our wonted courage? Hither, O my friend! +And, fighting at my side, ward off the shame +That must be ours, should Hector seize the fleet. + To whom the valiant Diomede replied.385 +I will be firm; trust me thou shalt not find +Me shrinking; yet small fruit of our attempts +Shall follow, for the Thunderer, not to us, +But to the Trojan, gives the glorious day. + The Hero spake, and from his chariot cast390 +Thymbræus to the ground pierced through the pap, +While by Ulysses’ hand his charioteer +Godlike Molion, fell. The warfare thus +Of both for ever closed, them there they left, +And plunging deep into the warrior-throng395 +Troubled the multitude. As when two boars +Turn desperate on the close-pursuing hounds, +So they, returning on the host of Troy, +Slew on all sides, and overtoil’d with flight +From Hector’s arm, the Greeks meantime respired.400 +Two warriors, next, their chariot and themselves +They took, plebeians brave, sons of the seer +Percosian Merops in prophetic skill +Surpassing all; he both his sons forbad +The mortal field, but disobedient they405 +Still sought it, for their destiny prevail’d. +Spear-practised Diomede of life deprived +Both these, and stripp’d them of their glorious arms, +While by Ulysses’ hand Hippodamus +Died and Hypeirochus. And now the son410 +Of Saturn, looking down from Ida, poised +The doubtful war, and mutual deaths they dealt. +Tydides plunged his spear into the groin +Of the illustrious son of Pæon, bold +Agastrophus. No steeds at his command415 +Had he, infatuate! but his charioteer +His steeds detain’d remote, while through the van +Himself on foot rush’d madly till he fell. +But Hector through the ranks darting his eye +Perceived, and with ear-piercing cries advanced420 +Against them, follow’d by the host of Troy. +The son of Tydeus, shuddering, his approach +Discern’d, and instant to Ulysses spake.[13] + Now comes the storm! This way the mischief rolls! +Stand and repulse the Trojan. Now be firm.425 + He said, and hurling his long-shadow’d beam +Smote Hector. At his helmet’s crown he aim’d, +Nor err’d, but brass encountering brass, the point +Glanced wide, for he had cased his youthful brows +In triple brass, Apollo’s glorious gift.430 +Yet with rapidity at such a shock +Hector recoil’d into the multitude +Afar, where sinking to his knees, he lean’d +On his broad palm, and darkness veil’d his eyes. +But while Tydides follow’d through the van435 +His stormy spear, which in the distant soil +Implanted stood, Hector his scatter’d sense +Recovering, to his chariot sprang again, +And, diving deep into his host, escaped. +The noble son of Tydeus, spear in hand,440 +Rush’d after him, and as he went, exclaim’d. + Dog! thou hast now escaped; but, sure the stroke +Approach’d thee nigh, well-aim’d. Once more thy prayers +Which ever to Apollo thou prefer’st +Entering the clash of battle, have prevail’d,445 +And he hath rescued thee. But well beware +Our next encounter, for if also me +Some God befriend, thou diest. Now will I seek +Another mark, and smite whom next I may. + He spake, and of his armor stripp’d the son450 +Spear-famed of Pæon. Meantime Paris, mate +Of beauteous Helen, drew his bow against +Tydides; by a pillar of the tomb +Of Ilus, ancient senator revered, +Conceal’d he stood, and while the Hero loosed455 +His corselet from the breast of Pæon’s son +Renown’d, and of his helmet and his targe +Despoil’d him; Paris, arching quick his bow, +No devious shaft dismiss’d, but his right foot +Pierced through the sole, and fix’d it to the ground.460 +Transported from his ambush forth he leap’d +With a loud laugh, and, vaunting, thus exclaim’d: + Oh shaft well shot! it galls thee. Would to heaven +That it had pierced thy heart, and thou hadst died! +So had the Trojans respite from their toils465 +Enjoy’d, who, now, shudder at sight of thee +Like she-goats when the lion is at hand. + To whom, undaunted, Diomede replied. +Archer shrew-tongued! spie-maiden! man of curls![14] +Shouldst thou in arms attempt me face to face,470 +Thy bow and arrows should avail thee nought. +Vain boaster! thou hast scratch’d my foot—no more— +And I regard it as I might the stroke +Of a weak woman or a simple child. +The weapons of a dastard and a slave475 +Are ever such. More terrible are mine, +And whom they pierce, though slightly pierced, he dies. +His wife her cheeks rends inconsolable, +His babes are fatherless, his blood the glebe +Incarnadines, and where he bleeds and rots480 +More birds of prey than women haunt the place. + He ended, and Ulysses, drawing nigh, +Shelter’d Tydides; he behind the Chief +Of Ithaca sat drawing forth the shaft, +But pierced with agonizing pangs the while.485 +Then, climbing to his chariot-seat, he bade +Sthenelus hasten to the hollow ships, +Heart-sick with pain. And now alone was seen +Spear-famed Ulysses; not an Argive more +Remain’d, so universal was the rout,490 +And groaning, to his own great heart he said. + Alas! what now awaits me? If, appall’d +By multitudes, I fly, much detriment; +And if alone they intercept me here, +Still more; for Jove hath scatter’d all the host,495 +Yet why these doubts! for know I not of old +That only dastards fly, and that the voice +Of honor bids the famed in battle stand, +Bleed they themselves, or cause their foes to bleed? + While busied in such thought he stood, the ranks500 +Of Trojans fronted with broad shields, enclosed +The hero with a ring, hemming around +Their own destruction. As when dogs, and swains +In prime of manhood, from all quarters rush +Around a boar, he from his thicket bolts,505 +The bright tusk whetting in his crooked jaws: +They press him on all sides, and from beneath +Loud gnashings hear, yet firm, his threats defy; +Like them the Trojans on all sides assail’d +Ulysses dear to Jove. First with his spear510 +He sprang impetuous on a valiant chief, +Whose shoulder with a downright point he pierced, +Deïopites; Thoön next he slew, +And Ennomus, and from his coursers’ backs +Alighting quick, Chersidamas; beneath515 +His bossy shield the gliding weapon pass’d +Right through his navel; on the plain he fell +Expiring, and with both hands clench’d the dust. +Them slain he left, and Charops wounded next, +Brother of Socus, generous Chief, and son520 +Of Hippasus; brave Socus to the aid +Of Charops flew, and, godlike, thus began. + Illustrious chief, Ulysses! strong to toil +And rich in artifice! Or boast to-day +Two sons of Hippasus, brave warriors both,525 +Of armor and of life bereft by thee, +Or to my vengeful spear resign thy own! + So saying, Ulysses’ oval disk he smote. +Through his bright disk the stormy weapon flew, +Transpierced his twisted mail, and from his side530 +Drove all the skin, but to his nobler parts +Found entrance none, by Pallas turn’d aslant.[15] +Ulysses, conscious of his life untouch’d, +Retired a step from Socus, and replied. + Ah hapless youth; thy fate is on the wing;535 +Me thou hast forced indeed to cease a while +From battle with the Trojans, but I speak +Thy death at hand; for vanquish’d by my spear, +This self-same day thou shalt to me resign +Thy fame, thy soul to Pluto steed-renown’d.540 + He ceased; then Socus turn’d his back to fly, +But, as he turn’d, his shoulder-blades between +He pierced him, and the spear urged through his breast. +On his resounding arms he fell, and thus +Godlike Ulysses gloried in his fall.545 + Ah, Socus, son of Hippasus, a chief +Of fame equestrian! swifter far than thou +Death follow’d thee, and thou hast not escaped. +Ill-fated youth! thy parents’ hands thine eyes +Shall never close, but birds of ravenous maw550 +Shall tear thee, flapping thee with frequent wing, +While me the noble Grecians shall entomb! + So saying, the valiant Socus’ spear he drew +From his own flesh, and through his bossy shield. +The weapon drawn, forth sprang the blood, and left555 +His spirit faint. Then Ilium’s dauntless sons, +Seeing Ulysses’ blood, exhorted glad +Each other, and, with force united, all +Press’d on him. He, retiring, summon’d loud +His followers. Thrice, loud as mortal may,560 +He call’d, and valiant Menelaus thrice +Hearing the voice, to Ajax thus remark’d. + Illustrious son of Telamon! The voice +Of Laertiades comes o’er my ear +With such a sound, as if the hardy chief,565 +Abandon’d of his friends, were overpower’d +By numbers intercepting his retreat. +Haste! force we quick a passage through the ranks. +His worth demands our succor, for I fear +Lest sole conflicting with the host of Troy,570 +Brave as he is, he perish, to the loss +Unspeakable and long regret of Greece. + So saying, he went, and Ajax, godlike Chief, +Follow’d him. At the voice arrived, they found +Ulysses Jove-beloved compass’d about575 +By Trojans, as the lynxes in the hills, +Adust for blood, compass an antler’d stag +Pierced by an archer; while his blood is warm +And his limbs pliable, from him he ’scapes; +But when the feather’d barb hath quell’d his force,580 +In some dark hollow of the mountain’s side, +The hungry troop devour him; chance, the while, +Conducts a lion thither, before whom +All vanish, and the lion feeds alone; +So swarm’d the Trojan powers, numerous and bold,585 +Around Ulysses, who with wary skill +Heroic combated his evil day. +But Ajax came, cover’d with his broad shield +That seem’d a tower, and at Ulysses’ side +Stood fast; then fled the Trojans wide-dispersed,590 +And Menelaus led him by the hand +Till his own chariot to his aid approach’d. +But Ajax, springing on the Trojans, slew +Doryclus, from the loins of Priam sprung, +But spurious. Pandocus he wounded next,595 +Then wounded Pyrasus, and after him +Pylartes and Lysander. As a flood +Runs headlong from the mountains to the plain +After long showers from Jove; many a dry oak +And many a pine the torrent sweeps along,600 +And, turbid, shoots much soil into the sea, +So, glorious Ajax troubled wide the field, +Horse and man slaughtering, whereof Hector yet +Heard not; for on the left of all the war +He fought beside Scamander, where around605 +Huge Nestor, and Idomeneus the brave, +Most deaths were dealt, and loudest roar’d the fight. +There Hector toil’d, feats wonderful of spear +And horsemanship achieving, and the lines +Of many a phalanx desolating wide.610 +Nor even then had the bold Greeks retired, +But that an arrow triple-barb’d, dispatch’d +By Paris, Helen’s mate, against the Chief +Machaon warring with distinguish’d force, +Pierced his right shoulder. For his sake alarm’d,615 +The valor-breathing Grecians fear’d, lest he +In that disast’rous field should also fall.[16] +At once, Idomeneus of Crete approach’d +The noble Nestor, and him thus bespake. + Arise, Neleian Nestor! Pride of Greece!620 +Ascend thy chariot, and Machaon placed +Beside thee, bear him, instant to the fleet. +For one, so skill’d in medicine, and to free +The inherent barb, is worth a multitude. + He said, nor the Gerenian hero old625 +Aught hesitated, but into his seat +Ascended, and Machaon, son renown’d +Of Æsculapius, mounted at his side. +He lash’d the steeds, they not unwilling sought +The hollow ships, long their familiar home.630 + Cebriones, meantime, the charioteer +Of Hector, from his seat the Trojan ranks +Observing sore discomfited, began. + Here are we busied, Hector! on the skirts +Of roaring battle, and meantime I see635 +Our host confused, their horses and themselves +All mingled. Telamonian Ajax there +Routs them; I know the hero by his shield. +Haste, drive we thither, for the carnage most +Of horse and foot conflicting furious, there640 +Rages, and infinite the shouts arise. + He said, and with shrill-sounding scourge the steeds +Smote ample-maned; they, at the sudden stroke +Through both hosts whirl’d the chariot, shields and men +Trampling; with blood the axle underneath645 +All redden’d, and the chariot-rings with drops +From the horse-hoofs, and from the fellied wheels. +Full on the multitude he drove, on fire +To burst the phalanx, and confusion sent +Among the Greeks, for nought[17] he shunn’d the spear.650 +All quarters else with falchion or with lance, +Or with huge stones he ranged, but cautious shunn’d +The encounter of the Telamonian Chief. + But the eternal father throned on high +With fear fill’d Ajax; panic-fixt he stood,655 +His seven-fold shield behind his shoulder cast, +And hemm’d by numbers, with an eye askant, +Watchful retreated. As a beast of prey +Retiring, turns and looks, so he his face +Turn’d oft, retiring slow, and step by step.660 +As when the watch-dogs and assembled swains +Have driven a tawny lion from the stalls, +Then, interdicting him his wish’d repast, +Watch all the night, he, famish’d, yet again +Comes furious on, but speeds not, kept aloof665 +By frequent spears from daring hands, but more +By flash of torches, which, though fierce, he dreads, +Till, at the dawn, sullen he stalks away; +So from before the Trojans Ajax stalk’d +Sullen, and with reluctance slow retired.670 +His brave heart trembling for the fleet of Greece. +As when (the boys o’erpower’d) a sluggish ass, +On whose tough sides they have spent many a staff, +Enters the harvest, and the spiry ears +Crops persevering; with their rods the boys675 +Still ply him hard, but all their puny might +Scarce drives him forth when he hath browsed his fill, +So, there, the Trojans and their foreign aids +With glittering lances keen huge Ajax urged, +His broad shield’s centre smiting.[18] He, by turns,680 +With desperate force the Trojan phalanx dense +Facing, repulsed them, and by turns he fled, +But still forbad all inroad on the fleet. +Trojans and Greeks between, alone, he stood +A bulwark. Spears from daring hands dismiss’d685 +Some, piercing his broad shield, there planted stood, +While others, in the midway falling, spent +Their disappointed rage deep in the ground. + + Eurypylus, Evæmon’s noble son, +Him seeing, thus, with weapons overwhelmed690 +Flew to his side, his glittering lance dismiss’d, +And Apisaon, son of Phausias, struck +Under the midriff; through his liver pass’d +The ruthless point, and, falling, he expired. +Forth sprang Eurypylus to seize the spoil;695 +Whom soon as godlike Alexander saw +Despoiling Apisaon of his arms, +Drawing incontinent his bow, he sent +A shaft to his right thigh; the brittle reed +Snapp’d, and the rankling barb stuck fast within.700 +Terrified at the stroke, the wounded Chief +To his own band retired, but, as he went, +With echoing voice call’d on the Danaï— + Friends! Counsellors, and leaders of the Greeks! +Turn ye and stand, and from his dreadful lot705 +Save Ajax whelm’d with weapons; ’scape, I judge, +He cannot from the roaring fight, yet oh +Stand fast around him; if save ye may, +Your champion huge, the Telamonian Chief! + So spake the wounded warrior. They at once710 +With sloping bucklers, and with spears erect, +To his relief approach’d. Ajax with joy +The friendly phalanx join’d, then turn’d and stood. + Thus burn’d the embattled field as with the flames +Of a devouring fire. Meantime afar715 +From all that tumult the Neleian mares +Bore Nestor, foaming as they ran, with whom +Machaon also rode, leader revered. +Achilles mark’d him passing; for he stood +Exalted on his huge ship’s lofty stern,720 +Spectator of the toil severe, and flight +Deplorable of the defeated Greeks. +He call’d his friend Patroclus. He below +Within his tent the sudden summons heard +And sprang like Mars abroad, all unaware725 +That in that sound he heard the voice of fate. +Him first Menœtius’ gallant son address’d. + What would Achilles? Wherefore hath he call’d? +To whom Achilles swiftest of the swift: + Brave Menœtiades! my soul’s delight!730 +Soon will the Grecians now my knees surround +Suppliant, by dread extremity constrain’d. +But fly Patroclus, haste, oh dear to Jove! +Inquire of Nestor, whom he hath convey’d +From battle, wounded? Viewing him behind,735 +I most believed him Æsculapius’ son +Machaon, but the steeds so swiftly pass’d +My galley, that his face escaped my note.[19] + He said, and prompt to gratify his friend, +Forth ran Patroclus through the camp of Greece.740 + Now when Neleian Nestor to his tent +Had brought Machaon, they alighted both, +And the old hero’s friend Eurymedon +Released the coursers. On the beach awhile +Their tunics sweat-imbued in the cool air745 +They ventilated, facing full the breeze, +Then on soft couches in the tent reposed. +Meantime, their beverage Hecamede mix’d, +The old King’s bright-hair’d captive, whom he brought +From Tenedos, what time Achilles sack’d750 +The city, daughter of the noble Chief +Arsinoüs, and selected from the rest +For Nestor, as the honorable meed +Of counsels always eminently wise. +She, first, before them placed a table bright,755 +With feet cœrulean; thirst-provoking sauce +She brought them also in a brazen tray, +Garlic[20] and honey new, and sacred meal. +Beside them, next, she placed a noble cup +Of labor exquisite, which from his home760 +The ancient King had brought with golden studs +Embellish’d; it presented to the grasp +Four ears; two golden turtles, perch’d on each, +Seem’d feeding, and two turtles[21] form’d the base. +That cup once fill’d, all others must have toil’d765 +To move it from the board, but it was light +In Nestor’s hand; he lifted it with ease.[22] +The graceful virgin in that cup a draught +Mix’d for them, Pramnian wine and savory cheese +Of goat’s milk, grated with a brazen rasp,770 +Then sprinkled all with meal. The draught prepared, +She gave it to their hand; they, drinking, slaked +Their fiery thirst, and with each other sat +Conversing friendly, when the godlike youth +By brave Achilles sent, stood at the door.775 + Him seeing, Nestor from his splendid couch +Arose, and by the hand leading him in, +Entreated him to sit, but that request +Patroclus, on his part refusing, said, + Oh venerable King! no seat is here780 +For me, nor may thy courtesy prevail. +He is irascible, and to be fear’d +Who bade me ask what Chieftain thou hast brought +From battle, wounded; but untold I learn; +I see Machaon, and shall now report785 +As I have seen; oh ancient King revered! +Thou know’st Achilles fiery, and propense +Blame to impute even where blame is none. + + To whom the brave Gerenian thus replied. +Why feels Achilles for the wounded Greeks790 +Such deep concern? He little knows the height +To which our sorrows swell. Our noblest lie +By spear or arrow wounded in the fleet. +Diomede, warlike son of Tydeus, bleeds, +Gall’d by a shaft; Ulysses, glorious Chief,795 +And Agamemnon[23] suffer by the spear; +Eurypylus is shot into the thigh, +And here lies still another newly brought +By me from fight, pierced also by a shaft. +What then? How strong soe’er to give them aid,800 +Achilles feels no pity of the Greeks. +Waits he till every vessel on the shore +Fired, in despite of the whole Argive host, +Be sunk in its own ashes, and ourselves +All perish, heaps on heaps? For in my limbs805 +No longer lives the agility of my youth. +Oh, for the vigor of those days again, +When Elis, for her cattle which we took, +Strove with us and Itymoneus I slew, +Brave offspring of Hypirochus; he dwelt810 +In Elis, and while I the pledges drove, +Stood for his herd, but fell among the first +By a spear hurl’d from my victorious arm. +Then fled the rustic multitude, and we +Drove off abundant booty from the plain,815 +Herds fifty of fat beeves, large flocks of goats +As many, with as many sheep and swine, +And full thrice fifty mares of brightest hue, +All breeders, many with their foals beneath. +All these, by night returning safe, we drove820 +Into Neleian Pylus, and the heart +Rejoiced of Neleus, in a son so young +A warrior, yet enrich’d with such a prize. +At early dawn the heralds summon’d loud +The citizens, to prove their just demands825 +On fruitful Elis, and the assembled Chiefs +Division made (for numerous were the debts +Which the Epeans, in the weak estate +Of the unpeopled Pylus, had incurr’d; +For Hercules, few years before, had sack’d[24]830 +Our city, and our mightiest slain. Ourselves +The gallant sons of Neleus, were in all +Twelve youths, of whom myself alone survived; +The rest all perish’d; whence, presumptuous grown, +The brazen-mail’d Epeans wrong’d us oft).835 +A herd of beeves my father for himself +Selected, and a numerous flock beside, +Three hundred sheep, with shepherds for them all. +For he a claimant was of large arrears +From sacred Elis. Four unrivall’d steeds840 +With his own chariot to the games he sent, +That should contend for the appointed prize +A tripod; but Augeias, King of men, +Detain’d the steeds, and sent the charioteer +Defrauded home. My father, therefore, fired845 +At such foul outrage both of deeds and words, +Took much, and to the Pylians gave the rest +For satisfaction of the claims of all. +While thus we busied were in these concerns, +And in performance of religious rites850 +Throughout the city, came the Epeans arm’d, +Their whole vast multitude both horse and foot +On the third day; came also clad in brass +The two Molions, inexpert as yet +In feats of arms, and of a boyish age.855 +There is a city on a mountain’s head, +Fast by the banks of Alpheus, far remote, +The utmost town which sandy Pylus owns, +Named Thryoëssa, and, with ardor fired +To lay it waste, that city they besieged.860 +Now when their host had traversed all the plain, +Minerva from Olympus flew by night +And bade us arm; nor were the Pylians slow +To assemble, but impatient for the fight. +Me, then, my father suffer’d not to arm,865 +But hid my steeds, for he supposed me raw +As yet, and ignorant how war is waged. +Yet, even thus, unvantaged and on foot, +Superior honors I that day acquired +To theirs who rode, for Pallas led me on870 +Herself to victory. There is a stream +Which at Arena falls into the sea, +Named Minuëius; on that river’s bank +The Pylian horsemen waited day’s approach, +And thither all our foot came pouring down.875 +The flood divine of Alpheus thence we reach’d +At noon, all arm’d complete; there, hallow’d rites +We held to Jove omnipotent, and slew +A bull to sacred Alpheus, with a bull +To Neptune, and a heifer of the herd880 +To Pallas; then, all marshall’d as they were, +From van to rear our legions took repast, +And at the river’s side slept on their arms. +Already the Epean host had round +Begirt the city, bent to lay it waste,885 +A task which cost them, first, both blood and toil, +For when the radiant sun on the green earth +Had risen, with prayer to Pallas and to Jove, +We gave them battle. When the Pylian host +And the Epeans thus were close engaged,890 +I first a warrior slew, Mulius the brave, +And seized his coursers. He the eldest-born +Of King Augeias’ daughters had espoused +The golden Agamede; not an herb +The spacious earth yields but she knew its powers,895 +Him, rushing on me, with my brazen lance +I smote, and in the dust he fell; I leap’d +Into his seat, and drove into the van. +A panic seized the Epeans when they saw +The leader of their horse o’erthrown, a Chief900 +Surpassing all in fight. Black as a cloud +With whirlwind fraught, I drove impetuous on, +Took fifty chariots, and at side of each +Lay two slain warriors, with their teeth the soil +Grinding, all vanquish’d by my single arm.905 +I had slain also the Molions, sons +Of Actor, but the Sovereign of the deep +Their own authentic Sire, in darkness dense +Involving both, convey’d them safe away. +Then Jove a victory of prime renown910 +Gave to the Pylians; for we chased and slew +And gather’d spoil o’er all the champain spread +With scatter’d shields, till we our steeds had driven +To the Buprasian fields laden with corn, +To the Olenian rock, and to a town915 +In fair Colona situate, and named +Alesia. There it was that Pallas turn’d +Our people homeward; there I left the last +Of all the slain, and he was slain by me. +Then drove the Achaians from Buprasium home920 +Their coursers fleet, and Jove, of Gods above, +Received most praise, Nestor of men below. + Such once was I. But brave Achilles shuts +His virtues close, an unimparted store; +Yet even he shall weep, when all the host,925 +His fellow-warriors once, shall be destroy’d. +But recollect, young friend! the sage advice +Which when thou earnest from Phthia to the aid +Of Agamemnon, on that selfsame day +Menœtius gave thee. We were present there,930 +Ulysses and myself, both in the house, +And heard it all; for to the house we came +Of Peleus in our journey through the land +Of fertile Greece, gathering her states to war. +We found thy noble sire Menœtius there,935 +Thee and Achilles; ancient Peleus stood +To Jove the Thunderer offering in his court +Thighs of an ox, and on the blazing rites +Libation pouring from a cup of gold. +While ye on preparation of the feast940 +Attended both, Ulysses and myself +Stood in the vestibule; Achilles flew +Toward us, introduced us by the hand, +And, seating us, such liberal portion gave +To each, as hospitality requires.945 +Our thirst, at length, and hunger both sufficed, +I, foremost speaking, ask’d you to the wars, +And ye were eager both, but from your sires +Much admonition, ere ye went, received. +Old Peleus charged Achilles to aspire950 +To highest praise, and always to excel. +But thee, thy sire Menœtius thus advised. +“My son! Achilles boasts the nobler birth, +But thou art elder; he in strength excels +Thee far; thou, therefore, with discretion rule955 +His inexperience; thy advice impart +With gentleness; instruction wise suggest +Wisely, and thou shalt find him apt to learn.” +So thee thy father taught, but, as it seems, +In vain. Yet even now essay to move960 +Warlike Achilles; if the Gods so please, +Who knows but that thy reasons may prevail +To rouse his valiant heart? men rarely scorn +The earnest intercession of a friend. +But if some prophecy alarm his fears,965 +And from his Goddess mother he have aught +Received, who may have learnt the same from Jove, +Thee let him send at least, and order forth +With thee the Myrmidons; a dawn of hope +Shall thence, it may be, on our host arise.970 +And let him send thee to the battle clad +In his own radiant armor; Troy, deceived +By such resemblance, shall abstain perchance +From conflict, and the weary Greeks enjoy +Short respite; it is all that war allows.975 +Fresh as ye are, ye, by your shouts alone, +May easily repulse an army spent +With labor from the camp and from the fleet. + Thus Nestor, and his mind bent to his words. +Back to Æacides through all the camp980 +He ran; and when, still running, he arrived +Among Ulysses’ barks, where they had fix’d +The forum, where they minister’d the laws, +And had erected altars to the Gods, +There him Eurypylus, Evæmon’s son,985 +Illustrious met, deep-wounded in his thigh, +And halting-back from battle. From his head +The sweat, and from his shoulders ran profuse, +And from his perilous wound the sable blood +Continual stream’d; yet was his mind composed.990 +Him seeing, Menœtiades the brave +Compassion felt, and mournful, thus began. + Ah hapless senators and Chiefs of Greece! +Left ye your native country that the dogs +Might fatten on your flesh at distant Troy?995 +But tell me, Hero! say, Eurypylus! +Have the Achaians power still to withstand +The enormous force of Hector, or is this +The moment when his spear must pierce us all? + To whom Eurypylus, discreet, replied.1000 +Patroclus, dear to Jove! there is no help, +No remedy. We perish at our ships. +The warriors, once most strenuous of the Greeks, +Lie wounded in the fleet by foes whose might +Increases ever. But thyself afford1005 +To me some succor; lead me to my ship; +Cut forth the arrow from my thigh; the gore +With warm ablution cleanse, and on the wound +Smooth unguents spread, the same as by report +Achilles taught thee; taught, himself, their use1010 +By Chiron, Centaur, justest of his kind +For Podalirius and Machaon both +Are occupied. Machaon, as I judge, +Lies wounded in his tent, needing like aid +Himself, and Podalirius in the field1015 +Maintains sharp conflict with the sons of Troy. + To whom Menœtius’ gallant son replied. +Hero! Eurypylus! how shall we act +In this perplexity? what course pursue? +I seek the brave Achilles, to whose ear1020 +I bear a message from the ancient chief +Gerenian Nestor, guardian of the Greeks. +Yet will I not, even for such a cause, +My friend! abandon thee in thy distress. + He ended, and his arms folding around1025 +The warrior bore him thence into his tent. +His servant, on his entrance, spread the floor +With hides, on which Patroclus at his length +Extended him, and with his knife cut forth +The rankling point; with tepid lotion, next,1030 +He cleansed the gore, and with a bitter root +Bruised small between his palms, sprinkled the wound. +At once, the anodyne his pain assuaged, +The wound was dried within, and the blood ceased. + + +It will be well here to observe the position of the Greeks. All human +aid is cut off by the wounds of their heroes, and all assistance from +the Gods forbidden by Jupiter. On the contrary, the Trojans see their +general at their head, and Jupiter himself fights on their side. Upon +this hinge turns the whole poem. The distress of the Greeks occasions +first the assistance of Patroclus, and then the death of that hero +brings back Achilles. + +The poet shows great skill in conducting these incidents. He gives +Achilles the pleasure of seeing that the Greeks could not carry on the +war without his assistance, and upon this depends the great catastrophe +of the poem. + + + + +BOOK XII. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE TWELFTH BOOK. + +The Trojans assail the ramparts, and Hector forces the gates. + + +BOOK XII. + + +So was Menœtius’ gallant son employ’d +Healing Eurypylus. The Greeks, meantime, +And Trojans with tumultuous fury fought. +Nor was the foss ordain’d long time to exclude +The host of Troy, nor yet the rampart built5 +Beside it for protection of the fleet; +For hecatomb the Greeks had offer’d none, +Nor prayer to heaven, that it might keep secure +Their ships with all their spoils. The mighty work +As in defiance of the Immortal Powers10 +Had risen, and could not therefore long endure. +While Hector lived, and while Achilles held +His wrathful purpose; while the city yet +Of royal Priam was unsack’d, so long +The massy structure stood; but when the best15 +And bravest of the Trojan host were slain, +And of the Grecian heroes, some had fallen +And some survived, when Priam’s towers had blazed +In the tenth year, and to their native shores +The Grecians with their ships, at length, return’d,20 +Then Neptune, with Apollo leagued, devised +Its ruin; every river that descends +From the Idæan heights into the sea +They brought against it, gathering all their force. +Rhesus, Caresus, Rhodius, the wide-branch’d25 +Heptaporus, Æsepus, Granicus, +Scamander’s sacred current, and thy stream +Simöis, whose banks with helmets and with shields +Were strew’d, and Chiefs of origin divine; +All these with refluent course Apollo drove30 +Nine days against the rampart, and Jove rain’d +Incessant, that the Grecian wall wave-whelm’d +Through all its length might sudden disappear. +Neptune with his tridental mace, himself, +Led them, and beam and buttress to the flood35 +Consigning, laid by the laborious Greeks, +Swept the foundation, and the level bank +Of the swift-rolling Hellespont restored. +The structure thus effaced, the spacious beach +He spread with sand as at the first; then bade40 +Subside the streams, and in their channels wind +With limpid course, and pleasant as before, + Apollo thus and Neptune, from the first, +Design’d its fall; but now the battle raved +And clamors of the warriors all around45 +The strong-built turrets, whose assaulted planks +Rang, while the Grecians, by the scourge of Jove +Subdued, stood close within their fleet immured, +At Hector’s phalanx-scattering force appall’d. +He, as before, with whirlwind fury fought.50 +As when the boar or lion fiery-eyed +Turns short, the hunters and the hounds among, +The close-embattled troop him firm oppose, +And ply him fast with spears; he no dismay +Conceives or terror in his noble heart,55 +But by his courage falls; frequent he turns +Attempting bold the ranks, and where he points +Direct his onset, there the ranks retire; +So, through the concourse on his rolling wheels +Borne rapid, Hector animated loud60 +His fellow-warriors to surpass the trench. +But not his own swift-footed steeds would dare +That hazard; standing on the dangerous brink +They neigh’d aloud, for by its breadth the foss +Deterr’d them; neither was the effort slight65 +To leap that gulf, nor easy the attempt +To pass it through; steep were the banks profound +On both sides, and with massy piles acute +Thick-planted, interdicting all assault. +No courser to the rapid chariot braced70 +Had enter’d there with ease; yet strong desires +Possess’d the infantry of that emprize, +And thus Polydamas the ear address’d +Of dauntless Hector, standing at his side. + Hector, and ye the leaders of our host,75 +Both Trojans and allies! rash the attempt +I deem, and vain, to push our horses through, +So dangerous is the pass; rough is the trench +With pointed stakes, and the Achaian wall +Meets us beyond. No chariot may descend80 +Or charioteer fight there; strait are the bounds, +And incommodious, and his death were sure. +If Jove, high-thundering Ruler of the skies, +Will succor Ilium, and nought less intend +Than utter devastation of the Greeks,85 +I am content; now perish all their host +Inglorious, from their country far remote. +But should they turn, and should ourselves be driven +Back from the fleet impeded and perplex’d +In this deep foss, I judge that not a man,90 +’Scaping the rallied Grecians, should survive +To bear the tidings of our fate to Troy. +Now, therefore, act we all as I advise. +Let every charioteer his coursers hold +Fast-rein’d beside the foss, while we on foot,95 +With order undisturb’d and arms in hand, +Shall follow Hector. If destruction borne +On wings of destiny this day approach +The Grecians, they will fly our first assault. + So spake Polydamas, whose safe advice100 +Pleased Hector; from his chariot to the ground +All arm’d he leap’d, nor would a Trojan there +(When once they saw the Hero on his feet) +Ride into battle, but unanimous +Descending with a leap, all trod the plain.105 +Each gave command that at the trench his steeds +Should stand detain’d in orderly array; +Then, suddenly, the parted host became +Five bands, each following its appointed chief. +The bravest and most numerous, and whose hearts110 +Wish’d most to burst the barrier and to wage +The battle at the ships, with Hector march’d +And with Polydamas, whom follow’d, third, +Cebriones; for Hector had his steeds +Consign’d and chariot to inferior care.115 +Paris, Alcathoüs, and Agenor led +The second band, and, sons of Priam both, +Deïphobus and Helenus, the third; +With them was seen partner of their command; +The Hero Asius; from Arisba came120 +Asius Hyrtacides, to battle drawn +From the Selleïs banks by martial steeds +Hair’d fiery-red and of the noblest size. +The fourth, Anchises’ mighty son controll’d, +Æneas; under him Antenor’s sons,125 +Archilochus and Acamas, advanced, +Adept in all the practice of the field. +Last came the glorious powers in league with Troy +Led by Sarpedon; he with Glaucus shared +His high control, and with the warlike Chief130 +Asteropæus; for of all his host +Them bravest he esteem’d, himself except +Superior in heroic might to all. +And now (their shields adjusted each to each) +With dauntless courage fired, right on they moved135 +Against the Grecians; nor expected less +Than that beside their sable ships, the host +Should self-abandon’d fall an easy prey. + The Trojans, thus with their confederate powers, +The counsel of the accomplish’d Prince pursued,140 +Polydamas, one Chief alone except, +Asius Hyrtacides. He scorn’d to leave +His charioteer and coursers at the trench, +And drove toward the fleet. Ah, madly brave! +His evil hour was come; he was ordain’d145 +With horse and chariot and triumphant shout +To enter wind-swept Ilium never more. +Deucalion’s offspring, first, into the shades +Dismiss’d him; by Idomeneus he died. +Leftward he drove furious, along the road150 +By which the steeds and chariots of the Greeks +Return’d from battle; in that track he flew, +Nor found the portals by the massy bar +Secured, but open for reception safe +Of fugitives, and to a guard consign’d.155 +Thither he drove direct, and in his rear +His band shrill-shouting follow’d, for they judged +The Greeks no longer able to withstand +Their foes, but sure to perish in the camp. +Vain hope! for in the gate two Chiefs they found160 +Lapithæ-born, courageous offspring each +Of dauntless father; Polypœtes, this, +Sprung from Pirithöus; that, the warrior bold +Leonteus, terrible as gore-tainted Mars. +These two, defenders of the lofty gates,165 +Stood firm before them. As when two tall oaks +On the high mountains day by day endure +Rough wind and rain, by deep-descending roots +Of hugest growth fast-founded in the soil; +So they, sustain’d by conscious valor, saw,170 +Unmoved, high towering Asius on his way, +Nor fear’d him aught, nor shrank from his approach +Right on toward the barrier, lifting high +Their season’d bucklers and with clamor loud +The band advanced, King Asius at their head,175 +With whom Iämenus, expert in arms, +Orestes, Thöon, Acamas the son +Of Asius, and Oenomäus, led them on. +Till now, the warlike pair, exhorting loud +The Grecians to defend the fleet, had stood180 +Within the gates; but soon as they perceived +The Trojans swift advancing to the wall, +And heard a cry from all the flying Greeks, +Both sallying, before the gates they fought +Like forest-boars, which hearing in the hills185 +The crash of hounds and huntsmen nigh at hand, +With start oblique lay many a sapling flat +Short-broken by the root, nor cease to grind +Their sounding tusks, till by the spear they die; +So sounded on the breasts of those brave two190 +The smitten brass; for resolute they fought, +Embolden’d by their might who kept the wall, +And trusting in their own; they, in defence +Of camp and fleet and life, thick battery hurl’d +Of stones precipitated from the towers;195 +Frequent as snows they fell, which stormy winds, +Driving the gloomy clouds, shake to the ground, +Till all the fertile earth lies cover’d deep. +Such volley pour’d the Greeks, and such return’d +The Trojans; casques of hide, arid and tough,200 +And bossy shields rattled, by such a storm +Assail’d of millstone masses from above. +Then Asius, son of Hyrtacus, a groan +Indignant utter’d; on both thighs he smote +With disappointment furious, and exclaim’d,205 + Jupiter! even thou art false become, +And altogether such. Full sure I deem’d +That not a Grecian hero should abide +One moment force invincible as ours, +And lo! as wasps ring-streaked,[1] or bees that build210 +Their dwellings in the highway’s craggy side +Leave not their hollow home, but fearless wait +The hunter’s coming, in their brood’s defence, +So these, although two only, from the gates +Move not, nor will, till either seized or slain.215 + So Asius spake, but speaking so, changed not +The mind of Jove on Hector’s glory bent. +Others, as obstinate, at other gates +Such deeds perform’d, that to enumerate all +Were difficult, unless to power divine.220 +For fierce the hail of stones from end to end +Smote on the barrier; anguish fill’d the Greeks. +Yet, by necessity constrain’d, their ships +They guarded still; nor less the Gods themselves, +Patrons of Greece, all sorrow’d at the sight.225 + At once the valiant Lapithæ began +Terrible conflict, and Pirithous’ son +Brave Polypœtes through his helmet pierced +Damasus; his resplendent point the brass +Sufficed not to withstand; entering, it crush’d230 +The bone within, and mingling all his brain +With his own blood, his onset fierce repress’d. +Pylon and Ormenus he next subdued. +Meantime Leonteus, branch of Mars, his spear +Hurl’d at Hippomachus, whom through his belt235 +He pierced; then drawing forth his falchion keen, +Through all the multitude he flew to smite +Antiphates, and with a downright stroke +Fell’d him. Iämenus and Menon next +He slew, with brave Orestes, whom he heap’d,240 +All three together, on the fertile glebe. + While them the Lapithæ of their bright arms +Despoil’d, Polydamas and Hector stood +(With all the bravest youths and most resolved +To burst the barrier and to fire the fleet)245 +Beside the foss, pondering the event. +For, while they press’d to pass, they spied a bird +Sublime in air, an eagle. Right between +Both hosts he soar’d (the Trojan on his left) +A serpent bearing in his pounces clutch’d250 +Enormous, dripping blood, but lively still +And mindful of revenge; for from beneath +The eagle’s breast, updarting fierce his head, +Fast by the throat he struck him; anguish-sick +The eagle cast him down into the space255 +Between the hosts, and, clanging loud his plumes +As the wind bore him, floated far away. +Shudder’d the Trojans viewing at their feet +The spotted serpent ominous, and thus +Polydamas to dauntless Hector spake.260 + Ofttimes in council, Hector, thou art wont +To censure me, although advising well; +Nor ought the private citizen, I confess, +Either in council or in war to indulge +Loquacity, but ever to employ265 +All his exertions in support of thine. +Yet hear my best opinion once again. +Proceed we not in our attempt against +The Grecian fleet. For if in truth the sign +Respect the host of Troy ardent to pass,270 +Then, as the eagle soar’d both hosts between, +With Ilium’s on his left, and clutch’d a snake +Enormous, dripping blood, but still alive, +Which yet he dropp’d suddenly, ere he reach’d +His eyry, or could give it to his young,275 +So we, although with mighty force we burst +Both gates and barrier, and although the Greeks +Should all retire, shall never yet the way +Tread honorably back by which we came. +No. Many a Trojan shall we leave behind280 +Slain by the Grecians in their fleet’s defence. +An augur skill’d in omens would expound +This omen thus, and faith would win from all. + To whom, dark-louring, Hector thus replied. +Polydamas! I like not thy advice;285 +Thou couldst have framed far better; but if this +Be thy deliberate judgment, then the Gods +Make thy deliberate judgment nothing worth, +Who bidd’st me disregard the Thunderer’s[2] firm +Assurance to myself announced, and make290 +The wild inhabitants of air my guides, +Which I alike despise, speed they their course +With right-hand flight toward the ruddy East, +Or leftward down into the shades of eve. +Consider _we_ the will of Jove alone,295 +Sovereign of heaven and earth. Omens abound, +But the best omen is our country’s cause.[3] +Wherefore should fiery war _thy_ soul alarm? +For were we slaughter’d, one and all, around +The fleet of Greece, _thou_ need’st not fear to die,300 +Whose courage never will thy flight retard. +But if thou shrink thyself, or by smooth speech +Seduce one other from a soldier’s part, +Pierced by this spear incontinent thou diest. + So saying he led them, who with deafening roar305 +Follow’d him. Then, from the Idæan hills +Jove hurl’d a storm which wafted right the dust +Into the fleet; the spirits too he quell’d +Of the Achaians, and the glory gave +To Hector and his host; they, trusting firm310 +In signs from Jove, and in their proper force, +Assay’d the barrier; from the towers they tore +The galleries, cast the battlements to ground, +And the projecting buttresses adjoin’d +To strengthen the vast work, with bars upheaved.315 +All these, with expectation fierce to break +The rampart, down they drew; nor yet the Greeks +Gave back, but fencing close with shields the wall, +Smote from behind them many a foe beneath. +Meantime from tower to tower the Ajaces moved320 +Exhorting all; with mildness some, and some +With harsh rebuke, whom they observed through fear +Declining base the labors of the fight, + Friends! Argives! warriors of whatever rank! +Ye who excel, and ye of humbler note!325 +And ye the last and least! (for such there are, +All have not magnanimity alike) +Now have we work for all, as all perceive. +Turn not, retreat not to your ships, appall’d +By sounding menaces, but press the foe;330 +Exhort each other, and e’en now perchance +Olympian Jove, by whom the lightnings burn, +Shall grant us to repulse them, and to chase +The routed Trojans to their gates again. + So they vociferating to the Greeks,335 +Stirr’d them to battle. As the feathery snows +Fall frequent, on some wintry day, when Jove +Hath risen to shed them on the race of man, +And show his arrowy stores; he lulls the winds, +Then shakes them down continual, covering thick340 +Mountain tops, promontories, flowery meads, +And cultured valleys rich; the ports and shores +Receive it also of the hoary deep, +But there the waves bound it, while all beside +Lies whelm’d beneath Jove’s fast-descending shower,345 +So thick, from side to side, by Trojans hurl’d +Against the Greeks, and by the Greeks return’d +The stony vollies flew; resounding loud +Through all its length the battered rampart roar’d. +Nor yet had Hector and his host prevail’d350 +To burst the gates, and break the massy bar, +Had not all-seeing Jove Sarpedon moved +His son, against the Greeks, furious as falls +The lion on some horned herd of beeves. +At once his polish’d buckler he advanced355 +With leafy brass o’erlaid; for with smooth brass +The forger of that shield its oval disk +Had plated, and with thickest hides throughout +Had lined it, stitch’d with circling wires of gold. +That shield he bore before him; firmly grasp’d360 +He shook two spears, and with determined strides +March’d forward. As the lion mountain-bred, +After long fast, by impulse of his heart +Undaunted urged, seeks resolute the flock +Even in the shelter of their guarded home;365 +He finds, perchance, the shepherds arm’d with spears, +And all their dogs awake, yet can not leave +Untried the fence, but either leaps it light, +And entering tears the prey, or in the attempt +Pierced by some dexterous peasant, bleeds himself;370 +So high his courage to the assault impell’d +Godlike Sarpedon, and him fired with hope +To break the barrier; when to Glaucus thus, +Son of Hippolochus, his speech he turn’d. + Why, Glaucus, is the seat of honor ours,375 +Why drink we brimming cups, and feast in state? +Why gaze they all on us as we were Gods +In Lycia, and why share we pleasant fields +And spacious vineyards, where the Xanthus winds? +Distinguished thus in Lycia, we are call’d380 +To firmness here, and to encounter bold +The burning battle, that our fair report +Among the Lycians may be blazon’d thus— +No dastards are the potentates who rule +The bright-arm’d Lycians; on the fatted flock385 +They banquet, and they drink the richest wines; +But they are also valiant, and the fight +Wage dauntless in the vanward of us all. +Oh Glaucus, if escaping safe the death +That threats us here, we also could escape390 +Old age, and to ourselves secure a life +Immortal, I would neither in the van +Myself expose, nor would encourage thee +To tempt the perils of the glorious field. +But since a thousand messengers of fate395 +Pursue us close, and man is born to die— +E’en let us on; the prize of glory yield, +If yield we must, or wrest it from the foe. + He said, nor cold refusal in return +Received from Glaucus, but toward the wall400 +Their numerous Lycian host both led direct. +Menestheus, son of Peteos, saw appall’d +Their dread approach, for to his tower they bent; +Their threatening march. An eager look he cast, +On the embodied Greeks, seeking some Chief405 +Whose aid might turn the battle from his van: +He saw, where never sated with exploits +Of war, each Ajax fought, near whom his eye +Kenn’d Teucer also, newly from his tent; +But vain his efforts were with loudest call410 +To reach their ears, such was the deafening din +Upsent to heaven, of shields and crested helms, +And of the batter’d gates; for at each gate +They thundering stood, and urged alike at each +Their fierce attempt by force to burst the bars.415 +To Ajax therefore he at once dispatch’d +A herald, and Thöotes thus enjoin’d. + My noble friend, Thöotes! with all speed +Call either Ajax; bid them hither both; +Far better so; for havoc is at hand.420 +The Lycian leaders, ever in assault +Tempestuous, bend their force against this tower +My station. But if also there they find +Laborious conflict pressing them severe, +At least let Telamonian Ajax come,425 +And Teucer with his death-dispensing bow. + He spake, nor was Thöotes slow to hear; +Beside the rampart of the mail-clad Greeks +Rapid he flew, and, at their side arrived, +To either Ajax, eager, thus began.430 + Ye leaders of the well-appointed Greeks, +The son of noble Peteos calls; he begs +With instant suit, that ye would share his toils, +However short your stay; the aid of both +Will serve him best, for havoc threatens there435 +The Lycian leaders, ever in assault +Tempestuous, bend their force toward the tower +His station. But if also here ye find +Laborious conflict pressing you severe, +At least let Telamonian Ajax come,440 +And Teucer with his death-dispensing bow. + He spake, nor his request the towering son +Of Telamon denied, but quick his speech +To Ajax Oïliades address’d. + Ajax! abiding here, exhort ye both445 +(Heroic Lycomedes and thyself) +The Greeks to battle. Thither I depart +To aid our friends, which service once perform’d +Duly, I will incontinent return. + So saying, the Telamonian Chief withdrew450 +With whom went Teucer, son of the same sire, +Pandion also, bearing Teucer’s bow. +Arriving at the turret given in charge +To the bold Chief Menestheus, and the wall +Entering, they found their friends all sharply tried.455 +Black as a storm the senators renown’d +And leaders of the Lycian host assail’d +Buttress and tower, while opposite the Greeks +Withstood them, and the battle-shout began. +First, Ajax, son of Telamon, a friend460 +And fellow-warrior of Sarpedon slew, +Epicles. With a marble fragment huge +That crown’d the battlement’s interior side, +He smote him. No man of our puny race, +Although in prime of youth, had with both hands465 +That weight sustain’d; but he the cumberous mass +Uplifted high, and hurl’d it on his head. +It burst his helmet, and his batter’d skull +Dash’d from all form. He from the lofty tower +Dropp’d downright, with a diver’s plunge, and died.470 +But Teucer wounded Glaucus with a shaft +Son of Hippolochus; he, climbing, bared +His arm, which Teucer, marking, from the wall +Transfix’d it, and his onset fierce repress’d; +For with a backward leap Glaucus withdrew475 +Sudden and silent, cautious lest the Greeks +Seeing him wounded should insult his pain. +Grief seized, at sight of his retiring friend, +Sarpedon, who forgat not yet the fight, +But piercing with his lance Alcmaon, son480 +Of Thestor, suddenly reversed the beam, +Which following, Alcmaon to the earth +Fell prone, with clangor of his brazen arms. +Sarpedon, then, strenuous with both hands +Tugg’d, and down fell the battlement entire;485 +The wall, dismantled at the summit, stood +A ruin, and wide chasm was open’d through. +Then Ajax him and Teucer at one time +Struck both; an arrow struck from Teucer’s bow +The belt that cross’d his bosom, by which hung490 +His ample shield; yet lest his son should fall +Among the ships, Jove turn’d the death aside. +But Ajax, springing to his thrust, a spear +Drove through his shield. Sarpedon at the shock +With backward step short interval recoil’d,495 +But not retired, for in his bosom lived +The hope of glory still, and, looking back +On all his godlike Lycians, he exclaim’d, + Oh Lycians! where is your heroic might? +Brave as I boast myself, I feel the task500 +Arduous, through the breach made by myself +To win a passage to the ships, alone. +Follow me all—Most laborers, most dispatch.[4] + So he; at whose sharp reprimand abash’d +The embattled host to closer conflict moved,505 +Obedient to their counsellor and King. +On the other side the Greeks within the wall +Made firm the phalanx, seeing urgent need; +Nor could the valiant Lycians through the breach +Admittance to the Grecian fleet obtain,510 +Nor since they first approach’d it, had the Greeks +With all their efforts, thrust the Lycians back. +But as two claimants of one common field, +Each with his rod of measurement in hand, +Dispute the boundaries, litigating warm515 +Their right in some small portion of the soil, +So they, divided by the barrier, struck +With hostile rage the bull-hide bucklers round, +And the light targets on each other’s breast. +Then many a wound the ruthless weapons made.520 +Pierced through the unarm’d back, if any turn’d, +He died, and numerous even through the shield. +The battlements from end to end with blood +Of Grecians and of Trojans on both sides +Were sprinkled; yet no violence could move525 +The stubborn Greeks, or turn their powers to flight. +So hung the war in balance, as the scales +Held by some woman scrupulously just, +A spinner; wool and weight she poises nice, +Hard-earning slender pittance for her babes,[5]530 +Such was the poise in which the battle hung +Till Jove himself superior fame, at length, +To Priamëian Hector gave, who sprang +First through the wall. In lofty sounds that reach’d +Their utmost ranks, he call’d on all his host.535 + Now press them, now ye Trojans steed-renown’d +Rush on! break through the Grecian rampart, hurl +At once devouring flames into the fleet. +Such was his exhortation; they his voice +All hearing, with close-order’d ranks direct540 +Bore on the barrier, and up-swarming show’d +On the high battlement their glittering spears. +But Hector seized a stone; of ample base +But tapering to a point, before the gate +It stood. No two men, mightiest of a land545 +(Such men as now are mighty) could with ease +Have heaved it from the earth up to a wain; +He swung it easily alone; so light +The son of Saturn made it in his hand. +As in one hand with ease the shepherd bears550 +A ram’s fleece home, nor toils beneath the weight, +So Hector, right toward the planks of those +Majestic folding-gates, close-jointed, firm +And solid, bore the stone. Two bars within +Their corresponding force combined transvere555 +To guard them, and one bolt secured the bars. +He stood fast by them, parting wide his feet +For ’vantage sake, and smote them in the midst. +He burst both hinges; inward fell the rock +Ponderous, and the portals roar’d; the bars560 +Endured not, and the planks, riven by the force +Of that huge mass, flew scatter’d on all sides. +In leap’d the godlike Hero at the breach, +Gloomy as night in aspect, but in arms +All-dazzling, and he grasp’d two quivering spears.565 +Him entering with a leap the gates, no force +Whate’er of opposition had repress’d, +Save of the Gods alone. Fire fill’d his eyes; +Turning, he bade the multitude without +Ascend the rampart; they his voice obey’d;570 +Part climb’d the wall, part pour’d into the gate; +The Grecians to their hollow galleys flew +Scatter’d, and tumult infinite arose.[6] + + + + +BOOK XIII. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE THIRTEENTH BOOK. + +Neptune engages on the part of the Grecians. The battle proceeds. +Deiphobus advances to combat, but is repulsed by Meriones, who losing +his spear, repairs to his tent for another. Teucer slays Imbrius, and +Hector Amphimachus. Neptune, under the similitude of Thoas, exhorts +Idomeneus. Idomeneus having armed himself in his tent, and going forth +to battle, meets Meriones. After discourse held with each other, +Idomeneus accommodates Meriones with a spear, and they proceed to +battle. Idomeneus slays Othryoneus, and Asius. Deiphobus assails +Idomeneus, but, his spear glancing over him, kills Hypsenor. Idomeneus +slays Alcathoüs, son-in-law of Anchises. Deiphobus and Idomeneus +respectively summon their friends to their assistance, and a contest +ensues for the body of Alcathoüs. + + +BOOK XIII. + + +[1]When Jove to Hector and his host had given +Such entrance to the fleet, to all the woes +And toils of unremitting battle there +He them abandon’d, and his glorious eyes +Averting, on the land look’d down remote5 +Of the horse-breeding Thracians, of the bold +Close-fighting Mysian race, and where abide +On milk sustain’d, and blest with length of days, +The Hippemolgi,[2] justest of mankind. +No longer now on Troy his eyes he turn’d,10 +For expectation none within his breast +Survived, that God or Goddess would the Greeks +Approach with succor, or the Trojans more. + Nor Neptune, sovereign of the boundless Deep, +Look’d forth in vain; he on the summit sat15 +Of Samothracia forest-crown’d, the stir +Admiring thence and tempest of the field; +For thence appear’d all Ida, thence the towers +Of lofty Ilium, and the fleet of Greece. +There sitting from the deeps uprisen, he mourn’d20 +The vanquished Grecians, and resentment fierce +Conceived and wrath against all-ruling Jove. +Arising sudden, down the rugged steep +With rapid strides he came; the mountains huge +And forests under the immortal feet25 +Trembled of Ocean’s Sovereign as he strode. +Three strides he made, the fourth convey’d him home +To Ægæ. At the bottom of the abyss, +There stands magnificent his golden fane, +A dazzling, incorruptible abode.30 +Arrived, he to his chariot join’d his steeds +Swift, brazen-hoof’d, and maned with wavy gold; +Himself attiring next in gold, he seized +His golden scourge, and to his seat sublime +Ascending, o’er the billows drove; the whales35 +Leaving their caverns, gambol’d on all sides +Around him, not unconscious of their King; +He swept the surge that tinged not as he pass’d +His axle, and the sea parted for joy. +His bounding coursers to the Grecian fleet40 +Convey’d him swift. There is a spacious cave +Deep in the bottom of the flood, the rocks +Of Imbrus rude and Tenedos between; +There Neptune, Shaker of the Shores, his steeds +Station’d secure; he loosed them from the yoke,45 +Gave them ambrosial food, and bound their feet +With golden tethers not to be untied +Or broken, that unwandering they might wait +Their Lord’s return, then sought the Grecian host. +The Trojans, tempest-like or like a flame,50 +Now, following Priameïan Hector, all +Came furious on and shouting to the skies. +Their hope was to possess the fleet, and leave +Not an Achaian of the host unslain. +But earth-encircler Neptune from the gulf55 +Emerging, in the form and with the voice +Loud-toned of Calchas, roused the Argive ranks +To battle—and his exhortation first +To either Ajax turn’d, themselves prepared. + Ye heroes Ajax! your accustomed force60 +Exert, oh! think not of disastrous flight, +And ye shall save the people. Nought I fear +Fatal elsewhere, although Troy’s haughty sons +Have pass’d the barrier with so fierce a throng +Tumultuous; for the Grecians brazen-greaved65 +Will check them there. Here only I expect +And with much dread some dire event forebode, +Where Hector, terrible as fire, and loud +Vaunting his glorious origin from Jove, +Leads on the Trojans. Oh that from on high70 +Some God would form the purpose in your hearts +To stand yourselves firmly, and to exhort +The rest to stand! so should ye chase him hence +All ardent as he is, and even although +Olympian Jove himself his rage inspire.75 + So Neptune spake, compasser of the earth, +And, with his sceptre smiting both, their hearts +Fill’d with fresh fortitude; their limbs the touch +Made agile, wing’d their feet and nerved their arms. +Then, swift as stoops a falcon from the point80 +Of some rude rock sublime, when he would chase +A fowl of other wing along the meads, +So started Neptune thence, and disappear’d. +Him, as he went, swift Oïliades +First recognized, and, instant, thus his speech85 +To Ajax, son of Telamon, address’d. + Since, Ajax, some inhabitant of heaven +Exhorts us, in the prophet’s form to fight +(For prophet none or augur we have seen; +This was not Calchas; as he went I mark’d90 +His steps and knew him; Gods are known with ease) +I feel my spirit in my bosom fired +Afresh for battle; lightness in my limbs, +In hands and feet a glow unfelt before. + To whom the son of Telamon replied.95 +I also with invigorated hands +More firmly grasp my spear; my courage mounts, +A buoyant animation in my feet +Bears me along, and I am all on fire +To cope with Priam’s furious son, alone.100 + Thus they, with martial transport to their souls +Imparted by the God, conferr’d elate. +Meantime the King of Ocean roused the Greeks, +Who in the rear, beside their gallant barks +Some respite sought. They, spent with arduous toil,105 +Felt not alone their weary limbs unapt +To battle, but their hearts with grief oppress’d, +Seeing the numerous multitude of Troy +Within the mighty barrier; sad they view’d +That sight, and bathed their cheeks with many a tear,110 +Despairing of escape. But Ocean’s Lord +Entering among them, soon the spirit stirr’d +Of every valiant phalanx to the fight. +Teucer and Leïtus, and famed in arms +Peneleus, Thoas and Deipyrus,115 +Meriones, and his compeer renown’d, +Antilochus; all these in accents wing’d +With fierce alacrity the God address’d. + Oh shame, ye Grecians! vigorous as ye are +And in life’s prime, to your exertions most120 +I trusted for the safety of our ships. +If _ye_ renounce the labors of the field, +Then hath the day arisen of our defeat +And final ruin by the powers of Troy. +Oh! I behold a prodigy, a sight125 +Tremendous, deem’d impossible by me, +The Trojans at our ships! the dastard race +Fled once like fleetest hinds the destined prey +Of lynxes, leopards, wolves; feeble and slight +And of a nature indisposed to war130 +They rove uncertain; so the Trojans erst +Stood not, nor to Achaian prowess dared +The hindrance of a moment’s strife oppose. +But now, Troy left afar, even at our ships +They give us battle, through our leader’s fault135 +And through the people’s negligence, who fill’d +With fierce displeasure against _him_, prefer +Death at their ships, to war in their defence. +But if the son of Atreus, our supreme, +If Agamemnon, have indeed transgress’d140 +Past all excuse, dishonoring the swift +Achilles, ye at least the fight decline +Blame-worthy, and with no sufficient plea. +But heal we speedily the breach; brave minds +Easily coalesce. It is not well145 +That thus your fury slumbers, for the host +Hath none illustrious as yourselves in arms. +I can excuse the timid if he shrink, +But am incensed at _you_. My friends, beware! +Your tardiness will prove ere long the cause150 +Of some worse evil. Let the dread of shame +Affect your hearts; oh tremble at the thought +Of infamy! Fierce conflict hath arisen; +Loud shouting Hector combats at the ships +Nobly, hath forced the gates and burst the bar.155 + With such encouragement those Grecian chiefs +The King of Ocean roused. Then, circled soon +By many a phalanx either Ajax stood, +Whose order Mars himself arriving there +Had praised, or Pallas, patroness of arms.160 +For there the flower of all expected firm +Bold Hector and his host; spear crowded spear, +Shield, helmet, man, press’d helmet, man and shield;[3] +The hairy crests of their resplendent casques +Kiss’d close at every nod, so wedged they stood;165 +No spear was seen but in the manly grasp +It quiver’d, and their every wish was war. +The powers of Ilium gave the first assault +Embattled close; them Hector led himself[4] +Right on, impetuous as a rolling rock170 +Destructive; torn by torrent waters off +From its old lodgment on the mountain’s brow, +It bounds, it shoots away; the crashing wood +Falls under it; impediment or check +None stays its fury, till the level found,175 +There, settling by degrees, it rolls no more; +So after many a threat that he would pass +Easily through the Grecian camp and fleet +And slay to the sea-brink, when Hector once +Had fallen on those firm ranks, standing, he bore180 +Vehement on them; but by many a spear +Urged and bright falchion, soon, reeling, retired, +And call’d vociferous on the host of Troy. + Trojans, and Lycians, and close-fighting sons +Of Dardanus, oh stand! not long the Greeks185 +Will me confront, although embodied close +In solid phalanx; doubt it not; my spear +Shall chase and scatter them, if Jove, in truth, +High-thundering mate of Juno, bid me on. + So saying he roused the courage of them all190 +Foremost of whom advanced, of Priam’s race +Deiphobus, ambitious of renown. +Tripping he came with shorten’d steps,[5] his feet +Sheltering behind his buckler; but at him +Aiming, Meriones his splendid lance195 +Dismiss’d, nor err’d; his bull-hide targe he struck +But ineffectual; where the hollow wood +Receives the inserted brass, the quivering beam +Snapp’d; then, Deiphobus his shield afar +Advanced before him, trembling at a spear200 +Hurl’d by Meriones. He, moved alike +With indignation for the victory lost +And for his broken spear, into his band +At first retired, but soon set forth again +In prowess through the Achaian camp, to fetch205 +Its fellow-spear within his tent reserved. + The rest all fought, and dread the shouts arose +On all sides. Telamonian Teucer, first, +Slew valiant Imbrius, son of Mentor, rich +In herds of sprightly steeds. He ere the Greeks210 +Arrived at Ilium, in Pedæus dwelt, +And Priam’s spurious daughter had espoused +Medesicasta. But the barks well-oar’d +Of Greece arriving, he return’d to Troy, +Where he excell’d the noblest, and abode215 +With Priam, loved and honor’d as his own. +Him Teucer pierced beneath his ear, and pluck’d +His weapon home; he fell as falls an ash +Which on some mountain visible afar, +Hewn from its bottom by the woodman’s axe,220 +With all its tender foliage meets the ground +So Imbrius fell; loud rang his armor bright +With ornamental brass, and Teucer flew +To seize his arms, whom hasting to the spoil +Hector with his resplendent spear assail’d;225 +He, marking opposite its rapid flight, +Declined it narrowly and it pierced the breast, +As he advanced to battle, of the son +Of Cteatus of the Actorian race, +Amphimachus; he, sounding, smote the plain,230 +And all his batter’d armor rang aloud. +Then Hector swift approaching, would have torn +The well-forged helmet from the brows away +Of brave Amphimachus; but Ajax hurl’d +Right forth at Hector hasting to the spoil235 +His radiant spear; no wound the spear impress’d, +For he was arm’d complete in burnish’d brass +Terrific; but the solid boss it pierced +Of Hector’s shield, and with enormous force +So shock’d him, that retiring he resign’d240 +Both bodies,[6] which the Grecians dragg’d away. +Stichius and Menestheus, leaders both +Of the Athenians, to the host of Greece +Bore off Amphimachus, and, fierce in arms +The Ajaces, Imbrius. As two lions bear245 +Through thick entanglement of boughs and brakes +A goat snatch’d newly from the peasants’ cogs, +Upholding high their prey above the ground, +So either Ajax terrible in fight, +Upholding Imbrius high, his brazen arms250 +Tore off, and Oïliades his head +From his smooth neck dissevering in revenge +For slain Amphimachus, through all the host +Sent it with swift rotation like a globe, +Till in the dust at Hector’s feet it fell.255 + Then anger fill’d the heart of Ocean’s King, +His grandson[7] slain in battle; forth he pass’d +Through the Achaian camp and fleet, the Greeks +Rousing, and meditating wo to Troy. +It chanced that brave Idomeneus return’d260 +That moment from a Cretan at the knee +Wounded, and newly borne into his tent; +His friends had borne him off, and when the Chief +Had given him into skilful hands, he sought +The field again, still coveting renown.265 +Him therefore, meeting him on his return, +Neptune bespake, but with the borrow’d voice +Of Thoas, offspring of Andræmon, King +In Pleuro and in lofty Calydon, +And honor’d by the Ætolians as a God.270 + Oh counsellor of Crete! our threats denounced +Against the towers of Troy, where are they now? + To whom the leader of the Cretans, thus, +Idomeneus. For aught that I perceive +Thoas! no Grecian is this day in fault!275 +For we are all intelligent in arms, +None yields by fear oppress’d, none lull’d by sloth +From battle shrinks; but such the pleasure seems +Of Jove himself, that we should perish here +Inglorious, from our country far remote280 +But, Thoas! (for thine heart was ever firm +In battle, and thyself art wont to rouse +Whom thou observ’st remiss) now also fight +As erst, and urge each leader of the host. + Him answered, then, the Sovereign of the Deep.285 +Return that Grecian never from the shores +Of Troy, Idomeneus! but may the dogs +Feast on him, who shall this day intermit +Through wilful negligence his force in fight! +But haste, take arms and come; we must exert290 +All diligence, that, being only two, +We yet may yield some service. Union much +Emboldens even the weakest, and our might +Hath oft been proved on warriors of renown. + So Neptune spake, and, turning, sought again295 +The toilsome field. Ere long, Idomeneus +Arriving in his spacious tent, put on +His radiant armor, and, two spears in hand, +Set forth like lightning which Saturnian Jove +From bright Olympus shakes into the air,300 +A sign to mortal men, dazzling all eyes; +So beam’d the Hero’s armor as he ran. +But him not yet far distant from his tent +Meriones, his fellow-warrior met, +For he had left the fight, seeking a spear,305 +When thus the brave Idomeneus began. + Swift son of Molus! chosen companion dear! +Wherefore, Meriones, hast thou the field +Abandon’d? Art thou wounded? Bring’st thou home +Some pointed mischief in thy flesh infixt?310 +Or comest thou sent to me, who of myself +The still tent covet not, but feats of arms? + To whom Meriones discreet replied, +Chief leader of the Cretans, brazen-mail’d +Idomeneus! if yet there be a spear315 +Left in thy tent, I seek one; for I broke +The spear, even now, with which erewhile I fought, +Smiting the shield of fierce Deiphobus. + Then answer thus the Cretan Chief return’d, +Valiant Idomeneus. If spears thou need,320 +Within my tent, leaning against the wall, +Stand twenty spears and one, forged all in Troy, +Which from the slain I took; for distant fight +Me suits not; therefore in my tent have I +Both spears and bossy shields, with brazen casques325 +And corselets bright that smile against the sun. + Him answer’d, then, Meriones discreet. +I also, at my tent and in my ship +Have many Trojan spoils, but they are hence +Far distant. I not less myself than thou330 +Am ever mindful of a warrior’s part, +And when the din of glorious arms is heard, +Fight in the van. If other Greeks my deeds +Know not, at least I judge them known to thee. + To whom the leader of the host of Crete335 +Idomeneus. I know thy valor well, +Why speakest thus to me? Choose we this day +An ambush forth of all the bravest Greeks, +(For in the ambush is distinguish’d best +The courage; there the timorous and the bold340 +Plainly appear; the dastard changes hue +And shifts from place to place, nor can he calm +The fears that shake his trembling limbs, but sits +Low-crouching on his hams, while in his breast +Quick palpitates his death-foreboding heart,345 +And his teeth chatter; but the valiant man +His posture shifts not; no excessive fears +Feels he, but seated once in ambush, deems +Time tedious till the bloody fight begin;) +Even there, thy courage should no blame incur.[8]350 +For should’st thou, toiling in the fight, by spear +Or falchion bleed, not on thy neck behind +Would fall the weapon, or thy back annoy, +But it would meet thy bowels or thy chest +While thou didst rush into the clamorous van.355 +But haste—we may not longer loiter here +As children prating, lest some sharp rebuke +Reward us. Enter quick, and from within +My tent provide thee with a noble spear. + Then, swift as Mars, Meriones produced360 +A brazen spear of those within the tent +Reserved, and kindling with heroic fire +Follow’d Idomeneus. As gory Mars +By Terror follow’d, his own dauntless son +Who quells the boldest heart, to battle moves;365 +From Thrace against the Ephyri they arm, +Or hardy Phlegyans, and by both invoked, +Hear and grant victory to which they please; +Such, bright in arms Meriones, and such +Idomeneus advanced, when foremost thus370 +Meriones his fellow-chief bespake. + Son of Deucalion! where inclinest thou most +To enter into battle? On the right +Of all the host? or through the central ranks? +Or on the left? for nowhere I account375 +The Greeks so destitute of force as there. + Then answer thus Idomeneus return’d +Chief of the Cretans. Others stand to guard +The middle fleet; there either Ajax wars, +And Teucer, noblest archer of the Greeks,380 +Nor less in stationary fight approved. +Bent as he is on battle, they will task +And urge to proof sufficiently the force +Of Priameïan Hector; burn his rage +How fierce soever, he shall find it hard,385 +With all his thirst of victory, to quell +Their firm resistance, and to fire the fleet, +Let not Saturnian Jove cast down from heaven +Himself a flaming brand into the ships. +High towering Telamonian Ajax yields390 +To no mere mortal by the common gift +Sustain’d of Ceres, and whose flesh the spear +Can penetrate, or rocky fragment bruise; +In standing fight Ajax would not retire +Even before that breaker of the ranks395 +Achilles, although far less swift than he. +But turn we to the left, that we may learn +At once, if glorious death, or life be ours. + Then, rapid as the God of war, his course +Meriones toward the left began,400 +As he enjoin’d. Soon as the Trojans saw +Idomeneus advancing like a flame, +And his compeer Meriones in arms +All-radiant clad, encouraging aloud +From rank to rank each other, on they came405 +To the assault combined. Then soon arose +Sharp contest on the left of all the fleet. +As when shrill winds blow vehement, what time +Dust deepest spreads the ways, by warring blasts +Upborne a sable cloud stands in the air,410 +Such was the sudden conflict; equal rage +To stain with gore the lance ruled every breast. +Horrent with quivering spears the fatal field +Frown’d on all sides; the brazen flashes dread +Of numerous helmets, corselets furbish’d bright,415 +And shields refulgent meeting, dull’d the eye, +And turn’d it dark away. Stranger indeed +Were he to fear, who could that strife have view’d +With heart elate, or spirit unperturb’d. + Two mighty sons of Saturn adverse parts420 +Took in that contest, purposing alike +To many a valiant Chief sorrow and pain. +Jove, for the honor of Achilles, gave +Success to Hector and the host of Troy, +Not for complete destruction of the Greeks425 +At Ilium, but that glory might redound +To Thetis thence, and to her dauntless son. +On the other side, the King of Ocean risen +Secretly from the hoary Deep, the host +Of Greece encouraged, whom he grieved to see430 +Vanquish’d by Trojans, and with anger fierce +Against the Thunderer burn’d on their behalf. +Alike from one great origin divine +Sprang they, but Jove was elder, and surpass’d +In various knowledge; therefore when he roused435 +Their courage, Neptune traversed still the ranks +Clandestine, and in human form disguised. +Thus, these Immortal Two, straining the cord +Indissoluble of all-wasting war, +Alternate measured with it either host,440 +And loosed the joints of many a warrior bold. +Then, loud exhorting (though himself with age +Half grey) the Achaians, into battle sprang +Idomeneus, and scatter’d, first, the foe, +Slaying Othryoneus, who, by the lure445 +Of martial glory drawn, had left of late +Cabesus. He Priam’s fair daughter woo’d +Cassandra, but no nuptial gift vouchsafed +To offer, save a sounding promise proud +To chase, himself, however resolute450 +The Grecian host, and to deliver Troy. +To him assenting, Priam, ancient King, +Assured to him his wish, and in the faith +Of that assurance confident, he fought. +But brave Idomeneus his splendid lance455 +Well-aim’d dismissing, struck the haughty Chief. +Pacing elate the field; his brazen mail +Endured not; through his bowels pierced, with clang +Of all his arms he fell, and thus with joy +Immense exulting, spake Idomeneus.460 + I give thee praise, Othryoneus! beyond +All mortal men, if truly thou perform +Thy whole big promise to the Dardan king, +Who promised thee his daughter. Now, behold, +We also promise: doubt not the effect.465 +We give into thy arms the most admired +Of Agamemnon’s daughters, whom ourselves +Will hither bring from Argos, if thy force +With ours uniting, thou wilt rase the walls +Of populous Troy. Come—follow me; that here470 +Among the ships we may adjust the terms +Of marriage, for we take not scanty dower. + So saying, the Hero dragg’d him by his heel +Through all the furious fight. His death to avenge +Asius on foot before his steeds advanced,475 +For them, where’er he moved, his charioteer +Kept breathing ever on his neck behind. +With fierce desire the heart of Asius burn’d +To smite Idomeneus, who with his lance +Him reaching first, pierced him beneath the chin480 +Into his throat, and urged the weapon through. +He fell, as some green poplar falls, or oak, +Or lofty pine, by naval artists hewn +With new-edged axes on the mountain’s side. +So, his teeth grinding, and the bloody dust485 +Clenching, before his chariot and his steeds +Extended, Asius lay. His charioteer +(All recollection lost) sat panic-stunn’d, +Nor dared for safety turn his steeds to flight. +Him bold Antilochus right through the waist490 +Transpierced; his mail sufficed not, but the spear +Implanted in his midmost bowels stood. +Down from his seat magnificent he fell +Panting, and young Antilochus the steeds +Drove captive thence into the host of Greece.495 +Then came Deiphobus by sorrow urged +For Asius, and, small interval between, +Hurl’d at Idomeneus his glittering lance; +But he, foreseeing its approach, the point +Eluded, cover’d whole by his round shield500 +Of hides and brass by double belt sustain’d, +And it flew over him, but on his targe +Glancing, elicited a tinkling sound. +Yet left it not in vain his vigorous grasp, +But pierced the liver of Hypsenor, son505 +Of Hippasus; he fell incontinent, +And measureless exulting in his fall +Deiphobus with mighty voice exclaim’d. + Not unavenged lies Asius; though he seek +Hell’s iron portals, yet shall he rejoice,510 +For I have given him a conductor home. + So he, whose vaunt the Greeks indignant heard! +But of them all to anger most he roused +Antilochus, who yet his breathless friend[9] +Left not, but hasting, fenced him with his shield,515 +And brave Alastor with Mecisteus son +Of Echius, bore him to the hollow ships +Deep-groaning both, for of their band was he. +Nor yet Idomeneus his warlike rage +Remitted aught, but persevering strove520 +Either to plunge some Trojan in the shades, +Or fall himself, guarding the fleet of Greece. +Then slew he brave Alcathoüs the son +Of Æsyeta, and the son-in-law +Of old Anchises, who to him had given525 +The eldest-born of all his daughters fair, +Hippodamia; dearly loved was she +By both her parents in her virgin state,[10] +For that in beauty she surpass’d, in works +Ingenious, and in faculties of mind530 +All her coëvals; wherefore she was deem’d +Well worthy of the noblest prince of Troy. +Him in that moment, Neptune by the arm +Quell’d of Idomeneus, his radiant eyes +Dimming, and fettering his proportion’d limbs.535 +All power of flight or to elude the stroke +Forsook him, and while motionless he stood +As stands a pillar tall or towering oak, +The hero of the Cretans with a spear +Transfix’d his middle chest. He split the mail540 +Erewhile his bosom’s faithful guard; shrill rang +The shiver’d brass; sounding he fell; the beam +Implanted in his palpitating heart +Shook to its topmost point, but, its force spent, +At last, quiescent, stood. Then loud exclaim’d545 +Idomeneus, exulting in his fall. + What thinks Deiphobus? seems it to thee +Vain boaster, that, three warriors slain for one, +We yield thee just amends? else, stand thyself +Against me; learn the valor of a Chief550 +The progeny of Jove; Jove first begat +Crete’s guardian, Minos, from which Minos sprang +Deucalion, and from famed Deucalion, I; +I, sovereign of the numerous race of Crete’s +Extensive isle, and whom my galleys brought555 +To these your shores at last, that I might prove +Thy curse, thy father’s, and a curse to Troy. + He spake; Deiphobus uncertain stood +Whether, retreating, to engage the help +Of some heroic Trojan, or himself560 +To make the dread experiment alone. +At length, as his discreeter course, he chose +To seek Æneas; him he found afar +Station’d, remotest of the host of Troy, +For he resented evermore his worth565 +By Priam[11] recompensed with cold neglect. +Approaching him, in accents wing’d he said. + Æneas! Trojan Chief! If e’er thou lov’dst +Thy sister’s husband, duty calls thee now +To prove it. Haste—defend with me the dead570 +Alcathoüs, guardian of thy tender years, +Slain by Idomeneus the spear-renown’d. + So saying, he roused his spirit, and on fire +To combat with the Cretan, forth he sprang. +But fear seized not Idomeneus as fear575 +May seize a nursling boy; resolved he stood +As in the mountains, conscious of his force, +The wild boar waits a coming multitude +Of boisterous hunters to his lone retreat; +Arching his bristly spine he stands, his eyes580 +Beam fire, and whetting his bright tusks, he burns +To drive, not dogs alone, but men to flight; +So stood the royal Cretan, and fled not, +Expecting brave Æneas; yet his friends +He summon’d, on Ascalaphus his eyes585 +Fastening, on Aphareus, Deipyrus, +Meriones, and Antilochus, all bold +In battle, and in accents wing’d exclaim’d. + Haste ye, my friends! to aid me, for I stand +Alone, nor undismay’d the coming wait590 +Of swift Æneas, nor less brave than swift, +And who possesses fresh his flower of youth, +Man’s prime advantage; were we match’d in years +As in our spirits, either he should earn +At once the meed of deathless fame, or I.595 + He said; they all unanimous approach’d, +Sloping their shields, and stood. On the other side +His aids Æneas call’d, with eyes toward +Paris, Deiphobus, Agenor, turn’d, +His fellow-warriors bold; them follow’d all600 +Their people as the pastured flock the ram +To water, by the shepherd seen with joy; +Such joy Æneas felt, seeing, so soon, +That numerous host attendant at his call. +Then, for Alcathoüs, into contest close605 +Arm’d with long spears they rush’d; on every breast +Dread rang the brazen corselet, each his foe +Assailing opposite; but two, the rest +Surpassing far, terrible both as Mars, +Æneas and Idomeneus, alike610 +Panted to pierce each other with the spear. +Æneas, first, cast at Idomeneus, +But, warn’d, he shunn’d the weapon, and it pass’d. +Quivering in the soil Æneas’ lance +Stood, hurl’d in vain, though by a forceful arm.615 +Not so the Cretan; at his waist he pierced +Oenomaüs, his hollow corselet clave, +And in his midmost bowels drench’d the spear; +Down fell the Chief, and dying, clench’d the dust. +Instant, his massy spear the King of Crete620 +Pluck’d from the dead, but of his radiant arms +Despoil’d him not, by numerous weapons urged; +For now, time-worn, he could no longer make +Brisk sally, spring to follow his own spear, +Or shun another, or by swift retreat625 +Vanish from battle, but the evil day +Warded in stationary fight alone. +At him retiring, therefore, step by step +Deiphobus, who had with bitterest hate +Long time pursued him, hurl’d his splendid lance,630 +But yet again erroneous, for he pierced +Ascalaphus instead, offspring of Mars; +Right through his shoulder flew the spear; he fell +Incontinent, and dying, clench’d the dust. +But tidings none the brazen-throated Mars635 +Tempestuous yet received, that his own son +In bloody fight had fallen, for on the heights +Olympian over-arch’d with clouds of gold +He sat, where sat the other Powers divine, +Prisoners together of the will of Jove.640 +Meantime, for slain Ascalaphus arose +Conflict severe; Deiphobus his casque +Resplendent seized, but swift as fiery Mars +Assailing him, Meriones his arm +Pierced with a spear, and from his idle hand645 +Fallen, the casque sonorous struck the ground. +Again, as darts the vulture on his prey, +Meriones assailing him, the lance +Pluck’d from his arm, and to his band retired. +Then, casting his fraternal arms around650 +Deiphobus, him young Polites led +From the hoarse battle to his rapid steeds +And his bright chariot in the distant rear, +Which bore him back to Troy, languid and loud- +Groaning, and bleeding from his recent wound.655 +Still raged the war, and infinite arose +The clamor. Aphareus, Caletor’s son, +Turning to face Æneas, in his throat +Instant the hero’s pointed lance received. +With head reclined, and bearing to the ground660 +Buckler and helmet with him, in dark shades +Of soul-divorcing death involved, he fell. +Antilochus, observing Thoön turn’d +To flight, that moment pierced him; from his back +He ripp’d the vein which through the trunk its course665 +Winds upward to the neck; that vein he ripp’d +All forth; supine he fell, and with both hands +Extended to his fellow-warriors, died. +Forth sprang Antilochus to strip his arms, +But watch’d, meantime, the Trojans, who in crowds670 +Encircling him, his splendid buckler broad +Smote oft, but none with ruthless point prevail’d +Even to inscribe the skin of Nestor’s son, +Whom Neptune, shaker of the shores, amid +Innumerable darts kept still secure.675 +Yet never from his foes he shrank, but faced +From side to side, nor idle slept his spear, +But with rotation ceaseless turn’d and turn’d +To every part, now levell’d at a foe +Far-distant, at a foe, now, near at hand.680 +Nor he, thus occupied, unseen escaped +By Asius’ offspring Adamas, who close +Advancing, struck the centre of his shield. +But Neptune azure-hair’d so dear a life +Denied to Adamas, and render’d vain685 +The weapon; part within his disk remain’d +Like a seer’d stake, and part fell at his feet. +Then Adamas, for his own life alarm’d, +Retired, but as he went, Meriones +Him reaching with his lance, the shame between690 +And navel pierced him, where the stroke of Mars +Proves painful most to miserable man. +There enter’d deep the weapon; down he fell, +And in the dust lay panting as an ox +Among the mountains pants by peasants held695 +In twisted bands, and dragg’d perforce along; +So panted dying Adamas, but soon +Ceased, for Meriones, approaching, pluck’d +The weapon forth, and darkness veil’d his eyes. +Helenus, with his heavy Thracian blade700 +Smiting the temples of Deipyrus, +Dash’d off his helmet; from his brows remote +It fell, and wandering roll’d, till at his feet +Some warrior found it, and secured; meantime +The sightless shades of death him wrapp’d around.705 +Grief at that spectacle the bosom fill’d +Of valiant Menelaus; high he shook +His radiant spear, and threatening him, advanced +On royal Helenus, who ready stood +With his bow bent. They met; impatient, one,710 +To give his pointed lance its rapid course, +And one, to start his arrow from the nerve. +The arrow of the son of Priam struck +Atrides’ hollow corselet, but the reed +Glanced wide. As vetches or as swarthy beans715 +Leap from the van and fly athwart the floor, +By sharp winds driven, and by the winnower’s force, +So from the corselet of the glorious Greek +Wide-wandering flew the bitter shaft away. +But Menelaus the left-hand transpierced720 +Of Helenus, and with the lance’s point +Fasten’d it to his bow; shunning a stroke +More fatal, Helenus into his band +Retired, his arm dependent at his side, +And trailing, as he went, the ashen beam;725 +There, bold Agenor from his hand the lance +Drew forth, then folded it with softest wool +Around, sling-wool, and borrow’d from the sling +Which his attendant into battle bore. +Then sprang Pisander on the glorious Chief730 +The son of Atreus, but his evil fate +Beckon’d him to his death in conflict fierce, +Oh Menelaus, mighty Chief! with thee. +And now they met, small interval between. +Atrides hurl’d his weapon, and it err’d.735 +Pisander with his spear struck full the shield +Of glorious Menelaus, but his force +Resisted by the stubborn buckler broad +Fail’d to transpierce it, and the weapon fell +Snapp’d at the neck. Yet, when he struck, the heart740 +Rebounded of Pisander, full of hope. +But Menelaus, drawing his bright blade, +Sprang on him, while Pisander from behind +His buckler drew a brazen battle-axe +By its long haft of polish’d olive-wood,745 +And both Chiefs struck together. He the crest +That crown’d the shaggy casque of Atreus’ son +Hew’d from its base, but Menelaus him +In his swift onset smote full on the front +Above his nose; sounded the shatter’d bone,750 +And his eyes both fell bloody at his feet. +Convolved with pain he lay; then, on his breast +Atrides setting fast his heel, tore off +His armor, and exulting thus began. + So shall ye leave at length the Grecian fleet,755 +Traitors, and never satisfied with war! +Nor want ye other guilt, dogs and profane! +But me have injured also, and defied +The hot displeasure of high-thundering Jove +The hospitable, who shall waste in time,760 +And level with the dust your lofty Troy. +I wrong’d not you, yet bore ye far away +My youthful bride who welcomed you, and stole +My treasures also, and ye now are bent +To burn Achaia’s gallant fleet with fire765 +And slay her heroes; but your furious thirst +Of battle shall hereafter meet a check. +Oh, Father Jove! Thee wisest we account +In heaven or earth, yet from thyself proceed +All these calamities, who favor show’st770 +To this flagitious race the Trojans, strong +In wickedness alone, and whose delight +In war and bloodshed never can be cloy’d. +All pleasures breed satiety, sweet sleep, +Soft dalliance, music, and the graceful dance,775 +Though sought with keener appetite by most +Than bloody war; but Troy still covets blood. + So spake the royal Chief, and to his friends +Pisander’s gory spoils consigning, flew +To mingle in the foremost fight again.780 +Him, next, Harpalion, offspring of the King +Pylæmenes assail’d; to Troy he came +Following his sire, but never thence return’d. +He, from small distance, smote the central boss +Of Menelaus’ buckler with his lance,785 +But wanting power to pierce it, with an eye +Of cautious circumspection, lest perchance +Some spear should reach him, to his band retired. +But him retiring with a brazen shaft +Meriones pursued; swift flew the dart790 +To his right buttock, slipp’d beneath the bone, +His bladder grazed, and started through before. +There ended his retreat; sudden he sank +And like a worm lay on the ground, his life +Exhaling in his fellow-warrior’s arms,795 +And with his sable blood soaking the plain. +Around him flock’d his Paphlagonians bold, +And in his chariot placed drove him to Troy, +With whom his father went, mourning with tears +A son, whose death he never saw avenged.800 + Him slain with indignation Paris view’d, +For he, with numerous Paphlagonians more +His guest had been; he, therefore, in the thirst +Of vengeance, sent a brazen arrow forth. +There was a certain Greek, Euchenor, son805 +Of Polyides the soothsayer, rich +And brave in fight, and who in Corinth dwelt +He, knowing well his fate, yet sail’d to Troy +For Polyides oft, his reverend sire, +Had prophecied that he should either die810 +By some dire malady at home, or, slain +By Trojan hands, amid the fleet of Greece. +He, therefore, shunning the reproach alike +Of the Achaians, and that dire disease, +Had join’d the Grecian host; him Paris pierced815 +The ear and jaw beneath; life at the stroke +Left him, and darkness overspread his eyes. + So raged the battle like devouring fire. +But Hector dear to Jove not yet had learn’d, +Nor aught surmised the havoc of his host820 +Made on the left, where victory crown’d well-nigh +The Grecians animated to the fight +By Neptune seconding himself their arms. +He, where he first had started through the gate +After dispersion of the shielded Greeks825 +Compact, still persevered. The galleys there +Of Ajax and Protesilaüs stood +Updrawn above the hoary Deep; the wall +Was there of humblest structure, and the steeds +And warriors there conflicted furious most.830 +The Epeans there and Iäonians[12] robed- +Prolix, the Phthians,[13] Locrians, and the bold +Bœtians check’d the terrible assault +Of Hector, noble Chief, ardent as flame, +Yet not repulsed him. Chosen Athenians form’d835 +The van, by Peteos’ son, Menestheus, led, +Whose high command undaunted Bias shared, +Phidas and Stichius. The Epean host +Under Amphion, Dracius, Meges, fought. +Podarces brave in arms the Phthians ruled,840 +And Medon (Medon was by spurious birth +Brother of Ajax Oïliades, +And for his uncle’s death, whom he had slain, +The brother of Oïleus’ wife, abode +In Phylace; but from Iphiclus sprang845 +Podarces;) these, all station’d in the front +Of Phthias’ hardy sons, together strove +With the Bœotians for the fleet’s defence. +Ajax the swift swerved never from the side +Of Ajax son of Telamon a step,850 +But as in some deep fallow two black steers +Labor combined, dragging the ponderous plow, +The briny sweat around their rooted horns +Oozes profuse; they, parted as they toil +Along the furrow, by the yoke alone,855 +Cleave to its bottom sheer the stubborn glebe, +So, side by side, they, persevering fought.[14] +The son of Telamon a people led +Numerous and bold, who, when his bulky limbs +Fail’d overlabor’d, eased him of his shield.860 +Not so attended by his Locrians fought +Oïleus’ valiant son; pitch’d battle them +Suited not, unprovided with bright casques +Of hairy crest, with ashen spears, and shields +Of ample orb; for, trusting in the bow865 +And twisted sling alone, they came to Troy, +And broke with shafts and volley’d stones the ranks. +Thus occupying, clad in burnish’d arms, +The van, these two with Hector and his host +Conflicted, while the Locrians from behind870 +Vex’d them with shafts, secure; nor could the men +Of Ilium stand, by such a shower confused. +Then, driven with dreadful havoc thence, the foe +To wind-swept Ilium had again retired. +Had not Polydamas, at Hector’s side875 +Standing, the dauntless hero thus address’d. + Hector! Thou ne’er canst listen to advice; +But think’st thou, that if heaven in feats of arms +Give thee pre-eminence, thou must excel +Therefore in council also all mankind?880 +No. All-sufficiency is not for thee. +To one, superior force in arms is given, +Skill to another in the graceful dance, +Sweet song and powers of music to a third, +And to a fourth loud-thundering Jove imparts885 +Wisdom, which profits many, and which saves +Whole cities oft, though reverenced but by few. +Yet hear; I speak as wisest seems to me. +War, like a fiery circle, all around +Environs thee; the Trojans, since they pass’d890 +The bulwark, either hold themselves aloof, +Or, wide-dispersed among the galleys, cope +With numbers far superior to their own. +Retiring, therefore, summon all our Chiefs +To consultation on the sum of all,895 +Whether (should heaven so prosper us) to rush +Impetuous on the gallant barks of Greece, +Or to retreat secure; for much I dread +Lest the Achaians punctually refund +All yesterday’s arrear, since yonder Chief[15]900 +Insatiable with battle still abides +Within the fleet, nor longer, as I judge, +Will rest a mere spectator of the field. + So spake Polydamas, whose safe advice +Pleased Hector; from his chariot down he leap’d905 +All arm’d, and in wing’d accents thus replied. + Polydamas! here gather all the Chiefs; +I haste into the fight, and my commands +Once issued there, incontinent return. + He ended, and conspicuous as the height910 +Of some snow-crested mountain, shouting ranged +The Trojans and confederates of Troy. +They swift around Polydamas, brave son +Of Panthus, at the voice of Hector, ran. +Himself with hasty strides the front, meantime,915 +Of battle roam’d, seeking from rank to rank +Asius Hyrtacides, with Asius’ son +Adamas, and Deiphobus, and the might +Of Helenus, his royal brother bold. +Them neither altogether free from hurt920 +He found, nor living all. Beneath the sterns +Of the Achaian ships some slaughter’d lay +By Grecian hands; some stricken by the spear +Within the rampart sat, some by the sword. +But leftward of the woful field he found,925 +Ere long, bright Helen’s paramour his band +Exhorting to the fight. Hector approach’d, +And him, in fierce displeasure, thus bespake. + Curst Paris, specious, fraudulent and lewd! +Where is Deiphobus, and where the might930 +Of royal Helenus? Where Adamas +Offspring of Asius, and where Asius, son +Of Hyrtacus, and where Othryoneus? +Now lofty Ilium from her topmost height +Falls headlong, now is thy own ruin sure!935 + To whom the godlike Paris thus replied. +Since Hector! thou art pleased with no just cause +To censure me, I may decline, perchance, +Much more the battle on some future day, +For I profess some courage, even I.940 +Witness our constant conflict with the Greeks +Here, on this spot, since first led on by thee +The host of Troy waged battle at the ships. +But those our friends of whom thou hast inquired +Are slain, Deiphobus alone except945 +And royal Helenus, who in the hand +Bear each a wound inflicted by the spear, +And have retired; but Jove their life preserved. +Come now—conduct us whither most thine heart +Prompts thee, and thou shalt find us ardent all950 +To face like danger; what we can, we will, +The best and most determined can no more. + So saying, the hero soothed his brother’s mind. +Then moved they both toward the hottest war +Together, where Polydamas the brave,955 +Phalces, Cebriones, Orthæus fought, +Palmys and Polyphœtes, godlike Chief, +And Morys and Ascanius, gallant sons +Both of Hippotion. They at Troy arrived +From fair Ascania the preceding morn,960 +In recompense for aid[16] by Priam lent +Erewhile to Phrygia, and, by Jove impell’d, +Now waged the furious battle side by side. +The march of these at once, was as the sound +Of mighty winds from deep-hung thunder-clouds965 +Descending; clamorous the blast and wild +With ocean mingles; many a billow, then, +Upridged rides turbulent the sounding flood, +Foam-crested billow after billow driven, +So moved the host of Troy, rank after rank970 +Behind their Chiefs, all dazzling bright in arms. +Before them Priameian Hector strode +Fierce as gore-tainted Mars, and his broad shield +Advancing came, heavy with hides, and thick- +Plated with brass; his helmet on his brows975 +Refulgent shook, and in its turn he tried +The force of every phalanx, if perchance +Behind his broad shield pacing he might shake +Their steadfast order; but he bore not down +The spirit of the firm Achaian host.980 +Then Ajax striding forth, him, first, defied. + Approach. Why temptest thou the Greeks to fear? +No babes are we in aught that appertains +To arms, though humbled by the scourge of Jove. +Thou cherishest the foolish hope to burn985 +Our fleet with fire; but even we have hearts +Prepared to guard it, and your populous Troy, +By us dismantled and to pillage given, +Shall perish sooner far. Know this thyself +Also; the hour is nigh when thou shalt ask990 +In prayer to Jove and all the Gods of heaven, +That speed more rapid than the falcon’s flight +May wing thy coursers, while, exciting dense +The dusty plain, they whirl thee back to Troy. + While thus he spake, sublime on the right-hand995 +An eagle soar’d; confident in the sign +The whole Achaian host with loud acclaim +Hail’d it. Then glorious Hector thus replied. + Brainless and big, what means this boast of thine, +Earth-cumberer Ajax? Would I were the son1000 +As sure, for ever, of almighty Jove +And Juno, and such honor might receive +Henceforth as Pallas and Apollo share, +As comes this day with universal wo +Fraught for the Grecians, among whom thyself1005 +Shalt also perish if thou dare abide +My massy spear, which shall thy pamper’d flesh +Disfigure, and amid the barks of Greece +Falling, thou shalt the vultures with thy bulk +Enormous satiate, and the dogs of Troy.1010 + He spake, and led his host; with clamor loud +They follow’d him, and all the distant rear +Came shouting on. On the other side the Greeks +Re-echoed shout for shout, all undismay’d, +And waiting firm the bravest of their foes.1015 +Upwent the double roar into the heights +Ethereal, and among the beams of Jove. + + + + +BOOK XIV. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE FOURTEENTH BOOK. + +Agamemnon and the other wounded Chiefs taking Nestor with them, visit +the battle. Juno having borrowed the Cestus of Venus, first engages the +assistance of Sleep, then hastens to Ida to inveigle Jove. She +prevails. Jove sleeps; and Neptune takes that opportunity to succor the +Grecians. + + +BOOK XIV. + + +Nor was that cry by Nestor unperceived +Though drinking, who in words wing’d with surprise +The son of Æsculapius thus address’d. + Divine Machaon! think what this may bode. +The cry of our young warriors at the ships5 +Grows louder; sitting here, the sable wine +Quaff thou, while bright-hair’d Hecamede warms +A bath, to cleanse thy crimson stains away. +I from yon eminence will learn the cause. + So saying, he took a shield radiant with brass10 +There lying in the tent, the shield well-forged +Of valiant Thrasymedes, his own son +(For he had borne to fight his father’s shield) +And arming next his hand with a keen lance +Stood forth before the tent. Thence soon he saw15 +Foul deeds and strange, the Grecian host confused, +Their broken ranks flying before the host +Of Ilium, and the rampart overthrown. +As when the wide sea, darken’d over all +Its silent flood, forebodes shrill winds to blow,20 +The doubtful waves roll yet to neither side, +Till swept at length by a decisive gale;[1] +So stood the senior, with distressful doubts +Conflicting anxious, whether first to seek +The Grecian host, or Agamemnon’s self25 +The sovereign, and at length that course preferr’d. +Meantime with mutual carnage they the field +Spread far and wide, and by spears double-edged +Smitten, and by the sword their corselets rang. + The royal Chiefs ascending from the fleet,30 +Ulysses, Diomede, and Atreus’ son +Imperial Agamemnon, who had each +Bled in the battle, met him on his way. +For from the war remote they had updrawn +Their galleys on the shore of the gray Deep,35 +The foremost to the plain, and at the sterns +Of that exterior line had built the wall. +For, spacious though it were, the shore alone +That fleet sufficed not, incommoding much +The people; wherefore they had ranged the ships40 +Line above line gradual, and the bay +Between both promontories, all was fill’d. +They, therefore, curious to survey the fight, +Came forth together, leaning on the spear, +When Nestor met them; heavy were their hearts,45 +And at the sight of him still more alarm’d, +Whom royal Agamemnon thus bespake. + Neleian Nestor, glory of the Greeks! +What moved thee to forsake yon bloody field, +And urged thee hither? Cause I see of fear,50 +Lest furious Hector even now his threat +Among the Trojans publish’d, verify, +That he would never enter Ilium more +Till he had burn’d our fleet, and slain ourselves. +So threaten’d Hector, and shall now perform.55 +Alas! alas! the Achaians brazen-greaved +All, like Achilles, have deserted me +Resentful, and decline their fleet’s defence. + To whom Gerenian Nestor thus replied. +Those threats are verified; nor Jove himself60 +The Thunderer can disappoint them now; +For our chief strength in which we trusted most +That it should guard impregnably secure +Our navy and ourselves, the wall hath fallen. +Hence all this conflict by our host sustain’d65 +Among the ships; nor could thy keenest sight +Inform thee where in the Achaian camp +Confusion most prevails, such deaths are dealt +Promiscuous, and the cry ascends to heaven. +But come—consult we on the sum of all,70 +If counsel yet may profit. As for you, +Ye shall have exhortation none from me +To seek the fight; the wounded have excuse. + Whom Agamemnon answer’d, King of men. +Ah Nestor! if beneath our very sterns75 +The battle rage, if neither trench nor wall +Constructed with such labor, and supposed +Of strength to guard impregnably secure +Our navy and ourselves, avail us aught, +It is because almighty Jove hath will’d80 +That the Achaian host should perish here +Inglorious, from their country far remote. +When he vouchsafed assistance to the Greeks, +I knew it well; and now, not less I know +That high as the immortal Gods he lifts85 +Our foes to glory, and depresses us. +Haste therefore all, and act as I advise. +Our ships—all those that nearest skirt the Deep, +Launch we into the sacred flood, and moor +With anchors safely, till o’ershadowing night90 +(If night itself may save us) shall arrive. +Then may we launch the rest; for I no shame +Account it, even by ’vantage of the night +To fly destruction. Wiser him I deem +Who ’scapes his foe, than whom his foe enthralls.95 + But him Ulysses, frowning stern, reproved. +What word, Atrides, now hath pass’d thy lips? +Counsellor of despair! thou should’st command +(And would to heaven thou didst) a different host, +Some dastard race, not ours; whom Jove ordains100 +From youth to hoary age to weave the web +Of toilsome warfare, till we perish all. +Wilt thou the spacious city thus renounce +For which such numerous woes we have endured? +Hush! lest some other hear; it is a word105 +Which no man qualified by years mature +To speak discreetly, no man bearing rule +O’er such a people as confess thy sway, +Should suffer to contaminate his lips. +I from my soul condemn thee, and condemn110 +Thy counsel, who persuad’st us in the heat +Of battle terrible as this, to launch +Our fleet into the waves, that we may give +Our too successful foes their full desire, +And that our own prepondering scale115 +May plunge us past all hope; for while they draw +Their galleys down, the Grecians shall but ill +Sustain the fight, seaward will cast their eyes +And shun the battle, bent on flight alone. +Then, shall they rue thy counsel, King of men!120 + To whom the imperial leader of the Greeks. +Thy sharp reproof, Ulysses, hath my soul +Pierced deeply. Yet I gave no such command +That the Achaians should their galleys launch, +Would they, or would they not. No. I desire125 +That young or old, some other may advice +More prudent give, and he shall please me well. + Then thus the gallant Diomede replied. +That man is near, and may ye but be found +Tractable, our inquiry shall be short.130 +Be patient each, nor chide me nor reproach +Because I am of greener years than ye, +For I am sprung from an illustrious Sire, +From Tydeus, who beneath his hill of earth +Lies now entomb’d at Thebes. Three noble sons135 +Were born to Portheus, who in Pleuro dwelt, +And on the heights of Calydon; the first +Agrius; the second Melas; and the third +Brave Oeneus, father of my father, famed +For virtuous qualities above the rest.140 +Oeneus still dwelt at home; but wandering thence +My father dwelt in Argos; so the will +Of Jove appointed, and of all the Gods. +There he espoused the daughter of the King +Adrastus, occupied a mansion rich145 +In all abundance; many a field possess’d +Of wheat, well-planted gardens, numerous flocks, +And was expert in spearmanship esteem’d +Past all the Grecians. I esteem’d it right +That ye should hear these things, for they are true.150 +Ye will not, therefore, as I were obscure +And of ignoble origin, reject +What I shall well advise. Expedience bids +That, wounded as we are, we join the host. +We will preserve due distance from the range155 +Of spears and arrows, lest already gall’d, +We suffer worse; but we will others urge +To combat, who have stood too long aloof, +Attentive only to their own repose. + He spake, whom all approved, and forth they went,160 +Imperial Agamemnon at their head. + Nor watch’d the glorious Shaker of the shores +In vain, but like a man time-worn approach’d, +And, seizing Agamemnon’s better hand, +In accents wing’d the monarch thus address’d.165 + Atrides! now exults the vengeful heart +Of fierce Achilles, viewing at his ease +The flight and slaughter of Achaia’s host; +For he is mad, and let him perish such, +And may his portion from the Gods be shame!170 +But as for thee, not yet the powers of heaven +Thee hate implacable; the Chiefs of Troy +Shall cover yet with cloudy dust the breadth +Of all the plain, and backward from the camp +To Ilium’s gates thyself shalt see them driven.175 + He ceased, and shouting traversed swift the field. +Loud as nine thousand or ten thousand shout +In furious battle mingled, Neptune sent +His voice abroad, force irresistible +Infusing into every Grecian heart,180 +And thirst of battle not to be assuaged. + But Juno of the golden throne stood forth +On the Olympian summit, viewing thence +The field, where clear distinguishing the God +Of ocean, her own brother, sole engaged185 +Amid the glorious battle, glad was she. +Seeing Jove also on the topmost point +Of spring-fed Ida seated, she conceived +Hatred against him, and thenceforth began +Deliberate how best she might deceive190 +The Thunderer, and thus at last resolved; +Attired with skill celestial to descend +On Ida, with a hope to allure him first +Won by her beauty to a fond embrace, +Then closing fast in balmy sleep profound195 +His eyes, to elude his vigilance, secure. +She sought her chamber; Vulcan her own son +That chamber built. He framed the solid doors, +And to the posts fast closed them with a key +Mysterious, which, herself except, in heaven200 +None understood. Entering she secured +The splendid portal. First, she laved all o’er +Her beauteous body with ambrosial lymph, +Then polish’d it with richest oil divine +Of boundless fragrance;[2] oil that in the courts205 +Eternal only shaken, through the skies +Breathed odors, and through all the distant earth. +Her whole fair body with those sweets bedew’d, +She passed the comb through her ambrosial hair, +And braided her bright locks streaming profuse210 +From her immortal brows; with golden studs +She made her gorgeous mantle fast before, +Ethereal texture, labor of the hands +Of Pallas beautified with various art, +And braced it with a zone fringed all around215 +A hundred fold; her pendants triple-gemm’d +Luminous, graceful, in her ears she hung, +And covering all her glories with a veil +Sun-bright, new-woven, bound to her fair feet +Her sandals elegant. Thus full attired,220 +In all her ornaments, she issued forth, +And beckoning Venus from the other powers +Of heaven apart, the Goddess thus bespake. + Daughter beloved! shall I obtain my suit, +Or wilt thou thwart me, angry that I aid225 +The Grecians, while thine aid is given to Troy? + To whom Jove’s daughter Venus thus replied. +What would majestic Juno, daughter dread +Of Saturn, sire of Jove? I feel a mind +Disposed to gratify thee, if thou ask230 +Things possible, and possible to me. + Then thus with wiles veiling her deep design +Imperial Juno. Give me those desires, +That love-enkindling power by which thou sway’st +Immortal hearts and mortal, all alike;235 +For to the green earth’s utmost bounds I go, +To visit there the parent of the Gods, +Oceanus, and Tethys his espoused, +Mother of all. They kindly from the hands +Of Rhea took, and with parental care240 +Sustain’d and cherish’d me, what time from heaven +The Thunderer hurled down Saturn, and beneath +The earth fast bound him and the barren Deep. +Them go I now to visit, and their feuds +Innumerable to compose; for long245 +They have from conjugal embrace abstain’d +Through mutual wrath, whom by persuasive speech +Might I restore into each other’s arms, +They would for ever love me and revere. + Her, foam-born Venus then, Goddess of smiles,250 +Thus answer’d. Thy request, who in the arms +Of Jove reposest the omnipotent, +Nor just it were nor seemly to refuse. + So saying, the cincture from her breast she loosed +Embroider’d, various, her all-charming zone.255 +It was an ambush of sweet snares, replete +With love, desire, soft intercourse of hearts, +And music of resistless whisper’d sounds +That from the wisest steal their best resolves; +She placed it in her hands and thus she said.260 + Take this—this girdle fraught with every charm. +Hide this within thy bosom, and return, +Whate’er thy purpose, mistress of it all. + She spake; imperial Juno smiled, and still +Smiling complacent, bosom’d safe the zone.265 +Then Venus to her father’s court return’d, +And Juno, starting from the Olympian height, +O’erflew Pieria and the lovely plains +Of broad Emathia; soaring thence she swept +The snow-clad summits of the Thracian hills270 +Steed-famed, nor printed, as she passed, the soil. +From Athos o’er the foaming billows borne +She came to Lemnos, city and abode +Of noble Thoas, and there meeting Sleep, +Brother of Death, she press’d his hand, and said,275 + Sleep, over all, both Gods and men, supreme! +If ever thou hast heard, hear also now +My suit; I will be grateful evermore. +Seal for me fast the radiant eyes of Jove +In the instant of his gratified desire.280 +Thy recompense shall be a throne of gold, +Bright, incorruptible; my limping son, +Vulcan, shall fashion it himself with art +Laborious, and, beneath, shall place a stool[3] +For thy fair feet, at the convivial board.285 + Then answer thus the tranquil Sleep returned +Great Saturn’s daughter, awe-inspiring Queen! +All other of the everlasting Gods +I could with ease make slumber, even the streams +Of Ocean, Sire of all.[4] Not so the King290 +The son of Saturn: him, unless himself +Give me command, I dare not lull to rest, +Or even approach him, taught as I have been +Already in the school of thy commands +That wisdom. I forget not yet the day295 +When, Troy laid waste, that valiant son[5] of his +Sail’d homeward: then my influence I diffused +Soft o’er the sovereign intellect of Jove; +While thou, against the Hero plotting harm, +Didst rouse the billows with tempestuous blasts,300 +And separating him from all his friend, +Brought’st him to populous Cos. Then Jove awoke, +And, hurling in his wrath the Gods about, +Sought chiefly me, whom far below all ken +He had from heaven cast down into the Deep,305 +But Night, resistless vanquisher of all, +Both Gods and men, preserved me; for to her +I fled for refuge. So the Thunderer cool’d, +Though sore displeased, and spared me through a fear +To violate the peaceful sway of Night.[6]310 +And thou wouldst now embroil me yet again! + To whom majestic Juno thus replied. +Ah, wherefore, Sleep! shouldst thou indulge a fear +So groundless? Chase it from thy mind afar. +Think’st thou the Thunderer as intent to serve315 +The Trojans, and as jealous in their cause +As erst for Hercules, his genuine son? +Come then, and I will bless thee with a bride; +One of the younger Graces shall be thine, +Pasithea, day by day still thy desire.320 + She spake; Sleep heard delighted, and replied. +By the inviolable Stygian flood +Swear to me; lay thy right hand on the glebe +All-teeming, lay thy other on the face +Of the flat sea, that all the Immortal Powers325 +Who compass Saturn in the nether realms +May witness, that thou givest me for a bride +The younger Grace whom thou hast named, divine +Pasithea, day by day still my desire. + He said, nor beauteous Juno not complied,330 +But sware, by name invoking all the powers +Titanian call’d who in the lowest gulf +Dwell under Tartarus, omitting none. +Her oath with solemn ceremonial sworn, +Together forth they went; Lemnos they left335 +And Imbrus, city of Thrace, and in dark clouds +Mantled, with gliding ease swam through the air +To Ida’s mount with rilling waters vein’d, +Parent of savage beasts; at Lectos[7] first +They quitted Ocean, overpassing high340 +The dry land, while beneath their feet the woods +Their spiry summits waved. There, unperceived +By Jove, Sleep mounted Ida’s loftiest pine +Of growth that pierced the sky, and hidden sat +Secure by its expanded boughs, the bird345 +Shrill-voiced resembling in the mountains seen,[8] +Chalcis in heaven, on earth Cymindis named. + But Juno swift to Gargarus the top +Of Ida, soar’d, and there Jove saw his spouse. +—Saw her—and in his breast the same love felt350 +Rekindled vehement, which had of old +Join’d them, when, by their parents unperceived, +They stole aside, and snatch’d their first embrace. +Soon he accosted her, and thus inquired. + + Juno! what region seeking hast thou left355 +The Olympian summit, and hast here arrived +With neither steed nor chariot in thy train? + To whom majestic Juno thus replied +Dissembling. To the green earth’s end I go, +To visit there the parent of the Gods360 +Oceanus, and Tethys his espoused, +Mother of all. They kindly from the hands +Of Rhea took, and with parental care +Sustain’d and cherish’d me;[9] to them I haste +Their feuds innumerable to compose,365 +Who disunited by intestine strife +Long time, from conjugal embrace abstain. +My steeds, that lightly over dank and dry +Shall bear me, at the rooted base I left +Of Ida river-vein’d. But for thy sake370 +From the Olympian summit I arrive, +Lest journeying remote to the abode +Of Ocean, and with no consent of thine +Entreated first, I should, perchance, offend. + To whom the cloud-assembler God replied.375 +Juno! thy journey thither may be made +Hereafter. Let us turn to dalliance now. +For never Goddess pour’d, nor woman yet +So full a tide of love into my breast; +I never loved Ixion’s consort thus380 +Who bore Pirithoüs, wise as we in heaven; +Nor sweet Acrisian Danäe, from whom +Sprang Perseus, noblest of the race of man; +Nor Phœnix’ daughter fair,[10] of whom were born +Minos unmatch’d but by the powers above,385 +And Rhadamanthus; nor yet Semele, +Nor yet Alcmena, who in Thebes produced +The valiant Hercules; and though my son +By Semele were Bacchus, joy of man; +Nor Ceres golden-hair’d, nor high-enthroned390 +Latona in the skies, no—nor thyself +As now I love thee, and my soul perceive +O’erwhelm’d with sweetness of intense desire. + Then thus majestic Juno her reply +Framed artful. Oh unreasonable haste!395 +What speaks the Thunderer? If on Ida’s heights. +Where all is open and to view exposed +Thou wilt that we embrace, what must betide, +Should any of the everlasting Gods +Observe us, and declare it to the rest?400 +Never could I, arising, seek again, +Thy mansion, so unseemly were the deed. +But if thy inclinations that way tend, +Thou hast a chamber; it is Vulcan’s work, +Our son’s; he framed and fitted to its posts405 +The solid portal; thither let us his, +And there repose, since such thy pleasure seems. + To whom the cloud-assembler Deity. +Fear thou not, Juno, lest the eye of man +Or of a God discern us; at my word410 +A golden cloud shall fold us so around, +That not the Sun himself shall through that veil +Discover aught, though keenest-eyed of all. + So spake the son of Saturn, and his spouse +Fast lock’d within his arms. Beneath them earth415 +With sudden herbage teem’d; at once upsprang +The crocus soft, the lotus bathed in dew, +And the crisp hyacinth with clustering bells; +Thick was their growth, and high above the ground +Upbore them. On that flowery couch they lay,420 +Invested with a golden cloud that shed +Bright dew-drops all around.[11] His heart at ease, +There lay the Sire of all, by Sleep and Love +Vanquish’d on lofty Gargarus, his spouse +Constraining still with amorous embrace.425 +Then, gentle Sleep to the Achaian camp +Sped swift away, with tidings for the ear +Of earth-encircler Neptune charged; him soon +He found, and in wing’d accents thus began. + Now Neptune, yield the Greeks effectual aid,430 +And, while the moment lasts of Jove’s repose, +Make victory theirs; for him in slumbers soft +I have involved, while Juno by deceit +Prevailing, lured him with the bait of love. + He said, and swift departed to his task435 +Among the nations; but his tidings urged +Neptune with still more ardor to assist +The Danaï; he leap’d into the van +Afar, and thus exhorted them aloud. + Oh Argives! yield we yet again the day440 +To Priameian Hector? Shall he seize +Our ships, and make the glory all his own? +Such is his expectation, so he vaunts, +For that Achilles leaves not yet his camp, +Resentful; but of him small need, I judge,445 +Should here be felt, could once the rest be roused +To mutual aid. Act, then, as I advise. +The best and broadest bucklers of the host, +And brightest helmets put we on, and arm’d +With longest spears, advance; myself will lead;450 +And trust me, furious though he be, the son +Of Priam flies. Ye then who feel your hearts +Undaunted, but are arm’d with smaller shields, +Them give to those who fear, and in exchange +Their stronger shields and broader take yourselves.455 + So he, whom, unreluctant, all obey’d. +Then, wounded as they were, themselves the Kings, +Tydides, Agamemnon and Ulysses +Marshall’d the warriors, and from rank to rank +Made just exchange of arms, giving the best460 +To the best warriors, to the worse, the worst. +And now in brazen armor all array’d +Refulgent on they moved, by Neptune led +With firm hand grasping his long-bladed sword +Keen as Jove’s bolt; with him may none contend465 +In dreadful fight; but fear chains every arm. + Opposite, Priameian Hector ranged +His Trojans; then they stretch’d the bloody cord +Of conflict tight, Neptune cœrulean-hair’d, +And Hector, pride of Ilium; one, the Greeks470 +Supporting firm, and one, the powers of Troy; +A sea-flood dash’d the galleys, and the hosts +Join’d clamorous. Not so the billows roar +The shores among, when Boreas’ roughest blast +Sweeps landward from the main the towering surge;475 +Not so, devouring fire among the trees +That clothe the mountain, when the sheeted flames +Ascending wrap the forest in a blaze; +Nor howl the winds through leafy boughs of oaks +Upgrown aloft (though loudest there they rave)480 +With sounds so awful as were heard of Greeks +And Trojans shouting when the clash began. + At Ajax, first (for face to face they stood) +Illustrious Hector threw a spear well-aim’d, +But smote him where the belts that bore his shield485 +And falchion cross’d each other on his breast. +The double guard preserved him unannoy’d. +Indignant that his spear had bootless flown, +Yet fearing death at hand, the Trojan Chief +Toward the phalanx of his friends retired.490 +But, as he went, huge Ajax with a stone +Of those which propp’d the ships (for numerous such +Lay rolling at the feet of those who fought) +Assail’d him. Twirling like a top it pass’d +The shield of Hector, near the neck his breast495 +Struck full, then plough’d circuitous the dust. +As when Jove’s arm omnipotent an oak +Prostrates uprooted on the plain, a fume +Rises sulphureous from the riven trunk, +And if, perchance, some traveller nigh at hand500 +See it, he trembles at the bolt of Jove, +So fell the might of Hector, to the earth +Smitten at once. Down dropp’d his idle spear, +And with his helmet and his shield himself +Also; loud thunder’d all his gorgeous arms.505 +Swift flew the Grecians shouting to the skies, +And showering darts, to drag his body thence, +But neither spear of theirs nor shaft could harm +The fallen leader, with such instant aid +His princely friends encircled him around,510 +Sarpedon, Lycian Chief, Glaucus the brave, +Polydamas, Æneas, and renown’d +Agenor; neither tardy were the rest, +But with round shields all shelter’d Hector fallen. +Him soon uplifted from the plain his friends515 +Bore thence, till where his fiery coursers stood, +And splendid chariot in the rear, they came, +Then Troy-ward drove him groaning as he went. +Ere long arriving at the pleasant stream +Of eddied Xanthus, progeny of Jove,520 +They laid him on the bank, and on his face +Pour’d water; he, reviving, upward gazed, +And seated on his hams black blood disgorged +Coagulate, but soon relapsing, fell +Supine, his eyes with pitchy darkness veil’d,525 +And all his powers still torpid by the blow. + Then, seeing Hector borne away, the Greeks +Rush’d fiercer on, all mindful of the fight, +And far before the rest, Ajax the swift, +The Oïlean Chief, with pointed spear530 +On Satnius springing, pierced him. Him a nymph +A Naiad, bore to Enops, while his herd +Feeding, on Satnio’s grassy verge he stray’d. +But Oïliades the spear-renown’d +Approaching, pierced his flank; supine he fell,535 +And fiery contest for the dead arose. +In vengeance of his fall, spear-shaking Chief +The son of Panthus into fight advanced +Polydamas, who Prothöenor pierced +Offspring of Areïlocus, and urged540 +Through his right shoulder sheer the stormy lance. +He, prostrate, clench’d the dust, and with loud voice +Polydamas exulted at his fall. + Yon spear, methinks, hurl’d from the warlike hand +Of Panthus’ noble son, flew not in vain,545 +But some Greek hath it, purposing, I judge, +To lean on it in his descent to hell. + So he, whose vaunt the Greeks indignant heard. +But most indignant, Ajax, offspring bold +Of Telamon, to whom he nearest fell.550 +He, quick, at the retiring conqueror cast +His radiant spear; Polydamas the stroke +Shunn’d, starting sideward; but Antenor’s son +Archilochus the mortal dint received, +Death-destined by the Gods; where neck and spine555 +Unite, both tendons he dissever’d wide, +And, ere his knees, his nostrils met the ground. + Then Ajax in his turn vaunting aloud +Against renown’d Polydamas, exclaim’d. +Speak now the truth, Polydamas, and weigh560 +My question well. His life whom I have slain +Makes it not compensation for the loss +Of Prothöenor’s life! To me he seems +Nor base himself; nor yet of base descent, +But brother of Atenor steed-renown’d,565 +Or else perchance his son; for in my eyes +Antenor’s lineage he resembles most. + So he, well knowing him, and sorrow seized +Each Trojan heart. Then Acamas around +His brother stalking, wounded with his spear570 +Bœotian Promachus, who by the feet +Dragg’d off the slain. Acamas in his fall +Aloud exulted with a boundless joy. + Vain-glorious Argives, archers inexpert! +War’s toil and trouble are not ours alone,575 +But ye shall perish also; mark the man— +How sound he sleeps tamed by my conquering arm, +Your fellow-warrior Promachus! the debt +Of vengeance on my brother’s dear behalf +Demanded quick discharge; well may the wish580 +Of every dying warrior be to leave +A brother living to avenge his fall. + He ended, whom the Greeks indignant heard, +But chiefly brave Peneleus; swift he rush’d +On Acamas; but from before the force585 +Of King Peneleus Acamas retired, +And, in his stead, Ilioneus he pierced, +Offspring of Phorbas, rich in flocks; and blest +By Mercury with such abundant wealth +As other Trojan none, nor child to him590 +His spouse had borne, Ilioneus except. +Him close beneath the brow to his eye-roots +Piercing, he push’d the pupil from its seat, +And through his eye and through his poll the spear +Urged furious. He down-sitting on the earth595 +Both hands extended; but, his glittering blade +Forth-drawn, Peneleus through his middle neck +Enforced it; head and helmet to the ground +He lopp’d together, with the lance infixt +Still in his eye; then like a poppy’s head600 +The crimson trophy lifting, in the ears +He vaunted loud of Ilium’s host, and cried. + Go, Trojans! be my messengers! Inform +The parents of Ilioneus the brave +That they may mourn their son through all their house,605 +For so the wife of Alegenor’s son +Bœotian Promachus must him bewail, +Nor shall she welcome his return with smiles +Of joy affectionate, when from the shores +Of Troy the fleet shall bear us Grecians home.610 + He said; fear whiten’d every Trojan cheek, +And every Trojan eye with earnest look +Inquired a refuge from impending fate. + Say now, ye Muses, blest inhabitants +Of the Olympian realms! what Grecian first615 +Fill’d his victorious hand with armor stript +From slaughter’d Trojans, after Ocean’s God +Had, interposing, changed the battle’s course? + First, Telamonian Ajax Hyrtius slew, +Undaunted leader of the Mysian band.620 +Phalces and Mermerus their arms resign’d +To young Antilochus; Hyppotion fell +And Morys by Meriones; the shafts +Right-aim’d of Teucer to the shades dismiss’d +Prothöus and Periphetes, and the prince625 +Of Sparta, Menelaus, in his flank +Pierced Hyperenor; on his entrails prey’d +The hungry steel, and, through the gaping wound +Expell’d, his spirit flew; night veil’d his eyes. +But Ajax Oïliades the swift630 +Slew most; him none could equal in pursuit +Of tremblers scatter’d by the frown of Jove. + + + + +BOOK XV. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE FIFTEENTH BOOK. + +Jove, awaking and seeing the Trojans routed, threatens Juno. He sends +Iris to admonish Neptune to relinquish the battle, and Apollo to +restore health to Hector. Apollo armed with the Ægis, puts to flight +the Grecians; they are pursued home to their fleet, and Telamonian Ajax +slays twelve Trojans bringing fire to burn it. + + +BOOK XV. + + +But when the flying Trojans had o’erpass’d +Both stakes and trench, and numerous slaughtered lay +By Grecian hands, the remnant halted all +Beside their chariots, pale, discomfited. +Then was it that on Ida’s summit Jove5 +At Juno’s side awoke; starting, he stood +At once erect; Trojans and Greeks he saw, +These broken, those pursuing and led on +By Neptune; he beheld also remote +Encircled by his friends, and on the plain10 +Extended, Hector; there he panting lay, +Senseless, ejecting blood, bruised by a blow +From not the feeblest of the sons of Greece. +Touch’d with compassion at that sight, the Sire +Of Gods and men, frowning terrific, fix’d15 +His eyes on Juno, and her thus bespake. + No place for doubt remains. Oh, versed in wiles, +Juno! thy mischief-teeming mind perverse +Hath plotted this; thou hast contrived the hurt +Of Hector, and hast driven his host to flight.20 +I know not but thyself mayst chance to reap +The first-fruits of thy cunning, scourged[1] by me. +Hast thou forgotten how I once aloft +Suspended thee, with anvils at thy feet, +And both thy wrists bound with a golden cord25 +Indissoluble? In the clouds of heaven +I hung thee, while from the Olympian heights +The Gods look’d mournful on, but of them all +None could deliver thee, for whom I seized, +Hurl’d through the gates of heaven on earth he fell,30 +Half-breathless. Neither so did I resign +My hot resentment of the hero’s wrongs +Immortal Hercules, whom thou by storms +Call’d from the North, with mischievous intent +Hadst driven far distant o’er the barren Deep35 +To populous Cos. Thence I deliver’d him, +And after numerous woes severe, he reach’d +The shores of fruitful Argos, saved by me. +I thus remind thee now, that thou mayst cease +Henceforth from artifice, and mayst be taught40 +How little all the dalliance and the love +Which, stealing down from heaven, thou hast by fraud +Obtain’d from me, shall profit thee at last. + He ended, whom imperial Juno heard +Shuddering, and in wing’d accents thus replied.45 + Be witness Earth, the boundless Heaven above, +And Styx beneath, whose stream the blessed Gods +Even tremble to adjure;[2] be witness too +Thy sacred life, and our connubial bed, +Which by a false oath I will never wrong,50 +That by no art induced or plot of mine +Neptune, the Shaker of the shores, inflicts +These harms on Hector and the Trojan host +Aiding the Grecians, but impell’d alone +By his own heart with pity moved at sight55 +Of the Achaians at the ships subdued. +But even him, oh Sovereign of the storms! +I am prepared to admonish that he quit +The battle, and retire where thou command’st. + So she; then smiled the Sire of Gods and men,60 +And in wing’d accents answer thus return’d.[3] + Juno! wouldst thou on thy celestial throne +Assist my counsels, howso’er in heart +He differ now, Neptune should soon his will +Submissive bend to thy desires and mine.65 +But if sincerity be in thy words +And truth, repairing to the blest abodes +Send Iris hither, with the archer God +Apollo; that she, visiting the host +Of Greece, may bid the Sovereign of the Deep70 +Renounce the fight, and seek his proper home. +Apollo’s part shall be to rouse again +Hector to battle, to inspire his soul +Afresh with courage, and all memory thence +To banish of the pangs which now he feels.75 +Apollo also shall again repulse +Achaia’s host, which with base panic fill’d, +Shall even to Achilles’ ships be driven. +Achilles shall his valiant friend exhort +Patroclus forth; him under Ilium’s walls80 +Shall glorious Hector slay; but many a youth +Shall perish by Patroclus first, with whom, +My noble son Sarpedon. Peleus’ son, +Resentful of Patroclus’ death, shall slay +Hector, and I will urge ceaseless, myself,85 +Thenceforth the routed Trojans back again, +Till by Minerva’s aid the Greeks shall take +Ilium’s proud city; till that day arrive +My wrath shall burn, nor will I one permit +Of all the Immortals to assist the Greeks,90 +But will perform Achilles’ whole desire. +Such was my promise to him at the first, +Ratified by a nod that self-same day +When Thetis clasp’d my knees, begging revenge +And glory for her city-spoiler son.95 + He ended; nor his spouse white-arm’d refused +Obedience, but from the Idæan heights +Departing, to the Olympian summit soar’d. +Swift as the traveller’s thought,[4] who, many a land +Traversed, deliberates on his future course100 +Uncertain, and his mind sends every way, +So swift updarted Juno to the skies. +Arrived on the Olympian heights, she found +The Gods assembled; they, at once, their seats +At her approach forsaking, with full cups105 +Her coming hail’d; heedless of all beside, +She took the cup from blooming Themis’ hand, +For she first flew to welcome her, and thus +In accents wing’d of her return inquired. + Say, Juno, why this sudden re-ascent?110 +Thou seem’st dismay’d; hath Saturn’s son, thy spouse, +Driven thee affrighted to the skies again? + To whom the white-arm’d Goddess thus replied. +Themis divine, ask not. Full well thou know’st +How harshly temper’d is the mind of Jove,115 +And how untractable. Resume thy seat; +The banquet calls thee; at our board preside, +Thou shalt be told, and all in heaven shall hear +What ills he threatens; such as shall not leave +All minds at ease, I judge, here or on earth,120 +However tranquil some and joyous now. + So spake the awful spouse of Jove, and sat. +Then, all alike, the Gods displeasure felt +Throughout the courts of Jove, but she, her lips +Gracing with smiles from which her sable brows125 +Dissented,[5] thus indignant them address’d. + Alas! how vain against the Thunderer’s will +Our anger, and the hope to supersede +His purpose, by persuasion or by force! +He solitary sits, all unconcern’d130 +At our resentment, and himself proclaims +Mightiest and most to be revered in heaven. +Be patient, therefore, and let each endure +Such ills as Jove may send him. Mars, I ween, +Already hath his share; the warrior God135 +Hath lost Ascalaphus, of all mankind +His most beloved, and whom he calls his own. + She spake, and with expanded palms his thighs +Smiling, thus, sorrowful, the God exclaim’d. + Inhabitants of the Olympian heights!140 +Oh bear with me, if to avenge my son +I seek Achaia’s fleet, although my doom +Be thunder-bolts from Jove, and with the dead +Outstretch’d to lie in carnage and in dust. + He spake, and bidding Horror and Dismay145 +Lead to the yoke his rapid steeds, put on +His all-refulgent armor. Then had wrath +More dreadful, some strange vengeance on the Gods +From Jove befallen, had not Minerva, touch’d +With timely fears for all, upstarting sprung150 +From where she sat, right through the vestibule. +She snatch’d the helmet from his brows, the shield +From his broad shoulder, and the brazen spear +Forced from his grasp into its place restored. +Then reprimanding Mars, she thus began.155 + Frantic, delirious! thou art lost for ever! +Is it in vain that thou hast ears to hear, +And hast thou neither shame nor reason left? +How? hear’st thou not the Goddess? the report +Of white-arm’d Juno from Olympian Jove160 +Return’d this moment? or perfer’st thou rather, +Plagued with a thousand woes, and under force +Of sad necessity to seek again +Olympus, and at thy return to prove +Author of countless miseries to us all?165 +For He at once Grecians and Trojans both +Abandoning, will hither haste prepared +To tempest[6] us in heaven, whom he will seize, +The guilty and the guiltless, all alike. +I bid thee, therefore, patient bear the death170 +Of thy Ascalaphus; braver than he +And abler have, ere now, in battle fallen, +And shall hereafter; arduous were the task +To rescue from the stroke of fate the race +Of mortal men, with all their progeny.175 + So saying, Minerva on his throne replaced +The fiery Mars. Then, summoning abroad +Apollo from within the hall of Jove, +With Iris, swift ambassadress of heaven, +Them in wing’d accents Juno thus bespake.180 + Jove bids you hence with undelaying speed +To Ida; in his presence once arrived, +See that ye execute his whole command. + So saying, the awful Goddess to her throne +Return’d and sat. They, cleaving swift the air,185 +Alighted soon on Ida fountain-fed, +Parent of savage kinds. High on the point +Seated of Gargarus, and wrapt around +With fragrant clouds, they found Saturnian Jove +The Thunderer, and in his presence stood.190 +He, nought displeased that they his high command +Had with such readiness obey’d, his speech +To Iris, first, in accents wing’d address’d + Swift Iris, haste—to royal Neptune bear +My charge entire; falsify not the word.195 +Bid him, relinquishing the fight, withdraw +Either to heaven, or to the boundless Deep. +But should he disobedient prove, and scorn +My message, let him, next, consider well +How he will bear, powerful as he is,200 +My coming. Me I boast superior far +In force, and elder-born; yet deems he slight +The danger of comparison with me, +Who am the terror of all heaven beside. + He spake, nor storm-wing’d Iris disobey’d,205 +But down from the Idæan summit stoop’d +To sacred Ilium. As when snow or hail +Flies drifted by the cloud-dispelling North, +So swiftly, wing’d with readiness of will, +She shot the gulf between, and standing soon210 +At glorious Neptune’s side, him thus address’d. + To thee, O Neptune azure-hair’d! I come +With tidings charged from Ægis-bearing Jove. +He bids thee cease from battle, and retire +Either to heaven, or to the boundless Deep.215 +But shouldst thou, disobedient, set at nought +His words, he threatens that himself will haste +To fight against thee; but he bids thee shun +That strife with one superior far to thee, +And elder-born; yet deem’st thou slight, he saith,220 +The danger of comparison with Him, +Although the terror of all heaven beside. + Her then the mighty Shaker of the shores +Answer’d indignant. Great as is his power, +Yet he hath spoken proudly, threatening me225 +With force, high-born and glorious as himself. +We are three brothers; Saturn is our sire, +And Rhea brought us forth; first, Jove she bore; +Me next; then, Pluto, Sovereign of the shades. +By distribution tripart we received230 +Each his peculiar honors; me the lots +Made Ruler of the hoary floods, and there +I dwell for ever. Pluto, for his part, +The regions took of darkness; and the heavens, +The clouds, and boundless æther, fell to Jove.235 +The Earth and the Olympian heights alike +Are common to the three. My life and being +I hold not, therefore, at his will, whose best +And safest course, with all his boasted power, +Were to possess in peace his proper third.240 +Let him not seek to terrify with force +Me like a dastard; let him rather chide +His own-begotten; with big-sounding words +His sons and daughters govern, who perforce +Obey his voice, and shrink at his commands.245 + To whom thus Iris tempest-wing’d replied, +Cœrulean-tress’d Sovereign of the Deep! +Shall I report to Jove, harsh as it is, +Thy speech, or wilt thou soften it? The wise +Are flexible, and on the elder-born250 +Erynnis, with her vengeful sisters, waits.[7] + Her answer’d then the Shaker of the shores. +Prudent is thy advice, Iris divine! +Discretion in a messenger is good +At all times. But the cause that fires me thus,255 +And with resentment my whole heart and mind +Possesses, is the license that he claims +To vex with provocation rude of speech +Me his compeer, and by decree of Fate +Illustrious as himself; yet, though incensed,260 +And with just cause, I will not now persist. +But hear—for it is treasured in my heart +The threat that my lips utter. If he still +Resolve to spare proud Ilium in despite +Of me, of Pallas, Goddess of the spoils,265 +Of Juno, Mercury, and the King of fire, +And will not overturn her lofty towers, +Nor grant immortal glory to the Greeks, +Then tell him thus—hostility shall burn, +And wrath between us never to be quench’d.270 + So saying, the Shaker of the shores forsook +The Grecian host, and plunged into the deep, +Miss’d by Achaia’s heroes. Then, the cloud-Assembler +God thus to Apollo spake. + Hence, my Apollo! to the Trojan Chief275 +Hector; for earth-encircler Neptune, awed +By fear of my displeasure imminent, +Hath sought the sacred Deep. Else, all the Gods +Who compass Saturn in the nether realms, +Had even there our contest heard, I ween,280 +And heard it loudly. But that he retreats +Although at first incensed, shunning my wrath, +Is salutary both for him and me, +Whose difference else had not been healed with ease. +Take thou my shaggy Ægis, and with force285 +Smiting it, terrify the Chiefs of Greece. +As for illustrious Hector, him I give +To thy peculiar care; fail not to rouse +His fiercest courage, till he push the Greeks +To Hellespont, and to their ships again;290 +Thenceforth to yield to their afflicted host +Some pause from toil, shall be my own concern. + He ended, nor Apollo disobey’d +His father’s voice; from the Idæan heights, +Swift as the swiftest of the fowls of air,295 +The dove-destroyer falcon, down he flew. +The noble Hector, valiant Priam’s son +He found, not now extended on the plain, +But seated; newly, as from death, awaked, +And conscious of his friends; freely he breathed300 +Nor sweated more, by Jove himself revived. +Apollo stood beside him, and began. + Say, Hector, Priam’s son! why sittest here +Feeble and spiritless, and from thy host +Apart? what new disaster hath befall’n?305 + To whom with difficulty thus replied +The warlike Chief.—But tell me who art Thou, +Divine inquirer! best of powers above! +Know’st not that dauntless Ajax me his friends +Slaughtering at yonder ships, hath with a stone310 +Surceased from fight, smiting me on the breast? +I thought to have beheld, this day, the dead +In Ades, every breath so seem’d my last. + Then answer thus the Archer-God return’d. +Courage this moment! such a helper Jove315 +From Ida sends thee at thy side to war +Continual, Phœbus of the golden sword, +Whose guardian aid both thee and lofty Troy +Hath succor’d many a time. Therefore arise! +Instant bid drive thy numerous charioteers320 +Their rapid steeds full on the Grecian fleet; +I, marching at their head, will smooth, myself, +The way before them, and will turn again +To flight the heroes of the host of Greece. + He said and with new strength the Chief inspired.325 +As some stall’d horse high pamper’d, snapping short +His cord, beats under foot the sounding soil, +Accustom’d in smooth-sliding streams to lave +Exulting; high he bears his head, his mane +Wantons around his shoulders; pleased, he eyes330 +His glossy sides, and borne on pliant knees +Soon finds the haunts where all his fellows graze; +So bounded Hector, and his agile joints +Plied lightly, quicken’d by the voice divine, +And gather’d fast his charioteers to battle.335 +But as when hounds and hunters through the woods +Rush in pursuit of stag or of wild goat, +He, in some cave with tangled boughs o’erhung, +Lies safe conceal’d, no destined prey of theirs, +Till by their clamors roused, a lion grim340 +Starts forth to meet them; then, the boldest fly; +Such hot pursuit the Danaï, with swords +And spears of double edge long time maintain’d. +But seeing Hector in his ranks again +Occupied, felt at once their courage fall’n.345 + Then, Thoas them, Andræmon’s son, address’d, +Foremost of the Ætolians, at the spear +Skilful, in stationary combat bold, +And when the sons of Greece held in dispute +The prize of eloquence, excell’d by few.350 +Prudent advising them, he thus began. + Ye Gods! what prodigy do I behold? +Hath Hector, ’scaping death, risen again? +For him, with confident persuasion all +Believed by Telamonian Ajax slain.355 +But some Divinity hath interposed +To rescue and save Hector, who the joints +Hath stiffen’d of full many a valiant Greek, +As surely now he shall; for, not without +The Thunderer’s aid, he flames in front again.360 +But take ye all my counsel. Send we back +The multitude into the fleet, and first +Let us, who boast ourselves bravest in fight, +Stand, that encountering him with lifted spears, +We may attempt to give his rage a check.365 +To thrust himself into a band like ours +Will, doubtless, even in Hector move a fear. + He ceased, with whose advice all, glad, complied. +Then Ajax with Idomeneus of Crete, +Teucer, Meriones, and Meges fierce370 +As Mars in battle, summoning aloud +The noblest Greeks, in opposition firm +To Hector and his host their bands prepared, +While others all into the fleet retired. +Troy’s crowded host[8] struck first. With awful strides375 +Came Hector foremost; him Apollo led, +His shoulders wrapt in clouds, and, on his arm, +The Ægis shagg’d terrific all around, +Tempestuous, dazzling-bright; it was a gift +To Jove from Vulcan, and design’d to appall,380 +And drive to flight the armies of the earth. +Arm’d with that shield Apollo led them on. +Firm stood the embodied Greeks; from either host +Shrill cries arose; the arrows from the nerve +Leap’d, and, by vigorous arms dismiss’d, the spears385 +Flew frequent; in the flesh some stood infixt +Of warlike youths, but many, ere they reach’d +The mark they coveted, unsated fell +Between the hosts, and rested in the soil. +Long as the God unagitated held390 +The dreadful disk, so long the vollied darts +Made mutual slaughter, and the people fell; +But when he look’d the Grecian charioteers +Full in the face and shook it, raising high +Himself the shout of battle, then he quell’d395 +Their spirits, then he struck from every mind +At once all memory of their might in arms. +As when two lions in the still, dark night +A herd of beeves scatter or numerous flock +Suddenly, in the absence of the guard,400 +So fled the heartless Greeks, for Phœbus sent +Terrors among them, but renown conferr’d +And triumph proud on Hector and his host. +Then, in that foul disorder of the field, +Man singled man. Arcesilaüs died405 +By Hector’s arm, and Stichius; one, a Chief[9] +Of the Bœotians brazen-mail’d, and one, +Menestheus’ faithful follower to the fight. +Æneas Medon and Iäsus slew. +Medon was spurious offspring of divine410 +Oïleus Ajax’ father, and abode +In Phylace; for he had slain a Chief +Brother of Eriopis the espoused +Of brave Oïleus; but Iäsus led +A phalanx of Athenians, and the son415 +Of Sphelus, son of Bucolus was deem’d. +Pierced by Polydamas Mecisteus fell, +Polites, in the van of battle, slew +Echion, and Agenor Clonius; +But Paris, while Deïochus to flight420 +Turn’d with the routed van, pierced him beneath +His shoulder-blade, and urged the weapon through. + While them the Trojans spoil’d, meantime the Greeks, +Entangled in the piles of the deep foss, +Fled every way, and through necessity425 +Repass’d the wall. Then Hector with a voice +Of loud command bade every Trojan cease +From spoil, and rush impetuous on the fleet. +[10]And whom I find far lingering from the ships +Wherever, there he dies; no funeral fires430 +Brother on him, or sister, shall bestow, +But dogs shall rend him in the sight of Troy. + So saying, he lash’d the shoulders of his steeds, +And through the ranks vociferating, call’d +His Trojans on; they, clamorous as he,435 +All lash’d their steeds, and menacing, advanced. +Before them with his feet Apollo push’d +The banks into the foss, bridging the gulf +With pass commodious, both in length and breadth +A lance’s flight, for proof of vigor hurl’d.440 +There, phalanx after phalanx, they their host +Pour’d dense along, while Phœbus in the van +Display’d the awful ægis, and the wall +Levell’d with ease divine. As, on the shore +Some wanton boy with sand builds plaything walls,445 +Then, sportive spreads them with his feet abroad, +So thou, shaft-arm’d Apollo! that huge work +Laborious of the Greeks didst turn with ease +To ruin, and themselves drovest all to flight. +They, thus enforced into the fleet, again450 +Stood fast, with mutual exhortation each +His friend encouraging, and all the Gods +With lifted hands soliciting aloud. +But, more than all, Gerenian Nestor pray’d +Fervent, Achaia’s guardian, and with arms455 +Outstretch’d toward the starry skies, exclaim’d. + Jove, Father! if in corn-clad Argos, one, +One Greek hath ever, burning at thy shrine +Fat thighs of sheep or oxen, ask’d from thee +A safe return, whom thou hast gracious heard,460 +Olympian King! and promised what he sought, +Now, in remembrance of it, give us help +In this disastrous day, nor thus permit +Their Trojan foes to tread the Grecians down! + So Nestor pray’d, and Jove thunder’d aloud465 +Responsive to the old Neleïan’s prayer. +But when that voice of Ægis-bearing Jove +The Trojans heard, more furious on the Greeks +They sprang, all mindful of the fight. As when +A turgid billow of some spacious sea,470 +While the wind blow that heaves its highest, borne +Sheer o’er the vessel’s side, rolls into her, +With such loud roar the Trojans pass’d the wall; +In rush’d the steeds, and at the ships they waged +Fierce battle hand to hand, from chariots, these,475 +With spears of double edge, those, from the decks +Of many a sable bark, with naval poles +Long, ponderous, shod with steel; for every ship +Had such, for conflict maritime prepared. + While yet the battle raged only without480 +The wall, and from the ships apart, so long +Patroclus quiet in the tent and calm +Sat of Eurypylus, his generous friend +Consoling with sweet converse, and his wound +Sprinkling with drugs assuasive of his pains.485 +But soon as through the broken rampart borne +He saw the Trojans, and the clamor heard +And tumult of the flying Greeks, a voice +Of loud lament uttering, with open palms +His thighs he smote, and, sorrowful, exclaim’d.490 + Eurypylus! although thy need be great, +No longer may I now sit at thy side, +Such contest hath arisen; thy servant’s voice +Must soothe thee now, for I will to the tent +Haste of Achilles, and exhort him forth;495 +Who knows? if such the pleasure of the Gods, +I may prevail; friends rarely plead in vain. + So saying, he went. Meantime the Greeks endured +The Trojan onset, firm, yet from the ships +Repulsed them not, though fewer than themselves,500 +Nor could the host of Troy, breaking the ranks +Of Greece, mix either with the camp or fleet; +But as the line divides the plank aright, +Stretch’d by some naval architect, whose hand +Minerva hath accomplish’d in his art,505 +So stretch’d on them the cord of battle lay. +Others at other ships the conflict waged, +But Hector to the ship advanced direct +Of glorious Ajax; for one ship they strove; +Nor Hector, him dislodging thence, could fire510 +The fleet, nor Ajax from the fleet repulse +Hector, conducted thither by the Gods. +Then, noble Ajax with a spear the breast +Pierced of Caletor, son of Clytius, arm’d +With fire to burn his bark; sounding he fell,515 +And from his loosen’d grasp down dropp’d the brand. +But Hector seeing his own kinsman fallen +Beneath the sable bark, with mighty voice +Call’d on the hosts of Lycia and of Troy. + Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting sons520 +Of Dardanus, within this narrow pass +Stand firm, retreat not, but redeem the son +Of Clytius, lest the Grecians of his arms +Despoil him slain in battle at the ships. + + So saying, at Ajax his bright spear he cast525 +Him pierced he not, but Lycophron the son +Of Mastor, a Cytherian, who had left +Cytheras, fugitive for blood, and dwelt +With Ajax. Him standing at Ajax’ side, +He pierced above his ear; down from the stern530 +Supine he fell, and in the dust expired. +Then, shuddering, Ajax to his brother spake. + Alas, my Teucer! we have lost our friend; +Mastorides is slain, whom we received +An inmate from Cytheræ, and with love535 +And reverence even filia,, entertain’d; +B9 Hector pierced, he dies. Where are thy shafts +Death-wing’d, and bow, by gift from Phœbus thine? + He said, whom Teucer hearing, instant ran +With bow and well-stored quiver to his side,540 +Whence soon his arrows sought the Trojan host. +He struck Pisenor’s son Clytus, the friend +And charioteer of brave Polydamas, +Offspring of Panthus, toiling with both hands +To rule his fiery steeds; for more to please545 +The Trojans and their Chief, where stormy most +He saw the battle, thither he had driven. +But sudden mischief, valiant as he was, +Found him, and such as none could waft aside, +For right into his neck the arrow plunged,550 +And down he fell; his startled coursers shook +Their trappings, and the empty chariot rang. +That sound alarm’d Polydamas; he turn’d, +And flying to their heads, consign’d them o’er +To Protiaön’s son, Astynoüs,555 +Whom he enjoin’d to keep them in his view; +Then, turning, mingled with the van again. +But Teucer still another shaft produced +Design’d for valiant Hector, whose exploits +(Had that shaft reach’d him) at the ships of Greece560 +Had ceased for ever. But the eye of Jove, +Guardian of Hector’s life, slept not; he took +From Telamonian Te5cer that renown, +And while he stood straining the twisted nerve +Against the Trojan, snapp’d it. Devious flew565 +The steel-charged[11] arrow, and he dropp’d his bow. +Then shuddering, to his brother thus he spake. + Ah! it is evident. Some Power divine +Makes fruitless all our efforts, who hath struck +My bow out of my hand, and snapt the cord570 +With which I strung it new at dawn of day, +That it might bear the bound of many a shaft. + To whom the towering son of Telamon. +Leave then thy bow, and let thine arrows rest, +Which, envious of the Greeks, some God confounds,575 +That thou may’st fight with spear and buckler arm’d, +And animate the rest. Such be our deeds +That, should they conquer us, our foes may find +Our ships, at least a prize not lightly won. + So Ajax spake; then Teucer, in his tent580 +The bow replacing, slung his fourfold shield, +Settled on his illustrious brows his casque +With hair high-crested, waving, as he moved, +Terrible from above, took forth a spear +Tough-grain’d, acuminated sharp with brass,585 +And stood, incontinent, at Ajax’ side. +Hector perceived the change, and of the cause +Conscious, with echoing voice call’d to his host. + Trojans and Lycians and close-fighting sons +Of Dardanus, oh now, my friends, be men;590 +Now, wheresoever through the fleet dispersed, +Call into mind the fury of your might! +For I have seen, myself, Jove rendering vain +The arrows of their mightiest. Man may know +With ease the hand of interposing Jove,595 +Both whom to glory he ordains, and whom +He weakens and aids not; so now he leaves +The Grecians, but propitious smiles on us. +Therefore stand fast, and whosoever gall’d +By arrow or by spear, dies—let him die;600 +It shall not shame him that he died to serve +His country,[12] but his children, wife and home, +With all his heritage, shall be secure, +Drive but the Grecians from the shores of Troy. + So saying, he animated each. Meantime,605 +Ajax his fellow-warriors thus address’d. + Shame on you all! Now, Grecians, either die, +Or save at once your galley and yourselves. +Hope ye, that should your ships become the prize +Of warlike Hector, ye shall yet return610 +On foot? Or hear ye not the Chief aloud +Summoning all his host, and publishing +His own heart’s wish to burn your fleet with fire? +Not to a dance, believe me, but to fight +He calls them; therefore wiser course for us615 +Is none, than that we mingle hands with hands +In contest obstinate, and force with force. +Better at once to perish, or at once +To rescue life, than to consume the time +Hour after hour in lingering conflict vain620 +Here at the ships, with an inferior foe. + He said, and by his words into all hearts +Fresh confidence infused. Then Hector smote +Schedius, a Chief of the Phocensian powers +And son of Perimedes; Ajax slew,625 +Meantime, a Chief of Trojan infantry, +Laodamas, Antenor’s noble son +While by Polydamas, a leader bold +Of the Epeans, and Phylides’[13] friend, +Cyllenian Otus died. Meges that sight630 +Viewing indignant on the conqueror sprang, +But, starting wide, Polydamas escaped, +Saved by Apollo, and his spear transpierced +The breast of Cræsmus; on his sounding shield +Prostrate he fell, and Meges stripp’d his arms.635 +Him so employ’d Dolops assail’d, brave son +Of Lampus, best of men and bold in fight, +Offspring of King Laomedon; he stood +Full near, and through his middle buckler struck +The son of Phyleus, but his corselet thick640 +With plates of scaly brass his life secured. +That corselet Phyleus on a time brought home +From Ephyre, where the Selleïs winds, +And it was given him for his life’s defence +In furious battle by the King of men,645 +Euphetes. Many a time had it preserved +Unharm’d the sire, and now it saved the son. +Then Meges, rising, with his pointed lance +The bushy crest of Dolops’ helmet drove +Sheer from its base; new-tinged with purple bright650 +Entire it fell and mingled with the dust. +While thus they strove, each hoping victory, +Came martial Menelaus to the aid +Of Meges; spear in hand apart he stood +By Dolops unperceived, through his back drove655 +And through his breast the spear, and far beyond. +And down fell Dolops, forehead to the ground. +At once both flew to strip his radiant arms, +Then, Hector summoning his kindred, call’d +Each to his aid, and Melanippus first,660 +Illustrious Hicetaon’s son, reproved. +Ere yet the enemies of Troy arrived +He in Percote fed his wandering beeves; +But when the Danaï with all their fleet +Came thither, then returning, he outshone665 +The noblest Trojans, and at Priam’s side +Dwelling, was honor’d by him as a son. +Him Hector reprimanding, stern began. + Are we thus slack? Can Melanippus view +Unmoved a kinsman slain? Seest not the Greeks670 +How busy there with Dolops and his arms? +Come on. It is no time for distant war, +But either our Achaian foes must bleed, +Or Ilium taken, from her topmost height +Must stoop, and all her citizens be slain.675 + So saying he went, whose steps the godlike Chief +Attended; and the Telamonian, next, +Huge Ajax, animated thus the Greeks. + Oh friends, be men! Deep treasure in your hearts +An honest shame, and, fighting bravely, fear680 +Each to incur the censure of the rest. +Of men so minded more survive than die, +While dastards forfeit life and glory both. + So moved he them, themselves already bent +To chase the Trojans; yet his word they bore685 +Faithful in mind, and with a wall of brass +Fenced firm the fleet, while Jove impell’d the foe. +Then Menelaus, brave in fight, approach’d +Antilochus, and thus his courage roused. + Antilochus! in all the host is none690 +Younger, or swifter, or of stronger limb +Than thou. Make trial, therefore, of thy might, +Spring forth and prove it on some Chief of Troy. + He ended and retired, but him his praise +Effectual animated; from the van695 +Starting, he cast a wistful eye around +And hurl’d his glittering spear; back fell the ranks +Of Troy appall’d; nor vain his weapon flew, +But Melanippus pierced heroic son +Of Hicetaon, coming forth to fight,700 +Full in the bosom, and with dreadful sound +Of all his batter’d armor down he fell. +Swift flew Antilochus as flies the hound +Some fawn to seize, which issuing from her lair +The hunter with his lance hath stricken dead,705 +So thee, O Melanippus! to despoil +Of thy bright arms valiant Antilochus +Sprang forth, but not unnoticed by the eye +Of noble Hector, who through all the war +Ran to encounter him; his dread approach710 +Antilochus, although expert in arms, +Stood not, but as some prowler of the wilds, +Conscious of injury that he hath done, +Slaying the watchful herdsman or his dog, +Escapes, ere yet the peasantry arise,715 +So fled the son of Nestor, after whom +The Trojans clamoring and Hector pour’d +Darts numberless; but at the front arrived +Of his own phalanx, there he turn’d and stood. +Then, eager as voracious lions, rush’d720 +The Trojans on the fleet of Greece, the mind +Of Jove accomplishing who them impell’d +Continual, calling all their courage forth, +While, every Grecian heart he tamed, and took +Their glory from them, strengthening Ilium’s host.725 +For Jove’s unalter’d purpose was to give +Success to Priameian Hector’s arms,[14] +That he might cast into the fleet of Greece +Devouring flames, and that no part might fail +Of Thetis’ ruthless prayer; that sight alone730 +He watch’d to see, one galley in a blaze, +Ordaining foul repulse, thenceforth, and flight +To Ilium’s host, but glory to the Greeks. +Such was the cause for which, at first, he moved +To that assault Hector, himself prepared735 +And ardent for the task; nor less he raged +Than Mars while fighting, or than flames that seize +Some forest on the mountain-tops; the foam +Hung at his lips, beneath his awful front +His keen eyes glisten’d, and his helmet mark’d740 +The agitation wild with which he fought. +For Jove omnipotent, himself, from heaven +Assisted Hector, and, although alone +With multitudes he strove, gave him to reach +The heights of glory, for that now his life745 +Waned fast, and, urged by Pallas on,[15] his hour +To die by Peleus’ mighty son approach’d. +He then, wherever richest arms he saw +And thickest throng, the warrior-ranks essay’d +To break, but broke them not, though fierce resolved,750 +In even square compact so firm they stood. +As some vast rock beside the hoary Deep +The stress endures of many a hollow wind, +And the huge billows tumbling at his base, +So stood the Danaï, nor fled nor fear’d.755 +But he, all-fiery bright in arms, the host +Assail’d on every side, and on the van +Fell, as a wave by wintry blasts upheaved +Falls ponderous on the ship; white clings the foam +Around her, in her sail shrill howls the storm,760 +And every seaman trembles at the view +Of thousand deaths from which he scarce escapes, +Such anguish rent the bosom of the Greeks. +But he, as leaps a famish’d lion fell +On beeves that graze some marshy meadow’s breadth,765 +A countless herd, tended by one unskill’d +To cope with savage beasts in their defence, +Beside the foremost kine or with the last +He paces heedless, but the lion, borne +Impetuous on the midmost, one devours770 +And scatters all the rest,[16] so fled the Greeks, +Terrified from above, before the arm +Of Hector, and before the frown of Jove. +All fled, but of them all alone he slew +The Mycenæan Periphetes, son775 +Of Copreus custom’d messenger of King +Eurystheus to the might of Hercules. +From such a sire inglorious had arisen +A son far worthier, with all virtue graced, +Swift-footed, valiant, and by none excell’d780 +In wisdom of the Mycenæan name; +Yet all but served to ennoble Hector more. +For Periphetes, with a backward step +Retiring, on his buckler’s border trod, +Which swept his heels; so check’d, he fell supine,785 +And dreadful rang the helmet on his brows. +Him Hector quick noticing, to his side +Hasted, and, planting in his breast a spear, +Slew him before the phalanx of his friends. +But they, although their fellow-warrior’s fate790 +They mourn’d, no succor interposed, or could, +Themselves by noble Hector sore appall’d. + And now behind the ships (all that updrawn +Above the shore, stood foremost of the fleet) +The Greeks retired; in rush’d a flood of foes;795 +Then, through necessity, the ships in front +Abandoning, amid the tents they stood +Compact, not disarray’d, for shame and fear +Fast held them, and vociferating each +Aloud, call’d ceaseless on the rest to stand.800 +But earnest more than all, guardian of all, +Gerenian Nestor in their parents’ name +Implored them, falling at the knees of each. + Oh friends! be men. Now dearly prize your place +Each in the estimation of the rest.805 +Now call to memory your children, wives, +Possessions, parents; ye whose parents live, +And ye whose parents are not, all alike! +By them as if here present, I entreat +That ye stand fast—oh be not turn’d to flight!810 + So saying he roused the courage of the Greeks; +Then, Pallas chased the cloud fall’n from above +On every eye; great light the plain illumed +On all sides, both toward the fleet, and where +The undiscriminating battle raged.815 +Then might be seen Hector and Hector’s host +Distinct, as well the rearmost who the fight +Shared not, as those who waged it at the ships. + To stand aloof where other Grecians stood +No longer now would satisfy the mind820 +Of Ajax, but from deck to deck with strides +Enormous marching, to and fro he swung +With iron studs emboss’d a battle-pole +Unwieldy, twenty and two cubits long. +As one expert to spring from horse to horse,825 +From many steeds selecting four, toward +Some noble city drives them from the plain +Along the populous road; him many a youth +And many a maiden eyes, while still secure +From steed to steed he vaults; they rapid fly;830 +So Ajax o’er the decks of numerous ships +Stalk’d striding large, and sent his voice to heaven. +Thus, ever clamoring, he bade the Greeks +Stand both for camp and fleet. Nor could himself +Hector, contented, now, the battle wage835 +Lost in the multitude of Trojans more, +But as the tawny eagle on full wing +Assails the feather’d nations, geese or cranes +Or swans lithe-neck’d grazing the river’s verge, +So Hector at a galley sable-prow’d840 +Darted; for, from behind, Jove urged him on +With mighty hand, and his host after him. +And now again the battle at the ships +Grew furious; thou hadst deem’d them of a kind +By toil untameable, so fierce they strove,845 +And, striving, thus they fought. The Grecians judged +Hope vain, and the whole host’s destruction sure; +But nought expected every Trojan less +Than to consume the fleet with fire, and leave +Achaia’s heroes lifeless on the field.850 +With such persuasions occupied, they fought. + Then Hector seized the stern of a brave bark +Well-built, sharp-keel’d, and of the swiftest sail, +Which had to Troy Protesiläus brought, +But bore him never thence. For that same ship855 +Contending, Greeks and Trojans hand to hand +Dealt slaughter mutual. Javelins now no more +Might serve them, or the arrow-starting bow, +But close conflicting and of one mind all +With bill and battle-axe, with ponderous swords,860 +And with long lances double-edged they fought. +Many a black-hilted falchion huge of haft +Fell to the ground, some from the grasp, and some +From shoulders of embattled warriors hewn, +And pools of blood soak’d all the sable glebe.865 +Hector that ship once grappled by the stern +Left not, but griping fast her upper edge +With both hands, to his Trojans call’d aloud. + Fire! Bring me fire! Stand fast and shout to heaven! +Jove gives us now a day worth all the past;870 +The ships are ours which, in the Gods’ despite +Steer’d hither, such calamities to us +Have caused, for which our seniors most I blame +Who me withheld from battle at the fleet +And check’d the people; but if then the hand875 +Of Thunderer Jove our better judgment marr’d, +Himself now urges and commands us on. + He ceased; they still more violent assail’d +The Grecians. Even Ajax could endure, +Whelm’d under weapons numberless, that storm880 +No longer, but expecting death retired +Down from the decks to an inferior stand, +Where still he watch’d, and if a Trojan bore +Fire thither, he repulsed him with his spear, +Roaring continual to the host of Greece.885 + Friends! Grecian heroes! ministers of Mars! +Be men, my friends! now summon all your might! +Think we that we have thousands at our backs +To succor us, or yet some stronger wall +To guard our warriors from the battle’s force?890 +Not so. No tower’d city is at hand, +None that presents us with a safe retreat +While others occupy our station here, +But from the shores of Argos far remote +Our camp is, where the Trojans arm’d complete895 +Swarm on the plain, and Ocean shuts us in. +Our hands must therefore save us, not our heels + He said, and furious with his spear again +Press’d them, and whatsoever Trojan came, +Obsequious to the will of Hector, arm’d900 +With fire to burn the fleet, on his spear’s point +Ajax receiving pierced him, till at length +Twelve in close fight fell by his single arm. + + + + +BOOK XVI. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE SIXTEENTH BOOK. + +Achilles, at the suit of Patroclus, grants him his own armor, and +permission to lead the Myrmidons to battle. They, sallying, repulse the +Trojans. Patroclus slays Sarpedon, and Hector, when Apollo had first +stripped off his armor and Euphorbus wounded him, slays Patroclus. + + +BOOK XVI. + + +Such contest for that gallant bark they waged. +Meantime Patroclus, standing at the side +Of the illustrious Chief Achilles, wept +Fast as a crystal fountain from the height +Of some rude rock pours down its rapid[1] stream.5 +Divine Achilles with compassion moved +Mark’d him, and in wing’d accents thus began.[2] + Who weeps Patroclus like an infant girl +Who, running at her mother’s side, entreats +To be uplifted in her arms? She grasps10 +Her mantle, checks her haste, and looking up +With tearful eyes, pleads earnest to be borne; +So fall, Patroclus! thy unceasing tears. +Bring’st thou to me or to my people aught +Afflictive? Hast thou mournful tidings learn’d15 +Prom Phthia, trusted to thy ear alone? +Menœtius, son of Actor, as they say, +Still lives; still lives his Myrmidons among +Peleus Æacides; whom, were they dead, +With cause sufficient we should both deplore.20 +Or weep’st thou the Achaians at the ships +Perishing, for their outrage done to me? +Speak. Name thy trouble. I would learn the cause + To whom, deep-sorrowing, thou didst reply, +Patroclus! Oh Achilles, Peleus’ son!25 +Noblest of all our host! bear with my grief, +Since such distress hath on the Grecians fallen. +The bravest of their ships disabled lie, +Some wounded from afar, some hand to hand. +Diomede, warlike son of Tydeus, bleeds,30 +Gall’d by a shaft; Ulysses, glorious Chief, +And Agamemnon suffer by the spear, +And brave Eurypylus an arrow-point +Bears in his thigh. These all, are now the care +Of healing hands. Oh thou art pity-proof,35 +Achilles! be my bosom ever free +From anger such as harbor finds in thine, +Scorning all limits! whom, of men unborn, +Hereafter wilt thou save, from whom avert +Disgrace, if not from the Achaians now?40 +Ah ruthless! neither Peleus thee begat, +Nor Thetis bore, but rugged rocks sublime, +And roaring billows blue gave birth to thee, +Who bear’st a mind that knows not to relent, +But, if some prophecy alarm thy fears,45 +If from thy Goddess-mother thou have aught +Received, and with authority of Jove, +Me send at least, me quickly, and with me +The Myrmidons. A dawn of cheerful hope +Shall thence, it may be, on the Greeks arise.50 +Grant me thine armor also, that the foe +Thyself supposing present, may abstain +From battle, and the weary Greeks enjoy +Short respite; it is all that war allows. +We, fresh and vigorous, by our shouts alone55 +May easily repulse an army spent +With labor from the camp, and from the fleet, + Such suit he made, alas! all unforewarn’d +That his own death should be the bitter fruit, +And thus Achilles, sorrowful, replied.60 + Patroclus, noble friend! what hast thou spoken? +Me neither prophesy that I have heard +Holds in suspense, nor aught that I have learn’d +From Thetis with authority of Jove! +Hence springs, and hence alone, my grief of heart;65 +If one, in nought superior to myself +Save in his office only, should by force +Amerce me of my well-earn’d recompense— +How then? There lies the grief that stings my soul. +The virgin chosen for me by the sons70 +Of Greece, my just reward, by my own spear +Obtain’d when I Eëtion’s city took, +Her, Agamemnon, leader of the host +From my possession wrung, as I had been +Some alien wretch, unhonor’d and unknown.75 +But let it pass; anger is not a flame +To feed for ever; I affirm’d, indeed, +Mine inextinguishable till the shout +Of battle should invade my proper barks; +But thou put on my glorious arms, lead forth80 +My valiant Myrmidons, since such a cloud, +So dark, of dire hostility surrounds +The fleet, and the Achaians, by the waves +Hemm’d in, are prison’d now in narrow space. +Because the Trojans meet not in the field85 +My dazzling helmet, therefore bolder grown +All Ilium comes abroad; but had I found +Kindness at royal Agamemnon’s hands, +Soon had they fled, and with their bodies chok’d +The streams, from whom ourselves now suffer siege90 +For in the hands of Diomede his spear +No longer rages rescuing from death +The afflicted Danaï, nor hear I more +The voice of Agamemnon issuing harsh +From his detested throat, but all around95 +The burst[3] of homicidal Hector’s cries, +Calling his Trojans on; they loud insult +The vanquish’d Greeks, and claim the field their own. +Go therefore, my Patroclus; furious fall +On these assailants, even now preserve100 +From fire the only hope of our return. +But hear the sum of all; mark well my word; +So shalt thou glorify me in the eyes +Of all the Danaï, and they shall yield +Brisëis mine, with many a gift beside.105 +The Trojans from the fleet expell’d, return. +Should Juno’s awful spouse give thee to win +Victory, be content; seek not to press +The Trojans without me, for thou shalt add +Still more to the disgrace already mine.[4]110 +Much less, by martial ardor urged, conduct +Thy slaughtering legions to the walls of Troy, +Lest some immortal power on her behalf +Descend, for much the Archer of the skies +Loves Ilium. No—the fleet once saved, lead back115 +Thy band, and leave the battle to themselves. +For oh, by all the powers of heaven I would +That not one Trojan might escape of all, +Nor yet a Grecian, but that we, from death +Ourselves escaping, might survive to spread120 +Troy’s sacred bulwarks on the ground, alone. + Thus they conferr’d. [5]But Ajax overwhelm’d +Meantime with darts, no longer could endure, +Quell’d both by Jupiter and by the spears +Of many a noble Trojan; hideous rang125 +His batter’d helmet bright, stroke after stroke +Sustaining on all sides, and his left arm +That had so long shifted from side to side +His restless shield, now fail’d; yet could not all +Displace him with united force, or move.130 +Quick pantings heaved his chest, copious the sweat +Trickled from all his limbs, nor found he time, +However short, to breathe again, so close +Evil on evil heap’d hemm’d him around. + Olympian Muses! now declare, how first135 +The fire was kindled in Achaia’s fleet? + Hector the ashen lance of Ajax smote +With his broad falchion, at the nether end, +And lopp’d it sheer. The Telamonian Chief +His mutilated beam brandish’d in vain,140 +And the bright point shrill-sounding-fell remote. +Then Ajax in his noble mind perceived, +Shuddering with awe, the interposing power +Of heaven, and that, propitious to the arms +Of Troy, the Thunderer had ordain’d to mar145 +And frustrate all the counsels of the Greeks. +He left his stand; they fired the gallant bark; +Through all her length the conflagration ran +Incontinent, and wrapp’d her stern in flames. +Achilles saw them, smote his thighs, and said,150 + Patroclus, noble charioteer, arise! +I see the rapid run of hostile fires +Already in the fleet—lest all be lost, +And our return impossible, arm, arm +This moment; I will call, myself, the band.155 + Then put Patroclus on his radiant arms. +Around his legs his polish’d greaves he clasp’d, +With argent studs secured; the hauberk rich +Star-spangled to his breast he bound of swift +Æacides; he slung his brazen sword160 +With silver bright emboss’d, and his broad shield +Ponderous; on his noble head his casque +He settled elegant, whose lofty crest +Waved dreadful o’er his brows, and last he seized +Well fitted to his gripe two sturdy spears.165 +Of all Achilles’ arms his spear alone +He took not; that huge beam, of bulk and length +Enormous, none, Æacides except, +In all Achaia’s host had power to wield. +It was that Pelian ash which from the top170 +Of Pelion hewn that it might prove the death +Of heroes, Chiron had to Peleus given. +He bade Automedon his coursers bind +Speedily to the yoke, for him he loved +Next to Achilles most, as worthiest found175 +Of trust, what time the battle loudest roar’d. +Then led Automedon the fiery steeds +Swift as wing’d tempests to the chariot-yoke, +Xanthus and Balius. Them the harpy bore +Podarge, while in meadows green she fed180 +On Ocean’s side, to Zephyrus the wind. +To these he added, at their side, a third, +The noble Pedasus; him Peleus’ son, +Eëtion’s city taken, thence had brought, +Though mortal, yet a match for steeds divine.185 +Meantime from every tent Achilles call’d +And arm’d his Myrmidons. As wolves that gorge +The prey yet panting, terrible in force, +When on the mountains wild they have devour’d +An antler’d stag new-slain, with bloody jaws190 +Troop all at once to some clear fountain, there +To lap with slender tongues the brimming wave; +No fears have they, but at their ease eject +From full maws flatulent the clotted gore; +Such seem’d the Myrmidon heroic Chiefs195 +Assembling fast around the valiant friend +Of swift Æacides. Amid them stood +Warlike Achilles, the well-shielded ranks +Exhorting, and the steeds, to glorious war. + The galleys by Achilles dear to Jove200 +Commanded, when to Ilium’s coast he steer’d, +Were fifty; fifty rowers sat in each, +And five, in whom he trusted, o’er the rest +He captains named, but ruled, himself, supreme. +One band Menestheus swift in battle led,205 +Offspring of Sperchius heaven-descended stream. +Him Polydora, Peleus’ daughter, bore +To ever-flowing Sperchius, compress’d, +Although a mortal woman, by a God. +But his reputed father was the son210 +Of Perieres, Borus, who with dower +Enrich’d, and made her openly his bride. +Warlike Eudorus led the second band. +Him Polymela, graceful in the dance, +And daughter beautiful of Phylas, bore,215 +A mother unsuspected of a child. +Her worshiping the golden-shafted Queen +Diana, in full choir, with song and dance, +The valiant Argicide[6] beheld and loved. +Ascending with her to an upper room,220 +All-bounteous Mercury[7] clandestine there +Embraced her, who a noble son produced +Eudorus, swift to run, and bold in fight. +No sooner Ilithya, arbitress +Of pangs puerperal, had given him birth,225 +And he beheld the beaming sun, than her +Echechleus, Actor’s mighty son, enrich’d +With countless dower, and led her to his home; +While ancient Phylas, cherishing her boy +With fond affection, reared him as his own.230 +The third brave troop warlike Pisander led, +Offspring of Maimalus; he far excell’d +In spear-fight every Myrmidon, the friend +Of Peleus’ dauntless son alone except. +The hoary Phœnix of equestrian fame235 +The fourth band led to battle, and the fifth +Laërceus’ offspring, bold Alcimedon. +Thus, all his bands beneath their proper Chiefs +Marshall’d, Achilles gave them strict command— + Myrmidons! all that vengeance now inflict,240 +Which in this fleet ye ceased not to denounce +Against the Trojans while my wrath endured. +Me censuring, ye have proclaim’d me oft +Obdurate. Oh Achilles! ye have said, +Thee not with milk thy mother but with bile245 +Suckled, who hold’st thy people here in camp +Thus long imprison’d. Unrelenting Chief! +Even let us hence in our sea-skimming barks +To Phthia, since thou can’st not be appeased— +Thus in full council have ye spoken oft.250 +Now, therefore, since a day of glorious toil +At last appears, such as ye have desired, +There lies the field—go—give your courage proof. + So them he roused, and they, their leader’s voice +Hearing elate, to closest order drew.255 +As when an architect some palace wall +With shapely stones upbuilds, cementing close +A barrier against all the winds of heaven, +So wedged, the helmets and boss’d bucklers stood; +Shield, helmet, man, press’d helmet, man, and shield,260 +And every bright-arm’d warrior’s bushy crest +Its fellow swept, so dense was their array. +In front of all, two Chiefs their station took, +Patroclus and Automedon; one mind +In both prevail’d, to combat in the van265 +Of all the Myrmidons. Achilles, then, +Retiring to his tent, displaced the lid +Of a capacious chest magnificent +By silver-footed Thetis stow’d on board +His bark, and fill’d with tunics, mantles warm,270 +And gorgeous arras; there he also kept +Secure a goblet exquisitely wrought, +Which never lip touched save his own, and whence +He offer’d only to the Sire of all. +That cup producing from the chest, he first275 +With sulphur fumed it, then with water rinsed +Pellucid of the running stream, and, last +(His hands clean laved) he charged it high with wine. +And now, advancing to his middle court, +He pour’d libation, and with eyes to heaven280 +Uplifted pray’d,[8] of Jove not unobserved. + Pelasgian, Dodonæan Jove supreme, +Dwelling remote, who on Dodona’s heights +Snow-clad reign’st Sovereign, by thy seers around +Compass’d the Selli, prophets vow-constrain’d285 +To unwash’d feet and slumbers on the ground! +Plain I behold my former prayer perform’d, +Myself exalted, and the Greeks abased. +Now also grant me, Jove, this my desire! +Here, in my fleet, I shall myself abide,290 +But lo! with all these Myrmidons I send +My friend to battle. Thunder-rolling Jove, +Send glory with him, make his courage firm! +That even Hector may himself be taught, +If my companion have a valiant heart295 +When he goes forth alone, or only then +The noble frenzy feels that Mars inspires +When I rush also to the glorious field. +But when he shall have driven the battle-shout +Once from the fleet, grant him with all his arms,300 +None lost, himself unhurt, and my whole band +Of dauntless warriors with him, safe return! + Such prayer Achilles offer’d, and his suit +Jove hearing, part confirm’d, and part refused; +To chase the dreadful battle from the fleet305 +He gave him, but vouchsafed him no return. +Prayer and libation thus perform’d to Jove +The Sire of all, Achilles to his tent +Return’d, replaced the goblet in his chest, +And anxious still that conflict to behold310 +Between the hosts, stood forth before his tent. + Then rush’d the bands by brave Patroclus led, +Full on the Trojan host. As wasps forsake +Their home by the way-side, provoked by boys +Disturbing inconsiderate their abode,315 +Not without nuisance sore to all who pass, +For if, thenceforth, some traveller unaware +Annoy them, issuing one and all they swarm +Around him, fearless in their broods’ defence, +So issued from their fleet the Myrmidons320 +Undaunted; clamor infinite arose, +And thus Patroclus loud his host address’d. + Oh Myrmidons, attendants in the field +On Peleus’ son, now be ye men, my friends! +Call now to mind the fury of your might;325 +That we, close-fighting servants of the Chief +Most excellent in all the camp of Greece, +May glory gain for him, and that the wide- +Commanding Agamemnon, Atreus’ son, +May learn his fault, that he dishonor’d foul330 +The prince in whom Achaia glories most. + So saying he fired their hearts, and on the van +Of Troy at once they fell; loud shouted all +The joyful Grecians, and the navy rang. +Then, soon as Ilium’s host the valiant son335 +Saw of Menœtius and his charioteer +In dazzling armor clad, all courage lost, +Their closest ranks gave way, believing sure +That, wrath renounced, and terms of friendship chosen, +Achilles’ self was there; thus thinking, each340 +Look’d every way for refuge from his fate. + Patroclus first, where thickest throng he saw +Gather’d tumultuous around the bark +Of brave Protesilaüs, hurl’d direct +At the whole multitude his glittering spear.345 +He smote Pyræchmes; he his horsemen band +Pœonian led from Amydon, and from +Broad-flowing Axius. In his shoulder stood +The spear, and with loud groans supine he fell. +At once fled all his followers, on all sides350 +With consternation fill’d, seeing their Chief +And their best warrior, by Patroclus slain. +Forth from the fleet he drove them, quench’d the flames, +And rescued half the ship. Then scatter’d fled +With infinite uproar the host of Troy,355 +While from between their ships the Danaï +Pour’d after them, and hideous rout ensued. +As when the king of lightnings, Jove, dispels +From some huge eminence a gloomy cloud, +The groves, the mountain-tops, the headland heights360 +Shine all, illumined from the boundless heaven, +So when the Danaï those hostile fires +Had from their fleet expell’d, awhile they breathed, +Yet found short respite, for the battle yet +Ceased not, nor fled the Trojans in all parts365 +Alike, but still resisted, from the ships +Retiring through necessity alone. +Then, in that scatter’d warfare, every Chief +Slew one. While Areïlochus his back +Turn’d on Patroclus, sudden with a lance370 +His thigh he pierced, and urged the weapon through, +Shivering the bone; he headlong smote the ground. +The hero Menelaus, where he saw +The breast of Thoas by his slanting shield +Unguarded, struck and stretch’d him at his feet.375 +Phylides,[9] meeting with preventive spear +The furious onset of Amphiclus, gash’d +His leg below the knee, where brawny most +The muscles swell in man; disparted wide +The tendons shrank, and darkness veil’d his eyes.380 +The two Nestoridæ slew each a Chief. +Of these, Antilochus Atymnius pierced +Right through his flank, and at his feet he fell. +With fierce resentment fired Maris beheld +His brother’s fall, and guarding, spear in hand,385 +The slain, impetuous on the conqueror flew; +But godlike Thrasymedes[10] wounded first +Maris, ere he Antilochus; he pierced +His upper arm, and with the lance’s point +Rent off and stript the muscles to the bone.390 +Sounding he fell, and darkness veil’d his eyes. +They thus, two brothers by two brothers slain, +Went down to Erebus, associates both +Of brave Sarpedon, and spear-practised sons +Of Amisodarus; of him who fed395 +Chimæra,[11] monster, by whom many died. +Ajax the swift on Cleobulus sprang, +Whom while he toil’d entangled in the crowd, +He seized alive, but smote him where he stood +With his huge-hafted sword full on the neck;400 +The blood warm’d all his blade, and ruthless fate +Benighted dark the dying warrior’s eyes. +Peneleus into close contention rush’d +And Lycon. Each had hurl’d his glittering spear, +But each in vain, and now with swords they met.405 +He smote Peneleus on the crested casque, +But snapp’d his falchion; him Peneleus smote +Beneath his ear; the whole blade entering sank +Into his neck, and Lycon with his head +Depending by the skin alone, expired.410 +Meriones o’ertaking Acamas +Ere yet he could ascend his chariot, thrust +A lance into his shoulder; down he fell +In dreary death’s eternal darkness whelm’d. +Idomeneus his ruthless spear enforced415 +Into the mouth of Erymas. The point +Stay’d not, but gliding close beneath the brain, +Transpierced his spine,[12] and started forth beyond. +It wrench’d his teeth, and fill’d his eyes with blood; +Blood also blowing through his open mouth420 +And nostrils, to the realms of death he pass’d. +Thus slew these Grecian leaders, each, a foe. + Sudden as hungry wolves the kids purloin +Or lambs, which haply some unheeding swain +Hath left to roam at large the mountains wild;425 +They, seeing, snatch them from beside the dams, +And rend incontinent the feeble prey, +So swift the Danaï the host assail’d +Of Ilium; they, into tumultuous flight +Together driven, all hope, all courage lost.430 + Huge Ajax ceaseless sought his spear to cast +At Hector brazen-mail’d, who, not untaught +The warrior’s art, with bull-hide buckler stood +Sheltering his ample shoulders, while he mark’d +The hiss of flying shafts and crash of spears.435 +Full sure he saw the shifting course of war +Now turn’d, but scorning flight, bent all his thoughts +To rescue yet the remnant of his friends. + As when the Thunderer spreads a sable storm +O’er ether, late serene, the cloud that wrapp’d440 +Olympus’ head escapes into the skies, +So fled the Trojans from the fleet of Greece +Clamoring in their flight, nor pass’d the trench +In fair array; the coursers fleet indeed +Of Hector, him bore safe with all his arms445 +Right through, but in the foss entangled foul +He left his host, and struggling to escape. +Then many a chariot-whirling steed, the pole +Broken at its extremity, forsook +His driver, while Patroclus with the shout450 +Of battle calling his Achaians on, +Destruction purposed to the powers of Troy. +They, once dispersed, with clamor and with flight +Fill’d all the ways, the dust beneath the clouds +Hung like a tempest, and the steeds firm-hoof’d455 +Whirl’d off at stretch the chariots to the town. +He, wheresoe’er most troubled he perceived +The routed host, loud-threatening thither drove, +While under his own axle many a Chief +Fell prone, and the o’ertumbled chariots rang.460 +Right o’er the hollow foss the coursers leap’d +Immortal, by the Gods to Peleus given, +Impatient for the plain, nor less desire +Felt he who drove to smite the Trojan Chief, +But him his fiery steeds caught swift away.465 + As when a tempest from autumnal skies +Floats all the fields, what time Jove heaviest pours +Impetuous rain, token of wrath divine +Against perverters of the laws by force, +Who drive forth justice, reckless of the Gods;470 +The rivers and the torrents, where they dwell, +Sweep many a green declivity away, +And plunge at length, groaning, into the Deep +From the hills headlong, leaving where they pass’d +No traces of the pleasant works of man,475 +So, in their flight, loud groan’d the steeds of Troy. +And now, their foremost intercepted all, +Patroclus back again toward the fleet +Drove them precipitate, nor the ascent +Permitted them to Troy for which they strove,480 +But in the midway space between the ships +The river and the lofty Trojan wall +Pursued them ardent, slaughtering whom he reached, +And vengeance took for many a Grecian slain. +First then, with glittering spear the breast he pierced485 +Of Pronöus, undefended by his shield, +And stretch’d him dead; loud rang his batter’d arms. +The son of Enops, Thestor next he smote. +He on his chariot-seat magnificent +Low-cowering sat, a fear-distracted form,490 +And from his palsied grasp the reins had fallen. +Then came Patroclus nigh, and through his cheek +His teeth transpiercing, drew him by his lance +Sheer o’er the chariot front. As when a man +On some projecting rock seated, with line495 +And splendid hook draws forth a sea-fish huge, +So him wide-gaping from his seat he drew +At his spear-point, then shook him to the ground +Prone on his face, where gasping he expired. +At Eryalus, next, advancing swift500 +He hurl’d a rock; full on the middle front +He smote him, and within the ponderous casque +His whole head open’d into equal halves. +With deadliest night surrounded, prone he fell. +Epaltes, Erymas, Amphoterus,505 +Echius, Tlepolemus Damastor’s son, +Evippus, Ipheus, Pyres, Polymelus, +All these he on the champain, corse on corse +Promiscuous flung. Sarpedon, when he saw +Such havoc made of his uncinctured[13] friends510 +By Menœtiades, with sharp rebuke +His band of godlike Lycians loud address’d. + Shame on you, Lycians! whither would ye fly? +Now are ye swift indeed! I will oppose +Myself this conqueror, that I may learn515 +Who thus afflicts the Trojan host, of life +Bereaving numerous of their warriors bold. + He said, and with his arms leap’d to the ground. +On the other side, Patroclus at that sight +Sprang from his chariot. As two vultures clash520 +Bow-beak’d, crook-talon’d, on some lofty rock +Clamoring both, so they together rush’d +With clamors loud; whom when the son observed +Of wily Saturn, with compassion moved +His sister and his spouse he thus bespake.525 + Alas, he falls! my most beloved of men +Sarpedon, vanquished by Patroclus, falls! +So will the Fates. Yet, doubtful, much I muse +Whether to place him, snatch’d from furious fight +In Lycia’s wealthy realm, or to permit530 +His death by valiant Menœtiades. + To whom his awful spouse, displeased, replied. +How speaks the terrible Saturnian Jove! +Wouldst thou again from pangs of death exempt +A mortal man, destined long since to die?535 +Do it. But small thy praise shall be in heaven, +Mark thou my words, and in thy inmost breast +Treasure them. If thou send Sarpedon safe +To his own home, how many Gods _their_ sons +May also send from battle? Weigh it well.540 +For under yon great city fight no few +Sprung from Immortals whom thou shalt provoke. +But if thou love him, and thine heart his lot +Commiserate, leave him by the hands to fall +Of Menœtiades in conflict dire;545 +But give command to Death and gentle Sleep +That him of life bereft at once they bear +To Lycia’s ample realm,[14] where, with due rites +Funereal, his next kindred and his friends +Shall honor him, a pillar and a tomb550 +(The dead man’s portion) rearing to his name. + She said, from whom the Sire of Gods and men +Dissented not, but on the earth distill’d +A sanguine shower in honor of a son +Dear to him, whom Patroclus on the field555 +Of fruitful Troy should slay, far from his home. + Opposite now, small interval between, +Those heroes stood. Patroclus at his waist +Pierced Thrasymelus the illustrious friend +Of King Sarpedon, and his charioteer.560 +Spear’d through the lower bowels, dead he fell. +Then hurl’d Sarpedon in his turn a lance, +But miss’d Patroclus and the shoulder pierced +Of Pedasus the horse; he groaning heaved +His spirit forth, and fallen on the field565 +In long loud moanings sorrowful expired. +Wide started the immortal pair; the yoke +Creak’d, and entanglement of reins ensued +To both, their fellow slaughter’d at their side. +That mischief soon Automedon redress’d.570 +He rose, and from beside his sturdy thigh +Drawing his falchion, with effectual stroke +Cut loose the side-horse; then the pair reduced +To order, in their traces stood composed, +And the two heroes fierce engaged again.575 + Again his radiant spear Sarpedon hurl’d, +But miss’d Patroclus; the innocuous point, +O’erflying his left shoulder, pass’d beyond. +Then with bright lance Patroclus in his turn +Assail’d Sarpedon, nor with erring course580 +The weapon sped or vain, but pierced profound +His chest, enclosure of the guarded heart. +As falls an oak, poplar, or lofty pine +With new-edged axes on the mountains hewn +Right through, for structure of some gallant bark,585 +So fell Sarpedon stretch’d his steeds before +And gnash’d his teeth and clutch’d the bloody dust, +And as a lion slays a tawny bull +Leader magnanimous of all the herd; +Beneath the lion’s jaws groaning he dies;590 +So, leader of the shielded Lycians groan’d +Indignant, by Patroclus slain, the bold +Sarpedon, and his friend thus, sad, bespake. + Glaucus, my friend, among these warring Chiefs +Thyself a Chief illustrious! thou hast need595 +Of all thy valor now; now strenuous fight, +And, if thou bear within thee a brave mind, +Now make the war’s calamities thy joy. +First, marching through the host of Lycia, rouse +Our Chiefs to combat for Sarpedon slain,600 +Then haste, thyself, to battle for thy friend. +For shame and foul dishonor which no time +Shall e’er obliterate, I must prove to thee, +Should the Achaians of my glorious arms +Despoil me in full prospect[15] of the fleet.605 +Fight, therefore, thou, and others urge to fight. + He said, and cover’d by the night of death, +Nor look’d nor breath’d again; for on his chest +Implanting firm his heel, Patroclus drew +The spear enfolded with his vitals forth,610 +Weapon and life at once. Meantime his steeds +Snorted, by Myrmidons detain’d, and, loosed +From their own master’s chariot, foam’d to fly. +Terrible was the grief by Glaucus felt, +Hearing that charge, and troubled was his heart615 +That all power fail’d him to protect the dead. +Compressing his own arm he stood, with pain +Extreme tormented which the shaft had caused +Of Teucer, who while Glaucus climb’d the wall, +Had pierced him from it, in the fleet’s defence.620 +Then, thus, to Phœbus, King shaft-arm’d, he pray’d. + Hear now, O King! For whether in the land +Of wealthy Lycia dwelling, or in Troy, +Thou hear’st in every place alike the prayer +Of the afflicted heart, and such is mine;625 +Behold my wound; it fills my useless hand +With anguish, neither can my blood be stay’d, +And all my shoulder suffers. I can grasp +A spear, or rush to conflict with the Greeks +No longer now; and we have also lost630 +Our noblest Chief, Sarpedon, son of Jove, +Who guards not his own son. But thou, O King! +Heal me, assuage my anguish, give me strength, +That I may animate the Lycian host +To fight, and may, myself, defend the dead!635 + Such prayer he offer’d, whom Apollo heard; +He eased at once his pain, the sable blood +Staunch’d, and his soul with vigor new inspired. +Then Glaucus in his heart that prayer perceived +Granted, and joyful for the sudden aid640 +Vouchsafed to him by Phœbus, first the lines +Of Lycia ranged, summoning every Chief +To fight for slain Sarpedon; striding next +With eager haste into the ranks of Troy, +Renown’d Agenor and the son he call’d645 +Of Panthus, brave Polydamas, with whom +Æneas also, and approaching last +To Hector brazen-mail’d him thus bespake. + Now, Hector! now, thou hast indeed resign’d +All care of thy allies, who, for thy sake,650 +Lost both to friends and country, on these plains +Perish, unaided and unmiss’d by thee. +Sarpedon breathless lies, who led to fight +Our shielded bands, and from whose just control +And courage Lycia drew her chief defence.655 +Him brazen Mars hath by the spear subdued +Of Menœtiades. But stand ye firm! +Let indignation fire you, O my friends! +Lest, stripping him of his resplendent arms, +The Myrmidons with foul dishonor shame660 +His body, through resentment of the deaths +Of numerous Grecians slain by spears of ours. + He ceased; then sorrow every Trojan heart +Seized insupportable and that disdain’d +All bounds, for that, although a stranger born,665 +Sarpedon ever had a bulwark proved +To Troy, the leader of a numerous host, +And of that host by none in fight excell’d. +Right on toward the Danaï they moved +Ardent for battle all, and at their head670 +Enraged for slain Sarpedon, Hector came. +Meantime, stout-hearted[16] Chief, Patroclus roused +The Grecians, and exhorting first (themselves +Already prompt) the Ajaces, thus began. + Heroic pair! now make it all your joy675 +To chase the Trojan host, and such to prove +As erst, or even bolder, if ye may. +The Chief lies breathless who ascended first +Our wall, Sarpedon. Let us bear him hence, +Strip and dishonor him, and in the blood680 +Of his protectors drench the ruthless spear. + So Menœtiades his warriors urged, +Themselves courageous. Then the Lycian host +And Trojan here, and there the Myrmidons +With all the host of Greece, closing the ranks685 +Rush’d into furious contest for the dead, +Shouting tremendous; clang’d their brazen arms, +And Jove with Night’s pernicious shades[17] o’erhung +The bloody field, so to enhance the more +Their toilsome strife for his own son. First then690 +The Trojans from their place and order shock’d +The bright-eyed Grecians, slaying not the least +Nor worst among the Myrmidons, the brave +Epigeus from renown’d Agacles sprung. +He, erst, in populous Budeum ruled,695 +But for a valiant kinsman of his own +Whom there he slew, had thence to Peleus fled +And to his silver-footed spouse divine, +Who with Achilles, phalanx-breaker Chief, +Sent him to fight beneath the walls of Troy.700 +Him seizing fast the body, with a stone +Illustrious Hector smote full on the front, +And his whole skull within the ponderous casque +Split sheer; he prostrate on the body fell +In shades of soul-divorcing death involved.705 +Patroclus, grieving for his slaughter’d friend, +Rush’d through the foremost warriors. As the hawk +Swift-wing’d before him starlings drives or daws, +So thou, Patroclus, of equestrian fame! +Full on the Lycian ranks and Trojan drov’st,710 +Resentful of thy fellow-warrior’s fall. +At Sthenelaüs a huge stone he cast, +Son of Ithæmenes, whom on the neck +He smote and burst the tendons; then the van +Of Ilium’s host, with Hector, all retired.715 +Far as the slender javelin cuts the air +Hurl’d with collected force, or in the games, +Or even in battle at a desperate foe, +So far the Greeks repulsed the host of Troy. +Then Glaucus first, Chief of the shielded bands720 +Of Lycia, slew Bathycles, valiant son +Of Calchon; Hellas was his home, and far +He pass’d in riches all the Myrmidons. +Him chasing Glaucus whom he now attain’d, +The Lycian, turning sudden, with his lance725 +Pierced through the breast, and, sounding, down he fell +Grief fill’d Achaia’s sons for such a Chief +So slain, but joy the Trojans; thick they throng’d +The conqueror around, nor yet the Greeks +Forgat their force, but resolute advanced.730 +Then, by Meriones a Trojan died +Of noble rank, Laogonus, the son +Undaunted of Onetor great in Troy, +Priest of Idæan Jove. The ear and jaw +Between, he pierced him with a mortal force;735 +Swift flew the life, and darkness veil’d his eyes. +Æneas, in return, his brazen spear +Hurl’d at Meriones with ardent hope +To pierce him, while, with nimble[18] steps and short +Behind his buckler made, he paced the field;740 +But, warn’d of its approach, Meriones +Bow’d low his head, shunning it, and the spear +Behind him pierced the soil; there quivering stood +The weapon, vain, though from a vigorous arm, +Till spent by slow degrees its fury slept.745 + * * * * * + * * * * *[19] +Indignant then Æneas thus exclaim’d. + + Meriones! I sent thee such a spear +As reaching thee, should have for ever marr’d750 +Thy step, accomplish’d dancer as thou art. + To whom Meriones spear-famed replied. +Æneas! thou wilt find the labor hard +How great soe’er thy might, to quell the force +Of all opposers. Thou art also doom’d755 +Thyself to die; and may but spear of mine +Well-aim’d once strike thee full, what strength soe’er +Or magnanimity be thine to boast, +Thy glory in that moment thou resign’st +To me, thy soul to Pluto steed-renown’d.760 + He said, but him Patroclus sharp reproved. +Why speaks Meriones, although in fight +Approved, thus proudly? Nay, my gallant friend! +The Trojans will not for reproach of ours +Renounce the body. Blood must first be spilt.765 +Tongues in debate, but hands in war decide; +Deeds therefore now, not wordy vaunts, we need. + So saying he led the way, whom follow’d close +Godlike Meriones. As from the depth +Of some lone wood that clothes the mountain’s side770 +The fellers at their toil are heard remote, +So, from the face of Ilium’s ample plain +Reverberated, was the din of brass +And of tough targets heard by falchions huge +Hard-smitten, and by spears of double-edge.775 +None then, no, not the quickest to discern, +Had known divine Sarpedon, from his head +To his foot-sole with mingled blood and dust +Polluted, and o’erwhelm’d with weapons. They +Around the body swarm’d. As hovel-flies780 +In spring-time buzz around the brimming pails +With milk bedew’d, so they around the dead. +Nor Jove averted once his glorious eyes +From that dread contest, but with watchful note +Marked all, the future death in battle deep785 +Pondering of Patroclus, whether him +Hector should even now slay on divine +Sarpedon, and despoil him of his arms, +Or he should still that arduous strife prolong. +This counsel gain’d as eligible most790 +At length his preference: that the valiant friend +Of Peleus’ son should yet again compel +The Trojan host with Hector brazen-mail’d +To Ilium, slaughtering numerous by the way. +First then, with fears unmanly he possess’d795 +The heart of Hector; mounting to his seat +He turn’d to flight himself, and bade his host +Fly also; for he knew Jove’s purpose[20] changed. +Thenceforth, no longer even Lycia’s host +Endured, but all fled scatter’d, seeing pierced800 +Their sovereign through his heart, and heap’d with dead; +For numerous, while Saturnian Jove the fight +Held in suspense, had on his body fallen. +At once the Grecians of his dazzling arms +Despoil’d Sarpedon, which the Myrmidons805 +By order of Menœtius’ valiant son +Bore thence into the fleet. Meantime his will +The Thunderer to Apollo thus express’d. + Phœbus, my son, delay not; from beneath +Yon hill of weapons drawn cleanse from his blood810 +Sarpedon’s corse; then, bearing him remote, +Lave him in waters of the running stream, +With oils divine anoint, and in attire +Immortal clothe him. Last, to Death and Sleep, +Swift bearers both, twin-born, deliver him;815 +For hence to Lycia’s opulent abodes +They shall transport him quickly, where, with rites +Funereal, his next kindred and his friends +Shall honor him, a pillar and a tomb +(The dead man’s portion) rearing to his name.820 + He ceased; nor was Apollo slow to hear +His father’s will, but, from the Idæan heights +Descending swift into the dreadful field, +Godlike Sarpedon’s body from beneath +The hill of weapons drew, which, borne remote,825 +He laved in waters of the running stream, +With oils ambrosial bathed, and clothed in robes +Immortal. Then to Death and gentle Sleep, +Swift-bearers both, twin-born, he gave the charge, +Who placed it soon in Lycia’s wealthy realm.830 + Meantime Patroclus, calling to his steeds, +And to Automedon, the Trojans chased +And Lycians, on his own destruction bent +Infatuate; heedless of his charge received +From Peleus’ son, which, well perform’d, had saved835 +The hero from his miserable doom. +But Jove’s high purpose evermore prevails +Against the thoughts of man; he turns to flight +The bravest, and the victory takes with ease +E’en from the Chief whom he impels himself840 +To battle, as he now this Chief impell’d. +Who, then, Patroclus! first, who last by thee +Fell slain, what time thyself was call’d to die? +Adrastus first, then Perimus he slew, +Offspring of Megas, then Autonoüs,845 +Echechlus, Melanippus, and Epistor, +Pylartes, Mulius, Elasus. All these +He slew, and from the field chased all beside. +Then, doubtless, had Achaia’s sons prevail’d +To take proud-gated Troy, such havoc made850 +He with his spear, but that the son of Jove +Apollo, on a tower’s conspicuous height +Station’d, devoted him for Ilium’s sake. +Thrice on a buttress of the lofty wall +Patroclus mounted, and him thrice the God855 +With hands immortal his resplendent shield +Smiting, struck down again; but when he rush’d +A fourth time, demon-like, to the assault, +The King of radiant shafts him, stern, rebuked. + Patroclus, warrior of renown, retire!860 +The fates ordain not that imperial Troy +Stoop to thy spear, nor to the spear itself +Of Peleus’ son, though mightier far than thou. + He said, and Menœtiades the wrath +Of shaft-arm’d Phœbus shunning, far retired.865 +But in the Scæan gate Hector his steeds +Detain’d, uncertain whether thence to drive +Amid the warring multitude again, +Or, loud commandment issuing, to collect +His host within the walls. Him musing long870 +Apollo, clad in semblance of a Chief +Youthful and valiant, join’d. Asius he seem’d +Equestrian Hector’s uncle, brother born +Of Hecuba the queen, and Dymas’ son, +Who on the Sangar’s banks in Phrygia dwelt.875 +Apollo, so disguised, him thus bespake. + Why, Hector, hast thou left the fight? this sloth +Not well befits thee. Oh that I as far +Thee pass’d in force as thou transcendest me, +Then, not unpunish’d long, should’st thou retire;880 +But haste, and with thy coursers solid-hoof’d +Seek out Patroclus, him perchance to slay, +Should Phœbus have decreed that glory thine. + So saying, Apollo join’d the host again. +Then noble Hector bade his charioteer885 +Valiant Cebriones his coursers lash +Back into battle, while the God himself +Entering the multitude confounded sore +The Argives, victory conferring proud +And glory on Hector and the host of Troy.890 +But Hector, leaving all beside unslain, +Furious impell’d his coursers solid-hoof’d +Against Patroclus; on the other side +Patroclus from his chariot to the ground +Leap’d ardent; in his left a spear he bore,895 +And in his right a marble fragment rough, +Large as his grasp. With full collected might +He hurl’d it; neither was the weapon slow +To whom he had mark’d, or sent in vain. +He smote the charioteer of Hector, bold900 +Cebriones, King Priam’s spurious son, +Full on the forehead, while he sway’d the reins. +The bone that force withstood not, but the rock +With ragged points beset dash’d both his brows +In pieces, and his eyes fell at his feet.905 +He diver-like, from his exalted stand +Behind the steeds pitch’d headlong, and expired; +O’er whom, Patroclus of equestrian fame! +Thou didst exult with taunting speech severe. + Ye Gods, with what agility he dives!910 +Ah! it were well if in the fishy deep +This man were occupied; he might no few +With oysters satisfy, although the waves +Were churlish, plunging headlong from his bark +As easily as from his chariot here.915 +So then—in Troy, it seems, are divers too! + So saying, on bold Cebriones he sprang +With all a lion’s force, who, while the folds +He ravages, is wounded in the breast, +And, victim of his own fierce courage, dies.920 +So didst thou spring, Patroclus! to despoil +Cebriones, and Hector opposite +Leap’d also to the ground. Then contest such +For dead Cebriones those two between +Arose, as in the lofty mountain-tops925 +Two lions wage, contending for a deer +New-slain, both hunger-pinch’d and haughty both. +So for Cebriones, alike in arms +Expert, brave Hector and Patroclus strove +To pierce each other with the ruthless spear.930 +First, Hector seized his head, nor loosed his hold, +Patroclus, next, his feet, while all beside +Of either host in furious battle join’d. + As when the East wind and the South contend +To shake some deep wood on the mountain’s side,935 +Or beech, or ash, or rugged cornel old. +With stormy violence the mingled boughs +Smite and snap short each other, crashing loud; +So, Trojans and Achaians, mingling, slew +Mutual, while neither felt a wish to fly.940 +Around Cebriones stood many a spear, +And many a shaft sent smartly from the nerve +Implanted deep, and many a stone of grasp +Enormous sounded on their batter’d shields +Who fought to gain him. He, in eddies lost945 +Of sable dust, with his huge trunk huge space +O’erspread, nor steeds nor chariots heeded more. + While yet the sun ascending climb’d the heavens, +Their darts flew equal, and the people fell; +But when he westward journey’d, by a change950 +Surpassing hope the Grecians then prevail’d. +They drew Cebriones the hero forth +From all those weapons, and his armor stripp’d +At leisure, distant from the battle’s roar. +Then sprang Patroclus on the Trojan host;955 +Thrice, like another Mars, he sprang with shouts +Tremendous, and nine warriors thrice he slew. +But when the fourth time, demon-like, he rush’d +Against them, then, oh then, too manifest +The consummation of thy days approach’d960 +Patroclus! whom Apollo, terror-clad +Met then in battle. He the coming God +Through all that multitude knew not, such gloom +Impenetrable him involved around. +Behind him close he stood, and with his palms965 +Expanded on the spine and shoulders broad +Smote him; his eyes swam dizzy at the stroke. +Then Phœbus from his head his helmet dash’d +To earth; sonorous at the feet it roll’d +Of many a prancing steed, and all the crest970 +Defilement gather’d gross of dust and blood, +Then first; till then, impossible; for how +Should dust the tresses of that helmet shame +With which Achilles fighting fenced his head +Illustrious, and his graceful brows divine?975 +But Jove now made it Hector’s; he awhile +Bore it, himself to swift perdition doom’d +His spear brass-mounted, ponderous, huge and long, +Fell shiver’d from his grasp. His shield that swept +His ancle, with its belt dropp’d from his arm,980 +And Phœbus loosed the corselet from his breast. +Confusion seized his brain; his noble limbs +Quaked under him, and panic-stunn’d he stood. +Then came a Dardan Chief, who from behind +Enforced a pointed lance into his back985 +Between the shoulders; Panthus’ son was he, +Euphorbus, famous for equestrian skill, +For spearmanship, and in the rapid race +Past all of equal age. He twenty men +(Although a learner yet of martial feats,990 +And by his steeds then first to battle borne) +Dismounted. He, Patroclus, mighty Chief! +First threw a lance at thee, which yet life +Quell’d not; then snatching hasty from the wound +His ashen beam, he ran into the crowd,995 +Nor dared confront in fight even the unarm’d +Patroclus. But Patroclus, by the lance, +And by the stroke of an immortal hand +Subdued, fell back toward his ranks again. +Then, soon as Hector the retreat perceived1000 +Of brave Patroclus wounded, issuing forth +From his own phalanx, he approach’d and drove +A spear right through his body at the waist. +Sounding he fell. Loud groan’d Achaia’s host. +As when the lion and the sturdy boar1005 +Contend in battle on the mountain-tops +For some scant rivulet, thirst-parch’d alike, +Ere long the lion quells the panting boar; +So Priameian Hector, spear in hand, +Slew Menœtiades the valiant slayer1010 +Of multitudes, and thus in accents wing’d, +With fierce delight exulted in his fall. + + It was thy thought, Patroclus, to have laid +Our city waste, and to have wafted hence +Our wives and daughters to thy native land,1015 +Their day of liberty for ever set. +Fool! for their sakes the feet of Hector’s steeds +Fly into battle, and myself excel, +For their sakes, all our bravest of the spear, +That I may turn from them that evil hour1020 +Necessitous. But thou art vulture’s food, +Unhappy youth! all valiant as he is, +Achilles hath no succor given to thee, +Who when he sent the forth whither himself +Would not, thus doubtless gave thee oft in charge:1025 +Ah, well beware, Patroclus, glorious Chief! +That thou revisit not these ships again, +Till first on hero-slaughterer Hector’s breast +Thou cleave his bloody corselet. So he spake, +And with vain words thee credulous beguiled.1030 + To whom Patroclus, mighty Chief, with breath +Drawn faintly, and dying, thou didst thus reply. +Now, Hector, boast! now glory! for the son +Of Saturn and Apollo, me with ease +Vanquishing, whom they had themselves disarm’d,1035 +Have made the victory thine; else, twenty such +As thou, had fallen by my victorious spear. +Me Phœbus and my ruthless fate combined +To slay; these foremost; but of mortal men +Euphorbus, and thy praise is only third.1040 +I tell thee also, and within thy heart +Repose it deep—thou shalt not long survive; +But, even now, fate, and a violent death +Attend thee by Achilles’ hands ordain’d +To perish, by Æacides the brave.[21]1045 + So saying, the shades of death him wrapp’d around. +Down into Ades from his limbs dismiss’d, +His spirit fled sorrowful, of youth’s prime +And vigorous manhood suddenly bereft +Then, him though dead, Hector again bespake.1050 + Patroclus! these prophetic strains of death +At hand, and fate, why hast thou sung to me? +May not the son of Thetis azure-hair’d, +Achilles, perish first by spear of mine? + He said; then pressing with his heel the trunk1055 +Supine, and backward thursting it, he drew +His glittering weapon from the wound, nor stay’d, +But lance in hand, the godlike charioteer +Pursued of swift Æacides, on fire +To smite Automedon; but him the steeds1060 +Immortal, rapid, by the Gods conferr’d +(A glorious gift) on Peleus, snatch’d away. + + + + +BOOK XVII. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE SEVENTEENTH BOOK. + +Sharp contest ensues around the body of Patroclus. Hector puts on the +armor of Achilles. Menelaus, having dispatched Antilochus to Achilles +with news of the death of Patroclus, returns to the battle, and, +together with Meriones, bears Patroclus off the field, while the Ajaces +cover their retreat. + + +BOOK XVII. + + +Nor Menelaus, Atreus’ valiant son, +Knew not how Menœtiades had fallen +By Trojan hands in battle; forth he rush’d +All bright in burnish’d armor through his van, +And as some heifer with maternal fears5 +Now first acquainted, compasses around +Her young one murmuring, with tender moan, +So moved the hero of the amber locks +Around Patroclus, before whom his spear +Advancing and broad shield, he death denounced10 +On all opposers; neither stood the son +Spear-famed of Panthus inattentive long +To slain Patroclus, but approach’d the dead, +And warlike Menelaus thus bespake. + Prince! Menelaus! Atreus’ mighty son!15 +Yield. Leave the body and these gory spoils; +For of the Trojans or allies of Troy +None sooner made Patroclus bleed than I. +Seek not to rob me, therefore, of my praise +Among the Trojans, lest my spear assail20 +Thee also, and thou perish premature.[1] + To whom, indignant, Atreus’ son replied. +Self-praise, the Gods do know, is little worth. +But neither lion may in pride compare +Nor panther, nor the savage boar whose heart’s25 +High temper flashes in his eyes, with these +The spear accomplish’d youths of Panthus’ house. +Yet Hyperenor of equestrian fame +Lived not his lusty manhood to enjoy, +Who scoffingly defied my force in arms,30 +And call’d me most contemptible in fight +Of all the Danaï. But him, I ween, +His feet bore never hence to cheer at home +His wife and parents with his glad return. +So also shall thy courage fierce be tamed,35 +If thou oppose me. I command thee, go— +Mix with the multitude; withstand not me, +Lest evil overtake thee! To be taught +By sufferings only, is the part of fools. + He said, but him sway’d not, who thus replied.40 +Now, even now, Atrides! thou shalt rue +My brother’s blood which thou hast shed, and mak’st +His death thy boast. Thou hast his blooming bride +Widow’d, and thou hast fill’d his parents’ hearts +With anguish of unutterable wo;45 +But bearing hence thy armor and thy head +To Troy, and casting them at Panthus’ feet, +And at the feet of Phrontis, his espoused, +I shall console the miserable pair. +Nor will I leave that service unessay’d50 +Longer, nor will I fail through want of force, +Of courage, or of terrible address. + He ceased, and smote his shield, nor pierced the disk, +But bent his point against the stubborn brass. +Then Menelaus, prayer preferring first55 +To Jove,[2] assail’d Euphorbus in his turn, +Whom pacing backward in the throat he struck, +And both hands and his full force the spear +Impelled, urged it through his neck behind. +Sounding he fell; loud rang his batter’d arms.60 +His locks, which even the Graces might have own’d, +Blood-sullied, and his ringlets wound about +With twine of gold and silver, swept the dust. +As the luxuriant olive by a swain +Rear’d in some solitude where rills abound,65 +Puts forth her buds, and fann’d by genial airs +On all sides, hangs her boughs with whitest flowers, +But by a sudden whirlwind from its trench +Uptorn, it lies extended on the field; +Such, Panthus’ warlike son Euphorbus seem’d,70 +By Menelaus, son of Atreus, slain +Suddenly, and of all his arms despoil’d. +But as the lion on the mountains bred, +Glorious in strength, when he hath seized the best +And fairest of the herd, with savage fangs75 +First breaks her neck, then laps the bloody paunch +Torn wide; meantime, around him, but remote, +Dogs stand and swains clamoring, yet by fear +Repress’d, annoy him not nor dare approach; +So there all wanted courage to oppose80 +The force of Menelaus, glorious Chief. +Then, easily had Menelaus borne +The armor of the son of Panthus thence, +But that Apollo the illustrious prize +Denied him, who in semblance of the Chief85 +Of the Ciconians, Mentes, prompted forth +Against him Hector terrible as Mars, +Whose spirit thus in accents wing’d he roused. + Hector! the chase is vain; here thou pursuest +The horses of Æacides the brave,90 +Which thou shalt never win, for they are steeds +Of fiery nature, such as ill endure +To draw or carry mortal man, himself +Except, whom an immortal mother bore. +Meantime, bold Menelaus, in defence95 +Of dead Patroclus, hath a Trojan slain +Of highest note, Euphorbus, Panthus’ son, +And hath his might in arms for ever quell’d. + So spake the God and to the fight return’d. +But grief intolerable at that word100 +Seized Hector; darting through the ranks his eye, +He knew at once who stripp’d Euphorbus’ arms, +And him knew also lying on the field, +And from his wide wound bleeding copious still. +Then dazzling bright in arms, through all the van105 +He flew, shrill-shouting, fierce as Vulcan’s fire +Unquenchable; nor were his shouts unheard +By Atreus’ son, who with his noble mind +Conferring sad, thus to himself began. + Alas! if I forsake these gorgeous spoils,110 +And leave Patroclus for my glory slain, +I fear lest the Achaians at that sight +Incensed, reproach me; and if, urged by shame, +I fight with Hector and his host, alone, +Lest, hemm’d around by multitudes, I fall;115 +For Hector, by his whole embattled force +Attended, comes. But whither tend my thoughts? +No man may combat with another fenced +By power divine and whom the Gods exalt, +But he must draw down wo on his own head.120 +Me, therefore, none of all Achaia’s host +Will blame indignant, seeing my retreat +From Hector, whom themselves the Gods assist. +But might the battle-shout of Ajax once +Reach me, with force united we would strive,125 +Even in opposition to a God, +To rescue for Achilles’ sake, his friend. +Task arduous! but less arduous than this. + While he thus meditated, swift advanced +The Trojan ranks, with Hector at their head.130 +He then, retiring slow, and turning oft, +Forsook the body. As by dogs and swains +With clamors loud and spears driven from the stalls +A bearded lion goes, his noble heart +Abhors retreat, and slow he quits the prey;135 +So Menelaus with slow steps forsook +Patroclus, and arrived in front, at length, +Of his own phalanx, stood, with sharpen’d eyes +Seeking vast Ajax, son of Telamon. +Him leftward, soon, of all the field he mark’d140 +Encouraging aloud his band, whose hearts +With terrors irresistible himself +Phœbus had fill’d. He ran, and at his side +Standing, incontinent him thus bespake. + My gallant Ajax, haste—come quickly—strive145 +With me to rescue for Achilles’ sake +His friend, though bare, for Hector hath his arms. + He said, and by his words the noble mind +Of Ajax roused; issuing through the van +He went, and Menelaus at his side.150 +Hector the body of Patroclus dragg’d, +Stript of his arms, with falchion keen erelong +Purposing to strike off his head, and cast +His trunk, drawn distant, to the dogs of Troy. +But Ajax, with broad shield tower-like, approach’d.155 +Then Hector, to his bands retreating, sprang +Into his chariot, and to others gave +The splendid arms in charge, who into Troy +Should bear the destined trophy of his praise, +But Ajax with his broad shield guarding stood160 +Slain Menœtiades, as for his whelps +The lion stands; him through some forest drear +Leading his little ones, the hunters meet; +Fire glimmers in his looks, and down he draws +His whole brow into frowns, covering his eyes;165 +So, guarding slain Patroclus, Ajax lour’d. +On the other side, with tender grief oppress’d +Unspeakable, brave Menelaus stood. +But Glaucus, leader of the Lycian band, +Son of Hippolochus, in bitter terms170 +Indignant, reprimanded Hector thus, + Ah, Hector, Chieftain of excelling form, +But all unfurnish’d with a warrior’s heart! +Unwarranted I deem thy great renown +Who art to flight addicted. Think, henceforth,175 +How ye shall save city and citadel +Thou and thy people born in Troy, alone. +No Lycian shall, at least, in your defence +Fight with the Grecians, for our ceaseless toil +In arms, hath ever been a thankless task.180 +Inglorious Chief! how wilt thou save a worse +From warring crowds, who hast Sarpedon left +Thy guest, thy friend, to be a spoil, a prey +To yonder Argives? While he lived he much +Thee and thy city profited, whom dead185 +Thou fear’st to rescue even from the dogs. +Now, therefore, may but my advice prevail, +Back to your country, Lycians! so, at once, +Shall remediless ruin fall on Troy. +For had the Trojans now a daring heart190 +Intrepid, such as in the breast resides +Of laborers in their country’s dear behalf, +We soon should drag Patroclus into Troy; +And were his body, from the battle drawn, +In Priam’s royal city once secured,195 +As soon, the Argives would in ransom give +Sarpedon’s body with his splendid arms +To be conducted safe into the town. +For when Patroclus fell, the friend was slain +Of such a Chief as is not in the fleet200 +For valor, and his bands are dauntless all. +But thou, at the first glimpse of Ajax’ eye +Confounded, hast not dared in arms to face +That warrior bold, superior far to thee. + To whom brave Hector, frowning stern, replied,205 +Why, Glaucus! should a Chief like thee his tongue +Presume to employ thus haughtily? My friend! +I thee accounted wisest, once, of all +Who dwell in fruitful Lycia, but thy speech +Now utter’d altogether merits blame,210 +In which thou tell’st me that I fear to stand +Against vast Ajax. Know that I from fight +Shrink not, nor yet from sound of prancing steeds; +But Jove’s high purpose evermore prevails +Against the thoughts of man; he turns to flight215 +The bravest, and the victory takes with ease +Even from those whom once he favor’d most. +But hither, friend! stand with me; mark my deed; +Prove me, if I be found, as thou hast said, +An idler all the day, or if by force220 +I not compel some Grecian to renounce +Patroclus, even the boldest of them all. + He ceased, and to his host exclaim’d aloud. +Trojans, and Lycians, and close-fighting sons +Of Dardanus, oh be ye men, my friends!225 +Now summon all your fortitude, while I +Put on the armor of Achilles, won +From the renown’d Patroclus slain by me. + So saying, illustrious Hector from the clash +Of spears withdrew, and with his swiftest pace230 +Departing, overtook, not far remote, +The bearers of Achilles’ arms to Troy. +Apart from all the horrors of the field +Standing, he changed his armor; gave his own +To be by them to sacred Ilium borne,235 +And the immortal arms of Peleus’ son +Achilles, by the ever-living Gods +To Peleüs given, put on. Those arms the Sire, +Now old himself, had on his son conferr’d +But in those arms his son grew never old.240 + Him, therefore, soon as cloud-assembler Jove +Saw glittering in divine Achilles’ arms, +Contemplative he shook his brows, and said, + Ah hapless Chief! thy death, although at hand, +Nought troubles thee. Thou wear’st his heavenly245 +Who all excels, terror of Ilium’s host. +His friend, though bold yet gentle, thou hast slain +And hast the brows and bosom of the dead +Unseemly bared: yet, bright success awhile +I give thee; so compensating thy lot,250 +From whom Andromache shall ne’er receive +Those glorious arms, for thou shalt ne’er return. + So spake the Thunderer, and his sable brows +Shaking, confirm’d the word. But Hector found +The armor apt; the God of war his soul255 +With fury fill’d, he felt his limbs afresh +Invigorated, and with loudest shouts +Return’d to his illustrious allies. +To them he seem’d, clad in those radiant arms, +Himself Achilles; rank by rank he pass’d260 +Through all the host, exhorting every Chief, +Asteropæus, Mesthles, Phorcys, Medon, +Thersilochus, Deisenor, augur Ennomus, +Chromius, Hippothoüs; all these he roused +To battle, and in accents wing’d began.265 + Hear me, ye myriads, neighbors and allies! +For not through fond desire to fill the plain +With multitudes, have I convened you here +Each from his city, but that well-inclined +To Ilium, ye might help to guard our wives270 +And little ones against the host of Greece. +Therefore it is that forage large and gifts +Providing for you, I exhaust the stores +Of Troy, and drain our people for your sake. +Turn then direct against them, and his life275 +Save each, or lose; it is the course of war. +Him who shall drag, though dead, Patroclus home +Into the host of Troy, and shall repulse +Ajax, I will reward with half the spoils +And half shall be my own; glory and praise280 +Shall also be his meed, equal to mine. + He ended; they compact with lifted spears +Bore on the Danaï, conceiving each +Warm expectation in his heart to wrest +From Ajax son of Telamon, the dead.285 +Vain hope! he many a lifeless Trojan heap’d +On slain Patroclus, but at length his speech +To warlike Menelaus thus address’d. + Ah, Menelaus, valiant friend! I hope +No longer, now, that even we shall ’scape290 +Ourselves from fight; nor fear I so the loss +Of dead Patroclus, who shall soon the dogs +Of Ilium, and the fowls sate with his flesh, +As for my life I tremble and for thine, +That cloud of battle, Hector, such a gloom295 +Sheds all around; death manifest impends. +Haste—call our best, if even they can hear. + He spake, nor Menelaus not complied, +But call’d aloud on all the Chiefs of Greece. + Friends, senators, and leaders of the powers300 +Of Argos! who with Agamemnon drink +And Menelaus at the public feast, +Each bearing rule o’er many, by the will +Of Jove advanced to honor and renown! +The task were difficult to single out305 +Chief after Chief by name amid the blaze +Of such contention; but oh, come yourselves +Indignant forth, nor let the dogs of Troy +Patroclus rend, and gambol with his bones! + He ceased, whom Oïliades the swift310 +Hearing incontinent, of all the Chiefs +Ran foremost, after whom Idomeneus +Approach’d, and dread as homicidal Mars +Meriones. But never mind of man +Could even in silent recollection name315 +The whole vast multitude who, following these +Renew’d the battle on the part of Greece. +The Trojans first, with Hector at their head, +Wedged in close phalanx, rush’d to the assault + As when within some rapid river’s mouth320 +The billows and stream clash, on either shore[3] +Loud sounds the roar[3] of waves ejected wide, +Such seem’d the clamors of the Trojan host. +But the Achaians, one in heart, around +Patroclus stood, bulwark’d with shields of brass325 +And over all their glittering helmets Jove +Darkness diffused, for he had loved Patroclus +While yet he lived friend of Æacides, +And now, abhorring that the dogs of Troy +Should eat him, urged the Greeks to his defence,330 +The host of Troy first shook the Grecian host; +The body left, they fled; yet of them all, +The Trojan powers, determined as they were, +Slew none, but dragg’d the body. Neither stood +The Greeks long time aloof, soon as repulsed335 +Again led on by Ajax, who in form +And in exploits all others far excell’d. +Peerless Æacides alone except. +Right through the foremost combatants he rush’d, +In force resembling most some savage boar340 +That in the mountains bursting through the brakes, +The swains disperses and their hounds with ease; +Like him, illustrious Ajax, mighty son +Of Telamon, at his assault dispersed +With ease the close imbattled ranks who fought345 +Around Patroclus’ body, strong in hope +To achieve it, and to make the glory theirs. +Hippothoüs, a youth of high renown, +Son of Pelasgian Lethus, by a noose +Around his ancle cast dragg’d through the fight350 +Patroclus, so to gratify the host +Of Ilium and their Chief; but evil him +Reached suddenly, by none of all his friends +(Though numerous wish’d to save him) turn’d aside. +For swift advancing on him through the crowd355 +The son of Telamon pierced, spear in hand, +His helmet brazen-cheek’d; the crested casque, +So smitten, open’d wide, for huge the hand +And ponderous was the spear that gave the blow +And all around its neck, mingled with blood360 +Gush’d forth the brain. There, lifeless, down he sank, +Let fall the hero’s foot, and fell himself +Prone on the dead, never to see again? +Deep-soil’d Larissa, never to require +Their kind solicitudes who gave him birth,365 +In bloom of life by dauntless Ajax slain. +Then Hector hurl’d at Ajax his bright spear, +But he, forewarn’d of its approach, escaped +Narrowly, and it pierced Schedius instead, +Brave son of Iphitus; he, noblest Chief370 +Of the Phocensians, over many reign’d, +Dwelling in Panopeus the far-renown’d. +Entering beneath the clavicle[4] the point +Right through his shoulder’s summit pass’d behind, +And on his loud-resounding arms he fell.375 +But Ajax at his waist wounded the son +Of Phœnops, valiant Phorcys, while he stood +Guarding Hippothöus; through his hollow mail +Enforced the weapon drank his inmost life, +And in his palm, supine, he clench’d the dust.380 +Then, Hector with the foremost Chiefs of Troy +Fell back; the Argives sent a shout to heaven, +And dragging Phorcys and Hippothöus thence +Stripp’d both. In that bright moment Ilium’s host +Fear-quell’d before Achaia’s warlike sons385 +Had Troy re-enter’d, and the host of Greece +By matchless might and fortitude their own +Had snatch’d a victory from the grasp of fate, +But that, himself, the King of radiant shafts +Æneas roused; Epytis’ son he seem’d390 +Periphas, ancient in the service grown +Of old Anchises whom he dearly loved; +His form assumed, Apollo thus began. + How could ye save, Æneas, were the Gods +Your enemies, the towers of lofty Troy?395 +As I have others seen, warriors who would, +Men fill’d with might and valor, firm themselves +And Chiefs of multitudes disdaining fear. +But Jove to us the victory far more +Than to the Grecians wills; therefore the fault400 +Is yours, who tremble and refuse the fight. + He ended, whom Æneas marking, knew +At once the glorious Archer of the skies, +And thus to distant Hector call’d aloud. + Oh, Hector, and ye other Chiefs of Troy405 +And of her brave confederates! Shame it were +Should we re-enter Ilium, driven to flight +By dastard fear before the host of Greece. +A God assured me even now, that Jove, +Supreme in battle, gives his aid to Troy.410 +Rush, therefore, on the Danaï direct, +Nor let them, safe at least and unannoy’d, +Bear hence Patroclus’ body to the fleet. + He spake, and starting far into the van +Stood foremost forth; they, wheeling, faced the Greeks.415 +Then, spear in hand, Æneas smote the friend +Of Lycomedes, brave Leocritus, +Son of Arisbas. Lycomedes saw +Compassionate his death, and drawing nigh +First stood, then hurling his resplendent lance,420 +Right through the liver Apisaon pierced +Offspring of Hippasus, his chest beneath, +And, lifeless, instant, on the field he fell. +He from Pæonia the deep soil’d to Troy +Came forth, Asteropæus sole except,425 +Bravest of all Pæonia’s band in arms. +Asteropæus saw, and to the van +Sprang forth for furious combat well prepared, +But room for fight found none, so thick a fence +Of shields and ported spears fronted secure430 +The phalanx guarding Menœtiades. +For Ajax ranging all the ranks, aloud +Admonish’d them that no man yielding ground +Should leave Patroclus, or advance before +The rest, but all alike fight and stand fast.435 +Such order gave huge Ajax; purple gore +Drench’d all the ground; in slaughter’d heaps they fell +Trojans and Trojan aids of dauntless hearts +And Grecians; for not even they the fight +Waged bloodless, though with far less cost of blood,440 +Each mindful to avert his fellow’s fate. + Thus burn’d the battle; neither hadst thou deem’d +The sun himself in heaven unquench’d, or moon, +Beneath a cope so dense of darkness strove +Unceasing all the most renown’d in arms445 +For Menœtiades. Meantime the war, +Wherever else, the bright-arm’d Grecians waged +And Trojans under skies serene. The sun +On them his radiance darted; not a cloud, +From mountain or from vale rising, allay’d450 +His fervor; there at distance due they fought +And paused by turns, and shunn’d the cruel dart. +But in the middle field not war alone +They suffer’d, but night also; ruthless raged +The iron storm, and all the mightiest bled.455 +Two glorious Chiefs, the while, Antilochus +And Thrasymedes, had no tidings heard +Of brave Patroclus slain, but deem’d him still +Living, and troubling still the host of Troy; +For watchful[5] only to prevent the flight460 +Or slaughter of their fellow-warriors, they +Maintain’d a distant station, so enjoin’d +By Nestor when he sent them to the field. +But fiery conflict arduous employ’d +The rest all day continual; knees and legs,465 +Feet, hands, and eyes of those who fought to guard +The valiant friend of swift Æacides +Sweat gather’d foul and dust. As when a man +A huge ox-hide drunken with slippery lard +Gives to be stretch’d, his servants all around470 +Disposed, just intervals between, the task +Ply strenuous, and while many straining hard +Extend it equal on all sides, it sweats +The moisture out, and drinks the unction in,[6] +So they, in narrow space struggling, the dead475 +Dragg’d every way, warm hope conceiving, these +To drag him thence to Troy, those, to the ships. +Wild tumult raged around him; neither Mars, +Gatherer of hosts to battle, nor herself +Pallas, however angry, had beheld480 +That conflict with disdain, Jove to such length +Protracted on that day the bloody toil +Of steeds and men for Menœtiades. +Nor knew divine Achilles or had aught +Heard of Patroclus slain, for from the ships485 +Remote they fought, beneath the walls of Troy. +He, therefore, fear’d not for his death, but hope +Indulged much rather, that, the battle push’d +To Ilium’s gates, he should return alive. +For that his friend, unaided by himself490 +Or ever aided, should prevail to lay +Troy waste, he nought supposed; by Thetis warn’d +In secret conference oft, he better knew +Jove’s purpose; yet not even she had borne +Those dreadful tidings to his ear, the loss495 +Immeasurable of his dearest friend. + They all around the dead fought spear in hand +With mutual slaughter ceaseless, and amid +Achaia’s host thus spake a Chief mail-arm’d. + Shame were it, Grecians! should we seek by flight500 +Our galleys now; yawn earth our feet beneath +And here ingulf us rather! Better far +Than to permit the steed-famed host of Troy +To drag Patroclus hence into the town, +And make the glory of this conflict theirs.505 + Thus also of the dauntless Trojans spake +A certain warrior. Oh, my friends! although +The Fates ordain us, one and all, to die +Around this body, stand! quit not the field. + So spake the warrior prompting into act510 +The courage of his friends, and such they strove +On both sides; high into the vault of heaven +The iron din pass’d through the desart air. +Meantime the horses of Æacides +From fight withdrawn, soon as they understood515 +Their charioteer fallen in the dust beneath +The arm of homicidal Hector, wept. +Them oft with hasty lash Diores’ son +Automedon impatient smote, full oft +He stroked them gently, and as oft he chode;[7]520 +Yet neither to the fleet ranged on the shore +Of spacious Hellespont would they return, +Nor with the Grecians seek the fight, but stood +As a sepulchral pillar stands, unmoved +Between their traces;[8] to the earth they hung525 +Their heads, with plenteous tears their driver mourn’d, +And mingled their dishevell’d manes with dust. +Jove saw their grief with pity, and his brows +Shaking, within himself thus, pensive, said. + Ah hapless pair! Wherefore by gift divine530 +Were ye to Peleus given, a mortal king, +Yourselves immortal and from age exempt? +Was it that ye might share in human woes? +For, of all things that breathe or creep the earth, +No creature lives so mere a wretch as man.535 +Yet shall not Priameian Hector ride +Triumphant, drawn by you. Myself forbid. +Suffice it that he boasts vain-gloriously +Those arms his own. Your spirit and your limbs +I will invigorate, that ye may bear540 +Safe hence Automedon into the fleet. +For I ordain the Trojans still to spread +Carnage around victorious, till they reach +The gallant barks, and till the sun at length +Descending, sacred darkness cover all.545 + He said, and with new might the steeds inspired. +They, shaking from their hair profuse the dust, +Between the van of either army whirl’d +The rapid chariot. Fighting as he pass’d, +Though fill’d with sorrow for his slaughter’d friend,550 +Automedon high-mounted swept the field +Impetuous as a vulture scattering geese; +Now would he vanish, and now, turn’d again, +Chase through a multitude his trembling foe; +But whomsoe’er he follow’d, none he slew,555 +Nor was the task possible to a Chief +Sole in the sacred chariot, both to aim +The spear aright and guide the fiery steeds. +At length Alcimedon, his friend in arms, +Son of Laerceus son of Æmon, him560 +Observing, from behind the chariot hail’d +The flying warrior, whom he thus bespake. + What power, Automedon! hath ta’en away +Thy better judgment, and thy breast inspired +With this vain purpose to assail alone565 +The Trojan van? Thy partner in the fight +Is slain, and Hector on his shoulders bears, +Elate, the armor of Æacides. + Then, answer thus Automedon return’d, +Son of Diores. Who of all our host570 +Was ever skill’d, Alcimedon! as thou +To rule the fire of these immortal steeds, +Save only while he lived, peer of the Gods +In that great art, Patroclus, now no more? +Thou, therefore, the resplendent reins receive575 +And scourge, while I, dismounting, wage the fight. + He ceased; Alcimedon without delay +The battle-chariot mounting, seized at once +The lash and reins, and from his seat down leap’d +Automedon. Them noble Hector mark’d,580 +And to Æneas at his side began. + Illustrious Chief of Trojans brazen-mail’d +Æneas! I have noticed yonder steeds +Of swift Achilles rushing into fight +Conspicuous, but under sway of hands585 +Unskilful; whence arises a fair hope +That we might seize them, wert thou so inclined; +For never would those two dare to oppose +In battle an assault dreadful as ours. + He ended, nor the valiant son refused590 +Of old Anchises, but with targets firm +Of season’d hide brass-plated thrown athwart +Their shoulders, both advanced direct, with whom +Of godlike form Aretus also went +And Chromius. Ardent hope they all conceived595 +To slay those Chiefs, and from the field to drive +Achilles’ lofty steeds. Vain hope! for them +No bloodless strife awaited with the force +Of brave Automedon; he, prayer to Jove +First offering, felt his angry soul with might600 +Heroic fill’d, and thus his faithful friend +Alcimedon, incontinent, address’d. + Alcimedon! hold not the steeds remote +But breathing on my back; for I expect +That never Priameïan Hector’s rage605 +Shall limit know, or pause, till, slaying us, +He shall himself the coursers ample-maned +Mount of Achilles, and to flight compel +The Argive host, or perish in the van. + So saying, he call’d aloud on Menelaus610 +With either Ajax. Oh, illustrious Chiefs +Of Argos, Menelaus, and ye bold +Ajaces![9] leaving all your best to cope +With Ilium’s powers and to protect the dead, +From friends still living ward the bitter day.615 +For hither borne, two Chiefs, bravest of all +The Trojans, Hector and Æneas rush +Right through the battle. The events of war +Heaven orders; therefore even I will give +My spear its flight, and Jove dispose the rest!620 + He said, and brandishing his massy spear +Dismiss’d it at Aretus; full he smote +His ample shield, nor stay’d the pointed brass, +But penetrating sheer the disk, his belt +Pierced also, and stood planted in his waist.625 +As when some vigorous youth with sharpen’d axe +A pastured bullock smites behind the horns +And hews the muscle through; he, at the stroke +Springs forth and falls, so sprang Aretus forth, +Then fell supine, and in his bowels stood630 +The keen-edged lance still quivering till he died. +Then Hector, in return, his radiant spear +Hurl’d at Automedon, who of its flight +Forewarn’d his body bowing prone, the stroke +Eluded, and the spear piercing the soil635 +Behind him, shook to its superior end, +Till, spent by slow degrees, its fury slept. +And now, with hand to hilt, for closer war +Both stood prepared, when through the multitude +Advancing at their fellow-warrior’s call,640 +The Ajaces suddenly their combat fierce +Prevented. Awed at once by their approach +Hector retired, with whom Æneas went +Also and godlike Chromius, leaving there +Aretus with his vitals torn, whose arms,645 +Fierce as the God of war Automedon +Stripp’d off, and thus exulted o’er the slain. + My soul some portion of her grief resigns +Consoled, although by slaughter of a worse, +For loss of valiant Menœtiades.650 + So saying, within his chariot he disposed +The gory spoils, then mounted it himself +With hands and feet purpled, as from a bull +His bloody prey, some lion newly-gorged. + And now around Patroclus raged again655 +Dread strife deplorable! for from the skies +Descending at the Thunderer’s command +Whose purpose now was to assist the Greeks, +Pallas enhanced the fury of the fight. +As when from heaven, in view of mortals, Jove660 +Exhibits bright his bow, a sign ordain’d +Of war, or numbing frost which all the works +Suspends of man and saddens all the flocks; +So she, all mantled with a radiant cloud +Entering Achaia’s host, fired every breast.665 +But meeting Menelaus first, brave son +Of Atreus, in the form and with the voice +Robust of Phœnix, him she thus bespake. + Shame, Menelaus, shall to thee redound +For ever, and reproach, should dogs devour670 +The faithful friend of Peleus’ noble son +Under Troy’s battlements; but stand, thyself, +Undaunted, and encourage all the host. + To whom the son of Atreus bold in arms. +Ah, Phœnix, friend revered, ancient and sage!675 +Would Pallas give me might and from the dint +Shield me of dart and spear, with willing mind +I would defend Patroclus, for his death +Hath touch’d me deep. But Hector with the rage +Burns of consuming fire, nor to his spear680 +Gives pause, for him Jove leads to victory. + He ceased, whom Pallas, Goddess azure-eyed +Hearing, rejoiced that of the heavenly powers +He had invoked _her_ foremost to his aid. +His shoulders with new might, and limbs she fill’d,685 +And persevering boldness to his breast +Imparted, such as prompts the fly, which oft +From flesh of man repulsed, her purpose yet +To bite holds fast, resolved on human blood. +His stormy bosom with such courage fill’d690 +By Pallas, to Patroclus he approach’d +And hurl’d, incontinent, his glittering spear. +There was a Trojan Chief, Podes by name, +Son of Eëtion, valorous and rich; +Of all Troy’s citizens him Hector most695 +Respected, in convivial pleasures sweet +His chosen companion. As he sprang to flight, +The hero of the golden locks his belt +Struck with full force and sent the weapon through. +Sounding he fell, and from the Trojan ranks700 +Atrides dragg’d the body to his own. +Then drew Apollo near to Hector’s side, +And in the form of Phœnops, Asius’ son, +Of all the foreign guests at Hector’s board +His favorite most, the hero thus address’d.705 + What Chief of all the Grecians shall henceforth +Fear Hector, who from Menelaus shrinks +Once deem’d effeminate, but dragging now +The body of thy valiant friend approved +Whom he hath slain, Podes, Eëtion’s son?710 + He spake, and at his words grief like a cloud +Involved the mind of Hector dark around; +Right through the foremost combatants he rush’d +All clad in dazzling brass. Then, lifting high +His tassel’d Ægis radiant, Jove with storms715 +Enveloped Ida; flash’d his lightnings, roar’d +His thunders, and the mountain shook throughout. +Troy’s host he prosper’d, and the Greeks dispersed. + First fled Peneleus, the Bœotian Chief, +Whom facing firm the foe Polydamas720 +Struck on his shoulder’s summit with a lance +Hurl’d nigh at hand, which slight inscribed the bone. +[10]Leïtus also, son of the renown’d +Alectryon, pierced by Hector in the wrist, +Disabled left the fight; trembling he fled725 +And peering narrowly around, nor hoped +To lift a spear against the Trojans more. +Hector, pursuing Leïtus, the point +Encounter’d of the brave Idomeneus +Full on his chest; but in his mail the lance730 +Snapp’d, and the Trojans shouted to the skies. +He, in his turn, cast at Deucalion’s son +Idomeneus, who in that moment gain’d[11] +A chariot-seat; but him the erring spear +Attain’d not, piercing Cœranus instead735 +The friend and follower of Meriones +From wealthy Lyctus, and his charioteer. +For when he left, that day, the gallant barks +Idomeneus had sought the field on foot, +And triumph proud, full sure, to Ilium’s host740 +Had yielded now, but that with rapid haste +Cœranus drove to his relief, from him +The fate averting which himself incurr’d +Victim of Hector’s homicidal arm. +Him Hector smiting between ear and jaw745 +Push’d from their sockets with the lance’s point +His firm-set teeth, and sever’d sheer his tongue. +Dismounted down he fell, and from his hand +Let slide the flowing reins, which, to the earth +Stooping, Meriones in haste resumed,750 +And briefly thus Idomeneus address’d. + Now drive, and cease not, to the fleet of Greece! +Thyself see’st victory no longer ours. + He said; Idomeneus whom, now, dismay +Seized also, with his lash plying severe755 +The coursers ample-maned, flew to the fleet. +Nor Ajax, dauntless hero, not perceived, +Nor Menelaus, by the sway of Jove +The victory inclining fast to Troy, +And thus the Telamonian Chief began.760 + Ah! who can be so blind as not to see +The eternal Father, now, with his own hand +Awarding glory to the Trojan host, +Whose every spear flies, instant, to the mark +Sent forth by brave or base? Jove guides them all,765 +While, ineffectual, ours fall to the ground. +But haste, devise we of ourselves the means +How likeliest we may bear Patroclus hence, +And gladden, safe returning, all our friends, +Who, hither looking anxious, hope have none770 +That we shall longer check the unconquer’d force +Of hero-slaughtering Hector, but expect +[12]To see him soon amid the fleet of Greece. +Oh for some Grecian now to carry swift +The tidings to Achilles’ ear, untaught,775 +As I conjecture, yet the doleful news +Of his Patroclus slain! but no such Greek +May I discern, such universal gloom +Both men and steeds envelops all around. +Father of heaven and earth! deliver thou780 +Achaia’s host from darkness; clear the skies; +Give day; and (since thy sovereign will is such) +Destruction with it—but oh give us day![13] + He spake, whose tears Jove saw with pity moved, +And chased the untimely shades; bright beam’d the sun785 +And the whole battle was display’d. Then spake +The hero thus to Atreus’ mighty son. + Now noble Menelaus! looking forth, +See if Antilochus be yet alive, +Brave son of Nestor, whom exhort to fly790 +With tidings to Achilles, of the friend +Whom most he loved, of his Patroclus slain. + He ceased, nor Menelaus, dauntless Chief, +That task refused, but went; yet neither swift +Nor willing. As a lion leaves the stalls795 +Wearied himself with harassing the guard, +Who, interdicting him his purposed prey, +Watch all the night; he famish’d, yet again +Comes furious on, but speeds not, kept aloof +By spears from daring hands dismissed, but more800 +By flash of torches which, though fierce, he dreads, +Till at the dawn, sullen he stalks away; +So from Patroclus Menelaus went +Heroic Chief! reluctant; for he fear’d +Lest the Achaians should resign the dead,805 +Through consternation, to the host of Troy. +Departing, therefore, he admonish’d oft +Meriones and the Ajaces, thus. + Ye two brave leaders of the Argive host, +And thou, Meriones! now recollect810 +The gentle manners of Patroclus fallen +Hapless in battle, who by carriage mild +Well understood, while yet he lived, to engage +All hearts, through prisoner now of death and fate. + So saying, the hero amber-hair’d his steps815 +Turn’d thence, the field exploring with an eye +Sharp as the eagle’s, of all fowls beneath +The azure heavens for keenest sight renown’d, +Whom, though he soar sublime, the leveret +By broadest leaves conceal’d ’scapes not, but swift820 +Descending, even her he makes his prey; +So, noble Menelaus! were thine eyes +Turn’d into every quarter of the host +In search of Nestor’s son, if still he lived. +Him, soon, encouraging his band to fight,825 +He noticed on the left of all the field, +And sudden standing at his side, began. + Antilochus! oh hear me, noble friend! +And thou shalt learn tidings of such a deed +As best had never been. Thou know’st, I judge,830 +And hast already seen, how Jove exalts +To victory the Trojan host, and rolls +Distress on ours; but ah! Patroclus lies, +Our chief Achaian, slain, whose loss the Greeks +Fills with regret. Haste, therefore, to the fleet,835 +Inform Achilles; bid him haste to save, +If save he can, the body of his friend; +He can no more, for Hector hath his arms. + He ceased. Antilochus with horror heard +Those tidings; mute long time he stood, his eyes840 +Swam tearful, and his voice, sonorous erst, +Found utterance none. Yet even so distress’d, +He not the more neglected the command +Of Menelaus. Setting forth to run, +He gave his armor to his noble friend845 +Laodocus, who thither turn’d his steeds, +And weeping as he went, on rapid feet +Sped to Achilles with that tale of wo. + Nor could the noble Menelaus stay +To give the weary Pylian band, bereft850 +Of their beloved Antilochus, his aid, +But leaving them to Thrasymedes’ care, +He flew to Menœtiades again, +And the Ajaces, thus, instant bespake. + He goes. I have dispatch’d him to the fleet855 +To seek Achilles; but his coming naught +Expect I now, although with rage he burn +Against illustrious Hector; for what fight +Can he, unarm’d, against the Trojans wage? +Deliberating, therefore, frame we means860 +How best to save Patroclus, and to ’scape +Ourselves unslain from this disastrous field. + Whom answer’d the vast son of Telamon. +Most noble Menelaus! good is all +Which thou hast spoken. Lift ye from the earth865 +Thou and Meriones, at once, and bear +The dead Patroclus from the bloody field. +To cope meantime with Hector and his host +Shall be our task, who, one in name, nor less +In spirit one, already have the brunt870 +Of much sharp conflict, side by side, sustain’d. + He ended; they enfolding in their arms +The dead, upbore him high above the ground +With force united; after whom the host +Of Troy, seeing the body borne away,875 +Shouted, and with impetuous onset all +Follow’d them. As the hounds, urged from behind +By youthful hunters, on the wounded boar +Make fierce assault; awhile at utmost speed +They stretch toward him hungering, for the prey,880 +But oft as, turning sudden, the stout brawn +Faces them, scatter’d on all sides escape; +The Trojans so, thick thronging in the rear, +Ceaseless with falchions and spears double-edged +Annoy’d them sore, but oft as in retreat885 +The dauntless heroes, the Ajaces turn’d +To face them, deadly wan grew every cheek, +And not a Trojan dared with onset rude +Molest them more in conflict for the dead. + Thus they, laborious, forth from battle bore890 +Patroclus to the fleet, tempestuous war +Their steps attending, rapid as the flames +Which, kindled suddenly, some city waste; +Consumed amid the blaze house after house +Sinks, and the wind, meantime, roars through the fire;895 +So them a deafening tumult as they went +Pursued, of horses and of men spear-arm’d. +And as two mules with strength for toil endued, +Draw through rough ways down from the distant hills +Huge timber, beam or mast; sweating they go,900 +And overlabor’d to faint weariness; +So they the body bore, while, turning oft, +The Ajaces check’d the Trojans. As a mound +Planted with trees and stretch’d athwart the mead +Repels an overflow; the torrents loud905 +Baffling, it sends them far away to float +The level land, nor can they with the force +Of all their waters burst a passage through; +So the Ajaces, constant, in the rear +Repress’d the Trojans; but the Trojans them910 +Attended still, of whom Æneas most +Troubled them, and the glorious Chief of Troy. +They as a cloud of starlings or of daws +Fly screaming shrill, warn’d timely of the kite +Or hawk, devourers of the smaller kinds,915 +So they shrill-clamoring toward the fleet, +Hasted before Æneas and the might +Of Hector, nor the battle heeded more. +Much radiant armor round about the foss +Fell of the flying Grecians, or within920 +Lay scatter’d, and no pause of war they found. + + + + +BOOK XVIII. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE EIGHTEENTH BOOK. + +Achilles, by command of Juno, shows himself to the Trojans, who fly at +his appearance; Vulcan, at the insistence of Thetis, forges for him a +suit of armor. + + +BOOK XVIII. + + +Thus burn’d the battle like devouring fire. +Meantime, Antilochus with rapid steps +Came to Achilles. Him he found before +His lofty barks, occupied, as he stood, +With boding fears of all that had befall’n.5 +He groan’d, and to his noble self he said. + Ah! wo is me—why falls Achaia’s host, +With such disorder foul, back on the fleet? +I tremble lest the Gods my anxious thoughts +Accomplish and my mother’s words, who erst10 +Hath warn’d me, that the bravest and the best +Of all my Myrmidons, while yet I live, +Slain under Troy, must view the sun no more. +Brave Menœtiades is, doubtless, slain. +Unhappy friend! I bade thee oft, our barks15 +Deliver’d once from hostile fires, not seek +To cope in arms with Hector, but return. + While musing thus he stood, the son approach’d +Of noble Nestor, and with tears his cheeks +Bedewing copious, his sad message told.20 + Oh son of warlike Peleus! thou shalt hear +Tidings of deeds which best had never been. +Patroclus is no more. The Grecians fight +For his bare corse, and Hector hath his arms.[1] + + Then clouds of sorrow fell on Peleus’ son,25 +And, grasping with both hands the ashes, down +He pour’d them on his head, his graceful brows +Dishonoring, and thick the sooty shower +Descending settled on his fragrant vest. +Then, stretch’d in ashes, at the vast extent30 +Of his whole length he lay, disordering wild +With his own hands, and rending off his hair. +The maidens, captived by himself in war +And by Patroclus, shrieking from the tent +Ran forth, and hemm’d the glorious Chief around.[2]35 +All smote their bosoms, and all, fainting, fell. +On the other side, Antilochus the hands +Held of Achilles, mourning and deep groans +Uttering from his noble heart, through fear +Lest Peleus’ son should perish self-destroy’d.40 +Loud groan’d the hero, whose loud groans within +The gulfs of ocean, where she sat beside +Her ancient sire, his Goddess-mother heard, +And hearing shriek’d; around her at the voice +Assembled all the Nereids of the deep45 +Cymodoce, Thalia, Glauca came, +Nisæa, Spio, Thoa, and with eyes +Protuberant beauteous Halia; came with these +Cymothöe, and Actæa, and the nymph +Of marshes, Limnorea, nor delay’d50 +Agave, nor Amphithöe the swift, +Iæra, Doto, Melita, nor thence +Was absent Proto or Dynamene, +Callianira, Doris, Panope, +Pherusa or Amphinome, or fair55 +Dexamene, or Galatea praised +For matchless form divine; Nemertes pure +Came also, with Apseudes crystal-bright, +Callianassa, Mæra, Clymene, +Janeira and Janassa, sister pair,60 +And Orithya and with azure locks +Luxuriant, Amathea; nor alone +Came these, but every ocean-nymph beside, +The silver cave was fill’d; each smote her breast, +And Thetis, loud lamenting, thus began.65 + Ye sister Nereids, hear! that ye may all +From my own lips my boundless sorrow learn. +Ah me forlorn! ah me, parent in vain +Of an illustrious birth! who, having borne +A noble son magnanimous, the chief70 +Of heroes, saw him like a thriving plant +Shoot vigorous under my maternal care, +And sent him early in his gallant fleet +Embark’d, to combat with the sons of Troy. +But him from fight return’d I shall receive75 +Beneath the roof of Peleus, never more; +And while he lives, and on the sun his eyes +Opens, he mourns, nor, going, can I aught +Assist him; yet I go, that I may see +My darling son, and from his lips be taught80 +What grief hath now befallen him, who close +Abiding in his tent shares not the war. +So saying she left the cave, whom all her nymphs +Attended weeping, and where’er they pass’d +The breaking billows open’d wide a way.85 +At fruitful Troy arrived, in order fair +They climb’d the beach, where by his numerous barks +Encompass’d, swift Achilles sighing lay. +Then, drawing nigh to her afflicted son, +The Goddess-mother press’d between her palms90 +His temples, and in accents wing’d inquired. + Why weeps my son? what sorrow wrings thy soul? +Speak, hide it not. Jove hath fulfill’d the prayer +Which erst with lifted hands thou didst prefer, +That all Achaia’s host, wanting thy aid,95 +Might be compell’d into the fleet, and foul +Disgrace incur, there prison’d for thy sake. + To whom Achilles, groaning deep, replied. +My mother! it is true; Olympian Jove +That prayer fulfils; but thence, what joy to me,100 +Patroclus slain? the friend of all my friends +Whom most I loved, dear to me as my life— +Him I have lost. Slain and despoil’d he lies +By Hector of his glorious armor bright, +The wonder of all eyes, a matchless gift105 +Given by the Gods to Peleus on that day +When thee they doom’d into a mortal’s arms. +Oh that with these thy deathless ocean-nymphs +Dwelling content, thou hadst my father left +To espouse a mortal bride, so hadst thou ’scaped110 +Pangs numberless which thou must now endure +For thy son’s death, whom thou shalt never meet +From Troy return’d, in Peleus’ mansion more! +For life I covet not, nor longer wish +To mix with human kind, unless my spear115 +May find out Hector, and atonement take +By slaying him, for my Patroclus slain. + To whom, with streaming tears, Thetis replied. +Swift comes thy destiny as thou hast said, +For after Hector’s death thine next ensues.120 + Then answer, thus, indignant he return’d. +Death, seize me now! since when my friend was slain, +My doom was, not to succor him. He died +From home remote, and wanting me to save him. +Now, therefore, since I neither visit more125 +My native land, nor, present here, have aught +Avail’d Patroclus or my many friends +Whom noble Hector hath in battle slain, +But here I sit unprofitable grown, +Earth’s burden, though of such heroic note,130 +If not in council foremost (for I yield +That prize to others) yet in feats of arms, +Such as none other in Achaia’s host, +May fierce contention from among the Gods +Perish, and from among the human race,135 +With wrath, which sets the wisest hearts on fire; +Sweeter than dropping honey to the taste, +But in the bosom of mankind, a smoke![3] +Such was my wrath which Agamemnon roused, +The king of men. But since the past is fled140 +Irrevocable, howsoe’er distress’d, +Renounce we now vain musings on the past, +Content through sad necessity. I go +In quest of noble Hector, who hath slain +My loved Patroclus, and such death will take145 +As Jove ordains me and the Powers of Heaven +At their own season, send it when they may. +For neither might the force of Hercules, +Although high-favored of Saturnian Jove, +From death escape, but Fate and the revenge150 +Restless of Juno vanquish’d even Him. +I also, if a destiny like his +Await me, shall, like him, find rest in death; +But glory calls me now; now will I make +Some Trojan wife or Dardan with both hands155 +Wipe her soft cheeks, and utter many a groan. +Long time have I been absent from the field, +And they shall know it. Love me as thou may’st, +Yet thwart me not, for I am fixt to go. + Whom Thetis answer’d, Goddess of the Deep.160 +Thou hast well said, my son! it is no blame +To save from threaten’d death our suffering friends. +But thy magnificent and dazzling arms +Are now in Trojan hands; them Hector wears +Exulting, but ordain’d not long to exult,165 +So habited; his death is also nigh. +But thou with yonder warring multitudes +Mix not till thou behold me here again; +For with the rising sun I will return +To-morrow, and will bring thee glorious arms,170 +By Vulcan forged himself, the King of fire.[4] + She said, and turning from her son aside, +The sisterhood of Ocean thus address’d. + Plunge ye again into the briny Deep, +And to the hoary Sovereign of the floods175 +Report as ye have heard. I to the heights +Olympian haste, that I may there obtain +From Vulcan, glorious artist of the skies, +Arms of excelling beauty for my son. + She said; they plunged into the waves again,180 +And silver-footed Thetis, to the heights +Olympian soaring swiftly to obtain +Arms for renown’d Achilles, disappear’d. + Meantime, with infinite uproar the Greeks +From Hector’s hero-slaying arm had fled185 +Home to their galleys station’d on the banks +Of Hellespont. Nor yet Achaia’s sons +Had borne the body of Patroclus clear +From flight of darts away, but still again +The multitude of warriors and of steeds190 +Came on, by Priameian Hector led +Rapid as fire. Thrice noble Hector seized +His ancles from behind, ardent to drag +Patroclus, calling to his host the while; +But thrice, the two Ajaces, clothed with might,195 +Shock’d and repulsed him reeling. He with force +Fill’d indefatigable, through his ranks +Issuing, by turns assail’d them, and by turns +Stood clamoring, yet not a step retired; +But as the hinds deter not from his prey200 +A tawny lion by keen hunger urged, +So would not both Ajaces, warriors bold, +Intimidate and from the body drive +Hector; and he had dragg’d him thence and won +Immortal glory, but that Iris, sent205 +Unseen by Jove and by the powers of heaven, +From Juno, to Achilles brought command +That he should show himself. Full near she drew, +And in wing’d accents thus the Chief address’d. + Hero! most terrible of men, arise!210 +protect Patroclus, for whose sake the war +Stands at the fleet of Greece. Mutual prevails +The slaughter, these the dead defending, those +Resolute hence to drag him to the gates +Of wind-swept Ilium. But beyond them all215 +Illustrious Hector, obstinate is bent +To win him, purposing to lop his head, +And to exhibit it impaled on high. +Thou then arise, nor longer on the ground +Lie stretch’d inactive; let the thought with shame220 +Touch thee, of thy Patroclus made the sport +Of Trojan dogs, whose corse, if it return +Dishonored home, brings with it thy reproach. + To whom Achilles matchless in the race. +Iris divine! of all the Gods, who sent thee?225 + Then, thus, the swift ambassadress of heaven. +By Juno sent I come, consort of Jove. +Nor knows Saturnian Jove high-throned, himself, +My flight, nor any of the Immortal Powers, +Tenants of the Olympian heights snow-crown’d.230 + Her answer’d then Pelides, glorious Chief. +How shall I seek the fight? they have my arms. +My mother charged me also to abstain +From battle, till she bring me armor new +Which she hath promised me from Vulcan’s hand.235 +Meantime, whose armor else might serve my need +I know not, save perhaps alone the shield +Of Telamonian Ajax, whom I deem +Himself now busied in the stormy van, +Slaying the Trojans in my friend’s defence.240 + To whom the swift-wing’d messenger of heaven, +Full well we know thine armor Hector’s prize +Yet, issuing to the margin of the foss, +Show thyself only. Panic-seized, perchance, +The Trojans shall from fight desist, and yield245 +To the o’ertoil’d though dauntless sons of Greece +Short respite; it is all that war allows. + So saying, the storm-wing’d Iris disappear’d. +Then rose at once Achilles dear to Jove, +Athwart whose shoulders broad Minerva cast250 +Her Ægis fringed terrific, and his brows +Encircled with a golden cloud that shot +Fires insupportable to sight abroad. +As when some island, situate afar +On the wide waves, invested all the day255 +By cruel foes from their own city pour’d, +Upsends a smoke to heaven, and torches shows +On all her turrets at the close of eve +Which flash against the clouds, kindled in hope +Of aid from neighbor maritime allies,260 +So from Achilles’ head light flash’d to heaven. +Issuing through the wall, beside the foss +He stood, but mix’d not with Achaia’s host, +Obedient to his mother’s wise command. +He stood and shouted; Pallas also raised265 +A dreadful shout and tumult infinite +Excited throughout all the host of Troy. +Clear as the trumpet’s note when it proclaims +A numerous host approaching to invest +Some city close around, so clear the voice270 +Rang of Æacides, and tumult-toss’d +Was every soul that heard the brazen tone. +With swift recoil the long-maned coursers thrust +The chariots back, all boding wo at hand, +And every charioteer astonish’d saw275 +Fires that fail’d not, illumining the brows +Of Peleus’ son, by Pallas kindled there. +Thrice o’er the trench Achilles sent his voice +Sonorous, and confusion at the sound +Thrice seized the Trojans, and their famed allies.280 +Twelve in that moment of their noblest died +By their own spears and chariots, and with joy +The Grecians from beneath a hill of darts +Dragging Patroclus, placed him on his bier. +Around him throng’d his fellow-warriors bold,285 +All weeping, after whom Achilles went +Fast-weeping also at the doleful sight +Of his true friend on his funereal bed +Extended, gash’d with many a mortal wound, +Whom he had sent into the fight with steeds290 +And chariot, but received him thence no more. + And now majestic Juno sent the sun, +Unwearied minister of light, although +Reluctant, down into the Ocean stream.[5] +So the sun sank, and the Achaians ceased295 +From the all-wasting labors of the war. +On the other side, the Trojans, from the fight +Retiring, loosed their steeds, but ere they took +Thought of refreshment, in full council met. +It was a council at which no man sat,300 +Or dared; all stood; such terror had on all +Fallen, for that Achilles had appear’d, +After long pause from battle’s arduous toil. +First rose Polydamas the prudent son +Of Panthus, above all the Trojans skill’d305 +Both in futurity and in the past. +He was the friend of Hector, and one night +Gave birth to both. In council one excell’d +And one still more in feats of high renown. +Thus then, admonishing them, he began.310 + My friends! weigh well the occasion. Back to Troy +By my advice, nor wait the sacred morn +Here, on the plain, from Ilium’s walls remote +So long as yet the anger of this Chief +’Gainst noble Agamemnon burn’d, so long315 +We found the Greeks less formidable foes, +And I rejoiced, myself, spending the night +Beside their oary barks, for that I hoped +To seize them; but I now tremble at thought +Of Peleus’ rapid son again in arms.320 +A spirit proud as his will scorn to fight +Here, on the plain, where Greeks and Trojans take +Their common share of danger and of toil, +And will at once strike at your citadel, +Impatient till he make your wives his prey.325 +Haste—let us home—else thus shall it befall; +Night’s balmy influence in his tent detains +Achilles now, but rushing arm’d abroad +To-morrow, should he find us lingering here, +None shall mistake him then; happy the man330 +Who soonest, then, shall ’scape to sacred Troy! +Then, dogs shall make and vultures on our flesh +Plenteous repast. Oh spare mine ears the tale! +But if, though troubled, ye can yet receive +My counsel, thus assembled we will keep335 +Strict guard to-night; meantime, her gates and towers +With all their mass of solid timbers, smooth +And cramp’d with bolts of steel, will keep the town. +But early on the morrow we will stand +All arm’d on Ilium’s towers. Then, if he choose,340 +His galleys left, to compass Troy about, +He shall be task’d enough; his lofty steeds +Shall have their fill of coursing to and fro +Beneath, and gladly shall to camp return. +But waste the town he shall not, nor attempt345 +With all the utmost valor that he boasts +To force a pass; dogs shall devour him first. + To whom brave Hector louring, and in wrath. +Polydamas, I like not thy advice +Who bidd’st us in our city skulk, again350 +Imprison’d there. Are ye not yet content? +Wish ye for durance still in your own towers? +Time was, when in all regions under heaven +Men praised the wealth of Priam’s city stored +With gold and brass; but all our houses now355 +Stand emptied of their hidden treasures rare. +Jove in his wrath hath scatter’d them; our wealth +Is marketed, and Phrygia hath a part +Purchased, and part Mæonia’s lovely land. +But since the son of wily Saturn old360 +Hath given me glory now, and to inclose +The Grecians in their fleet hemm’d by the sea, +Fool! taint not with such talk the public mind. +For not a Trojan here will thy advice +Follow, or shall; it hath not my consent.365 +But thus I counsel. Let us, band by band, +Throughout the host take supper, and let each, +Guarded against nocturnal danger, watch. +And if a Trojan here be rack’d in mind +Lest his possessions perish, let him cast370 +His golden heaps into the public maw,[6] +Far better so consumed than by the Greeks. +Then, with the morrow’s dawn, all fair array’d +In battle, we will give them at their fleet +Sharp onset, and if Peleus’ noble son375 +Have risen indeed to conflict for the ships, +The worse for him. I shall not for his sake +Avoid the deep-toned battle, but will firm +Oppose his utmost. Either he shall gain +Or I, great glory. Mars his favors deals380 +Impartial, and the slayer oft is slain. +So counsell’d Hector, whom with shouts of praise +The Trojans answer’d:—fools, and by the power +Of Pallas of all sober thought bereft! +For all applauded Hector, who had given385 +Advice pernicious, and Polydamas, +Whose counsel was discreet and wholesome none. +So then they took repast. But all night long +The Grecians o’er Patroclus wept aloud, +While, standing in the midst, Pelides led390 +The lamentation, heaving many a groan, +And on the bosom of his breathless friend +Imposing, sad, his homicidal hands. +As the grim lion, from whose gloomy lair +Among thick trees the hunter hath his whelps395 +Purloin’d, too late returning mourns his loss, +Then, up and down, the length of many a vale +Courses, exploring fierce the robber’s foot, +Incensed as he, and with a sigh deep-drawn +Thus to his Myrmidons Achilles spake.400 + How vain, alas! my word spoken that day +At random, when to soothe the hero’s fears +Menœtius, then our guest, I promised him +His noble son at Opoeis again, +Living and laden with the spoils of Troy!405 +But Jove performs not all the thoughts of man, +For we were both destined to tinge the soil +Of Ilium with our blood, nor I shall see, +Myself, my father in his mansion more +Or Thetis, but must find my burial here.410 +Yet, my Patroclus! since the earth expects +Me next, I will not thy funereal rites +Finish, till I shall bring both head and arms +Of that bold Chief who slew thee, to my tent. +I also will smite off, before thy pile,415 +The heads of twelve illustrious sons of Troy, +Resentful of thy death. Meantime, among +My lofty galleys thou shalt lie, with tears +Mourn’d day and night by Trojan captives fair +And Dardan compassing thy bier around,420 +Whom we, at price of labor hard, ourselves +With massy spears toiling in battle took +From many an opulent city, now no more. + So saying, he bade his train surround with fire +A tripod huge, that they might quickly cleanse425 +Patroclus from all stain of clotted gore. +They on the blazing hearth a tripod placed +Capacious, fill’d with water its wide womb, +And thrust dry wood beneath, till, fierce, the flames +Embraced it round, and warm’d the flood within.430 +Soon as the water in the singing brass +Simmer’d, they bathed him, and with limpid oil +Anointed; filling, next, his ruddy wounds +With unguent mellow’d by nine circling years, +They stretch’d him on his bed, then cover’d him435 +From head to feet with linen texture light, +And with a wide unsullied mantle, last.[7] +All night the Myrmidons around the swift +Achilles stood, deploring loud his friend, +And Jove his spouse and sister thus bespake.440 + So then, Imperial Juno! not in vain +Thou hast the swift Achilles sought to rouse +Again to battle; the Achaians, sure, +Are thy own children, thou hast borne them all. + To whom the awful Goddess ample-eyed.445 +What word hath pass’d thy lips, Jove, most severe? +A man, though mortal merely, and to me +Inferior in device, might have achieved +That labor easily. Can I who boast +Myself the chief of Goddesses, and such450 +Not by birth only, but as thine espoused, +Who art thyself sovereign of all the Gods, +Can I with anger burn against the house +Of Priam, and want means of just revenge? + + Thus they in heaven their mutual conference455 +Meantime, the silver-footed Thetis reach’d +The starr’d abode eternal, brazen wall’d +Of Vulcan, by the builder lame himself +Uprear’d, a wonder even in eyes divine. +She found him sweating, at his bellows huge460 +Toiling industrious; tripods bright he form’d +Twenty at once, his palace-wall to grace +Ranged in harmonious order. Under each +Two golden wheels he set, on which (a sight +Marvellous!) into council they should roll465 +Self-moved, and to his house, self-moved, return. +Thus far the work was finish’d, but not yet +Their ears of exquisite design affixt, +For them he stood fashioning, and prepared +The rivets. While he thus his matchless skill470 +Employ’d laborious, to his palace-gate +The silver-footed Thetis now advanced, +Whom Charis, Vulcan’s well-attired spouse, +Beholding from the palace portal, flew +To seize the Goddess’ hand, and thus inquired.475 + Why, Thetis! worthy of all reverence +And of all love, comest thou to our abode, +Unfrequent here? But enter, and accept +Such welcome as to such a guest is due. + So saying, she introduced and to a seat480 +Led her with argent studs border’d around +And foot-stool’d sumptuously;[8] then, calling forth +Her spouse, the glorious artist, thus she said. + Haste, Vulcan! Thetis wants thee; linger not. +To whom the artist of the skies replied.485 + A Goddess then, whom with much cause I love +And venerate is here, who when I fell +Saved me, what time my shameless mother sought +To cast me, because lame, out of all sight; +Then had I been indeed forlorn, had not490 +Eurynome the daughter of the Deep +And Thetis in their laps received me fallen. +Nine years with them residing, for their use +I form’d nice trinkets, clasps, rings, pipes, and chains, +While loud around our hollow cavern roar’d495 +The surge of the vast deep, nor God nor man, +Save Thetis and Eurynome, my life’s +Preservers, knew where I was kept conceal’d. +Since, therefore, she is come, I cannot less +Than recompense to Thetis amber-hair’d500 +With readiness the boon of life preserved. +Haste, then, and hospitably spread the board +For her regale, while with my best dispatch +I lay my bellows and my tools aside. + He spake, and vast in bulk and hot with toil505 +Rose limping from beside his anvil-stock +Upborne, with pain on legs tortuous and weak. +First, from the forge dislodged he thrust apart +His bellows, and his tools collecting all +Bestow’d them, careful, in a silver chest,510 +Then all around with a wet sponge he wiped +His visage, and his arms and brawny neck +Purified, and his shaggy breast from smutch; +Last, putting on his vest, he took in hand +His sturdy staff, and shuffled through the door.515 +Beside the King of fire two golden forms +Majestic moved, that served him in the place +Of handmaids; young they seem’d, and seem’d alive, +Nor want they intellect, or speech, or force, +Or prompt dexterity by the Gods inspired.520 +These his supporters were, and at his side +Attendant diligent, while he, with gait +Uncouth, approaching Thetis where she sat +On a bright throne, seized fast her hand and said, + Why, Thetis! worthy as thou art of love525 +And of all reverence, hast thou arrived, +Unfrequent here? Speak—tell me thy desire, +Nor doubt my services, if thou demand +Things possible, and possible to me. + Then Thetis, weeping plenteously, replied.530 +Oh Vulcan! Is there on Olympius’ heights +A Goddess with such load of sorrow press’d +As, in peculiar, Jove assigns to me? +Me only, of all ocean-nymphs, he made +Spouse to a man, Peleus Æacides,535 +Whose bed, although reluctant and perforce, +I yet endured to share. He now, the prey +Of cheerless age, decrepid lies, and Jove +Still other woes heaps on my wretched head. +He gave me to bring forth, gave me to rear540 +A son illustrious, valiant, and the chief +Of heroes; he, like a luxuriant plant +Upran[9] to manhood, while his lusty growth +I nourish’d as the husbandman his vine +Set in a fruitful field, and being grown545 +I sent him early in his gallant fleet +Embark’d, to combat with the sons of Troy; +But him from fight return’d I shall receive, +Beneath the roof of Peleus, never more, +And while he lives and on the sun his eyes550 +Opens, affliction is his certain doom, +Nor aid resides or remedy in me. +The virgin, his own portion of the spoils, +Allotted to him by the Grecians—her +Atrides, King of men, resumed, and grief555 +Devour’d Achilles’ spirit for her sake. +Meantime, the Trojans shutting close within +Their camp the Grecians, have forbidden them +All egress, and the senators of Greece +Have sought with splendid gifts to soothe my son.560 +He, indisposed to rescue them himself +From ruin, sent, instead, Patroclus forth, +Clad in his own resplendent armor, Chief +Of the whole host of Myrmidons. Before +The Scæan gate from morn to eve they fought,565 +And on that self-same day had Ilium fallen, +But that Apollo, to advance the fame +Of Hector, slew Menœtius’ noble son +Full-flush’d with victory. Therefore at thy knees +Suppliant I fall, imploring from thine art570 +A shield and helmet, greaves of shapely form +With clasps secured, and corselet for my son. +For those, once his, his faithful friend hath lost, +Slain by the Trojans, and Achilles lies, +Himself, extended mournful on the ground.575 + Her answer’d then the artist of the skies. +Courage! Perplex not with these cares thy soul. +I would that when his fatal hour shall come, +I could as sure secrete him from the stroke +Of destiny, as he shall soon have arms580 +Illustrious, such as each particular man +Of thousands, seeing them, shall wish his own. + He said, and to his bellows quick repair’d, +Which turning to the fire he bade them heave. +Full twenty bellows working all at once595 +Breathed on the furnace, blowing easy and free +The managed winds, now forcible, as best +Suited dispatch, now gentle, if the will +Of Vulcan and his labor so required. +Impenetrable brass, tin, silver, gold,590 +He cast into the forge, then, settling firm +His ponderous anvil on the block, one hand +With his huge hammer fill’d, one with the tongs. + [10]He fashion’d first a shield massy and broad +Of labor exquisite, for which he form’d595 +A triple border beauteous, dazzling bright, +And loop’d it with a silver brace behind. +The shield itself with five strong folds he forged, +And with devices multiform the disk +Capacious charged, toiling with skill divine.600 + There he described the earth, the heaven, the sea, +The sun that rests not, and the moon full-orb’d. +There also, all the stars which round about +As with a radiant frontlet bind the skies, +The Pleiads and the Hyads, and the might605 +Of huge Orion, with him Ursa call’d, +Known also by his popular name, the Wain, +That spins around the pole looking toward +Orion, only star of these denied +To slake his beams in ocean’s briny baths.610 + Two splendid cities also there he form’d +Such as men build. In one were to be seen +Rites matrimonial solemnized with pomp +Of sumptuous banquets; from their chambers forth +Leading the brides they usher’d them along615 +With torches through the streets, and sweet was heard +The voice around of Hymenæal song. +Here striplings danced in circles to the sound +Of pipe and harp, while in the portals stood +Women, admiring, all, the gallant show.620 +Elsewhere was to be seen in council met +The close-throng’d multitude. There strife arose. +Two citizens contended for a mulct +The price of blood. This man affirm’d the fine +All paid,[11] haranguing vehement the crowd,625 +That man denied that he had aught received, +And to the judges each made his appeal +Eager for their award. Meantime the people, +As favor sway’d them, clamor’d loud for each. +The heralds quell’d the tumult; reverend sat630 +On polish’d stones the elders in a ring, +Each with a herald’s sceptre in his hand, +Which holding they arose, and all in turn +Gave sentence. In the midst two talents lay +Of gold, his destined recompense whose voice635 +Decisive should pronounce the best award. +The other city by two glittering hosts +Invested stood, and a dispute arose +Between the hosts, whether to burn the town +And lay all waste, or to divide the spoil.640 +Meantime, the citizens, still undismay’d, +Surrender’d not the town, but taking arms +Secretly, set the ambush in array, +And on the walls their wives and children kept +Vigilant guard, with all the ancient men.645 +They sallied; at their head Pallas and Mars +Both golden and in golden vests attired +Advanced, proportion each showing divine, +Large, prominent, and such as Gods beseem’d. +Not such the people, but of humbler size.650 +Arriving at the spot for ambush chosen, +A river’s side, where cattle of each kind +Drank, down they sat, all arm’d in dazzling brass. +Apart from all the rest sat also down +Two spies, both looking for the flocks and herds.655 +Soon they appear’d, and at their side were seen +Two shepherd swains, each playing on his pipe +Careless, and of the danger nought apprized, +Swift ran the spies, perceiving their approach, +And intercepting suddenly the herds660 +And flocks of silver fleece, slew also those +Who fed them. The besiegers, at that time +In council, by the sound alarm’d, their steeds +Mounted, and hasted, instant, to the place; +Then, standing on the river’s brink they fought665 +And push’d each other with the brazen lance. +There Discord raged, there Tumult, and the force +Of ruthless Destiny; she now a Chief +Seized newly wounded, and now captive held +Another yet unhurt, and now a third670 +Dragg’d breathless through the battle by his feet +And all her garb was dappled thick with blood +Like living men they traversed and they strove, +And dragg’d by turns the bodies of the slain. + He also graved on it a fallow field675 +Rich, spacious, and well-till’d. Plowers not few, +There driving to and fro their sturdy teams, +Labor’d the land; and oft as in their course +They came to the field’s bourn, so oft a man +Met them, who in their hands a goblet placed680 +Charged with delicious wine. They, turning, wrought +Each his own furrow, and impatient seem’d +To reach the border of the tilth, which black +Appear’d behind them as a glebe new-turn’d, +Though golden. Sight to be admired by all!685 + There too he form’d the likeness of a field +Crowded with corn, in which the reapers toil’d +Each with a sharp-tooth’d sickle in his hand. +Along the furrow here, the harvest fell +In frequent handfuls, there, they bound the sheaves.690 +Three binders of the sheaves their sultry task +All plied industrious, and behind them boys +Attended, filling with the corn their arms +And offering still their bundles to be bound. +Amid them, staff in hand, the master stood695 +Silent exulting, while beneath an oak +Apart, his heralds busily prepared +The banquet, dressing a well-thriven ox +New slain, and the attendant maidens mix’d +Large supper for the hinds of whitest flour.700 + There also, laden with its fruit he form’d +A vineyard all of gold; purple he made +The clusters, and the vines supported stood +By poles of silver set in even rows. +The trench he color’d sable, and around705 +Fenced it with tin. One only path it show’d +By which the gatherers when they stripp’d the vines +Pass’d and repass’d. There, youths and maidens blithe +In frails of wicker bore the luscious fruit, +While, in the midst, a boy on his shrill harp710 +Harmonious play’d, still as he struck the chord +Carolling to it with a slender voice. +They smote the ground together, and with song +And sprightly reed came dancing on behind.[12] + There too a herd he fashion’d of tall beeves715 +Part gold, part tin. They, lowing, from the stalls +Rush’d forth to pasture by a river-side +Rapid, sonorous, fringed with whispering reeds. +Four golden herdsmen drove the kine a-field +By nine swift dogs attended. Dreadful sprang720 +Two lions forth, and of the foremost herd +Seized fast a bull. Him bellowing they dragg’d, +While dogs and peasants all flew to his aid. +The lions tore the hide of the huge prey +And lapp’d his entrails and his blood. Meantime725 +The herdsmen, troubling them in vain, their hounds +Encouraged; but no tooth for lions’ flesh +Found they, and therefore stood aside and bark’d. + There also, the illustrious smith divine +Amidst a pleasant grove a pasture form’d730 +Spacious, and sprinkled o’er with silver sheep +Numerous, and stalls and huts and shepherds’ tents. + To these the glorious artist added next, +With various skill delineated exact, +A labyrinth for the dance, such as of old735 +In Crete’s broad island Dædalus composed +For bright-hair’d Ariadne.[13] There the youths +And youth-alluring maidens, hand in hand, +Danced jocund, every maiden neat-attired +In finest linen, and the youths in vests740 +Well-woven, glossy as the glaze of oil. +These all wore garlands, and bright falchions, those, +Of burnish’d gold in silver trappings hung:—[14] +They with well-tutor’d step, now nimbly ran +The circle, swift, as when, before his wheel745 +Seated, the potter twirls it with both hands +For trial of its speed,[15] now, crossing quick +They pass’d at once into each other’s place. +On either side spectators numerous stood +Delighted, and two tumblers roll’d themselves750 +Between the dancers, singing as they roll’d. + Last, with the might of ocean’s boundless flood +He fill’d the border of the wondrous shield. + When thus the massy shield magnificent +He had accomplish’d, for the hero next755 +He forged, more ardent than the blaze of fire, +A corselet; then, a ponderous helmet bright +Well fitted to his brows, crested with gold, +And with laborious art divine adorn’d. +He also made him greaves of molten tin.760 + The armor finish’d, bearing in his hand +The whole, he set it down at Thetis’ feet. +She, like a falcon from the snowy top +Stoop’d of Olympus, bearing to the earth +The dazzling wonder, fresh from Vulcan’s hand.765 + + + + +BOOK XIX. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE NINETEENTH BOOK. + +Achilles is reconciled to Agamemnon, and clothed in new armor forged by +Vulcan, leads out the Myrmidons to battle. + + +BOOK XIX. + + +Now rose the morn in saffron vest attired +From ocean, with new day for Gods and men, +When Thetis at the fleet of Greece arrived, +Bearing that gift divine. She found her son +All tears, and close enfolding in his arms5 +Patroclus, while his Myrmidons around +Wept also;[1] she amid them, graceful, stood, +And seizing fast his hand, him thus bespake. + Although our loss be great, yet, oh my son! +Leave we Patroclus lying on the bier10 +To which the Gods ordain’d him from the first. +Receive from Vulcan’s hands these glorious arms, +Such as no mortal shoulders ever bore. + So saying, she placed the armor on the ground +Before him, and the whole bright treasure rang.15 +A tremor shook the Myrmidons; none dared +Look on it, but all fled. Not so himself. +In him fresh vengeance kindled at the view, +And, while he gazed, a splendor as of fire +Flash’d from his eyes. Delighted, in his hand20 +He held the glorious bounty of the God, +And, wondering at those strokes of art divine, +His eager speech thus to his mother turn’d.[2] + The God, my mother! hath bestow’d in truth +Such armor on me as demanded skill25 +Like his, surpassing far all power of man. +Now, therefore, I will arm. But anxious fears +Trouble me, lest intrusive flies, meantime, +Breed worms within the spear-inflicted wounds +Of Menœtiades, and fill with taint30 +Of putrefaction his whole breathless form.[3] + But him the silver-footed Goddess fair +Thus answer’d. Oh, my son! chase from thy mind +All such concern. I will, myself, essay +To drive the noisome swarms which on the slain35 +In battle feed voracious. Should he lie +The year complete, his flesh shall yet be found +Untainted, and, it may be, fragrant too. +But thou the heroes of Achaia’s host +Convening, in their ears thy wrath renounce40 +Against the King of men, then, instant, arm +For battle, and put on thy glorious might. + So saying, the Goddess raised his courage high. +Then, through the nostrils of the dead she pour’d +Ambrosia, and the ruddy juice divine45 +Of nectar, antidotes against decay. + And now forth went Achilles by the side +Of ocean, calling with a dreadful shout +To council all the heroes of the host.[4] +Then, even they who in the fleet before50 +Constant abode, helmsmen and those who held +In stewardship the food and public stores, +All flock’d to council, for that now at length +After long abstinence from dread exploits +Of war, Achilles had once more appear’d.55 +Two went together, halting on the spear, +(For still they felt the anguish of their wounds) +Noble Ulysses and brave Diomede, +And took an early seat; whom follow’d last +The King of men, by Coön in the field60 +Of furious battle wounded with a lance. +The Grecians all assembled, in the midst +Upstood the swift Achilles, and began. + Atrides! we had doubtless better sped +Both thou and I, thus doing, when at first65 +With cruel rage we burn’d, a girl the cause. +I would that Dian’s shaft had in the fleet +Slain her that self-same day when I destroy’d +Lyrnessus, and by conquest made her mine! +Then had not many a Grecian, lifeless now,70 +Clench’d with his teeth the ground, victim, alas! +Of my revenge; whence triumph hath accrued +To Hector and his host, while ours have cause +For long remembrance of our mutual strife. +But evils past let pass, yielding perforce75 +To sad necessity. My wrath shall cease +Now; I resign it; it hath burn’d too long. +Thou therefore summon forth the host to fight, +That I may learn meeting them in the field, +If still the Trojans purpose at our fleet80 +To watch us this night also. But I judge +That driven by my spear to rapid flight, +They shall escape with weary limbs[5] at least. + He ended, and the Grecians brazen-greaved +Rejoiced that Peleus’ mighty son had cast85 +His wrath aside. Then not into the midst +Proceeding, but at his own seat, upstood +King Agamemnon, and them thus bespake. + + Friends! Grecian heroes! Ministers of Mars! +Arise who may to speak, he claims your ear;90 +All interruption wrongs him, and distracts, +Howe’er expert the speaker. Who can hear +Amid the roar of tumult, or who speak? +The clearest voice, best utterance, both are vain +I shall address Achilles. Hear my speech95 +Ye Argives, and with understanding mark. +I hear not now the voice of your reproach[6] +First; ye have oft condemn’d me. Yet the blame +Rests not with me; Jove, Destiny, and she +Who roams the shades, Erynnis, caused the offence.100 +She fill’d my soul with fury on that day +In council, when I seized Achilles’ prize. +For what could I? All things obey the Gods. +Ate, pernicious Power, daughter of Jove, +By whom all suffer, challenges from all105 +Reverence and fear. Delicate are her feet +Which scorn the ground, and over human heads +She glides, injurious to the race of man, +Of two who strive, at least entangling one. +She injured, on a day, dread Jove himself110 +Most excellent of all in earth or heaven, +When Juno, although female, him deceived, +What time Alcmena should have brought to light +In bulwark’d Thebes the force of Hercules. +Then Jove, among the gods glorying, spake.115 + Hear all! both Gods and Goddesses, attend! +That I may make my purpose known. This day +Birth-pang-dispensing Ilithya brings +An hero forth to light, who, sprung from those +That sprang from me, his empire shall extend120 +Over all kingdoms bordering on his own. + To whom, designing fraud, Juno replied. +Thou wilt be found false, and this word of thine +Shall want performance. But Olympian Jove! +Swear now the inviolable oath, that he125 +Who shall, this day, fall from between the feet +Of woman, drawing his descent from thee, +Shall rule all kingdoms bordering on his own. + She said, and Jove, suspecting nought her wiles, +The great oath swore, to his own grief and wrong.130 +At once from the Olympian summit flew +Juno, and to Achaian Argos borne, +There sought the noble wife[7] of Sthenelus, +Offspring of Perseus. Pregnant with a son +Six months, she now the seventh saw at hand,135 +But him the Goddess premature produced, +And check’d Alcmena’s pangs already due. +Then joyful to have so prevail’d, she bore +Herself the tidings to Saturnian Jove. + Lord of the candent lightnings! Sire of all!140 +I bring thee tidings. The great prince, ordain’d +To rule the Argive race, this day is born, +Eurystheus, son of Sthenelus, the son +Of Perseus; therefore he derives from thee, +Nor shall the throne of Argos shame his birth.145 + She spake; then anguish stung the heart of Jove +Deeply, and seizing by her glossy locks +The Goddess Ate, in his wrath he swore +That never to the starry skies again +And the Olympian heights he would permit150 +The universal mischief to return. +Then, whirling her around, he cast her down +To earth. She, mingling with all works of men, +Caused many a pang to Jove, who saw his son +Laborious tasks servile, and of his birth155 +Unworthy, at Eurystheus’ will enjoin’d. + So when the hero Hector at our ships +Slew us, I then regretted my offence +Which Ate first impell’d me to commit. +But since, infatuated by the Gods160 +I err’d, behold me ready to appease +With gifts of price immense whom I have wrong’d. +Thou, then, arise to battle, and the host +Rouse also. Not a promise yesternight +Was made thee by Ulysses in thy tent165 +On my behalf, but shall be well perform’d. +Or if it please thee, though impatient, wait +Short season, and my train shall bring the gifts +Even now; that thou may’st understand and know +That my peace-offerings are indeed sincere.170 + To whom Achilles, swiftest of the swift. +Atrides! Agamemnon! passing all +In glory! King of men! recompense just +By gifts to make me, or to make me none, +That rests with thee. But let us to the fight175 +Incontinent. It is no time to play +The game of rhetoric, and to waste the hours +In speeches. Much remains yet unperform’d. +Achilles must go forth. He must be seen +Once more in front of battle, wasting wide180 +With brazen spear, the crowded ranks of Troy. +Mark him—and as he fights, fight also ye. + To whom Ulysses ever-wise replied. +Nay—urge not, valiant as thou art thyself, +Achaia’s sons up to the battlements185 +Of Ilium, by repast yet unrefresh’d, +Godlike Achilles!—For when phalanx once +Shall clash with phalanx, and the Gods with rage +Both hosts inspire, the contest shall not then +Prove short. Bid rather the Achaians take190 +Both food and wine, for they are strength and might. +To stand all day till sunset to a foe +Opposed in battle, fasting, were a task +Might foil the best; for though his will be prompt +To combat, yet the power must by degrees195 +Forsake him; thirst and hunger he must feel, +And his limbs failing him at every step. +But he who hath his vigor to the full +Fed with due nourishment, although he fight +All day, yet feels his courage unimpair’d,200 +Nor weariness perceives till all retire. +Come then—dismiss the people with command +That each prepare replenishment. Meantime +Let Agamemnon, King of men, his gifts +In presence here of the assembled Greeks205 +Produce, that all may view them, and that thou +May’st feel thine own heart gladden’d at the sight. +Let the King also, standing in the midst, +Swear to thee, that he renders back the maid +A virgin still, and strange to his embrace,210 +And let thy own composure prove, the while, +That thou art satisfied. Last, let him spread +A princely banquet for thee in his tent, +That thou may’st want no part of just amends. +Thou too, Atrides, shalt hereafter prove215 +More just to others; for himself, a King, +Stoops not too low, soothing whom he hath wrong’d. + Him Agamemnon answer’d, King of men. +Thou hast arranged wisely the whole concern, +O Läertiades, and I have heard220 +Thy speech, both words and method with delight. +Willing I am, yea more, I wish to swear +As thou hast said, for by the Gods I can +Most truly. Let Achilles, though of pause +Impatient, suffer yet a short delay225 +With all assembled here, till from my tent +The gifts arrive, and oaths of peace be sworn. +To thee I give it in peculiar charge +That choosing forth the most illustrious youths +Of all Achaia, thou produce the gifts230 +from my own ship, all those which yesternight +We promised, nor the women leave behind. +And let Talthybius throughout all the camp +Of the Achaians, instant, seek a boar +For sacrifice to Jove and to the Sun.235 + Then thus Achilles matchless in the race. +Atrides! most illustrious! King of men! +Expedience bids us to these cares attend +Hereafter, when some pause, perchance, of fight +Shall happen, and the martial rage which fires240 +My bosom now, shall somewhat less be felt. +Our friends by Priameian Hector slain, +Now strew the field mangled, for him hath Jove +Exalted high, and given him great renown. +But haste, now take refreshment; though, in truth245 +Might I direct, the host should by all means +Unfed to battle, and at set of sun +All sup together, this affront revenged. +But as for me, no drop shall pass my lips +Or morsel, whose companion lies with feet250 +Turn’d to the vestibule, pierced by the spear, +And compass’d by my weeping train around. +No want of food feel I. My wishes call +For carnage, blood, and agonies and groans. + But him, excelling in all wisdom, thus255 +Ulysses answer’d. Oh Achilles! son +Of Peleus! bravest far of all our host! +Me, in no scanty measure, thou excell’st +Wielding the spear, and thee in prudence, I +Not less. For I am elder, and have learn’d260 +What thou hast yet to learn. Bid then thine heart +Endure with patience to be taught by me. +Men, satiate soon with battle, loathe the field +On which the most abundant harvest falls, +Reap’d by the sword; and when the hand of Jove265 +Dispenser of the great events of war, +Turns once the scale, then, farewell every hope +Of more than scanty gleanings. Shall the Greeks +Abstain from sustenance for all who die? +That were indeed severe, since day by day270 +No few expire, and respite could be none. +The dead, die whoso may, should be inhumed. +This, duty bids, but bids us also deem +One day sufficient for our sighs and tears. +Ourselves, all we who still survive the war,275 +Have need of sustenance, that we may bear +The lengthen’d conflict with recruited might, +Case in enduring brass.—Ye all have heard +Your call to battle; let none lingering stand +In expectation of a farther call,280 +Which if it sound, shall thunder prove to him +Who lurks among the ships. No. Rush we all +Together forth, for contest sharp prepared, +And persevering with the host of Troy. + So saying, the sons of Nestor, glorious Chief,285 +He chose, with Meges Phyleus’ noble son, +Thoas, Meriones, and Melanippus +And Lycomedes. These, together, sought +The tent of Agamemnon, King of men. +They ask’d, and they received. Soon they produced290 +The seven promised tripods from the tent, +Twice ten bright caldrons, twelve high-mettled steeds, +Seven lovely captives skill’d alike in arts +Domestic, of unblemish’d beauty rare, +And last, Brisëis with the blooming cheeks.295 +Before them went Ulysses, bearing weigh’d +Ten golden talents, whom the chosen Greeks +Attended laden with the remnant gifts. +Full in the midst they placed them. Then arose +King Agamemnon, and Talthybius300 +The herald, clear in utterance as a God, +Beside him stood, holding the victim boar. +Atrides, drawing forth his dagger bright, +Appendant ever to his sword’s huge sheath, +Sever’d the bristly forelock of the boar,305 +A previous offering. Next, with lifted hands +To Jove he pray’d, while, all around, the Greeks +Sat listening silent to the Sovereign’s voice. +He look’d to the wide heaven, and thus he pray’d. + First, Jove be witness! of all Powers above310 +Best and supreme; Earth next, and next the Sun! +And last, who under Earth the guilt avenge +Of oaths sworn falsely, let the Furies hear! +For no respect of amorous desire +Or other purpose, have I laid mine hand315 +On fair Brisëis, but within my tent +Untouch’d, immaculate she hath remain’d. +And if I falsely swear, then may the Gods +The many woes with which they mark the crime +Of men forsworn, pour also down on me!320 + So saying, he pierced the victim in his throat +And, whirling him around, Talthybius, next, +Cast him into the ocean, fishes’ food.[8] +Then, in the centre of Achaia’s sons +Uprose Achilles, and thus spake again.325 + Jove! Father! dire calamities, effects +Of thy appointment, fall on human-kind. +Never had Agamemnon in my breast +Such anger kindled, never had he seized, +Blinded by wrath, and torn my prize away,330 +But that the slaughter of our numerous friends +Which thence ensued, thou hadst, thyself, ordained. +Now go, ye Grecians, eat, and then to battle. + So saying, Achilles suddenly dissolved +The hasty council, and all flew dispersed335 +To their own ships. Then took the Myrmidons +Those splendid gifts which in the tent they lodged +Of swift Achilles, and the damsels led +Each to a seat, while others of his train +Drove forth the steeds to pasture with his herd.340 +But when Brisëis, bright as Venus, saw +Patroclus lying mangled by the spear, +Enfolding him around, she shriek’d and tore +Her bosom, her smooth neck and beauteous cheeks. +Then thus, divinely fair, with tears she said.345 + Ah, my Patroclus! dearest friend of all +To hapless me, departing from this tent +I left thee living, and now, generous Chief! +Restored to it again, here find thee dead. +How rapid in succession are my woes!350 +I saw, myself, the valiant prince to whom +My parents had betroth’d me, slain before +Our city walls; and my three brothers, sons +Of my own mother, whom with long regret +I mourn, fell also in that dreadful field.355 +But when the swift Achilles slew the prince +Design’d my spouse, and the fair city sack’d +Of noble Mynes, thou by every art +Of tender friendship didst forbid my tears, +Promising oft that thou would’st make me bride360 +Of Peleus’ godlike son, that thy own ship +Should waft me hence to Phthia, and that thyself +Would’st furnish forth among the Myrmidons +Our nuptial feast. Therefore thy death I mourn +Ceaseless, for thou wast ever kind to me.365 + She spake, and all her fellow-captives heaved +Responsive sighs, deploring each, in show, +The dead Patroclus, but, in truth, herself.[9] +Then the Achaian Chiefs gather’d around +Achilles, wooing him to eat, but he370 +Groan’d and still resolute, their suit refused— + If I have here a friend on whom by prayers +I may prevail, I pray that ye desist, +Nor longer press me, mourner as I am, +To eat or drink, for till the sun go down375 +I am inflexible, and _will_ abstain. + So saying, the other princes he dismiss’d +Impatient, but the sons of Atreus both, +Ulysses, Nestor and Idomeneus, +With Phœnix, hoary warrior, in his tent380 +Abiding still, with cheerful converse kind +Essay’d to soothe him, whose afflicted soul +All soothing scorn’d till he should once again +Rush on the ravening edge of bloody war. +Then, mindful of his friend, groaning he said385 + Time was, unhappiest, dearest of my friends! +When even thou, with diligent dispatch, +Thyself, hast spread a table in my tent, +The hour of battle drawing nigh between +The Greeks and warlike Trojans. But there lies390 +Thy body now, gored by the ruthless steel, +And for thy sake I neither eat nor drink, +Though dearth be none, conscious that other wo +Surpassing this I can have none to fear. +No, not if tidings of my father’s death395 +Should reach me, who, this moment, weeps, perhaps, +In Phthia tears of tenderest regret +For such a son; while I, remote from home +Fight for detested Helen under Troy. +Nor even were _he_ dead, whom, if he live,400 +I rear in Scyros, my own darling son, +My Neoptolemus of form divine.[10] +For still this hope I cherish’d in my breast +Till now, that, of us two, myself alone +Should fall at Ilium, and that thou, restored405 +To Phthia, should’st have wafted o’er the waves +My son from Scyros to his native home, +That thou might’st show him all his heritage, +My train of menials, and my fair abode. +For either dead already I account410 +Peleus, or doubt not that his residue +Of miserable life shall soon be spent, +Through stress of age and expectation sad +That tidings of my death shall, next, arrive. + So spake Achilles weeping, around whom415 +The Chiefs all sigh’d, each with remembrance pain’d +Of some loved object left at home. Meantime +Jove, with compassion moved, their sorrow saw, +And in wing’d accents thus to Pallas spake. + + Daughter! thou hast abandon’d, as it seems,420 +Yon virtuous Chief for ever; shall no care +Thy mind engage of brave Achilles more? +Before his gallant fleet mourning he sits +His friend, disconsolate; the other Greeks +Sat and are satisfied; he only fasts.425 +Go then—instil nectar into his breast, +And sweets ambrosial, that he hunger not. + So saying, he urged Minerva prompt before. +In form a shrill-voiced Harpy of long wing +Through ether down she darted, while the Greeks430 +In all their camp for instant battle arm’d. +Ambrosial sweets and nectar she instill’d +Into his breast, lest he should suffer loss +Of strength through abstinence, then soar’d again +To her great Sire’s unperishing abode.435 +And now the Grecians from their gallant fleet +All pour’d themselves abroad. As when thick snow +From Jove descends, driven by impetuous gusts +Of the cloud-scattering North, so frequent shone +Issuing from the fleet the dazzling casques,440 +Boss’d bucklers, hauberks strong, and ashen spears. +Upwent the flash to heaven; wide all around +The champain laugh’d with beamy brass illumed, +And tramplings of the warriors on all sides +Resounded, amidst whom Achilles arm’d.445 +He gnash’d his teeth, fire glimmer’d in his eyes, +Anguish intolerable wrung his heart +And fury against Troy, while he put on +His glorious arms, the labor of a God. +First, to his legs his polish’d greaves he clasp’d450 +Studded with silver, then his corselet bright +Braced to his bosom, his huge sword of brass +Athwart his shoulder slung, and his broad shield +Uplifted last, luminous as the moon. +Such as to mariners a fire appears,455 +Kindled by shepherds on the distant top +Of some lone hill; they, driven by stormy winds, +Reluctant roam far off the fishy deep, +Such from Achilles’ burning shield divine +A lustre struck the skies; his ponderous helm460 +He lifted to his brows; starlike it shone, +And shook its curling crest of bushy gold, +By Vulcan taught to wave profuse around. +So clad, godlike Achilles trial made +If his arms fitted him, and gave free scope465 +To his proportion’d limbs; buoyant they proved +As wings, and high upbore his airy tread. +He drew his father’s spear forth from his case, +Heavy and huge and long. That spear, of all +Achaia’s sons, none else had power to wield;470 +Achilles only could the Pelian spear +Brandish, by Chiron for his father hewn +From Pelion’s top for slaughter of the brave. +His coursers, then, Automedon prepared +And Alcimus, adjusting diligent475 +The fair caparisons; they thrust the bits +Into their mouths, and to the chariot seat +Extended and made fast the reins behind. +The splendid scourge commodious to the grasp +Seizing, at once Automedon upsprang480 +Into his place; behind him, arm’d complete +Achilles mounted, as the orient sun +All dazzling, and with awful tone his speech +Directed to the coursers of his Sire. + Xanthus, and Balius of Podarges’ blood485 +Illustrious! see ye that, the battle done, +Ye bring whom now ye bear back to the host +Of the Achaians in far other sort, +Nor leave him, as ye left Patroclus, dead.[11] +Him then his steed unconquer’d in the race,490 +Xanthus answer’d from beneath his yoke, +But, hanging low his head, and with his mane +Dishevell’d all, and streaming to the ground. +Him Juno vocal made, Goddess white-arm’d. + And doubtless so we will. This day at least495 +We bear thee safe from battle, stormy Chief! +But thee the hour of thy destruction swift +Approaches, hasten’d by no fault of ours, +But by the force of fate and power divine. +For not through sloth or tardiness on us500 +Aught chargeable, have Ilium’s sons thine arms +Stript from Patroclus’ shoulders, but a God +Matchless in battle, offspring of bright-hair’d +Latona, him contending in the van +Slew, for the glory of the Chief of Troy.505 +We, Zephyrus himself, though by report +Swiftest of all the winds of heaven, in speed +Could equal, but the Fates thee also doom +By human hands to fall, and hands divine. + The interposing Furies at that word510 +Suppress’d his utterance,[12] and indignant, thus, +Achilles, swiftest of the swift, replied. + Why, Xanthus, propheciest thou my death? +It ill beseems thee. I already know +That from my parents far remote my doom515 +Appoints me here to die; yet not the more +Cease I from feats if arms, till Ilium’s host +Shall have received, at length, their fill of war. + He said, and with a shout drove forth to battle. + + + + +BOOK XX. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE TWENTIETH BOOK. + +By permission of Jupiter the Gods descend into the battle, and range +themselves on either side respectively. Neptune rescues Æneas from +death by the hand of Achilles, from whom Apollo, soon after, rescues +Hector. Achilles slays many Trojans. + + +BOOK XX. + + +The Grecians, thus, before their lofty ships +Stood arm’d around Achilles, glorious Chief +Insatiable with war, and opposite +The Trojans on the rising-ground appear’d.[1] +Meantime, Jove order’d Themis, from the head5 +Of the deep-fork’d Olympian to convene +The Gods in council. She to every part +Proceeding, bade them to the courts of Jove.[2] +Nor of the Floods was any absent thence +Oceanus except, or of the Nymphs10 +Who haunt the pleasant groves, or dwell beside +Stream-feeding fountains, or in meadows green. +Within the courts of cloud-assembler Jove +Arrived, on pillar’d thrones radiant they sat, +With ingenuity divine contrived15 +By Vulcan for the mighty Sire of all. +Thus they within the Thunderer’s palace sat +Assembled; nor was Neptune slow to hear +The voice of Themis, but (the billows left) +Came also; in the midst his seat he took,20 +And ask’d, incontinent, the mind of Jove.[3] + King of the lightnings! wherefore hast thou call’d +The Gods to council? Hast thou aught at heart +Important to the hosts of Greece and Troy? +For on the battle’s fiery edge they stand.25 + To whom replied Jove, Sovereign of the storms, +Thou know’st my council, Shaker of the shores! +And wherefore ye are call’d. Although ordain’d +So soon to die, they interest me still. +Myself, here seated on Olympus’ top,30 +With contemplation will my mind indulge +Of yon great spectacle; but ye, the rest, +Descend into the field, Trojan or Greek +Each to assist, as each shall most incline. +For should Achilles in the field no foe35 +Find save the Trojans, quickly should they fly +Before the rapid force of Peleus’ son. +They trembled ever at his look, and since +Such fury for his friend hath fired his heart, +I fear lest he anticipate the will40 +Of Fate, and Ilium perish premature. + So spake the son of Saturn kindling war +Inevitable, and the Gods to fight +’Gan move with minds discordant. Juno sought +And Pallas, with the earth-encircling Power45 +Neptune, the Grecian fleet, with whom were join’d +Mercury, teacher of all useful arts, +And Vulcan, rolling on all sides his eyes +Tremendous, but on disproportion’d legs, +Not without labor hard, halting uncouth.50 +Mars, warrior-God, on Ilium’s part appear’d +With Phœbus never-shorn, Dian shaft-arm’d, +Xanthus, Latona, and the Queen of smiles, +Venus. So long as the immortal Gods +Mixed not with either host, Achaia’s sons55 +Exulted, seeing, after tedious pause, +Achilles in the field, and terror shook +The knees of every Trojan, at the sight +Of swift Achilles like another Mars +Panting for blood, and bright in arms again.60 +But when the Olympian Powers had enter’d once +The multitude, then Discord, at whose voice +The million maddens, vehement arose; +Then, Pallas at the trench without the wall +By turns stood shouting, and by turns a shout65 +Sent terrible along the sounding shore, +While, gloomy as a tempest, opposite, +Mars from the lofty citadel of Troy +Now yell’d aloud, now running o’er the hill +Callicolone, on the Simois’ side.70 + Thus the Immortals, ever-blest, impell’d +Both hosts to battle, and dire inroad caused +Of strife among them. Sudden from on high +The Sire of Gods and men thunder’d; meantime, +Neptune the earth and the high mountains shook;75 +Through all her base and to her topmost peak +Ida spring-fed the agitation felt +Reeling, all Ilium and the fleet of Greece. +Upstarted from his throne, appall’d, the King +Of Erebus, and with a cry his fears80 +Through hell proclaim’d, lest Neptune, o’er his head +Shattering the vaulted earth, should wide disclose +To mortal and immortal eyes his realm +Terrible, squalid, to the Gods themselves +A dreaded spectacle; with such a sound85 +The Powers eternal into battle rush’d.[4] +Opposed to Neptune, King of the vast Deep, +Apollo stood with his wing’d arrows arm’d; +Pallas to Mars; Diana shaft-expert, +Sister of Phœbus, in her golden bow90 +Rejoicing, with whose shouts the forests ring +To Juno; Mercury, for useful arts +Famed, to Latona; and to Vulcan’s force +The eddied River broad by mortal men +Scamander call’d, but Xanthus by the Gods.95 + So Gods encounter’d Gods. But most desire +Achilles felt, breaking the ranks, to rush +On Priameian Hector, with whose blood +Chiefly his fury prompted him to sate +The indefatigable God of war.100 +But, the encourager of Ilium’s host +Apollo, urged Æneas to assail +The son of Peleus, with heroic might +Inspiring his bold heart. He feign’d the voice +Of Priam’s son Lycaon, and his form105 +Assuming, thus the Trojan Chief address’d. + Æneas! Trojan leader! where are now +Thy vaunts, which, banqueting erewhile among +Our princes, o’er thy brimming cups thou mad’st, +That thou would’st fight, thyself, with Peleus’ son?110 + To whom Æneas answer thus returned. +Offspring of Priam! why enjoin’st thou me +Not so inclined, that arduous task, to cope +With the unmatch’d Achilles? I have proved +His force already, when he chased me down115 +From Ida with his spear, what time he made +Seizure of all our cattle, and destroy’d +Pedasus and Lyrnessus; but I ’scaped +Unslain, by Jove himself empower’d to fly, +Else had I fallen by Achilles’ hand,120 +And by the hand of Pallas, who his steps +Conducted, and exhorted him to slay +Us and the Leleges.[5] Vain, therefore, proves +All mortal force to Peleus’ son opposed; +For one, at least, of the Immortals stands125 +Ever beside him, guardian of his life, +And, of himself, he hath an arm that sends +His rapid spear unerring to the mark. +Yet, would the Gods more equal sway the scales +Of battle, not with ease should he subdue130 +Me, though he boast a panoply of brass. + Him, then, Apollo answer’d, son of Jove. +Hero! prefer to the immortal Gods +Thy Prayer, for thee men rumor Venus’ son +Daughter of Jove; and Peleus’ son his birth135 +Drew from a Goddess of inferior note. +Thy mother is from Jove; the offspring, his, +Less noble of the hoary Ocean old. +Go, therefore, and thy conquering spear uplift +Against him, nor let aught his sounding words140 +Appal thee, or his threats turn thee away. + So saying, with martial force the Chief he fill’d, +Who through the foremost combatants advanced +Radiant in arms. Nor pass’d Anchises’ son +Unseen of Juno, through the crowded ranks145 +Seeking Achilles, but the Powers of heaven +Convened by her command, she thus address’d. + Neptune, and thou, Minerva! with mature +Deliberation, ponder the event. +Yon Chief, Æneas, dazzling bright in arms;150 +Goes to withstand Achilles, and he goes +Sent by Apollo; in despite of whom +Be it our task to give him quick repulse, +Or, of ourselves, let some propitious Power +Strengthen Achilles with a mind exempt155 +From terror, and with force invincible. +So shall he know that of the Gods above +The mightiest are his friends, with whom compared +The favorers of Ilium in time past, +Who stood her guardians in the bloody strife,160 +Are empty boasters all, and nothing worth. +For therefore came we down, that we may share +This fight, and that Achilles suffer nought +Fatal to-day, though suffer all he must +Hereafter, with his thread of life entwined165 +By Destiny, the day when he was born. +But should Achilles unapprized remain +Of such advantage by a voice divine, +When he shall meet some Deity in the field, +Fear then will seize him, for celestial forms170 +Unveil’d are terrible to mortal eyes. + To whom replied the Shaker of the shores. +Juno! thy hot impatience needs control; +It ill befits thee. No desire I feel +To force into contention with ourselves175 +Gods, our inferiors. No. Let us, retired +To yonder hill, distant from all resort, +There sit, while these the battle wage alone. +But if Apollo, or if Mars the fight +Entering, begin, themselves, to interfere180 +Against Achilles, then will we at once +To battle also; and, I much misdeem, +Or glad they shall be soon to mix again +Among the Gods on the Olympian heights, +By strong coercion of our arms subdued.185 + So saying, the God of Ocean azure-hair’d +Moved foremost to the lofty mound earth-built +Of noble Hercules, by Pallas raised +And by the Trojans for his safe escape, +What time the monster of the deep pursued190 +The hero from the sea-bank o’er the plain. +There Neptune sat, and his confederate Gods, +Their shoulders with impenetrable clouds +O’ermantled, while the city-spoiler Mars +Sat with Apollo opposite on the hill195 +Callicolone, with their aids divine. +So, Gods to Gods in opposite aspect +Sat ruminating, and alike the work +All fearing to begin of arduous war, +While from his seat sublime Jove urged them on.200 +The champain all was fill’d, and with the blaze +Illumined wide of men and steeds brass-arm’d, +And the incumber’d earth jarr’d under foot +Of the encountering hosts. Then, two, the rest +Surpassing far, into the midst advanced205 +Impatient for the fight, Anchises’ son +Æneas and Achilles, glorious Chief! +Æneas first, under his ponderous casque +Nodding and menacing, advanced; before +His breast he held the well-conducted orb210 +Of his broad shield, and shook his brazen spear. +On the other side, Achilles to the fight +Flew like a ravening lion, on whose death +Resolved, the peasants from all quarters meet; +He, viewing with disdain the foremost, stalks215 +Right on, but smitten by some dauntless youth +Writhes himself, and discloses his huge fangs +Hung with white foam; then, growling for revenge, +Lashes himself to battle with his tail, +Till with a burning eye and a bold heart220 +He springs to slaughter, or himself is slain; +So, by his valor and his noble mind +Impell’d, renown’d Achilles moved toward +Æneas, and, small interval between, +Thus spake the hero matchless in the race.225 + Why stand’st thou here, Æneas! thy own band +Left at such distance? Is it that thine heart +Glows with ambition to contend with me +In hope of Priam’s honors, and to fill +His throne hereafter in Troy steed-renown’d?230 +But shouldst thou slay me, not for that exploit +Would Priam such large recompense bestow, +For he hath sons, and hath, beside, a mind +And disposition not so lightly changed. +Or have the Trojans of their richest soil235 +For vineyard apt or plow assign’d thee part +If thou shalt slay me? Difficult, I hope, +At least, thou shalt experience that emprize. +For, as I think, I have already chased +Thee with my spear. Forgettest thou the day240 +When, finding thee alone, I drove thee down +Headlong from Ida, and, thy cattle left +Afar, thou didst not dare in all thy flight +Turn once, till at Lyrnessus safe arrived, +Which city by Jove’s aid and by the aid245 +Of Pallas I destroy’d, and captive led +Their women? Thee, indeed, the Gods preserved +But they shall not preserve thee, as thou dream’st +Now also. Back into thy host again; +Hence, I command thee, nor oppose in fight250 +My force, lest evil find thee. To be taught +By suffering only is the part of fools. + To whom Æneas answer thus return’d. +Pelides! hope not, as I were a boy, +With words to scare me. I have also taunts255 +At my command, and could be sharp as thou. +By such reports as from the lips of men +We oft have heard, each other’s birth we know +And parents; but my parents to behold +Was ne’er thy lot, nor have I thine beheld.260 +Thee men proclaim from noble Peleus sprung +And Thetis, bright hair’d Goddess of the Deep; +I boast myself of lovely Venus born +To brave Anchises; and his son this day +In battle slain thy sire shall mourn, or mine;265 +For I expect not that we shall depart +Like children, satisfied with words alone. +But if it please thee more at large to learn +My lineage (thousands can attest it true) +Know this. Jove, Sovereign of the storms, begat270 +Dardanus, and ere yet the sacred walls +Of Ilium rose, the glory of this plain, +He built Dardania; for at Ida’s foot +Dwelt our progenitors in ancient days. +Dardanus was the father of a son,275 +King Ericthonius, wealthiest of mankind. +Three thousand mares of his the marish grazed, +Each suckling with delight her tender foal. +Boreas, enamor’d of no few of these, +The pasture sought, and cover’d them in form280 +Of a steed azure-maned. They, pregnant thence, +Twelve foals produced, and all so light of foot, +That when they wanton’d in the fruitful field +They swept, and snapp’d it not, the golden ear; +And when they wanton’d on the boundless deep,285 +They skimm’d the green wave’s frothy ridge, secure. +From Ericthonius sprang Tros, King of Troy, +And Tros was father of three famous sons, +Ilus, Assaracus, and Ganymede +Loveliest of human kind, whom for his charms290 +The Gods caught up to heaven, there to abide +With the immortals, cup-bearer of Jove. +Ilus begat Laomedon, and he +Five sons, Tithonus, Priam, Clytius, +Lampus, and Hicetaon, branch of Mars.295 +Assaracus a son begat, by name +Capys, and Capys in due time his son +Warlike Anchises, and Anchises me. +But Priam is the noble Hector’s sire.[6] +Such is my lineage, and such blood I boast;300 +But valor is from Jove; he, as he wills, +Increases or reduces it in man, +For he is lord of all. Therefore enough— +Too long like children we have stood, the time +Consuming here, while battle roars around.305 +Reproach is cheap. Easily might we cast +Gibes at each other, till a ship that asks +A hundred oars should sink beneath the load. +The tongue of man is voluble, hath words +For every theme, nor wants wide field and long,310 +And as he speaks so shall he hear again. +But we—why should we wrangle, and with taunts +Assail each other, as the practice is +Of women, who with heart-devouring strife +On fire, start forth into the public way315 +To mock each other, uttering, as may chance, +Much truth, much falsehood, as their anger bids? +The ardor of my courage will not slack +For all thy speeches; we must combat first; +Now, therefore, without more delay, begin,320 +That we may taste each other’s force in arms.[7] + So spake Æneas, and his brazen lance +Hurl’d with full force against the dreadful shield. +Loud roar’d its ample concave at the blow. +Not unalarm’d, Pelides his broad disk325 +Thrust farther from him, deeming that the force +Of such an arm should pierce his guard with ease. +Vain fear! he recollected not that arms +Glorious as his, gifts of the immortal Gods, +Yield not so quickly to the force of man.330 +The stormy spear by brave Æneas sent, +No passage found; the golden plate divine +Repress’d its vehemence; two folds it pierced, +But three were still behind, for with five folds +Vulcan had fortified it; two were brass;335 +The two interior, tin; the midmost, gold; +And at the golden one the weapon stood.[8] +Achilles next, hurl’d his long shadow’d spear, +And struck Æneas on the utmost verge +Of his broad shield, where thinnest lay the brass,340 +And thinnest the ox-hide. The Pelian ash +Started right through the buckler, and it rang. +Æneas crouch’d terrified, and his shield +Thrust farther from him; but the rapid beam +Bursting both borders of the ample disk,345 +Glanced o’er his back, and plunged into the soil. +He ’scaped it, and he stood; but, as he stood, +With horror infinite the weapon saw +Planted so near him. Then, Achilles drew +His falchion keen, and with a deafening shout350 +Sprang on him; but Æneas seized a stone +Heavy and huge, a weight to overcharge +Two men (such men as are accounted strong +Now) but he wielded it with ease, alone. +Then had Æneas, as Achilles came355 +Impetuous on, smitten, although in vain, +His helmet or his shield, and Peleus’ son +Had with his falchion him stretch’d at his feet, +But that the God of Ocean quick perceived +His peril, and the Immortals thus bespake.360 + I pity brave Æneas, who shall soon, +Slain by Achilles, see the realms below, +By smooth suggestions of Apollo lured +To danger, such as he can ne’er avert. +But wherefore should the Chief, guiltless himself,365 +Die for the fault of others? at no time +His gifts have fail’d, grateful to all in heaven. +Come, therefore, and let us from death ourselves +Rescue him, lest if by Achilles’ arm +This hero perish, Jove himself be wroth;370 +For he is destined to survive, lest all +The house of Dardanus (whom Jove beyond +All others loved, his sons of woman born) +Fail with Æneas, and be found no more. +Saturnian Jove hath hated now long time375 +The family of Priam, and henceforth +Æneas and his son, and his sons’ sons, +Shall sway the sceptre o’er the race of Troy. + To whom, majestic thus the spouse of Jove. +Neptune! deliberate thyself, and choose380 +Whether to save Æneas, or to leave +The hero victim of Achilles’ ire. +For Pallas and myself ofttimes have sworn +In full assembly of the Gods, to aid +Troy never, never to avert the day385 +Of her distress, not even when the flames +Kindled by the heroic sons of Greece, +Shall climb with fury to her topmost towers. + She spake; then Neptune, instant, through the throng +Of battle flying, and the clash of spears,390 +Came where Achilles and Æneas fought. +At once with shadows dim he blurr’d the sight +Of Peleus’ son, and from the shield, himself, +Of brave Æneas the bright-pointed ash +Retracting, placed it at Achilles’ feet.395 +Then, lifting high Æneas from the ground, +He heaved him far remote; o’er many a rank +Of heroes and of bounding steeds he flew, +Launch’d into air from the expanded palm +Of Neptune, and alighted in the rear400 +Of all the battle where the Caucons stood. +Neptune approach’d him there, and at his side +Standing, in accents wing’d, him thus bespake. + What God, Æneas! tempted thee to cope +Thus inconsiderately with the son405 +Of Peleus, both more excellent in fight +Than thou, and more the favorite of the skies? +From him retire hereafter, or expect +A premature descent into the shades. +But when Achilles shall have once fulfill’d410 +His destiny, in battle slain, then fight +Fearless, for thou canst fall by none beside. + So saying, he left the well-admonish’d Chief, +And from Achilles’ eyes scatter’d the gloom +Shed o’er them by himself. The hero saw415 +Clearly, and with his noble heart incensed +By disappointment, thus conferring, said. + Gods! I behold a prodigy. My spear +Lies at my foot, and he at whom I cast +The weapon with such deadly force, is gone!420 +Æneas therefore, as it seems, himself +Interests the immortal Gods, although +I deem’d his boast of their protection vain. +I reck not. Let him go. So gladly ’scaped +From slaughter now, he shall not soon again425 +Feel an ambition to contend with me. +Now will I rouse the Danaï, and prove +The force in fight of many a Trojan more. + He said, and sprang to battle with loud voice, +Calling the Grecians after him.—Ye sons430 +Of the Achaians! stand not now aloof, +My noble friends! but foot to foot let each +Fall on courageous, and desire the fight. +The task were difficult for me alone, +Brave as I boast myself, to chase a foe435 +So numerous, and to combat with them all. +Not Mars himself, immortal though he be, +Nor Pallas, could with all the ranks contend +Of this vast multitude, and drive the whole. +With hands, with feet, with spirit and with might,440 +All that I can I will; right through I go, +And not a Trojan who shall chance within +Spear’s reach of me, shall, as I judge, rejoice. + Thus he the Greeks exhorted. Opposite, +Meantime, illustrious Hector to his host445 +Vociferated, his design to oppose +Achilles publishing in every ear. + Fear not, ye valiant men of Troy! fear not +The son of Peleus. In a war of words +I could, myself, cope even with the Gods;450 +But not with spears; there they excel us all. +Nor shall Achilles full performance give +To all his vaunts, but, if he some fulfil, +Shall others leave mutilate in the midst. +I will encounter him, though his hands be fire,455 +Though fire his hands, and his heart hammer’d steel. + So spake he them exhorting. At his word +Uprose the Trojan spears, thick intermixt +The battle join’d, and clamor loud began. +Then thus, approaching Hector, Phœbus spake.460 + Henceforth, advance not Hector! in the front +Seeking Achilles, but retired within +The stormy multitude his coming wait, +Lest his spear reach thee, or his glittering sword. + He said, and Hector far into his host465 +Withdrew, admonish’d by the voice divine. +Then, shouting terrible, and clothed with might, +Achilles sprang to battle. First, he slew +The valiant Chief Iphition, whom a band +Numerous obey’d. Otrynteus was his sire.470 +Him to Otrynteus, city-waster Chief, +A Naiad under snowy Tmolus bore +In fruitful Hyda.[9] Right into his front +As he advanced, Achilles drove his spear, +And rived his skull; with thundering sound he fell,475 +And thus the conqueror gloried in his fall. + Ah Otryntides! thou art slain. Here lies +The terrible in arms, who born beside +The broad Gygæan lake, where Hyllus flows +And Hermus, call’d the fertile soil his own.480 + Thus gloried he. Meantime the shades of death +Cover’d Iphition, and Achaian wheels +And horses ground his body in the van. +Demoleon next, Antenor’s son, a brave +Defender of the walls of Troy, he slew.485 +Into his temples through his brazen casque +He thrust the Pelian ash, nor could the brass +Such force resist, but the huge weapon drove +The shatter’d bone into his inmost brain, +And his fierce onset at a stroke repress’d.490 +Hippodamas his weapon next received +Within his spine, while with a leap he left +His steeds and fled. He, panting forth his life, +Moan’d like a bull, by consecrated youths +Dragg’d round the Heliconian King,[10] who views495 +That victim with delight. So, with loud moans +The noble warrior sigh’d his soul away. +Then, spear in hand, against the godlike son +Of Priam, Polydorus, he advanced. +Not yet his father had to him indulged500 +A warrior’s place, for that of all his sons +He was the youngest-born, his hoary sire’s +Chief darling, and in speed surpass’d them all. +Then also, in the vanity of youth, +For show of nimbleness, he started oft505 +Into the vanward, till at last he fell. +Him gliding swiftly by, swifter than he +Achilles with a javelin reach’d; he struck +His belt behind him, where the golden clasps +Met, and the double hauberk interposed.510 +The point transpierced his bowels, and sprang through +His navel; screaming, on his knees he fell, +Death-shadows dimm’d his eyes, and with both hands, +Stooping, he press’d his gather’d bowels back. +But noble Hector, soon as he beheld515 +His brother Polydorus to the earth +Inclined, and with his bowels in his hands, +Sightless well-nigh with anguish could endure +No longer to remain aloof; flame-like +He burst abroad,[11] and shaking his sharp spear,520 +Advanced to meet Achilles, whose approach +Seeing, Achilles bounded with delight, +And thus, exulting, to himself he said. + Ah! he approaches, who hath stung my soul +Deepest, the slayer of whom most I loved!525 +Behold, we meet! Caution is at an end, +And timid skulking in the walks of war. + He ceased, and with a brow knit into frowns, +Call’d to illustrious Hector. Haste, approach, +That I may quick dispatch thee to the shades.530 + Whom answer’d warlike Hector, nought appall’d. +Pelides! hope not, as I were a boy, +With words to scare me. I have also taunts +At my command, and can be sharp as thou. +I know thee valiant, and myself I know535 +Inferior far; yet, whether thou shalt slay +Me, or, inferior as I am, be slain +By me, is at the pleasure of the Gods, +For I wield also not a pointless beam. + He said, and, brandishing it, hurl’d his spear,540 +Which Pallas, breathing softly, wafted back +From the renown’d Achilles, and it fell +Successless at illustrious Hector’s feet. +Then, all on fire to slay him, with a shout +That rent the air Achilles rapid flew545 +Toward him; but him wrapt in clouds opaque +Apollo caught with ease divine away. +Thrice, swift Achilles sprang to the assault +Impetuous, thrice the pitchy cloud he smote, +And at his fourth assault, godlike in act,550 +And terrible in utterance, thus exclaim’d. + Dog! thou art safe, and hast escaped again; +But narrowly, and by the aid once more +Of Phœbus, without previous suit to whom +Thou venturest never where the javelin sings.555 +But when we next encounter, then expect, +If one of all in heaven aid also me, +To close thy proud career. Meantime I seek +Some other, and assail e’en whom I may. + So saying, he pierced the neck of Dryops through,560 +And at his feet he fell. Him there he left, +And turning on a valiant warrior huge, +Philetor’s son, Demuchus, in the knee +Pierced, and detain’d him by the planted spear, +Till with his sword he smote him, and he died.565 +Laogonus and Dardanus he next +Assaulted, sons of Bias; to the ground +Dismounting both, one with his spear he slew, +The other with his falchion at a blow. +Tros too, Alastor’s son—he suppliant clasp’d570 +Achilles’ knees, and for his pity sued, +Pleading equality of years, in hope +That he would spare, and send him thence alive. +Ah dreamer! ignorant how much in vain +That suit he urged; for not of milky mind,575 +Or placable in temper was the Chief +To whom he sued, but fiery. With both hands +His knees he clasp’d importunate, and he +Fast by the liver gash’d him with his sword. +His liver falling forth, with sable blood580 +His bosom fill’d, and darkness veil’d his eyes. +Then, drawing close to Mulius, in his ear +He set the pointed brass, and at a thrust +Sent it, next moment, through his ear beyond. +Then, through the forehead of Agenor’s son585 +Echechlus, his huge-hafted blade he drove, +And death and fate forever veil’d his eyes. +Next, where the tendons of the elbow meet, +Striking Deucalion, through his wrist he urged +The brazen point; he all defenceless stood,590 +Expecting death; down came Achilles’ blade +Full on his neck; away went head and casque +Together; from his spine the marrow sprang, +And at his length outstretch’d he press’d the plain. +From him to Rhigmus, Pireus’ noble son,595 +He flew, a warrior from the fields of Thrace. +Him through the loins he pierced, and with the beam +Fixt in his bowels, to the earth he fell; +Then piercing, as he turn’d to flight, the spine +Of Areithöus his charioteer,600 +He thrust him from his seat; wild with dismay +Back flew the fiery coursers at his fall. +As a devouring fire within the glens +Of some dry mountain ravages the trees, +While, blown around, the flames roll to all sides,605 +So, on all sides, terrible as a God, +Achilles drove the death-devoted host +Of Ilium, and the champain ran with blood. +As when the peasant his yoked steers employs +To tread his barley, the broad-fronted pair610 +With ponderous hoofs trample it out with ease, +So, by magnanimous Achilles driven, +His coursers solid-hoof’d stamp’d as they ran +The shields, at once, and bodies of the slain; +Blood spatter’d all his axle, and with blood615 +From the horse-hoofs and from the fellied wheels +His chariot redden’d, while himself, athirst +For glory, his unconquerable hands +Defiled with mingled carnage, sweat, and dust. + + + + +BOOK XXI. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE TWENTY-FIRST BOOK. + +Achilles having separated the Trojans, and driven one part of them to +the city and the other into the Scamander, takes twelve young men +alive, his intended victims to the manes of Patroclus. The river +overflowing his banks with purpose to overwhelm him, is opposed by +Vulcan, and gladly relinquishes the attempt. The battle of the gods +ensues. Apollo, in the form of Agenor, decoys Achilles from the town, +which in the mean time the Trojans enter and shut the gates against +him. + + +BOOK XXI. + + +[1]But when they came, at length, where Xanthus winds +His stream vortiginous from Jove derived, +There, separating Ilium’s host, he drove +Part o’er the plain to Troy in the same road +By which the Grecians had so lately fled5 +The fury of illustrious Hector’s arm. +That way they fled pouring themselves along +Flood-like, and Juno, to retard them, threw +Darkness as night before them. Other part, +Push’d down the sides of Xanthus, headlong plunged10 +With dashing sound into his dizzy stream, +And all his banks re-echoed loud the roar. +They, struggling, shriek’d in silver eddies whirl’d. +As when, by violence of fire expell’d, +Locusts uplifted on the wing escape15 +To some broad river, swift the sudden blaze +Pursues them, they, astonish’d, strew the flood,[2] +So, by Achilles driven, a mingled throng +Of horses and of warriors overspread +Xanthus, and glutted all his sounding course20 +He, chief of heroes, leaving on the bank +His spear against a tamarisk reclined, +Plunged like a God, with falchion arm’d alone +But fill’d with thoughts of havoc. On all sides +Down came his edge; groans follow’d dread to hear25 +Of warriors smitten by the sword, and all +The waters as they ran redden’d with blood. +As smaller fishes, flying the pursuit +Of some huge dolphin, terrified, the creeks +And secret hollows of a haven fill,30 +For none of all that he can seize he spares, +So lurk’d the trembling Trojans in the caves +Of Xanthus’ awful flood. But he (his hands +Wearied at length with slaughter) from the rest +Twelve youths selected whom to death he doom’d,35 +In vengeance for his loved Patroclus slain. +Them stupified with dread like fawns he drove +Forth from the river, manacling their hands +Behind them fast with their own tunic-strings, +And gave them to his warrior train in charge.40 +Then, ardent still for blood, rushing again +Toward the stream, Dardanian Priam’s son +He met, Lycaon, as he climb’d the bank. +Him erst by night, in his own father’s field +Finding him, he had led captive away.45 +Lycaon was employ’d cutting green shoots +Of the wild-fig for chariot-rings, when lo! +Terrible, unforeseen, Achilles came. +He seized and sent him in a ship afar +To Lemnos; there the son of Jason paid50 +His price, and, at great cost, Eëtion +The guest of Jason, thence redeeming him, +Sent him to fair Arisba;[3] but he ’scaped +Thence also and regain’d his father’s house. +Eleven days, at his return, he gave55 +To recreation joyous with his friends, +And on the twelfth his fate cast him again +Into Achilles’ hands, who to the shades +Now doom’d him, howsoever loth to go. +Soon as Achilles swiftest of the swift60 +Him naked saw (for neither spear had he +Nor shield nor helmet, but, when he emerged, +Weary and faint had cast them all away) +Indignant to his mighty self he said. + Gods! I behold a miracle! Ere long65 +The valiant Trojans whom my self have slain +Shall rise from Erebus, for he is here, +The self-same warrior whom I lately sold +At Lemnos, free, and in the field again. +The hoary deep is prison strong enough70 +For most, but not for him. Now shall he taste +The point of this my spear, that I may learn +By sure experience, whether hell itself +That holds the strongest fast, can him detain, +Or whether he shall thence also escape.75 + While musing thus he stood, stunn’d with dismay +The youth approach’d, eager to clasp his knees, +For vehement he felt the dread of death +Working within him; with his Pelian ash +Uplifted high noble Achilles stood80 +Ardent to smite him; he with body bent +Ran under it, and to his knees adhered; +The weapon, missing him, implanted stood +Close at his back, when, seizing with one hand +Achilles’ knees, he with the other grasp’d85 +The dreadful beam, resolute through despair, +And in wing’d accents suppliant thus began. + Oh spare me! pity me! Behold I clasp +Thy knees, Achilles! Ah, illustrious Chief! +Reject not with disdain a suppliant’s prayer.90 +I am thy guest also, who at thy own board +Have eaten bread, and did partake the gift +Of Ceres with thee on the very day +When thou didst send me in yon field surprised +For sale to sacred Lemnos, far remote,95 +And for my price receiv’dst a hundred beeves. +Loose me, and I will yield thee now that sum +Thrice told. Alas! this morn is but the twelfth +Since, after numerous hardships, I arrived +Once more in Troy, and now my ruthless lot100 +Hath given me into thy hands again. +Jove cannot less than hate me, who hath twice +Made me thy prisoner, and my doom was death, +Death in my prime, the day when I was born +Son of Laothöe from Alta sprung,105 +From Alta, whom the Leleges obey +On Satnio’s banks in lofty Pedasus. +His daughter to his other numerous wives +King Priam added, and two sons she bore +Only to be deprived by thee of both.110 +My brother hath already died, in front +Of Ilium’s infantry, by thy bright spear, +The godlike Polydorus; and like doom +Shall now be mine, for I despair to escape +Thine hands, to which the Gods yield me again.115 +But hear and mark me well. My birth was not +From the same womb as Hector’s, who hath slain +Thy valiant friend for clemency renown’d. + Such supplication the illustrious son +Of Priam made, but answer harsh received.120 + Fool! speak’st of ransom? Name it not to me. +For till my friend his miserable fate +Accomplish’d, I was somewhat given to spare, +And numerous, whom I seized alive, I sold. +But now, of all the Trojans whom the Gods125 +Deliver to me, none shall death escape, +’Specially of the house of Priam, none. +Die therefore, even thou, my friend! What mean +Thy tears unreasonably shed and vain? +Died not Patroclus. braver far than thou?130 +And look on me—see’st not to what a height +My stature towers, and what a bulk I boast? +A King begat me, and a Goddess bore. +What then! A death by violence awaits +Me also, and at morn, or eve, or noon,135 +I perish, whensoe’er the destined spear +Shall reach me, or the arrow from the nerve. + He ceased, and where the suppliant kneel’d, he died. +Quitting the spear, with both hands spread abroad +He sat, but swift Achilles with his sword140 +’Twixt neck and key-bone smote him, and his blade +Of double edge sank all into the wound. +He prone extended on the champain lay +Bedewing with his sable blood the glebe, +Till, by the foot, Achilles cast him far145 +Into the stream, and, as he floated down, +Thus in wing’d accents, glorying, exclaim’d. + Lie there, and feed the fishes, which shall lick +Thy blood secure. Thy mother ne’er shall place +Thee on thy bier, nor on thy body weep,150 +But swift Scamander on his giddy tide +Shall bear thee to the bosom of the sea. +There, many a fish shall through the crystal flood +Ascending to the rippled surface, find +Lycaon’s pamper’d flesh delicious fare.155 +Die Trojans! till we reach your city, you +Fleeing, and slaughtering, I. This pleasant stream +Of dimpling silver which ye worship oft +With victim bulls, and sate with living steeds[4] +His rapid whirlpools, shall avail you nought,160 +But ye shall die, die terribly, till all +Shall have requited me with just amends +For my Patroclus, and for other Greeks +Slain at the ships while I declined the war. + He ended, at those words still more incensed165 +Scamander means devised, thenceforth to check +Achilles, and avert the doom of Troy. +Meantime the son of Peleus, his huge spear +Grasping, assail’d Asteropæus son +Of Pelegon, on fire to take his life.170 +Fair Peribœa, daughter eldest-born +Of Acessamenus, his father bore +To broad-stream’d Axius, who had clasp’d the nymph +In his embrace. On him Achilles sprang. +He newly risen from the river, stood175 +Arm’d with two lances opposite, for him +Xanthus embolden’d, at the deaths incensed +Of many a youth, whom, mercy none vouchsafed, +Achilles had in all his current slain. +And now small distance interposed, they faced180 +Each other, when Achilles thus began. + Who art and whence, who dar’st encounter me? +Hapless the sires whose sons my force defy. + To whom the noble son of Pelegon. +Pelides, mighty Chief? Why hast thou ask’d185 +My derivation? From the land I come +Of mellow-soil’d Pœonia far remote, +Chief leader of Pœnia’s host spear-arm’d; +This day hath also the eleventh risen +Since I at Troy arrived. For my descent,190 +It is from Axius river wide-diffused, +From Axius, fairest stream that waters earth, +Sire of bold Pelegon whom men report +My sire. Let this suffice. Now fight, Achilles! + So spake he threatening, and Achilles raised195 +Dauntless the Pelian ash. At once two spears +The hero bold, Asteropæus threw, +With both hands apt for battle. One his shield +Struck but pierced not, impeded by the gold, +Gift of a God; the other as it flew200 +Grazed at his right elbow; sprang the sable blood; +But, overflying him, the spear in earth +Stood planted deep, still hungering for the prey. +Then, full at the Pœonian Peleus’ son +Hurl’d forth his weapon with unsparing force205 +But vain; he struck the sloping river bank, +And mid-length deep stood plunged the ashen beam. +Then, with his falchion drawn, Achilles flew +To smite him; he in vain, meantime, essay’d +To pluck the rooted spear forth from the bank;210 +Thrice with full force he shook the beam, and thrice, +Although reluctant, left it; at his fourth +Last effort, bending it he sought to break +The ashen spear-beam of Æacides, +But perish’d by his keen-edged falchion first;215 +For on the belly at his navel’s side +He smote him; to the ground effused fell all +His bowels, death’s dim shadows veil’d his eyes. +Achilles ardent on his bosom fix’d +His foot, despoil’d him, and exulting cried.220 + Lie there; though River-sprung, thou find’st it hard +To cope with sons of Jove omnipotent. +Thou said’st, a mighty River is my sire— +But my descent from mightier Jove I boast; +My father, whom the Myrmidons obey,225 +Is son of Æacus, and he of Jove. +As Jove all streams excels that seek the sea, +So, Jove’s descendants nobler are than theirs. +Behold a River at thy side—let him +Afford thee, if he can, some succor—No—230 +He may not fight against Saturnian Jove. +Therefore, not kingly Acheloïus, +Nor yet the strength of Ocean’s vast profound, +Although from him all rivers and all seas, +All fountains and all wells proceed, may boast235 +Comparison with Jove, but even he +Astonish’d trembles at his fiery bolt, +And his dread thunders rattling in the sky. +He said, and drawing from the bank his spear[5] +Asteropæus left stretch’d on the sands,240 +Where, while the clear wave dash’d him, eels his flanks +And ravening fishes numerous nibbled bare. +The horsed Pœonians next he fierce assail’d, +Who seeing their brave Chief slain by the sword +And forceful arm of Peleus’ son, beside245 +The eddy-whirling stream fled all dispersed. +Thersilochus and Mydon then he slew, +Thrasius, Astypylus and Ophelestes, +Ænius and Mnesus; nor had these sufficed +Achilles, but Pœonians more had fallen,250 +Had not the angry River from within +His circling gulfs in semblance, of a man +Call’d to him, interrupting thus his rage. + Oh both in courage and injurious deeds +Unmatch’d, Achilles! whom themselves the Gods255 +Cease not to aid, if Saturn’s son have doom’d +All Ilium’s race to perish by thine arm, +Expel them, first, from me, ere thou achieve +That dread exploit; for, cumber’d as I am +With bodies, I can pour my pleasant stream260 +No longer down into the sacred deep; +All vanish where thou comest. But oh desist +Dread Chief! Amazement fills me at thy deeds. + To whom Achilles, matchless in the race. +River divine! hereafter be it so.265 +But not from slaughter of this faithless host +I cease, till I shall shut them fast in Troy +And trial make of Hector, if his arm +In single fight shall strongest prove, or mine + He said, and like a God, furious, again270 +Assail’d the Trojans; then the circling flood +To Phœbus thus his loud complaint address’d. + Ah son of Jove, God of the silver bow! +The mandate of the son of Saturn ill +Hast thou perform’d, who, earnest, bade thee aid275 +The Trojans, till (the sun sunk in the West) +Night’s shadow dim should veil the fruitful field. + He ended, and Achilles spear-renown’d +Plunged from the bank into the middle stream. +Then, turbulent, the River all his tide280 +Stirr’d from the bottom, landward heaving off +The numerous bodies that his current chok’d +Slain by Achilles; them, as with the roar +Of bulls, he cast aground, but deep within +His oozy gulfs the living safe conceal’d.285 +Terrible all around Achilles stood +The curling wave, then, falling on his shield +Dash’d him, nor found his footsteps where to rest. +An elm of massy trunk he seized and branch +Luxuriant, but it fell torn from the root290 +And drew the whole bank after it; immersed +It damm’d the current with its ample boughs, +And join’d as with a bridge the distant shores, +Upsprang Achilles from the gulf and turn’d +His feet, now wing’d for flight, into the plain295 +Astonish’d; but the God, not so appeased, +Arose against him with a darker curl,[6] +That he might quell him and deliver Troy. +Back flew Achilles with a bound, the length +Of a spear’s cast, for such a spring he own’d300 +As bears the black-plumed eagle on her prey +Strongest and swiftest of the fowls of air. +Like her he sprang, and dreadful on his chest +Clang’d his bright armor. Then, with course oblique +He fled his fierce pursuer, but the flood,305 +Fly where he might, came thundering in his rear. +As when the peasant with his spade a rill +Conducts from some pure fountain through his grove +Or garden, clearing the obstructed course, +The pebbles, as it runs, all ring beneath,310 +And, as the slope still deepens, swifter still +It runs, and, murmuring, outstrips the guide, +So him, though swift, the river always reach’d +Still swifter; who can cope with power divine? +Oft as the noble Chief, turning, essay’d315 +Resistance, and to learn if all the Gods +Alike rush’d after him, so oft the flood, +Jove’s offspring, laved his shoulders. Upward then +He sprang distress’d, but with a sidelong sweep +Assailing him, and from beneath his steps320 +Wasting the soil, the Stream his force subdued. +Then looking to the skies, aloud he mourn’d. + Eternal Sire! forsaken by the Gods +I sink, none deigns to save me from the flood, +From which once saved, I would no death decline.325 +Yet blame I none of all the Powers of heaven +As Thetis; she with falsehood sooth’d my soul, +She promised me a death by Phœbus’ shafts +Swift-wing’d, beneath the battlements of Troy. +I would that Hector, noblest of his race,330 +Had slain me, I had then bravely expired +And a brave man had stripp’d me of my arms. +But fate now dooms me to a death abhorr’d +Whelm’d in deep waters, like a swine-herd’s boy +Drown’d in wet weather while he fords a brook.335 + So spake Achilles; then, in human form, +Minerva stood and Neptune at his side; +Each seized his hand confirming him, and thus +The mighty Shaker of the shores began. + Achilles! moderate thy dismay, fear nought.340 +In us behold, in Pallas and in me, +Effectual aids, and with consent of Jove; +For to be vanquish’d by a River’s force +Is not thy doom. This foe shall soon be quell’d; +Thine eyes shall see it. Let our counsel rule345 +Thy deed, and all is well. Cease not from war +Till fast within proud Ilium’s walls her host +Again be prison’d, all who shall escape; +Then (Hector slain) to the Achaian fleet +Return; we make the glorious victory thine.350 + So they, and both departing sought the skies. +Then, animated by the voice divine, +He moved toward the plain now all o’erspread +By the vast flood on which the bodies swam +And shields of many a youth in battle slain.355 +He leap’d, he waded, and the current stemm’d +Right onward, by the flood in vain opposed, +With such might Pallas fill’d him. Nor his rage +Scamander aught repress’d, but still the more +Incensed against Achilles, curl’d aloft360 +His waters, and on Simoïs call’d aloud. + Brother! oh let us with united force +Check, if we may, this warrior; he shall else +Soon lay the lofty towers of Priam low, +Whose host appall’d, defend them now no more.365 +Haste—succor me—thy channel fill with streams +From all thy fountains; call thy torrents down; +Lift high the waters; mingle trees and stones +With uproar wild, that we may quell the force +Of this dread Chief triumphant now, and fill’d370 +With projects that might more beseem a God. +But vain shall be his strength, his beauty nought +Shall profit him or his resplendent arms, +For I will bury them in slime and ooze, +And I will overwhelm himself with soil,375 +Sands heaping o’er him and around him sands +Infinite, that no Greek shall find his bones +For ever, in my bottom deep immersed. +There shall his tomb be piled, nor other earth, +At his last rites, his friends shall need for him.380 + He said, and lifting high his angry tide +Vortiginous, against Achilles hurl’d, +Roaring, the foam, the bodies, and the blood; +Then all his sable waves divine again +Accumulating, bore him swift along.385 +Shriek’d Juno at that sight, terrified lest +Achilles in the whirling deluge sunk +Should perish, and to Vulcan quick exclaim’d. + Vulcan, my son, arise; for we account +Xanthus well able to contend with thee.390 +Give instant succor; show forth all thy fires. +Myself will haste to call the rapid South +And Zephyrus, that tempests from the sea +Blowing, thou may’st both arms and dead consume +With hideous conflagration. Burn along395 +The banks of Xanthus, fire his trees and him +Seize also. Let him by no specious guile +Of flattery soothe thee, or by threats appall, +Nor slack thy furious fires till with a shout +I give command, then bid them cease to blaze.400 + She spake, and Vulcan at her word his fires +Shot dreadful forth; first, kindling on the field, +He burn’d the bodies strew’d numerous around +Slain by Achilles; arid grew the earth +And the flood ceased. As when a sprightly breeze405 +Autumnal blowing from the North, at once +Dries the new-water’d garden,[7] gladdening him +Who tills the soil, so was the champain dried; +The dead consumed, against the River, next, +He turn’d the fierceness of his glittering fires.410 +Willows and tamarisks and elms he burn’d, +Burn’d lotus, rushes, reeds; all plants and herbs +That clothed profuse the margin of his flood. +His eels and fishes, whether wont to dwell +In gulfs beneath, or tumble in the stream,415 +All languish’d while the artist of the skies +Breath’d on them; even Xanthus lost, himself, +All force, and, suppliant, Vulcan thus address’d. + Oh Vulcan! none in heaven itself may cope +With thee. I yield to thy consuming fires.420 +Cease, cease. I reck not if Achilles drive +Her citizens, this moment, forth from Troy, +For what are war and war’s concerns to me? + So spake he scorch’d, and all his waters boil’d. +As some huge caldron hisses urged by force425 +Of circling fires and fill’d with melted lard, +The unctuous fluid overbubbling[8] streams +On all sides, while the dry wood flames beneath, +So Xanthus bubbled and his pleasant flood +Hiss’d in the fire, nor could he longer flow430 +But check’d his current, with hot steams annoy’d +By Vulcan raised. His supplication, then, +Importunate to Juno thus he turn’d. + Ah Juno! why assails thy son my streams, +Hostile to me alone? Of all who aid435 +The Trojans I am surely least to blame, +Yet even I desist if thou command; +And let thy son cease also; for I swear +That never will I from the Trojans turn +Their evil day, not even when the host440 +Of Greece shall set all Ilium in a blaze. + He said, and by his oath pacified, thus +The white-arm’d Deity to Vulcan spake. + Peace, glorious son! we may not in behalf +Of mortal man thus longer vex a God.445 + Then Vulcan his tremendous fires repress’d, +And down into his gulfy channel rush’d +The refluent flood; for when the force was once +Subdued of Xanthus, Juno interposed, +Although incensed, herself to quell the strife.450 + But contest vehement the other Gods +Now waged, each breathing discord; loud they rush’d +And fierce to battle, while the boundless earth +Quaked under them, and, all around, the heavens +Sang them together with a trumpet’s voice.455 +Jove listening, on the Olympian summit sat +Well-pleased, and, in his heart laughing for joy, +Beheld the Powers of heaven in battle join’d. +Not long aloof they stood. Shield-piercer Mars, +His brazen spear grasp’d, and began the fight460 +Rushing on Pallas, whom he thus reproach’d. + Wasp! front of impudence, and past all bounds +Audacious! Why impellest thou the Gods +To fight? Thy own proud spirit is the cause. +Remember’st not, how, urged by thee, the son465 +Of Tydeus, Diomede, myself assail’d, +When thou, the radiant spear with thy own hand +Guiding, didst rend my body? Now, I ween, +The hour is come in which I shall exact +Vengeance for all thy malice shown to me.470 + So saying, her shield he smote tassell’d around +Terrific, proof against the bolts of Jove; +That shield gore-tainted Mars with fury smote. +But she, retiring, with strong grasp upheaved +A rugged stone, black, ponderous, from the plain,475 +A land-mark fixt by men of ancient times, +Which hurling at the neck of stormy Mars +She smote him. Down he fell. Seven acres, stretch’d, +He overspread, his ringlets in the dust +Polluted lay, and dreadful rang his arms.480 +The Goddess laugh’d, and thus in accents wing’d +With exultation, as he lay, exclaim’d. + Fool! Art thou still to learn how far my force +Surpasses thine, and darest thou cope with me? +Now feel the furies of thy mother’s ire485 +Who hates thee for thy treachery to the Greeks, +And for thy succor given to faithless Troy. + She said, and turn’d from Mars her glorious eyes. +But him deep-groaning and his torpid powers +Recovering slow, Venus conducted thence490 +Daughter of Jove, whom soon as Juno mark’d, +In accents wing’d to Pallas thus she spake. + Daughter invincible of glorious Jove! +Haste—follow her—Ah shameless! how she leads +Gore-tainted Mars through all the host of heaven.495 + + So she, whom Pallas with delight obey’d; +To Venus swift she flew, and on the breast +With such force smote her that of sense bereft +The fainting Goddess fell. There Venus lay +And Mars extended on the fruitful glebe,500 +And Pallas thus in accents wing’d exclaim’d. + I would that all who on the part of Troy +Oppose in fight Achaia’s valiant sons, +Were firm and bold as Venus in defence +Of Mars, for whom she dared my power defy!505 +So had dissension (Ilium overthrown +And desolated) ceased long since in heaven. + So Pallas, and approving Juno smiled. +Then the imperial Shaker of the shores +Thus to Apollo. Phœbus! wherefore stand510 +_We_ thus aloof? Since others have begun, +Begin we also; shame it were to both +Should we, no combat waged, ascend again +Olympus and the brass-built hall of Jove. +Begin, for thou art younger; me, whose years515 +Alike and knowledge thine surpass so far, +It suits not. Oh stupidity! how gross +Art thou and senseless! Are no traces left +In thy remembrance of our numerous wrongs +Sustain’d at Ilium, when, of all the Gods520 +Ourselves alone, by Jove’s commandment, served +For stipulated hire, a year complete, +Our task-master the proud Laomedon? +Myself a bulwark’d town, spacious, secure +Against assault, and beautiful as strong525 +Built for the Trojans, and thine office was +To feed for King Laomedon his herds +Among the groves of Ida many-valed. +But when the gladsome hours the season brought +Of payment, then the unjust King of Troy530 +Dismiss’d us of our whole reward amerced +By violence, and added threats beside. +Thee into distant isles, bound hand and foot, +To sell he threatened, and to amputate +The ears of both; we, therefore, hasted thence535 +Resenting deep our promised hire withheld. +Aid’st thou for this the Trojans? Canst thou less +Than seek, with us, to exterminate the whole +Perfidious race, wives, children, husbands, all? + To whom the King of radiant shafts Apollo.540 +Me, Neptune, thou wouldst deem, thyself, unwise +Contending for the sake of mortal men +With thee; a wretched race, who like the leaves +Now flourish rank, by fruits of earth sustain’d, +Now sapless fall. Here, therefore, us between545 +Let all strife cease, far better left to them. + He said, and turn’d away, fearing to lift +His hand against the brother of his sire. +But him Diana of the woods with sharp +Rebuke, his huntress sister, thus reproved.550 + Fly’st thou, Apollo! and to Neptune yield’st +An unearn’d victory, the prize of fame +Resigning patient and with no dispute? +Fool! wherefore bearest thou the bow in vain? +Ah, let me never in my father’s courts555 +Hear thee among the immortals vaunting more +That thou wouldst Neptune’s self confront in arms. + So she, to whom Apollo nought replied.[9] +But thus the consort of the Thunderer, fired +With wrath, reproved the Archeress of heaven.560 + How hast thou dared, impudent, to oppose +My will? Bow-practised as thou art, the task +To match my force were difficult to thee. +Is it, because by ordinance of Jove +Thou art a lioness to womankind,565 +Killing them at thy pleasure? Ah beware— +Far easier is it, on the mountain-heights +To slay wild beasts and chase the roving hind, +Than to conflict with mightier than ourselves. +But, if thou wish a lesson on that theme,570 +Approach—thou shalt be taught with good effect +How far my force in combat passes thine. + She said, and with her left hand seizing both +Diana’s wrists, snatch’d suddenly the bow +Suspended on her shoulder with the right,575 +And, smiling, smote her with it on the ears. +She, writhing oft and struggling, to the ground +Shook forth her rapid shafts, then, weeping, fled +As to her cavern in some hollow rock +The dove, not destined to his talons, flies580 +The hawk’s pursuit, and left her arms behind. + Then, messenger of heaven, the Argicide +Address’d Latona. Combat none with thee, +Latona, will I wage. Unsafe it were +To cope in battle with a spouse of Jove.585 +Go, therefore, loudly as thou wilt, proclaim +To all the Gods that thou hast vanquish’d me. + Collecting, then, the bow and arrows fallen +In wild disorder on the dusty plain, +Latona with the sacred charge withdrew590 +Following her daughter; she, in the abode +Brass-built arriving of Olympian Jove, +Sat on his knees, weeping till all her robe +Ambrosial shook. The mighty Father smiled, +And to his bosom straining her, inquired.595 + Daughter beloved! who, which of all the Gods +Hath raised his hand, presumptuous, against thee, +As if convicted of some open wrong? + To whom the clear-voiced Huntress crescent-crown’d. +My Father! Juno, thy own consort fair600 +My sorrow caused, from whom dispute and strife +Perpetual, threaten the immortal Powers. + Thus they in heaven mutual conferr’d. Meantime +Apollo into sacred Troy return’d +Mindful to guard her bulwarks, lest the Greeks605 +Too soon for Fate should desolate the town. +The other Gods, some angry, some elate +With victory, the Olympian heights regain’d, +And sat beside the Thunderer. But the son +Of Peleus—He both Trojans slew and steeds.610 +As when in volumes slow smoke climbs the skies +From some great city which the Gods have fired +Vindictive, sorrow thence to many ensues +With mischief, and to all labor severe, +So caused Achilles labor on that day,615 +Severe, and mischief to the men of Troy. + But ancient Priam from a sacred tower +Stood looking forth, whence soon he noticed vast +Achilles, before whom the Trojans fled +All courage lost. Descending from the tower620 +With mournful cries and hasting to the wall +He thus enjoin’d the keepers of the gates. + Hold wide the portals till the flying host +Re-enter, for himself is nigh, himself +Achilles drives them home. Now, wo to Troy!625 +But soon as safe within the walls received +They breathe again, shut fast the ponderous gates +At once, lest that destroyer also pass. + He said; they, shooting back the bars, threw wide +The gates and saved the people, whom to aid630 +Apollo also sprang into the field, +They, parch’d with drought and whiten’d all with dust, +Flew right toward the town, while, spear in hand, +Achilles press’d them, vengeance in his heart +And all on fire for glory. Then, full sure,635 +Ilium, the city of lofty gates, had fallen +Won by the Grecians, had not Phœbus roused +Antenor’s valiant son, the noble Chief +Agenor; him with dauntless might he fill’d, +And shielding him against the stroke of fate640 +Beside him stood himself, by the broad beech +Cover’d and wrapt in clouds. Agenor then, +Seeing the city-waster hero nigh +Achilles, stood, but standing, felt his mind +Troubled with doubts; he groan’d, and thus he mused.645 + [10]Alas! if following the tumultuous flight +Of these, I shun Achilles, swifter far +He soon will lop my ignominious head. +But if, these leaving to be thus dispersed +Before him, from the city-wall I fly650 +Across the plain of Troy into the groves +Of Ida, and in Ida’s thickets lurk, +I may, at evening, to the town return +Bathed and refresh’d. But whither tend my thoughts? +Should he my flight into the plain observe655 +And swift pursuing seize me, then, farewell +All hope to scape a miserable death, +For he hath strength passing the strength of man. +How then—shall I withstand him here before +The city? He hath also flesh to steel660 +Pervious, within it but a single life, +And men report him mortal, howsoe’er +Saturnian Jove lift him to glory now. + So saying, he turn’d and stood, his dauntless heart +Beating for battle. As the pard springs forth665 +To meet the hunter from her gloomy lair, +Nor, hearing loud the hounds, fears or retires, +But whether from afar or nigh at hand +He pierce her first, although transfixt, the fight +Still tries, and combats desperate till she fall,670 +So, brave Antenor’s son fled not, or shrank, +Till he had proved Achilles, but his breast +O’ershadowing with his buckler and his spear +Aiming well-poised against him, loud exclaim’d. + Renown’d Achilles! Thou art high in hope675 +Doubtless, that thou shalt this day overthrow +The city of the glorious sons of Troy. +Fool! ye must labor yet ere she be won, +For numerous are her citizens and bold, +And we will guard her for our parents’ sake680 +Our wives and little ones. But here thou diest +Terrible Chief and dauntless as thou art. + He said, and with full force hurling his lance +Smote, and err’d not, his greave beneath his knee +The glittering tin, forged newly, at the stroke685 +Tremendous rang, but quick recoil’d and vain +The weapon, weak against that guard divine. +Then sprang Achilles in his turn to assail +Godlike Agenor, but Apollo took +That glory from him, snatching wrapt in clouds690 +Agenor thence, whom calm he sent away. + Then Phœbus from pursuit of Ilium’s host +By art averted Peleus’ son; the form +Assuming of Agenor, swift he fled +Before him, and Achilles swift pursued.695 +While him Apollo thus lured to the chase +Wide o’er the fruitful plain, inclining still +Toward Scamander’s dizzy stream his course +Nor flying far before, but with false hope +Always beguiling him, the scatter’d host700 +Meantime, in joyful throngs, regain’d the town. +They fill’d and shut it fast, nor dared to wait +Each other in the field, or to inquire +Who lived and who had fallen, but all, whom flight +Had rescued, like a flood pour’d into Troy.705 + + +The Trojans being now within the city, excepting Hector, the field is +cleared for the most important and decisive action in the poem; that +is, the battle between Achilles and Hector, and the death of the +latter. This part of the story is managed with singular skill. It seems +as if the poet, feeling the importance of the catastrophe, wished to +withdraw from view the personages of less consequence, and to +concentrate our attention upon those two alone. The poetic action and +description are narrowed in extent, but deepened in interest. The fate +of Troy is impending; the irreversible decree of Jupiter is about to be +executed; the heroes, whose bravery is to be the instrument of bringing +about this consummation, are left together on the plain.—Felton. + + + + +BOOK XXII. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE TWENTY-SECOND BOOK. + +Achilles slays Hector. + + +BOOK XXII. + + +Thus they, throughout all Troy, like hunted fawns +Dispersed, their trickling limbs at leisure cool’d, +And, drinking, slaked their fiery thirst, reclined +Against the battlements. Meantime, the Greeks +Sloping their shields, approach’d the walls of Troy,5 +And Hector, by his adverse fate ensnared, +Still stood exposed before the Scæan gate. +Then spake Apollo thus to Peleus’ son. + Wherefore, thyself mortal, pursuest thou me +Immortal? oh Achilles! blind with rage,10 +Thou know’st not yet, that thou pursuest a God. +Unmindful of thy proper task, to press +The flying Trojans, thou hast hither turn’d +Devious, and they are all now safe in Troy; +Yet hope me not to slay; I cannot die.15 + To whom Achilles swiftest of the swift, +Indignant. Oh, of all the Powers above +To me most adverse, Archer of the skies! +Thou hast beguiled me, leading me away +From Ilium far, whence intercepted, else,20 +No few had at this moment gnaw’d the glebe. +Thou hast defrauded me of great renown, +And, safe thyself, hast rescued _them_ with ease. +Ah—had I power, I would requite thee well. + So saying, incensed he turned toward the town25 +His rapid course, like some victorious steed +That whirls, at stretch, a chariot to the goal. +Such seem’d Achilles, coursing light the field. + Him, first, the ancient King of Troy perceived +Scouring the plain, resplendent as the star30 +Autumnal, of all stars in dead of night +Conspicous most, and named Orion’s dog; +Brightest it shines, but ominous, and dire +Disease portends to miserable man;[1] +So beam’d Achilles’ armor as he flew.35 +Loud wail’d the hoary King; with lifted hands +His head he smote, and, uttering doleful cries +Of supplication, sued to his own son. +He, fixt before the gate, desirous stood +Of combat with Achilles, when his sire40 +With arms outstretch’d toward him, thus began. + My Hector! wait not, oh my son! the approach +Of this dread Chief, alone, lest premature +Thou die, this moment by Achilles slain, +For he is strongest far. Oh that the Gods45 +Him loved as I! then, soon should vultures rend +And dogs his carcase, and my grief should cease. +He hath unchilded me of many a son, +All valiant youths, whom he hath slain or sold +To distant isles, and even now, I miss50 +Two sons, whom since the shutting of the gates +I find not, Polydorus and Lycaon, +My children by Laothöe the fair. +If they survive prisoners in yonder camp, +I will redeem them with gold and brass55 +By noble Eltes to his daughter given, +Large store, and still reserved. But should they both, +Already slain, have journey’d to the shades, +We, then, from whom they sprang have cause to mourn +And mourn them long, but shorter shall the grief60 +Of Ilium prove, if thou escape and live. +Come then, my son! enter the city-gate +That thou may’st save us all, nor in thy bloom +Of life cut off, enhance Achilles’ fame. +Commiserate also thy unhappy sire65 +Ere yet distracted, whom Saturnian Jove +Ordains to a sad death, and ere I die +To woes innumerable; to behold +Sons slaughter’d, daughters ravish’d, torn and stripp’d +The matrimonial chamber, infants dash’d70 +Against the ground in dire hostility,[2] +And matrons dragg’d by ruthless Grecian hands. +Me, haply, last of all, dogs shall devour +In my own vestibule, when once the spear +Or falchion of some Greek hath laid me low.75 +The very dogs fed at my table-side, +My portal-guards, drinking their master’s blood +To drunkenness, shall wallow in my courts. +Fair falls the warlike youth in battle slain, +And when he lies torn by the pointed steel,80 +His death becomes him well; he is secure, +Though dead, from shame, whatever next befalls: +But when the silver locks and silver beard +Of an old man slain by the sword, from dogs +Receive dishonor, of all ills that wait85 +On miserable man, that sure is worst. + So spake the ancient King, and his grey hairs +Pluck’d with both hands, but Hector firm endured. +On the other side all tears his mother stood, +And lamentation; with one hand she bared,90 +And with the other hand produced her breast, +Then in wing’d accents, weeping, him bespake. + My Hector! reverence this, and pity me +If ever, drawing forth this breast, thy griefs +Of infancy I soothed, oh now, my son!95 +Acknowledge it, and from within the walls +Repulse this enemy; stand not abroad +To cope with _him_, for he is savage-fierce, +And should he slay thee, neither shall myself +Who bore thee, nor thy noble spouse weep o’er100 +Thy body, but, where we can never come, +Dogs shall devour it in the fleet of Greece. + So they with prayers importuned, and with tears +Their son, but him sway’d not; unmoved he stood, +Expecting vast Achilles now at hand.105 +As some fell serpent in his cave expects +The traveller’s approach, batten’d with herbs +Of baneful juice to fury,[3] forth he looks +Hideous, and lies coil’d all around his den, +So Hector, fill’d with confidence untamed,110 +Fled not, but placing his bright shield against +A buttress, with his noble heart conferr’d. + [4]Alas for me! should I repass the gate, +Polydamas would be the first to heap +Reproaches on me, for he bade me lead115 +The Trojans back this last calamitous night +In which Achilles rose to arms again. +But I refused, although to have complied, +Had proved more profitable far; since then +By rash resolves of mine I have destroy’d120 +The people, how can I escape the blame +Of all in Troy? The meanest there will say— +By his self-will he hath destroy’d us all. +So shall they speak, and then shall I regret +That I return’d ere I had slain in fight125 +Achilles, or that, by Achilles slain, +I died not nobly in defence of Troy. +But shall I thus? Lay down my bossy shield, +Put off my helmet, and my spear recline +Against the city wall, then go myself130 +To meet the brave Achilles, and at once +Promise him Helen, for whose sake we strive +With all the wealth that Paris in his fleet +Brought home, to be restored to Atreus’ sons, +And to distribute to the Greeks at large135 +All hidden treasures of the town, an oath +Taking beside from every senator, +That he will nought conceal, but will produce +And share in just equality what stores +Soever our fair city still includes?140 +Ah airy speculations, questions vain! +I may not sue to him: compassion none +Will he vouchsafe me, or my suit respect. +But, seeing me unarm’d, will sate at once +His rage, and womanlike I shall be slain.145 +It is no time from oak or hollow rock +With him to parley, as a nymph and swain, +A nymph and swain[5] soft parley mutual hold, +But rather to engage in combat fierce +Incontinent; so shall we soonest learn150 +Whom Jove will make victorious, him or me. + Thus pondering he stood; meantime approach’d +Achilles, terrible as fiery Mars, +Crest-tossing God, and brandish’d as he came +O’er his right shoulder high the Pelian spear.155 +Like lightning, or like flame, or like the sun +Ascending, beam’d his armor. At that sight +Trembled the Trojan Chief, nor dared expect +His nearer step, but flying left the gates +Far distant, and Achilles swift pursued.160 +As in the mountains, fleetest fowl of air, +The hawk darts eager at the dove; she scuds +Aslant, he screaming, springs and springs again +To seize her, all impatient for the prey, +So flew Achilles constant to the track165 +Of Hector, who with dreadful haste beneath +The Trojan bulwarks plied his agile limbs. +Passing the prospect-mount where high in air +The wild-fig waved,[6] they rush’d along the road, +Declining never from the wall of Troy.170 +And now they reach’d the running rivulets clear, +Where from Scamander’s dizzy flood arise +Two fountains,[7] tepid one, from which a smoke +Issues voluminous as from a fire, +The other, even in summer heats, like hail175 +For cold, or snow, or crystal-stream frost-bound. +Beside them may be seen the broad canals +Of marble scoop’d, in which the wives of Troy +And all her daughters fair were wont to lave +Their costly raiment,[8] while the land had rest,180 +And ere the warlike sons of Greece arrived. +By these they ran, one fleeing, one in chase. +Valiant was he who fled, but valiant far +Beyond him he who urged the swift pursuit; +Nor ran they for a vulgar prize, a beast185 +For sacrifice, or for the hide of such, +The swift foot-racer’s customary meed, +But for the noble Hector’s life they ran. +As when two steeds, oft conquerors, trim the goal +For some illustrious prize, a tripod bright190 +Or beauteous virgin, at a funeral game, +So they with nimble feet the city thrice +Of Priam compass’d. All the Gods look’d on, +And thus the Sire of Gods and men began. + Ah—I behold a warrior dear to me195 +Around the walls of Ilium driven, and grieve +For Hector, who the thighs of fatted bulls +On yonder heights of Ida many-valed +Burn’d oft to me, and in the heights of Troy:[9] +But him Achilles, glorious Chief, around200 +The city walls of Priam now pursues. +Consider this, ye Gods! weigh the event. +Shall we from death save Hector? or, at length, +Leave him, although in battle high renown’d, +To perish by the might of Peleus’ son?205 + Whom answer’d thus Pallas cerulean-eyed. +Dread Sovereign of the storms! what hast thou said? +Wouldst thou deliver from the stroke of fate +A mortal man death-destined from of old? +Do it; but small thy praise shall be in heaven.210 + Then answer thus, cloud-gatherer Jove return’d. +Fear not, Tritonia, daughter dear! that word +Spake not my purpose; me thou shalt perceive +Always to thee indulgent. What thou wilt +That execute, and use thou no delay.215 + So roused he Pallas of herself prepared, +And from the heights Olympian down she flew. +With unremitting speed Achilles still +Urged Hector. As among the mountain-height +The hound pursues, roused newly from her lair220 +The flying fawn through many a vale and grove; +And though she trembling skulk the shrubs beneath, +Tracks her continual, till he find the prey, +So ’scaped not Hector Peleus’ rapid son. +Oft as toward the Dardan gates he sprang225 +Direct, and to the bulwarks firm of Troy, +Hoping some aid by volleys from the wall, +So oft, outstripping him, Achilles thence +Enforced him to the field, who, as he might, +Still ever stretch’d toward the walls again.230 +As, in a dream,[10] pursuit hesitates oft, +This hath no power to fly, that to pursue, +So these—one fled, and one pursued in vain. +How, then, had Hector his impending fate +Eluded, had not Phœbus, at his last,235 +Last effort meeting him, his strength restored, +And wing’d for flight his agile limbs anew? +The son of Peleus, as he ran, his brows +Shaking, forbad the people to dismiss +A dart at Hector, lest a meaner hand240 +Piercing him, should usurp the foremost praise. +But when the fourth time to those rivulets. +They came, then lifting high his golden scales, +Two lots the everlasting Father placed +Within them, for Achilles one, and one245 +For Hector, balancing the doom of both. +Grasping it in the midst, he raised the beam. +Down went the fatal day of Hector, down +To Ades, and Apollo left his side. +Then blue-eyed Pallas hasting to the son250 +Of Peleus, in wing’d accents him address’d. + Now, dear to Jove, Achilles famed in arms! +I hope that, fierce in combat though he be, +We shall, at last, slay Hector, and return +Crown’d with great glory to the fleet of Greece.255 +No fear of his deliverance now remains, +Not even should the King of radiant shafts, +Apollo, toil in supplication, roll’d +And roll’d again[11] before the Thunderer’s feet. +But stand, recover breath; myself, the while,260 +Shall urge him to oppose thee face to face. + So Pallas spake, whom joyful he obey’d, +And on his spear brass-pointed lean’d. But she, +(Achilles left) to noble Hector pass’d, +And in the form, and with the voice loud-toned265 +Approaching of Deiphobus, his ear +In accents, as of pity, thus address’d. + Ah brother! thou art overtask’d, around +The walls of Troy by swift Achilles driven; +But stand, that we may chase him in his turn.[12]270 + To whom crest-tossing Hector huge replied. +Deiphobus! of all my father’s sons +Brought forth by Hecuba, I ever loved +Thee most, but more than ever love thee now, +Who hast not fear’d, seeing me, for my sake275 +To quit the town, where others rest content. + To whom the Goddess, thus, cerulean-eyed. +Brother! our parents with much earnest suit +Clasping my knees, and all my friends implored me +To stay in Troy, (such fear hath seized on all)280 +But grief for thee prey’d on my inmost soul. +Come—fight we bravely—spare we now our spears +No longer; now for proof if Peleus’ son +Slaying us both, shall bear into the fleet +Our arms gore-stain’d, or perish slain by thee.285 + So saying, the wily Goddess led the way. +They soon, approaching each the other, stood +Opposite, and huge Hector thus began. + Pelides! I will fly thee now no more. +Thrice I have compass’d Priam’s spacious walls290 +A fugitive, and have not dared abide +Thy onset, but my heart now bids me stand +Dauntless, and I will slay, or will be slain. +But come. We will attest the Gods; for they +Are fittest both to witness and to guard295 +Our covenant. If Jove to me vouchsafe +The hard-earn’d victory, and to take thy life, +I will not with dishonor foul insult +Thy body, but, thine armor stripp’d, will give +Thee to thy friends, as thou shalt me to mine.300 + To whom Achilles, lowering dark, replied. +Hector! my bitterest foe! speak not to me +Of covenants! as concord can be none +Lions and men between, nor wolves and lambs +Can be unanimous, but hate perforce305 +Each other by a law not to be changed, +So cannot amity subsist between +Thee and myself; nor league make I with thee +Or compact, till thy blood in battle shed +Or mine, shall gratify the fiery Mars.310 +Rouse all thy virtue; thou hast utmost need +Of valor now, and of address in arms. +Escape me more thou canst not; Pallas’ hand +By mine subdues thee; now will I avenge +At once the agonies of every Greek315 +In thy unsparing fury slain by thee. + He said, and, brandishing the Pelian ash, +Dismiss’d it; but illustrious Hector warn’d, +Crouched low, and, overflying him, it pierced +The soil beyond, whence Pallas plucking it320 +Unseen, restored it to Achilles’ hand, +And Hector to his godlike foe replied. + Godlike Achilles! thou hast err’d, nor know’st +At all my doom from Jove, as thou pretend’st, +But seek’st, by subtlety and wind of words,325 +All empty sounds, to rob me of my might. +Yet stand I firm. Think not to pierce my back. +Behold my bosom! if the Gods permit, +Meet me advancing, and transpierce me there. +Meantime avoid my glittering spear, but oh330 +May’st thou receive it all! since lighter far +To Ilium should the toils of battle prove, +Wert thou once slain, the fiercest of her foes. + He said, and hurling his long spear with aim +Unerring, smote the centre of the shield335 +Of Peleus’ son, but his spear glanced away. +He, angry to have sent it forth in vain, +(For he had other none) with eyes downcast +Stood motionless awhile, then with loud voice +Sought from Deiphobus, white-shielded Chief,340 +A second; but Deiphobus was gone. +Then Hector understood his doom, and said. + Ah, it is plain; this is mine hour to die. +I thought Deiphobus at hand, but me +Pallas beguiled, and he is still in Troy.345 +A bitter death threatens me, it is nigh, +And there is no escape; Jove, and Jove’s son +Apollo, from the first, although awhile +My prompt deliverers, chose this lot for me, +And now it finds me. But I will not fall350 +Inglorious; I will act some great exploit +That shall be celebrated ages hence. + So saying, his keen falchion from his side +He drew, well-temper’d, ponderous, and rush’d +At once to combat. As the eagle darts355 +Right downward through a sullen cloud to seize +Weak lamb or timorous hare, so brandishing +His splendid falchion, Hector rush’d to fight. +Achilles, opposite, with fellest ire +Full-fraught came on; his shield with various art360 +Celestial form’d, o’erspread his ample chest, +And on his radiant casque terrific waved +The bushy gold of his resplendent crest, +By Vulcan spun, and pour’d profuse around. +Bright as, among the stars, the star of all365 +Most radiant, Hesperus, at midnight moves, +So, in the right hand of Achilles beam’d +His brandish’d spear, while, meditating wo +To Hector, he explored his noble form, +Seeking where he was vulnerable most.370 +But every part, his dazzling armor torn +From brave Patroclus’ body, well secured, +Save where the circling key-bone from the neck +Disjoins the shoulder; there his throat appear’d, +Whence injured life with swiftest flight escapes;375 +Achilles, plunging in that part his spear, +Impell’d it through the yielding flesh beyond. +The ashen beam his power of utterance left +Still unimpair’d, but in the dust he fell, +And the exulting conqueror exclaim’d.380 + But Hector! thou hadst once far other hopes, +And, stripping slain Patroclus, thought’st thee safe, +Nor caredst for absent me. Fond dream and vain! +I was not distant far; in yonder fleet +He left one able to avenge his death,385 +And he hath slain thee. Thee the dogs shall rend +Dishonorably, and the fowls of air, +But all Achaia’s host shall him entomb. + To whom the Trojan Chief languid replied. +By thy own life, by theirs who gave thee birth,390 +And by thy knees,[13] oh let not Grecian dogs +Rend and devour me, but in gold accept +And brass a ransom at my father’s hands, +And at my mother’s an illustrious price; +Send home my body, grant me burial rites395 +Among the daughters and the sons of Troy. + To whom with aspect stern Achilles thus. +Dog! neither knees nor parents name to me. +I would my fierceness of revenge were such, +That I could carve and eat thee, to whose arms400 +Such griefs I owe; so true it is and sure, +That none shall save thy carcase from the dogs. +No, trust me, would thy parents bring me weigh’d +Ten—twenty ransoms, and engage on oath +To add still more; would thy Dardanian Sire405 +Priam, redeem thee with thy weight in gold, +Not even at that price would I consent +That she who bare should place thee on thy bier +With lamentation; dogs and ravening fowls +Shall rend thy body while a scrap remains.410 + Then, dying, warlike Hector thus replied. +Full well I knew before, how suit of mine +Should speed preferr’d to thee. Thy heart is steel. +But oh, while yet thou livest, think, lest the Gods +Requite thee on that day, when pierced thyself415 +By Paris and Apollo, thou shalt fall, +Brave as thou art, before the Scæan gate. + He ceased, and death involved him dark around. +His spirit, from his limbs dismiss’d, the house +Of Ades sought, mourning in her descent420 +Youth’s prime and vigor lost, disastrous doom! +But him though dead, Achilles thus bespake. + Die thou. My death shall find me at what hour +Jove gives commandment, and the Gods above. + He spake, and from the dead drawing away425 +His brazen spear, placed it apart, then stripp’d +His arms gore-stain’d. Meantime the other sons +Of the Achaians, gathering fast around, +The bulk admired, and the proportion just +Of Hector; neither stood a Grecian there430 +Who pierced him not, and thus the soldier spake. + Ye Gods! how far more patient of the touch +Is Hector now, than when he fired the fleet! + Thus would they speak, then give him each a stab. +And now, the body stripp’d, their noble Chief435 +The swift Achilles standing in the midst, +The Grecians in wing’d accents thus address’d. + Friends, Chiefs and Senators of Argos’ host! +Since, by the will of heaven, this man is slain +Who harm’d us more than all our foes beside,440 +Essay we next the city, so to learn +The Trojan purpose, whether (Hector slain) +They will forsake the citadel, or still +Defend it, even though of him deprived. +But wherefore speak I thus? still undeplored,445 +Unburied in my fleet Patroclus lies; +Him never, while alive myself, I mix +With living men and move, will I forget. +In Ades, haply, they forget the dead, +Yet will not I Patroclus, even there.450 +Now chanting pæans, ye Achaian youths! +Return we to the fleet with this our prize; +We have achieved great glory,[14] we have slain +Illustrious Hector, him whom Ilium praised +In all her gates, and as a God revered.455 + He said; then purposing dishonor foul +To noble Hector, both his feet he bored +From heel to ancle, and, inserting thongs, +Them tied behind his chariot, but his head +Left unsustain’d to trail along the ground.460 +Ascending next, the armor at his side +He placed, then lash’d the steeds; they willing flew +Thick dust around the body dragg’d arose, +His sable locks all swept the plain, and all +His head, so graceful once, now track’d the dust,465 +For Jove had given it into hostile hands +That they might shame it in his native soil.[15] +Thus, whelm’d in dust, it went. The mother Queen +Her son beholding, pluck’d her hair away, +Cast far aside her lucid veil, and fill’d470 +With shrieks the air. His father wept aloud, +And, all around, long, long complaints were heard +And lamentations in the streets of Troy, +Not fewer or less piercing, than if flames +Had wrapt all Ilium to her topmost towers.475 +His people scarce detain’d the ancient King +Grief-stung, and resolute to issue forth +Through the Dardanian gates; to all he kneel’d +In turn, then roll’d himself in dust, and each +By name solicited to give him way.480 + Stand off, my fellow mourners! I would pass +The gates, would seek, alone, the Grecian fleet. +I go to supplicate the bloody man, +Yon ravager; he may respect, perchance, +My years, may feel some pity of my age;485 +For, such as I am, his own father is, +Peleus, who rear’d him for a curse to Troy, +But chiefly rear’d him to myself a curse, +So numerous have my sons in prime of youth +Fall’n by his hand, all whom I less deplore490 +(Though mourning all) than one; my agonies +For Hector soon shall send me to the shades. +Oh had he but within these arms expired, +The hapless Queen who bore him, and myself +Had wept him, then, till sorrow could no more!495 + So spake he weeping, and the citizens +All sigh’d around; next, Hecuba began +Amid the women, thus, her sad complaint. + Ah wherefore, oh my son! wretch that I am, +Breathe I forlorn of thee? Thou, night and day,500 +My glory wast in Ilium, thee her sons +And daughters, both, hail’d as their guardian God, +Conscious of benefits from thee received, +Whose life prolong’d should have advanced them all +To high renown. Vain boast! thou art no more.505 + So mourn’d the Queen. But fair Andromache +Nought yet had heard, nor knew by sure report +Hector’s delay without the city gates. +She in a closet of her palace sat, +A twofold web weaving magnificent,510 +With sprinkled flowers inwrought of various hues, +And to her maidens had commandment given +Through all her house, that compassing with fire +An ample tripod, they should warm a bath +For noble Hector from the fight return’d.515 +Tenderness ill-inform’d! she little knew +That in the field, from such refreshments far, +Pallas had slain him by Achilles’ hand. +She heard a cry of sorrow from the tower; +Her limbs shook under her, her shuttle fell,520 +And to her bright-hair’d train, alarm’d, she cried. + Attend me two of you, that I may learn +What hath befallen. I have heard the voice +Of the Queen-mother; my rebounding heart +Chokes me, and I seem fetter’d by a frost.525 +Some mischief sure o’er Priam’s sons impends. +Far be such tidings from me! but I fear +Horribly, lest Achilles, cutting off +My dauntless Hector from the gates alone, +Enforce him to the field, and quell perhaps530 +The might, this moment, of that dreadful arm +His hinderance long; for Hector ne’er was wont +To seek his safety in the ranks, but flew +First into battle, yielding place to none. + So saying, she rush’d with palpitating heart535 +And frantic air abroad, by her two maids +Attended; soon arriving at the tower, +And at the throng of men, awhile she stood +Down-looking wistful from the city-wall, +And, seeing him in front of Ilium, dragg’d540 +So cruelly toward the fleet of Greece, +O’erwhelm’d with sudden darkness at the view +Fell backward, with a sigh heard all around. +Far distant flew dispersed her head-attire, +Twist, frontlet, diadem, and even the veil545 +By golden Venus given her on the day +When Hector led her from Eëtion’s house +Enrich’d with nuptial presents to his home. +Around her throng’d her sisters of the house +Of Priam, numerous, who within their arms550 +Fast held her[16] loathing life; but she, her breath +At length and sense recovering, her complaint +Broken with sighs amid them thus began. + Hector! I am undone; we both were born +To misery, thou in Priam’s house in Troy,555 +And I in Hypoplacian Thebes wood-crown’d +Beneath Eëtion’s roof. He, doom’d himself +To sorrow, me more sorrowfully doom’d, +Sustain’d in helpless infancy, whom oh +That he had ne’er begotten! thou descend’st560 +To Pluto’s subterraneous dwelling drear, +Leaving myself destitute, and thy boy, +Fruit of our hapless loves, an infant yet, +Never to be hereafter thy delight, +Nor love of thine to share or kindness more.565 +For should he safe survive this cruel war, +With the Achaians penury and toil +Must be his lot, since strangers will remove +At will his landmarks, and possess his fields. +Thee lost, he loses all, of father, both,570 +And equal playmate in one day deprived, +To sad looks doom’d, and never-ceasing-tears. +He seeks, necessitous his father’s friends, +One by his mantle pulls, one by his vest, +Whose utmost pity yields to his parch’d lips575 +A thirst-provoking drop, and grudges more; +Some happier child, as yet untaught to mourn +A parent’s loss, shoves rudely from the board +My son, and, smiting him, reproachful cries— +Away—thy father is no guest of ours—580 +Then, weeping, to his widow’d mother comes +Astyanax, who on his father’s lap +Ate marrow only, once, and fat of lambs,[17] +And when sleep took him, and his crying fit +Had ceased, slept ever on the softest bed,585 +Warm in his nurse’s arms, fed to his fill +With delicacies, and his heart at rest. +But now, Astyanax (so named in Troy +For thy sake, guardian of her gates and towers) +His father lost, must many a pang endure.590 +And as for thee, cast naked forth among +Yon galleys, where no parent’s eye of thine +Shall find thee, when the dogs have torn thee once +Till they are sated, worms shall eat thee next. +Meantime, thy graceful raiment rich, prepared595 +By our own maidens, in thy palace lies; +But I will burn it, burn it all, because +Useless to thee, who never, so adorn’d, +Shalt slumber more; yet every eye in Troy +Shall see, how glorious once was thy attire.[18]600 + So, weeping, she; to whom the multitude +Of Trojan dames responsive sigh’d around. + + + + +BOOK XXIII. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE TWENTY-THIRD BOOK. + +The body of Patroclus is burned, and the funeral games ensue. + + +BOOK XXIII. + + +Such mourning was in Troy; meantime the Greeks +Their galleys and the shores of Hellespont +Regaining, each to his own ship retired. +But not the Myrmidons; Achilles them +Close rank’d in martial order still detain’d,5 +And thus his fellow-warriors brave address’d. + Ye swift-horsed Myrmidons, associates dear! +Release not from your chariots yet your steeds +Firm-hoof’d, but steeds and chariots driving near, +Bewail Patroclus, as the rites demand10 +Of burial; then, satiate with grief and tears, +We will release our steeds, and take repast. + He ended, and, himself leading the way, +His numerous band all mourn’d at once the dead. +Around the body thrice their glossy steeds,15 +Mourning they drove, while Thetis in their hearts +The thirst of sorrow kindled; they with tears +The sands bedew’d, with tears their radiant arms, +Such deep regret of one so brave they felt. +Then, placing on the bosom of his friend20 +His homicidal hands, Achilles thus +The shade of his Patroclus, sad, bespake. + Hail, oh Patroclus, even in Ades hail! +For I will now accomplish to the full +My promise pledged to thee, that I would give25 +Hector dragg’d hither to be torn by dogs +Piecemeal, and would before thy funeral pile +The necks dissever of twelve Trojan youths +Of noblest rank, resentful of thy death. + He said, and meditating foul disgrace30 +To noble Hector, stretch’d him prone in dust +Beside the bier of Menœtiades. +Then all the Myrmidons their radiant arms +Put off, and their shrill-neighing steeds released. +A numerous band beside the bark they sat35 +Of swift Æacides, who furnish’d forth +Himself a feast funereal for them all. +Many a white ox under the ruthless steel +Lay bleeding, many a sheep and blatant goat, +With many a saginated boar bright-tusk’d,40 +Amid fierce flames Vulcanian stretch’d to roast. +Copious the blood ran all around the dead. + And now the Kings of Greece conducted thence +To Agamemnon’s tent the royal son +Of Peleus, loth to go, and won at last45 +With difficulty, such his anger was +And deep resentment of his slaughter’d friend. +Soon then as Agamemnon’s tent they reach’d, +The sovereign bade his heralds kindle fire +Around an ample vase, with purpose kind50 +Moving Achilles from his limbs to cleanse +The stains of battle; but he firm refused +That suit, and bound refusal with an oath— + No; by the highest and the best of all, +By Jove I will not. Never may it be55 +That brazen bath approach this head of mine, +Till I shall first Patroclus’ body give +To his last fires, till I shall pile his tomb, +And sheer my locks in honor of my friend; +For, like to this, no second wo shall e’er60 +My heart invade, while vital breath I draw. +But, all unwelcome as it is, repast +Now calls us. Agamemnon, King of men! +Give thou command that at the dawn they bring +Wood hither, such large portion as beseems65 +The dead, descending to the shades, to share, +That hungry flames consuming out of sight +His body soon, the host may war again. + He spake; they, hearing, readily obey’d. +Then, each his food preparing with dispatch,70 +They ate, nor wanted any of the guests +Due portion, and their appetites sufficed +To food and wine, all to their tents repair’d +Seeking repose; but on the sands beside +The billowy deep Achilles groaning lay75 +Amidst his Myrmidons, where space he found +With blood unstain’d beside the dashing wave.[1] +There, soon as sleep, deliverer of the mind, +Wrapp’d him around (for much his noble limbs +With chase of Hector round the battlements80 +Of wind-swept Ilium wearied were and spent) +The soul came to him of his hapless friend, +In bulk resembling, in expressive eyes +And voice Patroclus, and so clad as he. +Him, hovering o’er his head, the form address’d.85 + Sleep’st thou, Achilles! of thy friend become +Heedless? Him living thou didst not neglect +Whom thou neglectest dead. Give me a tomb +Instant, that I may pass the infernal gates. +For now, the shades and spirits of the dead90 +Drive me afar, denying me my wish +To mingle with them on the farthest shore, +And in wide-portal’d Ades sole I roam. +Give me thine hand, I pray thee, for the earth +I visit never more, once burnt with fire;95 +We never shall again close council hold +As we were wont, for me my fate severe, +Mine even from my birth, hath deep absorb’d. +And oh Achilles, semblance of the Gods! +Thou too predestined art beneath the wall100 +To perish of the high-born Trojan race. +But hear my last injunction! ah, my friend! +My bones sepulchre not from thine apart, +But as, together we were nourish’d both +Beneath thy roof (what time from Opoëis105 +Menœtius led me to thy father’s house, +Although a child, yet fugitive for blood, +Which, in a quarrel at the dice, I spilt, +Killing my playmate by a casual blow, +The offspring of Amphidamas, when, like110 +A father, Peleus with all tenderness +Received and cherish’d me, and call’d me thine) +So, let one vase inclose, at last, our bones, +The golden vase, thy Goddess mother’s gift.[2] + To whom Achilles, matchless in the race.115 +Ah, loved and honor’d! wherefore hast thou come! +Why thus enjoin’d me? I will all perform +With diligence that thou hast now desired. +But nearer stand, that we may mutual clasp +Each other, though but with a short embrace,120 +And sad satiety of grief enjoy. + He said, and stretch’d his arms toward the shade, +But him seized not; shrill-clamoring and light +As smoke, the spirit pass’d into the earth. +Amazed, upsprang Achilles, clash’d aloud125 +His palms together, and thus, sad, exclaim’d. + Ah then, ye Gods! there doubtless are below +The soul and semblance both, but empty forms; +For all night long, mourning, disconsolate, +The soul of my Patroclus, hapless friend!130 +Hath hover’d o’er me, giving me in charge +His last requests, just image of himself. + So saying, he call’d anew their sorrow forth, +And rosy-palm’d Aurora found them all +Mourning afresh the pitiable dead.135 +Then royal Agamemnon call’d abroad +Mules and mule-drivers from the tents in haste +To gather wood. Uprose a valiant man, +Friend of the virtuous Chief Idomeneus, +Meriones, who led them to the task.140 +They, bearing each in hand his sharpen’d axe +And twisted cord, thence journey’d forth, the mules +Driving before them; much uneven space +They measured, hill and dale, right onward now, +And now circuitous; but at the groves145 +Arrived at length, of Ida fountain-fed, +Their keen-edged axes to the towering oaks +Dispatchful they applied; down fell the trees +With crash sonorous. Splitting, next, the trunks, +They bound them on the mules; they, with firm hoofs150 +The hill-side stamping, through the thickets rush’d +Desirous of the plain. Each man his log +(For so the armor-bearer of the King +Of Crete, Meriones, had them enjoin’d) +Bore after them, and each his burthen cast155 +Down on the beach regular, where a tomb +Of ample size Achilles for his friend +Patroclus had, and for himself, design’d. + Much fuel thrown together, side by side +There down they sat, and his command at once160 +Achilles issued to his warriors bold, +That all should gird their armor, and the steeds +Join to their chariots; undelaying each +Complied, and in bright arms stood soon array’d. +Then mounted combatants and charioteers.165 +First, moved the chariots, next, the infantry +Proceeded numerous, amid whom his friends, +Bearing the body of Patroclus, went. +They poll’d their heads, and cover’d him with hair +Shower’d over all his body, while behind170 +Noble Achilles march’d, the hero’s head +Sustaining sorrowful, for to the realms +Of Ades a distinguish’d friend he sent. + And now, arriving on the ground erewhile +Mark’d by Achilles, setting down the dead,175 +They heap’d the fuel quick, a lofty pile.[3] +But Peleus’ son, on other thoughts intent, +Retiring from the funeral pile, shore off +His amber ringlets,[4] whose exuberant growth +Sacred to Sperchius he had kept unshorn,180 +And looking o’er the gloomy deep, he said. + Sperchius! in vain Peleus my father vow’d +That, hence returning to my native land, +These ringlets shorn I should present to thee[5] +With a whole hecatomb, and should, beside,185 +Rams offer fifty at thy fountain head +In thy own field, at thy own fragrant shrine. +So vow’d the hoary Chief, whose wishes thou +Leavest unperform’d. Since, therefore, never more +I see my native home, the hero these190 +Patroclus takes down with him to the shades. + He said, and filling with his hair the hand +Of his dead friend, the sorrows of his train +Waken’d afresh. And now the lamp of day +Westering[6] apace, had left them still in tears,195 +Had not Achilles suddenly address’d +King Agamemnon, standing at his side. + Atrides! (for Achaia’s sons thy word +Will readiest execute) we may with grief +Satiate ourselves hereafter; but, the host200 +Dispersing from the pile, now give command +That they prepare repast; ourselves,[7] to whom +These labors in peculiar appertain +Will finish them; but bid the Chiefs abide. + Which when imperial Agamemnon heard,205 +He scatter’d instant to their several ships +The people; but the burial-dressers thence +Went not; they, still abiding, heap’d the pile. +A hundred feet of breadth from side to side +They gave to it, and on the summit placed210 +With sorrowing hearts the body of the dead. +Many a fat sheep, with many an ox full-horn’d +They flay’d before the pile, busy their task +Administering, and Peleus’ son the fat +Taking from every victim, overspread215 +Complete the body with it of his friend[8] +Patroclus, and the flay’d beasts heap’d around. +Then, placing flagons on the pile, replete +With oil and honey, he inclined their mouths +Toward the bier, and slew and added next,220 +Deep-groaning and in haste, four martial steeds. +Nine dogs the hero at his table fed, +Of which beheading two, their carcases +He added also. Last, twelve gallant sons +Of noble Trojans slaying (for his heart225 +Teem’d with great vengeance) he applied the force +Of hungry flames that should devour the whole, +Then, mourning loud, by name his friend invoked. + Rejoice, Patroclus! even in the shades, +Behold my promise to thee all fulfill’d!230 +Twelve gallant sons of Trojans famed in arms, +Together with thyself, are all become +Food for these fires: but fire shall never feed +On Hector; him I destine to the dogs. + So threaten’d he; but him no dogs devour’d;235 +Them, day and night, Jove’s daughter Venus chased +Afar, and smooth’d the hero o’er with oils +Of rosy scent ambrosial, lest his corse, +Behind Achilles’ chariot dragg’d along +So rudely, should be torn; and Phœbus hung240 +A veil of sable clouds from heaven to earth, +O’ershadowing broad the space where Hector lay, +Lest parching suns intense should stiffen him. + But the pile kindled not. Then, Peleus’ son +Seeking a place apart, two Winds in prayer245 +Boreas invoked and Zephyrus, to each +Vowing large sacrifice. With earnest suit +(Libation pouring from a golden cup) +Their coming he implored, that so the flames +Kindling, incontinent might burn the dead.250 +Iris, his supplications hearing, swift +Convey’d them to the Winds; they, in the hall +Banqueting of the heavy-blowing West +Sat frequent. Iris, sudden at the gate +Appear’d; they, at the sight upstarting all,255 +Invited each the Goddess to himself. +But she refused a seat and thus she spake.[9] + I sit not here. Borne over Ocean’s stream +Again, to Æthiopia’s land I go +Where hecatombs are offer’d to the Gods,260 +Which, with the rest, I also wish to share. +But Peleus’ son, earnest, the aid implores +Of Boreas and of Zephyrus the loud, +Vowing large sacrifice if ye will fan +Briskly the pile on which Patroclus lies265 +By all Achaia’s warriors deep deplored. + She said, and went. Then suddenly arose +The Winds, and, roaring, swept the clouds along. +First, on the sea they blew; big rose the waves +Beneath the blast. At fruitful Troy arrived270 +Vehement on the pile they fell, and dread +On all sides soon a crackling blaze ensued. +All night, together blowing shrill, they drove +The sheeted flames wide from the funeral pile, +And all night long, a goblet in his hand275 +From golden beakers fill’d, Achilles stood +With large libations soaking deep the soil, +And calling on the spirit of his friend. +As some fond father mourns, burning the bones +Of his own son, who, dying on the eve280 +Of his glad nuptials, hath his parents left +O’erwhelm’d with inconsolable distress, +So mourn’d Achilles, his companion’s bones +Burning, and pacing to and fro the field +Beside the pile with many a sigh profound.285 +But when the star, day’s harbinger, arose, +Soon after whom, in saffron vest attired +The morn her beams diffuses o’er the sea, +The pile, then wasted, ceased to flame, and then +Back flew the Winds over the Thracian deep290 +Rolling the flood before them as they pass’d. +And now Pelides lying down apart +From the funereal pile, slept, but not long, +Though weary; waken’d by the stir and din +Of Agamemnon’s train. He sat erect,295 +And thus the leaders of the host address’d. + Atrides, and ye potentates who rule +The whole Achaian host! first quench the pile +Throughout with generous wine, where’er the fire +Hath seized it. We will then the bones collect300 +Of Menœtiades, which shall with ease +Be known, though many bones lie scatter’d near, +Since in the middle pile Patroclus lay, +But wide apart and on its verge we burn’d +The steeds and Trojans, a promiscuous heap.305 +Them so collected in a golden vase +We will dispose, lined with a double cawl, +Till I shall, also, to my home below. +I wish not now a tomb of amplest bounds, +But such as may suffice, which yet in height310 +The Grecians and in breadth shall much augment +Hereafter, who, survivors of my fate, +Shall still remain in the Achaian fleet. + So spake Pelides, and the Chiefs complied. +Where’er the pile had blazed, with generous wine315 +They quench’d it, and the hills of ashes sank. +Then, weeping, to a golden vase, with lard +Twice lined, they gave their gentle comrade’s bones +Fire-bleach’d, and lodging safely in his tent +The relics, overspread them with a veil.320 +Designing, next, the compass of the tomb, +They mark’d its boundary with stones, then fill’d +The wide enclosure hastily with earth, +And, having heap’d it to its height, return’d. +But all the people, by Achilles still325 +Detain’d, there sitting, form’d a spacious ring, +And he the destined prizes from his fleet +Produced, capacious caldrons, tripods bright, +Steeds, mules, tall oxen, women at the breast +Close-cinctured, elegant, and unwrought[10] iron.330 +First, to the chariot-drivers he proposed +A noble prize; a beauteous maiden versed +In arts domestic, with a tripod ear’d, +Of twenty and two measures. These he made +The conqueror’s meed. The second should a mare335 +Obtain, unbroken yet, six years her age, +Pregnant, and bearing in her womb a mule. +A caldron of four measures, never smirch’d +By smoke or flame, but fresh as from the forge +The third awaited; to the fourth he gave340 +Two golden talents, and, unsullied yet +By use, a twin-ear’d phial[11] to the fifth. +He stood erect, and to the Greeks he cried. + + Atrides, and ye chiefs of all the host! +These prizes, in the circus placed, attend345 +The charioteers. Held we the present games +In honor of some other Grecian dead, +I would myself bear hence the foremost prize; +For ye are all witnesses well-inform’d +Of the superior virtue of my steeds.350 +They are immortal; Neptune on my sire +Peleus conferr’d them, and my sire on me. +But neither I this contest share myself, +Nor shall my steeds; for they would miss the force +And guidance of a charioteer so kind355 +As they have lost, who many a time hath cleansed +Their manes with water of the crystal brook, +And made them sleek, himself, with limpid oil. +Him, therefore, mourning, motionless they stand +With hair dishevell’d, streaming to the ground.360 +But ye, whoever of the host profess +Superior skill, and glory in your steeds +And well-built chariots, for the strife prepare! + So spake Pelides, and the charioteers, +For speed renown’d arose. Long ere the rest365 +Eumelus, King of men, Admetus’ son +Arose, accomplish’d in equestrian arts. +Next, Tydeus’ son, brave Diomede, arose; +He yoked the Trojan coursers by himself +In battle from Æneas won, what time370 +Apollo saved their master. Third, upstood +The son of Atreus with the golden locks, +Who to his chariot Agamemnon’s mare +Swift Æthe and his own Podargus join’d. +Her Echepolus from Anchises sprung375 +To Agamemnon gave; she was the price +At which he purchased leave to dwell at home +Excused attendance on the King at Troy; +For, by the gift of Jove, he had acquired +Great riches, and in wide-spread Sicyon dwelt.380 +Her wing’d with ardor, Menelaus yoked. +Antilochus, arising fourth, his steeds +Bright-maned prepared, son of the valiant King +Of Pylus, Nestor Neleïades. +Of Pylian breed were they, and thus his sire,385 +With kind intent approaching to his side, +Advised him, of himself not uninform’d.[12] + Antilochus! Thou art, I know, beloved +By Jove and Neptune both, from whom, though young +Thou hast received knowledge of every art390 +Equestrian, and hast little need to learn. +Thou know’st already how to trim the goal +With nicest skill, yet wondrous slow of foot +Thy coursers are, whence evil may ensue. +But though their steeds be swifter, I account395 +Thee wise, at least, as they. Now is the time +For counsel, furnish now thy mind with all +Precaution, that the prize escape thee not. +The feller of huge trees by skill prevails +More than by strength; by skill the pilot guides400 +His flying bark rock’d by tempestuous winds, +And more by skill than speed the race is won. +But he who in his chariot and his steeds +Trusts only, wanders here and wanders there +Unsteady, while his coursers loosely rein’d405 +Roam wide the field; not so the charioteer +Of sound intelligence; he though he drive +Inferior steeds, looks ever to the goal +Which close he clips, not ignorant to check +His coursers at the first but with tight rein410 +Ruling his own, and watching those before. +Now mark; I will describe so plain the goal +That thou shalt know it surely. A dry stump +Extant above the ground an ell in height +Stands yonder; either oak it is, or pine415 +More likely, which the weather least impairs. +Two stones, both white, flank it on either hand. +The way is narrow there, but smooth the course +On both sides. It is either, as I think, +A monument of one long since deceased,420 +Or was, perchance, in ancient days design’d, +As now by Peleus’ mighty son, a goal. +That mark in view, thy steeds and chariot push +Near to it as thou may’st; then, in thy seat +Inclining gently to the left, prick smart425 +Thy right-hand horse challenging him aloud, +And give him rein; but let thy left-hand horse +Bear on the goal so closely, that the nave +And felly[13] of thy wheel may seem to meet. +Yet fear to strike the stone, lest foul disgrace430 +Of broken chariot and of crippled steeds +Ensue, and thou become the public jest. +My boy beloved! use caution; for if once +Thou turn the goal at speed, no man thenceforth +Shall reach, or if he reach, shall pass thee by,435 +Although Arion in thy rear he drove +Adrastus’ rapid horse of race divine, +Or those, Troy’s boast, bred by Laomedon. + So Nestor spake, inculcating with care +On his son’s mind these lessons in the art,440 +And to his place retiring, sat again. +Meriones his coursers glossy-maned +Made ready last. Then to his chariot-seat +Each mounted, and the lots were thrown; himself +Achilles shook them. First, forth leap’d the lot445 +Of Nestor’s son Antilochus, after whom +The King Eumelus took his destined place. +The third was Menelaus spear-renown’d; +Meriones the fourth; and last of all, +Bravest of all, heroic Diomede450 +The son of Tydeus took his lot to drive. +So ranged they stood; Achilles show’d the goal +Far on the champain, nigh to which he placed +The godlike Phœnix servant of his sire, +To mark the race and make a true report.455 + All raised the lash at once, and with the reins +At once all smote their steeds, urging them on +Vociferous; they, sudden, left the fleet +Far, far behind them, scouring swift the plain. +Dark, like a stormy cloud, uprose the dust460 +Their chests beneath, and scatter’d in the wind +Their manes all floated; now the chariots swept +The low declivity unseen, and now +Emerging started into view; erect +The drivers stood; emulous, every heart465 +Beat double; each encouraged loud his steeds; +They, flying, fill’d with dust the darken’d air. +But when returning to the hoary deep +They ran their last career, then each display’d +Brightest his charioteership, and the race470 +Lay stretch’d, at once, into its utmost speed. +Then, soon the mares of Pheretiades[14] +Pass’d all, but Diomede behind him came, +Borne by his unemasculated steeds +Of Trojan pedigree; they not remote,475 +But close pursued him; and at every pace +Seem’d entering both; the chariot at their head, +For blowing warm into Eumelus’ neck +Behind, and on his shoulders broad, they went, +And their chins rested on him as they flew.480 +Then had Tydides pass’d him, or had made +Decision dubious, but Apollo struck, +Resentful,[15] from his hand the glittering scourge. +Fast roll’d the tears indignant down his cheeks, +For he beheld the mares with double speed,485 +Flying, and of the spur deprived, his own +Retarded steeds continual thrown behind. +But not unnoticed by Minerva pass’d +The art by Phœbus practised to impede +The son of Tydeus, whom with winged haste490 +Following, she gave to him his scourge again, +And with new force his lagging steeds inspired. +Eumelus, next, the angry Goddess, swift +Pursuing, snapt his yoke; wide flew the mares +Asunder, and the pole fell to the ground.495 +Himself, roll’d from his seat, fast by the wheel +With lacerated elbows, nostrils, mouth, +And batter’d brows lay prone; sorrow his eyes +Deluged, and disappointment chok’d his voice. +Then, far outstripping all, Tydides push’d500 +His steeds beyond, which Pallas fill’d with power +That she might make the glorious prize his own. +Him follow’d Menelaus amber-hair’d, +The son of Atreus, and his father’s steeds +Encouraging, thus spake Antilochus.505 + Away—now stretch ye forward to the goal. +I bid you not to an unequal strife +With those of Diomede, for Pallas them +Quickens that he may conquer, and the Chief +So far advanced makes competition vain.510 +But reach the son of Atreus, fly to reach +His steeds, incontinent; ah, be not shamed +For ever, foil’d by Æthe, by a mare! +Why fall ye thus behind, my noblest steeds? +I tell you both, and ye shall prove me true,515 +No favor shall ye find at Nestor’s hands, +My valiant sire, but he will thrust his spear +Right through you, should we lose, for sloth of yours, +Or by your negligence, the nobler prize. +Haste then—pursue him—reach the royal Chief—520 +And how to pass him in yon narrow way +Shall be my care, and not my care in vain. + He ended; they, awhile, awed by his voice, +With more exertion ran, and Nestor’s son +Now saw the hollow strait mark’d by his sire.525 +It was a chasm abrupt, where winter-floods, +Wearing the soil, had gullied deep the way. +Thither Atrides, anxious to avoid +A clash of chariots drove, and thither drove +Also, but somewhat devious from his track,530 +Antilochus. Then Menelaus fear’d, +And with loud voice the son of Nestor hail’d. + Antilochus, at what a madman’s rate +Drivest thou! stop—check thy steeds—the way is here +Too strait, but widening soon, will give thee scope535 +To pass me by; beware, lest chariot close +To chariot driven, thou maim thyself and me. + He said; but still more rapid and the scourge +Plying continual, as he had not heard, +Antilochus came on. Far as the quoit540 +By some broad-shoulder’d youth for trial hurl’d +Of manhood flies, so far Antilochus +Shot forward; but the coursers fell behind +Of Atreus’ son, who now abated much +By choice his driving, lest the steeds of both545 +Jostling, should overturn with sudden shock +Both chariots, and themselves in dust be roll’d, +Through hot ambition of the foremost prize. +Him then the hero golden-hair’d reproved. + Antilochus! the man lives not on earth550 +Like thee for love of mischief. Go, extoll’d +For wisdom falsely by the sons of Greece. +Yet, trust me, not without an oath, the prize +Thus foully sought shall even now be thine. + He said, and to his coursers call’d aloud.555 +Ah be not tardy; stand not sorrow-check’d; +Their feet will fail them sooner far than yours, +For years have pass’d since they had youth to boast. + So he; and springing at his voice, his steeds +Regain’d apace the vantage lost. Meantime560 +The Grecians, in full circus seated, mark’d +The steeds; they flying, fill’d with dust the air. +Then, ere the rest, Idomeneus discern’d +The foremost pair; for, on a rising ground +Exalted, he without the circus sat,565 +And hearing, though remote, the driver’s voice +Chiding his steeds, knew it, and knew beside +The leader horse distinguish’d by his hue, +Chestnut throughout, save that his forehead bore +A splendid blazon white, round as the moon.570 + He stood erect, and to the Greeks he cried. +Friends! Chiefs and senators of Argos’ host! +Discern I sole the steeds, or also ye? +The horses, foremost now, to me appear +Other than erst, and I descry at hand575 +A different charioteer; the mares of late +Victorious, somewhere distant in the race +Are hurt; I plainly saw them at the first +Turning the goal, but see them now no more; +And yet with eyes inquisitive I range580 +From side to side the whole broad plain of Troy. +Either the charioteer hath slipp’d the reins, +Or rounded not successfully the goal +Through want of guidance. Thrown, as it should seem, +Forth from his seat, he hath his chariot maim’d,585 +And his ungovern’d steeds have roam’d away. +Arise and look ye forth yourselves, for I +With doubtful ken behold him; yet the man +Seems, in my view, Ætolian by descent, +A Chief of prime renown in Argos’ host,590 +The hero Tydeus’ son, brave Diomede, + But Ajax Oïliades the swift +Him sharp reproved. Why art thou always given +To prate, Idomeneus? thou seest the mares, +Remote indeed, but posting to the goal.595 +Thou art not youngest of the Argives here +So much, nor from beneath thy brows look forth +Quick-sighted more than ours, thine eyes abroad. +Yet still thou pratest, although silence more +Should suit thee, among wiser far than thou.600 +The mares which led, lead still, and he who drives +Eumelus is, the same who drove before. + To whom the Cretan Chief, angry, replied. +Ajax! whom none in wrangling can excel +Or rudeness, though in all beside thou fall605 +Below the Argives, being boorish-rough, +Come now—a tripod let us wager each, +Or caldron, and let Agamemnon judge +Whose horses lead, that, losing, thou may’st learn. + He said; then sudden from his seat upsprang610 +Swift Ajax Oïliades, prepared +For harsh retort, nor had the contest ceased +Between them, but had grown from ill to worse, +Had not himself, Achilles, interposed. + Ajax—Idomeneus—abstain ye both615 +From bitter speech offensive, and such terms +As ill become you. Ye would feel, yourselves, +Resentment, should another act as ye. +Survey the course, peaceable, from your seats; +The charioteers, by competition wing’d,620 +Will soon themselves arrive, then shall ye know +Distinctly, both who follows and who leads. + He scarce had said, when nigh at hand appear’d +Tydides, lashing, as he came, his steeds +Continual; they with hoofs uplifted high625 +Their yet remaining ground shorten’d apace, +Sprinkling with dusty drops at every stroke +Their charioteer, while close upon their heels +Radiant with tin and gold the chariot ran, +Scarce tracking light the dust, so swift they flew.630 +He stood in the mid-circus; there the sweat +Rain’d under them from neck and chest profuse, +And Diomede from his resplendent seat +Leaping, reclined his scourge against the yoke. +Nor was his friend brave Sthenelus remiss,635 +But, seizing with alacrity the prize, +Consign’d the tripod and the virgin, first, +To his own band in charge; then, loosed the steeds. +Next came, by stratagem, not speed advanced +To that distinction, Nestor’s son, whom yet640 +The hero Menelaus close pursued +Near as the wheel runs to a courser’s heels, +Drawing his master at full speed; his tail +With its extremest hairs the felly sweeps +That close attends him o’er the spacious plain,645 +So near had Menelaus now approach’d +Antilochus; for though at first he fell +A full quoit’s cast behind, he soon retrieved +That loss, with such increasing speed the mare +Bright-maned of Agamemnon, Æthe, ran;650 +She, had the course few paces more to both +Afforded, should have clearly shot beyond +Antilochus, nor dubious left the prize. +But noble Menelaus threw behind +Meriones, companion in the field,655 +Of King Idomeneus, a lance’s flight, +For slowest were his steeds, and he, to rule +The chariot in the race, least skill’d of all. +Last came Eumelus drawing to the goal, +Himself, his splendid chariot, and his mares660 +Driving before him. Peleus’ rapid son +Beheld him with compassion, and, amid +The Argives, in wing’d accents thus he spake. + Here comes the most expert, driving his steeds +Before him. Just it were that he received665 +The second prize; Tydides claims the first. + He said, and all applauded the award. +Then had Achilles to Eumelus given +The mare (for such the pleasure seem’d of all) +Had not the son of mighty Nestor risen,670 +Antilochus, who pleaded thus his right. + Achilles! acting as thou hast proposed, +Thou shalt offend me much, for thou shalt take +The prize from me, because the Gods, his steeds +And chariot-yoke disabling, render’d vain675 +His efforts, and no failure of his own. +It was his duty to have sought the Gods +In prayer, then had he not, following on foot +His coursers, hindmost of us all arrived. +But if thou pity him, and deem it good,680 +Thou hast much gold, much brass, and many sheep +In thy pavilion; thou hast maidens fair, +And coursers also. Of thy proper stores +Hereafter give to him a richer prize +Than this, or give it now, so shall the Greeks685 +Applaud thee; but this mare yield I to none; +Stand forth the Grecian who desires to win +That recompense, and let him fight with me. + He ended, and Achilles, godlike Chief, +Smiled on him, gratulating his success,690 +Whom much he loved; then, ardent, thus replied. + Antilochus! if thou wouldst wish me give +Eumelus of my own, even so I will. +I will present to him my corslet bright +Won from Asteropæus, edged around695 +With glittering tin; a precious gift, and rare. + So saying, he bade Automedon his friend +Produce it from the tent; he at his word +Departing, to Achilles brought the spoil, +Which at his hands Eumelus glad received.700 +Then, stung with grief, and with resentment fired +Immeasurable, Menelaus rose +To charge Antilochus. His herald gave +The sceptre to his hand, and (silence bidden +To all) the godlike hero thus began.705 + Antilochus! oh heretofore discreet! +What hast thou done? Thou hast dishonor’d foul +My skill, and wrong’d my coursers, throwing thine, +Although inferior far, by fraud before them. +Ye Chiefs and Senators of Argos’ host!710 +Impartial judge between us, lest, of these, +Some say hereafter, Menelaus bore +Antilochus by falsehood down, and led +The mare away, because, although his steeds +Were worse, his arm was mightier, and prevail’d.715 +Yet hold—myself will judge, and will to all +Contentment give, for I will judge aright. +Hither, Antilochus, illustrious youth! +And, as the law prescribes, standing before +Thy steeds and chariot, holding too the scourge720 +With which thou drovest, lay hand on both thy steeds, +And swear by Neptune, circler of the earth, +That neither wilfully, nor yet by fraud +Thou didst impede my chariot in its course. + Then prudent, thus Antilochus replied.725 +Oh royal Menelaus! patient bear +The fault of one thy junior far, in years +Alike unequal and in worth to thee. +Thou know’st how rash is youth, and how propense +To pass the bounds by decency prescribed,730 +Quick, but not wise. Lay, then, thy wrath aside; +The mare now given me I will myself +Deliver to thee, and if thou require +A larger recompense, will rather yield +A larger much than from thy favor fall735 +Deservedly for ever, mighty Prince! +And sin so heinously against the Gods. + So saying, the son of valiant Nestor led +The mare, himself, to Menelaus’ hand, +Who with heart-freshening joy the prize received.740 +As on the ears of growing corn the dews +Fall grateful, while the spiry grain erect +Bristles the fields, so, Menelaus, felt +Thy inmost soul a soothing pleasure sweet! +Then answer thus the hero quick return’d.745 + Antilochus! exasperate though I were, +Now, such no longer, I relinquish glad +All strife with thee, for that at other times +Thou never inconsiderate wast or light, +Although by youthful heat misled to-day.750 +Yet safer is it not to over-reach +Superiors, for no other Grecian here +Had my extreme displeasure calm’d so soon; +But thou hast suffer’d much, and much hast toil’d, +As thy good father and thy brother have,755 +On my behalf; I, therefore, yield, subdued +By thy entreaties, and the mare, though mine, +Will also give thee, that these Grecians all +May know me neither proud nor hard to appease. + So saying, the mare he to Noëmon gave,760 +Friend of Antilochus, and, well-content, +The polish’d caldron for _his_ prize received. +The fourth awarded lot (for he had fourth +Arrived) Meriones asserted next, +The golden talents; but the phial still765 +Left unappropriated Achilles bore +Across the circus in his hand, a gift +To ancient Nestor, whom he thus bespake. + Thou also, oh my father! this accept, +Which in remembrance of the funeral rites770 +Of my Patroclus, keep, for him thou seest +Among the Greeks no more. Receive a prize, +Thine by gratuity; for thou shalt wield +The cestus, wrestle, at the spear contend, +Or in the foot-race (fallen as thou art775 +Into the wane of life) never again. + He said, and placed it in his hands. He, glad, +Receiving it, in accents wing’d replied. + True, oh my son! is all which thou hast spoken. +These limbs, these hands, young friend! (their vigor lost)780 +No longer, darted from the shoulder, spring +At once to battle. Ah that I could grow +Young yet again, could feel again such force +Athletic, as when in Buprasium erst +The Epeans with sepulchral pomp entomb’d785 +King Amarynceus, where his sons ordain’d +Funereal games in honor of their sire! +Epean none or even Pylian there +Could cope with me, or yet Ætolian bold. +Boxing, I vanquish’d Clytomedes, son790 +Of Enops; wrestling, the Pleuronian Chief +Ancæus; in the foot-race Iphiclus, +Though a fleet runner; and I over-pitch’d +Phyleus and Polydorus at the spear. +The sons of Actor[16] in the chariot-race795 +Alone surpass’d me, being two for one, +And jealous both lest I should also win +That prize, for to the victor charioteer +They had assign’d the noblest prize of all. +They were twin-brothers, and one ruled the steeds,800 +The steeds one ruled,[17] the other lash’d them on. +Such once was I; but now, these sports I leave +To younger; me submission most befits +To withering age, who then outshone the best. +But go. The funeral of thy friend with games805 +Proceed to celebrate; I accept thy gift +With pleasure; and my heart is also glad +That thou art mindful evermore of one +Who loves thee, and such honor in the sight +Yield’st me of all the Greeks, as is my due.810 +May the Gods bless thee for it more and more! + He spake, and Peleus’ son, when he had heard +At large his commendation from the lips +Of Nestor, through the assembled Greeks return’d. +He next proposed, not lightly to be won,815 +The boxer’s prize. He tether’d down a mule, +Untamed and hard to tame, but strong to toil, +And in her prime of vigor, in the midst; +A goblet to the vanquish’d he assign’d, +Then stood erect and to the Greeks exclaim’d.820 + Atridæ! and ye Argives brazen-greaved! +I call for two bold combatants expert +To wage fierce strife for these, with lifted fists +Smiting each other. He, who by the aid +Of Phœbus shall o’ertome, and whom the Greeks825 +Shall all pronounce victorious, leads the mule +Hence to his tent; the vanquish’d takes the cup. + He spake, and at his word a Greek arose +Big, bold, and skillful in the boxer’s art, +Epeüs, son of Panopeus; his hand830 +He on the mule imposed, and thus he said. + Approach the man ambitious of the cup! +For no Achaian here shall with his fist +Me foiling, win the mule. I boast myself +To all superior. May it not suffice835 +That I to no pre-eminence pretend +In battle? To attain to foremost praise +Alike in every art is not for one. +But this I promise, and will well perform— +My blows shall lay him open, split him, crush840 +His bones to splinters, and let all his friends, +Attendant on him, wait to bear him hence, +Vanquish’d by my superior force in fight. + He ended, and his speech found no reply. +One godlike Chief alone, Euryalus,845 +Son of the King Mecisteus, who, himself, +Sprang from Talaion, opposite arose. +He, on the death of Oedipus, at Thebes +Contending in the games held at his tomb, +Had overcome the whole Cadmean race.850 +Him Diomede spear-famed for fight prepared, +Giving him all encouragement, for much +He wish’d him victory. First then he threw[18] +His cincture to him; next, he gave him thongs[19] +Cut from the hide of a wild buffalo.855 +Both girt around, into the midst they moved. +Then, lifting high their brawny arms, and fists +Mingling with fists, to furious fight they fell; +Dire was the crash of jaws, and the sweat stream’d +From every limb. Epeüs fierce advanced,860 +And while Euryalus with cautious eye +Watch’d his advantage, pash’d him on the cheek +He stood no longer, but, his shapely limbs, +Unequal to his weight, sinking, he fell. +As by the rising north-wind driven ashore865 +A huge fish flounces on the weedy beach, +Which soon the sable flood covers again, +So, beaten down, he bounded. But Epeüs, +Heroic chief, upraised him by his hand, +And his own comrades from the circus forth870 +Led him, step dragging after step, the blood +Ejecting grumous, and at every pace +Rolling his head languid from side to side. +They placed him all unconscious on his seat +In his own band, then fetch’d his prize, the cup.875 + Still other prizes, then, Achilles placed +In view of all, the sturdy wrestler’s meed. +A large hearth-tripod, valued by the Greeks +At twice six beeves, should pay the victor’s toil; +But for the vanquish’d, in the midst he set880 +A damsel in variety expert +Of arts domestic, valued at four beeves. +He rose erect, and to the Greeks he cried. + Arise ye, now, who shall this prize dispute. +So spake the son of Peleus; then arose885 +Huge Telamonian Ajax, and upstood +Ulysses also, in all wiles adept. +Both girt around, into the midst they moved. +With vigorous gripe each lock’d the other fast, +Like rafters, standing, of some mansion built890 +By a prime artist proof against all winds. +Their backs, tugg’d vehemently, creak’d,[20] the sweat +Trickled, and on their flanks and shoulders, red +The whelks arose; they bearing still in mind +The tripod, ceased not struggling for the prize.895 +Nor could Ulysses from his station move +And cast down Ajax, nor could Ajax him +Unsettle, fixt so firm Ulysses stood. +But when, long time expectant, all the Greeks +Grew weary, then, huge Ajax him bespake.900 + Laertes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d! +Lift, or be lifted, and let Jove decide. + He said, and heaved Ulysses. Then, his wiles +Forgat not he, but on the ham behind +Chopp’d him; the limbs of Ajax at the stroke905 +Disabled sank; he fell supine, and bore +Ulysses close adhering to his chest +Down with him. Wonder riveted all eyes. +Then brave Ulysses from the ground awhile +Him lifted in his turn, but ere he stood,910 +Inserting his own knee the knees between[21] +Of Ajax, threw him. To the earth they fell +Both, and with dust defiled lay side by side. +And now, arising to a third essay, +They should have wrestled yet again, had not915 +Achilles, interfering, them restrain’d. + Strive not together more; cease to exhaust +Each other’s force; ye both have earn’d the prize +Depart alike requited, and give place +To other Grecians who shall next contend.920 + He spake; they glad complied, and wiping off +The dust, put on their tunics. Then again +Achilles other prizes yet proposed, +The rapid runner’s meed. First, he produced +A silver goblet of six measures; earth925 +Own’d not its like for elegance of form. +Skilful Sidonian artists had around +Embellish’d it,[22] and o’er the sable deep +Phœnician merchants into Lemnos’ port +Had borne it, and the boon to Thoas[23] given;930 +But Jason’s son, Euneüs, in exchange +For Priam’s son Lycaon, to the hand +Had pass’d it of Patroclus famed in arms. +Achilles this, in honor of his friend, +Set forth, the swiftest runner’s recompense.935 +The second should a fatted ox receive +Of largest size, and he assign’d of gold +A just half-talent to the worst and last. +He stood erect, and to the Greeks he cried. + Now stand ye forth who shall this prize dispute.940 +He said, and at his word instant arose +Swift Ajax Oïliades; upsprang +The shrewd Ulysses next, and after him +Brave Nestor’s son Antilochus, with whom +None vied in speed of all the youths of Greece.945 +They stood prepared. Achilles show’d the goal. +At once all started. Oïliades +Led swift the course, and closely at his heels +Ulysses ran. Near as some cinctured maid +Industrious holds the distaff to her breast,950 +While to and fro with practised finger neat +She tends the flax drawing it to a thread, +So near Ulysses follow’d him, and press’d +His footsteps, ere the dust fill’d them again, +Pouring his breath into his neck behind,955 +And never slackening pace. His ardent thirst +Of victory with universal shouts +All seconded, and, eager, bade him on. +And now the contest shortening to a close, +Ulysses his request silent and brief960 +To azure-eyed Minerva thus preferr’d. + Oh Goddess hear, prosper me in the race! +Such was his prayer, with which Minerva pleased, +Freshen’d his limbs, and made him light to run. +And now, when in one moment they should both965 +Have darted on the prize, then Ajax’ foot +Sliding, he fell; for where the dung of beeves +Slain by Achilles for his friend, had spread +The soil, there[24] Pallas tripp’d him. Ordure foul +His mouth, and ordure foul his nostrils fill’d.970 +Then brave Ulysses, first arriving, seized +The cup, and Ajax took his prize, the ox. +He grasp’d his horn, and sputtering as he stood +The ordure forth, the Argives thus bespake. + Ah—Pallas tripp’d my footsteps; she attends975 +Ulysses ever with a mother’s care. + Loud laugh’d the Grecians. Then, the remnant prize +Antilochus receiving, smiled and said. + Ye need not, fellow-warriors, to be taught +That now, as ever, the immortal Gods980 +Honor on seniority bestow. +Ajax is elder, yet not much, than I. +But Laertiades was born in times +Long past, a chief coëval with our sires, +Not young, but vigorous; and of the Greeks,985 +Achilles may alone with him contend. + So saying, the merit of superior speed +To Peleus’ son he gave, who thus replied. + Antilochus! thy praise of me shall prove +Nor vain nor unproductive to thyself,990 +For the half-talent doubled shall be thine. + He spake, and, doubling it, the talent placed +Whole in his hand. He glad the gift received. +Achilles, then Sarpedon’s arms produced, +Stripp’d from him by Patroclus, his long spear,995 +Helmet and shield, which in the midst he placed. +He stood erect, and to the Greeks he cried. + I call for two brave warriors arm’d to prove +Each other’s skill with weapons keen, this prize +Disputing, next, in presence of us all.1000 +Who first shall through his armor reach the skin +Of his antagonist, and shall draw his blood, +To him this silver-studded falchion bright +I give; the blade is Thracian, and of late +Asteropæus wore it, whom I slew.1005 +These other arms shall be their common meed, +And I will banquet both within my tent. + He said, then Telamonian Ajax huge +Arose, and opposite the son arose +Of warlike Tydeus, Diomede the brave.1010 +Apart from all the people each put on +His arms, then moved into the middle space, +Lowering terrific, and on fire to fight. +The host look’d on amazed. Approaching each +The other, thrice they sprang to the assault,1015 +And thrice struck hand to hand. Ajax the shield +Pierced of his adversary, but the flesh +Attain’d not, baffled by his mail within. +Then Tydeus’ son, sheer o’er the ample disk +Of Ajax, thrust a lance home to his neck,1020 +And the Achaians for the life appall’d +Of Ajax, bade them, ceasing, share the prize. +But the huge falchion with its sheath and belt— +Achilles them on Diomede bestow’d. + The hero, next, an iron clod produced1025 +Rough from the forge, and wont to task the might +Of King Eëtion; but, when him he slew, +Pelides, glorious chief, with other spoils +From Thebes convey’d it in his fleet to Troy. +He stood erect, and to the Greeks he cried.1030 + Come forth who also shall this prize dispute! +How far soe’er remote the winner’s fields, +This lump shall serve his wants five circling years; +His shepherd shall not, or his plower, need +In quest of iron seek the distant town,1035 +But hence he shall himself their wants supply.[25] +Then Polypœtes brave in fight arose, +Arose Leonteus also, godlike chief, +With Ajax son of Telamon. Each took +His station, and Epeüs seized the clod.1040 +He swung, he cast it, and the Grecians laugh’d. +Leonteus, branch of Mars, quoited it next. +Huge Telamonian Ajax with strong arm +Dismiss’d it third, and overpitch’d them both. +But when brave Polypœtes seized the mass1045 +Far as the vigorous herdsman flings his staff +That twirling flies his numerous beeves between,[26] +So far his cast outmeasured all beside, +And the host shouted. Then the friends arose +Of Polypœtes valiant chief, and bore1050 +His ponderous acquisition to the ships. + The archers’ prize Achilles next proposed, +Ten double and ten single axes, form’d +Of steel convertible to arrow-points. +He fix’d, far distant on the sands, the mast1055 +Of a brave bark cerulean-prow’d, to which +With small cord fasten’d by the foot he tied +A timorous dove, their mark at which to aim. +[27]Who strikes the dove, he conquers, and shall bear +These double axes all into his tent.1060 +But who the cord alone, missing the bird, +Successful less, he wins the single blades. + The might of royal Teucer then arose, +And, fellow-warrior of the King of Crete, +Valiant Meriones. A brazen casque1065 +Received the lots; they shook them, and the lot +Fell first to Teucer. He, at once, a shaft +Sent smartly forth, but vow’d not to the King[28] +A hecatomb, all firstlings of the flock. +He therefore (for Apollo greater praise1070 +Denied him) miss’d the dove, but struck the cord +That tied her, at small distance from the knot, +And with his arrow sever’d it. Upsprang +The bird into the air, and to the ground +Depending fell the cord. Shouts rent the skies.1075 +Then, all in haste, Meriones the bow +Caught from his hand holding a shaft the while +Already aim’d, and to Apollo vow’d +A hecatomb, all firstlings of the flock. +He eyed the dove aloft, under a cloud,1080 +And, while she wheel’d around, struck her beneath +The pinion; through her and beyond her pass’d +The arrow, and, returning, pierced the soil +Fast by the foot of brave Meriones. +She, perching on the mast again, her head1085 +Reclined, and hung her wide-unfolded wing, +But, soon expiring, dropp’d and fell remote. +Amazement seized the people. To his tent +Meriones the ten best axes bore, +And Teucer the inferior ten to his.[29]1090 + Then, last, Achilles in the circus placed +A ponderous spear and caldron yet unfired, +Emboss’d with flowers around, its worth an ox. +Upstood the spear-expert; Atrides first, +Wide-ruling Agamemnon, King of men,1095 +And next, brave fellow-warrior of the King +Of Crete, Meriones; when thus his speech +Achilles to the royal chief address’d. + Atrides! (for we know thy skill and force +Matchless! that none can hurl the spear as thou)1100 +This prize is thine, order it to thy ship; +And if it please thee, as I would it might, +Let brave Meriones the spear receive. + He said; nor Agamemnon not complied, +But to Meriones the brazen spear +Presenting, to Talthybius gave in charge +The caldron, next, his own illustrious prize. + + + + +BOOK XXIV. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH BOOK. + +Priam, by command of Jupiter, and under conduct of Mercury, seeks +Achilles in his tent, who admonished previously by Thetis, consents to +accept ransom for the body of Hector. Hector is mourned, and the manner +of his funeral, circumstantially described, concludes the poem. + + +BOOK XXIV. + + +The games all closed, the people went dispersed +Each to his ship; they, mindful of repast, +And to enjoy repose; but other thoughts +Achilles’ mind employ’d: he still deplored +With tears his loved Patroclus, nor the force5 +Felt of all-conquering sleep, but turn’d and turn’d +Restless from side to side, mourning the loss +Of such a friend, so manly, and so brave. +Their fellowship in toil; their hardships oft +Sustain’d in fight laborious, or o’ercome10 +With difficulty on the perilous deep— +Remembrance busily retracing themes +Like these, drew down his cheeks continual tears. +Now on his side he lay, now lay supine, +Now prone, then starting from his couch he roam’d15 +Forlorn the beach, nor did the rising morn +On seas and shores escape his watchful eye, +But joining to his chariot his swift steeds, +He fasten’d Hector to be dragg’d behind. +Around the tomb of Menœtiades20 +Him thrice he dragg’d; then rested in his tent, +Leaving him at his length stretch’d in the dust. +Meantime Apollo with compassion touch’d +Even of the lifeless Hector, from all taint +Saved him, and with the golden ægis broad25 +Covering, preserved him, although dragg’d, untorn. + + While he, indulging thus his wrath, disgraced +Brave Hector, the immortals at that sight +With pity moved, exhorted Mercury +The watchful Argicide, to steal him thence.30 +That counsel pleased the rest, but neither pleased +Juno, nor Neptune, nor the blue-eyed maid. +They still, as at the first, held fast their hate +Of sacred Troy, detested Priam still, +And still his people, mindful of the crime35 +Of Paris, who when to his rural hut +They came, those Goddesses affronting,[1] praise +And admiration gave to her alone +Who with vile lusts his preference repaid. +But when the twelfth ensuing morn arose,40 +Apollo, then, the immortals thus address’d. + Ye Gods, your dealings now injurious seem +And cruel. Was not Hector wont to burn +Thighs of fat goats and bullocks at your shrines? +Whom now, though dead, ye cannot yet endure45 +To rescue, that Andromache once more +Might view him, his own mother, his own son, +His father and the people, who would soon +Yield him his just demand, a funeral fire. +But, oh ye Gods! your pleasure is alone50 +To please Achilles, that pernicious chief, +Who neither right regards, nor owns a mind +That can relent, but as the lion, urged +By his own dauntless heart and savage force, +Invades without remorse the rights of man,55 +That he may banquet on his herds and flocks, +So Peleus’ son all pity from his breast +Hath driven, and shame, man’s blessing or his curse.[2] +For whosoever hath a loss sustain’d +Still dearer, whether of his brother born60 +From the same womb, or even of his son, +When he hath once bewail’d him, weeps no more, +For fate itself gives man a patient mind. +Yet Peleus’ son, not so contented, slays +Illustrious Hector first, then drags his corse65 +In cruel triumph at his chariot-wheels +Around Patroclus’ tomb; but neither well +He acts, nor honorably to himself, +Who may, perchance, brave though he be, incur +Our anger, while to gratify revenge70 +He pours dishonor thus on senseless clay. + To whom, incensed, Juno white-arm’d replied. +And be it so; stand fast this word of thine, +God of the silver bow! if ye account +Only such honor to Achilles due75 +As Hector claims; but Hector was by birth +Mere man, and suckled at a woman’s breast. +Not such Achilles; him a Goddess bore, +Whom I myself nourish’d, and on my lap +Fondled, and in due time to Peleus gave80 +In marriage, to a chief beloved in heaven +Peculiarly; ye were yourselves, ye Gods! +Partakers of the nuptial feast, and thou +Wast present also with thine harp in hand, +Thou comrade of the vile! thou faithless ever!85 + Then answer thus cloud-gatherer Jove return’d. +Juno, forbear. Indulge not always wrath +Against the Gods. They shall not share alike, +And in the same proportion our regards. +Yet even Hector was the man in Troy90 +Most favor’d by the Gods, and him no less +I also loved, for punctual were his gifts +To us; mine altar never miss’d from him +Libation, or the steam of sacrifice, +The meed allotted to us from of old.95 +But steal him not, since by Achilles’ eye +Unseen ye cannot, who both day and night +Watches[3] him, as a mother tends her son. +But call ye Thetis hither, I would give +The Goddess counsel, that, at Priam’s hands100 +Accepting gifts, Achilles loose the dead. + He ceased. Then Iris tempest-wing’d arose. +Samos between, and Imbrus rock-begirt, +She plunged into the gloomy flood; loud groan’d +The briny pool, while sudden down she rush’d,105 +As sinks the bull’s[4] horn with its leaden weight, +Death bearing to the raveners of the deep. +Within her vaulted cave Thetis she found +By every nymph of Ocean round about +Encompass’d; she, amid them all, the fate110 +Wept of her noble son ordain’d to death +At fertile Troy, from Phthia far remote. +Then, Iris, drawing near, her thus address’d. + Arise, O Thetis! Jove, the author dread +Of everlasting counsels, calls for thee.115 + To whom the Goddess of the silver feet. +Why calls the mighty Thunderer me? I fear, +Oppress’d with countless sorrows as I am, +To mingle with the Gods. Yet I obey— +No word of his can prove an empty sound.120 + So saying, the Goddess took her sable veil +(Eye ne’er beheld a darker) and began +Her progress, by the storm-wing’d Iris led. +On either hand the billows open’d wide +A pass before them; they, ascending soon125 +The shore, updarted swift into the skies. +They found loud-voiced Saturnian Jove around +Environ’d by the ever-blessed Gods +Convened in full assembly; she beside +Her Father Jove (Pallas retiring) sat.130 +Then, Juno, with consolatory speech, +Presented to her hand a golden cup, +Of which she drank, then gave it back again, +And thus the sire of Gods and men began. + Goddess of ocean, Thetis! thou hast sought135 +Olympus, bearing in thy bosom grief +Never to be assuaged, as well I know. +Yet shalt thou learn, afflicted as thou art, +Why I have summon’d thee. Nine days the Gods, +Concerning Hector’s body and thy own140 +Brave city-spoiler son, have held dispute, +And some have urged ofttimes the Argicide +Keen-sighted Mercury, to steal the dead. +But I forbade it for Achilles’ sake, +Whom I exalt, the better to insure145 +Thy reverence and thy friendship evermore. +Haste, therefore, seek thy son, and tell him thus, +The Gods resent it, say (but most of all +Myself am angry) that he still detains +Amid his fleet, through fury of revenge,150 +Unransom’d Hector; so shall he, at length, +Through fear of me, perchance, release the slain. +Myself to generous Priam will, the while, +Send Iris, who shall bid him to the fleet +Of Greece, such ransom bearing as may soothe155 +Achilles, for redemption of his son. + So spake the God, nor Thetis not complied. +Descending swift from the Olympian heights +She reach’d Achilles’ tent. Him there she found +Groaning disconsolate, while others ran160 +To and fro, occupied around a sheep +New-slaughter’d, large, and of exuberant fleece. +She, sitting close beside him, softly strok’d +His cheek, and thus, affectionate, began. + How long, my son! sorrowing and mourning here,165 +Wilt thou consume thy soul, nor give one thought +Either to food or love? Yet love is good, +And woman grief’s best cure; for length of days +Is not thy doom, but, even now, thy death +And ruthless destiny are on the wing.170 +Mark me,—I come a lieger sent from Jove. +The Gods, he saith, resent it, but himself +More deeply than the rest, that thou detain’st +Amid thy fleet, through fury of revenge, +Unransom’d Hector. Be advised, accept175 +Ransom, and to his friends resign the dead. + To whom Achilles, swiftest of the swift. +Come then the ransomer, and take him hence; +If Jove himself command it,—be it so. + So they, among the ships, conferring sat180 +On various themes, the Goddess and her son; +Meantime Saturnian Jove commanded down +His swift ambassadress to sacred Troy. + Hence, rapid Iris! leave the Olympian heights. +And, finding noble Priam, bid him haste185 +Into Achaia’s fleet, bearing such gifts +As may assuage Achilles, and prevail +To liberate the body of his son. +Alone, he must; no Trojan of them all +May company the senior thither, save190 +An ancient herald to direct his mules +And his wheel’d litter, and to bring the dead +Back into Ilium, whom Achilles slew. +Let neither fear of death nor other fear +Trouble him aught, so safe a guard and sure195 +We give him; Mercury shall be his guide +Into Achilles’ presence in his tent. +Nor will himself Achilles slay him there, +Or even permit his death, but will forbid +All violence; for he is not unwise200 +Nor heedless, no—nor wilful to offend, +But will his suppliant with much grace receive.[5] + + He ceased; then Iris tempest-wing’d arose, +Jove’s messenger, and, at the gates arrived +Of Priam, wo and wailing found within.205 +Around their father, in the hall, his sons +Their robes with tears water’d, while them amidst +The hoary King sat mantled, muffled close, +And on his venerable head and neck +Much dust was spread, which, rolling on the earth,210 +He had shower’d on them with unsparing hands. +The palace echoed to his daughters’ cries, +And to the cries of matrons calling fresh +Into remembrance many a valiant chief +Now stretch’d in dust, by Argive hands destroy’d.215 +The messenger of Jove at Priam’s side +Standing, with whisper’d accents low his ear +Saluted, but he trembled at the sound. + Courage, Dardanian Priam! fear thou nought; +To thee no prophetess of ill, I come;220 +But with kind purpose: Jove’s ambassadress +Am I, who though remote, yet entertains +Much pity, and much tender care for thee. +Olympian Jove commands thee to redeem +The noble Hector, with an offering large225 +Of gifts that may Achilles’ wrath appease. +Alone, thou must; no Trojan of them all +Hath leave to attend thy journey thither, save +An ancient herald to direct thy mules +And thy wheel’d litter, and to bring the dead230 +Back into Ilium, whom Achilles slew. +Let neither fear of death nor other fear +Trouble thee aught, so safe a guard and sure +He gives thee; Mercury shall be thy guide +Even to Achilles’ presence in his tent.235 +Nor will himself Achilles slay thee there, +Or even permit thy death, but will forbid +All violence; for he is not unwise +Nor heedless, no—nor wilful to offend, +But will his suppliant with much grace receive.240 + + So spake the swift ambassadress, and went. +Then, calling to his sons, he bade them bring +His litter forth, and bind the coffer on, +While to his fragrant chamber he repair’d +Himself, with cedar lined and lofty-roof’d,245 +A treasury of wonders into which +The Queen he summon’d, whom he thus bespake. + Hecuba! the ambassadress of Jove +Hath come, who bids me to the Grecian fleet, +Bearing such presents thither as may soothe250 +Achilles, for redemption of my son. +But say, what seems this enterprise to thee? +Myself am much inclined to it, I feel +My courage prompting me amain toward +The fleet, and into the Achaian camp.255 + Then wept the Queen aloud, and thus replied. +Ah! whither is thy wisdom fled, for which +Both strangers once, and Trojans honor’d _thee_? +How canst thou wish to penetrate alone +The Grecian fleet, and to appear before260 +His face, by whom so many valiant sons +Of thine have fallen? Thou hast an iron heart! +For should that savage man and faithless once +Seize and discover thee, no pity expect +Or reverence at his hands. Come—let us weep265 +Together, here sequester’d; for the thread +Spun for him by his destiny severe +When he was born, ordain’d our son remote +From us his parents to be food for hounds +In that chief’s tent. Oh! clinging to his side,270 +How I could tear him with my teeth! His deeds, +Disgraceful to my son, then should not want +Retaliation; for he slew not him +Skulking, but standing boldly for the wives, +The daughters fair, and citizens of Troy,275 +Guiltless of flight,[6] and of the wish to fly. + + Whom godlike Priam answer’d, ancient King. +Impede me not who willing am to go, +Nor be, thyself, a bird of ominous note +To terrify me under my own roof,280 +For thou shalt not prevail. Had mortal man +Enjoin’d me this attempt, prophet, or priest, +Or soothsayer, I had pronounced him false +And fear’d it but the more. But, since I saw +The Goddess with these eyes, and heard, myself,285 +The voice divine, I go; that word shall stand; +And, if my doom be in the fleet of Greece +To perish, be it so; Achilles’ arm +Shall give me speedy death, and I shall die +Folding my son, and satisfied with tears.290 + So saying, he open’d wide the elegant lids +Of numerous chests, whence mantles twelve he took +Of texture beautiful; twelve single cloaks; +As many carpets, with as many robes, +To which he added vests, an equal store.295 +He also took ten talents forth of gold, +All weigh’d, two splendid tripods, caldrons four, +And after these a cup of matchless worth +Given to him when ambassador in Thrace; +A noble gift, which yet the hoary King300 +Spared not, such fervor of desire he felt +To loose his son. Then from his portico, +With angry taunts he drove the gather’d crowds. + Away! away! ye dregs of earth, away! +Ye shame of human kind! Have ye no griefs305 +At home, that ye come hither troubling _me_? +Deem ye it little that Saturnian Jove +Afflicts me thus, and of my very best, +Best boy deprives me? Ah! ye shall be taught +Yourselves that loss, far easier to be slain310 +By the Achaians now, since he is dead. +But I, ere yet the city I behold +Taken and pillaged, with these aged eyes, +Shall find safe hiding in the shades below. + + He said, and chased them with his staff; they left315 +In haste the doors, by the old King expell’d. +Then, chiding them aloud, his sons he call’d, +Helenus, Paris, noble Agathon, +Pammon, Antiphonus, and bold in fight +Polites, Dios of illustrious fame,320 +Hippothoüs and Deiphobus—all nine +He call’d, thus issuing, angry, his commands. + Quick! quick! ye slothful in your father’s cause, +Ye worthless brood! would that in Hector’s stead +Ye all had perish’d in the fleet of Greece!325 +Oh altogether wretched! in all Troy +No man had sons to boast valiant as mine, +And I have lost them all. Mestor is gone +The godlike, Troilus the steed-renown’d, +And Hector, who with other men compared330 +Seem’d a Divinity, whom none had deem’d +From mortal man derived, but from a God. +These Mars hath taken, and hath left me none +But scandals of my house, void of all truth, +Dancers, exact step-measurers,[7] a band335 +Of public robbers, thieves of kids and lambs. +Will ye not bring my litter to the gate +This moment, and with all this package quick +Charge it, that we may hence without delay? + He said, and by his chiding awed, his sons340 +Drew forth the royal litter, neat, new-built, +And following swift the draught, on which they bound +The coffer; next, they lower’d from the wall +The sculptured boxen yoke with its two rings;[8] +And with the yoke its furniture, in length345 +Nine cubits; this to the extremest end +Adjusting of the pole, they cast the ring +Over the ring-bolt; then, thrice through the yoke +They drew the brace on both sides, made it fast +With even knots, and tuck’d[9] the dangling ends.350 +Producing, next, the glorious ransom-price +Of Hector’s body, on the litter’s floor +They heap’d it all, then yoked the sturdy mules, +A gift illustrious by the Mysians erst +Conferr’d on Priam; to the chariot, last,355 +They led forth Priam’s steeds, which the old King +(In person serving them) with freshest corn +Constant supplied; meantime, himself within +The palace, and his herald, were employ’d +Girding[10] themselves, to go; wise each and good.360 +And now came mournful Hecuba, with wine +Delicious charged, which in a golden cup +She brought, that not without libation due +First made, they might depart. Before the steeds +Her steps she stay’d, and Priam thus address’d.365 + Take this, and to the Sire of all perform +Libation, praying him a safe return +From hostile hands, since thou art urged to seek +The Grecian camp, though not by my desire. +Pray also to Idæan Jove cloud-girt,370 +Who oversees all Ilium, that he send +His messenger or ere thou go, the bird +His favorite most, surpassing all in strength, +At thy right hand; him seeing, thou shalt tend +With better hope toward the fleet of Greece.375 +But should loud-thundering Jove his lieger swift +Withhold, from me far be it to advise +This journey, howsoe’er thou wish to go. + To whom the godlike Priam thus replied. +This exhortation will I not refuse,380 +O Queen! for, lifting to the Gods his hands +In prayer for their compassion, none can err. + So saying, he bade the maiden o’er the rest, +Chief in authority, pour on his hands +Pure water, for the maiden at his side385 +With ewer charged and laver, stood prepared. +He laved his hands; then, taking from the Queen +The goblet, in his middle area stood +Pouring libation with his eyes upturn’d +Heaven-ward devout, and thus his prayer preferr’d.390 + Jove, great and glorious above all, who rulest, +On Ida’s summit seated, all below! +Grant me arrived within Achilles’ tent +Kindness to meet and pity, and oh send +Thy messenger or ere I go, the bird395 +Thy favorite most, surpassing all in strength, +At my right hand, which seeing, I shall tend +With better hope toward the fleet of Greece. + He ended, at whose prayer, incontinent, +Jove sent his eagle, surest of all signs,400 +The black-plumed bird voracious, Morphnos[11] named, +And Percnos.[11] Wide as the well-guarded door +Of some rich potentate his vans he spread +On either side; they saw him on the right, +Skimming the towers of Troy; glad they beheld405 +That omen, and all felt their hearts consoled. + Delay’d not then the hoary King, but quick +Ascending to his seat, his coursers urged +Through vestibule and sounding porch abroad. +The four-wheel’d litter led, drawn by the mules410 +Which sage Idæus managed, behind whom +Went Priam, plying with the scourge his steeds +Continual through the town, while all his friends, +Following their sovereign with dejected hearts, +Lamented him as going to his death.415 +But when from Ilium’s gate into the plain +They had descended, then the sons-in-law +Of Priam, and his sons, to Troy return’d. +Nor they, now traversing the plain, the note +Escaped of Jove the Thunderer; he beheld420 +Compassionate the venerable King, +And thus his own son Mercury bespake. + Mercury! (for above all others thou +Delightest to associate with mankind +Familiar, whom thou wilt winning with ease425 +To converse free) go thou, and so conduct +Priam into the Grecian camp, that none +Of all the numerous Danaï may see +Or mark him, till he reach Achilles’ tent. + He spake, nor the ambassador of heaven430 +The Argicide delay’d, but bound in haste +His undecaying sandals to his feet, +Golden, divine, which waft him o’er the floods +Swift as the wind, and o’er the boundless earth. +He took his rod with which he charms to sleep435 +All eyes, and theirs who sleep opens again. +Arm’d with that rod, forth flew the Argicide. +At Ilium and the Hellespontic shores +Arriving sudden, a king’s son he seem’d, +Now clothing first his ruddy cheek with down,440 +Which is youth’s loveliest season; so disguised, +His progress he began. They now (the tomb +Magnificent of Ilus past) beside +The river stay’d the mules and steeds to drink, +For twilight dimm’d the fields. Idæus first445 +Perceived him near, and Priam thus bespake. + Think, son of Dardanus! for we have need +Of our best thought. I see a warrior. Now, +Now we shall die; I know it. Turn we quick +Our steeds to flight; or let us clasp his knees450 +And his compassion suppliant essay. + Terror and consternation at that sound +The mind of Priam felt; erect the hair +Bristled his limbs, and with amaze he stood +Motionless. But the God, meantime, approach’d,455 +And, seizing ancient Priam’s hand, inquired. + Whither, my father! in the dewy night +Drivest thou thy mules and steeds, while others sleep? +And fear’st thou not the fiery host of Greece, +Thy foes implacable, so nigh at hand?460 +Of whom should any, through the shadow dun +Of flitting night, discern thee bearing forth +So rich a charge, then what wouldst thou expect? +Thou art not young thyself, nor with the aid +Of this thine ancient servant, strong enough465 +Force to repulse, should any threaten force. +But injury fear none or harm from me; +I rather much from harm by other hands +Would save thee, thou resemblest so my sire. + Whom answer’d godlike Priam, hoar with age.470 +My son! well spoken. Thou hast judged aright. +Yet even me some Deity protects +Thus far; to whom I owe it that I meet +So seasonably one like thee, in form +So admirable, and in mind discreet475 +As thou art beautiful. Blest parents, thine! + To whom the messenger of heaven again, +The Argicide. Oh ancient and revered! +Thou hast well spoken all. Yet this declare, +And with sincerity; bear’st thou away480 +Into some foreign country, for the sake +Of safer custody, this precious charge? +Or, urged by fear, forsake ye all alike +Troy’s sacred towers! since he whom thou hast lost, +Thy noble son, was of excelling worth485 +In arms, and nought inferior to the Greeks. + Then thus the godlike Priam, hoary King. +But tell me first who _Thou_ art, and from whom +Descended, loveliest youth! who hast the fate +So well of my unhappy son rehearsed?490 + To whom the herald Mercury replied. +Thy questions, venerable sire! proposed +Concerning noble Hector, are design’d +To prove me. Him, not seldom, with these eyes +In man-ennobling fight I have beheld495 +Most active; saw him when he thinn’d the Greeks +With his sharp spear, and drove them to the ships. +Amazed we stood to notice him; for us, +Incensed against the ruler of our host, +Achilles suffer’d not to share the fight.500 +I serve Achilles; the same gallant bark +Brought us, and of the Myrmidons am I, +Son of Polyctor; wealthy is my sire, +And such in years as thou; six sons he hath, +Beside myself the seventh, and (the lots cast505 +Among us all) mine sent me to the wars. +That I have left the ships, seeking the plain, +The cause is this; the Greeks, at break of day, +Will compass, arm’d, the city, for they loathe +To sit inactive, neither can the chiefs510 +Restrain the hot impatience of the host. + Then godlike Priam answer thus return’d. +If of the band thou be of Peleus’ son, +Achilles, tell me undisguised the truth. +My son, subsists he still, or hath thy chief515 +Limb after limb given him to his dogs? + Him answer’d then the herald of the skies. +Oh venerable sir! him neither dogs +Have eaten yet, nor fowls, but at the ships +His body, and within Achilles’ tent520 +Neglected lies. Twelve days he so hath lain; +Yet neither worm which diets on the brave +In battle fallen, hath eaten him, or taint +Invaded. He around Patroclus’ tomb +Drags him indeed pitiless, oft as day525 +Reddens the east, yet safe from blemish still +His corse remains. Thou wouldst, thyself, admire +Seeing how fresh the dew-drops, as he lies, +Rest on him, and his blood is cleansed away +That not a stain is left. Even his wounds530 +(For many a wound they gave him) all are closed, +Such care the blessed Gods have of thy son, +Dead as he is, whom living much they loved. + So he; then, glad, the ancient King replied. +Good is it, oh my son! to yield the Gods535 +Their just demands. My boy, while yet he lived, +Lived not unmindful of the worship due +To the Olympian powers, who, therefore, him +Remember, even in the bands of death. +Come then—this beauteous cup take at my hand—540 +Be thou my guard, and, if the Gods permit, +My guide, till to Achilles’ tent I come. + Whom answer’d then the messenger of heaven. +Sir! thou perceivest me young, and art disposed +To try my virtue; but it shall not fail.545 +Thou bidd’st me at thine hand a gift accept, +Whereof Achilles knows not; but I fear +Achilles, and on no account should dare +Defraud him, lest some evil find me next. +But thee I would with pleasure hence conduct550 +Even to glorious Argos, over sea +Or over land, nor any, through contempt +Of such a guard, should dare to do thee wrong. + So Mercury, and to the chariot seat +Upspringing, seized at once the lash and reins,555 +And with fresh vigor mules and steeds inspired. +Arriving at the foss and towers, they found +The guard preparing now their evening cheer, +All whom the Argicide with sudden sleep +Oppress’d, then oped the gates, thrust back the bars,560 +And introduced, with all his litter-load +Of costly gifts, the venerable King. +But when they reached the tent for Peleus’ son +Raised by the Myrmidons (with trunks of pine +They built it, lopping smooth the boughs away,555 +Then spread with shaggy mowings of the mead +Its lofty roof, and with a spacious court +Surrounded it, all fenced with driven stakes; +One bar alone of pine secured the door, +Which ask’d three Grecians with united force570 +To thrust it to its place, and three again +To thrust it back, although Achilles oft +Would heave it to the door himself alone;) +Then Hermes, benefactor of mankind, +That bar displacing for the King of Troy,575 +Gave entrance to himself and to his gifts +For Peleus’ son design’d, and from the seat +Alighting, thus his speech to Priam turn’d. + Oh ancient Priam! an immortal God +Attends thee; I am Hermes, by command580 +Of Jove my father thy appointed guide. +But I return. I will not, entering here, +Stand in Achilles’ sight; immortal Powers +May not so unreservedly indulge +Creatures of mortal kind. But enter thou,585 +Embrace his knees, and by his father both +And by his Goddess mother sue to him, +And by his son, that his whole heart may melt. + So Hermes spake, and to the skies again +Ascended. Then leap’d Priam to the ground,590 +Leaving Idæus; he, the mules and steeds +Watch’d, while the ancient King into the tent +Proceeded of Achilles dear to Jove. +Him there he found, and sitting found apart +His fellow-warriors, of whom two alone595 +Served at his side, Alcimus, branch of Mars +And brave Automedon; he had himself +Supp’d newly, and the board stood unremoved. +Unseen of all huge Priam enter’d, stood +Near to Achilles, clasp’d his knees, and kiss’d600 +Those terrible and homicidal hands +That had destroy’d so many of his sons. +As when a fugitive for blood the house +Of some chief enters in a foreign land, +All gaze, astonish’d at the sudden guest,605 +So gazed Achilles seeing Priam there, +And so stood all astonish’d, each his eyes +In silence fastening on his fellow’s face. +But Priam kneel’d, and suppliant thus began. + Think, oh Achilles, semblance of the Gods!610 +On thy own father full of days like me, +And trembling on the gloomy verge of life.[12] +Some neighbor chief, it may be, even now +Oppresses him, and there is none at hand, +No friend to suocor him in his distress.615 +Yet, doubtless, hearing that Achilles lives, +He still rejoices, hoping, day by day, +That one day he shall see the face again +Of his own son from distant Troy return’d. +But me no comfort cheers, whose bravest sons,620 +So late the flower of Ilium, all are slain. +When Greece came hither, I had fifty sons; +Nineteen were children of one bed, the rest +Born of my concubines. A numerous house! +But fiery Mars hath thinn’d it. One I had,625 +One, more than all my sons the strength of Troy, +Whom standing for his country thou hast slain— +Hector—his body to redeem I come +Into Achaia’s fleet, bringing, myself, +Ransom inestimable to thy tent.630 +Reverence the Gods, Achilles! recollect +Thy father; for his sake compassion show +To me more pitiable still, who draw +Home to my lips (humiliation yet +Unseen on earth) his hand who slew my son.635 + So saying, he waken’d in his soul regret +Of his own sire; softly he placed his hand +On Priam’s hand, and push’d him gently away. +Remembrance melted both. Rolling before +Achilles’ feet, Priam his son deplored640 +Wide-slaughtering Hector, and Achilles wept +By turns his father, and by turns his friend +Patroclus; sounds of sorrow fill’d the tent. +But when, at length satiate, Achilles felt +His heart from grief, and all his frame relieved,645 +Upstarting from his seat, with pity moved +Of Priam’s silver locks and silver beard, +He raised the ancient father by his hand, +Whom in wing’d accents kind he thus bespake. + Wretched indeed! ah what must thou have felt!650 +How hast thou dared to seek alone the fleet +Of the Achaians, and his face by whom +So many of thy valiant sons have fallen? +Thou hast a heart of iron, terror-proof. +Come—sit beside me—let us, if we may,665 +Great mourners both, bid sorrow sleep awhile. +There is no profit of our sighs and tears; +For thus, exempt from care themselves, the Gods +Ordain man’s miserable race to mourn. +Fast by the threshold of Jove’s courts are placed660 +Two casks, one stored with evil, one with good, +From which the God dispenses as he wills. +For whom the glorious Thunderer mingles both, +He leads a life checker’d with good and ill +Alternate; but to whom he gives unmixt665 +The bitter cup, he makes that man a curse, +His name becomes a by-word of reproach, +His strength is hunger-bitten, and he walks +The blessed earth, unblest, go where he may. +So was my father Peleus at his birth670 +Nobly endow’d with plenty and with wealth +Distinguish’d by the Gods past all mankind, +Lord of the Myrmidons, and, though a man, +Yet match’d from heaven with an immortal bride. +But even him the Gods afflict, a son675 +Refusing him, who might possess his throne +Hereafter; for myself, his only heir, +Pass as a dream, and while I live, instead +Of solacing his age, here sit, before +Your distant walls, the scourge of thee and thine.680 +Thee also, ancient Priam, we have heard +Reported, once possessor of such wealth +As neither Lesbos, seat of Macar, owns, +Nor eastern Phrygia, nor yet all the ports +Of Hellespont, but thou didst pass them all685 +In riches, and in number of thy sons. +But since the Powers of heaven brought on thy land +This fatal war, battle and deeds of death +Always surround the city where thou reign’st. +Cease, therefore, from unprofitable tears,690 +Which, ere they raise thy son to life again +Shall, doubtless, find fresh cause for which to flow. + To whom the ancient King godlike replied. +Hero, forbear. No seat is here for me, +While Hector lies unburied in your camp.695 +Loose him, and loose him now, that with these eyes +I may behold my son; accept a price +Magnificent, which may’st thou long enjoy, +And, since my life was precious in thy sight, +May’st thou revisit safe thy native shore!700 + To whom Achilles, lowering, and in wrath.[13] +Urge me no longer, at a time like this, +With that harsh note; I am already inclin’d +To loose him. Thetis, my own mother came +Herself on that same errand, sent from Jove.705 +Priam! I understand thee well. I know +That, by some God conducted, thou hast reach’d +Achaia’s fleet; for, without aid divine, +No mortal even in his prime of youth, +Had dared the attempt; guards vigilant as ours710 +He should not easily elude, such gates, +So massy, should not easily unbar. +Thou, therefore, vex me not in my distress, +Lest I abhor to see thee in my tent, +And, borne beyond all limits, set at nought715 +Thee, and thy prayer, and the command of Jove. + He said; the old King trembled, and obey’d. +Then sprang Pelides like a lion forth, +Not sole, but with his two attendant friends +Alcimus and Automedon the brave,720 +For them (Patroclus slain) he honor’d most +Of all the Myrmidons. They from the yoke +Released both steeds and mules, then introduced +And placed the herald of the hoary King. +They lighten’d next the litter of its charge725 +Inestimable, leaving yet behind +Two mantles and a vest, that, not unveil’d, +The body might be borne back into Troy. +Then, calling forth his women, them he bade +Lave and anoint the body, but apart,730 +Lest haply Priam, noticing his son, +Through stress of grief should give resentment scope, +And irritate by some affront himself +To slay him, in despite of Jove’s commands.[14] +They, therefore, laving and anointing first735 +The body, cover’d it with cloak and vest; +Then, Peleus’ son disposed it on the bier, +Lifting it from the ground, and his two friends +Together heaved it to the royal wain. +Achilles, last, groaning, his friend invoked.740 + + Patroclus! should the tidings reach thine ear, +Although in Ades, that I have released +The noble Hector at his father’s suit, +Resent it not; no sordid gifts have paid +His ransom-price, which thou shalt also share.745 + So saying, Achilles to his tent return’d, +And on the splendid couch whence he had risen +Again reclined, opposite to the seat +Of Priam, whom the hero thus bespake. + Priam! at thy request thy son is loosed,750 +And lying on his bier; at dawn of day +Thou shalt both see him and convey him hence +Thyself to Troy. But take we now repast; +For even bright-hair’d Niobe her food +Forgat not, though of children twelve bereft,755 +Of daughters six, and of six blooming sons. +Apollo these struck from his silver bow, +And those shaft-arm’d Diana, both incensed +That oft Latona’s children and her own +Numbering, she scorn’d the Goddess who had borne760 +Two only, while herself had twelve to boast. +Vain boast! those two sufficed to slay them all. +Nine days they welter’d in their blood, no man +Was found to bury them, for Jove had changed +To stone the people; but themselves, at last,765 +The Powers of heaven entomb’d them on the tenth. +Yet even she, once satisfied with tears, +Remember’d food; and now the rocks among +And pathless solitudes of Sipylus, +The rumor’d cradle of the nymphs who dance770 +On Acheloüs’ banks, although to stone +Transform’d, she broods her heaven-inflicted woes. +Come, then, my venerable guest! take we +Refreshment also; once arrived in Troy +With thy dear son, thou shalt have time to weep775 +Sufficient, nor without most weighty cause. + So spake Achilles, and, upstarting, slew +A sheep white-fleeced, which his attendants flay’d, +And busily and with much skill their task +Administ’ring, first scored the viands well,780 +Then pierced them with the spits, and when the roast +Was finish’d, drew them from the spits again. +And now, Automedon dispensed around +The polish’d board bread in neat baskets piled, +Which done, Achilles portion’d out to each785 +His share, and all assail’d the ready feast. +But when nor hunger more nor thirst they felt, +Dardanian Priam, wond’ring at his bulk +And beauty (for he seem’d some God from heaven) +Gazed on Achilles, while Achilles held790 +Not less in admiration of his looks +Benign, and of his gentle converse wise, +Gazed on Dardanian Priam, and, at length +(The eyes of each gratified to the full) +The ancient King thus to Achilles spake.795 + Hero! dismiss us now each to our bed, +That there at ease reclined, we may enjoy +Sweet sleep; for never have these eyelids closed +Since Hector fell and died, but without cease +I mourn, and nourishing unnumber’d woes,800 +Have roll’d me in the ashes of my courts. +But I have now both tasted food, and given +Wine to my lips, untasted till with thee. + So he, and at his word Achilles bade +His train beneath his portico prepare805 +With all dispatch two couches, purple rugs, +And arras, and warm mantles over all. +Forth went the women bearing lights, and spread +A couch for each, when feigning needful fear,[15] +Achilles thus his speech to Priam turn’d.810 + My aged guest beloved; sleep thou without; +Lest some Achaian chief (for such are wont +Ofttimes, here sitting, to consult with me) +Hither repair; of whom should any chance +To spy thee through the gloom, he would at once815 +Convey the tale to Agamemnon’s ear, +Whence hindrance might arise, and the release +Haply of Hector’s body be delay’d. +But answer me with truth. How many days +Wouldst thou assign to the funereal rites820 +Of noble Hector, for so long I mean +Myself to rest, and keep the host at home? + Then thus the ancient King godlike replied. +If thou indeed be willing that we give +Burial to noble Hector, by an act825 +So generous, O Achilles! me thou shalt +Much gratify; for we are shut, thou know’st, +In Ilium close, and fuel must procure +From Ida’s side remote; fear, too, hath seized +On all our people. Therefore thus I say.830 +Nine days we wish to mourn him in the house; +To his interment we would give the tenth, +And to the public banquet; the eleventh +Shall see us build his tomb; and on the twelfth +(If war we must) we will to war again.835 + To whom Achilles, matchless in the race. +So be it, ancient Priam! I will curb +Twelve days the rage of war, at thy desire.[16] + He spake, and at his wrist the right hand grasp’d +Of the old sovereign, to dispel his fear.840 +Then in the vestibule the herald slept +And Priam, prudent both, but Peleus’ son +In the interior tent, and at his side +Brisëis, with transcendent beauty adorn’d. + + Now all, all night, by gentle sleep subdued,845 +Both Gods and chariot-ruling warriors lay, +But not the benefactor of mankind, +Hermes; him sleep seized not, but deep he mused +How likeliest from amid the Grecian fleet +He might deliver by the guard unseen850 +The King of Ilium; at his head he stood +In vision, and the senior thus bespake. + Ah heedless and secure! hast thou no dread +Of mischief, ancient King, that thus by foes +Thou sleep’st surrounded, lull’d by the consent855 +And sufferance of Achilles? Thou hast given +Much for redemption of thy darling son, +But thrice that sum thy sons who still survive +Must give to Agamemnon and the Greeks +For _thy_ redemption, should they know thee here.860 + He ended; at the sound alarm’d upsprang +The King, and roused his herald. Hermes yoked +Himself both mules and steeds, and through the camp +Drove them incontinent, by all unseen. + Soon as the windings of the stream they reach’d,865 +Deep-eddied Xanthus, progeny of Jove, +Mercury the Olympian summit sought, +And saffron-vested morn o’erspread the earth. +They, loud lamenting, to the city drove +Their steeds; the mules close follow’d with the dead.870 +Nor warrior yet, nor cinctured matron knew +Of all in Ilium aught of their approach, +Cassandra sole except. She, beautiful +As golden Venus, mounted on the height +Of Pergamus, her father first discern’d,875 +Borne on his chariot-seat erect, and knew: +The herald heard so oft in echoing Troy; +Him also on his bier outstretch’d she mark’d, +Whom the mules drew. Then, shrieking, through the streets +She ran of Troy, and loud proclaim’d the sight.880 +Ye sons of Ilium and ye daughters, haste, +Haste all to look on Hector, if ye e’er +With joy beheld him, while he yet survived, +From fight returning; for all Ilium erst +In him, and all her citizens rejoiced.885 + She spake. Then neither male nor female more +In Troy remain’d, such sorrow seized on all. +Issuing from the city-gate, they met +Priam conducting, sad, the body home, +And, foremost of them all, the mother flew890 +And wife of Hector to the bier, on which +Their torn-off tresses with unsparing hands +They shower’d, while all the people wept around. +All day, and to the going down of day +They thus had mourn’d the dead before the gates,895 +Had not their Sovereign from his chariot-seat +Thus spoken to the multitude around. + Fall back on either side, and let the mules +Pass on; the body in my palace once +Deposited, ye then may weep your fill.900 + He said; they, opening, gave the litter way. +Arrived within the royal house, they stretch’d +The breathless Hector on a sumptuous bed, +And singers placed beside him, who should chant +The strain funereal; they with many a groan905 +The dirge began, and still, at every close, +The female train with many a groan replied. +Then, in the midst, Andromache white-arm’d +Between her palms the dreadful Hector’s head +Pressing, her lamentation thus began.910 + [17]My hero! thou hast fallen in prime of life, +Me leaving here desolate, and the fruit +Of our ill-fated loves, a helpless child, +Whom grown to manhood I despair to see. +For ere that day arrive, down from her height915 +Precipitated shall this city fall, +Since thou hast perish’d once her sure defence, +Faithful protector of her spotless wives, +And all their little ones. Those wives shall soon +In Grecian barks capacious hence be borne,920 +And I among the rest. But thee, my child! +Either thy fate shall with thy mother send +Captive into a land where thou shalt serve +In sordid drudgery some cruel lord, +Or haply some Achaian here, thy hand925 +Seizing, shall hurl thee from a turret-top +To a sad death, avenging brother, son, +Or father by the hands of Hector slain; +For he made many a Grecian bite the ground. +Thy father, boy, bore never into fight930 +A milky mind, and for that self-same cause +Is now bewail’d in every house of Troy. +Sorrow unutterable thou hast caused +Thy parents, Hector! but to me hast left +Largest bequest of misery, to whom,935 +Dying, thou neither didst thy arms extend +Forth from thy bed, nor gavest me precious word +To be remember’d day and night with tears. + So spake she weeping, whom her maidens all +With sighs accompanied, and her complaint940 +Mingled with sobs Hecuba next began. + Ah Hector! dearest to thy mother’s heart +Of all her sons, much must the Gods have loved +Thee living, whom, though dead, they thus preserve. +What son soever of our house beside945 +Achilles took, over the barren deep +To Samos, Imbrus, or to Lemnos girt +With rocks inhospitable, him he sold; +But thee, by his dread spear of life deprived, +He dragg’d and dragg’d around Patroclus’ tomb,950 +As if to raise again his friend to life +Whom thou hadst vanquish’d; yet he raised him not. +But as for thee, thou liest here with dew +Besprinkled, fresh as a young plant,[18] and more +Resemblest some fair youth by gentle shafts955 +Of Phœbus pierced, than one in battle slain. + So spake the Queen, exciting in all hearts +Sorrow immeasurable, after whom +Thus Helen, third, her lamentation pour’d. + [19]Ah dearer far than all my brothers else960 +Of Priam’s house! for being Paris’ spouse, +Who brought me (would I had first died!) to Troy, +I call thy brothers mine; since forth I came +From Sparta, it is now the twentieth year, +Yet never heard I once hard speech from thee,965 +Or taunt morose, but if it ever chanced, +That of thy father’s house female or male +Blamed me, and even if herself the Queen +(For in the King, whate’er befell, I found +Always a father) thou hast interposed970 +Thy gentle temper and thy gentle speech +To soothe them; therefore, with the same sad drops +Thy fate, oh Hector! and my own I weep; +For other friend within the ample bounds +Of Ilium have I none, nor hope to hear975 +Kind word again, with horror view’d by all. + So Helen spake weeping, to whom with groans +The countless multitude replied, and thus +Their ancient sovereign next his people charged. + Ye Trojans, now bring fuel home, nor fear980 +Close ambush of the Greeks; Achilles’ self +Gave me, at my dismission from his fleet, +Assurance, that from hostile force secure +We shall remain, till the twelfth dawn arise. + All, then, their mules and oxen to the wains985 +Join’d speedily, and under Ilium’s walls +Assembled numerous; nine whole days they toil’d, +Bringing much fuel home, and when the tenth +Bright morn, with light for human kind, arose, +Then bearing noble Hector forth, with tears990 +Shed copious, on the summit of the pile +They placed him, and the fuel fired beneath. + But when Aurora, daughter of the Dawn, +Redden’d the east, then, thronging forth, all Troy +Encompass’d noble Hector’s pile around.995 +The whole vast multitude convened, with wine +They quench’d the pile throughout, leaving no part +Unvisited, on which the fire had seized. +His brothers, next, collected, and his friends, +His white bones, mourning, and with tears profuse1000 +Watering their cheeks; then in a golden urn +They placed them, which with mantles soft they veil’d +Mæonian-hued, and, delving, buried it, +And overspread with stones the spot adust. +Lastly, short time allowing to the task,1005 +They heap’d his tomb, while, posted on all sides, +Suspicious of assault, spies watch’d the Greeks. +The tomb once heap’d, assembling all again +Within the palace, they a banquet shared +Magnificent, by godlike Priam given.1010 + +Such burial the illustrious Hector found.[20] + + +[I cannot take my leave of this noble poem, without expressing how much +I am struck with this plain conclusion of it. It is like the exit of a +great man out of company whom he has entertained magnificently; neither +pompous nor familiar; not contemptuous, yet without much ceremony. I +recollect nothing, among the works of mere man, that exemplifies so +strongly the true style of great antiquity.]—Tr. + + + + +FOOTNOTES + + + + +Footnotes for Book I: + + +“Latona’s son and Jove’s,” was Apollo, the tutelary deity of the +Dorians. The Dorians had not, however, at this early age, become the +predominant race in Greece proper. They had spread along the eastern +shores of the Archipelago into the islands, especially Crete, and had +every where signalized themselves by the Temples of Apollo, of which +there seems to have been many in and about Troy. These temples were +schools of art, and prove the Dorians to have been both intellectual +and powerful. Homer was an Ionian, and therefore not deeply acquainted +with the nature of the Dorian god. But to a mind like his, the god of a +people so cultivated, and associated with what was most grand in art, +must have been an imposing being, and we find him so represented. +Throughout the Iliad, he appears and acts with splendor and effect, but +always against the Greeks from mere partiality to Hector. It would +perhaps be too much to say, that in this partiality to Hector, we +detect the spirit of the Dorian worship, the only Paganism of antiquity +that tended to perfect the individual—Apollo being the expression of +the moral harmony of the universe, and the great spirit of the Dorian +culture being to make a perfect man, an incarnation of the +κοσμος. This Homer could only have known intuitively. + +In making Apollo author of the plague, he was confounded with Helios, +which was frequent afterwards, but is not seen elsewhere in Homer. The +arrows of Apollo were “silent as light,” and their emblem the sun’s +rays. The analogies are multitudinous between the natural and +intellectual sun; but Helios and Apollo were two.—E.P.P. + +There is something exceedingly venerable in this appearance of the +priest. He comes with the ensigns of the gods to whom he belongs, with +the laurel wreath, to show that he was a suppliant, and a golden +sceptre, which the ancients gave in particular to Apollo, as they did +one of silver to Diana. + +The art of this speech is remarkable. Chryses considers the army of +Greeks, as made up of troops, partly from the kingdoms and partly from +democracies, and therefore begins with a distinction that includes all. +Then, as priest of Apollo, he prays that they may obtain the two +blessings they most desire—the conquest of Troy and a safe return. As +he names his petition, he offers an extraordinary ransom, and concludes +with bidding them fear the god if they refuse it; like one who from his +office seems to foretell their misery, and exhorts them to shun it. +Thus he endeavors to work by the art of a general application, by +religion, by interest, and the insinuation of danger. + +Homer is frequently eloquent in his silence. Chryses says not a word in +answer to the insults of Agamemnon, but walks pensively along the +shore. The melancholy flowing of the verse admirably expresses the +condition of the mournful and deserted father. + +[So called on account of his having saved the people of Troas from a +plague of mice, _sminthos_ in their language meaning a mouse.—Tr.] + +Apollo had temples at Chrysa, Tenedos, and Cilla, all of which lay +round the bay of Troas. Müller remarks, that “the temple actually stood +in the situation referred to, and that the appellation of Smintheus was +still preserved in the district. Thus far actual circumstances are +embodied in the mythus. On the other hand, the action of the deity as +such, is purely ideal, and can have no other foundation than the belief +that Apollo sternly resents ill usage of his priests, and that too in +the way here represented, viz., by sending plagues. This belief is in +perfect harmony with the idea generally entertained of the power and +agency of Apollo; and it is manifest that the idea placed in +combination with certain events, gave birth to the story so far as +relates to the god. We have not yet the means of ascertaining whether +it is to be regarded as a historical tradition, or an invention, and +must therefore leave that question for the present undecided.” + +The poet is careful to leave no prayer unanswered that has justice on +its side. He who prays either kills his enemy, or has signs given him +that he has been heard. + +[For this singular line the Translator begs to apologize, by pleading +the strong desire he felt to produce an English line, if possible, +somewhat resembling in its effect the famous original one. + +Δεινη δε κλαγγη γενετ αργυρεοιο βιοιο.—Tr.] + +The plague in the Grecian camp was occasioned perhaps by immoderate +heats and gross exhalations. Homer takes occasion from it, to open the +scene with a beautiful allegory. He supposes that such afflictions are +sent from Heaven for the punishment of evil actions; and because the +sun was the principal agent, he says it was sent to punish Agamemnon +for despising that god, and injuring his priest. + +Hippocrates observes two things of plagues; that their cause is in the +air, and that different animals are differently affected by them, +according to their nature and nourishment. This philosophy is referred +to the plagues here mentioned. First, the cause is in the air by means +of the darts or beams of Apollo; second, the mules and dogs are said to +die sooner than the men, partly from their natural quickness of smell, +and partly from their feeding so near the earth whence the exhalations +arise. + +Juno, queen of Olympus, sides with the Grecians. Mr. Coleridge (in his +disquisition upon the Prometheus of Æschylus, published in his Remains) +shows very clearly by historical criticism, that Juno, in the Grecian +religion, expressed the spirit of conservatism. Without going over his +argument we assume it here, for Homer always attributes to Juno every +thing that may be predicated of this principle. She is persistent, +obstinate, acts from no idea, but often uses a superficial reasoning, +and refers to Fate, with which she upbraids Jupiter. Jupiter is the +intellectual power or Free Will, and by their union, or rather from +their antagonism, the course of things proceeds with perpetual +vicissitude, but with a great deal of life.—E.P.P. + +Observe this Grecian priest. He has no political power, and commands +little reverence. In Agamemnon’s treatment of him, as well as Chryses, +is seen the relation of the religion to the government. It was neither +master nor slave.—E.P.P. + +A district of Thessaly forming a part of the larger district of +Phthiotis. Phthiotis, according to Strabo, included all the southern +portion of that country as far as Mount Œta and the Maliac Gulf. To the +west it bordered on Dolopia, and on the east reached the confines of +Magnesia. Homer comprised within this extent of territory the districts +of Phthia and Hellas properly so called, and, generally speaking, the +dominions of Achilles, together with those of Protesilaus and +Eurypylus. + +Κυνωπα. + +μεγαναιδες. + +Agamemnon’s anger is that of a lover, and Achilles’ that of a warrior. +Agamemnon speaks of Chrysëis as a beauty whom he values too much to +resign. Achilles treats Brisëis as a slave, whom he is anxious to +preserve in point of honor, and as a testimony of his glory. Hence he +mentions her only as “his spoil,” “the reward of war,” etc.; +accordingly he relinquishes her not in grief for a favorite whom he +loses, but in sullenness for the injury done him.—Dacier. + +Jupiter, in the disguise of an ant, deceived Eurymedusa, the daughter +of Cleitos. Her son was for this reason called Myrmidon (from μυρμηξ, +an ant), and was regarded as the ancestor of the Myrmidons in +Thessaly.—Smith. + +According to the belief of the ancients, the gods were supposed to have +a peculiar light in their eyes. That Homer was not ignorant of this +opinion appears from his use of it in other places. + +Minerva is the goddess of the art of war rather than of war itself. And +this fable of her descent is an allegory of Achilles restraining his +wrath through his consideration of martial law and order. This law in +that age, prescribed that a subordinate should not draw his sword upon +the commander of all, but allowed a liberty of speech which appears to +us moderns rather out of order.—E.P.P. + +[The shield of Jupiter, made by Vulcan, and so called from its +covering, which was the skin of the goat that suckled him.—Tr.] + +Homer magnifies the ambush as the boldest enterprise of war. They went +upon those parties with a few only, and generally the most daring of +the army, and on occasions of the greatest hazard, when the exposure +was greater than in a regular battle. Idomeneus, in the 13th book, +tells Meriones that the greatest courage appears in this way of +service, each man being in a manner singled out to the proof of it. + +In the earlier ages of the world, the sceptre of a king was nothing +more than his walking-staff, and thence had the name of sceptre. Ovid, +in speaking of Jupiter, describes him as resting on his +sceptre.—Spence. + +From the description here given, it would appear to have been a young +tree cut from the root and stripped of its branches. It was the custom +of Kings to swear by their sceptres. + +For an account of the contest between the Centaurs and Lapiths here +referred to, see Grecian and Roman Mythology. + +In _antiquity_, a sacrifice of a hundred oxen, or beasts of the same +kind; hence sometimes _indefinitely_, any sacrifice of a large number +of victims. + +[The original is here abrupt, and expresses the precipitancy of the +speaker by a most beautiful aposiopesis.—Tr.] + +The Iliad, in its connection, is, we all know, a glorification of +Achilles by Zeus; for the Trojans only prevail because Zeus wishes to +show that the reposing hero who sits in solitude, can alone conquer +them. But to leave him this glorification entirely unmixed with sorrow, +the Grecian sense of moderation forbids. The deepest anguish must +mingle with his consciousness of fame, and punish his insolence. That +glorification is the will of Zeus; and in the spirit of the ancient +mythus, a motive for it is assigned in a divine legend. The sea-goddess +Thetis, who was, according to the Phthiotic mythus, wedded to the +mortal Peleus, saved Zeus, by calling up the giant Briareus or Ægæon to +his rescue. Why it was Ægæon, is explained by the fact that this was a +great sea-demon, who formed the subject of fables at Poseidonian +Corinth, where even the sea-god himself was called Ægæon; who, +moreover, was worshipped at several places in Eubœa, the seat of +Poseidon Ægæus; and whom the Theogony calls the son-in-law of Poseidon, +and most of the genealogists, especially Eumelus in the Titanomachy, +brought into relation with the sea. There is therefore good reason to +be found in ancient belief, why Thetis called up Ægæon of all others to +Jove’s assistance. The whole of the story, however, is not detailed—it +is not much more than indicated—and therefore it would be difficult +even now to interpret it in a perfectly satisfactory manner. It bears +the same relation to the Iliad, that the northern fables of the gods, +which serve as a back-ground to the legend of Nibelungen, bear to our +German ballad, only that here the separation is much greater +still—Muller. + +Homer makes use of this fable, without reference to its meaning as an +allegory. Briareus seems to symbolize a navy, and the fable refers to +some event in remote history, when the reigning power was threatened in +his autocracy, and strengthened by means of his association with the +people against some intermediate class.—E.P.P. + +επαυρωνται. + +[A name by which we are frequently to understand the Nile in +Homer.—Tr.] + +Around the sources of the Nile, and thence south-west into the very +heart of Africa, stretching away indefinitely over its mountain plains, +lies the country which the ancients called Ethiopia, rumors of whose +wonderful people found their way early into Greece, and are scattered +over the pages of her poets and historians. + +Homer wrote at least eight hundred years before Christ, and his poems +are well ascertained to be a most faithful mirror of the manners of his +times and the knowledge of his age. * * * * * * + +Homer never wastes an epithet. He often alludes to the Ethiopians +elsewhere, and always in terms of admiration and praise, as being the +most just of men, and the favorites of the gods. The same allusions +glimmer through the Greek mythology, and appear in the verses of almost +all the Greek poets, ere yet the countries of Italy and Sicily were +even discovered. The Jewish Scriptures and Jewish literature abound in +allusions to this distant and mysterious people, the annals of the +Egyptian priests are full of them, and uniformly, the Ethiopians are +there lauded as among the best, the most religious, and most civilized +of men.—Christian Examiner. + +The Ethiopians, says Diodorus, are said to be the inventors of pomps, +sacrifices, solemn meetings, and other honors paid to the gods. From +hence arose their character of piety, which is here celebrated by +Homer. Among these there was an annual feast at Diospolis, which +Eustathius mentions, when they carried about the statues of Jupiter and +other gods, for twelve days, according to their number; to which, if we +add the ancient custom of setting meat before statues, it will appear +to be a rite from which this fable might easily have arisen. + +[The original word (πολυβενθεος) seems to express variety of soundings, +an idea probably not to be conveyed in an English epithet.—Tr.] + +The following passage gives the most exact account of the ancient +sacrifices that we have left us. There is first, the purification by +the washing of hands; second, the offering up of prayers; third, the +barley-cakes thrown upon the victim; fourth, the manner of killing it, +with the head turned upwards; fifth, selecting the thighs and fat for +their gods, as the best of the sacrifice, and disposing about them +pieces cut from every part for a representation of the whole (hence the +thighs are frequently spoken of in Homer and the Greek poets as the +whole victim); sixth, the libation of wine; seventh, consuming the +thighs in the fire of the altar; eighth, the sacrificers dressing and +feasting on the rest, with joy and hymns to the gods. + +The _Pæan_ (originally sung in honor of Apollo) was a hymn to +propitiate the god, and also a song of thanksgiving, when freed from +danger. It was always of a joyous nature. Both tune and sound expressed +hope and confidence. It was sung by several persons, one of whom +probably led the others, and the singers either marched onward, or sat +together at table. + +It was the custom to draw the ships entirely upon the shore, and to +secure them by long props.—Felton + +Suppliants threw themselves at the feet of the person to whom the +supplication was addressed, and embraced his knees.—Felton. + +Ambrosia, the food of the gods, conferred upon them eternal youth and +immortality, and was brought to Jupiter by pigeons. It was also used by +the gods for anointing the body and hair. Hence the expression, +ambrosial locks. + +The original says, “the ox-eyed goddess,” which furnishes Coleridge +with one of the hints on which he proceeds in historically identifying +the Argive Juno with Io and Isis, &c. There is real wit in Homer’s +making her say to Jupiter, “I never search thy thoughts,” &c. The +principle of conservatism asks nothing of the intellectual power, but +blindly contends, reposing upon the instinct of a common sense, which +leads her always to surmise that something is intended by the +intellectual power that she shall not like.—E.P.P. + +This refers to an old fable of Jupiter’s hanging up Juno and whipping +her. Homer introduces it without reference to its meaning, which was +undoubtedly some physical truth connected with the ether and the +atmosphere.—E.P.P. + +[The reader, in order that he may partake with the gods in the drollery +of this scene, should observe that the crippled and distorted Vulcan +had thrust himself into an office at all other times administered +either by Hebe or Ganymede.—Tr.] + +As Minerva or Wisdom was among the company, the poet’s making Vulcan +act the part of peace-maker, would appear to have been from choice, +knowing that a mirthful person may often stop a quarrel, by making +himself the subject of merriment. + + + + +Footnotes for Book II: + + +The poem now becomes more exciting; the language more animated; the +descriptions more lively and figurative. Homer seems to kindle with his +subject, and to press all the phenomena of nature into his service for +the purpose of illustration and adornment. Jupiter prepares to keep his +promise of avenging Achilles, by drawing Agamemnon into a deceitful +expectation of taking the city. The forces are arranged for battle, +which gives occasion for the celebrated catalogue.—Felton. + +The whole action of the Dream is natural. It takes the figure of one +much beloved by Agamemnon, as the object that is most in our thoughts +when awake, is the one that oftenest appears to us in our dreams, and +just at the instant of its vanishing, leaves so strong an impression, +that the voice seems still sounding in his ear. + +The Dream also repeats the words of Jupiter without variation, which is +considered as a great propriety in delivering a message from the father +of gods and men. + +King of Pylus, an ancient city of Elis. + +[Agamemnon seems to entertain some doubts lest the army should so +resent his treatment of their favorite Achilles, as to be indisposed to +serve him.—Tr.] + +[Mercury.] + +[Argus.] + +Homer, in a happy and poetical manner, acquaints us with the high +descent of Agamemnon, and traces the origin of his power to the highest +source, by saying, that the sceptre had descended to him from the hand +of Jupiter. + +The power of Agamemnon as a monarch refers to his being the leader of +an army. According to the form of royalty in the heroic age, a king had +only the power of a magistrate, except as he held the office of priest. +Aristotle defines a king as a Leader of war, a Judge of controversies, +and President of the ceremonies of the gods. That he had the principal +care of religious rites, appears from many passages in Homer. His power +was nowhere absolute but in war, for we find Agamemnon insulted in the +council, but in the army threatening deserters with death. Agamemnon is +sometimes styled king of kings, as the other princes had given him +supreme authority over them in the siege. + +[The extremest provocation is implied in this expression, which +Thersites quotes exactly as he had heard it from the lips of +Achilles.—Tr.] + +The character of Thersites is admirably sketched. There is nothing +vague and indistinct, but all the traits are so lively, that he stands +before us like the image of some absurd being whom we have ourselves +seen. It has been justly remarked by critics, that the poet displays +great skill in representing the opponents of Agamemnon in the character +of so base a personage, since nothing could more effectually reconcile +the Greeks to the continuance of the war, than the ridiculous +turbulence of Thersites.—Felton. + +[Some for πονος here read ποθος; which reading I have adopted for the +sake both of perspicuity and connection.—Tr.] + +The principal signs by which the gods were thought to declare their +will, were things connected with the offering of sacrifices, the flight +and voice of birds, all kinds of natural phenomena, ordinary as well as +extraordinary dreams. + +An epithet supposed to have been derived from Gerenia, a Messenian +town, where Nestor was educated. + +In the pictures which Homer draws of him, the most striking features +are his wisdom, bravery, and knowledge of war, his eloquence, and his +old age. + +For some general remarks upon the heroes of the time, see Grecian and +Roman Mythology. + +In allusion to the custom of pouring out a libation of pure wine, in +the ceremony of forming a league, and joining right hands, as a pledge +of mutual fidelity after the sacrifice.—Felton. + +[Nestor is supposed here to glance at Achilles.—Tr.] + +Homer here exalts wisdom over valor. + +[Money stamped with the figure of an ox.]—Tr. + +The encouragement of a divine power, seemed all that was requisite to +change the dispositions of the Grecians, and make them more ardent for +combat than they had previously been to return. This conquers their +inclinations in a manner at once poetical and in keeping with the moral +which is every where spread through Homer, that nothing is accomplished +without divine assistance. + +Homer’s rich invention gives us five beautiful similes on the march of +the army. This profusion and variety can never be sufficiently admired. + +The superior knowledge that the poet here attributes to the Muses as +divine beings, and then his occasional invocations to them, gives an +air of importance to his subject and has an imposing effect. + +However fabulous the other parts of Homer’s poems may be, this account +of the princes, people, and countries, is by far the most valuable +piece of history and geography left us in regard to the state of Greece +in that early period. Greece was then divided into several dynasties, +which Homer has enumerated under their respective princes; and his +division was considered so correct, that many disputes respecting the +boundaries of Grecian cities were decided upon his authority. +Eustathius has collected together the following instances: The city of +Calydon was adjudged to the Ætolians, notwithstanding the pretensions +of Æolia, because it was ranked by Homer as belonging to the former. +Sestos was given to those of Abydos, upon the plea that he had said the +Abydonians were possessors of Sestos, Abydos, and Arisbe. When the +Milesians and people of Priene disputed their claim to Mycale, a verse +of Homer gave it to the Milesians. The Athenians were put in possession +of Salamis by another which was cited by Solon, or (according to some) +interpolated by him for that purpose; and Porphyry says, that the +catalogue was so highly esteemed, that the youths of some nations were +required to commit it to memory. + +Professor Felton remarks, “The student is advised to give particular +attention to this important passage. He will find it the most +interesting fragment of geography extant; interesting for the poetical +beauty of the verse, the regular order which is followed, and the +little characteristic touches which denote the peculiarities of the +several provinces. The more he examines this catalogue with the +subsidiary lights of geography, history and travels, the more cause +will he find of wonder, that a description so ancient should combine so +much accuracy, beauty, and interest. It is recommended to the student, +to trace the provinces and cities on some good map of ancient Greece.” + +[Some say Thebes the less, others, the suburbs of Thebes the greater. +It is certain that Thebes itself sent none.—Tr.] + +It was the custom of these people to shave the fore parts of their +heads, that their enemies might not seize them by the hair; on the +hinder part they allowed it to grow, as a valiant race that would never +turn their backs. Their manner of fighting was hand to hand, without +quitting their javelins. + +Menelaus is occasionally distinguished by his activity, which shows his +personal concern in the war. + +The Arcadians, being an inland people, were unskilled in navigation, +for which reason Agamemnon furnished them with shipping. + +Nireus is nowhere mentioned as a leader but in these lines. As rank and +beauty were his only qualifications, he is allowed to sink into +oblivion. + +The mud of the Peneus is of a light color, for which reason Homer gives +it the epithet of silvery. The Titaresius, and other small streams +which are rolled from Olympus and Ossa, are so extremely clear, that +their waters are distinguished from those of the Peneus for a +considerable distance from the point of their confluence.—Dodwell. + +Dr. Clarke, in his travels, describes this tomb as a conical mound; and +says that it is the spot of all others for viewing the plain of Troy, +as it is visible in all parts of Troas. From its top may be traced the +course of the Scamander, the whole chain of Ida, stretching towards +Lectum, the snowy heights of Gargarus, and all the shores of +Hellespont, near the mouth of the river Sigæum and the other tumuli +upon the coast. + +A patronymic given to Achilles as descendant of Æacus, father of +Peleus. + +A river of Troas in Asia Minor, the same as the Scamander. + +This expression is construed by critics as denoting an unpolished +dialect, but not a foreign. + + + + +Footnotes for Book III: + + +The scenes described in this book are exceedingly lifesome. The figures +are animating and beautiful, and the mind of the reader is borne along +with breathless interest over the sonorous verse.—Felton. + +This is a striking simile, from its exactness in two points—the noise +and the order. It has been supposed that the embattling of an army was +first learned by observing the close order of the flight of these +birds. The noise of the Trojans contrasts strongly with the silence of +the Greeks. Plutarch remarks upon this distinction as a credit to the +military discipline of the latter, and Homer would seem to have +attached some importance to it, as he again alludes to the same thing. +Book iv. 510. + +[Paris, frequently named Alexander in the original.—Tr.] + +Not from cowardice, but from a sense of guilt towards Menelaus. At the +head of an army he challenges the boldest of the enemy; and Hector, at +the end of the Sixth Book, confesses that no man could reproach him as +a coward. Homer has a fine moral;—A brave mind, however blinded with +passion, is sensible of remorse whenever he meets the person whom he +has injured; and Paris is never made to appear cowardly, but when +overcome by the consciousness of his injustice. + +[Λαινον εσσο χιτωνα] + +In allusion to the Oriental custom of stoning to death for the crime of +adultery.—Felton. + +The sling was a very efficacious and important instrument in ancient +warfare. Stones were also thrown with the hand. The Libyans carried no +other arms than the spear and a bag of stones. + +The Trojans were required to sacrifice two lambs; one male of a white +color to the Sun, as the father of light, and one female and black to +the Earth, the mother and nurse of men. That these were the powers to +which they sacrificed appears from their being attested by name in the +oath. III. 330. + +Helen’s weaving the events of the Trojan war in a veil is an agreeable +fiction; and one might suppose that it was inherited by Homer, and +explained in his Iliad.—Dacier. + +[Not the grasshopper, but an insect well known in hot countries, and +which in Italy is called Cicála. The grasshopper rests on the ground, +but the favorite abode of the Cicála is in the trees and hedges.—Tr.] + +This episode is remarkable for its beauty. The effect of Helen’s +appearance upon the aged counsellors is striking and poetical. It must +be borne in mind, that Helen was of divine parentage and unfading +beauty, and this will explain the enthusiasm which her sight called +forth from the old men. The poet’s skill in taking this method of +describing the Grecian chieftains is obvious, and the sketches +themselves are living and characteristic to a high degree. The +reminiscences of the aged Priam, as their names are announced, and the +penitential sorrow of the erring Helen, which the sight of her +countrymen, and the recollection of her home, her child, her +companions, excite in her bosom, are among the most skilful touches of +natural feeling.—Felton. + +The character of a benevolent old man is well preserved in Priam’s +behavior to Helen. Upon observing her confusion, he attributes the +misfortunes of the war to the gods alone. This sentiment is also +natural to old age. Those who have had the longest experience of life, +are the most inclined to ascribe the disposal of all things to the will +of Heaven. + +This view of the Grecian leaders from the walls of Troy, is admired as +an episode of great beauty, and considered a masterly manner of +acquainting the reader with the figure and qualifications of each hero. + +Helen sees no where in the plain her two brothers Castor and Pollux. +Her inquiry is a natural one, and her self-reproach naturally suggests +her own disgrace as the cause of their not appearing among the other +commanders. The two lines in which the poet mentions their death are +simple and touching.—Felton. + +Homer here gives the whole ceremonial of the solemn oath, as it was +then observed by the nations of whom he writes. + +It must be borne in mind that sacrificing was the most solemn act of +religion, and that kings were also chief-priests. + +The armor of both Greeks and Trojans consisted of six portions, and was +always put on in the order here given. The greaves were for the defence +of the legs. They were made of some kind of metal, and probably lined +with cloth or felt. The cuirass or corselet for the body, was made of +horn cut in thin pieces and fastened upon linen cloth, one piece +overlapping another. The sword hung on the left side by means of a belt +which passed over the right shoulder. The large round shield, sometimes +made of osiers twisted together and covered with several ox-hides, and +bound round the edge with metal. In the Homeric times it was supported +by a belt; subsequently a band was placed across the inner side, in +which the left arm was inserted, and a strong leather strap fastened +near the edge at certain distances, which was grasped by the hand. The +helmet, made of metal and lined with felt. Lastly the spear, and in +many cases two. The heavy-armed soldiery were distinguished from the +light. The covering of the latter consisted of skins, and instead of +the sword and lance, they fought with darts, bows and arrows, or +slings, and were generally attached in a subordinate capacity to the +heavy-armed soldiery. + +Homer puts a prayer in the mouth of Menelaüs, but none in that of +Paris. Menelaüs is injured and innocent, and may therefore ask for +justice; but Paris, who is the criminal, remains silent. + +[Because the hide of a beast that dies in health is tougher and fitter +for use than of another that dies diseased.] + + + + +Footnotes for Book IV: + + +The goddess of youth is made an attendant at the banquets of the gods, +to show that they enjoyed a perpetual youth, and endless felicity. + +[A town of that name in Bœotia, where Pallas was particularly +worshipped.—Tr.] + +[Βοωπις, constant description of Juno, but not susceptible of literal +translation.] + +Homer does not make the gods use all persons indiscriminately as their +agents, but each according to his powers. When Minerva would persuade +the Greeks, she seeks Ulysses; when she would break the truce, for +Pandarus; and when she would conquer, for Diomede. The goddess went not +to the Trojans, because they hated Paris, and looks among the allies, +where she finds Pandarus, who was of a nation noted for perfidiousness, +and who, from his avarice, was capable of engaging in this treachery +for the hope of a reward from Paris. + +A city of Asia Minor. + +This description, so full of circumstantial detail, is remarkably +beautiful. 1. The history of the bow, giving in a few words the picture +of a hunter, lying in ambush and slaying his victim. 2. Then the +process of making the bow. 3. The anxious preparation for discharging +the arrow with certainty, which was destined to break off the truce and +precipitate the battle. 4. The hurried prayer and vow to Apollo, after +which the string is drawn, the cord twangs, the arrow “leaps forth.” +The whole is described with such graphic truth, that we see, and hear, +and wait in breathless suspense to know the result.—Felton. + +This is one of those humble comparisons with which Homer sometimes +diversifies his subject, but a very exact one of its kind, and +corresponding in all its parts. The care of the goddess, the +unsuspecting security of Menelaus, the ease with which she diverts the +danger, and the danger itself, are all included in these few words. To +which may be added, that if the providence of heavenly powers to their +creatures is expressed by the love of a mother to her child, if men in +regard to them are but as sleeping infants, and the dangers that seem +so great to us, as easily warded off as the simile implies, the +conception appears sublime, however insignificant the image may at +first seem in regard to a hero. + +From this we learn that the Lydians and Carians were famous for their +skill in dying purple, and that their women excelled in works of ivory; +and also that there were certain ornaments that only kings and princes +were privileged to wear. + +This speech of Agamemnon over his wounded brother, is full of noble +power and touching eloquence. The Trojans have violated a truce +sanctioned by a solemn sacrifice to the gods. The reflection that such +perjury cannot pass with impunity, but that Jove will, sooner or later, +punish it, occurs first to the mind of the warrior. In the excitement +of the moment, he predicts that the day will surely come when sacred +Troy shall fall. From this impetuous feeling his mind suddenly returns +to the condition of his brother, and imagines with much pathos, the +consequences that will follow from his death, and ends with the wish, +that the earth may open before him when that time shall come.—Felton. + +The poet here changes the narration, and apostrophises the reader. +Critics commend this figure, as the reader then becomes a spectator, +and his mind is kept fixed on the action. + +In the following review of the army, we see the skill of an +accomplished general as well as the characters of the leaders whom +Agamemnon addresses. He begins with an address to the army in general, +and then turns to individuals. To the brave he urges their secure hopes +of conquest, since the gods must punish perjury; to the timid, their +inevitable destruction if the enemy should burn their ships. After this +he flies from rank to rank, skilfully addressing each ally, and +presents a lively picture of a great mind in the highest emotion. + +The ancients usually in their feasts divided to the guests in equal +portions, except they took particular occasion to show distinction. It +was then considered the highest mark of honor to be allotted the best +portion of meat and wine, and to be allowed an exemption from the laws +of the feast in drinking wine unmingled and without measure. This +custom was much more ancient than the time of the Trojan war, and we +find it practised in the banquet given by Joseph to his brethren. + +[Diverse interpretations are given of this passage. I have adopted that +which to me appeared most plausible. It seems to be a caution against +the mischiefs that might ensue, should the horses be put under the +management of a driver with whom they were unacquainted.—The scholium +by Villoisson much countenances this solution.—Tr.] + +[Here Nestor only mentions the name of Ereuthalion, knowing the present +to be an improper time for story-telling; in the seventh book he +relates his fight and victory at length. This passage may serve to +confute those who charge Nestor with indiscriminate loquacity.—Tr.] + +The first Theban war, previously alluded to, took place twenty-seven +years before the war of Troy. Sthenelus here speaks of the second, +which happened ten years after the first. For an account of these wars +see Grecian and Roman Mythology. + +This is a most animated description. The onset, the clashing of spears, +the shield pressed to shield, the tumult of the battle, the shouts and +groans of the slayer and the dying—all are described in words, the very +sound of which conveys the terrible meaning. Then come the exploits +performed by individual heroes. The student must bear in mind, that the +battles of the heroic age depended in a great measure upon the prowess +of single chieftains. Hence the appropriateness of the following +enumeration.—Felton. + +So called from the river Simoïs, near which he was born. It was an +eastern custom to name children from the most remarkable accident of +their birth. The Scriptures furnish many examples. In the Old Testament +princes were also compared to trees, and Simöisius is here resembled to +a poplar. + +Homer occasionally puts his readers in mind of Achilles, and finds +occasion to celebrate his valor with the highest praise. Apollo here +tells the Trojans they have nothing to fear, since Achilles fights not. + +[Ακροκομοι. They wore only a lock of hair on the crown of the head.] + + + + +Footnotes for Book V: + + +In each battle there is one prominent person who may be called the hero +of the day. This arrangement preserves unity, and helps to fix the +attention of the reader. The gods sometimes favor one hero, and +sometimes another. In this book we have the exploits of Diomede. +Assisted by Minerva, he is eminent both for prudence and valor. + +Sirius. This comparison, among many others, shows how constantly the +poet’s attention was directed to the phenomena of nature.—Felton. + +Ηιοεντι. + +The chariots were probably very low. We frequently find in the Iliad +that a person standing in a chariot is killed (and sometimes by a +stroke on the head) by a foot soldier with a sword. This may farther +appear from the ease with which they mount or alight, to facilitate +which, the chariots were made open behind. That the wheels were small, +may be supposed from their custom of taking them off and putting them +on. Hebe puts on the wheels of Juno’s chariot, when he called for it in +battle. It may be in allusion to the same custom, that it is said in +Ex., ch. xiv.: “The Lord took off their chariot wheels, so that they +drove them heavily.” That it was very small and light, is evident from +a passage in the tenth Il., where Diomede debates whether he shall draw +the chariot of Rhesus out of the way, or carry it on his shoulders to a +place of safety. + +[Meges, son of Phyleus.] + +This whole passage is considered by critics as very beautiful. It +describes the hero carried by an enthusiastic valor into the midst of +his enemies, and mingling in the ranks indiscriminately. The simile +thoroughly illustrates this fury, proceeding as it did from an +extraordinary infusion of courage from Heaven. + +[Apollo.] + +The deities are often invoked because of the agency ascribed to them +and not from any particular religious usage. And just as often the +heroes are protected by the gods who are worshipped by their own tribes +and families—Muller. + +This fiction of Homer, says Dacier, is founded upon an important truth +of religion, not unknown to the Pagans: viz. that God only can open the +eyes of men, and enable them to see what they cannot otherwise +discover. The Old Testament furnishes examples. God opens the eyes of +Hagar, that she may see the fountain. “The Lord opened the eyes of +Baalam, and he saw the angel,” etc. This power of sight was given to +Diomede only for the present occasion. In the 6th Book, on meeting +Glaucus, he is ignorant whether he is a god, a hero, or a man. + +[Or collar-bone.] + +The belief of those times, in regard to the peace and happiness of the +soul after death, made the protection of the body a matter of great +importance. For a full account of these rites, see the articles Charon +and Pluto, Gr. & Rom. Mythology. + +The physician of the gods. Homer says nothing of his origin. He seems +to be considered as distinct from Apollo, though perhaps originally +identical with him. + +From the fact that so few mystical myths are introduced in the Iliad, +Müller infers that the mystical element of religion could not have +predominated among the Grecian people for whom Homer sang. Otherwise, +his poems in which that element is but little regarded, would not have +afforded universal pleasure and satisfaction. He therefore takes but a +passing notice of Demeter. Müller also remarks, that in this we cannot +but admire the artistic skill of Homer, and the feeling for what is +right and fitting that was innate with the Greeks. + +[Vide Samson to Harapha in the Agonistes. There the word is used in the +same sense.—Tr.] + +[This is a construction of λευκ ελεφαντι given by some of the best +commentators, and that seems the most probable.—Tr.] + +This slow and orderly retreat of the Greeks, with their front +constantly turned to the enemy, is a fine encomium on their courage and +discipline. This manner of retreating was customary among the +Lacedæmonians, as were many other martial customs described by Homer. +The practice arose from the apprehension of being killed by a wound in +the back, which was not only punished with infamy, but a person bearing +the mark was denied the rites of burial. + +[This, according to Porphyrius as quoted by Clarke, is the true meaning +of αιολομιτρης.—Tr.] + +The chariots of the gods were formed of various metals, and drawn +through the air, or upon the surface of the sea, by horses of celestial +breed. These chariots were used by the deities only on occasion of a +long journey, or when they wished to appear with state and +magnificence. Ordinarily they were transported from place to place by +the aid of their golden sandals, with the exception of the +“silver-footed Thetis,” to whom they seem to have been superfluous. +When at home, the gods were barefoot, according to the custom of the +age, as we see from various representations of antique art. + +[These which I have called crescents, were a kind of hook of a +semicircular form, to which the reins were occasionally fastened.—Tr.] + +The Greeks borrowed the vest and shield of Minerva from the Lybians, +only with this difference: the Lybian shield was fringed with thongs of +leather, and the Grecian with serpents.—Herodotus. + +This expression (the gates of Heaven) is in the eastern manner, and +common in the Scriptures. + +[Αρεα τονδε.] + +Every thing that enters the dark empire of Hades disappears, and is +seen no more; hence the figurative expression, to put on Pluto’s +helmet; that is to become invisible. + + + + +Footnotes for Book VI: + + +The Simoïs and Xanthus were two rivers of the Troad, which form a +junction before they reached the Hellespont. The Simoïs rose in Mt. +Ida, and the Xanthus had its origin near Troy.—Felton. + +Ajax commences his exploits immediately on the departure of the gods +from the battle. It is observed of this hero, that he is never assisted +by the deities. + +Axylus was distinguished for his hospitality. This trait was +characteristic of the Oriental nations, and is often alluded to by +ancient writers. The rite of hospitality often united families +belonging to different and hostile nations, and was even transmitted +from father to son. This description is a fine tribute to the +generosity of Axylus.—Felton + +[Euryalus.] + +Agamemnon’s taking the life of the Trojan whom Menelaus had pardoned, +was according to the custom of the times. The historical books of the +Old Testament abound in instances of the like cruelty to conquered +enemies. + +This important maxim of war is very naturally introduced, upon Menelaus +being ready to spare an enemy for the sake of a ransom. According to +Dacier, it was for such lessons as these that Alexander so much +esteemed Homer and studied his poem. + +The custom of making donations to the gods is found among the ancients, +from the earliest times of which we have any record down to the +introduction of Christianity; and even after that period it was +observed by the Christians during the middle ages. Its origin seems to +have been the same as that of sacrifices: viz. the belief that the gods +were susceptible of influence in their conduct towards men. These gifts +were sometimes very costly, but often nothing more than locks of hair +cut from the head of the votary. + +Diomede had knowingly wounded and insulted the deities; he therefore +met Glaucus with a superstitious fear that he might be some deity in +human shape. This feeling brought to his mind the story of Lycurgus. + +It is said that Lycurgus caused most of the vines of his country to be +rooted up, so that his subjects were obliged to mix their wine with +water, as it became less plentiful. Hence the fable that Thetis +received Bacchus into her bosom. + +This style of language was according to the manners of the times. Thus +Goliath to David, “Approach, and I will give thy flesh to the fowls of +the air and the beasts of the field.” The Orientals still speak in the +same manner. + +Though this comparison may be justly admired for its beauty in the +obvious application to the mortality and succession of human life, it +seems designed by the poet, in this place, as a proper emblem of the +transitory state of families which, by their misfortune or folly, have +fallen and decayed, and again appear, in a happier season, to revive +and flourish in the fame and virtues of their posterity. In this sense +it is a direct answer to the question of Diomede, as well as a proper +preface to what Glaticus relates of his own family, which, having +become extinct in Corinth, recovers new life in Lycia. + +The same as Corinth. + +Some suppose that alphabetical writing was unknown in the Homeric age, +and consequently that these signs must have been hieroglyphical marks. +The question is a difficult one, and the most distinguished scholars +are divided in opinion. We can hardly imagine that a poem of the length +and general excellence of the Iliad, could be composed without the aid +of writing; and yet, we are told, there are well-authenticated examples +of such works being preserved and handed down by traditional memory. +However this may be, we know that the Oriental nations were in +possession of the art of alphabetical writing it a very early period, +and before the Trojan war. It cannot, then, seem very improbable, that +the authors of the Iliad should also have been acquainted with +it.—Felton. + +The Solymi were an ancient nation inhabiting the mountainous parts of +Asia Minor, between Lycia and Pisidia. Pliny mentions them as having +become extinct in his time. + +It was the custom in ancient times, upon the performance of any signal +service by kings or great men, for the public to grant them a tract of +land as a reward. When Sarpedon, in the 12th Book, exhorts Glaucus to +behave valiantly, he reminds him of these possessions granted by his +countrymen. + +The laws of hospitality were considered so sacred, that a friendship +contracted under their observance was preferred to the ties of +consanguinity and alliance, and regarded as obligatory even to the +third and fourth generation. Diomede and Glaucus here became friends, +on the ground of their grandfathers having been mutual guests. The +presents made on these occasions were preserved by families, as it was +considered obligatory to transmit them as memorials to their children. + +[Ξεινοι πατρωιοι.] + +The Scæan gate opened to the field of battle, and was the one through +which the Trojans made their excursions. Close to this stood the beech +tree sacred to Jupiter, and often mentioned in connection with it. + +There is a mournfulness in the interview between the hero and his +mother which is deeply interesting. Her urging him to take wine and his +refusal were natural and simple incidents, which heighten the effect of +the scene.—Felton. + +The custom that prohibits persons polluted with blood from performing +any offices of divine worship before purification, is so ancient and +universal, that it may be considered a precept of natural religion, +tending to inspire a horror of bloodshed. In Euripides, Iphigenia +argues the impossibility of human sacrifices being acceptable to the +gods, since they do not permit any one defiled with blood, or even +polluted with the touch of a dead body, to come near their altars. + +Paris surprised the King of Phœnecia by night, and carried off many of +his treasures and captives, among whom probably were these Sidonian +women. Tyre and Sidon were famous for works in gold, embroidery, etc., +and for whatever pertained to magnificence and luxury. + +This gesture is the only one described by Homer as being used by the +ancients in their invocations of the gods. + +[δια θεαων.] + +The employment in which Hector finds Paris engaged, is extremely +characteristic.—Felton. + +This address of Helen is in fine keeping with her character.—Felton. + +[The bulk of his heroes is a circumstance of which Homer frequently +reminds us by the use of the word μεγας—and which ought, therefore, by +no means to be suppressed.—Tr.] + +Love of his country is a prominent characteristic of Hector, and is +here beautifully displayed in his discharging the duties that the +public welfare required, before seeking his wife and child. Then +finding that she had gone to the tower, he retraces his steps to “the +Scæan gate, whence he must seek the field.” Here his wife, on her +return home, accidentally meets him. + + [The name signifies, the _Chief of the city_.—Tr.] + +It was the custom to plant about tombs only such trees as elms, alders, +etc., that bear no fruit, as being most appropriate to the dead. + +In this recapitulation, Homer acquaints us with some of the great +achievements of Achilles, which preceded the opening of the poem—a +happy manner of exalting his hero, and exciting our expectation as to +what he is yet to accomplish. His greatest enemies never upbraid him, +but confess his glory. When Apollo encourages the Trojans to fight, it +is by telling them Achilles fights no more. When Juno animates the +Greeks, she reminds them how their enemies fear Achilles; and when +Andromache trembles for Hector, it is with the remembrance of his +resistless force. + +Drawing water was considered the most servile employment. + +[The Scholiast in Villoisson calls it +φυσικον τινα και μετριον γελωτα a natural and moderate laughter.—Tr.] + +According to the ancient belief, the fatal period of life is appointed +to all men at the time of their birth, which no precaution can avoid +and no danger hasten. + +This scene, for true and unaffected pathos, delicate touches of nature, +and a profound knowledge of the human heart, has rarely been equalled, +and never surpassed, among all the efforts of genius during the three +thousand years that have gone by since it was conceived and +composed.—Felton. + + + + +Footnotes for Book VII: + + +Holding the spear in this manner was, in ancient warfare, understood as +a signal to discontinue the fight. + +The challenge of Hector and the consternation of the Greeks, presents +much the same scene as the challenge of Goliath, 1 Samuel, ch. 17: “And +he stood and cried to the armies of Israel;—Choose you a man for you, +and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to +kill me, then will we be your servants.—When Saul and all Israel heard +the words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” + +It was an ancient custom for warriors to dedicate trophies of this kind +to the temples of their tutelary deities. + +[The club-bearer.] + +[It is a word used by Dryden.] + +Homer refers every thing, even the chance of the lots, to the +disposition of the gods. + +[Agamemnon.] + +The lot was merely a piece of wood or shell, or any thing of the kind +that was at hand. Probably it had some private mark, and not the name, +as it was only recognized by the owner. + +This reply is supposed to allude to some gesture made by Ajax in +approaching Hector. + +The heralds were considered as sacred persons, the delegates of +Mercury, and inviolable by the laws of nations. Ancient history +furnishes examples of the severity exercised upon those who were guilty +of any outrage upon them. Their office was, to assist in the sacrifices +and councils, to proclaim war or peace, to command silence at +ceremonies or single combats, to part the combatants and declare the +conqueror. + +This word I have taken leave to coin. The Latins have both substantive +and adjective. _Purpura—Purpureus._ We make purple serve both uses; but +it seems a poverty to which we have no need to submit, at least in +poetry.—Tr. + +A particular mark of honor and respect, as this part of the victim +belonged to the king. In the simplicity of the times, the reward +offered a victorious warrior of the best portion of the sacrifice at +supper, a more capacious bowl, or an upper seat at table, was a +recompense for the greatest actions. +It is worthy of observation, that beef, mutton, or kid, was the food of +the heroes of Homer and the patriarchs and warriors of the Old +Testament. Fishing and fowling were then the arts of more luxurious +nations. + +[The word is here used in the Latin sense of it. Virgil, describing the +entertainment given by Evander to the Trojans, says that he regaled +them + +Perpetui _tergo bovis et lustralibus extis._ +Æn. viii. + +It means, the whole.—Tr.] + + + + +Footnotes for Book VIII: + + +An epithet of Aurora, supposed to designate an early hour. + +Many have explained this as an allegorical expression for one of the +great laws of nature—gravity or the attraction of the sun. There is not +the slightest probability that any such meaning is intended.—Felton. + +A part of Mt. Ida. This place was celebrated, in subsequent times, for +the worship of Jupiter. Several years ago, Dr. E.D. Clarke deposited, +in the vestibule of the public library in Cambridge, England, a marble +bust of Juno, taken from the ruins of this temple of Jupiter, at the +base of Mt. Ida.—Felton + +[In the repetition of this expression, the translator follows the +original.] + +Sacred, because that part of the day was appropriate to sacrifice and +religious worship. + +This figure is first used in the Scriptures. Job prays to be weighed in +an even balance, that God may know his integrity. Daniel says to +Belshazzar, “thou art weighed in the balances, and found wanting,” etc. + +Jupiter’s declaring against the Greeks by thunder and lightning, is +drawn (says Dacier) from truth itself. 1 Sam. ch. vii.: “And as Samuel +was offering up the burnt-offering, the Philistines drew near to battle +against Israel; but the Lord thundered on that day upon the Philistines +and discomfited them.” + +Nothing can be more spirited than the enthusiasm of Hector, who, in the +transport of his joy, breaks out in the following apostrophe to his +horses. He has, in imagination, already forced the Grecian +entrenchments, set the fleet in flames, and destroyed the whole army. + +From this speech, it may be gathered that women were accustomed to +loosen the horses from the chariot, on their return from battle, and +feed them; and from line 214, unless it is spurious, it seems that the +provender was sometimes mixed with wine. It is most probable, however, +that the line is not genuine.—Felton. + +Homer describes a princess so tender in her love to her husband, that +she meets him on his return from every battle, and, in the joy of +seeing him again, feeds his horses with bread and wine, as an +acknowledgment to them for bringing him back.—Dacier. + +These were the arms that Diomede had received from Glaucus. + +[None daring to keep the field, and all striving to enter the gates +together, they obstructed their own passage, and were, of course, +compelled into the narrow interval between the foss and rampart. + +But there are different opinions about the space intended. See +Villoisson.—Tr.] + +[To Jove, the source of all oracular information.] + +Jupiter, in answer to the prayer of Agamemnon, sends an omen to +encourage the Greeks. The application of it is obvious: The eagle +signified Hector, the fawn denoted the fear and flight of the Greeks, +and being dropped at the altar of Jupiter, indicated that they would be +saved by the protection of that god. + +This simile is very beautiful, and exactly represents the manner of +Gorgythion’s death. There is so much truth in the comparison, that we +pity the fall of the youth and almost feel his wound. + +[Ενικλαν.—The word is here metaphorical, and expresses, in its primary +use, the breaking of a spear against a shield.—Tr.] + +[The following lines, to the end of this paragraph, are a translation +of some which Barnes has here inserted from the second Alcibiades of +Plato.] + +The simile is the most magnificent that can be conceived. The stars +come forth brightly, the whole heaven is cloudless and serene, the moon +is in the sky, the heights, and promontories, and forests stand forth +distinctly in the light, _and the shepherd rejoices in his heart_. This +last simple and natural circumstance is inexpressibly beautiful, and +heightens the effect of the visible scene, by associating it, in the +most direct and poetical manner, with the inward emotion that such a +scene must produce.—Felton. + + + + +Footnotes for Book IX: + + +[In the original the word is—μελανυδρος—dark-watered; and it is +rendered—_deep_—by the best interpreters, because deep waters have a +blackish appearance. Δνοφερον υδωρ is properly water that runs with +rapidity; water—μετα δονησεως φερομενον—See Villoisson.]—Tr. + +This is the language of a brave man, boldly to affirm that courage is +above crowns and sceptres. In former times they were not hereditary, +but the recompense of valor. + +[The observation seems made with a view to prevent such a reply from +Agamemnon to Diomede as might give birth to new dissensions, while it +reminds him indirectly of the mischiefs that had already attended his +quarrel with Achilles.]—Tr. + +This speech of Nestor is happily conceived. It belonged to him as the +aged counsellor to begin the debate, by laying the subject before the +assembly, especially as it was necessary to impale the blame of the +present unfortunate condition of the army to Agamemnon. It would have +been presumptuous in any other, and it was a matter of difficulty and +delicacy even for Nestor.—Felton. + +In the heroic age, the bridegroom, before marriage, was obliged to make +two presents, one to his betrothed wife, and one to his father-in-law. +This was also an ancient custom of the Hebrews. Abraham’s servant gave +presents to Rebekah: Gen. xxiv. 22. Shechem promised a dowry and gift +to Jacob for his daughter: Gen. xxiv. 12. And in after times, Saul said +he desired no dowry for Michal: 1 Sam. xviii. 25. + +One of the religious ceremonies previous to any important enterprise. +Then followed the order for silence and reverent attention; then the +libation, &c.—Felton + + Achilles having retired from action in displeasure to Agamemnon, + quieted himself by singing to his lyre the achievements of demi-gods + and heroes. Nothing was better suited to the martial disposition of + this hero, than these heroic songs. Celebrating the actions of the + valiant prepared him for his own great exploits. Such was the music of + the ancients, and to such purposes was it applied. When the lyre of + Paris was offered to Alexander, he replied that he had little value + for it, but much desired that of Achilles, on which he sung the + actions of heroes in former times.—Plutarch. + +The manners of the Iliad are the manners of the patriarchal and early +ages of the East. The chief differences arise from a different religion +and a more maritime situation. Very far removed from the savage state +on the one hand, and equally distant from the artificial state of an +extended commerce and a manufacturing population on the other, the +spirit and habitudes of the two modes of society are almost identical. +The hero and the Patriarch are substantially coëval; but the first +wanders in twilight, the last stands in the eye of Heaven. When three +men appeared to Abraham in the plains of Mamre, he ran to meet them +from the tent door, brought them in, directed Sarah to make bread, +fetched from the herd himself a calf tender and good, dressed it, and +set it before them. When Ajax, Ulysses, and Phœnix stand before +Achilles, he rushes forth to greet them, brings them into the tent, +directs Patroclus to mix the wine, cuts up the meat, dresses it, and +sets it before the ambassadors. * * * * + +Instances of this sort might be multiplied to any extent, but the +student will find it a pleasing and useful task to discover them for +himself; and these will amply suffice to demonstrate the existence of +that correspondence of spirit and manners between the Homeric and the +early ages of the Bible history, to which I have adverted. It is real +and important; it affords a standard of the feelings with which we +ought to read the Iliad, if we mean to read it as it deserves; and it +explains and sets in the true point of view numberless passages, which +the ignorance or frivolity of after-times has charged with obscurity, +meanness or error. The Old Testament and the Iliad reflect light +mutually on each other; and both in respect of poetry and morals (for +the whole of Homer’s poetry is a praise of virtue, and every thing in +him tends to this point, except that which is merely superfluous and +for ornament) it may with great truth be said, that he who has the +longest studied, and the most deeply imbibed, the spirit of the Hebrew +Bible, will the best understand and the most lastingly appreciate the +tale of Troy divine.—H.N. Coleridge. + +[I have given this sense to the word +Ζωροτερον—on the authority of the Venetian Scholium, though some +contend that it should be translated—_quickly_. Achilles, who had +reproached Agamemnon with intemperate drinking, was, himself, more +addicted to music than to wine.]—Tr. + +[It is not without authority that I have thus rendered +κρειον μεγα. Homer’s banquets are never stewed or boiled; it cannot +therefore signify a kettle. It was probably a kitchen-table, dresser, +or tray, on which the meat was prepared for the spit. Accordingly we +find that this very meat was spitted afterward.—See +Schaufelbergerus.]—Tr. + +There are no speeches in the Iliad better placed, better timed, or that +give a greater idea of Homer’s genius than these of the ambassadors to +Achilles. They are not only demanded by the occasion, but skilfully +arranged, and in a manner that gives pleasure to the reader. + +[Dacier observes, that he pluralizes the one wife of Menelaus, through +the impetuosity of his spirit.]—Tr. + +According to some ancient writers, Achilles was but twelve years of age +when he went to the wars of Troy. And from what is here related of his +education under Phœnix, it may be inferred, that the fable of his +having been taught by Chiron is an invention of a later age and unknown +to Homer. + +The ancients gave the name of Jupiter not only to the God of heaven, +but also to the God of hell, as is seen here; and to the God of the +sea, as appears from Æschylus. They meant thereby to show that one sole +deity governed the world. To teach this truth, statues were made of +Jupiter which had three eyes. Priam had one in the court of his palace, +which, in sharing the booty of the war of Troy, fell to the lot of +Sthenelus, who carried it to Greece.—Dacier. + +So called because Jove protects those who implore his aid. + +[Wrinkled—because the countenance of a man driven to prayer by a +consciousness of guilt is sorrowful and dejected. Lame—because it is a +remedy to which men recur late, and with reluctance. And +slant-eyed—either because, in that state of humiliation they fear to +lift their eyes to heaven, or are employed in taking a retrospect of +their past misconduct. + +The whole allegory, considering _when_ and _where_ it was composed, +forms a very striking passage.]—Tr. + +[She had five brothers: Iphiclus, Polyphontes, Phanes, Eurypylus, +Plexippus.]—Tr. + +It was the custom for the murderer to go into banishment for one year. +But if the relations of the murdered person were willing, the criminal, +by paying a certain fine, might buy off the exile and remain at home. +Ajax sums up this argument with great strength: We see, says he, a +brother forgive the murder of his brother, a father that of his son; +but Achilles will not forgive the injury offered him by taking away one +captive woman. + +The character of Achilles is well sustained in all his speeches. To +Ulysses he returns a flat denial, and threatens to leave the Trojan +shore in the morning. To Phœnix his answer is more gentle. After Ajax +has spoken, he seems determined not to depart, but yet refuses to bear +arms, except in defence of his own squadron. + + + + +Footnotes for Book X: + + +With slight alteration, Homer here repeats the verses that open the 2d +Book, and ascribes to Agamemnon the same watchfulness over men that +Jupiter had over the gods. + +Menelaus starts a design, which is afterwards proposed by Nestor in +council. The poet knew that the project would come with greater weight +from the age of the one than from the youth of the other, and that the +valiant would be ready to engage in the enterprise suggested by so +venerable a counsellor. + +Agamemnon is uniformly represented as an example of brotherly +affection, and at all times defends Menelaus. + +[Σαυρωτηρ—seems to have been a hollow iron with a point, fitted to the +obtuse end of the spear, for the purpose of planting that end of it in +the ground. It might probably be taken off at pleasure.]—Tr. + +The dogs represent the watch, the flocks the Greeks, the fold their +camp, and the wild beast that invades them, Hector. The place, +position, and circumstances are represented with the utmost life and +nature. + +[_Sable_, because the expedition was made by night, and _each with a +lamb_, as typical of the fruit of their labors.]—Tr. + +It required some address in Diomede to make a choice without offending +the Grecian princes, each one of whom might consider it an indignity to +be refused such a place of honor. Diomede, therefore, chose Ulysses, +not for his valor, but for his wisdom. On this point, the other leaders +all yielded to him. + +The heroes are well armed for their design. Ulysses has a bow and +arrows, that he may be able to wound the enemy at a distance, and +Diomede a two-edged sword. They both have leathern helmets, as the +glittering of the metal might betray them to the enemy. + +[Autolycus was grandfather of Ulysses by the mother’s side.]—Tr. + +Making these military presents to brave adventurers was an ancient +custom. “Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and +gave it to David; and his garments, even to his sword, and his bow, and +his girdle.” 1 Sam. xviii. v. + +These lines show how careful the poet always was to be true to nature. +The little circumstance that they could not _see_ the heron, but only +heard him, stamps the description with an air of verisimilitude which +is at once recognized.—Felton. + +This passage sufficiently justifies Diomede for his choice of Ulysses. +Diomede, who was most renowned for valor, might have given a wrong +interpretation to this omen, and have been discouraged from proceeding +in the attempt. For though it really signified that, as the bird was +not seen, but only heard, so they should not be discovered by the +Trojans, but perform actions of which all Troy should hear with sorrow; +yet, on the other hand, it might imply that, as they discovered the +bird by the noise of its wings, so the noise they should make would +betray them to the Trojans. Pallas does not send the bird sacred to +herself, but the heron, because that is a bird of prey, and denoted +that they should spoil the Trojans. + +Dolon seems to have been eminent for wealth, and Hector summons him to +the assembly as one of the chiefs of Troy. He was known to the Greeks, +perhaps, from his having passed between the two armies as a herald. +Ancient writers observe, that it was the office of Dolon that led him +to offer himself in this service. The sacredness attached to it gave +him hopes that they would not violate his person, should he chance to +be taken; and his riches he knew were sufficient to purchase his +liberty. Besides these advantages, he probably trusted to his swiftness +to escape pursuit. + +Eustathius remarks upon the different manner in which the Grecians and +Trojans conduct the same enterprise. In the council of the Greeks, a +wise old man proposes the adventure with an air of deference; in that +of the Trojans, a brave young man with an air of authority. The one +promises a small gift, but honorable and certain; the other a great +one, but uncertain and less honorable, because it is given as a reward. +Diomede and Ulysses are inspired with a love of glory; Dolon with the +thirst of gain. They proceed with caution and bravery; he with rashness +and vanity. They go in conjunction; he alone. They cross the fields out +of the road, he follows the common track. In all this there is an +admirable contrast, and a moral that strikes every reader at first +sight. + +[Commentators are extremely in the dark, and even Aristarchus seems to +have attempted an explanation in vain. The translator does not pretend +to have ascertained the distance intended, but only to have given a +distance suited to the occasion.]—Tr. + +Ulysses makes no promise of life, but artfully bids Dolon, who is +overpowered by fear, not to think of death. He was so cautious as not +to believe a friend just before without an oath, but he trusts an enemy +without even a promise. + +['Οσσαι γαρ Τρωων πυρος εσχαραι—As many as are owners of hearths—that +is to say, all who are householders here, or natives of the city.]—Tr + +It seems barbarous in Diomede thus to have killed Dolon, but Eustathius +observes that it was necessary to their success, as his cries might +have put the Trojans on their guard. + +An allegorical manner of saying that they were awakened by the morning +light. + +[Homer did not here forget himself, though some have altered +τρις ιο τετρακαιδεκατον.—Rhesus for distinction sake is not numbered +with his people—See Villoisson _in loco_.]—Tr. + + + + +Footnotes for Book XI: + + +Cynyras was king of Cyprus, and this probably alludes to some +historical fact. Cyprus was famous for its minerals. + +[Τρεις εκατερθ'—three on a side, This is evidently the proper +punctuation, though it differs from that of all the editions that I +have seen. I find it no where but in the _Venetian Scholium_.]—Tr. + +It is finely remarked by Trollope, that, of all the points of +resemblance which may be discovered between the sentiments, +associations and expressions of Homer, and those of the sacred +writings, this similitude is perhaps the most striking; and there can +be little doubt that it exhibits a traditional vestige of the +patriarchal record of God’s covenant.—Felton. + +[Quâtre-crested. So I have rendered +τετραφαληρον which literally signifies having four cones. The cone was +a tube into which the crest was inserted. The word quâtre-crested may +need a precedent for its justification, and seems to have a sufficient +one in the cinque-spotted cowslip of Shakspeare.]—Tr. + +[This seems the proper import of +εγδουπησαν. Jupiter is called +εριγδουτος.]—Tr. + +[The translator follows Clarke in this interpretation of a passage to +us not very intelligible.] + +The ancient manner of mowing and reaping was, for the laborers to +divide in two parties, and to begin at each end of the field, which was +equally divided, and proceed till they met in the middle of it. + +Time was then measured by the progression of the sun, and the parts of +the day were distinguished by the various employments. + +[ολμος.] + +[The Grecians at large are indiscriminately called Danaï, Argives, and +Achaians, in the original. The Phthians in particular—Hellenes. They +were the troops of Achilles.]—Tr. + +[Ανεμοτρεφες—literally—wind-nourished.]—Tr. + +In making Ulysses direct Diomede, Homer intends to show that valor +should be under the guidance of wisdom. In the 8th Book, when Diomede +could hardly be restrained by the thunder of Jupiter, his valor is +checked by the wisdom of Nestor. + +Diomede does not fear Hector, but Jupiter, who, he has previously said, +will give the Trojans the day. + +[In the original—κερα αγλαε.—All that I pretend to know of this +expression is that it is ironical, and may relate either to the +head-dress of Paris, or to his archership. To translate it is +impossible; to paraphrase it, in a passage of so much emotion, would be +absurd. I have endeavored to supply its place by an appellation in +point of contempt equal.]—Tr. + +No moral is so evident throughout the Iliad, as the dependence of man +upon divine assistance and protection. Apollo saves Hector from the +dart, and Minerva Ulysses. + +Homer here pays a marked distinction. The army had seen several of +their bravest heroes wounded, yet without expressing as much concern as +at the danger of Machaon, their physician and surgeon. + +[This interpretation of—μινυνθα δε χαζετο δουρος—is taken from the +Scholium by Villoisson. It differs from those of Clarke, Eustathius, +and another Scholiast quoted by Clarke, but seems to suit the context +much better than either.]—Tr. + +The address of Homer in bringing off Ajax is admirable. He makes Hector +afraid to approach him, and brings down Jupiter to terrify him. Thus he +retreats, not from a mortal, but from a God. + +The whole passage is inimitably just and beautiful. We see Ajax slowly +retreating between two armies, and even with a look repulse the one and +protect the other. Every line resembles Ajax. The character of a +stubborn and undaunted warrior is perfectly maintained. He compares him +first to the lion for his undaunted spirit in fighting, and then to the +ass for his stubborn slowness in retreating. In the latter comparison +there are many points of resemblance that enliven the image. The havoc +he makes in the field is represented by the tearing and trampling down +the harvests; and we see the bulk, strength, and obstinancy of the +hero, when the Trojans, in respect to him, are compared to the troops +of boys that impotently endeavor to drive him away. + +It must be borne in mind that among the people of the East, an ass was +a beast upon which kings and princes might ride with dignity. + +Though the resentment of Achilles would not permit him to be an actor +in the field, yet his love of war inclines him to be a spectator. As +the poet did not intend to draw the character of a perfect man in +Achilles, he makes him delighted with the destruction of the Greeks, +because it gratified his revenge. That resentment which is the subject +of the poem, still presides over every other feeling, even the love of +his country. He begins now to pity his countrymen, yet he seems +gratified by their distress, because it will contribute to his glory. + +This onion was very different from the root which now passes under that +name. It had a sweet flavor, and was used to impart an agreeable flavor +to wine. It is in high repute at the present day in Egypt.—Felton. + +[I have interpreted the very ambiguous words +ουω δ' υπο πυθμενες ησαν according to Athenæus as quoted by Clarke, and +his interpretation of them is confirmed by the Scholium in the Venetian +edition of the Iliad, lately published by Villoisson.]—Tr. + +Homer here reminds the reader, that Nestor belonged to a former +generation of men, who were stronger than the heroes of the war. + +[It would have suited the dignity of Agamemnon’s rank to have mentioned +_his_ wound first; but Nestor making this recital to the _friend of +Achilles_, names him slightly, and without any addition.]—Tr. + +[It is said that the Thebans having war with the people of Orchomenos, +the Pylians assisted the latter, for which cause Hercules destroyed +their city.—See Scholium per Villoisson.]—Tr. + + + + +Footnotes for Book XII: + + +[The word is of scripture use; see Gen. ch. xxx. where it describes the +cattle of Jacob.]—Tr. + +[Alluding to the message delivered to him from Jupiter by Iris.]—Tr. + +The morality of the Iliad deserves particular attention. It is not +_perfect_, upon Christian principles. How should it be under the +circumstances of the composition of the poem? Yet, compared with that +of all the rest of the classical poetry, it is of a transcendently +noble and generous character. The answer of Hector to Polydamas, who +would have dissuaded a further prosecution of the Trojan success, has +been repeated by many of the most devoted patriots the world ever saw. +_We_, who defy augury in these matters, can yet add nothing to the +nobleness of the sentiment.—H.N. Coleridge. + +[πλεονων δε τοι εργον αμεινον.—This is evidently proverbial, for which +reason I have given it that air in the translation.]—Tr. + +There is something touching in this simile. Our attention is fixed, not +so much on the battle, as on the struggles of the laboring, +true-hearted woman, who toils for a hard-earned pittance for her +children. The description is not so much illustrated by the simile, as +the simile by the description.—Felton. + +The description of this exploit of Hector is wonderfully imposing. It +seems to be the poet’s wish to magnify his deeds during the short +period that he has yet to live, both to do justice to the hero of Troy, +and to give the greater glory to Achilles his conquerer.—Felton. + + + + +Footnotes for Book XIII: + + +We are hurried through this book by the warlike ardor of the poet. +Battle succeeds battle with animating rapidity. The speeches are in +fine keeping with the scenes, and the similes are drawn from the most +imposing natural phenomena. The descriptions possess a wonderful +distinctness and vigor, presenting the images to the mind by a few bold +and grand lines, thus shunning the confusion of intricate and minute +detail.—Felton. + +So called from their simple diet, consisting principally of mare’s +milk. They were a people living on the north-east coast of the Euxine +Sea. These epithets are sometimes supposed to be the _gentile_ +denominations of the different tribes; but they are all susceptible of +interpretation as epithets applied to the Hippemolgi.—Felton. + +[For this admirable line the translator is indebted to Mr. Fuseli.]—Tr. + +The following simile is considered by critics as one of the finest in +Homer. + +[A fitter occasion to remark on this singular mode of approach in +battle, will present itself hereafter.]—Tr. + +[The bodies of Imbrius and Amphimachus.] + +[Amphimachus.] + +This is a noble passage. The difference between the conduct of the +brave man and that of the coward is drawn with great vigor and +beauty.—Felton. + +[Hypsenor.] + +[This seems to be he meaning ofεν μεγαρω an expression similar to that +of Demosthenes in a parallel case—ετι ενδον ουσαν.—See +Schaufelburgerus.]—Tr + +[He is said to have been jealous of him on account of his great +popularity, and to have discountenanced him, fearing a conspiracy in +his favor to the prejudice of his own family.—See Villoisson.]—Tr. + +[The Iäonianans were a distinct people from the Ionians, and according +to the Scholium, separated from them by a pillar bearing on opposite +sides the name of each.—See Barnes. See also Villoisson.]—Tr. + +[The people of Achilles were properly called the Phthiotæ, whereas the +Phthians belonged to Protesiläus and Philoctetes.—See Eustathius, as +quoted by Clarke.]—Tr. + +This simile is derived from one of the most familiar sights among a +simple people. It is extremely natural, and its propriety will be +peculiarly striking to those who have had occasion to see a yoke of +oxen plowing in a hot day.—Felton. + +[Achilles.] + +[This, according to Eustathius, is the import of +αμοιβοι.—See Iliad III., in which Priam relates an expedition of his +into that country.]—Tr. + + + + +Footnotes for Book XIV: + + +The beauty of this simile will be lost to those who have never been at +sea during a calm. The water is then not quite motionless, but swells +gently in smooth waves, which fluctuate in a balancing motion, until a +rising wind gives them a certain determination. Every circumstance of +the comparison is just, as well as beautiful. + +Anointing the body with perfumed oil was a remarkable part of ancient +cosmetics. It was probably an eastern invention, agreeable to the +luxury of the Asiatics. + +A footstool was considered a mark of honor. + +In accordance with the doctrine of Thales the Milesian, that all things +are generated from water, and nourished by the same element. + +[Hercules.] + +Night was venerated, both for her antiquity and power. + +[One of the heads of Ida.] + +A bird about the size of a hawk, and entirely black. + +By Juno is understood the air, and it is allegorically said that she +was nourished by the vapors that rise from the ocean and the earth. +Tethys being the same as Rhea. + +[Europa.] + +An evident allusion to the ether and the atmosphere.—E.P.P. + + + + +Footnotes for Book XV: + + +[The translator seizes the opportunity afforded to him by this +remarkable passage, to assure his readers who are not readers of the +original, that the discipline which Juno is here said to have suffered +from the hands of Jove, is not his own invention. He found it in the +original, and considering fidelity as his indispensable duty, has not +attempted to soften or to refine away the matter. He begs that this +observation may be adverted to as often as any passage shall occur in +which ancient practices or customs, not consonant to our own, either in +point of delicacy or humanity, may be either expressed or alluded to. + +He makes this request the rather, because on these occasions Mr. Pope +has observed a different conduct, suppressing all such images as he had +reason to suppose might be offensive.]—Tr. + +The earliest form of an oath seems to have been by the elements of +nature, or rather the deities who preside over them.—Trollope. + +In the following speech, Jupiter discloses the future events of the +war. + +The illustration in the following lines is one of the most beautiful in +Homer. The rapid passage of Juno is compared to the speed of thought, +by which a traveller revisits in imagination the scenes over which he +has passed. No simile could more exalt the power of the +Goddess.—Felton. + +The picture is strikingly true to nature. The smile upon the lip, and +frown upon the brow, express admirably the state of mind in which the +Goddess must be supposed to have been at this moment.—Felton. + +[_To tempest_—κυδοιμησων—Milton uses _tempest_ as a verb. Speaking of +the fishes, he says + +... part, huge of bulk +Wallowing unwieldy, enormous in their gait, +_Tempest_ the ocean. + +]—Tr. + +The Furies are said to wait upon men in a double sense; either for +evil; as upon Orestes after he had killed his mother, or else for their +good, as upon elders when they are injured, to protect them and avenge +their wrongs. The ancients considered birth-right as a right divine. + +[Τρωες δε προυτυψαν αολλεες. The translation is literal, and affords +one of many instances in which the Greek and English idiom correspond +exactly.]—Tr. + +[Arcesilaüs.] + +[This abruptness of transition from the third person to the first, +follows the original.] + +[The translator hopes that his learned readers will pardon him, if +sometimes, to avoid an irksome cacophony, he turns brass into steel. In +fact, arrow had not a point of steel, but a brazen one.]—Tr. + +This sentiment is noble and patriotic. It is in strict keeping with the +character of Hector, who always appears as his country’s champion, and +ready to die in her defence. Our sympathies go with him; we +involuntarily wish him success, and deplore his misfortune, though we +admire the invincible courage of his more fortunate antagonist. His +actions and sentiments, springing from the simplest feelings of our +nature, will always command applause, and, under all circumstances, and +every form of political existence, will be imitated by the defenders of +their country. + +The speech of Ajax is animating and powerful. It is conceived in the +true spirit of a warrior rousing his followers to make a last effort to +repel the enemy.—Felton. + +[Meges.] + +Hector is here represented as an instrument in the hand of Jupiter, to +bring about the design the God had long ago projected. As his fatal +hour now approaches, Jove is willing to recompense his early death with +this short-lived glory. + +It may be asked what Pallas has to do with the Fates, or what power has +she over them? Homer speaks thus, because Minerva has already resolved +to deceive Hector and exalt Achilles. Pallas, as the wisdom and +knowledge of Jove, may be considered as drawing all things to the +termination decreed by his councils. + +[This termination of the period, so little consonant to the beginning +of it, follows the original, where it is esteemed by commentators a +great beauty.]—Tr. + + + + +Footnotes for Book XVI: + + +[This translation of +δνοφερον is warranted by the Scholiast, who paraphrases it thus: + + +μετα δονησεως φερομενον. +_Iliad per Vill._] + +The friendship of Achilles and Patroclus was celebrated by all +antiquity. It is said in the life of Alexander the Great, that when +that prince visited the monuments of the heroes of Troy, and placed a +crown upon the tomb of Achilles, his friend Hephæstion placed another +on that of Patroclus; an intimation of his being to Alexander, what +Patroclus was to Achilles. It is also said, that Alexander remarked, +“Achilles was happy indeed, in having had such a friend to love him +when living, and such a poet to celebrate him when dead.” + +[περιαγνυται. A word of incomparable force, and that defies +translation.] + +This charge is in keeping with the ambitious character of Achilles. He +is unwilling that even his dearest friend should have the honor of +conquering Hector. + +The picture of the situation of Ajax, exhausted by his efforts, pressed +by the arms of his assailants and the will of Jupiter, is drawn with +much graphic power.—Felton. + +Argus-slayer. + +The mythi which we find in the Iliad respecting Mercury, represent him +as the god who blessed the land with fertility, which was his attribute +in the original worship. He is represented as loving the daughter of +Phthiotian Phylas, the possessor of many herds, and by her had Eudorus +(or riches) whom the aged Phylas fostered and brought up in his +house—quite a significant local mythus, which is here related, like +others in the usual tone of heroic mythology.—Muller. + +This passage is an exact description and perfect ritual of the +ceremonies on these occasions. Achilles, urgent as the case was, would +not suffer Patroclus to enter the fight, till he had in the most solemn +manner recommended him to the protection of Jupiter. + +[Meges.] + +[Brother of Antilochus.] + +[αμαιμακετην—is a word which I can find nowhere satisfactorily derived. +Perhaps it is expressive of great length, and I am the more inclined to +that sense of it, because it is the epithet given to the mast on which +Ulysses floated to Charybdis. We must in that case derive it from +αμα and μηκος Doricè, μακος—longitudo. + +In this uncertainty I thought myself free to translate it as I have, by +the word—monster.]—Tr. + +[Apollonius says that the +οστεα λευκα here means the οπονδυλους, or vertebræ of the neck.—See +Villoisson.]—Tr. + +['Αμιτροχιτονας is a word, according to Clarke, descriptive of their +peculiar habit. Their corselet, and the mail worn under it, were of a +piece, and put on together. To them therefore the cincture or belt of +the Greeks was unnecessary.]—Tr. + +According to the history or fable received in Homer’s time, Sarpedon +was interred in Lycia. This gave the poet the liberty of making him die +at Troy, provided that after his death he was carried into Lycia, to +preserve the fable. In those times, as at this day, princes and persons +of rank who died abroad, were carried to their own country to be laid +in the tomb of their fathers. Jacob, when dying in Egypt, desired his +children to carry him to the land of Canaan, where he wished to be +buried. + +[Sarpedon certainly was not slain _in the fleet_, neither can the Greek +expression νεων εν αγωνι be with propriety interpreted—_in certamine de +navibus_—as Clarke and Mme. Dacier are inclined to render it. _Juvenum +in certamine_, seems equally an improbable sense of it. Eustathius, +indeed, and Terrasson, supposing Sarpedon to assert that he dies in the +middle of the fleet (which was false in fact) are kind enough to +vindicate Homer by pleading in his favor, that Sarpedon, being in the +article of death, was delirious, and knew not, in reality, where he +died. But Homer, however he may have been charged with now and then a +nap (a crime of which I am persuaded he is never guilty) certainly does +not slumber here, nor needs to be so defended. 'Αγων in the 23d Iliad, +means the _whole extensive area_ in which the games were exhibited, and +may therefore here, without any strain of the expression, be understood +to signify the _whole range of shore_ on which the ships were +stationed. In which case Sarpedon represents the matter as it was, +saying that he dies—νεων εν αγωνι—that is, in the neighborhood of the +ships, and in full prospect of them. + +The translator assumes not to himself the honor of this judicious +remark. It belongs to Mr. Fuseli.]—Tr. + +[λασιν κηρ.] + +The clouds of thick dust that rise from beneath the feet of the +combatants, which hinder them from knowing one another. + +[Υπασπιδια προβιβωντος. A similar expression occurs in Book xiii., 158. +There we read υπασπιδια προποδιζων. Which is explained by the Scholiast +in Villoisson to signify—advancing with quick, short steps, and at the +same time covering the feet with a shield. A practice which, unless +they bore the +αμφιβροτην ασπιδα, must necessarily leave the upper parts exposed. + +It is not improbable, though the translation is not accommodated to +that conjecture, that Æneas, in his following speech to Meriones, calls +him, +ορχηστην, with a view to the agility with which he performed this +particular step in battle.]—Tr. + +[Two lines occurring here in the original which contain only the same +matter as the two preceding, and which are found neither in the MSS. +use by Barnes nor in the Harleian, the translator has omitted them in +his version as interpolated and superfluous.]—Tr. + +[Ιρα ταλαντα—_Voluntatem Jovis cui cedendum_—So it is interpreted is +the Scholium MSS. Lipsiensis.—Vide Schaufelbergerus.]—Tr. + +It is an opinion of great antiquity, that when the soul is on the point +of leaving the body, its views become stronger and clearer, and the +mind is endowed with a spirit of true prediction. + + + + +Footnotes for Book XVII: + + +In the chase, the spoils of the prey, the hide and head of the animal, +belonged to the one who gave the first wound. So in war—the one who +first pierced an enemy slain in battle, was entitled to his armor. + +[The expediency and utility of prayer, Homer misses no opportunity of +enforcing. Cold and comfortless as the religious creed of the heathens +was, they were piously attentive to its dictates, and to a degree that +may serve as a reproof to many professed believers of revelation. The +allegorical history of prayer, given us in the 9th Book of the Iliad +from the lips of Phœnix, the speech of Antilochus in the 23d, in which +he ascribes the ill success of Eumelus in the chariot race to his +neglect of prayer, and that of Pisistratus in the 3d book of the +Odyssey, where speaking of the newly-arrived Telemachus, he says; + +For I deem + Him wont to pray; since all of every land + Need succor from the Gods; + +are so many proofs of the truth of this remark; to which a curious +reader might easily add a multitude.]—Tr. + +[There is no word in our language expressive of loud sound at all +comparable in effect to the Greek _Bo-o-osin_. I have therefore +endeavored by the juxta-position of two words similar in sound, to +palliate in some degree defect which it was not in my power to +cure.]—Tr. + +[Or collar-bone.] + +[The proper meaning of +επιοσαομενω—is not simply _looking on_, but _providing against_. And +thus their ignorance of the death of Patroclus is accounted for. They +were ordered by Nestor to a post in which they should have little to do +themselves, except to superintend others, and were consequently too +remote from Patroclus to see him fall, or even to hear that he had +fallen.—See Villoisson.]—Tr. + +This is one of the similes of Homer which illustrates the manners and +customs of his age. The mode of preparing hides for use is particularly +described. They were first softened with oil, and then were stretched +every direction by the hands of men, so that the moisture might be +removed and the oil might penetrate them. Considered in the single +point of comparison intended, it gives a lively picture of the struggle +on all sides to get possession of the body.—Felton. + +This is the proper imperfect of the verb _chide_, though modern usage +has substituted _chid_, a word of mean and awkward sound, in the place +of it. + +This alludes to the custom of placing columns upon tombs, on which were +frequently represented chariots with two or four horses. The horses +standing still to mourn for their master, could not be more finely +represented than by the dumb sorrow of images standing over a tomb. +Perhaps the very posture in which these horses are described, their +heads bowed down, and their manes falling in the dust, has an allusion +to the attitude in which those statues on monuments were usually +represented; there are bas-reliefs that favor this conjecture. + +[The Latin plural of Ajax is sometimes necessary, because the English +plural—Ajaxes—would be insupportable.]—Tr. + +[Leïtus was another chief of the Bœotians.]—Tr. + +[Διφρω εφεσταοτος—Yet we learn soon after that he fought on foot. But +the Scholiast explains the expression thus—νεωστι τω διφωω επιβαντος. +The fact was that Idomeneus had left the camp on foot, and was on foot +when Hector prepared to throw at him. But Cœranus, charioteer of +Meriones, observing his danger, drove instantly to his aid. Idomeneus +had just time to mount, and the spear designed for him, struck +Cœranus.—For a right understanding of this very intricate and difficult +passage, I am altogether indebted to the Scholiast as quoted by +Villoisson.]—Tr. + +[The translator here follows the interpretation preferred by the +Scholiast. The original expression is ambiguous, and may signify, +either, that _we shall perish in the fleet ourselves_, or that Hector +will soon be in the midst of it. Vide Villoisson _in loco_.]—Tr. + +[A noble instance of the heroism of Ajax, who asks not deliverance from +the Trojans, or that he may escape alive, but light only, without which +be could not possibly distinguish himself. The tears of such a warrior, +and shed for such a reason, are singularly affecting.]—Tr. + + + + +Footnotes for Book XVIII: + + +This speech of Antilochus may serve as a model for its brevity. + +This form of manifesting grief is frequently alluded to in the +classical writers, and sometimes in the Bible. The lamentation of +Achilles is in the spirit of the heroic times, and the poet describes +it with much simplicity. The captives join in the lamentation, perhaps +in the recollection of his gentleness, which has before been alluded +to.—Felton. + +[Here it is that the drift of the whole poem is fulfilled. The evils +consequent on the quarrel between him and Agamemnon, at last teach +Achilles himself this wisdom—that wrath and strife are criminal and +pernicious; and the confession is extorted from his own lips, that the +lesson may be the more powerfully inculcated. To point the instruction +to leaders of armies only, is to narrow its operation unnecessarily. +The moral is of universal application, and the poet’s beneficent +intentions are wronged by one so partial.]—Tr. + +The promise of Thetis to present her son with a suit of armor, was the +most artful method of hindering him from putting immediately in +practice his resolution of fighting, which, with his characteristic +violence, he would otherwise have done. + +[The sun is said to set with reluctance, because his setting-time was +not yet come. Jupiter had promised Hector that he should prevail till +the sun should go down, and _sacred darkness cover all_. Juno +therefore, impatient to arrest the victor’s progress, and having no +other means of doing it, shortens the time allotted him.]—Tr. + +[καταδημοβορησαι.] + +This custom of washing the dead is continued among the Greeks to this +day, and is performed by the dearest friend or relative. The body is +then anointed with a perfume, and covered with linen, exactly in the +manner here related. + +Among the Greeks, visitors of rank are still honored in the same +manner, by being set apart from the rest of the company, on a high +seat, with a footstool. + +['Ανεδραμε.] + +The description of the shield of Achilles is one of the noblest +passages in the Iliad. It is elaborated to the highest finish of +poetry. The verse is beautifully harmonious, and the language as nicely +chosen and as descriptive as can be conceived. But a still stronger +interest belongs to this episode when considered as an exact +representation of life at a very early period of the world, as it +undoubtedly was designed by the poet. + +It is certainly a most remarkable passage for the amount of information +it conveys relative to the state of arts, and the general condition of +life at that period. From many intimations in the ancient authors, it +may be gathered, that shields were often adorned by deities of figures +in bas-relief, similar to those here described. In particular, see +Æschylus in the Seven against Thebes. A close examination of the whole +passage will lead to many curious inductions and inferences relative to +the ancient world, and throw much light upon points which are elsewhere +left in great obscurity.—Felton. + +Murder was not always punished with death or even banishment. But on +the payment of a fine, the criminal was allowed to remain in the city. + +Linus was the most ancient name in poetry, the first upon record as +inventor of verse and measure among the Grecians. There was a solemn +custom among the Greeks, of bewailing annually their first poet. +Pausanias informs us, that before the yearly sacrifice to the Muses on +Mount Helicon, the obsequies of Linus were performed, who had a statue +and altar erected to him in that place. In this passage Homer is +supposed to allude to that custom. + +See article Theseus, Gr. and Rom. Mythology. + +There were two kinds of dance—the Pyrrhic, and the common dance; both +are here introduced. The Pyrrhic, or military, is performed by Youths +wearing swords, the other by the virgins crowned with garlands. The +Grecian dance is still performed in this manner in the oriental +nations. The youths and maidens dance in a ring, beginning slowly; by +degrees the music plays in quicker time, till at last they dance with +the utmost swiftness; and towards the conclusion, they sing in a +general chorus. + +The point of comparison is this. When the potter first tries the wheel +to see “if it will run,” he moves it much faster than when at work. +Thus it illustrates the rapidity of the dance.—Felton. + + + + +Footnotes for Book XIX: + + +[Brave men are great weepers—was a proverbial saying in Greece. +Accordingly there are few of Homer’s heroes who do not weep plenteously +on occasion. True courage is doubtless compatible with the utmost +sensibility. See Villoisson.]—Tr. + +The fear with which the divine armor filled the Myrmidons, and the +exaltation of Achilles, the terrible gleam of his eye, and his +increased desire for revenge, are highly poetical.—Felton. + +The ancients had a great horror of putrefaction previous to interment. + +[Achilles in the first book also summons a council himself, and not as +was customary, by a herald. It seems a stroke of character, and +intended by the poet to express the impetuosity of his spirit, too +ardent for the observance of common forms, and that could trust no one +for the dispatch he wanted.]—Tr. + +['Ασπασιως γονυ καμψειν.—Shall be glad to bend their knee, i.e. to sit +and repose themselves.]—Tr. + +[Τουτον μυθον.—He seems to intend the reproaches sounded in his ear +from all quarters, and which he had repeatedly heard before.]—Tr. + +[By some call’d Antibia, by others, Nicippe.]—Tr. + +It was unlawful to eat the flesh of victims that were sacrificed in +confirmation of oaths. Such were victims of malediction. + +Nothing can be more natural than the representation of these unhappy +young women; who, weary of captivity, take occasion from every mournful +occurrence to weep afresh, though in reality little interested in the +objects that call forth these expressions of sorrow.—Dacier. + +Son of Deidameia, daughter of Lycomedes, in whose house Achilles was +concealed at the time when he was led forth to the war. + +[We are not warranted in accounting any practice unnatural or absurd, +merely because it does not obtain among ourselves. I know not that any +historian has recorded this custom of the Grecians, but that it was a +custom among them occasionally to harangue their horses, we may assure +ourselves on the authority of Homer, who would not have introduced such +speeches, if they could have appeared as strange to his countrymen as +they do to us.]—Tr. + +Hence it seems, that too great an insight into futurity, or the +revelation of more than was expedient, was prevented by the +Furies.—Trollope. + + + + +Footnotes for Book XX: + + +[This rising ground was five stadia in circumference, and was between +the river Simois and a village named Ilicon, in which Paris is said to +have decided between the goddesses. It was called Callicolone, being +the most conspicuous ground in the neighborhood of the +city.—Villoisson.]—Tr. + +[Iris is the messenger of the gods on ordinary occasions, Mercury on +those of importance. But Themis is now employed, because the affair in +question is a council, and to assemble and dissolve councils is her +peculiar Province. The return of Achilles is made as magnificent as +possible. A council in heaven precedes it, and a battle of the gods is +the consequence.—Villoisson.]—Tr. + +[The readiness of Neptune to obey the summons is particularly noticed, +on account of the resentment he so lately expressed, when commanded by +Jupiter to quit the battle.—Villoisson.]—Tr. + +The description of the battle of the gods is strikingly grand. Jupiter +thunders in the heavens, Neptune shakes the boundless earth and the +high mountain-tops; Ida rocks on its base, and the city of the Trojans +and the ships of the Greeks tremble; and Pluto leaps from his throne in +terror, lest his loathsome dominions should be laid open to mortals and +immortals.—Felton. + +[The Leleges were a colony of Thessalians, and the first inhabitants of +the shores of the Hellespont.]—Tr. + +Hector was the son of Priam, who descended from Ilus, and Æneas the son +of Anchises, whose descent was from Assaracus, the brother of Ilus. + +This dialogue between Achilles and Æneas, when on the point of battle, +as well as several others of a similar description, have been censured +as improbable and impossible. The true explanation is to be found in +the peculiar character of war in the heroic age. A similar passage has +been the subject of remark.—Felton. + +[Some commentators, supposing the golden plate the outermost as the +most ornamental, have perplexed themselves much with this passage, for +how, say they, could two folds be pierced and the spear be stopped by +the gold, if the gold lay on the surface? But to avoid the difficulty, +we need only suppose that the gold was inserted between the two plates +of brass and the two of tin; Vulcan, in this particular, having +attended less to ornament than to security. + +See the Scholiast in Villoisson, who argues at large in favor of this +opinion.]—Tr. + +Tmolus was a mountain of Lydia, and Hyda a city of the same country. +The Gygæan lake was also in Lydia. + +[Neptune. So called, either because he was worshiped on Helicon, a +mountain of Bœotia, or from Helice, an island of Achaia, where he had a +temple.]—Tr. +If the bull bellowed as he was led to the altar, it was considered a +favorable omen. Hence the simile.—Felton. + +[It is an amiable trait in the character of Hector, that his pity in +this instance supercedes his caution, and that at the sight of his +brother in circumstances so affecting, he becomes at once inattentive +to himself and the command of Apollo.]—Tr. + + + + +Footnotes for Book XXI: + + +The scene is now entirely changed, and the battle diversified with a +vast variety of imagery and description. It is worthy of notice, that +though the whole war of the Iliad was upon the banks of these rivers, +yet Homer has reserved the machinery of the river-gods to aggrandize +his hero in this battle. There is no book in the poem which exhibits +greater force of imagination, none in which the inexhaustible invention +of the poet is more powerfully exerted. + +The swarms of locusts that sometimes invade whole countries in the +East, have often been described. It seems that the ancient mode of +exterminating them was, to kindle a fire, and thus drive them into a +lake or river. The simile illustrates in the most striking manner the +panic caused by Achilles.—Felton. + +According to the Scholiast, Arisba was a city of Thrace, and near to +the Hellespont; but according to Eustathius, a city of Troas, inhabited +by a colony from Mitylene. + +It was an ancient custom to cast living horses into rivers, to honor, +as it were, the rapidity of their streams. + +This gives us an idea of the superior strength of Achilles. His spear +pierced so deep in the ground, that another hero of great strength +could not disengage it, but immediately after, Achilles draws it with +the utmost ease. + +['Ακροκελαινιοων.—The beauty and force of this word are wonderful; I +have in vain endeavored to do it justice.]—Tr. + +[The reason given in the Scholium is, that the surface being hardened +by the wind, the moisture remains unexhaled from beneath, and has time +to saturate the roots.—See Villoisson.]—Tr. + +[Αμβολαδην.] + +Homer represents Aphrodite as the protector of Æneas, and in the battle +of the Trojans, Ares appears in a disadvantageous light; the weakness +of the goddess, and the brutal confidence of the god are described with +evident irony. In like manner Diana and the river-god Scamander +sometimes play a very undignified part. Apollo alone uniformly +maintains his dignity.—Muller. + +This is a very beautiful soliloquy of Agenor, such as would naturally +arise in the soul of a brave man going upon a desperate enterprise. +From the conclusion it is evident, that the story of Achilles being +invulnerable except in the heel, is an invention of a later age. + + + + +Footnotes for Book XXII: + + +This simile is very striking. It not only describes the appearance of +Achilles, but is peculiarly appropriate because the star was supposed +to be of evil omen, and to bring with it disease and destruction. So +Priam beholds Achilles, splendid with the divine armor, and the +destined slayer of his son.—Felton. + +The usual cruelties practised in the sacking of towns. Isaiah foretells +to Babylon, that her children shall be dashed in pieces by the Medes. +David says to the same city, “Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth +thy little ones against the stones.”—Ps. c22vii. 9. + +It was supposed that venomous serpents were accustomed to eat poisonous +roots and plants before attacking their victims.—Felton. + +This speech of Hector shows the fluctuation of his mind, with much +discernment on the part of the poet. He breaks out, after having +apparently meditated a return to the city. But the imagined reproaches +of Polydamas, and the anticipated scorn of the Trojans forbid it. He +soliloquizes upon the possibility of coming to terms with Achilles, and +offering him large concessions; but the character of Achilles precludes +all hope of reconciliation. It is a fearful crisis with him, and his +mind wavers, as if presentient of his approaching doom.—Felton. + +[The repetition follows the original, and the Scholiast is of opinion +that Homer uses it here that he may express more emphatically the +length to which such conferences are apt to proceed.—Δια την πολυλογιαν +τη αναληψε εχρησατο.]—Tr. + +[It grew near to the tomb of Ilus.] + +The Scamander ran down the eastern side of Ida, and at the distance of +three stadia from Troy, making a subterraneous dip, it passed under the +walls and rose again in the form of the two fountains here +described—from which fountains these rivulets are said to have +proceeded. + +It was the custom of that age to have cisterns by the side of rivers +and fountains, to which the women, including the wives and daughters of +kings and princes, resorted to wash their garments. + +Sacrifices were offered to the gods upon the hills and mountains, or, +in the language of scripture, upon the _high places_, for the people +believed that the gods inhabited such eminences. + +[The numbers in the original are so constructed as to express the +painful struggle that characterizes such a dream.]—Tr. + +[προπροκυλινδομενος.] + +The whole circumference of ancient Troy is said to have measured sixty +stadia. A stadium measured one hundred and twenty-five paces. + +[The knees of the conqueror were a kind of sanctuary to which the +vanquished fled for refuge.]—Tr. + +[The lines of which these three are a translation, are supposed by some +to have been designed for the Επινικιον, or song of victory sung by the +whole army.]—Tr. + +[It was a custom in Thessaly to drag the slayer around the tomb of the +slain; which custom was first begun by Simon, whose brother being +killed by Eurydamas, he thus treated the body of the murderer. Achilles +therefore, being a Thessalian, when he thus dishonors Hector, does it +merely in compliance with the common practice of his country.]—Tr. + +[It is an observation of the Scholiast, that two more affecting +spectacles cannot be imagined, than Priam struggling to escape into the +field, and Andromache to cast herself from the wall; for so he +understands +ατυζομενην απολεσθαι.]—Tr. + +A figurative expression. In the style of the orientals, marrow and +fatness are taken for whatever is best, most tender, and most +delicious. + +Homer is in nothing more excellent than in the distinction of +characters, which he maintains throughout the poem. What Andromache +here says, cannot be said with propriety by any one but Andromache. + + + + +Footnotes for Book XXIII: + + +According to the oriental custom. David mourns in the same manner, +refusing to wash or take any repast, and lies upon the earth. + +[Bacchus having hospitably entertained Vulcan in the island of Naxos, +one of the Cyclades, received from him a cup as a present; but being +driven afterward by Lycurgus into the sea, and kindly protected by +Thetis, he presented her with this work of Vulcan, which she gave to +Achilles for a receptacle of his bones after death.]—Tr. + +[The funeral pile was a square of a hundred feet on each side.]—Tr. + +The ceremony of cutting off the hair in honor of the dead, was +practised not only among the Greeks, but among other nations. Ezekiel +describing a great lamentation, says, “They shall make themselves +utterly bald for thee.” ch. xxvii. 31. If it was the general custom of +any country to wear long hair, then the cutting it off was a token of +sorrow; but if the custom was to wear it short, then letting it grow, +in neglect, was a sign of mourning. + +It was the custom of the ancients not only to offer their own hair to +the river-gods of their country, but also the hair of their children. +In Egypt hair was consecrated to the Nile. + +[Westering wheel.—Milton.] + +[Himself and the Myrmidons.] + +[That the body might be the more speedily consumed. The same end was +promoted by the flagons of oil and honey.]—Tr. + +Homer here introduces the gods of the winds in person, and as Iris, or +the rainbow, is a sign of winds, they are made to come at her bidding. + +[Such it appears to have been in the sequel.]—Tr. + +[Φιαλη—a vessel, as Athenæus describes it, made for the purpose of +warming water. It was formed of brass, and expanded somewhat in the +shape of a broad leaf.]—Tr. + +The poet omits no opportunity of paying honor to Nestor. His age has +disabled him from taking an active part in the games, yet, Antilochus +wins, not by the speed of his horses, but by the wisdom of Nestor. + +[This could not happen unless the felly of the wheel were nearly +horizontal to the eye of the spectator, in which case the chariot must +be infallibly overturned.—There is an obscurity in the passage which +none of the commentators explain. The Scholiast, as quoted by Clarke, +attempts an explanation, but, I think, not successfully.]—Tr. + +[Eumelus.] + +[Resentful of the attack made on him by Diomede in the fifth Book.] + +[The twin monster or double man called the Molions. They were sons of +Actor and Molione, and are said to have had two heads with four hands +and four feet, and being so formed were invincible both in battle and +in athletic exercises. Even Hercules could only slay them by stratagem, +which he did when he desolated Elis. See Villoisson.]—Tr. + +[The repetition follows the original.]—Tr. + +[παρακαββαλε.] + + [With which they bound on the cestus.]—Tr. + +[τετριγει—It is a circumstance on which the Scholiast observes that it +denotes in a wrestler the greatest possible bodily strength and +firmness of position.—See Villoisson.]—Tr. + +[I have given what seems to me the most probable interpretation, and +such a one as to any person who has ever witnessed a wrestling-match, +will, I presume, appear intelligible.]—Tr. + +[The Sidonians were celebrated not only as the most ingenious artists +but as great adepts in science, especially in astronomy and +arithmetical calculation.]—Tr. + +[King of Lemnos.] + +[That is to say, Ulysses; who, from the first intending it, had run +close behind him.]—Tr. + +The prodigious weight and size of the quoit is described with the +simplicity of the orientals, and in the manner of the heroic ages. The +poet does not specify the quantity of this enormous piece of iron, but +the use it will be to the winner. We see from hence that the ancients +in the prizes they proposed, had in view not only the honorable but the +useful; a captive for work, a bull for tillage, a quoit for the +provision of iron, which in those days was scarce. + +[The use of this staff was to separate the cattle. It had a string +attached to the lower part of it, which the herdsman wound about his +hand, and by the help of it whirled the staff to a prodigious +distance.—Villoisson.]—Tr. + +[The transition from narrative to dramatic follows the original.]—Tr. + +[Apollo; frequently by Homer called the King without any addition.]—Tr. + +Teucer is eminent for his archery, yet he is excelled by Meriones, who +had not neglected to invoke Apollo the god of archery. + + + + +Footnotes for Book XXIV: + + +This is the first allusion in the Iliad to the _Judgment of Paris_, +which gave mortal offence to Minerva and Juno. On this account it has +been supposed by some that these lines are spurious, on the ground that +Homer could not have known the fable, or he would have mentioned it +earlier in the poem.—Felton. + +[His blessing, if he is properly influenced by it; his curse in its +consequences if he is deaf to its dictates.]—Tr. + +[This is the sense preferred by the Scholiast, for it is not true that +Thetis was always present with Achilles, as is proved by the passage +immediately ensuing.]—Tr. + +[The angler’s custom was, in those days, to guard his line above the +hook from the fishes’ bite, by passing it through a pipe of horn.]—Tr. + +[Jupiter justifies him against Apollo’s charge, affirming him to be +free from those mental defects which chiefly betray men into sin, +folly, improvidence, and perverseness.]—Tr. + +[But, at first, he did fly. It is therefore spoken, as the Scholiast +observes, +φιλοστοργως, and must be understood as the language of strong maternal +affection.]—Tr. + +[κοροιτυπιησιν αριστοι.] + +[Through which the reins were passed.]—Tr. + +[The yoke being flat at the bottom, and the pole round, there would of +course be a small aperture between the band and the pole on both sides, +through which, according to the Scholium in Villoisson, they thrust the +ends of the tackle lest they should dangle.]—Tr. + +[The text here is extremely intricate; as it stands now, the sons are, +first, said to yoke the horses, then Priam and Idæus are said to do it, +and in the palace too. I have therefore adopted an alteration suggested +by Clarke, who with very little violence to the copy, proposes instead +of ζευγνυσθην to read—ζωννυσθην.]—Tr. + +[The words both signify—sable.]—Tr. + +Priam begins not with a display of the treasures he has brought for the +redemption of Hector’s body, but with a pathetic address to the +feelings of Achilles. Homer well knew that neither gold nor silver +would influence the heart of a young and generous warrior, but that +persuasion would. The old king therefore, with a judicious abruptness, +avails himself of his most powerful plea at once, and seizes the +sympathy of the hero, before he has time to recollect who it is that +addresses him. + +[Mortified to see his generosity, after so much kindness shown to +Priam, still distrusted, and that the impatience of the old king +threatened to deprive him of all opportunity to do gracefully what he +could not be expected to do willingly.]—Tr. + +[To control anger argues a great mind—and to avoid occasions that may +betray one into it, argues a still greater. An observation that should +suggest itself to us with no little force, when Achilles, not +remarkable either for patience or meekness, exhorts Priam to beware of +provoking him; and when having cleansed the body of Hector and covered +it, he places it himself in the litter, lest his father, seeing how +indecently he had treated it, should be exasperated at the sight, and +by some passionate reproach exasperate himself also. For that a person +so singularly irascible and of a temper harsh as his, should not only +be aware of his infirmity, but even guard against it with so much +precaution, evidences a prudence truly wonderful.—Plutarch.]—Tr. + +['Επικερτομεων. Clarke renders the word in this place, _falso metû, +ludens,_ and Eustathius says that Achilles suggested such cause of fear +to Priam, to excuse his lodging him in an exterior part of the tent. +The general import of the Greek word is sarcastic, but here it +signifies rather—to intimidate. See also Dacier.]—Tr. + +The poet here shows the importance of Achilles in the army. Agamemnon +is the general, yet all the chief commanders appeal to him for advice, +and on his own authority he promises Priam a cessation of arms. Giving +his hand to confirm the promise, agrees with the custom of the present +day. + +This lament of Andromache may be compared to her pathetic address to +Hector in the scene at the Scæan gate. It forms indeed, a most +beautiful and eloquent pendant to that.—Felton. + +[This, according to the Scholiast, is a probable sense of προσφατος.—He +derives it απο των νεωστι πεφασμενων εκ γης φυτων.—See Villoisson.]—Tr. + +Helen is throughout the Iliad a genuine lady, graceful in motion and +speech, noble in her associations, full of remorse for a fault for +which higher powers seem responsible, yet grateful and affectionate +towards those with whom that fault had connected her. I have always +thought the following speech in which Helen laments Hector and hints at +her own invidious and unprotected situation in Troy, as almost the +sweetest passage in the poem.—H.N. Coleridge. + +[Ως οι γ'αμφιεπον ταφον Εκτορος ιπποδαμοιο.] + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ILIAD *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +concept and trademark. 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