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+*******The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Iliad, by Homer*****
+translated by Samuel Butler
+#3 in our series by Homer
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+The Iliad of Homer
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+translated by Samuel Butler
+
+June, 2000  [Etext #2199]
+[Date first posted: September 18, 1999]
+[Date last updated: December 12, 2004]
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+Produced for PG by Jim Tinsley <jtinsley@pobox.com> from scans
+of the Longmans, Green & Co. 1898 edition made by Norm Wolcott,
+edited from an anonymous transcription found in many places on
+the net.
+
+
+
+
+
+THE ILIAD OF HOMER
+
+Rendered into English Prose for
+the use of those who cannot
+read the original
+
+by Samuel Butler
+
+
+
+
+
+BOOK I
+
+  The quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles--Achilles withdraws
+  from the war, and sends his mother Thetis to ask Jove to help
+  the Trojans--Scene between Jove and Juno on Olympus.
+
+Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that
+brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did
+it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a
+prey to dogs and vultures, for so were the counsels of Jove
+fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men,
+and great Achilles, first fell out with one another.
+
+And which of the gods was it that set them on to quarrel? It was
+the son of Jove and Leto; for he was angry with the king and sent
+a pestilence upon the host to plague the people, because the son
+of Atreus had dishonoured Chryses his priest. Now Chryses had
+come to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter, and had
+brought with him a great ransom: moreover he bore in his hand the
+sceptre of Apollo wreathed with a suppliant's wreath, and he
+besought the Achaeans, but most of all the two sons of Atreus,
+who were their chiefs.
+
+"Sons of Atreus," he cried, "and all other Achaeans, may the gods
+who dwell in Olympus grant you to sack the city of Priam, and to
+reach your homes in safety; but free my daughter, and accept a
+ransom for her, in reverence to Apollo, son of Jove."
+
+On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for
+respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered; but
+not so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly
+away. "Old man," said he, "let me not find you tarrying about our
+ships, nor yet coming hereafter. Your sceptre of the god and your
+wreath shall profit you nothing. I will not free her. She shall
+grow old in my house at Argos far from her own home, busying
+herself with her loom and visiting my couch; so go, and do not
+provoke me or it shall be the worse for you."
+
+The old man feared him and obeyed. Not a word he spoke, but went
+by the shore of the sounding sea and prayed apart to King Apollo
+whom lovely Leto had borne. "Hear me," he cried, "O god of the
+silver bow, that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla and rulest
+Tenedos with thy might, hear me oh thou of Sminthe. If I have
+ever decked your temple with garlands, or burned your thigh-bones
+in fat of bulls or goats, grant my prayer, and let your arrows
+avenge these my tears upon the Danaans."
+
+Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer. He came down
+furious from the summits of Olympus, with his bow and his quiver
+upon his shoulder, and the arrows rattled on his back with the
+rage that trembled within him. He sat himself down away from the
+ships with a face as dark as night, and his silver bow rang death
+as he shot his arrow in the midst of them. First he smote their
+mules and their hounds, but presently he aimed his shafts at the
+people themselves, and all day long the pyres of the dead were
+burning.
+
+For nine whole days he shot his arrows among the people, but upon
+the tenth day Achilles called them in assembly--moved thereto by
+Juno, who saw the Achaeans in their death-throes and had
+compassion upon them. Then, when they were got together, he rose
+and spoke among them.
+
+"Son of Atreus," said he, "I deem that we should now turn roving
+home if we would escape destruction, for we are being cut down by
+war and pestilence at once. Let us ask some priest or prophet, or
+some reader of dreams (for dreams, too, are of Jove) who can tell
+us why Phoebus Apollo is so angry, and say whether it is for some
+vow that we have broken, or hecatomb that we have not offered,
+and whether he will accept the savour of lambs and goats without
+blemish, so as to take away the plague from us."
+
+With these words he sat down, and Calchas son of Thestor, wisest
+of augurs, who knew things past present and to come, rose to
+speak. He it was who had guided the Achaeans with their fleet to
+Ilius, through the prophesyings with which Phoebus Apollo had
+inspired him. With all sincerity and goodwill he addressed them
+thus:--
+
+"Achilles, loved of heaven, you bid me tell you about the anger
+of King Apollo, I will therefore do so; but consider first and
+swear that you will stand by me heartily in word and deed, for I
+know that I shall offend one who rules the Argives with might, to
+whom all the Achaeans are in subjection. A plain man cannot stand
+against the anger of a king, who if he swallow his displeasure
+now, will yet nurse revenge till he has wreaked it. Consider,
+therefore, whether or no you will protect me."
+
+And Achilles answered, "Fear not, but speak as it is borne in
+upon you from heaven, for by Apollo, Calchas, to whom you pray,
+and whose oracles you reveal to us, not a Danaan at our ships
+shall lay his hand upon you, while I yet live to look upon the
+face of the earth--no, not though you name Agamemnon himself, who
+is by far the foremost of the Achaeans."
+
+Thereon the seer spoke boldly. "The god," he said, "is angry
+neither about vow nor hecatomb, but for his priest's sake, whom
+Agamemnon has dishonoured, in that he would not free his daughter
+nor take a ransom for her; therefore has he sent these evils upon
+us, and will yet send others. He will not deliver the Danaans
+from this pestilence till Agamemnon has restored the girl without
+fee or ransom to her father, and has sent a holy hecatomb to
+Chryse. Thus we may perhaps appease him."
+
+With these words he sat down, and Agamemnon rose in anger. His
+heart was black with rage, and his eyes flashed fire as he
+scowled on Calchas and said, "Seer of evil, you never yet
+prophesied smooth things concerning me, but have ever loved to
+foretell that which was evil. You have brought me neither comfort
+nor performance; and now you come seeing among Danaans, and
+saying that Apollo has plagued us because I would not take a
+ransom for this girl, the daughter of Chryses. I have set my
+heart on keeping her in my own house, for I love her better even
+than my own wife Clytemnestra, whose peer she is alike in form
+and feature, in understanding and accomplishments. Still I will
+give her up if I must, for I would have the people live, not die;
+but you must find me a prize instead, or I alone among the
+Argives shall be without one. This is not well; for you behold,
+all of you, that my prize is to go elsewhither."
+
+And Achilles answered, "Most noble son of Atreus, covetous beyond
+all mankind, how shall the Achaeans find you another prize? We
+have no common store from which to take one. Those we took from
+the cities have been awarded; we cannot disallow the awards that
+have been made already. Give this girl, therefore, to the god,
+and if ever Jove grants us to sack the city of Troy we will
+requite you three and fourfold."
+
+Then Agamemnon said, "Achilles, valiant though you be, you shall
+not thus outwit me. You shall not overreach and you shall not
+persuade me. Are you to keep your own prize, while I sit tamely
+under my loss and give up the girl at your bidding? Let the
+Achaeans find me a prize in fair exchange to my liking, or I will
+come and take your own, or that of Ajax or of Ulysses; and he to
+whomsoever I may come shall rue my coming. But of this we will
+take thought hereafter; for the present, let us draw a ship into
+the sea, and find a crew for her expressly; let us put a hecatomb
+on board, and let us send Chryseis also; further, let some chief
+man among us be in command, either Ajax, or Idomeneus, or
+yourself, son of Peleus, mighty warrior that you are, that we may
+offer sacrifice and appease the anger of the god."
+
+Achilles scowled at him and answered, "You are steeped in
+insolence and lust of gain. With what heart can any of the
+Achaeans do your bidding, either on foray or in open fighting? I
+came not warring here for any ill the Trojans had done me. I have
+no quarrel with them. They have not raided my cattle nor my
+horses, nor cut down my harvests on the rich plains of Phthia;
+for between me and them there is a great space, both mountain and
+sounding sea. We have followed you, Sir Insolence! for your
+pleasure, not ours--to gain satisfaction from the Trojans for
+your shameless self and for Menelaus. You forget this, and
+threaten to rob me of the prize for which I have toiled, and
+which the sons of the Achaeans have given me. Never when the
+Achaeans sack any rich city of the Trojans do I receive so good a
+prize as you do, though it is my hands that do the better part of
+the fighting. When the sharing comes, your share is far the
+largest, and I, forsooth, must go back to my ships, take what I
+can get and be thankful, when my labour of fighting is done. Now,
+therefore, I shall go back to Phthia; it will be much better for
+me to return home with my ships, for I will not stay here
+dishonoured to gather gold and substance for you."
+
+And Agamemnon answered, "Fly if you will, I shall make you no
+prayers to stay you. I have others here who will do me honour,
+and above all Jove, the lord of counsel. There is no king here so
+hateful to me as you are, for you are ever quarrelsome and ill-
+affected. What though you be brave? Was it not heaven that made
+you so? Go home, then, with your ships and comrades to lord it
+over the Myrmidons. I care neither for you nor for your anger;
+and thus will I do: since Phoebus Apollo is taking Chryseis from
+me, I shall send her with my ship and my followers, but I shall
+come to your tent and take your own prize Briseis, that you may
+learn how much stronger I am than you are, and that another may
+fear to set himself up as equal or comparable with me."
+
+The son of Peleus was furious, and his heart within his shaggy
+breast was divided whether to draw his sword, push the others
+aside, and kill the son of Atreus, or to restrain himself and
+check his anger. While he was thus in two minds, and was drawing
+his mighty sword from its scabbard, Minerva came down from heaven
+(for Juno had sent her in the love she bore to them both), and
+seized the son of Peleus by his yellow hair, visible to him
+alone, for of the others no man could see her. Achilles turned in
+amaze, and by the fire that flashed from her eyes at once knew
+that she was Minerva. "Why are you here," said he, "daughter of
+aegis-bearing Jove? To see the pride of Agamemnon, son of Atreus?
+Let me tell you--and it shall surely be--he shall pay for this
+insolence with his life."
+
+And Minerva said, "I come from heaven, if you will hear me, to
+bid you stay your anger. Juno has sent me, who cares for both of
+you alike. Cease, then, this brawling, and do not draw your
+sword; rail at him if you will, and your railing will not be
+vain, for I tell you--and it shall surely be--that you shall
+hereafter receive gifts three times as splendid by reason of this
+present insult. Hold, therefore, and obey."
+
+"Goddess," answered Achilles, "however angry a man may be, he
+must do as you two command him. This will be best, for the gods
+ever hear the prayers of him who has obeyed them."
+
+He stayed his hand on the silver hilt of his sword, and thrust it
+back into the scabbard as Minerva bade him. Then she went back to
+Olympus among the other gods, and to the house of aegis-bearing
+Jove.
+
+But the son of Peleus again began railing at the son of Atreus,
+for he was still in a rage. "Wine-bibber," he cried, "with the
+face of a dog and the heart of a hind, you never dare to go out
+with the host in fight, nor yet with our chosen men in ambuscade.
+You shun this as you do death itself. You had rather go round and
+rob his prizes from any man who contradicts you. You devour your
+people, for you are king over a feeble folk; otherwise, son of
+Atreus, henceforward you would insult no man. Therefore I say,
+and swear it with a great oath--nay, by this my sceptre which
+shalt sprout neither leaf nor shoot, nor bud anew from the day on
+which it left its parent stem upon the mountains--for the axe
+stripped it of leaf and bark, and now the sons of the Achaeans
+bear it as judges and guardians of the decrees of heaven--so
+surely and solemnly do I swear that hereafter they shall look
+fondly for Achilles and shall not find him. In the day of your
+distress, when your men fall dying by the murderous hand of
+Hector, you shall not know how to help them, and shall rend your
+heart with rage for the hour when you offered insult to the
+bravest of the Achaeans."
+
+With this the son of Peleus dashed his gold-bestudded sceptre on
+the ground and took his seat, while the son of Atreus was
+beginning fiercely from his place upon the other side. Then
+uprose smooth-tongued Nestor, the facile speaker of the Pylians,
+and the words fell from his lips sweeter than honey. Two
+generations of men born and bred in Pylos had passed away under
+his rule, and he was now reigning over the third. With all
+sincerity and goodwill, therefore, he addressed them thus:--
+
+"Of a truth," he said, "a great sorrow has befallen the Achaean
+land. Surely Priam with his sons would rejoice, and the Trojans
+be glad at heart if they could hear this quarrel between you two,
+who are so excellent in fight and counsel. I am older than either
+of you; therefore be guided by me. Moreover I have been the
+familiar friend of men even greater than you are, and they did
+not disregard my counsels. Never again can I behold such men as
+Pirithous and Dryas shepherd of his people, or as Caeneus,
+Exadius, godlike Polyphemus, and Theseus son of Aegeus, peer of
+the immortals. These were the mightiest men ever born upon this
+earth: mightiest were they, and when they fought the fiercest
+tribes of mountain savages they utterly overthrew them. I came
+from distant Pylos, and went about among them, for they would
+have me come, and I fought as it was in me to do. Not a man now
+living could withstand them, but they heard my words, and were
+persuaded by them. So be it also with yourselves, for this is the
+more excellent way. Therefore, Agamemnon, though you be strong,
+take not this girl away, for the sons of the Achaeans have
+already given her to Achilles; and you, Achilles, strive not
+further with the king, for no man who by the grace of Jove wields
+a sceptre has like honour with Agamemnon. You are strong, and
+have a goddess for your mother; but Agamemnon is stronger than
+you, for he has more people under him. Son of Atreus, check your
+anger, I implore you; end this quarrel with Achilles, who in the
+day of battle is a tower of strength to the Achaeans."
+
+And Agamemnon answered, "Sir, all that you have said is true, but
+this fellow must needs become our lord and master: he must be
+lord of all, king of all, and captain of all, and this shall
+hardly be. Granted that the gods have made him a great warrior,
+have they also given him the right to speak with railing?"
+
+Achilles interrupted him. "I should be a mean coward," he cried,
+"were I to give in to you in all things. Order other people
+about, not me, for I shall obey no longer. Furthermore I say--and
+lay my saying to your heart--I shall fight neither you nor any
+man about this girl, for those that take were those also that
+gave. But of all else that is at my ship you shall carry away
+nothing by force. Try, that others may see; if you do, my spear
+shall be reddened with your blood."
+
+When they had quarrelled thus angrily, they rose, and broke up
+the assembly at the ships of the Achaeans. The son of Peleus went
+back to his tents and ships with the son of Menoetius and his
+company, while Agamemnon drew a vessel into the water and chose a
+crew of twenty oarsmen. He escorted Chryseis on board and sent
+moreover a hecatomb for the god. And Ulysses went as captain.
+
+These, then, went on board and sailed their ways over the sea.
+But the son of Atreus bade the people purify themselves; so they
+purified themselves and cast their filth into the sea. Then they
+offered hecatombs of bulls and goats without blemish on the
+sea-shore, and the smoke with the savour of their sacrifice rose
+curling up towards heaven.
+
+Thus did they busy themselves throughout the host. But Agamemnon
+did not forget the threat that he had made Achilles, and called
+his trusty messengers and squires Talthybius and Eurybates. "Go,"
+said he, "to the tent of Achilles, son of Peleus; take Briseis by
+the hand and bring her hither; if he will not give her I shall
+come with others and take her--which will press him harder."
+
+He charged them straightly further and dismissed them, whereon
+they went their way sorrowfully by the seaside, till they came to
+the tents and ships of the Myrmidons. They found Achilles sitting
+by his tent and his ships, and ill-pleased he was when he beheld
+them. They stood fearfully and reverently before him, and never a
+word did they speak, but he knew them and said, "Welcome,
+heralds, messengers of gods and men; draw near; my quarrel is not
+with you but with Agamemnon who has sent you for the girl
+Briseis. Therefore, Patroclus, bring her and give her to them,
+but let them be witnesses by the blessed gods, by mortal men, and
+by the fierceness of Agamemnon's anger, that if ever again there
+be need of me to save the people from ruin, they shall seek and
+they shall not find. Agamemnon is mad with rage and knows not how
+to look before and after that the Achaeans may fight by their
+ships in safety."
+
+Patroclus did as his dear comrade had bidden him. He brought
+Briseis from the tent and gave her over to the heralds, who took
+her with them to the ships of the Achaeans--and the woman was
+loth to go. Then Achilles went all alone by the side of the hoar
+sea, weeping and looking out upon the boundless waste of waters.
+He raised his hands in prayer to his immortal mother, "Mother,"
+he cried, "you bore me doomed to live but for a little season;
+surely Jove, who thunders from Olympus, might have made that
+little glorious. It is not so. Agamemnon, son of Atreus, has done
+me dishonour, and has robbed me of my prize by force."
+
+As he spoke he wept aloud, and his mother heard him where she was
+sitting in the depths of the sea hard by the old man her father.
+Forthwith she rose as it were a grey mist out of the waves, sat
+down before him as he stood weeping, caressed him with her hand,
+and said, "My son, why are you weeping? What is it that grieves
+you? Keep it not from me, but tell me, that we may know it
+together."
+
+Achilles drew a deep sigh and said, "You know it; why tell you
+what you know well already? We went to Thebe the strong city of
+Eetion, sacked it, and brought hither the spoil. The sons of the
+Achaeans shared it duly among themselves, and chose lovely
+Chryseis as the meed of Agamemnon; but Chryses, priest of Apollo,
+came to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter, and
+brought with him a great ransom: moreover he bore in his hand the
+sceptre of Apollo, wreathed with a suppliant's wreath, and he
+besought the Achaeans, but most of all the two sons of Atreus who
+were their chiefs.
+
+"On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for
+respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered; but
+not so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly
+away. So he went back in anger, and Apollo, who loved him dearly,
+heard his prayer. Then the god sent a deadly dart upon the
+Argives, and the people died thick on one another, for the arrows
+went everywhither among the wide host of the Achaeans. At last a
+seer in the fulness of his knowledge declared to us the oracles
+of Apollo, and I was myself first to say that we should appease
+him. Whereon the son of Atreus rose in anger, and threatened that
+which he has since done. The Achaeans are now taking the girl in
+a ship to Chryse, and sending gifts of sacrifice to the god; but
+the heralds have just taken from my tent the daughter of Briseus,
+whom the Achaeans had awarded to myself.
+
+"Help your brave son, therefore, if you are able. Go to Olympus,
+and if you have ever done him service in word or deed, implore
+the aid of Jove. Ofttimes in my father's house have I heard you
+glory in that you alone of the immortals saved the son of Saturn
+from ruin, when the others, with Juno, Neptune, and Pallas
+Minerva would have put him in bonds. It was you, goddess, who
+delivered him by calling to Olympus the hundred-handed monster
+whom gods call Briareus, but men Aegaeon, for he is stronger even
+than his father; when therefore he took his seat all-glorious
+beside the son of Saturn, the other gods were afraid, and did not
+bind him. Go, then, to him, remind him of all this, clasp his
+knees, and bid him give succour to the Trojans. Let the Achaeans
+be hemmed in at the sterns of their ships, and perish on the
+sea-shore, that they may reap what joy they may of their king,
+and that Agamemnon may rue his blindness in offering insult to
+the foremost of the Achaeans."
+
+Thetis wept and answered, "My son, woe is me that I should have
+borne or suckled you. Would indeed that you had lived your span
+free from all sorrow at your ships, for it is all too brief;
+alas, that you should be at once short of life and long of sorrow
+above your peers: woe, therefore, was the hour in which I bore
+you; nevertheless I will go to the snowy heights of Olympus, and
+tell this tale to Jove, if he will hear our prayer: meanwhile
+stay where you are with your ships, nurse your anger against the
+Achaeans, and hold aloof from fight. For Jove went yesterday to
+Oceanus, to a feast among the Ethiopians, and the other gods went
+with him. He will return to Olympus twelve days hence; I will
+then go to his mansion paved with bronze and will beseech him;
+nor do I doubt that I shall be able to persuade him."
+
+On this she left him, still furious at the loss of her that had
+been taken from him. Meanwhile Ulysses reached Chryse with the
+hecatomb. When they had come inside the harbour they furled the
+sails and laid them in the ship's hold; they slackened the
+forestays, lowered the mast into its place, and rowed the ship to
+the place where they would have her lie; there they cast out
+their mooring-stones and made fast the hawsers. They then got out
+upon the sea-shore and landed the hecatomb for Apollo; Chryseis
+also left the ship, and Ulysses led her to the altar to deliver
+her into the hands of her father. "Chryses," said he, "King
+Agamemnon has sent me to bring you back your child, and to offer
+sacrifice to Apollo on behalf of the Danaans, that we may
+propitiate the god, who has now brought sorrow upon the Argives."
+
+So saying he gave the girl over to her father, who received her
+gladly, and they ranged the holy hecatomb all orderly round the
+altar of the god. They washed their hands and took up the
+barley-meal to sprinkle over the victims, while Chryses lifted up
+his hands and prayed aloud on their behalf. "Hear me," he cried,
+"O god of the silver bow, that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla,
+and rulest Tenedos with thy might. Even as thou didst hear me
+aforetime when I prayed, and didst press hardly upon the
+Achaeans, so hear me yet again, and stay this fearful pestilence
+from the Danaans."
+
+Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer. When they had done
+praying and sprinkling the barley-meal, they drew back the heads
+of the victims and killed and flayed them. They cut out the
+thigh-bones, wrapped them round in two layers of fat, set some
+pieces of raw meat on the top of them, and then Chryses laid them
+on the wood fire and poured wine over them, while the young men
+stood near him with five-pronged spits in their hands. When the
+thigh-bones were burned and they had tasted the inward meats,
+they cut the rest up small, put the pieces upon the spits,
+roasted them till they were done, and drew them off: then, when
+they had finished their work and the feast was ready, they ate
+it, and every man had his full share, so that all were satisfied.
+As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, pages filled the
+mixing-bowl with wine and water and handed it round, after giving
+every man his drink-offering.
+
+Thus all day long the young men worshipped the god with song,
+hymning him and chaunting the joyous paean, and the god took
+pleasure in their voices; but when the sun went down, and it came
+on dark, they laid themselves down to sleep by the stern cables
+of the ship, and when the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn,
+appeared they again set sail for the host of the Achaeans. Apollo
+sent them a fair wind, so they raised their mast and hoisted
+their white sails aloft. As the sail bellied with the wind the
+ship flew through the deep blue water, and the foam hissed
+against her bows as she sped onward. When they reached the
+wide-stretching host of the Achaeans, they drew the vessel
+ashore, high and dry upon the sands, set her strong props beneath
+her, and went their ways to their own tents and ships.
+
+But Achilles abode at his ships and nursed his anger. He went not
+to the honourable assembly, and sallied not forth to fight, but
+gnawed at his own heart, pining for battle and the war-cry.
+
+Now after twelve days the immortal gods came back in a body to
+Olympus, and Jove led the way. Thetis was not unmindful of the
+charge her son had laid upon her, so she rose from under the sea
+and went through great heaven with early morning to Olympus,
+where she found the mighty son of Saturn sitting all alone upon
+its topmost ridges. She sat herself down before him, and with her
+left hand seized his knees, while with her right she caught him
+under the chin, and besought him, saying:--
+
+"Father Jove, if I ever did you service in word or deed among the
+immortals, hear my prayer, and do honour to my son, whose life is
+to be cut short so early. King Agamemnon has dishonoured him by
+taking his prize and keeping her. Honour him then yourself,
+Olympian lord of counsel, and grant victory to the Trojans, till
+the Achaeans give my son his due and load him with riches in
+requital."
+
+Jove sat for a while silent, and without a word, but Thetis still
+kept firm hold of his knees, and besought him a second time.
+"Incline your head," said she, "and promise me surely, or else
+deny me--for you have nothing to fear--that I may learn how
+greatly you disdain me."
+
+At this Jove was much troubled and answered, "I shall have
+trouble if you set me quarrelling with Juno, for she will provoke
+me with her taunting speeches; even now she is always railing at
+me before the other gods and accusing me of giving aid to the
+Trojans. Go back now, lest she should find out. I will consider
+the matter, and will bring it about as you wish. See, I incline
+my head that you may believe me. This is the most solemn promise
+that I can give to any god. I never recall my word, or deceive,
+or fail to do what I say, when I have nodded my head."
+
+As he spoke the son of Saturn bowed his dark brows, and the
+ambrosial locks swayed on his immortal head, till vast Olympus
+reeled.
+
+When the pair had thus laid their plans, they parted--Jove to his
+house, while the goddess quitted the splendour of Olympus, and
+plunged into the depths of the sea. The gods rose from their
+seats, before the coming of their sire. Not one of them dared to
+remain sitting, but all stood up as he came among them. There,
+then, he took his seat. But Juno, when she saw him, knew that he
+and the old merman's daughter, silver-footed Thetis, had been
+hatching mischief, so she at once began to upbraid him.
+"Trickster," she cried, "which of the gods have you been taking
+into your counsels now? You are always settling matters in secret
+behind my back, and have never yet told me, if you could help it,
+one word of your intentions."
+
+"Juno," replied the sire of gods and men, "you must not expect to
+be informed of all my counsels. You are my wife, but you would
+find it hard to understand them. When it is proper for you to
+hear, there is no one, god or man, who will be told sooner, but
+when I mean to keep a matter to myself, you must not pry nor ask
+questions."
+
+"Dread son of Saturn," answered Juno, "what are you talking
+about? I? Pry and ask questions? Never. I let you have your own
+way in everything. Still, I have a strong misgiving that the old
+merman's daughter Thetis has been talking you over, for she was
+with you and had hold of your knees this self-same morning. I
+believe, therefore, that you have been promising her to give
+glory to Achilles, and to kill much people at the ships of the
+Achaeans."
+
+"Wife," said Jove, "I can do nothing but you suspect me and find
+it out. You will take nothing by it, for I shall only dislike you
+the more, and it will go harder with you. Granted that it is as
+you say; I mean to have it so; sit down and hold your tongue as I
+bid you for if I once begin to lay my hands about you, though all
+heaven were on your side it would profit you nothing."
+
+On this Juno was frightened, so she curbed her stubborn will and
+sat down in silence. But the heavenly beings were disquieted
+throughout the house of Jove, till the cunning workman Vulcan
+began to try and pacify his mother Juno. "It will be
+intolerable," said he, "if you two fall to wrangling and setting
+heaven in an uproar about a pack of mortals. If such ill counsels
+are to prevail, we shall have no pleasure at our banquet. Let me
+then advise my mother--and she must herself know that it will be
+better--to make friends with my dear father Jove, lest he again
+scold her and disturb our feast. If the Olympian Thunderer wants
+to hurl us all from our seats, he can do so, for he is far the
+strongest, so give him fair words, and he will then soon be in a
+good humour with us."
+
+As he spoke, he took a double cup of nectar, and placed it in his
+mother's hand. "Cheer up, my dear mother," said he, "and make the
+best of it. I love you dearly, and should be very sorry to see
+you get a thrashing; however grieved I might be, I could not help,
+for there is no standing against Jove. Once before when I was
+trying to help you, he caught me by the foot and flung me from
+the heavenly threshold. All day long from morn till eve, was I
+falling, till at sunset I came to ground in the island of Lemnos,
+and there I lay, with very little life left in me, till the
+Sintians came and tended me."
+
+Juno smiled at this, and as she smiled she took the cup from her
+son's hands. Then Vulcan drew sweet nectar from the mixing-bowl,
+and served it round among the gods, going from left to right; and
+the blessed gods laughed out a loud applause as they saw him
+bustling about the heavenly mansion.
+
+Thus through the livelong day to the going down of the sun they
+feasted, and every one had his full share, so that all were
+satisfied. Apollo struck his lyre, and the Muses lifted up their
+sweet voices, calling and answering one another. But when the
+sun's glorious light had faded, they went home to bed, each in
+his own abode, which lame Vulcan with his consummate skill had
+fashioned for them. So Jove, the Olympian Lord of Thunder, hied
+him to the bed in which he always slept; and when he had got on
+to it he went to sleep, with Juno of the golden throne by his
+side.
+
+
+
+BOOK II
+
+  Jove sends a lying dream to Agamemnon, who thereon calls the
+  chiefs in assembly, and proposes to sound the mind of his
+  army--In the end they march to fight--Catalogue of the
+  Achaean and Trojan forces.
+
+Now the other gods and the armed warriors on the plain slept
+soundly, but Jove was wakeful, for he was thinking how to do
+honour to Achilles, and destroyed much people at the ships of the
+Achaeans. In the end he deemed it would be best to send a lying
+dream to King Agamemnon; so he called one to him and said to it,
+"Lying Dream, go to the ships of the Achaeans, into the tent of
+Agamemnon, and say to him word for word as I now bid you. Tell
+him to get the Achaeans instantly under arms, for he shall take
+Troy. There are no longer divided counsels among the gods; Juno
+has brought them to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans."
+
+The dream went when it had heard its message, and soon reached
+the ships of the Achaeans. It sought Agamemnon son of Atreus and
+found him in his tent, wrapped in a profound slumber. It hovered
+over his head in the likeness of Nestor, son of Neleus, whom
+Agamemnon honoured above all his councillors, and said:--
+
+"You are sleeping, son of Atreus; one who has the welfare of his
+host and so much other care upon his shoulders should dock his
+sleep. Hear me at once, for I come as a messenger from Jove, who,
+though he be not near, yet takes thought for you and pities you.
+He bids you get the Achaeans instantly under arms, for you shall
+take Troy. There are no longer divided counsels among the gods;
+Juno has brought them over to her own mind, and woe betides the
+Trojans at the hands of Jove. Remember this, and when you wake
+see that it does not escape you."
+
+The dream then left him, and he thought of things that were,
+surely not to be accomplished. He thought that on that same day
+he was to take the city of Priam, but he little knew what was in
+the mind of Jove, who had many another hard-fought fight in store
+alike for Danaans and Trojans. Then presently he woke, with the
+divine message still ringing in his ears; so he sat upright, and
+put on his soft shirt so fair and new, and over this his heavy
+cloak. He bound his sandals on to his comely feet, and slung his
+silver-studded sword about his shoulders; then he took the
+imperishable staff of his father, and sallied forth to the ships
+of the Achaeans.
+
+The goddess Dawn now wended her way to vast Olympus that she
+might herald day to Jove and to the other immortals, and
+Agamemnon sent the criers round to call the people in assembly;
+so they called them and the people gathered thereon. But first he
+summoned a meeting of the elders at the ship of Nestor king of
+Pylos, and when they were assembled he laid a cunning counsel
+before them.
+
+"My friends," said he, "I have had a dream from heaven in the
+dead of night, and its face and figure resembled none but
+Nestor's. It hovered over my head and said, 'You are sleeping,
+son of Atreus; one who has the welfare of his host and so much
+other care upon his shoulders should dock his sleep. Hear me at
+once, for I am a messenger from Jove, who, though he be not near,
+yet takes thought for you and pities you. He bids you get the
+Achaeans instantly under arms, for you shall take Troy. There are
+no longer divided counsels among the gods; Juno has brought them
+over to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans at the hands of
+Jove. Remember this.' The dream then vanished and I awoke. Let us
+now, therefore, arm the sons of the Achaeans. But it will be well
+that I should first sound them, and to this end I will tell them
+to fly with their ships; but do you others go about among the
+host and prevent their doing so."
+
+He then sat down, and Nestor the prince of Pylos with all
+sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: "My friends," said
+he, "princes and councillors of the Argives, if any other man of
+the Achaeans had told us of this dream we should have declared it
+false, and would have had nothing to do with it. But he who has
+seen it is the foremost man among us; we must therefore set about
+getting the people under arms."
+
+With this he led the way from the assembly, and the other
+sceptred kings rose with him in obedience to the word of
+Agamemnon; but the people pressed forward to hear. They swarmed
+like bees that sally from some hollow cave and flit in countless
+throng among the spring flowers, bunched in knots and clusters;
+even so did the mighty multitude pour from ships and tents to the
+assembly, and range themselves upon the wide-watered shore, while
+among them ran Wildfire Rumour, messenger of Jove, urging them
+ever to the fore. Thus they gathered in a pell-mell of mad
+confusion, and the earth groaned under the tramp of men as the
+people sought their places. Nine heralds went crying about among
+them to stay their tumult and bid them listen to the kings, till
+at last they were got into their several places and ceased their
+clamour. Then King Agamemnon rose, holding his sceptre. This was
+the work of Vulcan, who gave it to Jove the son of Saturn. Jove
+gave it to Mercury, slayer of Argus, guide and guardian. King
+Mercury gave it to Pelops, the mighty charioteer, and Pelops to
+Atreus, shepherd of his people. Atreus, when he died, left it to
+Thyestes, rich in flocks, and Thyestes in his turn left it to be
+borne by Agamemnon, that he might be lord of all Argos and of the
+isles. Leaning, then, on his sceptre, he addressed the Argives.
+
+"My friends," he said, "heroes, servants of Mars, the hand of
+heaven has been laid heavily upon me. Cruel Jove gave me his
+solemn promise that I should sack the city of Priam before
+returning, but he has played me false, and is now bidding me go
+ingloriously back to Argos with the loss of much people. Such is
+the will of Jove, who has laid many a proud city in the dust, as
+he will yet lay others, for his power is above all. It will be a
+sorry tale hereafter that an Achaean host, at once so great and
+valiant, battled in vain against men fewer in number than
+themselves; but as yet the end is not in sight. Think that the
+Achaeans and Trojans have sworn to a solemn covenant, and that
+they have each been numbered--the Trojans by the roll of their
+householders, and we by companies of ten; think further that each
+of our companies desired to have a Trojan householder to pour out
+their wine; we are so greatly more in number that full many a
+company would have to go without its cup-bearer. But they have in
+the town allies from other places, and it is these that hinder me
+from being able to sack the rich city of Ilius. Nine of Jove's
+years are gone; the timbers of our ships have rotted; their
+tackling is sound no longer. Our wives and little ones at home
+look anxiously for our coming, but the work that we came hither
+to do has not been done. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say:
+let us sail back to our own land, for we shall not take Troy."
+
+With these words he moved the hearts of the multitude, so many of
+them as knew not the cunning counsel of Agamemnon. They surged to
+and fro like the waves of the Icarian Sea, when the east and
+south winds break from heaven's clouds to lash them; or as when
+the west wind sweeps over a field of corn and the ears bow
+beneath the blast, even so were they swayed as they flew with
+loud cries towards the ships, and the dust from under their feet
+rose heavenward. They cheered each other on to draw the ships
+into the sea; they cleared the channels in front of them; they
+began taking away the stays from underneath them, and the welkin
+rang with their glad cries, so eager were they to return.
+
+Then surely the Argives would have returned after a fashion that
+was not fated. But Juno said to Minerva, "Alas, daughter of
+aegis-bearing Jove, unweariable, shall the Argives fly home to
+their own land over the broad sea, and leave Priam and the
+Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen, for whose sake so many
+of the Achaeans have died at Troy, far from their homes? Go about
+at once among the host, and speak fairly to them, man by man,
+that they draw not their ships into the sea."
+
+Minerva was not slack to do her bidding. Down she darted from the
+topmost summits of Olympus, and in a moment she was at the ships
+of the Achaeans. There she found Ulysses, peer of Jove in
+counsel, standing alone. He had not as yet laid a hand upon his
+ship, for he was grieved and sorry; so she went close up to him
+and said, "Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, are you going to fling
+yourselves into your ships and be off home to your own land in
+this way? Will you leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still
+keeping Helen, for whose sake so many of the Achaeans have died
+at Troy, far from their homes? Go about at once among the host,
+and speak fairly to them, man by man, that they draw not their
+ships into the sea."
+
+Ulysses knew the voice as that of the goddess: he flung his cloak
+from him and set off to run. His servant Eurybates, a man of
+Ithaca, who waited on him, took charge of the cloak, whereon
+Ulysses went straight up to Agamemnon and received from him his
+ancestral, imperishable staff. With this he went about among the
+ships of the Achaeans.
+
+Whenever he met a king or chieftain, he stood by him and spoke
+him fairly. "Sir," said he, "this flight is cowardly and
+unworthy. Stand to your post, and bid your people also keep their
+places. You do not yet know the full mind of Agamemnon; he was
+sounding us, and ere long will visit the Achaeans with his
+displeasure. We were not all of us at the council to hear what he
+then said; see to it lest he be angry and do us a mischief; for
+the pride of kings is great, and the hand of Jove is with them."
+
+But when he came across any common man who was making a noise, he
+struck him with his staff and rebuked him, saying, "Sirrah, hold
+your peace, and listen to better men than yourself. You are a
+coward and no soldier; you are nobody either in fight or council;
+we cannot all be kings; it is not well that there should be many
+masters; one man must be supreme--one king to whom the son of
+scheming Saturn has given the sceptre of sovereignty over you
+all."
+
+Thus masterfully did he go about among the host, and the people
+hurried back to the council from their tents and ships with a
+sound as the thunder of surf when it comes crashing down upon the
+shore, and all the sea is in an uproar.
+
+The rest now took their seats and kept to their own several
+places, but Thersites still went on wagging his unbridled
+tongue--a man of many words, and those unseemly; a monger of
+sedition, a railer against all who were in authority, who cared
+not what he said, so that he might set the Achaeans in a laugh.
+He was the ugliest man of all those that came before
+Troy--bandy-legged, lame of one foot, with his two shoulders
+rounded and hunched over his chest. His head ran up to a point,
+but there was little hair on the top of it. Achilles and Ulysses
+hated him worst of all, for it was with them that he was most
+wont to wrangle; now, however, with a shrill squeaky voice he
+began heaping his abuse on Agamemnon. The Achaeans were angry and
+disgusted, yet none the less he kept on brawling and bawling at
+the son of Atreus.
+
+"Agamemnon," he cried, "what ails you now, and what more do you
+want? Your tents are filled with bronze and with fair women, for
+whenever we take a town we give you the pick of them. Would you
+have yet more gold, which some Trojan is to give you as a ransom
+for his son, when I or another Achaean has taken him prisoner? or
+is it some young girl to hide and lie with? It is not well that
+you, the ruler of the Achaeans, should bring them into such
+misery. Weakling cowards, women rather than men, let us sail
+home, and leave this fellow here at Troy to stew in his own meeds
+of honour, and discover whether we were of any service to him or
+no. Achilles is a much better man than he is, and see how he has
+treated him--robbing him of his prize and keeping it himself.
+Achilles takes it meekly and shows no fight; if he did, son of
+Atreus, you would never again insult him."
+
+Thus railed Thersites, but Ulysses at once went up to him and
+rebuked him sternly. "Check your glib tongue, Thersites," said
+be, "and babble not a word further. Chide not with princes when
+you have none to back you. There is no viler creature come before
+Troy with the sons of Atreus. Drop this chatter about kings, and
+neither revile them nor keep harping about going home. We do not
+yet know how things are going to be, nor whether the Achaeans are
+to return with good success or evil. How dare you gibe at
+Agamemnon because the Danaans have awarded him so many prizes? I
+tell you, therefore--and it shall surely be--that if I again
+catch you talking such nonsense, I will either forfeit my own
+head and be no more called father of Telemachus, or I will take
+you, strip you stark naked, and whip you out of the assembly till
+you go blubbering back to the ships."
+
+On this he beat him with his staff about the back and shoulders
+till he dropped and fell a-weeping. The golden sceptre raised a
+bloody weal on his back, so he sat down frightened and in pain,
+looking foolish as he wiped the tears from his eyes. The people
+were sorry for him, yet they laughed heartily, and one would turn
+to his neighbour saying, "Ulysses has done many a good thing ere
+now in fight and council, but he never did the Argives a better
+turn than when he stopped this fellow's mouth from prating
+further. He will give the kings no more of his insolence."
+
+Thus said the people. Then Ulysses rose, sceptre in hand, and
+Minerva in the likeness of a herald bade the people be still,
+that those who were far off might hear him and consider his
+council. He therefore with all sincerity and goodwill addressed
+them thus:--
+
+"King Agamemnon, the Achaeans are for making you a by-word among
+all mankind. They forget the promise they made you when they set
+out from Argos, that you should not return till you had sacked
+the town of Troy, and, like children or widowed women, they
+murmur and would set off homeward. True it is that they have had
+toil enough to be disheartened. A man chafes at having to stay
+away from his wife even for a single month, when he is on
+shipboard, at the mercy of wind and sea, but it is now nine long
+years that we have been kept here; I cannot, therefore, blame the
+Achaeans if they turn restive; still we shall be shamed if we go
+home empty after so long a stay--therefore, my friends, be
+patient yet a little longer that we may learn whether the
+prophesyings of Calchas were false or true.
+
+"All who have not since perished must remember as though it were
+yesterday or the day before, how the ships of the Achaeans were
+detained in Aulis when we were on our way hither to make war on
+Priam and the Trojans. We were ranged round about a fountain
+offering hecatombs to the gods upon their holy altars, and there
+was a fine plane-tree from beneath which there welled a stream of
+pure water. Then we saw a prodigy; for Jove sent a fearful
+serpent out of the ground, with blood-red stains upon its back,
+and it darted from under the altar on to the plane-tree. Now
+there was a brood of young sparrows, quite small, upon the
+topmost bough, peeping out from under the leaves, eight in all,
+and their mother that hatched them made nine. The serpent ate the
+poor cheeping things, while the old bird flew about lamenting her
+little ones; but the serpent threw his coils about her and caught
+her by the wing as she was screaming. Then, when he had eaten
+both the sparrow and her young, the god who had sent him made him
+become a sign; for the son of scheming Saturn turned him into
+stone, and we stood there wondering at that which had come to
+pass. Seeing, then, that such a fearful portent had broken in
+upon our hecatombs, Calchas forthwith declared to us the oracles
+of heaven. 'Why, Achaeans,' said he, 'are you thus speechless?
+Jove has sent us this sign, long in coming, and long ere it be
+fulfilled, though its fame shall last for ever. As the serpent
+ate the eight fledglings and the sparrow that hatched them, which
+makes nine, so shall we fight nine years at Troy, but in the
+tenth shall take the town.' This was what he said, and now it is
+all coming true. Stay here, therefore, all of you, till we take
+the city of Priam."
+
+On this the Argives raised a shout, till the ships rang again
+with the uproar. Nestor, knight of Gerene, then addressed them.
+"Shame on you," he cried, "to stay talking here like children,
+when you should fight like men. Where are our covenants now, and
+where the oaths that we have taken? Shall our counsels be flung
+into the fire, with our drink-offerings and the right hands of
+fellowship wherein we have put our trust? We waste our time in
+words, and for all our talking here shall be no further forward.
+Stand, therefore, son of Atreus, by your own steadfast purpose;
+lead the Argives on to battle, and leave this handful of men to
+rot, who scheme, and scheme in vain, to get back to Argos ere
+they have learned whether Jove be true or a liar. For the mighty
+son of Saturn surely promised that we should succeed, when we
+Argives set sail to bring death and destruction upon the Trojans.
+He showed us favourable signs by flashing his lightning on our
+right hands; therefore let none make haste to go till he has
+first lain with the wife of some Trojan, and avenged the toil and
+sorrow that he has suffered for the sake of Helen. Nevertheless,
+if any man is in such haste to be at home again, let him lay his
+hand to his ship that he may meet his doom in the sight of all.
+But, O king, consider and give ear to my counsel, for the word
+that I say may not be neglected lightly. Divide your men,
+Agamemnon, into their several tribes and clans, that clans and
+tribes may stand by and help one another. If you do this, and if
+the Achaeans obey you, you will find out who, both chiefs and
+peoples, are brave, and who are cowards; for they will vie
+against the other. Thus you shall also learn whether it is
+through the counsel of heaven or the cowardice of man that you
+shall fail to take the town."
+
+And Agamemnon answered, "Nestor, you have again outdone the sons
+of the Achaeans in counsel. Would, by Father Jove, Minerva, and
+Apollo, that I had among them ten more such councillors, for the
+city of King Priam would then soon fall beneath our hands, and we
+should sack it. But the son of Saturn afflicts me with bootless
+wranglings and strife. Achilles and I are quarrelling about this
+girl, in which matter I was the first to offend; if we can be of
+one mind again, the Trojans will not stave off destruction for a
+day. Now, therefore, get your morning meal, that our hosts join
+in fight. Whet well your spears; see well to the ordering of your
+shields; give good feeds to your horses, and look your chariots
+carefully over, that we may do battle the livelong day; for we
+shall have no rest, not for a moment, till night falls to part
+us. The bands that bear your shields shall be wet with the sweat
+upon your shoulders, your hands shall weary upon your spears,
+your horses shall steam in front of your chariots, and if I see
+any man shirking the fight, or trying to keep out of it at the
+ships, there shall be no help for him, but he shall be a prey to
+dogs and vultures."
+
+Thus he spoke, and the Achaeans roared applause. As when the
+waves run high before the blast of the south wind and break on
+some lofty headland, dashing against it and buffeting it without
+ceasing, as the storms from every quarter drive them, even so did
+the Achaeans rise and hurry in all directions to their ships.
+There they lighted their fires at their tents and got dinner,
+offering sacrifice every man to one or other of the gods, and
+praying each one of them that he might live to come out of the
+fight. Agamemnon, king of men, sacrificed a fat five-year-old
+bull to the mighty son of Saturn, and invited the princes and
+elders of his host. First he asked Nestor and King Idomeneus,
+then the two Ajaxes and the son of Tydeus, and sixthly Ulysses,
+peer of gods in counsel; but Menelaus came of his own accord, for
+he knew how busy his brother then was. They stood round the bull
+with the barley-meal in their hands, and Agamemnon prayed,
+saying, "Jove, most glorious, supreme, that dwellest in heaven,
+and ridest upon the storm-cloud, grant that the sun may not go
+down, nor the night fall, till the palace of Priam is laid low,
+and its gates are consumed with fire. Grant that my sword may
+pierce the shirt of Hector about his heart, and that full many of
+his comrades may bite the dust as they fall dying round him."
+
+Thus he prayed, but the son of Saturn would not fulfil his
+prayer. He accepted the sacrifice, yet none the less increased
+their toil continually. When they had done praying and sprinkling
+the barley-meal upon the victim, they drew back its head, killed
+it, and then flayed it. They cut out the thigh-bones, wrapped
+them round in two layers of fat, and set pieces of raw meat on
+the top of them. These they burned upon the split logs of
+firewood, but they spitted the inward meats, and held them in the
+flames to cook. When the thigh-bones were burned, and they had
+tasted the inward meats, they cut the rest up small, put the
+pieces upon spits, roasted them till they were done, and drew
+them off; then, when they had finished their work and the feast
+was ready, they ate it, and every man had his full share, so that
+all were satisfied. As soon as they had had enough to eat and
+drink, Nestor, knight of Gerene, began to speak. "King
+Agamemnon," said he, "let us not stay talking here, nor be slack
+in the work that heaven has put into our hands. Let the heralds
+summon the people to gather at their several ships; we will then
+go about among the host, that we may begin fighting at once."
+
+Thus did he speak, and Agamemnon heeded his words. He at once
+sent the criers round to call the people in assembly. So they
+called them, and the people gathered thereon. The chiefs about
+the son of Atreus chose their men and marshalled them, while
+Minerva went among them holding her priceless aegis that knows
+neither age nor death. From it there waved a hundred tassels of
+pure gold, all deftly woven, and each one of them worth a hundred
+oxen. With this she darted furiously everywhere among the hosts
+of the Achaeans, urging them forward, and putting courage into
+the heart of each, so that he might fight and do battle without
+ceasing. Thus war became sweeter in their eyes even than
+returning home in their ships. As when some great forest fire is
+raging upon a mountain top and its light is seen afar, even so as
+they marched the gleam of their armour flashed up into the
+firmament of heaven.
+
+They were like great flocks of geese, or cranes, or swans on the
+plain about the waters of Cayster, that wing their way hither and
+thither, glorying in the pride of flight, and crying as they
+settle till the fen is alive with their screaming. Even thus did
+their tribes pour from ships and tents on to the plain of the
+Scamander, and the ground rang as brass under the feet of men and
+horses. They stood as thick upon the flower-bespangled field as
+leaves that bloom in summer.
+
+As countless swarms of flies buzz around a herdsman's homestead
+in the time of spring when the pails are drenched with milk, even
+so did the Achaeans swarm on to the plain to charge the Trojans
+and destroy them.
+
+The chiefs disposed their men this way and that before the fight
+began, drafting them out as easily as goatherds draft their
+flocks when they have got mixed while feeding; and among them
+went King Agamemnon, with a head and face like Jove the lord of
+thunder, a waist like Mars, and a chest like that of Neptune. As
+some great bull that lords it over the herds upon the plain, even
+so did Jove make the son of Atreus stand peerless among the
+multitude of heroes.
+
+And now, O Muses, dwellers in the mansions of Olympus, tell me--
+for you are goddesses and are in all places so that you see all
+things, while we know nothing but by report--who were the chiefs
+and princes of the Danaans? As for the common soldiers, they were
+so that I could not name every single one of them though I had
+ten tongues, and though my voice failed not and my heart were of
+bronze within me, unless you, O Olympian Muses, daughters of
+aegis-bearing Jove, were to recount them to me. Nevertheless, I
+will tell the captains of the ships and all the fleet together.
+
+Peneleos, Leitus, Arcesilaus, Prothoenor, and Clonius were
+captains of the Boeotians. These were they that dwelt in Hyria
+and rocky Aulis, and who held Schoenus, Scolus, and the highlands
+of Eteonus, with Thespeia, Graia, and the fair city of
+Mycalessus. They also held Harma, Eilesium, and Erythrae; and
+they had Eleon, Hyle, and Peteon; Ocalea and the strong fortress
+of Medeon; Copae, Eutresis, and Thisbe the haunt of doves;
+Coronea, and the pastures of Haliartus; Plataea and Glisas; the
+fortress of Thebes the less; holy Onchestus with its famous grove
+of Neptune; Arne rich in vineyards; Midea, sacred Nisa, and
+Anthedon upon the sea. From these there came fifty ships, and in
+each there were a hundred and twenty young men of the Boeotians.
+
+Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, sons of Mars, led the people that dwelt
+in Aspledon and Orchomenus the realm of Minyas. Astyoche a noble
+maiden bore them in the house of Actor son of Azeus; for she had
+gone with Mars secretly into an upper chamber, and he had lain
+with her. With these there came thirty ships.
+
+The Phoceans were led by Schedius and Epistrophus, sons of mighty
+Iphitus the son of Naubolus. These were they that held
+Cyparissus, rocky Pytho, holy Crisa, Daulis, and Panopeus; they
+also that dwelt in Anemorea and Hyampolis, and about the waters
+of the river Cephissus, and Lilaea by the springs of the
+Cephissus; with their chieftains came forty ships, and they
+marshalled the forces of the Phoceans, which were stationed next
+to the Boeotians, on their left.
+
+Ajax, the fleet son of Oileus, commanded the Locrians. He was not
+so great, nor nearly so great, as Ajax the son of Telamon. He was
+a little man, and his breastplate was made of linen, but in use
+of the spear he excelled all the Hellenes and the Achaeans.
+These dwelt in Cynus, Opous, Calliarus, Bessa, Scarphe, fair
+Augeae, Tarphe, and Thronium about the river Boagrius. With him
+there came forty ships of the Locrians who dwell beyond Euboea.
+
+The fierce Abantes held Euboea with its cities, Chalcis, Eretria,
+Histiaea rich in vines, Cerinthus upon the sea, and the
+rock-perched town of Dium; with them were also the men of
+Carystus and Styra; Elephenor of the race of Mars was in command
+of these; he was son of Chalcodon, and chief over all the
+Abantes. With him they came, fleet of foot and wearing their hair
+long behind, brave warriors, who would ever strive to tear open
+the corslets of their foes with their long ashen spears. Of these
+there came fifty ships.
+
+And they that held the strong city of Athens, the people of great
+Erechtheus, who was born of the soil itself, but Jove's daughter,
+Minerva, fostered him, and established him at Athens in her own
+rich sanctuary. There, year by year, the Athenian youths worship
+him with sacrifices of bulls and rams. These were commanded by
+Menestheus, son of Peteos. No man living could equal him in the
+marshalling of chariots and foot soldiers. Nestor could alone
+rival him, for he was older. With him there came fifty ships.
+
+Ajax brought twelve ships from Salamis, and stationed them
+alongside those of the Athenians.
+
+The men of Argos, again, and those who held the walls of Tiryns,
+with Hermione, and Asine upon the gulf; Troezene, Eionae, and the
+vineyard lands of Epidaurus; the Achaean youths, moreover, who
+came from Aegina and Mases; these were led by Diomed of the loud
+battle-cry, and Sthenelus son of famed Capaneus. With them in
+command was Euryalus, son of king Mecisteus, son of Talaus; but
+Diomed was chief over them all. With these there came eighty
+ships.
+
+Those who held the strong city of Mycenae, rich Corinth and
+Cleonae; Orneae, Araethyrea, and Licyon, where Adrastus reigned
+of old; Hyperesia, high Gonoessa, and Pellene; Aegium and all the
+coast-land round about Helice; these sent a hundred ships under
+the command of King Agamemnon, son of Atreus. His force was far
+both finest and most numerous, and in their midst was the king
+himself, all glorious in his armour of gleaming bronze--foremost
+among the heroes, for he was the greatest king, and had most men
+under him.
+
+And those that dwelt in Lacedaemon, lying low among the hills,
+Pharis, Sparta, with Messe the haunt of doves; Bryseae, Augeae,
+Amyclae, and Helos upon the sea; Laas, moreover, and Oetylus;
+these were led by Menelaus of the loud battle-cry, brother to
+Agamemnon, and of them there were sixty ships, drawn up apart
+from the others. Among them went Menelaus himself, strong in
+zeal, urging his men to fight; for he longed to avenge the toil
+and sorrow that he had suffered for the sake of Helen.
+
+The men of Pylos and Arene, and Thryum where is the ford of the
+river Alpheus; strong Aipy, Cyparisseis, and Amphigenea; Pteleum,
+Helos, and Dorium, where the Muses met Thamyris, and stilled his
+minstrelsy for ever. He was returning from Oechalia, where
+Eurytus lived and reigned, and boasted that he would surpass even
+the Muses, daughters of aegis-bearing Jove, if they should sing
+against him; whereon they were angry, and maimed him. They robbed
+him of his divine power of song, and thenceforth he could strike
+the lyre no more. These were commanded by Nestor, knight of
+Gerene, and with him there came ninety ships.
+
+And those that held Arcadia, under the high mountain of Cyllene,
+near the tomb of Aepytus, where the people fight hand to hand;
+the men of Pheneus also, and Orchomenus rich in flocks; of
+Rhipae, Stratie, and bleak Enispe; of Tegea and fair Mantinea; of
+Stymphelus and Parrhasia; of these King Agapenor son of Ancaeus
+was commander, and they had sixty ships. Many Arcadians, good
+soldiers, came in each one of them, but Agamemnon found them the
+ships in which to cross the sea, for they were not a people that
+occupied their business upon the waters.
+
+The men, moreover, of Buprasium and of Elis, so much of it as is
+enclosed between Hyrmine, Myrsinus upon the sea-shore, the rock
+Olene and Alesium. These had four leaders, and each of them had
+ten ships, with many Epeans on board. Their captains were
+Amphimachus and Thalpius--the one, son of Cteatus, and the other,
+of Eurytus--both of the race of Actor. The two others were
+Diores, son of Amarynces, and Polyxenus, son of King Agasthenes,
+son of Augeas.
+
+And those of Dulichium with the sacred Echinean islands, who
+dwelt beyond the sea off Elis; these were led by Meges, peer of
+Mars, and the son of valiant Phyleus, dear to Jove, who
+quarrelled with his father, and went to settle in Dulichium. With
+him there came forty ships.
+
+Ulysses led the brave Cephallenians, who held Ithaca, Neritum
+with its forests, Crocylea, rugged Aegilips, Samos and Zacynthus,
+with the mainland also that was over against the islands. These
+were led by Ulysses, peer of Jove in counsel, and with him there
+came twelve ships.
+
+Thoas, son of Andraemon, commanded the Aetolians, who dwelt in
+Pleuron, Olenus, Pylene, Chalcis by the sea, and rocky Calydon,
+for the great king Oeneus had now no sons living, and was himself
+dead, as was also golden-haired Meleager, who had been set over
+the Aetolians to be their king. And with Thoas there came forty
+ships.
+
+The famous spearsman Idomeneus led the Cretans, who held Cnossus,
+and the well-walled city of Gortys; Lyctus also, Miletus and
+Lycastus that lies upon the chalk; the populous towns of Phaestus
+and Rhytium, with the other peoples that dwelt in the hundred
+cities of Crete. All these were led by Idomeneus, and by
+Meriones, peer of murderous Mars. And with these there came
+eighty ships.
+
+Tlepolemus, son of Hercules, a man both brave and large of
+stature, brought nine ships of lordly warriors from Rhodes. These
+dwelt in Rhodes which is divided among the three cities of
+Lindus, Ielysus, and Cameirus, that lies upon the chalk. These
+were commanded by Tlepolemus, son of Hercules by Astyochea, whom
+he had carried off from Ephyra, on the river Selleis, after
+sacking many cities of valiant warriors. When Tlepolemus grew up,
+he killed his father's uncle Licymnius, who had been a famous
+warrior in his time, but was then grown old. On this he built
+himself a fleet, gathered a great following, and fled beyond the
+sea, for he was menaced by the other sons and grandsons of
+Hercules. After a voyage, during which he suffered great
+hardship, he came to Rhodes, where the people divided into three
+communities, according to their tribes, and were dearly loved by
+Jove, the lord of gods and men; wherefore the son of Saturn
+showered down great riches upon them.
+
+And Nireus brought three ships from Syme--Nireus, who was the
+handsomest man that came up under Ilius of all the Danaans after
+the son of Peleus--but he was a man of no substance, and had but
+a small following.
+
+And those that held Nisyrus, Crapathus, and Casus, with Cos, the
+city of Eurypylus, and the Calydnian islands, these were
+commanded by Pheidippus and Antiphus, two sons of King Thessalus
+the son of Hercules. And with them there came thirty ships.
+
+Those again who held Pelasgic Argos, Alos, Alope, and Trachis;
+and those of Phthia and Hellas the land of fair women, who were
+called Myrmidons, Hellenes, and Achaeans; these had fifty ships,
+over which Achilles was in command. But they now took no part in
+the war, inasmuch as there was no one to marshal them; for
+Achilles stayed by his ships, furious about the loss of the girl
+Briseis, whom he had taken from Lyrnessus at his own great peril,
+when he had sacked Lyrnessus and Thebe, and had overthrown Mynes
+and Epistrophus, sons of king Evenor, son of Selepus. For her
+sake Achilles was still grieving, but ere long he was again to
+join them.
+
+And those that held Phylace and the flowery meadows of Pyrasus,
+sanctuary of Ceres; Iton, the mother of sheep; Antrum upon the
+sea, and Pteleum that lies upon the grass lands. Of these brave
+Protesilaus had been captain while he was yet alive, but he was
+now lying under the earth. He had left a wife behind him in
+Phylace to tear her cheeks in sorrow, and his house was only half
+finished, for he was slain by a Dardanian warrior while leaping
+foremost of the Achaeans upon the soil of Troy. Still, though his
+people mourned their chieftain, they were not without a leader,
+for Podarces, of the race of Mars, marshalled them; he was son of
+Iphiclus, rich in sheep, who was the son of Phylacus, and he was
+own brother to Protesilaus, only younger, Protesilaus being at
+once the elder and the more valiant. So the people were not
+without a leader, though they mourned him whom they had lost.
+With him there came forty ships.
+
+And those that held Pherae by the Boebean lake, with Boebe,
+Glaphyrae, and the populous city of Iolcus, these with their
+eleven ships were led by Eumelus, son of Admetus, whom Alcestis
+bore to him, loveliest of the daughters of Pelias.
+
+And those that held Methone and Thaumacia, with Meliboea and
+rugged Olizon, these were led by the skilful archer Philoctetes,
+and they had seven ships, each with fifty oarsmen all of them
+good archers; but Philoctetes was lying in great pain in the
+Island of Lemnos, where the sons of the Achaeans left him, for he
+had been bitten by a poisonous water snake. There he lay sick and
+sorry, and full soon did the Argives come to miss him. But his
+people, though they felt his loss were not leaderless, for Medon,
+the bastard son of Oileus by Rhene, set them in array.
+
+Those, again, of Tricca and the stony region of Ithome, and they
+that held Oechalia, the city of Oechalian Eurytus, these were
+commanded by the two sons of Aesculapius, skilled in the art of
+healing, Podalirius and Machaon. And with them there came thirty
+ships.
+
+The men, moreover, of Ormenius, and by the fountain of Hypereia,
+with those that held Asterius, and the white crests of Titanus,
+these were led by Eurypylus, the son of Euaemon, and with them
+there came forty ships.
+
+Those that held Argissa and Gyrtone, Orthe, Elone, and the white
+city of Oloosson, of these brave Polypoetes was leader. He was
+son of Pirithous, who was son of Jove himself, for Hippodameia
+bore him to Pirithous on the day when he took his revenge on the
+shaggy mountain savages and drove them from Mt. Pelion to the
+Aithices. But Polypoetes was not sole in command, for with him
+was Leonteus, of the race of Mars, who was son of Coronus, the
+son of Caeneus. And with these there came forty ships.
+
+Guneus brought two and twenty ships from Cyphus, and he was
+followed by the Enienes and the valiant Peraebi, who dwelt about
+wintry Dodona, and held the lands round the lovely river
+Titaresius, which sends its waters into the Peneus. They do not
+mingle with the silver eddies of the Peneus, but flow on the top
+of them like oil; for the Titaresius is a branch of dread Orcus
+and of the river Styx.
+
+Of the Magnetes, Prothous son of Tenthredon was commander. They
+were they that dwelt about the river Peneus and Mt. Pelion.
+Prothous, fleet of foot, was their leader, and with him there
+came forty ships.
+
+Such were the chiefs and princes of the Danaans. Who, then, O
+Muse, was the foremost, whether man or horse, among those that
+followed after the sons of Atreus?
+
+Of the horses, those of the son of Pheres were by far the finest.
+They were driven by Eumelus, and were as fleet as birds. They
+were of the same age and colour, and perfectly matched in height.
+Apollo, of the silver bow, had bred them in Perea--both of them
+mares, and terrible as Mars in battle. Of the men, Ajax, son of
+Telamon, was much the foremost so long as Achilles' anger lasted,
+for Achilles excelled him greatly and he had also better horses;
+but Achilles was now holding aloof at his ships by reason of his
+quarrel with Agamemnon, and his people passed their time upon the
+sea shore, throwing discs or aiming with spears at a mark, and in
+archery. Their horses stood each by his own chariot, champing
+lotus and wild celery. The chariots were housed under cover, but
+their owners, for lack of leadership, wandered hither and thither
+about the host and went not forth to fight.
+
+Thus marched the host like a consuming fire, and the earth
+groaned beneath them when the lord of thunder is angry and lashes
+the land about Typhoeus among the Arimi, where they say Typhoeus
+lies. Even so did the earth groan beneath them as they sped over
+the plain.
+
+And now Iris, fleet as the wind, was sent by Jove to tell the bad
+news among the Trojans. They were gathered in assembly, old and
+young, at Priam's gates, and Iris came close up to Priam,
+speaking with the voice of Priam's son Polites, who, being fleet
+of foot, was stationed as watchman for the Trojans on the tomb of
+old Aesyetes, to look out for any sally of the Achaeans. In his
+likeness Iris spoke, saying, "Old man, you talk idly, as in time
+of peace, while war is at hand. I have been in many a battle, but
+never yet saw such a host as is now advancing. They are crossing
+the plain to attack the city as thick as leaves or as the sands
+of the sea. Hector, I charge you above all others, do as I say.
+There are many allies dispersed about the city of Priam from
+distant places and speaking divers tongues. Therefore, let each
+chief give orders to his own people, setting them severally in
+array and leading them forth to battle."
+
+Thus she spoke, but Hector knew that it was the goddess, and at
+once broke up the assembly. The men flew to arms; all the gates
+were opened, and the people thronged through them, horse and
+foot, with the tramp as of a great multitude.
+
+Now there is a high mound before the city, rising by itself upon
+the plain. Men call it Batieia, but the gods know that it is the
+tomb of lithe Myrine. Here the Trojans and their allies divided
+their forces.
+
+Priam's son, great Hector of the gleaming helmet, commanded the
+Trojans, and with him were arrayed by far the greater number and
+most valiant of those who were longing for the fray.
+
+The Dardanians were led by brave Aeneas, whom Venus bore to
+Anchises, when she, goddess though she was, had lain with him
+upon the mountain slopes of Ida. He was not alone, for with him
+were the two sons of Antenor, Archilochus and Acamas, both
+skilled in all the arts of war.
+
+They that dwelt in Telea under the lowest spurs of Mt. Ida, men
+of substance, who drink the limpid waters of the Aesepus, and are
+of Trojan blood--these were led by Pandarus son of Lycaon, whom
+Apollo had taught to use the bow.
+
+They that held Adresteia and the land of Apaesus, with Pityeia,
+and the high mountain of Tereia--these were led by Adrestus and
+Amphius, whose breastplate was of linen. These were the sons of
+Merops of Percote, who excelled in all kinds of divination. He
+told them not to take part in the war, but they gave him no heed,
+for fate lured them to destruction.
+
+They that dwelt about Percote and Practius, with Sestos, Abydos,
+and Arisbe--these were led by Asius, son of Hyrtacus, a brave
+commander--Asius, the son of Hyrtacus, whom his powerful dark bay
+steeds, of the breed that comes from the river Selleis, had
+brought from Arisbe.
+
+Hippothous led the tribes of Pelasgian spearsmen, who dwelt in
+fertile Larissa--Hippothous, and Pylaeus of the race of Mars, two
+sons of the Pelasgian Lethus, son of Teutamus.
+
+Acamas and the warrior Peirous commanded the Thracians and those
+that came from beyond the mighty stream of the Hellespont.
+
+Euphemus, son of Troezenus, the son of Ceos, was captain of the
+Ciconian spearsmen.
+
+Pyraechmes led the Paeonian archers from distant Amydon, by the
+broad waters of the river Axius, the fairest that flow upon the
+earth.
+
+The Paphlagonians were commanded by stout-hearted Pylaemanes from
+Enetae, where the mules run wild in herds. These were they that
+held Cytorus and the country round Sesamus, with the cities by
+the river Parthenius, Cromna, Aegialus, and lofty Erithini.
+
+Odius and Epistrophus were captains over the Halizoni from
+distant Alybe, where there are mines of silver.
+
+Chromis, and Ennomus the augur, led the Mysians, but his skill in
+augury availed not to save him from destruction, for he fell by
+the hand of the fleet descendant of Aeacus in the river, where he
+slew others also of the Trojans.
+
+Phorcys, again, and noble Ascanius led the Phrygians from the far
+country of Ascania, and both were eager for the fray.
+
+Mesthles and Antiphus commanded the Meonians, sons of Talaemenes,
+born to him of the Gygaean lake. These led the Meonians, who
+dwelt under Mt. Tmolus.
+
+Nastes led the Carians, men of a strange speech. These held
+Miletus and the wooded mountain of Phthires, with the water of
+the river Maeander and the lofty crests of Mt. Mycale. These were
+commanded by Nastes and Amphimachus, the brave sons of Nomion. He
+came into the fight with gold about him, like a girl; fool that
+he was, his gold was of no avail to save him, for he fell in the
+river by the hand of the fleet descendant of Aeacus, and Achilles
+bore away his gold.
+
+Sarpedon and Glaucus led the Lycians from their distant land, by
+the eddying waters of the Xanthus.
+
+
+
+BOOK III
+
+  Alexandria, also called Paris, challenges Menelaus--Helen and
+  Priam view the Achaeans from the wall--The covenant--Paris
+  and Menelaus fight, and Paris is worsted--Venus carries him
+  off to save him--Scene between him and Helen.
+
+When the companies were thus arrayed, each under its own captain,
+the Trojans advanced as a flight of wild fowl or cranes that
+scream overhead when rain and winter drive them over the flowing
+waters of Oceanus to bring death and destruction on the Pygmies,
+and they wrangle in the air as they fly; but the Achaeans marched
+silently, in high heart, and minded to stand by one another.
+
+As when the south wind spreads a curtain of mist upon the
+mountain tops, bad for shepherds but better than night for
+thieves, and a man can see no further than he can throw a stone,
+even so rose the dust from under their feet as they made all
+speed over the plain.
+
+When they were close up with one another, Alexandrus came forward
+as champion on the Trojan side. On his shoulders he bore the skin
+of a panther, his bow, and his sword, and he brandished two
+spears shod with bronze as a challenge to the bravest of the
+Achaeans to meet him in single fight. Menelaus saw him thus
+stride out before the ranks, and was glad as a hungry lion that
+lights on the carcase of some goat or horned stag, and devours it
+there and then, though dogs and youths set upon him. Even thus
+was Menelaus glad when his eyes caught sight of Alexandrus, for
+he deemed that now he should be revenged. He sprang, therefore,
+from his chariot, clad in his suit of armour.
+
+Alexandrus quailed as he saw Menelaus come forward, and shrank in
+fear of his life under cover of his men. As one who starts back
+affrighted, trembling and pale, when he comes suddenly upon a
+serpent in some mountain glade, even so did Alexandrus plunge
+into the throng of Trojan warriors, terror-stricken at the sight
+of the son of Atreus.
+
+Then Hector upbraided him. "Paris," said he, "evil-hearted Paris,
+fair to see, but woman-mad, and false of tongue, would that you
+had never been born, or that you had died unwed. Better so, than
+live to be disgraced and looked askance at. Will not the Achaeans
+mock at us and say that we have sent one to champion us who is
+fair to see but who has neither wit nor courage? Did you not,
+such as you are, get your following together and sail beyond the
+seas? Did you not from your a far country carry off a lovely
+woman wedded among a people of warriors--to bring sorrow upon
+your father, your city, and your whole country, but joy to your
+enemies, and hang-dog shamefacedness to yourself? And now can you
+not dare face Menelaus and learn what manner of man he is whose
+wife you have stolen? Where indeed would be your lyre and your
+love-tricks, your comely locks and your fair favour, when you
+were lying in the dust before him? The Trojans are a weak-kneed
+people, or ere this you would have had a shirt of stones for the
+wrongs you have done them."
+
+And Alexandrus answered, "Hector, your rebuke is just. You are
+hard as the axe which a shipwright wields at his work, and
+cleaves the timber to his liking. As the axe in his hand, so keen
+is the edge of your scorn. Still, taunt me not with the gifts
+that golden Venus has given me; they are precious; let not a man
+disdain them, for the gods give them where they are minded, and
+none can have them for the asking. If you would have me do battle
+with Menelaus, bid the Trojans and Achaeans take their seats,
+while he and I fight in their midst for Helen and all her wealth.
+Let him who shall be victorious and prove to be the better man
+take the woman and all she has, to bear them to his home, but let
+the rest swear to a solemn covenant of peace whereby you Trojans
+shall stay here in Troy, while the others go home to Argos and
+the land of the Achaeans."
+
+When Hector heard this he was glad, and went about among the
+Trojan ranks holding his spear by the middle to keep them back,
+and they all sat down at his bidding: but the Achaeans still
+aimed at him with stones and arrows, till Agamemnon shouted to
+them saying, "Hold, Argives, shoot not, sons of the Achaeans;
+Hector desires to speak."
+
+They ceased taking aim and were still, whereon Hector spoke.
+"Hear from my mouth," said he, "Trojans and Achaeans, the saying
+of Alexandrus, through whom this quarrel has come about. He bids
+the Trojans and Achaeans lay their armour upon the ground, while
+he and Menelaus fight in the midst of you for Helen and all her
+wealth. Let him who shall be victorious and prove to be the
+better man take the woman and all she has, to bear them to his
+own home, but let the rest swear to a solemn covenant of peace."
+
+Thus he spoke, and they all held their peace, till Menelaus of
+the loud battle-cry addressed them. "And now," he said, "hear me
+too, for it is I who am the most aggrieved. I deem that the
+parting of Achaeans and Trojans is at hand, as well it may be,
+seeing how much have suffered for my quarrel with Alexandrus and
+the wrong he did me. Let him who shall die, die, and let the
+others fight no more. Bring, then, two lambs, a white ram and a
+black ewe, for Earth and Sun, and we will bring a third for Jove.
+Moreover, you shall bid Priam come, that he may swear to the
+covenant himself; for his sons are high-handed and ill to trust,
+and the oaths of Jove must not be transgressed or taken in vain.
+Young men's minds are light as air, but when an old man comes he
+looks before and after, deeming that which shall be fairest upon
+both sides."
+
+The Trojans and Achaeans were glad when they heard this, for they
+thought that they should now have rest. They backed their
+chariots toward the ranks, got out of them, and put off their
+armour, laying it down upon the ground; and the hosts were near
+to one another with a little space between them. Hector sent two
+messengers to the city to bring the lambs and to bid Priam come,
+while Agamemnon told Talthybius to fetch the other lamb from the
+ships, and he did as Agamemnon had said.
+
+Meanwhile Iris went to Helen in the form of her sister-in-law,
+wife of the son of Antenor, for Helicaon, son of Antenor, had
+married Laodice, the fairest of Priam's daughters. She found her
+in her own room, working at a great web of purple linen, on which
+she was embroidering the battles between Trojans and Achaeans,
+that Mars had made them fight for her sake. Iris then came close
+up to her and said, "Come hither, child, and see the strange
+doings of the Trojans and Achaeans. Till now they have been
+warring upon the plain, mad with lust of battle, but now they
+have left off fighting, and are leaning upon their shields,
+sitting still with their spears planted beside them. Alexandrus
+and Menelaus are going to fight about yourself, and you are to be
+the wife of him who is the victor."
+
+Thus spoke the goddess, and Helen's heart yearned after her
+former husband, her city, and her parents. She threw a white
+mantle over her head, and hurried from her room, weeping as she
+went, not alone, but attended by two of her handmaids, Aethrae,
+daughter of Pittheus, and Clymene. And straightway they were at
+the Scaean gates.
+
+The two sages, Ucalegon and Antenor, elders of the people, were
+seated by the Scaean gates, with Priam, Panthous, Thymoetes,
+Lampus, Clytius, and Hiketaon of the race of Mars. These were too
+old to fight, but they were fluent orators, and sat on the tower
+like cicales that chirrup delicately from the boughs of some high
+tree in a wood. When they saw Helen coming towards the tower,
+they said softly to one another, "Small wonder that Trojans and
+Achaeans should endure so much and so long, for the sake of a
+woman so marvellously and divinely lovely. Still, fair though she
+be, let them take her and go, or she will breed sorrow for us and
+for our children after us."
+
+But Priam bade her draw nigh. "My child," said he, "take your
+seat in front of me that you may see your former husband, your
+kinsmen and your friends. I lay no blame upon you, it is the
+gods, not you who are to blame. It is they that have brought
+about this terrible war with the Achaeans. Tell me, then, who is
+yonder huge hero so great and goodly? I have seen men taller by a
+head, but none so comely and so royal. Surely he must be a king."
+
+"Sir," answered Helen, "father of my husband, dear and reverend
+in my eyes, would that I had chosen death rather than to have
+come here with your son, far from my bridal chamber, my friends,
+my darling daughter, and all the companions of my girlhood. But
+it was not to be, and my lot is one of tears and sorrow. As for
+your question, the hero of whom you ask is Agamemnon, son of
+Atreus, a good king and a brave soldier, brother-in-law as surely
+as that he lives, to my abhorred and miserable self."
+
+The old man marvelled at him and said, "Happy son of Atreus,
+child of good fortune. I see that the Achaeans are subject to you
+in great multitudes. When I was in Phrygia I saw much horsemen,
+the people of Otreus and of Mygdon, who were camping upon the
+banks of the river Sangarius; I was their ally, and with them
+when the Amazons, peers of men, came up against them, but even
+they were not so many as the Achaeans."
+
+The old man next looked upon Ulysses; "Tell me," he said, "who is
+that other, shorter by a head than Agamemnon, but broader across
+the chest and shoulders? His armour is laid upon the ground, and
+he stalks in front of the ranks as it were some great woolly ram
+ordering his ewes."
+
+And Helen answered, "He is Ulysses, a man of great craft, son of
+Laertes. He was born in rugged Ithaca, and excels in all manner
+of stratagems and subtle cunning."
+
+On this Antenor said, "Madam, you have spoken truly. Ulysses once
+came here as envoy about yourself, and Menelaus with him. I
+received them in my own house, and therefore know both of them by
+sight and conversation. When they stood up in presence of the
+assembled Trojans, Menelaus was the broader shouldered, but when
+both were seated Ulysses had the more royal presence. After a
+time they delivered their message, and the speech of Menelaus ran
+trippingly on the tongue; he did not say much, for he was a man
+of few words, but he spoke very clearly and to the point, though
+he was the younger man of the two; Ulysses, on the other hand,
+when he rose to speak, was at first silent and kept his eyes
+fixed upon the ground. There was no play nor graceful movement of
+his sceptre; he kept it straight and stiff like a man unpractised
+in oratory--one might have taken him for a mere churl or
+simpleton; but when he raised his voice, and the words came
+driving from his deep chest like winter snow before the wind,
+then there was none to touch him, and no man thought further of
+what he looked like."
+
+Priam then caught sight of Ajax and asked, "Who is that great and
+goodly warrior whose head and broad shoulders tower above the
+rest of the Argives?"
+
+"That," answered Helen, "is huge Ajax, bulwark of the Achaeans,
+and on the other side of him, among the Cretans, stands Idomeneus
+looking like a god, and with the captains of the Cretans round
+him. Often did Menelaus receive him as a guest in our house when
+he came visiting us from Crete. I see, moreover, many other
+Achaeans whose names I could tell you, but there are two whom I
+can nowhere find, Castor, breaker of horses, and Pollux the
+mighty boxer; they are children of my mother, and own brothers to
+myself. Either they have not left Lacedaemon, or else, though
+they have brought their ships, they will not show themselves in
+battle for the shame and disgrace that I have brought upon them."
+
+She knew not that both these heroes were already lying under the
+earth in their own land of Lacedaemon.
+
+Meanwhile the heralds were bringing the holy oath-offerings
+through the city--two lambs and a goatskin of wine, the gift of
+earth; and Idaeus brought the mixing bowl and the cups of gold.
+He went up to Priam and said, "Son of Laomedon, the princes of
+the Trojans and Achaeans bid you come down on to the plain and
+swear to a solemn covenant. Alexandrus and Menelaus are to fight
+for Helen in single combat, that she and all her wealth may go
+with him who is the victor. We are to swear to a solemn covenant
+of peace whereby we others shall dwell here in Troy, while the
+Achaeans return to Argos and the land of the Achaeans."
+
+The old man trembled as he heard, but bade his followers yoke the
+horses, and they made all haste to do so. He mounted the chariot,
+gathered the reins in his hand, and Antenor took his seat beside
+him; they then drove through the Scaean gates on to the plain.
+When they reached the ranks of the Trojans and Achaeans they left
+the chariot, and with measured pace advanced into the space
+between the hosts.
+
+Agamemnon and Ulysses both rose to meet them. The attendants
+brought on the oath-offerings and mixed the wine in the
+mixing-bowls; they poured water over the hands of the chieftains,
+and the son of Atreus drew the dagger that hung by his sword, and
+cut wool from the lambs' heads; this the men-servants gave about
+among the Trojan and Achaean princes, and the son of Atreus
+lifted up his hands in prayer. "Father Jove," he cried, "that
+rulest in Ida, most glorious in power, and thou oh Sun, that
+seest and givest ear to all things, Earth and Rivers, and ye who
+in the realms below chastise the soul of him that has broken his
+oath, witness these rites and guard them, that they be not vain.
+If Alexandrus kills Menelaus, let him keep Helen and all her
+wealth, while we sail home with our ships; but if Menelaus kills
+Alexandrus, let the Trojans give back Helen and all that she has;
+let them moreover pay such fine to the Achaeans as shall be
+agreed upon, in testimony among those that shall be born
+hereafter. And if Priam and his sons refuse such fine when
+Alexandrus has fallen, then will I stay here and fight on till I
+have got satisfaction."
+
+As he spoke he drew his knife across the throats of the victims,
+and laid them down gasping and dying upon the ground, for the
+knife had reft them of their strength. Then they poured wine from
+the mixing-bowl into the cups, and prayed to the everlasting
+gods, saying, Trojans and Achaeans among one another, "Jove, most
+great and glorious, and ye other everlasting gods, grant that the
+brains of them who shall first sin against their oaths--of them
+and their children--may be shed upon the ground even as this
+wine, and let their wives become the slaves of strangers."
+
+Thus they prayed, but not as yet would Jove grant them their
+prayer. Then Priam, descendant of Dardanus, spoke, saying, "Hear
+me, Trojans and Achaeans, I will now go back to the wind-beaten
+city of Ilius: I dare not with my own eyes witness this fight
+between my son and Menelaus, for Jove and the other immortals
+alone know which shall fall."
+
+On this he laid the two lambs on his chariot and took his seat.
+He gathered the reins in his hand, and Antenor sat beside him;
+the two then went back to Ilius. Hector and Ulysses measured the
+ground, and cast lots from a helmet of bronze to see which should
+take aim first. Meanwhile the two hosts lifted up their hands and
+prayed saying, "Father Jove, that rulest from Ida, most glorious
+in power, grant that he who first brought about this war between
+us may die, and enter the house of Hades, while we others remain
+at peace and abide by our oaths."
+
+Great Hector now turned his head aside while he shook the helmet,
+and the lot of Paris flew out first. The others took their
+several stations, each by his horses and the place where his arms
+were lying, while Alexandrus, husband of lovely Helen, put on his
+goodly armour. First he greaved his legs with greaves of good
+make and fitted with ancle-clasps of silver; after this he donned
+the cuirass of his brother Lycaon, and fitted it to his own body;
+he hung his silver-studded sword of bronze about his shoulders,
+and then his mighty shield. On his comely head he set his helmet,
+well-wrought, with a crest of horse-hair that nodded menacingly
+above it, and he grasped a redoubtable spear that suited his
+hands. In like fashion Menelaus also put on his armour.
+
+When they had thus armed, each amid his own people, they strode
+fierce of aspect into the open space, and both Trojans and
+Achaeans were struck with awe as they beheld them. They stood
+near one another on the measured ground, brandishing their
+spears, and each furious against the other. Alexandrus aimed
+first, and struck the round shield of the son of Atreus, but the
+spear did not pierce it, for the shield turned its point.
+Menelaus next took aim, praying to Father Jove as he did so.
+"King Jove," he said, "grant me revenge on Alexandrus who has
+wronged me; subdue him under my hand that in ages yet to come a
+man may shrink from doing ill deeds in the house of his host."
+
+He poised his spear as he spoke, and hurled it at the shield of
+Alexandrus. Through shield and cuirass it went, and tore the
+shirt by his flank, but Alexandrus swerved aside, and thus saved
+his life. Then the son of Atreus drew his sword, and drove at the
+projecting part of his helmet, but the sword fell shivered in
+three or four pieces from his hand, and he cried, looking towards
+Heaven, "Father Jove, of all gods thou art the most despiteful; I
+made sure of my revenge, but the sword has broken in my hand, my
+spear has been hurled in vain, and I have not killed him."
+
+With this he flew at Alexandrus, caught him by the horsehair
+plume of his helmet, and began dragging him towards the Achaeans.
+The strap of the helmet that went under his chin was choking him,
+and Menelaus would have dragged him off to his own great glory
+had not Jove's daughter Venus been quick to mark and to break the
+strap of oxhide, so that the empty helmet came away in his hand.
+This he flung to his comrades among the Achaeans, and was again
+springing upon Alexandrus to run him through with a spear, but
+Venus snatched him up in a moment (as a god can do), hid him
+under a cloud of darkness, and conveyed him to his own
+bedchamber.
+
+Then she went to call Helen, and found her on a high tower with
+the Trojan women crowding round her. She took the form of an old
+woman who used to dress wool for her when she was still in
+Lacedaemon, and of whom she was very fond. Thus disguised she
+plucked her by perfumed robe and said, "Come hither; Alexandrus
+says you are to go to the house; he is on his bed in his own
+room, radiant with beauty and dressed in gorgeous apparel. No one
+would think he had just come from fighting, but rather that he
+was going to a dance, or had done dancing and was sitting down."
+
+With these words she moved the heart of Helen to anger. When she
+marked the beautiful neck of the goddess, her lovely bosom, and
+sparkling eyes, she marvelled at her and said, "Goddess, why do
+you thus beguile me? Are you going to send me afield still
+further to some man whom you have taken up in Phrygia or fair
+Meonia? Menelaus has just vanquished Alexandrus, and is to take
+my hateful self back with him. You are come here to betray me. Go
+sit with Alexandrus yourself; henceforth be goddess no longer;
+never let your feet carry you back to Olympus; worry about him
+and look after him till he make you his wife, or, for the matter
+of that, his slave--but me? I shall not go; I can garnish his bed
+no longer; I should be a by-word among all the women of Troy.
+Besides, I have trouble on my mind."
+
+Venus was very angry, and said, "Bold hussy, do not provoke me;
+if you do, I shall leave you to your fate and hate you as much as
+I have loved you. I will stir up fierce hatred between Trojans
+and Achaeans, and you shall come to a bad end."
+
+At this Helen was frightened. She wrapped her mantle about her
+and went in silence, following the goddess and unnoticed by the
+Trojan women.
+
+When they came to the house of Alexandrus the maid-servants set
+about their work, but Helen went into her own room, and the
+laughter-loving goddess took a seat and set it for her facing
+Alexandrus. On this Helen, daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, sat
+down, and with eyes askance began to upbraid her husband.
+
+"So you are come from the fight," said she; "would that you had
+fallen rather by the hand of that brave man who was my husband.
+You used to brag that you were a better man with hands and spear
+than Menelaus. Go, then, and challenge him again--but I should
+advise you not to do so, for if you are foolish enough to meet
+him in single combat, you will soon fall by his spear."
+
+And Paris answered, "Wife, do not vex me with your reproaches.
+This time, with the help of Minerva, Menelaus has vanquished me;
+another time I may myself be victor, for I too have gods that
+will stand by me. Come, let us lie down together and make
+friends. Never yet was I so passionately enamoured of you as at
+this moment--not even when I first carried you off from
+Lacedaemon and sailed away with you--not even when I had converse
+with you upon the couch of love in the island of Cranae was I so
+enthralled by desire of you as now." On this he led her towards
+the bed, and his wife went with him.
+
+Thus they laid themselves on the bed together; but the son of
+Atreus strode among the throng, looking everywhere for
+Alexandrus, and no man, neither of the Trojans nor of the allies,
+could find him. If they had seen him they were in no mind to hide
+him, for they all of them hated him as they did death itself.
+Then Agamemnon, king of men, spoke, saying, "Hear me, Trojans,
+Dardanians, and allies. The victory has been with Menelaus;
+therefore give back Helen with all her wealth, and pay such fine
+as shall be agreed upon, in testimony among them that shall be
+born hereafter."
+
+Thus spoke the son of Atreus, and the Achaeans shouted in
+applause.
+
+
+
+BOOK IV
+
+  A quarrel in Olympus--Minerva goes down and persuades Fandarus
+  to violate the oaths by wounding Menelaus with an arrow--
+  Agamemnon makes a speech and sends for Machaon--He then
+  goes about among his captains and upbraids Ulysses and
+  Sthenelus, who each of them retort fiercely--Diomed checks
+  Sthenelus, and the two hosts then engage, with great slaughter
+  on either side.
+
+Now the gods were sitting with Jove in council upon the golden
+floor while Hebe went round pouring out nectar for them to drink,
+and as they pledged one another in their cups of gold they looked
+down upon the town of Troy. The son of Saturn then began to tease
+Juno, talking at her so as to provoke her. "Menelaus," said he,
+"has two good friends among the goddesses, Juno of Argos, and
+Minerva of Alalcomene, but they only sit still and look on, while
+Venus keeps ever by Alexandrus' side to defend him in any danger;
+indeed she has just rescued him when he made sure that it was all
+over with him--for the victory really did lie with Menelaus. We
+must consider what we shall do about all this; shall we set them
+fighting anew or make peace between them? If you will agree to
+this last Menelaus can take back Helen and the city of Priam may
+remain still inhabited."
+
+Minerva and Juno muttered their discontent as they sat side by
+side hatching mischief for the Trojans. Minerva scowled at her
+father, for she was in a furious passion with him, and said
+nothing, but Juno could not contain herself. "Dread son of
+Saturn," said she, "what, pray, is the meaning of all this? Is my
+trouble, then, to go for nothing, and the sweat that I have
+sweated, to say nothing of my horses, while getting the people
+together against Priam and his children? Do as you will, but we
+other gods shall not all of us approve your counsel."
+
+Jove was angry and answered, "My dear, what harm have Priam and
+his sons done you that you are so hotly bent on sacking the city
+of Ilius? Will nothing do for you but you must within their walls
+and eat Priam raw, with his sons and all the other Trojans to
+boot? Have it your own way then; for I would not have this matter
+become a bone of contention between us. I say further, and lay my
+saying to your heart, if ever I want to sack a city belonging to
+friends of yours, you must not try to stop me; you will have to
+let me do it, for I am giving in to you sorely against my will.
+Of all inhabited cities under the sun and stars of heaven, there
+was none that I so much respected as Ilius with Priam and his
+whole people. Equitable feasts were never wanting about my altar,
+nor the savour of burning fat, which is honour due to ourselves."
+
+"My own three favourite cities," answered Juno, "are Argos,
+Sparta, and Mycenae. Sack them whenever you may be displeased
+with them. I shall not defend them and I shall not care. Even if
+I did, and tried to stay you, I should take nothing by it, for
+you are much stronger than I am, but I will not have my own work
+wasted. I too am a god and of the same race with yourself. I am
+Saturn's eldest daughter, and am honourable not on this ground
+only, but also because I am your wife, and you are king over the
+gods. Let it be a case, then, of give-and-take between us, and
+the rest of the gods will follow our lead. Tell Minerva to go and
+take part in the fight at once, and let her contrive that the
+Trojans shall be the first to break their oaths and set upon the
+Achaeans."
+
+The sire of gods and men heeded her words, and said to Minerva,
+"Go at once into the Trojan and Achaean hosts, and contrive that
+the Trojans shall be the first to break their oaths and set upon
+the Achaeans."
+
+This was what Minerva was already eager to do, so down she darted
+from the topmost summits of Olympus. She shot through the sky as
+some brilliant meteor which the son of scheming Saturn has sent
+as a sign to mariners or to some great army, and a fiery train of
+light follows in its wake. The Trojans and Achaeans were struck
+with awe as they beheld, and one would turn to his neighbour,
+saying, "Either we shall again have war and din of combat, or
+Jove the lord of battle will now make peace between us."
+
+Thus did they converse. Then Minerva took the form of Laodocus,
+son of Antenor, and went through the ranks of the Trojans to find
+Pandarus, the redoubtable son of Lycaon. She found him standing
+among the stalwart heroes who had followed him from the banks of
+the Aesopus, so she went close up to him and said, "Brave son of
+Lycaon, will you do as I tell you? If you dare send an arrow at
+Menelaus you will win honour and thanks from all the Trojans, and
+especially from prince Alexandrus--he would be the first to
+requite you very handsomely if he could see Menelaus mount his
+funeral pyre, slain by an arrow from your hand. Take your home
+aim then, and pray to Lycian Apollo, the famous archer; vow that
+when you get home to your strong city of Zelea you will offer a
+hecatomb of firstling lambs in his honour."
+
+His fool's heart was persuaded, and he took his bow from its
+case. This bow was made from the horns of a wild ibex which he
+had killed as it was bounding from a rock; he had stalked it, and
+it had fallen as the arrow struck it to the heart. Its horns were
+sixteen palms long, and a worker in horn had made them into a
+bow, smoothing them well down, and giving them tips of gold. When
+Pandarus had strung his bow he laid it carefully on the ground,
+and his brave followers held their shields before him lest the
+Achaeans should set upon him before he had shot Menelaus. Then he
+opened the lid of his quiver and took out a winged arrow that had
+not yet been shot, fraught with the pangs of death. He laid the
+arrow on the string and prayed to Lycian Apollo, the famous
+archer, vowing that when he got home to his strong city of Zelea
+he would offer a hecatomb of firstling lambs in his honour. He
+laid the notch of the arrow on the oxhide bowstring, and drew
+both notch and string to his breast till the arrow-head was near
+the bow; then when the bow was arched into a half-circle he let
+fly, and the bow twanged, and the string sang as the arrow flew
+gladly on over the heads of the throng.
+
+But the blessed gods did not forget thee, O Menelaus, and Jove's
+daughter, driver of the spoil, was the first to stand before thee
+and ward off the piercing arrow. She turned it from his skin as a
+mother whisks a fly from off her child when it is sleeping
+sweetly; she guided it to the part where the golden buckles of
+the belt that passed over his double cuirass were fastened, so
+the arrow struck the belt that went tightly round him. It went
+right through this and through the cuirass of cunning
+workmanship; it also pierced the belt beneath it, which he wore
+next his skin to keep out darts or arrows; it was this that
+served him in the best stead, nevertheless the arrow went through
+it and grazed the top of the skin, so that blood began flowing
+from the wound.
+
+As when some woman of Meonia or Caria strains purple dye on to a
+piece of ivory that is to be the cheek-piece of a horse, and is
+to be laid up in a treasure house--many a knight is fain to bear
+it, but the king keeps it as an ornament of which both horse and
+driver may be proud--even so, O Menelaus, were your shapely
+thighs and your legs down to your fair ancles stained with blood.
+
+When King Agamemnon saw the blood flowing from the wound he was
+afraid, and so was brave Menelaus himself till he saw that the
+barbs of the arrow and the thread that bound the arrow-head to
+the shaft were still outside the wound. Then he took heart, but
+Agamemnon heaved a deep sigh as he held Menelaus's hand in his
+own, and his comrades made moan in concert. "Dear brother," he
+cried, "I have been the death of you in pledging this covenant
+and letting you come forward as our champion. The Trojans have
+trampled on their oaths and have wounded you; nevertheless the
+oath, the blood of lambs, the drink-offerings and the right hands
+of fellowship in which we have put our trust shall not be vain.
+If he that rules Olympus fulfil it not here and now, he will yet
+fulfil it hereafter, and they shall pay dearly with their lives
+and with their wives and children. The day will surely come when
+mighty Ilius shall be laid low, with Priam and Priam's people,
+when the son of Saturn from his high throne shall overshadow them
+with his awful aegis in punishment of their present treachery.
+This shall surely be; but how, Menelaus, shall I mourn you, if it
+be your lot now to die? I should return to Argos as a by-word,
+for the Achaeans will at once go home. We shall leave Priam and
+the Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen, and the earth will
+rot your bones as you lie here at Troy with your purpose not
+fulfilled. Then shall some braggart Trojan leap upon your tomb
+and say, 'Ever thus may Agamemnon wreak his vengeance; he brought
+his army in vain; he is gone home to his own land with empty
+ships, and has left Menelaus behind him.' Thus will one of them
+say, and may the earth then swallow me."
+
+But Menelaus reassured him and said, "Take heart, and do not
+alarm the people; the arrow has not struck me in a mortal part,
+for my outer belt of burnished metal first stayed it, and under
+this my cuirass and the belt of mail which the bronze-smiths made
+me."
+
+And Agamemnon answered, "I trust, dear Menelaus, that it may be
+even so, but the surgeon shall examine your wound and lay herbs
+upon it to relieve your pain."
+
+He then said to Talthybius, "Talthybius, tell Machaon, son to the
+great physician, Aesculapius, to come and see Menelaus
+immediately. Some Trojan or Lycian archer has wounded him with an
+arrow to our dismay, and to his own great glory."
+
+Talthybius did as he was told, and went about the host trying to
+find Machaon. Presently he found standing amid the brave warriors
+who had followed him from Tricca; thereon he went up to him and
+said, "Son of Aesculapius, King Agamemnon says you are to come
+and see Menelaus immediately. Some Trojan or Lycian archer has
+wounded him with an arrow to our dismay and to his own great
+glory."
+
+Thus did he speak, and Machaon was moved to go. They passed
+through the spreading host of the Achaeans and went on till they
+came to the place where Menelaus had been wounded and was lying
+with the chieftains gathered in a circle round him. Machaon
+passed into the middle of the ring and at once drew the arrow
+from the belt, bending its barbs back through the force with
+which he pulled it out. He undid the burnished belt, and beneath
+this the cuirass and the belt of mail which the bronze-smiths had
+made; then, when he had seen the wound, he wiped away the blood
+and applied some soothing drugs which Chiron had given to
+Aesculapius out of the good will he bore him.
+
+While they were thus busy about Menelaus, the Trojans came
+forward against them, for they had put on their armour, and now
+renewed the fight.
+
+You would not have then found Agamemnon asleep nor cowardly and
+unwilling to fight, but eager rather for the fray. He left his
+chariot rich with bronze and his panting steeds in charge of
+Eurymedon, son of Ptolemaeus the son of Peiraeus, and bade him
+hold them in readiness against the time his limbs should weary of
+going about and giving orders to so many, for he went among the
+ranks on foot. When he saw men hasting to the front he stood by
+them and cheered them on. "Argives," said he, "slacken not one
+whit in your onset; father Jove will be no helper of liars; the
+Trojans have been the first to break their oaths and to attack
+us; therefore they shall be devoured of vultures; we shall take
+their city and carry off their wives and children in our ships."
+
+But he angrily rebuked those whom he saw shirking and disinclined
+to fight. "Argives," he cried, "cowardly miserable creatures,
+have you no shame to stand here like frightened fawns who, when
+they can no longer scud over the plain, huddle together, but show
+no fight? You are as dazed and spiritless as deer. Would you wait
+till the Trojans reach the sterns of our ships as they lie on the
+shore, to see whether the son of Saturn will hold his hand over
+you to protect you?"
+
+Thus did he go about giving his orders among the ranks. Passing
+through the crowd, he came presently on the Cretans, arming round
+Idomeneus, who was at their head, fierce as a wild boar, while
+Meriones was bringing up the battalions that were in the rear.
+Agamemnon was glad when he saw him, and spoke him fairly.
+"Idomeneus," said he, "I treat you with greater distinction than
+I do any others of the Achaeans, whether in war or in other
+things, or at table. When the princes are mixing my choicest
+wines in the mixing-bowls, they have each of them a fixed
+allowance, but your cup is kept always full like my own, that you
+may drink whenever you are minded. Go, therefore, into battle,
+and show yourself the man you have been always proud to be."
+
+Idomeneus answered, "I will be a trusty comrade, as I promised
+you from the first I would be. Urge on the other Achaeans, that
+we may join battle at once, for the Trojans have trampled upon
+their covenants. Death and destruction shall be theirs, seeing
+they have been the first to break their oaths and to attack us."
+
+The son of Atreus went on, glad at heart, till he came upon the
+two Ajaxes arming themselves amid a host of foot-soldiers. As
+when a goat-herd from some high post watches a storm drive over
+the deep before the west wind--black as pitch is the offing and a
+mighty whirlwind draws towards him, so that he is afraid and
+drives his flock into a cave--even thus did the ranks of stalwart
+youths move in a dark mass to battle under the Ajaxes, horrid
+with shield and spear. Glad was King Agamemnon when he saw them.
+"No need," he cried, "to give orders to such leaders of the
+Argives as you are, for of your own selves you spur your men on
+to fight with might and main. Would, by father Jove, Minerva, and
+Apollo that all were so minded as you are, for the city of Priam
+would then soon fall beneath our hands, and we should sack it."
+
+With this he left them and went onward to Nestor, the facile
+speaker of the Pylians, who was marshalling his men and urging
+them on, in company with Pelagon, Alastor, Chromius, Haemon, and
+Bias shepherd of his people. He placed his knights with their
+chariots and horses in the front rank, while the foot-soldiers,
+brave men and many, whom he could trust, were in the rear. The
+cowards he drove into the middle, that they might fight whether
+they would or no. He gave his orders to the knights first,
+bidding them hold their horses well in hand, so as to avoid
+confusion. "Let no man," he said, "relying on his strength or
+horsemanship, get before the others and engage singly with the
+Trojans, nor yet let him lag behind or you will weaken your
+attack; but let each when he meets an enemy's chariot throw his
+spear from his own; this be much the best; this is how the men of
+old took towns and strongholds; in this wise were they minded."
+
+Thus did the old man charge them, for he had been in many a
+fight, and King Agamemnon was glad. "I wish," he said to him,
+"that your limbs were as supple and your strength as sure as your
+judgment is; but age, the common enemy of mankind, has laid his
+hand upon you; would that it had fallen upon some other, and that
+you were still young."
+
+And Nestor, knight of Gerene, answered, "Son of Atreus, I too
+would gladly be the man I was when I slew mighty Ereuthalion; but
+the gods will not give us everything at one and the same time. I
+was then young, and now I am old; still I can go with my knights
+and give them that counsel which old men have a right to give.
+The wielding of the spear I leave to those who are younger and
+stronger than myself."
+
+Agamemnon went his way rejoicing, and presently found Menestheus,
+son of Peteos, tarrying in his place, and with him were the
+Athenians loud of tongue in battle. Near him also tarried cunning
+Ulysses, with his sturdy Cephallenians round him; they had not
+yet heard the battle-cry, for the ranks of Trojans and Achaeans
+had only just begun to move, so they were standing still, waiting
+for some other columns of the Achaeans to attack the Trojans and
+begin the fighting. When he saw this Agamemnon rebuked them and
+said, "Son of Peteos, and you other, steeped in cunning, heart of
+guile, why stand you here cowering and waiting on others? You two
+should be of all men foremost when there is hard fighting to be
+done, for you are ever foremost to accept my invitation when we
+councillors of the Achaeans are holding feast. You are glad
+enough then to take your fill of roast meats and to drink wine as
+long as you please, whereas now you would not care though you saw
+ten columns of Achaeans engage the enemy in front of you."
+
+Ulysses glared at him and answered, "Son of Atreus, what are you
+talking about? How can you say that we are slack? When the
+Achaeans are in full fight with the Trojans, you shall see, if
+you care to do so, that the father of Telemachus will join battle
+with the foremost of them. You are talking idly."
+
+When Agamemnon saw that Ulysses was angry, he smiled pleasantly
+at him and withdrew his words. "Ulysses," said he, "noble son of
+Laertes, excellent in all good counsel, I have neither fault to
+find nor orders to give you, for I know your heart is right, and
+that you and I are of a mind. Enough; I will make you amends for
+what I have said, and if any ill has now been spoken may the gods
+bring it to nothing."
+
+He then left them and went on to others. Presently he saw the son
+of Tydeus, noble Diomed, standing by his chariot and horses, with
+Sthenelus the son of Capaneus beside him; whereon he began to
+upbraid him. "Son of Tydeus," he said, "why stand you cowering
+here upon the brink of battle? Tydeus did not shrink thus, but
+was ever ahead of his men when leading them on against the foe--
+so, at least, say they that saw him in battle, for I never set
+eyes upon him myself. They say that there was no man like him. He
+came once to Mycenae, not as an enemy but as a guest, in company
+with Polynices to recruit his forces, for they were levying war
+against the strong city of Thebes, and prayed our people for a
+body of picked men to help them. The men of Mycenae were willing
+to let them have one, but Jove dissuaded them by showing them
+unfavourable omens. Tydeus, therefore, and Polynices went their
+way. When they had got as far the deep-meadowed and rush-grown
+banks of the Aesopus, the Achaeans sent Tydeus as their envoy,
+and he found the Cadmeans gathered in great numbers to a banquet
+in the house of Eteocles. Stranger though he was, he knew no fear
+on finding himself single-handed among so many, but challenged
+them to contests of all kinds, and in each one of them was at
+once victorious, so mightily did Minerva help him. The Cadmeans
+were incensed at his success, and set a force of fifty youths
+with two captains--the godlike hero Maeon, son of Haemon, and
+Polyphontes, son of Autophonus--at their head, to lie in wait for
+him on his return journey; but Tydeus slew every man of them,
+save only Maeon, whom he let go in obedience to heaven's omens.
+Such was Tydeus of Aetolia. His son can talk more glibly, but he
+cannot fight as his father did."
+
+Diomed made no answer, for he was shamed by the rebuke of
+Agamemnon; but the son of Capaneus took up his words and said,
+"Son of Atreus, tell no lies, for you can speak truth if you
+will. We boast ourselves as even better men than our fathers; we
+took seven-gated Thebes, though the wall was stronger and our men
+were fewer in number, for we trusted in the omens of the gods and
+in the help of Jove, whereas they perished through their own
+sheer folly; hold not, then, our fathers in like honour with us."
+
+Diomed looked sternly at him and said, "Hold your peace, my
+friend, as I bid you. It is not amiss that Agamemnon should urge
+the Achaeans forward, for the glory will be his if we take the
+city, and his the shame if we are vanquished. Therefore let us
+acquit ourselves with valour."
+
+As he spoke he sprang from his chariot, and his armour rang so
+fiercely about his body that even a brave man might well have
+been scared to hear it.
+
+As when some mighty wave that thunders on the beach when the west
+wind has lashed it into fury--it has reared its head afar and now
+comes crashing down on the shore; it bows its arching crest high
+over the jagged rocks and spews its salt foam in all
+directions--even so did the serried phalanxes of the Danaans
+march steadfastly to battle. The chiefs gave orders each to his
+own people, but the men said never a word; no man would think it,
+for huge as the host was, it seemed as though there was not a
+tongue among them, so silent were they in their obedience; and as
+they marched the armour about their bodies glistened in the sun.
+But the clamour of the Trojan ranks was as that of many thousand
+ewes that stand waiting to be milked in the yards of some rich
+flockmaster, and bleat incessantly in answer to the bleating of
+their lambs; for they had not one speech nor language, but their
+tongues were diverse, and they came from many different places.
+These were inspired of Mars, but the others by Minerva--and with
+them came Panic, Rout, and Strife whose fury never tires, sister
+and friend of murderous Mars, who, from being at first but low in
+stature, grows till she uprears her head to heaven, though her
+feet are still on earth. She it was that went about among them
+and flung down discord to the waxing of sorrow with even hand
+between them.
+
+When they were got together in one place shield clashed with
+shield and spear with spear in the rage of battle. The bossed
+shields beat one upon another, and there was a tramp as of a
+great multitude--death-cry and shout of triumph of slain and
+slayers, and the earth ran red with blood. As torrents swollen
+with rain course madly down their deep channels till the angry
+floods meet in some gorge, and the shepherd on the hillside hears
+their roaring from afar--even such was the toil and uproar of the
+hosts as they joined in battle.
+
+First Antilochus slew an armed warrior of the Trojans, Echepolus,
+son of Thalysius, fighting in the foremost ranks. He struck at
+the projecting part of his helmet and drove the spear into his
+brow; the point of bronze pierced the bone, and darkness veiled
+his eyes; headlong as a tower he fell amid the press of the
+fight, and as he dropped King Elephenor, son of Chalcodon and
+captain of the proud Abantes began dragging him out of reach of
+the darts that were falling around him, in haste to strip him of
+his armour. But his purpose was not for long; Agenor saw him
+haling the body away, and smote him in the side with his
+bronze-shod spear--for as he stooped his side was left
+unprotected by his shield--and thus he perished. Then the fight
+between Trojans and Achaeans grew furious over his body, and they
+flew upon each other like wolves, man and man crushing one upon
+the other.
+
+Forthwith Ajax, son of Telamon, slew the fair youth Simoeisius,
+son of Anthemion, whom his mother bore by the banks of the
+Simois, as she was coming down from Mt. Ida, where she had been
+with her parents to see their flocks. Therefore he was named
+Simoeisius, but he did not live to pay his parents for his
+rearing, for he was cut off untimely by the spear of mighty Ajax,
+who struck him in the breast by the right nipple as he was coming
+on among the foremost fighters; the spear went right through his
+shoulder, and he fell as a poplar that has grown straight and
+tall in a meadow by some mere, and its top is thick with
+branches. Then the wheelwright lays his axe to its roots that he
+may fashion a felloe for the wheel of some goodly chariot, and it
+lies seasoning by the waterside. In such wise did Ajax fell to
+earth Simoeisius, son of Anthemion. Thereon Antiphus of the
+gleaming corslet, son of Priam, hurled a spear at Ajax from amid
+the crowd and missed him, but he hit Leucus, the brave comrade of
+Ulysses, in the groin, as he was dragging the body of Simoeisius
+over to the other side; so he fell upon the body and loosed his
+hold upon it. Ulysses was furious when he saw Leucus slain, and
+strode in full armour through the front ranks till he was quite
+close; then he glared round about him and took aim, and the
+Trojans fell back as he did so. His dart was not sped in vain,
+for it struck Democoon, the bastard son of Priam, who had come to
+him from Abydos, where he had charge of his father's mares.
+Ulysses, infuriated by the death of his comrade, hit him with his
+spear on one temple, and the bronze point came through on the
+other side of his forehead. Thereon darkness veiled his eyes, and
+his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the
+ground. Hector, and they that were in front, then gave round
+while the Argives raised a shout and drew off the dead, pressing
+further forward as they did so. But Apollo looked down from
+Pergamus and called aloud to the Trojans, for he was displeased.
+"Trojans," he cried, "rush on the foe, and do not let yourselves
+be thus beaten by the Argives. Their skins are not stone nor iron
+that when hit them you do them no harm. Moreover, Achilles, the
+son of lovely Thetis, is not fighting, but is nursing his anger
+at the ships."
+
+Thus spoke the mighty god, crying to them from the city, while
+Jove's redoubtable daughter, the Trito-born, went about among the
+host of the Achaeans, and urged them forward whenever she beheld
+them slackening.
+
+Then fate fell upon Diores, son of Amarynceus, for he was struck
+by a jagged stone near the ancle of his right leg. He that hurled
+it was Peirous, son of Imbrasus, captain of the Thracians, who
+had come from Aenus; the bones and both the tendons were crushed
+by the pitiless stone. He fell to the ground on his back, and in
+his death throes stretched out his hands towards his comrades.
+But Peirous, who had wounded him, sprang on him and thrust a
+spear into his belly, so that his bowels came gushing out upon
+the ground, and darkness veiled his eyes. As he was leaving the
+body, Thoas of Aetolia struck him in the chest near the nipple,
+and the point fixed itself in his lungs. Thoas came close up to
+him, pulled the spear out of his chest, and then drawing his
+sword, smote him in the middle of the belly so that he died; but
+he did not strip him of his armour, for his Thracian comrades,
+men who wear their hair in a tuft at the top of their heads,
+stood round the body and kept him off with their long spears for
+all his great stature and valour; so he was driven back. Thus the
+two corpses lay stretched on earth near to one another, the one
+captain of the Thracians and the other of the Epeans; and many
+another fell round them.
+
+And now no man would have made light of the fighting if he could
+have gone about among it scatheless and unwounded, with Minerva
+leading him by the hand, and protecting him from the storm of
+spears and arrows. For many Trojans and Achaeans on that day lay
+stretched side by side face downwards upon the earth.
+
+
+
+BOOK V
+
+  The exploits of Diomed, who, though wounded by Pandarus,
+  continues fighting--He kills Pandarus and wounds AEneas--Venus
+  rescues AEneas, but being wounded by Diomed, commits him
+  to the care of Apollo and goes to Olympus, where she is tended
+  by her mother Dione--Mars encourages the Trojans, and
+  AEneas returns to the fight cured of his wound--Minerva and
+  Juno help the Achaeans, and by the advice of the former
+  Diomed wounds Mars, who returns to Olympus to get cured.
+
+Then Pallas Minerva put valour into the heart of Diomed, son of
+Tydeus, that he might excel all the other Argives, and cover
+himself with glory. She made a stream of fire flare from his
+shield and helmet like the star that shines most brilliantly in
+summer after its bath in the waters of Oceanus--even such a fire
+did she kindle upon his head and shoulders as she bade him speed
+into the thickest hurly-burly of the fight.
+
+Now there was a certain rich and honourable man among the
+Trojans, priest of Vulcan, and his name was Dares. He had two
+sons, Phegeus and Idaeus, both of them skilled in all the arts of
+war. These two came forward from the main body of Trojans, and
+set upon Diomed, he being on foot, while they fought from their
+chariot. When they were close up to one another, Phegeus took aim
+first, but his spear went over Diomed's left shoulder without
+hitting him. Diomed then threw, and his spear sped not in vain,
+for it hit Phegeus on the breast near the nipple, and he fell
+from his chariot. Idaeus did not dare to bestride his brother's
+body, but sprang from the chariot and took to flight, or he would
+have shared his brother's fate; whereon Vulcan saved him by
+wrapping him in a cloud of darkness, that his old father might
+not be utterly overwhelmed with grief; but the son of Tydeus
+drove off with the horses, and bade his followers take them to
+the ships. The Trojans were scared when they saw the two sons of
+Dares, one of them in fright and the other lying dead by his
+chariot. Minerva, therefore, took Mars by the hand and said,
+"Mars, Mars, bane of men, bloodstained stormer of cities, may we
+not now leave the Trojans and Achaeans to fight it out, and see
+to which of the two Jove will vouchsafe the victory? Let us go
+away, and thus avoid his anger."
+
+So saying, she drew Mars out of the battle, and set him down upon
+the steep banks of the Scamander. Upon this the Danaans drove the
+Trojans back, and each one of their chieftains killed his man.
+First King Agamemnon flung mighty Odius, captain of the Halizoni,
+from his chariot. The spear of Agamemnon caught him on the broad
+of his back, just as he was turning in flight; it struck him
+between the shoulders and went right through his chest, and his
+armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground.
+
+Then Idomeneus killed Phaesus, son of Borus the Meonian, who had
+come from Varne. Mighty Idomeneus speared him on the right
+shoulder as he was mounting his chariot, and the darkness of
+death enshrouded him as he fell heavily from the car.
+
+The squires of Idomeneus spoiled him of his armour, while
+Menelaus, son of Atreus, killed Scamandrius the son of Strophius,
+a mighty huntsman and keen lover of the chase. Diana herself had
+taught him how to kill every kind of wild creature that is bred
+in mountain forests, but neither she nor his famed skill in
+archery could now save him, for the spear of Menelaus struck him
+in the back as he was flying; it struck him between the shoulders
+and went right through his chest, so that he fell headlong and
+his armour rang rattling round him.
+
+Meriones then killed Phereclus the son of Tecton, who was the son
+of Hermon, a man whose hand was skilled in all manner of cunning
+workmanship, for Pallas Minerva had dearly loved him. He it was
+that made the ships for Alexandrus, which were the beginning of
+all mischief, and brought evil alike both on the Trojans and on
+Alexandrus himself; for he heeded not the decrees of heaven.
+Meriones overtook him as he was flying, and struck him on the
+right buttock. The point of the spear went through the bone into
+the bladder, and death came upon him as he cried aloud and fell
+forward on his knees.
+
+Meges, moreover, slew Pedaeus, son of Antenor, who, though he was
+a bastard, had been brought up by Theano as one of her own
+children, for the love she bore her husband. The son of Phyleus
+got close up to him and drove a spear into the nape of his neck:
+it went under his tongue all among his teeth, so he bit the cold
+bronze, and fell dead in the dust.
+
+And Eurypylus, son of Euaemon, killed Hypsenor, the son of noble
+Dolopion, who had been made priest of the river Scamander, and
+was honoured among the people as though he were a god. Eurypylus
+gave him chase as he was flying before him, smote him with his
+sword upon the arm, and lopped his strong hand from off it. The
+bloody hand fell to the ground, and the shades of death, with
+fate that no man can withstand, came over his eyes.
+
+Thus furiously did the battle rage between them. As for the son
+of Tydeus, you could not say whether he was more among the
+Achaeans or the Trojans. He rushed across the plain like a winter
+torrent that has burst its barrier in full flood; no dykes, no
+walls of fruitful vineyards can embank it when it is swollen with
+rain from heaven, but in a moment it comes tearing onward, and
+lays many a field waste that many a strong man's hand has
+reclaimed--even so were the dense phalanxes of the Trojans driven
+in rout by the son of Tydeus, and many though they were, they
+dared not abide his onslaught.
+
+Now when the son of Lycaon saw him scouring the plain and driving
+the Trojans pell-mell before him, he aimed an arrow and hit the
+front part of his cuirass near the shoulder: the arrow went right
+through the metal and pierced the flesh, so that the cuirass was
+covered with blood. On this the son of Lycaon shouted in triumph,
+"Knights Trojans, come on; the bravest of the Achaeans is
+wounded, and he will not hold out much longer if King Apollo was
+indeed with me when I sped from Lycia hither."
+
+Thus did he vaunt; but his arrow had not killed Diomed, who
+withdrew and made for the chariot and horses of Sthenelus, the
+son of Capaneus. "Dear son of Capaneus," said he, "come down from
+your chariot, and draw the arrow out of my shoulder."
+
+Sthenelus sprang from his chariot, and drew the arrow from the
+wound, whereon the blood came spouting out through the hole that
+had been made in his shirt. Then Diomed prayed, saying, "Hear me,
+daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, unweariable, if ever you loved my
+father well and stood by him in the thick of a fight, do the like
+now by me; grant me to come within a spear's throw of that man
+and kill him. He has been too quick for me and has wounded me;
+and now he is boasting that I shall not see the light of the sun
+much longer."
+
+Thus he prayed, and Pallas Minerva heard him; she made his limbs
+supple and quickened his hands and his feet. Then she went up
+close to him and said, "Fear not, Diomed, to do battle with the
+Trojans, for I have set in your heart the spirit of your knightly
+father Tydeus. Moreover, I have withdrawn the veil from your
+eyes, that you know gods and men apart. If, then, any other god
+comes here and offers you battle, do not fight him; but should
+Jove's daughter Venus come, strike her with your spear and wound
+her."
+
+When she had said this Minerva went away, and the son of Tydeus
+again took his place among the foremost fighters, three times
+more fierce even than he had been before. He was like a lion that
+some mountain shepherd has wounded, but not killed, as he is
+springing over the wall of a sheep-yard to attack the sheep. The
+shepherd has roused the brute to fury but cannot defend his
+flock, so he takes shelter under cover of the buildings, while
+the sheep, panic-stricken on being deserted, are smothered in
+heaps one on top of the other, and the angry lion leaps out over
+the sheep-yard wall. Even thus did Diomed go furiously about
+among the Trojans.
+
+He killed Astynous, and Hypeiron shepherd of his people, the one
+with a thrust of his spear, which struck him above the nipple,
+the other with a sword-cut on the collar-bone, that severed his
+shoulder from his neck and back. He let both of them lie, and
+went in pursuit of Abas and Polyidus, sons of the old reader of
+dreams Eurydamas: they never came back for him to read them any
+more dreams, for mighty Diomed made an end of them. He then gave
+chase to Xanthus and Thoon, the two sons of Phaenops, both of
+them very dear to him, for he was now worn out with age, and
+begat no more sons to inherit his possessions. But Diomed took
+both their lives and left their father sorrowing bitterly, for he
+nevermore saw them come home from battle alive, and his kinsmen
+divided his wealth among themselves.
+
+Then he came upon two sons of Priam, Echemmon and Chromius, as
+they were both in one chariot. He sprang upon them as a lion
+fastens on the neck of some cow or heifer when the herd is
+feeding in a coppice. For all their vain struggles he flung them
+both from their chariot and stripped the armour from their
+bodies. Then he gave their horses to his comrades to take them
+back to the ships.
+
+When Aeneas saw him thus making havoc among the ranks, he went
+through the fight amid the rain of spears to see if he could find
+Pandarus. When he had found the brave son of Lycaon he said,
+"Pandarus, where is now your bow, your winged arrows, and your
+renown as an archer, in respect of which no man here can rival
+you nor is there any in Lycia that can beat you? Lift then your
+hands to Jove and send an arrow at this fellow who is going so
+masterfully about, and has done such deadly work among the
+Trojans. He has killed many a brave man--unless indeed he is some
+god who is angry with the Trojans about their sacrifices, and and
+has set his hand against them in his displeasure."
+
+And the son of Lycaon answered, "Aeneas, I take him for none
+other than the son of Tydeus. I know him by his shield, the visor
+of his helmet, and by his horses. It is possible that he may be a
+god, but if he is the man I say he is, he is not making all this
+havoc without heaven's help, but has some god by his side who is
+shrouded in a cloud of darkness, and who turned my arrow aside
+when it had hit him. I have taken aim at him already and hit him
+on the right shoulder; my arrow went through the breastpiece of
+his cuirass; and I made sure I should send him hurrying to the
+world below, but it seems that I have not killed him. There must
+be a god who is angry with me. Moreover I have neither horse nor
+chariot. In my father's stables there are eleven excellent
+chariots, fresh from the builder, quite new, with cloths spread
+over them; and by each of them there stand a pair of horses,
+champing barley and rye; my old father Lycaon urged me again and
+again when I was at home and on the point of starting, to take
+chariots and horses with me that I might lead the Trojans in
+battle, but I would not listen to him; it would have been much
+better if I had done so, but I was thinking about the horses,
+which had been used to eat their fill, and I was afraid that in
+such a great gathering of men they might be ill-fed, so I left
+them at home and came on foot to Ilius armed only with my bow and
+arrows. These it seems, are of no use, for I have already hit two
+chieftains, the sons of Atreus and of Tydeus, and though I drew
+blood surely enough, I have only made them still more furious. I
+did ill to take my bow down from its peg on the day I led my band
+of Trojans to Ilius in Hector's service, and if ever I get home
+again to set eyes on my native place, my wife, and the greatness
+of my house, may some one cut my head off then and there if I do
+not break the bow and set it on a hot fire--such pranks as it
+plays me."
+
+Aeneas answered, "Say no more. Things will not mend till we two
+go against this man with chariot and horses and bring him to a
+trial of arms. Mount my chariot, and note how cleverly the horses
+of Tros can speed hither and thither over the plain in pursuit or
+flight. If Jove again vouchsafes glory to the son of Tydeus they
+will carry us safely back to the city. Take hold, then, of the
+whip and reins while I stand upon the car to fight, or else do
+you wait this man's onset while I look after the horses."
+
+"Aeneas," replied the son of Lycaon, "take the reins and drive;
+if we have to fly before the son of Tydeus the horses will go
+better for their own driver. If they miss the sound of your voice
+when they expect it they may be frightened, and refuse to take us
+out of the fight. The son of Tydeus will then kill both of us and
+take the horses. Therefore drive them yourself and I will be
+ready for him with my spear."
+
+They then mounted the chariot and drove full-speed towards the
+son of Tydeus. Sthenelus, son of Capaneus, saw them coming and
+said to Diomed, "Diomed, son of Tydeus, man after my own heart, I
+see two heroes speeding towards you, both of them men of might
+the one a skilful archer, Pandarus son of Lycaon, the other,
+Aeneas, whose sire is Anchises, while his mother is Venus. Mount
+the chariot and let us retreat. Do not, I pray you, press so
+furiously forward, or you may get killed."
+
+Diomed looked angrily at him and answered: "Talk not of flight,
+for I shall not listen to you: I am of a race that knows neither
+flight nor fear, and my limbs are as yet unwearied. I am in no
+mind to mount, but will go against them even as I am; Pallas
+Minerva bids me be afraid of no man, and even though one of them
+escape, their steeds shall not take both back again. I say
+further, and lay my saying to your heart--if Minerva sees fit to
+vouchsafe me the glory of killing both, stay your horses here and
+make the reins fast to the rim of the chariot; then be sure you
+spring Aeneas' horses and drive them from the Trojan to the
+Achaean ranks. They are of the stock that great Jove gave to Tros
+in payment for his son Ganymede, and are the finest that live and
+move under the sun. King Anchises stole the blood by putting his
+mares to them without Laomedon's knowledge, and they bore him six
+foals. Four are still in his stables, but he gave the other two
+to Aeneas. We shall win great glory if we can take them."
+
+Thus did they converse, but the other two had now driven close up
+to them, and the son of Lycaon spoke first. "Great and mighty
+son," said he, "of noble Tydeus, my arrow failed to lay you low,
+so I will now try with my spear."
+
+He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it from him. It struck
+the shield of the son of Tydeus; the bronze point pierced it and
+passed on till it reached the breastplate. Thereon the son of
+Lycaon shouted out and said, "You are hit clean through the
+belly; you will not stand out for long, and the glory of the
+fight is mine."
+
+But Diomed all undismayed made answer, "You have missed, not hit,
+and before you two see the end of this matter one or other of you
+shall glut tough-shielded Mars with his blood."
+
+With this he hurled his spear, and Minerva guided it on to
+Pandarus's nose near the eye. It went crashing in among his white
+teeth; the bronze point cut through the root of his tongue,
+coming out under his chin, and his glistening armour rang
+rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground. The horses
+started aside for fear, and he was reft of life and strength.
+
+Aeneas sprang from his chariot armed with shield and spear,
+fearing lest the Achaeans should carry off the body. He bestrode
+it as a lion in the pride of strength, with shield and spear
+before him and a cry of battle on his lips resolute to kill the
+first that should dare face him. But the son of Tydeus caught up
+a mighty stone, so huge and great that as men now are it would
+take two to lift it; nevertheless he bore it aloft with ease
+unaided, and with this he struck Aeneas on the groin where the
+hip turns in the joint that is called the "cup-bone." The stone
+crushed this joint, and broke both the sinews, while its jagged
+edges tore away all the flesh. The hero fell on his knees, and
+propped himself with his hand resting on the ground till the
+darkness of night fell upon his eyes. And now Aeneas, king of
+men, would have perished then and there, had not his mother,
+Jove's daughter Venus, who had conceived him by Anchises when he
+was herding cattle, been quick to mark, and thrown her two white
+arms about the body of her dear son. She protected him by
+covering him with a fold of her own fair garment, lest some
+Danaan should drive a spear into his breast and kill him.
+
+Thus, then, did she bear her dear son out of the fight. But the
+son of Capaneus was not unmindful of the orders that Diomed had
+given him. He made his own horses fast, away from the
+hurly-burly, by binding the reins to the rim of the chariot. Then
+he sprang upon Aeneas's horses and drove them from the Trojan to
+the Achaean ranks. When he had so done he gave them over to his
+chosen comrade Deipylus, whom he valued above all others as the
+one who was most like-minded with himself, to take them on to the
+ships. He then remounted his own chariot, seized the reins, and
+drove with all speed in search of the son of Tydeus.
+
+Now the son of Tydeus was in pursuit of the Cyprian goddess,
+spear in hand, for he knew her to be feeble and not one of those
+goddesses that can lord it among men in battle like Minerva or
+Enyo the waster of cities, and when at last after a long chase he
+caught her up, he flew at her and thrust his spear into the flesh
+of her delicate hand. The point tore through the ambrosial robe
+which the Graces had woven for her, and pierced the skin between
+her wrist and the palm of her hand, so that the immortal blood,
+or ichor, that flows in the veins of the blessed gods, came
+pouring from the wound; for the gods do not eat bread nor drink
+wine, hence they have no blood such as ours, and are immortal.
+Venus screamed aloud, and let her son fall, but Phoebus Apollo
+caught him in his arms, and hid him in a cloud of darkness, lest
+some Danaan should drive a spear into his breast and kill him;
+and Diomed shouted out as he left her, "Daughter of Jove, leave
+war and battle alone, can you not be contented with beguiling
+silly women? If you meddle with fighting you will get what will
+make you shudder at the very name of war."
+
+The goddess went dazed and discomfited away, and Iris, fleet as
+the wind, drew her from the throng, in pain and with her fair
+skin all besmirched. She found fierce Mars waiting on the left of
+the battle, with his spear and his two fleet steeds resting on a
+cloud; whereon she fell on her knees before her brother and
+implored him to let her have his horses. "Dear brother," she
+cried, "save me, and give me your horses to take me to Olympus
+where the gods dwell. I am badly wounded by a mortal, the son of
+Tydeus, who would now fight even with father Jove."
+
+Thus she spoke, and Mars gave her his gold-bedizened steeds. She
+mounted the chariot sick and sorry at heart, while Iris sat
+beside her and took the reins in her hand. She lashed her horses
+on and they flew forward nothing loth, till in a trice they were
+at high Olympus, where the gods have their dwelling. There she
+stayed them, unloosed them from the chariot, and gave them their
+ambrosial forage; but Venus flung herself on to the lap of her
+mother Dione, who threw her arms about her and caressed her,
+saying, "Which of the heavenly beings has been treating you in
+this way, as though you had been doing something wrong in the
+face of day?"
+
+And laughter-loving Venus answered, "Proud Diomed, the son of
+Tydeus, wounded me because I was bearing my dear son Aeneas, whom
+I love best of all mankind, out of the fight. The war is no
+longer one between Trojans and Achaeans, for the Danaans have now
+taken to fighting with the immortals."
+
+"Bear it, my child," replied Dione, "and make the best of it. We
+dwellers in Olympus have to put up with much at the hands of men,
+and we lay much suffering on one another. Mars had to suffer when
+Otus and Ephialtes, children of Aloeus, bound him in cruel bonds,
+so that he lay thirteen months imprisoned in a vessel of bronze.
+Mars would have then perished had not fair Eeriboea, stepmother
+to the sons of Aloeus, told Mercury, who stole him away when he
+was already well-nigh worn out by the severity of his bondage.
+Juno, again, suffered when the mighty son of Amphitryon wounded
+her on the right breast with a three-barbed arrow, and nothing
+could assuage her pain. So, also, did huge Hades, when this same
+man, the son of aegis-bearing Jove, hit him with an arrow even at
+the gates of hell, and hurt him badly. Thereon Hades went to the
+house of Jove on great Olympus, angry and full of pain; and the
+arrow in his brawny shoulder caused him great anguish till Paeeon
+healed him by spreading soothing herbs on the wound, for Hades
+was not of mortal mould. Daring, head-strong, evildoer who recked
+not of his sin in shooting the gods that dwell in Olympus. And
+now Minerva has egged this son of Tydeus on against yourself,
+fool that he is for not reflecting that no man who fights with
+gods will live long or hear his children prattling about his
+knees when he returns from battle. Let, then, the son of Tydeus
+see that he does not have to fight with one who is stronger than
+you are. Then shall his brave wife Aegialeia, daughter of
+Adrestus, rouse her whole house from sleep, wailing for the loss
+of her wedded lord, Diomed the bravest of the Achaeans."
+
+So saying, she wiped the ichor from the wrist of her daughter
+with both hands, whereon the pain left her, and her hand was
+healed. But Minerva and Juno, who were looking on, began to taunt
+Jove with their mocking talk, and Minerva was first to speak.
+"Father Jove," said she, "do not be angry with me, but I think
+the Cyprian must have been persuading some one of the Achaean
+women to go with the Trojans of whom she is so very fond, and
+while caressing one or other of them she must have torn her
+delicate hand with the gold pin of the woman's brooch."
+
+The sire of gods and men smiled, and called golden Venus to his
+side. "My child," said he, "it has not been given you to be a
+warrior. Attend, henceforth, to your own delightful matrimonial
+duties, and leave all this fighting to Mars and to Minerva."
+
+Thus did they converse. But Diomed sprang upon Aeneas, though he
+knew him to be in the very arms of Apollo. Not one whit did he
+fear the mighty god, so set was he on killing Aeneas and
+stripping him of his armour. Thrice did he spring forward with
+might and main to slay him, and thrice did Apollo beat back his
+gleaming shield. When he was coming on for the fourth time, as
+though he were a god, Apollo shouted to him with an awful voice
+and said, "Take heed, son of Tydeus, and draw off; think not to
+match yourself against gods, for men that walk the earth cannot
+hold their own with the immortals."
+
+The son of Tydeus then gave way for a little space, to avoid the
+anger of the god, while Apollo took Aeneas out of the crowd and
+set him in sacred Pergamus, where his temple stood. There, within
+the mighty sanctuary, Latona and Diana healed him and made him
+glorious to behold, while Apollo of the silver bow fashioned a
+wraith in the likeness of Aeneas, and armed as he was. Round this
+the Trojans and Achaeans hacked at the bucklers about one
+another's breasts, hewing each other's round shields and light
+hide-covered targets. Then Phoebus Apollo said to Mars, "Mars,
+Mars, bane of men, blood-stained stormer of cities, can you not
+go to this man, the son of Tydeus, who would now fight even with
+father Jove, and draw him out of the battle? He first went up to
+the Cyprian and wounded her in the hand near her wrist, and
+afterwards sprang upon me too, as though he were a god."
+
+He then took his seat on the top of Pergamus, while murderous
+Mars went about among the ranks of the Trojans, cheering them on,
+in the likeness of fleet Acamas chief of the Thracians. "Sons of
+Priam," said he, "how long will you let your people be thus
+slaughtered by the Achaeans? Would you wait till they are at the
+walls of Troy? Aeneas the son of Anchises has fallen, he whom we
+held in as high honour as Hector himself. Help me, then, to
+rescue our brave comrade from the stress of the fight."
+
+With these words he put heart and soul into them all. Then
+Sarpedon rebuked Hector very sternly. "Hector," said he, "where
+is your prowess now? You used to say that though you had neither
+people nor allies you could hold the town alone with your
+brothers and brothers-in-law. I see not one of them here; they
+cower as hounds before a lion; it is we, your allies, who bear
+the brunt of the battle. I have come from afar, even from Lycia
+and the banks of the river Xanthus, where I have left my wife, my
+infant son, and much wealth to tempt whoever is needy;
+nevertheless, I head my Lycian soldiers and stand my ground
+against any who would fight me though I have nothing here for the
+Achaeans to plunder, while you look on, without even bidding your
+men stand firm in defence of their wives. See that you fall not
+into the hands of your foes as men caught in the meshes of a net,
+and they sack your fair city forthwith. Keep this before your
+mind night and day, and beseech the captains of your allies to
+hold on without flinching, and thus put away their reproaches
+from you."
+
+So spoke Sarpedon, and Hector smarted under his words. He sprang
+from his chariot clad in his suit of armour, and went about among
+the host brandishing his two spears, exhorting the men to fight
+and raising the terrible cry of battle. Then they rallied and
+again faced the Achaeans, but the Argives stood compact and firm,
+and were not driven back. As the breezes sport with the chaff
+upon some goodly threshing-floor, when men are winnowing--while
+yellow Ceres blows with the wind to sift the chaff from the
+grain, and the chaff-heaps grow whiter and whiter--even so did
+the Achaeans whiten in the dust which the horses' hoofs raised to
+the firmament of heaven, as their drivers turned them back to
+battle, and they bore down with might upon the foe. Fierce Mars,
+to help the Trojans, covered them in a veil of darkness, and went
+about everywhere among them, inasmuch as Phoebus Apollo had told
+him that when he saw Pallas, Minerva leave the fray he was to put
+courage into the hearts of the Trojans--for it was she who was
+helping the Danaans. Then Apollo sent Aeneas forth from his rich
+sanctuary, and filled his heart with valour, whereon he took his
+place among his comrades, who were overjoyed at seeing him alive,
+sound, and of a good courage; but they could not ask him how it
+had all happened, for they were too busy with the turmoil raised
+by Mars and by Strife, who raged insatiably in their midst.
+
+The two Ajaxes, Ulysses and Diomed, cheered the Danaans on,
+fearless of the fury and onset of the Trojans. They stood as
+still as clouds which the son of Saturn has spread upon the
+mountain tops when there is no air and fierce Boreas sleeps with
+the other boisterous winds whose shrill blasts scatter the clouds
+in all directions--even so did the Danaans stand firm and
+unflinching against the Trojans. The son of Atreus went about
+among them and exhorted them. "My friends," said he, "quit
+yourselves like brave men, and shun dishonour in one another's
+eyes amid the stress of battle. They that shun dishonour more
+often live than get killed, but they that fly save neither life
+nor name."
+
+As he spoke he hurled his spear and hit one of those who were in
+the front rank, the comrade of Aeneas, Deicoon son of Pergasus,
+whom the Trojans held in no less honour than the sons of Priam,
+for he was ever quick to place himself among the foremost. The
+spear of King Agamemnon struck his shield and went right through
+it, for the shield stayed it not. It drove through his belt into
+the lower part of his belly, and his armour rang rattling round
+him as he fell heavily to the ground.
+
+Then Aeneas killed two champions of the Danaans, Crethon and
+Orsilochus. Their father was a rich man who lived in the strong
+city of Phere and was descended from the river Alpheus, whose
+broad stream flows through the land of the Pylians. The river
+begat Orsilochus, who ruled over much people and was father to
+Diocles, who in his turn begat twin sons, Crethon and Orsilochus,
+well skilled in all the arts of war. These, when they grew up,
+went to Ilius with the Argive fleet in the cause of Menelaus and
+Agamemnon sons of Atreus, and there they both of them fell. As
+two lions whom their dam has reared in the depths of some
+mountain forest to plunder homesteads and carry off sheep and
+cattle till they get killed by the hand of man, so were these two
+vanquished by Aeneas, and fell like high pine-trees to the
+ground.
+
+Brave Menelaus pitied them in their fall, and made his way to the
+front, clad in gleaming bronze and brandishing his spear, for
+Mars egged him on to do so with intent that he should be killed
+by Aeneas; but Antilochus the son of Nestor saw him and sprang
+forward, fearing that the king might come to harm and thus bring
+all their labour to nothing; when, therefore Aeneas and Menelaus
+were setting their hands and spears against one another eager to
+do battle, Antilochus placed himself by the side of Menelaus.
+Aeneas, bold though he was, drew back on seeing the two heroes
+side by side in front of him, so they drew the bodies of Crethon
+and Orsilochus to the ranks of the Achaeans and committed the two
+poor fellows into the hands of their comrades. They then turned
+back and fought in the front ranks.
+
+They killed Pylaemenes peer of Mars, leader of the Paphlagonian
+warriors. Menelaus struck him on the collar-bone as he was
+standing on his chariot, while Antilochus hit his charioteer and
+squire Mydon, the son of Atymnius, who was turning his horses in
+flight. He hit him with a stone upon the elbow, and the reins,
+enriched with white ivory, fell from his hands into the dust.
+Antilochus rushed towards him and struck him on the temples with
+his sword, whereon he fell head first from the chariot to the
+ground. There he stood for a while with his head and shoulders
+buried deep in the dust--for he had fallen on sandy soil till his
+horses kicked him and laid him flat on the ground, as Antilochus
+lashed them and drove them off to the host of the Achaeans.
+
+But Hector marked them from across the ranks, and with a loud cry
+rushed towards them, followed by the strong battalions of the
+Trojans. Mars and dread Enyo led them on, she fraught with
+ruthless turmoil of battle, while Mars wielded a monstrous spear,
+and went about, now in front of Hector and now behind him.
+
+Diomed shook with passion as he saw them. As a man crossing a
+wide plain is dismayed to find himself on the brink of some great
+river rolling swiftly to the sea--he sees its boiling waters and
+starts back in fear--even so did the son of Tydeus give ground.
+Then he said to his men, "My friends, how can we wonder that
+Hector wields the spear so well? Some god is ever by his side to
+protect him, and now Mars is with him in the likeness of mortal
+man. Keep your faces therefore towards the Trojans, but give
+ground backwards, for we dare not fight with gods."
+
+As he spoke the Trojans drew close up, and Hector killed two men,
+both in one chariot, Menesthes and Anchialus, heroes well versed
+in war. Ajax son of Telamon pitied them in their fall; he came
+close up and hurled his spear, hitting Amphius the son of
+Selagus, a man of great wealth who lived in Paesus and owned much
+corn-growing land, but his lot had led him to come to the aid of
+Priam and his sons. Ajax struck him in the belt; the spear
+pierced the lower part of his belly, and he fell heavily to the
+ground. Then Ajax ran towards him to strip him of his armour, but
+the Trojans rained spears upon him, many of which fell upon his
+shield. He planted his heel upon the body and drew out his spear,
+but the darts pressed so heavily upon him that he could not strip
+the goodly armour from his shoulders. The Trojan chieftains,
+moreover, many and valiant, came about him with their spears, so
+that he dared not stay; great, brave and valiant though he was,
+they drove him from them and he was beaten back.
+
+Thus, then, did the battle rage between them. Presently the
+strong hand of fate impelled Tlepolemus, the son of Hercules, a
+man both brave and of great stature, to fight Sarpedon; so the
+two, son and grandson of great Jove, drew near to one another,
+and Tlepolemus spoke first. "Sarpedon," said he, "councillor of
+the Lycians, why should you come skulking here you who are a man
+of peace? They lie who call you son of aegis-bearing Jove, for
+you are little like those who were of old his children. Far other
+was Hercules, my own brave and lion-hearted father, who came here
+for the horses of Laomedon, and though he had six ships only, and
+few men to follow him, sacked the city of Ilius and made a
+wilderness of her highways. You are a coward, and your people are
+falling from you. For all your strength, and all your coming from
+Lycia, you will be no help to the Trojans but will pass the gates
+of Hades vanquished by my hand."
+
+And Sarpedon, captain of the Lycians, answered, "Tlepolemus, your
+father overthrew Ilius by reason of Laomedon's folly in refusing
+payment to one who had served him well. He would not give your
+father the horses which he had come so far to fetch. As for
+yourself, you shall meet death by my spear. You shall yield glory
+to myself, and your soul to Hades of the noble steeds."
+
+Thus spoke Sarpedon, and Tlepolemus upraised his spear. They
+threw at the same moment, and Sarpedon struck his foe in the
+middle of his throat; the spear went right through, and the
+darkness of death fell upon his eyes. Tlepolemus's spear struck
+Sarpedon on the left thigh with such force that it tore through
+the flesh and grazed the bone, but his father as yet warded off
+destruction from him.
+
+His comrades bore Sarpedon out of the fight, in great pain by the
+weight of the spear that was dragging from his wound. They were
+in such haste and stress as they bore him that no one thought of
+drawing the spear from his thigh so as to let him walk uprightly.
+Meanwhile the Achaeans carried off the body of Tlepolemus,
+whereon Ulysses was moved to pity, and panted for the fray as he
+beheld them. He doubted whether to pursue the son of Jove, or to
+make slaughter of the Lycian rank and file; it was not decreed,
+however, that he should slay the son of Jove; Minerva, therefore,
+turned him against the main body of the Lycians. He killed
+Coeranus, Alastor, Chromius, Alcandrus, Halius, Noemon, and
+Prytanis, and would have slain yet more, had not great Hector
+marked him, and sped to the front of the fight clad in his suit
+of mail, filling the Danaans with terror. Sarpedon was glad when
+he saw him coming, and besought him, saying, "Son of Priam, let
+me not be here to fall into the hands of the Danaans. Help me,
+and since I may not return home to gladden the hearts of my wife
+and of my infant son, let me die within the walls of your city."
+
+Hector made him no answer, but rushed onward to fall at once upon
+the Achaeans and kill many among them. His comrades then bore
+Sarpedon away and laid him beneath Jove's spreading oak tree.
+Pelagon, his friend and comrade, drew the spear out of his thigh,
+but Sarpedon fainted and a mist came over his eyes. Presently he
+came to himself again, for the breath of the north wind as it
+played upon him gave him new life, and brought him out of the
+deep swoon into which he had fallen.
+
+Meanwhile the Argives were neither driven towards their ships by
+Mars and Hector, nor yet did they attack them; when they knew
+that Mars was with the Trojans they retreated, but kept their
+faces still turned towards the foe. Who, then, was first and who
+last to be slain by Mars and Hector? They were valiant Teuthras,
+and Orestes the renowned charioteer, Trechus the Aetolian
+warrior, Oenomaus, Helenus the son of Oenops, and Oresbius of the
+gleaming girdle, who was possessed of great wealth, and dwelt by
+the Cephisian lake with the other Boeotians who lived near him,
+owners of a fertile country.
+
+Now when the goddess Juno saw the Argives thus falling, she said
+to Minerva, "Alas, daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, unweariable,
+the promise we made Menelaus that he should not return till he
+had sacked the city of Ilius will be of no effect if we let Mars
+rage thus furiously. Let us go into the fray at once."
+
+Minerva did not gainsay her. Thereon the august goddess, daughter
+of great Saturn, began to harness her gold-bedizened steeds. Hebe
+with all speed fitted on the eight-spoked wheels of bronze that
+were on either side of the iron axle-tree. The felloes of the
+wheels were of gold, imperishable, and over these there was a
+tire of bronze, wondrous to behold. The naves of the wheels were
+silver, turning round the axle upon either side. The car itself
+was made with plaited bands of gold and silver, and it had a
+double top-rail running all round it. From the body of the car
+there went a pole of silver, on to the end of which she bound the
+golden yoke, with the bands of gold that were to go under the
+necks of the horses Then Juno put her steeds under the yoke,
+eager for battle and the war-cry.
+
+Meanwhile Minerva flung her richly embroidered vesture, made with
+her own hands, on to her father's threshold, and donned the shirt
+of Jove, arming herself for battle. She threw her tasselled aegis
+about her shoulders, wreathed round with Rout as with a fringe,
+and on it were Strife, and Strength, and Panic whose blood runs
+cold; moreover there was the head of the dread monster Gorgon,
+grim and awful to behold, portent of aegis-bearing Jove. On her
+head she set her helmet of gold, with four plumes, and coming to
+a peak both in front and behind--decked with the emblems of a
+hundred cities; then she stepped into her flaming chariot and
+grasped the spear, so stout and sturdy and strong, with which she
+quells the ranks of heroes who have displeased her. Juno lashed
+the horses on, and the gates of heaven bellowed as they flew open
+of their own accord--gates over which the Hours preside, in whose
+hands are Heaven and Olympus, either to open the dense cloud that
+hides them, or to close it. Through these the goddesses drove
+their obedient steeds, and found the son of Saturn sitting all
+alone on the topmost ridges of Olympus. There Juno stayed her
+horses, and spoke to Jove the son of Saturn, lord of all. "Father
+Jove," said she, "are you not angry with Mars for these high
+doings? how great and goodly a host of the Achaeans he has
+destroyed to my great grief, and without either right or reason,
+while the Cyprian and Apollo are enjoying it all at their ease
+and setting this unrighteous madman on to do further mischief. I
+hope, Father Jove, that you will not be angry if I hit Mars hard,
+and chase him out of the battle."
+
+And Jove answered, "Set Minerva on to him, for she punishes him
+more often than any one else does."
+
+Juno did as he had said. She lashed her horses, and they flew
+forward nothing loth midway betwixt earth and sky. As far as a
+man can see when he looks out upon the sea from some high beacon,
+so far can the loud-neighing horses of the gods spring at a
+single bound. When they reached Troy and the place where its two
+flowing streams Simois and Scamander meet, there Juno stayed them
+and took them from the chariot. She hid them in a thick cloud,
+and Simois made ambrosia spring up for them to eat; the two
+goddesses then went on, flying like turtledoves in their
+eagerness to help the Argives. When they came to the part where
+the bravest and most in number were gathered about mighty Diomed,
+fighting like lions or wild boars of great strength and
+endurance, there Juno stood still and raised a shout like that of
+brazen-voiced Stentor, whose cry was as loud as that of fifty men
+together. "Argives," she cried; "shame on cowardly creatures,
+brave in semblance only; as long as Achilles was fighting, if his
+spear was so deadly that the Trojans dared not show themselves
+outside the Dardanian gates, but now they sally far from the city
+and fight even at your ships."
+
+With these words she put heart and soul into them all, while
+Minerva sprang to the side of the son of Tydeus, whom she found
+near his chariot and horses, cooling the wound that Pandarus had
+given him. For the sweat caused by the hand that bore the weight
+of his shield irritated the hurt: his arm was weary with pain,
+and he was lifting up the strap to wipe away the blood. The
+goddess laid her hand on the yoke of his horses and said, "The
+son of Tydeus is not such another as his father. Tydeus was a
+little man, but he could fight, and rushed madly into the fray
+even when I told him not to do so. When he went all unattended as
+envoy to the city of Thebes among the Cadmeans, I bade him feast
+in their houses and be at peace; but with that high spirit which
+was ever present with him, he challenged the youth of the
+Cadmeans, and at once beat them in all that he attempted, so
+mightily did I help him. I stand by you too to protect you, and I
+bid you be instant in fighting the Trojans; but either you are
+tired out, or you are afraid and out of heart, and in that case I
+say that you are no true son of Tydeus the son of Oeneus."
+
+Diomed answered, "I know you, goddess, daughter of aegis-bearing
+Jove, and will hide nothing from you. I am not afraid nor out of
+heart, nor is there any slackness in me. I am only following your
+own instructions; you told me not to fight any of the blessed
+gods; but if Jove's daughter Venus came into battle I was to
+wound her with my spear. Therefore I am retreating, and bidding
+the other Argives gather in this place, for I know that Mars is
+now lording it in the field."
+
+"Diomed, son of Tydeus," replied Minerva, "man after my own
+heart, fear neither Mars nor any other of the immortals, for I
+will befriend you. Nay, drive straight at Mars, and smite him in
+close combat; fear not this raging madman, villain incarnate,
+first on one side and then on the other. But now he was holding
+talk with Juno and myself, saying he would help the Argives and
+attack the Trojans; nevertheless he is with the Trojans, and has
+forgotten the Argives."
+
+With this she caught hold of Sthenelus and lifted him off the
+chariot on to the ground. In a second he was on the ground,
+whereupon the goddess mounted the car and placed herself by the
+side of Diomed. The oaken axle groaned aloud under the burden of
+the awful goddess and the hero; Pallas Minerva took the whip and
+reins, and drove straight at Mars. He was in the act of stripping
+huge Periphas, son of Ochesius and bravest of the Aetolians.
+Bloody Mars was stripping him of his armour, and Minerva donned
+the helmet of Hades, that he might not see her; when, therefore,
+he saw Diomed, he made straight for him and let Periphas lie
+where he had fallen. As soon as they were at close quarters he
+let fly with his bronze spear over the reins and yoke, thinking
+to take Diomed's life, but Minerva caught the spear in her hand
+and made it fly harmlessly over the chariot. Diomed then threw,
+and Pallas Minerva drove the spear into the pit of Mars's stomach
+where his under-girdle went round him. There Diomed wounded him,
+tearing his fair flesh and then drawing his spear out again. Mars
+roared as loudly as nine or ten thousand men in the thick of a
+fight, and the Achaeans and Trojans were struck with panic, so
+terrible was the cry he raised.
+
+As a dark cloud in the sky when it comes on to blow after heat,
+even so did Diomed son of Tydeus see Mars ascend into the broad
+heavens. With all speed he reached high Olympus, home of the
+gods, and in great pain sat down beside Jove the son of Saturn.
+He showed Jove the immortal blood that was flowing from his
+wound, and spoke piteously, saying, "Father Jove, are you not
+angered by such doings? We gods are continually suffering in the
+most cruel manner at one another's hands while helping mortals;
+and we all owe you a grudge for having begotten that mad
+termagant of a daughter, who is always committing outrage of some
+kind. We other gods must all do as you bid us, but her you
+neither scold nor punish; you encourage her because the pestilent
+creature is your daughter. See how she has been inciting proud
+Diomed to vent his rage on the immortal gods. First he went up to
+the Cyprian and wounded her in the hand near her wrist, and then
+he sprang upon me too as though he were a god. Had I not run for
+it I must either have lain there for long enough in torments
+among the ghastly corpses, or have been eaten alive with spears
+till I had no more strength left in me."
+
+Jove looked angrily at him and said, "Do not come whining here,
+Sir Facing-both-ways. I hate you worst of all the gods in
+Olympus, for you are ever fighting and making mischief. You have
+the intolerable and stubborn spirit of your mother Juno: it is
+all I can do to manage her, and it is her doing that you are now
+in this plight: still, I cannot let you remain longer in such
+great pain; you are my own offspring, and it was by me that your
+mother conceived you; if, however, you had been the son of any
+other god, you are so destructive that by this time you should
+have been lying lower than the Titans."
+
+He then bade Paeeon heal him, whereon Paeeon spread pain-killing
+herbs upon his wound and cured him, for he was not of mortal
+mould. As the juice of the fig-tree curdles milk, and thickens it
+in a moment though it is liquid, even so instantly did Paeeon
+cure fierce Mars. Then Hebe washed him, and clothed him in goodly
+raiment, and he took his seat by his father Jove all glorious to
+behold.
+
+But Juno of Argos and Minerva of Alalcomene, now that they had
+put a stop to the murderous doings of Mars, went back again to
+the house of Jove.
+
+
+
+BOOK VI
+
+  Glaucus and Diomed--The story of Bellerophon--
+  Hector and Andromache.
+
+THE fight between Trojans and Achaeans was now left to rage as it
+would, and the tide of war surged hither and thither over the
+plain as they aimed their bronze-shod spears at one another
+between the streams of Simois and Xanthus.
+
+First, Ajax son of Telamon, tower of strength to the Achaeans,
+broke a phalanx of the Trojans, and came to the assistance of his
+comrades by killing Acamas son of Eussorus, the best man among
+the Thracians, being both brave and of great stature. The spear
+struck the projecting peak of his helmet: its bronze point then
+went through his forehead into the brain, and darkness veiled his
+eyes.
+
+Then Diomed killed Axylus son of Teuthranus, a rich man who lived
+in the strong city of Arisbe, and was beloved by all men; for he
+had a house by the roadside, and entertained every one who
+passed; howbeit not one of his guests stood before him to save
+his life, and Diomed killed both him and his squire Calesius, who
+was then his charioteer--so the pair passed beneath the earth.
+
+Euryalus killed Dresus and Opheltius, and then went in pursuit of
+Aesepus and Pedasus, whom the naiad nymph Abarbarea had borne to
+noble Bucolion. Bucolion was eldest son to Laomedon, but he was a
+bastard. While tending his sheep he had converse with the nymph,
+and she conceived twin sons; these the son of Mecisteus now slew,
+and he stripped the armour from their shoulders. Polypoetes then
+killed Astyalus, Ulysses Pidytes of Percote, and Teucer Aretaon.
+Ablerus fell by the spear of Nestor's son Antilochus, and
+Agamemnon, king of men, killed Elatus who dwelt in Pedasus by the
+banks of the river Satnioeis. Leitus killed Phylacus as he was
+flying, and Eurypylus slew Melanthus.
+
+Then Menelaus of the loud war-cry took Adrestus alive, for his
+horses ran into a tamarisk bush, as they were flying wildly over
+the plain, and broke the pole from the car; they went on towards
+the city along with the others in full flight, but Adrestus
+rolled out, and fell in the dust flat on his face by the wheel of
+his chariot; Menelaus came up to him spear in hand, but Adrestus
+caught him by the knees begging for his life. "Take me alive," he
+cried, "son of Atreus, and you shall have a full ransom for me:
+my father is rich and has much treasure of gold, bronze, and
+wrought iron laid by in his house. From this store he will give
+you a large ransom should he hear of my being alive and at the
+ships of the Achaeans."
+
+Thus did he plead, and Menelaus was for yielding and giving him
+to a squire to take to the ships of the Achaeans, but Agamemnon
+came running up to him and rebuked him. "My good Menelaus," said
+he, "this is no time for giving quarter. Has, then, your house
+fared so well at the hands of the Trojans? Let us not spare a
+single one of them--not even the child unborn and in its mother's
+womb; let not a man of them be left alive, but let all in Ilius
+perish, unheeded and forgotten."
+
+Thus did he speak, and his brother was persuaded by him, for his
+words were just. Menelaus, therefore, thrust Adrestus from him,
+whereon King Agamemnon struck him in the flank, and he fell: then
+the son of Atreus planted his foot upon his breast to draw his
+spear from the body.
+
+Meanwhile Nestor shouted to the Argives, saying, "My friends,
+Danaan warriors, servants of Mars, let no man lag that he may
+spoil the dead, and bring back much booty to the ships. Let us
+kill as many as we can; the bodies will lie upon the plain, and
+you can despoil them later at your leisure."
+
+With these words he put heart and soul into them all. And now the
+Trojans would have been routed and driven back into Ilius, had
+not Priam's son Helenus, wisest of augurs, said to Hector and
+Aeneas, "Hector and Aeneas, you two are the mainstays of the
+Trojans and Lycians, for you are foremost at all times, alike in
+fight and counsel; hold your ground here, and go about among the
+host to rally them in front of the gates, or they will fling
+themselves into the arms of their wives, to the great joy of our
+foes. Then, when you have put heart into all our companies, we
+will stand firm here and fight the Danaans however hard they
+press us, for there is nothing else to be done. Meanwhile do you,
+Hector, go to the city and tell our mother what is happening.
+Tell her to bid the matrons gather at the temple of Minerva in
+the acropolis; let her then take her key and open the doors of
+the sacred building; there, upon the knees of Minerva, let her
+lay the largest, fairest robe she has in her house--the one she
+sets most store by; let her, moreover, promise to sacrifice
+twelve yearling heifers that have never yet felt the goad, in the
+temple of the goddess, if she will take pity on the town, with
+the wives and little ones of the Trojans, and keep the son of
+Tydeus from falling on the goodly city of Ilius; for he fights
+with fury and fills men's souls with panic. I hold him mightiest
+of them all; we did not fear even their great champion Achilles,
+son of a goddess though he be, as we do this man: his rage is
+beyond all bounds, and there is none can vie with him in prowess"
+
+Hector did as his brother bade him. He sprang from his chariot,
+and went about everywhere among the host, brandishing his spears,
+urging the men on to fight, and raising the dread cry of battle.
+Thereon they rallied and again faced the Achaeans, who gave
+ground and ceased their murderous onset, for they deemed that
+some one of the immortals had come down from starry heaven to
+help the Trojans, so strangely had they rallied. And Hector
+shouted to the Trojans, "Trojans and allies, be men, my friends,
+and fight with might and main, while I go to Ilius and tell the
+old men of our council and our wives to pray to the gods and vow
+hecatombs in their honour."
+
+With this he went his way, and the black rim of hide that went
+round his shield beat against his neck and his ancles.
+
+Then Glaucus son of Hippolochus, and the son of Tydeus went into
+the open space between the hosts to fight in single combat. When
+they were close up to one another Diomed of the loud war-cry was
+the first to speak. "Who, my good sir," said he, "who are you
+among men? I have never seen you in battle until now, but you are
+daring beyond all others if you abide my onset. Woe to those
+fathers whose sons face my might. If, however, you are one of the
+immortals and have come down from heaven, I will not fight you;
+for even valiant Lycurgus, son of Dryas, did not live long when
+he took to fighting with the gods. He it was that drove the
+nursing women who were in charge of frenzied Bacchus through the
+land of Nysa, and they flung their thyrsi on the ground as
+murderous Lycurgus beat them with his oxgoad. Bacchus himself
+plunged terror-stricken into the sea, and Thetis took him to her
+bosom to comfort him, for he was scared by the fury with which
+the man reviled him. Thereon the gods who live at ease were angry
+with Lycurgus and the son of Saturn struck him blind, nor did he
+live much longer after he had become hateful to the immortals.
+Therefore I will not fight with the blessed gods; but if you are
+of them that eat the fruit of the ground, draw near and meet your
+doom."
+
+And the son of Hippolochus answered, son of Tydeus, why ask me of
+my lineage? Men come and go as leaves year by year upon the
+trees. Those of autumn the wind sheds upon the ground, but when
+spring returns the forest buds forth with fresh vines. Even so is
+it with the generations of mankind, the new spring up as the old
+are passing away. If, then, you would learn my descent, it is one
+that is well known to many. There is a city in the heart of
+Argos, pasture land of horses, called Ephyra, where Sisyphus
+lived, who was the craftiest of all mankind. He was the son of
+Aeolus, and had a son named Glaucus, who was father to
+Bellerophon, whom heaven endowed with the most surpassing
+comeliness and beauty. But Proetus devised his ruin, and being
+stronger than he, drove him from the land of the Argives, over
+which Jove had made him ruler. For Antea, wife of Proetus, lusted
+after him, and would have had him lie with her in secret; but
+Bellerophon was an honourable man and would not, so she told lies
+about him to Proteus. 'Proetus,' said she, 'kill Bellerophon or
+die, for he would have had converse with me against my will.' The
+king was angered, but shrank from killing Bellerophon, so he sent
+him to Lycia with lying letters of introduction, written on a
+folded tablet, and containing much ill against the bearer. He
+bade Bellerophon show these letters to his father-in-law, to the
+end that he might thus perish; Bellerophon therefore went to
+Lycia, and the gods convoyed him safely.
+
+"When he reached the river Xanthus, which is in Lycia, the king
+received him with all goodwill, feasted him nine days, and killed
+nine heifers in his honour, but when rosy-fingered morning
+appeared upon the tenth day, he questioned him and desired to see
+the letter from his son-in-law Proetus. When he had received the
+wicked letter he first commanded Bellerophon to kill that savage
+monster, the Chimaera, who was not a human being, but a goddess,
+for she had the head of a lion and the tail of a serpent, while
+her body was that of a goat, and she breathed forth flames of
+fire; but Bellerophon slew her, for he was guided by signs from
+heaven. He next fought the far-famed Solymi, and this, he said,
+was the hardest of all his battles. Thirdly, he killed the
+Amazons, women who were the peers of men, and as he was returning
+thence the king devised yet another plan for his destruction; he
+picked the bravest warriors in all Lycia, and placed them in
+ambuscade, but not a man ever came back, for Bellerophon killed
+every one of them. Then the king knew that he must be the valiant
+offspring of a god, so he kept him in Lycia, gave him his
+daughter in marriage, and made him of equal honour in the kingdom
+with himself; and the Lycians gave him a piece of land, the best
+in all the country, fair with vineyards and tilled fields, to
+have and to hold.
+
+"The king's daughter bore Bellerophon three children, Isander,
+Hippolochus, and Laodameia. Jove, the lord of counsel, lay with
+Laodameia, and she bore him noble Sarpedon; but when Bellerophon
+came to be hated by all the gods, he wandered all desolate and
+dismayed upon the Alean plain, gnawing at his own heart, and
+shunning the path of man. Mars, insatiate of battle, killed his
+son Isander while he was fighting the Solymi; his daughter was
+killed by Diana of the golden reins, for she was angered with
+her; but Hippolochus was father to myself, and when he sent me to
+Troy he urged me again and again to fight ever among the foremost
+and outvie my peers, so as not to shame the blood of my fathers
+who were the noblest in Ephyra and in all Lycia. This, then, is
+the descent I claim."
+
+Thus did he speak, and the heart of Diomed was glad. He planted
+his spear in the ground, and spoke to him with friendly words.
+"Then," he said, "you are an old friend of my father's house.
+Great Oeneus once entertained Bellerophon for twenty days, and
+the two exchanged presents. Oeneus gave a belt rich with purple,
+and Bellerophon a double cup, which I left at home when I set out
+for Troy. I do not remember Tydeus, for he was taken from us
+while I was yet a child, when the army of the Achaeans was cut to
+pieces before Thebes. Henceforth, however, I must be your host in
+middle Argos, and you mine in Lycia, if I should ever go there;
+let us avoid one another's spears even during a general
+engagement; there are many noble Trojans and allies whom I can
+kill, if I overtake them and heaven delivers them into my hand;
+so again with yourself, there are many Achaeans whose lives you
+may take if you can; we two, then, will exchange armour, that all
+present may know of the old ties that subsist between us."
+
+With these words they sprang from their chariots, grasped one
+another's hands, and plighted friendship. But the son of Saturn
+made Glaucus take leave of his wits, for he exchanged golden
+armour for bronze, the worth of a hundred head of cattle for the
+worth of nine.
+
+Now when Hector reached the Scaean gates and the oak tree, the
+wives and daughters of the Trojans came running towards him to
+ask after their sons, brothers, kinsmen, and husbands: he told
+them to set about praying to the gods, and many were made
+sorrowful as they heard him.
+
+Presently he reached the splendid palace of King Priam, adorned
+with colonnades of hewn stone. In it there were fifty
+bedchambers--all of hewn stone--built near one another, where the
+sons of Priam slept, each with his wedded wife. Opposite these,
+on the other side the courtyard, there were twelve upper rooms
+also of hewn stone for Priam's daughters, built near one another,
+where his sons-in-law slept with their wives. When Hector got
+there, his fond mother came up to him with Laodice the fairest of
+her daughters. She took his hand within her own and said, "My
+son, why have you left the battle to come hither? Are the
+Achaeans, woe betide them, pressing you hard about the city that
+you have thought fit to come and uplift your hands to Jove from
+the citadel? Wait till I can bring you wine that you may make
+offering to Jove and to the other immortals, and may then drink
+and be refreshed. Wine gives a man fresh strength when he is
+wearied, as you now are with fighting on behalf of your kinsmen."
+
+And Hector answered, "Honoured mother, bring no wine, lest you
+unman me and I forget my strength. I dare not make a
+drink-offering to Jove with unwashed hands; one who is
+bespattered with blood and filth may not pray to the son of
+Saturn. Get the matrons together, and go with offerings to the
+temple of Minerva driver of the spoil; there, upon the knees of
+Minerva, lay the largest and fairest robe you have in your
+house--the one you set most store by; promise, moreover, to
+sacrifice twelve yearling heifers that have never yet felt the
+goad, in the temple of the goddess if she will take pity on the
+town, with the wives and little ones of the Trojans, and keep the
+son of Tydeus from off the goodly city of Ilius, for he fights
+with fury, and fills men's souls with panic. Go, then, to the
+temple of Minerva, while I seek Paris and exhort him, if he will
+hear my words. Would that the earth might open her jaws and
+swallow him, for Jove bred him to be the bane of the Trojans, and
+of Priam and Priam's sons. Could I but see him go down into the
+house of Hades, my heart would forget its heaviness."
+
+His mother went into the house and called her waiting-women who
+gathered the matrons throughout the city. She then went down into
+her fragrant store-room, where her embroidered robes were kept,
+the work of Sidonian women, whom Alexandrus had brought over from
+Sidon when he sailed the seas upon that voyage during which he
+carried off Helen. Hecuba took out the largest robe, and the one
+that was most beautifully enriched with embroidery, as an
+offering to Minerva: it glittered like a star, and lay at the
+very bottom of the chest. With this she went on her way and many
+matrons with her.
+
+When they reached the temple of Minerva, lovely Theano, daughter
+of Cisseus and wife of Antenor, opened the doors, for the Trojans
+had made her priestess of Minerva. The women lifted up their
+hands to the goddess with a loud cry, and Theano took the robe to
+lay it upon the knees of Minerva, praying the while to the
+daughter of great Jove. "Holy Minerva," she cried, "protectress
+of our city, mighty goddess, break the spear of Diomed and lay
+him low before the Scaean gates. Do this, and we will sacrifice
+twelve heifers that have never yet known the goad, in your
+temple, if you will have pity upon the town, with the wives and
+little ones of the Trojans." Thus she prayed, but Pallas Minerva
+granted not her prayer.
+
+While they were thus praying to the daughter of great Jove,
+Hector went to the fair house of Alexandrus, which he had built
+for him by the foremost builders in the land. They had built him
+his house, storehouse, and courtyard near those of Priam and
+Hector on the acropolis. Here Hector entered, with a spear eleven
+cubits long in his hand; the bronze point gleamed in front of
+him, and was fastened to the shaft of the spear by a ring of
+gold. He found Alexandrus within the house, busied about his
+armour, his shield and cuirass, and handling his curved bow;
+there, too, sat Argive Helen with her women, setting them their
+several tasks; and as Hector saw him he rebuked him with words of
+scorn. "Sir," said he, "you do ill to nurse this rancour; the
+people perish fighting round this our town; you would yourself
+chide one whom you saw shirking his part in the combat. Up then,
+or ere long the city will be in a blaze."
+
+And Alexandrus answered, "Hector, your rebuke is just; listen
+therefore, and believe me when I tell you that I am not here so
+much through rancour or ill-will towards the Trojans, as from a
+desire to indulge my grief. My wife was even now gently urging me
+to battle, and I hold it better that I should go, for victory is
+ever fickle. Wait, then, while I put on my armour, or go first
+and I will follow. I shall be sure to overtake you."
+
+Hector made no answer, but Helen tried to soothe him. "Brother,"
+said she, "to my abhorred and sinful self, would that a whirlwind
+had caught me up on the day my mother brought me forth, and had
+borne me to some mountain or to the waves of the roaring sea that
+should have swept me away ere this mischief had come about. But,
+since the gods have devised these evils, would, at any rate, that
+I had been wife to a better man--to one who could smart under
+dishonour and men's evil speeches. This fellow was never yet to
+be depended upon, nor never will be, and he will surely reap what
+he has sown. Still, brother, come in and rest upon this seat, for
+it is you who bear the brunt of that toil that has been caused by
+my hateful self and by the sin of Alexandrus--both of whom Jove
+has doomed to be a theme of song among those that shall be born
+hereafter."
+
+And Hector answered, "Bid me not be seated, Helen, for all the
+goodwill you bear me. I cannot stay. I am in haste to help the
+Trojans, who miss me greatly when I am not among them; but urge
+your husband, and of his own self also let him make haste to
+overtake me before I am out of the city. I must go home to see my
+household, my wife and my little son, for I know not whether I
+shall ever again return to them, or whether the gods will cause
+me to fill by the hands of the Achaeans."
+
+Then Hector left her, and forthwith was at his own house. He did
+not find Andromache, for she was on the wall with her child and
+one of her maids, weeping bitterly. Seeing, then, that she was
+not within, he stood on the threshold of the women's rooms and
+said, "Women, tell me, and tell me true, where did Andromache go
+when she left the house? Was it to my sisters, or to my brothers'
+wives? or is she at the temple of Minerva where the other women
+are propitiating the awful goddess?"
+
+His good housekeeper answered, "Hector, since you bid me tell you
+truly, she did not go to your sisters nor to your brothers'
+wives, nor yet to the temple of Minerva, where the other women
+are propitiating the awful goddess, but she is on the high wall
+of Ilius, for she had heard the Trojans were being hard pressed,
+and that the Achaeans were in great force: she went to the wall
+in frenzied haste, and the nurse went with her carrying the
+child."
+
+Hector hurried from the house when she had done speaking, and
+went down the streets by the same way that he had come. When he
+had gone through the city and had reached the Scaean gates
+through which he would go out on to the plain, his wife came
+running towards him, Andromache, daughter of great Eetion who
+ruled in Thebe under the wooded slopes of Mt. Placus, and was
+king of the Cilicians. His daughter had married Hector, and now
+came to meet him with a nurse who carried his little child in her
+bosom--a mere babe. Hector's darling son, and lovely as a star.
+Hector had named him Scamandrius, but the people called him
+Astyanax, for his father stood alone as chief guardian of Ilius.
+Hector smiled as he looked upon the boy, but he did not speak,
+and Andromache stood by him weeping and taking his hand in her
+own. "Dear husband," said she, "your valour will bring you to
+destruction; think on your infant son, and on my hapless self who
+ere long shall be your widow--for the Achaeans will set upon you
+in a body and kill you. It would be better for me, should I lose
+you, to lie dead and buried, for I shall have nothing left to
+comfort me when you are gone, save only sorrow. I have neither
+father nor mother now. Achilles slew my father when he sacked
+Thebe the goodly city of the Cilicians. He slew him, but did not
+for very shame despoil him; when he had burned him in his
+wondrous armour, he raised a barrow over his ashes and the
+mountain nymphs, daughters of aegis-bearing Jove, planted a grove
+of elms about his tomb. I had seven brothers in my father's
+house, but on the same day they all went within the house of
+Hades. Achilles killed them as they were with their sheep and
+cattle. My mother--her who had been queen of all the land under
+Mt. Placus--he brought hither with the spoil, and freed her for a
+great sum, but the archer-queen Diana took her in the house of
+your father. Nay--Hector--you who to me are father, mother,
+brother, and dear husband--have mercy upon me; stay here upon
+this wall; make not your child fatherless, and your wife a widow;
+as for the host, place them near the fig-tree, where the city can
+be best scaled, and the wall is weakest. Thrice have the bravest
+of them come thither and assailed it, under the two Ajaxes,
+Idomeneus, the sons of Atreus, and the brave son of Tydeus,
+either of their own bidding, or because some soothsayer had told
+them."
+
+And Hector answered, "Wife, I too have thought upon all this, but
+with what face should I look upon the Trojans, men or women, if I
+shirked battle like a coward? I cannot do so: I know nothing save
+to fight bravely in the forefront of the Trojan host and win
+renown alike for my father and myself. Well do I know that the
+day will surely come when mighty Ilius shall be destroyed with
+Priam and Priam's people, but I grieve for none of these--not
+even for Hecuba, nor King Priam, nor for my brothers many and
+brave who may fall in the dust before their foes--for none of
+these do I grieve as for yourself when the day shall come on
+which some one of the Achaeans shall rob you for ever of your
+freedom, and bear you weeping away. It may be that you will have
+to ply the loom in Argos at the bidding of a mistress, or to
+fetch water from the springs Messeis or Hypereia, treated
+brutally by some cruel task-master; then will one say who sees
+you weeping, 'She was wife to Hector, the bravest warrior among
+the Trojans during the war before Ilius.' On this your tears will
+break forth anew for him who would have put away the day of
+captivity from you. May I lie dead under the barrow that is
+heaped over my body ere I hear your cry as they carry you into
+bondage."
+
+He stretched his arms towards his child, but the boy cried and
+nestled in his nurse's bosom, scared at the sight of his father's
+armour, and at the horse-hair plume that nodded fiercely from his
+helmet. His father and mother laughed to see him, but Hector took
+the helmet from his head and laid it all gleaming upon the
+ground. Then he took his darling child, kissed him, and dandled
+him in his arms, praying over him the while to Jove and to all
+the gods. "Jove," he cried, "grant that this my child may be even
+as myself, chief among the Trojans; let him be not less excellent
+in strength, and let him rule Ilius with his might. Then may one
+say of him as he comes from battle, 'The son is far better than
+the father.' May he bring back the blood-stained spoils of him
+whom he has laid low, and let his mother's heart be glad."
+
+With this he laid the child again in the arms of his wife, who
+took him to her own soft bosom, smiling through her tears. As her
+husband watched her his heart yearned towards her and he caressed
+her fondly, saying, "My own wife, do not take these things too
+bitterly to heart. No one can hurry me down to Hades before my
+time, but if a man's hour is come, be he brave or be he coward,
+there is no escape for him when he has once been born. Go, then,
+within the house, and busy yourself with your daily duties, your
+loom, your distaff, and the ordering of your servants; for war is
+man's matter, and mine above all others of them that have been
+born in Ilius."
+
+He took his plumed helmet from the ground, and his wife went back
+again to her house, weeping bitterly and often looking back
+towards him. When she reached her home she found her maidens
+within, and bade them all join in her lament; so they mourned
+Hector in his own house though he was yet alive, for they deemed
+that they should never see him return safe from battle, and from
+the furious hands of the Achaeans.
+
+Paris did not remain long in his house. He donned his goodly
+armour overlaid with bronze, and hasted through the city as fast
+as his feet could take him. As a horse, stabled and fed, breaks
+loose and gallops gloriously over the plain to the place where he
+is wont to bathe in the fair-flowing river--he holds his head
+high, and his mane streams upon his shoulders as he exults in his
+strength and flies like the wind to the haunts and feeding ground
+of the mares--even so went forth Paris from high Pergamus,
+gleaming like sunlight in his armour, and he laughed aloud as he
+sped swiftly on his way. Forthwith he came upon his brother
+Hector, who was then turning away from the place where he had
+held converse with his wife, and he was himself the first to
+speak. "Sir," said he, "I fear that I have kept you waiting when
+you are in haste, and have not come as quickly as you bade me."
+
+"My good brother," answered Hector, "you fight bravely, and no
+man with any justice can make light of your doings in battle. But
+you are careless and wilfully remiss. It grieves me to the heart
+to hear the ill that the Trojans speak about you, for they have
+suffered much on your account. Let us be going, and we will make
+things right hereafter, should Jove vouchsafe us to set the cup
+of our deliverance before ever-living gods of heaven in our own
+homes, when we have chased the Achaeans from Troy."
+
+
+
+BOOK VII
+
+  Hector and Ajax fight--Hector is getting worsted when night
+  comes on and parts them--They exchange presents--The
+  burial of the dead, and the building of a wall round their
+  ships by the Achaeans--The Achaeans buy their wine of
+  Agamemnon and Menelaus.
+
+WITH these words Hector passed through the gates, and his brother
+Alexandrus with him, both eager for the fray. As when heaven
+sends a breeze to sailors who have long looked for one in vain,
+and have laboured at their oars till they are faint with toil,
+even so welcome was the sight of these two heroes to the Trojans.
+
+Thereon Alexandrus killed Menesthius the son of Areithous; he
+lived in Arne, and was son of Areithous the Mace-man, and of
+Phylomedusa. Hector threw a spear at Eioneus and struck him dead
+with a wound in the neck under the bronze rim of his helmet.
+Glaucus, moreover, son of Hippolochus, captain of the Lycians, in
+hard hand-to-hand fight smote Iphinous son of Dexius on the
+shoulder, as he was springing on to his chariot behind his fleet
+mares; so he fell to earth from the car, and there was no life
+left in him.
+
+When, therefore, Minerva saw these men making havoc of the
+Argives, she darted down to Ilius from the summits of Olympus,
+and Apollo, who was looking on from Pergamus, went out to meet
+her; for he wanted the Trojans to be victorious. The pair met by
+the oak tree, and King Apollo son of Jove was first to speak.
+"What would you have", said he, "daughter of great Jove, that
+your proud spirit has sent you hither from Olympus? Have you no
+pity upon the Trojans, and would you incline the scales of
+victory in favour of the Danaans? Let me persuade you--for it
+will be better thus--stay the combat for to-day, but let them
+renew the fight hereafter till they compass the doom of Ilius,
+since you goddesses have made up your minds to destroy the city."
+
+And Minerva answered, "So be it, Far-Darter; it was in this mind
+that I came down from Olympus to the Trojans and Achaeans. Tell
+me, then, how do you propose to end this present fighting?"
+
+Apollo, son of Jove, replied, "Let us incite great Hector to
+challenge some one of the Danaans in single combat; on this the
+Achaeans will be shamed into finding a man who will fight him."
+
+Minerva assented, and Helenus son of Priam divined the counsel of
+the gods; he therefore went up to Hector and said, "Hector son of
+Priam, peer of gods in counsel, I am your brother, let me then
+persuade you. Bid the other Trojans and Achaeans all of them take
+their seats, and challenge the best man among the Achaeans to
+meet you in single combat. I have heard the voice of the
+ever-living gods, and the hour of your doom is not yet come."
+
+Hector was glad when he heard this saying, and went in among the
+Trojans, grasping his spear by the middle to hold them back, and
+they all sat down. Agamemnon also bade the Achaeans be seated.
+But Minerva and Apollo, in the likeness of vultures, perched on
+father Jove's high oak tree, proud of their men; and the ranks
+sat close ranged together, bristling with shield and helmet and
+spear. As when the rising west wind furs the face of the sea and
+the waters grow dark beneath it, so sat the companies of Trojans
+and Achaeans upon the plain. And Hector spoke thus:--
+
+"Hear me, Trojans and Achaeans, that I may speak even as I am
+minded; Jove on his high throne has brought our oaths and
+covenants to nothing, and foreshadows ill for both of us, till
+you either take the towers of Troy, or are yourselves vanquished
+at your ships. The princes of the Achaeans are here present in
+the midst of you; let him, then, that will fight me stand forward
+as your champion against Hector. Thus I say, and may Jove be
+witness between us. If your champion slay me, let him strip me of
+my armour and take it to your ships, but let him send my body
+home that the Trojans and their wives may give me my dues of fire
+when I am dead. In like manner, if Apollo vouchsafe me glory and
+I slay your champion, I will strip him of his armour and take it
+to the city of Ilius, where I will hang it in the temple of
+Apollo, but I will give up his body, that the Achaeans may bury
+him at their ships, and the build him a mound by the wide waters
+of the Hellespont. Then will one say hereafter as he sails his
+ship over the sea, 'This is the monument of one who died long
+since a champion who was slain by mighty Hector.' Thus will one
+say, and my fame shall not be lost."
+
+Thus did he speak, but they all held their peace, ashamed to
+decline the challenge, yet fearing to accept it, till at last
+Menelaus rose and rebuked them, for he was angry. "Alas," he
+cried, "vain braggarts, women forsooth not men, double-dyed
+indeed will be the stain upon us if no man of the Danaans will
+now face Hector. May you be turned every man of you into earth
+and water as you sit spiritless and inglorious in your places. I
+will myself go out against this man, but the upshot of the fight
+will be from on high in the hands of the immortal gods."
+
+With these words he put on his armour; and then, O Menelaus, your
+life would have come to an end at the hands of hands of Hector,
+for he was far better the man, had not the princes of the
+Achaeans sprung upon you and checked you. King Agamemnon caught
+him by the right hand and said, "Menelaus, you are mad; a truce
+to this folly. Be patient in spite of passion, do not think of
+fighting a man so much stronger than yourself as Hector son of
+Priam, who is feared by many another as well as you. Even
+Achilles, who is far more doughty than you are, shrank from
+meeting him in battle. Sit down your own people, and the Achaeans
+will send some other champion to fight Hector; fearless and fond
+of battle though he be, I ween his knees will bend gladly under
+him if he comes out alive from the hurly-burly of this fight."
+
+With these words of reasonable counsel he persuaded his brother,
+whereon his squires gladly stripped the armour from off his
+shoulders. Then Nestor rose and spoke, "Of a truth," said he,
+"the Achaean land is fallen upon evil times. The old knight
+Peleus, counsellor and orator among the Myrmidons, loved when I
+was in his house to question me concerning the race and lineage
+of all the Argives. How would it not grieve him could he hear of
+them as now quailing before Hector? Many a time would he lift his
+hands in prayer that his soul might leave his body and go down
+within the house of Hades. Would, by father Jove, Minerva, and
+Apollo, that I were still young and strong as when the Pylians
+and Arcadians were gathered in fight by the rapid river Celadon
+under the walls of Pheia, and round about the waters of the river
+Iardanus. The godlike hero Ereuthalion stood forward as their
+champion, with the armour of King Areithous upon his shoulders--
+Areithous whom men and women had surnamed 'the Mace-man,' because
+he fought neither with bow nor spear, but broke the battalions of
+the foe with his iron mace. Lycurgus killed him, not in fair
+fight, but by entrapping him in a narrow way where his mace
+served him in no stead; for Lycurgus was too quick for him and
+speared him through the middle, so he fell to earth on his back.
+Lycurgus then spoiled him of the armour which Mars had given him,
+and bore it in battle thenceforward; but when he grew old and
+stayed at home, he gave it to his faithful squire Ereuthalion,
+who in this same armour challenged the foremost men among us. The
+others quaked and quailed, but my high spirit bade me fight him
+though none other would venture; I was the youngest man of them
+all; but when I fought him Minerva vouchsafed me victory. He was
+the biggest and strongest man that ever I killed, and covered
+much ground as he lay sprawling upon the earth. Would that I were
+still young and strong as I then was, for the son of Priam would
+then soon find one who would face him. But you, foremost among
+the whole host though you be, have none of you any stomach for
+fighting Hector."
+
+Thus did the old man rebuke them, and forthwith nine men started
+to their feet. Foremost of all uprose King Agamemnon, and after
+him brave Diomed the son of Tydeus. Next were the two Ajaxes, men
+clothed in valour as with a garment, and then Idomeneus, and
+Meriones his brother in arms. After these Eurypylus son of
+Euaemon, Thoas the son of Andraemon, and Ulysses also rose. Then
+Nestor knight of Gerene again spoke, saying: "Cast lots among you
+to see who shall be chosen. If he come alive out of this fight he
+will have done good service alike to his own soul and to the
+Achaeans."
+
+Thus he spoke, and when each of them had marked his lot, and had
+thrown it into the helmet of Agamemnon son of Atreus, the people
+lifted their hands in prayer, and thus would one of them say as
+he looked into the vault of heaven, "Father Jove, grant that the
+lot fall on Ajax, or on the son of Tydeus, or upon the king of
+rich Mycene himself."
+
+As they were speaking, Nestor knight of Gerene shook the helmet,
+and from it there fell the very lot which they wanted--the lot of
+Ajax. The herald bore it about and showed it to all the
+chieftains of the Achaeans, going from left to right; but they
+none of them owned it. When, however, in due course he reached
+the man who had written upon it and had put it into the helmet,
+brave Ajax held out his hand, and the herald gave him the lot.
+When Ajax saw his mark he knew it and was glad; he threw it to
+the ground and said, "My friends, the lot is mine, and I rejoice,
+for I shall vanquish Hector. I will put on my armour; meanwhile,
+pray to King Jove in silence among yourselves that the Trojans
+may not hear you--or aloud if you will, for we fear no man. None
+shall overcome me, neither by force nor cunning, for I was born
+and bred in Salamis, and can hold my own in all things."
+
+With this they fell praying to King Jove the son of Saturn, and
+thus would one of them say as he looked into the vault of heaven,
+"Father Jove that rulest from Ida, most glorious in power,
+vouchsafe victory to Ajax, and let him win great glory: but if
+you wish well to Hector also and would protect him, grant to each
+of them equal fame and prowess."
+
+Thus they prayed, and Ajax armed himself in his suit of gleaming
+bronze. When he was in full array he sprang forward as monstrous
+Mars when he takes part among men whom Jove has set fighting with
+one another--even so did huge Ajax, bulwark of the Achaeans,
+spring forward with a grim smile on his face as he brandished his
+long spear and strode onward. The Argives were elated as they
+beheld him, but the Trojans trembled in every limb, and the heart
+even of Hector beat quickly, but he could not now retreat and
+withdraw into the ranks behind him, for he had been the
+challenger. Ajax came up bearing his shield in front of him like
+a wall--a shield of bronze with seven folds of oxhide--the work
+of Tychius, who lived in Hyle and was by far the best worker in
+leather. He had made it with the hides of seven full-fed bulls,
+and over these he had set an eighth layer of bronze. Holding this
+shield before him, Ajax son of Telamon came close up to Hector,
+and menaced him saying, "Hector, you shall now learn, man to man,
+what kind of champions the Danaans have among them even besides
+lion-hearted Achilles cleaver of the ranks of men. He now abides
+at the ships in anger with Agamemnon shepherd of his people, but
+there are many of us who are well able to face you; therefore
+begin the fight."
+
+And Hector answered, "Noble Ajax, son of Telamon, captain of the
+host, treat me not as though I were some puny boy or woman that
+cannot fight. I have been long used to the blood and butcheries
+of battle. I am quick to turn my leathern shield either to right
+or left, for this I deem the main thing in battle. I can charge
+among the chariots and horsemen, and in hand to hand fighting can
+delight the heart of Mars; howbeit I would not take such a man as
+you are off his guard--but I will smite you openly if I can."
+
+He poised his spear as he spoke, and hurled it from him. It
+struck the sevenfold shield in its outermost layer--the eighth,
+which was of bronze--and went through six of the layers but in
+the seventh hide it stayed. Then Ajax threw in his turn, and
+struck the round shield of the son of Priam. The terrible spear
+went through his gleaming shield, and pressed onward through his
+cuirass of cunning workmanship; it pierced the shirt against his
+side, but he swerved and thus saved his life. They then each of
+them drew out the spear from his shield, and fell on one another
+like savage lions or wild boars of great strength and endurance:
+the son of Priam struck the middle of Ajax's shield, but the
+bronze did not break, and the point of his dart was turned. Ajax
+then sprang forward and pierced the shield of Hector; the spear
+went through it and staggered him as he was springing forward to
+attack; it gashed his neck and the blood came pouring from the
+wound, but even so Hector did not cease fighting; he gave ground,
+and with his brawny hand seized a stone, rugged and huge, that
+was lying upon the plain; with this he struck the shield of Ajax
+on the boss that was in its middle, so that the bronze rang
+again. But Ajax in turn caught up a far larger stone, swung it
+aloft, and hurled it with prodigious force. This millstone of a
+rock broke Hector's shield inwards and threw him down on his back
+with the shield crushing him under it, but Apollo raised him at
+once. Thereon they would have hacked at one another in close
+combat with their swords, had not heralds, messengers of gods and
+men, come forward, one from the Trojans and the other from the
+Achaeans--Talthybius and Idaeus both of them honourable men;
+these parted them with their staves, and the good herald Idaeus
+said, "My sons, fight no longer, you are both of you valiant, and
+both are dear to Jove; we know this; but night is now falling,
+and the behests of night may not be well gainsaid."
+
+Ajax son of Telamon answered, "Idaeus, bid Hector say so, for it
+was he that challenged our princes. Let him speak first and I
+will accept his saying."
+
+Then Hector said, "Ajax, heaven has vouchsafed you stature and
+strength, and judgement; and in wielding the spear you excel all
+others of the Achaeans. Let us for this day cease fighting;
+hereafter we will fight anew till heaven decide between us, and
+give victory to one or to the other; night is now falling, and
+the behests of night may not be well gainsaid. Gladden, then, the
+hearts of the Achaeans at your ships, and more especially those
+of your own followers and clansmen, while I, in the great city of
+King Priam, bring comfort to the Trojans and their women, who vie
+with one another in their prayers on my behalf. Let us, moreover,
+exchange presents that it may be said among the Achaeans and
+Trojans, 'They fought with might and main, but were reconciled
+and parted in friendship.'"
+
+On this he gave Ajax a silver-studded sword with its sheath and
+leathern baldric, and in return Ajax gave him a girdle dyed with
+purple. Thus they parted, the one going to the host of the
+Achaeans, and the other to that of the Trojans, who rejoiced when
+they saw their hero come to them safe and unharmed from the
+strong hands of mighty Ajax. They led him, therefore, to the city
+as one that had been saved beyond their hopes. On the other side
+the Achaeans brought Ajax elated with victory to Agamemnon.
+
+When they reached the quarters of the son of Atreus, Agamemnon
+sacrificed for them a five-year-old bull in honour of Jove the
+son of Saturn. They flayed the carcass, made it ready, and
+divided it into joints; these they cut carefully up into smaller
+pieces, putting them on the spits, roasting them sufficiently,
+and then drawing them off. When they had done all this and had
+prepared the feast, they ate it, and every man had his full and
+equal share, so that all were satisfied, and King Agamemnon gave
+Ajax some slices cut lengthways down the loin, as a mark of
+special honour. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink,
+old Nestor whose counsel was ever truest began to speak; with all
+sincerity and goodwill, therefore, he addressed them thus:--
+
+"Son of Atreus, and other chieftains, inasmuch as many of the
+Achaeans are now dead, whose blood Mars has shed by the banks of
+the Scamander, and their souls have gone down to the house of
+Hades, it will be well when morning comes that we should cease
+fighting; we will then wheel our dead together with oxen and
+mules and burn them not far from the ships, that when we sail
+hence we may take the bones of our comrades home to their
+children. Hard by the funeral pyre we will build a barrow that
+shall be raised from the plain for all in common; near this let
+us set about building a high wall, to shelter ourselves and our
+ships, and let it have well-made gates that there may be a way
+through them for our chariots. Close outside we will dig a deep
+trench all round it to keep off both horse and foot, that the
+Trojan chieftains may not bear hard upon us."
+
+Thus he spoke, and the princess shouted in applause. Meanwhile
+the Trojans held a council, angry and full of discord, on the
+acropolis by the gates of King Priam's palace; and wise Antenor
+spoke. "Hear me," he said, "Trojans, Dardanians, and allies, that
+I may speak even as I am minded. Let us give up Argive Helen and
+her wealth to the sons of Atreus, for we are now fighting in
+violation of our solemn covenants, and shall not prosper till we
+have done as I say."
+
+He then sat down and Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen rose to
+speak. "Antenor," said he, "your words are not to my liking; you
+can find a better saying than this if you will; if, however, you
+have spoken in good earnest, then indeed has heaven robbed you of
+your reason. I will speak plainly, and hereby notify to the
+Trojans that I will not give up the woman; but the wealth that I
+brought home with her from Argos I will restore, and will add yet
+further of my own."
+
+On this, when Paris had spoken and taken his seat, Priam of the
+race of Dardanus, peer of gods in council, rose and with all
+sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: "Hear me, Trojans,
+Dardanians, and allies, that I may speak even as I am minded. Get
+your suppers now as hitherto throughout the city, but keep your
+watches and be wakeful. At daybreak let Idaeus go to the ships,
+and tell Agamemnon and Menelaus sons of Atreus the saying of
+Alexandrus through whom this quarrel has come about; and let him
+also be instant with them that they now cease fighting till we
+burn our dead; hereafter we will fight anew, till heaven decide
+between us and give victory to one or to the other."
+
+Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. They took
+supper in their companies and at daybreak Idaeus went his way to
+the ships. He found the Danaans, servants of Mars, in council at
+the stern of Agamemnon's ship, and took his place in the midst of
+them. "Son of Atreus," he said, "and princes of the Achaean host,
+Priam and the other noble Trojans have sent me to tell you the
+saying of Alexandrus through whom this quarrel has come about, if
+so be that you may find it acceptable. All the treasure he took
+with him in his ships to Troy--would that he had sooner
+perished--he will restore, and will add yet further of his own,
+but he will not give up the wedded wife of Menelaus, though the
+Trojans would have him do so. Priam bade me inquire further if
+you will cease fighting till we burn our dead; hereafter we will
+fight anew, till heaven decide between us and give victory to one
+or to the other."
+
+They all held their peace, but presently Diomed of the loud
+war-cry spoke, saying, "Let there be no taking, neither treasure,
+nor yet Helen, for even a child may see that the doom of the
+Trojans is at hand."
+
+The sons of the Achaeans shouted applause at the words that
+Diomed had spoken, and thereon King Agamemnon said to Idaeus,
+"Idaeus, you have heard the answer the Achaeans make you-and I
+with them. But as concerning the dead, I give you leave to burn
+them, for when men are once dead there should be no grudging them
+the rites of fire. Let Jove the mighty husband of Juno be witness
+to this covenant."
+
+As he spoke he upheld his sceptre in the sight of all the gods,
+and Idaeus went back to the strong city of Ilius. The Trojans and
+Dardanians were gathered in council waiting his return; when he
+came, he stood in their midst and delivered his message. As soon
+as they heard it they set about their twofold labour, some to
+gather the corpses, and others to bring in wood. The Argives on
+their part also hastened from their ships, some to gather the
+corpses, and others to bring in wood.
+
+The sun was beginning to beat upon the fields, fresh risen into
+the vault of heaven from the slow still currents of deep Oceanus,
+when the two armies met. They could hardly recognise their dead,
+but they washed the clotted gore from off them, shed tears over
+them, and lifted them upon their waggons. Priam had forbidden the
+Trojans to wail aloud, so they heaped their dead sadly and
+silently upon the pyre, and having burned them went back to the
+city of Ilius. The Achaeans in like manner heaped their dead
+sadly and silently on the pyre, and having burned them went back
+to their ships.
+
+Now in the twilight when it was not yet dawn, chosen bands of the
+Achaeans were gathered round the pyre and built one barrow that
+was raised in common for all, and hard by this they built a high
+wall to shelter themselves and their ships; they gave it strong
+gates that there might be a way through them for their chariots,
+and close outside it they dug a trench deep and wide, and they
+planted it within with stakes.
+
+Thus did the Achaeans toil, and the gods, seated by the side of
+Jove the lord of lightning, marvelled at their great work; but
+Neptune, lord of the earthquake, spoke, saying, "Father Jove,
+what mortal in the whole world will again take the gods into his
+counsel? See you not how the Achaeans have built a wall about
+their ships and driven a trench all round it, without offering
+hecatombs to the gods? The fame of this wall will reach as far as
+dawn itself, and men will no longer think anything of the one
+which Phoebus Apollo and myself built with so much labour for
+Laomedon."
+
+Jove was displeased and answered, "What, O shaker of the earth,
+are you talking about? A god less powerful than yourself might be
+alarmed at what they are doing, but your fame reaches as far as
+dawn itself. Surely when the Achaeans have gone home with their
+ships, you can shatter their wall and fling it into the sea; you
+can cover the beach with sand again, and the great wall of the
+Achaeans will then be utterly effaced."
+
+Thus did they converse, and by sunset the work of the Achaeans
+was completed; they then slaughtered oxen at their tents and got
+their supper. Many ships had come with wine from Lemnos, sent by
+Euneus the son of Jason, born to him by Hypsipyle. The son of
+Jason freighted them with ten thousand measures of wine, which he
+sent specially to the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus.
+From this supply the Achaeans bought their wine, some with
+bronze, some with iron, some with hides, some with whole heifers,
+and some again with captives. They spread a goodly banquet and
+feasted the whole night through, as also did the Trojans and
+their allies in the city. But all the time Jove boded them ill
+and roared with his portentous thunder. Pale fear got hold upon
+them, and they spilled the wine from their cups on to the ground,
+nor did any dare drink till he had made offerings to the most
+mighty son of Saturn. Then they laid themselves down to rest and
+enjoyed the boon of sleep.
+
+
+
+BOOK VIII
+
+  Jove forbids the gods to interfere further--There is an even
+  fight till midday, but then Jove inclines the scales of victory
+  in favour of the Trojans, who eventually chase the Achaeans
+  within their wall--Juno and Minerva set out to help the
+  Trojans: Jove sends Iris to turn them back, but later on
+  he promises Juno that she shall have her way in the end--
+  Hector's triumph is stayed by nightfall--The Trojans bivouac
+  on the plain.
+
+NOW when Morning, clad in her robe of saffron, had begun to
+suffuse light over the earth, Jove called the gods in council on
+the topmost crest of serrated Olympus. Then he spoke and all the
+other gods gave ear. "Hear me," said he, "gods and goddesses,
+that I may speak even as I am minded. Let none of you neither
+goddess nor god try to cross me, but obey me every one of you
+that I may bring this matter to an end. If I see anyone acting
+apart and helping either Trojans or Danaans, he shall be beaten
+inordinately ere he come back again to Olympus; or I will hurl
+him down into dark Tartarus far into the deepest pit under the
+earth, where the gates are iron and the floor bronze, as far
+beneath Hades as heaven is high above the earth, that you may
+learn how much the mightiest I am among you. Try me and find out
+for yourselves. Hangs me a golden chain from heaven, and lay hold
+of it all of you, gods and goddesses together--tug as you will,
+you will not drag Jove the supreme counsellor from heaven to
+earth; but were I to pull at it myself I should draw you up with
+earth and sea into the bargain, then would I bind the chain about
+some pinnacle of Olympus and leave you all dangling in the mid
+firmament. So far am I above all others either of gods or men."
+
+They were frightened and all of them of held their peace, for he
+had spoken masterfully; but at last Minerva answered, "Father,
+son of Saturn, king of kings, we all know that your might is not
+to be gainsaid, but we are also sorry for the Danaan warriors,
+who are perishing and coming to a bad end. We will, however,
+since you so bid us, refrain from actual fighting, but we will
+make serviceable suggestions to the Argives that they may not all
+of them perish in your displeasure."
+
+Jove smiled at her and answered, "Take heart, my child,
+Trito-born; I am not really in earnest, and I wish to be kind to
+you."
+
+With this he yoked his fleet horses, with hoofs of bronze and
+manes of glittering gold. He girded himself also with gold about
+the body, seized his gold whip and took his seat in his chariot.
+Thereon he lashed his horses and they flew forward nothing loth
+midway twixt earth and starry heaven. After a while he reached
+many-fountained Ida, mother of wild beasts, and Gargarus, where
+are his grove and fragrant altar. There the father of gods and
+men stayed his horses, took them from the chariot, and hid them
+in a thick cloud; then he took his seat all glorious upon the
+topmost crests, looking down upon the city of Troy and the ships
+of the Achaeans.
+
+The Achaeans took their morning meal hastily at the ships, and
+afterwards put on their armour. The Trojans on the other hand
+likewise armed themselves throughout the city, fewer in numbers
+but nevertheless eager perforce to do battle for their wives and
+children. All the gates were flung wide open, and horse and foot
+sallied forth with the tramp as of a great multitude.
+
+When they were got together in one place, shield clashed with
+shield, and spear with spear, in the conflict of mail-clad men.
+Mighty was the din as the bossed shields pressed hard on one
+another--death--cry and shout of triumph of slain and slayers,
+and the earth ran red with blood.
+
+Now so long as the day waxed and it was still morning their
+weapons beat against one another, and the people fell, but when
+the sun had reached mid-heaven, the sire of all balanced his
+golden scales, and put two fates of death within them, one for
+the Trojans and the other for the Achaeans. He took the balance
+by the middle, and when he lifted it up the day of the Achaeans
+sank; the death-fraught scale of the Achaeans settled down upon
+the ground, while that of the Trojans rose heavenwards. Then he
+thundered aloud from Ida, and sent the glare of his lightning
+upon the Achaeans; when they saw this, pale fear fell upon them
+and they were sore afraid.
+
+Idomeneus dared not stay nor yet Agamemnon, nor did the two
+Ajaxes, servants of Mars, hold their ground. Nestor knight of
+Gerene alone stood firm, bulwark of the Achaeans, not of his own
+will, but one of his horses was disabled. Alexandrus husband of
+lovely Helen had hit it with an arrow just on the top of its head
+where the mane begins to grow away from the skull, a very deadly
+place. The horse bounded in his anguish as the arrow pierced his
+brain, and his struggles threw others into confusion. The old man
+instantly began cutting the traces with his sword, but Hector's
+fleet horses bore down upon him through the rout with their bold
+charioteer, even Hector himself, and the old man would have
+perished there and then had not Diomed been quick to mark, and
+with a loud cry called Ulysses to help him.
+
+"Ulysses," he cried, "noble son of Laertes where are you flying
+to, with your back turned like a coward? See that you are not
+struck with a spear between the shoulders. Stay here and help me
+to defend Nestor from this man's furious onset."
+
+Ulysses would not give ear, but sped onward to the ships of the
+Achaeans, and the son of Tydeus flinging himself alone into the
+thick of the fight took his stand before the horses of the son of
+Neleus. "Sir," said he, "these young warriors are pressing you
+hard, your force is spent, and age is heavy upon you, your squire
+is naught, and your horses are slow to move. Mount my chariot and
+see what the horses of Tros can do--how cleverly they can scud
+hither and thither over the plain either in flight or in pursuit.
+I took them from the hero Aeneas. Let our squires attend to your
+own steeds, but let us drive mine straight at the Trojans, that
+Hector may learn how furiously I too can wield my spear."
+
+Nestor knight of Gerene hearkened to his words. Thereon the
+doughty squires, Sthenelus and kind-hearted Eurymedon, saw to
+Nestor's horses, while the two both mounted Diomed's chariot.
+Nestor took the reins in his hands and lashed the horses on; they
+were soon close up with Hector, and the son of Tydeus aimed a
+spear at him as he was charging full speed towards them. He
+missed him, but struck his charioteer and squire Eniopeus son of
+noble Thebaeus in the breast by the nipple while the reins were
+in his hands, so that he died there and then, and the horses
+swerved as he fell headlong from the chariot. Hector was greatly
+grieved at the loss of his charioteer, but let him lie for all
+his sorrow, while he went in quest of another driver; nor did his
+steeds have to go long without one, for he presently found brave
+Archeptolemus the son of Iphitus, and made him get up behind the
+horses, giving the reins into his hand.
+
+All had then been lost and no help for it, for they would have
+been penned up in Ilius like sheep, had not the sire of gods and
+men been quick to mark, and hurled a fiery flaming thunderbolt
+which fell just in front of Diomed's horses with a flare of
+burning brimstone. The horses were frightened and tried to back
+beneath the car, while the reins dropped from Nestor's hands.
+Then he was afraid and said to Diomed, "Son of Tydeus, turn your
+horses in flight; see you not that the hand of Jove is against
+you? To-day he vouchsafes victory to Hector; to-morrow, if it so
+please him, he will again grant it to ourselves; no man, however
+brave, may thwart the purpose of Jove, for he is far stronger
+than any."
+
+Diomed answered, "All that you have said is true; there is a
+grief however which pierces me to the very heart, for Hector will
+talk among the Trojans and say, 'The son of Tydeus fled before me
+to the ships.' This is the vaunt he will make, and may earth then
+swallow me."
+
+"Son of Tydeus," replied Nestor, "what mean you? Though Hector
+say that you are a coward the Trojans and Dardanians will not
+believe him, nor yet the wives of the mighty warriors whom you
+have laid low."
+
+So saying he turned the horses back through the thick of the
+battle, and with a cry that rent the air the Trojans and Hector
+rained their darts after them. Hector shouted to him and said,
+"Son of Tydeus, the Danaans have done you honour hitherto as
+regards your place at table, the meals they give you, and the
+filling of your cup with wine. Henceforth they will despise you,
+for you are become no better than a woman. Be off, girl and
+coward that you are, you shall not scale our walls through any
+flinching upon my part; neither shall you carry off our wives in
+your ships, for I shall kill you with my own hand."
+
+The son of Tydeus was in two minds whether or no to turn his
+horses round again and fight him. Thrice did he doubt, and thrice
+did Jove thunder from the heights of Ida in token to the Trojans
+that he would turn the battle in their favour. Hector then
+shouted to them and said, "Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians,
+lovers of close fighting, be men, my friends, and fight with
+might and with main; I see that Jove is minded to vouchsafe
+victory and great glory to myself, while he will deal destruction
+upon the Danaans. Fools, for having thought of building this weak
+and worthless wall. It shall not stay my fury; my horses will
+spring lightly over their trench, and when I am at their ships
+forget not to bring me fire that I may burn them, while I
+slaughter the Argives who will be all dazed and bewildered by the
+smoke."
+
+Then he cried to his horses, "Xanthus and Podargus, and you
+Aethon and goodly Lampus, pay me for your keep now and for all
+the honey-sweet corn with which Andromache daughter of great
+Eetion has fed you, and for she has mixed wine and water for you
+to drink whenever you would, before doing so even for me who am
+her own husband. Haste in pursuit, that we may take the shield of
+Nestor, the fame of which ascends to heaven, for it is of solid
+gold, arm-rods and all, and that we may strip from the shoulders
+of Diomed. the cuirass which Vulcan made him. Could we take these
+two things, the Achaeans would set sail in their ships this
+self-same night."
+
+Thus did he vaunt, but Queen Juno made high Olympus quake as she
+shook with rage upon her throne. Then said she to the mighty god
+of Neptune, "What now, wide ruling lord of the earthquake? Can
+you find no compassion in your heart for the dying Danaans, who
+bring you many a welcome offering to Helice and to Aegae? Wish
+them well then. If all of us who are with the Danaans were to
+drive the Trojans back and keep Jove from helping them, he would
+have to sit there sulking alone on Ida."
+
+King Neptune was greatly troubled and answered, "Juno, rash of
+tongue, what are you talking about? We other gods must not set
+ourselves against Jove, for he is far stronger than we are."
+
+Thus did they converse; but the whole space enclosed by the
+ditch, from the ships even to the wall, was filled with horses
+and warriors, who were pent up there by Hector son of Priam, now
+that the hand of Jove was with him. He would even have set fire
+to the ships and burned them, had not Queen Juno put it into the
+mind of Agamemnon, to bestir himself and to encourage the
+Achaeans. To this end he went round the ships and tents carrying
+a great purple cloak, and took his stand by the huge black hull
+of Ulysses' ship, which was middlemost of all; it was from this
+place that his voice would carry farthest, on the one hand
+towards the tents of Ajax son of Telamon, and on the other
+towards those of Achilles--for these two heroes, well assured of
+their own strength, had valorously drawn up their ships at the
+two ends of the line. From this spot then, with a voice that
+could be heard afar, he shouted to the Danaans, saying, "Argives,
+shame on you cowardly creatures, brave in semblance only; where
+are now our vaunts that we should prove victorious--the vaunts we
+made so vaingloriously in Lemnos, when we ate the flesh of horned
+cattle and filled our mixing-bowls to the brim? You vowed that
+you would each of you stand against a hundred or two hundred men,
+and now you prove no match even for one--for Hector, who will be
+ere long setting our ships in a blaze. Father Jove, did you ever
+so ruin a great king and rob him so utterly of his greatness?
+Yet, when to my sorrow I was coming hither, I never let my ship
+pass your altars without offering the fat and thigh-bones of
+heifers upon every one of them, so eager was I to sack the city
+of Troy. Vouchsafe me then this prayer--suffer us to escape at
+any rate with our lives, and let not the Achaeans be so utterly
+vanquished by the Trojans."
+
+Thus did he pray, and father Jove pitying his tears vouchsafed
+him that his people should live, not die; forthwith he sent them
+an eagle, most unfailingly portentous of all birds, with a young
+fawn in its talons; the eagle dropped the fawn by the altar on
+which the Achaeans sacrificed to Jove the lord of omens; when,
+therefore, the people saw that the bird had come from Jove, they
+sprang more fiercely upon the Trojans and fought more boldly.
+
+There was no man of all the many Danaans who could then boast
+that he had driven his horses over the trench and gone forth to
+fight sooner than the son of Tydeus; long before any one else
+could do so he slew an armed warrior of the Trojans, Agelaus the
+son of Phradmon. He had turned his horses in flight, but the
+spear struck him in the back midway between his shoulders and
+went right through his chest, and his armour rang rattling round
+him as he fell forward from his chariot.
+
+After him came Agamemnon and Menelaus, sons of Atreus, the two
+Ajaxes clothed in valour as with a garment, Idomeneus and his
+companion in arms Meriones, peer of murderous Mars, and Eurypylus
+the brave son of Euaemon. Ninth came Teucer with his bow, and
+took his place under cover of the shield of Ajax son of Telamon.
+When Ajax lifted his shield Teucer would peer round, and when he
+had hit any one in the throng, the man would fall dead; then
+Teucer would hie back to Ajax as a child to its mother, and again
+duck down under his shield.
+
+Which of the Trojans did brave Teucer first kill? Orsilochus, and
+then Ormenus and Ophelestes, Daetor, Chromius, and godlike
+Lycophontes, Amopaon son of Polyaemon, and Melanippus. these in
+turn did he lay low upon the earth, and King Agamemnon was glad
+when he saw him making havoc of the Trojans with his mighty bow.
+He went up to him and said, "Teucer, man after my own heart, son
+of Telamon, captain among the host, shoot on, and be at once the
+saving of the Danaans and the glory of your father Telamon, who
+brought you up and took care of you in his own house when you
+were a child, bastard though you were. Cover him with glory
+though he is far off; I will promise and I will assuredly
+perform; if aegis-bearing Jove and Minerva grant me to sack the
+city of Ilius, you shall have the next best meed of honour after
+my own--a tripod, or two horses with their chariot, or a woman
+who shall go up into your bed."
+
+And Teucer answered, "Most noble son of Atreus, you need not urge
+me; from the moment we began to drive them back to Ilius, I have
+never ceased so far as in me lies to look out for men whom I can
+shoot and kill; I have shot eight barbed shafts, and all of them
+have been buried in the flesh of warlike youths, but this mad dog
+I cannot hit."
+
+As he spoke he aimed another arrow straight at Hector, for he was
+bent on hitting him; nevertheless he missed him, and the arrow
+hit Priam's brave son Gorgythion in the breast. His mother, fair
+Castianeira, lovely as a goddess, had been married from Aesyme,
+and now he bowed his head as a garden poppy in full bloom when it
+is weighed down by showers in spring--even thus heavy bowed his
+head beneath the weight of his helmet.
+
+Again he aimed at Hector, for he was longing to hit him, and
+again his arrow missed, for Apollo turned it aside; but he hit
+Hector's brave charioteer Archeptolemus in the breast, by the
+nipple, as he was driving furiously into the fight. The horses
+swerved aside as he fell headlong from the chariot, and there was
+no life left in him. Hector was greatly grieved at the loss of
+his charioteer, but for all his sorrow he let him lie where he
+fell, and bade his brother Cebriones, who was hard by, take the
+reins. Cebriones did as he had said. Hector thereon with a loud
+cry sprang from his chariot to the ground, and seizing a great
+stone made straight for Teucer with intent kill him. Teucer had
+just taken an arrow from his quiver and had laid it upon the
+bow-string, but Hector struck him with the jagged stone as he was
+taking aim and drawing the string to his shoulder; he hit him
+just where the collar-bone divides the neck from the chest, a
+very deadly place, and broke the sinew of his arm so that his
+wrist was less, and the bow dropped from his hand as he fell
+forward on his knees. Ajax saw that his brother had fallen, and
+running towards him bestrode him and sheltered him with his
+shield. Meanwhile his two trusty squires, Mecisteus son of
+Echius, and Alastor, came up and bore him to the ships groaning
+in his great pain.
+
+Jove now again put heart into the Trojans, and they drove the
+Achaeans to their deep trench with Hector in all his glory at
+their head. As a hound grips a wild boar or lion in flank or
+buttock when he gives him chase, and watches warily for his
+wheeling, even so did Hector follow close upon the Achaeans, ever
+killing the hindmost as they rushed panic-stricken onwards. When
+they had fled through the set stakes and trench and many Achaeans
+had been laid low at the hands of the Trojans, they halted at
+their ships, calling upon one another and praying every man
+instantly as they lifted up their hands to the gods; but Hector
+wheeled his horses this way and that, his eyes glaring like those
+of Gorgo or murderous Mars.
+
+Juno when she saw them had pity upon them, and at once said to
+Minerva, "Alas, child of aegis-bearing Jove, shall you and I take
+no more thought for the dying Danaans, though it be the last time
+we ever do so? See how they perish and come to a bad end before
+the onset of but a single man. Hector the son of Priam rages with
+intolerable fury, and has already done great mischief."
+
+Minerva answered, "Would, indeed, this fellow might die in his
+own land, and fall by the hands of the Achaeans; but my father
+Jove is mad with spleen, ever foiling me, ever headstrong and
+unjust. He forgets how often I saved his son when he was worn out
+by the labours Eurystheus had laid on him. He would weep till his
+cry came up to heaven, and then Jove would send me down to help
+him; if I had had the sense to foresee all this, when Eurystheus
+sent him to the house of Hades, to fetch the hell-hound from
+Erebus, he would never have come back alive out of the deep
+waters of the river Styx. And now Jove hates me, while he lets
+Thetis have her way because she kissed his knees and took hold of
+his beard, when she was begging him to do honour to Achilles. I
+shall know what to do next time he begins calling me his
+grey-eyed darling. Get our horses ready, while I go within the
+house of aegis-bearing Jove and put on my armour; we shall then
+find out whether Priam's son Hector will be glad to meet us in
+the highways of battle, or whether the Trojans will glut hounds
+and vultures with the fat of their flesh as they be dead by the
+ships of the Achaeans."
+
+Thus did she speak and white-armed Juno, daughter of great
+Saturn, obeyed her words; she set about harnessing her
+gold-bedizened steeds, while Minerva daughter of aegis-bearing
+Jove flung her richly vesture, made with her own hands, on to the
+threshold of her father, and donned the shirt of Jove, arming
+herself for battle. Then she stepped into her flaming chariot,
+and grasped the spear so stout and sturdy and strong with which
+she quells the ranks of heroes who have displeased her. Juno
+lashed her horses, and the gates of heaven bellowed as they flew
+open of their own accord--gates over which the Hours preside, in
+whose hands are heaven and Olympus, either to open the dense
+cloud that hides them or to close it. Through these the goddesses
+drove their obedient steeds.
+
+But father Jove when he saw them from Ida was very angry, and
+sent winged Iris with a message to them. "Go," said he, "fleet
+Iris, turn them back, and see that they do not come near me, for
+if we come to fighting there will be mischief. This is what I
+say, and this is what I mean to do. I will lame their horses for
+them; I will hurl them from their chariot, and will break it in
+pieces. It will take them all ten years to heal the wounds my
+lightning shall inflict upon them; my grey-eyed daughter will
+then learn what quarrelling with her father means. I am less
+surprised and angry with Juno, for whatever I say she always
+contradicts me."
+
+With this Iris went her way, fleet as the wind, from the heights
+of Ida to the lofty summits of Olympus. She met the goddesses at
+the outer gates of its many valleys and gave them her message.
+"What," said she, "are you about? Are you mad? The son of Saturn
+forbids going. This is what he says, and this is he means to do,
+he will lame your horses for you, he will hurl you from your
+chariot, and will break it in pieces. It will take you all ten
+years to heal the wounds his lightning will inflict upon you,
+that you may learn, grey-eyed goddess, what quarrelling with your
+father means. He is less hurt and angry with Juno, for whatever
+he says she always contradicts him but you, bold hussy, will you
+really dare to raise your huge spear in defiance of Jove?"
+
+With this she left them, and Juno said to Minerva, "Of a truth,
+child of aegis-bearing Jove, I am not for fighting men's battles
+further in defiance of Jove. Let them live or die as luck will
+have it, and let Jove mete out his judgements upon the Trojans
+and Danaans according to his own pleasure."
+
+She turned her steeds; the Hours presently unyoked them, made
+them fast to their ambrosial mangers, and leaned the chariot
+against the end wall of the courtyard. The two goddesses then sat
+down upon their golden thrones, amid the company of the other
+gods; but they were very angry.
+
+Presently father Jove drove his chariot to Olympus, and entered
+the assembly of gods. The mighty lord of the earthquake unyoked
+his horses for him, set the car upon its stand, and threw a cloth
+over it. Jove then sat down upon his golden throne and Olympus
+reeled beneath him. Minerva and Juno sat alone, apart from Jove,
+and neither spoke nor asked him questions, but Jove knew what
+they meant, and said, "Minerva and Juno, why are you so angry?
+Are you fatigued with killing so many of your dear friends the
+Trojans? Be this as it may, such is the might of my hands that
+all the gods in Olympus cannot turn me; you were both of you
+trembling all over ere ever you saw the fight and its terrible
+doings. I tell you therefore-and it would have surely been--I
+should have struck you with lighting, and your chariots would
+never have brought you back again to Olympus."
+
+Minerva and Juno groaned in spirit as they sat side by side and
+brooded mischief for the Trojans. Minerva sat silent without a
+word, for she was in a furious passion and bitterly incensed
+against her father; but Juno could not contain herself and said,
+"What, dread son of Saturn, are you talking about? We know how
+great your power is, nevertheless we have compassion upon the
+Danaan warriors who are perishing and coming to a bad end. We
+will, however, since you so bid us, refrain from actual fighting,
+but we will make serviceable suggestions to the Argives, that
+they may not all of them perish in your displeasure."
+
+And Jove answered, "To-morrow morning, Juno, if you choose to do
+so, you will see the son of Saturn destroying large numbers of
+the Argives, for fierce Hector shall not cease fighting till he
+has roused the son of Peleus when they are fighting in dire
+straits at their ships' sterns about the body of Patroclus. Like
+it or no, this is how it is decreed; for aught I care, you may go
+to the lowest depths beneath earth and sea, where Iapetus and
+Saturn dwell in lone Tartarus with neither ray of light nor
+breath of wind to cheer them. You may go on and on till you get
+there, and I shall not care one whit for your displeasure; you
+are the greatest vixen living."
+
+Juno made him no answer. The sun's glorious orb now sank into
+Oceanus and drew down night over the land. Sorry indeed were the
+Trojans when light failed them, but welcome and thrice prayed for
+did darkness fall upon the Achaeans.
+
+Then Hector led the Trojans back from the ships, and held a
+council on the open space near the river, where there was a spot
+clear of corpses. They left their chariots and sat down on the
+ground to hear the speech he made them. He grasped a spear eleven
+cubits long, the bronze point of which gleamed in front of it,
+while the ring round the spear-head was of gold. Spear in hand he
+spoke. "Hear me," said he, "Trojans, Dardanians, and allies. I
+deemed but now that I should destroy the ships and all the
+Achaeans with them ere I went back to Ilius, but darkness came on
+too soon. It was this alone that saved them and their ships upon
+the seashore. Now, therefore, let us obey the behests of night,
+and prepare our suppers. Take your horses out of their chariots
+and give them their feeds of corn; then make speed to bring sheep
+and cattle from the city; bring wine also and corn for your
+horses and gather much wood, that from dark till dawn we may burn
+watchfires whose flare may reach to heaven. For the Achaeans may
+try to fly beyond the sea by night, and they must not embark
+scatheless and unmolested; many a man among them must take a dart
+with him to nurse at home, hit with spear or arrow as he is
+leaping on board his ship, that others may fear to bring war and
+weeping upon the Trojans. Moreover let the heralds tell it about
+the city that the growing youths and grey-bearded men are to camp
+upon its heaven-built walls. Let the women each of them light a
+great fire in her house, and let watch be safely kept lest the
+town be entered by surprise while the host is outside. See to it,
+brave Trojans, as I have said, and let this suffice for the
+moment; at daybreak I will instruct you further. I pray in hope
+to Jove and to the gods that we may then drive those fate-sped
+hounds from our land, for 'tis the fates that have borne them and
+their ships hither. This night, therefore, let us keep watch, but
+with early morning let us put on our armour and rouse fierce war
+at the ships of the Achaeans; I shall then know whether brave
+Diomed the son of Tydeus will drive me back from the ships to the
+wall, or whether I shall myself slay him and carry off his
+bloodstained spoils. To-morrow let him show his mettle, abide my
+spear if he dare. I ween that at break of day, he shall be among
+the first to fall and many another of his comrades round him.
+Would that I were as sure of being immortal and never growing
+old, and of being worshipped like Minerva and Apollo, as I am
+that this day will bring evil to the Argives."
+
+Thus spoke Hector and the Trojans shouted applause. They took
+their sweating steeds from under the yoke, and made them fast
+each by his own chariot. They made haste to bring sheep and
+cattle from the city, they brought wine also and corn from their
+houses and gathered much wood. They then offered unblemished
+hecatombs to the immortals, and the wind carried the sweet savour
+of sacrifice to heaven--but the blessed gods partook not thereof,
+for they bitterly hated Ilius with Priam and Priam's people. Thus
+high in hope they sat through the livelong night by the highways
+of war, and many a watchfire did they kindle. As when the stars
+shine clear, and the moon is bright--there is not a breath of
+air, not a peak nor glade nor jutting headland but it stands out
+in the ineffable radiance that breaks from the serene of heaven;
+the stars can all of them be told and the heart of the shepherd
+is glad--even thus shone the watchfires of the Trojans before
+Ilius midway between the ships and the river Xanthus. A thousand
+camp-fires gleamed upon the plain, and in the glow of each there
+sat fifty men, while the horses, champing oats and corn beside
+their chariots, waited till dawn should come.
+
+
+
+BOOK IX
+
+  The Embassy to Achilles.
+
+THUS did the Trojans watch. But Panic, comrade of blood-stained
+Rout, had taken fast hold of the Achaeans, and their princes were
+all of them in despair. As when the two winds that blow from
+Thrace--the north and the northwest--spring up of a sudden and
+rouse the fury of the main--in a moment the dark waves uprear
+their heads and scatter their sea-wrack in all directions--even
+thus troubled were the hearts of the Achaeans.
+
+The son of Atreus in dismay bade the heralds call the people to a
+council man by man, but not to cry the matter aloud; he made
+haste also himself to call them, and they sat sorry at heart in
+their assembly. Agamemnon shed tears as it were a running stream
+or cataract on the side of some sheer cliff; and thus, with many
+a heavy sigh he spoke to the Achaeans. "My friends," said he,
+"princes and councillors Of the Argives, the hand of heaven has
+been laid heavily upon me. Cruel Jove gave me his solemn promise
+that I should sack the city of Troy before returning, but he has
+played me false, and is now bidding me go ingloriously back to
+Argos with the loss of much people. Such is the will of Jove, who
+has laid many a proud city in the dust as he will yet lay others,
+for his power is above all. Now, therefore, let us all do as I
+say and sail back to our own country, for we shall not take
+Troy."
+
+Thus he spoke, and the sons of the Achaeans for a long while sat
+sorrowful there, but they all held their peace, till at last
+Diomed of the loud battle-cry made answer saying, "Son of Atreus,
+I will chide your folly, as is my right in council. Be not then
+aggrieved that I should do so. In the first place you attacked me
+before all the Danaans and said that I was a coward and no
+soldier. The Argives young and old know that you did so. But the
+son of scheming Saturn endowed you by halves only. He gave you
+honour as the chief ruler over us, but valour, which is the
+highest both right and might he did not give you. Sir, think you
+that the sons of the Achaeans are indeed as unwarlike and
+cowardly as you say they are? If your own mind is set upon going
+home--go--the way is open to you; the many ships that followed
+you from Mycene stand ranged upon the seashore; but the rest of
+us stay here till we have sacked Troy. Nay though these too
+should turn homeward with their ships, Sthenelus and myself will
+still fight on till we reach the goal of Ilius, for heaven was
+with us when we came."
+
+The sons of the Achaeans shouted applause at the words of Diomed,
+and presently Nestor rose to speak. "Son of Tydeus," said he, "in
+war your prowess is beyond question, and in council you excel all
+who are of your own years; no one of the Achaeans can make light
+of what you say nor gainsay it, but you have not yet come to the
+end of the whole matter. You are still young--you might be the
+youngest of my own children--still you have spoken wisely and
+have counselled the chief of the Achaeans not without discretion;
+nevertheless I am older than you and I will tell you everything;
+therefore let no man, not even King Agamemnon, disregard my
+saying, for he that foments civil discord is a clanless,
+hearthless outlaw.
+
+"Now, however, let us obey the behests of night and get our
+suppers, but let the sentinels every man of them camp by the
+trench that is without the wall. I am giving these instructions
+to the young men; when they have been attended to, do you, son of
+Atreus, give your orders, for you are the most royal among us
+all. Prepare a feast for your councillors; it is right and
+reasonable that you should do so; there is abundance of wine in
+your tents, which the ships of the Achaeans bring from Thrace
+daily. You have everything at your disposal wherewith to
+entertain guests, and you have many subjects. When many are got
+together, you can be guided by him whose counsel is wisest--and
+sorely do we need shrewd and prudent counsel, for the foe has lit
+his watchfires hard by our ships. Who can be other than dismayed?
+This night will either be the ruin of our host, or save it."
+
+Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. The
+sentinels went out in their armour under command of Nestor's son
+Thrasymedes, a captain of the host, and of the bold warriors
+Ascalaphus and Ialmenus: there were also Meriones, Aphareus and
+Deipyrus, and the son of Creion, noble Lycomedes. There were
+seven captains of the sentinels, and with each there went a
+hundred youths armed with long spears: they took their places
+midway between the trench and the wall, and when they had done so
+they lit their fires and got every man his supper.
+
+The son of Atreus then bade many councillors of the Achaeans to
+his quarters prepared a great feast in their honour. They laid
+their hands on the good things that were before them, and as soon
+as they had enough to eat and drink, old Nestor, whose counsel
+was ever truest, was the first to lay his mind before them. He,
+therefore, with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus.
+
+"With yourself, most noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon,
+will I both begin my speech and end it, for you are king over
+much people. Jove, moreover, has vouchsafed you to wield the
+sceptre and to uphold righteousness, that you may take thought
+for your people under you; therefore it behooves you above all
+others both to speak and to give ear, and to out the counsel of
+another who shall have been minded to speak wisely. All turns on
+you and on your commands, therefore I will say what I think will
+be best. No man will be of a truer mind than that which has been
+mine from the hour when you, sir, angered Achilles by taking the
+girl Briseis from his tent against my judgment. I urged you not
+to do so, but you yielded to your own pride, and dishonoured a
+hero whom heaven itself had honoured--for you still hold the
+prize that had been awarded to him. Now, however, let us think
+how we may appease him, both with presents and fair speeches that
+may conciliate him."
+
+And King Agamemnon answered, "Sir, you have reproved my folly
+justly. I was wrong. I own it. One whom heaven befriends is in
+himself a host, and Jove has shown that he befriends this man by
+destroying much people of the Achaeans. I was blinded with
+passion and yielded to my worser mind; therefore I will make
+amends, and will give him great gifts by way of atonement. I will
+tell them in the presence of you all. I will give him seven
+tripods that have never yet been on the fire, and ten talents of
+gold. I will give him twenty iron cauldrons and twelve strong
+horses that have won races and carried off prizes. Rich, indeed,
+both in land and gold is he that has as many prizes as my horses
+have won me. I will give him seven excellent workwomen, Lesbians,
+whom I chose for myself when he took Lesbos--all of surpassing
+beauty. I will give him these, and with them her whom I erewhile
+took from him, the daughter of Briseus; and I swear a great oath
+that I never went up into her couch, nor have been with her after
+the manner of men and women.
+
+"All these things will I give him now, and if hereafter the gods
+vouchsafe me to sack the city of Priam, let him come when we
+Achaeans are dividing the spoil, and load his ship with gold and
+bronze to his liking; furthermore let him take twenty Trojan
+women, the loveliest after Helen herself. Then, when we reach
+Achaean Argos, wealthiest of all lands, he shall be my son-in-law
+and I will show him like honour with my own dear son Orestes, who
+is being nurtured in all abundance. I have three daughters,
+Chrysothemis, Laodice, and Iphianassa, let him take the one of
+his choice, freely and without gifts of wooing, to the house of
+Peleus; I will add such dower to boot as no man ever yet gave his
+daughter, and will give him seven well established cities,
+Cardamyle, Enope, and Hire, where there is grass; holy Pherae and
+the rich meadows of Anthea; Aepea also, and the vine-clad slopes
+of Pedasus, all near the sea, and on the borders of sandy Pylos.
+The men that dwell there are rich in cattle and sheep; they will
+honour him with gifts as though he were a god, and be obedient to
+his comfortable ordinances. All this will I do if he will now
+forgo his anger. Let him then yield; it is only Hades who is
+utterly ruthless and unyielding--and hence he is of all gods the
+one most hateful to mankind. Moreover I am older and more royal
+than himself. Therefore, let him now obey me."
+
+Then Nestor answered, "Most noble son of Atreus, king of men,
+Agamemnon. The gifts you offer are no small ones, let us then
+send chosen messengers, who may go to the tent of Achilles son of
+Peleus without delay. Let those go whom I shall name. Let
+Phoenix, dear to Jove, lead the way; let Ajax and Ulysses follow,
+and let the heralds Odius and Eurybates go with them. Now bring
+water for our hands, and bid all keep silence while we pray to
+Jove the son of Saturn, if so be that he may have mercy upon us."
+
+Thus did he speak, and his saying pleased them well.
+Men-servants poured water over the hands of the guests, while
+pages filled the mixing-bowls with wine and water, and handed it
+round after giving every man his drink-offering; then, when they
+had made their offerings, and had drunk each as much as he was
+minded, the envoys set out from the tent of Agamemnon son of
+Atreus; and Nestor, looking first to one and then to another, but
+most especially at Ulysses, was instant with them that they
+should prevail with the noble son of Peleus.
+
+They went their way by the shore of the sounding sea, and prayed
+earnestly to earth-encircling Neptune that the high spirit of the
+son of Aeacus might incline favourably towards them. When they
+reached the ships and tents of the Myrmidons, they found Achilles
+playing on a lyre, fair, of cunning workmanship, and its
+cross-bar was of silver. It was part of the spoils which he had
+taken when he sacked the city of Eetion, and he was now diverting
+himself with it and singing the feats of heroes. He was alone
+with Patroclus, who sat opposite to him and said nothing, waiting
+till he should cease singing. Ulysses and Ajax now came in--
+Ulysses leading the way--and stood before him. Achilles sprang
+from his seat with the lyre still in his hand, and Patroclus,
+when he saw the strangers, rose also. Achilles then greeted them
+saying, "All hail and welcome--you must come upon some great
+matter, you, who for all my anger are still dearest to me of the
+Achaeans."
+
+With this he led them forward, and bade them sit on seats covered
+with purple rugs; then he said to Patroclus who was close by him,
+"Son of Menoetius, set a larger bowl upon the table, mix less
+water with the wine, and give every man his cup, for these are
+very dear friends, who are now under my roof."
+
+Patroclus did as his comrade bade him; he set the chopping-block
+in front of the fire, and on it he laid the loin of a sheep, the
+loin also of a goat, and the chine of a fat hog. Automedon held
+the meat while Achilles chopped it; he then sliced the pieces and
+put them on spits while the son of Menoetius made the fire burn
+high. When the flame had died down, he spread the embers, laid
+the spits on top of them, lifting them up and setting them upon
+the spit-racks; and he sprinkled them with salt. When the meat
+was roasted, he set it on platters, and handed bread round the
+table in fair baskets, while Achilles dealt them their portions.
+Then Achilles took his seat facing Ulysses against the opposite
+wall, and bade his comrade Patroclus offer sacrifice to the gods;
+so he cast the offerings into the fire, and they laid their hands
+upon the good things that were before them. As soon as they had
+had enough to eat and drink, Ajax made a sign to Phoenix, and
+when he saw this, Ulysses filled his cup with wine and pledged
+Achilles.
+
+"Hail," said he, "Achilles, we have had no scant of good cheer,
+neither in the tent of Agamemnon, nor yet here; there has been
+plenty to eat and drink, but our thought turns upon no such
+matter. Sir, we are in the face of great disaster, and without
+your help know not whether we shall save our fleet or lose it.
+The Trojans and their allies have camped hard by our ships and by
+the wall; they have lit watchfires throughout their host and deem
+that nothing can now prevent them from falling on our fleet.
+Jove, moreover, has sent his lightnings on their right; Hector,
+in all his glory, rages like a maniac; confident that Jove is
+with him he fears neither god nor man, but is gone raving mad,
+and prays for the approach of day. He vows that he will hew the
+high sterns of our ships in pieces, set fire to their hulls, and
+make havoc of the Achaeans while they are dazed and smothered in
+smoke; I much fear that heaven will make good his boasting, and
+it will prove our lot to perish at Troy far from our home in
+Argos. Up, then, and late though it be, save the sons of the
+Achaeans who faint before the fury of the Trojans. You will
+repent bitterly hereafter if you do not, for when the harm is
+done there will be no curing it; consider ere it be too late, and
+save the Danaans from destruction.
+
+"My good friend, when your father Peleus sent you from Phthia to
+Agamemnon, did he not charge you saying, 'Son, Minerva and Juno
+will make you strong if they choose, but check your high temper,
+for the better part is in goodwill. Eschew vain quarrelling, and
+the Achaeans old and young will respect you more for doing so.'
+These were his words, but you have forgotten them. Even now,
+however, be appeased, and put away your anger from you. Agamemnon
+will make you great amends if you will forgive him; listen, and I
+will tell you what he has said in his tent that he will give you.
+He will give you seven tripods that have never yet been on the
+fire, and ten talents of gold; twenty iron cauldrons, and twelve
+strong horses that have won races and carried off prizes. Rich
+indeed both in land and gold is he who has as many prizes as
+these horses have won for Agamemnon. Moreover he will give you
+seven excellent workwomen, Lesbians, whom he chose for himself,
+when you took Lesbos--all of surpassing beauty. He will give you
+these, and with them her whom he erewhile took from you, the
+daughter of Briseus, and he will swear a great oath, he has never
+gone up into her couch nor been with her after the manner of men
+and women. All these things will he give you now down, and if
+hereafter the gods vouchsafe him to sack the city of Priam, you
+can come when we Achaeans are dividing the spoil, and load your
+ship with gold and bronze to your liking. You can take twenty
+Trojan women, the loveliest after Helen herself. Then, when we
+reach Achaean Argos, wealthiest of all lands, you shall be his
+son-in-law, and he will show you like honour with his own dear
+son Orestes, who is being nurtured in all abundance. Agamemnon
+has three daughters, Chrysothemis, Laodice, and Iphianassa; you
+may take the one of your choice, freely and without gifts of
+wooing, to the house of Peleus; he will add such dower to boot as
+no man ever yet gave his daughter, and will give you seven
+well-established cities, Cardamyle, Enope, and Hire where there
+is grass; holy Pheras and the rich meadows of Anthea; Aepea also,
+and the vine-clad slopes of Pedasus, all near the sea, and on the
+borders of sandy Pylos. The men that dwell there are rich in
+cattle and sheep; they will honour you with gifts as though were
+a god, and be obedient to your comfortable ordinances. All this
+will he do if you will now forgo your anger. Moreover, though you
+hate both him and his gifts with all your heart, yet pity the
+rest of the Achaeans who are being harassed in all their host;
+they will honour you as a god, and you will earn great glory at
+their hands. You might even kill Hector; he will come within your
+reach, for he is infatuated, and declares that not a Danaan whom
+the ships have brought can hold his own against him."
+
+Achilles answered, "Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, I should give
+you formal notice plainly and in all fixity of purpose that there
+be no more of this cajoling, from whatsoever quarter it may come.
+Him do I hate even as the gates of hell who says one thing while
+he hides another in his heart; therefore I will say what I mean.
+I will be appeased neither by Agamemnon son of Atreus nor by any
+other of the Danaans, for I see that I have no thanks for all my
+fighting. He that fights fares no better than he that does not;
+coward and hero are held in equal honour, and death deals like
+measure to him who works and him who is idle. I have taken
+nothing by all my hardships--with my life ever in my hand; as a
+bird when she has found a morsel takes it to her nestlings, and
+herself fares hardly, even so many a long night have I been
+wakeful, and many a bloody battle have I waged by day against
+those who were fighting for their women. With my ships I have
+taken twelve cities, and eleven round about Troy have I stormed
+with my men by land; I took great store of wealth from every one
+of them, but I gave all up to Agamemnon son of Atreus. He stayed
+where he was by his ships, yet of what came to him he gave
+little, and kept much himself.
+
+"Nevertheless he did distribute some meeds of honour among the
+chieftains and kings, and these have them still; from me alone of
+the Achaeans did he take the woman in whom I delighted--let him
+keep her and sleep with her. Why, pray, must the Argives needs
+fight the Trojans? What made the son of Atreus gather the host
+and bring them? Was it not for the sake of Helen? Are the sons of
+Atreus the only men in the world who love their wives? Any man of
+common right feeling will love and cherish her who is his own, as
+I this woman, with my whole heart, though she was but a fruitling
+of my spear. Agamemnon has taken her from me; he has played me
+false; I know him; let him tempt me no further, for he shall not
+move me. Let him look to you, Ulysses, and to the other princes
+to save his ships from burning. He has done much without me
+already. He has built a wall; he has dug a trench deep and wide
+all round it, and he has planted it within with stakes; but even
+so he stays not the murderous might of Hector. So long as I
+fought the Achaeans Hector suffered not the battle range far from
+the city walls; he would come to the Scaean gates and to the oak
+tree, but no further. Once he stayed to meet me and hardly did he
+escape my onset: now, however, since I am in no mood to fight
+him, I will to-morrow offer sacrifice to Jove and to all the
+gods; I will draw my ships into the water and then victual them
+duly; to-morrow morning, if you care to look, you will see my
+ships on the Hellespont, and my men rowing out to sea with might
+and main. If great Neptune vouchsafes me a fair passage, in three
+days I shall be in Phthia. I have much there that I left behind
+me when I came here to my sorrow, and I shall bring back still
+further store of gold, of red copper, of fair women, and of iron,
+my share of the spoils that we have taken; but one prize, he who
+gave has insolently taken away. Tell him all as I now bid you,
+and tell him in public that the Achaeans may hate him and beware
+of him should he think that he can yet dupe others for his
+effrontery never fails him.
+
+"As for me, hound that he is, he dares not look me in the face.
+I will take no counsel with him, and will undertake nothing in
+common with him. He has wronged me and deceived me enough, he
+shall not cozen me further; let him go his own way, for Jove has
+robbed him of his reason. I loathe his presents, and for himself
+care not one straw. He may offer me ten or even twenty times what
+he has now done, nay--not though it be all that he has in the
+world, both now or ever shall have; he may promise me the wealth
+of Orchomenus or of Egyptian Thebes, which is the richest city in
+the whole world, for it has a hundred gates through each of which
+two hundred men may drive at once with their chariots and horses;
+he may offer me gifts as the sands of the sea or the dust of the
+plain in multitude, but even so he shall not move me till I have
+been revenged in full for the bitter wrong he has done me. I will
+not marry his daughter; she may be fair as Venus, and skilful as
+Minerva, but I will have none of her: let another take her, who
+may be a good match for her and who rules a larger kingdom. If
+the gods spare me to return home, Peleus will find me a wife;
+there are Achaean women in Hellas and Phthia, daughters of kings
+that have cities under them; of these I can take whom I will and
+marry her. Many a time was I minded when at home in Phthia to woo
+and wed a woman who would make me a suitable wife, and to enjoy
+the riches of my old father Peleus. My life is more to me than
+all the wealth of Ilius while it was yet at peace before the
+Achaeans went there, or than all the treasure that lies on the
+stone floor of Apollo's temple beneath the cliffs of Pytho.
+Cattle and sheep are to be had for harrying, and a man buy both
+tripods and horses if he wants them, but when his life has once
+left him it can neither be bought nor harried back again.
+
+"My mother Thetis tells me that there are two ways in which I may
+meet my end. If I stay here and fight, I shall not return alive
+but my name will live for ever: whereas if I go home my name will
+die, but it will be long ere death shall take me. To the rest of
+you, then, I say, 'Go home, for you will not take Ilius.' Jove
+has held his hand over her to protect her, and her people have
+taken heart. Go, therefore, as in duty bound, and tell the
+princes of the Achaeans the message that I have sent them; tell
+them to find some other plan for the saving of their ships and
+people, for so long as my displeasure lasts the one that they
+have now hit upon may not be. As for Phoenix, let him sleep here
+that he may sail with me in the morning if he so will. But I
+will not take him by force."
+
+They all held their peace, dismayed at the sternness with which
+he had denied them, till presently the old knight Phoenix in his
+great fear for the ships of the Achaeans, burst into tears and
+said, "Noble Achilles, if you are now minded to return, and in
+the fierceness of your anger will do nothing to save the ships
+from burning, how, my son, can I remain here without you? Your
+father Peleus bade me go with you when he sent you as a mere lad
+from Phthia to Agamemnon. You knew nothing neither of war nor of
+the arts whereby men make their mark in council, and he sent me
+with you to train you in all excellence of speech and action.
+Therefore, my son, I will not stay here without you--no, not
+though heaven itself vouchsafe to strip my years from off me, and
+make me young as I was when I first left Hellas the land of fair
+women. I was then flying the anger of father Amyntor, son of
+Ormenus, who was furious with me in the matter of his concubine,
+of whom he was enamoured to the wronging of his wife my mother.
+My mother, therefore, prayed me without ceasing to lie with the
+woman myself, that so she hate my father, and in the course of
+time I yielded. But my father soon came to know, and cursed me
+bitterly, calling the dread Erinyes to witness. He prayed that no
+son of mine might ever sit upon knees--and the gods, Jove of the
+world below and awful Proserpine, fulfilled his curse. I took
+counsel to kill him, but some god stayed my rashness and bade me
+think on men's evil tongues and how I should be branded as the
+murderer of my father; nevertheless I could not bear to stay in
+my father's house with him so bitter a against me. My cousins and
+clansmen came about me, and pressed me sorely to remain; many a
+sheep and many an ox did they slaughter, and many a fat hog did
+they set down to roast before the fire; many a jar, too, did they
+broach of my father's wine. Nine whole nights did they set a
+guard over me taking it in turns to watch, and they kept a fire
+always burning, both in the cloister of the outer court and in
+the inner court at the doors of the room wherein I lay; but when
+the darkness of the tenth night came, I broke through the closed
+doors of my room, and climbed the wall of the outer court after
+passing quickly and unperceived through the men on guard and the
+women servants. I then fled through Hellas till I came to fertile
+Phthia, mother of sheep, and to King Peleus, who made me welcome
+and treated me as a father treats an only son who will be heir to
+all his wealth. He made me rich and set me over much people,
+establishing me on the borders of Phthia where I was chief ruler
+over the Dolopians.
+
+"It was I, Achilles, who had the making of you; I loved you with
+all my heart: for you would eat neither at home nor when you had
+gone out elsewhere, till I had first set you upon my knees, cut
+up the dainty morsel that you were to eat, and held the wine-cup
+to your lips. Many a time have you slobbered your wine in baby
+helplessness over my shirt; I had infinite trouble with you, but
+I knew that heaven had vouchsafed me no offspring of my own, and
+I made a son of you, Achilles, that in my hour of need you might
+protect me. Now, therefore, I say battle with your pride and beat
+it; cherish not your anger for ever; the might and majesty of
+heaven are more than ours, but even heaven may be appeased; and
+if a man has sinned he prays the gods, and reconciles them to
+himself by his piteous cries and by frankincense, with
+drink-offerings and the savour of burnt sacrifice. For prayers
+are as daughters to great Jove; halt, wrinkled, with eyes
+askance, they follow in the footsteps of sin, who, being fierce
+and fleet of foot, leaves them far behind him, and ever baneful
+to mankind outstrips them even to the ends of the world; but
+nevertheless the prayers come hobbling and healing after. If a
+man has pity upon these daughters of Jove when they draw near
+him, they will bless him and hear him too when he is praying; but
+if he deny them and will not listen to them, they go to Jove the
+son of Saturn and pray that he may presently fall into sin--to
+his ruing bitterly hereafter. Therefore, Achilles, give these
+daughters of Jove due reverence, and bow before them as all good
+men will bow. Were not the son of Atreus offering you gifts and
+promising others later--if he were still furious and implacable--
+I am not he that would bid you throw off your anger and help the
+Achaeans, no matter how great their need; but he is giving much
+now, and more hereafter; he has sent his captains to urge his
+suit, and has chosen those who of all the Argives are most
+acceptable to you; make not then their words and their coming to
+be of none effect. Your anger has been righteous so far. We have
+heard in song how heroes of old time quarrelled when they were
+roused to fury, but still they could be won by gifts, and fair
+words could soothe them.
+
+"I have an old story in my mind--a very old one--but you are all
+friends and I will tell it. The Curetes and the Aetolians were
+fighting and killing one another round Calydon--the Aetolians
+defending the city and the Curetes trying to destroy it. For
+Diana of the golden throne was angry and did them hurt because
+Oeneus had not offered her his harvest first-fruits. The other
+gods had all been feasted with hecatombs, but to the daughter of
+great Jove alone he had made no sacrifice. He had forgotten her,
+or somehow or other it had escaped him, and this was a grievous
+sin. Thereon the archer goddess in her displeasure sent a
+prodigious creature against him--a savage wild boar with great
+white tusks that did much harm to his orchard lands, uprooting
+apple-trees in full bloom and throwing them to the ground. But
+Meleager son of Oeneus got huntsmen and hounds from many cities
+and killed it--for it was so monstrous that not a few were
+needed, and many a man did it stretch upon his funeral pyre. On
+this the goddess set the Curetes and the Aetolians fighting
+furiously about the head and skin of the boar.
+
+"So long as Meleager was in the field things went badly with the
+Curetes, and for all their numbers they could not hold their
+ground under the city walls; but in the course of time Meleager
+was angered as even a wise man will sometimes be. He was incensed
+with his mother Althaea, and therefore stayed at home with his
+wedded wife fair Cleopatra, who was daughter of Marpessa daughter
+of Euenus, and of Ides the man then living. He it was who took
+his bow and faced King Apollo himself for fair Marpessa's sake;
+her father and mother then named her Alcyone, because her mother
+had mourned with the plaintive strains of the halcyon-bird when
+Phoebus Apollo had carried her off. Meleager, then, stayed at
+home with Cleopatra, nursing the anger which he felt by reason of
+his mother's curses. His mother, grieving for the death of her
+brother, prayed the gods, and beat the earth with her hands,
+calling upon Hades and on awful Proserpine; she went down upon
+her knees and her bosom was wet with tears as she prayed that
+they would kill her son--and Erinys that walks in darkness and
+knows no ruth heard her from Erebus.
+
+"Then was heard the din of battle about the gates of Calydon, and
+the dull thump of the battering against their walls. Thereon the
+elders of the Aetolians besought Meleager; they sent the chiefest
+of their priests, and begged him to come out and help them,
+promising him a great reward. They bade him choose fifty
+plough-gates, the most fertile in the plain of Calydon, the
+one-half vineyard and the other open plough-land. The old warrior
+Oeneus implored him, standing at the threshold of his room and
+beating the doors in supplication. His sisters and his mother
+herself besought him sore, but he the more refused them; those of
+his comrades who were nearest and dearest to him also prayed him,
+but they could not move him till the foe was battering at the
+very doors of his chamber, and the Curetes had scaled the walls
+and were setting fire to the city. Then at last his sorrowing
+wife detailed the horrors that befall those whose city is taken;
+she reminded him how the men are slain, and the city is given
+over to the flames, while the women and children are carried into
+captivity; when he heard all this, his heart was touched, and he
+donned his armour to go forth. Thus of his own inward motion he
+saved the city of the Aetolians; but they now gave him nothing of
+those rich rewards that they had offered earlier, and though he
+saved the city he took nothing by it. Be not then, my son, thus
+minded; let not heaven lure you into any such course. When the
+ships are burning it will be a harder matter to save them. Take
+the gifts, and go, for the Achaeans will then honour you as a
+god; whereas if you fight without taking them, you may beat the
+battle back, but you will not be held in like honour."
+
+And Achilles answered, "Phoenix, old friend and father, I have no
+need of such honour. I have honour from Jove himself, which will
+abide with me at my ships while I have breath in my body, and my
+limbs are strong. I say further--and lay my saying to your
+heart--vex me no more with this weeping and lamentation, all in
+the cause of the son of Atreus. Love him so well, and you may
+lose the love I bear you. You ought to help me rather in
+troubling those that trouble me; be king as much as I am, and
+share like honour with myself; the others shall take my answer;
+stay here yourself and sleep comfortably in your bed; at daybreak
+we will consider whether to remain or go."
+
+On this she nodded quietly to Patroclus as a sign that he was to
+prepare a bed for Phoenix, and that the others should take their
+leave. Ajax son of Telamon then said, "Ulysses, noble son of
+Laertes, let us be gone, for I see that our journey is vain. We
+must now take our answer, unwelcome though it be, to the Danaans
+who are waiting to receive it. Achilles is savage and
+remorseless; he is cruel, and cares nothing for the love his
+comrades lavished upon him more than on all the others. He is
+implacable--and yet if a man's brother or son has been slain he
+will accept a fine by way of amends from him that killed him, and
+the wrong-doer having paid in full remains in peace among his own
+people; but as for you, Achilles, the gods have put a wicked
+unforgiving spirit in your heart, and this, all about one single
+girl, whereas we now offer you the seven best we have, and much
+else into the bargain. Be then of a more gracious mind, respect
+the hospitality of your own roof. We are with you as messengers
+from the host of the Danaans, and would fain he held nearest and
+dearest to yourself of all the Achaeans."
+
+"Ajax," replied Achilles, "noble son of Telamon, you have spoken
+much to my liking, but my blood boils when I think it all over,
+and remember how the son of Atreus treated me with contumely as
+though I were some vile tramp, and that too in the presence of
+the Argives. Go, then, and deliver your message; say that I will
+have no concern with fighting till Hector, son of noble Priam,
+reaches the tents of the Myrmidons in his murderous course, and
+flings fire upon their ships. For all his lust of battle, I take
+it he will be held in check when he is at my own tent and ship."
+
+On this they took every man his double cup, made their
+drink-offerings, and went back to the ships, Ulysses leading the
+way. But Patroclus told his men and the maid-servants to make
+ready a comfortable bed for Phoenix; they therefore did so with
+sheepskins, a rug, and a sheet of fine linen. The old man then
+laid himself down and waited till morning came. But Achilles
+slept in an inner room, and beside him the daughter of Phorbas
+lovely Diomede, whom he had carried off from Lesbos. Patroclus
+lay on the other side of the room, and with him fair Iphis whom
+Achilles had given him when he took Scyros the city of Enyeus.
+
+When the envoys reached the tents of the son of Atreus, the
+Achaeans rose, pledged them in cups of gold, and began to
+question them. King Agamemnon was the first to do so. "Tell me,
+Ulysses," said he, "will he save the ships from burning, or did
+he refuse, and is he still furious?"
+
+Ulysses answered, "Most noble son of Atreus, king of men,
+Agamemnon, Achilles will not be calmed, but is more fiercely
+angry than ever, and spurns both you and your gifts. He bids you
+take counsel with the Achaeans to save the ships and host as you
+best may; as for himself, he said that at daybreak he should draw
+his ships into the water. He said further that he should advise
+every one to sail home likewise, for that you will not reach the
+goal of Ilius. 'Jove,' he said, 'has laid his hand over the city
+to protect it, and the people have taken heart.' This is what he
+said, and the others who were with me can tell you the same
+story--Ajax and the two heralds, men, both of them, who may be
+trusted. The old man Phoenix stayed where he was to sleep, for so
+Achilles would have it, that he might go home with him in the
+morning if he so would; but he will not take him by force."
+
+They all held their peace, sitting for a long time silent and
+dejected, by reason of the sternness with which Achilles had
+refused them, till presently Diomed said, "Most noble son of
+Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, you ought not to have sued the
+son of Peleus nor offered him gifts. He is proud enough as it is,
+and you have encouraged him in his pride still further. Let him
+stay or go as he will. He will fight later when he is in the
+humour, and heaven puts it in his mind to do so. Now, therefore,
+let us all do as I say; we have eaten and drunk our fill, let us
+then take our rest, for in rest there is both strength and stay.
+But when fair rosy-fingered morn appears, forthwith bring out
+your host and your horsemen in front of the ships, urging them
+on, and yourself fighting among the foremost."
+
+Thus he spoke, and the other chieftains approved his words. They
+then made their drink-offerings and went every man to his own
+tent, where they laid down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep.
+
+
+
+BOOK X
+
+  Ulysses and Diomed go out as spies, and meet Dolon, who gives
+  them information: they then kill him, and profiting by what
+  he had told them, kill Rhesus king of the Thracians and take
+  his horses.
+
+NOW the other princes of the Achaeans slept soundly the whole
+night through, but Agamemnon son of Atreus was troubled, so that
+he could get no rest. As when fair Juno's lord flashes his
+lightning in token of great rain or hail or snow when the
+snow-flakes whiten the ground, or again as a sign that he will
+open the wide jaws of hungry war, even so did Agamemnon heave
+many a heavy sigh, for his soul trembled within him. When he
+looked upon the plain of Troy he marvelled at the many watchfires
+burning in front of Ilius, and at the sound of pipes and flutes
+and of the hum of men, but when presently he turned towards the
+ships and hosts of the Achaeans, he tore his hair by handfuls
+before Jove on high, and groaned aloud for the very disquietness
+of his soul. In the end he deemed it best to go at once to Nestor
+son of Neleus, and see if between them they could find any way of
+the Achaeans from destruction. He therefore rose, put on his
+shirt, bound his sandals about his comely feet, flung the skin of
+a huge tawny lion over his shoulders--a skin that reached his
+feet--and took his spear in his hand.
+
+Neither could Menelaus sleep, for he, too, boded ill for the
+Argives who for his sake had sailed from far over the seas to
+fight the Trojans. He covered his broad back with the skin of a
+spotted panther, put a casque of bronze upon his head, and took
+his spear in his brawny hand. Then he went to rouse his brother,
+who was by far the most powerful of the Achaeans, and was
+honoured by the people as though he were a god. He found him by
+the stern of his ship already putting his goodly array about his
+shoulders, and right glad was he that his brother had come.
+
+Menelaus spoke first. "Why," said he, "my dear brother, are you
+thus arming? Are you going to send any of our comrades to exploit
+the Trojans? I greatly fear that no one will do you this service,
+and spy upon the enemy alone in the dead of night. It will be a
+deed of great daring."
+
+And King Agamemnon answered, "Menelaus, we both of us need shrewd
+counsel to save the Argives and our ships, for Jove has changed
+his mind, and inclines towards Hector's sacrifices rather than
+ours. I never saw nor heard tell of any man as having wrought
+such ruin in one day as Hector has now wrought against the sons
+of the Achaeans--and that too of his own unaided self, for he is
+son neither to god nor goddess. The Argives will rue it long and
+deeply. Run, therefore, with all speed by the line of the ships,
+and call Ajax and Idomeneus. Meanwhile I will go to Nestor, and
+bid him rise and go about among the companies of our sentinels to
+give them their instructions; they will listen to him sooner than
+to any man, for his own son, and Meriones brother in arms to
+Idomeneus, are captains over them. It was to them more
+particularly that we gave this charge."
+
+Menelaus replied, "How do I take your meaning? Am I to stay with
+them and wait your coming, or shall I return here as soon as I
+have given your orders?" "Wait," answered King Agamemnon, "for
+there are so many paths about the camp that we might miss one
+another. Call every man on your way, and bid him be stirring;
+name him by his lineage and by his father's name, give each all
+titular observance, and stand not too much upon your own dignity;
+we must take our full share of toil, for at our birth Jove laid
+this heavy burden upon us."
+
+With these instructions he sent his brother on his way, and went
+on to Nestor shepherd of his people. He found him sleeping in his
+tent hard by his own ship; his goodly armour lay beside him--his
+shield, his two spears and his helmet; beside him also lay the
+gleaming girdle with which the old man girded himself when he
+armed to lead his people into battle--for his age stayed him not.
+He raised himself on his elbow and looked up at Agamemnon. "Who
+is it," said he, "that goes thus about the host and the ships
+alone and in the dead of night, when men are sleeping? Are you
+looking for one of your mules or for some comrade? Do not stand
+there and say nothing, but speak. What is your business?"
+
+And Agamemnon answered, "Nestor, son of Neleus, honour to the
+Achaean name, it is I, Agamemnon son of Atreus, on whom Jove has
+laid labour and sorrow so long as there is breath in my body and
+my limbs carry me. I am thus abroad because sleep sits not upon
+my eyelids, but my heart is big with war and with the jeopardy of
+the Achaeans. I am in great fear for the Danaans. I am at sea,
+and without sure counsel; my heart beats as though it would leap
+out of my body, and my limbs fail me. If then you can do
+anything--for you too cannot sleep--let us go the round of the
+watch, and see whether they are drowsy with toil and sleeping to
+the neglect of their duty. The enemy is encamped hard and we know
+not but he may attack us by night."
+
+Nestor replied, "Most noble son of Atreus, king of men,
+Agamemnon, Jove will not do all for Hector that Hector thinks he
+will; he will have troubles yet in plenty if Achilles will lay
+aside his anger. I will go with you, and we will rouse others,
+either the son of Tydeus, or Ulysses, or fleet Ajax and the
+valiant son of Phyleus. Some one had also better go and call Ajax
+and King Idomeneus, for their ships are not near at hand but the
+farthest of all. I cannot however refrain from blaming Menelaus,
+much as I love him and respect him--and I will say so plainly,
+even at the risk of offending you--for sleeping and leaving all
+this trouble to yourself. He ought to be going about imploring
+aid from all the princes of the Achaeans, for we are in extreme
+danger."
+
+And Agamemnon answered, "Sir, you may sometimes blame him justly,
+for he is often remiss and unwilling to exert himself--not
+indeed from sloth, nor yet heedlessness, but because he looks to
+me and expects me to take the lead. On this occasion, however, he
+was awake before I was, and came to me of his own accord. I have
+already sent him to call the very men whom you have named. And
+now let us be going. We shall find them with the watch outside
+the gates, for it was there I said that we would meet them."
+
+"In that case," answered Nestor, "the Argives will not blame him
+nor disobey his orders when he urges them to fight or gives them
+instructions."
+
+With this he put on his shirt, and bound his sandals about his
+comely feet. He buckled on his purple coat, of two thicknesses,
+large, and of a rough shaggy texture, grasped his redoubtable
+bronze-shod spear, and wended his way along the line of the
+Achaean ships. First he called loudly to Ulysses peer of gods in
+counsel and woke him, for he was soon roused by the sound of the
+battle-cry. He came outside his tent and said, "Why do you go
+thus alone about the host, and along the line of the ships in the
+stillness of the night? What is it that you find so urgent?" And
+Nestor knight of Gerene answered, "Ulysses, noble son of Laertes,
+take it not amiss, for the Achaeans are in great straits. Come
+with me and let us wake some other, who may advise well with us
+whether we shall fight or fly."
+
+On this Ulysses went at once into his tent, put his shield about
+his shoulders and came out with them. First they went to Diomed
+son of Tydeus, and found him outside his tent clad in his armour
+with his comrades sleeping round him and using their shields as
+pillows; as for their spears, they stood upright on the spikes of
+their butts that were driven into the ground, and the burnished
+bronze flashed afar like the lightning of father Jove. The hero
+was sleeping upon the skin of an ox, with a piece of fine carpet
+under his head; Nestor went up to him and stirred him with his
+heel to rouse him, upbraiding him and urging him to bestir
+himself. "Wake up," he exclaimed, "son of Tydeus. How can you
+sleep on in this way? Can you not see that the Trojans are
+encamped on the brow of the plain hard by our ships, with but a
+little space between us and them?"
+
+On these words Diomed leaped up instantly and said, "Old man,
+your heart is of iron; you rest not one moment from your labours.
+Are there no younger men among the Achaeans who could go about to
+rouse the princes? There is no tiring you."
+
+And Nestor knight of Gerene made answer, "My son, all that you
+have said is true. I have good sons, and also much people who
+might call the chieftains, but the Achaeans are in the gravest
+danger; life and death are balanced as it were on the edge of a
+razor. Go then, for you are younger than I, and of your courtesy
+rouse Ajax and the fleet son of Phyleus."
+
+Diomed threw the skin of a great tawny lion about his shoulders--
+a skin that reached his feet--and grasped his spear. When he had
+roused the heroes, he brought them back with him; they then went
+the round of those who were on guard, and found the captains not
+sleeping at their posts but wakeful and sitting with their arms
+about them. As sheep dogs that watch their flocks when they are
+yarded, and hear a wild beast coming through the mountain forest
+towards them--forthwith there is a hue and cry of dogs and men,
+and slumber is broken--even so was sleep chased from the eyes of
+the Achaeans as they kept the watches of the wicked night, for
+they turned constantly towards the plain whenever they heard any
+stir among the Trojans. The old man was glad bade them be of good
+cheer. "Watch on, my children," said he, "and let not sleep get
+hold upon you, lest our enemies triumph over us."
+
+With this he passed the trench, and with him the other chiefs of
+the Achaeans who had been called to the council. Meriones and the
+brave son of Nestor went also, for the princes bade them. When
+they were beyond the trench that was dug round the wall they held
+their meeting on the open ground where there was a space clear of
+corpses, for it was here that when night fell Hector had turned
+back from his onslaught on the Argives. They sat down, therefore,
+and held debate with one another.
+
+Nestor spoke first. "My friends," said he, "is there any man bold
+enough to venture the Trojans, and cut off some straggler, or us
+news of what the enemy mean to do whether they will stay here by
+the ships away from the city, or whether, now that they have
+worsted the Achaeans, they will retire within their walls. If he
+could learn all this and come back safely here, his fame would be
+high as heaven in the mouths of all men, and he would be rewarded
+richly; for the chiefs from all our ships would each of them give
+him a black ewe with her lamb--which is a present of surpassing
+value--and he would be asked as a guest to all feasts and
+clan-gatherings."
+
+They all held their peace, but Diomed of the loud war-cry spoke
+saying, "Nestor, gladly will I visit the host of the Trojans over
+against us, but if another will go with me I shall do so in
+greater confidence and comfort. When two men are together, one of
+them may see some opportunity which the other has not caught
+sight of; if a man is alone he is less full of resource, and his
+wit is weaker."
+
+On this several offered to go with Diomed. The two Ajaxes,
+servants of Mars, Meriones, and the son of Nestor all wanted to
+go, so did Menelaus son of Atreus; Ulysses also wished to go
+among the host of the Trojans, for he was ever full of daring,
+and thereon Agamemnon king of men spoke thus: "Diomed," said he,
+"son of Tydeus, man after my own heart, choose your comrade for
+yourself--take the best man of those that have offered, for many
+would now go with you. Do not through delicacy reject the better
+man, and take the worst out of respect for his lineage, because
+he is of more royal blood."
+
+He said this because he feared for Menelaus. Diomed answered, "If
+you bid me take the man of my own choice, how in that case can I
+fail to think of Ulysses, than whom there is no man more eager to
+face all kinds of danger--and Pallas Minerva loves him well? If
+he were to go with me we should pass safely through fire itself,
+for he is quick to see and understand."
+
+"Son of Tydeus," replied Ulysses, "say neither good nor ill about
+me, for you are among Argives who know me well. Let us be going,
+for the night wanes and dawn is at hand. The stars have gone
+forward, two-thirds of the night are already spent, and the third
+is alone left us."
+
+They then put on their armour. Brave Thrasymedes provided the son
+of Tydeus with a sword and a shield (for he had left his own at
+his ship) and on his head he set a helmet of bull's hide without
+either peak or crest; it is called a skull-cap and is a common
+headgear. Meriones found a bow and quiver for Ulysses, and on his
+head he set a leathern helmet that was lined with a strong
+plaiting of leathern thongs, while on the outside it was thickly
+studded with boar's teeth, well and skilfully set into it; next
+the head there was an inner lining of felt. This helmet had been
+stolen by Autolycus out of Eleon when he broke into the house of
+Amyntor son of Ormenus. He gave it to Amphidamas of Cythera to
+take to Scandea, and Amphidamas gave it as a guest-gift to Molus,
+who gave it to his son Meriones; and now it was set upon the head
+of Ulysses.
+
+When the pair had armed, they set out, and left the other
+chieftains behind them. Pallas Minerva sent them a heron by the
+wayside upon their right hands; they could not see it for the
+darkness, but they heard its cry. Ulysses was glad when he heard
+it and prayed to Minerva: "Hear me," he cried, "daughter of
+aegis-bearing Jove, you who spy out all my ways and who are with
+me in all my hardships; befriend me in this mine hour, and grant
+that we may return to the ships covered with glory after having
+achieved some mighty exploit that shall bring sorrow to the
+Trojans."
+
+Then Diomed of the loud war-cry also prayed: "Hear me too," said
+he, "daughter of Jove, unweariable; be with me even as you were
+with my noble father Tydeus when he went to Thebes as envoy sent
+by the Achaeans. He left the Achaeans by the banks of the river
+Aesopus, and went to the city bearing a message of peace to the
+Cadmeians; on his return thence, with your help, goddess, he did
+great deeds of daring, for you were his ready helper. Even so
+guide me and guard me now, and in return I will offer you in
+sacrifice a broad-browed heifer of a year old, unbroken, and
+never yet brought by man under the yoke. I will gild her horns
+and will offer her up to you in sacrifice."
+
+Thus they prayed, and Pallas Minerva heard their prayer. When
+they had done praying to the daughter of great Jove, they went
+their way like two lions prowling by night amid the armour and
+blood-stained bodies of them that had fallen.
+
+Neither again did Hector let the Trojans sleep; for he too called
+the princes and councillors of the Trojans that he might set his
+counsel before them. "Is there one," said he, "who for a great
+reward will do me the service of which I will tell you? He shall
+be well paid if he will. I will give him a chariot and a couple
+of horses, the fleetest that can be found at the ships of the
+Achaeans, if he will dare this thing; and he will win infinite
+honour to boot; he must go to the ships and find out whether they
+are still guarded as heretofore, or whether now that we have
+beaten them the Achaeans design to fly, and through sheer
+exhaustion are neglecting to keep their watches."
+
+They all held their peace; but there was among the Trojans a
+certain man named Dolon, son of Eumedes, the famous herald--a man
+rich in gold and bronze. He was ill-favoured, but a good runner,
+and was an only son among five sisters. He it was that now
+addressed the Trojans. "I, Hector," said he, "Will to the ships
+and will exploit them. But first hold up your sceptre and swear
+that you will give me the chariot, bedight with bronze, and the
+horses that now carry the noble son of Peleus. I will make you a
+good scout, and will not fail you. I will go through the host
+from one end to the other till I come to the ship of Agamemnon,
+where I take it the princes of the Achaeans are now consulting
+whether they shall fight or fly."
+
+When he had done speaking Hector held up his sceptre, and swore
+him his oath saying, "May Jove the thundering husband of Juno
+bear witness that no other Trojan but yourself shall mount those
+steeds, and that you shall have your will with them for ever."
+
+The oath he swore was bootless, but it made Dolon more keen on
+going. He hung his bow over his shoulder, and as an overall he
+wore the skin of a grey wolf, while on his head he set a cap of
+ferret skin. Then he took a pointed javelin, and left the camp
+for the ships, but he was not to return with any news for Hector.
+When he had left the horses and the troops behind him, he made
+all speed on his way, but Ulysses perceived his coming and said
+to Diomed, "Diomed, here is some one from the camp; I am not sure
+whether he is a spy, or whether it is some thief who would
+plunder the bodies of the dead; let him get a little past us, we
+can then spring upon him and take him. If, however, he is too
+quick for us, go after him with your spear and hem him in towards
+the ships away from the Trojan camp, to prevent his getting back
+to the town."
+
+With this they turned out of their way and lay down among the
+corpses. Dolon suspected nothing and soon passed them, but when
+he had got about as far as the distance by which a mule-plowed
+furrow exceeds one that has been ploughed by oxen (for mules can
+plow fallow land quicker than oxen) they ran after him, and when
+he heard their footsteps he stood still, for he made sure they
+were friends from the Trojan camp come by Hector's orders to bid
+him return; when, however, they were only a spear's cast, or less
+away form him, he saw that they were enemies as fast as his legs
+could take him. The others gave chase at once, and as a couple of
+well-trained hounds press forward after a doe or hare that runs
+screaming in front of them, even so did the son of Tydeus and
+Ulysses pursue Dolon and cut him off from his own people. But
+when he had fled so far towards the ships that he would soon have
+fallen in with the outposts, Minerva infused fresh strength into
+the son of Tydeus for fear some other of the Achaeans might have
+the glory of being first to hit him, and he might himself be only
+second; he therefore sprang forward with his spear and said,
+"Stand, or I shall throw my spear, and in that case I shall soon
+make an end of you."
+
+He threw as he spoke, but missed his aim on purpose. The dart
+flew over the man's right shoulder, and then stuck in the ground.
+He stood stock still, trembling and in great fear; his teeth
+chattered, and he turned pale with fear. The two came breathless
+up to him and seized his hands, whereon he began to weep and
+said, "Take me alive; I will ransom myself; we have great store
+of gold, bronze, and wrought iron, and from this my father will
+satisfy you with a very large ransom, should he hear of my being
+alive at the ships of the Achaeans."
+
+"Fear not," replied Ulysses, "let no thought of death be in your
+mind; but tell me, and tell me true, why are you thus going about
+alone in the dead of night away from your camp and towards the
+ships, while other men are sleeping? Is it to plunder the bodies
+of the slain, or did Hector send you to spy out what was going on
+at the ships? Or did you come here of your own mere notion?"
+
+Dolon answered, his limbs trembling beneath him: "Hector, with
+his vain flattering promises, lured me from my better judgement.
+He said he would give me the horses of the noble son of Peleus
+and his bronze-bedizened chariot; he bade me go through the
+darkness of the flying night, get close to the enemy, and find
+out whether the ships are still guarded as heretofore, or
+whether, now that we have beaten them, the Achaeans design to
+fly, and through sheer exhaustion are neglecting to keep their
+watches."
+
+Ulysses smiled at him and answered, "You had indeed set your
+heart upon a great reward, but the horses of the descendant of
+Aeacus are hardly to be kept in hand or driven by any other
+mortal man than Achilles himself, whose mother was an immortal.
+But tell me, and tell me true, where did you leave Hector when
+you started? Where lies his armour and his horses? How, too, are
+the watches and sleeping-ground of the Trojans ordered? What are
+their plans? Will they stay here by the ships and away from the
+city, or now that they have worsted the Achaeans, will they
+retire within their walls?"
+
+And Dolon answered, "I will tell you truly all. Hector and the
+other councillors are now holding conference by the monument of
+great Ilus, away from the general tumult; as for the guards about
+which you ask me, there is no chosen watch to keep guard over the
+host. The Trojans have their watchfires, for they are bound to
+have them; they, therefore, are awake and keep each other to
+their duty as sentinels; but the allies who have come from other
+places are asleep and leave it to the Trojans to keep guard, for
+their wives and children are not here."
+
+Ulysses then said, "Now tell me; are they sleeping among the
+Trojan troops, or do they lie apart? Explain this that I may
+understand it."
+
+"I will tell you truly all," replied Dolon. "To the seaward lie
+the Carians, the Paeonian bowmen, the Leleges, the Cauconians,
+and the noble Pelasgi. The Lysians and proud Mysians, with the
+Phrygians and Meonians, have their place on the side towards
+Thymbra; but why ask about an this? If you want to find your way
+into the host of the Trojans, there are the Thracians, who have
+lately come here and lie apart from the others at the far end of
+the camp; and they have Rhesus son of Eioneus for their king. His
+horses are the finest and strongest that I have ever seen, they
+are whiter than snow and fleeter than any wind that blows. His
+chariot is bedight with silver and gold, and he has brought his
+marvellous golden armour, of the rarest workmanship--too splendid
+for any mortal man to carry, and meet only for the gods. Now,
+therefore, take me to the ships or bind me securely here, until
+you come back and have proved my words whether they be false or
+true."
+
+Diomed looked sternly at him and answered, "Think not, Dolon, for
+all the good information you have given us, that you shall escape
+now you are in our hands, for if we ransom you or let you go, you
+will come some second time to the ships of the Achaeans either as
+a spy or as an open enemy, but if I kill you and an end of you,
+you will give no more trouble."
+
+On this Dolon would have caught him by the beard to beseech him
+further, but Diomed struck him in the middle of his neck with his
+sword and cut through both sinews so that his head fell rolling
+in the dust while he was yet speaking. They took the ferret-skin
+cap from his head, and also the wolf-skin, the bow, and his long
+spear. Ulysses hung them up aloft in honour of Minerva the
+goddess of plunder, and prayed saying, "Accept these, goddess,
+for we give them to you in preference to all the gods in Olympus:
+therefore speed us still further towards the horses and
+sleeping-ground of the Thracians."
+
+With these words he took the spoils and set them upon a tamarisk
+tree, and they marked the place by pulling up reeds and gathering
+boughs of tamarisk that they might not miss it as they came back
+through the flying hours of darkness. The two then went onwards
+amid the fallen armour and the blood, and came presently to the
+company of Thracian soldiers, who were sleeping, tired out with
+their day's toil; their goodly armour was lying on the ground
+beside them all orderly in three rows, and each man had his yoke
+of horses beside him. Rhesus was sleeping in the middle, and hard
+by him his horses were made fast to the topmost rim of his
+chariot. Ulysses from some way off saw him and said, "This,
+Diomed, is the man, and these are the horses about which Dolon
+whom we killed told us. Do your very utmost; dally not about your
+armour, but loose the horses at once--or else kill the men
+yourself, while I see to the horses."
+
+Thereon Minerva put courage into the heart of Diomed, and he
+smote them right and left. They made a hideous groaning as they
+were being hacked about, and the earth was red with their blood.
+As a lion springs furiously upon a flock of sheep or goats when
+he finds without their shepherd, so did the son of Tydeus set
+upon the Thracian soldiers till he had killed twelve. As he
+killed them Ulysses came and drew them aside by their feet one by
+one, that the horses might go forward freely without being
+frightened as they passed over the dead bodies, for they were not
+yet used to them. When the son of Tydeus came to the king, he
+killed him too (which made thirteen), as he was breathing hard,
+for by the counsel of Minerva an evil dream, the seed of Oeneus,
+hovered that night over his head. Meanwhile Ulysses untied the
+horses, made them fast one to another and drove them off,
+striking them with his bow, for he had forgotten to take the whip
+from the chariot. Then he whistled as a sign to Diomed.
+
+But Diomed stayed where he was, thinking what other daring deed
+he might accomplish. He was doubting whether to take the chariot
+in which the king's armour was lying, and draw it out by the
+pole, or to lift the armour out and carry it off; or whether
+again, he should not kill some more Thracians. While he was thus
+hesitating Minerva came up to him and said, "Get back, Diomed, to
+the ships or you may be driven thither, should some other god
+rouse the Trojans."
+
+Diomed knew that it was the goddess, and at once sprang upon the
+horses. Ulysses beat them with his bow and they flew onward to
+the ships of the Achaeans.
+
+But Apollo kept no blind look-out when he saw Minerva with the
+son of Tydeus. He was angry with her, and coming to the host of
+the Trojans he roused Hippocoon, a counsellor of the Thracians
+and a noble kinsman of Rhesus. He started up out of his sleep and
+saw that the horses were no longer in their place, and that the
+men were gasping in their death-agony; on this he groaned aloud,
+and called upon his friend by name. Then the whole Trojan camp
+was in an uproar as the people kept hurrying together, and they
+marvelled at the deeds of the heroes who had now got away towards
+the ships.
+
+When they reached the place where they had killed Hector's scout,
+Ulysses stayed his horses, and the son of Tydeus, leaping to the
+ground, placed the blood-stained spoils in the hands of Ulysses
+and remounted: then he lashed the horses onwards, and they flew
+forward nothing loth towards the ships as though of their own
+free will. Nestor was first to hear the tramp of their feet. "My
+friends," said he, "princes and counsellors of the Argives, shall
+I guess right or wrong?--but I must say what I think: there is a
+sound in my ears as of the tramp of horses. I hope it may Diomed
+and Ulysses driving in horses from the Trojans, but I much fear
+that the bravest of the Argives may have come to some harm at
+their hands."
+
+He had hardly done speaking when the two men came in and
+dismounted, whereon the others shook hands right gladly with them
+and congratulated them. Nestor knight of Gerene was first to
+question them. "Tell me," said he, "renowned Ulysses, how did you
+two come by these horses? Did you steal in among the Trojan
+forces, or did some god meet you and give them to you? They are
+like sunbeams. I am well conversant with the Trojans, for old
+warrior though I am I never hold back by the ships, but I never
+yet saw or heard of such horses as these are. Surely some god
+must have met you and given them to you, for you are both of you
+dear to Jove, and to Jove's daughter Minerva."
+
+And Ulysses answered, "Nestor son of Neleus, honour to the
+Achaean name, heaven, if it so will, can give us even better
+horses than these, for the gods are far mightier than we are.
+These horses, however, about which you ask me, are freshly come
+from Thrace. Diomed killed their king with the twelve bravest of
+his companions. Hard by the ships we took a thirteenth man--a
+scout whom Hector and the other Trojans had sent as a spy upon
+our ships."
+
+He laughed as he spoke and drove the horses over the ditch, while
+the other Achaeans followed him gladly. When they reached the
+strongly built quarters of the son of Tydeus, they tied the
+horses with thongs of leather to the manger, where the steeds of
+Diomed stood eating their sweet corn, but Ulysses hung the
+blood-stained spoils of Dolon at the stern of his ship, that they
+might prepare a sacred offering to Minerva. As for themselves,
+they went into the sea and washed the sweat from their bodies,
+and from their necks and thighs. When the sea-water had taken all
+the sweat from off them, and had refreshed them, they went into
+the baths and washed themselves. After they had so done and had
+anointed themselves with oil, they sat down to table, and drawing
+from a full mixing-bowl, made a drink-offering of wine to
+Minerva.
+
+
+
+BOOK XI
+
+  In the forenoon the fight is equal, but Agamemnon turns the
+  fortune of the day towards the Achaeans until he gets
+  wounded and leaves the field--Hector then drives everything
+  before him till he is wounded by Diomed--Paris wounds
+  Diomed--Ulysses, Nestor, and Idomeneus perform prodigies
+  of valour--Machaon is wounded--Nestor drives him off in
+  his chariot--Achilles sees the pair driving towards the camp
+  and sends Patroclus to ask who it is that is wounded--This
+  is the beginning of evil for Patroclus--Nestor makes a long
+  speech.
+
+AND now as Dawn rose from her couch beside Tithonus, harbinger of
+light alike to mortals and immortals, Jove sent fierce Discord
+with the ensign of war in her hands to the ships of the Achaeans.
+She took her stand by the huge black hull of Ulysses' ship which
+was middlemost of all, so that her voice might carry farthest on
+either side, on the one hand towards the tents of Ajax son of
+Telamon, and on the other towards those of Achilles--for these
+two heroes, well-assured of their own strength, had valorously
+drawn up their ships at the two ends of the line. There she took
+her stand, and raised a cry both loud and shrill that filled the
+Achaeans with courage, giving them heart to fight resolutely and
+with all their might, so that they had rather stay there and do
+battle than go home in their ships.
+
+The son of Atreus shouted aloud and bade the Argives gird
+themselves for battle while he put on his armour. First he girded
+his goodly greaves about his legs, making them fast with ankle-
+clasps of silver; and about his chest he set the breastplate
+which Cinyras had once given him as a guest-gift. It had been
+noised abroad as far as Cyprus that the Achaeans were about to
+sail for Troy, and therefore he gave it to the king. It had ten
+courses of dark cyanus, twelve of gold, and ten of tin. There
+were serpents of cyanus that reared themselves up towards the
+neck, three upon either side, like the rainbows which the son of
+Saturn has set in heaven as a sign to mortal men. About his
+shoulders he threw his sword, studded with bosses of gold; and
+the scabbard was of silver with a chain of gold wherewith to hang
+it. He took moreover the richly-dight shield that covered his
+body when he was in battle--fair to see, with ten circles of
+bronze running all round it. On the body of the shield there were
+twenty bosses of white tin, with another of dark cyanus in the
+middle: this last was made to show a Gorgon's head, fierce and
+grim, with Rout and Panic on either side. The band for the arm to
+go through was of silver, on which there was a writhing snake of
+cyanus with three heads that sprang from a single neck, and went
+in and out among one another. On his head Agamemnon set a helmet,
+with a peak before and behind, and four plumes of horse-hair that
+nodded menacingly above it; then he grasped two redoubtable
+bronze-shod spears, and the gleam of his armour shot from him as
+a flame into the firmament, while Juno and Minerva thundered in
+honour of the king of rich Mycene.
+
+Every man now left his horses in charge of his charioteer to hold
+them in readiness by the trench, while he went into battle on
+foot clad in full armour, and a mighty uproar rose on high into
+the dawning. The chiefs were armed and at the trench before the
+horses got there, but these came up presently. The son of Saturn
+sent a portent of evil sound about their host, and the dew fell
+red with blood, for he was about to send many a brave man
+hurrying down to Hades.
+
+The Trojans, on the other side upon the rising slope of the
+plain, were gathered round great Hector, noble Polydamas, Aeneas
+who was honoured by the Trojans like an immortal, and the three
+sons of Antenor, Polybus, Agenor, and young Acamas beauteous as a
+god. Hector's round shield showed in the front rank, and as some
+baneful star that shines for a moment through a rent in the
+clouds and is again hidden beneath them; even so was Hector now
+seen in the front ranks and now again in the hindermost, and his
+bronze armour gleamed like the lightning of aegis-bearing Jove.
+
+And now as a band of reapers mow swathes of wheat or barley upon
+a rich man's land, and the sheaves fall thick before them, even
+so did the Trojans and Achaeans fall upon one another; they were
+in no mood for yielding but fought like wolves, and neither side
+got the better of the other. Discord was glad as she beheld them,
+for she was the only god that went among them; the others were
+not there, but stayed quietly each in his own home among the
+dells and valleys of Olympus. All of them blamed the son of
+Saturn for wanting to give victory to the Trojans, but father
+Jove heeded them not: he held aloof from all, and sat apart in
+his all-glorious majesty, looking down upon the city of the
+Trojans, the ships of the Achaeans, the gleam of bronze, and
+alike upon the slayers and on the slain.
+
+Now so long as the day waxed and it was still morning, their
+darts rained thick on one another and the people perished, but as
+the hour drew nigh when a woodman working in some mountain forest
+will get his midday meal--for he has felled till his hands are
+weary; he is tired out, and must now have food--then the Danaans
+with a cry that rang through all their ranks, broke the
+battalions of the enemy. Agamemnon led them on, and slew first
+Bienor, a leader of his people, and afterwards his comrade and
+charioteer Oileus, who sprang from his chariot and was coming
+full towards him; but Agamemnon struck him on the forehead with
+his spear; his bronze visor was of no avail against the weapon,
+which pierced both bronze and bone, so that his brains were
+battered in and he was killed in full fight.
+
+Agamemnon stripped their shirts from off them and left them with
+their breasts all bare to lie where they had fallen. He then went
+on to kill Isus and Antiphus two sons of Priam, the one a
+bastard, the other born in wedlock; they were in the same
+chariot--the bastard driving, while noble Antiphus fought beside
+him. Achilles had once taken both of them prisoners in the glades
+of Ida, and had bound them with fresh withes as they were
+shepherding, but he had taken a ransom for them; now, however,
+Agamemnon son of Atreus smote Isus in the chest above the nipple
+with his spear, while he struck Antiphus hard by the ear and
+threw him from his chariot. Forthwith he stripped their goodly
+armour from off them and recognized them, for he had already seen
+them at ships when Achilles brought them in from Ida. As a lion
+fastens on the fawns of a hind and crushes them in his great
+jaws, robbing them of their tender life while he on his way back
+to his lair--the hind can do nothing for them even though she be
+close by, for she is in an agony of fear, and flies through the
+thick forest, sweating, and at her utmost speed before the mighty
+monster--so, no man of the Trojans could help Isus and Antiphus,
+for they were themselves flying panic before the Argives.
+
+Then King Agamemnon took the two sons of Antimachus, Pisander and
+brave Hippolochus. It was Antimachus who had been foremost in
+preventing Helen's being restored to Menelaus, for he was largely
+bribed by Alexandrus; and now Agamemnon took his two sons, both
+in the same chariot, trying to bring their horses to a stand--for
+they had lost hold of the reins and the horses were mad with
+fear. The son of Atreus sprang upon them like a lion, and the
+pair besought him from their chariot. "Take us alive," they
+cried, "son of Atreus, and you shall receive a great ransom for
+us. Our father Antimachus has great store of gold, bronze, and
+wrought iron, and from this he will satisfy you with a very large
+ransom should he hear of our being alive at the ships of the
+Achaeans."
+
+With such piteous words and tears did they beseech the king, but
+they heard no pitiful answer in return. "If," said Agamemnon,
+"you are sons of Antimachus, who once at a council of Trojans
+proposed that Menelaus and Ulysses, who had come to you as
+envoys, should be killed and not suffered to return, you shall
+now pay for the foul iniquity of your father."
+
+As he spoke he felled Pisander from his chariot to the earth,
+smiting him on the chest with his spear, so that he lay face
+uppermost upon the ground. Hippolochus fled, but him too did
+Agamemnon smite; he cut off his hands and his head--which he sent
+rolling in among the crowd as though it were a ball. There he let
+them both lie, and wherever the ranks were thickest thither he
+flew, while the other Achaeans followed. Foot soldiers drove the
+foot soldiers of the foe in rout before them, and slew them;
+horsemen did the like by horsemen, and the thundering tramp of
+the horses raised a cloud of dust from off the plain. King
+Agamemnon followed after, ever slaying them and cheering on the
+Achaeans. As when some mighty forest is all ablaze--the eddying
+gusts whirl fire in all directions till the thickets shrivel and
+are consumed before the blast of the flame--even so fell the
+heads of the flying Trojans before Agamemnon son of Atreus, and
+many a noble pair of steeds drew an empty chariot along the
+highways of war, for lack of drivers who were lying on the plain,
+more useful now to vultures than to their wives.
+
+Jove drew Hector away from the darts and dust, with the carnage
+and din of battle; but the son of Atreus sped onwards, calling
+out lustily to the Danaans. They flew on by the tomb of old Ilus,
+son of Dardanus, in the middle of the plain, and past the place
+of the wild fig-tree making always for the city--the son of
+Atreus still shouting, and with hands all bedrabbled in gore; but
+when they had reached the Scaean gates and the oak tree, there
+they halted and waited for the others to come up. Meanwhile the
+Trojans kept on flying over the middle of the plain like a herd
+of cows maddened with fright when a lion has attacked them in the
+dead of night--he springs on one of them, seizes her neck in the
+grip of his strong teeth and then laps up her blood and gorges
+himself upon her entrails--even so did King Agamemnon son of
+Atreus pursue the foe, ever slaughtering the hindmost as they
+fled pell-mell before him. Many a man was flung headlong from his
+chariot by the hand of the son of Atreus, for he wielded his
+spear with fury.
+
+But when he was just about to reach the high wall and the city,
+the father of gods and men came down from heaven and took his
+seat, thunderbolt in hand, upon the crest of many-fountained Ida.
+He then told Iris of the golden wings to carry a message for him.
+"Go," said he, "fleet Iris, and speak thus to Hector--say that so
+long as he sees Agamemnon heading his men and making havoc of the
+Trojan ranks, he is to keep aloof and bid the others bear the
+brunt of the battle, but when Agamemnon is wounded either by
+spear or arrow, and takes to his chariot, then will I vouchsafe
+him strength to slay till he reach the ships and night falls at
+the going down of the sun."
+
+Iris hearkened and obeyed. Down she went to strong Ilius from the
+crests of Ida, and found Hector son of Priam standing by his
+chariot and horses. Then she said, "Hector son of Priam, peer of
+gods in counsel, father Jove has sent me to bear you this
+message--so long as you see Agamemnon heading his men and making
+havoc of the Trojan ranks, you are to keep aloof and bid the
+others bear the brunt of the battle, but when Agamemnon is
+wounded either by spear or arrow, and takes to his chariot, then
+will Jove vouchsafe you strength to slay till you reach the
+ships, and till night falls at the going down of the sun."
+
+When she had thus spoken Iris left him, and Hector sprang full
+armed from his chariot to the ground, brandishing his spear as he
+went about everywhere among the host, cheering his men on to
+fight, and stirring the dread strife of battle. The Trojans then
+wheeled round, and again met the Achaeans, while the Argives on
+their part strengthened their battalions. The battle was now in
+array and they stood face to face with one another, Agamemnon
+ever pressing forward in his eagerness to be ahead of all others.
+
+Tell me now ye Muses that dwell in the mansions of Olympus, who,
+whether of the Trojans or of their allies, was first to face
+Agamemnon? It was Iphidamas son of Antenor, a man both brave and
+of great stature, who was brought up in fertile Thrace, the
+mother of sheep. Cisses, his mother's father, brought him up in
+his own house when he was a child--Cisses, father to fair Theano.
+When he reached manhood, Cisses would have kept him there, and
+was for giving him his daughter in marriage, but as soon as he
+had married he set out to fight the Achaeans with twelve ships
+that followed him: these he had left at Percote and had come on
+by land to Ilius. He it was that now met Agamemnon son of Atreus.
+When they were close up with one another, the son of Atreus
+missed his aim, and Iphidamas hit him on the girdle below the
+cuirass and then flung himself upon him, trusting to his strength
+of arm; the girdle, however, was not pierced, nor nearly so, for
+the point of the spear struck against the silver and was turned
+aside as though it had been lead: King Agamemnon caught it from
+his hand, and drew it towards him with the fury of a lion; he
+then drew his sword, and killed Iphidamas by striking him on the
+neck. So there the poor fellow lay, sleeping a sleep as it were
+of bronze, killed in the defence of his fellow-citizens, far from
+his wedded wife, of whom he had had no joy though he had given
+much for her: he had given a hundred-head of cattle down, and had
+promised later on to give a thousand sheep and goats mixed, from
+the countless flocks of which he was possessed. Agamemnon son of
+Atreus then despoiled him, and carried off his armour into the
+host of the Achaeans.
+
+When noble Coon, Antenor's eldest son, saw this, sore indeed were
+his eyes at the sight of his fallen brother. Unseen by Agamemnon
+he got beside him, spear in hand, and wounded him in the middle
+of his arm below the elbow, the point of the spear going right
+through the arm. Agamemnon was convulsed with pain, but still not
+even for this did he leave off struggling and fighting, but
+grasped his spear that flew as fleet as the wind, and sprang upon
+Coon who was trying to drag off the body of his brother--his
+father's son--by the foot, and was crying for help to all the
+bravest of his comrades; but Agamemnon struck him with a
+bronze-shod spear and killed him as he was dragging the dead body
+through the press of men under cover of his shield: he then cut
+off his head, standing over the body of Iphidamas. Thus did the
+sons of Antenor meet their fate at the hands of the son of
+Atreus, and go down into the house of Hades.
+
+As long as the blood still welled warm from his wound Agamemnon
+went about attacking the ranks of the enemy with spear and sword
+and with great handfuls of stone, but when the blood had ceased
+to flow and the wound grew dry, the pain became great. As the
+sharp pangs which the Eilithuiae, goddesses of childbirth,
+daughters of Juno and dispensers of cruel pain, send upon a woman
+when she is in labour--even so sharp were the pangs of the son of
+Atreus. He sprang on to his chariot, and bade his charioteer
+drive to the ships, for he was in great agony. With a loud clear
+voice he shouted to the Danaans, "My friends, princes and
+counsellors of the Argives, defend the ships yourselves, for Jove
+has not suffered me to fight the whole day through against the
+Trojans."
+
+With this the charioteer turned his horses towards the ships, and
+they flew forward nothing loth. Their chests were white with foam
+and their bellies with dust, as they drew the wounded king out of
+the battle.
+
+When Hector saw Agamemnon quit the field, he shouted to the
+Trojans and Lycians saying, "Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanian
+warriors, be men, my friends, and acquit yourselves in battle
+bravely; their best man has left them, and Jove has vouchsafed me
+a great triumph; charge the foe with your chariots that you may
+win still greater glory."
+
+With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and as a
+huntsman hounds his dogs on against a lion or wild boar, even so
+did Hector, peer of Mars, hound the proud Trojans on against the
+Achaeans. Full of hope he plunged in among the foremost, and fell
+on the fight like some fierce tempest that swoops down upon the
+sea, and lashes its deep blue waters into fury.
+
+What, then is the full tale of those whom Hector son of Priam
+killed in the hour of triumph which Jove then vouchsafed him?
+First Asaeus, Autonous, and Opites; Dolops son of Clytius,
+Opheltius and Agelaus; Aesymnus, Orus and Hipponous steadfast in
+battle; these chieftains of the Achaeans did Hector slay, and
+then he fell upon the rank and file. As when the west wind
+hustles the clouds of the white south and beats them down with
+the fierceness of its fury--the waves of the sea roll high, and
+the spray is flung aloft in the rage of the wandering wind--even
+so thick were the heads of them that fell by the hand of Hector.
+
+All had then been lost and no help for it, and the Achaeans would
+have fled pell-mell to their ships, had not Ulysses cried out to
+Diomed, "Son of Tydeus, what has happened to us that we thus
+forget our prowess? Come, my good fellow, stand by my side and
+help me, we shall be shamed for ever if Hector takes the ships."
+
+And Diomed answered, "Come what may, I will stand firm; but we
+shall have scant joy of it, for Jove is minded to give victory to
+the Trojans rather than to us."
+
+With these words he struck Thymbraeus from his chariot to the
+ground, smiting him in the left breast with his spear, while
+Ulysses killed Molion who was his squire. These they let lie, now
+that they had stopped their fighting; the two heroes then went on
+playing havoc with the foe, like two wild boars that turn in fury
+and rend the hounds that hunt them. Thus did they turn upon the
+Trojans and slay them, and the Achaeans were thankful to have
+breathing time in their flight from Hector.
+
+They then took two princes with their chariot, the two sons of
+Merops of Percote, who excelled all others in the arts of
+divination. He had forbidden his sons to go to the war, but they
+would not obey him, for fate lured them to their fall. Diomed son
+of Tydeus slew them both and stripped them of their armour, while
+Ulysses killed Hippodamus and Hypeirochus.
+
+And now the son of Saturn as he looked down from Ida ordained
+that neither side should have the advantage, and they kept on
+killing one another. The son of Tydeus speared Agastrophus son of
+Paeon in the hip-joint with his spear. His chariot was not at
+hand for him to fly with, so blindly confident had he been. His
+squire was in charge of it at some distance and he was fighting
+on foot among the foremost until he lost his life. Hector soon
+marked the havoc Diomed and Ulysses were making, and bore down
+upon them with a loud cry, followed by the Trojan ranks; brave
+Diomed was dismayed when he saw them, and said to Ulysses who was
+beside him, "Great Hector is bearing down upon us and we shall be
+undone; let us stand firm and wait his onset."
+
+He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it, nor did he miss
+his mark. He had aimed at Hector's head near the top of his
+helmet, but bronze was turned by bronze, and Hector was
+untouched, for the spear was stayed by the visored helm made with
+three plates of metal, which Phoebus Apollo had given him. Hector
+sprang back with a great bound under cover of the ranks; he fell
+on his knees and propped himself with his brawny hand leaning on
+the ground, for darkness had fallen on his eyes. The son of
+Tydeus having thrown his spear dashed in among the foremost
+fighters, to the place where he had seen it strike the ground;
+meanwhile Hector recovered himself and springing back into his
+chariot mingled with the crowd, by which means he saved his life.
+But Diomed made at him with his spear and said, "Dog, you have
+again got away though death was close on your heels. Phoebus
+Apollo, to whom I ween you pray ere you go into battle, has again
+saved you, nevertheless I will meet you and make an end of you
+hereafter, if there is any god who will stand by me too and be my
+helper. For the present I must pursue those I can lay hands on."
+
+As he spoke he began stripping the spoils from the son of Paeon,
+but Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen aimed an arrow at him,
+leaning against a pillar of the monument which men had raised to
+Ilus son of Dardanus, a ruler in days of old. Diomed had taken
+the cuirass from off the breast of Agastrophus, his heavy helmet
+also, and the shield from off his shoulders, when Paris drew his
+bow and let fly an arrow that sped not from his hand in vain, but
+pierced the flat of Diomed's right foot, going right through it
+and fixing itself in the ground. Thereon Paris with a hearty
+laugh sprang forward from his hiding-place, and taunted him
+saying, "You are wounded--my arrow has not been shot in vain;
+would that it had hit you in the belly and killed you, for thus
+the Trojans, who fear you as goats fear a lion, would have had a
+truce from evil."
+
+Diomed all undaunted answered, "Archer, you who without your bow
+are nothing, slanderer and seducer, if you were to be tried in
+single combat fighting in full armour, your bow and your arrows
+would serve you in little stead. Vain is your boast in that you
+have scratched the sole of my foot. I care no more than if a girl
+or some silly boy had hit me. A worthless coward can inflict but
+a light wound; when I wound a man though I but graze his skin it
+is another matter, for my weapon will lay him low. His wife will
+tear her cheeks for grief and his children will be fatherless:
+there will he rot, reddening the earth with his blood, and
+vultures, not women, will gather round him."
+
+Thus he spoke, but Ulysses came up and stood over him. Under this
+cover he sat down to draw the arrow from his foot, and sharp was
+the pain he suffered as he did so. Then he sprang on to his
+chariot and bade the charioteer drive him to the ships, for he
+was sick at heart.
+
+Ulysses was now alone; not one of the Argives stood by him, for
+they were all panic-stricken. "Alas," said he to himself in his
+dismay, "what will become of me? It is ill if I turn and fly
+before these odds, but it will be worse if I am left alone and
+taken prisoner, for the son of Saturn has struck the rest of the
+Danaans with panic. But why talk to myself in this way? Well do I
+know that though cowards quit the field, a hero, whether he wound
+or be wounded, must stand firm and hold his own."
+
+While he was thus in two minds, the ranks of the Trojans advanced
+and hemmed him in, and bitterly did they come to rue it. As
+hounds and lusty youths set upon a wild boar that sallies from
+his lair whetting his white tusks--they attack him from every
+side and can hear the gnashing of his jaws, but for all his
+fierceness they still hold their ground--even so furiously did
+the Trojans attack Ulysses. First he sprang spear in hand upon
+Deiopites and wounded him on the shoulder with a downward blow;
+then he killed Thoon and Ennomus. After these he struck
+Chersidamas in the loins under his shield as he had just sprung
+down from his chariot; so he fell in the dust and clutched the
+earth in the hollow of his hand. These he let lie, and went on to
+wound Charops son of Hippasus own brother to noble Socus. Socus,
+hero that he was, made all speed to help him, and when he was
+close to Ulysses he said, "Far-famed Ulysses, insatiable of craft
+and toil, this day you shall either boast of having killed both
+the sons of Hippasus and stripped them of their armour, or you
+shall fall before my spear."
+
+With these words he struck the shield of Ulysses. The spear went
+through the shield and passed on through his richly wrought
+cuirass, tearing the flesh from his side, but Pallas Minerva did
+not suffer it to pierce the entrails of the hero. Ulysses knew
+that his hour was not yet come, but he gave ground and said to
+Socus, "Wretch, you shall now surely die. You have stayed me from
+fighting further with the Trojans, but you shall now fall by my
+spear, yielding glory to myself, and your soul to Hades of the
+noble steeds."
+
+Socus had turned in flight, but as he did so, the spear struck
+him in the back midway between the shoulders, and went right
+through his chest. He fell heavily to the ground and Ulysses
+vaunted over him saying, "O Socus, son of Hippasus tamer of
+horses, death has been too quick for you and you have not escaped
+him: poor wretch, not even in death shall your father and mother
+close your eyes, but the ravening vultures shall enshroud you
+with the flapping of their dark wings and devour you. Whereas
+even though I fall the Achaeans will give me my due rites of
+burial."
+
+So saying he drew Socus's heavy spear out of his flesh and from
+his shield, and the blood welled forth when the spear was
+withdrawn so that he was much dismayed. When the Trojans saw that
+Ulysses was bleeding they raised a great shout and came on in a
+body towards him; he therefore gave ground, and called his
+comrades to come and help him. Thrice did he cry as loudly as man
+can cry, and thrice did brave Menelaus hear him; he turned,
+therefore, to Ajax who was close beside him and said, "Ajax,
+noble son of Telamon, captain of your people, the cry of Ulysses
+rings in my ears, as though the Trojans had cut him off and were
+worsting him while he is single-handed. Let us make our way
+through the throng; it will be well that we defend him; I fear he
+may come to harm for all his valour if he be left without
+support, and the Danaans would miss him sorely."
+
+He led the way and mighty Ajax went with him. The Trojans had
+gathered round Ulysses like ravenous mountain jackals round the
+carcase of some horned stag that has been hit with an arrow--the
+stag has fled at full speed so long as his blood was warm and his
+strength has lasted, but when the arrow has overcome him, the
+savage jackals devour him in the shady glades of the forest. Then
+heaven sends a fierce lion thither, whereon the jackals fly in
+terror and the lion robs them of their prey--even so did Trojans
+many and brave gather round crafty Ulysses, but the hero stood at
+bay and kept them off with his spear. Ajax then came up with his
+shield before him like a wall, and stood hard by, whereon the
+Trojans fled in all directions. Menelaus took Ulysses by the
+hand, and led him out of the press while his squire brought up
+his chariot, but Ajax rushed furiously on the Trojans and killed
+Doryclus, a bastard son of Priam; then he wounded Pandocus,
+Lysandrus, Pyrasus, and Pylartes; as some swollen torrent comes
+rushing in full flood from the mountains on to the plain, big
+with the rain of heaven--many a dry oak and many a pine does it
+engulf, and much mud does it bring down and cast into the sea--
+even so did brave Ajax chase the foe furiously over the plain,
+slaying both men and horses.
+
+Hector did not yet know what Ajax was doing, for he was fighting
+on the extreme left of the battle by the banks of the river
+Scamander, where the carnage was thickest and the war-cry loudest
+round Nestor and brave Idomeneus. Among these Hector was making
+great slaughter with his spear and furious driving, and was
+destroying the ranks that were opposed to him; still the Achaeans
+would have given no ground, had not Alexandrus husband of lovely
+Helen stayed the prowess of Machaon, shepherd of his people, by
+wounding him in the right shoulder with a triple-barbed arrow.
+The Achaeans were in great fear that as the fight had turned
+against them the Trojans might take him prisoner, and Idomeneus
+said to Nestor, "Nestor son of Neleus, honour to the Achaean
+name, mount your chariot at once; take Machaon with you and drive
+your horses to the ships as fast as you can. A physician is worth
+more than several other men put together, for he can cut out
+arrows and spread healing herbs."
+
+Nestor knight of Gerene did as Idomeneus had counselled; he at
+once mounted his chariot, and Machaon son of the famed physician
+Aesculapius, went with him. He lashed his horses and they flew
+onward nothing loth towards the ships, as though of their own
+free will.
+
+Then Cebriones seeing the Trojans in confusion said to Hector
+from his place beside him, "Hector, here are we two fighting on
+the extreme wing of the battle, while the other Trojans are in
+pell-mell rout, they and their horses. Ajax son of Telamon is
+driving them before him; I know him by the breadth of his shield:
+let us turn our chariot and horses thither, where horse and foot
+are fighting most desperately, and where the cry of battle is
+loudest."
+
+With this he lashed his goodly steeds, and when they felt the
+whip they drew the chariot full speed among the Achaeans and
+Trojans, over the bodies and shields of those that had fallen:
+the axle was bespattered with blood, and the rail round the car
+was covered with splashes both from the horses' hoofs and from
+the tyres of the wheels. Hector tore his way through and flung
+himself into the thick of the fight, and his presence threw the
+Danaans into confusion, for his spear was not long idle;
+nevertheless though he went among the ranks with sword and spear,
+and throwing great stones, he avoided Ajax son of Telamon, for
+Jove would have been angry with him if he had fought a better man
+than himself.
+
+Then father Jove from his high throne struck fear into the heart
+of Ajax, so that he stood there dazed and threw his shield behind
+him--looking fearfully at the throng of his foes as though he
+were some wild beast, and turning hither and thither but
+crouching slowly backwards. As peasants with their hounds chase a
+lion from their stockyard, and watch by night to prevent his
+carrying off the pick of their herd--he makes his greedy spring,
+but in vain, for the darts from many a strong hand fall thick
+around him, with burning brands that scare him for all his fury,
+and when morning comes he slinks foiled and angry away--even so
+did Ajax, sorely against his will, retreat angrily before the
+Trojans, fearing for the ships of the Achaeans. Or as some lazy
+ass that has had many a cudgel broken about his back, when he
+into a field begins eating the corn--boys beat him but he is too
+many for them, and though they lay about with their sticks they
+cannot hurt him; still when he has had his fill they at last
+drive him from the field--even so did the Trojans and their
+allies pursue great Ajax, ever smiting the middle of his shield
+with their darts. Now and again he would turn and show fight,
+keeping back the battalions of the Trojans, and then he would
+again retreat; but he prevented any of them from making his way
+to the ships. Single-handed he stood midway between the Trojans
+and Achaeans: the spears that sped from their hands stuck some of
+them in his mighty shield, while many, though thirsting for his
+blood, fell to the ground ere they could reach him to the
+wounding of his fair flesh.
+
+Now when Eurypylus the brave son of Euaemon saw that Ajax was
+being overpowered by the rain of arrows, he went up to him and
+hurled his spear. He struck Apisaon son of Phausius in the liver
+below the midriff, and laid him low. Eurypylus sprang upon him,
+and stripped the armour from his shoulders; but when Alexandrus
+saw him, he aimed an arrow at him which struck him in the right
+thigh; the arrow broke, but the point that was left in the wound
+dragged on the thigh; he drew back, therefore, under cover of his
+comrades to save his life, shouting as he did so to the Danaans,
+"My friends, princes and counsellors of the Argives, rally to the
+defence of Ajax who is being overpowered, and I doubt whether he
+will come out of the fight alive. Hither, then, to the rescue of
+great Ajax son of Telamon."
+
+Even so did he cry when he was wounded; thereon the others came
+near, and gathered round him, holding their shields upwards from
+their shoulders so as to give him cover. Ajax then made towards
+them, and turned round to stand at bay as soon as he had reached
+his men.
+
+Thus then did they fight as it were a flaming fire. Meanwhile the
+mares of Neleus, all in a lather with sweat, were bearing Nestor
+out of the fight, and with him Machaon shepherd of his people.
+Achilles saw and took note, for he was standing on the stern of
+his ship watching the hard stress and struggle of the fight. He
+called from the ship to his comrade Patroclus, who heard him in
+the tent and came out looking like Mars himself--here indeed was
+the beginning of the ill that presently befell him. "Why," said
+he, "Achilles, do you call me? What do you want with me?" And
+Achilles answered, "Noble son of Menoetius, man after my own
+heart, I take it that I shall now have the Achaeans praying at my
+knees, for they are in great straits; go, Patroclus, and ask
+Nestor who it is that he is bearing away wounded from the field;
+from his back I should say it was Machaon son of Aesculapius, but
+I could not see his face for the horses went by me at full
+speed."
+
+Patroclus did as his dear comrade had bidden him, and set off
+running by the ships and tents of the Achaeans.
+
+When Nestor and Machaon had reached the tents of the son of
+Neleus, they dismounted, and an esquire, Eurymedon, took the
+horses from the chariot. The pair then stood in the breeze by the
+seaside to dry the sweat from their shirts, and when they had so
+done they came inside and took their seats. Fair Hecamede, whom
+Nestor had had awarded to him from Tenedos when Achilles took it,
+mixed them a mess; she was daughter of wise Arsinous, and the
+Achaeans had given her to Nestor because he excelled all of them
+in counsel. First she set for them a fair and well-made table
+that had feet of cyanus; on it there was a vessel of bronze and
+an onion to give relish to the drink, with honey and cakes of
+barley-meal. There was also a cup of rare workmanship which the
+old man had brought with him from home, studded with bosses of
+gold; it had four handles, on each of which there were two golden
+doves feeding, and it had two feet to stand on. Any one else
+would hardly have been able to lift it from the table when it was
+full, but Nestor could do so quite easily. In this the woman, as
+fair as a goddess, mixed them a mess with Pramnian wine; she
+grated goat's milk cheese into it with a bronze grater, threw in
+a handful of white barley-meal, and having thus prepared the mess
+she bade them drink it. When they had done so and had thus
+quenched their thirst, they fell talking with one another, and at
+this moment Patroclus appeared at the door.
+
+When the old man saw him he sprang from his seat, seized his
+hand, led him into the tent, and bade him take his place among
+them; but Patroclus stood where he was and said, "Noble sir, I
+may not stay, you cannot persuade me to come in; he that sent me
+is not one to be trifled with, and he bade me ask who the wounded
+man was whom you were bearing away from the field. I can now see
+for myself that he is Machaon, shepherd of his people. I must go
+back and tell Achilles. You, sir, know what a terrible man he is,
+and how ready to blame even where no blame should lie."
+
+And Nestor answered, "Why should Achilles care to know how many
+of the Achaeans may be wounded? He recks not of the dismay that
+reigns in our host; our most valiant chieftains lie disabled,
+brave Diomed, son of Tydeus, is wounded; so are Ulysses and
+Agamemnon; Eurypylus has been hit with an arrow in the thigh, and
+I have just been bringing this man from the field--he too wounded
+with an arrow. Nevertheless, Achilles, so valiant though he be,
+cares not and knows no ruth. Will he wait till the ships, do what
+we may, are in a blaze, and we perish one upon the other? As for
+me, I have no strength nor stay in me any longer; would that I
+were still young and strong as in the days when there was a fight
+between us and the men of Elis about some cattle-raiding. I then
+killed Itymoneus, the valiant son of Hypeirochus, a dweller in
+Elis, as I was driving in the spoil; he was hit by a dart thrown
+by my hand while fighting in the front rank in defence of his
+cows, so he fell and the country people around him were in great
+fear. We drove off a vast quantity of booty from the plain, fifty
+herds of cattle and as many flocks of sheep; fifty droves also of
+pigs, and as many wide-spreading flocks of goats. Of horses,
+moreover, we seized a hundred and fifty, all of them mares, and
+many had foals running with them. All these did we drive by night
+to Pylus, the city of Neleus, taking them within the city; and
+the heart of Neleus was glad in that I had taken so much, though
+it was the first time I had ever been in the field. At daybreak
+the heralds went round crying that all in Elis to whom there was
+a debt owing should come; and the leading Pylians assembled to
+divide the spoils. There were many to whom the Epeans owed
+chattels, for we men of Pylus were few and had been oppressed
+with wrong; in former years Hercules had come, and had laid his
+hand heavy upon us, so that all our best men had perished. Neleus
+had had twelve sons, but I alone was left; the others had all
+been killed. The Epeans presuming upon all this had looked down
+upon us and had done us much evil. My father chose a herd of
+cattle and a great flock of sheep--three hundred in all--and he
+took their shepherds with him, for there was a great debt due to
+him in Elis, to wit four horses, winners of prizes. They and
+their chariots with them had gone to the games and were to run
+for a tripod, but King Augeas took them, and sent back their
+driver grieving for the loss of his horses. Neleus was angered by
+what he had both said and done, and took great value in return,
+but he divided the rest, that no man might have less than his
+full share.
+
+"Thus did we order all things, and offer sacrifices to the gods
+throughout the city; but three days afterwards the Epeans came in
+a body, many in number, they and their chariots, in full array,
+and with them the two Moliones in their armour, though they were
+still lads and unused to fighting. Now there is a certain town,
+Thryoessa, perched upon a rock on the river Alpheus, the border
+city Pylus. This they would destroy, and pitched their camp about
+it, but when they had crossed their whole plain, Minerva darted
+down by night from Olympus and bade us set ourselves in array;
+and she found willing soldiers in Pylos, for the men meant
+fighting. Neleus would not let me arm, and hid my horses, for he
+said that as yet I could know nothing about war; nevertheless
+Minerva so ordered the fight that, all on foot as I was, I fought
+among our mounted forces and vied with the foremost of them.
+There is a river Minyeius that falls into the sea near Arene, and
+there they that were mounted (and I with them) waited till
+morning, when the companies of foot soldiers came up with us in
+force. Thence in full panoply and equipment we came towards noon
+to the sacred waters of the Alpheus, and there we offered victims
+to almighty Jove, with a bull to Alpheus, another to Neptune, and
+a herd-heifer to Minerva. After this we took supper in our
+companies, and laid us down to rest each in his armour by the
+river.
+
+"The Epeans were beleaguering the city and were determined to
+take it, but ere this might be there was a desperate fight in
+store for them. When the sun's rays began to fall upon the earth
+we joined battle, praying to Jove and to Minerva, and when the
+fight had begun, I was the first to kill my man and take his
+horses--to wit the warrior Mulius. He was son-in-law to Augeas,
+having married his eldest daughter, golden-haired Agamede, who
+knew the virtues of every herb which grows upon the face of the
+earth. I speared him as he was coming towards me, and when he
+fell headlong in the dust, I sprang upon his chariot and took my
+place in the front ranks. The Epeans fled in all directions when
+they saw the captain of their horsemen (the best man they had)
+laid low, and I swept down on them like a whirlwind, taking fifty
+chariots--and in each of them two men bit the dust, slain by my
+spear. I should have even killed the two Moliones, sons of Actor,
+unless their real father, Neptune lord of the earthquake, had
+hidden them in a thick mist and borne them out of the fight.
+Thereon Jove vouchsafed the Pylians a great victory, for we
+chased them far over the plain, killing the men and bringing in
+their armour, till we had brought our horses to Buprasium, rich
+in wheat, and to the Olenian rock, with the hill that is called
+Alision, at which point Minerva turned the people back. There I
+slew the last man and left him; then the Achaeans drove their
+horses back from Buprasium to Pylos and gave thanks to Jove among
+the gods, and among mortal men to Nestor.
+
+"Such was I among my peers, as surely as ever was, but Achilles
+is for keeping all his valour for himself; bitterly will he rue
+it hereafter when the host is being cut to pieces. My good
+friend, did not Menoetius charge you thus, on the day when he
+sent you from Phthia to Agamemnon? Ulysses and I were in the
+house, inside, and heard all that he said to you; for we came to
+the fair house of Peleus while beating up recruits throughout all
+Achaea, and when we got there we found Menoetius and yourself,
+and Achilles with you. The old knight Peleus was in the outer
+court, roasting the fat thigh-bones of a heifer to Jove the lord
+of thunder; and he held a gold chalice in his hand from which he
+poured drink-offerings of wine over the burning sacrifice. You
+two were busy cutting up the heifer, and at that moment we stood
+at the gates, whereon Achilles sprang to his feet, led us by the
+hand into the house, placed us at table, and set before us such
+hospitable entertainment as guests expect. When we had satisfied
+ourselves with meat and drink, I said my say and urged both of
+you to join us. You were ready enough to do so, and the two old
+men charged you much and straitly. Old Peleus bade his son
+Achilles fight ever among the foremost and outvie his peers,
+while Menoetius the son of Actor spoke thus to you: 'My son,'
+said he, 'Achilles is of nobler birth than you are, but you are
+older than he, though he is far the better man of the two.
+Counsel him wisely, guide him in the right way, and he will
+follow you to his own profit.' Thus did your father charge you,
+but you have forgotten; nevertheless, even now, say all this to
+Achilles if he will listen to you. Who knows but with heaven's
+help you may talk him over, for it is good to take a friend's
+advice. If, however, he is fearful about some oracle, or if his
+mother has told him something from Jove, then let him send you,
+and let the rest of the Myrmidons follow with you, if perchance
+you may bring light and saving to the Danaans. And let him send
+you into battle clad in his own armour, that the Trojans may
+mistake you for him and leave off fighting; the sons of the
+Achaeans may thus have time to get their breath, for they are
+hard pressed and there is little breathing time in battle. You,
+who are fresh, might easily drive a tired enemy back to his walls
+and away from the tents and ships."
+
+With these words he moved the heart of Patroclus, who set off
+running by the line of the ships to Achilles, descendant of
+Aeacus. When he had got as far as the ships of Ulysses, where was
+their place of assembly and court of justice, with their altars
+dedicated to the gods, Eurypylus son of Euaemon, met him, wounded
+in the thigh with an arrow, and limping out of the fight. Sweat
+rained from his head and shoulders, and black blood welled from
+his cruel wound, but his mind did not wander. The son of
+Menoetius when he saw him had compassion upon him and spoke
+piteously saying, "O unhappy princes and counsellors of the
+Danaans, are you then doomed to feed the hounds of Troy with your
+fat, far from your friends and your native land? Say, noble
+Eurypylus, will the Achaeans be able to hold great Hector in
+check, or will they fall now before his spear?"
+
+Wounded Eurypylus made answer, "Noble Patroclus, there is no hope
+left for the Achaeans but they will perish at their ships. All
+they that were princes among us are lying struck down and wounded
+at the hands of the Trojans, who are waxing stronger and
+stronger. But save me and take me to your ship; cut out the arrow
+from my thigh; wash the black blood from off it with warm water,
+and lay upon it those gracious herbs which, so they say, have
+been shown you by Achilles, who was himself shown them by Chiron,
+most righteous of all the centaurs. For of the physicians
+Podalirius and Machaon, I hear that the one is lying wounded in
+his tent and is himself in need of healing, while the other is
+fighting the Trojans upon the plain."
+
+"Hero Eurypylus," replied the brave son of Menoetius, "how may
+these things be? What can I do? I am on my way to bear a message
+to noble Achilles from Nestor of Gerene, bulwark of the Achaeans,
+but even so I will not be unmindful of your distress."
+
+With this he clasped him round the middle and led him into the
+tent, and a servant, when he saw him, spread bullock-skins on the
+ground for him to lie on. He laid him at full length and cut out
+the sharp arrow from his thigh; he washed the black blood from
+the wound with warm water; he then crushed a bitter herb, rubbing
+it between his hands, and spread it upon the wound; this was a
+virtuous herb which killed all pain; so the wound presently dried
+and the blood left off flowing.
+
+
+
+BOOK XII
+
+  The Trojans and their allies break the wall, led on by Hector.
+
+SO THE son of Menoetius was attending to the hurt of Eurypylus
+within the tent, but the Argives and Trojans still fought
+desperately, nor were the trench and the high wall above it, to
+keep the Trojans in check longer. They had built it to protect
+their ships, and had dug the trench all round it that it might
+safeguard both the ships and the rich spoils which they had
+taken, but they had not offered hecatombs to the gods. It had
+been built without the consent of the immortals, and therefore it
+did not last. So long as Hector lived and Achilles nursed his
+anger, and so long as the city of Priam remained untaken, the
+great wall of the Achaeans stood firm; but when the bravest of
+the Trojans were no more, and many also of the Argives, though
+some were yet left alive--when, moreover, the city was sacked in
+the tenth year, and the Argives had gone back with their ships to
+their own country--then Neptune and Apollo took counsel to
+destroy the wall, and they turned on to it the streams of all the
+rivers from Mount Ida into the sea, Rhesus, Heptaporus, Caresus,
+Rhodius, Grenicus, Aesopus, and goodly Scamander, with Simois,
+where many a shield and helm had fallen, and many a hero of the
+race of demigods had bitten the dust. Phoebus Apollo turned the
+mouths of all these rivers together and made them flow for nine
+days against the wall, while Jove rained the whole time that he
+might wash it sooner into the sea. Neptune himself, trident in
+hand, surveyed the work and threw into the sea all the
+foundations of beams and stones which the Achaeans had laid with
+so much toil; he made all level by the mighty stream of the
+Hellespont, and then when he had swept the wall away he spread a
+great beach of sand over the place where it had been. This done
+he turned the rivers back into their old courses.
+
+This was what Neptune and Apollo were to do in after time; but as
+yet battle and turmoil were still raging round the wall till its
+timbers rang under the blows that rained upon them. The Argives,
+cowed by the scourge of Jove, were hemmed in at their ships in
+fear of Hector the mighty minister of Rout, who as heretofore
+fought with the force and fury of a whirlwind. As a lion or wild
+boar turns fiercely on the dogs and men that attack him, while
+these form solid wall and shower their javelins as they face
+him--his courage is all undaunted, but his high spirit will be
+the death of him; many a time does he charge at his pursuers to
+scatter them, and they fall back as often as he does so--even so
+did Hector go about among the host exhorting his men, and
+cheering them on to cross the trench.
+
+But the horses dared not do so, and stood neighing upon its
+brink, for the width frightened them. They could neither jump it
+nor cross it, for it had overhanging banks all round upon either
+side, above which there were the sharp stakes that the sons of
+the Achaeans had planted so close and strong as a defence against
+all who would assail it; a horse, therefore, could not get into
+it and draw his chariot after him, but those who were on foot
+kept trying their very utmost. Then Polydamas went up to Hector
+and said, "Hector, and you other captains of the Trojans and
+allies, it is madness for us to try and drive our horses across
+the trench; it will be very hard to cross, for it is full of
+sharp stakes, and beyond these there is the wall. Our horses
+therefore cannot get down into it, and would be of no use if they
+did; moreover it is a narrow place and we should come to harm.
+If, indeed, great Jove is minded to help the Trojans, and in his
+anger will utterly destroy the Achaeans, I would myself gladly
+see them perish now and here far from Argos; but if they should
+rally and we are driven back from the ships pell-mell into the
+trench there will be not so much as a man get back to the city to
+tell the tale. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; let our
+squires hold our horses by the trench, but let us follow Hector
+in a body on foot, clad in full armour, and if the day of their
+doom is at hand the Achaeans will not be able to withstand us."
+
+Thus spoke Polydamas and his saying pleased Hector, who sprang in
+full armour to the ground, and all the other Trojans, when they
+saw him do so, also left their chariots. Each man then gave his
+horses over to his charioteer in charge to hold them ready for
+him at the trench. Then they formed themselves into companies,
+made themselves ready, and in five bodies followed their leaders.
+Those that went with Hector and Polydamas were the bravest and
+most in number, and the most determined to break through the wall
+and fight at the ships. Cebriones was also joined with them as
+third in command, for Hector had left his chariot in charge of a
+less valiant soldier. The next company was led by Paris,
+Alcathous, and Agenor; the third by Helenus and Deiphobus, two
+sons of Priam, and with them was the hero Asius--Asius, the son
+of Hyrtacus, whose great black horses of the breed that comes
+from the river Selleis had brought him from Arisbe. Aeneas, the
+valiant son of Anchises, led the fourth; he and the two sons of
+Antenor, Archelochus and Acamas, men well versed in all the arts
+of war. Sarpedon was captain over the allies, and took with him
+Glaucus and Asteropaeus whom he deemed most valiant after
+himself--for he was far the best man of them all. These helped to
+array one another in their ox-hide shields, and then charged
+straight at the Danaans, for they felt sure that they would not
+hold out longer and that they should themselves now fall upon the
+ships.
+
+The rest of the Trojans and their allies now followed the counsel
+of Polydamas but Asius, son of Hyrtacus, would not leave his
+horses and his esquire behind him; in his foolhardiness he took
+them on with him towards the ships, nor did he fail to come by
+his end in consequence. Nevermore was he to return to wind-beaten
+Ilius, exulting in his chariot and his horses; ere he could do
+so, death of ill-omened name had overshadowed him and he had
+fallen by the spear of Idomeneus the noble son of Deucalion. He
+had driven towards the left wing of the ships, by which way the
+Achaeans used to return with their chariots and horses from the
+plain. Hither he drove and found the gates with their doors
+opened wide, and the great bar down--for the gatemen kept them
+open so as to let those of their comrades enter who might be
+flying towards the ships. Hither of set purpose did he direct his
+horses, and his men followed him with a loud cry, for they felt
+sure that the Achaeans would not hold out longer, and that they
+should now fall upon the ships. Little did they know that at the
+gates they should find two of the bravest chieftains, proud sons
+of the fighting Lapithae--the one, Polypoetes, mighty son of
+Pirithous, and the other Leonteus, peer of murderous Mars. These
+stood before the gates like two high oak trees upon the
+mountains, that tower from their wide-spreading roots, and year
+after year battle with wind and rain--even so did these two men
+await the onset of great Asius confidently and without flinching.
+The Trojans led by him and by Iamenus, Orestes, Adamas the son of
+Asius, Thoon and Oenomaus, raised a loud cry of battle and made
+straight for the wall, holding their shields of dry ox-hide above
+their heads; for a while the two defenders remained inside and
+cheered the Achaeans on to stand firm in the defence of their
+ships; when, however, they saw that the Trojans were attacking
+the wall, while the Danaans were crying out for help and being
+routed, they rushed outside and fought in front of the gates like
+two wild boars upon the mountains that abide the attack of men
+and dogs, and charging on either side break down the wood all
+round them tearing it up by the roots, and one can hear the
+clattering of their tusks, till some one hits them and makes an
+end of them--even so did the gleaming bronze rattle about their
+breasts, as the weapons fell upon them; for they fought with
+great fury, trusting to their own prowess and to those who were
+on the wall above them. These threw great stones at their
+assailants in defence of themselves their tents and their ships.
+The stones fell thick as the flakes of snow which some fierce
+blast drives from the dark clouds and showers down in sheets upon
+the earth--even so fell the weapons from the hands alike of
+Trojans and Achaeans. Helmet and shield rang out as the great
+stones rained upon them, and Asius, the son of Hyrtacus, in his
+dismay cried aloud and smote his two thighs. "Father Jove," he
+cried, "of a truth you too are altogether given to lying. I made
+sure the Argive heroes could not withstand us, whereas like
+slim-waisted wasps, or bees that have their nests in the rocks by
+the wayside--they leave not the holes wherein they have built
+undefended, but fight for their little ones against all who would
+take them--even so these men, though they be but two, will not be
+driven from the gates, but stand firm either to slay or be
+slain."
+
+He spoke, but moved not the mind of Jove, whose counsel it then
+was to give glory to Hector. Meanwhile the rest of the Trojans
+were fighting about the other gates; I, however, am no god to be
+able to tell about all these things, for the battle raged
+everywhere about the stone wall as it were a fiery furnace. The
+Argives, discomfited though they were, were forced to defend
+their ships, and all the gods who were defending the Achaeans
+were vexed in spirit; but the Lapithae kept on fighting with
+might and main.
+
+Thereon Polypoetes, mighty son of Pirithous, hit Damasus with a
+spear upon his cheek-pierced helmet. The helmet did not protect
+him, for the point of the spear went through it, and broke the
+bone, so that the brain inside was scattered about, and he died
+fighting. He then slew Pylon and Ormenus. Leonteus, of the race
+of Mars, killed Hippomachus the son of Antimachus by striking him
+with his spear upon the girdle. He then drew his sword and sprang
+first upon Antiphates whom he killed in combat, and who fell face
+upwards on the earth. After him he killed Menon, Iamenus, and
+Orestes, and laid them low one after the other.
+
+While they were busy stripping the armour from these heroes, the
+youths who were led on by Polydamas and Hector (and these were
+the greater part and the most valiant of those that were trying
+to break through the wall and fire the ships) were still standing
+by the trench, uncertain what they should do; for they had seen a
+sign from heaven when they had essayed to cross it--a soaring
+eagle that flew skirting the left wing of their host, with a
+monstrous blood-red snake in its talons still alive and
+struggling to escape. The snake was still bent on revenge,
+wriggling and twisting itself backwards till it struck the bird
+that held it, on the neck and breast; whereon the bird being in
+pain, let it fall, dropping it into the middle of the host, and
+then flew down the wind with a sharp cry. The Trojans were struck
+with terror when they saw the snake, portent of aegis-bearing
+Jove, writhing in the midst of them, and Polydamas went up to
+Hector and said, "Hector, at our councils of war you are ever
+given to rebuke me, even when I speak wisely, as though it were
+not well, forsooth, that one of the people should cross your will
+either in the field or at the council board; you would have them
+support you always: nevertheless I will say what I think will be
+best; let us not now go on to fight the Danaans at their ships,
+for I know what will happen if this soaring eagle which skirted
+the left wing of our host with a monstrous blood-red snake in its
+talons (the snake being still alive) was really sent as an omen
+to the Trojans on their essaying to cross the trench. The eagle
+let go her hold; she did not succeed in taking it home to her
+little ones, and so will it be--with ourselves; even though by a
+mighty effort we break through the gates and wall of the
+Achaeans, and they give way before us, still we shall not return
+in good order by the way we came, but shall leave many a man
+behind us whom the Achaeans will do to death in defence of their
+ships. Thus would any seer who was expert in these matters, and
+was trusted by the people, read the portent."
+
+Hector looked fiercely at him and said, "Polydamas, I like not of
+your reading. You can find a better saying than this if you will.
+If, however, you have spoken in good earnest, then indeed has
+heaven robbed you of your reason. You would have me pay no heed
+to the counsels of Jove, nor to the promises he made me--and he
+bowed his head in confirmation; you bid me be ruled rather by the
+flight of wild-fowl. What care I whether they fly towards dawn or
+dark, and whether they be on my right hand or on my left? Let us
+put our trust rather in the counsel of great Jove, king of
+mortals and immortals. There is one omen, and one only--that a
+man should fight for his country. Why are you so fearful? Though
+we be all of us slain at the ships of the Argives you are not
+likely to be killed yourself, for you are not steadfast nor
+courageous. If you will not fight, or would talk others over from
+doing so, you shall fall forthwith before my spear."
+
+With these words he led the way, and the others followed after
+with a cry that rent the air. Then Jove the lord of thunder sent
+the blast of a mighty wind from the mountains of Ida, that bore
+the dust down towards the ships; he thus lulled the Achaeans into
+security, and gave victory to Hector and to the Trojans, who,
+trusting to their own might and to the signs he had shown them,
+essayed to break through the great wall of the Achaeans. They
+tore down the breastworks from the walls, and overthrew the
+battlements; they upheaved the buttresses, which the Achaeans had
+set in front of the wall in order to support it; when they had
+pulled these down they made sure of breaking through the wall,
+but the Danaans still showed no sign of giving ground; they still
+fenced the battlements with their shields of ox-hide, and hurled
+their missiles down upon the foe as soon as any came below the
+wall.
+
+The two Ajaxes went about everywhere on the walls cheering on the
+Achaeans, giving fair words to some while they spoke sharply to
+any one whom they saw to be remiss. "My friends," they cried,
+"Argives one and all--good bad and indifferent, for there was
+never fight yet, in which all were of equal prowess--there is now
+work enough, as you very well know, for all of you. See that you
+none of you turn in flight towards the ships, daunted by the
+shouting of the foe, but press forward and keep one another in
+heart, if it may so be that Olympian Jove the lord of lightning
+will vouchsafe us to repel our foes, and drive them back towards
+the city."
+
+Thus did the two go about shouting and cheering the Achaeans on.
+As the flakes that fall thick upon a winter's day, when Jove is
+minded to snow and to display these his arrows to mankind--he
+lulls the wind to rest, and snows hour after hour till he has
+buried the tops of the high mountains, the headlands that jut
+into the sea, the grassy plains, and the tilled fields of men;
+the snow lies deep upon the forelands, and havens of the grey
+sea, but the waves as they come rolling in stay it that it can
+come no further, though all else is wrapped as with a mantle, so
+heavy are the heavens with snow--even thus thickly did the stones
+fall on one side and on the other, some thrown at the Trojans,
+and some by the Trojans at the Achaeans; and the whole wall was
+in an uproar.
+
+Still the Trojans and brave Hector would not yet have broken down
+the gates and the great bar, had not Jove turned his son Sarpedon
+against the Argives as a lion against a herd of horned cattle.
+Before him he held his shield of hammered bronze, that the smith
+had beaten so fair and round, and had lined with ox hides which
+he had made fast with rivets of gold all round the shield; this
+he held in front of him, and brandishing his two spears came on
+like some lion of the wilderness, who has been long famished for
+want of meat and will dare break even into a well-fenced
+homestead to try and get at the sheep. He may find the shepherds
+keeping watch over their flocks with dogs and spears, but he is
+in no mind to be driven from the fold till he has had a try for
+it; he will either spring on a sheep and carry it off, or be hit
+by a spear from some strong hand--even so was Sarpedon fain to
+attack the wall and break down its battlements. Then he said to
+Glaucus son of Hippolochus, "Glaucus, why in Lycia do we receive
+especial honour as regards our place at table? Why are the
+choicest portions served us and our cups kept brimming, and why
+do men look up to us as though we were gods? Moreover we hold a
+large estate by the banks of the river Xanthus, fair with orchard
+lawns and wheat-growing land; it becomes us, therefore, to take
+our stand at the head of all the Lycians and bear the brunt of
+the fight, that one may say to another, 'Our princes in Lycia eat
+the fat of the land and drink best of wine, but they are fine
+fellows; they fight well and are ever at the front in battle.' My
+good friend, if, when we were once out of this fight, we could
+escape old age and death thenceforward and forever, I should
+neither press forward myself nor bid you do so, but death in ten
+thousand shapes hangs ever over our heads, and no man can elude
+him; therefore let us go forward and either win glory for
+ourselves, or yield it to another."
+
+Glaucus heeded his saying, and the pair forthwith led on the host
+of Lycians. Menestheus son of Peteos was dismayed when he saw
+them, for it was against his part of the wall that they came--
+bringing destruction with them; he looked along the wall for some
+chieftain to support his comrades and saw the two Ajaxes, men
+ever eager for the fray, and Teucer, who had just come from his
+tent, standing near them; but he could not make his voice heard
+by shouting to them, so great an uproar was there from crashing
+shields and helmets and the battering of gates with a din which
+reached the skies. For all the gates had been closed, and the
+Trojans were hammering at them to try and break their way through
+them. Menestheus, therefore, sent Thootes with a message to Ajax.
+"Run, good Thootes," he said, "and call Ajax, or better still bid
+both come, for it will be all over with us here directly; the
+leaders of the Lycians are upon us, men who have ever fought
+desperately heretofore. But if they have too much on their hands
+to let them come, at any rate let Ajax son of Telamon do so, and
+let Teucer, the famous bowman, come with him."
+
+The messenger did as he was told, and set off running along the
+wall of the Achaeans. When he reached the Ajaxes he said to them,
+"Sirs, princes of the Argives, the son of noble Peteos bids you
+come to him for a while and help him. You had better both come if
+you can, or it will be all over with him directly; the leaders of
+the Lycians are upon him, men who have ever fought desperately
+heretofore; if you have too much on your hands to let both come,
+at any rate let Ajax, son of Telamon, do so, and let Teucer, the
+famous bowman, come with him."
+
+Great Ajax son of Telamon heeded the message, and at once spoke
+to the son of Oileus. "Ajax," said he, "do you two, yourself and
+brave Lycomedes, stay here and keep the Danaans in heart to fight
+their hardest. I will go over yonder, and bear my part in the
+fray, but I will come back here at once as soon as I have given
+them the help they need."
+
+With this, Ajax son of Telamon set off, and Teucer, his brother
+by the same father, went also, with Pandion to carry Teucer's
+bow. They went along inside the wall, and when they came to the
+tower where Menestheus was (and hard pressed indeed did they find
+him) the brave captains and leaders of the Lycians were storming
+the battlements as it were a thick dark cloud, fighting in close
+quarters, and raising the battle-cry aloud.
+
+First, Ajax son of Telamon killed brave Epicles, a comrade of
+Sarpedon, hitting him with a jagged stone that lay by the
+battlements at the very top of the wall. As men now are, even one
+who is in the bloom of youth could hardly lift it with his two
+hands, but Ajax raised it high aloft and flung it down, smashing
+Epicles' four-crested helmet so that the bones of his head were
+crushed to pieces, and he fell from the high wall as though he
+were diving, with no more life left in him. Then Teucer wounded
+Glaucus the brave son of Hippolochus as he was coming on to
+attack the wall. He saw his shoulder bare and aimed an arrow at
+it, which made Glaucus leave off fighting. Thereon he sprang
+covertly down for fear some of the Achaeans might see that he was
+wounded and taunt him. Sarpedon was stung with grief when he saw
+Glaucus leave him, still he did not leave off fighting, but aimed
+his spear at Alcmaon the son of Thestor and hit him. He drew his
+spear back again and Alcmaon came down headlong after it with his
+bronzed armour rattling round him. Then Sarpedon seized the
+battlement in his strong hands, and tugged at it till it all gave
+way together, and a breach was made through which many might
+pass.
+
+Ajax and Teucer then both of them attacked him. Teucer hit him
+with an arrow on the band that bore the shield which covered his
+body, but Jove saved his son from destruction that he might not
+fall by the ships' sterns. Meanwhile Ajax sprang on him and
+pierced his shield, but the spear did not go clean through,
+though it hustled him back that he could come on no further. He
+therefore retired a little space from the battlement, yet without
+losing all his ground, for he still thought to cover himself with
+glory. Then he turned round and shouted to the brave Lycians
+saying, "Lycians, why do you thus fail me? For all my prowess I
+cannot break through the wall and open a way to the ships
+single-handed. Come close on behind me, for the more there are of
+us the better."
+
+The Lycians, shamed by his rebuke, pressed closer round him who
+was their counsellor and their king. The Argives on their part
+got their men in fighting order within the wall, and there was a
+deadly struggle between them. The Lycians could not break through
+the wall and force their way to the ships, nor could the Danaans
+drive the Lycians from the wall now that they had once reached
+it. As two men, measuring-rods in hand, quarrel about their
+boundaries in a field that they own in common, and stickle for
+their rights though they be but in a mere strip, even so did the
+battlements now serve as a bone of contention, and they beat one
+another's round shields for their possession. Many a man's body
+was wounded with the pitiless bronze, as he turned round and
+bared his back to the foe, and many were struck clean through
+their shields; the wall and battlements were everywhere deluged
+with the blood alike of Trojans and of Achaeans. But even so the
+Trojans could not rout the Achaeans, who still held on; and as
+some honest hard-working woman weighs wool in her balance and
+sees that the scales be true, for she would gain some pitiful
+earnings for her little ones, even so was the fight balanced
+evenly between them till the time came when Jove gave the greater
+glory to Hector son of Priam, who was first to spring towards the
+wall of the Achaeans. When he had done so, he cried aloud to the
+Trojans, "Up, Trojans, break the wall of the Argives, and fling
+fire upon their ships."
+
+Thus did he hound them on, and in one body they rushed straight
+at the wall as he had bidden them, and scaled the battlements
+with sharp spears in their hands. Hector laid hold of a stone
+that lay just outside the gates and was thick at one end but
+pointed at the other; two of the best men in a town, as men now
+are, could hardly raise it from the ground and put it on to a
+waggon, but Hector lifted it quite easily by himself, for the son
+of scheming Saturn made it light for him. As a shepherd picks up
+a ram's fleece with one hand and finds it no burden, so easily
+did Hector lift the great stone and drive it right at the doors
+that closed the gates so strong and so firmly set. These doors
+were double and high, and were kept closed by two cross-bars to
+which there was but one key. When he had got close up to them,
+Hector strode towards them that his blow might gain in force and
+struck them in the middle, leaning his whole weight against them.
+He broke both hinges, and the stone fell inside by reason of its
+great weight. The portals re-echoed with the sound, the bars held
+no longer, and the doors flew open, one one way, and the other
+the other, through the force of the blow. Then brave Hector
+leaped inside with a face as dark as that of flying night. The
+gleaming bronze flashed fiercely about his body and he had two
+spears in his hand. None but a god could have withstood him as he
+flung himself into the gateway, and his eyes glared like fire.
+Then he turned round towards the Trojans and called on them to
+scale the wall, and they did as he bade them--some of them at
+once climbing over the wall, while others passed through the
+gates. The Danaans then fled panic-stricken towards their ships,
+and all was uproar and confusion.
+
+
+
+BOOK XIII
+
+  Neptune helps the Achaeans--The feats of Idomeneus--
+  Hector at the ships.
+
+NOW when Jove had thus brought Hector and the Trojans to the
+ships, he left them to their never-ending toil, and turned his
+keen eyes away, looking elsewhither towards the horse-breeders of
+Thrace, the Mysians, fighters at close quarters, the noble
+Hippemolgi, who live on milk, and the Abians, justest of mankind.
+He no longer turned so much as a glance towards Troy, for he did
+not think that any of the immortals would go and help either
+Trojans or Danaans.
+
+But King Neptune had kept no blind look-out; he had been looking
+admiringly on the battle from his seat on the topmost crests of
+wooded Samothrace, whence he could see all Ida, with the city of
+Priam and the ships of the Achaeans. He had come from under the
+sea and taken his place here, for he pitied the Achaeans who were
+being overcome by the Trojans; and he was furiously angry with
+Jove.
+
+Presently he came down from his post on the mountain top, and as
+he strode swiftly onwards the high hills and the forest quaked
+beneath the tread of his immortal feet. Three strides he took,
+and with the fourth he reached his goal--Aegae, where is his
+glittering golden palace, imperishable, in the depths of the sea.
+When he got there, he yoked his fleet brazen-footed steeds with
+their manes of gold all flying in the wind; he clothed himself in
+raiment of gold, grasped his gold whip, and took his stand upon
+his chariot. As he went his way over the waves the sea-monsters
+left their lairs, for they knew their lord, and came gambolling
+round him from every quarter of the deep, while the sea in her
+gladness opened a path before his chariot. So lightly did the
+horses fly that the bronze axle of the car was not even wet
+beneath it; and thus his bounding steeds took him to the ships of
+the Achaeans.
+
+Now there is a certain huge cavern in the depths of the sea
+midway between Tenedos and rocky Imbrus; here Neptune lord of the
+earthquake stayed his horses, unyoked them, and set before them
+their ambrosial forage. He hobbled their feet with hobbles of
+gold which none could either unloose or break, so that they might
+stay there in that place until their lord should return. This
+done he went his way to the host of the Achaeans.
+
+Now the Trojans followed Hector son of Priam in close array like
+a storm-cloud or flame of fire, fighting with might and main and
+raising the cry battle; for they deemed that they should take the
+ships of the Achaeans and kill all their chiefest heroes then and
+there. Meanwhile earth-encircling Neptune lord of the earthquake
+cheered on the Argives, for he had come up out of the sea and had
+assumed the form and voice of Calchas.
+
+First he spoke to the two Ajaxes, who were doing their best
+already, and said, "Ajaxes, you two can be the saving of the
+Achaeans if you will put out all your strength and not let
+yourselves be daunted. I am not afraid that the Trojans, who have
+got over the wall in force, will be victorious in any other part,
+for the Achaeans can hold all of them in check, but I much fear
+that some evil will befall us here where furious Hector, who
+boasts himself the son of great Jove himself, is leading them on
+like a pillar of flame. May some god, then, put it into your
+hearts to make a firm stand here, and to incite others to do the
+like. In this case you will drive him from the ships even though
+he be inspired by Jove himself."
+
+As he spoke the earth-encircling lord of the earthquake struck
+both of them with his sceptre and filled their hearts with
+daring. He made their legs light and active, as also their hands
+and their feet. Then, as the soaring falcon poises on the wing
+high above some sheer rock, and presently swoops down to chase
+some bird over the plain, even so did Neptune lord of the
+earthquake wing his flight into the air and leave them. Of the
+two, swift Ajax son of Oileus was the first to know who it was
+that had been speaking with them, and said to Ajax son of
+Telamon, "Ajax, this is one of the gods that dwell on Olympus,
+who in the likeness of the prophet is bidding us fight hard by
+our ships. It was not Calchas the seer and diviner of omens; I
+knew him at once by his feet and knees as he turned away, for the
+gods are soon recognised. Moreover I feel the lust of battle burn
+more fiercely within me, while my hands and my feet under me are
+more eager for the fray."
+
+And Ajax son of Telamon answered, "I too feel my hands grasp my
+spear more firmly; my strength is greater, and my feet more
+nimble; I long, moreover, to meet furious Hector son of Priam,
+even in single combat."
+
+Thus did they converse, exulting in the hunger after battle with
+which the god had filled them. Meanwhile the earth-encircler
+roused the Achaeans, who were resting in the rear by the ships
+overcome at once by hard fighting and by grief at seeing that the
+Trojans had got over the wall in force. Tears began falling from
+their eyes as they beheld them, for they made sure that they
+should not escape destruction; but the lord of the earthquake
+passed lightly about among them and urged their battalions to the
+front.
+
+First he went up to Teucer and Leitus, the hero Peneleos, and
+Thoas and Deipyrus; Meriones also and Antilochus, valiant
+warriors; all did he exhort. "Shame on you young Argives," he
+cried, "it was on your prowess I relied for the saving of our
+ships; if you fight not with might and main, this very day will
+see us overcome by the Trojans. Of a truth my eyes behold a great
+and terrible portent which I had never thought to see--the
+Trojans at our ships--they, who were heretofore like
+panic-stricken hinds, the prey of jackals and wolves in a forest,
+with no strength but in flight for they cannot defend themselves.
+Hitherto the Trojans dared not for one moment face the attack of
+the Achaeans, but now they have sallied far from their city and
+are fighting at our very ships through the cowardice of our
+leader and the disaffection of the people themselves, who in
+their discontent care not to fight in defence of the ships but
+are being slaughtered near them. True, King Agamemnon son of
+Atreus is the cause of our disaster by having insulted the son of
+Peleus, still this is no reason why we should leave off fighting.
+Let us be quick to heal, for the hearts of the brave heal
+quickly. You do ill to be thus remiss, you, who are the finest
+soldiers in our whole army. I blame no man for keeping out of
+battle if he is a weakling, but I am indignant with such men as
+you are. My good friends, matters will soon become even worse
+through this slackness; think, each one of you, of his own honour
+and credit, for the hazard of the fight is extreme. Great Hector
+is now fighting at our ships; he has broken through the gates and
+the strong bolt that held them."
+
+Thus did the earth-encircler address the Achaeans and urge them
+on. Thereon round the two Ajaxes there gathered strong bands of
+men, of whom not even Mars nor Minerva, marshaller of hosts could
+make light if they went among them, for they were the picked men
+of all those who were now awaiting the onset of Hector and the
+Trojans. They made a living fence, spear to spear, shield to
+shield, buckler to buckler, helmet to helmet, and man to man. The
+horse-hair crests on their gleaming helmets touched one another
+as they nodded forward, so closely serried were they; the spears
+they brandished in their strong hands were interlaced, and their
+hearts were set on battle.
+
+The Trojans advanced in a dense body, with Hector at their head
+pressing right on as a rock that comes thundering down the side
+of some mountain from whose brow the winter torrents have torn
+it; the foundations of the dull thing have been loosened by
+floods of rain, and as it bounds headlong on its way it sets the
+whole forest in an uproar; it swerves neither to right nor left
+till it reaches level ground, but then for all its fury it can go
+no further--even so easily did Hector for a while seem as though
+he would career through the tents and ships of the Achaeans till
+he had reached the sea in his murderous course; but the closely
+serried battalions stayed him when he reached them, for the sons
+of the Achaeans thrust at him with swords and spears pointed at
+both ends, and drove him from them so that he staggered and gave
+ground; thereon he shouted to the Trojans, "Trojans, Lycians, and
+Dardanians, fighters in close combat, stand firm: the Achaeans
+have set themselves as a wall against me, but they will not check
+me for long; they will give ground before me if the mightiest of
+the gods, the thundering spouse of Juno, has indeed inspired my
+onset."
+
+With these words he put heart and soul into them all. Deiphobus
+son of Priam went about among them intent on deeds of daring with
+his round shield before him, under cover of which he strode
+quickly forward. Meriones took aim at him with a spear, nor did
+he fail to hit the broad orb of ox-hide; but he was far from
+piercing it for the spear broke in two pieces long ere he could
+do so; moreover Deiphobus had seen it coming and had held his
+shield well away from him. Meriones drew back under cover of his
+comrades, angry alike at having failed to vanquish Deiphobus, and
+having broken his spear. He turned therefore towards the ships
+and tents to fetch a spear which he had left behind in his tent.
+
+The others continued fighting, and the cry of battle rose up into
+the heavens. Teucer son of Telamon was the first to kill his man,
+to wit, the warrior Imbrius, son of Mentor, rich in horses.
+Until the Achaeans came he had lived in Pedaeum, and had married
+Medesicaste, a bastard daughter of Priam; but on the arrival of
+the Danaan fleet he had gone back to Ilius, and was a great man
+among the Trojans, dwelling near Priam himself, who gave him like
+honour with his own sons. The son of Telamon now struck him under
+the ear with a spear which he then drew back again, and Imbrius
+fell headlong as an ash-tree when it is felled on the crest of
+some high mountain beacon, and its delicate green foliage comes
+toppling down to the ground. Thus did he fall with his
+bronze-dight armour ringing harshly round him, and Teucer sprang
+forward with intent to strip him of his armour; but as he was
+doing so, Hector took aim at him with a spear. Teucer saw the
+spear coming and swerved aside, whereon it hit Amphimachus, son
+of Cteatus son of Actor, in the chest as he was coming into
+battle, and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily
+to the ground. Hector sprang forward to take Amphimachus's helmet
+from off his temples, and in a moment Ajax threw a spear at him,
+but did not wound him, for he was encased all over in his
+terrible armour; nevertheless the spear struck the boss of his
+shield with such force as to drive him back from the two corpses,
+which the Achaeans then drew off. Stichius and Menestheus,
+captains of the Athenians, bore away Amphimachus to the host of
+the Achaeans, while the two brave and impetuous Ajaxes did the
+like by Imbrius. As two lions snatch a goat from the hounds that
+have it in their fangs, and bear it through thick brushwood high
+above the ground in their jaws, thus did the Ajaxes bear aloft
+the body of Imbrius, and strip it of its armour. Then the son of
+Oileus severed the head from the neck in revenge for the death of
+Amphimachus, and sent it whirling over the crowd as though it had
+been a ball, till it fell in the dust at Hector's feet.
+
+Neptune was exceedingly angry that his grandson Amphimachus
+should have fallen; he therefore went to the tents and ships of
+the Achaeans to urge the Danaans still further, and to devise
+evil for the Trojans. Idomeneus met him, as he was taking leave
+of a comrade, who had just come to him from the fight, wounded in
+the knee. His fellow-soldiers bore him off the field, and
+Idomeneus having given orders to the physicians went on to his
+tent, for he was still thirsting for battle. Neptune spoke in the
+likeness and with the voice of Thoas son of Andraemon who ruled
+the Aetolians of all Pleuron and high Calydon, and was honoured
+among his people as though he were a god. "Idomeneus," said he,
+"lawgiver to the Cretans, what has now become of the threats with
+which the sons of the Achaeans used to threaten the Trojans?"
+
+And Idomeneus chief among the Cretans answered, "Thoas, no one,
+so far as I know, is in fault, for we can all fight. None are
+held back neither by fear nor slackness, but it seems to be the
+will of almighty Jove that the Achaeans should perish
+ingloriously here far from Argos: you, Thoas, have been always
+staunch, and you keep others in heart if you see any fail in
+duty; be not then remiss now, but exhort all to do their utmost."
+
+To this Neptune lord of the earthquake made answer, "Idomeneus,
+may he never return from Troy, but remain here for dogs to batten
+upon, who is this day wilfully slack in fighting. Get your armour
+and go, we must make all haste together if we may be of any use,
+though we are only two. Even cowards gain courage from
+companionship, and we two can hold our own with the bravest."
+
+Therewith the god went back into the thick of the fight, and
+Idomeneus when he had reached his tent donned his armour, grasped
+his two spears, and sallied forth. As the lightning which the son
+of Saturn brandishes from bright Olympus when he would show a
+sign to mortals, and its gleam flashes far and wide--even so did
+his armour gleam about him as he ran. Meriones his sturdy squire
+met him while he was still near his tent (for he was going to
+fetch his spear) and Idomeneus said:
+
+"Meriones, fleet son of Molus, best of comrades, why have you
+left the field? Are you wounded, and is the point of the weapon
+hurting you? or have you been sent to fetch me? I want no
+fetching; I had far rather fight than stay in my tent."
+
+"Idomeneus," answered Meriones, "I come for a spear, if I can
+find one in my tent; I have broken the one I had, in throwing it
+at the shield of Deiphobus."
+
+And Idomeneus captain of the Cretans answered, "You will find one
+spear, or twenty if you so please, standing up against the end
+wall of my tent. I have taken them from Trojans whom I have
+killed, for I am not one to keep my enemy at arm's length;
+therefore I have spears, bossed shields, helmets, and burnished
+corslets."
+
+Then Meriones said, "I too in my tent and at my ship have spoils
+taken from the Trojans, but they are not at hand. I have been at
+all times valorous, and wherever there has been hard fighting
+have held my own among the foremost. There may be those among the
+Achaeans who do not know how I fight, but you know it well enough
+yourself."
+
+Idomeneus answered, "I know you for a brave man: you need not
+tell me. If the best men at the ships were being chosen to go on
+an ambush--and there is nothing like this for showing what a man
+is made of; it comes out then who is cowardly and who brave; the
+coward will change colour at every touch and turn; he is full of
+fears, and keeps shifting his weight first on one knee and then
+on the other; his heart beats fast as he thinks of death, and one
+can hear the chattering of his teeth; whereas the brave man will
+not change colour nor be frightened on finding himself in ambush,
+but is all the time longing to go into action--if the best men
+were being chosen for such a service, no one could make light of
+your courage nor feats of arms. If you were struck by a dart or
+smitten in close combat, it would not be from behind, in your
+neck nor back, but the weapon would hit you in the chest or belly
+as you were pressing forward to a place in the front ranks. But
+let us no longer stay here talking like children, lest we be ill
+spoken of; go, fetch your spear from the tent at once."
+
+On this Meriones, peer of Mars, went to the tent and got himself
+a spear of bronze. He then followed after Idomeneus, big with
+great deeds of valour. As when baneful Mars sallies forth to
+battle, and his son Panic so strong and dauntless goes with him,
+to strike terror even into the heart of a hero--the pair have
+gone from Thrace to arm themselves among the Ephyri or the brave
+Phlegyans, but they will not listen to both the contending hosts,
+and will give victory to one side or to the other--even so did
+Meriones and Idomeneus, captains of men, go out to battle clad in
+their bronze armour. Meriones was first to speak. "Son of
+Deucalion," said he, "where would you have us begin fighting? On
+the right wing of the host, in the centre, or on the left wing,
+where I take it the Achaeans will be weakest?"
+
+Idomeneus answered, "There are others to defend the centre--the
+two Ajaxes and Teucer, who is the finest archer of all the
+Achaeans, and is good also in a hand-to-hand fight. These will
+give Hector son of Priam enough to do; fight as he may, he will
+find it hard to vanquish their indomitable fury, and fire the
+ships, unless the son of Saturn fling a firebrand upon them with
+his own hand. Great Ajax son of Telamon will yield to no man who
+is in mortal mould and eats the grain of Ceres, if bronze and
+great stones can overthrow him. He would not yield even to
+Achilles in hand-to-hand fight, and in fleetness of foot there is
+none to beat him; let us turn therefore towards the left wing,
+that we may know forthwith whether we are to give glory to some
+other, or he to us."
+
+Meriones, peer of fleet Mars, then led the way till they came to
+the part of the host which Idomeneus had named.
+
+Now when the Trojans saw Idomeneus coming on like a flame of
+fire, him and his squire clad in their richly wrought armour,
+they shouted and made towards him all in a body, and a furious
+hand-to-hand fight raged under the ships' sterns. Fierce as the
+shrill winds that whistle upon a day when dust lies deep on the
+roads, and the gusts raise it into a thick cloud--even such was
+the fury of the combat, and might and main did they hack at each
+other with spear and sword throughout the host. The field
+bristled with the long and deadly spears which they bore.
+Dazzling was the sheen of their gleaming helmets, their
+fresh-burnished breastplates, and glittering shields as they
+joined battle with one another. Iron indeed must be his courage
+who could take pleasure in the sight of such a turmoil, and look
+on it without being dismayed.
+
+Thus did the two mighty sons of Saturn devise evil for mortal
+heroes. Jove was minded to give victory to the Trojans and to
+Hector, so as to do honour to fleet Achilles, nevertheless he did
+not mean to utterly overthrow the Achaean host before Ilius, and
+only wanted to glorify Thetis and her valiant son. Neptune on the
+other hand went about among the Argives to incite them, having
+come up from the grey sea in secret, for he was grieved at seeing
+them vanquished by the Trojans, and was furiously angry with
+Jove. Both were of the same race and country, but Jove was elder
+born and knew more, therefore Neptune feared to defend the
+Argives openly, but in the likeness of man, he kept on
+encouraging them throughout their host. Thus, then, did these two
+devise a knot of war and battle, that none could unloose or
+break, and set both sides tugging at it, to the failing of men's
+knees beneath them.
+
+And now Idomeneus, though his hair was already flecked with grey,
+called loud on the Danaans and spread panic among the Trojans as
+he leaped in among them. He slew Othryoneus from Cabesus, a
+sojourner, who had but lately come to take part in the war. He
+sought Cassandra, the fairest of Priam's daughters, in marriage,
+but offered no gifts of wooing, for he promised a great thing, to
+wit, that he would drive the sons of the Achaeans willy nilly
+from Troy; old King Priam had given his consent and promised her
+to him, whereon he fought on the strength of the promises thus
+made to him. Idomeneus aimed a spear, and hit him as he came
+striding on. His cuirass of bronze did not protect him, and the
+spear stuck in his belly, so that he fell heavily to the ground.
+Then Idomeneus vaunted over him saying, "Othryoneus, there is no
+one in the world whom I shall admire more than I do you, if you
+indeed perform what you have promised Priam son of Dardanus in
+return for his daughter. We too will make you an offer; we will
+give you the loveliest daughter of the son of Atreus, and will
+bring her from Argos for you to marry, if you will sack the
+goodly city of Ilius in company with ourselves; so come along
+with me, that we may make a covenant at the ships about the
+marriage, and we will not be hard upon you about gifts of
+wooing."
+
+With this Idomeneus began dragging him by the foot through the
+thick of the fight, but Asius came up to protect the body, on
+foot, in front of his horses which his esquire drove so close
+behind him that he could feel their breath upon his shoulder. He
+was longing to strike down Idomeneus, but ere he could do so
+Idomeneus smote him with his spear in the throat under the chin,
+and the bronze point went clean through it. He fell as an oak, or
+poplar, or pine which shipwrights have felled for ship's timber
+upon the mountains with whetted axes--even thus did he lie full
+length in front of his chariot and horses, grinding his teeth and
+clutching at the bloodstained dust. His charioteer was struck
+with panic and did not dare turn his horses round and escape:
+thereupon Antilochus hit him in the middle of his body with a
+spear; his cuirass of bronze did not protect him, and the spear
+stuck in his belly. He fell gasping from his chariot and
+Antilochus, great Nestor's son, drove his horses from the Trojans
+to the Achaeans.
+
+Deiphobus then came close up to Idomeneus to avenge Asius, and
+took aim at him with a spear, but Idomeneus was on the look-out
+and avoided it, for he was covered by the round shield he always
+bore--a shield of oxhide and bronze with two arm-rods on the
+inside. He crouched under cover of this, and the spear flew over
+him, but the shield rang out as the spear grazed it, and the
+weapon sped not in vain from the strong hand of Deiphobus, for it
+struck Hypsenor son of Hippasus, shepherd of his people, in the
+liver under the midriff, and his limbs failed beneath him.
+Deiphobus vaunted over him and cried with a loud voice saying,
+"Of a truth Asius has not fallen unavenged; he will be glad even
+while passing into the house of Hades, strong warden of the gate,
+that I have sent some one to escort him."
+
+Thus did he vaunt, and the Argives were stung by his saying.
+Noble Antilochus was more angry than any one, but grief did not
+make him forget his friend and comrade. He ran up to him,
+bestrode him, and covered him with his shield; then two of his
+staunch comrades, Mecisteus son of Echius, and Alastor, stooped
+down, and bore him away groaning heavily to the ships. But
+Idomeneus ceased not his fury. He kept on striving continually
+either to enshroud some Trojan in the darkness of death, or
+himself to fall while warding off the evil day from the Achaeans.
+Then fell Alcathous son of noble Aesyetes; he was son-in-law to
+Anchises, having married his eldest daughter Hippodameia, who was
+the darling of her father and mother, and excelled all her
+generation in beauty, accomplishments, and understanding,
+wherefore the bravest man in all Troy had taken her to wife--him
+did Neptune lay low by the hand of Idomeneus, blinding his bright
+eyes and binding his strong limbs in fetters so that he could
+neither go back nor to one side, but stood stock still like
+pillar or lofty tree when Idomeneus struck him with a spear in
+the middle of his chest. The coat of mail that had hitherto
+protected his body was now broken, and rang harshly as the spear
+tore through it. He fell heavily to the ground, and the spear
+stuck in his heart, which still beat, and made the butt-end of
+the spear quiver till dread Mars put an end to his life.
+Idomeneus vaunted over him and cried with a loud voice saying,
+"Deiphobus, since you are in a mood to vaunt, shall we cry quits
+now that we have killed three men to your one? Nay, sir, stand in
+fight with me yourself, that you may learn what manner of
+Jove-begotten man am I that have come hither. Jove first begot
+Minos, chief ruler in Crete, and Minos in his turn begot a son,
+noble Deucalion. Deucalion begot me to be a ruler over many men
+in Crete, and my ships have now brought me hither, to be the bane
+of yourself, your father, and the Trojans."
+
+Thus did he speak, and Deiphobus was in two minds, whether to go
+back and fetch some other Trojan to help him, or to take up the
+challenge single-handed. In the end, he deemed it best to go and
+fetch Aeneas, whom he found standing in the rear, for he had long
+been aggrieved with Priam because in spite of his brave deeds he
+did not give him his due share of honour. Deiphobus went up to
+him and said, "Aeneas, prince among the Trojans, if you know any
+ties of kinship, help me now to defend the body of your sister's
+husband; come with me to the rescue of Alcathous, who being
+husband to your sister brought you up when you were a child in
+his house, and now Idomeneus has slain him."
+
+With these words he moved the heart of Aeneas, and he went in
+pursuit of Idomeneus, big with great deeds of valour; but
+Idomeneus was not to be thus daunted as though he were a mere
+child; he held his ground as a wild boar at bay upon the
+mountains, who abides the coming of a great crowd of men in some
+lonely place--the bristles stand upright on his back, his eyes
+flash fire, and he whets his tusks in his eagerness to defend
+himself against hounds and men--even so did famed Idomeneus hold
+his ground and budge not at the coming of Aeneas. He cried aloud
+to his comrades looking towards Ascalaphus, Aphareus, Deipyrus,
+Meriones, and Antilochus, all of them brave soldiers--"Hither my
+friends," he cried, "and leave me not single-handed--I go in
+great fear by fleet Aeneas, who is coming against me, and is a
+redoubtable dispenser of death battle. Moreover he is in the
+flower of youth when a man's strength is greatest; if I was of
+the same age as he is and in my present mind, either he or I
+should soon bear away the prize of victory."
+
+On this, all of them as one man stood near him, shield on
+shoulder. Aeneas on the other side called to his comrades,
+looking towards Deiphobus, Paris, and Agenor, who were leaders of
+the Trojans along with himself, and the people followed them as
+sheep follow the ram when they go down to drink after they have
+been feeding, and the heart of the shepherd is glad--even so was
+the heart of Aeneas gladdened when he saw his people follow him.
+
+Then they fought furiously in close combat about the body of
+Alcathous, wielding their long spears; and the bronze armour
+about their bodies rang fearfully as they took aim at one another
+in the press of the fight, while the two heroes Aeneas and
+Idomeneus, peers of Mars, outvied everyone in their desire to
+hack at each other with sword and spear. Aeneas took aim first,
+but Idomeneus was on the lookout and avoided the spear, so that
+it sped from Aeneas' strong hand in vain, and fell quivering in
+the ground. Idomeneus meanwhile smote Oenomaus in the middle of
+his belly, and broke the plate of his corslet, whereon his bowels
+came gushing out and he clutched the earth in the palms of his
+hands as he fell sprawling in the dust. Idomeneus drew his spear
+out of the body, but could not strip him of the rest of his
+armour for the rain of darts that were showered upon him:
+moreover his strength was now beginning to fail him so that he
+could no longer charge, and could neither spring forward to
+recover his own weapon nor swerve aside to avoid one that was
+aimed at him; therefore, though he still defended himself in
+hand-to-hand fight, his heavy feet could not bear him swiftly out
+of the battle. Deiphobus aimed a spear at him as he was
+retreating slowly from the field, for his bitterness against him
+was as fierce as ever, but again he missed him, and hit
+Ascalaphus, the son of Mars; the spear went through his shoulder,
+and he clutched the earth in the palms of his hands as he fell
+sprawling in the dust.
+
+Grim Mars of awful voice did not yet know that his son had
+fallen, for he was sitting on the summits of Olympus under the
+golden clouds, by command of Jove, where the other gods were also
+sitting, forbidden to take part in the battle. Meanwhile men
+fought furiously about the body. Deiphobus tore the helmet from
+off his head, but Meriones sprang upon him, and struck him on the
+arm with a spear so that the visored helmet fell from his hand
+and came ringing down upon the ground. Thereon Meriones sprang
+upon him like a vulture, drew the spear from his shoulder, and
+fell back under cover of his men. Then Polites, own brother of
+Deiphobus passed his arms around his waist, and bore him away
+from the battle till he got to his horses that were standing in
+the rear of the fight with the chariot and their driver. These
+took him towards the city groaning and in great pain, with the
+blood flowing from his arm.
+
+The others still fought on, and the battle-cry rose to heaven
+without ceasing. Aeneas sprang on Aphareus son of Caletor, and
+struck him with a spear in his throat which was turned towards
+him; his head fell on one side, his helmet and shield came down
+along with him, and death, life's foe, was shed around him.
+Antilochus spied his chance, flew forward towards Thoon, and
+wounded him as he was turning round. He laid open the vein that
+runs all the way up the back to the neck; he cut this vein clean
+away throughout its whole course, and Thoon fell in the dust face
+upwards, stretching out his hands imploringly towards his
+comrades. Antilochus sprang upon him and stripped the armour from
+his shoulders, glaring round him fearfully as he did so. The
+Trojans came about him on every side and struck his broad and
+gleaming shield, but could not wound his body, for Neptune stood
+guard over the son of Nestor, though the darts fell thickly round
+him. He was never clear of the foe, but was always in the thick
+of the fight; his spear was never idle; he poised and aimed it in
+every direction, so eager was he to hit someone from a distance
+or to fight him hand to hand.
+
+As he was thus aiming among the crowd, he was seen by Adamas, son
+of Asius, who rushed towards him and struck him with a spear in
+the middle of his shield, but Neptune made its point without
+effect, for he grudged him the life of Antilochus. One half,
+therefore, of the spear stuck fast like a charred stake in
+Antilochus's shield, while the other lay on the ground. Adamas
+then sought shelter under cover of his men, but Meriones followed
+after and hit him with a spear midway between the private parts
+and the navel, where a wound is particularly painful to wretched
+mortals. There did Meriones transfix him, and he writhed
+convulsively about the spear as some bull whom mountain herdsmen
+have bound with ropes of withes and are taking away perforce.
+Even so did he move convulsively for a while, but not for very
+long, till Meriones came up and drew the spear out of his body,
+and his eyes were veiled in darkness.
+
+Helenus then struck Deipyrus with a great Thracian sword, hitting
+him on the temple in close combat and tearing the helmet from his
+head; the helmet fell to the ground, and one of those who were
+fighting on the Achaean side took charge of it as it rolled at
+his feet, but the eyes of Deipyrus were closed in the darkness of
+death.
+
+On this Menelaus was grieved, and made menacingly towards
+Helenus, brandishing his spear; but Helenus drew his bow, and the
+two attacked one another at one and the same moment, the one with
+his spear, and the other with his bow and arrow. The son of Priam
+hit the breastplate of Menelaus's corslet, but the arrow glanced
+from off it. As black beans or pulse come pattering down on to a
+threshing-floor from the broad winnowing-shovel, blown by shrill
+winds and shaken by the shovel--even so did the arrow glance off
+and recoil from the shield of Menelaus, who in his turn wounded
+the hand with which Helenus carried his bow; the spear went right
+through his hand and stuck in the bow itself, so that to his life
+he retreated under cover of his men, with his hand dragging by
+his side--for the spear weighed it down till Agenor drew it out
+and bound the hand carefully up in a woollen sling which his
+esquire had with him.
+
+Pisander then made straight at Menelaus--his evil destiny luring
+him on to his doom, for he was to fall in fight with you, O
+Menelaus. When the two were hard by one another the spear of the
+son of Atreus turned aside and he missed his aim; Pisander then
+struck the shield of brave Menelaus but could not pierce it, for
+the shield stayed the spear and broke the shaft; nevertheless he
+was glad and made sure of victory; forthwith, however, the son of
+Atreus drew his sword and sprang upon him. Pisander then seized
+the bronze battle-axe, with its long and polished handle of olive
+wood that hung by his side under his shield, and the two made at
+one another. Pisander struck the peak of Menelaus's crested
+helmet just under the crest itself, and Menelaus hit Pisander as
+he was coming towards him, on the forehead, just at the rise of
+his nose; the bones cracked and his two gore-bedrabbled eyes fell
+by his feet in the dust. He fell backwards to the ground, and
+Menelaus set his heel upon him, stripped him of his armour, and
+vaunted over him saying, "Even thus shall you Trojans leave the
+ships of the Achaeans, proud and insatiate of battle though you
+be, nor shall you lack any of the disgrace and shame which you
+have heaped upon myself. Cowardly she-wolves that you are, you
+feared not the anger of dread Jove, avenger of violated
+hospitality, who will one day destroy your city; you stole my
+wedded wife and wickedly carried off much treasure when you were
+her guest, and now you would fling fire upon our ships, and kill
+our heroes. A day will come when, rage as you may, you shall be
+stayed. O father Jove, you, who they say art above all, both gods
+and men, in wisdom, and from whom all things that befall us do
+proceed, how can you thus favour the Trojans--men so proud and
+overweening, that they are never tired of fighting? All things
+pall after a while--sleep, love, sweet song, and stately dance--
+still these are things of which a man would surely have his fill
+rather than of battle, whereas it is of battle that the Trojans
+are insatiate."
+
+So saying Menelaus stripped the blood-stained armour from the
+body of Pisander, and handed it over to his men; then he again
+ranged himself among those who were in the front of the fight.
+
+Harpalion son of King Pylaemenes then sprang upon him; he had
+come to fight at Troy along with his father, but he did not go
+home again. He struck the middle of Menelaus's shield with his
+spear but could not pierce it, and to save his life drew back
+under cover of his men, looking round him on every side lest he
+should be wounded. But Meriones aimed a bronze-tipped arrow at
+him as he was leaving the field, and hit him on the right
+buttock; the arrow pierced the bone through and through, and
+penetrated the bladder, so he sat down where he was and breathed
+his last in the arms of his comrades, stretched like a worm upon
+the ground and watering the earth with the blood that flowed from
+his wound. The brave Paphlagonians tended him with all due care;
+they raised him into his chariot, and bore him sadly off to the
+city of Troy; his father went also with him weeping bitterly, but
+there was no ransom that could bring his dead son to life again.
+
+Paris was deeply grieved by the death of Harpalion, who was his
+host when he went among the Paphlagonians; he aimed an arrow,
+therefore, in order to avenge him. Now there was a certain man
+named Euchenor, son of Polyidus the prophet, a brave man and
+wealthy, whose home was in Corinth. This Euchenor had set sail
+for Troy well knowing that it would be the death of him, for his
+good old father Polyidus had often told him that he must either
+stay at home and die of a terrible disease, or go with the
+Achaeans and perish at the hands of the Trojans; he chose,
+therefore, to avoid incurring the heavy fine the Achaeans would
+have laid upon him, and at the same time to escape the pain and
+suffering of disease. Paris now smote him on the jaw under his
+ear, whereon the life went out of him and he was enshrouded in
+the darkness of death.
+
+Thus then did they fight as it were a flaming fire. But Hector
+had not yet heard, and did not know that the Argives were making
+havoc of his men on the left wing of the battle, where the
+Achaeans ere long would have triumphed over them, so vigorously
+did Neptune cheer them on and help them. He therefore held on at
+the point where he had first forced his way through the gates and
+the wall, after breaking through the serried ranks of Danaan
+warriors. It was here that the ships of Ajax and Protesilaus were
+drawn up by the sea-shore; here the wall was at its lowest, and
+the fight both of man and horse raged most fiercely. The
+Boeotians and the Ionians with their long tunics, the Locrians,
+the men of Phthia, and the famous force of the Epeans could
+hardly stay Hector as he rushed on towards the ships, nor could
+they drive him from them, for he was as a wall of fire. The
+chosen men of the Athenians were in the van, led by Menestheus
+son of Peteos, with whom were also Pheidas, Stichius, and
+stalwart Bias; Meges son of Phyleus, Amphion, and Dracius
+commanded the Epeans, while Medon and staunch Podarces led the
+men of Phthia. Of these, Medon was bastard son to Oileus and
+brother of Ajax, but he lived in Phylace away from his own
+country, for he had killed the brother of his stepmother Eriopis,
+the wife of Oileus; the other, Podarces, was the son of Iphiclus,
+son of Phylacus. These two stood in the van of the Phthians, and
+defended the ships along with the Boeotians.
+
+Ajax son of Oileus, never for a moment left the side of Ajax, son
+of Telamon, but as two swart oxen both strain their utmost at the
+plough which they are drawing in a fallow field, and the sweat
+steams upwards from about the roots of their horns--nothing but
+the yoke divides them as they break up the ground till they reach
+the end of the field--even so did the two Ajaxes stand shoulder
+to shoulder by one another. Many and brave comrades followed the
+son of Telamon, to relieve him of his shield when he was overcome
+with sweat and toil, but the Locrians did not follow so close
+after the son of Oileus, for they could not hold their own in a
+hand-to-hand fight. They had no bronze helmets with plumes of
+horse-hair, neither had they shields nor ashen spears, but they
+had come to Troy armed with bows, and with slings of twisted wool
+from which they showered their missiles to break the ranks of the
+Trojans. The others, therefore, with their heavy armour bore the
+brunt of the fight with the Trojans and with Hector, while the
+Locrians shot from behind, under their cover; and thus the
+Trojans began to lose heart, for the arrows threw them into
+confusion.
+
+The Trojans would now have been driven in sorry plight from the
+ships and tents back to windy Ilius, had not Polydamas presently
+said to Hector, "Hector, there is no persuading you to take
+advice. Because heaven has so richly endowed you with the arts of
+war, you think that you must therefore excel others in counsel;
+but you cannot thus claim preeminence in all things. Heaven has
+made one man an excellent soldier; of another it has made a
+dancer or a singer and player on the lyre; while yet in another
+Jove has implanted a wise understanding of which men reap fruit
+to the saving of many, and he himself knows more about it than
+any one; therefore I will say what I think will be best. The
+fight has hemmed you in as with a circle of fire, and even now
+that the Trojans are within the wall some of them stand aloof in
+full armour, while others are fighting scattered and outnumbered
+near the ships. Draw back, therefore, and call your chieftains
+round you, that we may advise together whether to fall now upon
+the ships in the hope that heaven may vouchsafe us victory, or to
+beat a retreat while we can yet safely do so. I greatly fear that
+the Achaeans will pay us their debt of yesterday in full, for
+there is one abiding at their ships who is never weary of battle,
+and who will not hold aloof much longer."
+
+Thus spoke Polydamas, and his words pleased Hector well. He
+sprang in full armour from his chariot and said, "Polydamas,
+gather the chieftains here; I will go yonder into the fight, but
+will return at once when I have given them their orders."
+
+He then sped onward, towering like a snowy mountain, and with a
+loud cry flew through the ranks of the Trojans and their allies.
+When they heard his voice they all hastened to gather round
+Polydamas, the excellent son of Panthous, but Hector kept on
+among the foremost, looking everywhere to find Deiphobus and
+prince Helenus, Adamas son of Asius, and Asius son of Hyrtacus;
+living, indeed, and scatheless he could no longer find them, for
+the two last were lying by the sterns of the Achaean ships, slain
+by the Argives, while the others had been also stricken and
+wounded by them; but upon the left wing of the dread battle he
+found Alexandrus, husband of lovely Helen, cheering his men and
+urging them on to fight. He went up to him and upbraided him.
+"Paris," said he, "evil-hearted Paris, fair to see but woman-mad
+and false of tongue, where are Deiphobus and King Helenus? Where
+are Adamas son of Asius, and Asius son of Hyrtacus? Where too is
+Othryoneus? Ilius is undone and will now surely fall!"
+
+Alexandrus answered, "Hector, why find fault when there is no one
+to find fault with? I should hold aloof from battle on any day
+rather than this, for my mother bore me with nothing of the
+coward about me. From the moment when you set our men fighting
+about the ships we have been staying here and doing battle with
+the Danaans. Our comrades about whom you ask me are dead;
+Deiphobus and King Helenus alone have left the field, wounded
+both of them in the hand, but the son of Saturn saved them alive.
+Now, therefore, lead on where you would have us go, and we will
+follow with right goodwill; you shall not find us fail you in so
+far as our strength holds out, but no man can do more than in him
+lies, no matter how willing he may be."
+
+With these words he satisfied his brother, and the two went
+towards the part of the battle where the fight was thickest,
+about Cebriones, brave Polydamas, Phalces, Orthaeus, godlike
+Polyphetes, Palmys, Ascanius, and Morys son of Hippotion, who had
+come from fertile Ascania on the preceding day to relieve other
+troops. Then Jove urged them on to fight. They flew forth like
+the blasts of some fierce wind that strike earth in the van of a
+thunderstorm--they buffet the salt sea into an uproar; many and
+mighty are the great waves that come crashing in one after the
+other upon the shore with their arching heads all crested with
+foam--even so did rank behind rank of Trojans arrayed in gleaming
+armour follow their leaders onward. The way was led by Hector son
+of Priam, peer of murderous Mars, with his round shield before
+him--his shield of ox-hides covered with plates of bronze--and
+his gleaming helmet upon his temples. He kept stepping forward
+under cover of his shield in every direction, making trial of the
+ranks to see if they would give way before him, but he could not
+daunt the courage of the Achaeans. Ajax was the first to stride
+out and challenge him. "Sir," he cried, "draw near; why do you
+think thus vainly to dismay the Argives? We Achaeans are
+excellent soldiers, but the scourge of Jove has fallen heavily
+upon us. Your heart, forsooth, is set on destroying our ships,
+but we too have hands that can keep you at bay, and your own fair
+town shall be sooner taken and sacked by ourselves. The time is
+near when you shall pray Jove and all the gods in your flight,
+that your steeds may be swifter than hawks as they raise the dust
+on the plain and bear you back to your city."
+
+As he was thus speaking a bird flew by upon his right hand, and
+the host of the Achaeans shouted, for they took heart at the
+omen. But Hector answered, "Ajax, braggart and false of tongue,
+would that I were as sure of being son for evermore to
+aegis-bearing Jove, with Queen Juno for my mother, and of being
+held in like honour with Minerva and Apollo, as I am that this
+day is big with the destruction of the Achaeans; and you shall
+fall among them if you dare abide my spear; it shall rend your
+fair body and bid you glut our hounds and birds of prey with your
+fat and your flesh, as you fall by the ships of the Achaeans."
+
+With these words he led the way and the others followed after
+with a cry that rent the air, while the host shouted behind them.
+The Argives on their part raised a shout likewise, nor did they
+forget their prowess, but stood firm against the onslaught of the
+Trojan chieftains, and the cry from both the hosts rose up to
+heaven and to the brightness of Jove's presence.
+
+
+
+BOOK XIV
+
+  Agamemnon proposes that the Achaeans should sail home, and
+  is rebuked by Ulysses--Juno beguiles Jupiter--Hector is
+  wounded.
+
+NESTOR was sitting over his wine, but the cry of battle did not
+escape him, and he said to the son of Aesculapius, "What, noble
+Machaon, is the meaning of all this? The shouts of men fighting
+by our ships grow stronger and stronger; stay here, therefore,
+and sit over your wine, while fair Hecamede heats you a bath and
+washes the clotted blood from off you. I will go at once to the
+look-out station and see what it is all about."
+
+As he spoke he took up the shield of his son Thrasymedes that was
+lying in his tent, all gleaming with bronze, for Thrasymedes had
+taken his father's shield; he grasped his redoubtable bronze-shod
+spear, and as soon as he was outside saw the disastrous rout of
+the Achaeans who, now that their wall was overthrown, were flying
+pell-mell before the Trojans. As when there is a heavy swell upon
+the sea, but the waves are dumb--they keep their eyes on the
+watch for the quarter whence the fierce winds may spring upon
+them, but they stay where they are and set neither this way nor
+that, till some particular wind sweeps down from heaven to
+determine them--even so did the old man ponder whether to make
+for the crowd of Danaans, or go in search of Agamemnon. In the
+end he deemed it best to go to the son of Atreus; but meanwhile
+the hosts were fighting and killing one another, and the hard
+bronze rattled on their bodies, as they thrust at one another
+with their swords and spears.
+
+The wounded kings, the son of Tydeus, Ulysses, and Agamemnon son
+of Atreus, fell in Nestor as they were coming up from their
+ships--for theirs were drawn up some way from where the fighting
+was going on, being on the shore itself inasmuch as they had been
+beached first, while the wall had been built behind the
+hindermost. The stretch of the shore, wide though it was, did not
+afford room for all the ships, and the host was cramped for
+space, therefore they had placed the ships in rows one behind the
+other, and had filled the whole opening of the bay between the
+two points that formed it. The kings, leaning on their spears,
+were coming out to survey the fight, being in great anxiety, and
+when old Nestor met them they were filled with dismay. Then King
+Agamemnon said to him, "Nestor son of Neleus, honour to the
+Achaean name, why have you left the battle to come hither? I fear
+that what dread Hector said will come true, when he vaunted among
+the Trojans saying that he would not return to Ilius till he had
+fired our ships and killed us; this is what he said, and now it
+is all coming true. Alas! others of the Achaeans, like Achilles,
+are in anger with me that they refuse to fight by the sterns of
+our ships."
+
+Then Nestor knight of Gerene, answered, "It is indeed as you say;
+it is all coming true at this moment, and even Jove who thunders
+from on high cannot prevent it. Fallen is the wall on which we
+relied as an impregnable bulwark both for us and our fleet. The
+Trojans are fighting stubbornly and without ceasing at the ships;
+look where you may you cannot see from what quarter the rout of
+the Achaeans is coming; they are being killed in a confused mass
+and the battle-cry ascends to heaven; let us think, if counsel
+can be of any use, what we had better do; but I do not advise our
+going into battle ourselves, for a man cannot fight when he is
+wounded."
+
+And King Agamemnon answered, "Nestor, if the Trojans are indeed
+fighting at the rear of our ships, and neither the wall nor the
+trench has served us--over which the Danaans toiled so hard, and
+which they deemed would be an impregnable bulwark both for us and
+our fleet--I see it must be the will of Jove that the Achaeans
+should perish ingloriously here, far from Argos. I knew when Jove
+was willing to defend us, and I know now that he is raising the
+Trojans to like honour with the gods, while us, on the other
+hand, he has bound hand and foot. Now, therefore, let us all do
+as I say; let us bring down the ships that are on the beach and
+draw them into the water; let us make them fast to their
+mooring-stones a little way out, against the fall of night--if
+even by night the Trojans will desist from fighting; we may then
+draw down the rest of the fleet. There is nothing wrong in flying
+ruin even by night. It is better for a man that he should fly and
+be saved than be caught and killed."
+
+Ulysses looked fiercely at him and said, "Son of Atreus, what are
+you talking about? Wretch, you should have commanded some other
+and baser army, and not been ruler over us to whom Jove has
+allotted a life of hard fighting from youth to old age, till we
+every one of us perish. Is it thus that you would quit the city
+of Troy, to win which we have suffered so much hardship? Hold
+your peace, lest some other of the Achaeans hear you say what no
+man who knows how to give good counsel, no king over so great a
+host as that of the Argives should ever have let fall from his
+lips. I despise your judgement utterly for what you have been
+saying. Would you, then, have us draw down our ships into the
+water while the battle is raging, and thus play further into the
+hands of the conquering Trojans? It would be ruin; the Achaeans
+will not go on fighting when they see the ships being drawn into
+the water, but will cease attacking and keep turning their eyes
+towards them; your counsel, therefore, sir captain, would be our
+destruction."
+
+Agamemnon answered, "Ulysses, your rebuke has stung me to the
+heart. I am not, however, ordering the Achaeans to draw their
+ships into the sea whether they will or no. Someone, it may be,
+old or young, can offer us better counsel which I shall rejoice
+to hear."
+
+Then said Diomed, "Such an one is at hand; he is not far to seek,
+if you will listen to me and not resent my speaking though I am
+younger than any of you. I am by lineage son to a noble sire,
+Tydeus, who lies buried at Thebes. For Portheus had three noble
+sons, two of whom, Agrius and Melas, abode in Pleuron and rocky
+Calydon. The third was the knight Oeneus, my father's father, and
+he was the most valiant of them all. Oeneus remained in his own
+country, but my father (as Jove and the other gods ordained it)
+migrated to Argos. He married into the family of Adrastus, and
+his house was one of great abundance, for he had large estates of
+rich corn-growing land, with much orchard ground as well, and he
+had many sheep; moreover he excelled all the Argives in the use
+of the spear. You must yourselves have heard whether these things
+are true or no; therefore when I say well despise not my words as
+though I were a coward or of ignoble birth. I say, then, let us
+go to the fight as we needs must, wounded though we be. When
+there, we may keep out of the battle and beyond the range of the
+spears lest we get fresh wounds in addition to what we have
+already, but we can spur on others, who have been indulging their
+spleen and holding aloof from battle hitherto."
+
+Thus did he speak; whereon they did even as he had said and set
+out, King Agamemnon leading the way.
+
+Meanwhile Neptune had kept no blind look-out, and came up to them
+in the semblance of an old man. He took Agamemnon's right hand in
+his own and said, "Son of Atreus, I take it Achilles is glad now
+that he sees the Achaeans routed and slain, for he is utterly
+without remorse--may he come to a bad end and heaven confound
+him. As for yourself, the blessed gods are not yet so bitterly
+angry with you but that the princes and counsellors of the
+Trojans shall again raise the dust upon the plain, and you shall
+see them flying from the ships and tents towards their city."
+
+With this he raised a mighty cry of battle, and sped forward to
+the plain. The voice that came from his deep chest was as that of
+nine or ten thousand men when they are shouting in the thick of a
+fight, and it put fresh courage into the hearts of the Achaeans
+to wage war and do battle without ceasing.
+
+Juno of the golden throne looked down as she stood upon a peak of
+Olympus and her heart was gladdened at the sight of him who was
+at once her brother and her brother-in-law, hurrying hither and
+thither amid the fighting. Then she turned her eyes to Jove as he
+sat on the topmost crests of many-fountained Ida, and loathed
+him. She set herself to think how she might hoodwink him, and in
+the end she deemed that it would be best for her to go to Ida and
+array herself in rich attire, in the hope that Jove might become
+enamoured of her, and wish to embrace her. While he was thus
+engaged a sweet and careless sleep might be made to steal over
+his eyes and senses.
+
+She went, therefore, to the room which her son Vulcan had made
+her, and the doors of which he had cunningly fastened by means of
+a secret key so that no other god could open them. Here she
+entered and closed the doors behind her. She cleansed all the
+dirt from her fair body with ambrosia, then she anointed herself
+with olive oil, ambrosial, very soft, and scented specially for
+herself--if it were so much as shaken in the bronze-floored house
+of Jove, the scent pervaded the universe of heaven and earth.
+With this she anointed her delicate skin, and then she plaited
+the fair ambrosial locks that flowed in a stream of golden
+tresses from her immortal head. She put on the wondrous robe
+which Minerva had worked for her with consummate art, and had
+embroidered with manifold devices; she fastened it about her
+bosom with golden clasps, and she girded herself with a girdle
+that had a hundred tassels: then she fastened her earrings, three
+brilliant pendants that glistened most beautifully, through the
+pierced lobes of her ears, and threw a lovely new veil over her
+head. She bound her sandals on to her feet, and when she had
+arrayed herself perfectly to her satisfaction, she left her room
+and called Venus to come aside and speak to her. "My dear child,"
+said she, "will you do what I am going to ask of you, or will
+refuse me because you are angry at my being on the Danaan side,
+while you are on the Trojan?"
+
+Jove's daughter Venus answered, "Juno, august queen of goddesses,
+daughter of mighty Saturn, say what you want, and I will do it
+for you at once, if I can, and if it can be done at all."
+
+Then Juno told her a lying tale and said, "I want you to endow me
+with some of those fascinating charms, the spells of which bring
+all things mortal and immortal to your feet. I am going to the
+world's end to visit Oceanus (from whom all we gods proceed) and
+mother Tethys: they received me in their house, took care of me,
+and brought me up, having taken me over from Rhaea when Jove
+imprisoned great Saturn in the depths that are under earth and
+sea. I must go and see them that I may make peace between them;
+they have been quarrelling, and are so angry that they have not
+slept with one another this long while; if I can bring them round
+and restore them to one another's embraces, they will be grateful
+to me and love me for ever afterwards."
+
+Thereon laughter-loving Venus said, "I cannot and must not refuse
+you, for you sleep in the arms of Jove who is our king."
+
+As she spoke she loosed from her bosom the curiously embroidered
+girdle into which all her charms had been wrought--love, desire,
+and that sweet flattery which steals the judgement even of the
+most prudent. She gave the girdle to Juno and said, "Take this
+girdle wherein all my charms reside and lay it in your bosom. If
+you will wear it I promise you that your errand, be it what it
+may, will not be bootless."
+
+When she heard this Juno smiled, and still smiling she laid the
+girdle in her bosom.
+
+Venus now went back into the house of Jove, while Juno darted
+down from the summits of Olympus. She passed over Pieria and fair
+Emathia, and went on and on till she came to the snowy ranges of
+the Thracian horsemen, over whose topmost crests she sped without
+ever setting foot to ground. When she came to Athos she went on
+over the, waves of the sea till she reached Lemnos, the city of
+noble Thoas. There she met Sleep, own brother to Death, and
+caught him by the hand, saying, "Sleep, you who lord it alike
+over mortals and immortals, if you ever did me a service in times
+past, do one for me now, and I shall be grateful to you ever
+after. Close Jove's keen eyes for me in slumber while I hold him
+clasped in my embrace, and I will give you a beautiful golden
+seat, that can never fall to pieces; my clubfooted son Vulcan
+shall make it for you, and he shall give it a footstool for you
+to rest your fair feet upon when you are at table."
+
+Then Sleep answered, "Juno, great queen of goddesses, daughter of
+mighty Saturn, I would lull any other of the gods to sleep
+without compunction, not even excepting the waters of Oceanus
+from whom all of them proceed, but I dare not go near Jove, nor
+send him to sleep unless he bids me. I have had one lesson
+already through doing what you asked me, on the day when Jove's
+mighty son Hercules set sail from Ilius after having sacked the
+city of the Trojans. At your bidding I suffused my sweet self
+over the mind of aegis-bearing Jove, and laid him to rest;
+meanwhile you hatched a plot against Hercules, and set the blasts
+of the angry winds beating upon the sea, till you took him to the
+goodly city of Cos, away from all his friends. Jove was furious
+when he awoke, and began hurling the gods about all over the
+house; he was looking more particularly for myself, and would
+have flung me down through space into the sea where I should
+never have been heard of any more, had not Night who cows both
+men and gods protected me. I fled to her and Jove left off
+looking for me in spite of his being so angry, for he did not
+dare do anything to displease Night. And now you are again asking
+me to do something on which I cannot venture."
+
+And Juno said, "Sleep, why do you take such notions as those into
+your head? Do you think Jove will be as anxious to help the
+Trojans, as he was about his own son? Come, I will marry you to
+one of the youngest of the Graces, and she shall be your own--
+Pasithea, whom you have always wanted to marry."
+
+Sleep was pleased when he heard this, and answered, "Then swear
+it to me by the dread waters of the river Styx; lay one hand on
+the bounteous earth, and the other on the sheen of the sea, so
+that all the gods who dwell down below with Saturn may be our
+witnesses, and see that you really do give me one of the youngest
+of the Graces--Pasithea, whom I have always wanted to marry."
+
+Juno did as he had said. She swore, and invoked all the gods of
+the nether world, who are called Titans, to witness. When she had
+completed her oath, the two enshrouded themselves in a thick mist
+and sped lightly forward, leaving Lemnos and Imbrus behind them.
+Presently they reached many-fountained Ida, mother of wild
+beasts, and Lectum where they left the sea to go on by land, and
+the tops of the trees of the forest soughed under the going of
+their feet. Here Sleep halted, and ere Jove caught sight of him
+he climbed a lofty pine-tree--the tallest that reared its head
+towards heaven on all Ida. He hid himself behind the branches and
+sat there in the semblance of the sweet-singing bird that haunts
+the mountains and is called Chalcis by the gods, but men call it
+Cymindis. Juno then went to Gargarus, the topmost peak of Ida,
+and Jove, driver of the clouds, set eyes upon her. As soon as he
+did so he became inflamed with the same passionate desire for her
+that he had felt when they had first enjoyed each other's
+embraces, and slept with one another without their dear parents
+knowing anything about it. He went up to her and said, "What do
+you want that you have come hither from Olympus--and that too
+with neither chariot nor horses to convey you?"
+
+Then Juno told him a lying tale and said, "I am going to the
+world's end, to visit Oceanus, from whom all we gods proceed, and
+mother Tethys; they received me into their house, took care of
+me, and brought me up. I must go and see them that I may make
+peace between them: they have been quarrelling, and are so angry
+that they have not slept with one another this long time. The
+horses that will take me over land and sea are stationed on the
+lowermost spurs of many-fountained Ida, and I have come here from
+Olympus on purpose to consult you. I was afraid you might be
+angry with me later on, if I went to the house of Oceanus without
+letting you know."
+
+And Jove said, "Juno, you can choose some other time for paying
+your visit to Oceanus--for the present let us devote ourselves to
+love and to the enjoyment of one another. Never yet have I been
+so overpowered by passion neither for goddess nor mortal woman as
+I am at this moment for yourself--not even when I was in love
+with the wife of Ixion who bore me Pirithous, peer of gods in
+counsel, nor yet with Danae the daintily-ancled daughter of
+Acrisius, who bore me the famed hero Perseus. Then there was the
+daughter of Phoenix, who bore me Minos and Rhadamanthus: there
+was Semele, and Alcmena in Thebes by whom I begot my lion-hearted
+son Hercules, while Semele became mother to Bacchus the comforter
+of mankind. There was queen Ceres again, and lovely Leto, and
+yourself--but with none of these was I ever so much enamoured as
+I now am with you."
+
+Juno again answered him with a lying tale. "Most dread son of
+Saturn," she exclaimed, "what are you talking about? Would you
+have us enjoy one another here on the top of Mount Ida, where
+everything can be seen? What if one of the ever-living gods
+should see us sleeping together, and tell the others? It would be
+such a scandal that when I had risen from your embraces I could
+never show myself inside your house again; but if you are so
+minded, there is a room which your son Vulcan has made me, and he
+has given it good strong doors; if you would so have it, let us
+go thither and lie down."
+
+And Jove answered, "Juno, you need not be afraid that either god
+or man will see you, for I will enshroud both of us in such a
+dense golden cloud, that the very sun for all his bright piercing
+beams shall not see through it."
+
+With this the son of Saturn caught his wife in his embrace;
+whereon the earth sprouted them a cushion of young grass, with
+dew-bespangled lotus, crocus, and hyacinth, so soft and thick
+that it raised them well above the ground. Here they laid
+themselves down and overhead they were covered by a fair cloud of
+gold, from which there fell glittering dew-drops.
+
+Thus, then, did the sire of all things repose peacefully on the
+crest of Ida, overcome at once by sleep and love, and he held his
+spouse in his arms. Meanwhile Sleep made off to the ships of the
+Achaeans, to tell earth-encircling Neptune, lord of the
+earthquake. When he had found him he said, "Now, Neptune, you can
+help the Danaans with a will, and give them victory though it be
+only for a short time while Jove is still sleeping. I have sent
+him into a sweet slumber, and Juno has beguiled him into going to
+bed with her."
+
+Sleep now departed and went his ways to and fro among mankind,
+leaving Neptune more eager than ever to help the Danaans. He
+darted forward among the first ranks and shouted saying,
+"Argives, shall we let Hector son of Priam have the triumph of
+taking our ships and covering himself with glory? This is what he
+says that he shall now do, seeing that Achilles is still in
+dudgeon at his ship; we shall get on very well without him if we
+keep each other in heart and stand by one another. Now,
+therefore, let us all do as I say. Let us each take the best and
+largest shield we can lay hold of, put on our helmets, and sally
+forth with our longest spears in our hands; I will lead you on,
+and Hector son of Priam, rage as he may, will not dare to hold
+out against us. If any good staunch soldier has only a small
+shield, let him hand it over to a worse man, and take a larger
+one for himself."
+
+Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. The son of
+Tydeus, Ulysses, and Agamemnon, wounded though they were, set the
+others in array, and went about everywhere effecting the
+exchanges of armour; the most valiant took the best armour, and
+gave the worse to the worse man. When they had donned their
+bronze armour they marched on with Neptune at their head. In his
+strong hand he grasped his terrible sword, keen of edge and
+flashing like lightning; woe to him who comes across it in the
+day of battle; all men quake for fear and keep away from it.
+
+Hector on the other side set the Trojans in array. Thereon
+Neptune and Hector waged fierce war on one another--Hector on the
+Trojan and Neptune on the Argive side. Mighty was the uproar as
+the two forces met; the sea came rolling in towards the ships and
+tents of the Achaeans, but waves do not thunder on the shore more
+loudly when driven before the blast of Boreas, nor do the flames
+of a forest fire roar more fiercely when it is well alight upon
+the mountains, nor does the wind bellow with ruder music as it
+tears on through the tops of when it is blowing its hardest, than
+the terrible shout which the Trojans and Achaeans raised as they
+sprang upon one another.
+
+Hector first aimed his spear at Ajax, who was turned full towards
+him, nor did he miss his aim. The spear struck him where two
+bands passed over his chest--the band of his shield and that of
+his silver-studded sword--and these protected his body. Hector
+was angry that his spear should have been hurled in vain, and
+withdrew under cover of his men. As he was thus retreating, Ajax
+son of Telamon, struck him with a stone, of which there were many
+lying about under the men's feet as they fought--brought there to
+give support to the ships' sides as they lay on the shore. Ajax
+caught up one of them and struck Hector above the rim of his
+shield close to his neck; the blow made him spin round like a top
+and reel in all directions. As an oak falls headlong when
+uprooted by the lightning flash of father Jove, and there is a
+terrible smell of brimstone--no man can help being dismayed if he
+is standing near it, for a thunderbolt is a very awful thing--
+even so did Hector fall to earth and bite the dust. His spear
+fell from his hand, but his shield and helmet were made fast
+about his body, and his bronze armour rang about him.
+
+The sons of the Achaeans came running with a loud cry towards
+him, hoping to drag him away, and they showered their darts on
+the Trojans, but none of them could wound him before he was
+surrounded and covered by the princes Polydamas, Aeneas, Agenor,
+Sarpedon captain of the Lycians, and noble Glaucus. Of the
+others, too, there was not one who was unmindful of him, and they
+held their round shields over him to cover him. His comrades then
+lifted him off the ground and bore him away from the battle to
+the place where his horses stood waiting for him at the rear of
+the fight with their driver and the chariot; these then took him
+towards the city groaning and in great pain. When they reached
+the ford of the fair stream of Xanthus, begotten of Immortal
+Jove, they took him from off his chariot and laid him down on the
+ground; they poured water over him, and as they did so he
+breathed again and opened his eyes. Then kneeling on his knees he
+vomited blood, but soon fell back on to the ground, and his eyes
+were again closed in darkness for he was still stunned by the
+blow.
+
+When the Argives saw Hector leaving the field, they took heart
+and set upon the Trojans yet more furiously. Ajax fleet son of
+Oileus began by springing on Satnius son of Enops, and wounding
+him with his spear: a fair naiad nymph had borne him to Enops as
+he was herding cattle by the banks of the river Satnioeis. The
+son of Oileus came up to him and struck him in the flank so that
+he fell, and a fierce fight between Trojans and Danaans raged
+round his body. Polydamas son of Panthous drew near to avenge
+him, and wounded Prothoenor son of Areilycus on the right
+shoulder; the terrible spear went right through his shoulder, and
+he clutched the earth as he fell in the dust. Polydamas vaunted
+loudly over him saying, "Again I take it that the spear has not
+sped in vain from the strong hand of the son of Panthous; an
+Argive has caught it in his body, and it will serve him for a
+staff as he goes down into the house of Hades."
+
+The Argives were maddened by this boasting. Ajax son of Telamon
+was more angry than any, for the man had fallen close beside him;
+so he aimed at Polydamas as he was retreating, but Polydamas
+saved himself by swerving aside and the spear struck Archelochus
+son of Antenor, for heaven counselled his destruction; it struck
+him where the head springs from the neck at the top joint of the
+spine, and severed both the tendons at the back of the head. His
+head, mouth, and nostrils reached the ground long before his legs
+and knees could do so, and Ajax shouted to Polydamas saying,
+"Think, Polydamas, and tell me truly whether this man is not as
+well worth killing as Prothoenor was: he seems rich, and of rich
+family, a brother, it may be, or son of the knight Antenor, for
+he is very like him."
+
+But he knew well who it was, and the Trojans were greatly
+angered. Acamas then bestrode his brother's body and wounded
+Promachus the Boeotian with his spear, for he was trying to drag
+his brother's body away. Acamas vaunted loudly over him saying,
+"Argive archers, braggarts that you are, toil and suffering shall
+not be for us only, but some of you too shall fall here as well
+as ourselves. See how Promachus now sleeps, vanquished by my
+spear; payment for my brother's blood has not been long delayed;
+a man, therefore, may well be thankful if he leaves a kinsman in
+his house behind him to avenge his fall."
+
+His taunts infuriated the Argives, and Peneleos was more enraged
+than any of them. He sprang towards Acamas, but Acamas did not
+stand his ground, and he killed Ilioneus son of the rich
+flock-master Phorbas, whom Mercury had favoured and endowed with
+greater wealth than any other of the Trojans. Ilioneus was his
+only son, and Peneleos now wounded him in the eye under his
+eyebrows, tearing the eye-ball from its socket: the spear went
+right through the eye into the nape of the neck, and he fell,
+stretching out both hands before him. Peneleos then drew his
+sword and smote him on the neck, so that both head and helmet
+came tumbling down to the ground with the spear still sticking in
+the eye; he then held up the head, as though it had been a
+poppy-head, and showed it to the Trojans, vaunting over them as
+he did so. "Trojans," he cried, "bid the father and mother of
+noble Ilioneus make moan for him in their house, for the wife
+also of Promachus son of Alegenor will never be gladdened by the
+coming of her dear husband--when we Argives return with our ships
+from Troy."
+
+As he spoke fear fell upon them, and every man looked round about
+to see whither he might fly for safety.
+
+Tell me now, O Muses that dwell on Olympus, who was the first of
+the Argives to bear away blood-stained spoils after Neptune lord
+of the earthquake had turned the fortune of war. Ajax son of
+Telamon was first to wound Hyrtius son of Gyrtius, captain of the
+staunch Mysians. Antilochus killed Phalces and Mermerus, while
+Meriones slew Morys and Hippotion, Teucer also killed Prothoon
+and Periphetes. The son of Atreus then wounded Hyperenor shepherd
+of his people, in the flank, and the bronze point made his
+entrails gush out as it tore in among them; on this his life came
+hurrying out of him at the place where he had been wounded, and
+his eyes were closed in darkness. Ajax son of Oileus killed more
+than any other, for there was no man so fleet as he to pursue
+flying foes when Jove had spread panic among them.
+
+
+
+BOOK XV
+
+  Jove awakes, tells Apollo to heal Hector, and the Trojans
+  again become victorious.
+
+BUT when their flight had taken them past the trench and the set
+stakes, and many had fallen by the hands of the Danaans, the
+Trojans made a halt on reaching their chariots, routed and pale
+with fear. Jove now woke on the crests of Ida, where he was lying
+with golden-throned Juno by his side, and starting to his feet he
+saw the Trojans and Achaeans, the one thrown into confusion, and
+the others driving them pell-mell before them with King Neptune
+in their midst. He saw Hector lying on the ground with his
+comrades gathered round him, gasping for breath, wandering in
+mind and vomiting blood, for it was not the feeblest of the
+Achaeans who struck him.
+
+The sire of gods and men had pity on him, and looked fiercely on
+Juno. "I see, Juno," said he, "you mischief-making trickster,
+that your cunning has stayed Hector from fighting and has caused
+the rout of his host. I am in half a mind to thrash you, in which
+case you will be the first to reap the fruits of your scurvy
+knavery. Do you not remember how once upon a time I had you
+hanged? I fastened two anvils on to your feet, and bound your
+hands in a chain of gold which none might break, and you hung in
+mid-air among the clouds. All the gods in Olympus were in a fury,
+but they could not reach you to set you free; when I caught any
+one of them I gripped him and hurled him from the heavenly
+threshold till he came fainting down to earth; yet even this did
+not relieve my mind from the incessant anxiety which I felt about
+noble Hercules whom you and Boreas had spitefully conveyed beyond
+the seas to Cos, after suborning the tempests; but I rescued him,
+and notwithstanding all his mighty labours I brought him back
+again to Argos. I would remind you of this that you may learn to
+leave off being so deceitful, and discover how much you are
+likely to gain by the embraces out of which you have come here to
+trick me."
+
+Juno trembled as he spoke, and said, "May heaven above and earth
+below be my witnesses, with the waters of the river Styx--and
+this is the most solemn oath that a blessed god can take--nay, I
+swear also by your own almighty head and by our bridal bed--
+things over which I could never possibly perjure myself--that
+Neptune is not punishing Hector and the Trojans and helping the
+Achaeans through any doing of mine; it is all of his own mere
+motion because he was sorry to see the Achaeans hard pressed at
+their ships: if I were advising him, I should tell him to do as
+you bid him."
+
+The sire of gods and men smiled and answered, "If you, Juno, were
+always to support me when we sit in council of the gods, Neptune,
+like it or no, would soon come round to your and my way of
+thinking. If, then, you are speaking the truth and mean what you
+say, go among the rank and file of the gods, and tell Iris and
+Apollo lord of the bow, that I want them--Iris, that she may go
+to the Achaean host and tell Neptune to leave off fighting and go
+home, and Apollo, that he may send Hector again into battle and
+give him fresh strength; he will thus forget his present
+sufferings, and drive the Achaeans back in confusion till they
+fall among the ships of Achilles son of Peleus. Achilles will
+then send his comrade Patroclus into battle, and Hector will kill
+him in front of Ilius after he has slain many warriors, and among
+them my own noble son Sarpedon. Achilles will kill Hector to
+avenge Patroclus, and from that time I will bring it about that
+the Achaeans shall persistently drive the Trojans back till they
+fulfil the counsels of Minerva and take Ilius. But I will not
+stay my anger, nor permit any god to help the Danaans till I have
+accomplished the desire of the son of Peleus, according to the
+promise I made by bowing my head on the day when Thetis touched
+my knees and besought me to give him honour."
+
+Juno heeded his words and went from the heights of Ida to great
+Olympus. Swift as the thought of one whose fancy carries him over
+vast continents, and he says to himself, "Now I will be here, or
+there," and he would have all manner of things--even so swiftly
+did Juno wing her way till she came to high Olympus and went in
+among the gods who were gathered in the house of Jove. When they
+saw her they all of them came up to her, and held out their cups
+to her by way of greeting. She let the others be, but took the
+cup offered her by lovely Themis, who was first to come running
+up to her. "Juno," said she, "why are you here? And you seem
+troubled--has your husband the son of Saturn been frightening
+you?"
+
+And Juno answered, "Themis, do not ask me about it. You know what
+a proud and cruel disposition my husband has. Lead the gods to
+table, where you and all the immortals can hear the wicked
+designs which he has avowed. Many a one, mortal and immortal,
+will be angered by them, however peaceably he may be feasting
+now."
+
+On this Juno sat down, and the gods were troubled throughout the
+house of Jove. Laughter sat on her lips but her brow was furrowed
+with care, and she spoke up in a rage. "Fools that we are," she
+cried, "to be thus madly angry with Jove; we keep on wanting to
+go up to him and stay him by force or by persuasion, but he sits
+aloof and cares for nobody, for he knows that he is much stronger
+than any other of the immortals. Make the best, therefore, of
+whatever ills he may choose to send each one of you; Mars, I take
+it, has had a taste of them already, for his son Ascalaphus has
+fallen in battle--the man whom of all others he loved most dearly
+and whose father he owns himself to be."
+
+When he heard this Mars smote his two sturdy thighs with the flat
+of his hands, and said in anger, "Do not blame me, you gods that
+dwell in heaven, if I go to the ships of the Achaeans and avenge
+the death of my son, even though it end in my being struck by
+Jove's lightning and lying in blood and dust among the corpses."
+
+As he spoke he gave orders to yoke his horses Panic and Rout,
+while he put on his armour. On this, Jove would have been roused
+to still more fierce and implacable enmity against the other
+immortals, had not Minerva, alarmed for the safety of the gods,
+sprung from her seat and hurried outside. She tore the helmet
+from his head and the shield from his shoulders, and she took the
+bronze spear from his strong hand and set it on one side; then
+she said to Mars, "Madman, you are undone; you have ears that
+hear not, or you have lost all judgement and understanding; have
+you not heard what Juno has said on coming straight from the
+presence of Olympian Jove? Do you wish to go through all kinds of
+suffering before you are brought back sick and sorry to Olympus,
+after having caused infinite mischief to all us others? Jove
+would instantly leave the Trojans and Achaeans to themselves; he
+would come to Olympus to punish us, and would grip us up one
+after another, guilty or not guilty. Therefore lay aside your
+anger for the death of your son; better men than he have either
+been killed already or will fall hereafter, and one cannot
+protect every one's whole family."
+
+With these words she took Mars back to his seat. Meanwhile Juno
+called Apollo outside, with Iris the messenger of the gods.
+"Jove," she said to them, "desires you to go to him at once on
+Mt. Ida; when you have seen him you are to do as he may then bid
+you."
+
+Thereon Juno left them and resumed her seat inside, while Iris
+and Apollo made all haste on their way. When they reached
+many-fountained Ida, mother of wild beasts, they found Jove
+seated on topmost Gargarus with a fragrant cloud encircling his
+head as with a diadem. They stood before his presence, and he was
+pleased with them for having been so quick in obeying the orders
+his wife had given them.
+
+He spoke to Iris first. "Go," said he, "fleet Iris, tell King
+Neptune what I now bid you--and tell him true. Bid him leave off
+fighting, and either join the company of the gods, or go down
+into the sea. If he takes no heed and disobeys me, let him
+consider well whether he is strong enough to hold his own against
+me if I attack him. I am older and much stronger than he is; yet
+he is not afraid to set himself up as on a level with myself, of
+whom all the other gods stand in awe."
+
+Iris, fleet as the wind, obeyed him, and as the cold hail or
+snowflakes that fly from out the clouds before the blast of
+Boreas, even so did she wing her way till she came close up to
+the great shaker of the earth. Then she said, "I have come, O
+dark-haired king that holds the world in his embrace, to bring
+you a message from Jove. He bids you leave off fighting, and
+either join the company of the gods or go down into the sea; if,
+however, you take no heed and disobey him, he says he will come
+down here and fight you. He would have you keep out of his reach,
+for he is older and much stronger than you are, and yet you are
+not afraid to set yourself up as on a level with himself, of whom
+all the other gods stand in awe."
+
+Neptune was very angry and said, "Great heavens! strong as Jove
+may be, he has said more than he can do if he has threatened
+violence against me, who am of like honour with himself. We were
+three brothers whom Rhea bore to Saturn--Jove, myself, and Hades
+who rules the world below. Heaven and earth were divided into
+three parts, and each of us was to have an equal share. When we
+cast lots, it fell to me to have my dwelling in the sea for
+evermore; Hades took the darkness of the realms under the earth,
+while air and sky and clouds were the portion that fell to Jove;
+but earth and great Olympus are the common property of all.
+Therefore I will not walk as Jove would have me. For all his
+strength, let him keep to his own third share and be contented
+without threatening to lay hands upon me as though I were nobody.
+Let him keep his bragging talk for his own sons and daughters,
+who must perforce obey him."
+
+Iris fleet as the wind then answered, "Am I really, Neptune, to
+take this daring and unyielding message to Jove, or will you
+reconsider your answer? Sensible people are open to argument, and
+you know that the Erinyes always range themselves on the side of
+the older person."
+
+Neptune answered, "Goddess Iris, your words have been spoken in
+season. It is well when a messenger shows so much discretion.
+Nevertheless it cuts me to the very heart that any one should
+rebuke so angrily another who is his own peer, and of like empire
+with himself. Now, however, I will give way in spite of my
+displeasure; furthermore let me tell you, and I mean what I say--
+if contrary to the desire of myself, Minerva driver of the spoil,
+Juno, Mercury, and King Vulcan, Jove spares steep Ilius, and will
+not let the Achaeans have the great triumph of sacking it, let
+him understand that he will incur our implacable resentment."
+
+Neptune now left the field to go down under the sea, and sorely
+did the Achaeans miss him. Then Jove said to Apollo, "Go, dear
+Phoebus, to Hector, for Neptune who holds the earth in his
+embrace has now gone down under the sea to avoid the severity of
+my displeasure. Had he not done so those gods who are below with
+Saturn would have come to hear of the fight between us. It is
+better for both of us that he should have curbed his anger and
+kept out of my reach, for I should have had much trouble with
+him. Take, then, your tasselled aegis, and shake it furiously, so
+as to set the Achaean heroes in a panic; take, moreover, brave
+Hector, O Far-Darter, into your own care, and rouse him to deeds
+of daring, till the Achaeans are sent flying back to their ships
+and to the Hellespont. From that point I will think it well over,
+how the Achaeans may have a respite from their troubles."
+
+Apollo obeyed his father's saying, and left the crests of Ida,
+flying like a falcon, bane of doves and swiftest of all birds. He
+found Hector no longer lying upon the ground, but sitting up, for
+he had just come to himself again. He knew those who were about
+him, and the sweat and hard breathing had left him from the
+moment when the will of aegis-bearing Jove had revived him.
+Apollo stood beside him and said, "Hector son of Priam, why are
+you so faint, and why are you here away from the others? Has any
+mishap befallen you?"
+
+Hector in a weak voice answered, "And which, kind sir, of the
+gods are you, who now ask me thus? Do you not know that Ajax
+struck me on the chest with a stone as I was killing his comrades
+at the ships of the Achaeans, and compelled me to leave off
+fighting? I made sure that this very day I should breathe my last
+and go down into the house of Hades."
+
+Then King Apollo said to him, "Take heart; the son of Saturn has
+sent you a mighty helper from Ida to stand by you and defend you,
+even me, Phoebus Apollo of the golden sword, who have been
+guardian hitherto not only of yourself but of your city. Now,
+therefore, order your horsemen to drive their chariots to the
+ships in great multitudes. I will go before your horses to smooth
+the way for them, and will turn the Achaeans in flight."
+
+As he spoke he infused great strength into the shepherd of his
+people. And as a horse, stabled and full-fed, breaks loose and
+gallops gloriously over the plain to the place where he is wont
+to take his bath in the river--he tosses his head, and his mane
+streams over his shoulders as in all the pride of his strength he
+flies full speed to the pastures where the mares are feeding--
+even so Hector, when he heard what the god said, urged his
+horsemen on, and sped forward as fast as his limbs could take
+him. As country peasants set their hounds on to a homed stag or
+wild goat--he has taken shelter under rock or thicket, and they
+cannot find him, but, lo, a bearded lion whom their shouts have
+roused stands in their path, and they are in no further humour
+for the chase--even so the Achaeans were still charging on in a
+body, using their swords and spears pointed at both ends, but
+when they saw Hector going about among his men they were afraid,
+and their hearts fell down into their feet.
+
+Then spoke Thoas son of Andraemon, leader of the Aetolians, a man
+who could throw a good throw, and who was staunch also in close
+fight, while few could surpass him in debate when opinions were
+divided. He then with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them
+thus: "What, in heaven's name, do I now see? Is it not Hector
+come to life again? Every one made sure he had been killed by
+Ajax son of Telamon, but it seems that one of the gods has again
+rescued him. He has killed many of us Danaans already, and I take
+it will yet do so, for the hand of Jove must be with him or he
+would never dare show himself so masterful in the forefront of
+the battle. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; let us order
+the main body of our forces to fall back upon the ships, but let
+those of us who profess to be the flower of the army stand firm,
+and see whether we cannot hold Hector back at the point of our
+spears as soon as he comes near us; I conceive that he will then
+think better of it before he tries to charge into the press of
+the Danaans."
+
+Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. Those who
+were about Ajax and King Idomeneus, the followers moreover of
+Teucer, Meriones, and Meges peer of Mars called all their best
+men about them and sustained the fight against Hector and the
+Trojans, but the main body fell back upon the ships of the
+Achaeans.
+
+The Trojans pressed forward in a dense body, with Hector striding
+on at their head. Before him went Phoebus Apollo shrouded in
+cloud about his shoulders. He bore aloft the terrible aegis with
+its shaggy fringe, which Vulcan the smith had given Jove to
+strike terror into the hearts of men. With this in his hand he
+led on the Trojans.
+
+The Argives held together and stood their ground. The cry of
+battle rose high from either side, and the arrows flew from the
+bowstrings. Many a spear sped from strong hands and fastened in
+the bodies of many a valiant warrior, while others fell to earth
+midway, before they could taste of man's fair flesh and glut
+themselves with blood. So long as Phoebus Apollo held his aegis
+quietly and without shaking it, the weapons on either side took
+effect and the people fell, but when he shook it straight in the
+face of the Danaans and raised his mighty battle-cry their hearts
+fainted within them and they forgot their former prowess. As when
+two wild beasts spring in the dead of night on a herd of cattle
+or a large flock of sheep when the herdsman is not there--even so
+were the Danaans struck helpless, for Apollo filled them with
+panic and gave victory to Hector and the Trojans.
+
+The fight then became more scattered and they killed one another
+where they best could. Hector killed Stichius and Arcesilaus, the
+one, leader of the Boeotians, and the other, friend and comrade
+of Menestheus. Aeneas killed Medon and Iasus. The first was
+bastard son to Oileus, and brother to Ajax, but he lived in
+Phylace away from his own country, for he had killed a man, a
+kinsman of his stepmother Eriopis whom Oileus had married. Iasus
+had become a leader of the Athenians, and was son of Sphelus the
+son of Boucolos. Polydamas killed Mecisteus, and Polites Echius,
+in the front of the battle, while Agenor slew Clonius. Paris
+struck Deiochus from behind in the lower part of the shoulder, as
+he was flying among the foremost, and the point of the spear went
+clean through him.
+
+While they were spoiling these heroes of their armour, the
+Achaeans were flying pell-mell to the trench and the set stakes,
+and were forced back within their wall. Hector then cried out to
+the Trojans, "Forward to the ships, and let the spoils be. If I
+see any man keeping back on the other side the wall away from the
+ships I will have him killed: his kinsmen and kinswomen shall not
+give him his dues of fire, but dogs shall tear him in pieces in
+front of our city."
+
+As he spoke he laid his whip about his horses' shoulders and
+called to the Trojans throughout their ranks; the Trojans shouted
+with a cry that rent the air, and kept their horses neck and neck
+with his own. Phoebus Apollo went before, and kicked down the
+banks of the deep trench into its middle so as to make a great
+broad bridge, as broad as the throw of a spear when a man is
+trying his strength. The Trojan battalions poured over the
+bridge, and Apollo with his redoubtable aegis led the way. He
+kicked down the wall of the Achaeans as easily as a child who
+playing on the sea-shore has built a house of sand and then kicks
+it down again and destroys it--even so did you, O Apollo, shed
+toil and trouble upon the Argives, filling them with panic and
+confusion.
+
+Thus then were the Achaeans hemmed in at their ships, calling out
+to one another and raising their hands with loud cries every man
+to heaven. Nestor of Gerene, tower of strength to the Achaeans,
+lifted up his hands to the starry firmament of heaven, and prayed
+more fervently than any of them. "Father Jove," said he, "if ever
+any one in wheat-growing Argos burned you fat thigh-bones of
+sheep or heifer and prayed that he might return safely home,
+whereon you bowed your head to him in assent, bear it in mind
+now, and suffer not the Trojans to triumph thus over the
+Achaeans."
+
+All-counselling Jove thundered loudly in answer to the prayer of
+the aged son of Neleus. When they heard Jove thunder they flung
+themselves yet more fiercely on the Achaeans. As a wave breaking
+over the bulwarks of a ship when the sea runs high before a
+gale--for it is the force of the wind that makes the waves so
+great--even so did the Trojans spring over the wall with a
+shout, and drive their chariots onwards. The two sides fought
+with their double-pointed spears in hand-to-hand encounter-the
+Trojans from their chariots, and the Achaeans climbing up into
+their ships and wielding the long pikes that were lying on the
+decks ready for use in a sea-fight, jointed and shod with bronze.
+
+Now Patroclus, so long as the Achaeans and Trojans were fighting
+about the wall, but were not yet within it and at the ships,
+remained sitting in the tent of good Eurypylus, entertaining him
+with his conversation and spreading herbs over his wound to ease
+his pain. When, however, he saw the Trojans swarming through the
+breach in the wall, while the Achaeans were clamouring and struck
+with panic, he cried aloud, and smote his two thighs with the
+flat of his hands. "Eurypylus," said he in his dismay, "I know
+you want me badly, but I cannot stay with you any longer, for
+there is hard fighting going on; a servant shall take care of you
+now, for I must make all speed to Achilles, and induce him to
+fight if I can; who knows but with heaven's help I may persuade
+him. A man does well to listen to the advice of a friend."
+
+When he had thus spoken he went his way. The Achaeans stood firm
+and resisted the attack of the Trojans, yet though these were
+fewer in number, they could not drive them back from the ships,
+neither could the Trojans break the Achaean ranks and make their
+way in among the tents and ships. As a carpenter's line gives a
+true edge to a piece of ship's timber, in the hand of some
+skilled workman whom Minerva has instructed in all kinds of
+useful arts--even so level was the issue of the fight between the
+two sides, as they fought some round one and some round another.
+
+Hector made straight for Ajax, and the two fought fiercely about
+the same ship. Hector could not force Ajax back and fire the
+ship, nor yet could Ajax drive Hector from the spot to which
+heaven had brought him.
+
+Then Ajax struck Caletor son of Clytius in the chest with a spear
+as he was bringing fire towards the ship. He fell heavily to the
+ground and the torch dropped from his hand. When Hector saw his
+cousin fallen in front of the ship he shouted to the Trojans and
+Lycians saying, "Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians good in close
+fight, bate not a jot, but rescue the son of Clytius lest the
+Achaeans strip him of his armour now that he has fallen."
+
+He then aimed a spear at Ajax, and missed him, but he hit
+Lycophron a follower of Ajax, who came from Cythera, but was
+living with Ajax inasmuch as he had killed a man among the
+Cythereans. Hector's spear struck him on the head below the ear,
+and he fell headlong from the ship's prow on to the ground with
+no life left in him. Ajax shook with rage and said to his
+brother, "Teucer, my good fellow, our trusty comrade the son of
+Mastor has fallen, he came to live with us from Cythera and whom
+we honoured as much as our own parents. Hector has just killed
+him; fetch your deadly arrows at once and the bow which Phoebus
+Apollo gave you."
+
+Teucer heard him and hastened towards him with his bow and quiver
+in his hands. Forthwith he showered his arrows on the Trojans,
+and hit Cleitus the son of Pisenor, comrade of Polydamas the
+noble son of Panthous, with the reins in his hands as he was
+attending to his horses; he was in the middle of the very
+thickest part of the fight, doing good service to Hector and the
+Trojans, but evil had now come upon him, and not one of those who
+were fain to do so could avert it, for the arrow struck him on
+the back of the neck. He fell from his chariot and his horses
+shook the empty car as they swerved aside. King Polydamas saw
+what had happened, and was the first to come up to the horses; he
+gave them in charge to Astynous son of Protiaon, and ordered him
+to look on, and to keep the horses near at hand. He then went
+back and took his place in the front ranks.
+
+Teucer then aimed another arrow at Hector, and there would have
+been no more fighting at the ships if he had hit him and killed
+him then and there: Jove, however, who kept watch over Hector,
+had his eyes on Teucer, and deprived him of his triumph, by
+breaking his bowstring for him just as he was drawing it and
+about to take his aim; on this the arrow went astray and the bow
+fell from his hands. Teucer shook with anger and said to his
+brother, "Alas, see how heaven thwarts us in all we do; it has
+broken my bowstring and snatched the bow from my hand, though I
+strung it this selfsame morning that it might serve me for many
+an arrow."
+
+Ajax son of Telamon answered, "My good fellow, let your bow and
+your arrows be, for Jove has made them useless in order to spite
+the Danaans. Take your spear, lay your shield upon your shoulder,
+and both fight the Trojans yourself and urge others to do so.
+They may be successful for the moment but if we fight as we ought
+they will find it a hard matter to take the ships."
+
+Teucer then took his bow and put it by in his tent. He hung a
+shield four hides thick about his shoulders, and on his comely
+head he set his helmet well wrought with a crest of horse-hair
+that nodded menacingly above it; he grasped his redoubtable
+bronze-shod spear, and forthwith he was by the side of Ajax.
+
+When Hector saw that Teucer's bow was of no more use to him, he
+shouted out to the Trojans and Lycians, "Trojans, Lycians, and
+Dardanians good in close fight, be men, my friends, and show your
+mettle here at the ships, for I see the weapon of one of their
+chieftains made useless by the hand of Jove. It is easy to see
+when Jove is helping people and means to help them still further,
+or again when he is bringing them down and will do nothing for
+them; he is now on our side, and is going against the Argives.
+Therefore swarm round the ships and fight. If any of you is
+struck by spear or sword and loses his life, let him die; he dies
+with honour who dies fighting for his country; and he will leave
+his wife and children safe behind him, with his house and
+allotment unplundered if only the Achaeans can be driven back to
+their own land, they and their ships."
+
+With these words he put heart and soul into them all. Ajax on the
+other side exhorted his comrades saying, "Shame on you Argives,
+we are now utterly undone, unless we can save ourselves by
+driving the enemy from our ships. Do you think, if Hector takes
+them, that you will be able to get home by land? Can you not hear
+him cheering on his whole host to fire our fleet, and bidding
+them remember that they are not at a dance but in battle? Our
+only course is to fight them with might and main; we had better
+chance it, life or death, once for all, than fight long and
+without issue hemmed in at our ships by worse men than
+ourselves."
+
+With these words he put life and soul into them all. Hector then
+killed Schedius son of Perimedes, leader of the Phoceans, and
+Ajax killed Laodamas captain of foot soldiers and son to Antenor.
+Polydamas killed Otus of Cyllene a comrade of the son of Phyleus
+and chief of the proud Epeans. When Meges saw this he sprang upon
+him, but Polydamas crouched down, and he missed him, for Apollo
+would not suffer the son of Panthous to fall in battle; but the
+spear hit Croesmus in the middle of his chest, whereon he fell
+heavily to the ground, and Meges stripped him of his armour. At
+that moment the valiant soldier Dolops son of Lampus sprang upon
+Lampus was son of Laomedon and for his valour, while his son
+Dolops was versed in all the ways of war. He then struck the
+middle of the son of Phyleus' shield with his spear, setting on
+him at close quarters, but his good corslet made with plates of
+metal saved him; Phyleus had brought it from Ephyra and the river
+Selleis, where his host, King Euphetes, had given it him to wear
+in battle and protect him. It now served to save the life of his
+son. Then Meges struck the topmost crest of Dolops's bronze
+helmet with his spear and tore away its plume of horse-hair, so
+that all newly dyed with scarlet as it was it tumbled down into
+the dust. While he was still fighting and confident of victory,
+Menelaus came up to help Meges, and got by the side of Dolops
+unperceived; he then speared him in the shoulder, from behind,
+and the point, driven so furiously, went through into his chest,
+whereon he fell headlong. The two then made towards him to strip
+him of his armour, but Hector called on all his brothers for
+help, and he especially upbraided brave Melanippus son of
+Hiketaon, who erewhile used to pasture his herds of cattle in
+Percote before the war broke out; but when the ships of the
+Danaans came, he went back to Ilius, where he was eminent among
+the Trojans, and lived near Priam who treated him as one of his
+own sons. Hector now rebuked him and said, "Why, Melanippus, are
+we thus remiss? do you take no note of the death of your kinsman,
+and do you not see how they are trying to take Dolops's armour?
+Follow me; there must be no fighting the Argives from a distance
+now, but we must do so in close combat till either we kill them
+or they take the high wall of Ilius and slay her people."
+
+He led on as he spoke, and the hero Melanippus followed after.
+Meanwhile Ajax son of Telamon was cheering on the Argives. "My
+friends," he cried, "be men, and fear dishonour; quit yourselves
+in battle so as to win respect from one another. Men who respect
+each other's good opinion are less likely to be killed than those
+who do not, but in flight there is neither gain nor glory."
+
+Thus did he exhort men who were already bent upon driving back
+the Trojans. They laid his words to heart and hedged the ships as
+with a wall of bronze, while Jove urged on the Trojans. Menelaus
+of the loud battle-cry urged Antilochus on. "Antilochus," said
+he, "you are young and there is none of the Achaeans more fleet
+of foot or more valiant than you are. See if you cannot spring
+upon some Trojan and kill him."
+
+He hurried away when he had thus spurred Antilochus, who at once
+darted out from the front ranks and aimed a spear, after looking
+carefully round him. The Trojans fell back as he threw, and the
+dart did not speed from his hand without effect, for it struck
+Melanippus the proud son of Hiketaon in the breast by the nipple
+as he was coming forward, and his armour rang rattling round him
+as he fell heavily to the ground. Antilochus sprang upon him as a
+dog springs on a fawn which a hunter has hit as it was breaking
+away from its covert, and killed it. Even so, O Melanippus, did
+stalwart Antilochus spring upon you to strip you of your armour;
+but noble Hector marked him, and came running up to him through
+the thick of the battle. Antilochus, brave soldier though he was,
+would not stay to face him, but fled like some savage creature
+which knows it has done wrong, and flies, when it has killed a
+dog or a man who is herding his cattle, before a body of men can
+be gathered to attack it. Even so did the son of Nestor fly, and
+the Trojans and Hector with a cry that rent the air showered
+their weapons after him; nor did he turn round and stay his
+flight till he had reached his comrades.
+
+The Trojans, fierce as lions, were still rushing on towards the
+ships in fulfilment of the behests of Jove who kept spurring them
+on to new deeds of daring, while he deadened the courage of the
+Argives and defeated them by encouraging the Trojans. For he
+meant giving glory to Hector son of Priam, and letting him throw
+fire upon the ships, till he had fulfilled the unrighteous prayer
+that Thetis had made him; Jove, therefore, bided his time till he
+should see the glare of a blazing ship. From that hour he was
+about so to order that the Trojans should be driven back from the
+ships and to vouchsafe glory to the Achaeans. With this purpose
+he inspired Hector son of Priam, who was cager enough already, to
+assail the ships. His fury was as that of Mars, or as when a fire
+is raging in the glades of some dense forest upon the mountains;
+he foamed at the mouth, his eyes glared under his terrible
+eye-brows, and his helmet quivered on his temples by reason of
+the fury with which he fought. Jove from heaven was with him, and
+though he was but one against many, vouchsafed him victory and
+glory; for he was doomed to an early death, and already Pallas
+Minerva was hurrying on the hour of his destruction at the hands
+of the son of Peleus. Now, however, he kept trying to break the
+ranks of the enemy wherever he could see them thickest, and in
+the goodliest armour; but do what he might he could not break
+through them, for they stood as a tower foursquare, or as some
+high cliff rising from the grey sea that braves the anger of the
+gale, and of the waves that thunder up against it. He fell upon
+them like flames of fire from every quarter. As when a wave,
+raised mountain high by wind and storm, breaks over a ship and
+covers it deep in foam, the fierce winds roar against the mast,
+the hearts of the sailors fail them for fear, and they are saved
+but by a very little from destruction--even so were the hearts of
+the Achaeans fainting within them. Or as a savage lion attacking
+a herd of cows while they are feeding by thousands in the
+low-lying meadows by some wide-watered shore--the herdsman is at
+his wit's end how to protect his herd and keeps going about now
+in the van and now in the rear of his cattle, while the lion
+springs into the thick of them and fastens on a cow so that they
+all tremble for fear--even so were the Achaeans utterly
+panic-stricken by Hector and father Jove. Nevertheless Hector
+only killed Periphetes of Mycenae; he was son of Copreus who was
+wont to take the orders of King Eurystheus to mighty Hercules,
+but the son was a far better man than the father in every way; he
+was fleet of foot, a valiant warrior, and in understanding ranked
+among the foremost men of Mycenae. He it was who then afforded
+Hector a triumph, for as he was turning back he stumbled against
+the rim of his shield which reached his feet, and served to keep
+the javelins off him. He tripped against this and fell face
+upward, his helmet ringing loudly about his head as he did so.
+Hector saw him fall and ran up to him; he then thrust a spear
+into his chest, and killed him close to his own comrades. These,
+for all their sorrow, could not help him for they were themselves
+terribly afraid of Hector.
+
+They had now reached the ships and the prows of those that had
+been drawn up first were on every side of them, but the Trojans
+came pouring after them. The Argives were driven back from the
+first row of ships, but they made a stand by their tents without
+being broken up and scattered; shame and fear restrained them.
+They kept shouting incessantly to one another, and Nestor of
+Gerene, tower of strength to the Achaeans, was loudest in
+imploring every man by his parents, and beseeching him to stand
+firm.
+
+"Be men, my friends," he cried, "and respect one another's good
+opinion. Think, all of you, on your children, your wives, your
+property, and your parents whether these be alive or dead. On
+their behalf though they are not here, I implore you to stand
+firm, and not to turn in flight."
+
+With these words he put heart and soul into them all. Minerva
+lifted the thick veil of darkness from their eyes, and much light
+fell upon them, alike on the side of the ships and on that where
+the fight was raging. They could see Hector and all his men, both
+those in the rear who were taking no part in the battle, and
+those who were fighting by the ships.
+
+Ajax could not bring himself to retreat along with the rest, but
+strode from deck to deck with a great sea-pike in his hands
+twelve cubits long and jointed with rings. As a man skilled in
+feats of horsemanship couples four horses together and comes
+tearing full speed along the public way from the country into
+some large town--many both men and women marvel as they see him
+for he keeps all the time changing his horse, springing from one
+to another without ever missing his feet while the horses are at
+a gallop--even so did Ajax go striding from one ship's deck to
+another, and his voice went up into the heavens. He kept on
+shouting his orders to the Danaans and exhorting them to defend
+their ships and tents; neither did Hector remain within the main
+body of the Trojan warriors, but as a dun eagle swoops down upon
+a flock of wild-fowl feeding near a river-geese, it may be, or
+cranes, or long-necked swans--even so did Hector make straight
+for a dark-prowed ship, rushing right towards it; for Jove with
+his mighty hand impelled him forward, and roused his people to
+follow him.
+
+And now the battle again raged furiously at the ships. You would
+have thought the men were coming on fresh and unwearied, so
+fiercely did they fight; and this was the mind in which they
+were--the Achaeans did not believe they should escape destruction
+but thought themselves doomed, while there was not a Trojan but
+his heart beat high with the hope of firing the ships and putting
+the Achaean heroes to the sword.
+
+Thus were the two sides minded. Then Hector seized the stern of
+the good ship that had brought Protesilaus to Troy, but never
+bore him back to his native land. Round this ship there raged a
+close hand-to-hand fight between Danaans and Trojans. They did
+not fight at a distance with bows and javelins, but with one mind
+hacked at one another in close combat with their mighty swords
+and spears pointed at both ends; they fought moreover with keen
+battle-axes and with hatchets. Many a good stout blade hilted and
+scabbarded with iron, fell from hand or shoulder as they fought,
+and the earth ran red with blood. Hector, when he had seized the
+ship, would not loose his hold but held on to its curved stern
+and shouted to the Trojans, "Bring fire, and raise the battle-cry
+all of you with a single voice. Now has Jove vouchsafed us a day
+that will pay us for all the rest; this day we shall take the
+ships which came hither against heaven's will, and which have
+caused us such infinite suffering through the cowardice of our
+councillors, who when I would have done battle at the ships held
+me back and forbade the host to follow me; if Jove did then
+indeed warp our judgements, himself now commands me and cheers me
+on."
+
+As he spoke thus the Trojans sprang yet more fiercely on the
+Achaeans, and Ajax no longer held his ground, for he was overcome
+by the darts that were flung at him, and made sure that he was
+doomed. Therefore he left the raised deck at the stern, and
+stepped back on to the seven-foot bench of the oarsmen. Here he
+stood on the look-out, and with his spear held back Trojan whom
+he saw bringing fire to the ships. All the time he kept on
+shouting at the top of his voice and exhorting the Danaans. "My
+friends," he cried, "Danaan heroes, servants of Mars, be men my
+friends, and fight with might and with main. Can we hope to find
+helpers hereafter, or a wall to shield us more surely than the
+one we have? There is no strong city within reach, whence we may
+draw fresh forces to turn the scales in our favour. We are on the
+plain of the armed Trojans with the sea behind us, and far from
+our own country. Our salvation, therefore, is in the might of our
+hands and in hard fighting."
+
+As he spoke he wielded his spear with still greater fury, and
+when any Trojan made towards the ships with fire at Hector's
+bidding, he would be on the look-out for him, and drive at him
+with his long spear. Twelve men did he thus kill in hand-to-hand
+fight before the ships.
+
+
+
+BOOK XVI
+
+  Fire being now thrown on the ship of Protesilaus, Patroclus
+  fights in the armour of Achilles--He drives the Trojans back,
+  but is in the end killed by Euphorbus and Hector.
+
+THUS did they fight about the ship of Protesilaus. Then Patroclus
+drew near to Achilles with tears welling from his eyes, as from
+some spring whose crystal stream falls over the ledges of a high
+precipice. When Achilles saw him thus weeping he was sorry for
+him and said, "Why, Patroclus, do you stand there weeping like
+some silly child that comes running to her mother, and begs to be
+taken up and carried--she catches hold of her mother's dress to
+stay her though she is in a hurry, and looks tearfully up until
+her mother carries her--even such tears, Patroclus, are you now
+shedding. Have you anything to say to the Myrmidons or to myself?
+or have you had news from Phthia which you alone know? They tell
+me Menoetius son of Actor is still alive, as also Peleus son of
+Aeacus, among the Myrmidons--men whose loss we two should
+bitterly deplore; or are you grieving about the Argives and the
+way in which they are being killed at the ships, through their
+own high-handed doings? Do not hide anything from me but tell me
+that both of us may know about it."
+
+Then, O knight Patroclus, with a deep sigh you answered,
+"Achilles, son of Peleus, foremost champion of the Achaeans, do
+not be angry, but I weep for the disaster that has now befallen
+the Argives. All those who have been their champions so far are
+lying at the ships, wounded by sword or spear. Brave Diomed son
+of Tydeus has been hit with a spear, while famed Ulysses and
+Agamemnon have received sword-wounds; Eurypylus again has been
+struck with an arrow in the thigh; skilled apothecaries are
+attending to these heroes, and healing them of their wounds; are
+you still, O Achilles, so inexorable? May it never be my lot to
+nurse such a passion as you have done, to the baning of your own
+good name. Who in future story will speak well of you unless you
+now save the Argives from ruin? You know no pity; knight Peleus
+was not your father nor Thetis your mother, but the grey sea bore
+you and the sheer cliffs begot you, so cruel and remorseless are
+you. If however you are kept back through knowledge of some
+oracle, or if your mother Thetis has told you something from the
+mouth of Jove, at least send me and the Myrmidons with me, if I
+may bring deliverance to the Danaans. Let me moreover wear your
+armour; the Trojans may thus mistake me for you and quit the
+field, so that the hard-pressed sons of the Achaeans may have
+breathing time--which while they are fighting may hardly be. We
+who are fresh might soon drive tired men back from our ships and
+tents to their own city."
+
+He knew not what he was asking, nor that he was suing for his own
+destruction. Achilles was deeply moved and answered, "What, noble
+Patroclus, are you saying? I know no prophesyings which I am
+heeding, nor has my mother told me anything from the mouth of
+Jove, but I am cut to the very heart that one of my own rank
+should dare to rob me because he is more powerful than I am.
+This, after all that I have gone through, is more than I can
+endure. The girl whom the sons of the Achaeans chose for me, whom
+I won as the fruit of my spear on having sacked a city--her has
+King Agamemnon taken from me as though I were some common
+vagrant. Still, let bygones be bygones: no man may keep his anger
+for ever; I said I would not relent till battle and the cry of
+war had reached my own ships; nevertheless, now gird my armour
+about your shoulders, and lead the Myrmidons to battle, for the
+dark cloud of Trojans has burst furiously over our fleet; the
+Argives are driven back on to the beach, cooped within a narrow
+space, and the whole people of Troy has taken heart to sally out
+against them, because they see not the visor of my helmet
+gleaming near them. Had they seen this, there would not have been
+a creek nor grip that had not been filled with their dead as they
+fled back again. And so it would have been, if only King
+Agamemnon had dealt fairly by me. As it is the Trojans have beset
+our host. Diomed son of Tydeus no longer wields his spear to
+defend the Danaans, neither have I heard the voice of the son of
+Atreus coming from his hated head, whereas that of murderous
+Hector rings in my cars as he gives orders to the Trojans, who
+triumph over the Achaeans and fill the whole plain with their cry
+of battle. But even so, Patroclus, fall upon them and save the
+fleet, lest the Trojans fire it and prevent us from being able to
+return. Do, however, as I now bid you, that you may win me great
+honour from all the Danaans, and that they may restore the girl
+to me again and give me rich gifts into the bargain. When you
+have driven the Trojans from the ships, come back again. Though
+Juno's thundering husband should put triumph within your reach,
+do not fight the Trojans further in my absence, or you will rob
+me of glory that should be mine. And do not for lust of battle go
+on killing the Trojans nor lead the Achaeans on to Ilius, lest
+one of the ever-living gods from Olympus attack you--for Phoebus
+Apollo loves them well: return when you have freed the ships from
+peril, and let others wage war upon the plain. Would, by father
+Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, that not a single man of all the
+Trojans might be left alive, nor yet of the Argives, but that we
+two might be alone left to tear aside the mantle that veils the
+brow of Troy."
+
+Thus did they converse. But Ajax could no longer hold his ground
+for the shower of darts that rained upon him; the will of Jove
+and the javelins of the Trojans were too much for him; the helmet
+that gleamed about his temples rang with the continuous clatter
+of the missiles that kept pouring on to it and on to the
+cheek-pieces that protected his face. Moreover his left shoulder
+was tired with having held his shield so long, yet for all this,
+let fly at him as they would, they could not make him give
+ground. He could hardly draw his breath, the sweat rained from
+every pore of his body, he had not a moment's respite, and on all
+sides he was beset by danger upon danger.
+
+And now, tell me, O Muses that hold your mansions on Olympus, how
+fire was thrown upon the ships of the Achaeans. Hector came close
+up and let drive with his great sword at the ashen spear of Ajax.
+He cut it clean in two just behind where the point was fastened
+on to the shaft of the spear. Ajax, therefore, had now nothing
+but a headless spear, while the bronze point flew some way off
+and came ringing down on to the ground. Ajax knew the hand of
+heaven in this, and was dismayed at seeing that Jove had now left
+him utterly defenceless and was willing victory for the Trojans.
+Therefore he drew back, and the Trojans flung fire upon the ship
+which was at once wrapped in flame.
+
+The fire was now flaring about the ship's stern, whereon Achilles
+smote his two thighs and said to Patroclus, "Up, noble knight,
+for I see the glare of hostile fire at our fleet; up, lest they
+destroy our ships, and there be no way by which we may retreat.
+Gird on your armour at once while I call our people together."
+
+As he spoke Patroclus put on his armour. First he greaved his
+legs with greaves of good make, and fitted with ancle-clasps of
+silver; after this he donned the cuirass of the son of Aeacus,
+richly inlaid and studded. He hung his silver-studded sword of
+bronze about his shoulders, and then his mighty shield. On his
+comely head he set his helmet, well wrought, with a crest of
+horse-hair that nodded menacingly above it. He grasped two
+redoubtable spears that suited his hands, but he did not take the
+spear of noble Achilles, so stout and strong, for none other of
+the Achaeans could wield it, though Achilles could do so easily.
+This was the ashen spear from Mount Pelion, which Chiron had cut
+upon a mountain top and had given to Peleus, wherewith to deal
+out death among heroes. He bade Automedon yoke his horses with
+all speed, for he was the man whom he held in honour next after
+Achilles, and on whose support in battle he could rely most
+firmly. Automedon therefore yoked the fleet horses Xanthus and
+Balius, steeds that could fly like the wind: these were they whom
+the harpy Podarge bore to the west wind, as she was grazing in a
+meadow by the waters of the river Oceanus. In the side traces he
+set the noble horse Pedasus, whom Achilles had brought away with
+him when he sacked the city of Eetion, and who, mortal steed
+though he was, could take his place along with those that were
+immortal.
+
+Meanwhile Achilles went about everywhere among the tents, and
+bade his Myrmidons put on their armour. Even as fierce ravening
+wolves that are feasting upon a homed stag which they have killed
+upon the mountains, and their jaws are red with blood--they go in
+a pack to lap water from the clear spring with their long thin
+tongues; and they reek of blood and slaughter; they know not what
+fear is, for it is hunger drives them--even so did the leaders
+and counsellors of the Myrmidons gather round the good squire of
+the fleet descendant of Aeacus, and among them stood Achilles
+himself cheering on both men and horses.
+
+Fifty ships had noble Achilles brought to Troy, and in each there
+was a crew of fifty oarsmen. Over these he set five captains whom
+he could trust, while he was himself commander over them all.
+Menesthius of the gleaming corslet, son to the river Spercheius
+that streams from heaven, was captain of the first company. Fair
+Polydora daughter of Peleus bore him to ever-flowing
+Spercheius--a woman mated with a god--but he was called son of
+Borus son of Perieres, with whom his mother was living as his
+wedded wife, and who gave great wealth to gain her. The second
+company was led by noble Eudorus, son to an unwedded woman.
+Polymele, daughter of Phylas the graceful dancer, bore him; the
+mighty slayer of Argos was enamoured of her as he saw her among
+the singing women at a dance held in honour of Diana the rushing
+huntress of the golden arrows; he therefore--Mercury, giver of
+all good--went with her into an upper chamber, and lay with her
+in secret, whereon she bore him a noble son Eudorus, singularly
+fleet of foot and in fight valiant. When Ilithuia goddess of the
+pains of child-birth brought him to the light of day, and he saw
+the face of the sun, mighty Echecles son of Actor took the mother
+to wife, and gave great wealth to gain her, but her father Phylas
+brought the child up, and took care of him, doting as fondly upon
+him as though he were his own son. The third company was led by
+Pisander son of Maemalus, the finest spearman among all the
+Myrmidons next to Achilles' own comrade Patroclus. The old knight
+Phoenix was captain of the fourth company, and Alcimedon, noble
+son of Laerceus of the fifth.
+
+When Achilles had chosen his men and had stationed them all with
+their captains, he charged them straitly saying, "Myrmidons,
+remember your threats against the Trojans while you were at the
+ships in the time of my anger, and you were all complaining of
+me. 'Cruel son of Peleus,' you would say, 'your mother must have
+suckled you on gall, so ruthless are you. You keep us here at the
+ships against our will; if you are so relentless it were better
+we went home over the sea.' Often have you gathered and thus
+chided with me. The hour is now come for those high feats of arms
+that you have so long been pining for, therefore keep high hearts
+each one of you to do battle with the Trojans."
+
+With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and they
+serried their companies yet more closely when they heard the of
+their king. As the stones which a builder sets in the wall of
+some high house which is to give shelter from the winds--even so
+closely were the helmets and bossed shields set against one
+another. Shield pressed on shield, helm on helm, and man on man;
+so close were they that the horse-hair plumes on the gleaming
+ridges of their helmets touched each other as they bent their
+heads.
+
+In front of them all two men put on their armour--Patroclus and
+Automedon--two men, with but one mind to lead the Myrmidons. Then
+Achilles went inside his tent and opened the lid of the strong
+chest which silver-footed Thetis had given him to take on board
+ship, and which she had filled with shirts, cloaks to keep out
+the cold, and good thick rugs. In this chest he had a cup of rare
+workmanship, from which no man but himself might drink, nor would
+he make offering from it to any other god save only to father
+Jove. He took the cup from the chest and cleansed it with
+sulphur; this done he rinsed it clean water, and after he had
+washed his hands he drew wine. Then he stood in the middle of the
+court and prayed, looking towards heaven, and making his
+drink-offering of wine; nor was he unseen of Jove whose joy is in
+thunder. "King Jove," he cried, "lord of Dodona, god of the
+Pelasgi, who dwellest afar, you who hold wintry Dodona in your
+sway, where your prophets the Selli dwell around you with their
+feet unwashed and their couches made upon the ground--if you
+heard me when I prayed to you aforetime, and did me honour while
+you sent disaster on the Achaeans, vouchsafe me now the
+fulfilment of yet this further prayer. I shall stay here where my
+ships are lying, but I shall send my comrade into battle at the
+head of many Myrmidons. Grant, O all-seeing Jove, that victory
+may go with him; put your courage into his heart that Hector may
+learn whether my squire is man enough to fight alone, or whether
+his might is only then so indomitable when I myself enter the
+turmoil of war. Afterwards when he has chased the fight and the
+cry of battle from the ships, grant that he may return unharmed,
+with his armour and his comrades, fighters in close combat."
+
+Thus did he pray, and all-counselling Jove heard his prayer.
+Part of it he did indeed vouchsafe him--but not the whole. He
+granted that Patroclus should thrust back war and battle from the
+ships, but refused to let him come safely out of the fight.
+
+When he had made his drink-offering and had thus prayed, Achilles
+went inside his tent and put back the cup into his chest.
+
+Then he again came out, for he still loved to look upon the
+fierce fight that raged between the Trojans and Achaeans.
+
+Meanwhile the armed band that was about Patroclus marched on till
+they sprang high in hope upon the Trojans. They came swarming out
+like wasps whose nests are by the roadside, and whom silly
+children love to tease, whereon any one who happens to be passing
+may get stung--or again, if a wayfarer going along the road vexes
+them by accident, every wasp will come flying out in a fury to
+defend his little ones--even with such rage and courage did the
+Myrmidons swarm from their ships, and their cry of battle rose
+heavenwards. Patroclus called out to his men at the top of his
+voice, "Myrmidons, followers of Achilles son of Peleus, be men my
+friends, fight with might and with main, that we may win glory
+for the son of Peleus, who is far the foremost man at the ships
+of the Argives--he, and his close fighting followers. The son of
+Atreus King Agamemnon will thus learn his folly in showing no
+respect to the bravest of the Achaeans."
+
+With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and they
+fell in a body upon the Trojans. The ships rang again with the
+cry which the Achaeans raised, and when the Trojans saw the brave
+son of Menoetius and his squire all gleaming in their armour,
+they were daunted and their battalions were thrown into
+confusion, for they thought the fleet son of Peleus must now have
+put aside his anger, and have been reconciled to Agamemnon; every
+one, therefore, looked round about to see whither he might fly
+for safety.
+
+Patroclus first aimed a spear into the middle of the press where
+men were packed most closely, by the stern of the ship of
+Protesilaus. He hit Pyraechmes who had led his Paeonian horsemen
+from the Amydon and the broad waters of the river Axius; the
+spear struck him on the right shoulder, and with a groan he fell
+backwards in the dust; on this his men were thrown into
+confusion, for by killing their leader, who was the finest
+soldier among them, Patroclus struck panic into them all. He thus
+drove them from the ship and quenched the fire that was then
+blazing--leaving the half-burnt ship to lie where it was. The
+Trojans were now driven back with a shout that rent the skies,
+while the Danaans poured after them from their ships, shouting
+also without ceasing. As when Jove, gatherer of the
+thunder-cloud, spreads a dense canopy on the top of some lofty
+mountain, and all the peaks, the jutting headlands, and forest
+glades show out in the great light that flashes from the bursting
+heavens, even so when the Danaans had now driven back the fire
+from their ships, they took breath for a little while; but the
+fury of the fight was not yet over, for the Trojans were not
+driven back in utter rout, but still gave battle, and were ousted
+from their ground only by sheer fighting.
+
+The fight then became more scattered, and the chieftains killed
+one another when and how they could. The valiant son of Menoetius
+first drove his spear into the thigh of Areilycus just as he was
+turning round; the point went clean through, and broke the bone
+so that he fell forward. Meanwhile Menelaus struck Thoas in the
+chest, where it was exposed near the rim of his shield, and he
+fell dead. The son of Phyleus saw Amphiclus about to attack him,
+and ere he could do so took aim at the upper part of his thigh,
+where the muscles are thicker than in any other part; the spear
+tore through all the sinews of the leg, and his eyes were closed
+in darkness. Of the sons of Nestor one, Antilochus, speared
+Atymnius, driving the point of the spear through his throat, and
+down he fell. Maris then sprang on Antilochus in hand-to-hand
+fight to avenge his brother, and bestrode the body spear in hand;
+but valiant Thrasymedes was too quick for him, and in a moment
+had struck him in the shoulder ere he could deal his blow; his
+aim was true, and the spear severed all the muscles at the root
+of his arm, and tore them right down to the bone, so he fell
+heavily to the ground and his eyes were closed in darkness. Thus
+did these two noble comrades of Sarpedon go down to Erebus slain
+by the two sons of Nestor; they were the warrior sons of
+Amisodorus, who had reared the invincible Chimaera, to the bane
+of many. Ajax son of Oileus sprang on Cleobulus and took him
+alive as he was entangled in the crush; but he killed him then
+and there by a sword-blow on the neck. The sword reeked with his
+blood, while dark death and the strong hand of fate gripped him
+and closed his eyes.
+
+Peneleos and Lycon now met in close fight, for they had missed
+each other with their spears. They had both thrown without
+effect, so now they drew their swords. Lycon struck the plumed
+crest of Peneleos' helmet but his sword broke at the hilt, while
+Peneleos smote Lycon on the neck under the ear. The blade sank so
+deep that the head was held on by nothing but the skin, and there
+was no more life left in him. Meriones gave chase to Acamas on
+foot and caught him up just as he was about to mount his chariot;
+he drove a spear through his right shoulder so that he fell
+headlong from the car, and his eyes were closed in darkness.
+Idomeneus speared Erymas in the mouth; the bronze point of the
+spear went clean through it beneath the brain, crashing in among
+the white bones and smashing them up. His teeth were all of them
+knocked out and the blood came gushing in a stream from both his
+eyes; it also came gurgling up from his mouth and nostrils, and
+the darkness of death enfolded him round about.
+
+Thus did these chieftains of the Danaans each of them kill his
+man. As ravening wolves seize on kids or lambs, fastening on them
+when they are alone on the hillsides and have strayed from the
+main flock through the carelessness of the shepherd--and when the
+wolves see this they pounce upon them at once because they cannot
+defend themselves--even so did the Danaans now fall on the
+Trojans, who fled with ill-omened cries in their panic and had no
+more fight left in them.
+
+Meanwhile great Ajax kept on trying to drive a spear into Hector,
+but Hector was so skilful that he held his broad shoulders well
+under cover of his ox-hide shield, ever on the look-out for the
+whizzing of the arrows and the heavy thud of the spears. He well
+knew that the fortunes of the day had changed, but still stood
+his ground and tried to protect his comrades.
+
+As when a cloud goes up into heaven from Olympus, rising out of a
+clear sky when Jove is brewing a gale--even with such panic
+stricken rout did the Trojans now fly, and there was no order in
+their going. Hector's fleet horses bore him and his armour out of
+the fight, and he left the Trojan host penned in by the deep
+trench against their will. Many a yoke of horses snapped the pole
+of their chariots in the trench and left their master's car
+behind them. Patroclus gave chase, calling impetuously on the
+Danaans and full of fury against the Trojans, who, being now no
+longer in a body, filled all the ways with their cries of panic
+and rout; the air was darkened with the clouds of dust they
+raised, and the horses strained every nerve in their flight from
+the tents and ships towards the city.
+
+Patroclus kept on heading his horses wherever he saw most men
+flying in confusion, cheering on his men the while. Chariots were
+being smashed in all directions, and many a man came tumbling
+down from his own car to fall beneath the wheels of that of
+Patroclus, whose immortal steeds, given by the gods to Peleus,
+sprang over the trench at a bound as they sped onward. He was
+intent on trying to get near Hector, for he had set his heart on
+spearing him, but Hector's horses were now hurrying him away. As
+the whole dark earth bows before some tempest on an autumn day
+when Jove rains his hardest to punish men for giving crooked
+judgement in their courts, and arriving justice therefrom without
+heed to the decrees of heaven--all the rivers run full and the
+torrents tear many a new channel as they roar headlong from the
+mountains to the dark sea, and it fares ill with the works of
+men--even such was the stress and strain of the Trojan horses in
+their flight.
+
+Patroclus now cut off the battalions that were nearest to him and
+drove them back to the ships. They were doing their best to reach
+the city, but he would not let them, and bore down on them
+between the river and the ships and wall. Many a fallen comrade
+did he then avenge. First he hit Pronous with a spear on the
+chest where it was exposed near the rim of his shield, and he
+fell heavily to the ground. Next he sprang on Thestor son of
+Enops, who was sitting all huddled up in his chariot, for he had
+lost his head and the reins had been torn out of his hands.
+Patroclus went up to him and drove a spear into his right jaw; he
+thus hooked him by the teeth and the spear pulled him over the
+rim of his car, as one who sits at the end of some jutting rock
+and draws a strong fish out of the sea with a hook and a line--
+even so with his spear did he pull Thestor all gaping from his
+chariot; he then threw him down on his face and he died while
+falling. On this, as Erylaus was on to attack him, he struck him
+full on the head with a stone, and his brains were all battered
+inside his helmet, whereon he fell headlong to the ground and the
+pangs of death took hold upon him. Then he laid low, one after
+the other, Erymas, Amphoterus, Epaltes, Tlepolemus, Echius son of
+Damastor, Pyris, Ipheus, Euippus and Polymelus son of Argeas.
+
+Now when Sarpedon saw his comrades, men who wore ungirdled
+tunics, being overcome by Patroclus son of Menoetius, he rebuked
+the Lycians saying. "Shame on you, where are you flying to? Show
+your mettle; I will myself meet this man in fight and learn who
+it is that is so masterful; he has done us much hurt, and has
+stretched many a brave man upon the ground."
+
+He sprang from his chariot as he spoke, and Patroclus, when he
+saw this, leaped on to the ground also. The two then rushed at
+one another with loud cries like eagle-beaked crook-taloned
+vultures that scream and tear at one another in some high
+mountain fastness.
+
+The son of scheming Saturn looked down upon them in pity and said
+to Juno who was his wife and sister, "Alas, that it should be the
+lot of Sarpedon whom I love so dearly to perish by the hand of
+Patroclus. I am in two minds whether to catch him up out of the
+fight and set him down safe and sound in the fertile land of
+Lycia, or to let him now fall by the hand of the son of
+Menoetius."
+
+And Juno answered, "Most dread son of Saturn, what is this that
+you are saying? Would you snatch a mortal man, whose doom has
+long been fated, out of the jaws of death? Do as you will, but we
+shall not all of us be of your mind. I say further, and lay my
+saying to your heart, that if you send Sarpedon safely to his own
+home, some other of the gods will be also wanting to escort his
+son out of battle, for there are many sons of gods fighting round
+the city of Troy, and you will make every one jealous. If,
+however, you are fond of him and pity him, let him indeed fall by
+the hand of Patroclus, but as soon as the life is gone out of
+him, send Death and sweet Sleep to bear him off the field and
+take him to the broad lands of Lycia, where his brothers and his
+kinsmen will bury him with mound and pillar, in due honour to the
+dead."
+
+The sire of gods and men assented, but he shed a rain of blood
+upon the earth in honour of his son whom Patroclus was about to
+kill on the rich plain of Troy far from his home.
+
+When they were now come close to one another Patroclus struck
+Thrasydemus, the brave squire of Sarpedon, in the lower part of
+the belly, and killed him. Sarpedon then aimed a spear at
+Patroclus and missed him, but he struck the horse Pedasus in the
+right shoulder, and it screamed aloud as it lay, groaning in the
+dust until the life went out of it. The other two horses began to
+plunge; the pole of the chariot cracked and they got entangled in
+the reins through the fall of the horse that was yoked along with
+them; but Automedon knew what to do; without the loss of a moment
+he drew the keen blade that hung by his sturdy thigh and cut the
+third horse adrift; whereon the other two righted themselves, and
+pulling hard at the reins again went together into battle.
+
+Sarpedon now took a second aim at Patroclus, and again missed
+him, the point of the spear passed over his left shoulder without
+hitting him. Patroclus then aimed in his turn, and the spear sped
+not from his hand in vain, for he hit Sarpedon just where the
+midriff surrounds the ever-beating heart. He fell like some oak
+or silver poplar or tall pine to which woodmen have laid their
+axes upon the mountains to make timber for ship-building--even so
+did he lie stretched at full length in front of his chariot and
+horses, moaning and clutching at the blood-stained dust. As when
+a lion springs with a bound upon a herd of cattle and fastens on
+a great black bull which dies bellowing in its clutches--even so
+did the leader of the Lycian warriors struggle in death as he
+fell by the hand of Patroclus. He called on his trusty comrade
+and said, "Glaucus, my brother, hero among heroes, put forth all
+your strength, fight with might and main, now if ever quit
+yourself like a valiant soldier. First go about among the Lycian
+captains and bid them fight for Sarpedon; then yourself also do
+battle to save my armour from being taken. My name will haunt you
+henceforth and for ever if the Achaeans rob me of my armour now
+that I have fallen at their ships. Do your very utmost and call
+all my people together."
+
+Death closed his eyes as he spoke. Patroclus planted his heel on
+his breast and drew the spear from his body, whereon his senses
+came out along with it, and he drew out both spear-point and
+Sarpedon's soul at the same time. Hard by the Myrmidons held his
+snorting steeds, who were wild with panic at finding themselves
+deserted by their lords.
+
+Glaucus was overcome with grief when he heard what Sarpedon said,
+for he could not help him. He had to support his arm with his
+other hand, being in great pain through the wound which Teucer's
+arrow had given him when Teucer was defending the wall as he,
+Glaucus, was assailing it. Therefore he prayed to far-darting
+Apollo saying, "Hear me O king from your seat, may be in the rich
+land of Lycia, or may be in Troy, for in all places you can hear
+the prayer of one who is in distress, as I now am. I have a
+grievous wound; my hand is aching with pain, there is no
+staunching the blood, and my whole arm drags by reason of my
+hurt, so that I cannot grasp my sword nor go among my foes and
+fight them, thou our prince, Jove's son Sarpedon, is slain. Jove
+defended not his son, do you, therefore, O king, heal me of my
+wound, ease my pain and grant me strength both to cheer on the
+Lycians and to fight along with them round the body of him who
+has fallen."
+
+Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer. He eased his pain,
+staunched the black blood from the wound, and gave him new
+strength. Glaucus perceived this, and was thankful that the
+mighty god had answered his prayer; forthwith, therefore, he went
+among the Lycian captains, and bade them come to fight about the
+body of Sarpedon. From these he strode on among the Trojans to
+Polydamas son of Panthous and Agenor; he then went in search of
+Aeneas and Hector, and when he had found them he said, "Hector,
+you have utterly forgotten your allies, who languish here for
+your sake far from friends and home while you do nothing to
+support them. Sarpedon leader of the Lycian warriors has fallen--
+he who was at once the right and might of Lycia; Mars has laid
+him low by the spear of Patroclus. Stand by him, my friends, and
+suffer not the Myrmidons to strip him of his armour, nor to treat
+his body with contumely in revenge for all the Danaans whom we
+have speared at the ships."
+
+As he spoke the Trojans were plunged in extreme and ungovernable
+grief; for Sarpedon, alien though he was, had been one of the
+main stays of their city, both as having much people with him,
+and himself the foremost among them all. Led by Hector, who was
+infuriated by the fall of Sarpedon, they made instantly for the
+Danaans with all their might, while the undaunted spirit of
+Patroclus son of Menoetius cheered on the Achaeans. First he
+spoke to the two Ajaxes, men who needed no bidding. "Ajaxes,"
+said he, "may it now please you to show yourselves the men you
+have always been, or even better--Sarpedon is fallen--he who was
+first to overleap the wall of the Achaeans; let us take the body
+and outrage it; let us strip the armour from his shoulders, and
+kill his comrades if they try to rescue his body."
+
+He spoke to men who of themselves were full eager; both sides,
+therefore, the Trojans and Lycians on the one hand, and the
+Myrmidons and Achaeans on the other, strengthened their
+battalions, and fought desperately about the body of Sarpedon,
+shouting fiercely the while. Mighty was the din of their armour
+as they came together, and Jove shed a thick darkness over the
+fight, to increase the toil of the battle over the body of his
+son.
+
+At first the Trojans made some headway against the Achaeans, for
+one of the best men among the Myrmidons was killed, Epeigeus, son
+of noble Agacles who had erewhile been king in the good city of
+Budeum; but presently, having killed a valiant kinsman of his
+own, he took refuge with Peleus and Thetis, who sent him to Ilius
+the land of noble steeds to fight the Trojans under Achilles.
+Hector now struck him on the head with a stone just as he had
+caught hold of the body, and his brains inside his helmet were
+all battered in, so that he fell face foremost upon the body of
+Sarpedon, and there died. Patroclus was enraged by the death of
+his comrade, and sped through the front ranks as swiftly as a
+hawk that swoops down on a flock of daws or starlings. Even so
+swiftly, O noble knight Patroclus, did you make straight for the
+Lycians and Trojans to avenge your comrade. Forthwith he struck
+Sthenelaus the son of Ithaemenes on the neck with a stone, and
+broke the tendons that join it to the head and spine. On this
+Hector and the front rank of his men gave ground. As far as a man
+can throw a javelin when competing for some prize, or even in
+battle--so far did the Trojans now retreat before the Achaeans.
+Glaucus, captain of the Lycians, was the first to rally them, by
+killing Bathycles son of Chalcon who lived in Hellas and was the
+richest man among the Myrmidons. Glaucus turned round suddenly,
+just as Bathycles who was pursuing him was about to lay hold of
+him, and drove his spear right into the middle of his chest,
+whereon he fell heavily to the ground, and the fall of so good a
+man filled the Achaeans with dismay, while the Trojans were
+exultant, and came up in a body round the corpse. Nevertheless
+the Achaeans, mindful of their prowess, bore straight down upon
+them.
+
+Meriones then killed a helmed warrior of the Trojans, Laogonus
+son of Onetor, who was priest of Jove of Mt. Ida, and was
+honoured by the people as though he were a god. Meriones struck
+him under the jaw and ear, so that life went out of him and the
+darkness of death laid hold upon him. Aeneas then aimed a spear
+at Meriones, hoping to hit him under the shield as he was
+advancing, but Meriones saw it coming and stooped forward to
+avoid it, whereon the spear flew past him and the point stuck in
+the ground, while the butt-end went on quivering till Mars robbed
+it of its force. The spear, therefore, sped from Aeneas's hand in
+vain and fell quivering to the ground. Aeneas was angry and said,
+"Meriones, you are a good dancer, but if I had hit you my spear
+would soon have made an end of you."
+
+And Meriones answered, "Aeneas, for all your bravery, you will
+not be able to make an end of every one who comes against you.
+You are only a mortal like myself, and if I were to hit you in
+the middle of your shield with my spear, however strong and
+self-confident you may be, I should soon vanquish you, and you
+would yield your life to Hades of the noble steeds."
+
+On this the son of Menoetius rebuked him and said, "Meriones,
+hero though you be, you should not speak thus; taunting speeches,
+my good friend, will not make the Trojans draw away from the dead
+body; some of them must go under ground first; blows for battle,
+and words for council; fight, therefore, and say nothing."
+
+He led the way as he spoke and the hero went forward with him.
+As the sound of woodcutters in some forest glade upon the
+mountains--and the thud of their axes is heard afar--even such a
+din now rose from earth-clash of bronze armour and of good
+ox-hide shields, as men smote each other with their swords and
+spears pointed at both ends. A man had need of good eyesight now
+to know Sarpedon, so covered was he from head to foot with spears
+and blood and dust. Men swarmed about the body, as flies that
+buzz round the full milk-pails in spring when they are brimming
+with milk--even so did they gather round Sarpedon; nor did Jove
+turn his keen eyes away for one moment from the fight, but kept
+looking at it all the time, for he was settling how best to kill
+Patroclus, and considering whether Hector should be allowed to
+end him now in the fight round the body of Sarpedon, and strip
+him of his armour, or whether he should let him give yet further
+trouble to the Trojans. In the end, he deemed it best that the
+brave squire of Achilles son of Peleus should drive Hector and
+the Trojans back towards the city and take the lives of many.
+First, therefore, he made Hector turn fainthearted, whereon he
+mounted his chariot and fled, bidding the other Trojans fly also,
+for he saw that the scales of Jove had turned against him.
+Neither would the brave Lycians stand firm; they were dismayed
+when they saw their king lying struck to the heart amid a heap of
+corpses--for when the son of Saturn made the fight wax hot many
+had fallen above him. The Achaeans, therefore stripped the
+gleaming armour from his shoulders and the brave son of Menoetius
+gave it to his men to take to the ships. Then Jove lord of the
+storm-cloud said to Apollo, "Dear Phoebus, go, I pray you, and
+take Sarpedon out of range of the weapons; cleanse the black
+blood from off him, and then bear him a long way off where you
+may wash him in the river, anoint him with ambrosia, and clothe
+him in immortal raiment; this done, commit him to the arms of the
+two fleet messengers, Death, and Sleep, who will carry him
+straightway to the rich land of Lycia, where his brothers and
+kinsmen will inter him, and will raise both mound and pillar to
+his memory, in due honour to the dead."
+
+Thus he spoke. Apollo obeyed his father's saying, and came down
+from the heights of Ida into the thick of the fight; forthwith he
+took Sarpedon out of range of the weapons, and then bore him a
+long way off, where he washed him in the river, anointed him with
+ambrosia and clothed him in immortal raiment; this done, he
+committed him to the arms of the two fleet messengers, Death, and
+Sleep, who presently set him down in the rich land of Lycia.
+
+Meanwhile Patroclus, with many a shout to his horses and to
+Automedon, pursued the Trojans and Lycians in the pride and
+foolishness of his heart. Had he but obeyed the bidding of the
+son of Peleus, he would have, escaped death and have been
+scatheless; but the counsels of Jove pass man's understanding; he
+will put even a brave man to flight and snatch victory from his
+grasp, or again he will set him on to fight, as he now did when
+he put a high spirit into the heart of Patroclus.
+
+Who then first, and who last, was slain by you, O Patroclus, when
+the gods had now called you to meet your doom? First Adrestus,
+Autonous, Echeclus, Perimus the son of Megas, Epistor and
+Melanippus; after these he killed Elasus, Mulius, and Pylartes.
+These he slew, but the rest saved themselves by flight.
+
+The sons of the Achaeans would now have taken Troy by the hands
+of Patroclus, for his spear flew in all directions, had not
+Phoebus Apollo taken his stand upon the wall to defeat his
+purpose and to aid the Trojans. Thrice did Patroclus charge at an
+angle of the high wall, and thrice did Apollo beat him back,
+striking his shield with his own immortal hands. When Patroclus
+was coming on like a god for yet a fourth time, Apollo shouted to
+him with an awful voice and said, "Draw back, noble Patroclus, it
+is not your lot to sack the city of the Trojan chieftains, nor
+yet will it be that of Achilles who is a far better man than you
+are." On hearing this, Patroclus withdrew to some distance and
+avoided the anger of Apollo.
+
+Meanwhile Hector was waiting with his horses inside the Scaean
+gates, in doubt whether to drive out again and go on fighting, or
+to call the army inside the gates. As he was thus doubting
+Phoebus Apollo drew near him in the likeness of a young and lusty
+warrior Asius, who was Hector's uncle, being own brother to
+Hecuba, and son of Dymas who lived in Phrygia by the waters of
+the river Sangarius; in his likeness Jove's son Apollo now spoke
+to Hector saying, "Hector, why have you left off fighting? It is
+ill done of you. If I were as much better a man than you, as I am
+worse, you should soon rue your slackness. Drive straight towards
+Patroclus, if so be that Apollo may grant you a triumph over him,
+and you may rule him."
+
+With this the god went back into the hurly-burly, and Hector bade
+Cebriones drive again into the fight. Apollo passed in among
+them, and struck panic into the Argives, while he gave triumph to
+Hector and the Trojans. Hector let the other Danaans alone and
+killed no man, but drove straight at Patroclus. Patroclus then
+sprang from his chariot to the ground, with a spear in his left
+hand, and in his right a jagged stone as large as his hand could
+hold. He stood still and threw it, nor did it go far without
+hitting some one; the cast was not in vain, for the stone struck
+Cebriones, Hector's charioteer, a bastard son of Priam, as he
+held the reins in his hands. The stone hit him on the forehead
+and drove his brows into his head for the bone was smashed, and
+his eyes fell to the ground at his feet. He dropped dead from his
+chariot as though he were diving, and there was no more life left
+in him. Over him did you then vaunt, O knight Patroclus, saying,
+"Bless my heart, how active he is, and how well he dives. If we
+had been at sea this fellow would have dived from the ship's side
+and brought up as many oysters as the whole crew could stomach,
+even in rough water, for he has dived beautifully off his chariot
+on to the ground. It seems, then, that there are divers also
+among the Trojans."
+
+As he spoke he flung himself on Cebriones with the spring, as it
+were, of a lion that while attacking a stockyard is himself
+struck in the chest, and his courage is his own bane--even so
+furiously, O Patroclus, did you then spring upon Cebriones.
+Hector sprang also from his chariot to the ground. The pair then
+fought over the body of Cebriones. As two lions fight fiercely on
+some high mountain over the body of a stag that they have killed,
+even so did these two mighty warriors, Patroclus son of Menoetius
+and brave Hector, hack and hew at one another over the corpse of
+Cebriones. Hector would not let him go when he had once got him
+by the head, while Patroclus kept fast hold of his feet, and a
+fierce fight raged between the other Danaans and Trojans. As the
+east and south wind buffet one another when they beat upon some
+dense forest on the mountains--there is beech and ash and
+spreading cornel; the top of the trees roar as they beat on one
+another, and one can hear the boughs cracking and breaking--even
+so did the Trojans and Achaeans spring upon one another and lay
+about each other, and neither side would give way. Many a pointed
+spear fell to ground and many a winged arrow sped from its
+bow-string about the body of Cebriones; many a great stone,
+moreover, beat on many a shield as they fought around his body,
+but there he lay in the whirling clouds of dust, all huge and
+hugely, heedless of his driving now.
+
+So long as the sun was still high in mid-heaven the weapons of
+either side were alike deadly, and the people fell; but when he
+went down towards the time when men loose their oxen, the
+Achaeans proved to be beyond all forecast stronger, so that they
+drew Cebriones out of range of the darts and tumult of the
+Trojans, and stripped the armour from his shoulders. Then
+Patroclus sprang like Mars with fierce intent and a terrific
+shout upon the Trojans, and thrice did he kill nine men; but as
+he was coming on like a god for a time, then, O Patroclus, was
+the hour of your end approaching, for Phoebus fought you in fell
+earnest. Patroclus did not see him as he moved about in the
+crush, for he was enshrouded in thick darkness, and the god
+struck him from behind on his back and his broad shoulders with
+the flat of his hand, so that his eyes turned dizzy. Phoebus
+Apollo beat the helmet from off his head, and it rolled rattling
+off under the horses' feet, where its horse-hair plumes were all
+begrimed with dust and blood. Never indeed had that helmet fared
+so before, for it had served to protect the head and comely
+forehead of the godlike hero Achilles. Now, however, Zeus
+delivered it over to be worn by Hector. Nevertheless the end of
+Hector also was near. The bronze-shod spear, so great and so
+strong, was broken in the hand of Patroclus, while his shield
+that covered him from head to foot fell to the ground as did also
+the band that held it, and Apollo undid the fastenings of his
+corslet.
+
+On this his mind became clouded; his limbs failed him, and he
+stood as one dazed; whereon Euphorbus son of Panthous a
+Dardanian, the best spearman of his time, as also the finest
+horseman and fleetest runner, came behind him and struck him in
+the back with a spear, midway between the shoulders. This man as
+soon as ever he had come up with his chariot had dismounted
+twenty men, so proficient was he in all the arts of war--he it
+was, O knight Patroclus, that first drove a weapon into you, but
+he did not quite overpower you. Euphorbus then ran back into the
+crowd, after drawing his ashen spear out of the wound; he would
+not stand firm and wait for Patroclus, unarmed though he now was,
+to attack him; but Patroclus unnerved, alike by the blow the god
+had given him and by the spear-wound, drew back under cover of
+his men in fear for his life. Hector on this, seeing him to be
+wounded and giving ground, forced his way through the ranks, and
+when close up with him struck him in the lower part of the belly
+with a spear, driving the bronze point right through it, so that
+he fell heavily to the ground to the great of the Achaeans. As
+when a lion has fought some fierce wild-boar and worsted him--the
+two fight furiously upon the mountains over some little fountain
+at which they would both drink, and the lion has beaten the boar
+till he can hardly breathe--even so did Hector son of Priam take
+the life of the brave son of Menoetius who had killed so many,
+striking him from close at hand, and vaunting over him the while.
+"Patroclus," said he, "you deemed that you should sack our city,
+rob our Trojan women of their freedom, and carry them off in your
+ships to your own country. Fool; Hector and his fleet horses were
+ever straining their utmost to defend them. I am foremost of all
+the Trojan warriors to stave the day of bondage from off them; as
+for you, vultures shall devour you here. Poor wretch, Achilles
+with all his bravery availed you nothing; and yet I ween when you
+left him he charged you straitly saying, 'Come not back to the
+ships, knight Patroclus, till you have rent the bloodstained
+shirt of murderous Hector about his body.' Thus I ween did he
+charge you, and your fool's heart answered him 'yea' within you."
+
+Then, as the life ebbed out of you, you answered, O knight
+Patroclus: "Hector, vaunt as you will, for Jove the son of Saturn
+and Apollo have vouchsafed you victory; it is they who have
+vanquished me so easily, and they who have stripped the armour
+from my shoulders; had twenty such men as you attacked me, all of
+them would have fallen before my spear. Fate and the son of Leto
+have overpowered me, and among mortal men Euphorbus; you are
+yourself third only in the killing of me. I say further, and lay
+my saying to your heart, you too shall live but for a little
+season; death and the day of your doom are close upon you, and
+they will lay you low by the hand of Achilles son of Aeacus."
+
+When he had thus spoken his eyes were closed in death, his soul
+left his body and flitted down to the house of Hades, mourning
+its sad fate and bidding farewell to the youth and vigor of its
+manhood. Dead though he was, Hector still spoke to him saying,
+"Patroclus, why should you thus foretell my doom? Who knows but
+Achilles, son of lovely Thetis, may be smitten by my spear and
+die before me?"
+
+As he spoke he drew the bronze spear from the wound, planting his
+foot upon the body, which he thrust off and let lie on its back.
+He then went spear in hand after Automedon, squire of the fleet
+descendant of Aeacus, for he longed to lay him low, but the
+immortal steeds which the gods had given as a rich gift to Peleus
+bore him swiftly from the field.
+
+
+
+BOOK XVII
+
+  The light around the body of Patroclus.
+
+BRAVE Menelaus son of Atreus now came to know that Patroclus had
+fallen, and made his way through the front ranks clad in full
+armour to bestride him. As a cow stands lowing over her first
+calf, even so did yellow-haired Menelaus bestride Patroclus. He
+held his round shield and his spear in front of him, resolute to
+kill any who should dare face him. But the son of Panthous had
+also noted the body, and came up to Menelaus saying, "Menelaus,
+son of Atreus, draw back, leave the body, and let the
+bloodstained spoils be. I was first of the Trojans and their
+brave allies to drive my spear into Patroclus, let me, therefore,
+have my full glory among the Trojans, or I will take aim and kill
+you."
+
+To this Menelaus answered in great anger "By father Jove,
+boasting is an ill thing. The pard is not more bold, nor the lion
+nor savage wild-boar, which is fiercest and most dauntless of all
+creatures, than are the proud sons of Panthous. Yet Hyperenor did
+not see out the days of his youth when he made light of me and
+withstood me, deeming me the meanest soldier among the Danaans.
+His own feet never bore him back to gladden his wife and parents.
+Even so shall I make an end of you too, if you withstand me; get
+you back into the crowd and do not face me, or it shall be worse
+for you. Even a fool may be wise after the event."
+
+Euphorbus would not listen, and said, "Now indeed, Menelaus,
+shall you pay for the death of my brother over whom you vaunted,
+and whose wife you widowed in her bridal chamber, while you
+brought grief unspeakable on his parents. I shall comfort these
+poor people if I bring your head and armour and place them in the
+hands of Panthous and noble Phrontis. The time is come when this
+matter shall be fought out and settled, for me or against me."
+
+As he spoke he struck Menelaus full on the shield, but the spear
+did not go through, for the shield turned its point. Menelaus
+then took aim, praying to father Jove as he did so; Euphorbus was
+drawing back, and Menelaus struck him about the roots of his
+throat, leaning his whole weight on the spear, so as to drive it
+home. The point went clean through his neck, and his armour rang
+rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground. His hair
+which was like that of the Graces, and his locks so deftly bound
+in bands of silver and gold, were all bedrabbled with blood. As
+one who has grown a fine young olive tree in a clear space where
+there is abundance of water--the plant is full of promise, and
+though the winds beat upon it from every quarter it puts forth
+its white blossoms till the blasts of some fierce hurricane sweep
+down upon it and level it with the ground--even so did Menelaus
+strip the fair youth Euphorbus of his armour after he had slain
+him. Or as some fierce lion upon the mountains in the pride of
+his strength fastens on the finest heifer in a herd as it is
+feeding--first he breaks her neck with his strong jaws, and then
+gorges on her blood and entrails; dogs and shepherds raise a hue
+and cry against him, but they stand aloof and will not come close
+to him, for they are pale with fear--even so no one had the
+courage to face valiant Menelaus. The son of Atreus would have
+then carried off the armour of the son of Panthous with ease, had
+not Phoebus Apollo been angry, and in the guise of Mentes chief
+of the Cicons incited Hector to attack him. "Hector," said he,
+"you are now going after the horses of the noble son of Aeacus,
+but you will not take them; they cannot be kept in hand and
+driven by mortal man, save only by Achilles, who is son to an
+immortal mother. Meanwhile Menelaus son of Atreus has bestridden
+the body of Patroclus and killed the noblest of the Trojans,
+Euphorbus son of Panthous, so that he can fight no more."
+
+The god then went back into the toil and turmoil, but the soul of
+Hector was darkened with a cloud of grief; he looked along the
+ranks and saw Euphorbus lying on the ground with the blood still
+flowing from his wound, and Menelaus stripping him of his armour.
+On this he made his way to the front like a flame of fire, clad
+in his gleaming armour, and crying with a loud voice. When the
+son of Atreus heard him, he said to himself in his dismay, "Alas!
+what shall I do? I may not let the Trojans take the armour of
+Patroclus who has fallen fighting on my behalf, lest some Danaan
+who sees me should cry shame upon me. Still if for my honour's
+sake I fight Hector and the Trojans single-handed, they will
+prove too many for me, for Hector is bringing them up in force.
+Why, however, should I thus hesitate? When a man fights in
+despite of heaven with one whom a god befriends, he will soon rue
+it. Let no Danaan think ill of me if I give place to Hector, for
+the hand of heaven is with him. Yet, if I could find Ajax, the
+two of us would fight Hector and heaven too, if we might only
+save the body of Patroclus for Achilles son of Peleus. This, of
+many evils would be the least."
+
+While he was thus in two minds, the Trojans came up to him with
+Hector at their head; he therefore drew back and left the body,
+turning about like some bearded lion who is being chased by dogs
+and men from a stockyard with spears and hue and cry, whereon he
+is daunted and slinks sulkily off--even so did Menelaus son of
+Atreus turn and leave the body of Patroclus. When among the body
+of his men, he looked around for mighty Ajax son of Telamon, and
+presently saw him on the extreme left of the fight, cheering on
+his men and exhorting them to keep on fighting, for Phoebus
+Apollo had spread a great panic among them. He ran up to him and
+said, "Ajax, my good friend, come with me at once to dead
+Patroclus, if so be that we may take the body to Achilles--as for
+his armour, Hector already has it."
+
+These words stirred the heart of Ajax, and he made his way among
+the front ranks, Menelaus going with him. Hector had stripped
+Patroclus of his armour, and was dragging him away to cut off his
+head and take the body to fling before the dogs of Troy. But Ajax
+came up with his shield like wall before him, on which Hector
+withdrew under shelter of his men, and sprang on to his chariot,
+giving the armour over to the Trojans to take to the city, as a
+great trophy for himself; Ajax, therefore, covered the body of
+Patroclus with his broad shield and bestrode him; as a lion
+stands over his whelps if hunters have come upon him in a forest
+when he is with his little ones--in the pride and fierceness of
+his strength he draws his knit brows down till they cover his
+eyes--even so did Ajax bestride the body of Patroclus, and by his
+side stood Menelaus son of Atreus, nursing great sorrow in his
+heart.
+
+Then Glaucus son of Hippolochus looked fiercely at Hector and
+rebuked him sternly. "Hector," said he, "you make a brave show,
+but in fight you are sadly wanting. A runaway like yourself has
+no claim to so great a reputation. Think how you may now save
+your town and citadel by the hands of your own people born in
+Ilius; for you will get no Lycians to fight for you, seeing what
+thanks they have had for their incessant hardships. Are you
+likely, sir, to do anything to help a man of less note, after
+leaving Sarpedon, who was at once your guest and comrade in arms,
+to be the spoil and prey of the Danaans? So long as he lived he
+did good service both to your city and yourself; yet you had no
+stomach to save his body from the dogs. If the Lycians will
+listen to me, they will go home and leave Troy to its fate. If
+the Trojans had any of that daring fearless spirit which lays
+hold of men who are fighting for their country and harassing
+those who would attack it, we should soon bear off Patroclus into
+Ilius. Could we get this dead man away and bring him into the
+city of Priam, the Argives would readily give up the armour of
+Sarpedon, and we should get his body to boot. For he whose squire
+has been now killed is the foremost man at the ships of the
+Achaeans--he and his close-fighting followers. Nevertheless you
+dared not make a stand against Ajax, nor face him, eye to eye,
+with battle all round you, for he is a braver man than you are."
+
+Hector scowled at him and answered, "Glaucus, you should know
+better. I have held you so far as a man of more understanding
+than any in all Lycia, but now I despise you for saying that I am
+afraid of Ajax. I fear neither battle nor the din of chariots,
+but Jove's will is stronger than ours; Jove at one time makes
+even a strong man draw back and snatches victory from his grasp,
+while at another he will set him on to fight. Come hither then,
+my friend, stand by me and see indeed whether I shall play the
+coward the whole day through as you say, or whether I shall not
+stay some even of the boldest Danaans from fighting round the
+body of Patroclus."
+
+As he spoke he called loudly on the Trojans saying, "Trojans,
+Lycians, and Dardanians, fighters in close combat, be men, my
+friends, and fight might and main, while I put on the goodly
+armour of Achilles, which I took when I killed Patroclus."
+
+With this Hector left the fight, and ran full speed after his men
+who were taking the armour of Achilles to Troy, but had not yet
+got far. Standing for a while apart from the woeful fight, he
+changed his armour. His own he sent to the strong city of Ilius
+and to the Trojans, while he put on the immortal armour of the
+son of Peleus, which the gods had given to Peleus, who in his age
+gave it to his son; but the son did not grow old in his father's
+armour.
+
+When Jove, lord of the storm-cloud, saw Hector standing aloof and
+arming himself in the armour of the son of Peleus, he wagged his
+head and muttered to himself saying, "A! poor wretch, you arm in
+the armour of a hero, before whom many another trembles, and you
+reck nothing of the doom that is already close upon you. You have
+killed his comrade so brave and strong, but it was not well that
+you should strip the armour from his head and shoulders. I do
+indeed endow you with great might now, but as against this you
+shall not return from battle to lay the armour of the son of
+Peleus before Andromache."
+
+The son of Saturn bowed his portentous brows, and Hector fitted
+the armour to his body, while terrible Mars entered into him, and
+filled his whole body with might and valour. With a shout he
+strode in among the allies, and his armour flashed about him so
+that he seemed to all of them like the great son of Peleus
+himself. He went about among them and cheered them on--Mesthles,
+Glaucus, Medon, Thersilochus, Asteropaeus, Deisenor and
+Hippothous, Phorcys, Chromius and Ennomus the augur. All these
+did he exhort saying, "Hear me, allies from other cities who are
+here in your thousands, it was not in order to have a crowd about
+me that I called you hither each from his several city, but that
+with heart and soul you might defend the wives and little ones of
+the Trojans from the fierce Achaeans. For this do I oppress my
+people with your food and the presents that make you rich.
+Therefore turn, and charge at the foe, to stand or fall as is the
+game of war; whoever shall bring Patroclus, dead though he be,
+into the hands of the Trojans, and shall make Ajax give way
+before him, I will give him one half of the spoils while I keep
+the other. He will thus share like honour with myself."
+
+When he had thus spoken they charged full weight upon the Danaans
+with their spears held out before them, and the hopes of each ran
+high that he should force Ajax son of Telamon to yield up the
+body--fools that they were, for he was about to take the lives of
+many. Then Ajax said to Menelaus, "My good friend Menelaus, you
+and I shall hardly come out of this fight alive. I am less
+concerned for the body of Patroclus, who will shortly become meat
+for the dogs and vultures of Troy, than for the safety of my own
+head and yours. Hector has wrapped us round in a storm of battle
+from every quarter, and our destruction seems now certain. Call
+then upon the princes of the Danaans if there is any who can hear
+us."
+
+Menelaus did as he said, and shouted to the Danaans for help at
+the top of his voice. "My friends," he cried, "princes and
+counsellors of the Argives, all you who with Agamemnon and
+Menelaus drink at the public cost, and give orders each to his
+own people as Jove vouchsafes him power and glory, the fight is
+so thick about me that I cannot distinguish you severally; come
+on, therefore, every man unbidden, and think it shame that
+Patroclus should become meat and morsel for Trojan hounds."
+
+Fleet Ajax son of Oileus heard him and was first to force his way
+through the fight and run to help him. Next came Idomeneus and
+Meriones his esquire, peer of murderous Mars. As for the others
+that came into the fight after these, who of his own self could
+name them?
+
+The Trojans with Hector at their head charged in a body. As a
+great wave that comes thundering in at the mouth of some
+heaven-born river, and the rocks that jut into the sea ring with
+the roar of the breakers that beat and buffet them--even with
+such a roar did the Trojans come on; but the Achaeans in
+singleness of heart stood firm about the son of Menoetius, and
+fenced him with their bronze shields. Jove, moreover, hid the
+brightness of their helmets in a thick cloud, for he had borne no
+grudge against the son of Menoetius while he was still alive and
+squire to the descendant of Aeacus; therefore he was loth to let
+him fall a prey to the dogs of his foes the Trojans, and urged
+his comrades on to defend him.
+
+At first the Trojans drove the Achaeans back, and they withdrew
+from the dead man daunted. The Trojans did not succeed in killing
+any one, nevertheless they drew the body away. But the Achaeans
+did not lose it long, for Ajax, foremost of all the Danaans after
+the son of Peleus alike in stature and prowess, quickly rallied
+them and made towards the front like a wild boar upon the
+mountains when he stands at bay in the forest glades and routs
+the hounds and lusty youths that have attacked him--even so did
+Ajax son of Telamon passing easily in among the phalanxes of the
+Trojans, disperse those who had bestridden Patroclus and were
+most bent on winning glory by dragging him off to their city. At
+this moment Hippothous brave son of the Pelasgian Lethus, in his
+zeal for Hector and the Trojans, was dragging the body off by the
+foot through the press of the fight, having bound a strap round
+the sinews near the ancle; but a mischief soon befell him from
+which none of those could save him who would have gladly done so,
+for the son of Telamon sprang forward and smote him on his
+bronze-cheeked helmet. The plumed headpiece broke about the point
+of the weapon, struck at once by the spear and by the strong hand
+of Ajax, so that the bloody brain came oozing out through the
+crest-socket. His strength then failed him and he let Patroclus'
+foot drop from his hand, as he fell full length dead upon the
+body; thus he died far from the fertile land of Larissa, and
+never repaid his parents the cost of bringing him up, for his
+life was cut short early by the spear of mighty Ajax. Hector then
+took aim at Ajax with a spear, but he saw it coming and just
+managed to avoid it; the spear passed on and struck Schedius son
+of noble Iphitus, captain of the Phoceans, who dwelt in famed
+Panopeus and reigned over much people; it struck him under the
+middle of the collar-bone the bronze point went right through
+him, coming out at the bottom of his shoulder-blade, and his
+armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground.
+Ajax in his turn struck noble Phorcys son of Phaenops in the
+middle of the belly as he was bestriding Hippothous, and broke
+the plate of his cuirass; whereon the spear tore out his entrails
+and he clutched the ground in his palm as he fell to earth.
+Hector and those who were in the front rank then gave ground,
+while the Argives raised a loud cry of triumph, and drew off the
+bodies of Phorcys and Hippothous which they stripped presently of
+their armour.
+
+The Trojans would now have been worsted by the brave Achaeans and
+driven back to Ilius through their own cowardice, while the
+Argives, so great was their courage and endurance, would have
+achieved a triumph even against the will of Jove, if Apollo had
+not roused Aeneas, in the likeness of Periphas son of Epytus, an
+attendant who had grown old in the service of Aeneas' aged
+father, and was at all times devoted to him. In his likeness,
+then, Apollo said, "Aeneas, can you not manage, even though
+heaven be against us, to save high Ilius? I have known men, whose
+numbers, courage, and self-reliance have saved their people in
+spite of Jove, whereas in this case he would much rather give
+victory to us than to the Danaans, if you would only fight
+instead of being so terribly afraid."
+
+Aeneas knew Apollo when he looked straight at him, and shouted to
+Hector saying, "Hector and all other Trojans and allies, shame on
+us if we are beaten by the Achaeans and driven back to Ilius
+through our own cowardice. A god has just come up to me and told
+me that Jove the supreme disposer will be with us. Therefore let
+us make for the Danaans, that it may go hard with them ere they
+bear away dead Patroclus to the ships."
+
+As he spoke he sprang out far in front of the others, who then
+rallied and again faced the Achaeans. Aeneas speared Leiocritus
+son of Arisbas, a valiant follower of Lycomedes, and Lycomedes
+was moved with pity as he saw him fall; he therefore went close
+up, and speared Apisaon son of Hippasus shepherd of his people in
+the liver under the midriff, so that he died; he had come from
+fertile Paeonia and was the best man of them all after
+Asteropaeus. Asteropaeus flew forward to avenge him and attack
+the Danaans, but this might no longer be, inasmuch as those about
+Patroclus were well covered by their shields, and held their
+spears in front of them, for Ajax had given them strict orders
+that no man was either to give ground, or to stand out before the
+others, but all were to hold well together about the body and
+fight hand to hand. Thus did huge Ajax bid them, and the earth
+ran red with blood as the corpses fell thick on one another alike
+on the side of the Trojans and allies, and on that of the
+Danaans; for these last, too, fought no bloodless fight though
+many fewer of them perished, through the care they took to defend
+and stand by one another.
+
+Thus did they fight as it were a flaming fire; it seemed as
+though it had gone hard even with the sun and moon, for they were
+hidden over all that part where the bravest heroes were fighting
+about the dead son of Menoetius, whereas the other Danaans and
+Achaeans fought at their ease in full daylight with brilliant
+sunshine all round them, and there was not a cloud to be seen
+neither on plain nor mountain. These last moreover would rest for
+a while and leave off fighting, for they were some distance apart
+and beyond the range of one another's weapons, whereas those who
+were in the thick of the fray suffered both from battle and
+darkness. All the best of them were being worn out by the great
+weight of their armour, but the two valiant heroes, Thrasymedes
+and Antilochus, had not yet heard of the death of Patroclus, and
+believed him to be still alive and leading the van against the
+Trojans; they were keeping themselves in reserve against the
+death or rout of their own comrades, for so Nestor had ordered
+when he sent them from the ships into battle.
+
+Thus through the livelong day did they wage fierce war, and the
+sweat of their toil rained ever on their legs under them, and on
+their hands and eyes, as they fought over the squire of the fleet
+son of Peleus. It was as when a man gives a great ox-hide all
+drenched in fat to his men, and bids them stretch it; whereon
+they stand round it in a ring and tug till the moisture leaves
+it, and the fat soaks in for the many that pull at it, and it is
+well stretched--even so did the two sides tug the dead body
+hither and thither within the compass of but a little space--the
+Trojans steadfastly set on dragging it into Ilius, while the
+Achaeans were no less so on taking it to their ships; and fierce
+was the fight between them. Not Mars himself the lord of hosts,
+nor yet Minerva, even in their fullest fury could make light of
+such a battle.
+
+Such fearful turmoil of men and horses did Jove on that day
+ordain round the body of Patroclus. Meanwhile Achilles did not
+know that he had fallen, for the fight was under the wall of Troy
+a long way off the ships. He had no idea, therefore, that
+Patroclus was dead, and deemed that he would return alive as soon
+as he had gone close up to the gates. He knew that he was not to
+sack the city neither with nor without himself, for his mother
+had often told him this when he had sat alone with her, and she
+had informed him of the counsels of great Jove. Now, however, she
+had not told him how great a disaster had befallen him in the
+death of the one who was far dearest to him of all his comrades.
+
+The others still kept on charging one another round the body with
+their pointed spears and killing each other. Then would one say,
+"My friends, we can never again show our faces at the ships--
+better, and greatly better, that earth should open and swallow us
+here in this place, than that we should let the Trojans have the
+triumph of bearing off Patroclus to their city."
+
+The Trojans also on their part spoke to one another saying,
+"Friends, though we fall to a man beside this body, let none
+shrink from fighting." With such words did they exhort each
+other. They fought and fought, and an iron clank rose through the
+void air to the brazen vault of heaven. The horses of the
+descendant of Aeacus stood out of the fight and wept when they
+heard that their driver had been laid low by the hand of
+murderous Hector. Automedon, valiant son of Diores, lashed them
+again and again; many a time did he speak kindly to them, and
+many a time did he upbraid them, but they would neither go back
+to the ships by the waters of the broad Hellespont, nor yet into
+battle among the Achaeans; they stood with their chariot stock
+still, as a pillar set over the tomb of some dead man or woman,
+and bowed their heads to the ground. Hot tears fell from their
+eyes as they mourned the loss of their charioteer, and their
+noble manes drooped all wet from under the yokestraps on either
+side the yoke.
+
+The son of Saturn saw them and took pity upon their sorrow. He
+wagged his head, and muttered to himself, saying, "Poor things,
+why did we give you to King Peleus who is a mortal, while you are
+yourselves ageless and immortal? Was it that you might share the
+sorrows that befall mankind? for of all creatures that live and
+move upon the earth there is none so pitiable as he is--still,
+Hector son of Priam shall drive neither you nor your chariot. I
+will not have it. It is enough that he should have the armour
+over which he vaunts so vainly. Furthermore I will give you
+strength of heart and limb to bear Automedon safely to the ships
+from battle, for I shall let the Trojans triumph still further,
+and go on killing till they reach the ships; whereon night shall
+fall and darkness overshadow the land."
+
+As he spoke he breathed heart and strength into the horses so
+that they shook the dust from out of their manes, and bore their
+chariot swiftly into the fight that raged between Trojans and
+Achaeans. Behind them fought Automedon full of sorrow for his
+comrade, as a vulture amid a flock of geese. In and out, and here
+and there, full speed he dashed amid the throng of the Trojans,
+but for all the fury of his pursuit he killed no man, for he
+could not wield his spear and keep his horses in hand when alone
+in the chariot; at last, however, a comrade, Alcimedon, son of
+Laerces son of Haemon caught sight of him and came up behind his
+chariot. "Automedon," said he, "what god has put this folly into
+your heart and robbed you of your right mind, that you fight the
+Trojans in the front rank single-handed? He who was your comrade
+is slain, and Hector plumes himself on being armed in the armour
+of the descendant of Aeacus."
+
+Automedon son of Diores answered, "Alcimedon, there is no one
+else who can control and guide the immortal steeds so well as you
+can, save only Patroclus--while he was alive--peer of gods in
+counsel. Take then the whip and reins, while I go down from the
+car and fight."
+
+Alcimedon sprang on to the chariot, and caught up the whip and
+reins, while Automedon leaped from off the car. When Hector saw
+him he said to Aeneas who was near him, "Aeneas, counsellor of
+the mail-clad Trojans, I see the steeds of the fleet son of
+Aeacus come into battle with weak hands to drive them. I am sure,
+if you think well, that we might take them; they will not dare
+face us if we both attack them."
+
+The valiant son of Anchises was of the same mind, and the pair
+went right on, with their shoulders covered under shields of
+tough dry ox-hide, overlaid with much bronze. Chromius and Aretus
+went also with them, and their hearts beat high with hope that
+they might kill the men and capture the horses--fools that they
+were, for they were not to return scatheless from their meeting
+with Automedon, who prayed to father Jove and was forthwith
+filled with courage and strength abounding. He turned to his
+trusty comrade Alcimedon and said, "Alcimedon, keep your horses
+so close up that I may feel their breath upon my back; I doubt
+that we shall not stay Hector son of Priam till he has killed us
+and mounted behind the horses; he will then either spread panic
+among the ranks of the Achaeans, or himself be killed among the
+foremost."
+
+On this he cried out to the two Ajaxes and Menelaus, "Ajaxes
+captains of the Argives, and Menelaus, give the dead body over to
+them that are best able to defend it, and come to the rescue of
+us living; for Hector and Aeneas who are the two best men among
+the Trojans, are pressing us hard in the full tide of war.
+Nevertheless the issue lies on the lap of heaven, I will
+therefore hurl my spear and leave the rest to Jove."
+
+He poised and hurled as he spoke, whereon the spear struck the
+round shield of Aretus, and went right through it for the shield
+stayed it not, so that it was driven through his belt into the
+lower part of his belly. As when some sturdy youth, axe in hand,
+deals his blow behind the horns of an ox and severs the tendons
+at the back of its neck so that it springs forward and then
+drops, even so did Aretus give one bound and then fall on his
+back the spear quivering in his body till it made an end of him.
+Hector then aimed a spear at Automedon but he saw it coming and
+stooped forward to avoid it, so that it flew past him and the
+point stuck in the ground, while the butt-end went on quivering
+till Mars robbed it of its force. They would then have fought
+hand to hand with swords had not the two Ajaxes forced their way
+through the crowd when they heard their comrade calling, and
+parted them for all their fury--for Hector, Aeneas, and Chromius
+were afraid and drew back, leaving Aretus to lie there struck to
+the heart. Automedon, peer of fleet Mars, then stripped him of
+his armour and vaunted over him saying, "I have done little to
+assuage my sorrow for the son of Menoetius, for the man I have
+killed is not so good as he was."
+
+As he spoke he took the blood-stained spoils and laid them upon
+his chariot; then he mounted the car with his hands and feet all
+steeped in gore as a lion that has been gorging upon a bull.
+
+And now the fierce groanful fight again raged about Patroclus,
+for Minerva came down from heaven and roused its fury by the
+command of far-seeing Jove, who had changed his mind and sent her
+to encourage the Danaans. As when Jove bends his bright bow in
+heaven in token to mankind either of war or of the chill storms
+that stay men from their labour and plague the flocks--even so,
+wrapped in such radiant raiment, did Minerva go in among the host
+and speak man by man to each. First she took the form and voice
+of Phoenix and spoke to Menelaus son of Atreus, who was standing
+near her. "Menelaus," said she, "it will be shame and dishonour
+to you, if dogs tear the noble comrade of Achilles under the
+walls of Troy. Therefore be staunch, and urge your men to be so
+also."
+
+Menelaus answered, "Phoenix, my good old friend, may Minerva
+vouchsafe me strength and keep the darts from off me, for so
+shall I stand by Patroclus and defend him; his death has gone to
+my heart, but Hector is as a raging fire and deals his blows
+without ceasing, for Jove is now granting him a time of triumph."
+
+Minerva was pleased at his having named herself before any of the
+other gods. Therefore she put strength into his knees and
+shoulders, and made him as bold as a fly, which, though driven
+off will yet come again and bite if it can, so dearly does it
+love man's blood--even so bold as this did she make him as he
+stood over Patroclus and threw his spear. Now there was among the
+Trojans a man named Podes, son of Eetion, who was both rich and
+valiant. Hector held him in the highest honour for he was his
+comrade and boon companion; the spear of Menelaus struck this man
+in the girdle just as he had turned in flight, and went right
+through him. Whereon he fell heavily forward, and Menelaus son of
+Atreus drew off his body from the Trojans into the ranks of his
+own people.
+
+Apollo then went up to Hector and spurred him on to fight, in the
+likeness of Phaenops son of Asius who lived in Abydos and was the
+most favoured of all Hector's guests. In his likeness Apollo
+said, "Hector, who of the Achaeans will fear you henceforward now
+that you have quailed before Menelaus who has ever been rated
+poorly as a soldier? Yet he has now got a corpse away from the
+Trojans single-handed, and has slain your own true comrade, a man
+brave among the foremost, Podes son of Eetion."
+
+A dark cloud of grief fell upon Hector as he heard, and he made
+his way to the front clad in full armour. Thereon the son of
+Saturn seized his bright tasselled aegis, and veiled Ida in
+cloud: he sent forth his lightnings and his thunders, and as he
+shook his aegis he gave victory to the Trojans and routed the
+Achaeans.
+
+The panic was begun by Peneleos the Boeotian, for while keeping
+his face turned ever towards the foe he had been hit with a spear
+on the upper part of the shoulder; a spear thrown by Polydamas
+had grazed the top of the bone, for Polydamas had come up to him
+and struck him from close at hand. Then Hector in close combat
+struck Leitus son of noble Alectryon in the hand by the wrist,
+and disabled him from fighting further. He looked about him in
+dismay, knowing that never again should he wield spear in battle
+with the Trojans. While Hector was in pursuit of Leitus,
+Idomeneus struck him on the breastplate over his chest near the
+nipple; but the spear broke in the shaft, and the Trojans cheered
+aloud. Hector then aimed at Idomeneus son of Deucalion as he was
+standing on his chariot, and very narrowly missed him, but the
+spear hit Coiranus, a follower and charioteer of Meriones who had
+come with him from Lyctus. Idomeneus had left the ships on foot
+and would have afforded a great triumph to the Trojans if
+Coiranus had not driven quickly up to him, he therefore brought
+life and rescue to Idomeneus, but himself fell by the hand of
+murderous Hector. For Hector hit him on the jaw under the ear;
+the end of the spear drove out his teeth and cut his tongue in
+two pieces, so that he fell from his chariot and let the reins
+fall to the ground. Meriones gathered them up from the ground and
+took them into his own hands, then he said to Idomeneus, "Lay on,
+till you get back to the ships, for you must see that the day is
+no longer ours."
+
+On this Idomeneus lashed the horses to the ships, for fear had
+taken hold upon him.
+
+Ajax and Menelaus noted how Jove had turned the scale in favour
+of the Trojans, and Ajax was first to speak. "Alas," said he,
+"even a fool may see that father Jove is helping the Trojans. All
+their weapons strike home; no matter whether it be a brave man or
+a coward that hurls them, Jove speeds all alike, whereas ours
+fall each one of them without effect. What, then, will be best
+both as regards rescuing the body, and our return to the joy of
+our friends who will be grieving as they look hitherwards; for
+they will make sure that nothing can now check the terrible hands
+of Hector, and that he will fling himself upon our ships. I wish
+that some one would go and tell the son of Peleus at once, for I
+do not think he can have yet heard the sad news that the dearest
+of his friends has fallen. But I can see not a man among the
+Achaeans to send, for they and their chariots are alike hidden in
+darkness. O father Jove, lift this cloud from over the sons of
+the Achaeans; make heaven serene, and let us see; if you will
+that we perish, let us fall at any rate by daylight."
+
+Father Jove heard him and had compassion upon his tears.
+Forthwith he chased away the cloud of darkness, so that the sun
+shone out and all the fighting was revealed. Ajax then said to
+Menelaus, "Look, Menelaus, and if Antilochus son of Nestor be
+still living, send him at once to tell Achilles that by far the
+dearest to him of all his comrades has fallen."
+
+Menelaus heeded his words and went his way as a lion from a
+stockyard--the lion is tired of attacking the men and hounds, who
+keep watch the whole night through and will not let him feast on
+the fat of their herd. In his lust of meat he makes straight at
+them but in vain, for darts from strong hands assail him, and
+burning brands which daunt him for all his hunger, so in the
+morning he slinks sulkily away--even so did Menelaus sorely
+against his will leave Patroclus, in great fear lest the Achaeans
+should be driven back in rout and let him fall into the hands of
+the foe. He charged Meriones and the two Ajaxes straitly saying,
+"Ajaxes and Meriones, leaders of the Argives, now indeed remember
+how good Patroclus was; he was ever courteous while alive, bear
+it in mind now that he is dead."
+
+With this Menelaus left them, looking round him as keenly as an
+eagle, whose sight they say is keener than that of any other
+bird--however high he may be in the heavens, not a hare that runs
+can escape him by crouching under bush or thicket, for he will
+swoop down upon it and make an end of it--even so, O Menelaus,
+did your keen eyes range round the mighty host of your followers
+to see if you could find the son of Nestor still alive. Presently
+Menelaus saw him on the extreme left of the battle cheering on
+his men and exhorting them to fight boldly. Menelaus went up to
+him and said, "Antilochus, come here and listen to sad news,
+which I would indeed were untrue. You must see with your own eyes
+that heaven is heaping calamity upon the Danaans, and giving
+victory to the Trojans. Patroclus has fallen, who was the bravest
+of the Achaeans, and sorely will the Danaans miss him. Run
+instantly to the ships and tell Achilles, that he may come to
+rescue the body and bear it to the ships. As for the armour,
+Hector already has it."
+
+Antilochus was struck with horror. For a long time he was
+speechless; his eyes filled with tears and he could find no
+utterance, but he did as Menelaus had said, and set off running
+as soon as he had given his armour to a comrade, Laodocus, who
+was wheeling his horses round, close beside him.
+
+Thus, then, did he run weeping from the field, to carry the bad
+news to Achilles son of Peleus. Nor were you, O Menelaus, minded
+to succour his harassed comrades, when Antilochus had left the
+Pylians--and greatly did they miss him--but he sent them noble
+Thrasymedes, and himself went back to Patroclus. He came running
+up to the two Ajaxes and said, "I have sent Antilochus to the
+ships to tell Achilles, but rage against Hector as he may, he
+cannot come, for he cannot fight without armour. What then will
+be our best plan both as regards rescuing the dead, and our own
+escape from death amid the battle-cries of the Trojans?"
+
+Ajax answered, "Menelaus, you have said well: do you, then, and
+Meriones stoop down, raise the body, and bear it out of the fray,
+while we two behind you keep off Hector and the Trojans, one in
+heart as in name, and long used to fighting side by side with one
+another."
+
+On this Menelaus and Meriones took the dead man in their arms and
+lifted him high aloft with a great effort. The Trojan host raised
+a hue and cry behind them when they saw the Achaeans bearing the
+body away, and flew after them like hounds attacking a wounded
+boar at the loo of a band of young huntsmen. For a while the
+hounds fly at him as though they would tear him in pieces, but
+now and again he turns on them in a fury, scaring and scattering
+them in all directions--even so did the Trojans for a while
+charge in a body, striking with sword and with spears pointed at
+both the ends, but when the two Ajaxes faced them and stood at
+bay, they would turn pale and no man dared press on to fight
+further about the dead.
+
+In this wise did the two heroes strain every nerve to bear the
+body to the ships out of the fight. The battle raged round them
+like fierce flames that when once kindled spread like wildfire
+over a city, and the houses fall in the glare of its burning--
+even such was the roar and tramp of men and horses that pursued
+them as they bore Patroclus from the field. Or as mules that put
+forth all their strength to draw some beam or great piece of
+ship's timber down a rough mountain-track, and they pant and
+sweat as they, go even so did Menelaus and pant and sweat as they
+bore the body of Patroclus. Behind them the two Ajaxes held
+stoutly out. As some wooded mountain-spur that stretches across a
+plain will turn water and check the flow even of a great river,
+nor is there any stream strong enough to break through it--even
+so did the two Ajaxes face the Trojans and stem the tide of their
+fighting though they kept pouring on towards them and foremost
+among them all was Aeneas son of Anchises with valiant Hector. As
+a flock of daws or starlings fall to screaming and chattering
+when they see a falcon, foe to all small birds, come soaring near
+them, even so did the Achaean youth raise a babel of cries as
+they fled before Aeneas and Hector, unmindful of their former
+prowess. In the rout of the Danaans much goodly armour fell round
+about the trench, and of fighting there was no end.
+
+
+
+BOOK XVIII
+
+  The grief of Achilles over Patroclus--The visit of Thetis
+  to Vulcan and the armour that he made for Achilles.
+
+THUS then did they fight as it were a flaming fire. Meanwhile the
+fleet runner Antilochus, who had been sent as messenger, reached
+Achilles, and found him sitting by his tall ships and boding that
+which was indeed too surely true. "Alas," said he to himself in
+the heaviness of his heart, "why are the Achaeans again scouring
+the plain and flocking towards the ships? Heaven grant the gods
+be not now bringing that sorrow upon me of which my mother Thetis
+spoke, saying that while I was yet alive the bravest of the
+Myrmidons should fall before the Trojans, and see the light of
+the sun no longer. I fear the brave son of Menoetius has fallen
+through his own daring and yet I bade him return to the ships as
+soon as he had driven back those that were bringing fire against
+them, and not join battle with Hector."
+
+As he was thus pondering, the son of Nestor came up to him and
+told his sad tale, weeping bitterly the while. "Alas," he cried,
+"son of noble Peleus, I bring you bad tidings, would indeed that
+they were untrue. Patroclus has fallen, and a fight is raging
+about his naked body--for Hector holds his armour."
+
+A dark cloud of grief fell upon Achilles as he listened. He
+filled both hands with dust from off the ground, and poured it
+over his head, disfiguring his comely face, and letting the
+refuse settle over his shirt so fair and new. He flung himself
+down all huge and hugely at full length, and tore his hair with
+his hands. The bondswomen whom Achilles and Patroclus had taken
+captive screamed aloud for grief, beating their breasts, and with
+their limbs failing them for sorrow. Antilochus bent over him the
+while, weeping and holding both his hands as he lay groaning for
+he feared that he might plunge a knife into his own throat. Then
+Achilles gave a loud cry and his mother heard him as she was
+sitting in the depths of the sea by the old man her father,
+whereon she screamed, and all the goddesses daughters of Nereus
+that dwelt at the bottom of the sea, came gathering round her.
+There were Glauce, Thalia and Cymodoce, Nesaia, Speo, Thoe and
+dark-eyed Halie, Cymothoe, Actaea and Limnorea, Melite, Iaera,
+Amphithoe and Agave, Doto and Proto, Pherusa and Dynamene,
+Dexamene, Amphinome and Callianeira, Doris, Panope, and the
+famous sea-nymph Galatea, Nemertes, Apseudes and Callianassa.
+There were also Clymene, Ianeira and Ianassa, Maera, Oreithuia
+and Amatheia of the lovely locks, with other Nereids who dwell in
+the depths of the sea. The crystal cave was filled with their
+multitude and they all beat their breasts while Thetis led them
+in their lament.
+
+"Listen," she cried, "sisters, daughters of Nereus, that you may
+hear the burden of my sorrows. Alas, woe is me, woe in that I
+have borne the most glorious of offspring. I bore him fair and
+strong, hero among heroes, and he shot up as a sapling; I tended
+him as a plant in a goodly garden, and sent him with his ships to
+Ilius to fight the Trojans, but never shall I welcome him back to
+the house of Peleus. So long as he lives to look upon the light
+of the sun he is in heaviness, and though I go to him I cannot
+help him. Nevertheless I will go, that I may see my dear son and
+learn what sorrow has befallen him though he is still holding
+aloof from battle."
+
+She left the cave as she spoke, while the others followed weeping
+after, and the waves opened a path before them. When they reached
+the rich plain of Troy, they came up out of the sea in a long
+line on to the sands, at the place where the ships of the
+Myrmidons were drawn up in close order round the tents of
+Achilles. His mother went up to him as he lay groaning; she laid
+her hand upon his head and spoke piteously, saying, "My son, why
+are you thus weeping? What sorrow has now befallen you? Tell me;
+hide it not from me. Surely Jove has granted you the prayer you
+made him, when you lifted up your hands and besought him that the
+Achaeans might all of them be pent up at their ships, and rue it
+bitterly in that you were no longer with them."
+
+Achilles groaned and answered, "Mother, Olympian Jove has indeed
+vouchsafed me the fulfilment of my prayer, but what boots it to
+me, seeing that my dear comrade Patroclus has fallen--he whom I
+valued more than all others, and loved as dearly as my own life?
+I have lost him; aye, and Hector when he had killed him stripped
+the wondrous armour, so glorious to behold, which the gods gave
+to Peleus when they laid you in the couch of a mortal man. Would
+that you were still dwelling among the immortal sea-nymphs, and
+that Peleus had taken to himself some mortal bride. For now you
+shall have grief infinite by reason of the death of that son whom
+you can never welcome home--nay, I will not live nor go about
+among mankind unless Hector fall by my spear, and thus pay me for
+having slain Patroclus son of Menoetius."
+
+Thetis wept and answered, "Then, my son, is your end near at
+hand--for your own death awaits you full soon after that of
+Hector."
+
+Then said Achilles in his great grief, "I would die here and now,
+in that I could not save my comrade. He has fallen far from home,
+and in his hour of need my hand was not there to help him. What
+is there for me? Return to my own land I shall not, and I have
+brought no saving neither to Patroclus nor to my other comrades
+of whom so many have been slain by mighty Hector; I stay here by
+my ships a bootless burden upon the earth, I, who in fight have
+no peer among the Achaeans, though in council there are better
+than I. Therefore, perish strife both from among gods and men,
+and anger, wherein even a righteous man will harden his
+heart--which rises up in the soul of a man like smoke, and the
+taste thereof is sweeter than drops of honey. Even so has
+Agamemnon angered me. And yet--so be it, for it is over; I will
+force my soul into subjection as I needs must; I will go; I will
+pursue Hector who has slain him whom I loved so dearly, and will
+then abide my doom when it may please Jove and the other gods to
+send it. Even Hercules, the best beloved of Jove--even he could
+not escape the hand of death, but fate and Juno's fierce anger
+laid him low, as I too shall lie when I am dead if a like doom
+awaits me. Till then I will win fame, and will bid Trojan and
+Dardanian women wring tears from their tender cheeks with both
+their hands in the grievousness of their great sorrow; thus shall
+they know that he who has held aloof so long will hold aloof no
+longer. Hold me not back, therefore, in the love you bear me, for
+you shall not move me."
+
+Then silver-footed Thetis answered, "My son, what you have said
+is true. It is well to save your comrades from destruction, but
+your armour is in the hands of the Trojans; Hector bears it in
+triumph upon his own shoulders. Full well I know that his vaunt
+shall not be lasting, for his end is close at hand; go not,
+however, into the press of battle till you see me return hither;
+to-morrow at break of day I shall be here, and will bring you
+goodly armour from King Vulcan."
+
+On this she left her brave son, and as she turned away she said
+to the sea-nymphs her sisters, "Dive into the bosom of the sea
+and go to the house of the old sea-god my father. Tell him
+everything; as for me, I will go to the cunning workman Vulcan on
+high Olympus, and ask him to provide my son with a suit of
+splendid armour."
+
+When she had so said, they dived forthwith beneath the waves,
+while silver-footed Thetis went her way that she might bring the
+armour for her son.
+
+Thus, then, did her feet bear the goddess to Olympus, and
+meanwhile the Achaeans were flying with loud cries before
+murderous Hector till they reached the ships and the Hellespont,
+and they could not draw the body of Mars's servant Patroclus out
+of reach of the weapons that were showered upon him, for Hector
+son of Priam with his host and horsemen had again caught up to
+him like the flame of a fiery furnace; thrice did brave Hector
+seize him by the feet, striving with might and main to draw him
+away and calling loudly on the Trojans, and thrice did the two
+Ajaxes, clothed in valour as with a garment, beat him from off
+the body; but all undaunted he would now charge into the thick of
+the fight, and now again he would stand still and cry aloud, but
+he would give no ground. As upland shepherds that cannot chase
+some famished lion from a carcase, even so could not the two
+Ajaxes scare Hector son of Priam from the body of Patroclus.
+
+And now he would even have dragged it off and have won
+imperishable glory, had not Iris fleet as the wind, winged her
+way as messenger from Olympus to the son of Peleus and bidden him
+arm. She came secretly without the knowledge of Jove and of the
+other gods, for Juno sent her, and when she had got close to him
+she said, "Up, son of Peleus, mightiest of all mankind; rescue
+Patroclus about whom this fearful fight is now raging by the
+ships. Men are killing one another, the Danaans in defence of the
+dead body, while the Trojans are trying to hale it away, and take
+it to windy Ilius: Hector is the most furious of them all; he is
+for cutting the head from the body and fixing it on the stakes of
+the wall. Up, then, and bide here no longer; shrink from the
+thought that Patroclus may become meat for the dogs of Troy.
+Shame on you, should his body suffer any kind of outrage."
+
+And Achilles said, "Iris, which of the gods was it that sent you
+to me?"
+
+Iris answered, "It was Juno the royal spouse of Jove, but the son
+of Saturn does not know of my coming, nor yet does any other of
+the immortals who dwell on the snowy summits of Olympus."
+
+Then fleet Achilles answered her saying, "How can I go up into
+the battle? They have my armour. My mother forbade me to arm till
+I should see her come, for she promised to bring me goodly armour
+from Vulcan; I know no man whose arms I can put on, save only the
+shield of Ajax son of Telamon, and he surely must be fighting in
+the front rank and wielding his spear about the body of dead
+Patroclus."
+
+Iris said, "We know that your armour has been taken, but go as
+you are; go to the deep trench and show yourself before the
+Trojans, that they may fear you and cease fighting. Thus will the
+fainting sons of the Achaeans gain some brief breathing-time,
+which in battle may hardly be."
+
+Iris left him when she had so spoken. But Achilles dear to Jove
+arose, and Minerva flung her tasselled aegis round his strong
+shoulders; she crowned his head with a halo of golden cloud from
+which she kindled a glow of gleaming fire. As the smoke that goes
+up into heaven from some city that is being beleaguered on an
+island far out at sea--all day long do men sally from the city
+and fight their hardest, and at the going down of the sun the
+line of beacon-fires blazes forth, flaring high for those that
+dwell near them to behold, if so be that they may come with their
+ships and succour them--even so did the light flare from the head
+of Achilles, as he stood by the trench, going beyond the wall--
+but he aid not join the Achaeans for he heeded the charge which
+his mother laid upon him.
+
+There did he stand and shout aloud. Minerva also raised her voice
+from afar, and spread terror unspeakable among the Trojans.
+Ringing as the note of a trumpet that sounds alarm then the foe
+is at the gates of a city, even so brazen was the voice of the
+son of Aeacus, and when the Trojans heard its clarion tones they
+were dismayed; the horses turned back with their chariots for
+they boded mischief, and their drivers were awe-struck by the
+steady flame which the grey-eyed goddess had kindled above the
+head of the great son of Peleus.
+
+Thrice did Achilles raise his loud cry as he stood by the trench,
+and thrice were the Trojans and their brave allies thrown into
+confusion; whereon twelve of their noblest champions fell beneath
+the wheels of their chariots and perished by their own spears.
+The Achaeans to their great joy then drew Patroclus out of reach
+of the weapons, and laid him on a litter: his comrades stood
+mourning round him, and among them fleet Achilles who wept
+bitterly as he saw his true comrade lying dead upon his bier. He
+had sent him out with horses and chariots into battle, but his
+return he was not to welcome.
+
+Then Juno sent the busy sun, loth though he was, into the waters
+of Oceanus; so he set, and the Achaeans had rest from the tug and
+turmoil of war.
+
+Now the Trojans when they had come out of the fight, unyoked
+their horses and gathered in assembly before preparing their
+supper. They kept their feet, nor would any dare to sit down, for
+fear had fallen upon them all because Achilles had shown himself
+after having held aloof so long from battle. Polydamas son of
+Panthous was first to speak, a man of judgement, who alone among
+them could look both before and after. He was comrade to Hector,
+and they had been born upon the same night; with all sincerity
+and goodwill, therefore, he addressed them thus:--
+
+"Look to it well, my friends; I would urge you to go back now to
+your city and not wait here by the ships till morning, for we are
+far from our walls. So long as this man was at enmity with
+Agamemnon the Achaeans were easier to deal with, and I would have
+gladly camped by the ships in the hope of taking them; but now I
+go in great fear of the fleet son of Peleus; he is so daring that
+he will never bide here on the plain whereon the Trojans and
+Achaeans fight with equal valour, but he will try to storm our
+city and carry off our women. Do then as I say, and let us
+retreat. For this is what will happen. The darkness of night will
+for a time stay the son of Peleus, but if he find us here in the
+morning when he sallies forth in full armour, we shall have
+knowledge of him in good earnest. Glad indeed will he be who can
+escape and get back to Ilius, and many a Trojan will become meat
+for dogs and vultures may I never live to hear it. If we do as I
+say, little though we may like it, we shall have strength in
+counsel during the night, and the great gates with the doors that
+close them will protect the city. At dawn we can arm and take our
+stand on the walls; he will then rue it if he sallies from the
+ships to fight us. He will go back when he has given his horses
+their fill of being driven all whithers under our walls, and will
+be in no mind to try and force his way into the city. Neither
+will he ever sack it, dogs shall devour him ere he do so."
+
+Hector looked fiercely at him and answered, "Polydamas, your
+words are not to my liking in that you bid us go back and be pent
+within the city. Have you not had enough of being cooped up
+behind walls? In the old-days the city of Priam was famous the
+whole world over for its wealth of gold and bronze, but our
+treasures are wasted out of our houses, and much goods have been
+sold away to Phrygia and fair Meonia, for the hand of Jove has
+been laid heavily upon us. Now, therefore, that the son of
+scheming Saturn has vouchsafed me to win glory here and to hem
+the Achaeans in at their ships, prate no more in this fool's wise
+among the people. You will have no man with you; it shall not be;
+do all of you as I now say;--take your suppers in your companies
+throughout the host, and keep your watches and be wakeful every
+man of you. If any Trojan is uneasy about his possessions, let
+him gather them and give them out among the people. Better let
+these, rather than the Achaeans, have them. At daybreak we will
+arm and fight about the ships; granted that Achilles has again
+come forward to defend them, let it be as he will, but it shall
+go hard with him. I shall not shun him, but will fight him, to
+fall or conquer. The god of war deals out like measure to all,
+and the slayer may yet be slain."
+
+Thus spoke Hector; and the Trojans, fools that they were, shouted
+in applause, for Pallas Minerva had robbed them of their
+understanding. They gave ear to Hector with his evil counsel, but
+the wise words of Polydamas no man would heed. They took their
+supper throughout the host, and meanwhile through the whole night
+the Achaeans mourned Patroclus, and the son of Peleus led them in
+their lament. He laid his murderous hands upon the breast of his
+comrade, groaning again and again as a bearded lion when a man
+who was chasing deer has robbed him of his young in some dense
+forest; when the lion comes back he is furious, and searches
+dingle and dell to track the hunter if he can find him, for he is
+mad with rage--even so with many a sigh did Achilles speak among
+the Myrmidons saying, "Alas! vain were the words with which I
+cheered the hero Menoetius in his own house; I said that I would
+bring his brave son back again to Opoeis after he had sacked
+Ilius and taken his share of the spoils--but Jove does not give
+all men their heart's desire. The same soil shall be reddened
+here at Troy by the blood of us both, for I too shall never be
+welcomed home by the old knight Peleus, nor by my mother Thetis,
+but even in this place shall the earth cover me. Nevertheless, O
+Patroclus, now that I am left behind you, I will not bury you,
+till I have brought hither the head and armour of mighty Hector
+who has slain you. Twelve noble sons of Trojans will I behead
+before your bier to avenge you; till I have done so you shall lie
+as you are by the ships, and fair women of Troy and Dardanus,
+whom we have taken with spear and strength of arm when we sacked
+men's goodly cities, shall weep over you both night and day."
+
+Then Achilles told his men to set a large tripod upon the fire
+that they might wash the clotted gore from off Patroclus. Thereon
+they set a tripod full of bath water on to a clear fire: they
+threw sticks on to it to make it blaze, and the water became hot
+as the flame played about the belly of the tripod. When the water
+in the cauldron was boiling they washed the body, anointed it
+with oil, and closed its wounds with ointment that had been kept
+nine years. Then they laid it on a bier and covered it with a
+linen cloth from head to foot, and over this they laid a fair
+white robe. Thus all night long did the Myrmidons gather round
+Achilles to mourn Patroclus.
+
+Then Jove said to Juno his sister-wife, "So, Queen Juno, you have
+gained your end, and have roused fleet Achilles. One would think
+that the Achaeans were of your own flesh and blood."
+
+And Juno answered, "Dread son of Saturn, why should you say this
+thing? May not a man though he be only mortal and knows less than
+we do, do what he can for another person? And shall not I--
+foremost of all goddesses both by descent and as wife to you who
+reign in heaven--devise evil for the Trojans if I am angry with
+them?"
+
+Thus did they converse. Meanwhile Thetis came to the house of
+Vulcan, imperishable, star-bespangled, fairest of the abodes in
+heaven, a house of bronze wrought by the lame god's own hands.
+She found him busy with his bellows, sweating and hard at work,
+for he was making twenty tripods that were to stand by the wall
+of his house, and he set wheels of gold under them all that they
+might go of their own selves to the assemblies of the gods, and
+come back again--marvels indeed to see. They were finished all
+but the ears of cunning workmanship which yet remained to be
+fixed to them: these he was now fixing, and he was hammering at
+the rivets. While he was thus at work silver-footed Thetis came
+to the house. Charis, of graceful head-dress, wife to the
+far-famed lame god, came towards her as soon as she saw her, and
+took her hand in her own, saying, "Why have you come to our
+house, Thetis, honoured and ever welcome--for you do not visit us
+often? Come inside and let me set refreshment before you."
+
+The goddess led the way as she spoke, and bade Thetis sit on a
+richly decorated seat inlaid with silver; there was a footstool
+also under her feet. Then she called Vulcan and said, "Vulcan,
+come here, Thetis wants you"; and the far-famed lame god
+answered, "Then it is indeed an august and honoured goddess who
+has come here; she it was that took care of me when I was
+suffering from the heavy fall which I had through my cruel
+mother's anger--for she would have got rid of me because I was
+lame. It would have gone hardly with me had not Eurynome,
+daughter of the ever-encircling waters of Oceanus, and Thetis,
+taken me to their bosom. Nine years did I stay with them, and
+many beautiful works in bronze, brooches, spiral armlets, cups,
+and chains, did I make for them in their cave, with the roaring
+waters of Oceanus foaming as they rushed ever past it; and no one
+knew, neither of gods nor men, save only Thetis and Eurynome who
+took care of me. If, then, Thetis has come to my house I must
+make her due requital for having saved me; entertain her,
+therefore, with all hospitality, while I put by my bellows and
+all my tools."
+
+On this the mighty monster hobbled off from his anvil, his thin
+legs plying lustily under him. He set the bellows away from the
+fire, and gathered his tools into a silver chest. Then he took a
+sponge and washed his face and hands, his shaggy chest and brawny
+neck; he donned his shirt, grasped his strong staff, and limped
+towards the door. There were golden handmaids also who worked for
+him, and were like real young women, with sense and reason, voice
+also and strength, and all the learning of the immortals; these
+busied themselves as the king bade them, while he drew near to
+Thetis, seated her upon a goodly seat, and took her hand in his
+own, saying, "Why have you come to our house, Thetis honoured and
+ever welcome--for you do not visit us often? Say what you want,
+and I will do it for you at once if I can, and if it can be done
+at all."
+
+Thetis wept and answered, "Vulcan, is there another goddess in
+Olympus whom the son of Saturn has been pleased to try with so
+much affliction as he has me? Me alone of the marine goddesses
+did he make subject to a mortal husband, Peleus son of Aeacus,
+and sorely against my will did I submit to the embraces of one
+who was but mortal, and who now stays at home worn out with age.
+Neither is this all. Heaven vouchsafed me a son, hero among
+heroes, and he shot up as a sapling. I tended him as a plant in a
+goodly garden and sent him with his ships to Ilius to fight the
+Trojans, but never shall I welcome him back to the house of
+Peleus. So long as he lives to look upon the light of the sun, he
+is in heaviness, and though I go to him I cannot help him; King
+Agamemnon has made him give up the maiden whom the sons of the
+Achaeans had awarded him, and he wastes with sorrow for her sake.
+Then the Trojans hemmed the Achaeans in at their ships' sterns
+and would not let them come forth; the elders, therefore, of the
+Argives besought Achilles and offered him great treasure, whereon
+he refused to bring deliverance to them himself, but put his own
+armour on Patroclus and sent him into the fight with much people
+after him. All day long they fought by the Scaean gates and would
+have taken the city there and then, had not Apollo vouchsafed
+glory to Hector and slain the valiant son of Menoetius after he
+had done the Trojans much evil. Therefore I am suppliant at your
+knees if haply you may be pleased to provide my son, whose end is
+near at hand, with helmet and shield, with goodly greaves fitted
+with ancle-clasps, and with a breastplate, for he lost his own
+when his true comrade fell at the hands of the Trojans, and he
+now lies stretched on earth in the bitterness of his soul."
+
+And Vulcan answered, "Take heart, and be no more disquieted about
+this matter; would that I could hide him from death's sight when
+his hour is come, so surely as I can find him armour that shall
+amaze the eyes of all who behold it."
+
+When he had so said he left her and went to his bellows, turning
+them towards the fire and bidding them do their office. Twenty
+bellows blew upon the melting-pots, and they blew blasts of every
+kind, some fierce to help him when he had need of them, and
+others less strong as Vulcan willed it in the course of his work.
+He threw tough copper into the fire, and tin, with silver and
+gold; he set his great anvil on its block, and with one hand
+grasped his mighty hammer while he took the tongs in the other.
+
+First he shaped the shield so great and strong, adorning it all
+over and binding it round with a gleaming circuit in three
+layers; and the baldric was made of silver. He made the shield in
+five thicknesses, and with many a wonder did his cunning hand
+enrich it.
+
+He wrought the earth, the heavens, and the sea; the moon also at
+her full and the untiring sun, with all the signs that glorify
+the face of heaven--the Pleiads, the Hyads, huge Orion, and the
+Bear, which men also call the Wain and which turns round ever in
+one place, facing. Orion, and alone never dips into the stream of
+Oceanus.
+
+He wrought also two cities, fair to see and busy with the hum of
+men. In the one were weddings and wedding-feasts, and they were
+going about the city with brides whom they were escorting by
+torchlight from their chambers. Loud rose the cry of Hymen, and
+the youths danced to the music of flute and lyre, while the women
+stood each at her house door to see them.
+
+Meanwhile the people were gathered in assembly, for there was a
+quarrel, and two men were wrangling about the blood-money for a
+man who had been killed, the one saying before the people that he
+had paid damages in full, and the other that he had not been
+paid. Each was trying to make his own case good, and the people
+took sides, each man backing the side that he had taken; but the
+heralds kept them back, and the elders sate on their seats of
+stone in a solemn circle, holding the staves which the heralds
+had put into their hands. Then they rose and each in his turn
+gave judgement, and there were two talents laid down, to be given
+to him whose judgement should be deemed the fairest.
+
+About the other city there lay encamped two hosts in gleaming
+armour, and they were divided whether to sack it, or to spare it
+and accept the half of what it contained. But the men of the city
+would not yet consent, and armed themselves for a surprise; their
+wives and little children kept guard upon the walls, and with
+them were the men who were past fighting through age; but the
+others sallied forth with Mars and Pallas Minerva at their head--
+both of them wrought in gold and clad in golden raiment, great
+and fair with their armour as befitting gods, while they that
+followed were smaller. When they reached the place where they
+would lay their ambush, it was on a riverbed to which live stock
+of all kinds would come from far and near to water; here, then,
+they lay concealed, clad in full armour. Some way off them there
+were two scouts who were on the look-out for the coming of sheep
+or cattle, which presently came, followed by two shepherds who
+were playing on their pipes, and had not so much as a thought of
+danger. When those who were in ambush saw this, they cut off the
+flocks and herds and killed the shepherds. Meanwhile the
+besiegers, when they heard much noise among the cattle as they
+sat in council, sprang to their horses, and made with all speed
+towards them; when they reached them they set battle in array by
+the banks of the river, and the hosts aimed their bronze-shod
+spears at one another. With them were Strife and Riot, and fell
+Fate who was dragging three men after her, one with a fresh
+wound, and the other unwounded, while the third was dead, and she
+was dragging him along by his heel: and her robe was bedrabbled
+in men's blood. They went in and out with one another and fought
+as though they were living people haling away one another's dead.
+
+He wrought also a fair fallow field, large and thrice ploughed
+already. Many men were working at the plough within it, turning
+their oxen to and fro, furrow after furrow. Each time that they
+turned on reaching the headland a man would come up to them and
+give them a cup of wine, and they would go back to their furrows
+looking forward to the time when they should again reach the
+headland. The part that they had ploughed was dark behind them,
+so that the field, though it was of gold, still looked as if it
+were being ploughed--very curious to behold.
+
+He wrought also a field of harvest corn, and the reapers were
+reaping with sharp sickles in their hands. Swathe after swathe
+fell to the ground in a straight line behind them, and the
+binders bound them in bands of twisted straw. There were three
+binders, and behind them there were boys who gathered the cut
+corn in armfuls and kept on bringing them to be bound: among them
+all the owner of the land stood by in silence and was glad. The
+servants were getting a meal ready under an oak, for they had
+sacrificed a great ox, and were busy cutting him up, while the
+women were making a porridge of much white barley for the
+labourers' dinner.
+
+He wrought also a vineyard, golden and fair to see, and the vines
+were loaded with grapes. The bunches overhead were black, but the
+vines were trained on poles of silver. He ran a ditch of dark
+metal all round it, and fenced it with a fence of tin; there was
+only one path to it, and by this the vintagers went when they
+would gather the vintage. Youths and maidens all blithe and full
+of glee, carried the luscious fruit in plaited baskets; and with
+them there went a boy who made sweet music with his lyre, and
+sang the Linos-song with his clear boyish voice.
+
+He wrought also a herd of horned cattle. He made the cows of gold
+and tin, and they lowed as they came full speed out of the yards
+to go and feed among the waving reeds that grow by the banks of
+the river. Along with the cattle there went four shepherds, all
+of them in gold, and their nine fleet dogs went with them. Two
+terrible lions had fastened on a bellowing bull that was with the
+foremost cows, and bellow as he might they haled him, while the
+dogs and men gave chase: the lions tore through the bull's thick
+hide and were gorging on his blood and bowels, but the herdsmen
+were afraid to do anything, and only hounded on their dogs; the
+dogs dared not fasten on the lions but stood by barking and
+keeping out of harm's way.
+
+The god wrought also a pasture in a fair mountain dell, and a
+large flock of sheep, with a homestead and huts, and sheltered
+sheepfolds.
+
+Furthermore he wrought a green, like that which Daedalus once
+made in Cnossus for lovely Ariadne. Hereon there danced youths
+and maidens whom all would woo, with their hands on one another's
+wrists. The maidens wore robes of light linen, and the youths
+well woven shirts that were slightly oiled. The girls were
+crowned with garlands, while the young men had daggers of gold
+that hung by silver baldrics; sometimes they would dance deftly
+in a ring with merry twinkling feet, as it were a potter sitting
+at his work and making trial of his wheel to see whether it will
+run, and sometimes they would go all in line with one another,
+and much people was gathered joyously about the green. There was
+a bard also to sing to them and play his lyre, while two tumblers
+went about performing in the midst of them when the man struck up
+with his tune.
+
+All round the outermost rim of the shield he set the mighty
+stream of the river Oceanus.
+
+Then when he had fashioned the shield so great and strong, he
+made a breastplate also that shone brighter than fire. He made a
+helmet, close fitting to the brow, and richly worked, with a
+golden plume overhanging it; and he made greaves also of beaten
+tin.
+
+Lastly, when the famed lame god had made all the armour, he took
+it and set it before the mother of Achilles; whereon she darted
+like a falcon from the snowy summits of Olympus and bore away the
+gleaming armour from the house of Vulcan.
+
+
+
+BOOK XIX
+
+  Achilles is reconciled with Agamemnon, puts on the armour
+  which Vulcan had made him, and goes out to fight.
+
+NOW when Dawn in robe of saffron was hasting from the streams of
+Oceanus, to bring light to mortals and immortals, Thetis reached
+the ships with the armour that the god had given her. She found
+her son fallen about the body of Patroclus and weeping bitterly.
+Many also of his followers were weeping round him, but when the
+goddess came among them she clasped his hand in her own, saying,
+"My son, grieve as we may we must let this man lie, for it is by
+heaven's will that he has fallen; now, therefore, accept from
+Vulcan this rich and goodly armour, which no man has ever yet
+borne upon his shoulders."
+
+As she spoke she set the armour before Achilles, and it rang out
+bravely as she did so. The Myrmidons were struck with awe, and
+none dared look full at it, for they were afraid; but Achilles
+was roused to still greater fury, and his eyes gleamed with a
+fierce light, for he was glad when he handled the splendid
+present which the god had made him. Then, as soon as he had
+satisfied himself with looking at it, he said to his mother,
+"Mother, the god has given me armour, meet handiwork for an
+immortal and such as no-one living could have fashioned; I will
+now arm, but I much fear that flies will settle upon the son of
+Menoetius and breed worms about his wounds, so that his body, now
+he is dead, will be disfigured and the flesh will rot."
+
+Silver-footed Thetis answered, "My son, be not disquieted about
+this matter. I will find means to protect him from the swarms of
+noisome flies that prey on the bodies of men who have been killed
+in battle. He may lie for a whole year, and his flesh shall still
+be as sound as ever, or even sounder. Call, therefore, the
+Achaean heroes in assembly; unsay your anger against Agamemnon;
+arm at once, and fight with might and main."
+
+As she spoke she put strength and courage into his heart, and she
+then dropped ambrosia and red nectar into the wounds of
+Patroclus, that his body might suffer no change.
+
+Then Achilles went out upon the seashore, and with a loud cry
+called on the Achaean heroes. On this even those who as yet had
+stayed always at the ships, the pilots and helmsmen, and even the
+stewards who were about the ships and served out rations, all
+came to the place of assembly because Achilles had shown himself
+after having held aloof so long from fighting. Two sons of Mars,
+Ulysses and the son of Tydeus, came limping, for their wounds
+still pained them; nevertheless they came, and took their seats
+in the front row of the assembly. Last of all came Agamemnon,
+king of men, he too wounded, for Coon son of Antenor had struck
+him with a spear in battle.
+
+When the Achaeans were got together Achilles rose and said, "Son
+of Atreus, surely it would have been better alike for both you
+and me, when we two were in such high anger about Briseis, surely
+it would have been better, had Diana's arrow slain her at the
+ships on the day when I took her after having sacked Lyrnessus.
+For so, many an Achaean the less would have bitten dust before
+the foe in the days of my anger. It has been well for Hector and
+the Trojans, but the Achaeans will long indeed remember our
+quarrel. Now, however, let it be, for it is over. If we have been
+angry, necessity has schooled our anger. I put it from me: I dare
+not nurse it for ever; therefore, bid the Achaeans arm forthwith
+that I may go out against the Trojans, and learn whether they
+will be in a mind to sleep by the ships or no. Glad, I ween, will
+he be to rest his knees who may fly my spear when I wield it."
+
+Thus did he speak, and the Achaeans rejoiced in that he had put
+away his anger.
+
+Then Agamemnon spoke, rising in his place, and not going into the
+middle of the assembly. "Danaan heroes," said he, "servants of
+Mars, it is well to listen when a man stands up to speak, and it
+is not seemly to interrupt him, or it will go hard even with a
+practised speaker. Who can either hear or speak in an uproar?
+Even the finest orator will be disconcerted by it. I will expound
+to the son of Peleus, and do you other Achaeans heed me and mark
+me well. Often have the Achaeans spoken to me of this matter and
+upbraided me, but it was not I that did it: Jove, and Fate, and
+Erinys that walks in darkness struck me mad when we were
+assembled on the day that I took from Achilles the meed that had
+been awarded to him. What could I do? All things are in the hand
+of heaven, and Folly, eldest of Jove's daughters, shuts men's
+eyes to their destruction. She walks delicately, not on the solid
+earth, but hovers over the heads of men to make them stumble or
+to ensnare them.
+
+"Time was when she fooled Jove himself, who they say is greatest
+whether of gods or men; for Juno, woman though she was, beguiled
+him on the day when Alcmena was to bring forth mighty Hercules in
+the fair city of Thebes. He told it out among the gods saying,
+'Hear me, all gods and goddesses, that I may speak even as I am
+minded; this day shall an Ilithuia, helper of women who are in
+labour, bring a man child into the world who shall be lord over
+all that dwell about him who are of my blood and lineage.' Then
+said Juno all crafty and full of guile, 'You will play false, and
+will not hold to your word. Swear me, O Olympian, swear me a
+great oath, that he who shall this day fall between the feet of a
+woman, shall be lord over all that dwell about him who are of
+your blood and lineage.'
+
+"Thus she spoke, and Jove suspected her not, but swore the great
+oath, to his much ruing thereafter. For Juno darted down from the
+high summit of Olympus, and went in haste to Achaean Argos where
+she knew that the noble wife of Sthenelus son of Perseus then
+was. She being with child and in her seventh month, Juno brought
+the child to birth though there was a month still wanting, but
+she stayed the offspring of Alcmena, and kept back the Ilithuiae.
+Then she went to tell Jove the son of Saturn, and said, 'Father
+Jove, lord of the lightning--I have a word for your ear. There is
+a fine child born this day, Eurystheus, son to Sthenelus the son
+of Perseus; he is of your lineage; it is well, therefore, that he
+should reign over the Argives.'
+
+"On this Jove was stung to the very quick, and in his rage he
+caught Folly by the hair, and swore a great oath that never
+should she again invade starry heaven and Olympus, for she was
+the bane of all. Then he whirled her round with a twist of his
+hand, and flung her down from heaven so that she fell on to the
+fields of mortal men; and he was ever angry with her when he saw
+his son groaning under the cruel labours that Eurystheus laid
+upon him. Even so did I grieve when mighty Hector was killing the
+Argives at their ships, and all the time I kept thinking of Folly
+who had so baned me. I was blind, and Jove robbed me of my
+reason; I will now make atonement, and will add much treasure by
+way of amends. Go, therefore, into battle, you and your people
+with you. I will give you all that Ulysses offered you yesterday
+in your tents: or if it so please you, wait, though you would
+fain fight at once, and my squires shall bring the gifts from my
+ship, that you may see whether what I give you is enough."
+
+And Achilles answered, "Son of Atreus, king of men Agamemnon, you
+can give such gifts as you think proper, or you can withhold
+them: it is in your own hands. Let us now set battle in array; it
+is not well to tarry talking about trifles, for there is a deed
+which is as yet to do. Achilles shall again be seen fighting
+among the foremost, and laying low the ranks of the Trojans: bear
+this in mind each one of you when he is fighting."
+
+Then Ulysses said, "Achilles, godlike and brave, send not the
+Achaeans thus against Ilius to fight the Trojans fasting, for the
+battle will be no brief one, when it is once begun, and heaven
+has filled both sides with fury; bid them first take food both
+bread and wine by the ships, for in this there is strength and
+stay. No man can do battle the livelong day to the going down of
+the sun if he is without food; however much he may want to fight
+his strength will fail him before he knows it; hunger and thirst
+will find him out, and his limbs will grow weary under him. But a
+man can fight all day if he is full fed with meat and wine; his
+heart beats high, and his strength will stay till he has routed
+all his foes; therefore, send the people away and bid them
+prepare their meal; King Agamemnon will bring out the gifts in
+presence of the assembly, that all may see them and you may be
+satisfied. Moreover let him swear an oath before the Argives that
+he has never gone up into the couch of Briseis, nor been with her
+after the manner of men and women; and do you, too, show yourself
+of a gracious mind; let Agamemnon entertain you in his tents with
+a feast of reconciliation, that so you may have had your dues in
+full. As for you, son of Atreus, treat people more righteously in
+future; it is no disgrace even to a king that he should make
+amends if he was wrong in the first instance."
+
+And King Agamemnon answered, "Son of Laertes, your words please
+me well, for throughout you have spoken wisely. I will swear as
+you would have me do; I do so of my own free will, neither shall
+I take the name of heaven in vain. Let, then, Achilles wait,
+though he would fain fight at once, and do you others wait also,
+till the gifts come from my tent and we ratify the oath with
+sacrifice. Thus, then, do I charge you: take some noble young
+Achaeans with you, and bring from my tents the gifts that I
+promised yesterday to Achilles, and bring the women also;
+furthermore let Talthybius find me a boar from those that are
+with the host, and make it ready for sacrifice to Jove and to the
+sun."
+
+Then said Achilles, "Son of Atreus, king of men Agamemnon, see to
+these matters at some other season, when there is breathing time
+and when I am calmer. Would you have men eat while the bodies of
+those whom Hector son of Priam slew are still lying mangled upon
+the plain? Let the sons of the Achaeans, say I, fight fasting and
+without food, till we have avenged them; afterwards at the going
+down of the sun let them eat their fill. As for me, Patroclus is
+lying dead in my tent, all hacked and hewn, with his feet to the
+door, and his comrades are mourning round him. Therefore I can
+take thought of nothing save only slaughter and blood and the
+rattle in the throat of the dying."
+
+Ulysses answered, "Achilles, son of Peleus, mightiest of all the
+Achaeans, in battle you are better than I, and that more than a
+little, but in counsel I am much before you, for I am older and
+of greater knowledge. Therefore be patient under my words.
+Fighting is a thing of which men soon surfeit, and when Jove, who
+is war's steward, weighs the upshot, it may well prove that the
+straw which our sickles have reaped is far heavier than the
+grain. It may not be that the Achaeans should mourn the dead with
+their bellies; day by day men fall thick and threefold
+continually; when should we have respite from our sorrow? Let us
+mourn our dead for a day and bury them out of sight and mind, but
+let those of us who are left eat and drink that we may arm and
+fight our foes more fiercely. In that hour let no man hold back,
+waiting for a second summons; such summons shall bode ill for him
+who is found lagging behind at our ships; let us rather sally as
+one man and loose the fury of war upon the Trojans."
+
+When he had thus spoken he took with him the sons of Nestor, with
+Meges son of Phyleus, Thoas, Meriones, Lycomedes son of Creontes,
+and Melanippus, and went to the tent of Agamemnon son of Atreus.
+The word was not sooner said than the deed was done: they
+brought out the seven tripods which Agamemnon had promised, with
+the twenty metal cauldrons and the twelve horses; they also
+brought the women skilled in useful arts, seven in number, with
+Briseis, which made eight. Ulysses weighed out the ten talents of
+gold and then led the way back, while the young Achaeans brought
+the rest of the gifts, and laid them in the middle of the
+assembly.
+
+Agamemnon then rose, and Talthybius whose voice was like that of
+a god came to him with the boar. The son of Atreus drew the knife
+which he wore by the scabbard of his mighty sword, and began by
+cutting off some bristles from the boar, lifting up his hands in
+prayer as he did so. The other Achaeans sat where they were all
+silent and orderly to hear the king, and Agamemnon looked into
+the vault of heaven and prayed saying, "I call Jove the first and
+mightiest of all gods to witness, I call also Earth and Sun and
+the Erinyes who dwell below and take vengeance on him who shall
+swear falsely, that I have laid no hand upon the girl Briseis,
+neither to take her to my bed nor otherwise, but that she has
+remained in my tents inviolate. If I swear falsely may heaven
+visit me with all the penalties which it metes out to those who
+perjure themselves."
+
+He cut the boar's throat as he spoke, whereon Talthybius whirled
+it round his head, and flung it into the wide sea to feed the
+fishes. Then Achilles also rose and said to the Argives, "Father
+Jove, of a truth you blind men's eyes and bane them. The son of
+Atreus had not else stirred me to so fierce an anger, nor so
+stubbornly taken Briseis from me against my will. Surely Jove
+must have counselled the destruction of many an Argive. Go, now,
+and take your food that we may begin fighting."
+
+On this he broke up the assembly, and every man went back to his
+own ship. The Myrmidons attended to the presents and took them
+away to the ship of Achilles. They placed them in his tents,
+while the stable-men drove the horses in among the others.
+
+Briseis, fair as Venus, when she saw the mangled body of
+Patroclus, flung herself upon it and cried aloud, tearing her
+breast, her neck, and her lovely face with both her hands.
+Beautiful as a goddess she wept and said, "Patroclus, dearest
+friend, when I went hence I left you living; I return, O prince,
+to find you dead; thus do fresh sorrows multiply upon me one
+after the other. I saw him to whom my father and mother married
+me, cut down before our city, and my three own dear brothers
+perished with him on the self-same day; but you, Patroclus, even
+when Achilles slew my husband and sacked the city of noble Mynes,
+told me that I was not to weep, for you said you would make
+Achilles marry me, and take me back with him to Phthia, we should
+have a wedding feast among the Myrmidons. You were always kind to
+me and I shall never cease to grieve for you."
+
+She wept as she spoke, and the women joined in her lament-making
+as though their tears were for Patroclus, but in truth each was
+weeping for her own sorrows. The elders of the Achaeans gathered
+round Achilles and prayed him to take food, but he groaned and
+would not do so. "I pray you," said he, "if any comrade will hear
+me, bid me neither eat nor drink, for I am in great heaviness,
+and will stay fasting even to the going down of the sun."
+
+On this he sent the other princes away, save only the two sons of
+Atreus and Ulysses, Nestor, Idomeneus, and the knight Phoenix,
+who stayed behind and tried to comfort him in the bitterness of
+his sorrow: but he would not be comforted till he should have
+flung himself into the jaws of battle, and he fetched sigh on
+sigh, thinking ever of Patroclus. Then he said--
+
+"Hapless and dearest comrade, you it was who would get a good
+dinner ready for me at once and without delay when the Achaeans
+were hasting to fight the Trojans; now, therefore, though I have
+meat and drink in my tents, yet will I fast for sorrow. Grief
+greater than this I could not know, not even though I were to
+hear of the death of my father, who is now in Phthia weeping for
+the loss of me his son, who am here fighting the Trojans in a
+strange land for the accursed sake of Helen, nor yet though I
+should hear that my son is no more--he who is being brought up in
+Scyros--if indeed Neoptolemus is still living. Till now I made
+sure that I alone was to fall here at Troy away from Argos, while
+you were to return to Phthia, bring back my son with you in your
+own ship, and show him all my property, my bondsmen, and the
+greatness of my house--for Peleus must surely be either dead, or
+what little life remains to him is oppressed alike with the
+infirmities of age and ever present fear lest he should hear the
+sad tidings of my death."
+
+He wept as he spoke, and the elders sighed in concert as each
+thought on what he had left at home behind him. The son of Saturn
+looked down with pity upon them, and said presently to Minerva,
+"My child, you have quite deserted your hero; is he then gone so
+clean out of your recollection? There he sits by the ships all
+desolate for the loss of his dear comrade, and though the others
+are gone to their dinner he will neither eat nor drink. Go then
+and drop nectar and ambrosia into his breast, that he may know no
+hunger."
+
+With these words he urged Minerva, who was already of the same
+mind. She darted down from heaven into the air like some falcon
+sailing on his broad wings and screaming. Meanwhile the Achaeans
+were arming throughout the host, and when Minerva had dropped
+nectar and ambrosia into Achilles so that no cruel hunger should
+cause his limbs to fail him, she went back to the house of her
+mighty father. Thick as the chill snow-flakes shed from the hand
+of Jove and borne on the keen blasts of the north wind, even so
+thick did the gleaming helmets, the bossed shields, the strongly
+plated breastplates, and the ashen spears stream from the ships.
+The sheen pierced the sky, the whole land was radiant with their
+flashing armour, and the sound of the tramp of their treading
+rose from under their feet. In the midst of them all Achilles put
+on his armour; he gnashed his teeth, his eyes gleamed like fire,
+for his grief was greater than he could bear. Thus, then, full of
+fury against the Trojans, did he don the gift of the god, the
+armour that Vulcan had made him.
+
+First he put on the goodly greaves fitted with ancle-clasps, and
+next he did on the breastplate about his chest. He slung the
+silver-studded sword of bronze about his shoulders, and then took
+up the shield so great and strong that shone afar with a
+splendour as of the moon. As the light seen by sailors from out
+at sea, when men have lit a fire in their homestead high up among
+the mountains, but the sailors are carried out to sea by wind and
+storm far from the haven where they would be--even so did the
+gleam of Achilles' wondrous shield strike up into the heavens. He
+lifted the redoubtable helmet, and set it upon his head, from
+whence it shone like a star, and the golden plumes which Vulcan
+had set thick about the ridge of the helmet, waved all around it.
+Then Achilles made trial of himself in his armour to see whether
+it fitted him, so that his limbs could play freely under it, and
+it seemed to buoy him up as though it had been wings.
+
+He also drew his father's spear out of the spear-stand, a spear
+so great and heavy and strong that none of the Achaeans save only
+Achilles had strength to wield it; this was the spear of Pelian
+ash from the topmost ridges of Mt. Pelion, which Chiron had once
+given to Peleus, fraught with the death of heroes. Automedon and
+Alcimus busied themselves with the harnessing of his horses; they
+made the bands fast about them, and put the bit in their mouths,
+drawing the reins back towards the chariot. Automedon, whip in
+hand, sprang up behind the horses, and after him Achilles mounted
+in full armour, resplendent as the sun-god Hyperion. Then with a
+loud voice he chided with his father's horses saying, "Xanthus
+and Balius, famed offspring of Podarge--this time when we have
+done fighting be sure and bring your driver safely back to the
+host of the Achaeans, and do not leave him dead on the plain as
+you did Patroclus."
+
+Then fleet Xanthus answered under the yoke--for white-armed Juno
+had endowed him with human speech--and he bowed his head till his
+mane touched the ground as it hung down from under the yoke-band.
+"Dread Achilles," said he, "we will indeed save you now, but the
+day of your death is near, and the blame will not be ours, for it
+will be heaven and stern fate that will destroy you. Neither was
+it through any sloth or slackness on our part that the Trojans
+stripped Patroclus of his armour; it was the mighty god whom
+lovely Leto bore that slew him as he fought among the foremost,
+and vouchsafed a triumph to Hector. We two can fly as swiftly as
+Zephyrus who they say is fleetest of all winds; nevertheless it
+is your doom to fall by the hand of a man and of a god."
+
+When he had thus said the Erinyes stayed his speech, and Achilles
+answered him in great sadness, saying, "Why, O Xanthus, do you
+thus foretell my death? You need not do so, for I well know that
+I am to fall here, far from my dear father and mother; none the
+more, however, shall I stay my hand till I have given the Trojans
+their fill of fighting."
+
+So saying, with a loud cry he drove his horses to the front.
+
+
+
+BOOK XX
+
+  The gods hold a council and determine to watch the fight, from
+  the hill Callicolone, and the barrow of Hercules--A fight
+  between Achilles and AEneas is interrupted by Neptune, who
+  saves AEneas--Achilles kills many Trojans.
+
+THUS, then, did the Achaeans arm by their ships round you, O son
+of Peleus, who were hungering for battle; while the Trojans over
+against them armed upon the rise of the plain.
+
+Meanwhile Jove from the top of many-delled Olympus, bade Themis
+gather the gods in council, whereon she went about and called
+them to the house of Jove. There was not a river absent except
+Oceanus, nor a single one of the nymphs that haunt fair groves,
+or springs of rivers and meadows of green grass. When they
+reached the house of cloud-compelling Jove, they took their seats
+in the arcades of polished marble which Vulcan with his
+consummate skill had made for father Jove.
+
+In such wise, therefore, did they gather in the house of Jove.
+Neptune also, lord of the earthquake, obeyed the call of the
+goddess, and came up out of the sea to join them. There, sitting
+in the midst of them, he asked what Jove's purpose might be.
+"Why," said he, "wielder of the lightning, have you called the
+gods in council? Are you considering some matter that concerns
+the Trojans and Achaeans--for the blaze of battle is on the point
+of being kindled between them?"
+
+And Jove answered, "You know my purpose, shaker of earth, and
+wherefore I have called you hither. I take thought for them even
+in their destruction. For my own part I shall stay here seated on
+Mt. Olympus and look on in peace, but do you others go about
+among Trojans and Achaeans, and help either side as you may be
+severally disposed. If Achilles fights the Trojans without
+hindrance they will make no stand against him; they have ever
+trembled at the sight of him, and now that he is roused to such
+fury about his comrade, he will override fate itself and storm
+their city."
+
+Thus spoke Jove and gave the word for war, whereon the gods took
+their several sides and went into battle. Juno, Pallas Minerva,
+earth-encircling Neptune, Mercury bringer of good luck and
+excellent in all cunning--all these joined the host that came
+from the ships; with them also came Vulcan in all his glory,
+limping, but yet with his thin legs plying lustily under him.
+Mars of gleaming helmet joined the Trojans, and with him Apollo
+of locks unshorn, and the archer goddess Diana, Leto, Xanthus,
+and laughter-loving Venus.
+
+So long as the gods held themselves aloof from mortal warriors
+the Achaeans were triumphant, for Achilles who had long refused
+to fight was now with them. There was not a Trojan but his limbs
+failed him for fear as he beheld the fleet son of Peleus all
+glorious in his armour, and looking like Mars himself. When,
+however, the Olympians came to take their part among men,
+forthwith uprose strong Strife, rouser of hosts, and Minerva
+raised her loud voice, now standing by the deep trench that ran
+outside the wall, and now shouting with all her might upon the
+shore of the sounding sea. Mars also bellowed out upon the other
+side, dark as some black thunder-cloud, and called on the Trojans
+at the top of his voice, now from the acropolis, and now speeding
+up the side of the river Simois till he came to the hill
+Callicolone.
+
+Thus did the gods spur on both hosts to fight, and rouse fierce
+contention also among themselves. The sire of gods and men
+thundered from heaven above, while from beneath Neptune shook the
+vast earth, and bade the high hills tremble. The spurs and crests
+of many-fountained Ida quaked, as also the city of the Trojans
+and the ships of the Achaeans. Hades, king of the realms below,
+was struck with fear; he sprang panic-stricken from his throne
+and cried aloud in terror lest Neptune, lord of the earthquake,
+should crack the ground over his head, and lay bare his mouldy
+mansions to the sight of mortals and immortals--mansions so
+ghastly grim that even the gods shudder to think of them. Such
+was the uproar as the gods came together in battle. Apollo with
+his arrows took his stand to face King Neptune, while Minerva
+took hers against the god of war; the archer-goddess Diana with
+her golden arrows, sister of far-darting Apollo, stood to face
+Juno; Mercury the lusty bringer of good luck faced Leto, while
+the mighty eddying river whom men can Scamander, but gods
+Xanthus, matched himself against Vulcan.
+
+The gods, then, were thus ranged against one another. But the
+heart of Achilles was set on meeting Hector son of Priam, for it
+was with his blood that he longed above all things else to glut
+the stubborn lord of battle. Meanwhile Apollo set Aeneas on to
+attack the son of Peleus, and put courage into his heart,
+speaking with the voice of Lycaon son of Priam. In his likeness
+therefore, he said to Aeneas, "Aeneas, counsellor of the Trojans,
+where are now the brave words with which you vaunted over your
+wine before the Trojan princes, saying that you would fight
+Achilles son of Peleus in single combat?"
+
+And Aeneas answered, "Why do you thus bid me fight the proud son
+of Peleus, when I am in no mind to do so? Were I to face him now,
+it would not be for the first time. His spear has already put me
+to Right from Ida, when he attacked our cattle and sacked
+Lyrnessus and Pedasus; Jove indeed saved me in that he vouchsafed
+me strength to fly, else had the fallen by the hands of Achilles
+and Minerva, who went before him to protect him and urged him to
+fall upon the Lelegae and Trojans. No man may fight Achilles, for
+one of the gods is always with him as his guardian angel, and
+even were it not so, his weapon flies ever straight, and fails
+not to pierce the flesh of him who is against him; if heaven
+would let me fight him on even terms he should not soon overcome
+me, though he boasts that he is made of bronze."
+
+Then said King Apollo, son to Jove, "Nay, hero, pray to the
+ever-living gods, for men say that you were born of Jove's
+daughter Venus, whereas Achilles is son to a goddess of inferior
+rank. Venus is child to Jove, while Thetis is but daughter to the
+old man of the sea. Bring, therefore, your spear to bear upon
+him, and let him not scare you with his taunts and menaces."
+
+As he spoke he put courage into the heart of the shepherd of his
+people, and he strode in full armour among the ranks of the
+foremost fighters. Nor did the son of Anchises escape the notice
+of white-armed Juno, as he went forth into the throng to meet
+Achilles. She called the gods about her, and said, "Look to it,
+you two, Neptune and Minerva, and consider how this shall be;
+Phoebus Apollo has been sending Aeneas clad in full armour to
+fight Achilles. Shall we turn him back at once, or shall one of
+us stand by Achilles and endow him with strength so that his
+heart fail not, and he may learn that the chiefs of the immortals
+are on his side, while the others who have all along been
+defending the Trojans are but vain helpers? Let us all come down
+from Olympus and join in the fight, that this day he may take no
+hurt at the hands of the Trojans. Hereafter let him suffer
+whatever fate may have spun out for him when he was begotten and
+his mother bore him. If Achilles be not thus assured by the voice
+of a god, he may come to fear presently when one of us meets him
+in battle, for the gods are terrible if they are seen face to
+face."
+
+Neptune lord of the earthquake answered her saying, "Juno,
+restrain your fury; it is not well; I am not in favour of forcing
+the other gods to fight us, for the advantage is too greatly on
+our own side; let us take our places on some hill out of the
+beaten track, and let mortals fight it out among themselves. If
+Mars or Phoebus Apollo begin fighting, or keep Achilles in check
+so that he cannot fight, we too, will at once raise the cry of
+battle, and in that case they will soon leave the field and go
+back vanquished to Olympus among the other gods."
+
+With these words the dark-haired god led the way to the high
+earth-barrow of Hercules, built round solid masonry, and made by
+the Trojans and Pallas Minerva for him fly to when the
+sea-monster was chasing him from the shore on to the plain. Here
+Neptune and those that were with him took their seats, wrapped in
+a thick cloud of darkness; but the other gods seated themselves
+on the brow of Callicolone round you, O Phoebus, and Mars the
+waster of cities.
+
+Thus did the gods sit apart and form their plans, but neither
+side was willing to begin battle with the other, and Jove from
+his seat on high was in command over them all. Meanwhile the
+whole plain was alive with men and horses, and blazing with the
+gleam of armour. The earth rang again under the tramp of their
+feet as they rushed towards each other, and two champions, by far
+the foremost of them all, met between the hosts to fight--to wit,
+Aeneas son of Anchises, and noble Achilles.
+
+Aeneas was first to stride forward in attack, his doughty helmet
+tossing defiance as he came on. He held his strong shield before
+his breast, and brandished his bronze spear. The son of Peleus
+from the other side sprang forth to meet him, like some fierce
+lion that the whole country-side has met to hunt and kill--at
+first he bodes no ill, but when some daring youth has struck him
+with a spear, he crouches openmouthed, his jaws foam, he roars
+with fury, he lashes his tail from side to side about his ribs
+and loins, and glares as he springs straight before him, to find
+out whether he is to slay, or be slain among the foremost of his
+foes--even with such fury did Achilles burn to spring upon
+Aeneas.
+
+When they were now close up with one another Achilles was first
+to speak. "Aeneas," said he, "why do you stand thus out before
+the host to fight me? Is it that you hope to reign over the
+Trojans in the seat of Priam? Nay, though you kill me Priam will
+not hand his kingdom over to you. He is a man of sound judgement,
+and he has sons of his own. Or have the Trojans been allotting
+you a demesne of passing richness, fair with orchard lawns and
+corn lands, if you should slay me? This you shall hardly do. I
+have discomfited you once already. Have you forgotten how when
+you were alone I chased you from your herds helter-skelter down
+the slopes of Ida? You did not turn round to look behind you; you
+took refuge in Lyrnessus, but I attacked the city, and with the
+help of Minerva and father Jove I sacked it and carried its women
+into captivity, though Jove and the other gods rescued you. You
+think they will protect you now, but they will not do so;
+therefore I say go back into the host, and do not face me, or you
+will rue it. Even a fool may be wise after the event."
+
+Then Aeneas answered, "Son of Peleus, think not that your words
+can scare me as though I were a child. I too, if I will, can brag
+and talk unseemly. We know one another's race and parentage as
+matters of common fame, though neither have you ever seen my
+parents nor I yours. Men say that you are son to noble Peleus,
+and that your mother is Thetis, fair-haired daughter of the sea.
+I have noble Anchises for my father, and Venus for my mother; the
+parents of one or other of us shall this day mourn a son, for it
+will be more than silly talk that shall part us when the fight is
+over. Learn, then, my lineage if you will--and it is known to
+many.
+
+"In the beginning Dardanus was the son of Jove, and founded
+Dardania, for Ilius was not yet stablished on the plain for men
+to dwell in, and her people still abode on the spurs of
+many-fountained Ida. Dardanus had a son, king Erichthonius, who
+was wealthiest of all men living; he had three thousand mares
+that fed by the water-meadows, they and their foals with them.
+Boreas was enamoured of them as they were feeding, and covered
+them in the semblance of a dark-maned stallion. Twelve filly
+foals did they conceive and bear him, and these, as they sped
+over the rich plain, would go bounding on over the ripe ears of
+corn and not break them; or again when they would disport
+themselves on the broad back of Ocean they could gallop on the
+crest of a breaker. Erichthonius begat Tros, king of the Trojans,
+and Tros had three noble sons, Ilus, Assaracus, and Ganymede who
+was comeliest of mortal men; wherefore the gods carried him off
+to be Jove's cupbearer, for his beauty's sake, that he might
+dwell among the immortals. Ilus begat Laomedon, and Laomedon
+begat Tithonus, Priam, Lampus, Clytius, and Hiketaon of the stock
+of Mars. But Assaracus was father to Capys, and Capys to
+Anchises, who was my father, while Hector is son to Priam.
+
+"Such do I declare my blood and lineage, but as for valour, Jove
+gives it or takes it as he will, for he is lord of all. And now
+let there be no more of this prating in mid-battle as though we
+were children. We could fling taunts without end at one another;
+a hundred-oared galley would not hold them. The tongue can run
+all whithers and talk all wise; it can go here and there, and as
+a man says, so shall he be gainsaid. What is the use of our
+bandying hard like women who when they fall foul of one another
+go out and wrangle in the streets, one half true and the other
+lies, as rage inspires them? No words of yours shall turn me now
+that I am fain to fight--therefore let us make trial of one
+another with our spears."
+
+As he spoke he drove his spear at the great and terrible shield
+of Achilles, which rang out as the point struck it. The son of
+Peleus held the shield before him with his strong hand, and he
+was afraid, for he deemed that Aeneas's spear would go through it
+quite easily, not reflecting that the god's glorious gifts were
+little likely to yield before the blows of mortal men; and indeed
+Aeneas's spear did not pierce the shield, for the layer of gold,
+gift of the god, stayed the point. It went through two layers,
+but the god had made the shield in five, two of bronze, the two
+innermost ones of tin, and one of gold; it was in this that the
+spear was stayed.
+
+Achilles in his turn threw, and struck the round shield of Aeneas
+at the very edge, where the bronze was thinnest; the spear of
+Pelian ash went clean through, and the shield rang under the
+blow; Aeneas was afraid, and crouched backwards, holding the
+shield away from him; the spear, however, flew over his back, and
+stuck quivering in the ground, after having gone through both
+circles of the sheltering shield. Aeneas though he had avoided
+the spear, stood still, blinded with fear and grief because the
+weapon had gone so near him; then Achilles sprang furiously upon
+him, with a cry as of death and with his keen blade drawn, and
+Aeneas seized a great stone, so huge that two men, as men now
+are, would be unable to lift it, but Aeneas wielded it quite
+easily.
+
+Aeneas would then have struck Achilles as he was springing
+towards him, either on the helmet, or on the shield that covered
+him, and Achilles would have closed with him and despatched him
+with his sword, had not Neptune lord of the earthquake been quick
+to mark, and said forthwith to the immortals, "Alas, I am sorry
+for great Aeneas, who will now go down to the house of Hades,
+vanquished by the son of Peleus. Fool that he was to give ear to
+the counsel of Apollo. Apollo will never save him from
+destruction. Why should this man suffer when he is guiltless, to
+no purpose, and in another's quarrel? Has he not at all times
+offered acceptable sacrifice to the gods that dwell in heaven?
+Let us then snatch him from death's jaws, lest the son of Saturn
+be angry should Achilles slay him. It is fated, moreover, that he
+should escape, and that the race of Dardanus, whom Jove loved
+above all the sons born to him of mortal women, shall not perish
+utterly without seed or sign. For now indeed has Jove hated the
+blood of Priam, while Aeneas shall reign over the Trojans, he and
+his children's children that shall be born hereafter."
+
+Then answered Juno, "Earth-shaker, look to this matter yourself,
+and consider concerning Aeneas, whether you will save him, or
+suffer him, brave though he be, to fall by the hand of Achilles
+son of Peleus. For of a truth we two, I and Pallas Minerva, have
+sworn full many a time before all the immortals, that never would
+we shield Trojans from destruction, not even when all Troy is
+burning in the flames that the Achaeans shall kindle."
+
+When earth-encircling Neptune heard this he went into the battle
+amid the clash of spears, and came to the place where Achilles
+and Aeneas were. Forthwith he shed a darkness before the eyes of
+the son of Peleus, drew the bronze-headed ashen spear from the
+shield of Aeneas, and laid it at the feet of Achilles. Then he
+lifted Aeneas on high from off the earth and hurried him away.
+Over the heads of many a band of warriors both horse and foot did
+he soar as the god's hand sped him, till he came to the very
+fringe of the battle where the Cauconians were arming themselves
+for fight. Neptune, shaker of the earth, then came near to him
+and said, "Aeneas, what god has egged you on to this folly in
+fighting the son of Peleus, who is both a mightier man of valour
+and more beloved of heaven than you are? Give way before him
+whensoever you meet him, lest you go down to the house of Hades
+even though fate would have it otherwise. When Achilles is dead
+you may then fight among the foremost undaunted, for none other
+of the Achaeans shall slay you."
+
+The god left him when he had given him these instructions, and at
+once removed the darkness from before the eyes of Achilles, who
+opened them wide indeed and said in great anger, "Alas! what
+marvel am I now beholding? Here is my spear upon the ground, but
+I see not him whom I meant to kill when I hurled it. Of a truth
+Aeneas also must be under heaven's protection, although I had
+thought his boasting was idle. Let him go hang; he will be in no
+mood to fight me further, seeing how narrowly he has missed being
+killed. I will now give my orders to the Danaans and attack some
+other of the Trojans."
+
+He sprang forward along the line and cheered his men on as he did
+so. "Let not the Trojans," he cried, "keep you at arm's length,
+Achaeans, but go for them and fight them man for man. However
+valiant I may be, I cannot give chase to so many and fight all of
+them. Even Mars, who is an immortal, or Minerva, would shrink
+from flinging himself into the jaws of such a fight and laying
+about him; nevertheless, so far as in me lies I will show no
+slackness of hand or foot nor want of endurance, not even for a
+moment; I will utterly break their ranks, and woe to the Trojan
+who shall venture within reach of my spear."
+
+Thus did he exhort them. Meanwhile Hector called upon the Trojans
+and declared that he would fight Achilles. "Be not afraid, proud
+Trojans," said he, "to face the son of Peleus; I could fight gods
+myself if the battle were one of words only, but they would be
+more than a match for me, if we had to use our spears. Even so
+the deed of Achilles will fall somewhat short of his word; he
+will do in part, and the other part he will clip short. I will go
+up against him though his hands be as fire--though his hands be
+fire and his strength iron."
+
+Thus urged the Trojans lifted up their spears against the
+Achaeans, and raised the cry of battle as they flung themselves
+into the midst of their ranks. But Phoebus Apollo came up to
+Hector and said, "Hector, on no account must you challenge
+Achilles to single combat; keep a lookout for him while you are
+under cover of the others and away from the thick of the fight,
+otherwise he will either hit you with a spear or cut you down at
+close quarters."
+
+Thus he spoke, and Hector drew back within the crowd, for he was
+afraid when he heard what the god had said to him. Achilles then
+sprang upon the Trojans with a terrible cry, clothed in valour as
+with a garment. First he killed Iphition son of Otrynteus, a
+leader of much people whom a naiad nymph had borne to Otrynteus
+waster of cities, in the land of Hyde under the snowy heights of
+Mt. Tmolus. Achilles struck him full on the head as he was coming
+on towards him, and split it clean in two; whereon he fell
+heavily to the ground and Achilles vaunted over him saying, "You
+be low, son of Otrynteus, mighty hero; your death is here, but
+your lineage is on the Gygaean lake where your father's estate
+lies, by Hyllus, rich in fish, and the eddying waters of Hermus."
+
+Thus did he vaunt, but darkness closed the eyes of the other.
+The chariots of the Achaeans cut him up as their wheels passed
+over him in the front of the battle, and after him Achilles
+killed Demoleon, a valiant man of war and son to Antenor. He
+struck him on the temple through his bronze-cheeked helmet. The
+helmet did not stay the spear, but it went right on, crushing the
+bone so that the brain inside was shed in all directions, and his
+lust of fighting was ended. Then he struck Hippodamas in the
+midriff as he was springing down from his chariot in front of
+him, and trying to escape. He breathed his last, bellowing like a
+bull bellows when young men are dragging him to offer him in
+sacrifice to the King of Helice, and the heart of the
+earth-shaker is glad; even so did he bellow as he lay dying.
+Achilles then went in pursuit of Polydorus son of Priam, whom his
+father had always forbidden to fight because he was the youngest
+of his sons, the one he loved best, and the fastest runner. He,
+in his folly and showing off the fleetness of his feet, was
+rushing about among front ranks until he lost his life, for
+Achilles struck him in the middle of the back as he was darting
+past him: he struck him just at the golden fastenings of his belt
+and where the two pieces of the double breastplate overlapped.
+The point of the spear pierced him through and came out by the
+navel, whereon he fell groaning on to his knees and a cloud of
+darkness overshadowed him as he sank holding his entrails in his
+hands.
+
+When Hector saw his brother Polydorus with his entrails in his
+hands and sinking down upon the ground, a mist came over his
+eyes, and he could not bear to keep longer at a distance; he
+therefore poised his spear and darted towards Achilles like a
+flame of fire. When Achilles saw him he bounded forward and
+vaunted saying, "This is he that has wounded my heart most deeply
+and has slain my beloved comrade. Not for long shall we two quail
+before one another on the highways of war."
+
+He looked fiercely on Hector and said, "Draw near, that you may
+meet your doom the sooner." Hector feared him not and answered,
+"Son of Peleus, think not that your words can scare me as though
+I were a child; I too if I will can brag and talk unseemly; I
+know that you are a mighty warrior, mightier by far than I,
+nevertheless the issue lies in the lap of heaven whether I, worse
+man though I be, may not slay you with my spear, for this too has
+been found keen ere now."
+
+He hurled his spear as he spoke, but Minerva breathed upon it,
+and though she breathed but very lightly she turned it back from
+going towards Achilles, so that it returned to Hector and lay at
+his feet in front of him. Achilles then sprang furiously on him
+with a loud cry, bent on killing him, but Apollo caught him up
+easily as a god can, and hid him in a thick darkness. Thrice did
+Achilles spring towards him spear in hand, and thrice did he
+waste his blow upon the air. When he rushed forward for the
+fourth time as though he were a god, he shouted aloud saying,
+"Hound, this time too you have escaped death--but of a truth it
+came exceedingly near you. Phoebus Apollo, to whom it seems you
+pray before you go into battle, has again saved you; but if I too
+have any friend among the gods I will surely make an end of you
+when I come across you at some other time. Now, however, I will
+pursue and overtake other Trojans."
+
+On this he struck Dryops with his spear, about the middle of his
+neck, and he fell headlong at his feet. There he let him lie and
+stayed Demouchus son of Philetor, a man both brave and of great
+stature, by hitting him on the knee with a spear; then he smote
+him with his sword and killed him. After this he sprang on
+Laogonus and Dardanus, sons of Bias, and threw them from their
+chariot, the one with a blow from a thrown spear, while the other
+he cut down in hand-to-hand fight. There was also Tros the son of
+Alastor--he came up to Achilles and clasped his knees in the hope
+that he would spare him and not kill him but let him go, because
+they were both of the same age. Fool, he might have known that he
+should not prevail with him, for the man was in no mood for pity
+or forbearance but was in grim earnest. Therefore when Tros laid
+hold of his knees and sought a hearing for his prayers, Achilles
+drove his sword into his liver, and the liver came rolling out,
+while his bosom was all covered with the black blood that welled
+from the wound. Thus did death close his eyes as he lay lifeless.
+
+Achilles then went up to Mulius and struck him on the ear with a
+spear, and the bronze spear-head came right out at the other ear.
+He also struck Echeclus son of Agenor on the head with his sword,
+which became warm with the blood, while death and stern fate
+closed the eyes of Echeclus. Next in order the bronze point of
+his spear wounded Deucalion in the fore-arm where the sinews of
+the elbow are united, whereon he waited Achilles' onset with his
+arm hanging down and death staring him in the face. Achilles cut
+his head off with a blow from his sword and flung it helmet and
+all away from him, and the marrow came oozing out of his backbone
+as he lay. He then went in pursuit of Rhigmus, noble son of
+Peires, who had come from fertile Thrace, and struck him through
+the middle with a spear which fixed itself in his belly, so that
+he fell headlong from his chariot. He also speared Areithous
+squire to Rhigmus in the back as he was turning his horses in
+flight, and thrust him from his chariot, while the horses were
+struck with panic.
+
+As a fire raging in some mountain glen after long drought--and
+the dense forest is in a blaze, while the wind carries great
+tongues of fire in every direction--even so furiously did
+Achilles rage, wielding his spear as though he were a god, and
+giving chase to those whom he would slay, till the dark earth ran
+with blood. Or as one who yokes broad-browed oxen that they may
+tread barley in a threshing-floor--and it is soon bruised small
+under the feet of the lowing cattle--even so did the horses of
+Achilles trample on the shields and bodies of the slain. The axle
+underneath and the railing that ran round the car were
+bespattered with clots of blood thrown up by the horses' hoofs,
+and from the tyres of the wheels; but the son of Peleus pressed
+on to win still further glory, and his hands were bedrabbled with
+gore.
+
+
+
+BOOK XXI
+
+  The fight between Achilles and the river Scamander--The gods
+  fight among themselves--Achilles drives the Trojans within
+  their gates.
+
+NOW when they came to the ford of the full-flowing river Xanthus,
+begotten of immortal Jove, Achilles cut their forces in two: one
+half he chased over the plain towards the city by the same way
+that the Achaeans had taken when flying panic-stricken on the
+preceding day with Hector in full triumph; this way did they fly
+pell-mell, and Juno sent down a thick mist in front of them to
+stay them. The other half were hemmed in by the deep
+silver-eddying stream, and fell into it with a great uproar. The
+waters resounded, and the banks rang again, as they swam hither
+and thither with loud cries amid the whirling eddies. As locusts
+flying to a river before the blast of a grass fire--the flame
+comes on and on till at last it overtakes them and they huddle
+into the water--even so was the eddying stream of Xanthus filled
+with the uproar of men and horses, all struggling in confusion
+before Achilles.
+
+Forthwith the hero left his spear upon the bank, leaning it
+against a tamarisk bush, and plunged into the river like a god,
+armed with his sword only. Fell was his purpose as he hewed the
+Trojans down on every side. Their dying groans rose hideous as
+the sword smote them, and the river ran red with blood. As when
+fish fly scared before a huge dolphin, and fill every nook and
+corner of some fair haven--for he is sure to eat all he can
+catch--even so did the Trojans cower under the banks of the
+mighty river, and when Achilles' arms grew weary with killing
+them, he drew twelve youths alive out of the water, to sacrifice
+in revenge for Patroclus son of Menoetius. He drew them out like
+dazed fawns, bound their hands behind them with the girdles of
+their own shirts, and gave them over to his men to take back to
+the ships. Then he sprang into the river, thirsting for still
+further blood.
+
+There he found Lycaon, son of Priam seed of Dardanus, as he was
+escaping out of the water; he it was whom he had once taken
+prisoner when he was in his father's vineyard, having set upon
+him by night, as he was cutting young shoots from a wild fig-tree
+to make the wicker sides of a chariot. Achilles then caught him
+to his sorrow unawares, and sent him by sea to Lemnos, where the
+son of Jason bought him. But a guest-friend, Eetion of Imbros,
+freed him with a great sum, and sent him to Arisbe, whence he had
+escaped and returned to his father's house. He had spent eleven
+days happily with his friends after he had come from Lemnos, but
+on the twelfth heaven again delivered him into the hands of
+Achilles, who was to send him to the house of Hades sorely
+against his will. He was unarmed when Achilles caught sight of
+him, and had neither helmet nor shield; nor yet had he any spear,
+for he had thrown all his armour from him on to the bank, and was
+sweating with his struggles to get out of the river, so that his
+strength was now failing him.
+
+Then Achilles said to himself in his surprise, "What marvel do I
+see here? If this man can come back alive after having been sold
+over into Lemnos, I shall have the Trojans also whom I have slain
+rising from the world below. Could not even the waters of the
+grey sea imprison him, as they do many another whether he will or
+no? This time let him taste my spear, that I may know for certain
+whether mother earth who can keep even a strong man down, will be
+able to hold him, or whether thence too he will return."
+
+Thus did he pause and ponder. But Lycaon came up to him dazed and
+trying hard to embrace his knees, for he would fain live, not
+die. Achilles thrust at him with his spear, meaning to kill him,
+but Lycaon ran crouching up to him and caught his knees, whereby
+the spear passed over his back, and stuck in the ground,
+hungering though it was for blood. With one hand he caught
+Achilles' knees as he besought him, and with the other he
+clutched the spear and would not let it go. Then he said,
+"Achilles, have mercy upon me and spare me, for I am your
+suppliant. It was in your tents that I first broke bread on the
+day when you took me prisoner in the vineyard; after which you
+sold me away to Lemnos far from my father and my friends, and I
+brought you the price of a hundred oxen. I have paid three times
+as much to gain my freedom; it is but twelve days that I have
+come to Ilius after much suffering, and now cruel fate has again
+thrown me into your hands. Surely father Jove must hate me, that
+he has given me over to you a second time. Short of life indeed
+did my mother Laothoe bear me, daughter of aged Altes--of Altes
+who reigns over the warlike Lelegae and holds steep Pedasus on
+the river Satnioeis. Priam married his daughter along with many
+other women and two sons were born of her, both of whom you will
+have slain. Your spear slew noble Polydorus as he was fighting in
+the front ranks, and now evil will here befall me, for I fear
+that I shall not escape you since heaven has delivered me over to
+you. Furthermore I say, and lay my saying to your heart, spare
+me, for I am not of the same womb as Hector who slew your brave
+and noble comrade."
+
+With such words did the princely son of Priam beseech Achilles;
+but Achilles answered him sternly. "Idiot," said he, "talk not to
+me of ransom. Until Patroclus fell I preferred to give the
+Trojans quarter, and sold beyond the sea many of those whom I had
+taken alive; but now not a man shall live of those whom heaven
+delivers into my hands before the city of Ilius--and of all
+Trojans it shall fare hardest with the sons of Priam. Therefore,
+my friend, you too shall die. Why should you whine in this way?
+Patroclus fell, and he was a better man than you are. I too--see
+you not how I am great and goodly? I am son to a noble father,
+and have a goddess for my mother, but the hands of doom and death
+overshadow me all as surely. The day will come, either at dawn or
+dark, or at the noontide, when one shall take my life also in
+battle, either with his spear, or with an arrow sped from his
+bow."
+
+Thus did he speak, and Lycaon's heart sank within him. He loosed
+his hold of the spear, and held out both hands before him; but
+Achilles drew his keen blade, and struck him by the collar-bone
+on his neck; he plunged his two-edged sword into him to the very
+hilt, whereon he lay at full length on the ground, with the dark
+blood welling from him till the earth was soaked. Then Achilles
+caught him by the foot and flung him into the river to go down
+stream, vaunting over him the while, and saying, "Lie there among
+the fishes, who will lick the blood from your wound and gloat
+over it; your mother shall not lay you on any bier to mourn you,
+but the eddies of Scamander shall bear you into the broad bosom
+of the sea. There shall the fishes feed on the fat of Lycaon as
+they dart under the dark ripple of the waters--so perish all of
+you till we reach the citadel of strong Ilius--you in flight, and
+I following after to destroy you. The river with its broad silver
+stream shall serve you in no stead, for all the bulls you offered
+him and all the horses that you flung living into his waters.
+None the less miserably shall you perish till there is not a man
+of you but has paid in full for the death of Patroclus and the
+havoc you wrought among the Achaeans whom you have slain while I
+held aloof from battle."
+
+So spoke Achilles, but the river grew more and more angry, and
+pondered within himself how he should stay the hand of Achilles
+and save the Trojans from disaster. Meanwhile the son of Peleus,
+spear in hand, sprang upon Asteropaeus son of Pelegon to kill
+him. He was son to the broad river Axius and Periboea eldest
+daughter of Acessamenus; for the river had lain with her.
+Asteropaeus stood up out of the water to face him with a spear in
+either hand, and Xanthus filled him with courage, being angry for
+the death of the youths whom Achilles was slaying ruthlessly
+within his waters. When they were close up with one another
+Achilles was first to speak. "Who and whence are you," said he,
+"who dare to face me? Woe to the parents whose son stands up
+against me." And the son of Pelegon answered, "Great son of
+Peleus, why should you ask my lineage. I am from the fertile land
+of far Paeonia, captain of the Paeonians, and it is now eleven
+days that I am at Ilius. I am of the blood of the river Axius--of
+Axius that is the fairest of all rivers that run. He begot the
+famed warrior Pelegon, whose son men call me. Let us now fight,
+Achilles."
+
+Thus did he defy him, and Achilles raised his spear of Pelian
+ash. Asteropaeus failed with both his spears, for he could use
+both hands alike; with the one spear he struck Achilles' shield,
+but did not pierce it, for the layer of gold, gift of the god,
+stayed the point; with the other spear he grazed the elbow of
+Achilles' right arm drawing dark blood, but the spear itself went
+by him and fixed itself in the ground, foiled of its bloody
+banquet. Then Achilles, fain to kill him, hurled his spear at
+Asteropaeus, but failed to hit him and struck the steep bank of
+the river, driving the spear half its length into the earth. The
+son of Peleus then drew his sword and sprang furiously upon him.
+Asteropaeus vainly tried to draw Achilles' spear out of the bank
+by main force; thrice did he tug at it, trying with all his might
+to draw it out, and thrice he had to leave off trying; the fourth
+time he tried to bend and break it, but ere he could do so
+Achilles smote him with his sword and killed him. He struck him
+in the belly near the navel, so that all his bowels came gushing
+out on to the ground, and the darkness of death came over him as
+he lay gasping. Then Achilles set his foot on his chest and
+spoiled him of his armour, vaunting over him and saying, "Lie
+there--begotten of a river though you be, it is hard for you to
+strive with the offspring of Saturn's son. You declare yourself
+sprung from the blood of a broad river, but I am of the seed of
+mighty Jove. My father is Peleus, son of Aeacus ruler over the
+many Myrmidons, and Aeacus was the son of Jove. Therefore as Jove
+is mightier than any river that flows into the sea, so are his
+children stronger than those of any river whatsoever. Moreover
+you have a great river hard by if he can be of any use to you,
+but there is no fighting against Jove the son of Saturn, with
+whom not even King Achelous can compare, nor the mighty stream of
+deep-flowing Oceanus, from whom all rivers and seas with all
+springs and deep wells proceed; even Oceanus fears the lightnings
+of great Jove, and his thunder that comes crashing out of
+heaven."
+
+With this he drew his bronze spear out of the bank, and now that
+he had killed Asteropaeus, he let him lie where he was on the
+sand, with the dark water flowing over him and the eels and
+fishes busy nibbling and gnawing the fat that was about his
+kidneys. Then he went in chase of the Paeonians, who were flying
+along the bank of the river in panic when they saw their leader
+slain by the hands of the son of Peleus. Therein he slew
+Thersilochus, Mydon, Astypylus, Mnesus, Thrasius, Oeneus, and
+Ophelestes, and he would have slain yet others, had not the river
+in anger taken human form, and spoken to him from out the deep
+waters saying, "Achilles, if you excel all in strength, so do you
+also in wickedness, for the gods are ever with you to protect
+you: if, then, the son of Saturn has vouchsafed it to you to
+destroy all the Trojans, at any rate drive them out of my stream,
+and do your grim work on land. My fair waters are now filled with
+corpses, nor can I find any channel by which I may pour myself
+into the sea for I am choked with dead, and yet you go on
+mercilessly slaying. I am in despair, therefore, O captain of
+your host, trouble me no further."
+
+Achilles answered, "So be it, Scamander, Jove-descended; but I
+will never cease dealing out death among the Trojans, till I have
+pent them up in their city, and made trial of Hector face to
+face, that I may learn whether he is to vanquish me, or I him."
+
+As he spoke he set upon the Trojans with a fury like that of the
+gods. But the river said to Apollo, "Surely, son of Jove, lord of
+the silver bow, you are not obeying the commands of Jove who
+charged you straitly that you should stand by the Trojans and
+defend them, till twilight fades, and darkness is over an the
+earth."
+
+Meanwhile Achilles sprang from the bank into mid-stream, whereon
+the river raised a high wave and attacked him. He swelled his
+stream into a torrent, and swept away the many dead whom Achilles
+had slain and left within his waters. These he cast out on to the
+land, bellowing like a bull the while, but the living he saved
+alive, hiding them in his mighty eddies. The great and terrible
+wave gathered about Achilles, falling upon him and beating on his
+shield, so that he could not keep his feet; he caught hold of a
+great elm-tree, but it came up by the roots, and tore away the
+bank, damming the stream with its thick branches and bridging it
+all across; whereby Achilles struggled out of the stream, and
+fled full speed over the plain, for he was afraid.
+
+But the mighty god ceased not in his pursuit, and sprang upon him
+with a dark-crested wave, to stay his hands and save the Trojans
+from destruction. The son of Peleus darted away a spear's throw
+from him; swift as the swoop of a black hunter-eagle which is the
+strongest and fleetest of all birds, even so did he spring
+forward, and the armour rang loudly about his breast. He fled on
+in front, but the river with a loud roar came tearing after. As
+one who would water his garden leads a stream from some fountain
+over his plants, and all his ground-spade in hand he clears away
+the dams to free the channels, and the little stones run rolling
+round and round with the water as it goes merrily down the bank
+faster than the man can follow--even so did the river keep
+catching up with Achilles albeit he was a fleet runner, for the
+gods are stronger than men. As often as he would strive to stand
+his ground, and see whether or no all the gods in heaven were in
+league against him, so often would the mighty wave come beating
+down upon his shoulders, and he would have to keep flying on and
+on in great dismay; for the angry flood was tiring him out as it
+flowed past him and ate the ground from under his feet.
+
+Then the son of Peleus lifted up his voice to heaven saying,
+"Father Jove, is there none of the gods who will take pity upon
+me, and save me from the river? I do not care what may happen to
+me afterwards. I blame none of the other dwellers on Olympus so
+severely as I do my dear mother, who has beguiled and tricked me.
+She told me I was to fall under the walls of Troy by the flying
+arrows of Apollo; would that Hector, the best man among the
+Trojans, might there slay me; then should I fall a hero by the
+hand of a hero; whereas now it seems that I shall come to a most
+pitiable end, trapped in this river as though I were some
+swineherd's boy, who gets carried down a torrent while trying to
+cross it during a storm."
+
+As soon as he had spoken thus, Neptune and Minerva came up to him
+in the likeness of two men, and took him by the hand to reassure
+him. Neptune spoke first. "Son of Peleus," said he, "be not so
+exceeding fearful; we are two gods, come with Jove's sanction to
+assist you, I, and Pallas Minerva. It is not your fate to perish
+in this river; he will abate presently as you will see; moreover
+we strongly advise you, if you will be guided by us, not to stay
+your hand from fighting till you have pent the Trojan host within
+the famed walls of Ilius--as many of them as may escape. Then
+kill Hector and go back to the ships, for we will vouchsafe you a
+triumph over him."
+
+When they had so said they went back to the other immortals, but
+Achilles strove onward over the plain, encouraged by the charge
+the gods had laid upon him. All was now covered with the flood of
+waters, and much goodly armour of the youths that had been slain
+was rifting about, as also many corpses, but he forced his way
+against the stream, speeding right onwards, nor could the broad
+waters stay him, for Minerva had endowed him with great strength.
+Nevertheless Scamander did not slacken in his pursuit, but was
+still more furious with the son of Peleus. He lifted his waters
+into a high crest and cried aloud to Simois saying, "Dear
+brother, let the two of us unite to save this man, or he will
+sack the mighty city of King Priam, and the Trojans will not hold
+out against him. Help me at once; fill your streams with water
+from their sources, rouse all your torrents to a fury; raise your
+wave on high, and let snags and stones come thundering down you
+that we may make an end of this savage creature who is now
+lording it as though he were a god. Nothing shall serve him
+longer, not strength nor comeliness, nor his fine armour, which
+forsooth shall soon be lying low in the deep waters covered over
+with mud. I will wrap him in sand, and pour tons of shingle round
+him, so that the Achaeans shall not know how to gather his bones
+for the silt in which I shall have hidden him, and when they
+celebrate his funeral they need build no barrow."
+
+On this he upraised his tumultuous flood high against Achilles,
+seething as it was with foam and blood and the bodies of the
+dead. The dark waters of the river stood upright and would have
+overwhelmed the son of Peleus, but Juno, trembling lest Achilles
+should be swept away in the mighty torrent, lifted her voice on
+high and called out to Vulcan her son. "Crook-foot," she cried,
+"my child, be up and doing, for I deem it is with you that
+Xanthus is fain to fight; help us at once, kindle a fierce fire;
+I will then bring up the west and the white south wind in a
+mighty hurricane from the sea, that shall bear the flames against
+the heads and armour of the Trojans and consume them, while you
+go along the banks of Xanthus burning his trees and wrapping him
+round with fire. Let him not turn you back neither by fair words
+nor foul, and slacken not till I shout and tell you. Then you may
+stay your flames."
+
+On this Vulcan kindled a fierce fire, which broke out first upon
+the plain and burned the many dead whom Achilles had killed and
+whose bodies were lying about in great numbers; by this means the
+plain was dried and the flood stayed. As the north wind, blowing
+on an orchard that has been sodden with autumn rain, soon dries
+it, and the heart of the owner is glad--even so the whole plain
+was dried and the dead bodies were consumed. Then he turned
+tongues of fire on to the river. He burned the elms the willows
+and the tamarisks, the lotus also, with the rushes and marshy
+herbage that grew abundantly by the banks of the river. The eels
+and fishes that go darting about everywhere in the water, these,
+too, were sorely harassed by the flames that cunning Vulcan had
+kindled, and the river himself was scalded, so that he spoke
+saying, "Vulcan, there is no god can hold his own against you. I
+cannot fight you when you flare out your flames in this way;
+strive with me no longer. Let Achilles drive the Trojans out of
+city immediately. What have I to do with quarrelling and helping
+people?"
+
+He was boiling as he spoke, and all his waters were seething. As
+a cauldron upon a large fire boils when it is melting the lard of
+some fatted hog, and the lard keeps bubbling up all over when the
+dry faggots blaze under it--even so were the goodly waters of
+Xanthus heated with the fire till they were boiling. He could
+flow no longer but stayed his stream, so afflicted was he by the
+blasts of fire which cunning Vulcan had raised. Then he prayed to
+Juno and besought her saying, "Juno, why should your son vex my
+stream with such especial fury? I am not so much to blame as all
+the others are who have been helping the Trojans. I will leave
+off, since you so desire it, and let son leave off also.
+Furthermore I swear never again will I do anything to save the
+Trojans from destruction, not even when all Troy is burning in
+the flames which the Achaeans will kindle."
+
+As soon as Juno heard this she said to her son Vulcan, "Son
+Vulcan, hold now your flames; we ought not to use such violence
+against a god for the sake of mortals."
+
+When she had thus spoken Vulcan quenched his flames, and the
+river went back once more into his own fair bed.
+
+Xanthus was now beaten, so these two left off fighting, for Juno
+stayed them though she was still angry; but a furious quarrel
+broke out among the other gods, for they were of divided
+counsels. They fell on one another with a mighty uproar--earth
+groaned, and the spacious firmament rang out as with a blare of
+trumpets. Jove heard as he was sitting on Olympus, and laughed
+for joy when he saw the gods coming to blows among themselves.
+They were not long about beginning, and Mars piercer of shields
+opened the battle. Sword in hand he sprang at once upon Minerva
+and reviled her. "Why, vixen," said he, "have you again set the
+gods by the ears in the pride and haughtiness of your heart? Have
+you forgotten how you set Diomed son of Tydeus on to wound me,
+and yourself took visible spear and drove it into me to the hurt
+of my fair body? You shall now suffer for what you then did to
+me."
+
+As he spoke he struck her on the terrible tasselled aegis--so
+terrible that not even can Jove's lightning pierce it. Here did
+murderous Mars strike her with his great spear. She drew back and
+with her strong hand seized a stone that was lying on the plain--
+great and rugged and black--which men of old had set for the
+boundary of a field. With this she struck Mars on the neck, and
+brought him down. Nine roods did he cover in his fall, and his
+hair was all soiled in the dust, while his armour rang rattling
+round him. But Minerva laughed and vaunted over him saying,
+"Idiot, have you not learned how far stronger I am than you, but
+you must still match yourself against me? Thus do your mother's
+curses now roost upon you, for she is angry and would do you
+mischief because you have deserted the Achaeans and are helping
+the Trojans."
+
+She then turned her two piercing eyes elsewhere, whereon Jove's
+daughter Venus took Mars by the hand and led him away groaning
+all the time, for it was only with great difficulty that he had
+come to himself again. When Queen Juno saw her, she said to
+Minerva, "Look, daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, unweariable, that
+vixen Venus is again taking Mars through the crowd out of the
+battle; go after her at once."
+
+Thus she spoke. Minerva sped after Venus with a will, and made at
+her, striking her on the bosom with her strong hand so that she
+fell fainting to the ground, and there they both lay stretched at
+full length. Then Minerva vaunted over her saying, "May all who
+help the Trojans against the Argives prove just as redoubtable
+and stalwart as Venus did when she came across me while she was
+helping Mars. Had this been so, we should long since have ended
+the war by sacking the strong city of Ilius."
+
+Juno smiled as she listened. Meanwhile King Neptune turned to
+Apollo saying, "Phoebus, why should we keep each other at arm's
+length? it is not well, now that the others have begun fighting;
+it will be disgraceful to us if we return to Jove's
+bronze-floored mansion on Olympus without having fought each
+other; therefore come on, you are the younger of the two, and I
+ought not to attack you, for I am older and have had more
+experience. Idiot, you have no sense, and forget how we two alone
+of all the gods fared hardly round about Ilius when we came from
+Jove's house and worked for Laomedon a whole year at a stated
+wage and he gave us his orders. I built the Trojans the wall
+about their city, so wide and fair that it might be impregnable,
+while you, Phoebus, herded cattle for him in the dales of many
+valleyed Ida. When, however, the glad hours brought round the
+time of payment, mighty Laomedon robbed us of all our hire and
+sent us off with nothing but abuse. He threatened to bind us hand
+and foot and sell us over into some distant island. He tried,
+moreover, to cut off the ears of both of us, so we went away in a
+rage, furious about the payment he had promised us, and yet
+withheld; in spite of all this, you are now showing favour to his
+people, and will not join us in compassing the utter ruin of the
+proud Trojans with their wives and children."
+
+And King Apollo answered, "Lord of the earthquake, you would have
+no respect for me if I were to fight you about a pack of
+miserable mortals, who come out like leaves in summer and eat the
+fruit of the field, and presently fall lifeless to the ground.
+Let us stay this fighting at once and let them settle it among
+themselves."
+
+He turned away as he spoke, for he would lay no hand on the
+brother of his own father. But his sister the huntress Diana,
+patroness of wild beasts, was very angry with him and said, "So
+you would fly, Far-Darter, and hand victory over to Neptune with
+a cheap vaunt to boot. Baby, why keep your bow thus idle? Never
+let me again hear you bragging in my father's house, as you have
+often done in the presence of the immortals, that you would stand
+up and fight with Neptune."
+
+Apollo made her no answer, but Jove's august queen was angry and
+upbraided her bitterly. "Bold vixen," she cried, "how dare you
+cross me thus? For all your bow you will find it hard to hold
+your own against me. Jove made you as a lion among women, and
+lets you kill them whenever you choose. You will find it better
+to chase wild beasts and deer upon the mountains than to fight
+those who are stronger than you are. If you would try war, do so,
+and find out by pitting yourself against me, how far stronger I
+am than you are."
+
+She caught both Diana's wrists with her left hand as she spoke,
+and with her right she took the bow from her shoulders, and
+laughed as she beat her with it about the ears while Diana
+wriggled and writhed under her blows. Her swift arrows were shed
+upon the ground, and she fled weeping from under Juno's hand as a
+dove that flies before a falcon to the cleft of some hollow rock,
+when it is her good fortune to escape. Even so did she fly
+weeping away, leaving her bow and arrows behind her.
+
+Then the slayer of Argus, guide and guardian, said to Leto,
+"Leto, I shall not fight you; it is ill to come to blows with any
+of Jove's wives. Therefore boast as you will among the immortals
+that you worsted me in fair fight."
+
+Leto then gathered up Diana's bow and arrows that had fallen
+about amid the whirling dust, and when she had got them she made
+all haste after her daughter. Diana had now reached Jove's
+bronze-floored mansion on Olympus, and sat herself down with many
+tears on the knees of her father, while her ambrosial raiment was
+quivering all about her. The son of Saturn drew her towards him,
+and laughing pleasantly the while began to question her saying,
+"Which of the heavenly beings, my dear child, has been treating
+you in this cruel manner, as though you had been misconducting
+yourself in the face of everybody?" and the fair-crowned goddess
+of the chase answered, "It was your wife Juno, father, who has
+been beating me; it is always her doing when there is any
+quarrelling among the immortals."
+
+Thus did they converse, and meanwhile Phoebus Apollo entered the
+strong city of Ilius, for he was uneasy lest the wall should not
+hold out and the Danaans should take the city then and there,
+before its hour had come; but the rest of the ever-living gods
+went back, some angry and some triumphant to Olympus, where they
+took their seats beside Jove lord of the storm cloud, while
+Achilles still kept on dealing out death alike on the Trojans and
+on their horses. As when the smoke from some burning city ascends
+to heaven when the anger of the gods has kindled it--there is
+then toil for all, and sorrow for not a few--even so did Achilles
+bring toil and sorrow on the Trojans.
+
+Old King Priam stood on a high tower of the wall looking down on
+huge Achilles as the Trojans fled panic-stricken before him, and
+there was none to help them. Presently he came down from off the
+tower and with many a groan went along the wall to give orders to
+the brave warders of the gate. "Keep the gates," said he, "wide
+open till the people come flying into the city, for Achilles is
+hard by and is driving them in rout before him. I see we are in
+great peril. As soon as our people are inside and in safety,
+close the strong gates for I fear lest that terrible man should
+come bounding inside along with the others."
+
+As he spoke they drew back the bolts and opened the gates, and
+when these were opened there was a haven of refuge for the
+Trojans. Apollo then came full speed out of the city to meet them
+and protect them. Right for the city and the high wall, parched
+with thirst and grimy with dust, still they fied on, with
+Achilles wielding his spear furiously behind them. For he was as
+one possessed, and was thirsting after glory.
+
+Then had the sons of the Achaeans taken the lofty gates of Troy
+if Apollo had not spurred on Agenor, valiant and noble son to
+Antenor. He put courage into his heart, and stood by his side to
+guard him, leaning against a beech tree and shrouded in thick
+darkness. When Agenor saw Achilles he stood still and his heart
+was clouded with care. "Alas," said he to himself in his dismay,
+"if I fly before mighty Achilles, and go where all the others are
+being driven in rout, he will none the less catch me and kill me
+for a coward. How would it be were I to let Achilles drive the
+others before him, and then fly from the wall to the plain that
+is behind Ilius till I reach the spurs of Ida and can hide in the
+underwood that is thereon? I could then wash the sweat from off
+me in the river and in the evening return to Ilius. But why
+commune with myself in this way? Like enough he would see me as I
+am hurrying from the city over the plain, and would speed after
+me till he had caught me--I should stand no chance against him,
+for he is mightiest of all mankind. What, then, if I go out and
+meet him in front of the city? His flesh too, I take it, can be
+pierced by pointed bronze. Life is the same in one and all, and
+men say that he is but mortal despite the triumph that Jove son
+of Saturn vouchsafes him."
+
+So saying he stood on his guard and awaited Achilles, for he was
+now fain to fight him. As a leopardess that bounds from out a
+thick covert to attack a hunter--she knows no fear and is not
+dismayed by the baying of the hounds; even though the man be too
+quick for her and wound her either with thrust or spear, still,
+though the spear has pierced her she will not give in till she
+has either caught him in her grip or been killed outright--even
+so did noble Agenor son of Antenor refuse to fly till he had made
+trial of Achilles, and took aim at him with his spear, holding
+his round shield before him and crying with a loud voice. "Of a
+truth," said he, "noble Achilles, you deem that you shall this
+day sack the city of the proud Trojans. Fool, there will be
+trouble enough yet before it, for there is many a brave man of us
+still inside who will stand in front of our dear parents with our
+wives and children, to defend Ilius. Here therefore, huge and
+mighty warrior though you be, here shall you die."
+
+As he spoke his strong hand hurled his javelin from him, and the
+spear struck Achilles on the leg beneath the knee; the greave of
+newly wrought tin rang loudly, but the spear recoiled from the
+body of him whom it had struck, and did not pierce it, for the
+gods gift stayed it. Achilles in his turn attacked noble Agenor,
+but Apollo would not vouchsafe him glory, for he snatched Agenor
+away and hid him in a thick mist, sending him out of the battle
+unmolested Then he craftily drew the son of Peleus away from
+going after the host, for he put on the semblance of Agenor and
+stood in front of Achilles, who ran towards him to give him chase
+and pursued him over the corn lands of the plain, turning him
+towards the deep waters of the river Scamander. Apollo ran but a
+little way before him and beguiled Achilles by making him think
+all the time that he was on the point of overtaking him.
+Meanwhile the rabble of routed Trojans was thankful to crowd
+within the city till their numbers thronged it; no longer did
+they dare wait for one another outside the city walls, to learn
+who had escaped and who were fallen in fight, but all whose feet
+and knees could still carry them poured pell-mell into the town.
+
+
+
+BOOK XXII
+
+  The death of Hector.
+
+THUS the Trojans in the city, scared like fawns, wiped the sweat
+from off them and drank to quench their thirst, leaning against
+the goodly battlements, while the Achaeans with their shields
+laid upon their shoulders drew close up to the walls. But stern
+fate bade Hector stay where he was before Ilius and the Scaean
+gates. Then Phoebus Apollo spoke to the son of Peleus saying,
+"Why, son of Peleus, do you, who are but man, give chase to me
+who am immortal? Have you not yet found out that it is a god whom
+you pursue so furiously? You did not harass the Trojans whom you
+had routed, and now they are within their walls, while you have
+been decoyed hither away from them. Me you cannot kill, for death
+can take no hold upon me."
+
+Achilles was greatly angered and said, "You have baulked me,
+Far-Darter, most malicious of all gods, and have drawn me away
+from the wall, where many another man would have bitten the dust
+ere he got within Ilius; you have robbed me of great glory and
+have saved the Trojans at no risk to yourself, for you have
+nothing to fear, but I would indeed have my revenge if it were in
+my power to do so."
+
+On this, with fell intent he made towards the city, and as the
+winning horse in a chariot race strains every nerve when he is
+flying over the plain, even so fast and furiously did the limbs
+of Achilles bear him onwards. King Priam was first to note him as
+he scoured the plain, all radiant as the star which men call
+Orion's Hound, and whose beams blaze forth in time of harvest
+more brilliantly than those of any other that shines by night;
+brightest of them all though he be, he yet bodes ill for mortals,
+for he brings fire and fever in his train--even so did Achilles'
+armour gleam on his breast as he sped onwards. Priam raised a cry
+and beat his head with his hands as he lifted them up and shouted
+out to his dear son, imploring him to return; but Hector still
+stayed before the gates, for his heart was set upon doing battle
+with Achilles. The old man reached out his arms towards him and
+bade him for pity's sake come within the walls. "Hector," he
+cried, "my son, stay not to face this man alone and unsupported,
+or you will meet death at the hands of the son of Peleus, for he
+is mightier than you. Monster that he is; would indeed that the
+gods loved him no better than I do, for so, dogs and vultures
+would soon devour him as he lay stretched on earth, and a load of
+grief would be lifted from my heart, for many a brave son has he
+reft from me, either by killing them or selling them away in the
+islands that are beyond the sea: even now I miss two sons from
+among the Trojans who have thronged within the city, Lycaon and
+Polydorus, whom Laothoe peeress among women bore me. Should they
+be still alive and in the hands of the Achaeans, we will ransom
+them with gold and bronze, of which we have store, for the old
+man Altes endowed his daughter richly; but if they are already
+dead and in the house of Hades, sorrow will it be to us two who
+were their parents; albeit the grief of others will be more
+short-lived unless you too perish at the hands of Achilles. Come,
+then, my son, within the city, to be the guardian of Trojan men
+and Trojan women, or you will both lose your own life and afford
+a mighty triumph to the son of Peleus. Have pity also on your
+unhappy father while life yet remains to him--on me, whom the son
+of Saturn will destroy by a terrible doom on the threshold of old
+age, after I have seen my sons slain and my daughters haled away
+as captives, my bridal chambers pillaged, little children dashed
+to earth amid the rage of battle, and my sons' wives dragged away
+by the cruel hands of the Achaeans; in the end fierce hounds will
+tear me in pieces at my own gates after some one has beaten the
+life out of my body with sword or spear-hounds that I myself
+reared and fed at my own table to guard my gates, but who will
+yet lap my blood and then lie all distraught at my doors. When a
+young man falls by the sword in battle, he may lie where he is
+and there is nothing unseemly; let what will be seen, all is
+honourable in death, but when an old man is slain there is
+nothing in this world more pitiable than that dogs should defile
+his grey hair and beard and all that men hide for shame."
+
+The old man tore his grey hair as he spoke, but he moved not the
+heart of Hector. His mother hard by wept and moaned aloud as she
+bared her bosom and pointed to the breast which had suckled him.
+"Hector," she cried, weeping bitterly the while, "Hector, my son,
+spurn not this breast, but have pity upon me too: if I have ever
+given you comfort from my own bosom, think on it now, dear son,
+and come within the wall to protect us from this man; stand not
+without to meet him. Should the wretch kill you, neither I nor
+your richly dowered wife shall ever weep, dear offshoot of
+myself, over the bed on which you lie, for dogs will devour you
+at the ships of the Achaeans."
+
+Thus did the two with many tears implore their son, but they
+moved not the heart of Hector, and he stood his ground awaiting
+huge Achilles as he drew nearer towards him. As serpent in its
+den upon the mountains, full fed with deadly poisons, waits for
+the approach of man--he is filled with fury and his eyes glare
+terribly as he goes writhing round his den--even so Hector leaned
+his shield against a tower that jutted out from the wall and
+stood where he was, undaunted.
+
+"Alas," said he to himself in the heaviness of his heart, "if I
+go within the gates, Polydamas will be the first to heap reproach
+upon me, for it was he that urged me to lead the Trojans back to
+the city on that awful night when Achilles again came forth
+against us. I would not listen, but it would have been indeed
+better if I had done so. Now that my folly has destroyed the
+host, I dare not look Trojan men and Trojan women in the face,
+lest a worse man should say, 'Hector has ruined us by his
+self-confidence.' Surely it would be better for me to return
+after having fought Achilles and slain him, or to die gloriously
+here before the city. What, again, if I were to lay down my
+shield and helmet, lean my spear against the wall and go straight
+up to noble Achilles? What if I were to promise to give up Helen,
+who was the fountainhead of all this war, and all the treasure
+that Alexandrus brought with him in his ships to Troy, aye, and
+to let the Achaeans divide the half of everything that the city
+contains among themselves? I might make the Trojans, by the
+mouths of their princes, take a solemn oath that they would hide
+nothing, but would divide into two shares all that is within the
+city--but why argue with myself in this way? Were I to go up to
+him he would show me no kind of mercy; he would kill me then and
+there as easily as though I were a woman, when I had off my
+armour. There is no parleying with him from some rock or oak
+tree as young men and maidens prattle with one another. Better
+fight him at once, and learn to which of us Jove will vouchsafe
+victory."
+
+Thus did he stand and ponder, but Achilles came up to him as it
+were Mars himself, plumed lord of battle. From his right shoulder
+he brandished his terrible spear of Pelian ash, and the bronze
+gleamed around him like flashing fire or the rays of the rising
+sun. Fear fell upon Hector as he beheld him, and he dared not
+stay longer where he was but fled in dismay from before the
+gates, while Achilles darted after him at his utmost speed. As a
+mountain falcon, swiftest of all birds, swoops down upon some
+cowering dove--the dove flies before him but the falcon with a
+shrill scream follows close after, resolved to have her--even so
+did Achilles make straight for Hector with all his might, while
+Hector fled under the Trojan wall as fast as his limbs could take
+him.
+
+On they flew along the waggon-road that ran hard by under the
+wall, past the lookout station, and past the weather-beaten wild
+fig-tree, till they came to two fair springs which feed the river
+Scamander. One of these two springs is warm, and steam rises from
+it as smoke from a burning fire, but the other even in summer is
+as cold as hail or snow, or the ice that forms on water. Here,
+hard by the springs, are the goodly washing-troughs of stone,
+where in the time of peace before the coming of the Achaeans the
+wives and fair daughters of the Trojans used to wash their
+clothes. Past these did they fly, the one in front and the other
+giving chase behind him: good was the man that fled, but better
+far was he that followed after, and swiftly indeed did they run,
+for the prize was no mere beast for sacrifice or bullock's hide,
+as it might be for a common foot-race, but they ran for the life
+of Hector. As horses in a chariot race speed round the
+turning-posts when they are running for some great prize--a
+tripod or woman--at the games in honour of some dead hero, so did
+these two run full speed three times round the city of Priam. All
+the gods watched them, and the sire of gods and men was the first
+to speak.
+
+"Alas," said he, "my eyes behold a man who is dear to me being
+pursued round the walls of Troy; my heart is full of pity for
+Hector, who has burned the thigh-bones of many a heifer in my
+honour, one while on the crests of many-valleyed Ida, and again
+on the citadel of Troy; and now I see noble Achilles in full
+pursuit of him round the city of Priam. What say you? Consider
+among yourselves and decide whether we shall now save him or let
+him fall, valiant though he be, before Achilles, son of Peleus."
+
+Then Minerva said, "Father, wielder of the lightning, lord of
+cloud and storm, what mean you? Would you pluck this mortal whose
+doom has long been decreed out of the jaws of death? Do as you
+will, but we others shall not be of a mind with you."
+
+And Jove answered, "My child, Trito-born, take heart. I did not
+speak in full earnest, and I will let you have your way. Do
+without let or hindrance as you are minded."
+
+Thus did he urge Minerva who was already eager, and down she
+darted from the topmost summits of Olympus.
+
+Achilles was still in full pursuit of Hector, as a hound chasing
+a fawn which he has started from its covert on the mountains, and
+hunts through glade and thicket. The fawn may try to elude him by
+crouching under cover of a bush, but he will scent her out and
+follow her up until he gets her--even so there was no escape for
+Hector from the fleet son of Peleus. Whenever he made a set to
+get near the Dardanian gates and under the walls, that his people
+might help him by showering down weapons from above, Achilles
+would gain on him and head him back towards the plain, keeping
+himself always on the city side. As a man in a dream who fails to
+lay hands upon another whom he is pursuing--the one cannot escape
+nor the other overtake--even so neither could Achilles come up
+with Hector, nor Hector break away from Achilles; nevertheless he
+might even yet have escaped death had not the time come when
+Apollo, who thus far had sustained his strength and nerved his
+running, was now no longer to stay by him. Achilles made signs to
+the Achaean host, and shook his head to show that no man was to
+aim a dart at Hector, lest another might win the glory of having
+hit him and he might himself come in second. Then, at last, as
+they were nearing the fountains for the fourth time, the father
+of all balanced his golden scales and placed a doom in each of
+them, one for Achilles and the other for Hector. As he held the
+scales by the middle, the doom of Hector fell down deep into the
+house of Hades--and then Phoebus Apollo left him. Thereon Minerva
+went close up to the son of Peleus and said, "Noble Achilles,
+favoured of heaven, we two shall surely take back to the ships a
+triumph for the Achaeans by slaying Hector, for all his lust of
+battle. Do what Apollo may as he lies grovelling before his
+father, aegis-bearing Jove, Hector cannot escape us longer. Stay
+here and take breath, while I go up to him and persuade him to
+make a stand and fight you."
+
+Thus spoke Minerva. Achilles obeyed her gladly, and stood still,
+leaning on his bronze-pointed ashen spear, while Minerva left him
+and went after Hector in the form and with the voice of
+Deiphobus. She came close up to him and said, "Dear brother, I
+see you are hard pressed by Achilles who is chasing you at full
+speed round the city of Priam, let us await his onset and stand
+on our defence."
+
+And Hector answered, "Deiphobus, you have always been dearest to
+me of all my brothers, children of Hecuba and Priam, but
+henceforth I shall rate you yet more highly, inasmuch as you have
+ventured outside the wall for my sake when all the others remain
+inside."
+
+Then Minerva said, "Dear brother, my father and mother went down
+on their knees and implored me, as did all my comrades, to remain
+inside, so great a fear has fallen upon them all; but I was in an
+agony of grief when I beheld you; now, therefore, let us two make
+a stand and fight, and let there be no keeping our spears in
+reserve, that we may learn whether Achilles shall kill us and
+bear off our spoils to the ships, or whether he shall fall before
+you."
+
+Thus did Minerva inveigle him by her cunning, and when the two
+were now close to one another great Hector was first to speak. "I
+will-no longer fly you, son of Peleus," said he, "as I have been
+doing hitherto. Three times have I fled round the mighty city of
+Priam, without daring to withstand you, but now, let me either
+slay or be slain, for I am in the mind to face you. Let us, then,
+give pledges to one another by our gods, who are the fittest
+witnesses and guardians of all covenants; let it be agreed
+between us that if Jove vouchsafes me the longer stay and I take
+your life, I am not to treat your dead body in any unseemly
+fashion, but when I have stripped you of your armour, I am to
+give up your body to the Achaeans. And do you likewise."
+
+Achilles glared at him and answered, "Fool, prate not to me about
+covenants. There can be no covenants between men and lions,
+wolves and lambs can never be of one mind, but hate each other
+out and out an through. Therefore there can be no understanding
+between you and me, nor may there be any covenants between us,
+till one or other shall fall and glut grim Mars with his life's
+blood. Put forth all your strength; you have need now to prove
+yourself indeed a bold soldier and man of war. You have no more
+chance, and Pallas Minerva will forthwith vanquish you by my
+spear: you shall now pay me in full for the grief you have caused
+me on account of my comrades whom you have killed in battle."
+
+He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it. Hector saw it
+coming and avoided it; he watched it and crouched down so that it
+flew over his head and stuck in the ground beyond; Minerva then
+snatched it up and gave it back to Achilles without Hector's
+seeing her; Hector thereon said to the son of Peleus, "You have
+missed your aim, Achilles, peer of the gods, and Jove has not yet
+revealed to you the hour of my doom, though you made sure that he
+had done so. You were a false-tongued liar when you deemed that I
+should forget my valour and quail before you. You shall not drive
+spear into the back of a runaway--drive it, should heaven so
+grant you power, drive it into me as I make straight towards you;
+and now for your own part avoid my spear if you can--would that
+you might receive the whole of it into your body; if you were
+once dead the Trojans would find the war an easier matter, for it
+is you who have harmed them most."
+
+He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it. His aim was true
+for he hit the middle of Achilles' shield, but the spear
+rebounded from it, and did not pierce it. Hector was angry when
+he saw that the weapon had sped from his hand in vain, and stood
+there in dismay for he had no second spear. With a loud cry he
+called Deiphobus and asked him for one, but there was no man;
+then he saw the truth and said to himself, "Alas! the gods have
+lured me on to my destruction. I deemed that the hero Deiphobus
+was by my side, but he is within the wall, and Minerva has
+inveigled me; death is now indeed exceedingly near at hand and
+there is no way out of it--for so Jove and his son Apollo the
+far-darter have willed it, though heretofore they have been ever
+ready to protect me. My doom has come upon me; let me not then
+die ingloriously and without a struggle, but let me first do some
+great thing that shall be told among men hereafter."
+
+As he spoke he drew the keen blade that hung so great and strong
+by his side, and gathering himself together be sprang on Achilles
+like a soaring eagle which swoops down from the clouds on to some
+lamb or timid hare--even so did Hector brandish his sword and
+spring upon Achilles. Achilles mad with rage darted towards him,
+with his wondrous shield before his breast, and his gleaming
+helmet, made with four layers of metal, nodding fiercely forward.
+The thick tresses of gold with which Vulcan had crested the
+helmet floated round it, and as the evening star that shines
+brighter than all others through the stillness of night, even
+such was the gleam of the spear which Achilles poised in his
+right hand, fraught with the death of noble Hector. He eyed his
+fair flesh over and over to see where he could best wound it, but
+all was protected by the goodly armour of which Hector had
+spoiled Patroclus after he had slain him, save only the throat
+where the collar-bones divide the neck from the shoulders, and
+this is a most deadly place: here then did Achilles strike him as
+he was coming on towards him, and the point of his spear went
+right through the fleshy part of the neck, but it did not sever
+his windpipe so that he could still speak. Hector fell headlong,
+and Achilles vaunted over him saying, "Hector, you deemed that
+you should come off scatheless when you were spoiling Patroclus,
+and recked not of myself who was not with him. Fool that you
+were: for I, his comrade, mightier far than he, was still left
+behind him at the ships, and now I have laid you low. The
+Achaeans shall give him all due funeral rites, while dogs and
+vultures shall work their will upon yourself."
+
+Then Hector said, as the life ebbed out of him, "I pray you by
+your life and knees, and by your parents, let not dogs devour me
+at the ships of the Achaeans, but accept the rich treasure of
+gold and bronze which my father and mother will offer you, and
+send my body home, that the Trojans and their wives may give me
+my dues of fire when I am dead."
+
+Achilles glared at him and answered, "Dog, talk not to me neither
+of knees nor parents; would that I could be as sure of being able
+to cut your flesh into pieces and eat it raw, for the ill you
+have done me, as I am that nothing shall save you from the
+dogs--it shall not be, though they bring ten or twenty-fold
+ransom and weigh it out for me on the spot, with promise of yet
+more hereafter. Though Priam son of Dardanus should bid them
+offer me your weight in gold, even so your mother shall never lay
+you out and make lament over the son she bore, but dogs and
+vultures shall eat you utterly up."
+
+Hector with his dying breath then said, "I know you what you are,
+and was sure that I should not move you, for your heart is hard
+as iron; look to it that I bring not heaven's anger upon you on
+the day when Paris and Phoebus Apollo, valiant though you be,
+shall slay you at the Scaean gates."
+
+When he had thus said the shrouds of death enfolded him, whereon
+his soul went out of him and flew down to the house of Hades,
+lamenting its sad fate that it should enjoy youth and strength no
+longer. But Achilles said, speaking to the dead body, "Die; for
+my part I will accept my fate whensoever Jove and the other gods
+see fit to send it."
+
+As he spoke he drew his spear from the body and set it on one
+side; then he stripped the blood-stained armour from Hector's
+shoulders while the other Achaeans came running up to view his
+wondrous strength and beauty; and no one came near him without
+giving him a fresh wound. Then would one turn to his neighbour
+and say, "It is easier to handle Hector now than when he was
+flinging fire on to our ships" and as he spoke he would thrust
+his spear into him anew.
+
+When Achilles had done spoiling Hector of his armour, he stood
+among the Argives and said, "My friends, princes and counsellors
+of the Argives, now that heaven has vouchsafed us to overcome
+this man, who has done us more hurt than all the others together,
+consider whether we should not attack the city in force, and
+discover in what mind the Trojans may be. We should thus learn
+whether they will desert their city now that Hector has fallen,
+or will still hold out even though he is no longer living. But
+why argue with myself in this way, while Patroclus is still lying
+at the ships unburied, and unmourned--he whom I can never forget
+so long as I am alive and my strength fails not? Though men
+forget their dead when once they are within the house of Hades,
+yet not even there will I forget the comrade whom I have lost.
+Now, therefore, Achaean youths, let us raise the song of victory
+and go back to the ships taking this man along with us; for we
+have achieved a mighty triumph and have slain noble Hector to
+whom the Trojans prayed throughout their city as though he were a
+god."
+
+On this he treated the body of Hector with contumely: he pierced
+the sinews at the back of both his feet from heel to ancle and
+passed thongs of ox-hide through the slits he had made: thus he
+made the body fast to his chariot, letting the head trail upon
+the ground. Then when he had put the goodly armour on the chariot
+and had himself mounted, he lashed his horses on and they flew
+forward nothing loth. The dust rose from Hector as he was being
+dragged along, his dark hair flew all abroad, and his head once
+so comely was laid low on earth, for Jove had now delivered him
+into the hands of his foes to do him outrage in his own land.
+
+Thus was the head of Hector being dishonoured in the dust. His
+mother tore her hair, and flung her veil from her with a loud cry
+as she looked upon her son. His father made piteous moan, and
+throughout the city the people fell to weeping and wailing. It
+was as though the whole of frowning Ilius was being smirched with
+fire. Hardly could the people hold Priam back in his hot haste to
+rush without the gates of the city. He grovelled in the mire and
+besought them, calling each one of them by his name. "Let be, my
+friends," he cried, "and for all your sorrow, suffer me to go
+single-handed to the ships of the Achaeans. Let me beseech this
+cruel and terrible man, if maybe he will respect the feeling of
+his fellow-men, and have compassion on my old age. His own father
+is even such another as myself--Peleus, who bred him and reared
+him to be the bane of us Trojans, and of myself more than of all
+others. Many a son of mine has he slain in the flower of his
+youth, and yet, grieve for these as I may, I do so for one--
+Hector--more than for them all, and the bitterness of my sorrow
+will bring me down to the house of Hades. Would that he had died
+in my arms, for so both his ill-starred mother who bore him, and
+myself, should have had the comfort of weeping and mourning over
+him."
+
+Thus did he speak with many tears, and all the people of the city
+joined in his lament. Hecuba then raised the cry of wailing among
+the Trojans. "Alas, my son," she cried, "what have I left to live
+for now that you are no more? Night and day did I glory in you
+throughout the city, for you were a tower of strength to all in
+Troy, and both men and women alike hailed you as a god. So long
+as you lived you were their pride, but now death and destruction
+have fallen upon you."
+
+Hector's wife had as yet heard nothing, for no one had come to
+tell her that her husband had remained without the gates. She was
+at her loom in an inner part of the house, weaving a double
+purple web, and embroidering it with many flowers. She told her
+maids to set a large tripod on the fire, so as to have a warm
+bath ready for Hector when he came out of battle; poor woman, she
+knew not that he was now beyond the reach of baths, and that
+Minerva had laid him low by the hands of Achilles. She heard the
+cry coming as from the wall, and trembled in every limb; the
+shuttle fell from her hands, and again she spoke to her
+waiting-women. "Two of you," she said, "come with me that I may
+learn what it is that has befallen; I heard the voice of my
+husband's honoured mother; my own heart beats as though it would
+come into my mouth and my limbs refuse to carry me; some great
+misfortune for Priam's children must be at hand. May I never live
+to hear it, but I greatly fear that Achilles has cut off the
+retreat of brave Hector and has chased him on to the plain where
+he was singlehanded; I fear he may have put an end to the
+reckless daring which possessed my husband, who would never
+remain with the body of his men, but would dash on far in front,
+foremost of them all in valour."
+
+Her heart beat fast, and as she spoke she flew from the house
+like a maniac, with her waiting-women following after. When she
+reached the battlements and the crowd of people, she stood
+looking out upon the wall, and saw Hector being borne away in
+front of the city--the horses dragging him without heed or care
+over the ground towards the ships of the Achaeans. Her eyes were
+then shrouded as with the darkness of night and she fell fainting
+backwards. She tore the attiring from her head and flung it from
+her, the frontlet and net with its plaited band, and the veil
+which golden Venus had given her on the day when Hector took her
+with him from the house of Eetion, after having given countless
+gifts of wooing for her sake. Her husband's sisters and the wives
+of his brothers crowded round her and supported her, for she was
+fain to die in her distraction; when she again presently breathed
+and came to herself, she sobbed and made lament among the Trojans
+saying, "Woe is me, O Hector; woe, indeed, that to share a common
+lot we were born, you at Troy in the house of Priam, and I at
+Thebes under the wooded mountain of Placus in the house of Eetion
+who brought me up when I was a child--ill-starred sire of an
+ill-starred daughter--would that he had never begotten me. You
+are now going into the house of Hades under the secret places of
+the earth, and you leave me a sorrowing widow in your house. The
+child, of whom you and I are the unhappy parents, is as yet a
+mere infant. Now that you are gone, O Hector, you can do nothing
+for him nor he for you. Even though he escape the horrors of this
+woeful war with the Achaeans, yet shall his life henceforth be
+one of labour and sorrow, for others will seize his lands. The
+day that robs a child of his parents severs him from his own
+kind; his head is bowed, his cheeks are wet with tears, and he
+will go about destitute among the friends of his father, plucking
+one by the cloak and another by the shirt. Some one or other of
+these may so far pity him as to hold the cup for a moment towards
+him and let him moisten his lips, but he must not drink enough to
+wet the roof of his mouth; then one whose parents are alive will
+drive him from the table with blows and angry words. 'Out with
+you,' he will say, 'you have no father here,' and the child will
+go crying back to his widowed mother--he, Astyanax, who erewhile
+would sit upon his father's knees, and have none but the
+daintiest and choicest morsels set before him. When he had played
+till he was tired and went to sleep, he would lie in a bed, in
+the arms of his nurse, on a soft couch, knowing neither want nor
+care, whereas now that he has lost his father his lot will be
+full of hardship--he, whom the Trojans name Astyanax, because
+you, O Hector, were the only defence of their gates and
+battlements. The wriggling writhing worms will now eat you at the
+ships, far from your parents, when the dogs have glutted
+themselves upon you. You will lie naked, although in your house
+you have fine and goodly raiment made by hands of women. This
+will I now burn; it is of no use to you, for you can never again
+wear it, and thus you will have respect shown you by the Trojans
+both men and women."
+
+In such wise did she cry aloud amid her tears, and the women
+joined in her lament.
+
+
+
+BOOK XXIII
+
+  The funeral of Patroclus, and the funeral games.
+
+Thus did they make their moan throughout the city, while the
+Achaeans when they reached the Hellespont went back every man to
+his own ship. But Achilles would not let the Myrmidons go, and
+spoke to his brave comrades saying, "Myrmidons, famed horsemen
+and my own trusted friends, not yet, forsooth, let us unyoke, but
+with horse and chariot draw near to the body and mourn Patroclus,
+in due honour to the dead. When we have had full comfort of
+lamentation we will unyoke our horses and take supper all of us
+here."
+
+On this they all joined in a cry of wailing and Achilles led them
+in their lament. Thrice did they drive their chariots all
+sorrowing round the body, and Thetis stirred within them a still
+deeper yearning. The sands of the seashore and the men's armour
+were wet with their weeping, so great a minister of fear was he
+whom they had lost. Chief in all their mourning was the son of
+Peleus: he laid his bloodstained hand on the breast of his
+friend. "Fare well," he cried, "Patroclus, even in the house of
+Hades. I will now do all that I erewhile promised you; I will
+drag Hector hither and let dogs devour him raw; twelve noble sons
+of Trojans will I also slay before your pyre to avenge you."
+
+As he spoke he treated the body of noble Hector with contumely,
+laying it at full length in the dust beside the bier of
+Patroclus. The others then put off every man his armour, took the
+horses from their chariots, and seated themselves in great
+multitude by the ship of the fleet descendant of Aeacus, who
+thereon feasted them with an abundant funeral banquet. Many a
+goodly ox, with many a sheep and bleating goat did they butcher
+and cut up; many a tusked boar moreover, fat and well-fed, did
+they singe and set to roast in the flames of Vulcan; and rivulets
+of blood flowed all round the place where the body was lying.
+
+Then the princes of the Achaeans took the son of Peleus to
+Agamemnon, but hardly could they persuade him to come with them,
+so wroth was he for the death of his comrade. As soon as they
+reached Agamemnon's tent they told the serving-men to set a large
+tripod over the fire in case they might persuade the son of
+Peleus to wash the clotted gore from this body, but he denied
+them sternly, and swore it with a solemn oath, saying, "Nay, by
+King Jove, first and mightiest of all gods, it is not meet that
+water should touch my body, till I have laid Patroclus on the
+flames, have built him a barrow, and shaved my head--for so long
+as I live no such second sorrow shall ever draw nigh me. Now,
+therefore, let us do all that this sad festival demands, but at
+break of day, King Agamemnon, bid your men bring wood, and
+provide all else that the dead may duly take into the realm of
+darkness; the fire shall thus burn him out of our sight the
+sooner, and the people shall turn again to their own labours."
+
+Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. They made
+haste to prepare the meal, they ate, and every man had his full
+share so that all were satisfied. As soon as they had had enough
+to eat and drink, the others went to their rest each in his own
+tent, but the son of Peleus lay grieving among his Myrmidons by
+the shore of the sounding sea, in an open place where the waves
+came surging in one after another. Here a very deep slumber took
+hold upon him and eased the burden of his sorrows, for his limbs
+were weary with chasing Hector round windy Ilius. Presently the
+sad spirit of Patroclus drew near him, like what he had been in
+stature, voice, and the light of his beaming eyes, clad, too, as
+he had been clad in life. The spirit hovered over his head and
+said--
+
+"You sleep, Achilles, and have forgotten me; you loved me living,
+but now that I am dead you think for me no further. Bury me with
+all speed that I may pass the gates of Hades; the ghosts, vain
+shadows of men that can labour no more, drive me away from them;
+they will not yet suffer me to join those that are beyond the
+river, and I wander all desolate by the wide gates of the house
+of Hades. Give me now your hand I pray you, for when you have
+once given me my dues of fire, never shall I again come forth out
+of the house of Hades. Nevermore shall we sit apart and take
+sweet counsel among the living; the cruel fate which was my
+birth-right has yawned its wide jaws around me--nay, you too
+Achilles, peer of gods, are doomed to die beneath the wall of the
+noble Trojans.
+
+"One prayer more will I make you, if you will grant it; let not
+my bones be laid apart from yours, Achilles, but with them; even
+as we were brought up together in your own home, what time
+Menoetius brought me to you as a child from Opoeis because by a
+sad spite I had killed the son of Amphidamas--not of set purpose,
+but in childish quarrel over the dice. The knight Peleus took me
+into his house, entreated me kindly, and named me to be your
+squire; therefore let our bones lie in but a single urn, the
+two-handled golden vase given to you by your mother."
+
+And Achilles answered, "Why, true heart, are you come hither to
+lay these charges upon me? will of my own self do all as you have
+bidden me. Draw closer to me, let us once more throw our arms
+around one another, and find sad comfort in the sharing of our
+sorrows."
+
+He opened his arms towards him as he spoke and would have clasped
+him in them, but there was nothing, and the spirit vanished as a
+vapour, gibbering and whining into the earth. Achilles sprang to
+his feet, smote his two hands, and made lamentation saying, "Of a
+truth even in the house of Hades there are ghosts and phantoms
+that have no life in them; all night long the sad spirit of
+Patroclus has hovered over head making piteous moan, telling me
+what I am to do for him, and looking wondrously like himself."
+
+Thus did he speak and his words set them all weeping and mourning
+about the poor dumb dead, till rosy-fingered morn appeared. Then
+King Agamemnon sent men and mules from all parts of the camp, to
+bring wood, and Meriones, squire to Idomeneus, was in charge over
+them. They went out with woodmen's axes and strong ropes in their
+hands, and before them went the mules. Up hill and down dale did
+they go, by straight ways and crooked, and when they reached the
+heights of many-fountained Ida, they laid their axes to the roots
+of many a tall branching oak that came thundering down as they
+felled it. They split the trees and bound them behind the mules,
+which then wended their way as they best could through the thick
+brushwood on to the plain. All who had been cutting wood bore
+logs, for so Meriones squire to Idomeneus had bidden them, and
+they threw them down in a line upon the seashore at the place
+where Achilles would make a mighty monument for Patroclus and for
+himself.
+
+When they had thrown down their great logs of wood over the whole
+ground, they stayed all of them where they were, but Achilles
+ordered his brave Myrmidons to gird on their armour, and to yoke
+each man his horses; they therefore rose, girded on their armour
+and mounted each his chariot--they and their charioteers with
+them. The chariots went before, and they that were on foot
+followed as a cloud in their tens of thousands after. In the
+midst of them his comrades bore Patroclus and covered him with
+the locks of their hair which they cut off and threw upon his
+body. Last came Achilles with his head bowed for sorrow, so noble
+a comrade was he taking to the house of Hades.
+
+When they came to the place of which Achilles had told them they
+laid the body down and built up the wood. Achilles then bethought
+him of another matter. He went a space away from the pyre, and
+cut off the yellow lock which he had let grow for the river
+Spercheius. He looked all sorrowfully out upon the dark sea, and
+said, "Spercheius, in vain did my father Peleus vow to you that
+when I returned home to my loved native land I should cut off
+this lock and offer you a holy hecatomb; fifty she-goats was I to
+sacrifice to you there at your springs, where is your grove and
+your altar fragrant with burnt-offerings. Thus did my father vow,
+but you have not fulfilled his prayer; now, therefore, that I
+shall see my home no more, I give this lock as a keepsake to the
+hero Patroclus."
+
+As he spoke he placed the lock in the hands of his dear comrade,
+and all who stood by were filled with yearning and lamentation.
+The sun would have gone down upon their mourning had not Achilles
+presently said to Agamemnon, "Son of Atreus, for it is to you
+that the people will give ear, there is a time to mourn and a
+time to cease from mourning; bid the people now leave the pyre
+and set about getting their dinners: we, to whom the dead is
+dearest, will see to what is wanted here, and let the other
+princes also stay by me."
+
+When King Agamemnon heard this he dismissed the people to their
+ships, but those who were about the dead heaped up wood and built
+a pyre a hundred feet this way and that; then they laid the dead
+all sorrowfully upon the top of it. They flayed and dressed many
+fat sheep and oxen before the pyre, and Achilles took fat from
+all of them and wrapped the body therein from head to foot,
+heaping the flayed carcases all round it. Against the bier he
+leaned two-handled jars of honey and unguents; four proud horses
+did he then cast upon the pyre, groaning the while he did so. The
+dead hero had had house-dogs; two of them did Achilles slay and
+threw upon the pyre; he also put twelve brave sons of noble
+Trojans to the sword and laid them with the rest, for he was full
+of bitterness and fury. Then he committed all to the resistless
+and devouring might of the fire; he groaned aloud and called on
+his dead comrade by name. "Fare well," he cried, "Patroclus, even
+in the house of Hades; I am now doing all that I have promised
+you. Twelve brave sons of noble Trojans shall the flames consume
+along with yourself, but dogs, not fire, shall devour the flesh
+of Hector son of Priam."
+
+Thus did he vaunt, but the dogs came not about the body of
+Hector, for Jove's daughter Venus kept them off him night and
+day, and anointed him with ambrosial oil of roses that his flesh
+might not be torn when Achilles was dragging him about. Phoebus
+Apollo moreover sent a dark cloud from heaven to earth, which
+gave shade to the whole place where Hector lay, that the heat of
+the sun might not parch his body.
+
+Now the pyre about dead Patroclus would not kindle. Achilles
+therefore bethought him of another matter; he went apart and
+prayed to the two winds Boreas and Zephyrus vowing them goodly
+offerings. He made them many drink-offerings from the golden cup
+and besought them to come and help him that the wood might make
+haste to kindle and the dead bodies be consumed. Fleet Iris heard
+him praying and started off to fetch the winds. They were holding
+high feast in the house of boisterous Zephyrus when Iris came
+running up to the stone threshold of the house and stood there,
+but as soon as they set eyes on her they all came towards her and
+each of them called her to him, but Iris would not sit down. "I
+cannot stay," she said, "I must go back to the streams of Oceanus
+and the land of the Ethiopians who are offering hecatombs to the
+immortals, and I would have my share; but Achilles prays that
+Boreas and shrill Zephyrus will come to him, and he vows them
+goodly offerings; he would have you blow upon the pyre of
+Patroclus for whom all the Achaeans are lamenting."
+
+With this she left them, and the two winds rose with a cry that
+rent the air and swept the clouds before them. They blew on and
+on until they came to the sea, and the waves rose high beneath
+them, but when they reached Troy they fell upon the pyre till the
+mighty flames roared under the blast that they blew. All night
+long did they blow hard and beat upon the fire, and all night
+long did Achilles grasp his double cup, drawing wine from a
+mixing-bowl of gold, and calling upon the spirit of dead
+Patroclus as he poured it upon the ground until the earth was
+drenched. As a father mourns when he is burning the bones of his
+bridegroom son whose death has wrung the hearts of his parents,
+even so did Achilles mourn while burning the body of his comrade,
+pacing round the bier with piteous groaning and lamentation.
+
+At length as the Morning Star was beginning to herald the light
+which saffron-mantled Dawn was soon to suffuse over the sea, the
+flames fell and the fire began to die. The winds then went home
+beyond the Thracian sea, which roared and boiled as they swept
+over it. The son of Peleus now turned away from the pyre and lay
+down, overcome with toil, till he fell into a sweet slumber.
+Presently they who were about the son of Atreus drew near in a
+body, and roused him with the noise and tramp of their coming. He
+sat upright and said, "Son of Atreus, and all other princes of
+the Achaeans, first pour red wine everywhere upon the fire and
+quench it; let us then gather the bones of Patroclus son of
+Menoetius, singling them out with care; they are easily found,
+for they lie in the middle of the pyre, while all else, both men
+and horses, has been thrown in a heap and burned at the outer
+edge. We will lay the bones in a golden urn, in two layers of
+fat, against the time when I shall myself go down into the house
+of Hades. As for the barrow, labour not to raise a great one now,
+but such as is reasonable. Afterwards, let those Achaeans who may
+be left at the ships when I am gone, build it both broad and
+high."
+
+Thus he spoke and they obeyed the word of the son of Peleus.
+First they poured red wine upon the thick layer of ashes and
+quenched the fire. With many tears they singled out the whitened
+bones of their loved comrade and laid them within a golden urn in
+two layers of fat: they then covered the urn with a linen cloth
+and took it inside the tent. They marked off the circle where the
+barrow should be, made a foundation for it about the pyre, and
+forthwith heaped up the earth. When they had thus raised a mound
+they were going away, but Achilles stayed the people and made
+them sit in assembly. He brought prizes from the ships--cauldrons,
+tripods, horses and mules, noble oxen, women with fair girdles,
+and swart iron.
+
+The first prize he offered was for the chariot races--a woman
+skilled in all useful arts, and a three-legged cauldron that had
+ears for handles, and would hold twenty-two measures. This was
+for the man who came in first. For the second there was a
+six-year old mare, unbroken, and in foal to a he-ass; the third
+was to have a goodly cauldron that had never yet been on the
+fire; it was still bright as when it left the maker, and would
+hold four measures. The fourth prize was two talents of gold, and
+the fifth a two-handled urn as yet unsoiled by smoke. Then he
+stood up and spoke among the Argives saying--
+
+"Son of Atreus, and all other Achaeans, these are the prizes that
+lie waiting the winners of the chariot races. At any other time I
+should carry off the first prize and take it to my own tent; you
+know how far my steeds excel all others--for they are immortal;
+Neptune gave them to my father Peleus, who in his turn gave them
+to myself; but I shall hold aloof, I and my steeds that have lost
+their brave and kind driver, who many a time has washed them in
+clear water and anointed their manes with oil. See how they stand
+weeping here, with their manes trailing on the ground in the
+extremity of their sorrow. But do you others set yourselves in
+order throughout the host, whosoever has confidence in his horses
+and in the strength of his chariot."
+
+Thus spoke the son of Peleus and the drivers of chariots
+bestirred themselves. First among them all uprose Eumelus, king
+of men, son of Admetus, a man excellent in horsemanship. Next to
+him rose mighty Diomed son of Tydeus; he yoked the Trojan horses
+which he had taken from Aeneas, when Apollo bore him out of the
+fight. Next to him, yellow-haired Menelaus son of Atreus rose and
+yoked his fleet horses, Agamemnon's mare Aethe, and his own horse
+Podargus. The mare had been given to Agamemnon by Echepolus son
+of Anchises, that he might not have to follow him to Ilius, but
+might stay at home and take his ease; for Jove had endowed him
+with great wealth and he lived in spacious Sicyon. This mare, all
+eager for the race, did Menelaus put under the yoke.
+
+Fourth in order Antilochus, son to noble Nestor son of Neleus,
+made ready his horses. These were bred in Pylos, and his father
+came up to him to give him good advice of which, however, he
+stood in but little need. "Antilochus," said Nestor, "you are
+young, but Jove and Neptune have loved you well, and have made
+you an excellent horseman. I need not therefore say much by way
+of instruction. You are skilful at wheeling your horses round the
+post, but the horses themselves are very slow, and it is this
+that will, I fear, mar your chances. The other drivers know less
+than you do, but their horses are fleeter; therefore, my dear
+son, see if you cannot hit upon some artifice whereby you may
+insure that the prize shall not slip through your fingers. The
+woodman does more by skill than by brute force; by skill the
+pilot guides his storm-tossed barque over the sea, and so by
+skill one driver can beat another. If a man go wide in rounding
+this way and that, whereas a man who knows what he is doing may
+have worse horses, but he will keep them well in hand when he
+sees the doubling-post; he knows the precise moment at which to
+pull the rein, and keeps his eye well on the man in front of him.
+I will give you this certain token which cannot escape your
+notice. There is a stump of a dead tree--oak or pine as it may
+be--some six feet above the ground, and not yet rotted away by
+rain; it stands at the fork of the road; it has two white stones
+set one on each side, and there is a clear course all round it.
+It may have been a monument to some one long since dead, or it
+may have been used as a doubling-post in days gone by; now,
+however, it has been fixed on by Achilles as the mark round which
+the chariots shall turn; hug it as close as you can, but as you
+stand in your chariot lean over a little to the left; urge on
+your right-hand horse with voice and lash, and give him a loose
+rein, but let the left-hand horse keep so close in, that the nave
+of your wheel shall almost graze the post; but mind the stone, or
+you will wound your horses and break your chariot in pieces,
+which would be sport for others but confusion for yourself.
+Therefore, my dear son, mind well what you are about, for if you
+can be first to round the post there is no chance of any one
+giving you the go-by later, not even though you had Adrestus's
+horse Arion behind you--a horse which is of divine race--or those
+of Laomedon, which are the noblest in this country."
+
+When Nestor had made an end of counselling his son he sat down in
+his place, and fifth in order Meriones got ready his horses.
+They then all mounted their chariots and cast lots. Achilles
+shook the helmet, and the lot of Antilochus son of Nestor fell
+out first; next came that of King Eumelus, and after his, those
+of Menelaus son of Atreus and of Meriones. The last place fell to
+the lot of Diomed son of Tydeus, who was the best man of them
+all. They took their places in line; Achilles showed them the
+doubling-post round which they were to turn, some way off upon
+the plain; here he stationed his father's follower Phoenix as
+umpire, to note the running, and report truly.
+
+At the same instant they all of them lashed their horses, struck
+them with the reins, and shouted at them with all their might.
+They flew full speed over the plain away from the ships, the dust
+rose from under them as it were a cloud or whirlwind, and their
+manes were all flying in the wind. At one moment the chariots
+seemed to touch the ground, and then again they bounded into the
+air; the drivers stood erect, and their hearts beat fast and
+furious in their lust of victory. Each kept calling on his
+horses, and the horses scoured the plain amid the clouds of dust
+that they raised.
+
+It was when they were doing the last part of the course on their
+way back towards the sea that their pace was strained to the
+utmost and it was seen what each could do. The horses of the
+descendant of Pheres now took the lead, and close behind them
+came the Trojan stallions of Diomed. They seemed as if about to
+mount Eumelus's chariot, and he could feel their warm breath on
+his back and on his broad shoulders, for their heads were close
+to him as they flew over the course. Diomed would have now passed
+him, or there would have been a dead heat, but Phoebus Apollo to
+spite him made him drop his whip. Tears of anger fell from his
+eyes as he saw the mares going on faster than ever, while his own
+horses lost ground through his having no whip. Minerva saw the
+trick which Apollo had played the son of Tydeus, so she brought
+him his whip and put spirit into his horses; moreover she went
+after the son of Admetus in a rage and broke his yoke for him;
+the mares went one to one side of the course, and the other to
+the other, and the pole was broken against the ground. Eumelus
+was thrown from his chariot close to the wheel; his elbows,
+mouth, and nostrils were all torn, and his forehead was bruised
+above his eyebrows; his eyes filled with tears and he could find
+no utterance. But the son of Tydeus turned his horses aside and
+shot far ahead, for Minerva put fresh strength into them and
+covered Diomed himself with glory.
+
+Menelaus son of Atreus came next behind him, but Antilochus
+called to his father's horses. "On with you both," he cried, "and
+do your very utmost. I do not bid you try to beat the steeds of
+the son of Tydeus, for Minerva has put running into them, and has
+covered Diomed with glory; but you must overtake the horses of
+the son of Atreus and not be left behind, or Aethe who is so
+fleet will taunt you. Why, my good fellows, are you lagging? I
+tell you, and it shall surely be--Nestor will keep neither of
+you, but will put both of you to the sword, if we win any the
+worse a prize through your carelessness. Fly after them at your
+utmost speed; I will hit on a plan for passing them in a narrow
+part of the way, and it shall not fail me."
+
+They feared the rebuke of their master, and for a short space
+went quicker. Presently Antilochus saw a narrow place where the
+road had sunk. The ground was broken, for the winter's rain had
+gathered and had worn the road so that the whole place was
+deepened. Menelaus was making towards it so as to get there
+first, for fear of a foul, but Antilochus turned his horses out
+of the way, and followed him a little on one side. The son of
+Atreus was afraid and shouted out, "Antilochus, you are driving
+recklessly; rein in your horses; the road is too narrow here, it
+will be wider soon, and you can pass me then; if you foul my
+chariot you may bring both of us to a mischief."
+
+But Antilochus plied his whip, and drove faster, as though he had
+not heard him. They went side by side for about as far as a young
+man can hurl a disc from his shoulder when he is trying his
+strength, and then Menelaus's mares drew behind, for he left off
+driving for fear the horses should foul one another and upset the
+chariots; thus, while pressing on in quest of victory, they might
+both come headlong to the ground. Menelaus then upbraided
+Antilochus and said, "There is no greater trickster living than
+you are; go, and bad luck go with you; the Achaeans say not well
+that you have understanding, and come what may you shall not bear
+away the prize without sworn protest on my part."
+
+Then he called on his horses and said to them, "Keep your pace,
+and slacken not; the limbs of the other horses will weary sooner
+than yours, for they are neither of them young."
+
+The horses feared the rebuke of their master, and went faster, so
+that they were soon nearly up with the others.
+
+Meanwhile the Achaeans from their seats were watching how the
+horses went, as they scoured the plain amid clouds of their own
+dust. Idomeneus captain of the Cretans was first to make out the
+running, for he was not in the thick of the crowd, but stood on
+the most commanding part of the ground. The driver was a long way
+off, but Idomeneus could hear him shouting, and could see the
+foremost horse quite plainly--a chestnut with a round white star,
+like the moon, on its forehead. He stood up and said among the
+Argives, "My friends, princes and counsellors of the Argives, can
+you see the running as well as I can? There seems to be another
+pair in front now, and another driver; those that led off at the
+start must have been disabled out on the plain. I saw them at
+first making their way round the doubling-post, but now, though I
+search the plain of Troy, I cannot find them. Perhaps the reins
+fell from the driver's hand so that he lost command of his horses
+at the doubling-post, and could not turn it. I suppose he must
+have been thrown out there, and broken his chariot, while his
+mares have left the course and gone off wildly in a panic. Come
+up and see for yourselves, I cannot make out for certain, but the
+driver seems an Aetolian by descent, ruler over the Argives,
+brave Diomed the son of Tydeus."
+
+Ajax the son of Oileus took him up rudely and said, "Idomeneus,
+why should you be in such a hurry to tell us all about it, when
+the mares are still so far out upon the plain? You are none of
+the youngest, nor your eyes none of the sharpest, but you are
+always laying down the law. You have no right to do so, for there
+are better men here than you are. Eumelus's horses are in front
+now, as they always have been, and he is on the chariot holding
+the reins."
+
+The captain of the Cretans was angry, and answered, "Ajax you are
+an excellent railer, but you have no judgement, and are wanting
+in much else as well, for you have a vile temper. I will wager
+you a tripod or cauldron, and Agamemnon son of Atreus shall
+decide whose horses are first. You will then know to your cost."
+
+Ajax son of Oileus was for making him an angry answer, and there
+would have been yet further brawling between them, had not
+Achilles risen in his place and said, "Cease your railing, Ajax
+and Idomeneus; is it not you would be scandalised if you saw any
+one else do the like: sit down and keep your eyes on the horses;
+they are speeding towards the winning-post and will be here
+directly. You will then both of you know whose horses are first,
+and whose come after."
+
+As he was speaking, the son of Tydeus came driving in, plying his
+whip lustily from his shoulder, and his horses stepping high as
+they flew over the course. The sand and grit rained thick on the
+driver, and the chariot inlaid with gold and tin ran close behind
+his fleet horses. There was little trace of wheel-marks in the
+fine dust, and the horses came flying in at their utmost speed.
+Diomed stayed them in the middle of the crowd, and the sweat from
+their manes and chests fell in streams on to the ground.
+Forthwith he sprang from his goodly chariot, and leaned his whip
+against his horses' yoke; brave Sthenelus now lost no time, but
+at once brought on the prize, and gave the woman and the
+ear-handled cauldron to his comrades to take away. Then he
+unyoked the horses.
+
+Next after him came in Antilochus of the race of Neleus, who had
+passed Menelaus by a trick and not by the fleetness of his
+horses; but even so Menelaus came in as close behind him as the
+wheel is to the horse that draws both the chariot and its master.
+The end hairs of a horse's tail touch the tyre of the wheel, and
+there is never much space between wheel and horse when the
+chariot is going; Menelaus was no further than this behind
+Antilochus, though at first he had been a full disc's throw
+behind him. He had soon caught him up again, for Agamemnon's mare
+Aethe kept pulling stronger and stronger, so that if the course
+had been longer he would have passed him, and there would not
+even have been a dead heat. Idomeneus's brave squire Meriones was
+about a spear's cast behind Menelaus. His horses were slowest of
+all, and he was the worst driver. Last of them all came the son
+of Admetus, dragging his chariot and driving his horses on in
+front. When Achilles saw him he was sorry, and stood up among the
+Argives saying, "The best man is coming in last. Let us give him
+a prize for it is reasonable. He shall have the second, but the
+first must go to the son of Tydeus."
+
+Thus did he speak and the others all of them applauded his
+saying, and were for doing as he had said, but Nestor's son
+Antilochus stood up and claimed his rights from the son of
+Peleus. "Achilles," said he, "I shall take it much amiss if you
+do this thing; you would rob me of my prize, because you think
+Eumelus's chariot and horses were thrown out, and himself too,
+good man that he is. He should have prayed duly to the immortals;
+he would not have come in last if he had done so. If you are
+sorry for him and so choose, you have much gold in your tents,
+with bronze, sheep, cattle and horses. Take something from this
+store if you would have the Achaeans speak well of you, and give
+him a better prize even than that which you have now offered; but
+I will not give up the mare, and he that will fight me for her,
+let him come on."
+
+Achilles smiled as he heard this, and was pleased with
+Antilochus, who was one of his dearest comrades. So he said--
+
+"Antilochus, if you would have me find Eumelus another prize, I
+will give him the bronze breastplate with a rim of tin running
+all round it which I took from Asteropaeus. It will be worth much
+money to him."
+
+He bade his comrade Automedon bring the breastplate from his
+tent, and he did so. Achilles then gave it over to Eumelus, who
+received it gladly.
+
+But Menelaus got up in a rage, furiously angry with Antilochus.
+An attendant placed his staff in his hands and bade the Argives
+keep silence: the hero then addressed them. "Antilochus," said
+he, "what is this from you who have been so far blameless? You
+have made me cut a poor figure and baulked my horses by flinging
+your own in front of them, though yours are much worse than mine
+are; therefore, O princes and counsellors of the Argives, judge
+between us and show no favour, lest one of the Achaeans say,
+'Menelaus has got the mare through lying and corruption; his
+horses were far inferior to Antilochus's, but he has greater
+weight and influence.' Nay, I will determine the matter myself,
+and no man will blame me, for I shall do what is just. Come here,
+Antilochus, and stand, as our custom is, whip in hand before your
+chariot and horses; lay your hand on your steeds, and swear by
+earth-encircling Neptune that you did not purposely and
+guilefully get in the way of my horses."
+
+And Antilochus answered, "Forgive me; I am much younger, King
+Menelaus, than you are; you stand higher than I do and are the
+better man of the two; you know how easily young men are betrayed
+into indiscretion; their tempers are more hasty and they have
+less judgement; make due allowances therefore, and bear with me;
+I will of my own accord give up the mare that I have won, and if
+you claim any further chattel from my own possessions, I would
+rather yield it to you, at once, than fall from your good graces
+henceforth, and do wrong in the sight of heaven."
+
+The son of Nestor then took the mare and gave her over to
+Menelaus, whose anger was thus appeased; as when dew falls upon a
+field of ripening corn, and the lands are bristling with the
+harvest--even so, O Menelaus, was your heart made glad within
+you. He turned to Antilochus and said, "Now, Antilochus, angry
+though I have been, I can give way to you of my own free will;
+you have never been headstrong nor ill-disposed hitherto, but
+this time your youth has got the better of your judgement; be
+careful how you outwit your betters in future; no one else could
+have brought me round so easily, but your good father, your
+brother, and yourself have all of you had infinite trouble on my
+behalf; I therefore yield to your entreaty, and will give up the
+mare to you, mine though it indeed be; the people will thus see
+that I am neither harsh nor vindictive."
+
+With this he gave the mare over to Antilochus's comrade Noemon,
+and then took the cauldron. Meriones, who had come in fourth,
+carried off the two talents of gold, and the fifth prize, the
+two-handled urn, being unawarded, Achilles gave it to Nestor,
+going up to him among the assembled Argives and saying, "Take
+this, my good old friend, as an heirloom and memorial of the
+funeral of Patroclus--for you shall see him no more among the
+Argives. I give you this prize though you cannot win one; you can
+now neither wrestle nor fight, and cannot enter for the
+javelin-match nor foot-races, for the hand of age has been laid
+heavily upon you."
+
+So saying he gave the urn over to Nestor, who received it gladly
+and answered, "My son, all that you have said is true; there is
+no strength now in my legs and feet, nor can I hit out with my
+hands from either shoulder. Would that I were still young and
+strong as when the Epeans were burying King Amarynceus in
+Buprasium, and his sons offered prizes in his honour. There was
+then none that could vie with me neither of the Epeans nor the
+Pylians themselves nor the Aetolians. In boxing I overcame
+Clytomedes son of Enops, and in wrestling, Ancaeus of Pleuron who
+had come forward against me. Iphiclus was a good runner, but I
+beat him, and threw farther with my spear than either Phyleus or
+Polydorus. In chariot-racing alone did the two sons of Actor
+surpass me by crowding their horses in front of me, for they were
+angry at the way victory had gone, and at the greater part of the
+prizes remaining in the place in which they had been offered.
+They were twins, and the one kept on holding the reins, and
+holding the reins, while the other plied the whip. Such was I
+then, but now I must leave these matters to younger men; I must
+bow before the weight of years, but in those days I was eminent
+among heroes. And now, sir, go on with the funeral contests in
+honour of your comrade: gladly do I accept this urn, and my heart
+rejoices that you do not forget me but are ever mindful of my
+goodwill towards you, and of the respect due to me from the
+Achaeans. For all which may the grace of heaven be vouchsafed you
+in great abundance."
+
+Thereon the son of Peleus, when he had listened to all the thanks
+of Nestor, went about among the concourse of the Achaeans, and
+presently offered prizes for skill in the painful art of boxing.
+He brought out a strong mule, and made it fast in the middle of
+the crowd--a she-mule never yet broken, but six years old--when
+it is hardest of all to break them: this was for the victor, and
+for the vanquished he offered a double cup. Then he stood up and
+said among the Argives, "Son of Atreus, and all other Achaeans, I
+invite our two champion boxers to lay about them lustily and
+compete for these prizes. He to whom Apollo vouchsafes the
+greater endurance, and whom the Achaeans acknowledge as victor,
+shall take the mule back with him to his own tent, while he that
+is vanquished shall have the double cup."
+
+As he spoke there stood up a champion both brave and great
+stature, a skilful boxer, Epeus, son of Panopeus. He laid his
+hand on the mule and said, "Let the man who is to have the cup
+come hither, for none but myself will take the mule. I am the
+best boxer of all here present, and none can beat me. Is it not
+enough that I should fall short of you in actual fighting? Still,
+no man can be good at everything. I tell you plainly, and it
+shall come true; if any man will box with me I will bruise his
+body and break his bones; therefore let his friends stay here in
+a body and be at hand to take him away when I have done with
+him."
+
+They all held their peace, and no man rose save Euryalus son of
+Mecisteus, who was son of Talaus. Mecisteus went once to Thebes
+after the fall of Oedipus, to attend his funeral, and he beat all
+the people of Cadmus. The son of Tydeus was Euryalus's second,
+cheering him on and hoping heartily that he would win. First he
+put a waistband round him and then he gave him some well-cut
+thongs of ox-hide; the two men being now girt went into the
+middle of the ring, and immediately fell to; heavily indeed did
+they punish one another and lay about them with their brawny
+fists. One could hear the horrid crashing of their jaws, and they
+sweated from every pore of their skin. Presently Epeus came on
+and gave Euryalus a blow on the jaw as he was looking round;
+Euryalus could not keep his legs; they gave way under him in a
+moment and he sprang up with a bound, as a fish leaps into the
+air near some shore that is all bestrewn with sea-wrack, when
+Boreas furs the top of the waves, and then falls back into deep
+water. But noble Epeus caught hold of him and raised him up; his
+comrades also came round him and led him from the ring, unsteady
+in his gait, his head hanging on one side, and spitting great
+clots of gore. They set him down in a swoon and then went to
+fetch the double cup.
+
+The son of Peleus now brought out the prizes for the third
+contest and showed them to the Argives. These were for the
+painful art of wrestling. For the winner there was a great tripod
+ready for setting upon the fire, and the Achaeans valued it among
+themselves at twelve oxen. For the loser he brought out a woman
+skilled in all manner of arts, and they valued her at four oxen.
+He rose and said among the Argives, "Stand forward, you who will
+essay this contest."
+
+Forthwith uprose great Ajax the son of Telamon, and crafty
+Ulysses, full of wiles, rose also. The two girded themselves and
+went into the middle of the ring. They gripped each other in
+their strong hands like the rafters which some master-builder
+frames for the roof of a high house to keep the wind out. Their
+backbones cracked as they tugged at one another with their mighty
+arms--and sweat rained from them in torrents. Many a bloody weal
+sprang up on their sides and shoulders, but they kept on striving
+with might and main for victory and to win the tripod. Ulysses
+could not throw Ajax, nor Ajax him; Ulysses was too strong for
+him; but when the Achaeans began to tire of watching them, Ajax
+said to Ulysses, "Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, you shall either
+lift me, or I you, and let Jove settle it between us."
+
+He lifted him from the ground as he spoke, but Ulysses did not
+forget his cunning. He hit Ajax in the hollow at back of his
+knee, so that he could not keep his feet, but fell on his back
+with Ulysses lying upon his chest, and all who saw it marvelled.
+Then Ulysses in turn lifted Ajax and stirred him a little from
+the ground but could not lift him right off it, his knee sank
+under him, and the two fell side by side on the ground and were
+all begrimed with dust. They now sprang towards one another and
+were for wrestling yet a third time, but Achilles rose and stayed
+them. "Put not each other further," said he, "to such cruel
+suffering; the victory is with both alike, take each of you an
+equal prize, and let the other Achaeans now compete."
+
+Thus did he speak and they did even as he had said, and put on
+their shirts again after wiping the dust from off their bodies.
+
+The son of Peleus then offered prizes for speed in running--a
+mixing-bowl beautifully wrought, of pure silver. It would hold
+six measures, and far exceeded all others in the whole world for
+beauty; it was the work of cunning artificers in Sidon, and had
+been brought into port by Phoenicians from beyond the sea, who
+had made a present of it to Thoas. Eueneus son of Jason had given
+it to Patroclus in ransom of Priam's son Lycaon, and Achilles now
+offered it as a prize in honour of his comrade to him who should
+be the swiftest runner. For the second prize he offered a large
+ox, well fattened, while for the last there was to be half a
+talent of gold. He then rose and said among the Argives, "Stand
+forward, you who will essay this contest."
+
+Forthwith uprose fleet Ajax son of Oileus, with cunning Ulysses,
+and Nestor's son Antilochus, the fastest runner among all the
+youth of his time. They stood side by side and Achilles showed
+them the goal. The course was set out for them from the
+starting-post, and the son of Oileus took the lead at once, with
+Ulysses as close behind him as the shuttle is to a woman's bosom
+when she throws the woof across the warp and holds it close up to
+her; even so close behind him was Ulysses--treading in his
+footprints before the dust could settle there, and Ajax could
+feel his breath on the back of his head as he ran swiftly on. The
+Achaeans all shouted applause as they saw him straining his
+utmost, and cheered him as he shot past them; but when they were
+now nearing the end of the course Ulysses prayed inwardly to
+Minerva. "Hear me," he cried, "and help my feet, O goddess." Thus
+did he pray, and Pallas Minerva heard his prayer; she made his
+hands and his feet feel light, and when the runners were at the
+point of pouncing upon the prize, Ajax, through Minerva's spite
+slipped upon some offal that was lying there from the cattle
+which Achilles had slaughtered in honour of Patroclus, and his
+mouth and nostrils were all filled with cow dung. Ulysses
+therefore carried off the mixing-bowl, for he got before Ajax and
+came in first. But Ajax took the ox and stood with his hand on
+one of its horns, spitting the dung out of his mouth. Then he
+said to the Argives, "Alas, the goddess has spoiled my running;
+she watches over Ulysses and stands by him as though she were his
+own mother." Thus did he speak and they all of them laughed
+heartily.
+
+Antilochus carried off the last prize and smiled as he said to
+the bystanders, "You all see, my friends, that now too the gods
+have shown their respect for seniority. Ajax is somewhat older
+than I am, and as for Ulysses, he belongs to an earlier
+generation, but he is hale in spite of his years, and no man of
+the Achaeans can run against him save only Achilles."
+
+He said this to pay a compliment to the son of Peleus, and
+Achilles answered, "Antilochus, you shall not have praised me to
+no purpose; I shall give you an additional half talent of gold."
+He then gave the half talent to Antilochus, who received it
+gladly.
+
+Then the son of Peleus brought out the spear, helmet and shield
+that had been borne by Sarpedon, and were taken from him by
+Patroclus. He stood up and said among the Argives, "We bid two
+champions put on their armour, take their keen blades, and make
+trial of one another in the presence of the multitude; whichever
+of them can first wound the flesh of the other, cut through his
+armour, and draw blood, to him will I give this goodly Thracian
+sword inlaid with silver, which I took from Asteropaeus, but the
+armour let both hold in partnership, and I will give each of them
+a hearty meal in my own tent."
+
+Forthwith uprose great Ajax the son of Telamon, as also mighty
+Diomed son of Tydeus. When they had put on their armour each on
+his own side of the ring, they both went into the middle eager to
+engage, and with fire flashing from their eyes. The Achaeans
+marvelled as they beheld them, and when the two were now close up
+with one another, thrice did they spring forward and thrice try
+to strike each other in close combat. Ajax pierced Diomed's round
+shield, but did not draw blood, for the cuirass beneath the
+shield protected him; thereon the son of Tydeus from over his
+huge shield kept aiming continually at Ajax's neck with the point
+of his spear, and the Achaeans alarmed for his safety bade them
+leave off fighting and divide the prize between them. Achilles
+then gave the great sword to the son of Tydeus, with its
+scabbard, and the leathern belt with which to hang it.
+
+Achilles next offered the massive iron quoit which mighty Eetion
+had erewhile been used to hurl, until Achilles had slain him and
+carried it off in his ships along with other spoils. He stood up
+and said among the Argives, "Stand forward, you who would essay
+this contest. He who wins it will have a store of iron that will
+last him five years as they go rolling round, and if his fair
+fields lie far from a town his shepherd or ploughman will not
+have to make a journey to buy iron, for he will have a stock of
+it on his own premises."
+
+Then uprose the two mighty men Polypoetes and Leonteus, with Ajax
+son of Telamon and noble Epeus. They stood up one after the other
+and Epeus took the quoit, whirled it, and flung it from him,
+which set all the Achaeans laughing. After him threw Leonteus of
+the race of Mars. Ajax son of Telamon threw third, and sent the
+quoit beyond any mark that had been made yet, but when mighty
+Polypoetes took the quoit he hurled it as though it had been a
+stockman's stick which he sends flying about among his cattle
+when he is driving them, so far did his throw out-distance those
+of the others. All who saw it roared applause, and his comrades
+carried the prize for him and set it on board his ship.
+
+Achilles next offered a prize of iron for archery--ten
+double-edged axes and ten with single edges: he set up a ship's
+mast, some way off upon the sands, and with a fine string tied a
+pigeon to it by the foot; this was what they were to aim at.
+"Whoever," he said, "can hit the pigeon shall have all the axes
+and take them away with him; he who hits the string without
+hitting the bird will have taken a worse aim and shall have the
+single-edged axes."
+
+Then uprose King Teucer, and Meriones the stalwart squire of
+Idomeneus rose also, They cast lots in a bronze helmet and the
+lot of Teucer fell first. He let fly with his arrow forthwith,
+but he did not promise hecatombs of firstling lambs to King
+Apollo, and missed his bird, for Apollo foiled his aim; but he
+hit the string with which the bird was tied, near its foot; the
+arrow cut the string clean through so that it hung down towards
+the ground, while the bird flew up into the sky, and the Achaeans
+shouted applause. Meriones, who had his arrow ready while Teucer
+was aiming, snatched the bow out of his hand, and at once
+promised that he would sacrifice a hecatomb of firstling lambs to
+Apollo lord of the bow; then espying the pigeon high up under the
+clouds, he hit her in the middle of the wing as she was circling
+upwards; the arrow went clean through the wing and fixed itself
+in the ground at Meriones' feet, but the bird perched on the
+ship's mast hanging her head and with all her feathers drooping;
+the life went out of her, and she fell heavily from the mast.
+Meriones, therefore, took all ten double-edged axes, while Teucer
+bore off the single-edged ones to his ships.
+
+Then the son of Peleus brought in a spear and a cauldron that had
+never been on the fire; it was worth an ox, and was chased with a
+pattern of flowers; and those that throw the javelin stood up--to
+wit the son of Atreus, king of men Agamemnon, and Meriones,
+stalwart squire of Idomeneus. But Achilles spoke saying, "Son of
+Atreus, we know how far you excel all others both in power and in
+throwing the javelin; take the cauldron back with you to your
+ships, but if it so please you, let us give the spear to
+Meriones; this at least is what I should myself wish."
+
+King Agamemnon assented. So he gave the bronze spear to Meriones,
+and handed the goodly cauldron to Talthybius his esquire.
+
+
+
+BOOK XXIV
+
+  Priam ransoms the body of Hector--Hector's funeral.
+
+THE assembly now broke up and the people went their ways each to
+his own ship. There they made ready their supper, and then
+bethought them of the blessed boon of sleep; but Achilles still
+wept for thinking of his dear comrade, and sleep, before whom all
+things bow, could take no hold upon him. This way and that did he
+turn as he yearned after the might and manfulness of Patroclus;
+he thought of all they had done together, and all they had gone
+through both on the field of battle and on the waves of the weary
+sea. As he dwelt on these things he wept bitterly and lay now on
+his side, now on his back, and now face downwards, till at last
+he rose and went out as one distraught to wander upon the
+seashore. Then, when he saw dawn breaking over beach and sea, he
+yoked his horses to his chariot, and bound the body of Hector
+behind it that he might drag it about. Thrice did he drag it
+round the tomb of the son of Menoetius, and then went back into
+his tent, leaving the body on the ground full length and with its
+face downwards. But Apollo would not suffer it to be disfigured,
+for he pitied the man, dead though he now was; therefore he
+shielded him with his golden aegis continually, that he might
+take no hurt while Achilles was dragging him.
+
+Thus shamefully did Achilles in his fury dishonour Hector; but
+the blessed gods looked down in pity from heaven, and urged
+Mercury, slayer of Argus, to steal the body. All were of this
+mind save only Juno, Neptune, and Jove's grey-eyed daughter, who
+persisted in the hate which they had ever borne towards Ilius
+with Priam and his people; for they forgave not the wrong done
+them by Alexandrus in disdaining the goddesses who came to him
+when he was in his sheepyards, and preferring her who had offered
+him a wanton to his ruin.
+
+When, therefore, the morning of the twelfth day had now come,
+Phoebus Apollo spoke among the immortals saying, "You gods ought
+to be ashamed of yourselves; you are cruel and hard-hearted. Did
+not Hector burn you thigh-bones of heifers and of unblemished
+goats? And now dare you not rescue even his dead body, for his
+wife to look upon, with his mother and child, his father Priam,
+and his people, who would forthwith commit him to the flames, and
+give him his due funeral rites? So, then, you would all be on the
+side of mad Achilles, who knows neither right nor ruth? He is
+like some savage lion that in the pride of his great strength and
+daring springs upon men's flocks and gorges on them. Even so has
+Achilles flung aside all pity, and all that conscience which at
+once so greatly banes yet greatly boons him that will heed it.
+man may lose one far dearer than Achilles has lost--a son, it may
+be, or a brother born from his own mother's womb; yet when he has
+mourned him and wept over him he will let him bide, for it takes
+much sorrow to kill a man; whereas Achilles, now that he has
+slain noble Hector, drags him behind his chariot round the tomb
+of his comrade. It were better of him, and for him, that he
+should not do so, for brave though he be we gods may take it ill
+that he should vent his fury upon dead clay."
+
+Juno spoke up in a rage. "This were well," she cried, "O lord of
+the silver bow, if you would give like honour to Hector and to
+Achilles; but Hector was mortal and suckled at a woman's breast,
+whereas Achilles is the offspring of a goddess whom I myself
+reared and brought up. I married her to Peleus, who is above
+measure dear to the immortals; you gods came all of you to her
+wedding; you feasted along with them yourself and brought your
+lyre--false, and fond of low company, that you have ever been."
+
+Then said Jove, "Juno, be not so bitter. Their honour shall not
+be equal, but of all that dwell in Ilius, Hector was dearest to
+the gods, as also to myself, for his offerings never failed me.
+Never was my altar stinted of its dues, nor of the
+drink-offerings and savour of sacrifice which we claim of right.
+I shall therefore permit the body of mighty Hector to be stolen;
+and yet this may hardly be without Achilles coming to know it,
+for his mother keeps night and day beside him. Let some one of
+you, therefore, send Thetis to me, and I will impart my counsel
+to her, namely that Achilles is to accept a ransom from Priam,
+and give up the body."
+
+On this Iris fleet as the wind went forth to carry his message.
+Down she plunged into the dark sea midway between Samos and rocky
+Imbrus; the waters hissed as they closed over her, and she sank
+into the bottom as the lead at the end of an ox-horn, that is
+sped to carry death to fishes. She found Thetis sitting in a
+great cave with the other sea-goddesses gathered round her; there
+she sat in the midst of them weeping for her noble son who was to
+fall far from his own land, on the rich plains of Troy. Iris went
+up to her and said, "Rise Thetis; Jove, whose counsels fail not,
+bids you come to him." And Thetis answered, "Why does the mighty
+god so bid me? I am in great grief, and shrink from going in and
+out among the immortals. Still, I will go, and the word that he
+may speak shall not be spoken in vain."
+
+The goddess took her dark veil, than which there can be no robe
+more sombre, and went forth with fleet Iris leading the way
+before her. The waves of the sea opened them a path, and when
+they reached the shore they flew up into the heavens, where they
+found the all-seeing son of Saturn with the blessed gods that
+live for ever assembled near him. Minerva gave up her seat to
+her, and she sat down by the side of father Jove. Juno then
+placed a fair golden cup in her hand, and spoke to her in words
+of comfort, whereon Thetis drank and gave her back the cup; and
+the sire of gods and men was the first to speak.
+
+"So, goddess," said he, "for all your sorrow, and the grief that
+I well know reigns ever in your heart, you have come hither to
+Olympus, and I will tell you why I have sent for you. This nine
+days past the immortals have been quarrelling about Achilles
+waster of cities and the body of Hector. The gods would have
+Mercury slayer of Argus steal the body, but in furtherance of our
+peace and amity henceforward, I will concede such honour to your
+son as I will now tell you. Go, then, to the host and lay these
+commands upon him; say that the gods are angry with him, and that
+I am myself more angry than them all, in that he keeps Hector at
+the ships and will not give him up. He may thus fear me and let
+the body go. At the same time I will send Iris to great Priam to
+bid him go to the ships of the Achaeans, and ransom his son,
+taking with him such gifts for Achilles as may give him
+satisfaction."
+
+Silver-footed Thetis did as the god had told her, and forthwith
+down she darted from the topmost summits of Olympus. She went to
+her son's tents where she found him grieving bitterly, while his
+trusty comrades round him were busy preparing their morning meal,
+for which they had killed a great woolly sheep. His mother sat
+down beside him and caressed him with her hand saying, "My son,
+how long will you keep on thus grieving and making moan? You are
+gnawing at your own heart, and think neither of food nor of
+woman's embraces; and yet these too were well, for you have no
+long time to live, and death with the strong hand of fate are
+already close beside you. Now, therefore, heed what I say, for I
+come as a messenger from Jove; he says that the gods are angry
+with you, and himself more angry than them all, in that you keep
+Hector at the ships and will not give him up. Therefore let him
+go, and accept a ransom for his body."
+
+And Achilles answered, "So be it. If Olympian Jove of his own
+motion thus commands me, let him that brings the ransom bear the
+body away."
+
+Thus did mother and son talk together at the ships in long
+discourse with one another. Meanwhile the son of Saturn sent Iris
+to the strong city of Ilius. "Go," said he, "fleet Iris, from the
+mansions of Olympus, and tell King Priam in Ilius, that he is to
+go to the ships of the Achaeans and free the body of his dear
+son. He is to take such gifts with him as shall give satisfaction
+to Achilles, and he is to go alone, with no other Trojan, save
+only some honoured servant who may drive his mules and waggon,
+and bring back the body of him whom noble Achilles has slain. Let
+him have no thought nor fear of death in his heart, for we will
+send the slayer of Argus to escort him, and bring him within the
+tent of Achilles. Achilles will not kill him nor let another do
+so, for he will take heed to his ways and sin not, and he will
+entreat a suppliant with all honourable courtesy."
+
+On this Iris, fleet as the wind, sped forth to deliver her
+message. She went to Priam's house, and found weeping and
+lamentation therein. His sons were seated round their father in
+the outer courtyard, and their raiment was wet with tears: the
+old man sat in the midst of them with his mantle wrapped close
+about his body, and his head and neck all covered with the filth
+which he had clutched as he lay grovelling in the mire. His
+daughters and his sons' wives went wailing about the house, as
+they thought of the many and brave men who lay dead, slain by the
+Argives. The messenger of Jove stood by Priam and spoke softly to
+him, but fear fell upon him as she did so. "Take heart," she
+said, "Priam offspring of Dardanus, take heart and fear not. I
+bring no evil tidings, but am minded well towards you. I come as
+a messenger from Jove, who though he be not near, takes thought
+for you and pities you. The lord of Olympus bids you go and
+ransom noble Hector, and take with you such gifts as shall give
+satisfaction to Achilles. You are to go alone, with no Trojan,
+save only some honoured servant who may drive your mules and
+waggon, and bring back to the city the body of him whom noble
+Achilles has slain. You are to have no thought, nor fear of
+death, for Jove will send the slayer of Argus to escort you. When
+he has brought you within Achilles' tent, Achilles will not kill
+you nor let another do so, for he will take heed to his ways and
+sin not, and he will entreat a suppliant with all honourable
+courtesy."
+
+Iris went her way when she had thus spoken, and Priam told his
+sons to get a mule-waggon ready, and to make the body of the
+waggon fast upon the top of its bed. Then he went down into his
+fragrant store-room, high-vaulted, and made of cedar-wood, where
+his many treasures were kept, and he called Hecuba his wife.
+"Wife," said he, "a messenger has come to me from Olympus, and
+has told me to go to the ships of the Achaeans to ransom my dear
+son, taking with me such gifts as shall give satisfaction to
+Achilles. What think you of this matter? for my own part I am
+greatly moved to pass through the camps of the Achaeans and go to
+their ships."
+
+His wife cried aloud as she heard him, and said, "Alas, what has
+become of that judgement for which you have been ever famous both
+among strangers and your own people? How can you venture alone to
+the ships of the Achaeans, and look into the face of him who has
+slain so many of your brave sons? You must have iron courage, for
+if the cruel savage sees you and lays hold on you, he will know
+neither respect nor pity. Let us then weep Hector from afar here
+in our own house, for when I gave him birth the threads of
+overruling fate were spun for him that dogs should eat his flesh
+far from his parents, in the house of that terrible man on whose
+liver I would fain fasten and devour it. Thus would I avenge my
+son, who showed no cowardice when Achilles slew him, and thought
+neither of flight nor of avoiding battle as he stood in defence
+of Trojan men and Trojan women."
+
+Then Priam said, "I would go, do not therefore stay me nor be as
+a bird of ill omen in my house, for you will not move me. Had it
+been some mortal man who had sent me some prophet or priest who
+divines from sacrifice--I should have deemed him false and have
+given him no heed; but now I have heard the goddess and seen her
+face to face, therefore I will go and her saying shall not be in
+vain. If it be my fate to die at the ships of the Achaeans even
+so would I have it; let Achilles slay me, if I may but first have
+taken my son in my arms and mourned him to my heart's
+comforting."
+
+So saying he lifted the lids of his chests, and took out twelve
+goodly vestments. He took also twelve cloaks of single fold,
+twelve rugs, twelve fair mantles, and an equal number of shirts.
+He weighed out ten talents of gold, and brought moreover two
+burnished tripods, four cauldrons, and a very beautiful cup which
+the Thracians had given him when he had gone to them on an
+embassy; it was very precious, but he grudged not even this, so
+eager was he to ransom the body of his son. Then he chased all
+the Trojans from the court and rebuked them with words of anger.
+"Out," he cried, "shame and disgrace to me that you are. Have you
+no grief in your own homes that you are come to plague me here?
+Is it a small thing, think you, that the son of Saturn has sent
+this sorrow upon me, to lose the bravest of my sons? Nay, you
+shall prove it in person, for now he is gone the Achaeans will
+have easier work in killing you. As for me, let me go down within
+the house of Hades, ere mine eyes behold the sacking and wasting
+of the city."
+
+He drove the men away with his staff, and they went forth as the
+old man sped them. Then he called to his sons, upbraiding
+Helenus, Paris, noble Agathon, Pammon, Antiphonus, Polites of the
+loud battle-cry, Deiphobus, Hippothous, and Dius. These nine did
+the old man call near him. "Come to me at once," he cried,
+"worthless sons who do me shame; would that you had all been
+killed at the ships rather than Hector. Miserable man that I am,
+I have had the bravest sons in all Troy--noble Nestor, Troilus
+the dauntless charioteer, and Hector who was a god among men, so
+that one would have thought he was son to an immortal--yet there
+is not one of them left. Mars has slain them and those of whom I
+am ashamed are alone left me. Liars, and light of foot, heroes of
+the dance, robbers of lambs and kids from your own people, why do
+you not get a waggon ready for me at once, and put all these
+things upon it that I may set out on my way?"
+
+Thus did he speak, and they feared the rebuke of their father.
+They brought out a strong mule-waggon, newly made, and set the
+body of the waggon fast on its bed. They took the mule-yoke from
+the peg on which it hung, a yoke of boxwood with a knob on the
+top of it and rings for the reins to go through. Then they
+brought a yoke-band eleven cubits long, to bind the yoke to the
+pole; they bound it on at the far end of the pole, and put the
+ring over the upright pin making it fast with three turns of the
+band on either side the knob, and bending the thong of the yoke
+beneath it. This done, they brought from the store-chamber the
+rich ransom that was to purchase the body of Hector, and they set
+it all orderly on the waggon; then they yoked the strong
+harness-mules which the Mysians had on a time given as a goodly
+present to Priam; but for Priam himself they yoked horses which
+the old king had bred, and kept for own use.
+
+Thus heedfully did Priam and his servant see to the yolking of
+their cars at the palace. Then Hecuba came to them all sorrowful,
+with a golden goblet of wine in her right hand, that they might
+make a drink-offering before they set out. She stood in front of
+the horses and said, "Take this, make a drink-offering to father
+Jove, and since you are minded to go to the ships in spite of me,
+pray that you may come safely back from the hands of your
+enemies. Pray to the son of Saturn lord of the whirlwind, who
+sits on Ida and looks down over all Troy, pray him to send his
+swift messenger on your right hand, the bird of omen which is
+strongest and most dear to him of all birds, that you may see it
+with your own eyes and trust it as you go forth to the ships of
+the Danaans. If all-seeing Jove will not send you this messenger,
+however set upon it you may be, I would not have you go to the
+ships of the Argives."
+
+And Priam answered, "Wife, I will do as you desire me; it is well
+to lift hands in prayer to Jove, if so be he may have mercy upon
+me."
+
+With this the old man bade the serving-woman pour pure water over
+his hands, and the woman came, bearing the water in a bowl. He
+washed his hands and took the cup from his wife; then he made the
+drink-offering and prayed, standing in the middle of the
+courtyard and turning his eyes to heaven. "Father Jove," he said,
+"that rulest from Ida, most glorious and most great, grant that I
+may be received kindly and compassionately in the tents of
+Achilles; and send your swift messenger upon my right hand, the
+bird of omen which is strongest and most dear to you of all
+birds, that I may see it with my own eyes and trust it as I go
+forth to the ships of the Danaans."
+
+So did he pray, and Jove the lord of counsel heard his prayer.
+Forthwith he sent an eagle, the most unerring portent of all
+birds that fly, the dusky hunter that men also call the Black
+Eagle. His wings were spread abroad on either side as wide as the
+well-made and well-bolted door of a rich man's chamber. He came
+to them flying over the city upon their right hands, and when
+they saw him they were glad and their hearts took comfort within
+them. The old man made haste to mount his chariot, and drove out
+through the inner gateway and under the echoing gatehouse of the
+outer court. Before him went the mules drawing the four-wheeled
+waggon, and driven by wise Idaeus; behind these were the horses,
+which the old man lashed with his whip and drove swiftly through
+the city, while his friends followed after, wailing and lamenting
+for him as though he were on his road to death. As soon as they
+had come down from the city and had reached the plain, his sons
+and sons-in-law who had followed him went back to Ilius.
+
+But Priam and Idaeus as they showed out upon the plain did not
+escape the ken of all-seeing Jove, who looked down upon the old
+man and pitied him; then he spoke to his son Mercury and said,
+"Mercury, for it is you who are the most disposed to escort men
+on their way, and to hear those whom you will hear, go, and so
+conduct Priam to the ships of the Achaeans that no other of the
+Danaans shall see him nor take note of him until he reach the son
+of Peleus."
+
+Thus he spoke and Mercury, guide and guardian, slayer of Argus,
+did as he was told. Forthwith he bound on his glittering golden
+sandals with which he could fly like the wind over land and sea;
+he took the wand with which he seals men's eyes in sleep, or
+wakes them just as he pleases, and flew holding it in his hand
+till he came to Troy and to the Hellespont. To look at, he was
+like a young man of noble birth in the hey-day of his youth and
+beauty with the down just coming upon his face.
+
+Now when Priam and Idaeus had driven past the great tomb of
+Ilius, they stayed their mules and horses that they might drink
+in the river, for the shades of night were falling, when,
+therefore, Idaeus saw Mercury standing near them he said to
+Priam, "Take heed, descendant of Dardanus; here is matter which
+demands consideration. I see a man who I think will presently
+fall upon us; let us fly with our horses, or at least embrace his
+knees and implore him to take compassion upon us?"
+
+When he heard this the old man's heart failed him, and he was in
+great fear; he stayed where he was as one dazed, and the hair
+stood on end over his whole body; but the bringer of good luck
+came up to him and took him by the hand, saying, "Whither,
+father, are you thus driving your mules and horses in the dead of
+night when other men are asleep? Are you not afraid of the fierce
+Achaeans who are hard by you, so cruel and relentless? Should
+some one of them see you bearing so much treasure through the
+darkness of the flying night, what would not your state then be?
+You are no longer young, and he who is with you is too old to
+protect you from those who would attack you. For myself, I will
+do you no harm, and I will defend you from any one else, for you
+remind me of my own father."
+
+And Priam answered, "It is indeed as you say, my dear son;
+nevertheless some god has held his hand over me, in that he has
+sent such a wayfarer as yourself to meet me so opportunely; you
+are so comely in mien and figure, and your judgement is so
+excellent that you must come of blessed parents."
+
+Then said the slayer of Argus, guide and guardian, "Sir, all that
+you have said is right; but tell me and tell me true, are you
+taking this rich treasure to send it to a foreign people where it
+may be safe, or are you all leaving strong Ilius in dismay now
+that your son has fallen who was the bravest man among you and
+was never lacking in battle with the Achaeans?"
+
+And Priam said, "Who are you, my friend, and who are your
+parents, that you speak so truly about the fate of my unhappy
+son?"
+
+The slayer of Argus, guide and guardian, answered him, "Sir, you
+would prove me, that you question me about noble Hector. Many a
+time have I set eyes upon him in battle when he was driving the
+Argives to their ships and putting them to the sword. We stood
+still and marvelled, for Achilles in his anger with the son of
+Atreus suffered us not to fight. I am his squire, and came with
+him in the same ship. I am a Myrmidon, and my father's name is
+Polyctor: he is a rich man and about as old as you are; he has
+six sons besides myself, and I am the seventh. We cast lots, and
+it fell upon me to sail hither with Achilles. I am now come from
+the ships on to the plain, for with daybreak the Achaeans will
+set battle in array about the city. They chafe at doing nothing,
+and are so eager that their princes cannot hold them back."
+
+Then answered Priam, "If you are indeed the squire of Achilles
+son of Peleus, tell me now the whole truth. Is my son still at
+the ships, or has Achilles hewn him limb from limb, and given him
+to his hounds?"
+
+"Sir," replied the slayer of Argus, guide and guardian, "neither
+hounds nor vultures have yet devoured him; he is still just lying
+at the tents by the ship of Achilles, and though it is now twelve
+days that he has lain there, his flesh is not wasted nor have the
+worms eaten him although they feed on warriors. At daybreak
+Achilles drags him cruelly round the sepulchre of his dear
+comrade, but it does him no hurt. You should come yourself and
+see how he lies fresh as dew, with the blood all washed away, and
+his wounds every one of them closed though many pierced him with
+their spears. Such care have the blessed gods taken of your brave
+son, for he was dear to them beyond all measure."
+
+The old man was comforted as he heard him and said, "My son, see
+what a good thing it is to have made due offerings to the
+immortals; for as sure as that he was born my son never forgot
+the gods that hold Olympus, and now they requite it to him even
+in death. Accept therefore at my hands this goodly chalice; guard
+me and with heaven's help guide me till I come to the tent of the
+son of Peleus."
+
+Then answered the slayer of Argus, guide and guardian, "Sir, you
+are tempting me and playing upon my youth, but you shall not move
+me, for you are offering me presents without the knowledge of
+Achilles whom I fear and hold it great guilt to defraud, lest
+some evil presently befall me; but as your guide I would go with
+you even to Argos itself, and would guard you so carefully
+whether by sea or land, that no one should attack you through
+making light of him who was with you."
+
+The bringer of good luck then sprang on to the chariot, and
+seizing the whip and reins he breathed fresh spirit into the
+mules and horses. When they reached the trench and the wall that
+was before the ships, those who were on guard had just been
+getting their suppers, and the slayer of Argus threw them all
+into a deep sleep. Then he drew back the bolts to open the gates,
+and took Priam inside with the treasure he had upon his waggon.
+Ere long they came to the lofty dwelling of the son of Peleus for
+which the Myrmidons had cut pine and which they had built for
+their king; when they had built it they thatched it with coarse
+tussock-grass which they had mown out on the plain, and all round
+it they made a large courtyard, which was fenced with stakes set
+close together. The gate was barred with a single bolt of pine
+which it took three men to force into its place, and three to
+draw back so as to open the gate, but Achilles could draw it by
+himself. Mercury opened the gate for the old man, and brought in
+the treasure that he was taking with him for the son of Peleus.
+Then he sprang from the chariot on to the ground and said, "Sir,
+it is I, immortal Mercury, that am come with you, for my father
+sent me to escort you. I will now leave you, and will not enter
+into the presence of Achilles, for it might anger him that a god
+should befriend mortal men thus openly. Go you within, and
+embrace the knees of the son of Peleus: beseech him by his
+father, his lovely mother, and his son; thus you may move him."
+
+With these words Mercury went back to high Olympus. Priam sprang
+from his chariot to the ground, leaving Idaeus where he was, in
+charge of the mules and horses. The old man went straight into
+the house where Achilles, loved of the gods, was sitting. There
+he found him with his men seated at a distance from him: only
+two, the hero Automedon, and Alcimus of the race of Mars, were
+busy in attendance about his person, for he had but just done
+eating and drinking, and the table was still there. King Priam
+entered without their seeing him, and going right up to Achilles
+he clasped his knees and kissed the dread murderous hands that
+had slain so many of his sons.
+
+As when some cruel spite has befallen a man that he should have
+killed some one in his own country, and must fly to a great man's
+protection in a land of strangers, and all marvel who see him,
+even so did Achilles marvel as he beheld Priam. The others looked
+one to another and marvelled also, but Priam besought Achilles
+saying, "Think of your father, O Achilles like unto the gods, who
+is such even as I am, on the sad threshold of old age. It may be
+that those who dwell near him harass him, and there is none to
+keep war and ruin from him. Yet when he hears of you being still
+alive, he is glad, and his days are full of hope that he shall
+see his dear son come home to him from Troy; but I, wretched man
+that I am, had the bravest in all Troy for my sons, and there is
+not one of them left. I had fifty sons when the Achaeans came
+here; nineteen of them were from a single womb, and the others
+were borne to me by the women of my household. The greater part
+of them has fierce Mars laid low, and Hector, him who was alone
+left, him who was the guardian of the city and ourselves, him
+have you lately slain; therefore I am now come to the ships of
+the Achaeans to ransom his body from you with a great ransom.
+Fear, O Achilles, the wrath of heaven; think on your own father
+and have compassion upon me, who am the more pitiable, for I have
+steeled myself as no man yet has ever steeled himself before me,
+and have raised to my lips the hand of him who slew my son."
+
+Thus spoke Priam, and the heart of Achilles yearned as he
+bethought him of his father. He took the old man's hand and moved
+him gently away. The two wept bitterly--Priam, as he lay at
+Achilles' feet, weeping for Hector, and Achilles now for his
+father and now for Patroclus, till the house was filled with
+their lamentation. But when Achilles was now sated with grief and
+had unburthened the bitterness of his sorrow, he left his seat
+and raised the old man by the hand, in pity for his white hair
+and beard; then he said, "Unhappy man, you have indeed been
+greatly daring; how could you venture to come alone to the ships
+of the Achaeans, and enter the presence of him who has slain so
+many of your brave sons? You must have iron courage: sit now upon
+this seat, and for all our grief we will hide our sorrows in our
+hearts, for weeping will not avail us. The immortals know no
+care, yet the lot they spin for man is full of sorrow; on the
+floor of Jove's palace there stand two urns, the one filled with
+evil gifts, and the other with good ones. He for whom Jove the
+lord of thunder mixes the gifts he sends, will meet now with good
+and now with evil fortune; but he to whom Jove sends none but
+evil gifts will be pointed at by the finger of scorn, the hand of
+famine will pursue him to the ends of the world, and he will go
+up and down the face of the earth, respected neither by gods nor
+men. Even so did it befall Peleus; the gods endowed him with all
+good things from his birth upwards, for he reigned over the
+Myrmidons excelling all men in prosperity and wealth, and mortal
+though he was they gave him a goddess for his bride. But even on
+him too did heaven send misfortune, for there is no race of royal
+children born to him in his house, save one son who is doomed to
+die all untimely; nor may I take care of him now that he is
+growing old, for I must stay here at Troy to be the bane of you
+and your children. And you too, O Priam, I have heard that you
+were aforetime happy. They say that in wealth and plenitude of
+offspring you surpassed all that is in Lesbos, the realm of Makar
+to the northward, Phrygia that is more inland, and those that
+dwell upon the great Hellespont; but from the day when the
+dwellers in heaven sent this evil upon you, war and slaughter
+have been about your city continually. Bear up against it, and
+let there be some intervals in your sorrow. Mourn as you may for
+your brave son, you will take nothing by it. You cannot raise him
+from the dead, ere you do so yet another sorrow shall befall
+you."
+
+And Priam answered, "O king, bid me not be seated, while Hector
+is still lying uncared for in your tents, but accept the great
+ransom which I have brought you, and give him to me at once that
+I may look upon him. May you prosper with the ransom and reach
+your own land in safety, seeing that you have suffered me to live
+and to look upon the light of the sun."
+
+Achilles looked at him sternly and said, "Vex me, sir, no longer;
+I am of myself minded to give up the body of Hector. My mother,
+daughter of the old man of the sea, came to me from Jove to bid
+me deliver it to you. Moreover I know well, O Priam, and you
+cannot hide it, that some god has brought you to the ships of the
+Achaeans, for else, no man however strong and in his prime would
+dare to come to our host; he could neither pass our guard unseen,
+nor draw the bolt of my gates thus easily; therefore, provoke me
+no further, lest I sin against the word of Jove, and suffer you
+not, suppliant though you are, within my tents."
+
+The old man feared him and obeyed. Then the son of Peleus sprang
+like a lion through the door of his house, not alone, but with
+him went his two squires Automedon and Alcimus who were closer to
+him than any others of his comrades now that Patroclus was no
+more. These unyoked the horses and mules, and bade Priam's herald
+and attendant be seated within the house. They lifted the ransom
+for Hector's body from the waggon, but they left two mantles and
+a goodly shirt, that Achilles might wrap the body in them when he
+gave it to be taken home. Then he called to his servants and
+ordered them to wash the body and anoint it, but he first took it
+to a place where Priam should not see it, lest if he did so, he
+should break out in the bitterness of his grief, and enrage
+Achilles, who might then kill him and sin against the word of
+Jove. When the servants had washed the body and anointed it, and
+had wrapped it in a fair shirt and mantle, Achilles himself
+lifted it on to a bier, and he and his men then laid it on the
+waggon. He cried aloud as he did so and called on the name of his
+dear comrade, "Be not angry with me, Patroclus," he said, "if you
+hear even in the house of Hades that I have given Hector to his
+father for a ransom. It has been no unworthy one, and I will
+share it equitably with you."
+
+Achilles then went back into the tent and took his place on the
+richly inlaid seat from which he had risen, by the wall that was
+at right angles to the one against which Priam was sitting.
+"Sir," he said, "your son is now laid upon his bier and is
+ransomed according to desire; you shall look upon him when you
+him away at daybreak; for the present let us prepare our supper.
+Even lovely Niobe had to think about eating, though her twelve
+children--six daughters and six lusty sons--had been all slain in
+her house. Apollo killed the sons with arrows from his silver
+bow, to punish Niobe, and Diana slew the daughters, because Niobe
+had vaunted herself against Leto; she said Leto had borne two
+children only, whereas she had herself borne many--whereon the
+two killed the many. Nine days did they lie weltering, and there
+was none to bury them, for the son of Saturn turned the people
+into stone; but on the tenth day the gods in heaven themselves
+buried them, and Niobe then took food, being worn out with
+weeping. They say that somewhere among the rocks on the mountain
+pastures of Sipylus, where the nymphs live that haunt the river
+Achelous, there, they say, she lives in stone and still nurses
+the sorrows sent upon her by the hand of heaven. Therefore, noble
+sir, let us two now take food; you can weep for your dear son
+hereafter as you are bearing him back to Ilius--and many a tear
+will he cost you."
+
+With this Achilles sprang from his seat and killed a sheep of
+silvery whiteness, which his followers skinned and made ready all
+in due order. They cut the meat carefully up into smaller pieces,
+spitted them, and drew them off again when they were well
+roasted. Automedon brought bread in fair baskets and served it
+round the table, while Achilles dealt out the meat, and they laid
+their hands on the good things that were before them. As soon as
+they had had enough to eat and drink, Priam, descendant of
+Dardanus, marvelled at the strength and beauty of Achilles for he
+was as a god to see, and Achilles marvelled at Priam as he
+listened to him and looked upon his noble presence. When they had
+gazed their fill Priam spoke first. "And now, O king," he said,
+"take me to my couch that we may lie down and enjoy the blessed
+boon of sleep. Never once have my eyes been closed from the day
+your hands took the life of my son; I have grovelled without
+ceasing in the mire of my stable-yard, making moan and brooding
+over my countless sorrows. Now, moreover, I have eaten bread and
+drunk wine; hitherto I have tasted nothing."
+
+As he spoke Achilles told his men and the women-servants to set
+beds in the room that was in the gatehouse, and make them with
+good red rugs, and spread coverlets on the top of them with
+woollen cloaks for Priam and Idaeus to wear. So the maids went
+out carrying a torch and got the two beds ready in all haste.
+Then Achilles said laughingly to Priam, "Dear sir, you shall lie
+outside, lest some counsellor of those who in due course keep
+coming to advise with me should see you here in the darkness of
+the flying night, and tell it to Agamemnon. This might cause
+delay in the delivery of the body. And now tell me and tell me
+true, for how many days would you celebrate the funeral rites of
+noble Hector? Tell me, that I may hold aloof from war and
+restrain the host."
+
+And Priam answered, "Since, then, you suffer me to bury my noble
+son with all due rites, do thus, Achilles, and I shall be
+grateful. You know how we are pent up within our city; it is far
+for us to fetch wood from the mountain, and the people live in
+fear. Nine days, therefore, will we mourn Hector in my house; on
+the tenth day we will bury him and there shall be a public feast
+in his honour; on the eleventh we will build a mound over his
+ashes, and on the twelfth, if there be need, we will fight."
+
+And Achilles answered, "All, King Priam, shall be as you have
+said. I will stay our fighting for as long a time as you have
+named."
+
+As he spoke he laid his hand on the old man's right wrist, in
+token that he should have no fear; thus then did Priam and his
+attendant sleep there in the forecourt, full of thought, while
+Achilles lay in an inner room of the house, with fair Briseis by
+his side.
+
+And now both gods and mortals were fast asleep through the
+livelong night, but upon Mercury alone, the bringer of good luck,
+sleep could take no hold for he was thinking all the time how to
+get King Priam away from the ships without his being seen by the
+strong force of sentinels. He hovered therefore over Priam's head
+and said, "Sir, now that Achilles has spared your life, you seem
+to have no fear about sleeping in the thick of your foes. You
+have paid a great ransom, and have received the body of your son;
+were you still alive and a prisoner the sons whom you have left
+at home would have to give three times as much to free you; and
+so it would be if Agamemnon and the other Achaeans were to know
+of your being here."
+
+When he heard this the old man was afraid and roused his servant.
+Mercury then yoked their horses and mules, and drove them quickly
+through the host so that no man perceived them. When they came to
+the ford of eddying Xanthus, begotten of immortal Jove, Mercury
+went back to high Olympus, and dawn in robe of saffron began to
+break over all the land. Priam and Idaeus then drove on toward
+the city lamenting and making moan, and the mules drew the body
+of Hector. No one neither man nor woman saw them, till Cassandra,
+fair as golden Venus standing on Pergamus, caught sight of her
+dear father in his chariot, and his servant that was the city's
+herald with him. Then she saw him that was lying upon the bier,
+drawn by the mules, and with a loud cry she went about the city
+saying, "Come hither Trojans, men and women, and look on Hector;
+if ever you rejoiced to see him coming from battle when he was
+alive, look now on him that was the glory of our city and all our
+people."
+
+At this there was not man nor woman left in the city, so great a
+sorrow had possessed them. Hard by the gates they met Priam as he
+was bringing in the body. Hector's wife and his mother were the
+first to mourn him: they flew towards the waggon and laid their
+hands upon his head, while the crowd stood weeping round them.
+They would have stayed before the gates, weeping and lamenting
+the livelong day to the going down of the sun, had not Priam
+spoken to them from the chariot and said, "Make way for the mules
+to pass you. Afterwards when I have taken the body home you shall
+have your fill of weeping."
+
+On this the people stood asunder, and made a way for the waggon.
+When they had borne the body within the house they laid it upon a
+bed and seated minstrels round it to lead the dirge, whereon the
+women joined in the sad music of their lament. Foremost among
+them all Andromache led their wailing as she clasped the head of
+mighty Hector in her embrace. "Husband," she cried, "you have
+died young, and leave me in your house a widow; he of whom we are
+the ill-starred parents is still a mere child, and I fear he may
+not reach manhood. Ere he can do so our city will be razed and
+overthrown, for you who watched over it are no more--you who were
+its saviour, the guardian of our wives and children. Our women
+will be carried away captives to the ships, and I among them;
+while you, my child, who will be with me will be put to some
+unseemly tasks, working for a cruel master. Or, may be, some
+Achaean will hurl you (O miserable death) from our walls, to
+avenge some brother, son, or father whom Hector slew; many of
+them have indeed bitten the dust at his hands, for your father's
+hand in battle was no light one. Therefore do the people mourn
+him. You have left, O Hector, sorrow unutterable to your parents,
+and my own grief is greatest of all, for you did not stretch
+forth your arms and embrace me as you lay dying, nor say to me
+any words that might have lived with me in my tears night and day
+for evermore."
+
+Bitterly did she weep the while, and the women joined in her
+lament. Hecuba in her turn took up the strains of woe. "Hector,"
+she cried, "dearest to me of all my children. So long as you were
+alive the gods loved you well, and even in death they have not
+been utterly unmindful of you; for when Achilles took any other
+of my sons, he would sell him beyond the seas, to Samos Imbrus or
+rugged Lemnos; and when he had slain you too with his sword, many
+a time did he drag you round the sepulchre of his comrade--though
+this could not give him life--yet here you lie all fresh as dew,
+and comely as one whom Apollo has slain with his painless
+shafts."
+
+Thus did she too speak through her tears with bitter moan, and
+then Helen for a third time took up the strain of lamentation.
+"Hector," said she, "dearest of all my brothers-in-law--for I am
+wife to Alexandrus who brought me hither to Troy--would that I
+had died ere he did so--twenty years are come and gone since I
+left my home and came from over the sea, but I have never heard
+one word of insult or unkindness from you. When another would
+chide with me, as it might be one of your brothers or sisters or
+of your brothers' wives, or my mother-in-law--for Priam was as
+kind to me as though he were my own father--you would rebuke and
+check them with words of gentleness and goodwill. Therefore my
+tears flow both for you and for my unhappy self, for there is no
+one else in Troy who is kind to me, but all shrink and shudder as
+they go by me."
+
+She wept as she spoke and the vast crowd that was gathered round
+her joined in her lament. Then King Priam spoke to them saying,
+"Bring wood, O Trojans, to the city, and fear no cunning ambush
+of the Argives, for Achilles when he dismissed me from the ships
+gave me his word that they should not attack us until the morning
+of the twelfth day."
+
+Forthwith they yoked their oxen and mules and gathered together
+before the city. Nine days long did they bring in great heaps of
+wood, and on the morning of the tenth day with many tears they
+took brave Hector forth, laid his dead body upon the summit of
+the pile, and set the fire thereto. Then when the child of
+morning, rosy-fingered dawn, appeared on the eleventh day, the
+people again assembled, round the pyre of mighty Hector. When
+they were got together, they first quenched the fire with wine
+wherever it was burning, and then his brothers and comrades with
+many a bitter tear gathered his white bones, wrapped them in soft
+robes of purple, and laid them in a golden urn, which they placed
+in a grave and covered over with large stones set close together.
+Then they built a barrow hurriedly over it keeping guard on every
+side lest the Achaeans should attack them before they had
+finished. When they had heaped up the barrow they went back again
+into the city, and being well assembled they held high feast in
+the house of Priam their king.
+
+Thus, then, did they celebrate the funeral of Hector tamer of
+horses.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Iliad of Homer,
+translated by Samuel Butler
+