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diff --git a/22382-0.txt b/22382-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9098b45 --- /dev/null +++ b/22382-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,19232 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Iliad, by Homer + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: The Iliad + +Author: Homer + +Translator: Theodore Alois Buckley + +Release Date: August 23, 2007 [eBook #22382] +[Most recently updated: August 18, 2023] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: Juliet Sutherland, Rénald Lévesque and the Online +Distributed Proofreaders Europe + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ILIAD *** + + + + +THE ILIAD OF HOMER, +Literally Translated, + +WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES. + +BY + +THEODORE ALOIS BUCKLEY, B.A. +OF CHRIST CHURCH. + +LONDON: +BELL AND DALDY, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. + +1873. + +LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET +AND CHARING CROSS. + + + + +PREFACE. + +The present translation of the Iliad will, it is hoped, be found to +convey, more accurately than any which has preceded it, the words and +thoughts of the original. It is based upon a careful examination of +whatever has been contributed by scholars of every age towards the +elucidation of the text, including the ancient scholiasts and +lexicographers, the exegetical labours of Barnes and Clarke, and the +elaborate criticisms of Heyne, Wolf, and their successors. + +The necessary brevity of the notes has prevented the full discussion of +many passages where there is great room for difference of opinion, and +hence several interpretations are adopted without question, which, had +the editor’s object been to write a critical commentary, would have +undergone a more lengthened examination. The same reason has compelled +him, in many instances, to substitute references for extracts, +indicating rather than quoting those storehouses of information, from +whose abundant contents he would gladly have drawn more copious +supplies. Among the numerous works to which he has had recourse, the +following deserve particular mention-Alberti’s invaluable edition of +Hesychius, the Commentary of Eustathius, and Buttmann’s Lexilogus. + +In the succeeding volume, the Odyssey, Hymns, and minor poems will be +produced in a similar manner. + +THEODORE ALOIS BUCKLEY, +_Ch. Ch., Oxford._ + + + + +THE ILIAD OF HOMER. + + + + +BOOK THE FIRST. + + +ARGUMENT. + +Apollo, enraged at the insult offered to his priest, Chryses, sends a +pestilence upon the Greeks. A council is called, and Agamemnon, being +compelled to restore the daughter of Chryses, whom he had taken from +him, in revenge deprives Achilles of Hippodameia. Achilles resigns her, +but refuses to aid the Greeks in battle, and at his request, his +mother, Thetis, petitions Jove to honour her offended son at the +expense of the Greeks. Jupiter, despite the opposition of Juno, grants +her request. + + +Sing, Ο goddess, the destructive wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus, +which brought countless woes upon the Greeks, 1 and hurled many valiant +souls of heroes down to Hades, and made themselves 2 a prey to dogs and +to all birds [but the will of Jove was being accomplished], from the +time when Atrides, king of men, and noble Achilles, first contending, +were disunited. + +Footnote 1: (return) Although, as Ernesti observes, the verb προίαψεν +does not necessarily contain the idea of a _premature_ death, yet the +ancient interpreters are almost unanimous in understanding it so. Thus +Eustathius, p. 13, ed. Bas.: μετὰ βλάζης είς Αιδην πρὁ το δέοντος +ἔπεμφεν, ὡς τῆς προθέσεως (_i.e._ προ) καιρικόν τι δηλούσης, ἢ ἁπλὡς +ἔπεμψεν, ώς πλεοναζούσης τἤς προθέσεως. Hesych. t. ii. p. 1029, s. ν.: +προίαψεν—δηλοῖ δε διὰ τἤς λέξεως τὴν μετ’ ỏδὑνης αὐτῶν ἀπώλειαν. Cf. +Virg. Æn. xii. 952: “Vitaque cum gemitu fugit _indignata_ sub umbras,” +where Servius well observes, “quia discedebat a juvene: nam volunt +philosophi, invitam animam discedere a corpore, cum quo adhuc habitare +legibus naturæ poterat.” I have, however, followed Ernesti, with the +later commentators. + +Footnote 2: (return) _I.e._ their bodies. Cf. Æ. i. 44, vi. 362, where +there is a similar sense of the pronoun. + +Which, then, of the gods, engaged these two in strife, so that they +should fight? 3 The son of Latona and Jove; for he, enraged with the +king, stirred up an evil pestilence through the army [and the people +kept perishing] 4; because the son of Atreus had dishonoured the priest +Chryses: for he came to the swift ships of the Greeks to ransom his +daughter, and bringing invaluable ransoms, having in his hands the +fillets of far-darting Apollo on his golden sceptre. And he supplicated +all the Greeks, but chiefly the two sons of Atreus, the leaders of the +people: + +“Ye sons of Atreus, and ye other well-greaved Greeks, to you indeed may +the gods, possessing the heavenly dwellings, grant to destroy the city +of Priam, and to return home safely: but for me, liberate my beloved +daughter, and accept the ransoms, reverencing the son of Jove, +far-darting Apollo.” + +Footnote 3: (return) Rut see Anthon. + +Footnote 4: (return) Observe the full force of the imperfect tense. + +Upon this, all the other Greeks shouted assent, that the priest should +be reverenced, and the splendid ransoms accepted; yet was it not +pleasing in his mind to Agamemnon, son of Atreus; but he dismissed him +evilly, and added a harsh mandate: + +“Let me not find thee, old man, at the hollow barks, either now +loitering, or hereafter returning, lest the staff and fillet of the god +avail thee not. 5 For her I will not set free; sooner shall old age +come upon her, at home in Argos, far away from her native land, +employed in offices of the loom, and preparing 6 my bed. But away! +irritate me not, that thou mayest return the safer.” + +Footnote 5: (return) Of χραισμεῖν, Buttmann, Lexil. p. 546, observes +that “it is never found in a positive sense, but remained in ancient +usage in negative sentences only; as, ‘_it is of no use to thee_,’ or, +‘_it helps thee not_,’ and similar expressions.” + +Footnote 6: (return) The old mistake of construing ἀντιόωσαν +“sharing,” which still clings to the translations, is exploded by +Buttm. Lex. p. 144. Eust. and Heysch. both give εὺτρεπίζονσαν as one of +the interpretations; and that such is the right one is evident from the +collateral phrase πορσύνειν λέχος in Od. iii. 403. Λμφιζέζηκας is the +perfect tense, but with the force of the present. + +Thus he spoke; but the old man was afraid, and obeyed the command. And +he went in silence along the shore of the loud-resounding sea; but +then, going apart, the aged man prayed much to king Apollo, whom +fair-haired Latona bore: + +“Hear me, god of the silver bow, who art wont to protect Chrysa and +divine Cilla, and who mightily rulest over Tenedos: O Sminthius, 7 if +ever I have roofed 8 thy graceful temple, or if, moreover, at any time +I have burned to thee the fat thighs of bulls or of goats, accomplish +this entreaty for me. Let the Greeks pay for my tears, by thy arrows.” + +Footnote 7: (return) An epithet derived from σμίνθος, the Phrygian +name for a _mouse_: either because Apollo had put an end to a plague of +mice among that people, or because a mouse was thought emblematical of +augury.—Grote, Hist. of Greece, vol. i. p. 68, observes that this +“worship of Sminthian Apollo, in various parts of the Troad and its +neighbouring territory, dates before the earliest period of Æolic +colonization.” On the Homeric description of Apollo, see Müller, +Dorians, vol. i. p. 315. + +Footnote 8: (return) Not “crowned,” as Heyne says; for this was a +later custom.—See Anthon and Arnold. + +Thus he spoke praying; but to him Phoebus Apollo hearkened. And he +descended from the summits of Olympus, enraged in heart, having upon +his shoulders his bow and quiver covered on all sides. But as he moved, +the shafts rattled forthwith 9 upon the shoulders of him enraged; but +he went along like unto the night. Then he sat down apart from the +ships, and sent among them an arrow, and terrible arose the clang of +the silver bow. First he attacked the mules, and the swift 10 dogs; but +afterwards despatching a pointed arrow against [the Greeks] themselves, +he smote them, and frequent funeral-piles of the dead were continually +burning. Nine days through the army went the arrows of the god; but on +the tenth, Achilles called the people to an assembly; for to his mind +the white-armed goddess Juno had suggested it; for she was anxious +concerning the Greeks, because she saw them perishing. But when they +accordingly were assembled, and were met together, swift-footed +Achilles, rising up amidst them, [thus] spoke: + +“O son of Atreus! now do I think that we would consent to return, +having been defeated in our purpose, if we should but escape death, +since at the same time 11 war and pestilence subdue the Greeks. But +come now, let us consult some prophet, or priest, or even one who is +informed by dreams (for dream also is from Jove), 12 who would tell us +on what account Phoebus Apollo is so much enraged with us: whether he +blames us on account of a vow [unperformed], or a hecatomb [unoffered]; +and whether haply he may be willing, having partaken of the savour of +lambs and unblemished goats, to avert from us the pestilence.” + +Footnote 9: (return) The force of ἄρα is noticed by Nägelsbach. + +Footnote 10: (return) Or “white.” Hesych. ταχεῖς, λευκούς. + +Footnote 11: (return) Ammonius, p. 14, foolishly supposes that ἁμοῦ +here denotes place, ἰν Τροίᾳ. Valcknaer justly supports the ordinary +interpretation. + +Footnote 12: (return) Cf. Plin. Ep. i. 18, and Duport, Gnom. Hom. p. +3, sq. + +He indeed, thus having spoken, sat down; but to them there arose by far +the best of augurs, Calchas, son of Thestor, who knew the present, the +future, and the past, 13 and who guided the ships of the Greeks to +Ilium, by his prophetic art, which Phoebus Apollo gave him, who, being +well disposed, 14 addressed them, and said: + +“O Achilles, dear to Jove, thou biddest me to declare the wrath of +Apollo, the far-darting king. Therefore will I declare it; but do thou +on thy part covenant, and swear to me, that thou wilt promptly assist +me in word and hand. For methinks I shall irritate a man who widely +rules over all the Argives, and whom the Greeks obey. For a king is +more powerful 15 when he is enraged with an inferior man; for though he +may repress his wrath 16 for that same day, yet he afterwards retains +his anger in his heart, until he accomplishes it; but do thou consider +whether thou wilt protect me.” + +But him swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed: “Taking full +confidence, declare the divine oracle, whatsoever thou knowest. For, by +Apollo, dear to Jove, to whom thou, praying, O Calchas, dost disclose +predictions to the Greeks, no one of all the Greeks, while I am alive +and have sight upon the earth, shall lay heavy hands upon thee at the +hollow ships; not even if thou wast to name Agamemnon, who now boasts +himself to be much the most powerful of the Greeks.” 17 + +Footnote 13: (return) A common formula in the ancient poets to express +the eternity of things. Empedocles apud Pseud. Arist. de Mundo: άνθ’ +ὅσα τ’ ὴν, ὅσα τ’ εστὶ, καὶ ὄσσα τε ἔσται ὀπίσσω. Virg. Georg. iv. 392: +“Novit namque omnia vates, Quæ sint, quæ fuerint, quæ mox ventura +trahantur”. + +Footnote 14: (return) See Abresch. on Æschyl. p. 287. Ernesti. + +Footnote 15: (return) ἀγανακτοῦσί γἀρ διὰ τὴν ὑπεροχήν. A—rist. Rhet. +ii. 2, quoting this verse. + +Footnote 16: (return) Lit. “digest his bile”. Homer’s distinction +between χόλος and κότος is observed by Nemesius, de Nat. Hom. § 21. + +Footnote 17: (return) I have used “Greeks” wherever the whole army is +evidently meant. In other instances I have retained the specific names +of the different confederate nations. + +And upon this, the blameless prophet then took confidence, and spoke: +“Neither is he enraged on account of a vow [unperformed], nor of a +hecatomb [unoffered], but on account of his priest, whom Agamemnon +dishonoured; neither did he liberate his daughter, nor did he receive +her ransom. Wherefore has the Far-darter given woes, and still will he +give them; nor will he withhold his heavy hands from the pestilence, +before that [Agamemnon] restore to her dear father the bright-eyed 18 +maid, unpurchased, unransomed, and conduct a sacred hecatomb to Chrysa; +then, perhaps, having appeased, we might persuade him.” + +Footnote 18: (return) See Arnold. + +He indeed, having thus spoken, sat down. But to them arose the hero, +the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, 19 agitated; and his +all-gloomy heart was greatly filled with wrath, and his eyes were like +unto gleaming fire. Sternly regarding Calchas most of all, he addressed +[him]: + +“Prophet of ills, not at any time hast thou spoken anything good for +me; but evils are always gratifying to thy soul to prophesy, 20 and +never yet hast thou offered one good word, nor accomplished [one]. And +now, prophesying amongst the Greeks, thou haranguest that forsooth the +Far-darter works griefs to them upon this account, because I was +unwilling to accept the splendid ransom of the virgin daughter of +Chryses, since I much prefer to have her at home; and my reason is, I +prefer her even to Clytemnestra, my lawful wife; for she is not +inferior to her, either in person, or in figure, or in mind, or by any +means in accomplishments. But even thus I am willing to restore her, if +it be better; for I wish the people to be safe rather than to perish. +But do thou immediately prepare a prize for me, that I may not alone, +of the Argives, be without a prize; since it is not fitting. For ye all +see this, that my prize is going elsewhere.” + +Footnote 19: (return) “In the assembly of the people, as in the courts +of justice, the nobles alone speak, advise, and decide, whilst the +people merely listen to their ordinances and decisions, in order to +regulate their own conduct accordingly; being suffered, indeed, to +follow the natural impulse of evincing, to a certain extent, their +approbation or disapprobation of their superiors, but without any legal +means of giving validity to their opinion.” Müller, Gk. Lit. p. 30. + +Footnote 20: (return) But we must not join μαντεύεσθαι with +κικά.—Nägelsbach. + +But him swift-footed godlike Achilles then answered: “Most noble son of +Atreus, most avaricious of all! for how shall the magnanimous Greeks +assign thee a prize? Nor do we know of many common stores laid up +anywhere. But what we plundered 21 from the cities, these have been +divided, and it is not fitting that the troops should collect these +brought together again. But do thou now let her go to the God, and we +Greeks will compensate thee thrice, or four-fold, if haply Jove grant +to us to sack the well-fortified city of Troy.” + +Footnote 21: (return) More closely: “took from the cities, when we +destroyed them.” + +But him answering, king Agamemnon addressed: “Do not thus, excellent +though thou be, godlike Achilles, practise deceit in thy mind; since +thou shalt not overreach, nor yet persuade me. Dost thou wish that thou +thyself mayest have a prize, whilst I sit down idly, 22 wanting one? +And dost thou bid me to restore her? If, however, the magnanimous +Greeks will give me a prize, having suited it to my mind, so that it +shall be an equivalent, [it is well]. But if they will not give it, +then I myself coming, will seize your prize, or that of Ajax, 23 or +Ulysses, 24 and will bear it away; and he to whom I may come shall have +cause for anger. On these things, however, we will consult afterwards. +But now come, let us launch a sable ship into the boundless sea, and +let us collect into it rowers in sufficient number, and place on board +a hecatomb; and let us make the fair-cheeked daughter of Chryses to +embark, and let some one noble man be commander, Ajax or Idomeneus, or +divine Ulysses; or thyself, son of Peleus, most terrible of all men, +that thou mayest appease for us the Far-darter, having offered +sacrifices.” + +Footnote 22: (return) Buttmann would take αὔτως as = frustra. + +Footnote 23: (return) Tecmessa. + +Footnote 24: (return) Laodice, daughter of Cyenus. + +But him swift-footed Achilles sternly regarding, addressed: “Ha! 25 +thou clad in impudence, thou bent on gain, how can any of the Greeks +willingly obey thy orders, either to undertake a mission, or to fight +bravely with men? For I did not come hither to fight on account of the +warlike Trojans, seeing that they are blameless as respects me. Since +they have never driven away my oxen, nor my horses either nor ever +injured my crops in fertile and populous Phthia: for very many shadowy +mountains, and the resounding sea, are between us. But thee, O most +shameless man, we follow, that thou mayest rejoice; seeking +satisfaction from the Trojans for Menelaus, and for thy pleasure, +shameless one! for which things thou hast neither respect nor care. And +now thou hast threatened that thou wilt in person wrest from me my +prize, for which I have toiled much, and which the sons of the Greeks +have given me. Whenever the Greeks sacked a well-inhabited city of the +Trojans, I never have had a prize equal to thine; although my hands +perform the greater portion of the tumultuous conflict, yet when the +division [of spoil] may come, a much greater prize is given to thee, +while I come to my ships, when I am fatigued with fighting, having one +small and agreeable. But now I will go to Phthia, for it is much better +to return home with our curved ships; for I do not think that thou +shalt amass wealth and treasures while I am dishonoured here.” + +Footnote 25: (return) See my note on Od. i. p. 2, n. 11, ed. Bohn. + +But him, the king of men, Agamemnon, then answered: “Fly, by all means, +if thy mind urges thee; nor will I entreat thee to remain on my +account: there are others with me who will honour me, but chiefly the +all-wise Jove. For to me thou art the most odious of the Jove-nourished +princes, for ever is contention agreeable to thee, and wars and +battles. If thou be very bold, why doubtless a deity has given this to +thee. Going home with thy ships and thy companions, rule over the +Myrmidons; for I do not regard thee, nor care for thee in thy wrath; +but thus will I threaten thee: Since Phoebus Apollo is depriving me of +the daughter of Chryses, 26 her indeed I will send, with my own ship, +and with my own friends; but I myself, going to thy tent, will lead +away the fair-cheeked daughter of Brises, 27 thy prize; that thou +mayest well know how much more powerful I am than thou, and that +another may dread to pronounce himself equal to me, and to liken +himself openly [to me].” + +Footnote 26: (return) Astynome. Cf. Eustath. fol. 58. + +Footnote 27: (return) Hippodameia. + +Thus he spoke, and grief arose to the son of Peleus, and the heart +within, in his hairy breast, was pondering upon two courses; whether, +drawing his sharp sword from his thigh, he should dismiss them, 28 and +should kill the son of Atreus, or should put a stop to his wrath, and +restrain his passion. While he was thus pondering in his heart and +soul, and was drawing his mighty sword from the scabbard, came Minerva +from heaven; for her the white-armed goddess Juno had sent forward, +equally loving and regarding both from her soul. And she stood behind, +and caught the son of Peleus by his yellow hair, appearing to him +alone; but none of the others beheld her. But Achilles was amazed, and +turned himself round, and immediately recognized Pallas Minerva; and +awe-inspiring her eyes appeared to him. And addressing her, he spoke +winged words: + +“Why, O offspring of ægis-bearing Jove, hast thou come hither? Is it +that thou mayest witness the insolence of Agamemnon, the son of Atreus? +But I tell thee, what I think will be accomplished, that he will +probably soon lose his life by his haughtiness.” + +Footnote 28: (return) The princes assembled. + +But him in turn the azure-eyed goddess Minerva addressed: “I came from +heaven to assuage thy wrath, if thou wilt obey me; for the white-armed +goddess Juno sent me forward, equally loving and regarding both from +her soul. But come, cease from strife, nor draw the sword with thine +hand. But reproach by words, as the occasion may suggest; for thus I +declare, and it shall be accomplished, that thrice as many splendid +gifts shall be presented to thee, because of this insolent act; only +restrain thyself, and obey us.” + +But her answering, 29 swift-footed Achilles addressed: “It behoves me +to observe the command of you both, O goddess, although much enraged in +my soul; for so it is better. Whosoever obeys the gods, to him they +hearken propitiously.” + +Footnote 29: (return) Columna on Ennius, p. 17, ed. Hessel., compares +“Ollei respondet Rex Albaï longaï,” and “Ollei respondet suavis sonus +Egeriäi,” observing that this formula was probably as common in the +heroic annals of Ennius as τὸν δ’ ὰπαμειξόμενος is in Homer. + +He spoke, and held still his heavy hand upon the silvery hilt, and +thrust back the great sword into the scabbard, nor did he disobey the +mandate of Minerva; but she had gone to Olympus, to the mansions of +ægis-bearing Jove, amongst the other deities. But the son of Peleus +again addressed Atrides with injurious 30 words, nor as yet ceased from +anger: + +“Wine-bibber, having the countenance of a dog, but the heart of a stag, +never hast thou at any time dared in soul to arm thyself with the +people for war, nor to go to ambuscade with the chiefs of the Greeks; +for this always appears to thee to be death. Certainly it is much +better through the wide army of the Achæans, to take away the rewards +of whoever may speak against thee. A people-devouring king [art thou], +since thou rulest over fellows of no account; for assuredly, son of +Atreus, thou [otherwise] wouldst have insulted now for the last time. +But I will tell thee, and I will further swear a great oath: yea, by +this sceptre, which will never bear leaves and branches, nor will bud +again, after it has once left its trunk on the mountains; for the axe +has lopped it all around of its leaves and bark; but now the sons of +the Greeks, the judges, they who protect the laws [received] from Jove, +bear it in their hands; and this will be a great oath to thee; surely +will a longing desire for Achilles come upon all the sons of the +Achæans at some future day, and thou, although much grieved, wilt be +unable to assist them, when many dying shall fall by the hand of +man-slaying Hector. Then enraged, wilt thou inwardly fret thy soul, +that thou didst in no way honour the bravest of the Greeks.” + +Footnote 30: (return) Epimerism. Hom. in Cramer’s Anecdott. vol. i. p. +24. άταρτηρός, η παρά την άτην, ο σημαίνει την βλάξην, άτηρός.—Hesych. +βλαξρός, άτηρός. + +Thus spoke the son of Peleus; and he cast upon the earth his sceptre +studded with golden nails, and sat down. But on the other hand, the son +of Atreus was enraged; therefore to them arose the sweet-voiced Nestor, +31 the harmonious orator of the Pylians, from whose tongue flowed +language sweeter than honey. During his life two generations of +articulately-speaking men had become extinct, who, formerly, were +reared and lived with him in divine Pylus, but he was now ruling over +the third; who, wisely counselling, addressed them, and said: + +Footnote 31: (return) I must refer the reader to a most happy sketch +of Nestor’s exploits and character in Crete’s Hist, of Greece, vol. i. +p. 153. + +“Ο gods! surely a great sorrow comes upon the Grecian land. Verily, +Priam would exult, and the sons of Priam, and the other Trojans, would +greatly rejoice in their souls, if they were to hear these things of +you twain contending: you who in council and in fighting surpass the +Greeks. But be persuaded; for ye are both younger than I am. For +already, in former times, I have associated with men braver than you, +and they never disdained me. I never saw, nor shall I see, such men as +Pirithous, and Dryas, shepherd of the people, and Cæneus, and Exadius, +and god-like Polyphemus, 32 and Theseus, the son of Ægeus, like unto +the immortals. Bravest indeed were they trained up of earthly men; +bravest they were, and they fought with the bravest Centaurs of the +mountain caves, and terribly slew them. With these was I conversant, +coming from Pylus, far from the Apian land; for they invited me, and I +fought to the best of my power; but with them none of these who now are +mortals upon the earth could fight. And even they heard my counsels, +and obeyed my words. But do ye also obey, since it is better to be +obedient; nor do thou, although being powerful, take away the maid from +him, but leave it so, seeing that the sons of the Greeks first gave +[her as] a prize on him. Nor do thou, Ο son of Peleus, feel inclined to +contend against the king; since never yet has any sceptre-bearing king, +to whom Jove has given glory, been allotted an equal share of dignity. +But though thou be of superior strength, and a goddess mother has given +thee birth, yet he is superior in power, inasmuch as he rules more +people. Do thou, son of Atreus, repress thine anger; for it is I that +33 entreat thee to forego thy resentment on behalf of Achilles, who is +the great bulwark of destructive war to all the Achæans.” + +Footnote 32: (return) A prince of the Lapithæ, not the Cyclops. + +Footnote 33: (return) See Anthon, who has well remarked the force of +the particles. + +But him king Agamemnon answering addressed: “Of a truth thou hast said +all these things, old man, according to what is right. But this man is +desirous to be above all other men; he wishes to have the mastery, and +lord it over all, and to prescribe to all; with which his desires I +think some one will not comply. But if the ever-existing gods have made +him a warrior, do they therefore give him the right to utter insults?” + +But him noble Achilles interruptingly answered: “Yea, forsooth, 34 I +may be called a coward and a man of no worth, if now I yield to thee in +everything, whatever thou mayest say. Enjoin these things to other men; +for dictate not to me, for I think that I shall no longer obey thee. +But another thing will I tell thee, and do thou store it in thy mind: I +will not contend with my hands, neither with thee, nor with others, on +account of this maid, since ye, the donors, take her away. But of the +other effects, which I have at my swift black ship, of those thou shalt +not remove one, taking them away, I being unwilling. But if [thou +wilt], come, make trial, that these also may know: quickly shall thy +black blood flow around my lance.” + +Footnote 34: (return) Properly elliptical—_I have done right; for_, +&c.—Crusius. + +Thus these twain, striving with contrary words, arose, and they broke +up the assembly at the ships of the Greeks. The son of Peleus on his +part repaired to his tents and well-proportioned 35 ships, with the son +of Menoetius, 36 and his companions. But the son of Atreus 37 launched +his swift ship into the sea, and selected and put into it twenty +rowers, and embarked a hecatomb for the god. And he led the fair +daughter of Chryses and placed her on board, and the very wise Ulysses +embarked as conductor. They then embarking, sailed over the watery +paths. But the son of Atreus ordered the armies to purify themselves; +38 and they were purified, and cast forth the ablutions into the sea. +And they sacrificed to Apollo perfect hecatombs of bulls and goats, +along the shore of the barren sea; and the savour involved in 39 smoke +ascended to heaven. Thus were they employed in these things through the +army. Nor did Agamemnon cease from the contention which at first he +threatened against Achilles. But he thus addressed Talthybius and +Eurybates, who were his heralds and zealous attendants: 40 + +Footnote 35: (return) Equal on both sides, so as to preserve a +balance. But Blomfield, Obs. on Matth. Gr. § 124, prefers to render it +“ships of due size,” as [δαις ειση], ver. 468, “an equalized meal.” + +Footnote 36: (return) Patroclus. + +Footnote 37: (return) So Anthon, comparing ver. 142. + +Footnote 38: (return) Not a mere medicinal measure, but a symbolical +putting away of the guilt, which, through Agamemnon’s transgression, +was brought upon the army also.—Wolf. + +Footnote 39: (return) Not _about_ the smoke, but _in_ the smoke; for +περί denotes also the staying within the compass of an +object.—Nägelsbach. + +Footnote 40: (return) θεράπων is a voluntary servant, as opposed to +δούλος.—See Arnold. + +“Going to the tent of Achilles, the son of Peleus, lead away fair +Brisëis, having taken her by the hand; but if he will not give her, +then I myself, coming with great numbers, will take her, and this will +be more grievous 41 to him.” + +Thus speaking, he despatched them, having added 42 a harsh command. But +they reluctantly went along the shore of the barren sea, and came to +the tents and ships of the Myrmidons. And they found him sitting at his +tent and his black ship: nor did Achilles, seeing them, rejoice. But +they, confused, and reverencing the king, stood still, nor addressed +him at all, nor spoke [their bidding]. But he perceived [it] in his +mind, and said: + +“Hail, heralds, messengers of Jove, 43 and also of men, come near, for +ye are not blamable to me in the least, but Agamemnon, who has sent you +on account of the maid Brisëis. However, come, noble Patroclus, lead +forth the maid, and give her to them to conduct; but let these be +witnesses [of the insult offered me], both before the blessed gods, and +before mortal men, and before the merciless king. But if ever again +there shall be need of me to avert unseemly destruction from the rest, +[appeal to me shall be in vain], 44 for surely he rages with an +infatuated mind, nor knows at all how to view the future and the past, +in order that the Greeks may fight in safety at their ships.” + +Thus he spoke. And Patroclus obeyed his dear companion, and led forth +fair-cheeked Brisëis from the tent, and gave her to them to conduct; +and they returned along by the ships of the Greeks. But the woman went +with them reluctantly, whilst Achilles, weeping, 45 immediately sat +down, removed apart from his companions, upon the shore of the hoary +sea, gazing on the darkling main; and much he be sought his dear +mother, stretching forth his hands: + +Footnote 41: (return) Hesych. ρίγιον, φοβερώτερον, χαλεπώτερον. + +Footnote 42: (return) “Misit eos, minaci jusso dato.”—Heyne. + +Footnote 43: (return) So called from their inviolability,—άσνλον γαρ +και θείον το γένος των κηρύκων.—Schol. Και εζήν αντοίς πανταχόσε άδεώς +ίεναι.—Pollux, viii. They were properly sacred to Mercury (id. iv. 9. +Cf. Feith, Antiq. Homer, iv. 1), but are called the messengers of Jove, +as being under his special protection, with a reference to the +supporting of regal authority. + +Footnote 44: (return) Observe the aposiopesis. + +Footnote 45: (return) Not for the loss of Briseïs, but on account of +the affront. + +“O mother, since thou hast borne me, to be but short-lived, at least +then ought high-thundering Olympian Jove to have vouchsafed honour to +me; but now he has not honoured me ever so little; for the son of +Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, has dishonoured me; for he, taking away +my prize, possesses it, himself having wrested it [from me].” + +Thus he spoke, weeping. But to him his venerable mother hearkened, +sitting in the depths of the ocean beside her aged sire. And +immediately she rose up from the hoary deep, like a mist. And then she +sat before him weeping, and soothed him with her hand, and addressed +him, and spoke aloud: + +“Son, why weepest thou—on account of what has grief come upon thy mind? +Declare it, nor hide it in thy soul, that we both may know it.” + +But her, sighing deeply, swift-footed Achilles addressed: “Thou +knowest; why should I tell all these things to thee, already knowing +[them]? We went against Thebe, 46 the sacred city of Eëtion; and this +we plundered, and brought hither all [the spoil]. And these things +indeed the sons of the Greeks fairly divided among themselves, and +selected for Agamemnon the fair-cheeked daughter of Chryses. But +Chryses, priest of the far-darting Apollo, came afterwards to the fleet +ships of the brazen-mailed Greeks, about to ransom his daughter, and +bringing invaluable ransoms, having in his hand the fillets of +far-darting Apollo, on his golden sceptre. And he supplicated all the +Greeks, but chiefly the two sons of Atreus, the leaders of the people. +Upon this all the other Greeks shouted assent, that the priest should +be reverenced, and the splendid ransoms accepted: yet it was not +pleasing to Agamemnon, son of Atreus, in his mind; but he dismissed him +evilly, and added a harsh mandate. The old man therefore went back +enraged; but Apollo hearkened to him praying, for he was very dear to +him. And he sent a destructive arrow against the Greeks; and the forces +were now dying one upon another, and the shafts of the god went on all +sides through the wide army of the Greeks. But to us the skilful seer +unfolded the divine will of the Far-darter. Straightway I first +exhorted that we should appease the god; but then rage seized upon the +son of Atreus, and instantly rising, he uttered a threatening speech, +which is now accomplished; for the rolling-eyed Greeks attend her to +Chrysa with a swift bark, and bring presents to the king; but the +heralds have just now gone from my tent, conducting the virgin daughter +of Brisëis, whom the sons of the Greeks gave to me. But do thou, if +thou art able, aid thy son. Going to Olympus, supplicate Jove, if ever +thou didst delight the heart of Jove as to anything, by word or deed; +for I frequently heard thee boasting in the palaces of my sire, when +thou saidest that thou alone, amongst the immortals, didst avert +unworthy destruction from the cloud-collecting son of Saturn, when the +other Olympian inhabitants, Juno, and Neptune, and Pallas Minerva, +wished to bind him. But thou, O goddess, having approached, freed him +from his chains, having quickly summoned to lofty Olympus, the +hundred-handed, whom the gods call Briareus, and all men Ægeon, because +he was superior to his father in strength, 47 who then sat by the son +of Saturn, exulting in renown. Him then the blessed gods dreaded, nor +did they bind [Jove]. Of these things now reminding him, sit beside +him, and embrace his knees, if in anywise he may consent to aid the +Trojans, and hem in 48 at their ships, and along the sea, the Greeks +[while they get] slaughtered, that all may enjoy their king, and that +the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, may know his baleful folly, +49 when he in no wise honoured the bravest of the Greeks.” + +Footnote 46: (return) Thebe was situated on the border of Mysia, on +the mountain Placus, in the district afterwards called Adramyttium. The +inhabitants were Cilicians.—See Heyne, and De Pinedo on Steph. Byz. +s.v. p. 307, n. 58. + +Footnote 47: (return) Briareus as the son of Neptune or of Uranus +and Terra.—See Arnold. The fable is ridiculed by Minucius Felix, § 22. + +Footnote 48: (return) See Buttm. Lexil. pp. 257, 261, Fishlake’s +translation. + +Footnote 49: (return) The idea of infatuation is not, however, +necessarily implied in ἄτη. See Buttm. Lex. p. 5, sq. + +But him Thetis then answered, shedding down a tear: “Alas! my son, +wherefore have I reared thee, having brought thee forth in an evil +hour. Would that thou wert seated at the ships tearless and uninjured; +for thy destined life is but for a very short period, nor very long; +but now art thou both swift-fated and wretched above all mortals: +therefore have I brought thee forth in my palace under an evil fate. +However, to tell thy words to thunder-delighting Jove, I myself will go +to snow-clad Olympus, if by chance he will be persuaded. But do thou, +now sitting at the swift ships, wage resentment against the Greeks, and +totally abstain from war. For yesterday Jove went to Oceanus, 50 to the +blameless Æthiopians, to a banquet, and with him went all the gods. But +on the twelfth day he will return to Olympus; and then will I go to the +brazen-floored palace of Jove, and suppliantly embrace his knees, and I +think that he will be persuaded.” + +Footnote 50: (return) According to Homer, the earth is a circular +plane, and Oceanus is an immense stream encircling it, from which the +different rivers run inward. + +Thus having said, she departed, and left him there wrathful in his soul +for his well-girded maid, whom they had taken from him against his +will. But Ulysses, meantime, came to Chrysa, bringing the sacred +hecatomb. But they, when they had entered the deep haven, first furled +their sails, and stowed them in the sable bark; they next brought the +mast to its receptacle, lowering it quickly by its stays, and they +rowed the vessel forwards with oars into its moorage; they heaved out +the sleepers, and tied the hawsers. They themselves then went forth on +the breakers of the sea, and disembarked the hecatomb to far-darting +Apollo, and then they made the daughter of Chryses descend from the +sea-traversing bark. Then wise Ulysses, leading her to the altar, +placed her in the hands of her dear father, and addressed him: + +“O Chryses, Agamemnon, king of men, sent me forth to conduct to thee +thy daughter, and to sacrifice a sacred hecatomb to Phœbus for the +Greeks, that we may appease the king, who now has sent evils fraught +with groanings upon the Argives.” + +Thus having spoken, he placed her in his hands; but he rejoicing +received his beloved daughter. Then they immediately placed in order +the splendid hecatomb for the god around the well-built altar. After +that they washed their hands, and held up the pounded barley. 51 But +for them, Chryses, uplifting his hands, prayed with loud voice: + +Footnote 51: (return) “Salted barley meal,”—Anthon; “whole +barley,”—Voss; but Buttmann, Lexil. p. 454, in a highly amusing note, +observes, “no supposition of a regular and constant distinction between +the Greeks and Romans, the one using barley whole and the other +coarsely ground, possible as the thing may be in itself, is to be +entertained without the express testimony of the ancients.” + +“Hear me, O thou of the silver bow, who art wont to protect Chrysa and +divine Cilla, and who mightily rulest over Tenedos! already indeed at a +former time didst thou hear me praying, and didst honour me, and didst +very much afflict the people of the Greeks, now also accomplish for me +this further request: even now avert from the Greeks this unseemly +pestilence.” + +Thus he spoke praying, and him Phœbus Apollo heard. But after they had +prayed, and sprinkled the pounded barley, they first bent back [the +neck of the victims], killed them, and flayed them, and cut out the +thighs, and wrapped them round with the fat, having arranged it in +double folds; then laid the raw flesh upon them. Then the old man +burned them on billets, and poured sparkling wine upon them; and near +him the youths held five-pronged spits in their hands. But after the +thighs were roasted, and they had tasted the entrails, they then cut +the rest of them into small pieces, and fixed them on spits, and +roasted them skilfully, and drew all the viands [off the spits]. + +But when they had ceased from their labour, and had prepared the +banquet, they feasted; nor did their soul in anywise lack a due +allowance of the feast: but when they had dismissed the desire of drink +and food, the youths on the one hand filled the goblets with wine to +the brim, 52 and handed round the wine to all, having poured the first +of the wine into the cups. 53 But the Grecian youths throughout the day +were appeasing the god by song, chanting the joyous Pæan, 54 hymning +the Far-darter, and he was delighted in his mind as he listened. But +when the sun had set, and darkness came on, then they slept near the +hawsers of their ships. But when the mother of dawn, 55 rosy-fingered +morning, appeared, straightway then they set sail for the spacious camp +of the Achæans, and to them far-darting Apollo sent a favourable gale. +But they erected the mast and expanded the white sails. The wind +streamed 56 into the bosom of the sail; and as the vessel briskly ran, +the dark wave roared loudly around the keel; but she scudded through +the wave, holding on her way. But when they reached the wide armament +of the Greeks, they drew up the black ship on the continent, far upon +the sand, and stretched long props under it; but they dispersed +themselves through their tents and ships. + +Footnote 52: (return) See Buttm. Lexil. p. 291, sqq. The custom of +crowning the goblets with flowers was of later origin. + +Footnote 53: (return) See Battm. p. 168. The customary libation is +meant. + +Footnote 54: (return) On the Pæan, see Müller, Gk. Lit. iii. § 4. and +Dorians, vol. i. p. 370. + +Footnote 55: (return) See Loewe on Odyss. ii. 1, and my translation. +Kennedy renders it “ushering in the dawn.” + +Footnote 56: (return) See Buttm. p. 484. I am partly indebted to +Anthon in rendering this expression. + +But the Jove-sprung son of Peleus, swift-footed Achilles, continued his +wrath, sitting at his swift ships, nor ever did he frequent the +assembly of noble heroes, nor the fight, but he pined away his dear +heart, remaining there, although he longed for the din and the battle. + +Now when the twelfth morning from that time arose, 57 then indeed all +the gods who are for ever went together to Olympus, but Jupiter +preceded. But Thetis was not forgetful of the charges of her son, but +she emerged from the wave of the sea, and at dawn ascended lofty heaven +and Olympus; 58 and she found the far-seeing son of Saturn sitting +apart from the others, on the highest summit of many-peaked Olympus, +and then she sat down before him, and embraced his knees with her left +hand, but with the right taking him by the chin, imploring, she thus +addressed king Jove, the son of Saturn: + +“O father Jove, if ever I have aided thee among the immortals, either +in word or deed, accomplish for me this desire: honour my son, who is +the most short-lived of others; for now indeed Agamemnon, the king of +men, has disgraced him; for he possesses his prize, he himself having +borne it away. Do thou at least, Olympian Jove all counselling, honour +him: and so long grant victory to the Trojans, until the Greeks shall +reverence my son, and shall advance him in honour.” + +Footnote 57: (return) Cf. ver. 425. + +Footnote 58: (return) Οὐρανός is here the upper clear region of +air,—the ether, into which Olympus soared up.—Voss. + +Thus she spoke; but cloud-compelling Jove answered her nothing, but sat +silent for a long time. And as Thetis seized his knees, fast clinging +she held them, and thus again entreated: “Do but now promise to me +explicitly, and grant or refuse, (for in thee there is no dread,) that +I may well know how far I am the most dishonoured goddess amongst all.” + +But her cloud-compelling Jove, deeply moved, addressed: “Truly now this +[will be] a grievous matter, since thou wilt cause me to give offence +to Juno, when she shall irritate me with reproachful words. For, even +without reason, she is perpetually chiding me amongst the immortal +gods, and also says that I aid the Trojans in battle. But do thou on +thy part now depart, lest Juno behold thee: but these things shall be +my care, until I perform them. But if [thou wilt have it thus], so be +it; I will nod to thee with my head, that thou mayest feel confidence. +For this from me is the greatest pledge among the immortals: for my +pledge, even whatsoever I shall sanction by nod, is not to be +retracted, neither fallacious nor unfulfilled.” + +The son of Saturn spoke, and nodded thereupon with his dark eyebrows. +And then the ambrosial locks of the king were shaken over him from his +immortal head; and he made mighty Olympus tremble. Thus having +conferred, they separated. She at once plunged from splendid Olympus +into the profound sea. But Jove on the other hand [returned] to his +palace. But all the gods rose up together from their seats to meet +their sire; nor did any dare to await 59 him approaching, but all rose +in his presence. Thus indeed he sat there on his throne; nor was Juno +unconscious, having seen that silver-footed Thetis, the daughter of the +marine old man, had joined in deliberation with him. Forthwith with +reproaches she accosted Saturnian Jove: + +“Which of the gods again, O deceitful one, has been concerting measures +with thee? Ever is it agreeable to thee, being apart from me, plotting +secret things, to decide thereon; nor hast thou ever yet deigned +willingly to tell me one word of what thou dost meditate.” + +Footnote 59: (return) Heyne supplies “sedendo.” + +To her then replied the father of men and gods: “O Juno, build up no +hopes of knowing all my counsels; difficult would they be for thee, +although thou art my consort. But whatever it may be fit for thee to +hear, none then either of gods or men shall know it before thee: but +whatever I wish to consider apart from the gods, do thou neither +inquire into any of these things, nor investigate them.” + +But him the large-eyed, venerable Juno then answered: “Most dread son +of Saturn, what a word hast thou spoken? Heretofore have I ever +questioned thee much, nor pryed [into thy secrets]; but thou mayest +very quietly deliberate on those things which thou desirest. But at +present I greatly fear in my soul, lest silver-footed Thetis, the +daughter of the marine old man, may have influenced thee: for at dawn +she sat by thee and embraced thy knees: to her I suspect thou didst +plainly promise that thou wouldest honour Achilles, and destroy many at +the ships of the Greeks.” + +But her answering, cloud-compelling Jove addressed: “Perverse one! thou +art always suspecting, nor do I escape thee. Nevertheless thou shalt +produce no effect at all, but thou shalt be farther from my heart: and +this will be more bitter to thee. But granted this be so, it appears to +be my pleasure. 60 But sit down in peace, and obey my mandate, lest as +many deities as are in Olympus avail thee not against me, I drawing +near, 61 when I shall lay my resistless hands upon thee.” + +Footnote 60: (return) _I.e._, say that what you suspect is correct; +well then, such is my will. + +Footnote 61: (return) I prefer taking ίονθ’ for ίοντα, not for ίοντε, +as Buttmann wished.—See Anthon. + +Thus he spoke: but venerable, large-eyed Juno feared, and sat down +silent, having bent her heart to submission. But the heavenly gods +murmured throughout the palace of Jove. And the renowned artificer, +Vulcan, began to harangue them, doing kind offices to his beloved +mother, white-armed Juno: + +“Truly now these will be grievous matters, and no longer tolerable, if +ye twain contend thus on account of mortals, and excite uproar among +the deities. Nor will there be any enjoyment in the delightful banquet, +since the worse things prevail. 62 But to my mother I advise, she +herself being intelligent, to gratify my dear father Jove, lest my sire +may again reprove her, and disturb our banquet. For if the Olympian +Thunderer wishes to hurl [us] from our seats 63—for he is much the most +powerful. But do thou soothe him with gentle words; then will the +Olympian king straightway be propitious to us.” + +Footnote 62: (return) Cf. Duport, Gnom. Hom. p. 9. The saying is +almost proverbial. + +Footnote 63: (return) An aposiopesis; understand, “he can easily do +so.” + +Thus then he spoke, and rising, he placed the double cup 64 in the hand +of his dear mother, and addressed her: + +“Be patient, my mother, and restrain thyself, although grieved, lest +with my own eyes I behold thee beaten, being very dear to me; nor then +indeed should I be able, though full of grief, to assist thee; for +Olympian Jove is difficult to be opposed. For heretofore, having seized +me by the foot, he cast me, desiring at one time to assist you, down +from the heavenly threshold. All day was I carried down through the +air, and I fell on Lemnos 65 with the setting sun: and but little life +was in me by that time. There the Sintian 66 men forthwith received and +tended 67 me, having fallen.” + +Thus he spoke: but the white-armed goddess Juno smiled; and smiling she +received the cup from the hand of her son. But he, beginning from left +to right, 68 kept pouring out for all the other gods, drawing nectar +from the goblet. And then inextinguishable laughter arose among the +immortal gods, when they saw Vulcan bustling about 69 through the +mansion. + +Footnote 64: (return) See my note on Od. iii. p. 30, n. 13, ed. Bohn. +It was “a double cup with a common bottom in the middle.”—Crusius. + +Footnote 65: (return) Hercules having sacked Troy, was, on his return, +driven to Cos by a storm raised by Juno, who was hostile to him, and +who had contrived to cast Jupiter into a sleep, that he might not +interrupt her purpose. Jupiter awaking, in resentment of the artifice +practised upon him, bound her feet to iron anvils, which Vulcan +attempting to loose, was cast headlong down to Lemnos by his enraged +sire. + +Footnote 66: (return) A race of robbers, of Tyrrhenian origin +(according to Müller), and the ancient inhabitants of Lemnos. This +island was ever after sacred to Vulcan. Cf. Lactant. i. 15; Milton, +P.L. i. 740, sqq. + +Footnote 67: (return) See Arnold. + +Footnote 68: (return) This meaning of ένδέξια is due to Buttmann. + +Footnote 69: (return) See Buttmann, Lexil. p. 481. + +Thus, then, they feasted 70 the entire day till the setting sun; nor +did the soul want anything of the equal feast, nor of the beautiful +harp, which Apollo held, nor of the Muses, who accompanied him, +responding in turn, with delicious voice. + +Footnote 70: (return) “The gods formed a sort of political community +of their own, which had its hierarchy, its distribution of ranks and +duties, its contentions for power and occasional revolutions, its +public meetings in the agora of Olympus, and its multitudinous banquets +or festivals.”—Grote, vol. i. p. 463. Cf. Müller, Gk. Lit. ii. § 2. + +But when the splendid light of the sun was sunk, they retired to +repose, each one to his home, where renowned Vulcan, lame of both legs, +with cunning skill had built a house for each. But the Olympian +thunderer Jove went to his couch, where he lay before, when sweet sleep +came upon him. There, having ascended, he lay down to rest, and beside +him golden-throned Juno. + + + + +BOOK THE SECOND. + + +ARGUMENT. + +Jove sends a dream to Agamemnon, in consequence of which he +re-assembles the army. Thersites is punished for his insolent speech, +and the troops are restrained from seeking a return homewards. The +catalogue of the ships and the forces of the confederates follows. + + +The rest, then, both gods and horse-arraying men, 71 slept all the +night: but Jove sweet sleep possessed not; but he was pondering in his +mind how he might honour Achilles, and destroy many at the ships of the +Greeks. But this device appeared best to him in his mind, to send a +fatal dream 72 to Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. And addressing him, he +spoke winged words: + +“Haste away, pernicious dream, to the swift ships of the Greeks. Going +into the tent of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, utter very accurately +everything as I shall command thee. Bid him arm the long-haired Achæans +73 with all their array; for now perhaps he may 74 take the wide-wayed +city of the Trojans; for the immortals who possess the Olympian +mansions no longer think dividedly, for Juno, supplicating, hath bent +all [to her will]. And woes are impending over the Trojans.” + +Thus he spake: and the dream 75 accordingly departed, as soon as it +heard the mandate. And quickly it came to the swift ships of the +Greeks, and went unto Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. But him it found +sleeping in his tent, and ambrosial slumber was diffused around. And he +stood over his head, like unto Nestor, the son of Neleus, him, to wit, +whom Agamemnon honoured most of the old men. To him assimilating +himself, the divine dream addressed him: + +Footnote 71: (return) See Anthon, who observes that “fighting from on +horseback was not practised in the Homeric times.” + +Footnote 72: (return) Some would personify Oneirus, as god of dreams. + +Footnote 73: (return) Observe the distinction, for the Abantes, ver. +542, and the Thracians, iv. 533, wore their hair differently. + +Footnote 74: (return) κεν limits the assertion to _probability_, so +that Jupiter does not utter a _direct_ falsehood. + +Footnote 75: (return) In defence of this cheating conduct of Jove, at +which Plato was much scandalized, Coleridge, p. 154, observes: “The +οὖλος ὄνειρος was a lying spirit, which the father of gods and men had +a supreme right to commission for the purpose of working out his +ultimate will.” + +“Sleepest thou, son of the warrior, horse-taming Atreus? It becomes not +a counsel-giving man, to whom the people have been intrusted, and to +whom so many things are a care, to sleep all the night. But now quickly +attend to me; for I am a messenger to thee from Jove, who, although far +distant, greatly regards and pities thee. He orders thee to arm the +long-haired Greeks with all their array, for now mayest thou take the +wide-wayed city of the Trojans, since the immortals, who possess the +Olympian mansions, no longer think dividedly; for Juno, supplicating, +hath bent all [to her will], and woes from Jove are impending over the +Trojans. But do thou preserve this in thy recollection, nor let +forgetfulness possess thee, when sweet sleep shall desert thee.” + +Thus then having spoken, he departed, and left him there pondering +these things in his mind, which were not destined to be accomplished. +For he, foolish, thought that he would take the city of Priam on that +day; nor knew he the deeds which Jupiter was really devising; for even +he was about yet to impose additional hardships and sorrows upon both +Trojans and Greeks, through mighty conflicts. But he awoke from his +sleep, and the heavenly voice was diffused around him. He sat up erect, +and put on his soft tunic, beautiful, new; and around him he threw his +large cloak. And he bound his beautiful sandals on his shining feet, +and slung from his shoulders the silver-studded sword. He also took his +paternal sceptre, ever imperishable, with which he went to the ships of +the brazen-mailed Greeks. + +The goddess Aurora now 76 ascended wide Olympus, announcing the dawn to +Jove and the other immortals. But he 77 on his part ordered the +clear-voiced heralds to summon the long-haired Achæans 78 to an +assembly. They therefore summoned them, and the people were very +speedily assembled. First the assembly of magnanimous elders sat at the +ship of Nestor, the Pylus-born king. Having called them together, he +propounded a prudent counsel: + +Footnote 76: (return) ῥα appears to mark the regular transition from +one event to another. + +Footnote 77: (return) Agamemnon. + +Footnote 78: (return) See on ver. 11. + +“Hear me, my friends: a divine dream came to me in sleep, during the +ambrosial night, very like unto the noble Nestor, in form, in stature, +and in mien. And it stood above my head, and addressed me: ‘Sleepest +thou, son of the warrior, horse-taming Atreus? It becomes not a +counsellor, to whom the people have been intrusted, and to whom so many +things are a care, to sleep all the night. But now quickly attend to +me; for I am a messenger to thee from Jove, who, although far distant, +greatly regards and pities thee. He orders thee to arm the long-haired +Greeks with all their array, for now mayest thou take the wide-wayed +city of the Trojans; for the immortals, who possess the Olympian +mansions, no longer think dividedly, for Juno, supplicating, has bent +all [to her will], and woes from Jove are impending over the Trojans; +but do thou preserve this in thy thoughts.’ Thus having spoken, flying +away, it departed; but sweet sleep resigned me. But come, [let us try] +if by any means we can arm the sons of the Greeks. But first with words +will I sound their inclinations, as is right, and I will command them +to fly with their many-benched ships; but do you restrain them with +words, one in one place, another in another.” + +He indeed having thus spoken, sat down; but Nestor, who was king of +sandy Pylus, rose up, who wisely counselling, harangued them, and said: + +“O friends, generals and counsellors of the Argives, if any other of +the Greeks had told this dream, we should have pronounced it a +fabrication, and withdrawn ourselves [from the reciter]. But now he has +seen it, who boasts himself [to be] by far the greatest man in the +army. But come on, if by any means we can arm the sons of the Greeks.” + +Thus then having spoken, he began to depart from the assembly; and +they, the sceptre-bearing princes, arose, and obeyed the shepherd of +the tribes, and the hosts rushed forward. Even as the swarms of +clustering bees, 79 issuing ever anew from the hollow rock, go forth, +and fly in troops over the vernal 80 flowers, and some have flitted in +bodies here, and some there; thus of these [Greeks] many nations from +the ships and tents kept marching in troops in front of the steep shore +to the assembly. And in the midst of them blazed Rumour, messenger of +Jove, urging them to proceed; and they kept collecting together. The +assembly was tumultuous, and the earth groaned beneath, as the people +seated themselves, and there was a clamour; but nine heralds +vociferating restrained them, if by any means they would cease from +clamour, and hear the Jove-nurtured princes. With difficulty at length +the people sat down, and were kept to their respective 81 seats, having +desisted from their clamour, when king Agamemnon arose, holding the +sceptre, which Vulcan had laboriously wrought. Vulcan in the first +place gave it to king Jove, the son of Saturn, and Jove in turn gave it +to his messenger, the slayer of Argus. 82 But king Mercury gave it to +steed-taming Pelops, and Pelops again gave it to Atreus, shepherd of +the people. But Atreus, dying, left it to Thyestes, rich in flocks; but +Thyestes again left it to Agamemnon to be borne, that he might rule +over many islands, 83 and all Argos. 84 Leaning upon this, he spoke +words amongst the Greeks: + +Footnote 79: (return) The dative here implies direction, ἐπὶ +increasing its force, according to Stadelmann and Kühner, who are +followed by Anthon. I have restored the old interpretation, which is +much less far-fetched, and is placed beyond doubt by Virgil’s +imitations.—“_per_ florea rura,” Æn. i. 430; “floribus insidunt +variis.” Æn. vi. 708. “Among fresh dews and flowers, Fly to and +fro.”—Milton. P.L. i. 771. + +Footnote 80: (return) _I. e._ over the flowers in the spring-time, +when bees first appear. See Virg. l. c. Eurip. Hipp. 77, μέλισσα +λειμῶν’ ᾐρινὸν ὂιέρχεται.—Nicias, Anthol. i. 31, ἔαρ φαίνουσα +μέλισσα.—Longus, i. 4. + +Footnote 81: (return) Observe the distributive use of κατά. Cf. Od. +iii. 7. + +Footnote 82: (return) Mercury. Cf. Ovid. Met. i. 624. sqq. + +Footnote 83: (return) On the extended power of Agamemnon, see Thucyd. +i. 9. + +Footnote 84: (return) On this sceptre, the type of the wealth and +influence of the house of the Atrides, see Grote. vol. i. p. 212. + +“O friends, Grecian heroes, servants of Mars, Jove, the son of Saturn, +has entangled me in a heavy misfortune. Cruel, who before indeed +promised to me, and vouchsafed by his nod, that I should return home, +having destroyed well-fortified Ilium. But now he has devised an evil +deception, and commands me to return to Argos, inglorious, after I have +lost many of my people. So forsooth it appears to be agreeable to +all-powerful Jove, who has already overthrown the citadels of many +cities, yea, and will even yet overthrow them, for transcendent is his +power. For this were disgraceful even for posterity to hear, that so +brave and so numerous a people of the Greeks warred an ineffectual war, +and fought with fewer men; but as yet no end has appeared. For if we, +Greeks and Trojans, having struck a faithful league, 85 wished that +both should be numbered, and [wished] to select the Trojans, on the one +hand, as many as are townsmen; and if we Greeks, on the other hand, +were to be divided into decades, and to choose a single man of the +Trojans to pour out wine [for each decade], many decades would be +without a cupbearer. 86 So much more numerous, I say, the sons of the +Greeks are than the Trojans who dwell in the city. But there are +spear-wielding auxiliaries from many cities, who greatly stand in my +way, and do not permit me wishing to destroy the well-inhabited city. +Already have nine years of mighty Jove passed away, and now the timbers +of our ships have rotted, and the ropes have become untwisted. 87 Our +wives and infant children sit in our dwellings expecting us; but to us +the work for which we came hither remains unaccomplished, contrary to +expectation. But come, as I shall recommend, let us all obey; let us +fly with the ships to our dear native land, for at no future time shall +we take wide-wayed Troy.” + +Footnote 85: (return) Ὂρκια is probably used as an adjective, +understanding ὶερεῖα, the victims that were slain in order to ratify +the oath. See however Buttm. Lexil. p. 439. + +Footnote 86: (return) The Greeks doubled the Trojans in number. See +Anthon. + +Footnote 87: (return) Observe the change of construction in λέλυνται +with the neuter plural. Apollon. de Syntaxi, iii. 11. Τὰ σπάρτα +λέλυνται καταλληλότερον τοῦ δοῦρα σέσηπε. + +Thus he spoke; and to them he aroused the heart in their breasts, to +all throughout the multitude, whoever had not heard his scheme. 88 And +the assembly was moved, as the great waves of the Icarian Sea, which, +indeed, both the south-east wind and the south are wont to raise, 89 +rushing from the clouds of father Jove. And as when the west wind 90 +agitates the thick-standing corn, rushing down upon it impetuous, and +it [the crop] bends with its ears; so was all the assembly agitated. +Some with shouting rushed to the ships, but from beneath their feet the +dust stood suspended aloft; and some exhorted one another to seize the +vessels, and drag them to the great ocean; and they began to clear the +channels. The shout of them, eager [to return] home, rose to the sky, +and they withdrew the stays from beneath the vessels. Then truly a +return had happened to the Argives, contrary to destiny, had not Juno +addressed herself to Minerva: + +Footnote 88: (return) _I. e._ his real object. Cf. vs. 75, sqq. + +Footnote 89: (return) Spitzner and the later editors unite in reading +κινήση for κινήσει from the Venice MS. See Arnold. + +Footnote 90: (return) + + ——“As thick as when a field +Of Ceres, ripe for harvest, waving bends +Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind +Sways them.”—Paradise Lost, iv. 980. + + +“Alas! indomitable daughter of ægis-bearing Jove, thus now shall the +Argives fly home to their dear native land, over the broad back of the +deep, and leave to Priam glory, and to the Trojans Argive Helen, on +whose account many Greeks have perished at Troy, far from their dear +native land? But go now to the people of the brazen-mailed Greeks, and +restrain each man with thy own flattering words, nor suffer them to +launch to the sea their evenly-plied 91 barks.” Thus she spoke, nor did +the azure-eyed goddess Minerva refuse compliance. But she, hastening, +descended down from the summits of Olympus, and quickly reached the +swift ships of the Achæans. Then she found Ulysses, of equal weight +with Jove in counsel, standing still; nor was he touching his +well-benched, sable bark, since regret affected him in heart and mind. +But standing near him, azure-eyed Minerva said: + +Footnote 91: (return) _I.e._ rowed on both sides. But Rost and Liddell +(s.v.) prefer “swaying, rocking on both sides.” + +“Jove-sprung son of Laertes, Ulysses of many wiles, thus then will ye +fly home to your dear native land, embarking in your many-benched +ships? And will ye then leave to Priam glory, and to the Trojans Argive +Helen, on whose account many Greeks have fallen at Troy, far from their +dear native land? But go now to the people of the Greeks, delay not; +and restrain each man by thy own flattering words, nor suffer them to +launch to the sea their evenly-plied barks.” + +Thus she spoke, but he knew the voice of the goddess speaking. Then he +hastened to run, and cast away his cloak, but the herald Eurybates, the +Ithacensian, who followed him, took it up. But he, meeting Agamemnon, +son of Atreus, received from him 92 the ever-imperishable paternal +sceptre, with which he went through the ships of the brazen-mailed +Greeks. + +Footnote 92: (return) This is an instance of the σχῆμα Σικελικόν, as +in H. O. 88, γίνεται δε παραλαμξανομένης δοτικῆς πτώσεως άντι γενικῆς +και κατὰ παράλειψιν τού παρἁ προθέσεως.—Lesbonax, περί σχημ. ρ. 181, +ed. Valck. + +Whatsoever king, indeed, or distinguished man he chanced to find +standing beside him, he checked him with gentle words: + +“Strange man! it ill becomes thee, coward-like, to be in trepidation; +but both sit down thyself, and make the other people sit down, for thou +hast not as yet clearly ascertained what the intention of Atrides is. +He is now making trial of, and will quickly punish the sons of the +Greeks. We have not all heard what he said in council. Take care lest +he, being incensed, do some mischief to the sons of the Greeks. For the +anger of a Jove-nurtured king is great; his honour too is from Jove, +and great-counselling Jove loves him.” + +But on the other hand, whatever man of the common people he chanced to +see, or find shouting out, him would he strike with the sceptre, and +reprove with words: + +“Fellow, sit quietly, and listen to the voice of others, who are better +than thou; for thou art unwarlike and weak, nor ever of any account +either in war or in council. We Greeks cannot all by any means govern +here, for a government of many is not a good thing; 93 let there be but +one chief, one king, 94 to whom the son of wily Saturn has given a +sceptre, and laws, that he may govern among them.” + +Footnote 93: (return) See Aristot. Polit. iv. 4, and Cicer. de Off. i. +8. This true maxim has been often abused by tyrants, as by Dion (Corn. +Nepos, Dion, § 6, 4), Caligula (Sueton. Cal. 22), and Domitian (id. +12). + +Footnote 94: (return) On the aristocratic character of Homer’s poetry, +see Müller, Gk Lit. iv. § 2. + +Thus he, acting as chief, was arranging the army. But they again rushed +with tumult from the ships and tents to an assembly, as when the waves +of the much-resounding sea roar against the lofty beach, and the deep +resounds. + +The others indeed sat down, and were kept to their respective seats. +But Thersites alone, immediate in words, was wrangling; who, to wit, +knew in his mind expressions both unseemly and numerous, so as idly, +and not according to discipline, to wrangle with the princes, but [to +blurt out] whatever seemed to him to be matter of laughter to the +Greeks. And he was the ugliest man who came to Ilium. He was +bandy-legged, 95 and lame of one foot; his shoulders were crooked, and +contracted towards his breast; and his head was peaked 96 towards the +top, and thin woolly hair was scattered over it. To Achilles and +Ulysses he was particularly hostile, for these two he used to revile. +But on this occasion, shouting out shrilly, he uttered bitter taunts +against noble Agamemnon; but the Greeks were greatly irritated against +him, and were indignant in their minds. But vociferating aloud, he +reviled Agamemnon with words: + +Footnote 95: (return) See Buttm. Lexil. p. 540, § 8. + +Footnote 96: (return) See Buttm. p. 537, who derives φοζος from +φώγειν, _to dry_, as if φωξός, _warped by heat_. + +“Son of Atreus, of what dost thou now complain, or what dost thou want? +Thy tents are full of brass, and many chosen women are in thy tents, +whom we Greeks bestow on thee the first of all, whenever we capture a +city. Dost thou still require gold, which some one of the horse-taming +Trojans shall bring from Troy, as a ransom for his son, whom I, or some +other of the Greeks, having bound, may lead away? Or a young maid, that +thou mayest be mingled in dalliance, and whom thou for thyself mayest +retain apart 97 [from the rest]? Indeed it becomes not a man who is +chief in command, to lead the sons of the Greeks into evil. Ο ye soft +ones, vile disgraces, Grecian dames, no longer Grecian men, 98 let us +return home, home! 99 with our ships, and let us leave him here to +digest his honours at Troy, that he may know whether we really aid him +in anything or not. He, who but just now has dishonoured Achilles, a +man much more valiant than himself; for, taking away, he retains his +prize, he himself having seized it. But assuredly there is not much +anger in the heart of Achilles; but he is forbearing; for truly, were +it not so, Ο son of Atreus, thou wouldest have insulted now for the +last time.” + +Footnote 97: (return) Not being compelled to restore her, like the +daughter of Chryses. + +Footnote 98: (return) Virg. Æn. ix. 617: “Ο vere Phrygiæ, neque enim +Phryges!” + +Footnote 99: (return) This is Nägelsbach’s spirited rendering of +οίκαδε περ. + +Thus spoke Thersites, reviling Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people. +But godlike Ulysses immediately stood beside him, and eyeing him with +scowling brow, reproached him with harsh language: + +“Thersites, reckless babbler! noisy declaimer though thou be, refrain, +nor be forward singly to strive with princes; for I affirm that there +is not another mortal more base than thou, as many as came with the son +of Atreus to Ilium. Wherefore do not harangue, having kings in thy +mouth, nor cast reproaches against them, nor be on the watch for a +return. Not as yet indeed do we certainly know how these matters will +turn out, whether we sons of the Greeks shall return to our advantage +or disadvantage. Wherefore, now thou sittest reviling Agamemnon, son of +Atreus, the leader of the people, because the Grecian heroes give him +very many gifts, whilst thou, insulting, dost harangue. But I declare +to thee, which shall also be accomplished: if ever again I catch thee +raving, as now thou art, no longer may the head of Ulysses rest upon +his shoulders, and no longer may I be called the father of Telemachus, +unless I seizing thee divest thee of thy very garments, thy coat, thy +cloak, and those which cover thy loins; and send thyself weeping to the +swift ships, having beaten thee out of the assembly with severe blows.” + +Thus he spoke, and smote him with the sceptre upon the back and the +shoulders; but he writhed, and plenteous tears fell from him, and a +bloody weal arose under the sceptre upon his back. But he sat down and +trembled; and grieving, looking foolish, he wiped away the tears. They, +although chagrined, laughed heartily at him, and thus one would say, +looking towards the person next him: + +“O strange! surely ten thousand good deeds has Ulysses already +performed, both originating good counsels, and arousing the war. But +now has he done this by far the best deed amongst the Greeks, in that +he has restrained this foul-mouthed reviler from his harangues. Surely +his petulant mind will not again urge him to chide the kings with +scurrilous language.” + +Thus spake the multitude; but Ulysses, the sacker of cities, arose, +holding the sceptre, and beside him azure-eyed Minerva, likened unto a +herald, ordered the people to be silent, that at the same time the sons +of the Greeks, both first and last, might hear his speech, and weigh +his counsel. He wisely counselling, addressed them, and said: + +“O son of Atreus, the Greeks wish to render thee now, O king, the +meanest amongst articulately-speaking men; nor perform their promise to +thee, 100 which they held forth, coming hither from steed-nourishing +Argos, that thou shouldest return home, having destroyed well-fortified +Ilium. For, like tender boys, or widowed women, they bewail unto one +another to return home. And truly it is a hardship to return [so], +having been grieved. For he is impatient who is absent even for a +single month from his wife, remaining with his many-benched ship, 101 +though wintry storms and the boisterous sea may be hemming in; 102 but +to us it is [now] the ninth revolving year since we have been lingering +here. Wherefore I am not indignant that the Greeks are growing +impatient by their curved ships; but still it would be disgraceful both +to remain here so long, and to return ineffectually. Endure, my +friends, and remain yet awhile, that we may know whether Calchas +prophesies truly or not. For this we well know, and ye are all +witnesses, whom the Fates of death carried not off yesterday and the +day before, when the ships of the Greeks were collected at Aulis, +bearing evils to Priam and the Trojans, and we round about the +fountain, at the sacred altars, offered perfect hecatombs to the +immortals, beneath a beauteous plane-tree, whence flowed limpid water. +103 There a great prodigy appeared; a serpent, spotted on the back, +horrible, which the Olympian himself had sent forth into the light, +having glided out from beneath the altar, proceeded forthwith to the +plane-tree. And there were the young of a sparrow, an infant offspring, +on a topmost branch, cowering amongst the foliage, eight in number; but +the mother, which had brought forth the young ones, was the ninth. +Thereupon he devoured them, twittering piteously, while the mother kept +fluttering about, lamenting her dear young; but then, having turned +himself about, he seized her by the wing, screaming around. But after +he had devoured the young of the sparrow, and herself, the god who had +displayed him rendered him very portentous, for the son of wily Saturn +changed him into a stone; but we, standing by, were astonished at what +happened. Thus, therefore, the dreadful portents of the gods approached +the hecatombs. Calchas, then, immediately addressed us, revealing from +the gods: ‘Why are ye become silent, ye waving-crested Greeks? For us, +indeed, provident Jove has shown a great sign, late, of late +accomplishment, the renown of which shall never perish. As this +[serpent] has devoured the young of the sparrow, eight in number, and +herself, the mother which brought out the brood, was the ninth, so must +we for as many years 104 wage war here, but in the tenth we shall take +the wide-wayed city.’ He indeed thus harangued: and all these things +are now in course of accomplishment. But come, ye well-greaved Greeks, +remain all here, until we shall take the great city of Priam.” + +Footnote 100: (return) See Grote, vol. i. p. 392, n. 2. + +Footnote 101: (return) I have followed Wolf, taking σὺν υνὶ πολυζύγῳ +in connection with μενών. Others most awkwardly make σὺν=παρά. + +Footnote 102: (return) Cf. Buttm. Lexil. s. v. εἰλεῖν. + +Footnote 103: (return) Pausanias, ix. 20, says that both the spring +and the remains of the tree were shown in his time. The whole of this +fable has been translated into verse by Cicero, de Div. ii. 30. Compare +the following passage of Apuleius de Deo Socr. p. 52, ed. Elm. “Calchas +longe præstabilis ariolari, simul alites et arborem contemplatus est, +actutum sua divinitate et tempestates flexit, et classem deduxit, et +decennium prædixit.” + +Footnote 104: (return) _I. e._ for nine. It is remarkable that so +little notice has been taken of this story by the later poets. But the +sacrifice of Iphigenia was a more attractive subject for tragedy or +episode, and took the place of the Homeric legend. + +Thus he [Ulysses] spoke, and the Greeks loudly shouted, applauding the +speech of divine Ulysses; but all around the ships echoed fearfully, by +reason of the Greeks shouting. Then the Gerenian 105 knight Nestor +addressed them: + +“O strange! assuredly now ye are talking like infant children, with +whom warlike achievements are of no account. Whither then will your +compacts and oaths depart? Into the fire now must the counsels and +thoughts of men have sunk, and the unmixed libations, and the right +hands in which we trusted; for in vain do we dispute with words, nor +can we discover any resource, although we have been here for a long +time. But do thou, O son of Atreus, maintaining, as before, thy purpose +firm, command the Greeks in the hard-fought conflicts; and abandon +those to perish, one and both, 106 who, separated from the Greeks, are +meditating [but success shall not attend them] to return back to Argos, +before they know whether the promise of ægis-bearing Jove be false or +not. For I say that the powerful son of Saturn assented on that day, +when the Argives embarked in their swift ships, bearing death and fate +to the Trojans, flashing 107 his lightning on the right, and showing +propitious signs. Let not any one, therefore, hasten to return home +before each has slept with a Trojan wife, and has avenged the cares 108 +and griefs of Helen. But if any one is extravagantly eager to return +home, let him lay hands upon his well-benched black ship, that he may +draw on death and fate before others. But do thou thyself deliberate +well, O king, and attend to another; nor shall the advice which I am +about to utter be discarded. Separate the troops, Agamemnon, according +to their tribes and clans, that kindred may support kindred, and clan. +If thou wilt thus act, and the Greeks obey, thou wilt then ascertain +which of the generals and which of the soldiers is a dastard, and which +of them may be brave, for they will fight their best, 109 and thou wilt +likewise learn whether it is by the divine interposition that thou art +destined not to dismantle the city, or by the cowardice of the troops, +and their unskilfulness in war.” + +Footnote 105: (return) Nestor took this name from a city of Messena +(_Gerenium_, _a_, or _ia_. See Arnold, and Pinedo on Steph. Byz. s.v. +Γερηνία), where he was brought up, probably after Pylos had been +destroyed by Hercules. + +Footnote 106: (return) Proverbially meaning a few, but probably +referring to Achilles and Thersites. See the Scholiast. + +Footnote 107: (return) Observe this bold change of construction, and +compare Valck. on Lesbonax, at the end of his edition of Ammonius, p. +188. + +Footnote 108: (return) Hesych. ὁρμήματα, μερίμναι. Etym. Μ. +ἐνθυμήματα, φροντίδες. See Buttm. Lexil. p. 440, sqq. Helen certainly +shows some repentance in iii. 176. + +Footnote 109: (return) “Pro virili parte,” Wolf. Cf. i. 271. + +But him answering, king Agamemnon addressed: “Old man, now indeed, as +at other times, dost thou excel the sons of the Greeks in council. For, +would, O father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, that I were possessed of ten +such fellow-counsellors among the Greeks! So should the city of Priam +quickly fall, captured and destroyed by our hands. But upon me hath +ægis-bearing Jove, the son of Saturn, sent sorrow, who casts me into +unavailing strifes and contentions. For I and Achilles have quarrelled +on account of a maid with opposing words: but I began quarrelling. But +if ever we shall consult in common, no longer then shall there be a +respite from evil to the Trojans, no, not for ever so short a time. Now +go to your repast, that we may join battle. Let each one well sharpen +his spear, and well prepare 110 his shield. Let him give fodder to his +swift-footed steeds, and let each one, looking well to his chariot, get +ready for war; that we may contend all day in the dreadful battle. Nor +shall there be a cessation, not for ever so short a while, until night +coming on shall part the wrath of the heroes. The belt of the +man-protecting 111 shield shall be moist with sweat around the breasts +of each one, and he shall weary his hand round his spear; and each +one’s horse shall sweat, dragging the well-polished chariot. But +whomsoever I shall perceive desirous to remain at the beaked ships, +apart from the battle, it will not be possible for him afterwards to +escape the dogs and the birds.” + +Thus he spoke, but the Argives shouted aloud, as when a wave [roars] +against the steep shore, when the south wind urges it, coming against +an out-jutting rock; for this the billows from all kinds of winds never +forsake, when they may be here or there. And rising up, the people +hastened forth, scattered from ship to ship, and raised up smoke among +the tents, and took repast. And one sacrificed to some one of the +immortal gods, and [another to another,] praying to escape death and +the slaughter of war. But king Agamemnon offered up a fat ox, of five +years old, to the powerful son of Saturn, and summoned the elder chiefs +of all the Greeks, Nestor first of all, and king Idomeneus, but next +the two Ajaxes, 112 and the son of Tydeus, and sixth Ulysses, of equal +weight with Jove in council. But Menelaus, valiant in the din 113 of +war, came of his own accord, 114 for he knew his brother in his heart, +how he was oppressed. Then they stood around the ox, and raised up the +pounded barley cakes: and king Agamemnon, praying amidst them, said: + +Footnote 110: (return) Schol. εύτρεπισάτω. + +Footnote 111: (return) These shields were so large, that they covered +nearly the whole person. + +Footnote 112: (return) One the son of Telamon, the other the son of +Oïleus. + +Footnote 113: (return) This translation is, I think, far bolder than +“loud-voiced,” or “good in the battle-shout.” Βοῂ contains the whole +idea of the tumultuous noise heard in the heat of battle, and thence +the battle itself. Thus the Schol. ὁ ἐv τῷ πολἐμω γενναἲος; and Hesych. +κατὰ τῂν μάχην ανδρεἲος. + +Footnote 114: (return) Opposed to κλητὸς, as in Oppian, Hal. iii. 360, +κλητοί τ’ αύτό μολοί τε. See Plato Sympos. p. 315, G. Læm. Why Menelaus +did so, is no matter to us, and probably was no mystery to his brother. + +“O Jove, most glorious, most great dark-cloud-collector, dwelling in +the air, may not the sun set, nor darkness come on, before I have laid +prostrate Priam’s hall, blazing, and consumed its gates with the +hostile fire; and cut away Hector’s coat of mail around his breast, +split asunder with the brass; and around him may many comrades, prone +in the dust, seize the earth with their teeth.” + +Thus he spoke, nor as yet did the son of Saturn assent, but he accepted +the offering, and increased abundant toil. But after they had prayed, +and thrown forward the bruised barley, they first drew back [the neck +of the victim,] slew it, and flayed it, then cut out the thighs, and +covered them in the fat, having arranged it in a double fold, and then +laid the raw flesh upon them. And they roasted them upon leafless +billets. Next, having pierced the entrails with spits, they held them +over the fire. But then, after the thighs were roasted, and they had +tasted the entrails, they cut the rest of them into small pieces, and +fixed them on spits, and roasted them skilfully, and drew them all off +[the spits]. But when they had ceased from labour, and had prepared the +banquet, they feasted; nor did their soul in anywise lack a due +allowance of the feast. But when they had dismissed the desire of drink +and food, them the Gerenian knight Nestor began to address: + +“Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men, let us now no +longer sit prating 115 here, nor let us long defer the work which the +deity now delivers into our hands. But come, let the heralds of the +brazen-mailed Greeks, summoning the people, assemble them at the ships, +and let us thus in a body pass through the wide army of the Greeks, +that we may the sooner awaken keen warfare.” + +Footnote 115: (return) See Buttm. Lexil. p. 398, Anthon, and Arnold. + +Thus he spoke, nor did Agamemnon, king of men, refuse compliance. +Immediately he ordered the clear-voiced heralds to summon the +waving-crested Greeks to battle. These then gave the summons, and they +were hastily assembled, and the Jove-nurtured kings, who were with the +son of Atreus, kept hurrying about arranging them. But amongst them was +azure-eyed Minerva, holding the inestimable ægis, which grows not old, +and is immortal: from which one hundred golden fringes were suspended, +all well woven, and each worth a hundred oxen in price. With this she, +looking fiercely about, 116 traversed the host of the Greeks, inciting +them to advance, and kindled strength in the breast of each to fight +and contend unceasingly. Thus war became instantly sweeter to them than +to return in the hollow ships to their dear native land. + +As when a destructive 117 fire consumes an immense forest upon the tops +of a mountain, and the gleam is seen from afar: so, as they advanced, +the radiance from the beaming brass glittering on all sides reached +heaven through the air. + +Footnote 116: (return) See Liddell and Scott. + +Footnote 117: (return) Literally “invisible.” Hence “making invisible, +destructive.” Cf. Buttm. Lex. s. v. ἀΐδηλος. + +And of these—like as the numerous nations of winged fowl, of geese, or +cranes, or long-necked swans, on the Asian mead, by the waters of +Cayster, fly on this side and on that, disporting with their wings, +alighting beside each other clamorously, and the meadow resounds—so the +numerous nations of these [the Greeks] from the ships and tents poured +themselves forth into the plain of Scamander, countless as the flowers +and leaves are produced in spring. + +As the numerous swarms of clustering flies which congregate round the +shepherd’s pen in the spring season, when too the milk overflows the +pails; so numerous stood the head-crested Greeks upon the plain against +the Trojans, eager to break [their lines]. + +And these, 118 as goat-herds easily separate the broad flocks of the +goats, when they are mingled in the pasture, so did the generals here +and there marshal them to go to battle; and among them commander +Agamemnon, resembling, as to his eyes and head, the thunder-delighting +Jove, as to his middle, Mars, and as to his breast, Neptune. + +Footnote 118: (return) In τοὺς δὲ there is an anacoluthon similar to +the one in vs. 459 + +As a bull in the herd is greatly eminent above all, for he surpasses +the collected cattle, such on that day did Jove render Agamemnon, +distinguished amongst many, and conspicuous amongst heroes. + +Tell me now, ye Muses, who possess the Olympian mansions (for ye are +goddesses, and are [ever] present, and ken all things, whilst we hear +but a rumour, nor know anything 119), who were the leaders and chiefs +of the Greeks. For I could not recount nor tell the multitude, not even +if ten tongues, and ten mouths were mine, [not though] a voice +unwearied, 120 and a brazen heart were within me; unless the Olympic +Muses, daughters of ægis-bearing Jove, reminded me of how many came to +Ilium. However, I will rehearse the commanders of the ships, and all +the ships. + +Footnote 119: (return) Cf. Æn. vii. 644:— + + “Et meministis enim, Divæ, et memorare potestis: + Ad nos vix tenuis famæ perlabitur aura.” + + + Milton, Par. Lost, i. 27:— + + + “Say first, for Heav’n hides nothing from thy view, + Nor the deep tract of Hell——” + + +Footnote 120: (return) Cf. Æn. vi. 625 sqq.; Georg. ii. 42; Valer. +Flacc, vi. 36; Silius, iv. 527; Claudian, 6 Cons. Hon. 436. This +hyperbolical mode of excusing poetic powers is ridiculed by Persius, +Sat. vi. 1. + +THE CATALOGUE OF THE SHIPS. + +Peneleus, and Leïtus, and Arcesilaus, and Prothoënor, and Clonius, +commanded the Bœotians; both those who tilled Hyrie, and rocky Aulis, +and Schœnos, and Scholos, and hilly Eteonus, Thespia, Græa, and the +ample plain of Mycalessus; and those who dwelt about Harma, and +Ilesius, and Erythræ; and those who possessed Elion, Hyle, Peteon, +Ocalea, and the well-built city Medeon, Copæ, Eutressis, and Thisbe +abounding in doves; and those who possessed Coronæa, and grassy +Haliartus, and Platæa; and those who inhabited Glissa, and those who +dwelt in Hypothebæ, the well-built city, and in sacred Onchestus, the +beauteous grove of Neptune; and those who inhabited grape-clustered +Arne, and those [who inhabited] Midea, and divine Nissa, and remote +Anthedon: fifty ships of these went to Troy, and in each embarked a +hundred and twenty Bœotian youths. + +Those who inhabited Aspledon, and Minyean Orchomenus, these Ascalaphus +and Ialmenus, the sons of Mars, led, whom Astyoche bore to powerful +Mars in the house of Actor, son of Azis: a modest virgin, when she +ascended the upper part of her father’s house; but the god secretly +embraced her. Of these thirty hollow ships went in order. + +Moreover, Schedius and Epistrophus, sons of magnanimous Iphitus, the +son of Naubolus, led the Phoceans, who possessed Cyparissus, and rocky +Python, and divine Crissa, and Daulis, and Panopea; and those who dwelt +round Anemoria and Hyampolis, and near the sacred river Cephissus, and +those who possessed Lilæa, at the sources of Cephissus: with these +forty dark ships followed. They indeed, 121 going round, arranged the +lines of the Phoceans; and they were drawn up in array near the +Bœotians, and towards the left wing. + +Footnote 121: (return) Schedius and Epistrophus. + +Swift-footed Ajax, the son of Oileus, was leader of the Locrians; less +in stature than, and not so tall as Ajax, the son of Telamon, but much +less. He was small indeed, wearing a linen corslet, but in [the use of] +the spear he surpassed all the Hellenes and Achæans, who inhabited +Cynus, Opus, Calliarus, Bessa, Scarpha, and pleasant Augeia, and +Tarpha, and Thronium, around the streams of Boagrius. But with him +forty dark ships of the Locrians followed, who dwell beyond sacred +Eubœa. + +The Abantes, breathing strength, who possessed Eubœa, and Chalcis, and +Eretria, and grape-clustered Histiæa, and maritime Cerinthus, and the +towering city of Dium, and those who inhabited Carystus and Styra: the +leader of these was Elephenor, of the line of Mars, the son of +Chalcodon, the magnanimous prince of the Abantes. With him the swift +Abantes followed, with flowing locks behind, warriors skilled with +protended spears of ash, to break the corslets on the breasts of their +enemies. With him forty dark ships followed. + +Those besides who possessed Athens, the well-built city, the state of +magnanimous Erechtheus, whom Minerva, the daughter of Jove, formerly +nursed (but him the bounteous earth brought forth), and settled at +Athens in her own rich temple: there the sons of the Athenians, in +revolving years, appease her with [sacrifices of] bulls and lambs +122—them Menestheus, son of Peteus, commanded. “No man upon the earth +was equal to him in marshalling steeds and shielded warriors in battle; +Nestor alone vied with him, for he was elder. With him fifty dark ships +followed.” + +But Ajax 123 led twelve ships from Salamis, and leading arranged them +where the phalanxes of the Athenians were drawn up. + +Footnote 122: (return) Grote, Hist. of Greece, vol. i. p. 75, +observes, “Athene is locally identified with the soil and people of +Athens, even in the Iliad: Erechtheus, the Athenian, is born of the +earth, but Athene brings him up, nourishes him, and lodges him in her +own temple, where the Athenians annually worship him with sacrifice and +solemnities. It was altogether impossible to make Erechtheus son of +Athene,—the type of the goddess forbade it; but the Athenian +myth-creators, though they found this barrier impassable, strove to +approach to it as near as they could.” Compare also p. 262, where he +considers Erechtheus “as a divine or heroic, certainly a superhuman +person, and as identified with the primitive germination of Attic man.” + +Footnote 123: (return) : The son of Telamon. + +Those who possessed Argos, and well-fortified Tiryns, Hermione, and +which encircle the Asine deep bay, Trœzene, and Eionæ, and vine-planted +Epidaurus, and those who possessed Ægina, and Mases, Achæan youths. +Their leader then was Diomede, brave in war, and Sthenelus, the dear +son of much-renowned Capaneus; and with these went Euryalus the third, +god-like man, the son of king Mecisteus, Talaus’ son; and all these +Diomede brave in war commanded. With these eighty dark ships followed. + +Those who possessed Mycenæ, the well-built city, and wealthy Corinth, +124 and well-built Cleonæ, and those who inhabited Ornia, and pleasant +Aræthyrea, and Sicyon, where Adrastus first reigned: and those who +possessed Hyperesia, and lofty Gonoessa, and Pellene, and those who +[inhabited] Ægium, and all along the sea-coast, 125 and about spacious +Helice. Of these, king Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, commanded a +hundred ships: and with him by far the most and bravest troops +followed; and he had clothed himself in dazzling brass, exulting in his +glory, that he shone conspicuous amongst all heroes; for he was the +most eminent, and led by far the most numerous troops. 126 + +Footnote 124: (return) An anachronism, as Corinth, before its capture +by the Dorians, was called Ephyra (as in II. vi. 152). “Neque est, quod +miremur ab Homero nominari Corinthum, nam ex persona poetæ et hanc +urbem, et quasdam Ionum colonias iis nominibus appellat, quibus +vocabantur ætate ejus, multo post Ilium captum conditæ.”—Vell. Paterc. +i. 3. + +Footnote 125: (return) I. e. the later Achaia.—Arnold. + +Footnote 126: (return) On the superior power of Agamemnon, see Grote, +vol. i. p. 211 and compare II. ix. 69. + +But those who possessed great Lacedæmon, full of clefts, and Pharis and +Sparta, and dove-abounding Messa, and Brysiæ, and pleasant Augeiæ; and +those who possessed Amyclæ, and Helos, a maritime city; and those who +possessed Laas, and dwelt round Œtylus. Of these his brother Menelaus, +brave in battle, commanded sixty ships, but they were armed apart [from +Agamemnon’s forces]. Amidst them he himself went, confiding in his +valour, inciting them to war; but especially he desired in his soul to +avenge the remorse of Helen and her groans. + +Those who inhabited Pylos and pleasant Arene, and Thryos, by the fords +of Alphœus, and well-built Æpy, and Cyparesseis and Amphigenia, and +Pteleum, and Helos, and Dorium: and there it was the Muses, meeting the +Thracian Thamyris, as he was coming from Œchalia, from Œchalian +Eurytus, caused him to cease his song; for he averred, boasting, that +he could obtain the victory, 127 even though the Muses themselves, the +daughters of ægis-bearing Jove, should sing. But they, enraged, made +him blind, and moreover deprived him of his power of singing, and +caused him to forget the minstrel-art. These the Gerenian horseman +Nestor commanded: and with him ninety hollow ships proceeded in order. + +Those who possessed Arcadia, under the breezy 128 mountain of Cyllene, +near the tomb of Æpytus, where are close-fighting heroes; those who +inhabited Pheneus, and sheep-abounding Orchomenus, and Ripe and +Stratie, and wind-swept Enispe, and who possessed Tegea and pleasant +Mantinea; and those who held Stymphalus, and dwelt in Parrhasie; of +these king Agapenor, the son of Ancæus, commanded sixty ships; but +aboard each ship went many Arcadian heroes skilled in war. But the son +of Atreus, Agamemnon himself, the king of heroes, gave them the +well-benched ships, to pass over the dark sea; since they had no care +of naval works. + +Footnote 127: (return) Respecting the connection of this story with +the early poetic contests, see Müller, Gk. Lit. iv. 2, whose +interesting remarks are, unfortunately, too long for a note. + +Footnote 128: (return) i. e. lofty. + +Those who inhabited Buprasium and noble Elis, as much as Hyrmine, and +distant Myrsinus, and the Olenian rock, and Alisium, contain within; of +these the leaders were four; but ten swift ships followed each hero, +and many Epeans went aboard them. Amphimachus and Thalpius, sons, the +one of Cteatus, the other of Eurytus, Actor’s son, commanded some: +brave Diores, son of Amarynceus, commanded others: and god-like +Polyxenus, son of Agasthenes, the son of king Augeas, commanded the +fourth division. + +Those from Dulichium, and the Echinades, sacred islands, which lie +beyond the sea, facing Elis. 129 Over these presided Meges, son of +Phyleus, equal to Mars, whom the knight Phyleus, beloved by Jove, +begat, who, enraged against his father, once on a time removed to +Dulichium. With him forty dark ships followed. + +Moreover Ulysses led the magnanimous Cephallenians, those who possessed +Ithaca and leaf-quivering Neritos, and who dwelt in Crocylea and rugged +Ægilips, and those who possessed Zacynthus, and those who inhabited +Samos, and those who possessed the continent, and dwelt in the places +lying opposite; these Ulysses commanded, equal to Jove in council. With +him followed twelve red-sided ships. + +Thoas, son of Andræmon, led the Ætolians, those who inhabited Pleuron, +and Olenus, and Pylene, and maritime Chalcis, and rocky Calydon. For +the sons of magnanimous Œneus were no more, nor was he himself +surviving; moreover, fair-haired Meleager was dead. 130 To him [Thoas,] +therefore, was intrusted the chief command, to rule the Ætolians, and +with him forty dark ships followed. + +Footnote 129: (return) “This description of the Echinades has +something equivocal in it, which is cleared up, if we suppose it +addressed to the inhabitants of the Asiatic side of the Archipelago. +But if, with Pope, we understand the words ‘beyond the sea’ to relate +to Elis, I think we adopt an unnatural construction to come at a forced +meaning; for the old Greek historians tell us, that those islands are +so close upon the coast of Elis, that in their time many of them had +been joined to it by means of the Achelous.”—Wood on Homer, p. 8, sq. + +Footnote 130: (return) Grote, Hist, of Greece, vol. i. p. 197, after +referring to the Homeric legend respecting Meleager in II. xi. 525, +sqq., remarks that “though his death is here indicated only indirectly, +there seems little doubt that Homer must have conceived the death of +the hero as brought about by the maternal curse: the unrelenting +Erinnys executed to the letter the invocations of Althæa, though she +herself must have been willing to retract them.” + +Spear-renowned Idomeneus commanded the Cretans, those who possessed +Gnossus and well-walled Gortyna and Lyctos, and Miletus, and white +Lycastus and Phæstus, and Rhytium, well-inhabited cities; and others +who inhabited the hundred-towned Crete. These spear-famed Idomeneus +commanded, and Meriones, equal to man-slaying Mars: with these followed +eighty dark ships. + +But Tlepolemus, the brave and great descendant of Hercules, led from +Rhodes nine ships of the haughty Rhodians, those who inhabited Rhodes, +arranged in three bands, Lindus, and Ialyssus, and white Camirus. These +spear-famed Tlepolemus led, he whom Astyochea brought forth to the +might of Hercules, 131 whom [Astyochea] he [Hercules] carried out of +Ephyre, from the river Selleis, after having laid waste many cities of +nobly-descended youths. Now Tlepolemus, after he had been trained up in +the well-built palaces, straightway slew the beloved uncle of his +father, Licymnius, now grown old, a branch of Mars; and instantly he +built a fleet; and having collected many troops, he departed, 132 +flying over the ocean; for him the sons and grandsons of the might of +Hercules had threatened. And he indeed came wandering to Rhodes, +suffering woes. And they, divided into three parts, dwelt in tribes, +and were beloved of Jove, who rules over gods and men: and on them the +son of Saturn poured down immense wealth. + +Footnote 131: (return) As in the Odyssey, I prefer preserving the +quaint simplicity of these antiquated periphrases. + +Footnote 132: (return) Grote, History of Greece, vol. i. p. 33, has +collected the Homeric instances of exile “for private or involuntary +homicide,” observing, however, from the Schol. on Il. xi. 690, “that +Homer never once describes any of them to have either received or +required purification for the crime.” + +Nireus moreover led three equal ships from Syme, Nireus son of Aglaea, +and king Charopus, Nireus, the fairest of men that came to Ilium, of +all the other Greeks, next to the unblemished son of Peleus. But he was +feeble, and few troops followed him. + +But those who possessed Nisyrus, and Crapathus, and Casus, and Cos, the +city of Eurypylus, and the Calydnæ isles, Phidippus and Antiphus, both +sons of the Thessalian king, the son of Hercules, commanded. Thirty +hollow ships of these went in order. + +But now, [O muse, recount] those, as many as inhabited Pelasgian Argos, +both those who dwelt in Alos and Alope, and Trechin, and those who +possessed Phthia, and Hellas famous for fair dames. But they are called +Myrmidons, and Hellenes, and Achæans: of fifty ships of these was +Achilles chief. But they remembered not dire-sounding war, for there +was no one who might lead them to their ranks. For swift-footed +Achilles lay at the ships, enraged on account of the fair-haired maid +Brisëis, whom he carried away from Lyrnessus, after having suffered +many labours, and having laid waste Lyrnessus and the walls of Thebes; +and he killed Mynetes and spear-skilled Epistrophus, sons of king +Evenus, the son of Selepius. On her account he lay grieving, but +speedily was he about to be roused. + +Those who possessed Phylace and flowery Pyrrhasus, the consecrated +ground of Ceres, and Iton the mother of sheep, maritime Antron, and +grassy Ptelon. These warlike Protesilaus, whilst he lived, commanded; +but him the black earth then possessed. His wife, lacerated all around, +had been left at Phylace, and his palace half finished. For a Trojan +man slew him, as he leaped ashore from his ship much the first of the +Greeks. Nor were they, however, without a leader, although they longed +for their own leader; for gallant Podarces marshalled them, Podarces, +son of sheep-abounding Iphiclus, the son of Phylacis, own brother of +magnanimous Protesilaus, younger by birth; but the warlike hero +Protesilaus was older and braver. His troops wanted not a leader, but +lamented him, being brave; with him forty dark ships followed. + +Those who inhabited Phære by the lake Bœbeïs, Bœbe, and Glaphyræ, and +well-built Iaolcus; these Eumeles, the beloved son of Admetus, +commanded in eleven ships, whom Alcestis, divine amongst women, most +beautiful in form of the daughters of Pelias, brought forth by Admetus. + +Those who inhabited Methone and Thaumacia, and possessed Melibœa, and +rugged Olizon; these Philoctetes, well skilled in archery, commanded in +seven ships. Fifty sailors, well skilled in archery, went on board each +to fight valiantly. But he lay in an island enduring bitter pangs, in +divine Lemnos, where the sons of the Greeks had left him suffering with +the evil sting of a deadly serpent. There he lay grieving; but soon +were the Argives at the ships destined to remember their king +Philoctetes. Nor were they however without a leader, though they longed +for their own leader; but Medon, the bastard son of Oïleus, whom Rhina +brought forth by city-wasting Oïleus, marshalled them. + +Those who possessed Tricca, and hilly Ithome, and those who possessed +Œchalia, the city of Œchalian Eurytus; Podalirius and Machaon, two +excellent physicians, 133 both sons of Æsculapius, led these. With them +thirty hollow ships went in order. + +Footnote 133: (return) Grote, vol. i. p. 348, remarks that the “renown +of Podalirius and Machaon was further prolonged in the subsequent poem +of Arctinus, the Iliu-Persis, wherein the one was represented as +unrivalled in surgical operations, the other as sagacious in detecting +and appreciating morbid symptoms. It was Podalirius who first noticed +the glaring eyes and disturbed deportment which preceded the suicide of +Ajax.” + +Those who possessed Ormenium, and the fountain Hyperia, and those who +possessed Asterium and the white tops of Titanus; these Eurypylus, the +brave son of Evæmon, commanded. With him forty dark ships followed. + +Those who possessed Argissa, and inhabited Gyrtone, and Orthe, and +Elone, and the white city Oloosson: these the stout warrior Polypœtes, +son of Pirithous, whom immortal Jove begat, commanded. Him renowned +Hippodamia brought forth by Pirithous, on the day when he took +vengeance on the shaggy Centaurs, and drove them from Mount Pelion, and +chased them to the Æthiceans. He was not the only leader; with him +commanded warlike Leonteus, son of magnamimous Coronus, the son of +Cœneus. With these forty dark ships followed. + +But Gyneus led two-and-twenty ships from Cyphus. Him the Enienes +followed, and the Peræbi, stout warriors, who placed their habitations +by chilly Dodona, and those who tilled the fields about delightful +Titaresius, which pours its fair-flowing stream into the Peneus; nor is +it mingled with silver-eddied Peneus, but flows on the surface of it +like oil. For it is a streamlet of the Stygian wave, the dreadful +[pledge of] oath. + +Prothoüs, son of Tenthredon, commanded the Magnetes, who dwell about +the Peneus, and leaf-quivering Pelion: these swift Prothoüs led; and +with him forty dark ships followed. + +These then were the leaders and chieftains of the Greeks. Do thou, +then, O muse, tell me who was the most excellent of these, of the kings +and their steeds, who followed the son of Atreus to Troy. The steeds of +the descendant of Pheres were indeed by far the most excellent, which +Eumelus drove, swift as birds, like in hair, like in age, and level in +[height of] back by the plumb-line. 134 These, bearing with them the +terror of Mars, both mares, silver-bowed Apollo fed in Pieria. 135 Of +the heroes Telamonian Ajax was by far the best, whilst Achilles +continued wrathful, for he was by far the bravest; and the steeds which +bore the irreproachable son of Peleus surpassed those of Eumelus. But +he on his part lay in his dark sea-traversing ships, breathing wrath +against the son of Atreus, Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people. But +his forces meantime amused themselves with quoits and javelins, hurling +[them,] and with their bows; and their steeds stood, each near his +chariot, feeding on lotus and lake-fed parsley. And the well-fastened +chariots lay in the tents of their lords. But they, longing for their +warlike chief, wandered hither and thither through the camp, and did +not fight. + +But they went along, as if the whole earth was being fed upon by fire, +136 and the earth groaned beneath, as in honour of thunder-rejoicing +Jove when angry, 137 when he strikes the earth around Typhœus in Arimæ, +138 where they say is the tomb of Typhœus; thus indeed beneath their +feet the earth groaned mightily, as they went, and very swift they +passed over the plain. + +Footnote 134: (return) I. e. exactly equal in height, as if they had +been measured. + +Footnote 135: (return) This degradation of Apollo used to be +commemorated in the theoria in honour of the god. See Müller Dor. vol. +i. p. 233. + +Footnote 136: (return) Such was the glitter of their arms. + +Footnote 137: (return) See Arnold. + +Footnote 138: (return) A volcanic district of Mysia. + +But swift-footed Iris came from aegis-bearing Jove, a messenger to the +Trojans, with a woeful announcement. They all, collected together, both +young and old, were holding councils at the gates of Priam. But +swift-footed Iris standing near, accosted them: and she likened herself +in voice to Polites, son of Priam, who, trusting to the swiftness of +his feet, sat at watch for the Trojans on the top of the tomb 139 of +old Æsyetus, watching when the Greeks should set forth from the ships. +To him having likened herself, swift-footed Iris addressed them: + +“Old man, ever are injudicious words pleasing to thee, as formerly in +time of peace: but now has an inevitable war arisen. Truly I have +already very often been present at the conflicts of heroes, but never +have I beheld such brave and numerous forces. For very like unto the +leaves or the sand proceed they through the plain, about to fight for +the city. Hector, for it is to thee in particular I give advice: and do +thou act thus; for many are the allies through the great city of Priam; +and different are the languages 140 of the widely-spread men. Let then +each hero command those of whom he is the chief: but do thou, +marshalling the citizens, be leader of them.” + +Thus she said. But Hector was not ignorant of the voice of the goddess; +and he instantly dismissed the council, and they rushed to arms. And +the portals were opened, and the troops rushed out, both foot and +horse; and much tumult arose. + +Now there is a certain lofty mound before the city, far in the plain, +that may be run round, 141 which men indeed call Batiea, but the +immortals, the tomb of nimbly-springing Myrinna. There the Trojans and +their allies were then marshalled separately. + +Footnote 139: (return) On the height of the ancient tombs, see my note +on Odyss. ii. p. 21, n. 35, ed. Bohn. + +Footnote 140: (return) Cf. iv. 437, where this variety of dialects is +again mentioned, and Müller, Greek Lit. i. § 4. + +Footnote 141: (return) _I. e._ standing clear on all sides. + +The Trojans, in the first place, great helmet-nodding Hector, son of +Priam, commanded. With him far the most numerous and the bravest troops +were armed, ardent with their spears. + +The Dardanians, in the next place, Æneas, the gallant son of Anchises, +commanded (him to Anchises the divine goddess Venus bore, couched with +him a mortal on the tops of Ida): not alone, but with him the two sons +of Antenor, Archelochus and Acamas, skilled in every kind of fight. + +But the Trojans who inhabited Zeleia, 142 beneath the lowest foot of +Ida, wealthy and drinking the dark water of Æsepus, these Pandarus, the +valiant son of Lycaon, commanded, to whom even Apollo himself gave his +bow. + +Footnote 142: (return) Cf. iv. 119. “The inhabitants of Zeleia +worshipped Apollo, and Zeleia was also called Lycia; facts which show +that there was a real connection between the name of Lycia and the +worship of Apollo, and that it was the worship of Apollo which gave the +name to this district of Troy, as it had done to the country of the +Solymi.”—Müller, Dor. vol. i. p. 248. + +Those who possessed Adrestæ, and the city of Apæsus, and possessed +Pityea, and the lofty mountain Tercia; these Adrastus and linen-mailed +Amphius commanded, the two sons of Percosian Merops, who was skilled in +prophecy above all others; nor was he willing to suffer his sons to go +into the man-destroying fight. But they did not obey him, for the fates +of sable death impelled them. + +Those who dwelt around Percote and Practius, and possessed Sestos and +Abydos, and divine Arisbe; these Asius, son of Hyrtacus, prince of +heroes, commanded: Asius, son of Hyrtacus, whom large and fiery steeds +bore from Arisbe, from the river Selleïs. + +Hippothoüs led the tribes of the spear-skilled Pelasgians, of those who +inhabited fertile Larissa; Hippothoüs and Pylæus of the line of Mars, +the two sons of Pelasgian Lethus, son of Teutamus, commanded these. + +But Acamus and the hero Piroüs led the Thracians, all that the rapidly +flowing Hellespont confines within. + +Euphemus, son of heaven-descended Trœzenus, son of Ceas, was commander +of the warlike Cicones. + +But Pyræchmes led the Pæonians, who use darts fastened by a thong, far +from Amydon, from wide-flowing Axius, from Axius, whose stream is +diffused the fairest over the earth. + +But the sturdy heart of Pylæmenes from the Eneti, whence is the race of +wild mules, led the Paphlagonians, those who possessed Cytorus, and +dwelt around Sesamus, and inhabited the famous dwellings around the +river Parthenius, and Cromna, Ægialus, and the lofty Erythine hills. + +But Hodius and Epistrophus, far from Alybe, whence is a rich product of +silver, commanded the Halizonians. Chromis and the augur Ennomus +commanded the Mysians, but he avoided not sable death through his skill +in augury, for he was laid low by the hands of Achilles in the river, +where he made havoc of the other Trojans also. + +Phorcys and godlike Ascanius far from Ascania, led the Phrygians, and +they eagerly desired to engage in battle. + +But Mesthles and Antiphus led the Mæonians, both sons of Talæmeneus, +whom the lake Gygæa bore; these led the Mæonians, born beneath Mount +Tmolus. + +Nastes commanded the barbarous-voiced Carians, who possessed Miletus, +and the leaf-topped mountain of Pethiri, and the streams of Mæander, +and the lofty tops of Mycale. These indeed Amphimachus and Nastes +commanded, Nastes and Amphimachus the famous sons of Nomion, who +foolish went to battle decked with gold like a young girl 143; nor did +this by any means ward off bitter death; but he was laid low by the +hands of the swift-footed son of Æacus at the river, and warlike +Achilles took away the gold. + +Footnote 143: (return) It was customary for virgins to wear golden +ornaments in great profusion. See Porson on Eur. Hec. 153. + +But Sarpedon and gallant Glaucus from Lycia afar, from the eddying +Xanthus, led the Lycians. + + + + +BOOK THE THIRD + + +ARGUMENT. + +Just as the armies are on the point of engaging, Paris proposes a +single combat, but, on Menelaus advancing, retires in affright. Being +rebuked by Hector, he consents to engage Menelaus, and a treaty is +arranged. Paris is vanquished, but is brought back safe to Ilium by +Venus, who appeases the anger of Helen. Menelaus, as conqueror, calls +upon the Trojans to fulfil the conditions of the challenge. + + +But after they had each been marshalled along with their leaders, the +Trojans, on the one hand, moved along with both clamour and +battle-shout, like birds; just as is the noise of cranes forth under +heaven, which, after they have escaped the winter and immeasurable 144 +shower, with a clamour do these wing their way towards the streams of +the ocean, bearing slaughter and fate to the Pygmæan men; and they then +at early dawn bring fatal strife. But the Greeks, on the other hand, +breathing might, 145 advanced in silence, anxious in mind to aid one +another. + +Footnote 144: (return) See Alberti on Hesych. s. v., t. i. p. 126; +lit. “what even a god would not say.”—Buttm. Lexil. p. 359. + +Footnote 145: (return) Par. Lost, i. 559: + + “——thus they, +Breathing united force with fixed thought, +Moved on in silence.” + + +As when the south wind sheds a mist over the top of a mountain, by no +means friendly to the shepherds, but more serviceable even than night +to the robber, and one can see [only] so far as he hurls a stone. So +under the feet of them proceeding an eddying dust kept rising: and very +speedily they traversed the plain. + +But when they now were near, approaching each other, godlike Alexander +advanced in front of the Trojans, having a panther’s skin on his +shoulders, and his crooked bow, and a sword; but he brandishing two +spears tipped with brass, challenged all the bravest of the Greeks to +fight against him in grievous conflict. + +But when Mars-beloved Menelaus perceived him advancing before the host, +taking long strides, as a hungering lion exults, when happening on a +carcase of large size, having found either a horned stag or a wild +goat. For he greedily devours it, although swift hounds and vigorous +youths pursue him. Thus Menelaus rejoiced, having beheld with his eyes +godlike Alexander. For he thought he would be revenged upon the guilty +wretch: forthwith, therefore, with his arms he leaped from his chariot +to the earth. + +But when, therefore, godlike Alexander perceived him appearing among +the foremost warriors, he was smitten in his heart, and gave way back +into the band of his companions, avoiding death. And as when any one +having seen a serpent in the thickets of a mountain, has started back, +and tremor has seized his limbs under him, and he has retired +backwards, and paleness seizes his cheeks: thus godlike Alexander +shrank back into the band of the haughty Trojans, dreading the son of +Atreus. + +But Hector having seen him, upbraided him with opprobrious words: +“Cursed Paris, 146 most excellent in form, thou woman-raving seducer, +would that thou hadst either not been born, or that thou hadst perished +unmarried. This, indeed, I would wish, and indeed it would be much +better, than that thou shouldst thus be a disgrace and scandal to +others. In truth the long-haired Achæans may laugh, having suspected +that thou wast a noble champion, because a fine person belongs [to +thee]; but there is not strength in thy soul, nor any nerve. Didst +thou, being such a one, having sailed over the ocean in sea-traversing +ships, having collected congenial associates, and mingled with +foreigners, take away a beauteous lady, from the Apian land, the spouse +of martial men, a great detriment to thy father, to the city, and to +all the people; a joy indeed to our enemies, but a disgrace to thyself? +Couldst thou not have awaited warlike Menelaus? Then shouldst thou have +known of how brave a man thou dost possess the blooming spouse. Nor +will thy harp, and the gifts of Venus, and thy hair, and thy figure +avail thee, when thou shalt be mingled with the dust. 147 But the +Trojans are very pusillanimous; else wouldst thou have been arrayed in +a garment of stone, on account of the evils which thou hast done.” 148 + +Him then godlike Alexander in turn addressed: “Hector, since thou hast +reproached me justly, and not unjustly, [I will submit]. Ever is thy +spirit unwearied, like an axe, which penetrates the wood, [driven] by +the man who with art cuts out the naval plank, and it increases the +force of the man: so in thy breast is there an intrepid heart. Reproach +me not with the lovely gifts of golden Venus: the distinguished gifts +of the gods are by no means to be rejected, whatever indeed they give; +for no one can choose them at his own pleasure. Now, however, if thou +desirest me to wage war and to fight, cause the other Trojans and all +the Greeks to sit down, but match me and Mars-beloved Menelaus to +contend in the midst for Helen and all the treasures. And whichever of +us shall conquer, and shall be superior, having received all the +treasures without reserve, and the woman, let him conduct them home. +But let the rest of you, striking a friendship and faithful league, +inhabit fertile Troy; and let them return to the steed-nourishing +Argos, and fair-damed Achaia.” + +Footnote 146: (return) Δὑς here denotes the evils which fatally +resulted to Paris and his friends (so δυσελένας, “baleful Helen,” Eur. +Or. 1388. Cf. Æsch. Ag. 689, sqq.) in consequence of his having been +preserved, despite the omens attending his birth. See Hygin. Fab. xci. +Hence the Schol. on Il. x. i. 96, derive his name of Paris, ὅτι τὸν +μόνον παοῆλθεν. + +Footnote 147: (return) Cf. Hor. Od. i. 15, 13:— + +“Nequicquam, Veneris præsidio ferox, +Pectes cæsariem, grataque feminis +Imbelli cithara carmina divides: . . . +. . . tamen, heu! sorus adulteros +Crines pulvere collines.” + + +Footnote 148: (return) _I. e._ thou wouldst have been stoned to death. + +Thus he spoke, but Hector on the other hand rejoiced greatly, having +heard his speech; and having advanced into the centre, holding his +spear by the middle, he restrained the phalanxes of the Trojans, and +they all sat down. Against him the waving-haired Achæans were directing +their bows, and taking aim, were going to hurl with shafts and with +stones. But Agamemnon, he, 149 the king of men, exclaimed aloud: + +Footnote 149: (return) Mark the force of the pronoun. + +“Withhold, Argives! cast not, ye sons of the Aenæans; for helm-nodding +Hector stands as if intending to propose something.” + +Thus he spoke; but they abstained from battle, and instantly became +silent. But Hector between both [armies] spoke thus: + +“Hear from me, ye Trojans, and well-greaved Greeks, the proposal of +Alexander, on whose account this strife has arisen. He advises that the +other Trojans and all the Greeks should lay down their beauteous arms +upon the bounteous earth; but that he and Mars-beloved Menelaus alone +should fight in the midst for Helen and all the treasures; and +whichever shall conquer, and shall be superior, having received all the +treasures without reserve, and the woman, let him conduct them home: +but let the rest of us strike a friendship and faithful league.” + +Thus he said, and all became mute in silence. But amidst them Menelaus, +valiant in the din of war, thus spoke: + +“Now hear me also; for anguish has invaded my soul most: but I purpose +that the Greeks and Trojans should now be separated, since ye have +suffered many evils on account of my quarrel and the beginning of [this +strife through] Alexander. And to whichever of us death and fate has +been ordained, let him die; but do the rest of you be very speedily +separated. And bring lambs—one white, the other black—to the Earth and +to the Sun; and we will bring another to Jove. Moreover ye shall bring +the might of Priam, that he may strike the league himself, for his sons +are overbearing and faithless; lest any one, by transgression, violate +the covenant of Jove. For the minds of younger men are ever +fluctuating; but for those among whom a senior is present, he looks at +the same time both backward and forward, in order that the best results +may accrue to both parties.” + +Thus he spoke. But both Greeks and Trojans rejoiced, hoping to have +respite from grievous war. And they accordingly reined back their +horses to the ranks [of the foot], but dismounted themselves, and put +off their arms, and laid them down on the ground near each other; and +around [each pile of arms] there was a little space. + +But Hector despatched two heralds to the city with speed, to bring the +lambs, and to call Priam. While, on the other hand, king Agamemnon sent +Talthybius to go to the hollow ships, and ordered him to bring a lamb. +And he did not disobey noble Agamemnon. + +And meantime came Iris a messenger to white-armed Helen, likening +herself to her husband’s sister, the wife of Antenor’s son, most +excelling in beauty of the daughters of Priam, Laodice, whom the son of +Antenor, king Helicaon, possessed. But she found her in her palace, and +she was weaving an ample web, a double [mantle], 150 resplendent, and +on it was working many labours both of the horse-taming Trojans and the +brazen-mailed Greeks, which on her account they suffered at the hands +of Mars. Standing near, the swift-footed Iris accosted her thus: + +“Come hither, dear lady, 151 that thou mayest view the wondrous deeds +of the horse-taming Trojans, and of the brazen-mailed Greeks, who +formerly against each other waged tearful war in the plain, eager for +destructive battle. Now, however, they sit in silence (and the war has +ceased), leaning on their shields, and near them their long spears are +fixed. But Alexander and Mars-beloved Menelaus are about to fight for +thy sake with their long spears, and thou shalt be called the dear wife +of him who conquers.” + +Thus having spoken, the goddess infused a tender desire into her mind +both of her former husband, and of her city, and her parents. And +instantly veiling herself in white linen robes, 152 she rushed from her +chamber, shedding a tender tear: not alone, for two domestics +accompanied her, Œthra, daughter of Pittheus, and large-eyed Clymene. +Then they quickly came to where the Scæan gates were. But Priam and +Panthous, and Thymœtes, Lampus, Clytius, Hicetaon, an offshoot of Mars, +Ucalegon, and Antenor, both prudent, elders of the people, sat at the +Scæan gates, long since desisting from war, through old age: but good +orators, like unto the Cicadæ, 153 which, in the woods, sitting on a +tree, send forth a delicate voice; such leaders of the Trojans at that +time were sitting on the tower. But when they saw Helen coming to the +tower, in low tone they addressed to each other winged words: + +Footnote 150: (return) By χλαιναν is understood a mantle which could +be worn doubled. Others suppose it means cloth of double tissue. + +Footnote 151: (return) An affectionate use of the word νύμϕα, which +properly means a bride or young wife. + +Footnote 152: (return) The plural is used to denote a long, flowing +robe. + +Footnote 153: (return) some the cicada or τεττιξ, this is to be +considered to be the balm-cricket. + +“It is not a subject for indignation, that Trojans and well-greaved +Greeks endure hardships for a long time on account of such a woman. In +countenance she is wondrous like unto the immortal goddess, but even +so, although being such, let her return in the ships, nor be left a +destruction to us and to our children hereafter.” + +Thus they spoke. But Priam called Helen,—“Coming hither before us, dear +daughter, sit by me, that thou mayest see thy former husband, thy +kindred, and thy friends—(thou art not at all in fault towards me; the +gods, in truth, are in fault towards me, who have sent against me the +lamentable war of the Greeks)—that thou mayest name for me this mighty +man, who is this gallant and tall Grecian hero. Certainly there are +others taller in height; but so graceful a man have I never yet beheld +with my eyes, nor so venerable; for he is like unto a kingly man.” + +But him Helen, one of the divine women, answered in [these] words: +“Revered art thou and feared by me, dear father-in-law; would that an +evil death had pleased me, when I followed thy son hither, having left +my marriage-bed, my brothers, my darling 154 daughter, and the +congenial company of my equals. But these things were not done: +therefore I pine away with weeping. But this will I tell thee, which +thou seekest of me and inquirest. This is wide-ruling Agamemnon, son of +Atreus, in both characters, 155 a good king and a brave warrior. He was +the brother-in-law, moreover, of shameless me, if ever indeed he was.” +156 + +Footnote 154: (return) See Buttm. Lexil. s. v. and Arnold. + +Footnote 155: (return) Observe the force of the neuter. + +Footnote 156: (return) “_Si unquam fuit, quod nunc non est ampleus_. +i.e. _si recte dici potest fuisse, quod ita sui factum est dissimile, +ut fuisse unquam vix credas_.”—Herm. on Vig. p. 946, quoted by Anthon. + +Thus she spoke. But him the old man admired, and said “O blessed son of +Atreus, happy-born, fortunate, truly indeed were many Achæan youths +made subject to thee. Before now I entered vine-bearing Phrygia, where +I beheld many Phrygians, heroes on fleet horses, the forces of Otreus +and godlike Mygdon, who encamped there near the banks of the Sangarius. +For I also, being an ally, was numbered with them on that day, when the +man-opposing Amazons came. But not even these were so numerous as the +black-eyed Greeks.” + +But next perceiving 157 Ulysses, the old man asked her: “Come, tell me +of this one also, dear daughter, who he is? he is less indeed in height +158 than Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, but is broader to behold in +shoulders and breast. His arms lie up on the fertile earth, but he +himself, like a ram, goes round the ranks of the men. I for my part +compare him to a thick-fleeced ram, which wanders through a great flock +of snowy sheep.” + +Footnote 157: (return) This whole passage may be compared with the +similar enumeration and description of the seven Argive chieftains in +Eurip. Phœn. 119, sqq. + +Footnote 158: (return) Not “a head less” in height; for line 169 would +then mean that Agamemnon was a head less than others, and consequently +Ulysses would be two heads under the ordinary size. Anthon has adopted +this common mistake, although Wolf had pointed it out. + +But him Helen, sprung from Jove, answered: “Now, this one again is the +son of Laertes, much-scheming Ulysses, who was bred in the country of +Ithaca, rugged though it be, skilled in all kinds of stratagems and +prudent counsels.” + +Her then the sage Antenor addressed in reply: “O lady, assuredly hast +thou spoken this word very truly: for already in former times divine +Ulysses came hither also, on an embassy concerning thee, with +Mars-beloved Menelaus. I received them as guests, and entertained them +in my palace, and became acquainted with the genius of both, and their +prudent counsels; but when they were mingled with the assembled +Trojans, Menelaus indeed overtopped him, as they stood by his broad +shoulders; but when both were sitting, Ulysses was more majestic. 159 +But when they began to weave words and counsels for all, Menelaus, on +his part, would harangue very fluently; a few [words] indeed, but very +sweetly, since he was not loquacious, nor a random talker, though he +was younger in age. But when much-counselling Ulysses arose, he stood +and looked down, fixing his eyes on the earth, but he neither moved his +sceptre backwards nor forwards, but held it unmoved like an unskilful +man: you would say indeed that he was a very irritable man, as well as +devoid of reason. But when he did send forth the mighty voice from his +breast, and words like unto wintry flakes of snow, no longer then would +another mortal contend with Ulysses. And beholding, we then marvelled +not so much at the aspect of Ulysses, [as at his words].” + +Footnote 159: (return) Observe the Attic construction, where the +genitive would have been expected. So Od. M. 73. Il. ii 317. Compared +by Lesbonax, περὶ σχημ. p. 183, sq. ed. Valck. See, also, my note on +Æsch. Prom, p. 8, ed. Bohn; intpp. on Theocrit. i. 48. + +Then in the third place, having beheld Ajax, the old man asked: “Who is +that other Achæan hero, valiant and great, out-topping the Argives by +his head and broad shoulders?” + +But him long-robed Helen answered, divine of women: “This indeed is +mighty Ajax, the bulwark of the Achæans: on the other side, amongst the +Cretans, stands Idomeneus like unto a god: but around him the leaders +of the Cretans are collected. Often did Mars-beloved Menelaus entertain +him in our palace, when he would come from Crete. But now I behold all +the other rolling-eyed Greeks, whom I could easily recognize, and +pronounce their names; but two leaders of the people I cannot see: +horse-taming Castor, and Pollux skilled in boxing, twin brothers, whom +the same mother brought forth with me. Either they have not followed +from pleasant Lacedæmon, or they indeed have followed hither in the +sea-traversing ships, but now are reluctant to enter the fight of the +heroes, fearing the disgrace, and the many reproaches which are mine.” + +Thus she spoke; but them the life-bestowing earth already possessed: +there in Lacedæmon, in their dear native land. 160 + +Footnote 160: (return) They had fallen in combat with Lynceus and +Idas, whilst besieging Sparta.—Hygin. Poet. Ast. ii. 22. According, +however, to other mythologists, they shared immortality in turns. See +Od. xi. 302. Virg. Æu. vi. 121; with Servius, and Apollodor. iii. ll. +2. + +But heralds through the city were bearing the firm pledges of the gods, +two lambs and joyous wine, the fruit of the earth, in a goat-skin +flagon. But the herald Idæus also brought a splendid goblet, and golden +cups; and standing by him, incited the old man in these words: + +“Arise, son of Laomedon; the chiefs of the horse-breaking Trojans, and +of the brazen-mailed Greeks, call thee to descend into the plain, that +thou mayest ratify a faithful league. For Alexander and Mars-beloved +Menelaus are about to fight with long spears for the woman. But let the +woman and the effects attend the conqueror; but let the rest of us, +having struck a friendship and faithful league, inhabit fruitful Troy, +and they shall return to horse-feeding Argos, and to Achaia, famed for +fair dames.” + +Thus he said, but the old man shuddered, and ordered his attendants to +yoke his horses; and they briskly obeyed. Priam then mounted his +chariot, and drew back the reins: and beside him Antenor mounted the +beautiful chariot. So they guided their fleet steeds through the Scæan +gates, towards the plain. + +But when they had now come between the Trojans and the Greeks, +descending from their steeds to the fruitful earth, they advanced into +the midst of the Trojans and Greeks. Then Agamemnon, king of heroes, +immediately arose, and much-counselling Ulysses arose. But the +illustrious heralds collected together the faithful pledges of the +gods, and mixed wine in a bowl, and poured water upon the hands of the +kings. And the son of Atreus, drawing with his hands his dagger, which +was always suspended at the huge sheath of his sword, cut off hairs +from the heads of the lambs: and then the heralds distributed them to +the chiefs of the Trojans and the Greeks. Amongst them the son of +Atreus prayed earnestly, having stretched forth his hands: + +“O father Jove, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most mighty,—and thou, +O sun, who beholdest all things, and nearest all things—and ye rivers, +and thou earth, and ye below who punish men deceased, whosoever swears +with perjury, be ye witnesses and preserve the faithful league. If, on +the one hand, Alexander should slay Menelaus, let him thenceforth +retain Helen and all her possessions; but let us return in our +sea-traversing ships. But if, on the contrary, yellow-haired Menelaus +slay Alexander, let the Trojans then restore Helen and all her +treasures, and pay a fine to the Argives such as is just, and which may +be [recorded] amongst posterity. But if Priam and the sons of Priam +will not pay me the fine, on Alexander falling, then will I afterwards +fight on account of the fine, remaining here till I find an end of the +war.” + +He spoke, and cut the throats of the lambs with the cruel steel, and he +laid them on the earth panting, wanting life; for the brass had taken +away their [vital] strength. Then having drawn wine from the goblet, +they poured it into the cups, and prayed to the immortal gods. But thus +some one of the Greeks and Trojans said: + +“Ο Jove, most glorious, most mighty, and ye other immortal gods, +whoever first shall offend against the leagues, so let the brain of +themselves and of their children stream upon the ground like this wine, +and let their wives be mingled with other men.” + +Thus they said, nor yet did the son of Saturn ratify [their vows]. Then +Priam, the son of Dardanus, addressed them: + +“Hear me, ye Trojans, and ye well-greaved Greeks: I, indeed, return +again to wind-swept Ilion, since I can by no means endure to behold +with these eyes my dear son fighting with Mars-beloved Menelaus. Jove, +certainly, knows this, and the other immortal gods, to which of them +the event of death is destined.” + +He spoke, and the godlike man placed the lambs in the chariot, and +ascended himself, and drew back the reins; and beside him Antenor +mounted the very beautiful chariot. They on their part returning went +back towards Ilion. + +But Hector on the other hand, the son of Priam, and divine Ulysses, +first measured the ground; then taking the lots, they shook them in the +brazen helmet, [to decide] which should hurl the brazen spear first. +But the people meantime supplicated, and stretched forth their hands to +the gods; and thus some one of the Greeks and Trojans said: + +“O father Jove, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most mighty, whichever +has caused these evil works to both sides, grant that he, being slain, +may enter the house of Pluto, but that to us, on the other hand, there +may be friendship and a faithful league.” + +Thus then they spoke, and now mighty helm-quivering Hector shook the +lots, looking backward; and quickly the lot of Paris leaped forth. They +then sat down in their ranks, where the fleet steeds of each stood, and +their varied arms lay. But divine Alexander, the husband of fair-haired +Helen, put on his beauteous armour around his shoulders. In the first +place, around his legs he placed his beautiful greaves fitted with +silver clasps; then again he put on his breast the corslet of his +brother Lycaon, for it fitted him; but around his shoulders he slung +his brazen, silver-studded sword and then his huge and solid shield. +But on his valiant head he placed a well-wrought helmet, crested with +horse-hair, and the crest nodded dreadfully from above; and he grasped +his doughty spear, which fitted to his hands. In this same manner the +martial Menelaus put on his arms. + +But they, when they were armed from each side of the throng, advanced +to the middle between the Trojans and Greeks, looking dreadfully; and +amazement seized the beholders, both the horse-breaking Trojans and the +well-greaved Greeks. They then stood near in the measured-out space, +brandishing their spears, incensed against each other. Alexander first +hurled his long-shadowed spear, and smote the shield of the son of +Atreus, equal on all sides, nor did the brass break, for the point +was bent upon the strong shield: but next Menelaus, son of Atreus, +commenced the attack with his brazen spear, praying to father Jove: + +“O king Jove, grant [me] to avenge myself [on him] who first injured +me, and subdue impious Alexander under my hands, that every one, even +of future men, may shudder to offer injury to a guest who may have +afforded [him] an hospitable reception.” + +He spoke; and brandishing, he hurled his long-shadowed spear, and smote +the shield of the son of Priam, equal on all sides; and through the +glittering shield went the impetuous spear, and was stuck firmly into +the deftly-wrought corslet: and the spear pierced right through his +soft tunic beside the flank: but he bent sideways, and evaded black +death. Next the son of Atreus having drawn his silver-studded sword, +raising it, struck the cone 161 of his helmet, but it fell from his +hand shivered round about into three or four pieces. And the son of +Atreus groaned aloud, looking towards the wide heaven: + +Footnote 161: (return) Buttmann, Lexil. p. 521, makes φαλος to be the +same as κωνος, a metal ridge in which the plume was fixed. + +“Ο father Jove, none other of the gods is more baleful than thou. +Certainly I hoped to be revenged upon Alexander for his wickedness: but +now my sword has been broken in my hands, and my spear has been hurled +from my hand in vain, nor have I smote him.” + +He spoke; and rushing on, he seized him by the horse-hair tufted +helmet, and turning, began to drag him to the well-greaved Greeks: but +the richly-embroidered band under his tender throat was choking him, +which was drawn under his chin as the strap of his helmet. And now he +had dragged him away, and obtained infinite glory, had not Venus, the +daughter of Jove, quickly perceived it, who broke for him 162 the +thong, [made] from the hide of an ox slaughtered by violence: and +thereupon the empty helmet followed with his strong hand. It, then, the +hero whirling round, cast to the well-greaved Greeks, and his dear +companions took it up. And he [Menelaus] again rushed on, desiring to +slay him with his brazen spear: but him [Paris] Venus very easily, as +being a goddess, rescued, and covered him in a thick mist; then placed +him down in his fragrant chamber, exhaling perfumes. + +Footnote 162: (return) _I.e._ Menelaus.—to his confusion. + +But she herself, on the other hand, went to call Helen, and she found +her on the lofty tower, and many Trojan dames around her. Then with her +hand catching her by the fragrant mantle, she shook her: and likening +herself to an ancient dame, a spinner of wool, who used to comb fair +wool for her when dwelling at Lacedæmon, and she loved her much: to her +having likened herself, divine Venus accosted [Helen]: + +“Come hither, Alexander calls thee to return home. He himself is in his +chamber and turned bed, shining both in beauty and attire; nor wouldst +thou say that he had returned after having fought with a hero, but that +he was going to the dance, or that just ceasing from the dance, he sat +down.” + +Thus she said, and agitated the heart in her breast: and when she +beheld the all-beauteous neck of the goddess, and her lovely bosom, and +her flashing eyes, she was awe-struck, and spoke a word, and said: + +“Strange one! why dost thou desire to deceive me in these things? Wilt +thou lead me anywhere farther on to one of the well-inhabited cities, +either of Phrygia or pleasant Mæonia, if there be any of +articulately-speaking men dear to thee there? Is it because Menelaus, +having now conquered noble Alexander, wishes to bring hated me home, +that therefore with artful purpose thou now standest near me? Going, +sit with him thyself, and renounce the path of the gods. And mayest +thou no more return on thy feet to Olympus: but always grieve beside +him, and watch him, until he either make thee his consort, or he indeed +[make thee] his handmaid. But there I will not go to adorn his couch, +for it would be reprehensible: all the Trojan ladies henceforth will +reproach me. But I shall have woes without measure in my soul.” + +But her, divine Venus, incensed, thus addressed: “Wretch, provoke me +not, lest in my wrath I abandon thee, and detest thee as much as +heretofore I have wonderfully loved thee, and lest I scatter +destructive hate in the midst of the Trojans and Greeks, and thou +perish by an evil fate.” + +Thus she spoke: but Helen, sprung from Jove, dreaded, and she went +covered with a white transparent robe, in silence; and escaped the +notice of all the Trojan dames, for the goddess led the way. + +But when they reached the very beautiful palace of Alexander, then the +maids, on their part, turned themselves speedily to their tasks; but +she, divine of women, ascended into her lofty-roofed chamber: and then +laughter-loving Venus, carrying, placed a seat for her opposite +Alexander: there Helen, daughter of the ægis-bearing Jove, sat, +averting her eyes, and reproached her husband with these words: + +“Thou hast come from the war: would that thou hadst perished there, +slain by that brave hero, who was my former husband. Certainly, thou +didst formerly boast, that thou wast superior to Mars-beloved Menelaus, +in might, in hands, and at the spear. But go now, challenge +Mars-beloved Menelaus to fight once more against thee! But I advise +thee to refrain, nor unadvisedly wage war and fight against fair-haired +Menelaus, lest perchance thou mayest be subdued beneath his spear.” + +But her Paris answering addressed in words: “Woman! assail me not in +soul with reproachful taunts; for now indeed has Menelaus conquered by +Minerva’s aid; but I in turn will vanquish him, for gods are with us +also. But come, let us delight in dalliance, reclining together, for +never before did love so fondly enwrap my soul, not even when formerly, +having borne thee away from pleasant Lacedæmon, I sailed in the +sea-traversing ships, and was united with thee in love and in the couch +in the island Cranaë; so now am I enamoured of thee, and sweet desire +possesses me.” + +He spoke, and led the way, ascending the couch; but his wife followed +with him: they therefore rested upon their perforated couch. + +Meanwhile the son of Atreus was wandering through the crowd like to a +savage beast, if anywhere he could perceive godlike Alexander. But none +of the Trojans or their illustrious allies could then point out +Alexander to Mars-beloved Menelaus; for neither through friendship +would they have concealed him, if any one did see him; for he was +hateful to them all, like sable death. But amongst them spoke +Agamemnon, king of heroes: + +“Hear me, ye Trojans, Greeks, and allies: the victory indeed appears +[to belong to] Mars-beloved Menelaus. Do ye therefore restore Argive +Helen and her treasures with her, and pay the fine which is fitting, +and which shall be remembered by future men.” + +Thus spoke the son of Atreus, and the other Greeks approved. + + + + +BOOK THE FOURTH + + +ARGUMENT. + +Paris not being slain, the combat left it doubtful whether Helen should +be returned or not; but Juno extorts a promise from Jove of the final +destruction of Troy. Minerva then persuades Pandarus to break the truce +by aiming an arrow at Menelaus. The wound is, however, cured by +Machaon. The Trojans proceed to the battle, while Agamemnon exhorts the +chieftains of the Greeks. The fight then commences, Mars and Apollo +encouraging the Trojans, Minerva and the other deities the Greeks. + + +Now they, the gods, sitting on the golden floor 163 with Jove, were +engaged in consultation, and amidst them venerable Hebe poured out the +nectar: but they pledged 164 one another with golden cups, looking +towards the city of the Trojans. Forthwith the son of Saturn attempted +to irritate Juno, speaking with a covert allusion, with reproachful +words: 165 + +“Two goddesses, indeed, are auxiliaries to Menelaus, Argive 166 Juno +and Minerva of Alalcomenæ: 167 and yet these, forsooth, sitting apart, +amuse themselves with looking on; but to the other, on the contrary +[Paris], laughter-loving Venus is ever present, 168 and averts fate +from him. Even now has she saved him, thinking that he was about to +die. But the victory, indeed, belongs to Mars-beloved Menelaus: let us +therefore consult how these things shall be, whether we shall again +excite the destructive war, and dreadful battle-din, or promote +friendship between both parties. And if, moreover, this shall perchance +169 be grateful and pleasing to all, the city of king Priam, indeed, +may be inhabited, but let Menelaus lead back again Argive Helen.” + +Footnote 163: (return) “On the golden floor of Jove’s abode.”—Cowper. + +Footnote 164: (return) Athenæus, i. ll, εδεξιουντο, προπινοντες +εαυτοις, ταις δεξιαις. Cf. xi. 14. Hesych. δειδεκτο, εδεξιουτο, δια +φιλιας ησπαζετο και λογων. + +Footnote 165: (return) I am indebted to Arnold for this version. + +Footnote 166: (return) So called from her temple at Argos. See Pausan. +ii. 17; Apul. Met. vi. p. 458; Servius on Æn. i. 28. + +Footnote 167: (return) She had a temple at Alalcomenæ, in Bœotia. Cf. +Pausan. ix. 33; Steph. Byz. ν. αλαλκομενιον. + +Footnote 168: (return) On the affinity of βλωσκειν and μολεΐν, see +Buttm. Lexil. p. 84. + +Footnote 169: (return) Read αυ πως for αυτως, with Aristarchus, Wolf, +Spitzner. + +Thus he spoke: but Minerva and Juno murmured with closed lips, for they +were sitting near, and were devising evils for the Trojans. Minerva, +indeed, was silent, nor said anything, indignant with her father Jove, +for dreadful rage possessed her. But Juno could not retain her fury in +her breast, but addressed him: + +“Most baleful son of Saturn! what a sentence hast thou uttered! How +dost thou wish to render my labour vain, and my sweat fruitless, which +I have sweated through with toil? For the steeds are tired to me +assembling the host, evils to Priam and to his sons. Do so: but all we +the other gods do not approve.” + +But her cloud-compelling Jove, in great wrath, answered: “Strange one! +how now do Priam and the sons of Priam work so many wrongs against +thee, that thou desirest implacably to overturn the well-built city of +Ilion? But if thou, entering the gates and the lofty walls, couldst +devour alive 170 Priam and the sons of Priam, and the other Trojans, +then perhaps thou mightst satiate thy fury. Do as thou wilt, lest this +contention be in future a great strife between thee and me. But another +thing I tell thee, and do thou lay it up in thy soul: whenever haply I, +anxiously desiring, shall wish to destroy some city, where men dear to +thee are born, retard not my rage, but suffer me; for I have given thee +this of free will, though with unwilling mind. For of those cities of +earthly men, which are situated under the sun and the starry heaven, +sacred Ilion was most honoured by me in my heart, and Priam and the +people of Priam skilled in the ashen spear. For there my altars never +lacked a due banquet and libation, and savour; for this honour were we +allotted.” + +Footnote 170: (return) Literally, “eat raw.” Cf. Xenoph. Anab. iv. 8, +14. Τουτους ην πως δυνωμεθα, και ωμους δει καταφαγειν.—Clarke. + +Him then the venerable full-eyed Juno answered: “There are three +cities, indeed, most dear to me: Argos, and Sparta, and wide-wayed +Mycenæ; 171 destroy these whenever they become hateful to thy soul. In +behalf of these I neither stand forth, nor do I grudge them to thee: +for even were I to grudge them, and not suffer thee to destroy them, by +grudging I avail nothing, since thou art much more powerful. And yet it +becomes [thee] to render my labour not fruitless; for I am a goddess, +and thence my race, whence thine; and wily Saturn begat me, very +venerable on two accounts, both by my parentage, and because I have +been called thy spouse. Moreover, thou rulest amongst all the +immortals. But truly let us make these concessions to each other: I, on +my part, to thee, and thou to me; and the other immortal gods will +follow. Do thou without delay bid Minerva go to the dreadful battle-din +of the Trojans and Greeks, and contrive that the Trojans may first +begin to injure the most renowned Greeks, contrary to the leagues.” + +Footnote 171: (return) “It certainly seems to me, that, in a reference +so distinct to the three great Peloponnesian cities which the Dorians +invaded and possessed, Homer makes as broad an allusion to the +conquests of the Heraclidæ, not only as would be consistent with the +pride of an Ionic Greek in attesting the triumphs of the national +Dorian foe, but as the nature of a theme cast in a distant period, and +remarkably removed, in its general conduct, from the historical detail +of subsequent events, would warrant to the poet.”—Bulwer, Athens, i. 8. +The correctness of this view, however, depends upon the true date of +Homer’s existence. + +Thus she spoke; nor did the father of gods and men disobey. Instantly +he addressed Minerva in winged words: + +“Go very quickly to the army, among the Trojans and Greeks, and +contrive that the Trojans may first begin to injure the most renowned +Greeks, contrary to the league.” + +Thus having spoken, he urged on Minerva already inclined; she hastening +descended the heights of Olympus; such as the star which the son of +wily Saturn sends, a sign either to mariners, or to a wide host of +nations, and from it many sparks are emitted. Like unto this Pallas +Minerva hastened to the earth, and leaped into the midst [of the army]; +and astonishment seized the horse-breaking Trojans and the well-greaved +Greeks, looking on. And thus would one say, looking at some other near +him: + +“Doubtless evil war and dreadful battle-din will take place again, or +Jove is establishing friendship between both sides, he who has been +ordained the arbiter of war amongst men.” 172 + +Footnote 172: (return) Duport, Gnom. Hom. p. 20, compares the words of +Belisarius in Procop. Vandal. i. Μαχονται μεν ανθρωποι, βραζευει δε ο +Θεος οπως ποτε αυτω δοκει, και το του πολεμου δίδωσι κρατος. + +Thus then did some one of the Greeks and Trojans say; but she like a +hero entered the host of the Trojans, the brave warrior Laodocus, son +of Antenor, seeking godlike Pandarus, if anywhere she might find him. +She found the blameless and valiant son of Lycaon standing, and around +him the brave ranks of shielded warriors, who had followed him from the +streams of Æsepus; and standing near, she thus to him spoke winged +words: + +“Wouldst thou now hearken to me in anything, O warlike son of Lycaon? +Thou wouldst venture then to aim a swift arrow at Menelaus. Doubtless +thou wouldst bear away both thanks and glory from all the Trojans, but +of all, chiefly from the prince Alexander, from whom, indeed, first of +all, thou wouldst receive splendid gifts, if he should see martial +Menelaus, the son of Atreus, subdued by this weapon, ascending the sad +pile. But come, aim an arrow at renowned Menelaus; and vow to +Lycian-born 173 Apollo, the renowned archer, that thou wilt sacrifice a +splendid hecatomb of firstling lambs, having returned home to the city +of sacred Zeleia.” + +Footnote 173: (return) This is probably the true interpretation, and +is given by the Scholiast, Hesychius, and others. But Heraclides, +Alleg. § 6, says that Apollo is so called επειδη του κατα την ορθριον +ωραν λυκαυγους εστιν αιτιοι, η οτι λυκαζαντα γεννα, τουτεστι τον +ενιαυτον. Cf. Macrob. Sat. i. 17; Serv. on Æn. iv. 377. + +Thus spoke Minerva, and she persuaded his mind for him, unthinking one. +Straightway he uncased his well-polished bow, made from [the horn of] a +wild, bounding goat, which he indeed surprising once on a time in +ambush, as it was coming out of a cavern, struck, aiming at it beneath +the breast; but it fell supine on the rock. Its horns had grown sixteen +palms from its head; and these the horn-polishing artist, having duly +prepared, fitted together, and when he had well smoothed all, added a +golden tip. And having bent the bow, he aptly lowered it, having +inclined it against the ground; but his excellent companions held their +shields before him, lest the martial sons of the Greeks should rise +against him, before warlike Menelaus, the chief of the Greeks, was +wounded. Then he drew off the cover of his quiver, and took out an +arrow, fresh, winged, a cause of gloomy ills. Forthwith he fitted the +bitter arrow to the string, and vowed to Lycian-born Apollo, the +renowned archer, that he would sacrifice a splendid hecatomb of +firstling lambs, having returned home to the city of sacred Zeleia. +Having seized them, he drew together the notch [of the arrow] and the +ox-hide string; the string, indeed, he brought near to his breast, and +the barb to the bow. But after he had bent the great bow into a circle, +the bow twanged, the bowstring rang loudly, and the sharp-pointed shaft +bounded forth, impatient to wing its flight through the host. + +Nor did the blessed immortal gods forget thee, O Menelaus; 174 but +chiefly the spoil-hunting daughter of Jove, who, standing before thee, +averted the deadly weapon. She as much repelled it from thy body, as a +mother repels a fly from her infant, when it shall have laid itself +down in sweet sleep. But she herself guided it to that part where the +golden clasps of the girdle bound it, and the double-formed corslet +met. 175 The bitter arrow fell on his well-fitted belt, and through the +deftly-wrought belt was it driven, and it stuck in the variegated +corslet and the brazen-plated belt which he wore, the main defence of +his body, a guard against weapons, which protect him most; through even +this did it pass onwards, and the arrow grazed the surface of the +hero’s skin, and straightway black gore flowed from the wound. And as +when some Mæonian 176 or Carian woman tinges ivory with purple colour, +to be a cheek-trapping for steeds; in her chamber it lies, and many +charioteers desire to bear it, but it lies by as an ornament for the +king, both as a decoration to the steed, and a glory to the rider: so, +Menelaus, were thy well-proportioned thighs, and legs, and fair feet +below, stained with gore. + +Footnote 174: (return) It is elegantly observed by Coleridge, p. 160, +that “it is principally owing to our sense of the dramatic probability +of the action of the divinities in the Iliad that the heroes do not +seem dwarfed by their protectors; on the contrary, the manifest +favourite of the gods stands out in a dilated and more awful shape +before our imagination, and seems, by the association, to be lifted up +into the demigod.” + +Footnote 175: (return) “Occurrebat sagittæ, obvius erat ei +penetranti.”—Heyne. But it is better to understand, “where the plates +of the cuirass meet and overlay the ζωμα].”—Arnold. + +Footnote 176: (return) _I.e._ Lydian. + +Then Agamemnon, the king of men, shuddered, as he beheld the black gore +flowing from the wound, and Mars-beloved Menelaus himself shuddered. +But when he saw the string 177 and the barbs still outside, his courage +was once more collected in his breast. But Agamemnon, deeply sighing, +and holding Menelaus with his hand, spoke thus amidst them, and all his +companions kept groaning with him: + +Footnote 177: (return) With which the iron head was fastened to the +shaft. + +“Ο dear brother, now have I ratified a treaty which will prove thy +death, exposing thee alone to fight with the Trojans for the Greeks; +since the Trojans have thus wounded thee, and trampled on the faithful +league. But by no means shall the league and the blood of the lambs be +in vain, and the pure libations, and the right hands in which we +confided. For even although Olympian Jove has not immediately brought +them to pass, he will however bring them to pass at last; and at a +great price have they paid the penalty, 178 to wit, with their own +heads, and their wives and children. For this I know well in mind and +soul. A day will be, when sacred Ilium shall perish, and Priam, and the +people of ashen-speared Priam; and when Saturnian Jove, lofty-throned, +dwelling in the æther, will himself shake his gloomy ægis over all, +wrathful on account of this treachery. These things, indeed, shall not +be unaccomplished; but to me there will be grief on thy account, O +Menelaus, if thou shalt die and fulfil the fate of life; then, indeed, +branded with shame, shall I return to much longed-for Argos. For +quickly the Greeks will bethink themselves of their fatherland, and we +shall leave Argive Helen a boast to Priam and to the Trojans, and the +earth will rot thy bones lying in Troy, near to an unfinished work. And +thus will some one of the haughty Trojans exclaim, leaping upon the +tomb of glorious Menelaus: ‘Would that Agamemnon thus wreaked his +vengeance against all, as even now he has led hither an army of the +Greeks in vain, and has now returned home into his dear native land, +with empty ships, having left behind him brave Menelaus.’ Thus will +some one hereafter say: then may the wide earth yawn for me.” + +Footnote 178: (return) The past tense for the future: implying that +the hour of retribution is so certain, that it may be considered +already arrived. + +But him fair-haired Menelaus accosted, cheering him: “Have courage, nor +in anywise frighten the people of the Achæans. The sharp arrow has not +stuck in a vital part, but before [it reached a vital part], the +variegated belt, and the girdle beneath, and the plate which +brass-working men forged, warded it off.” + +King Agamemnon answering him replied: “Would that it were so, O beloved +Menelaus; but the physician shall probe the wound, and apply remedies, +which may ease thee of thy acute pains.” + +He spoke; and thus accosted Talthybius, the divine herald: “Talthybius, +summon hither with all speed the hero Machaon, son of the blameless +physician Æsculapius, that he may see martial Menelaus, the chief of +the Greeks, whom some skilful archer of the Trojans, or of the Lycians, +has wounded with a shaft; a glory, indeed, to him, but a grief to us.” + +He spoke; nor did the herald disobey when he had heard. But he +proceeded to go through the forces of the brazen-mailed Greeks, looking +around for the hero Machaon: him he saw standing, and round him the +brave ranks of the shield-bearing hosts, who followed him from +steed-nourishing Tricca. Standing near, he spoke winged words: + +“Come, O son of Æsculapius, Agamemnon, king of men, calls thee, that +thou mayest see martial Menelaus, the son of Atreus, whom some skilful +archer of the Trojans or of the Lycians has wounded with a dart; a +glory indeed to him, but a grief to us.” + +Thus he spoke, and incited his soul within his breast. And they +proceeded to go through the host, through the wide army of the Greeks; +but when they had now arrived where fair-haired Menelaus had been +wounded (but around him were collected as many as were bravest, in a +circle, while the godlike hero stood in the midst), instantly thereupon +he extracted the arrow from the well-fitted belt. But while it was +being extracted, the sharp barbs were broken. Then he loosed the +variegated belt, and the girdle beneath, and the plated belt which +brass-workers had forged. But when he perceived the wound, where the +bitter shaft had fallen, having sucked out the blood, he skilfully +sprinkled on it soothing remedies, 179 which, benevolent Chiron had +formerly given to his father. + +Footnote 179: (return) Celsus, Pref. “Podalirius et Machaon, bello +Trajano ducem Agamemnonem secuti, non mediocrem opem commilitonibus +suis attulerunt. Quos tamen Homerus non in pestilentia neque in variis +generibus morborum aliquid attulisse auxilii, sed vulneribus tantummodo +ferro et medicamentis mederi solitos esse proposuit. Ex quo apparet, +has partes medicinæ solas ab his esse tentatas, easque esse +vetustissimas.” + +Whilst they were thus occupied around warlike Menelaus, meantime the +ranks of the shielded Trojans advanced; and these again put on their +arms, and were mindful of battle. Then would you not see divine +Agamemnon slumbering, nor trembling nor refusing to fight; but +hastening quickly to the glorious fight. He left his steeds, indeed, +and his brass-variegated chariot; and these his servant Eurymedon, son +of Ptolymæus, the son of Piräis, held apart panting. Him he strictly +enjoined to keep them near him, against the time when weariness should +seize his limbs, commanding over many. But he on foot traversed the +ranks of the heroes, and whichever of the swift-horsed Greeks he saw +hastening, them standing beside, he encouraged with words: + +“Argives! remit nought of your fierce ardour, for father Jove will not +be an abettor to falsehoods, but certainly vultures will devour the +tender bodies of those very persons, who first offered injury, contrary +to the league; and we, after we shall have taken the city, will carry +off in our ships their dear wives, and their infant children.” + +But whomsoever on the other hand he saw declining hateful battle, them +he much rebuked with angry words: + +“Argives, ye arrow-fighters, 180 subjects for disgrace, are ye not +ashamed? Why stand ye here astounded, like fawns, which, when they are +wearied, running through the extensive plain, stand, and have no +strength in their hearts? Thus do ye stand amazed, nor fight. Do ye +await the Trojans until they come near, where your fair-prowed galleys +are moored on the shore of the hoary sea, that ye may know whether the +son of Saturn will stretch forth his hand over you.” + +Footnote 180: (return) If it be remembered that archery, in comparison +with fighting close-handed, handed, was much despised (cf. Soph. Aj. +1120, sqq.; Eur. Herc. Fur. 160), the term ἰόμωροι (οἱ περὶ τοὺς ἰοὺς +μεμορημένοι, Apoll. Lex. and Hesych.) need not be forced into any of +the out-of-the-way meanings which Anthon and others have assigned to +it. + +Thus he, acting as commander, kept going through the ranks of heroes, +and he came to the Cretans, going through the throng of men. But they +were armed around warlike Idomeneus. Idomeneus, on his part, +[commanded] in the van, like a boar in strength; but Meriones urged on +the hindmost phalanxes for him. Seeing these, Agamemnon, the king of +men, rejoiced, and instantly accosted Idomeneus, in bland words: + +“O Idomeneus, I honour thee, indeed, above the swift-horsed Greeks, as +well in war, as in any other work, and at the banquet, when the nobles +of the Argives mix in their cups the dark-red honourable 181 wine: for +though the other crested Greeks drink by certain measures, thy cup +always stands full, as [mine] to me, that thou mayest drink when thy +mind desires it. But hasten into war, such as formerly thou didst boast +to be.” + +Footnote 181: (return) See my note on Od. + +But him Idomeneus, the leader of the Cretans, in turn answered: “Son of +Atreus, a very congenial ally will I be to thee, as first I promised +and assented. But exhort the other crested Greeks that we may fight +with all haste, since the Trojans have confounded the league: death and +griefs shall be theirs hereafter, since they first offered injury, +contrary to the league.” + +Thus he spoke: and the son of Atreus passed on, joyous at heart, and he +came to the Ajaces, going through the troops of the heroes. But they +were armed, and with them followed a cloud of infantry. As when a +goat-herd from a hill-top perceives a cloud traversing the deep, +beneath the north-western blast; and to him, standing at a distance, it +appears while coming over the ocean, darker than pitch, and brings with +it a mighty whirlwind; 182 he both shudders on seeing it, and drives +his flock into a cave. Such, with the Ajaces, moved into hostile battle +the dense dark phalanxes of Jove-nurtured youths, bristling with +shields and spears. And king Agamemnon seeing them, rejoiced, and +accosting them, spoke winged words: + +Footnote 182: (return) The _waterspout_, which is often followed by +hurricanes, is meant. See Arnold. + +“Ye Ajaces, leaders of the brazen-mailed Argives, ye two, indeed, for +it becomes me not, I in no respect desire to incite; for ye yourselves +mightily instigate the people to fight valiantly. Would that, O father +Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, such courage were in the breasts of all; +soon then would the city of king Priam bend to its fall, taken and +destroyed by our hands.” + +Thus having said, he left them there and went to the others; there he +found Nestor, the harmonious orator of the Pylians, marshalling his +associates, and exhorting them to battle, mighty Pelagon, Alastor, +Chromius, and prince Hæmon, and Bias the shepherd of the people. In +front, indeed, he placed the cavalry 183 with their horses and +chariots, but the foot, both numerous and brave, in the rear, to be the +stay of the battle; but the cowards he drove into the middle, that +every man, even unwilling, might fight from necessity. At first, +indeed, he gave orders to the horsemen; these he commanded to rein in +their horses, nor to be confused with the crowd. “And let no person, +relying on his skill in horsemanship, and on his strength, desire +alone, before the rest, to fight with the Trojans, nor let him retreat: +for [if so], ye will be weaker. And whatever man, from his own chariot, +can reach that of another, let him stretch out with his spear; 184 for +so it is much better: for thus the ancients overturned cities and +walls, keeping this purpose and resolution in their breasts.” + +Footnote 183: (return) _I. e._ those who fought from chariots. + +Footnote 184x: (return) With Arnold and Anthon, I follow Köppen’s +interpretation. The meaning is, whoever, without leaping from his own +chariot, can reach that of another, should commence the attack. This +was less dangerous than dismounting. + +Thus the old man, long since well skilled in wars, exhorted them, and +king Agamemnon rejoiced when he saw him; and accosting him, spoke +winged words: + +“O old man, would that thy knees could so follow thee, and thy strength +were firm as is the courage in thy breast. But old age, common alike to +all, wearies thee. Would that some other man had thy age, and that thou +wert amongst the more youthful.” + +Him then the Gerenian knight Nestor answered: “Son of Atreus, I myself +would much wish to be so, as when I killed Eruthalion. But the gods +never give all things at the same time to men. If I were a young man +then, now in turn old age invades me. Yet even so, I will be with the +horse, and will exhort them with counsel and words: for this is the +office of old men. But let the youths, who are younger than I am, and +confide in their strength, brandish their spears.” + +Thus he spoke; and the son of Atreus passed him by, rejoicing at heart. +Next he found the horseman Menestheus, son of Peteus, standing, and +around him the Athenians skilled in the war-shout: but crafty Ulysses +stood near; and round him stood the ranks of the Cephallenians not +feeble; for not yet had the troops of these heard the shout, since +lately the roused phalanxes of the horse-subduing Trojans and of the +Greeks moved along; but they stood waiting till another division of the +Greeks, coming on, should charge the Trojans and begin the battle. +Having seen these, therefore, Agamemnon, the king of men, reproved +them, and, accosting them, spoke winged words: + +“O son of Peteus, Jove-nurtured king, and thou, accomplished in evil +wiles, crafty-minded [Ulysses], why trembling do ye refrain from +battle, and wait for others? It became you, indeed, being amongst the +first, to stand and meet the ardent battle. For ye are the first +invited by me to the feast when we Greeks prepare a banquet for the +chiefs. Then it is pleasant to you to eat the roasted meats, and to +quaff cups of sweet wine, as long as ye please. But now would ye in +preference be spectators, though ten divisions of the Greeks should +fight in your presence with the ruthless brass.” + +But him sternly regarding, crafty Ulysses answered thus: “Son of +Atreus, what a word has escaped the barrier of thy teeth! How canst +thou say that we are remiss in fighting? Whenever we Greeks stir up +fierce conflict against the horse-taming Trojans, thou shalt see, if +thou desirest, and if these things are a care to thee, the beloved +father of Telemachus mingled with the foremost of the horse-taming +Trojans. But thou sayest these things rashly.” + +But him king Agamemnon, when he perceived that he was angry, smiling, +addressed, and he retracted his words: + +“Noble son of Laertes, much-contriving Ulysses, I neither chide thee in +terms above measure, nor exhort thee. For I am aware that thy mind in +thy breast kens friendly counsels: for thou thinkest the same that I +do. But come, we shall settle these disputes at a future time, should +anything evil have now been uttered. But may the gods render all these +things vain.” + +Thus having spoken, he left them there, and went to others; he found +magnanimous Diomede, son of Tydeus, standing by his horses and +brass-mounted 185 chariot. Near him stood Sthenelus, son of Capaneus. +And having seen him too, king Agamemnon reproved him, and accosting him +thus, spoke winged words: + +“Alas! O son of warlike horse-breaking Tydeus, why dost thou tremble? +Why dost thou explore the intervals of the ranks? 186 It was not with +Tydeus thus customary to tremble, but to fight with the enemy far +before his dear companions. So they have said, who beheld him toiling: +for I never met, nor have I beheld him: but they say that he excelled +all others. For certainly with godlike Polynices he entered Mycenæ +without warlike array, a guest, collecting forces: they 187 were then +preparing an expedition against the sacred walls of Thebes, and +supplicated much that they would give renowned auxiliaries. But they +[the Mycenæans] were willing to give them, and approved of it, as they +urged; but Jove changed [their design], showing unpropitious omens. +But, after they departed, and proceeded on their way, they came to +rushy, grassy Asopus. Then the Achæans sent Tydeus upon an embassy. 188 +Accordingly he went, and found many Cadmeans feasting in the palace of +brave Eteocles. Then the knight Tydeus, though being a stranger, feared +not, being alone amongst many Cadmeans: but challenged them to contend +[in games], and easily conquered in all, so mighty a second was Minerva +to him. But the Cadmeans, goaders of steeds, being enraged, leading +fifty youths, laid a crafty ambuscade for him returning: but there were +two leaders, Mæon, son of Hæmon, like unto the immortals, and +Lycophontes, persevering in fight, the son of Autophonus. Tydeus, +however, brought cruel death upon them. He killed them all, but sent +one only to return home: for he dismissed Mæon, obeying the portents of +the gods. Such was Ætolian Tydeus. But he begat a son, inferior to +himself in battle, but superior in council.” + +Footnote 185: (return) Properly, “fastened, soldered.” + +Footnote 186: (return) Lit. “the bridges of the war.” He was looking +to see where there was a chance of escape by running between the ranks. + +Footnote 187: (return) Polynices and Adrastus. The reader will do well +to compare Grote vol. i. p. 371. + +Footnote 188: (return) To Thebes. + +Thus he spoke; but brave Diomede answered nothing, reverencing the +rebuke of the venerable king. + +But him the son of renowned Capaneus answered: “Son of Atreus, lie not, +knowing how to tell truth. We, indeed, boast to be far better than our +fathers. We too have taken the citadel of seven-gated Thebes, leading +fewer troops under the wall sacred to Mars, confiding in the portents +of the gods, and in the aid of Jove: but they perished through their +own infatuation. Wherefore, never place my ancestors in the same rank +with me.” + +Him sternly regarding, brave Diomede accosted thus: “My friend 189 +Sthenelus, sit in silence, and obey my words; for I blame not +Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people, for thus exhorting the +well-greaved Greeks to fight. Glory shall attend him, if, indeed, the +Greeks shall conquer the Trojans, and take sacred Ilium; but great +grief shall be his, on the other hand, the Greeks being cut off. But +come now, and let us be mindful of impetuous valour.” + +Footnote 189: (return) Τέττα is an affectionate phrase applied to an +elder, like _papa_. Compare Alberti on Hesych. v. ἀπφία, t. i. p. 505, +and on ἅττα, p. 606; Helladius, Chrestom. p. 9, ed. Meurs. + +He spoke, and from his chariot leaped with his arms upon the earth, and +dreadfully sounded the brass on the breast of the prince, as he moved +rapidly along: then truly would fear have seized even a brave spirit. + +As when on the loud-resounding shore a wave of the sea is impelled in +continuous succession beneath the north-west wind which has set it in +motion; at first indeed it raises itself aloft in the deep, but then +dashed against the land, it roars mightily; and being swollen it rises +high around the projecting points, and spits from it the foam of the +sea: thus then the thick phalanxes of the Greeks moved incessantly on +to battle. Each leader commanded his own troops. The rest went in +silence (nor would you have said that so numerous an army followed, +having the power of speech in their breasts), silently reverencing +their leaders. And around them all their arms of various workmanship +shone brightly; clad with which, they proceeded in order. But the +Trojans, as the sheep of a rich man stand countless in the fold, whilst +they are milked of their white milk, continually bleating, having heard +the voice of their lambs—thus was the clamour of the Trojans excited +through the wide army. For there was not the same shout of all, nor the +same voice, but their language was mixed, for the men were called from +many climes. These Mars urged on, but those blue-eyed Minerva, 190 and +Terror, and Rout, and Strife, insatiably raging, the sister and +attendant of homicide Mars, she raises her head, small indeed at first, +but afterwards she has fixed her head in heaven, and stalks along the +earth. Then also she, going through the crowd, increasing the groaning +of the men, cast into the midst upon them contention alike destruction +to all. + +Footnote 190: (return) + + “On th’ other side, Satan alarm’d + Collecting all his might dilated stood, + Like Teneriff or Atlas unremoved: + His stature reach’d the sky.”—Paradise Lost, iv. 985. + + +But they, when now meeting, they had reached the same place, at once +joined their ox-hide shields, and their spears, and the might of +brazen-mailed warriors; and the bossy shields met one another, and much +battle-din arose. There at the same time were heard both the groans and +shouts of men slaying and being slain; and the earth flowed with blood. +As when wintry torrents flowing down from the mountains, mix in a basin +the impetuous water from their great springs in a hollow ravine, and +the shepherd in the mountains hears the distant roar—so arose the +shouting and panic of them, mixed together. + +Antilochus first killed a Trojan warrior, Echepolus, son of Thalysias, +valiant in the van. Him he first struck on the cone of his horse-plumed +helmet, and the brazen point fixed itself in his forehead, then pierced +the bone, and darkness veiled his eyes; and he fell, like a tower, in +fierce conflict. Him fallen, king Elephenor, the offspring of +Chalcodon, chief of the magnanimous Abantes, seized by the feet, and +was drawing him beyond the reach of darts in haste, that with all haste +he might despoil him of his armour: but that attempt was short; for +magnanimous Agenor having descried him dragging the body, wounded him +with a brazen spear in the side, which, as he stooped, appeared from +beneath the covert of his shield, and he relaxed his limbs [in death]. +His soul therefore left him. But over him arose a fierce conflict of +Trojans and of Greeks. But they like wolves rushed on each other, and +man bore down man. Then Telamonian Ajax smote the blooming youth +Simoïsius, son of Anthemion, whom formerly his mother, descending from +Ida, brought forth on the banks of Simois, when, to wit, she followed +her parents to view the flocks; wherefore they called him Simoïsius. +Nor did he repay to his dear parents the price of his early nurture, +for his life was short, he being slain with a spear by magnanimous +Ajax. For him advancing first, he [Ajax] struck on the breast, near the +right pap: and the brazen spear passed out through his shoulder on the +opposite side. He fell on the ground in the dust, like a poplar, winch +has sprung up in the moist grass-land of an extensive marsh,—branches +grow smooth, yet upon the very top, which the chariot-maker lops with +the shining steel, that he might bend [it as] a felloe for a beauteous +chariot. Drying, it lies indeed on the banks of the river. So did the +high-born Ajax spoil Simoïsius, the descendant of Anthemion. But at him +Antiphus, of the varied corslet, the son of Priam, took aim through the +crowd with a sharp spear. From whom, indeed, it erred: but he struck +Leucus, the faithful companion of Ulysses, in the groin, as he was +drawing the body aside; but he fell near it, and the body dropped from +his hand. For him slain, Ulysses was much enraged in mind; and he +rushed through the van, armed in shining brass; and advancing very +near, he stood, and casting his eyes all around him, hurled with his +glittering spear. But the Trojans retired in confusion, as the hero +hurled; he did not, however, hurl the spear in vain, but struck +Democoon, the spurious son of Priam, who came from Abydos, from +[tending] the swift mares. 191 Him Ulysses, enraged for his companion, +struck with his spear in the temple, and the brazen point penetrated +through the other temple, and darkness veiled his eyes. Falling he made +a crash, and his arms resounded upon him. Both the foremost bands and +illustrious Hector fell back. The Argives shouted aloud, and dragged +the bodies away: then they rushed farther forward; and Apollo was +enraged, looking down from Pergamus; and, shouting out, exhorted the +Trojans: + +Footnote 191: (return) Priam had a stud at Abydos, on the Asiatic +coast of the Hellespont.—Scholiast. + +“Arouse ye, ye horse-breaking Trojans, nor yield the battle to the +Greeks; since their flesh is not of stone, nor of iron, that when they +are struck, it should withstand the flesh-rending brass; neither does +Achilles, the son of fair-haired Thetis, fight, but at the ships he +nourishes his vexatious spleen.” + +Thus spoke the dreadful god from the city. But most glorious Tritonian +Pallas, the daughter of Jove, going through the host, roused the Greeks +wherever she saw them relaxing. + +Then fate ensnared Diores, son of Amarynceus; for he was struck with a +jagged hand-stone, at the ankle, on the right leg; but Pirus, son of +Imbrasus, who came from Ænos, the leader of the Thracian warriors, +struck him. The reckless stone entirely crushed both tendons and bones; +supine in the dust he fell, stretching forth both hands to his dear +companions, and breathing forth his soul. But Pirus, he who struck him, +ran up, and pierced him in the navel with his spear; and thereupon all +his entrails poured forth upon the ground, and darkness veiled his +eyes. + +But him 192 Ætolian Thoas struck, rushing on with his spear, in the +breast over the pap, and the brass was fastened in his lungs: Thoas +came near to him, and drew the mighty spear out of his breast; then he +unsheathed his sharp sword, and with it smote him in the midst of the +belly, and took away his life. But he did not spoil him of his armour, +for his companions stood round him, the hair-tufted Thracians, holding +long spears in their hands, who drove him from them, though being +mighty, and valiant, and glorious; but he, retreating, was repulsed +with force. Thus these two were stretched in the dust near to each +other; Pirus, indeed, the leader of the Thracians, and Diores, the +leader of the brazen-mailed Epeans; and many others also were slain +around. + +Then no longer could any man, having come into the field, find fault +with the action, who, even as yet neither wounded from distant blows, +193 nor pierced close at hand with the sharp brass, might be busied in +the midst, and whom spear-brandishing Minerva might lead, taking him by +the hand, and might avert from him the violence of the darts; for many +of the Trojans and of the Greeks on that day were stretched prone in +the dust beside one another. + +Footnote 192: (return) Pirus. + +Footnote 193: (return) Observe the distinction between ἄϑλητος and +ἀκούτατος. See Anthon; Ammonius, p. 29; Valck. Βεϑλῆσθαι μεν ἐστι τὸ ἐκ +βολης ετρὼσθαί, καἰ ἐκ τῶν ἐναντίων οὐτᾶσθαι δὲ, τὸ ἐκ χειρὸς +τετρῶσθαι. + + + + +BOOK THE FIFTH. + + +ARGUMENT. + +The exploits of Diomedes, who, irritated by a wound from Pandarus, +fights with unremitted fury, and even wounds Venus and Mars, who were +aiding the Trojans. + + +Then, moreover, Pallas Minerva gave strength and daring to Diomede, the +son of Tydeus, that he might become conspicuous amongst all the +Argives, and might bear off for himself excellent renown. And she +kindled from his helmet and his shield an unwearied fire, like unto the +summer 194 star, which shines 195 very brightly, having been bathed in +the ocean. Such a fire she kindled from his head and shoulders, and she +urged him into the midst, where the greatest numbers were in commotion. + +Footnote 194: (return) _I. e._ the dog star, Sirius, whose rising +marked the beginning of the ὀπώρα, or season extending from the middle +of July to the middle of September. It is said to be most brilliant at +its time of rising. Cf. Apoll. iii. 956: Ὅς δή τοι καλὸς μὲν ἀρίζηλός +τ’ ἐσιδέσθαί Ἀντέλλει. + +Footnote 195: (return) This use of the subjunctive mood is called the +σχῆμα Ἰϑύκειον by Lesbonax, p. 179, ed. Valck. + +Now there was amongst the Trojans one Dares, rich, blameless, the +priest of Vulcan; and he had two sons, Phegeus and Idæus, well skilled +in all kinds of battle: these twain, apart [from their companions], +rushed to meet [Diomede]; they on their part, from their two-horse +chariot, but he, from the ground, made the attack on foot. When these, +therefore, advancing against each other, were now near, Phegeus first +hurled forth his long-shadowed spear, and the point of the spear went +over the left shoulder of the son of Tydeus, nor did it strike him. But +the son of Tydeus next rushed on with his brazen javelin; nor did the +weapon fly in vain from his hand, but struck his [Phegeus’s] breast +between the paps, and forced him from his chariot. Then Idæus leaped +down, having left the very beautiful chariot, nor ventured to protect +his slain brother. [In vain,] for not even he would have escaped gloomy +fate, but Vulcan snatched him away, and saved him, having enveloped him +in darkness, that the old man might not be altogether sad. But the son +of magnanimous Tydeus having taken the horses, gave them to his +companions to lead to the hollow ships. When the magnanimous Trojans +beheld the sons of Dares, the one 196 flying, the other slain at the +chariot, the hearts of all were discomfited. But azure-eyed Minerva, +seizing him by the hand, thus addressed impetuous Mars: “Mars, Mars, +man-slayer, gore-stained, stormer of walls, should we not suffer the +Trojans and the Greeks to fight, to which side soever father Jove may +give glory; but let us retire, and avoid the wrath of Jove?” + +Thus having said, she led impetuous Mars from the battle, and +afterwards seated him on grassy 197 Scamander. Then the Greeks turned +the Trojans to flight, and each of the leaders slew his man. First +Agamemnon, king of men, hurled from his chariot huge Hodius, chief of +the Halizonians. For in the back of him first turned [in flight], +between his shoulders he fixed the spear, and drove it through his +breast; and falling, he made a crash, and his arms resounded upon him. + +But next Idomeneus killed Phæstus, the son of Mæonian Borus, who had +come from fertile Tarne. Him, just as he was mounting his chariot, 198 +spear-famed Idomeneus, with his long lance, wounded in the right +shoulder: he fell from his chariot, and hateful darkness seized him. +Then the attendants of Idomeneus despoiled him of his arms. + +Footnote 196: (return) observe the construction by apposition, soph. +ant. 21: τὼ κασιγνήτω, τὸν μὲν προτίσας, τὸν δ’ ἀτιμάσας ἔχει.—561: τὼ +παῖδε φημὶ τώδε τὴν μὲν ἀρτίως ἄνουν πεϕάνθαι, τὴν δ’ ἀϕ’ οὗ τὰ πρῶτ’ +ἔϕυ. + +Footnote 197: (return) see buttm. lexil. p. 324, sqq. + +Footnote 198: (return) I shall generally adopt this translation of +ϊπποι, with anthon. + +Menelaus, the son of Atreus, slew with his sharp 199 spear Scamandrius, +son of Strophius, clever in the chase, an excellent huntsman; for Diana +herself taught him to shoot all kinds of beasts, which the wood in the +mountains nurtures. But then at least arrow-rejoicing Diana availed him +not, nor his skill in distant shooting, in which he had been formerly +instructed. But spear-renowned Menelaus, son of Atreus, wounded him, +flying before him, with a spear in the back, between the shoulders, and +drove [the spear] through his breast. Prone he fell, and his arms +resounded upon him. + +Meriones slew Phereclus, son of the artist Harmon, who knew how to form +with his hands all ingenious things (for Pallas Minerva loved him +exceedingly): who also for Alexander had built the equal ships, source +of woes, which were a bane to all the Trojans and to himself, since he +did not understand the oracles of the gods. 200 Meriones, indeed, when +following he overtook him, struck him in the right hip; but the point +went right through beneath the bone, near the bladder; and on his knees +he fell lamenting, and death overshadowed him. + +Footnote 199: (return) Apoll. Lex. Hom. p. 604, ed. Villois: ὀξυόεντι. +Ὸ μὲν Ἀπίων, όξεῖ ἔγχει, ὀξυόεντι δὲ, ὀξυΐνῳ. With Anthon, I prefer +Apion’s interpretation. Others explain it “beechen,” or “thorn-wood.” +Cf. Alberti on Hesych. p. 766. + +Footnote 200: (return) A doubtful line, but probably referring to an +oracle by which the Trojans were recommended to avoid maritime affairs. +Cf. Procl. Chrestom. p. 472, ed. Gaisf. + +But Meges next slew Pedæus, son of Antenor, who, indeed, was a spurious +son, yet noble Theano brought him up with care, equally with her own +dear children, gratifying her husband. Him the spear-famed son of +Phyleus, on his part, coming near, smote on the back of the head with +his sharp spear; the steel cut through his teeth under his tongue. In +the dust he fell, and caught the cold steel in his teeth. + +But Eurypylus, son of Evæmon, slew noble Hypsenor, son of magnanimous +Dolopion, who was priest of Scamander, and was honoured as a god by the +people; him, as he was flying before him, Eurypylus, then, the +illustrious son of Evæmon, struck in the shoulder in his flight, +rushing on with his sword, and cut off his heavy hand: then the gory +hand fell in the field; but blood-red death and stern fate seized his +eyes. + +Thus they on their part laboured in the violent fight. But you would +not have known the son of Tydeus, to which side he belonged, whether he +was mixed with the Trojans or with the Greeks. For he rushed through +the plain, like unto a river swollen by mountain-streams, which flowing +rapidly throws down bridges: and this, neither the fortified dams can +restrain, nor the fences of the richly-blooming fields check, as it +comes suddenly, when the rain-storm of Jove bears down heavily: many +hopeful works of vigorous youths are wont to fall by it. Thus by the +son of Tydeus were the close phalanxes of the Trojans thrown into +confusion; nor did they withstand him, although being numerous. + +When, therefore, Pandarus, the illustrious son of Lycaon, saw him +rushing through the field, discomfiting the phalanxes before him, he +drew his crooked bow, and smote him rushing on, striking him upon the +right shoulder [on] the cavity of the corslet: the bitter shaft flew on +and broke through to the other side; and the corslet was stained with +blood. Whereupon the illustrious son of Lycaon exclaimed aloud: + +“Rush on, ye magnanimous Trojans, spurrers of steeds, for the bravest +of the Greeks is wounded; nor do I think that he will long endure the +violent arrow, if king Apollo, the son of Jove, really urged me +proceeding from Lycia.” + +Thus he spoke, vaunting; but him [Diomede] the swift arrow did not +subdue: but having retreated, he stood before his horses and chariot, +and thus accosted Sthenelus, son of Capaneus: + +“Haste, dear son of Capaneus, descend from thy chariot, that thou +mayest draw from my shoulder the bitter shaft.” + +Thus he spoke, and Sthenelus leaped from his chariot to the ground, +and, standing by him, drew the swift, deeply-piercing arrow forth from +his shoulder, and the blood spurted out through the twisted mail. Then +Diomede, brave in battle, prayed: + +“Hear me, O daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, unwearied, if ever +favouring thou stoodest by me and my sire in the hostile fight, now in +turn befriend me, O Minerva. And grant me to slay this man, and that he +may approach within the aim of my spear, who being beforehand has +struck me, and boasts, and says that I shall not long behold the +brilliant light of the sun.” + +Thus he spoke, praying, and Pallas Minerva heard him, and made light +his limbs, his feet, and his hands above, and standing near him, spoke +winged words: + +“With confidence, now, O Diomede, fight against the Trojans; for into +thy soul have I sent that intrepid ancestral might, such as the +shield-brandishing knight Tydeus was wont to possess: and moreover I +have taken away the darkness from thine eyes, which before was upon +them, that thou mayest discern a god and also a man. Wherefore now, if +any divinity come hither, making trial of thee, do thou by no means +fight against any other immortal gods; but if Venus, daughter of Jove, +should come into battle, wound her at all events with the sharp brass.” + +Thus on her part having spoken, azure-eyed Minerva departed: but the +son of Tydeus, returning again, was mixed with the van; and ardent as +he before was in spirit to fight against the Trojans, then, indeed, +thrice as much courage possessed him. Like as a lion, whom the shepherd +in the country, by his fleecy sheep, has grazed indeed, while +overleaping the court-yard, but has not killed; he [the shepherd] has +merely roused his ardour; but afterwards he ventures no farther aid, +but on the contrary retires within the fold, while the sheep, deserted, +fly in consternation. These, indeed, are huddled in masses one upon +another, but he [the lion] leaps joyfully from the lofty fold. 201 So +was brave Diomede joyfully mixed with the Trojans. + +Then he slew Astynoüs, and Hypenor the shepherd of the people: having +smote the one above the pap with the brazen lance, but the other he +smote with his huge sword on the collar-bone at the shoulder, and +separated the shoulder from the neck and back. These, indeed, he left, +but rushed on Abas and Polyïdus, the sons of Eurydamas, the aged +interpreter of dreams; to whom going to the war, the old man did not +interpret their dreams; but brave Diomede spoiled them when slain. Then +he went against Xanthus and Thoon, the sons of Phænops, both dearly +cherished; 202 but he was worn by sad old age, and did not beget +another son to leave over his possessions. These, then, Diomede slew, +and took their life from both, but to their father left grief and +mournful cares, since he did not receive them returning alive from +battle; but his next of kin 203 divided the inheritance amongst them. + +Footnote 201: (return) A very doubtful line. + +Footnote 202: (return) Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 511. + +Footnote 203: (return) Schol.: Χηρωσταὶ, οὶ τὸν χῆρον οῖκον +διανεμόμενοι κληρονόμοι. Apoll. Lex. p. 854: Οὶ μακρόθεν προσήκοντες +κατὰ γένος, καὶ χῆρα ὄντα τῶν σύνεγγυς τὰ χρήματα κληρονομοῦντες. + +Then he seized Echemon and Chromius, two sons of Dardanian Priam, being +in one chariot. As when a lion, leaping amidst the herd, has broken the +neck of a heifer or of an ox pasturing in a thicket; so did the son of +Tydeus forcibly dislodge them both from the chariot against their +wills, and then spoiled them of their arms. But the steeds he gave to +his companions, to drive to the ships. + +But him Æneas beheld devastating the ranks of men, and he hastened to +go both through the battle and the din of spears, seeking godlike +Pandarus, if anywhere he might find him. He found the blameless and +valiant son of Lycaon, and stood before him, and spoke [this] word to +him: + +“O Pandarus, where are thy bow and thy winged shafts, and thy renown, +with which no man here at least contends with thee, nor does any person +in Lycia boast to be braver than thou? But come, having raised thy +hands to Jove, aim an arrow against this man, (whoever he be, who is +thus prevailing, and who has already wrought many ills against the +Trojans, since he has relaxed the knees of many and of brave), unless +he be some god, wrathful against the Trojans, angry on account of +sacrifices [not offered]: and unless the severe wrath of a deity be +upon us.” + +Him the illustrious son of Lycaon answered in turn: “Æneas, counsellor +of the brazen-mailed Trojans, I assimilate him in all respects to the +warlike son of Tydeus, recognizing him by his shield and oblong helmet, +and looking on his steeds: but I do not know certainly whether he be a +god. But if this man, whom I speak of, be the warlike son of Tydeus, he +does not perform these frantic deeds without divine aid, but some one +of the immortals stands near, wrapped round as to his shoulders 204 in +a cloud, who has turned into another course the swift shaft just about +to hit him. For but just now I aimed an arrow at him, and struck him on +the right shoulder, entirely through the cavity of his corslet; and I +thought I should hurl him down to Pluto; yet did I not altogether +subdue him; some god, of a truth, is wrathful. And steeds and chariots +are not present, which I might ascend: but somewhere in the palaces of +Lycaon [are] eleven chariots, beautiful, newly-built, lately made: +coverings are spread around them: and beside each of them stand steeds +yoked in pairs, eating white barley and wheat. Of a truth the aged +warrior Lycaon gave me, on setting out, very many commands in his +well-built palaces: he ordered me, having ascended my steeds and my +chariot, to command the Trojans in the fierce conflicts; but I heeded +him not (and truly it would have been much better), sparing my steeds, +lest they, accustomed to feed largely, should want food, to my cost, 205 +the men being shut up [in the city]. Thus I left them; but I have come +on foot to Troy, relying on my bow and arrows, but these were not +destined to profit me. For lately I aimed [a shaft] at two chiefs, at +the son of Tydeus and the son of Atreus; and having struck, I drew +blood manifestly from both; but I roused them the more. Therefore, with +evil fate I took down my curved bow from the peg, on that day when I +led the Trojans to pleasant Ilium, doing a favour to divine Hector. But +if I shall return, and shall with these eyes behold my country, and my +wife, and my lofty-roofed great palace, immediately may some hostile +man cut off my head, if I do not put this bow into the shining fire, +having broken it with my hands; for it attends on me to no purpose.” + +Footnote 204: (return) Cf. Hor. Od. i. 2, 31: “Nube candentes humeros +amictus.” + +Footnote 205: (return) Observe the force of μοι. + +Him then Æneas, the leader of the Trojans, addressed in turn: “Speak +not so: but it will not be otherwise, before that we twain, with horses +and chariot, going against this man, make trial of him with arms. But +come, ascend my chariot; that thou mayest see of what kind are the +steeds of Tros, skilful in the plain to pursue rapidly here and there, +and to retreat; they also shall bring us safe again to the city, if +Jove will a second time afford glory to Diomede, the son of Tydeus. But +come, take the whip now, and the shining reins, and I will descend from +the chariot, that I may fight; or do thou await this man, and the +steeds shall be my care.” + +Him then the illustrious son of Lycaon answered in turn: “Æneas, do +thou thyself hold the reins and thy own steeds: the better will they +bear along the curved chariot under their accustomed charioteer, if we +shall fly back from the son of Tydeus; lest they, taking fright, should +become restive, and be unwilling to bear us away from the war, missing +thy voice, and the son of magnanimous Tydeus, rushing on us, should +slay ourselves, and drive away thy solid-hoofed steeds. But do thou +thyself drive the chariot and thy own steeds, but with my sharp spear +will I receive him advancing.” + +Thus having said, ascending the variegated chariot, they directed the +swift steeds impetuously against the son of Tydeus. But Sthenelus, the +illustrious son of Capaneus, perceived them, and immediately to the son +of Tydeus he spoke winged words: + +“Diomede, son of Tydeus, most dear to my soul, I perceive two valiant +men eager to fight against thee, possessing immense might; one, indeed, +well-skilled in the bow, 206 Pandarus, and moreover he boasts to be the +son of Lycaon, and Æneas, [who] boasts to be born the son of +magnanimous Anchises; but Venus is his mother. But come, let us now +retire, having ascended our horses, nor thus, I pray thee, run +furiously through the van, lest thou shouldst lose thy dear life.” + +But him sternly regarding, brave Diomede thus addressed: “Talk not to +me of retreat, 207 since I think thou wilt not persuade me. It becomes +not my nature to fight in a skulking manner, nor to tremble; as yet my +strength is unimpaired. I am averse to mount the chariot, but even as I +am will I advance to meet them: spear-brandishing Minerva does not +suffer me to tremble. Never shall the swift horses bear these twain +both back again from us, supposing even one of them shall escape. But +another thing I tell thee, and do thou lay it up in thy soul, if most +prudent Minerva should grant me the glory to kill both, then do thou +detain here these swift steeds, stretching forth the reins from the +rim, and, mindful, rush upon the horses of Æneas, and drive them from +the Trojans to the well-greaved Greeks. For they are of that breed +which far-seeing Jove gave as a price to Tros for his son Ganymede; +wherefore they are the best of steeds, as many as are under the east +and the sun. From this breed Anchises, king of men, stole them, having +supplied mares without the knowledge of Laomedon: of the breed of these +six were foaled in his courts. Reserving four himself, he nourished +them at the manger, and two, skilled in rousing terror, he gave to +Æneas. If we can take these, we shall have borne away excellent glory.” + +Footnote 206: (return) This bold change of construction, where one +would have expected τὸν μὲν, τὸν, δὲ, has been noticed by Lesbonax, p. +186. + +Footnote 207: (return) But Anthon, I think, with more spirit, renders +this, “Speak not at all fearward.” + +Thus they were speaking such things to each other; but the others soon +drew near, urging onward their swift steeds. The illustrious son of +Lycaon first accosted Diomede: + +“Stout-hearted, warlike-minded, son of illustrious Tydeus, certainly my +swift shaft, my bitter arrow has not slain thee. Now again will I try +with my spear, whether I can hit my mark.” 208 + +He said, and brandishing [it], he sent forth his long-shadowed spear, +and struck the shield of Tydides: but the brazen spear flying straight +through, approached the corslet. Then the son of Lycaon shouted loudly +over him: + +“Thou art wounded in the flank, through and through, nor do I think +thou wilt endure it much longer: but to me hast thou given great +glory.” + +But him the valiant son of Tydeus, undisturbed, addressed: “Thou hast +erred, nor hast thou reached thine aim; 209 but I certainly think thou +wilt not cease, till one of you at least, having fallen, shall satiate +Mars, the warrior of the bull’s-hide shield, with his blood.” + +Footnote 208: (return) This is the best manner of expressing the full +meaning of τύχωμι. + +Footnote 209: (return) _I. e._ given a mortal wound. + +Thus having spoken, he hurled forth [his lance], and Minerva directed +the weapon to his nose, near the eye; and it passed quite through his +white teeth: and then unwearied, the brass cut the root of his tongue, +and the point came out at the bottom of his chin. From his chariot he +fell, and his variegated, shining 210 arms resounded upon him; but his +swift-footed steeds started aside through fright, and there were his +soul and strength dissolved. Æneas then bounded down with his shield +and long spear, fearing lest the Greeks by any means should take the +body away from him. He walked round it, therefore, like a lion, +confiding in his strength: and before him he stretched out his lance, +and his shield equal on all sides, shouting dreadfully, eager to slay +him, whoever might come against him. But the son of Tydeus seized in +his grasp a hand-stone, a huge affair, such as no two men could carry, +such at least as mortals are now; but he even alone easily wielded it. +With it he struck Æneas on the hip, where the thigh is turned in the +hip;—they call it the socket;—the socket he smote violently, and broke +besides both tendons, and the rugged stone tore off the skin. But the +hero having fallen on his knees, remained so, and supported himself +with his strong hand upon the ground, and dark night veiled his eyes. + +Footnote 210: (return) But Buttm. Lexil. p. 65 prefers “agile,” _i. +e._ easily-wielded. + +And there, of a truth, Æneas, the king of men, had perished, unless +Venus, the daughter of Jove, had quickly perceived him, his mother, who +brought him forth to Anchises as he fed his oxen; 211 but around her +own dear son she spread her white arms, and before him she extended the +folds of her shining robe, as a fence against arrows, lest any of the +swift-horsed Greeks having cast the steel into his breast, should take +away his life. She, indeed, stealthily bore off her beloved son from +the battle. Nor was the son of Capaneus forgetful of those commands +which warlike Diomede gave him: but he detained his own solid-hoofed +steeds apart from the tumult, having stretched forth the reins from the +rim; and rushing forward, drove from the Trojans to the well-greaved +Greeks the beautiful-maned steeds of Æneas, and gave them to Deipylus, +his beloved companion (whom he honoured above all his coevals, because +he possessed in his mind sentiments congenial with himself), to drive +them to the hollow ships: but the hero himself, having ascended his +chariot, took the splendid reins; and instantly drove his solid-hoofed +steeds after the son of Tydeus with ardour; but Diomede pursued Venus +with the cruel steel, 212 knowing that she was an unwarlike goddess, +nor [one] of those goddesses who administer the war of men, neither +Minerva, nor city-destroying Bellona. But when he had now overtaken +her, having pursued her through a great crowd, then the son of +magnanimous Tydeus, having stretched forward, wounded the feeble +[goddess] in the extremity of the hand, bounding on with the sharp +brass. Instantly the spear pierced through the skin, through her +ambrosial robe (which the Graces themselves had wrought), at the +extremity [of the hand] above the palm. Immortal blood flowed from the +goddess, ichor, such, to wit, as flows from the blessed gods. For they +eat not bread, nor drink dark wine; therefore are they bloodless, and +are called immortal. But she screaming aloud, cast her son from her: +and him Phoebus Apollo rescued in his hands in a sable cloud, lest any +of the swift-horsed Greeks, casting the steel into his breast, should +take away his life. But warlike Diomede shouted loudly after her: + +Footnote 211: (return) Cf. Theocrit. i. 105: Ού λέγεται τὰν Κύπριν ὸ +βουκόλος, ἕρπε ποτ’ Ἰδὰν, Ἔρπε ποτ’ Ἀγχίσαν. See Hymn, in Vener. 54, +sqq.; and Grote, Hist. of Greece, vol. i. p. 73. + +Footnote 212: (return) It is well known that these battles and +woundings of the gods gave so much scandal to Plato, that he wished to +cast Homer out of his republic, much to the indignation of Heraclides +Ponticus, Alleg. Hom. p. 511. The fathers of the early church made no +small use of Plato’s opinion on this head. Cf. Euseb. P. E. ii. 10; +Tertull. Apol. § xiv.; Augustin, C. D. ii. 14; Minucius Felix, 22; who +all make use of his testimony as an argument against Paganism. See +Coleridge, Classic Poets, p. 64. + +“Withdraw, O daughter of Jove, from war and battle. Is it not +sufficient that thou dost practise deception upon feeble women? But if +thou wilt go to the war, I certainly think thou wilt hereafter dread +battle, even though thou but hearest of it elsewhere.” + +Thus he spoke: but she departed, distracted [with pain], for she was +grievously exhausted. But swift-footed Iris having taken her, led her +outside the crowd, oppressed with griefs; but she began to turn livid +as to her beauteous skin. Then she found impetuous Mars sitting at the +left of the battle; and his spear and swift horses had been enveloped +in darkness. But she, falling on her knees, with many entreaties +besought from her dear brother his golden-frontleted steeds: + +“Dear brother, render me a service, and give me thy steeds, that I may +go to Olympus, where is the seat of the immortals. I am grievously +oppressed with a wound which a mortal man, the son of Tydeus, inflicted +on me, who now would fight even with father Jove.” + +Thus she spoke: but Mars gave her the golden-frontleted steeds. But she +mounted the chariot, grieving in her heart; and Iris mounted beside +her, and took the reins in her hands, and scourged them to go on, and +they flew not unwillingly. And immediately then they reached the seat +of the gods, the lofty Olympus. There nimble, swift-footed Iris stayed +the steeds, having loosed them from the chariot, and set before them +ambrosial fodder. But the goddess Venus fell at the knees of her mother +Dione; and she embraced her daughter in her arms, and soothed her with +her hand, and addressed her, and said: + +“Which of the heavenly gods, beloved daughter, has wantonly done such +things to thee, as if thou hadst openly wrought some evil?” + +But her laughter-loving Venus answered: “The son of Tydeus, haughty +Diomede, has wounded me, because I was withdrawing from battle my +beloved son Æneas, who is by far most dear to me of all. For it is no +longer the destructive contest of Trojans and of Greeks; but now the +Greeks fight even with the immortals.” + +But her Dione, divine one of goddesses, answered: “Endure, my daughter, +and bear up, although grieved; for many of us, possessing Olympian +habitations, have in times past endured pains at the hand of men, 213 +imposing heavy griefs on one another. Mars, in the first place, endured +it, when Otus and valiant Ephialtes, the sons of Aloëus, bound him in a +strong chain. He was chained in a brazen prison for thirteen months: +and perhaps Mars, insatiate of war, had perished there, had not his +stepmother, all-fair Eëribæa, told it to Mercury; but he stole Mars +away, already exhausted, for the cruel chain subdued him. Juno also +suffered, when the brave son of Amphitryon smote her in the right +breast with a three-pronged shaft. Then most irremediable pain seized +her. Amongst these Pluto also endured a swift shaft, when the same +hero, the son of ægis-bearing Jove, afflicted him with pains at Pylos +amongst the dead, having wounded him. But he went to the palace of +Jove, and the lofty Olympus, grieving in his heart, and transfixed with +pains; for the shaft had pierced into his huge shoulder, and tortured +his soul. But Pæon healed him, sprinkling pain-assuaging remedies, for +he was not at all mortal. Audacious, regardless one! who felt no +compunction in doing lawless deeds,—who with his bow violated the gods +that dwell in Olympus. But against thee azure-eyed goddess Minerva has +excited this man. Infatuate! nor does the son of Tydeus know this in +his mind, that he is by no means long-lived who fights with the +immortals, nor ever at his knees will sons lisp a father’s name, as he +returns from war and dreadful battle. Therefore, let the son of Tydeus +now, though he be very brave, have a care, lest a better than thou +fight with him: lest at a future time Ægialëa, the very prudent +daughter of Adrastus, the noble spouse of horse-taming Diomede, +grieving, should rouse her servants from sleep, longing for the husband +of her youth, the bravest of the Greeks.” + +Footnote 213: (return) Speaking of these humiliations of the gods, +Grote, Hist. t. i. p. 78, well observes: “The god who serves is for a +time degraded; but the supreme god who commands the servitude is in the +like proportion exalted, whilst the idea of some sort of order and +government among these super-human beings was never lost sight of.” + +She spoke, and with her palms wiped off the ichor from her hand: the +hand was healed, and the severe pains mitigated. But then Minerva and +Juno looking on, provoked Saturnian Jove with heart-cutting words; but +amidst them azure-eyed goddess Minerva thus began speaking: + +“Father Jove, wilt thou indeed be angry with me on account of what I +shall say? Surely it must be that Venus, inspiring some one of the +Grecian women with a desire of accompanying the Trojans, whom now she +exceedingly loves, while caressing one of those fair-robed Grecian +women, has torn her delicate hand against a golden buckle.” + +Thus she spoke: but the father of men and gods smiled, and having +called, he thus accosted golden Venus: + +“Not to thee, daughter mine, are intrusted warlike works; but do thou +confine thyself to the desirable offices of marriage, and all these +things shall be a care to swift Mars and to Minerva.” + +Thus they, indeed, were speaking such things to each other. But +Diomede, doughty in the din of battle, rushed upon Æneas, conscious +that Apollo himself held over him his hands. But he revered not the +mighty god, for he always longed to slay Æneas, and despoil him of his +glorious armour. Thrice then, immediately, he rushed on, eager to slay +him, and thrice Apollo repelled his shield with violence; but when at +length the fourth time he rushed on, like a god, the far-darting Apollo +menacing terribly, addressed him: “Consider, O son of Tydeus, and +retire, nor wish to think things equal with the gods; for the race of +the immortal gods and of men walking on the earth is in nowise +similar.” + +Thus he spoke: but the son of Tydeus retired a little, biding the wrath +of far-darting Apollo. But Apollo placed Æneas apart from the crowd, in +sacred Pergamus, where his temple was. 214 Latona and shaft-rejoicing +Diana healed him in the mighty shrine, and adorned him with glory. But +silver-bowed Apollo formed a phantom like unto Æneas himself and such +in arms. Around the phantom the Trojans and the noble Greeks smote on +each others’ breasts the well-battered ox-hide shields, and the light +bucklers. Then at length Phœbus Apollo addressed impetuous Mars: + +Footnote 214: (return) “On the Trojan citadel of Pergamus itself was a +temple of Apollo, Diana and Latona; and hence Homer represents these +three deities protecting the falling city.”—Μüller, Dorians, vol. i. p. +248. + +“Mars! Mars! man-slaughterer, gore-tainted, wall-batterer! wouldst not +thou now, meeting this man, the son of Venus, withdraw him from the +battle, who would even now cope with father Jove? First, indeed, in +close combat, he wounded Venus in the hand, at the wrist; but then he +assailed me, like unto a god.” + +Thus having spoken, he sat down on lofty Pergamus; but destructive Mars +aroused the ranks of the Trojans, going through them, assimilating +himself to Acamus, the swift leader of the Thracians, and thus he +harangued the Jove-nourished sons of Priam: + +“Ye sons of Priam, Jove-nourished king, how long will ye suffer the +people to be slain by the Greeks? Is it until they fight around the +well-made gates? A hero lies prostate, whom we honoured equally with +noble Hector, the son of magnanimous Anchises. But come, let us rescue +from the assault our excellent companion.” + +Thus having spoken, he excited the might and courage of heart. Then +Sarpedon much rebuked noble Hector: + +Hector, where now has that strength gone, which thou didst formerly +possess? Thou saidst, I ween, that thou, with thy kindred and thy +brothers, couldst defend the city without the forces and allies. Now I +can neither see nor perceive any of these; but they crouch down, like +dogs but a lion: we, on the contrary, who are here mere allies, bear +the brunt of the fight. Even I, being thine ally, have come from a very +great distance; for far off is Lycia, at lying Xanthus, where I left my +beloved wife and my infant son, and many possessions, which he who is +poor covets: but I, nevertheless, exhort the Lycians, and ready myself +to fight with that hero; and yet there is here to me such store as the +Greeks can carry or let. But thou standest still, and dost not exhort +even the forces to stand and to defend their wives. Beware perchance, +as though ensnared in the meshes of an alluring net, thou become a prey +and a spoil to hostile for quickly will they destroy thy well-inhabited +city. As it behoves thee, both night and day, to interest thyself in +these matters, beseeching the chiefs of thy far-summoned force to +persevere with ardour, and forego their violent strife. + +Thus spoke Sarpedon, but his speech gnawed the heart of Hector, and +immediately he leaped from his chariot with his armour to the ground, +and brandishing his sharp spear, went in all directions through the +army, exhorting the battle; and he stirred up a grievous conflict. The +Trojans rallied and stood against the Greeks; but the Greeks stood in +close array, withstood them, nor fled. + +And as the wind scatters the chaff about the threshing-floors, when men +are winnowing [it], and yellow Ceres is separating both the grain and +the chaff, the winds rush along; and the chaff-heaps 215 grow white +beneath; thus then the Greeks became white with the chaff from above, +which indeed through them, as they again mingled in the combat, the +feet of the steeds struck up [the ground] to the brazen heaven; for the +charioteers turning back. But they directed the strength of theirs +straight forward; and fierce Mars spread a vapour over the battle, +aiding the Trojans, going about everywhere, echoing the commands of +golden-sworded Phœbus Apollo and ordered him to excite the courage of +the Trojans, whenever he should see Pallas Minerva departing; for she +was an ally of the Greeks. But he sent forth Æneas from his very rich +shrine and infused strength into the breast of the shepherd of the +people. + +Footnote 215: (return) But cf. Schol. οἱ τόποι εἰς οὓς τὰ ἄχυρα +ἐκπίπτει. + +Then Æneas placed himself amidst his companions and they rejoiced when +they saw him approaching alive, unhurt and having excellent strength. +They did not ever, ask any questions; for a different labour did not +pale which the silver-bowed god and man-slaughtering war and Strife +insatiably raging, had excited. But then Greeks, the two Ajaces, and +Ulysses and Diomede, urged on to fight. But they, even by themselves, +feared neither the violent attacks 216 of the Trojans, nor their +shouts: but remained firm, like unto clouds, which the son of Saturn, +during a calm, has placed upon the lofty mountains, at rest, when the +might of Boreas sleeps, 217 and of the other impetuous winds, which, +blowing with shrill blasts, disperse the shadowy clouds. Thus the +Greeks awaited the Trojans, standing firm, nor fled. But the son of +Atreus kept hurrying through the host, exhorting them much: + +“O friends, be men, and assume a valiant heart, and feel shame 218 +towards each other through the fierce engagements: for more of those +men who dread shame are safe, than are slain; but from fugitives +neither does any glory arise, nor any assistance.” + +He spoke, and darted with his spear quickly, and struck Dëicoon, son of +Pergasis, a warrior chief, the companion of magnanimous Æneas, whom the +Trojans honoured equally with the sons of Priam; since he was prompt to +fight amidst the van. Him then king Agamemnon struck in the shield with +his spear, but it [the shield] did not repel the spear, for even +through this it passed onwards, and pierced him through the belt, at +the lower part of the stomach. And he made a crash as he fell, and his +arms rattled over him. + +Here then Æneas slew some brave heroes of the Greeks,—Crethon and +Orsilochus, the sons of Diocles: their father, indeed, rich in +sustinence, 219 dwelt in well-built Pheræ; but his origin was from the +river Alpheus, which flows widely through the land of the Pylians. +Alpheus begat Orsilochus, a prince over many men; but Orsilochus begat +magnanimous Diocles; and of Diocles were born two sons, Crethon and +Orsilochus, well skilled in all kinds of battle. These, indeed, in the +bloom of youth, in their sable ships followed with the Argives to Ilium +famed for noble steeds, seeking honour for the sons of Atreus, +Agamemnon and Menelaus: but there the end of death overshadowed them. + +Footnote 216: (return) Such seems to be the force of the plural βίας. + +Footnote 217: (return) “Ascending, while the north wind +sleeps.”—Milton, P. L. ii. 489. + +Footnote 218: (return) I. e. be ashamed to fly or give way. Compare +Plato, Sympos. p. 317, F. G. ed. Læm., where he dwells upon the +advantages of friends fighting together, as rendering men ashamed of +any cowardly action. + +Footnote 219: (return) This construction with the genitive is very +common in Latin. Virg. Georg. ii. 468: “dives opum.” Æn. i. 18; Hor. +Ep. ii. 2, 31; Od. iv. 8, 5; Silius, i. 393. + +They two, 220 just as two lions have been reared under their dam, amid +the thickets of a deep wood, on a mountain’s heights; they in process +of time seizing oxen and fat sheep, lay waste the stalls of men, till +at length they are themselves killed by the hands of men with the sharp +brass; such these two, subdued by the hands of Æneas, fell like lofty +firs. Then Menelaus, brave in the din of war, pitied them fallen, and +went through the van, equipped in shining brass, brandishing his spear; +for Mars kindled his strength, with the design that he should be +subdued by the hands of Æneas. + +But him Antilochus, son of magnanimous Nestor, beheld, and proceeded +through the van, for he feared much for the shepherd of the people, +lest he should suffer anything, and greatly disappoint them of [the +fruits of] their labour. And now they were stretching forth their hands +and sharp spears against each other, eager to fight; but Antilochus +stood very near the shepherd 221 of the people. But Æneas, though a +brisk warrior, remained not, when he beheld the two heroes standing +near each other. When, therefore, they had drawn the dead bodies 222 to +the people of the Greeks, they gave the miserable pair into the hands +of their companions; and they themselves, returning back, fought in the +van. + +Footnote 220: (return) The order is, τώγε, οἴω λέοντε δύω. Anthon +refers to Kühner 1. 443, 4, p. 97, Jelf’s Translation. + +Footnote 221: (return) See note on ver. 50. + +Footnote 222: (return) Of the sons of Diocles. + +Then they slew Pylæmenes, equal to Mars, general of the magnanimous +shielded Paphlagonians. Him indeed the son of Atreus, spear-renowned +Menelaus, wounded with a spear as he stood, having smote him on the +collar-bone. But Antilochus on his part smote the charioteer Mydon, his +brave attendant, the son of Atymnias (now he was in the act of turning +his solid-hoofed steeds), having struck him with a hand-stone on the +elbow; immediately the reins, white with ivory, fell from his hands on +the ground in the dust. But Antilochus, rushing on, smote him with his +sword in the temple, and panting he fell from the well-made chariot, +headlong in the dust, on his head and his shoulders. Very long he stood +(for he fell on deep sand), till the two horses, striking him, cast him +to the ground in the dust: but Antilochus lashed them on, and drove +them to the army of the Greeks. + +But them Hector discerned through the ranks, and rushed on them, +vociferating, and with him followed the brave phalanxes of the Trojans. +Mars and venerable Bellona led them; she, on the one hand, bearing with +her tumultuous Din, but Mars, on the other, brandished a huge spear in +his hands. At one time, indeed, he paced before Hector, at another +after him. + +But him Diomede, brave in fight, seeing, trembled. As when a man, +uncertain of his course, passing over a great plain, has stopped at a +swift-flowing river, running into the sea, beholding it boiling with +foam, and retreats back in haste: so then did the son of Tydeus retire, +and he said to the host: + +“O friends, how do we all admire noble Hector, that he is both a +spearman and a daring warrior! But with him one at least of the gods is +ever present, who wards off death; even now Mars in person stands by +him like unto a mortal man. But retreat back, [with your faces] turned +always to the Trojans, nor desire to fight valiantly against the gods.” + +Thus then he said: but the Trojans advanced very near them. There +Hector slew two heroes skilled in battle, Menesthes and Anchialus, +being in one chariot. But mighty Telamonian Ajax pitied them falling; +and advancing he stood very near them, and launched with his shining +spear, and smote Amphius, son of Selagus, who, exceedingly rich in +property and crops, dwelt in Pæsus. But fate had led him as an ally to +Priam and his sons. Him Telamonian Ajax smote on the belt, and the +long-shadowed spear was fixed in the pit of his stomach. Falling, he +made a crash, and illustrious Ajax ran up to him, about to spoil [him +of] his armour; but the Trojans poured upon him sharp spears, shining +all around, and his shield received many. But he, pressing on him with +his heel, drew from the body his brazen spear; however, he was not able +to take off from his shoulders any other beautiful armour, for he was +pressed upon with weapons. He also dreaded the stout defence of haughty +Trojans, 223 who, both numerous and doughty, stood around, stretching +forth their spears, and who drove him away from them, although being +mighty, and valiant, and renowned. But he, retiring, was repelled by +force. + +Footnote 223: (return) Cf. Lex. Seg. 6, p. 336. Bekk.: ἀγέρωχος, +σεμνὸς, ὑπερόπτης, ϑρασύς. On the different and doubtful etymologies of +this word, see Alberti on Hesych. t. i. p, 44, and Buttm. Lexil. p. 19, +sq. + +Thus they, on the one hand, toiled through the violent conflict. But +violent fate urged on Tlepolemus, the brave and great son of Hercules, +against godlike Sarpedon. But when they, the son and grandson of +cloud-collecting Jove, were now rushing against one another, Tlepolemus +first addressed him [Sarpedon]: + +“Sarpedon, chief of the Lycians, what necessity is there for thee, +being a man unskilled in war, to tremble here? Falsely do they say that +thou art the offspring of ægis-bearing Jove, since thou art far +inferior to those heroes, who were of Jove, in the time of ancient men. +But what sort do they say that Hercules was, my bold-minded, +lion-hearted father? who formerly coming hither, on account of the +steeds of Laomedon, with six ships only, and with a few men, laid waste +the city of Ilium, and widowed its streets. But thou hast an ignoble +mind, and thy forces are perishing away; nor do I think that thou wilt +be an assistance to the Trojans, having come from Lycia, not even if +thou be exceedingly valiant; but that, slain by me, thou wilt pass +through the gates of Hades.” + +But him Sarpedon, leader of the Lycians, in return accosted: +“Tlepolemus, he indeed overturned sacred Ilium, through the folly of +the hero, famous Laomedon, who reproved with harsh language him who had +deserved well, nor did he give back the steeds, on account of which he +came from afar. But I tell thee that here slaughter and gloomy death +will befall thee at my hands; and that, subdued by my spear, thou wilt +give glory to me, and a spirit to steed-famed 224 Pluto.” + +Footnote 224: (return) An epithet probably derived from the steeds +(“inferni raptoris equos,” Claudian, de R. P. i. 1) employed in the +abduction of Proserpine. + +Thus spoke Sarpedon: but Tlepolemus raised his ashen spear, and from +their hands, at the same moment, flew the long spears. Sarpedon, on his +part, struck the centre of [his adversary’s] neck, and the grievous +weapon passed right through; and gloomy night overspread his eyes. But +Tlepolemus in the meantime had struck Sarpedon in the left thigh with +his long spear; and the spear, rushing with violence, passed through, +grazing the bone: but his father as yet averted death. + +His noble companions bore godlike Sarpedon from the battle; but the +long spear, trailed along with him, pained him; but this no one of them +hastening noticed, nor thought of extracting from his thigh the ashen +spear, that he might ascend the chariot; for such anxiety did his +attendants entertain for him. But on the other side the well-greaved +Greeks carried Tlepolemus from the fight; and divine Ulysses, +possessing an enduring heart, perceived them, and his soul was stirred +within him. And then he anxiously pondered in his mind and soul, +whether he should pursue farther the son of loud-thundering Jove, or +should take away the lives of many more Lycians. But it was not fated +for magnanimous Ulysses to slay the brave son of Jove with the sharp +spear. Therefore Minerva turned his thoughts towards the multitude of +the Lycians. Then he slew Cœranus, and Alastor, and Chromius, and +Alcander, and Halius, and Noëmon, and Prytanis. And yet more Lycians +would noble Ulysses have slain, had not mighty crest-tossing Hector +quickly perceived him. He therefore went through the van, armed in +shining brass, bearing terror to the Greeks: then Sarpedon, the son of +Jove, rejoiced at him approaching, and spoke [this] mournful address: + +“O son of Priam, I pray thee, suffer me not to lie a prey to the +Greeks, but aid me. Even then 225 let life forsake me in thy city; +since I was not destined to gladden my dear wife and infant son, +returning home to my dear fatherland.” + +Footnote 225: (return) I. e. when you have rescued my body from the +foe, I will die content in Troy.—Anthon. + +Thus he spoke: but him plume-waving Hector answered nought, but flew +past him, in order that he might repel the Greeks with all haste, and +take away the lives of many. His noble companions meantime placed +godlike Sarpedon under a very beautiful beech of ægis-bearing Jove. +Stout Pelagon then, who was his beloved companion, forced out the ashen +spear from his thigh. Thereupon animation left him, and darkness was +poured over his eyes; but he again revived, for the breeze of Boreas, +breathing upon him around, refreshed in spirit him panting with +difficulty. + +But the Greeks, on account of Mars and brazen-helmed Hector, neither +were driven at any time back to their sable ships, nor did they advance +forward to battle; but always kept giving ground, since they had heard +that Mars was with the Trojans. + +Then whom first, whom last did Hector, the son of Priam, and brazen +Mars slay? The godlike Teuthras, and moreover the knight Orestes, the +Ætolian spearman Trechus, and Œnomaus, and Helenus of the race of +Œnops, and Oresbius of flexible 226 belt, who dwelt in Hyla, near the +lake Cephissus, very intent on wealth: and near him dwelt other +Bœotians, having a very rich territory. + +Footnote 226: (return) Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 66. I. e. “a belt which he +could easily move, and which, from its suppleness and flexibility, +yielded to the pressure of his person.”—Anthon. + +When therefore the white-armed goddess Juno perceived these Greeks +perishing in the violent engagement, straightway to Minerva she +addressed winged words: + +“Strange! O daughter of ægis-bearing Jove, unwearied one, certainly we +have made a vain promise to Menelaus, that he should return after +having destroyed well-walled Ilium, if we suffer destructive Mars thus +to rage. But come, let us too bethink ourselves of some powerful aid.” + +Thus she spoke; nor did the azure-eyed goddess Minerva disobey her. +Juno, on her part, venerable goddess, daughter of mighty Saturn, +quickly moving, harnessed her gold-caparisoned steeds; but Hebe +speedily applied to the chariot, to the iron axletree on both sides, +the curved wheels, golden, with eight spokes. Of these, indeed, the +felloe is of gold, imperishable: but above [are] brazen tires fastened +on them, wonderful to be seen; but the circular naves on both sides are +of silver; and the body 227 was stretched on with gold and silver +thongs (there was a double circular rim); from this projected a silver +pole; at its extremity she bound the golden, beauteous yoke, and to it +attached the beautiful golden poitrels. But Juno, longing for conquest +and battle, led the swift-footed steeds under the yoke. + +Footnote 227: (return) δίφρος is properly the seat, but is here put +for the whole chariot. + +Minerva, on the other hand, the daughter of ægis-bearing Jove, let flow +down on her father’s floor her dainty robe of variegated hue, which she +herself had wrought and worked with her own hands: then she, having put +on her tunic, equipped herself for the tearful war in the armour of +cloud-compelling Jove, and around her shoulders she then threw the +fringed ægis, dreadful, around which on all sides Terror appears +plumed. Thereon was Strife, thereon Fortitude, and thereon was chilling +Pursuit; 228 on it was the Gorgonian head of the dreadful monster, +dire, horrible, a portent of ægis-bearing Jove. On her head she placed +her four-crested helmet, with a spreading metal ridge, 229 golden, +sufficient for the heavy-armed of a hundred cities. She then stepped +into her shining chariot with her feet; and took her spear, heavy, +huge, and sturdy, with which she, sprung from a dread sire, subdues the +ranks of heroic men, with whomsoever she is wroth. But Juno with the +lash quickly urged on the steeds. The gates of heaven creaked +spontaneously, the gates which the Hours guarded, to whom are intrusted +the mighty heaven and Olympus, as well to open the dense cloud as to +close it. In this way, indeed, through these gates, they drove their +steeds, urged on with the goad: and they found the son of Saturn +sitting apart from the other gods on the highest summit of many-peaked +Olympus. There staying her steeds, the white-armed goddess Juno +interrogated supreme Saturnian Jove, and thus addressed him: + +“O father Jove, art thou not indignant at Mars for these bold +deeds,—how numerous and how choice a multitude of Greeks he has +destroyed rashly, nor as became him: a grief indeed to me; but Venus +and silver-bowed Apollo in quiet are delighted, having let slip this +frantic [god], who knows no rights. Father Jove, wilt thou be angry +with me if I drive Mars from the battle, having dreadfully wounded +him?” + +Footnote 228: (return) Compare ροίωξις and αλίωξις, similarly +personified, in Hesiod, Scut. Herc. 134, and Virg. Æn. viii. 701: + + “—tristesque ex æthere Diræ, + Et scissâ gaudens vadit Discordia pallâ; + Quam cum sanguineo sequitur Bellona flagello.” + + +Footnote 229: (return) See note on iii. 362. + +But her answering, cloud-compelling Jove addressed: + +“Come, incite the pillaging Minerva against him, who is very wont to +cause him to approach grievous woes.” + +Thus he spoke: nor did the white-armed goddess Juno disobey, but she +lashed on her steeds. They flew, not unwillingly, midway between the +earth and the starry heaven. Now, as much haze 230 as a man sees with +his eyes, sitting upon some lofty point, and looking over the darkling +ocean, so far do the high-sounding steeds of the gods clear at one +bound. But when they now reached Troy, and the two flowing rivers, +where Simois and Scamander unite their streams, there the white-armed +goddess Juno stayed her steeds, having loosed them from the chariot, +and shed a dense mist around them. But to them Simois afforded +ambrosial food to feed on. + +But they went on, like unto timid doves in their pace, hastening to +assist the Grecian heroes. But when they had now arrived where the most +numerous 231 and the bravest stood collected in dense array round +horse-breaking Diomede, like raw-devouring lions or wild boars, whose +strength is not feeble, there standing, the white-armed goddess Juno +shouted aloud, having likened herself to great-hearted, brazen-voiced +Stentor, who was accustomed to shout as loud as fifty other men: + +Footnote 230: (return) Opposed to the pure air of æther. See Buttm. +Lexil. p. 37, sqq. + +Footnote 231: (return) Observe the elegant position of the plural verb +between two singular substantives, according to the Schema Alemanicum. +Compare Od. K, 513, and Il. Y, 138, which have been pointed out by +Lesbonax, p. 179, ed. Valck. + +“Shame! ye Greeks! foul subjects of disgrace! admirable in form +[alone]. As long, indeed, as divine Achilles was wont to be engaged in +the war, the Trojans were not in the habit of advancing beyond the +Dardan gates; for they dreaded his mighty spear; but now they fight at +the hollow ships, far away from the city.” + +Thus saying, she aroused the strength and courage of each. The +azure-eyed goddess Minerva rushed towards the son of Tydeus; but she +found that prince by his steeds and chariot, cooling the wound which +Pandarus had inflicted on him with a shaft. For perspiration had +afflicted him beneath the broad belt of his well-orbed shield: with +this was he afflicted, and he was fatigued as to his hand; and raising +the belt, he wiped away the black gore. Then the goddess touched the +yoke of the horses, and said: + +“Little like himself has Tydeus begotten a son. Tydeus was certainly +small in body, but a warrior. And even when I suffered him not to +fight, nor to rush furiously to battle, when he came far from the +Greeks, an ambassador to Thebes to the numerous Cadmeans, I commanded +him to feast quietly in the palaces; but he, retaining his doughty +spirit, as before, challenged the youths, the Cadmeans, and easily +conquered them in everything; so great an auxiliary was I to him. But +thee, indeed, I stand by and preserve, and I exhort thee freely to +fight against the Trojans. But either weariness, from great toil, has +entered thy limbs, or at least disheartening fear in some manner +possesses thee. Thou art not henceforth to be deemed at least the son +of Tydeus, the gallant son of Æneus.” + +But her valiant Diomede answering addressed: “I know thee, O goddess, +daughter of ægis-bearing Jove; therefore will I willingly tell this +word to thee, nor will I conceal it. Neither does any disheartening +fear possess me, nor any sloth: but as yet I am mindful of thy +mandates, which thou didst enjoin. Thou didst not suffer me to fight +with the other happy gods; but if Venus, the daughter of Jove, should +come into the battle, to wound her at least with the sharp steel. +Wherefore now I myself retire, and have ordered all the other Greeks to +be collected here: for I perceive Mars dispensing the battle.” + +But him the azure-eyed goddess Minerva then answered: “Diomede, son of +Tydeus, most dear to my soul, neither fear this Mars at all, nor any +other of the immortals; such an auxiliary am I to thee. But come, first +direct thy solid-hoofed steeds against Mars, strike him in close +combat, nor regard impetuous Mars, this frenzied and unnatural pest, +shifter from one to another; who lately haranguing promised me and +Juno, that he would fight against the Trojans, and aid the Greeks; but +now he mixes with the Trojans, and has forgotten these.” + +Thus having said, she forced Sthenelus from his horses to the ground, +dragging him back with her hand; but he promptly leaped down. Then the +goddess herself, infuriate, ascended the chariot beside noble Diomede, +and greatly did the beechen axle groan under the weight; for it bore a +dreadful goddess and a very brave hero. Then Pallas Minerva seized the +scourge and the reins. Straightway she drove the solid-hoofed steeds +against Mars first. He, indeed, had just slain huge Periphas, the +illustrious son of Ochesius, by far the bravest of the Ætolians. Him +indeed gore-stained Mars slew; but Minerva put on the helmet of Pluto +that impetuous Mars might not see her. + +But when man-slaughtering Mars saw noble Diomede, he suffered huge +Periphas to lie there, where first slaying him he had taken away his +life, but he went straight against horse breaking Diomede. And when +these came near, advancing against each other, Mars first, over the +yoke and the reins of the steeds, stretched himself forward with his +brazen spear, eager to take away his life. It then the azure-eyed +goddess Minerva having caught in her hand, turned from the chariot, so +as to be borne away in vain. But next Diomede, valiant in the din of +war, made the attack with his brazen spear; and Pallas Minerva firmly +fastened it in his lowest flank, where he was girt with his belt. In +that very part striking, she wounded him, and tore his beautiful skin, +and drew out the spear again. Then roared brazen Mars, as loud as nine +or ten thousand men roar in war, joining the strife of battle. And then +fear seized the terrified Greeks and Trojans, so loud bellowed Mars, +insatiate of war. + +And as when from the clouds, a gloomy haze appears, a heavy-blowing +wind arising from heat; such did brazen Mars appear to Diomede, son of +Tydeus, going amid the clouds into the broad heaven. Quickly he reached +lofty Olympus, the seat of the gods, and sat near Saturnian Jove, +grieving in his heart, and showed the immortal blood flowing down from +the wound, and complaining, he spoke winged words: + +“Father Jove, art thou not incensed beholding these violent deeds? +Ever, of a truth, are we deities suffering most grievous woes from the +machinations of each other, and [whilst] conferring favour upon men. We +all are indignant with thee; 232 for thou hast begotten a mad, +pernicious daughter, to whom evil works are ever a care. For all the +other gods, as many as are in Olympus, obey thee, and unto thee each of +us is subject. But her thou restrainest not by words, nor by any act, +but dost indulge her, since thou thyself didst beget this destructive +daughter. Who now has urged on Diomede, the overbearing son of Tydeus, +to rage against the immortal gods. Venus he first wounded, in close +fight, in the hand at the wrist; and, equal to a god, he afterwards +rushed on myself; but my swift feet withdrew me; [otherwise] I should +certainly for a long time have endured woes there amidst the dreadful +heaps of slain, or living should have been exhausted by the strokes of +the brass.” + +Footnote 232: (return) Or, “through thee we are all at variance,” +taking σοί as put for διά σέ with Lesbonax, πεοί σχημ. p. 186; +Hesychius, t. ii. p. 1234, and the Scholiast. + +Him sternly regarding, cloud-compelling Jove addressed: “Complain not +to me, inconstant one, sitting by me: for thou art most hateful to me, +of all the gods that possess Olympus: for to thee discord is ever +grateful, and wars and battles: thou hast thy mother Juno’s +insufferable and unbending disposition, which I myself can scarcely +repress with words. Wherefore I think thou sufferest these things by +her instigation. Yet no longer can I endure thy suffering pain, for +thou art my offspring, and to me thy mother brought thee forth. But +hadst thou, destructive as thou art, been born of any other of the +gods, even long since hadst thou been far lower than the sons of +Uranus.” + +Thus he spoke, and ordered Pæon to heal him: and Pæon healed him, +spreading [on his wound] pain-assuaging medicines; for he was not by +any means mortal. As when fig-tree juice, 233 on being stirred about, +curdles the white milk, fluid before, and it very rapidly coagulates, +while one is mixing it; thus at that time did he speedily heal +impetuous Mars. Hebe then washed him, and put on him beautiful +garments. Then, exulting in glory, near Saturnian Jove he sat down. + +And now again Argive Juno and the powerful assistant Minerva returned +to the palace of mighty Jove, after having stayed man-slaying Mars from +his deeds of slaughter. + +Footnote 233: (return) Used as rennet. + + + + +BOOK THE SIXTH. + + +ARGUMENT. + +The gods having left the field, victory now inclines to the side of the +Greeks, and Helenus counsels Hector to order a public supplication to +Minerva in the citadel. While Hector is gone to the city for that +purpose, Diomedes and Glaucus recognize the friendship which had +formerly existed between their fathers, and exchange armour in token of +amity. Hecuba and the Trojan matrons present a robe to Minerva, and +offer up prayers for their country. Hector reproves Paris, and brings +him back to the field, having first taken an affecting farewell of his +wife and child. + + +And now the dreadful battle of the Trojans and the Greeks was +abandoned. Often here and there the battle raged through the plain, +[the combatants] directing against each other their brass-tipped +spears, between the rivers of Simois and Xanthus. + +First Telamonian Ajax, the bulwark of the Greeks, broke through the +phalanx of the Trojans, and gave light 234 to his companions, smiting +the good and mighty hero Acamas, son of Eyssorus, who was the bravest +amongst the Thracians. First he struck him on the ridge of the +horse-haired helmet; and the brazen spear fixed itself in his forehead, +and passed on within the bone; but darkness veiled his eyes. + +Footnote 234: (return) _I. e._ the light of hope. Cf. Virg. Æn. ii, +281: “O _lux_ Dardaniæ, _spes_ ô fidissima Teucrûm.” Quintus Calab. +iii. 561. Έπεὶ σύ μοι ὶερoν ᾗμαρ, καὶ ϕάος ὴελίοιο πέλες. + +But Diomede, brave in the din of war, slew Axylus, the son of Teuthras, +who dwelt in well-built Arisba, rich in wealth, and he was beloved by +men, for dwelling in a house near the public way, he was wont to afford +entertainment to all. But none of them [his guests] coming up before +him, warded off sad death; but [Diomede] deprived both of life, himself +and his attendant Calesius, who then was the charioteer of his steeds, +and both these entered the earth. + +And Euryalus slew Dresus and Opheltius; and afterwards went against +Æsepus and Pedasus, whom formerly the Naiad nymph Abarbarea brought +forth to blameless Bucolion. Bucolion was the son of illustrious +Laomedon, eldest by birth, but him his mother brought forth secretly. +While [Bucolion] was a shepherd, he was mingled in love and nuptials +with her amongst the sheep; but she becoming pregnant, brought forth +twin sons. And truly the son of Mecisteus 235 relaxed their strength +and their illustrious limbs, and tore the armour from their shoulders. +And next warlike Polypœtes slew Astyalus. Ulysses killed Percosian +Pidytes with his brazen spear; and Agamemnon, king of men, slew Elatus. +He dwelt at lofty Pedasus, on the banks of fair-flowing Satniois. The +hero Leïtus slew Phylacus flying; and Eurypylus killed and spoiled +Melanthius. + +Footnote 235: (return) Euryalus. + +In the next place Menelaus, valiant in the din of war, took Adrastus +alive; for his two steeds, flying bewildered over the plain, coming in +violent contact with a branch of tamarisk, and having broken the curved +chariot at the extremity of the pole, themselves flew towards the city, +whither others also fled terrified. But he was rolled from his chariot +near the wheel, prone in the dust on his mouth: but near him stood +Menelaus, the son of Atreus, holding his long-shadowed spear. Adrastus +then embracing his knees supplicated him: + +“Take me alive, O son of Atreus, and receive a worthy ransom; in my +wealthy father’s [house] 236 lie abundant stores, brass and gold, and +well-wrought steel; out of which my sire will bestow on thee countless +ransom-gifts, if he shall hear that I am alive at the ships of the +Greeks.” + +Thus he spoke; and persuaded his mind in his breast, and already he was +on the point of consigning him to the care of his attendant to conduct +him to the ships of the Greeks: but Agamemnon running up, met him, and +shouting in a chiding tone, spoke: + +“O soft one, O Menelaus, why art thou thus so much concerned for these +men? In sooth very kind offices were done to thee in thy family by the +Trojans. 237 Of whom let none escape utter destruction, and our hands; +not even him whom the mother carries, being an infant in her womb, let +not even him escape; but let all the inhabitants of Ilium perish +totally, without burial-rites, and obscure.” + +Footnote 236: (return) Supply οϊκῳ or δόμω. + +Footnote 237: (return) Ironically spoken. + +Thus having said, the hero changed his brother’s mind, having advised +right things: but he, with his hand, thrust back the hero Adrastus from +him; and him king Agamemnon smote in the belly, and he was cast supine. +But the son of Atreus planting his heel upon his breast, drew out the +ashen spear. + +Then Nestor exhorted the Greeks, exclaiming aloud: “O friends, Grecian +heroes, servants of Mars, let no one now, desirous of spoil, linger +behind, that he may return bringing abundance to the ships; but let us +slay the men, and afterwards at your leisure, shall ye spoil the dead +bodies through the plain.” + +Thus having said, he aroused the might and courage of each. And then +truly had the Trojans retreated into Ilium, under the influence of the +Mars-beloved Greeks, conquered through their own cowardice, had not +Helenus, son of Priam, by far the best of augurs, standing near, spoken +these words to Æneas and to Hector: + +“Æneas and Hector, since upon you chiefly of the Trojans and Lydians +the labour devolves, because ye are the bravest for every purpose, both +to fight and to take counsel, stand here, and stay the forces before +the gates, running in all directions, before that, on the contrary, +flying they fall into the arms of their wives, and become a triumph to +the enemies. But after ye have exhorted all the phalanxes, we remaining +here will fight against the Greeks, though much pressed, for necessity +urges us. But Hector, do thou go to the city, and then speak to thy +mother and mine; and let her, collecting together the matrons of +distinction 238 into the temple of azure-eyed Minerva, on the lofty +citadel, [and] having opened the doors of the sacred house with the +key, let her place on the knees of fair-haired Minerva the robe which +seems to her the most beautiful, and the largest in her palace, and +which is much the most dear to her. And let her promise to sacrifice to +that goddess in her temple twelve yearling heifers, as yet ungoaded, if +she will take compassion on the city and on the wives and infant +children of the Trojans: if indeed she will avert from sacred Ilium the +son of Tydeus, that ferocious warrior, the dire contriver of flight: +whom I declare to be the bravest of the Greeks; nor have we ever to +such a degree dreaded Achilles, chiefest of men, whom they say is from +a goddess: but this man rages excessively, nor can any equal him in +might.” + +Footnote 238: (return) Hesych. Γεραιάς ἐντίμους γυναὶκας, τὰς γέρας τι +ἐχούσας. + +Thus he said, but Hector was by no means disobedient to his brother; +and instantly from his chariot he leaped to the ground with his arms, +and brandishing his sharp spears, he went in all directions through the +army, inciting them to fight: and he stirred up dreadful battle. But +they rallied round, and stood opposite the Greeks. But the Greeks +retreated, and desisted from slaughter; for they thought that some of +the immortals, from the starry heaven, had descended to aid the +Trojans, in such a way did they rally. But Hector exhorted the Trojans, +exclaiming aloud: + +“Courageous Trojans and far-summoned 239 allies, be men, my friends, +and recall to mind your daring valour, whilst I go to Ilium, and tell +to the aged counsellors, and to our wives, to pray to the gods, and to +vow them hecatombs.” + +Footnote 239: (return) Or τηλεκλειτοί, far-famed. See Anthon on v. +491. + +Thus having spoken, crest-tossing Hector departed; but about him the +black hide, the border which surrounded his bossy shield, kept striking +his ankles and his neck. + +But Glaucus, son of Hippolochus, and the son of Tydeus met in the midst +of both armies, eager to fight. But when now they were near, going +against each other, Diomede, brave in the din of war, first addressed +him: + +“Who of mortal men art thou, O most brave? For never yet have I beheld +thee in the glorious fight: but now indeed thou hast far surpassed all +in thy confidence, since thou hast awaited my long-shadowed spear. +Certainly they are sons of the hapless who meet my strength. But, if +one of the immortals, thou art come from heaven, I would not fight with +the celestial gods. For valiant Lycurgus, the son of Dryas, did not +live long, who contended with the heavenly gods; he who once pursued +the nurses of raving Bacchus through sacred Nyssa; but they all at once +cast their sacred implements 240 on the ground, smitten by man-slaying +Lycurgus with an ox-goad; but Bacchus, too, terrified, sunk under the +wave of the sea, and Thetis received him affrighted in her bosom; for +dreadful trembling had seized him, on account of the threat of the man. +With him the peaceful-living gods were afterwards enraged, and the son +of Saturn rendered him blind, nor did he live much longer, for he +became an object of aversion to all the immortal gods. Wherefore I +should not wish to fight with the blessed gods. But if thou art any one +of mortals, who eat the fruit of the earth, come hither, that thou +mayest speedily reach the goal of death.” + +Footnote 240: (return) Not merely the thyrsi. See Anthon. + +Him then the renowned son of Hippolochus addressed in turn: +“Magnanimous son of Tydeus, why dost thou inquire of my race? As is the +race of leaves, even such is the race of men. 241 Some leaves the wind +sheds upon the ground, but the fructifying wood produces others, and +these grow up in the season of spring. Such is the generation of men; +one produces, another ceases [to do so]. But if thou wouldst learn even +these things, that thou mayest well know my lineage (for many know it), +there is a city, Ephyra, in a nook of horse-pasturing Argos; there +dwelt Sisyphus, who was the most cunning of mortals, Sisyphus, son of +Æolus; and he begat a son, Glaucus. But Glaucus begat blameless +Bellerophon; to whom the gods gave beauty and agreeable manliness. But +against him Prœtus devised evils in his soul: who accordingly banished +him from the state (since he was far the best of the Greeks; for Jove +had subjected them to his sceptre). With him the wife of Prœtus, noble +Antea, 242 passionately longed to be united in secret love; but by no +means could she persuade just-minded, wise-reflecting Bellerophon. She, +therefore, telling a falsehood, thus addressed king Prœtus: ‘Mayest +thou be dead, O Prœtus! or do thou slay Bellerophon, who desired to be +united in love with me against my will.’ Thus she said: but rage +possessed the king at what he heard. He was unwilling, indeed, to slay +him, for he scrupled this in his mind; but he sent him into Lycia, and +gave to him fatal characters, writing many things of deadly purport on +a sealed tablet; and ordered him to show it to his father-in-law, to +the end that he might perish. He therefore went into Lycia, under the +blameless escort of the gods; but when now he had arrived at Lycia and +at the river Xanthus, the king of wide Lycia honoured him with a +willing mind. Nine days did he entertain him hospitably, and sacrificed +nine oxen; but when the tenth rosy-fingered morn appeared, then indeed +he interrogated him, and desired to see the token, 243 whatever it was, +that he brought from his son-in-law Prœtus. But after he had received +the fatal token of his son-in-law, first he commanded him to slay the +invincible Chimæra; but she was of divine race, not of men, in front a +lion, behind a dragon, in the middle a goat, 244 breathing forth the +dreadful might of gleaming fire. And her indeed he slew, relying on the +signs of the gods. Next he fought with the illustrious Solymi: and he +said that he entered on this as the fiercest fight among men. Thirdly, +he slew the man-opposing Amazons. But for him returning the king wove +another wily plot. Selecting the bravest men from wide Lycia, he placed +an ambuscade; but they never returned home again, for blameless +Bellerophon slew them all. But when [Iobates] knew that he was the +offspring of a god, he detained him there, and gave him his daughter: +245 he also gave him half of all his regal honour. The Lycians also +separated for him an enclosure of land, excelling all others, pleasant, +vine-bearing, and arable, that he might cultivate it. But this woman +brought forth three children to warlike Bellerophon, Isandrus, +Hippolochus, and Laodamia. Provident Jove, indeed, had clandestine +intercourse with Laodamia, and she brought forth godlike, brazen-helmed +Sarpedon. But when now even he [Bellerophon] was become odious to all +the gods, he, on his part, wandered alone 246 through the Aleïan plain, +247 pining in his soul, and shunning the path of men. But Mars, +insatiable of war, slew his son Isandrus, fighting against the +illustrious Solymi. And golden-reined Diana, being enraged, slew his +daughter. But Hippolochus begat me, and from him I say that I am born; +me he sent to Troy, and gave me very many commands, always to fight +bravely, and to be superior to others; and not to disgrace the race of +my fathers, who were by far the bravest in Ephyra, and ample Lycia. +From this race and blood do I boast to be.” + +Footnote 241: (return) On this popular Homeric proverb, see Duport, +Gnom. Hom. p. 31, sq. + +Footnote 242: (return) She is more frequently called Sthenobœa, or +Sthenebœa, as by Apollodor. ii. 3,1; Serv. on Æn. v. 118. Fulgentius, +iii. præf., agrees with Homer, giving a ridiculously philosophical +explanation of the whole story. + +Footnote 243: (return) Although Apollodorus, l. c. says, ἔδωκεν +έπιστολὰς αὐτῷ πρὸς Ίοζάτην κομίσειν, and Hygin. Fab. lvii. “Scripsit +tabellas, et mittit eum ad Iobaten regem,” there is no reason to +believe that letters, properly so called, were yet invented. See +Knight, Prolegg. p. lxxiv. lxxxii.; Wood, on the original genius of +Homer, p. 249, sqq.; Müller, Lit. of Greece, iv. 5 (Bulwer, Athens, i. +8, boldly advocates the contrary opinion); and Anthon’s note. Compare +the similar story of Phædra and Hippolytus. + +Footnote 244: (return) For the different descriptions of the Chimæra, +the mythological student may compare Muncker on Hygin. Fab. lvii. p. +104. + +Footnote 245: (return) Philonoë, the sister of Antea. + +Footnote 246: (return) This “melancholy madness” of Bellerophon has +been well illustrated by Duport, p. 31. Burton, Anatomy, p. 259, +observes, “They delight in floods and waters, desert places, to walk +alone in orchards, gardens, private walks, back lanes, averse from +company, as Diogenes in his tub, or Timon Misanthropus; they abhor all +companions at last, even their nearest acquaintances and most familiar +friends; confining themselves therefore to their private houses or +chambers, they will diet themselves, feed and live alone.” Hence +melancholy was called the “morbus Bellerophonteus.” See Bourdelot on +Heliodor. p. 25. + +Footnote 247: (return) Properly, “the Plain of Wandering.” It lay +between the rivers Pyramus and Pinarus, in Cilicia. Cf. Dionys. Perieg. +872. Κεῖθι δὲ καὶ πεδίον τὸ Ἀλήϊον, οὗ κατὰ νῶτα Ἀνθρώπων ἀπάνευθεν +ἀλώμενος ίνδιάασκε. + +Thus he said: and Diomede, valiant in the din of war, rejoiced. His +spear indeed he fixed in the all-nurturing earth, and next addressed +the shepherd of the people in courteous words: + +“Certainly thou art my father’s ancient guest; for in his halls noble +Œneus once entertained blameless Bellerophon, having detained him for +twenty days; and they bestowed valuable gifts of hospitality on each +other. Œneus on his part gave a belt shining with purple; and +Bellerophon in turn a golden double cup; and this I left in my halls +when I was coming hither. But Tydeus I remember not, for he left me +whilst I was yet young, when the people of the Greeks perished at +Thebes. Wherefore I am a guest friend to thee in the midst of Argos, +and thou art the same to me in Lycia, whenever I shall visit their +state. But let us also in the crowd avoid even each other’s spears. For +there are many Trojans and illustrious allies for me to slay, +whomsoever the deity shall present, and I shall overtake with my feet. +And there are many Greeks in turn for thee to slay, whomsoever thou +canst. But let us exchange arms with each other, that even these may +know that we profess to be friends by our ancestors.” + +Thus then having spoken, leaping down from their steeds, they took each +other’s hand, and plighted faith. Then Saturnian Jove took away +prudence from Glaucus, who exchanged armour with Diomede, the son of +Tydeus, [giving] golden [arms] for brazen; the value of a hundred +beeves 248 for the value of nine. + +But when Hector arrived at the Scæan gates and the beech-tree, around +him ran the Trojan wives and daughters inquiring for their sons, their +brothers, their friends, and husbands. But he then ordered all in order +to supplicate the gods, for evils were impending over many. + +But when now he had arrived at the very beautiful dwelling of Priam, +built with well-polished porticoes; but in it were fifty chambers 249 +of polished marble, built near one another, where lay the sons of Priam +with their lawful wives; and opposite, on the other side, within the +hall, were the twelve roofed chambers of his daughters, of polished +marble, built near to one another, where the sons-in-law of Priam slept +with their chaste wives. There his fond mother met him, as she was +going to Laodice, the most excellent in form of her daughters: and she +hung upon his hand, and addressed him, and spoke: + +Footnote 248: (return) See Gellius, ii. 23. It must be remembered that +in the ancient times, when there was no money, cattle formed the +standard of barter. + +Footnote 249: (return) Cf. Virg. Æn. ii. 503; Eur. Hec. 421. + +“My son, why hast thou come, having left the bold fight? Certainly the +abominable sons of the Greeks harass thee much, fighting around thy +city: thy mind hath urged thee to come hither, to uplift thy hands to +Jove from the lofty citadel. But wait till I bring thee genial wine, +that first thou mayest make a libation to Jove, and to the other +immortal gods, and then thou shalt refresh thyself, if thou wilt drink. +For to a wearied man wine greatly increases strength; since thou art +wearied aiding thy kinsmen.” + +But her mighty crest-tossing Hector then answered: “Bring me not genial +wine, venerable mother, lest thou enervate me, and I forget my might +and valour. But I dread to pour out dark-red wine to Jove with unwashed +hands: nor is it by any means lawful for me, defiled with blood and +gore, to offer vows to the cloud-compelling son of Saturn. But go thou +to the temple of Minerva the pillager, with victims, having assembled +the matrons of distinction. And the robe which is the most beautiful +and the largest in the palace, and by far the most esteemed by thyself, +that place on the knees of the fair-haired goddess, and vow that thou +wilt sacrifice to her, in her temple, twelve heifers, yearlings, +ungoaded, if she will take compassion on the city, and the wives and +infant children of the Trojans; if she will avert from sacred Ilium the +son of Tydeus, that fierce warrior, the valiant author of terror. Do +thou, on thy part, go to the temple of the pillager Minerva; but I will +go after Paris, that I may call him, if he is willing to hear me +speaking. Would that the earth might there open for him, for him hath +Olympian Jove reared as a great bane to the Trojans, to magnanimous +Priam, and to his sons. Could I but behold him descending to Hades, I +might say that my soul had forgotten its joyless woe.” + +Thus he spoke: but she, going to her palace, gave orders to her maids: +and they assembled through the city the matrons of distinction. But she +descended into her fragrant chamber, where were her +variously-embroidered robes, the works of Sidonian females, which +godlike Alexander himself had brought from Sidon, sailing over the +broad ocean, in that voyage in which he carried off Helen, sprung from +a noble sire. Hecuba, taking one of these which was most beauteous with +various hues, and largest, brought it as a gift to Minerva; and it +glittered like a star, and lay the undermost of all. But she hastened +to set out, and many venerable matrons hurried along with her. + +But when they arrived at the temple of Minerva, in the lofty citadel, +fair-cheeked Theano, the daughter of Cisseus, wife of horse-breaking +Antenor, opened to them the gates; for the Trojans had made her +priestess of Minerva. They all, with a loud wailing, upraised their +hands to Minerva. But fair-cheeked Theano having received the garment, +placed it on the knees of fair-haired Minerva, and making vows, thus +prayed to the daughter of mighty Jove: + +“Venerable Minerva, guardian of the city, divine one of goddesses, +break now the spear of Diomede, and grant that he may fall prostrate +before the Scæan gates, that we may forthwith sacrifice to thee in thy +temple twelve yearling untamed heifers, if thou wilt pity the city, and +the wives of the Trojans, and their infant children.” + +So she spake in prayer, but Pallas Minerva refused. Thus they, on their +part, offered vows to the daughter of mighty Jove. + +But Hector had gone to the beautiful halls of Alexander, which he +himself had built with the aid of men, who then were the most skilful +artificers in fruitful Troy: who made for him a chamber, a +dwelling-room, and hall, in the lofty citadel, near the palaces of +Priam and Hector. There Jove-beloved Hector entered, and in his hand he +held a spear of eleven cubits; the brazen point of the spear shone in +front, and a golden ring encircled it. But him he found in his chamber +preparing his very beauteous armour, his shield and corslet, and +fitting his curved bow. Argive Helen sat amongst her female servants, +and assigned their tasks to her maids of renowned work. But Hector, +seeing, reproached him with foul words: + +“Infatuate; not befittingly hast thou conceived this rage in thy mind: +the people are perishing, fighting around the city and the lofty wall: +and on thy account the battle and war are blazing around the city. +Truly thou wouldst thyself reprove another, if ever thou sawest any +person remiss in the hateful battle. But arise, lest perchance the city +should quickly blaze with hostile fire.” + +But him godlike Alexander then addressed: “Hector, since thou hast with +reason reproved me, and not without reason, therefore will I tell thee; +but do thou attend and hear me. I was sitting in my chamber, neither so +much from anger nor indignation against the Trojans, but [because] I +wished to give way to grief. But now my wife, advising me with soothing +words, hath urged me to the battle, and to myself also it seems to be +better: for victory alternates to men. But come now, wait, let me put +on my martial arms; or go on, and I will follow, and I think that I +shall overtake thee.” + +Thus he said, but crest-tossing Hector did not answer him. But Helen +addressed him [Hector] with soothing words: “Brother-in-law of me, +shameless authoress of mischief-devising, fearful wretch, would that, +on the day when first my mother brought me forth, a destructive tempest +of wind had seized and borne me to a mountain, or into the waves of the +much-resounding ocean, where the billow would have swept me away before +these doings had occurred. But since the gods have thus decreed these +evils, I ought at least to have been the wife of a braver man, who +understood both the indignation and the many reproaches of men. But +this man’s sentiments are neither constant now, nor will they be +hereafter; wherefore I think he will reap the fruits [of them]. But +come now, enter, and sit on this seat, brother-in-law, since toils have +greatly encompassed thy mind, on account of shameless me, and of the +guilt of Alexander; on whom Jove hath imposed an unhappy lot, that, +even in time to come, we should be a subject of song to future men.” + +But her mighty crest-tossing Hector then answered: “Do not bid me sit, +Helen, though courteous, for thou wilt not persuade me. For now is my +mind urged on, that I may aid the Trojans, who have great regret for me +absent. But do thou arouse him [Paris], and let him hasten, that he may +overtake me being within the city. For I will go home, that I may see +my domestics, my beloved wife, and my infant son. For I know not +whether I shall ever again return to them, or whether the gods will now +subdue me under the hands of the Greeks.” + +Thus having said, crest-tossing Hector departed; and immediately he +then arrived at his well-situated palace, nor did he find white-armed +Andromache in the halls; but she stood lamenting and weeping on the +tower, with her son and her well-robed maid. But Hector, when he found +not his blameless wife within, went and stood at the threshold, and +said to the female servants: + +“I pray you, maids, tell me truly whither went white-armed Andromache +from the palace? Has she gone anywhere [to the dwellings] of her +husband’s sisters, or [to those] of any of her well-robed +brother-in-laws’ wives, or to the temple of Minerva, where the other +fair-haired Trojan matrons are appeasing the dreadful goddess?” + +Him then the active housewife in turn addressed: “Hector, since thou +biddest me to tell the truth, she has not gone to any of her husband’s +sisters, nor to any of her well-robed brother-in-laws’ wives, nor to +the temple of Minerva, where the other fair-haired Trojan matrons are +appeasing the dreadful goddess. But she went to the lofty tower of +Ilium, when she heard that the Trojans were worn out, and that the +valour of the Greeks was great. She is now on her way, hastening to the +wall, like unto one frenzied, and the nurse, along with her, bears the +child.” + +Thus spoke the housewife, but Hector hastened away from the palace, +back the same way through the well-built streets. When he had arrived +at the Scæan gates, after passing through the great city (for by this +way he was about to pass out into the plain), there met him his +richly-dowered spouse running, Andromache, daughter of magnanimous +Eetion: Eetion, who dwelt in woody Hypoplacus, in Hypoplacian Thebes, +reigning over Cilician men. His daughter then was possessed by +brazen-helmed Hector. She then met him; and with her came a maid, +carrying in her bosom the tender child, an infant quite, the only son +of Hector, like unto a beauteous star. Him Hector had named +Scamandrius, but others Astyanax; for Hector alone protected Ilium. He +indeed, gazing in silence upon his son, smiled. But Andromache stood +near to him, weeping, and she hung upon his hand, and addressed him, +and spoke: + +“Strange man! this thy valour will destroy thee; nor dost thou pity thy +infant child and unhappy me, who very soon will be bereft of thee, for +presently the Greeks will slay thee, all attacking thee at once. For me +much better it were to sink into the earth, when bereft of thee; for +there will no longer be any other comfort for me when thou shalt draw +on thy destruction; but sorrows only. Nor have I father or venerable +mother. For divine Achilles slew my father, and laid waste the +well-inhabited city of the Cilicians, lofty-gated Thebes. He slew +Eetion, but spoiled him not, he scrupled in his mind [to do] that; but +he burned him together with his well-wrought arms, and heaped a tomb +over him, and around [him] the mountain nymphs, daughters of +ægis-bearing Jove, planted elms. Moreover, the seven brothers besides, +whom I had at home, all these indeed departed to Hades in one day. For +divine, swift-footed Achilles slew them all, amidst their crooked +hoofed oxen and their snowy sheep. And my mother, who ruled in woody +Hypoplacus, after that he had led her hither with other treasures, he +sent back at liberty, having received countless ransom-gifts. But her +the shaft-rejoicing Diana slew in my father’s hall. But, Ο Hector, to +me thou art both father and venerable mother and brother; thou art also +my blooming consort. But come now, pity me, and abide here in the +tower, nor make thy child an orphan and thy wife a widow. And place a +company at the wild fig-tree, where the city is chiefly easy of ascent, +and the wall can be scaled. For going to this very quarter, the bravest +[of the Greeks] have thrice assaulted, the two Ajaces, and most +renowned Idomeneus, and the sons of Atreus, and the brave son of +Tydeus. Certainly some person well skilled in prophecy mentioned it to +them, or their own mind impels and orders them.” + +But her then in turn the mighty crest-tossing Hector addressed: +“Assuredly to me also are all these things a subject of anxiety, dear +wife, but I am exceedingly ashamed of the Trojans and the long-robed +Trojan dames, if I, like a dastard, [keeping] aloof, should avoid the +battle: nor does my mind incline me thus, for I have learned to be +always brave, and to fight in the foremost among the Trojans, seeking +to gain both my father’s great glory and mine own. For well I know this +in my mind and soul; a day will arrive when sacred Ilium shall perish, +and Priam, and the people of Priam skilled in the ashen spear. But to +me the grief that is to come will not be so great on account of the +Trojans, neither for Hecuba herself, nor for king Priam, nor for my +brothers, who, many and excellent, are destined to fall in the dust +beneath hostile men, as for thee, when some one of the brazen-mailed +Greeks shall lead thee away weeping, having deprived thee of the day of +freedom. And, perchance, being in Argos, thou mayest weave the web at +the command of some other dame, and bear water from the fountain of +Messeïs, or Hyperia, very unwillingly; and hard necessity will oppress +thee; whilst some one, hereafter beholding thee pouring forth tears, +will say, ‘This was the wife of Hector, who was the bravest in battle +of the horse-breaking Trojans, when they fought round Ilium.’ Thus will +some one hereafter say; but fresh anguish will be thine, from the want +of such a husband, to avert the day of servitude. But may the heaped +earth cover me dead, before I hear of this lamentation and abduction.” + +Thus having said, illustrious Hector stretched out [his arms] for his +son; but the child, screaming, shrunk back to the bosom of the +well-zoned nurse, affrighted at the aspect of his dear sire, fearing +the brass and the horse-haired crest, seeing it nodding dreadfully from +the top of the helmet: gently his loving father smiled, and his revered +mother. Instantly illustrious Hector took the helmet from his head, and +laid it all-glittering on the ground; and having kissed his beloved +child, and fondled him in his hands, thus spoke, praying to Jove and to +the other gods: + +“Jove, and ye other gods, grant that this my son also may become, even +as I am, distinguished amongst the Trojans, so powerful in might, and +bravely to rule over Ilium. And may some one hereafter say [concerning +him], returning from the fight, ‘He indeed is much braver than his +sire.’ And let him bear away the bloody spoils, having slain the foe, +and let his mother rejoice in her soul.” + +Thus having said, he placed the boy in the hands of his beloved spouse; +but she smiling tearfully received him in her fragrant bosom. Her +husband regarding her, pitied her, and soothed her with his hand, and +addressed her, and said: + +“Beloved, be not at all too sad in thine heart on my account. For no +man shall send me prematurely to the shades. But I think there is no +one of men who has escaped fate, neither the coward nor the brave man, +after he has once been born. But do thou, going home, take care of thy +own works, thy web and distaff, and command thy maids to perform their +task; but war shall be a care to all the men who are born in Ilium, and +particularly to me.” + +Thus having spoken, illustrious Hector took up the horse-haired helmet, +and his beloved wife departed home, looking back from time to time, and +shedding copious tears. Then immediately she reached the very +commodious palace of man-slaying Hector, and within she found many +maids, and in all of them she excited grief. They, indeed, bewailed in +his own palace Hector still alive, for they thought that he would never +return back again from battle, escaping the might and the hands of the +Greeks. + +Nor did Paris delay in his lofty halls; but he, after he had put on his +famous arms, variegated with brass, then hastened through the city, +relying on his swift feet. And as 250 when a stabled courser, fed with +barley at the stall, having broken his cord, runs prancing over the +plain, elate with joy, being accustomed to bathe in some fair-flowing +river. He bears aloft his head, and his mane is tossed about on his +shoulders: but he, relying on his beauty, 251 his knees easily bear him +to the accustomed pastures 252 of the mares. Thus Paris, the son of +Priam, shining in arms like the sun, exulting descended down from the +citadel of Pergamus, but his swift feet bore him, and immediately after +he found his noble brother Hector, when he was now about to depart from +the place where he was conversing with his spouse. + +Footnote 250: (return) Cf. Ennius apud Macrob. iv. 3: + + “Et tunc sicut equus, qui de præsepibus actus, + Vincla sueis magneis animeis abrumpit, et inde + Fert sese campi per cærula, lætaque prata, + Celso pectore, sæpe jubam quassat simul altam; + Spiritus ex anima calida spumas agit albas.” + + +Footnote 251: (return) Observe the anacoluthon. + +Footnote 252: (return) An instance of hendiadys. + +Him godlike Alexander first addressed: “Honoured brother, assuredly now +I am altogether detaining thee, although hastening, nor have I come in +due time as thou didst order.” + +Him then crest-tossing Hector answering addressed: “Strange man! not +any man indeed, who is just, could dispraise thy deeds of war, for thou +art brave. But willingly art thou remiss, and dost not wish [to fight]; +and my heart is saddened in my breast, when I hear dishonourable things +of thee from the Trojans, who have much toil on thy account. But let us +away, these things we shall arrange hereafter, if ever Jove shall grant +us to place a free goblet in our halls to the heavenly everlasting +gods, when we shall have repulsed the well-greaved Greeks from Troy.” + + + + +BOOK THE SEVENTH. + + +ARGUMENT. + +Hector challenges the bravest of the Greeks to single combat, and nine +of the chiefs having cast lots, Ajax is appointed to meet him. Having +protracted the contest till night, the combatants exchange gifts, and +separate. A truce is then made for the purpose of burying the dead, and +the Greeks fortify their camp. + + +Thus having said, illustrious Hector rushed forth from the gates, and +with him went his brother Alexander, for both were eager in soul to +wage war and to fight. As when the deity hath given a prosperous wind +to expecting mariners, after they have become weary, agitating the deep +with well-polished oars, and their limbs are relaxed with toil; thus +then did those two appear to the expecting Trojans. Then they slew, the +one, 253 indeed, Menesthius, son of king Areithoüs, who dwelt in Arne, +whom the club-bearer Areithoüs and large-eyed Philomedusa brought +forth; but Hector smote Eïoneus with his sharp spear upon the neck, +under his well-wrought brazen helmet, 254 and relaxed his limbs. And +Glaucus, son of Hippolochus, leader of the Lycian heroes, in fierce +engagement smote Iphinous, son of Dexias, upon the shoulder with his +spear, as he vaulted on his swift mares. + +Footnote 253: (return) _I. e_. Paris. The construction is an instance +of the σχήμα καθ’ όλον και μέρος. See Jelf, Gk. Gr. §478, and my note +on Æsch. Prom. p. 8, ed. Bohn. + +Footnote 254: (return) Apollonius, Lex. p. 734. seems to regard the +στεφάνη as a distinct kind of helmet, or cap. So, also, the Schol. and +Hesych. t. ii. p. 186, and p. 1266. Others understand the rim of the +helmet. Paschal, de Coronis, i. 2: “Eam galeæ partem quam Hesychius +dicit habere εξοχάς, id quod in galea eminentissimum est. Et vero apud +Plutarchum distinguitur το κράνος galea από της στεφάνης, ab ejus parte +quæ est in ipsius summitate.” + +But he fell from his mares on the ground, and his limbs were relaxed. + +But when the azure-eyed goddess Minerva saw them destroying the Greeks, +in fierce engagement, she descended straightway, rushing down from the +tops of Olympus to sacred Ilium. Then Apollo hastened to meet her, +having perceived her from Pergamus, for he wished victory to the +Trojans. And they met each other at the beech-tree. Her first king +Apollo, the son of Jove, addressed: + +“Why again dost thou, O daughter of mighty Jove, come ardently from +Olympus, and why has thy mighty soul impelled thee? It is that thou +mightst give to the Greeks the doubtful victory of battle, for thou +dost not pity the Trojans perishing. But if thou obeyest me in aught, +which indeed would be much better, let us now make the war and conflict +to cease this day, afterwards shall they fight until they find an end +of Ilium; since it is pleasing to the mind of you goddesses to +overthrow this city.” 255 + +Footnote 255: (return) On the partisan deities for and against Troy, +cf. Dionys. 817. + + “Ιλιον, ἣν ἐπόλισσε οσειδάων καἰ Απόλλων, + Ιλιον, ἣν ἀλάπαζαν Ἀθηναίη τε καἰ Ἣρη”. + + + See Grote’s Hist, of Greece, vol. i. p. 68. + +But him in turn the azure-eyed goddess Minerva thus addressed: “Be it +so, Far-darter; for I myself, meditating the same things, came down +from Olympus to the Trojans and the Greeks. But come, how dost thou +intend to make the battle of men to cease?” + +Her then in turn king Apollo, the son of Jove, addressed: “Let us +arouse the valiant spirit of horse-breaking Hector, if perchance he +will challenge some one of the Greeks to fight against him singly +opposed in grievous combat. And the well-greaved Greeks enraged will +urge on some single man to fight with noble Hector.” + +Thus he spoke, nor did the azure-eyed goddess disobey. But Helenus, the +dear son of Priam, perceived in his mind the counsel, which seemed good +to the gods deliberating. He therefore went and stood near Hector, and +thus accosted him: + +“Hector, son of Priam, equal to Jove in wisdom, wilt thou obey me in +aught? for I am thy brother. Cause all the rest of the Trojans and the +Greeks to sit down, but do thou thyself challenge whoever is the +bravest of the Greeks to fight against thee in grievous combat. For it +is not yet thy fate to die, and draw on fate; for to this effect have I +heard the voice of the immortal gods.” + +Thus he spoke. But Hector in turn rejoiced exceedingly, having heard +his advice, and accordingly advancing into the midst, grasping his +spear in the middle, he restrained the phalanxes of the Trojans; and +they all sat down. Agamemnon also caused the well-greaved Greeks to sit +down; and Minerva also, and silver-bowed Apollo, sat like unto vulture +birds, on a lofty beech-tree of their sire, the ægis-bearing Jove, +delighted with the heroes; of these the ranks sat thick, horribly +bristling with shields, and helmets, and spears. And as the ripple of +the west wind, just risen, is poured over the ocean, and the sea begins +to darken under it, such sat the ranks of the Greeks and Trojans in the +plain: but Hector thus spoke in the midst of both armies: + +“Hear me, ye Trojans, and ye well-greaved Greeks, whilst I speak what +the mind in my breast commands me. Saturnian Jove, indeed, sitting +aloft, has not ratified the leagues, but devising evils against both +sides, ordains them, till either ye take well-turreted Troy, or +yourselves fall at your sea-traversing ships. Amongst you, indeed, +there are the bravest of all the Greeks, of whom whomsoever his mind +orders to fight with me, let him come hither from amongst all, to be a +champion against noble Hector. This then do I propose, but let Jove be +our witness; if, on the one hand, he shall slay me with his +long-pointed spear, having stripped off my armour, let him bear it to +the hollow ships, but send my body home, that the Trojans and the wives +of the Trojans may make me, deceased, a partaker of the funeral pyre. +But if, on the other hand, I shall slay him, and Apollo shall give me +glory, having stripped off his armour, I will bear it to sacred Ilium, +and I will hang it up on the temple of far-darting Apollo: but his body +I will send back to the well-benched ships, that the long-haired Greeks +may perform his exsequies, and pile up for him a tomb on the wide +Hellespont. And hereafter will some one of future men say, as he sails +over the sea in his many-benched ship: ‘This, indeed, is the tomb of a +hero long since deceased, whom once, bearing himself doughtily, +illustrious Hector slew.’ Thus hereafter will some one say; but this my +glory shall never perish.” + +Thus he said, but all became mute in silence. Ashamed indeed they were +to refuse, and yet they dreaded to accept [the challenge]. At length, +however, Menelaus stood up, and spoke amongst them, rebuking them with +reproaches, and he groaned greatly in spirit: + +“Alas! ye boasters! Greek dames! no longer Grecian men! certainly will +these things be a disgrace, most grievously grievous, if none of the +Greeks will now go against Hector. But may ye all become water and +earth, sitting there each of you, faint-hearted; utterly inglorious: +but I myself will be armed against him. But the issues of victory are +rested in the immortal gods.” + +Thus having spoken, he put on his beautiful arms. Then, indeed, Ο +Menelaus, would the end of life have befallen thee at the hands of +Hector, since he was much the better man, had not the princes of the +Greeks, starting up suddenly, restrained thee, and the son of Atreus +himself, wide-ruling Agamemnon, seized thee by the right hand, and +addressed thee, and spoke: + +“Thou art mad, O Menelaus! offspring of Jove, nor hast thou any need of +such madness: restrain thyself, although grieved, nor wish for the sake +of contention to fight with a braver man than thyself, Hector, the son +of Priam, whom others also dread. Nay, even Achilles, who is much +braver than thou, dreads to meet him 256 in the glorious fight. But +now, going to the troop of thy companions, sit down. Against him the +Greeks will set up some other champion. Although he be intrepid and +insatiable of battle, I think that he will gladly bend his knee, 257 if +he shall escape from the hostile battle and the grievous fight.” + +Footnote 256: (return) Lesbonax, περί σχημ. p. 182, reads τούτόν +γε—άντιολήσαι, which Valckenaer, and with reason, thinks a more +_recherché_ and genuine reading than τούτῳ. Lesbonax compares the Attic +phrase άρέσκει με for μοι Cf. Aristoph. Ran. 103, with the Scholiast. + +Footnote 257: (return) _I.e._ sit down through fatigue, “de iis qui +longo labore seu cuisu fessi quiescunt et vires recipiunt.”—Heyne. + +Thus speaking, the hero dissuaded his brother’s mind, advising him +rightly; and he obeyed. His joyful attendants then stripped the armour +from his shoulders. Then Nestor arose amidst the Greeks, and said: + +“O gods, surely great grief comes upon the Grecian land. Certainly the +aged knight Peleus, the excellent counsellor and adviser of the +Myrmidons, will greatly lament, who formerly interrogated me, greatly +rejoiced in his palace, inquiring the race and offspring of all the +Greeks. If he now heard of them all crouching down under Hector, often +indeed would he uplift his hands to the immortals, [praying] that his +soul, [separated] from his limbs, might depart into the house of Pluto. +For would, Ο father Jove, and Minerva, and Apollo, I were young, as +when the assembled Pylians and the spear-skilled Arcadians fought by +the rapid Celadon, at the walls of Phæa, about the streams of Jardan. +With them Ereuthalion, god-like hero, stood in the van, bearing on his +shoulders the armour of king Areïthous, of noble Areïthous, whom men +and beauteous-girt women called by surname Corynetes, since he fought +not with a bow, nor with a long spear, but used to break the phalanxes +with an iron club. Him Lycurgus slew by stratagem, not by strength, in +a narrow defile, where his iron club did not ward off destruction from +him; for Lycurgus, anticipating, pierced him right through the waist +with his spear, and he was dashed to the ground on his back; and he +spoiled him of the armour which brazen Mars had given him, and he +indeed afterwards bore them himself in the battle of Mars. But when +Lycurgus had grown old in his palaces, he gave them to his beloved +attendant Ereuthalion, to be borne: and he, having his armour, +challenged all the bravest: but these trembled and feared very much: +nor did any one dare [to withstand him]. But my bold mind, by its +confidence, urged me on to fight him: now I was the youngest of them +all; and I fought with him, and Minerva gave me glory. And I slew this +most mighty and valiant hero, for vast he lay stretched out on this +side and on that. Would that [now] I were thus young, and my strength +entire—so quickly should crest-tossing Hector meet with a contest. But +those of you who are the bravest of all the Greeks, not even you +promptly desire to go against Hector.” + +Thus did the old man upbraid them; and nine heroes in all arose. Much +the first arose Agamemnon, the king of men; after him arose brave +Diomede, son of Tydeus, and after them the Ajaces, clad in impetuous +valour: after them Idomeneus, and Meriones, the armour-bearer of +Idomeneus, equal to man-slaughtering Mars. After them Eurypylus, the +gallant son of Evæmon. And there [also arose] Thoas, son of Andræmon, +and divine Ulysses. All these wished to fight with noble Hector. But +these again the Gerenian knight Nestor addressed: + +“Decide now, exclusively by lot, who shall obtain [the accepting of the +challenge]; for he indeed will aid the well-greaved Greeks; and he will +also delight his own soul, if he shall escape safe from the hostile war +and the grievous fight.” + +Thus he spoke, and they marked each his own lot, and they cast them +into the helmet of Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. The people +supplicated, and raised their hands to the gods, and thus would one of +them say, looking towards the wide heaven: + +“Ο father Jove, grant that Ajax obtain the lot, or the son of Tydeus, +or the king himself of rich Mycenæ.” + +Thus they spake, and the Gerenian knight Nestor shook [the lots], and +the lot of Ajax, which indeed they wished for, leaped forth from the +helmet. Then a herald bearing it around through the multitude, +beginning at the right, showed it to all the chiefs of the Greeks. But +they, not recognizing it, disclaimed it severally. But, when at last +the herald, carrying it round through the multitude, came to him, +illustrious Ajax, who had inscribed and cast it into the helmet, he +[Ajax] stretched forth his hand, and the herald standing near, placed +it in it. Having inspected it, he knew his own mark, and rejoiced in +his soul. He cast it on the ground at his feet, and said: + +“Ο friends, surely the lot is mine, and I myself rejoice in my soul, +since I think that I shall conquer noble Hector. But come, while I put +on my warlike arms, do ye meantime pray to Jove, the Saturnian king, +silently within yourselves, that the Trojans may not hear; or even +openly, since we fear no one at all. For no one willingly shall, by +force, overcome me against my will, nor through my inexperience; since +I hope I have not been so ignorantly 258 born and bred at Salamis.” + +Footnote 258: (return) I. e. ignorant of arms. + +Thus he spoke: but they prayed to Jove, the Saturnian king; and thus +would one of them say looking towards the wide heaven: + +“O father Jove, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most mighty, grant to +Ajax to bear away victory, and illustrious glory. But if thou lovest +Hector also, and carest for him, grant equal might and glory to both.” + +Thus they spake, and Ajax was arming himself in splendid brass. But +when he had put on all his armour around his body, then he rushed +forward: as moves mighty Mars, who goes to war amidst men, whom the son +of Saturn has engaged to fight with the strength of soul-gnawing +strife, such mighty Ajax advanced, the bulwark of the Greeks, smiling +with grim countenance; but he advanced, taking long strides with his +feet beneath, brandishing his long-shadowed spear. The Greeks, on their +part, rejoiced much on beholding him, but dire dismay seized the +Trojans, each one as to his limbs, and the soul panted in the breast of +Hector himself. But now he could not in anywise retract through fear, +nor retire back into the crowd of the people, since he had challenged +to the fight. But Ajax drew near, bearing a shield, like a tower, +brazen, covered with seven ox-hides, which for him the artist Tychius +labouring had wrought, dwelling at his home in Hyla, by far the most +excellent of leather-cutters, who for him had made a moveable shield, +of seven hides of very fat bulls, and drawn over it an eighth [layer] +of brass. Carrying this before his breast, Telamonian Ajax stood very +near Hector, and menacing addressed him: + +“Ο Hector, now thou, alone with me alone, shalt plainly know, what kind +of chiefs are present with the Greeks, even besides Achilles, the +breaker of ranks, the lion-hearted. But he, indeed, abides at his +high-beaked sea-traversing ships, enraged against Agamemnon, the +shepherd of the people. Yet we are such, even many of us, who can go +against thee; but begin the battle and the strife.” + +Him then in turn the mighty crest-tossing Hector addressed: “Thou +Jove-sprung Ajax, son of Telamon, ruler of forces, tamper not with me +as with a weak boy, or a woman, who knows not warlike deeds. But I well +know both battles and man-slaughterings. I know how to shift my dry +shield to the right and to the left; wherefore to me it belongs to +fight unwearied. I am also skilled to rush to the battle of swift +steeds. I know too, how, in hostile array, to move skilfully in honour +of glowing Mars. But I do not desire to wound thee, being such, +watching stealthily, but openly, if haply I may strike thee.” + +He spoke, and brandishing hurled forth his long-shadowed spear, and +smote the mighty seven-hided shield of Ajax on the outside brass, which +was the eighth [layer] thereon. And the unwearied brass cutting +through, penetrated six folds, and was stuck fast in the seventh hide. +Next, Jove-sprung Ajax in turn sent forth his very long spear, and +struck the all-equal shield of Priam’s son. Through the shining shield +passed the impetuous spear, and was fastened in his very +ingeniously-wrought corslet, and from the opposite side the spear cut +his tunic near the flank. But he inclined himself, and avoided black +death. Then they both, having drawn out their long spears with their +hands, joined battle, like unto raw-devouring lions, or wild boars, +whose strength is not feeble. Then indeed the son of Priam struck the +midst of his [Ajax’s] shield with his spear; it broke not through the +brass, but the point of it was bent. But Ajax, bounding forward, +pierced his shield: and the spear went right through, and repelled him +as he rushed on: it glanced over his neck, cutting it, and black gore +gushed forth. But not even thus did crest-tossing Hector cease from the +battle: but retiring back, he seized in his hand, a black, rough, huge +stone, lying in the plain. With it he struck the mighty seven-hided +shield of Ajax, in the midst of the boss, and the brass rang around. +Ajax next taking up a much larger stone, whirling, discharged it, and +applied immense strength. And he broke through the shield, having +struck with a rock like unto a millstone, and he wounded him in the +knee; and he was stretched supine, having come into violent contact +with his shield; but Apollo quickly raised him. And now in close combat +hand to hand, they would have wounded each other with their swords, had +not the heralds, the messengers of gods and men, arrived, one of the +Trojans, the other of the brazen-mailed Greeks, Talthybius and Idæus, +both prudent men. And between both armies they held their sceptres, but +the herald Idæus, skilled in prudent counsels, said: + +“No longer, my dear sons, war or fight, for cloud-collecting Jove loves +you both: ye both are warriors, and this we all know. Night is now +approaching, and it is good to obey night.” 259 + +Footnote 259: (return) Cf. Æn. ii. 8:— + + ——“et jam nox humida cœlo + Præcipitat, suadentque cadentia sidera somnos.” + + +But him Telamonian Ajax answering addressed: “Idæus, order Hector to +speak these words, for he challenged all the bravest [of our side] to +battle. Let him begin, and I will entirely obey, if indeed he does so.” + +But him crest-tossing Hector addressed in turn: “Ajax, since some god +has given thee size, and might, and prudence, and thou art the most +excellent of the Greeks at the spear, let us now cease from battle and +contest for this day; hereafter will we fight again, till the Deity +shall separate us, and give the victory to either. Now night is +approaching, and it is good to obey night, that thou mayest gladden all +the Greeks at the ships, and chiefly those friends and companions which +are thine; but I will gladden the Trojans and the train-bearing Trojan +matrons, through the great city of king Priam, the dames who, praying +for me, are entering the deities’ temple. 260 But come, let us both +mutually give very glorious gifts, that some one of the Greeks and +Trojans may say thus: ‘They certainly fought in a soul-gnawing strife, +but then again being reconciled, they parted in friendship.’” + +Footnote 260: (return) Ἀγών is defined by Apollonius, p. 26, ό τόπος +είς ὃν συνάγονται. Hesychius, p. 79, makes it equivalent to ἄθροισμα, +and also calls it the place where combatants fight. Porphyry, Quæst. +Hom. p. cvii. ed. Barnes, τὸν ναόν ἤτοι ϑεῖον τόπον ὄντα, ἢ ϑεῖον +ἄθροισμα περιέχοντα. So, also, the Scholiast. + +Thus then having spoken, he gave him a silver-studded sword, presenting +it with the sheath and the well-wrought belt. But Ajax gave [to him] a +belt, splendid with purple. Then they twain being separated, the one +went to the people of the Greeks, and the other to the crowd of the +Trojans: and they rejoiced when they saw him coming alive and safe, +having escaped the strength and the invincible hands of Ajax; and led +him to the city, not having had any hopes that he was safe. But the +well-greaved Greeks, on the other hand, led away Ajax, rejoicing in +victory, to divine Agamemnon. When now they were in the tents of the +son of Atreus, then Agamemnon, king of men, sacrificed for them an ox, +a male, five years old, to the most powerful son of Saturn. This they +flayed, and dressed it; made divisions of the whole of it, and +skilfully divided these into smaller portions, and fixed them on spits, +and roasted them very cleverly, and drew off all. But when they had +ceased from labour, and had prepared the banquet, they feasted, nor did +their soul in anywise lack a due proportion of the feast. The valiant +son of Atreus, far-ruling Agamemnon, honoured Ajax with an entire +chine. 261 But when they had dismissed the desire of drink and of food, +for them the aged man Nestor first of all began to frame advice, whose +counsel before also had appeared the best, who, wisely counselling, +harangued them, and said: + +Footnote 261: (return) The same honour is paid to Æneas in Virg. Æn. +viii. 181. Cf. Xenoph. Rep. Lac. XV. 4. + +“Son of Atreus, and ye other chiefs of all the Greeks, many of the +long-haired Achæans have perished, whose black blood fierce Mars has +now shed near fair-flowing Scamander, and their souls have descended to +the shades! Therefore it behoves you to cause the battle of the Greeks +to cease with the dawn, and let us, collected together, carry the +bodies hither on chariots, with oxen and mules, and burn them at a +little distance from the ships, that each may carry home the bones [of +the deceased] to their children, when we return again to our +father-land. And let us, going out, heap up in the plain one common +tomb for all, round the pyre, and beside it let us speedily erect lofty +towers, as a bulwark of our ships and of ourselves; and in it let us +make a well-fitted gate, that through it there may be a passage for the +chariots. But outside let us sink, near at hand, a deep trench, which, +being circular, may serve as a defence to both steeds and men, lest at +any time the war of the haughty Trojans should press sorely.” + +Thus he spoke, and all the princes approved of his counsel. But of the +Trojans also was a panic-struck and turbulent council held in the lofty +citadel of Ilium, at the gates of Priam; and to them wise Antenor thus +began to harangue: + +“Hear me, ye Trojans and Dardanians and allies, that I may tell you +what the soul in my breast commands me. Come then, let us restore +Argive Helen, and her treasures with her to the sons of Atreus to lead +away; for now we are fighting after having violated the faithful +leagues. Wherefore I think that nothing better will be brought to pass +by us, unless we act thus.” + +He, having thus said, sat down; but to them arose divine Alexander, the +husband of fair-haired Helen, who answering him spoke winged words: + +“O Antenor, thou no longer speakest these things grateful to me. Thou +knowest how to devise another counsel better than this; but if, in +truth, thou speakest this seriously, the gods themselves have now +deprived thee of thy senses. But I will declare my opinion amidst the +horse-subduing Trojans; I openly declare I will not give up my wife: +but the treasures, whatever I have brought home from Argos, all these I +am willing to give, and even to add others from my own home.” + +Thus having spoken, he sat down; but to them arose Priam, son of +Dardanus, a counsellor equal to the gods; who thus wisely harangued +them, and said: + +“Hear me, ye Trojans, and Dardanians, and allies, that I may tell you +what the soul in my breast commands. Now take repast through the army, +as heretofore, and be attentive to the watch, and let each be mindful +of guard. But in the morning let Idæus proceed to the hollow ships, to +announce to the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus, the resolution +of Alexander, on whose account the contention has arisen; and let him +add this prudent request also, whether they wish to desist from +horrid-sounding war, until we burn the dead; afterwards will we fight +again till fate separate us, and give the victory to one or other of +us.” + +Thus he said: but they heard him very attentively, and obeyed. Then +they took their repast throughout the city, by companies. In the +morning Idæus went to the hollow ships. He found the Greeks, the +servants of Mars, in council, at the stern of 262 Agamemnon’s ship: and +the clear-voiced herald, standing in the midst of them, spoke thus: + +“Ye sons of Atreus, and ye other chiefs of all the Greeks, Priam and +the other illustrious Trojans command me to tell you, if it be +agreeable and pleasing to you, the determination of Alexander, on whose +account this contention has arisen.” + +Footnote 262: (return) Dative for genitive, by the Schema Colophonium. +See Lesbonax, p. 181, ed. Valck. + +“Whatever treasures Alexander brought in the hollow ships to Troy, +(would that he first had perished,) all these is he willing to give up, +and even to add others from his own home: but he says that he will not +restore the wedded spouse of glorious Menelaus: certainly the Trojans, +at least, advise him. They also order me to make this proposal, to wit, +whether ye are willing to desist from dreadful-sounding war, until we +shall burn the dead: afterwards we shall fight again, till fate +separate us, and give the victory to one of us.” + +Thus he said, but they all became mute in silence. At length Diomede, +brave in the din of war, spoke thus amongst them: + +“Let none now receive the treasures of Alexander, nor Helen: for it is +plain, even [to him] who is a mere infant, that the issues of +destruction impend over the Trojans.” + +Thus he said, and all the sons of the Greeks shouted, admiring the +words of horse-breaking Diomede: and then Agamemnon, king of men, thus +addressed Idæus: + +“Idæus, thou thyself hearest, indeed, the sentiments of the Greeks, how +they answer thee; and such also pleases me. But concerning the dead, I +grudge not that [you] should burn them; for there is no grudge towards +the dead bodies, when they are dead, hastily to perform their obsequies +with fire: 263 but let loud-resounding Jove, the husband of Juno, be +witness of the treaties.” + +Footnote 263: (return) Literally, “to appease [the dead].” + +Thus having said, he raised his sceptre to all the gods. But Idæus +returned to sacred Ilium. And the Trojans and Dardanians all sat +assembled in council, expecting when Idæus might return. He came, and +declared his message, standing in the midst of them. But they prepared +themselves very speedily for both purposes, some to carry away the +bodies, and others to gather wood. The Greeks also on the other side +hastened from their well-benched ships, some to carry away the bodies, +and others to collect wood. + +Then, indeed, the sun freshly struck the fields [with its rays], +ascending heaven from the calmly-flowing, deep-moving ocean. But they +met one another. Then was it difficult to distinguish each man [amongst +the slain]; but washing off with water the bloody gore, and pouring +over them warm tears, they placed them upon the chariots; nor did +mighty Priam suffer them to give way to grief. In silence, therefore, +they heaped the bodies on the pile, grieving at heart. But when they +had burned them in the fire, they returned to sacred Ilium. In like +manner also, on the other side, the well-greaved Greeks heaped the +bodies on the pile, grieving in their heart; and having burned them +with fire, they returned to the hollow ships. And when it was not yet +morning, but still twilight, then a chosen band of Greeks arose about +the pile; and going out from the plain, they made around it one common +tomb, and near it they built a wall and lofty towers, a bulwark of +their ships and of themselves. In them they made well-fitted gates, +that through them there might be a passage for the chariots. Without +they dug a deep ditch, near it, broad and large, and in it fixed +palisades. Thus the long-haired Greeks on their part laboured. + +But the gods on the contrary sitting beside the thundering Jove, were +admiring the mighty work of the brazen-mailed Greeks; but to them +Neptune, the earth-shaker, thus began to speak: + +“O father Jove, is there any mortal on the boundless earth, who will +any more disclose his mind and counsel to the immortals? Dost thou not +perceive how the long-haired Greeks have built a wall before their +shipping, and have drawn a ditch all round, nor have they given +splendid hecatombs to the gods? The fame of this [work] will certainly +be wherever light is diffused: but they will forget that [wall] which I +and Phœbus Apollo, toiling, built round the city for the hero +Laomedon.” 264 + +Him, greatly enraged, the cloud-compelling Jove addressed: + +“Ha! thou far-ruling earth-shaker, what hast thou said? Another of the +gods, who is much weaker than thou in hands and in might might have +dreaded this idea; but thy glory shall assuredly extend as far as light +is diffused. Howbeit, when the crest-waving Greeks shall have departed +with their ships into their dear fatherland, do thou, overthrowing this +wall, sink it all in the deep, and again cover the great shore with +sand. Thus may this mighty rampart of the Greeks be wholly effaced.” + +Footnote 264: (return) Grote, Hist. p. 78, well observes that the +“subsequent animosity of Neptune against Troy was greatly determined by +the sentiment of the injustice of Laomedon.” On the discrepancy between +this passage and XXI. 442, see Müller, Dor. vol. i. p. 249 + +Thus were they conversing on such matters among themselves. But the sun +had set, and the work of the Greeks was finished. They slaughtered oxen +through the tents, and took their repast. Many ships (which Euneüs, son +of Jason, whom Hypsipyle bore to Jason, shepherd of the people, sent,) +arrived from Lemnos, bringing wine. The son of Jason gave of wine a +thousand measures, to be brought separately, as a gift to the sons of +Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus. Thence the long-haired Greeks bought +265 wine, some for brass, some for shining iron, others for hides, some +for the oxen themselves, and some for slaves; and they prepared an +abundant feast. Through the whole night, indeed, the long-haired Greeks +feasted; and the Trojans too, and their allies, through the city. And +all night thundering fearfully, provident Jove was devising evils for +both parties; but pale fear seized them. And they poured wine from +their cups on the earth, nor did any one dare to drink before he had +made a libation to the supreme son of Saturn. They then lay down, and +enjoyed the boon of sleep. + +Footnote 265: (return) Theophilus Jctus. iii. tit. xxiii. § 1. Καὶ +τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ ἐν τῷ πλήθει θρυλλούμενον τῇ τῶν πραγμάτων ἐναλλαγῇ +πρᾶσιν καὶ ἀγορασίαν συνίστασθαι, καὶ τοῦτο τὸ εῖδος πράσεως +ἀρχαιότατον εἶναι. He then alleges these lines of Homer as the earliest +known instance of barter. + + + + +BOOK THE EIGHTH. + + +ARGUMENT. + +Jove assembles the gods, and forbids them to interfere between the +Greeks and Trojans. He then repairs to Ida, where, having consulted the +scales of destiny, he directs his lightning against the Greeks. Nestor, +in the chariot of Diomede, goes against Hector, whose charioteer is +slain by Diomede. Jove again interposes his thunders, and the Greeks +seek refuge within the rampart. Upon a favourable omen accompanying the +prayer of Agamemnon, Diomede and the rest set out, and Teucer performs +great exploits, but is disabled by Hector. Juno and Minerva are +prevented interfering by Jove, and Hector takes measures to insure the +safety of Troy during the night. + + +Now did saffron-mantled morn diffuse herself over all the earth, and +thunder-rejoicing Jove made an assembly of the gods on the highest peak +of many-topped Olympus. And he himself harangued them, and all the +other deities hearkened (to his command): 266 + +“Hear me, all ye gods and all ye goddesses, that I may tell you what +the soul in my breast prompts me. Let no female deity, therefore, nor +any male, attempt to infringe this my injunction; but do ye all at once +assent, that I may very speedily bring these matters to their issue. +Whomsoever of the gods I shall discover, having gone apart from [the +rest], wishing to aid either the Trojans or the Greeks, disgracefully +smitten shall he return to Olympus: or seizing, I will hurl him into +gloomy Tartarus, very far hence, where there is a very deep gulf +beneath the earth, and iron portals, and a brazen threshold, as far +below Hades as heaven is from earth; 267 then shall he know by how much +I am the most powerful of all the gods. But come, ye gods, and try me, +that ye may all know. Having suspended a golden chain from heaven, do +all ye gods and goddesses suspend yourselves therefrom; yet would ye +not draw down from heaven to earth your supreme counsellor Jove, not +even if ye labour ever so much: but whenever I, desiring, should wish +to pull it, I could draw it up together, earth, and ocean, and all: +then, indeed, would I bind the chain around the top of Olympus, and all +these should hang aloft. By so much do I surpass both gods and men.” +268 + +Footnote 266: (return) _I. e._ dii obsequtii sunt, ut convocati +convenirent.—Heyne. + +Footnote 267: (return) See the notes of Newton on Parad. Lost, i. 74. + +Footnote 268: (return) Referring to this address of Jove, Coleridge +remarks: “Although the supremacy of Jove comes far short of the true +conception of almighty power, the characteristic point which seems to +be fairly established is, that he is the active and ruling power of the +popular mythology, the supreme and despotic chief of an aristocracy of +weaker divinities, accustomed to consult with them and liable to their +opposition and even violence, yet, upon the whole, substantially +aristocratic, and independent of any recognized permanent +superior.”—Classic Poets, p. 159. + +Thus he said. But they all became mute in silence, wondering at his +speech; for he spoke very menacingly. But at length the azure-eyed +goddess Minerva thus spoke in the midst: + +“O sire of ours! son of Saturn! most supreme of kings! well do we all +know that thy strength is irresistible: yet do we truly mourn for the +warlike Greeks, who are now perishing, fulfilling their evil fate. But +nevertheless, we will refrain from war, since thus thou commandest. Yet +will we suggest counsel to the Greeks, which will avail them, that they +may not all perish because thou art wrathful.” + +But her the cloud-impelling Jove smiling addressed: “Be of good cheer, +Tritonia, my dear daughter—I speak not with a serious intent; but I am +willing to be lenient towards thee.” + +Thus having said, under his chariot he yoked his brazen-footed, +swift-flying steeds, adorned with golden manes. He himself put on gold +about his person, and took his golden well-made whip, and ascended the +chariot; and lashed them on to proceed, and they, not unwilling, flew +midway between the earth and starry heaven. He came to spring-fed Ida, +the mother of wild beasts, to Gargarus, where he had a consecrated +enclosure, and a fragrant altar. There the father of gods and men +stopped his steeds, having loosed them from the chariot, and poured a +thick haze around. But he sat upon the summits, exulting in glory, +looking upon the city of the Trojans and the ships of the Greeks. + +Meanwhile the long-haired Greeks were taking their repast in a hurried +manner through the tents, and after that they put on their armour. But +the Trojans, on the other side, were arming themselves through the +city, fewer in number; yet even thus, they were eager to fight in +battle, compelled by necessity, in defence of their children and their +wives. And the gates were opened wide, and the forces rushed out, both +chariot warriors and foot, and much tumult arose. But when these +collecting together came into one place, they clashed together shields +and spears, and the might of brazen-mailed men; but the bossy shields +approached one another, and much tumult arose. There at the same time +were both lamentation and boasting of men destroying and destroyed, and +the earth flowed with blood. As long as the forenoon lasted, and the +sacred day was in progress, so long did the weapons touch both, and the +people fell. But when the sun had ascended the middle heaven, then at +length did Father Jove raise the golden scales, and placed in them two +destinies of long-reposing death, [the destinies] both of the +horse-breaking Trojans and of the brazen-mailed Greeks, and holding +them in the middle, he poised them; but the fatal day of the Greeks +inclined low. The destinies of the Greeks, indeed, rested on the +bounteous earth, but those of the Trojans on the contrary were elevated +to the wide heaven. + +But he himself mightily thundered from Ida, and sent his burning +lightning against the army of the Greeks: they having seen it, were +amazed, and pale fear seized them all. Then neither Idomeneus, nor +Agamemnon, nor the two Ajaces, the servants of Mars, dared to remain. +Gerenian Nestor alone, the guardian of the Greeks, remained, not +willingly, but one of his horses was disabled, which noble Alexander, +husband of fair-haired Helen, had pierced with an arrow in the top of +the forehead, where the forelocks of horses grow out of the head, and +is most fatal. 269 In torture he reared, for the arrow had entered the +brain; and he disordered the [other] horses, writhing round the brazen +barb. Whilst the old man hastening, was cutting away the side reins of +the horse with his sword, then were the swift steeds of Hector coming +through the crowd, bearing the bold charioteer Hector. And then the old +man would certainly have lost his life, if Diomede, brave in the din of +battle, had not quickly observed it; and he shouted, dreadfully +exhorting Ulysses, [thus]: + +Footnote 269: (return) Or “opportune” viz for inflicting a fatal +wound.—Kennedy. + +“Jove-born son of Laërtes, much-contriving Ulysses, whither dost thou +fly, turning thy back in the throng, like a coward? [Beware], lest some +man with a spear transpierce thee in the back, flying. But stay, that +we may repel the fierce hero from the aged man.” + +Thus he spoke: but much-enduring, noble Ulysses heard him not, but +passed by to the hollow ships of the Greeks. But the son of Tydeus, +though being alone, was mixed with the van, and stood before the steeds +of the aged son of Neleus, and addressing him, spoke winged words: + +“O old man, certainly the youthful warriors greatly oppress thee: but +thy strength is relaxed, and tiresome old age attends thee: thy servant +is exhausted, and thy steeds are slow. But come, ascend my chariot, +that thou mayest see what kind are the steeds of Tros, skilled to fly +and to pursue very rapidly, here and there, through the plain; which +lately I took from Æneas, authors of flight. Let the attendants take +care of those steeds [of thine], but let us direct these against the +horse-breaking Trojans, that even Hector may know whether my spear also +rages madly in my hands.” Thus he said: but the Gerenian knight Nestor +disobeyed him not. Accordingly, at once their attendants, brave +Sthenelus and valorous Eurymedon, took care of Nestor’s steeds: and the +two chiefs ascended the chariot of Diomede. Nestor took the shining +reins in his hands, and lashed the steeds, and soon they came near +Hector. At him rushing impetuously forward, the son of Tydeus launched +a spear; but the weapon missed him, and struck his attendant charioteer +in the breast, near the pap, who was holding the reins of the steeds, +Eniopeus, the son of magnanimous Thebæus: but he fell from the chariot, +and the swift steeds started back, and there his soul and his strength +were dissolved. But excessive grief overshadowed Hector in his mind, on +account of [the loss of] his charioteer. There, though grieving for his +companion, he let him lie, and sought a bold charioteer: nor did his +steeds long want a guide; for soon he found courageous Archeptolemus, +the son of Iphitus, whom then he made to mount the swift-footed steeds, +and gave the reins into his hands. + +Then, indeed, had slaughter arisen, and dreadful deeds had been done, +and [the Trojans] had been pent up in Ilium like lambs, had not the +father of both men and gods quickly perceived it. Therefore, dreadfully +thundering he sent forth his glowing thunderbolt, and cast it into the +earth before the steeds of Diomede: but there arose a terrible flame of +burning sulphur, and the two frightened steeds crouched trembling +beneath the chariot. Moreover, the beautiful reins fell from the hands +of Nestor, and he feared in his soul, and addressed Diomede: + +“Son of Tydeus, come now, turn thy solid-hoofed steeds to flight. Dost +thou not perceive that victory from Jove does not attend thee? For now, +this very day, of a truth, Saturnian Jove awards him glory; afterwards +again will he give it to us, if he shall be willing. By no means can a +man impede the will of Jove, not even a very mighty one; since he is by +far the most powerful.” + +But him Diomede, brave in the din of war, then answered: “Old man, +certainly thou hast said all this rightly: but this grievous sorrow +invades my heart and my soul: for Hector at some time will say, +haranguing amongst the Trojans, ‘The son of Tydeus, routed by me, fled +to his ships.’ Thus at some time will he boast: but then may the earth +yawn wide for me.” + +But him the Gerenian knight Nestor then answered: “Alas! warlike son of +Tydeus, what hast thou said? Even though Hector call thee coward and +unwarlike, yet the Trojans and Dardanians, and the wives of the +stout-hearted shield-bearing Trojans, whose vigorous husbands thou hast +prostrated in the dust, will not believe him.” + +Thus having said, he turned the solid-hoofed steeds to flight, back +into the crowd. But the Trojans and Hector, with a mighty shout, poured +destructive missiles upon them. And then after him loud roared mighty +crest-tossing Hector: + +“Son of Tydeus, the swift-horsed Greeks honoured thee, indeed, above +[others] with a seat, with meat, and full cups; but now will they +dishonour thee; for thou hast become like a woman. Away! timorous girl! +since thou shalt never climb our towers, I giving way, nor bear away +our women in thy ships; first shall I give thee thy doom.” + +Thus he said; but the son of Tydeus debated whether to turn his steeds, +and to fight against him. Thrice, indeed, he thought in mind and soul, +but thrice, on the other hand, the provident Jove thundered from the +Idæan mountains, giving a signal to the Trojans, the alternating +success of battle. But Hector exhorted the Trojans, vociferating aloud: + +“Ye Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, be men, my +friends, and be mindful of impetuous might! I know the son of Saturn +hath willingly accorded me victory and great renown, but to the Greeks +destruction. Fools, who indeed built those weak, worthless walls, which +shall not check my strength; but our steeds will easily overleap the +dug trench. But when, indeed, I come to their hollow ships, then let +there be some memory of burning fire, that I may consume their fleet +with the flame, and slay the Argives themselves at the ships, +bewildered by the smoke.” + +Thus having spoken, he cheered on his steeds, and said: “Xanthus, and +thou Podargus, and Æthon, and noble Lampus, now repay to me the +attention, with which, in great abundance, Andromache, the daughter of +magnanimous Eetion, gave to you the sweet barley, mixing wine also [for +you] to drink, whenever your mind ordered it, even before me, who boast +to be her vigorous husband. But follow and hasten, that we may take the +shield of Nestor, the fame of which has now reached the heaven, that it +is entirely golden, the handles and itself: but, from the shoulders of +horse-breaking Diomede, the well-made corslet, which the artist Vulcan +wrought. If we can take these, I expect that the Greeks this very night +will ascend their swift ships.” + +Thus he said boasting; but venerable Juno was indignant, and shook +herself on her throne, and made great Olympus tremble; and openly +accosted the mighty deity, Neptune: + +“Alas! far-ruling Earth-shaker, dost thou not in thy soul pity the +perishing Greeks? But they bring thee many and grateful gifts to Helice +and Ægæ. Do thou, therefore, will to them the victory. For if we were +willing, as many of us as are assistants to the Greeks, to repulse the +Trojans and restrain far-sounding Jove, then might he grieve sitting +alone there on Ida.” + +But her king Neptune, greatly excited, thus addressed: “Juno, petulant +270 in speech, what hast thou said? I would not wish, indeed, that we, +the other gods, should fight with Saturnian Jove, since he is by far +most powerful.” + +Footnote 270: (return) Compare the phrase καθάπτεσθαι επεεσσιν.—Od. +ii. 240. Suidas: Απτοεπής’ απτόητος εν τᾤ λέγειν. Apollon. Lex. p. 188: +“Απτωτε, ή απτόητε τοις λόγοις, ή καθαπτομενη δια των λόγων.” + +Thus indeed were they holding such converse with each other. But +whatever space before the ships the trench belonging to the tower +enclosed, was filled with horses and shielded men crowded together. 271 +But Hector, the son of Priam, equal to swift Mars, had crowded them +thus, when Jupiter awarded him glory. And now would he have burned the +equal ships with blazing fire, had not venerable Juno put it into the +soul of Agamemnon, himself actively engaged, briskly to urge on the +Greeks. He therefore hastened to go along the tents and ships of the +Greeks, holding in his stout hand his great purple robe. But in the +huge black ship of Ulysses he stood, which was in the midst, that he +might shout audibly to either side, as well to the tent of Telamonian +Ajax, as to that of Achilles, for they had drawn up their equal ships +at the extremities of the line, relying on their valour and the +strength of their hands. Then he shouted distinctly, calling upon the +Greeks: + +“Shame! ye Greeks, foul subjects of disgrace! gallant in form [alone]! +Where are those boastings gone, when we professed ourselves the +bravest; those which, once in Lemnos, vain braggarts! ye did utter, +eating much flesh of horned oxen, and drinking-goblets crowned with +wine, 272 that each would in battle be equivalent to a hundred and even +two hundred of the Trojans? But now, indeed, we are not equal to Hector +alone, who shortly will burn our ships with flaming fire. Ο father +Jove, hast thou indeed ever yet afflicted with such destruction any one +of mighty kings, and so deprived him of high renown? And yet I say that +I never passed by thy fair altar in my many-benched ship, coming here +with ill luck. 273 But on all I burned the fat of oxen and the thighs, +desiring to sack well-walled Troy. But, Ο Jove, accomplish for me this +vow, at least permit us to escape and get away; nor suffer the Greeks +to be thus subdued by the Trojans.” + +Footnote 271: (return) Observe that των belongs to ίππων and ανδρών, +and that όσον εκ νηών από πύργου τάφρος εεργε, means that “the space +between the rampart and the sea was enclosed.” Από does not govern +πυργου, but is compounded with εεργε. + +Footnote 272: (return) Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 292, sqq. who has, +however, been long since anticipated by Paschal. de Coron. i. 4. + +Footnote 273: (return) Schol. Έρρων, επί φθορ παοαγενόμενος. See +Alberti on Hesych, s. v. t. i. p. 1445. So, also, Apollon. p. 364: Έπΐ +φθορᾴ πορενόμενος. + +Thus he said: and the Sire 274 pitied him weeping, and granted to him +that the army should be safe, and not perish. And forthwith he sent an +eagle, the most perfect 275 of birds, holding a fawn in his talons, the +offspring of a swift deer: and near the very beauteous altar of Jove he +cast down the fawn, where the Greeks were sacrificing to Panomphæan 276 +Jove. + +When, therefore, they saw that the bird had come from Jove, they rushed +the more against the Trojans, and were mindful of battle. Then none of +the Greeks, numerous as they were, could have boasted that he had +driven his swift steeds before Diomede, and urged them beyond the +ditch, and fought against [the enemy]; for far the first he slew a +helmeted Trojan hero, Agelaus, son of Phradmon. He, indeed, was turning +his horses for flight; but as he was turning, Diomede fixed his spear +in his back, between his shoulders, and drove it through his breast. He +fell from his chariot, and his arms rattled upon him. After him the +sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus; after them the Ajaces, clad in +impetuous valour; after them, Idomeneus and Meriones, the armour-bearer +of Idomeneus, equal to man-slaughtering Mars; and after them Eurypylus, +the illustrious son of Evæmon. Teucer came the ninth, stretching his +bent 277 bow, and stood under the shield of Telamonian Ajax. Then Ajax, +indeed, kept moving the shield aside, and the hero looking around, when +shooting, he had hit any one in the crowd, the one 278 falling there, +lost his life. But he 279 retiring like a child to his mother, +sheltered himself beneath Ajax, and he covered him with his splendid +shield. Then what Trojan first did blameless Teucer slay? Orsilochus +first, and Ormenus, and Ophelestes, and Dætor, and Chromius, and +godlike Lycophontes, and Amopaon, son of Polyæmon, and Melanippus—all, +one after the other, he stretched upon the bounteous earth. But +Agamemnon, king of men, rejoiced at seeing him destroying the phalanxes +of the Trojans with his stout bow. And advancing near him he stood, and +thus addressed him: + +Footnote 274: (return) See my note on Æsch. Prom. p. 3, n. 3, ed. +Bohn. + +Footnote 275: (return) _I. e_. with reference to augury. Hesych. p. +1360, explains it by επιτελεστικώτατον (see Alberti). The eagle is said +to have foretold Jove’s own sovereignty, and hence to have been placed +among the constellations. Cf. Hygin. Poet. Astr. ii. 16; Eratosthen. +Catast. 30; Serv. on Æn. ix. 564. + +Footnote 276: (return) So called, as being the author of all augury. + +Footnote 277: (return) _I. e_. prepared for action. + +Footnote 278: (return) _I. e_. the wounded man. + +Footnote 279: (return) Teucer. + +“Teucer, beloved one, son of Telamon, ruler of forces, shoot thus, if +perchance thou mayest become a light 280 to the Greeks, and to thy +father Telamon, who brought thee up carefully, being a little one, and +treated thee with care in his palace, though being a spurious son. Him, +though far away, do thou exalt with glory. But I will declare to thee, +as it shall be brought to pass, if ægis-bearing Jove and Minerva shall +grant me to sack the well-built city of Ilium, next to myself I will +place an honourable reward in thy hands, either a tripod, or two steeds +with their chariot, or some fair one, who may ascend the same couch +with thee.” + +Footnote 280: (return) See on vi. 6. + +But him blameless Teucer answering, addressed: “Most glorious son of +Atreus, why dost thou urge on me hastening; nor, as far as I have any +strength, do I loiter: but from the time we have driven the Trojans +towards Ilium, since that period have I slain men, intercepting them +with my shafts. Already have I discharged eight long-bearded arrows, +and they have all been fixed in the bodies of warlike youths; but I +cannot strike this raging dog.” + +He said; and another arrow from the string he shot right against +Hector, for his mind was eager to strike him; and him indeed he missed: +but in the breast he struck blameless Gorgythion with an arrow, the +brave son of Priam. Him his fair mother Castianira, like unto a goddess +in person, brought forth, being wedded from Æsyma. And as a poppy, +which in the garden is weighed down with fruit and vernal showers, +droops its head to one side, so did his head incline aside, depressed +by the helmet. But Teucer discharged another arrow from the string +against Hector, for his mind longed to strike him. Yet even then he +missed, for Apollo warded off the shaft: but he struck in the breast, +near the pap, Archeptolemus, the bold charioteer of Hector, rushing to +battle: and he fell from his chariot, and his swift steeds sprang back. +There his soul and strength were dissolved. But sad grief darkened the +mind of Hector, on account of his charioteer. Then indeed he left him, +although grieved for his companion, and ordered his brother Cebriones, +being near, to take the reins of the steeds; but he was not +disobedient, having heard him. Then [Hector] himself leaped from his +all-shining chariot to the ground, roaring dreadfully: and he seized a +large stone in his hand, and went straight against Teucer, for his mind +encouraged him to strike him. He on his part took out a bitter arrow +from his quiver, and applied it to the string: but him, on the other +hand, near the shoulder, where the collar-bone separates the neck and +breast, and it is a particularly fatal spot, there, as he was drawing +back [the bow], the active warrior Hector 281 with a rugged stone +struck him earnestly rushing against him. He broke his bowstring, and +his hand was numbed at the wrist-joint. Falling on his knees he stood, +and the bow dropped from his hands. But Ajax did not neglect his fallen +brother; for running up, he protected him, and stretched his shield +before him. Afterwards his two dear companions, Mecistheus, son of +Echius, and noble Alastor, coming up, carried him, groaning heavily, to +the hollow ships. + +Footnote 281: (return) See Buttm. Lexil. p. 64. + +But again did Olympian Jove rouse the strength of the Trojans; and they +drove back the Greeks straight to the deep foss. But Hector went in the +van, looking grim through ferocity; as when some dog, relying on his +swift feet, seizes from the rear a wild boar or lion on the haunch and +buttocks, and marks him as he turns: so Hector hung on the rear of the +long-haired Greeks, always slaying the hindmost: and they fled. But +when they flying had passed through the stakes and the foss, and many +were subdued beneath the hands of the Trojans, they, on the one hand, +remaining at the ships were restrained, and having exhorted one +another, and raised their hands to all the gods, they prayed each with +a loud voice. But, on the other hand, Hector, having the eyes of a +Gorgon, or of man-slaughtering Mars, drove round his beauteous-maned +steeds in all directions. + +But them [the Greeks] white-armed goddess Juno having beheld, pitied +them, and thus straightway to Minerva addressed winged words: + +“Alas! daughter of ægis-bearing Jove, shall we no longer be anxious +about the perishing Greeks, although in extremity;—who now, indeed, +fulfilling evil fate, are perishing by the violence of one man? for +Hector, the son of Priam, rages, no longer to be endured, and already +has he done many evils.” + +But her the azure-eyed goddess Minerva in turn addressed: “And beyond +doubt this warrior would have lost his vigour and his life, destroyed +by the hands of the Greeks in his fatherland, were it not that this my +sire rages with no sound mind; cruel, ever unjust, a counteractor of my +efforts. Nor does he remember aught of my services, that I have very +often preserved his son, when oppressed by the labours of Eurystheus. +He truly wept to heaven; but me Jove sent down from heaven to aid him. +But had I known this in my prudent 282 mind, when he sent me to [the +dwelling] of the gaoler Pluto to drag from Erebus the dog of hateful +Pluto, he had not escaped the profound stream of the Stygian wave. But +now, indeed, he hates me, and prefers the wish of Thetis, who kissed +his knees, and took his beard in her hand, beseeching him to honour +city-destroying Achilles, The time will be when he will again call me +his dear Minerva. But do thou now harness for us thy solid-hoofed +steeds, while I, having entered the palace of ægis-bearing Jove, equip +myself with arms for war, that I may see whether crest-tossing Hector, +the son of Priam, will rejoice at us, as I appear in the walks 283 of +war. Certainly also some one of the Trojans will satiate the dogs and +birds with his fat and flesh, having fallen at the ships of the +Greeks.” + +Footnote 282: (return) The Scholiast, and Apollon. Lex. p. 658, +interpret πευκαλίμσι, πικραΐς και δυνεταἴς. Perhaps “sharp devising” +would be the best translation. + +Footnote 283: (return) Literally, “bridges,” _i. e._ the open spaces +between the different battalions. + +Thus she said: nor did the white-armed goddess Juno disobey her. Juno, +on her part, venerable goddess, daughter of mighty Saturn, running in +haste, caparisoned the golden-bridled steeds. But Minerva, the daughter +of ægis-bearing Jove, let fall upon the pavement of her father her +beauteous variegated robe, which she had wrought and laboured with her +own hands. But she, having put on the coat of mail of cloud-compelling +Jove, was equipped in armour for the tearful war. She mounted her +flaming chariot on her feet, and took her heavy, huge, sturdy spear, +with which she is wont to subdue the ranks of heroic men, with +whomsoever she, sprung from a powerful sire, is enraged. But Juno with +the lash speedily urged on the steeds. The portals of heaven opened +spontaneously, which the Hours 284 guarded, to whom are intrusted the +great heaven and Olympus, either to open the dense cloud, or to close +it. Then through these they guided their goaded steeds. + +Footnote 284: (return) Hence the Hours also possess the office of +tending and harnessing the horses of the sun, as is shown by Dausq. on +Quint. Calab. i. p. 9. + +But father Jove, when he beheld them from Ida, was grievously enraged, +and roused golden-winged Iris to bear this message: + +“Away, depart, swift Iris, turn them back, nor suffer them to come +against me; for we shall not advantageously engage in battle. For thus +I speak, and it shall moreover be accomplished, I will lame their swift +steeds under their chariot, dislodge them from the chariot, and break +the chariot; nor for ten revolving years shall ye be healed of the +wounds which the thunderbolt shall inflict: that Minerva may know when +she may be fighting with her sire. But with Juno I am neither so +indignant nor so angry; for she is ever accustomed to counteract me, in +whatever I intend.” + +Thus he said: but Iris, swift as the storm, hastened to bear the +message. Down from the Idæan mountains she went to great Olympus: +meeting them in the foremost gates of many-valleyed Olympus, she +restrained them, and pronounced to them the message of Jove: + +“Where do ye go? Why does your soul rage in your breasts? The sun of +Saturn does not suffer you to aid the Greeks. For thus has the son of +Saturn threatened, and he will assuredly perform it, to lame your swift +steeds under your chariot, and dislodge yourselves from the chariot, +and break the chariot; nor for ten revolving years shall ye be healed +of the wounds which his thunderbolt shall inflict: that thou, Ο +Azure-eyed, mayest know when thou art fighting with thy sire. But with +Juno he is neither so indignant nor so angry; for she is always +accustomed to counteract him in whatever he devises. But thou, most +insolent and audacious hound! if thou in reality shalt dare to raise +thy mighty spear against Jove—” 285 + +Footnote 285: (return) Observe the aposiopesis. + +Thus indeed having said, swift-footed Iris departed. Then Juno +addressed these words to Minerva: + +“Alas! daughter of ægis-bearing Jove, I cannot any longer suffer that +we ourselves shall fight against Jove, on account of mortals. Of whom +let one perish, and let another live, whoever may chance. But let him, +meditating his own affairs in his mind, adjudicate to the Trojans and +the Greeks as is fair.” + +Thus then having said, she turned back the solid-hoofed steeds. The +Hours unyoked for them the fair-maned steeds, and bound them to the +ambrosial mangers; but they tilted the chariots against the splendid +walls. But they themselves sat, mingled with the other deities, on +their golden couches, sad at heart. + +Then father Jove drove his beauteous-wheeled chariot and steeds from +Ida to Olympus, and came to the seats of the gods. His horses, indeed, +the illustrious Earth-shaker loosed, but he laid the chariot on its +support, spreading a linen coverlet [over it]. But loud-sounding Jove +himself sat on his golden throne, and mighty Olympus was shaken under +his feet. But Minerva and Juno by themselves sat apart from Jove, nor +did they at all address him, nor question him. But he knew in his mind, +and said: + +“Why are ye so sad, Minerva and Juno? Indeed, ye have not laboured long +in glorious battle to destroy the Trojans, against whom ye have taken +grievous hatred. Not all the gods in Olympus could altogether turn me +to flight, such are my strength and my invincible hands. But trembling +seized the shining limbs of both of you, before ye saw battle, and the +destructive deeds of war. For so I tell you, which would also have been +performed: no more should ye, stricken with my thunder, have returned +in your chariots to Olympus, where are the seats of the immortals.” + +Thus he said: but Minerva and Juno murmured. They sat near each other, +and were devising evils for the Trojans. + +Minerva, indeed, was silent, nor said anything, angry with father Jove, +for wild rage possessed her. But Juno contained not her wrath in her +breast, but addressed him: + +“Most terrible son of Saturn, what hast thou said? Well do we know that +thy might is invincible: yet do we lament the warlike Greeks, who will +now perish, fulfilling their evil destiny. But nevertheless, we will +desist from war, if thou desirest it. But we will suggest counsel to +the Greeks, which will avail them, that they may not all perish, thou +being wrathful.” + +But her cloud-compelling Jove answering, addressed: “To-morrow, if thou +wilt, O venerable, large-eyed Juno, thou shalt behold the very powerful +son of Saturn even with greater havoc destroying the mighty army of the +warlike Greeks. For warlike Hector will not cease from battle before +that he arouse the swift-footed son of Peleus at the ships. On that +day, when they indeed are fighting at the ships, in a very narrow pass, +for Patroclus fallen. For thus is it fated. But I do not make account +of thee enraged, not if thou shouldst go to the furthest limits of land +and ocean, where Iapetus and Saturn sitting, are delighted neither with +the splendour of the sun that journeys on high, nor with the winds; but +profound Tartarus [is] all around—not even if wandering, thou shouldst +go there, have I regard for thee enraged, since there is nothing more +impudent than thou.” + +Thus he said: but white-armed Juno answered nought. And the bright +light of the sun fell into the ocean, drawing dark night over the +fruitful earth. 286 The light set to the Trojans indeed unwilling; but +gloomy and much-desired light came on, grateful to the Greeks. + +Footnote 286: (return) Beautifully expressed by Ennius apud Macrob. +Sat. vi. 4: “Interea fax Occidit, Oceanumque rubra tractim obruit +æthra.” See Columna on Εnn. p. 113, ed. Hessel. + +But illustrious Hector then formed a council of the Trojans, having led +them apart from the ships, at the eddying river, in a clear space, +where the place appeared free from dead bodies. But alighting to the +ground from their horses, they listened to the speech which Hector, +beloved of Jove, uttered. In his hand he held a spear of eleven cubits: +and before him shone the golden point of the spear, and a golden ring +surrounded it. Leaning on this, he spoke winged words: + +“Hear me, ye Trojans, and Dardanians, and allies: I lately thought that +having destroyed the ships and all the Greeks, I should return back to +wind-swept Ilium. But darkness has come on first, which has now been +the chief means of preserving the Greeks and their ships on the shore +of the sea. But, however, let us now obey dark night, and make ready +our repasts; and do ye loose from your chariots your beautiful-maned +steeds, and set fodder before them: and quickly bring from the city +oxen and fat sheep; bring sweet wine and bread from your homes; and +besides collect many fagots, that all night till Aurora, mother of +dawn, we may kindle many fires, and the splendour may ascend to heaven: +lest haply in the night the long-haired Greeks attempt to fly over the +broad ridge of the ocean. That they may not at all events without toil +and without harm ascend their ships: but [let us] take care that each +of them may have to heal a wound 287 at home, being stricken either +with an arrow, or with a sharp spear, bounding into his ship; that +every other too may dread to wage tearful war against the +horse-breaking Trojans. Let the heralds, dear to Jove, proclaim through +the city, that the youths at the age of puberty, and the hoary-templed +sages, keep watch around the city, in the god-built turrets; and let +the females also, the feebler sex, in their halls each kindle a mighty +fire: and let there be some strong guard, lest a secret band enter the +city, the people being absent. Thus let it be, magnanimous Trojans, as +I say: and let the speech, which is now most salutary, be thus spoken. +But for that which will be [most expedient] in the morning, I will +[then] speak amongst the horse-breaking Trojans. Making vows both to +Jove and to the other gods, I hope to banish hence those dogs borne +hither by the fates, whom the fates bear in their black ships. 288 But +let us keep watch during the night, and in the morning, at dawn, +equipped with arms, let us stir up sharp conflict at the hollow ships. +I will see whether valiant Diomede, the son of Tydeus, will force me +back from the ships to our walls, or whether I shall bear away his +bloody spoils, having slain him with my brazen spear. To-morrow shall +he make manifest his valour, if he shall withstand my assaulting spear. +But I think that he will lie wounded amongst the first at sunrise +to-morrow, and many companions around him. Would that I were so +certainly immortal, and free from old age all my days, and honoured, as +Minerva and Apollo are honoured, as [I am certain] that this day will +bring evil upon the Greeks.” + +Footnote 287: (return) Literally, “digest a weapon,” _i.e._ have a +wound to attend to. So _telum_ and _vulnus_ are used for each other in +Latin. + +Footnote 288: (return) Surely this line is a gloss upon +κηρεσσιφορητους. + +Thus Hector harangued them; but the Trojans applauded aloud. And they +loosed from the yoke their sweating steeds, and bound them with +halters, each to his own chariot. Quickly they brought from the city +oxen and fat sheep: and they brought sweet wine, and bread from their +homes, and also collected many fagots. But the winds raised the savour +from the plain to heaven. + +But they, greatly elated, sat all night in the ranks of war, and many +fires blazed for them. As when in heaven the stars appear very +conspicuous 289 around the lucid moon, when the æther is wont to be +without a breeze, and all the pointed rocks and lofty summits and +groves appear, but in heaven the immense æther is disclosed, and all +the stars are seen, and the shepherd rejoices in his soul. Thus did +many fires of the Trojans kindling them appear before Ilium, between +the ships and the streams of Xanthus. A thousand fires blazed in the +plain, and by each sat fifty men, at the light of the blazing fire. But +their steeds eating white barley and oats, standing by the chariots, +awaited beautiful-throned Aurora. + +Footnote 289: (return) Cf. Æsch. Ag. 6: Λαμπρούς δυνάστας, ἐμπρεποντας +αίθέρι. + + + + +BOOK THE NINTH. + + +ARGUMENT. + +By advice of Nestor, Agamemnon sends Ulysses, Phœnix, and Ajax, to the +tent of Achilles to sue for a reconciliation. Notwithstanding the +earnest appeal of Phœnix, their errand proves fruitless. + + +Thus the Trojans indeed kept guard: but a mighty 290 Flight, the +companion of chill Fear, seized upon the Greeks; and all the chiefs +were afflicted with intolerable grief. And as two winds, the north and +south, which both blow from Thrace, 291 rouse the fishy deep, coming +suddenly [upon it]; but the black billows are elevated together; and +they dash much sea-weed out of the ocean; so was the mind of the Greeks +distracted within their bosoms. + +Footnote 290: (return) “In Il. 1,2, the θεσπεσίη φυζα of the Achæans +is not to be explained as a supernatural flight, occasioned by the +gods. It is a great and general flight, caused by Hector and the +Trojans. For although this was approved of and encouraged by Jupiter, +yet his was only that mediate influence of the deity without which in +general nothing took place in the Homeric battles.”—Buttm. Lexil. p. +358. Cf. Coleridge, p. 160. + +Footnote 291: (return) Wood, p. 46, explains this from the situation +of Ionia. Heyne, however, observes, “comparatio e mente poetæ +instituitur, non ex Agamemnonis persona.” + +But Atrides, wounded to the heart with great sorrow, kept going round, +giving orders to the clear-voiced heralds, to summon each man by name +to an assembly, but not to call aloud; and he himself toiled among the +first. And they sat in council, grieved, and Agamemnon arose, shedding +tears, like a black-water fountain, which pours its gloomy stream from +a lofty rock. Thus he, deeply sighing, spoke words to the Greeks: + +“O friends, leaders and chieftains over the Greeks, Jove, the son of +Saturn, has greatly entangled me in a grievous calamity: cruel, who +once promised me, and assented, that I should return, having destroyed +well-built Ilium. But now has he plotted an evil fraud, and orders me +to return inglorious to Argos, after I have lost much people. Thus, +doubtless, will it be agreeable to almighty Jove, who has already +overthrown the heights of many cities, and will still overthrow them, +for his power is greatest. But come, let us all obey as I advise: let +us fly with the ships to our dear fatherland, for now we shall not take +wide-wayed Troy.” + +Thus he spoke; but they were all still in silence, and the sons of the +Greeks being sad, kept silent long: at length Diomede, brave in the din +of battle, spoke: + +“Son of Atreus, thee will I first oppose, speaking inconsiderately, as +is lawful, in the assembly; but be not thou the least offended. First +among the Greeks didst thou disparage my valour, saying that I was +unwarlike and weak; 292 and all this, as well the young as the old of +the Greeks know. One of two things hath the son of crafty Saturn given +thee: he has granted that thou shouldst be honoured by the sceptre +above all; but valour hath he not given thee, which is the greatest +strength. Strange man, dost thou then certainly think that the sons of +the Greeks are unwarlike and weak, as thou sayest? If indeed thy mind +impels thee, that thou shouldst return, go: the way lies open to thee, +and thy ships stand near the sea, which very many followed thee from +Mycenæ. But the other long-haired Greeks will remain until we overthrow +Troy: but if they also [choose], let them fly with their ships to their +dear fatherland. But we twain, I and Sthenelus, 293 will fight, until +we find an end of Troy; for under the auspices of the deity we came.” + +Footnote 292: (return) Cf. iv. 370, sqq. + +Footnote 293: (return) Heyne compares Julius Cæsar, Com. B. G. i. 40. +“Si præterea nemo sequatur (contra Ariovistum), tamen se cum sola +decima legione iturum dicit.” + +Thus he spoke; but all the sons of the Greeks applauded, admiring the +speech of steed-breaking Diomede. But them the knight Nestor, rising +up, addressed: + +“Son of Tydeus, pre-eminently indeed art thou brave in battle, and the +best in council amongst all thine equals. No one has censured thy +discourse, nor contradicts it, as many as are the Greeks; but thou +comest not to an end of discussion. 294 Assuredly thou art youthful, +and mightst be my youngest son for age, yet thou speakest prudent words +to the kings of the Greeks, for thou hast said aright. But come, I who +boast to be older than thou, will speak out, and discuss everything: +nor will any one, not even king Agamemnon, disregard my speech. +Tribeless, lawless, homeless is he, who loves horrid civil war. But +now, however, let us obey dark night, and make ready suppers. But let +the respective guards lie down beside the trench, dug without the wall. +To the youth, indeed, I enjoin these things; but next, Atrides, do thou +begin, for thou art supreme. Give a banquet to the elders; it becomes +thee, and is not unseemly. Full are thy tents of wine, which the ships +of the Greeks daily bring over the wide sea from Thrace. Thou hast +every accommodation, and rulest over many people. But when many are +assembled, do thou obey him who shall give the best advice; for there +is great need of good and prudent [advice] to all the Greeks, since the +enemy are burning many fires near the ships; and who can rejoice at +these things? But this night will either ruin the army or preserve it.” + +Footnote 294: (return) _I. e_. thou hast not said all that might have +been said on the subject. + +Thus he spoke; and they heard him very attentively, and obeyed. But the +guards rushed forth with their arms, [those around] Thrasymedes, the +son of Nestor, the shepherd of the people, Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, +sons of Mars, Meriones, Aphareus, and Deïpyrus, as well as the son of +Creon, noble Lycomedes. There were seven leaders of the guards, and a +hundred youths marched along with each, holding long spears in their +hands. Proceeding to the space between the trench and the wall, there +they sat down, and there kindled a fire, and prepared each his supper. + +But Atrides conducted the assembled elders of the Greeks to his tent, +and set before them a strength-recruiting banquet; and they laid their +hands upon the viands placed before them. But when they had dismissed +the desire of eating and drinking, to them first of all did aged +Nestor, whose advice had previously appeared best, begin to interweave +advice; who wisely counselling, addressed them, and said: + +“Most glorious Atrides, king of men, Agamemnon, with thee shall I end, +and with thee shall I commence. Since thou art a king of many nations, +and Jove hath placed in thine hands both a sceptre and laws, that thou +mayest consult for their advantage. Therefore is it necessary that thou +in particular shouldst deliver and hear an opinion, and also accomplish +that of another, when his mind urges any one to speak for the [public] +good; but on thee will depend whatever takes the lead. Yet will I speak +as appears to me to be best. For no other person will propound a better +opinion than that which I meditate, both of old and also now, from that +period when thou, O nobly born, didst depart, carrying off the maid +Briseïs from the tent of the enraged Achilles; by no means according to +my judgment; for I very strenuously dissuaded thee from it: but having +yielded to thy haughty temper, thou didst dishonour the bravest hero, +whom even the immortals have honoured; for, taking away his reward, +thou still retainest it. Yet even now let us deliberate how we may +succeed in persuading him, appeasing him with agreeable gifts and +soothing words.” + +But him the king of men, Agamemnon, again addressed: “Old man, thou +hast not falsely enumerated my errors. I have erred, nor do I myself +deny it. That man indeed is equivalent to many troops, whom Jove loves +in his heart, as now he hath honoured this man, and subdued the people +of the Greeks. But since I erred, having yielded to my wayward +disposition, I desire again to appease him, and to give him invaluable +presents. Before you all will I enumerate the distinguished gifts: +seven tripods untouched by fire, 295 and ten talents of gold, and +twenty shining caldrons, and twelve stout steeds, victorious in the +race, which have borne off prizes by their feet. No pauper would the +man be, nor in want of precious gold, to whom as many prizes belong as +[these] solid-hoofed steeds have brought to me. I will likewise give +seven beautiful Lesbian women, skilful in faultless works; whom I +selected when he himself took well-inhabited Lesbos, who excel the race +of women in beauty. These will I give him, and amongst them will be her +whom then I took away, the daughter of Briseïs; and I will swear +moreover a mighty oath, that I never ascended her bed, nor embraced +her, as is the custom of human beings—of men and women. All these shall +immediately be ready; and if, moreover, the gods grant that we destroy +the great city of Priam, let him fill his ships abundantly with gold +and brass, entering in when we the Greeks divide the spoil. Let him +also choose twenty Trojan women, who may be fairest next to Argive +Helen. But if we reach Achæan Argos, the udder of the land, 296 he may +become my son-in-law; and I will honour him equally with Orestes, who +is nurtured as my darling son, in great affluence. Now, I have three +daughters in my well-built palace,—Chrysothemis, Laodice, and +Iphianassa. Of these let him lead the beloved one, whichsoever he may +choose, without marriage-dower, to the house of Peleus; but I will give +very many dowries, so many as no man ever yet gave to his daughter. I +will, moreover, give him seven well-inhabited cities,—Cardamyle, Enope, +and grassy Ira, glorious Pheræ, with deep-pastured Anthea, fair Æpeia, +and vine-bearing Pedasus; which are all near the sea, the last towards +sandy Pylus. But in them dwell men rich in flocks and herds, who will +honour him like a god with gifts, and beneath his sceptre will pay rich +tributes. These will I bestow upon him, ceasing from his anger. Let him +be prevailed upon. Pluto indeed is implacable and inexorable, wherefore +he is the most hateful of all the gods to men. Let him likewise yield +to me, inasmuch as I am more kingly, and because I boast to be older +[than he].” + +But him the Gerenian knight Nestor then answered: “Most glorious son of +Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, thou indeed offerest gifts by no means +despicable to king Achilles. But come, let us urge chosen men, who may +go with all speed to the tent of Achilles, the son of Peleus. Come +then, these will I select, but let them obey. First of all indeed let +Phœnix, dear to Jove, be the leader; next then mighty Ajax and divine +Ulysses: and of the heralds, let Hodius and Eurybates follow with them. +But bring water for the hands, and command to observe well-omened +words, 297 that we may supplicate Saturnian Jove, if perchance he will +take pity.” + +Footnote 295: (return) _I. e_. not yet brought into common use. + +Footnote 296: (return) A beautiful expression, denoting the fertility +of the land. Cf. Albert. on Hesych. t. ii. p. 806. So νησοιο μαστός in +Callim. II. in Del. 48. + +Footnote 297: (return) The translation, “favour us with their voices,” +is nonsense, while “keep silence” is by no means the meaning of +εύφημήσαι. Kennedy rightly explains it, “abstain from expressions +unsuitable to the solemnity of the occasion, which, by offending the +god, might defeat the object of their supplications.” See Servius on +Virg. Æn. v. 71; Lamb, on Hor. Od. iii. 1, 2; Broukhus. on Tibull. ii. +1, 1. + +Thus he spoke, and delivered an opinion agreeable to them all. +Immediately indeed the heralds poured water upon their hands, and the +youths crowned the goblets with wine; then they distributed them to +all, having poured the first of the wine into the cups. But when they +had made libations, and drunk as much as their mind desired, they +hastened from the tent of Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. To them the +Gerenian knight Nestor gave many charges, looking wistfully upon each, +particularly upon Ulysses, that they should endeavour to persuade the +blameless son of Peleus. + +They twain then went along the shore of the loud-sounding sea, praying +earnestly to earth-shaking [Neptune], who encompasses the earth, that +they might easily persuade the great mind of the grandson of Æacus. But +they came to the tents and ships of the Myrmidons, and they found him +delighting his soul with his clear-toned harp, beautiful, curiously +wrought, and upon it was a silver comb. This he had taken from amongst +the spoils, having destroyed the city of Eëtion, and with it he was +delighting his soul, and singing the glorious deeds 298 of heroes. +Patroclus alone sat opposite to him in silence, waiting upon the +descendant of Æacus when he should cease to sing. Then they advanced +farther, and divine Ulysses preceded; and they stood before him; whilst +Achilles, astonished, leaped up, with his lyre, quitting the seat where +he had been sitting. In like manner Patroclus, when he beheld the +heroes, arose, and swift-footed Achilles taking them by the hand, +addressed them: + +“Hail, warriors, ye indeed have come as friends. Surely [there is] some +great necessity [when ye come], who are to me, although enraged, +dearest of the Greeks.” + +Footnote 298: (return) Or the renown of heroes. So Apollon. i. 1: +αλαιγενεων κλεα φώτων Μνησομαι. + +Thus having spoken, divine Achilles led them forward, and seated them +upon couches and purple coverlets; then straightway he addressed +Patroclus, who was near: + +“Place a larger goblet, O son of Menœtius, mix purer wine, 299 and +prepare a cup for each, for men most dear [to me] are beneath my roof.” + +Footnote 299: (return) _I. e_. less diluted than usual. On this quaint +picture of ancient manners, compared with the customs of the Hebrew +fathers, compare Coleridge, p. 151. + +Thus he spoke; and Patroclus obeyed his dear companion. But he +[Achilles] placed in the flame of the fire a large dressing-block, and +upon it he laid the chine of a sheep and of a fat goat, with the back +of a fatted sow, abounding in fat. Automedon then held them for him, +and noble Achilles cut them up; and divided them skilfully into small +pieces, and transfixed them with spits; whilst the son of Menœtius, a +godlike hero, kindled a large fire. But when the fire had burned away, +and the flame grew languid, strewing the embers, he extended the spits +over them, and sprinkled them with sacred salt, raising them up from +the racks. But when he had dressed them, and had thrown them upon +kitchen tables, Patroclus, taking bread, served it out upon the board +in beautiful baskets: but Achilles distributed the flesh. But he +himself sat opposite to noble Ulysses, against the other wall, and +ordered Patroclus, his companion, to sacrifice to the gods; and he +accordingly cast the first morsels 300 into the fire. And they +stretched forth their hands to the prepared viands which lay before +them. But when they had dismissed the desire of eating and drinking, +Ajax nodded to Phoenix, but noble Ulysses observed it, and having +filled his goblet with wine, he pledged Achilles: + +Footnote 300: (return) Hesych. and Phrynicus (for their glosses should +probably be joined), θνηλάς’ άπαρχάς των τεθυμἑνων. + +“Health, Achilles. We are not wanting of a complete feast, either in +the tent of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, or even here also, for many +strength-recruiting dainties are here; but the business of an agreeable +feast is not our care. We, O thou Jove-nurtured one, contemplating it, +rather dread a very great disaster, as it is matter of doubt whether +the well-benched ships be saved or destroyed, unless thou puttest on +thy might. For near the ships and the wall the high-minded Trojans and +their far-summoned allies have pitched their camp, kindling many fires +throughout the host; and they say that they will no longer restrain +themselves, but that they will fall upon our black vessels. 301 And +Saturnian Jove exhibiting to them propitious signs, darts his +lightning; and Hector, looking fiercely round in valour, rages +terribly, trusting in Jove, nor reverences at all either men or gods, +but great madness hath come upon him. He prays that divine morn may +speedily come. For he declares that he will cut off the poop-ends 302 +of the ships, and burn [the ships] themselves with ravaging fire, and +slaughter the Greeks beside them, discomforted by the smoke. Wherefore +do I greatly fear in my mind lest the gods may fulfil his threats, and +it be destined for us to perish in Troy, far from steed-nourishing +Argos. Rise then, if thou hast the intention, although late, to defend +the harassed sons of the Greeks from the violent onslaught of the +Trojans. To thyself it will hereafter be a cause of sorrow, nor is it +possible in any manner to discover a remedy for a disaster when +received; wherefore reflect much beforehand, how thou mayest avert the +evil day from the Greeks. O my friend, surely thy father Peleus charged +thee, on that day when he sent thee from Phthia to Agamemnon, ‘My son, +Minerva and Juno will bestow valour, if they choose; but restrain thy +great-hearted soul within thy breast, because humanity is better; and +abstain from injurious contention, that both the youth and elders of +the Greeks may honour thee the more.’ Thus did the old man give charge, +but thou art forgetful. Yet even now desist, and lay aside thy +mind-corroding wrath. To thee Agamemnon gives worthy gifts, ceasing +from indignation. But if [thou wilt] hear from me, and I will repeat to +thee how many presents Agamemnon in his tents hath promised thee: seven +tripods, untouched by the fire, and ten talents of gold, twenty shining +caldrons, and twelve stout steeds, victorious in the race, which have +borne off prizes by their feet. No pauper, nor in want of precious +gold, would that man be to whom so many prizes belonged as the steeds +of Agamemnon have borne off by their fleetness. He will likewise give +seven beautiful women, skilful in faultless works, Lesbians, whom he +selected when thou thyself didst take well-inhabited Lesbos, who then +excelled the race of women in beauty. These will he give thee, and +amongst them will be her whom once he took away, the daughter of +Briseïs; and he will moreover swear a mighty oath, that he never +ascended her bed, nor embraced her, as is the custom. O king, both of +men and women. All these shall immediately be in waiting; and if, +moreover, the gods grant that we pillage the vast city of Priam, +entering, thou mayest fill thy ships abundantly with gold and brass, +when we, the Greeks, divide the spoil. Thou shalt also choose twenty +Trojan women, who may be fairest next to Argive Helen. But if we reach +Achæan Argos, the udder of the land, thou mayest become his son-in-law, +and he will honour thee equally with Orestes, who is nurtured as his +darling son, in great affluence. But he has three daughters in his +well-built palace,—Chrysothemis, Laodice, and Iphianassa. Of these thou +shalt conduct the most beloved whomsoever thou mayest choose, without +marriage-gifts, to the house of Peleus; but he will give very many +dowries, such as no man yet gave his daughter. He will moreover give +thee seven well-inhabited cities,—Cardamyle, Enope, and grassy Ira, +glorious Pheræ, with deep-pastured Anthea, fair Æpeia, and vine-bearing +Pedasus; which are all near the sea, the last towards sandy Pylus. But +in them dwell men abounding in flocks and herds, who will honour thee +with gifts like a god, and under thy sceptre pay rich tributes. These +will he fulfil to thee ceasing from thy wrath. But if indeed the son of +Atreus himself and his gifts be more hateful to thee from thine heart, +at least have pity upon all the other Greeks, harassed throughout the +army, who will honour thee as a god; for surely thou wilt obtain very +great honour among them. For now mayest thou slay Hector, since he hath +already come very near thee, possessing destructive fury; since he +declares that no one of the Greeks whom the ships have conveyed hither +is his equal.” + +Footnote 301: (return) But Heyne, “non locum tuituros [nos], sed in +naves fugituros et discessuros.” + +Footnote 302: (return) This interpretation is substantiated by Heyne, +from Il. O, 717. The άκροστόλια, or _figure-heads_, are not meant here. + +But him swift-footed Achilles answering, addressed: “Most noble son of +Laertes, much-scheming Ulysses, it behoves me indeed to speak my +opinion without reserve, even as I think, and as will be accomplished, +that ye may not, sitting beside me, keep whining 303 one after another. +Hateful to me as the gates of Hades is he who conceals one thing in his +mind and utters another. But I will speak as appears to me to be best; +and I think that neither Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, nor the other +Greeks will persuade me; since there is no gratitude to him who fights +ever ceaselessly with hostile men. An equal portion [falls] to him who +loiters, as if one continually fight; and the coward is in equal honour +with the brave. The man of no deeds, and the man of many, are wont +equally to die; nor does anything lie by me as a store, 304 because I +have suffered sorrows in my soul, ever risking my life to fight. And as +the bird brings food to her unfledged young when she hath found it, +although she fares badly herself; so have I too spent many sleepless +nights, and gone through bloody days in combat, fighting with heroes +for their wives’ sakes. Twelve cities indeed of men have I wasted with +my ships, and on foot I say eleven throughout the fertile Troad. 305 +From all these have I carried off many and precious spoils, and bearing +them, have given all to Agamemnon, the son of Atreus; whilst he, +remaining behind at the swift ships, receiving them, hath distributed +but few, but retained many. To the chiefs and kings hath he given other +prizes; to whom indeed they remain entire: but from me alone of the +Greeks hath he taken it away, and he possesses my spouse, dear to my +soul, with whom reclining, let him delight himself. But why is it +necessary that the Greeks wage war with the Trojans? Or from what +necessity did the son of Atreus, assembling an army, lead it hither? +Was it not on account of fair-haired Helen? Do the sons of Atreus +alone, of articulate-speaking men, love their wives? [Surely not], +since whatever man is good and prudent loves and cherishes his spouse; +thus I too loved her from my soul, though the captive of my spear. And +now since he hath snatched my reward from my hands, and deceived me, +let him not make trial of me, already well informed, for he will not +persuade me; but let him consider with thee, O Ulysses, and the other +kings, how he may repel the hostile fire from the ships. Assuredly he +has already accomplished many labours without me. He has already built +a rampart, and drawn a trench broad [and] large beside it; and planted +in it palisades; but not even thus can he restrain the might of +man-slaughtering Hector. Whilst I indeed fought amongst the Greeks, +Hector chose not to arouse the battle at a distance from the wall, but +he came [only] as far as the Scæan gates, and the beech-tree. There +once he awaited me alone, and with difficulty escaped my attack. But +since I choose not to war with noble Hector, to-morrow, 306 having +performed sacrifices to Jove and all the gods, [and] having well laden +my ships, when I shall have drawn them down to the sea, thou shalt +behold, if thou wilt, and if such things be a care to thee, my ships +early in the morn sailing upon the fishy Hellespont, and men within +them, eager for rowing; and if glorious Neptune grant but a prosperous +voyage, on the third day I shall surely reach fertile Phthia. 307 Now +there I have very many possessions, which I left, coming hither, to my +loss. 308 And I will carry hence other gold and ruddy brass, +well-girdled women, and hoary iron, which I have obtained by lot. But +the reward which he gave, king Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, hath +himself insultingly taken from me: to whom do thou tell all things as I +charge thee, openly, that the other Greeks also may be indignant, if +he, ever clad in impudence, still hope to deceive any of the Greeks; +nor let him dare, dog-like as he is, to look in my face. I will neither +join in counsels nor in any action with him; for he hath already +deceived and offended me, nor shall he again overreach me with words. +It is enough for him [to do so once]: but in quiet 309 let him perish, +for provident Jove hath deprived him of reason. Hateful to me are his +gifts, and himself I value not a hair. 310 Not if he were to give me +ten and twenty times as many gifts as he now has, and if others were to +be added from any other quarter; nor as many as arrive at Orchomenos, +or Egyptian Thebes, 311 where numerous possessions are laid up in the +mansions, and where are one hundred gates, 312 from each of which rush +out two hundred men with horses and chariots. Nor if he were to give me +as many as are the sands and dust, not even thus shall Agamemnon now +persuade my mind, until he indemnify me for all his mind-grieving +insult. But I will not wed the daughter of Agamemnon, the son of +Atreus, not if she were fit to contend in beauty with golden Venus, or +were equal in accomplishments to azure-eyed Minerva; not even thus will +I wed her. Let him then select another of the Greeks who may suit him, +and who is more the king; for if the gods preserve me, and I reach +home, then will Peleus himself hereafter bestow upon me a lady in +marriage. There are many Grecian women throughout Hellas and Phthia, +daughters of chieftains who defend the cities. Whomsoever of these I +may choose, I will make my beloved wife; and there my generous soul +very much desires that I, wedding a betrothed spouse, a fit partner of +my bed, should enjoy the possessions which aged Peleus hath acquired. +For not worth my life are all the [treasures] which they say the +well-inhabited city Ilium possessed, whilst formerly at peace, before +the sons of the Greeks arrived; nor all which the stony threshold of +the archer Phœbus Apollo contains within it, in rocky Pytho. 313 By +plunder, oxen and fat sheep are to be procured, tripods are to be +procured, and the yellow heads of steeds; but the life of man cannot be +obtained nor seized, so as to return again, when once it has passed the +enclosure of the teeth. For my goddess mother, silver-footed Thetis, +declares that double destinies lead me on to the end of death. If, on +the one hand, remaining here, I wage war around the city of the +Trojans, return is lost to me, but my glory will be immortal; but if, +on the other hand, I return home to my dear fatherland, my excellent +glory is lost, but my life will be lasting, nor will the end of death +speedily seize upon me. And to others also would I give advice to sail +home, for ye will not find an end of lofty Ilium; for far-sounding Jove +hath stretched over it his hand, and the people have taken courage. But +do ye, departing, bear back this message to the chiefs of the Greeks, +for such is the office of ambassadors, that they devise within their +minds some other better plan, which for them may preserve their ships, +and the army of the Greeks in the hollow barks; since this, which they +have now devised, is not expedient for them, while I cherish my wrath. +But let Phœnix, remaining here, recline beside us, that to-morrow, if +he will, he may follow me in the ships to my dear fatherland, although +I will by no means lead him away by compulsion.” + +Footnote 303: (return) This word is etymologically connected with +τρνγών. It properly signifies the moaning of the dove. + +Footnote 304: (return) Schol. περισσόν τί εστι. Kennedy explains it: +“nor have all the toils which I have undergone been productive of any +superior advantage to me.” + +Footnote 305: (return) See a list of these cities in Heyne’s note. + +Footnote 306: (return) Observe the broken construction, well suited to +the irritability of the speaker. + +Footnote 307: (return) Cf. Cicero de Div. i. 25. + +Footnote 308: (return) “Εῤῥων, ἐπί φθορᾷ.” (ita etym. magn.) +παραγενόμενος. Cf. Alberti on Hesych. t. i. p. 1445. + +Footnote 309: (return) “Εκηλος forcibly expresses the condition of one +who is advancing imperceptibly, though surely, to final ruin.”—Kennedy. + +Footnote 310: (return) See Kennedy, and Duport, Gnom. p. 52, who +compare the phrases “pilo minus amare”, “pili facere.” There is, +however, much uncertainty respecting the origin and meaning of the +proverb. Cf. Alberti on Hesych. t. i. p. 1246. + +Footnote 311: (return) “Thebes was the centre of Egyptian power and +commerce, probably long before Memphis grew into importance, or before +the Delta was made suitable to the purposes of husbandry by the cutting +of canals and the raising of embankments.”—Egyptian Antiquities, vol. +i. p. 66. + +Footnote 312: (return) Although Denon (see Egypt. Antt. p. 62) regards +this as an unmeaning expression, Heyne well observes: “numerus +centenarius ponitur pro magno: et portis semel memoratis, multitudo +hominum declaratur per numerum exeuntium.” + +Footnote 313: (return) Cf. Müller, Dorians, vol. i. pp. 26, 268. + +Thus he spoke; but they all became mute in silence, marvelling at his +speech, for he answered with much vehemence. At length, however, the +aged knight, Phœnix, addressed him, shedding tears, for he greatly +feared for the ships of the Greeks: + +“If indeed, Ο illustrious Achilles, thou dost now meditate a return +within thy mind, nor art at all willing to repel the destructive fire +from the swift ships, because indignation hath fallen upon thy soul; +how then can I, my dear child, be left here alone by thee? for aged +Peleus, the breaker of steeds, sent me forth with thee on that day, +when he despatched thee from Phthia to Agamemnon, a boy, not yet +skilled either in equally-destroying war, nor in counsels where men +also become illustrious. On which account he sent me forth to teach +thee all these things, that thou mightest become both an orator in +words and a performer in deeds. Thus then, my dear child, I wish not at +length to be left by thee, not even if a god himself, having divested +me of old age, should promise that he would render me a blooming youth, +such as I was when first I quitted fair-damed Hellas, flying the +contentions of my father Amyntor, son of Ormenus; who was enraged with +me on account of a fair-haired concubine whom he himself loved, but +dishonoured his wife, my mother. But she continually would embrace my +knees in supplication, that I should first have connection with the +concubine, that she might loathe the old man. Her I obeyed, and did so; +but my father immediately perceiving it, uttered many execrations, and +invoked the hateful Erinnys, that no dear son, sprung from me, should +ever be placed upon his knees; and the gods ratified his execrations, +both infernal Jove and dread Proserpine. Then my soul within my mind +could no longer endure that I should sojourn in the palace whilst my +father was enraged. My friends, indeed, and relations, being much about +me, detained me there within the halls, entreating [me to stay]. Many +fat sheep and stamping-footed, crooked-horned oxen they slaughtered; +many swine abounding in fat were stretched out to be roasted in the +flame of Vulcan, and much of the old man’s wine was drunk out of +earthen vessels. Nine nights did they sleep around me: whilst, taking +it in turns, they kept watch; nor was the fire ever extinguished, one +in the portico of the well-fenced hall, and another in the vestibule, +before the chamber-doors. But when at length the tenth shady night had +come upon me, then indeed I rushed forth, having burst the +skilfully-joined doors of the apartment, and I easily overleaped the +fence of the hall, escaping the notice of the watchmen and the female +domestics. Afterwards I fled thence through spacious Hellas, and came +to fertile Phthia, the mother of sheep, to king Peleus; who kindly +received me, and loved me even as a father loves his only son, born in +his old age 314 to ample possessions. He made me opulent, and bestowed +upon me much people, and I inhabited the extreme shores of Phthia, +ruling over the Dolopians. Thee too, Ο godlike Achilles, have I +rendered what thou art, 315 loving thee from my soul; since thou +wouldst not go with another to the feast, nor take food in the mansion, +until I, placing thee upon my knees, satisfied thee with viands, +previously carving them, and supplied thee with wine. Often hast thou +wetted the tunic upon my breast, ejecting the wine in infant +peevishness. 316 Thus have I borne very many things from thee, and much +have I laboured, thinking this, that since the gods have not granted an +offspring to me from myself, I should at least make thee my son, O +Achilles, like unto the gods, that thou mightst yet repel from me +unworthy destiny. But O Achilles, subdue thy mighty rage; it is by no +means necessary for thee to have a merciless heart. Flexible are even +the gods themselves, whose virtue, honour, and might are greater [than +thine]. Even these, when any one transgresses and errs, do men divert +[from their wrath] by sacrifices and appeasing vows, and frankincense +and savour. For Prayers also are the daughters of supreme Jove, 317 +both halt, and wrinkled, and squint-eyed; which following on Ate from +behind, are full of care. But Ate is robust and sound in limb, +wherefore she far outstrips all, and arrives first at every land, doing +injury to men; whilst these afterwards cure them. 318 Whosoever will +reverence the daughters of Jove approaching, him they are wont greatly +to aid, and hear when praying. But whosoever will deny and obstinately +refuse them, then indeed, drawing near, they entreat Saturnian Jove, +that Ate may follow along with him, that being injured [in turn], he +may pay the penalty. But Ο Achilles, do thou too yield honour to +accompany the daughters of Jove, which bends the minds of other brave +men; for if Atrides brought not gifts, and did not mention others in +futurity, but would ever rage vehemently, I for my part would not +advise that, casting away wrath, thou shouldst defend the Greeks, +although greatly in need. But now he at once gives both many +immediately, and promises others hereafter; moreover, he hath +despatched the best men to supplicate thee, having selected throughout +the Grecian army those who are dearest to thyself; whose entreaty do +not thou despise, nor their mission, although formerly fault was not to +be found with thee, because thou wert enraged. Thus also have we heard +the renown of heroes of former days, when vehement wrath came upon any, +[that] they were both appeasable by gifts, and to be reconciled by +words. I remember this ancient and by no means modern deed, of what +sort it was; and I will repeat it among you all, being friends. The +Curetes and Ætolians, obstinate in battle, fought around the city of +Calydon, and slaughtered each other; the Ætolians, in defence of lofty +Calydon, the Curetes, eager to lay it waste in war; for between them +had golden-throned Diana excited mischief, indignant because Œneus had +not offered the first-fruits in sacrifice in the fertile spot of +ground: 319 whilst the other gods feasted on hecatombs, but to the +daughter of mighty Jove alone he sacrificed not. Either he forgot, 320 +or did not think of it, but he did greatly err in mind. But she, the +daughter of Jove, delighting in arrows, enraged, sent against [him] a +sylvan wild boar, with white tusks, which did much detriment, as is the +wont [of boars], to the land of Œneus. And many tall trees, one after +another, did he prostrate on the ground, with their very roots and the +blossom of their fruit. But him Meleager, son of Œneus, slew, +assembling huntsmen and dogs from many cities; for he would not have +been subdued by a few mortals: so mighty was he, and he caused many to +ascend the sad funeral-pile. Still she (Diana) excited around him 321 a +great tumult and war between the Curetes and magnanimous Ætolians, for +the head and bristly skin of the boar. 322 Whilst warlike Meleager +fought, so long were the Curetes unsuccessful; nor were they able, +although numerous, to remain without the wall. But when wrath, which +swells the minds of others, though very prudent, within their breasts, +came upon Meleager, for, enraged at heart with his dear mother Althæa, +he remained inactive beside his wedded wife, fair Cleopatra, daughter +of Marpessa, the handsome-footed child of Evenus and Idas, who was then +the bravest of earthly men, and even lifted a bow against king Phœbus +Apollo, for the sake of his fair-ankled spouse. Her [Cleopatra] then +her father and venerable mother in the palace were accustomed to call +by the surname of Alcyone, because her mother, having the plaintive +note of sad Alcyone, 323 lamented when far-darting Phœbus Apollo stole +her away. Beside her he [Meleager] remained inactive, brooding 324 over +his sad anger, enraged because of the curses of his mother, who, much +grieving, prayed to the gods on account of the murder of her brethren. +325 Often with her hands did she strike the fruitful earth, calling +upon Pluto and dread Proserpine, reclining upon her knees, whilst her +bosom was bedewed with tears, to give death to her son: but her the +Erinnys, wandering in gloom, possessing an implacable heart, heard from +Erebus. Then immediately was there noise and tumult of these 326 +excited round the gates, the towers being battered. Then did the elders +of the Ætolians entreat him, and sent chosen priests to the gods, that +he would come forth and defend them, promising a great gift. Where the +soil of fertile Calydon was richest, there they ordered him to choose a +beautiful enclosure of fifty acres; the one half, of land fit for +vines, to cut off the other half of plain land, free from wood, for +tillage. Much did aged Œneus, breaker of steeds, beseech him, having +ascended to the threshold of his lofty-roofed chamber, shaking the +well-glued door-post, supplicating his son. And much also his sisters +and venerable mother entreated him, but he the more refused; and much +[prayed] the companions who were dearest and most friendly of all; but +not even thus did they persuade the soul within his breast, until his +chamber was violently assailed, and the Curetes were in the act of +scaling the ramparts, and firing the great city. Then indeed at length +his fair-girdled spouse, weeping, supplicated Meleager, and recounted +all the disasters, as many as happen to men whose city may be taken. In +the first place, they slay the men, 327 whilst fire reduces the city to +ashes; and others carry off the children and deep-zoned women. Then was +his soul disturbed when he heard of evil deeds, and he hasted to go and +gird the all-glittering armour around his body. Thus he repelled the +evil day from the Ætolians, yielding to his own inclination; but they +did not make good to him the many and pleasing gifts; but he +nevertheless warded off evil. But revolve not such things within thy +mind, O my friend, nor let the deity 328 thus turn thee, since it would +be more dishonourable to assist the ships [when already] set on fire. +Rather come for the gifts, for the Greeks will honour thee equally with +a god. If again without gifts thou enter the man-destroying battle, +thou wilt not receive equal honour, although warding off the war.” + +But him swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed: “Phœnix, respected +father, old man, Jove-nurtured, to me there is no need of this honour, +for I conceive that I have been honoured by the behest of Jove, which +will detain me at the crooked ships whilst breath remains in my bosom, +and my knees have the power of motion. But I will tell thee something +else, and do thou revolve it in thy mind. Disturb not my soul, weeping +and lamenting, gratifying the hero Atrides; it is not at all necessary +that thou love him, that thou mayest not be hated by me, who love thee. +It is proper for thee with me to give annoyance to him who hath annoyed +me. Rule equally with me, and receive my honour in half. 329 These will +bear back my message; but do thou, remaining here, recline upon a soft +bed, and with morn appearing let us consult whether we shall return to +our native land or remain.” + +Footnote 314: (return) See, however, Buttm. Lexil. p. 510, sqq., who +considers that τηλύγετος simply means “_tenderly beloved_; only that it +is a more forcible expression for this idea, as is evident from the bad +sense in which the word is used at II. v. 470, where the meaning of a +child _spoiled_ by the love of its parents is evident.” + +Footnote 315: (return) _I.e._ I reared thee to thy present age. Lit. +“I made thee so great.” + +Footnote 316: (return) If any one should despise these natural details +as trifling and beneath the dignity of poetry, I can only recommend a +comparison with Æsch. Choeph. 750, sqq., and Shakspeare’s nurse in +“Romeo and Juliet.” In such passages, the age of the supposed speaker +is the best apology for the poet. + +Footnote 317: (return) See Duport, Gnom. Hom. p. 57. + +Footnote 318: (return) Perhaps it was from this passage that Sterne +took his sublime idea of the Recording Angel blotting out the oath +which the Accusing Spirit had carried up to heaven. + +Footnote 319: (return) Cf. Hesiod, Theog. 54. Μνημοσύνη, γουνοῖσιν +ἐλευθῆρος μεδέουσα. Like οὖθαρ ἀρούρης, in ver. 141, it is an +expression denoting excessive fertility. + +Footnote 320: (return) So Xenoph. de Venat. § 1. Οἴνεως δ’ ἐν γήρᾳ +ἐπιλαθομένου τῆς ϑεοῦ. See an excellent sketch of the story in Grote, +vol. i. p. 195, sqq. Cf. Hygin. Fab. clxxii.; Lactant. Arg. fab. Ovid. +viii. 4; Antonin. Lib. Met. § 2. + +Footnote 321: (return) _I. e._ the boar. + +Footnote 322: (return) On the legend of this war, see Apollodor. i. 8, +2; Callimach. Ib. Dian. 216; Ovid, Met. viii. 260. A catalogue of the +heroes who accompanied Meleager is given by Hyginus, Fab. clxxiii. + +Footnote 323: (return) See Antonin. Liberal. Met. § 2. who follows +Homer rather closely. + +Footnote 324: (return) Literally, “digesting.” + +Footnote 325: (return) See n. 2, p. 41, and on the death of Meleager, +by his mother burning a fatal brand, Apollodor. i. c.; Zenobius Cent. +Adag. v. 33; Anton. Lib. Met. § 2. + +Footnote 326: (return) _I. e._ the Calydonians. + +Footnote 327: (return) This catalogue of the horrors of war seems to +have been in the minds of Sallust, Cat. § 51, and Cicero, Or. iv. in +Catil. + +Footnote 328: (return) Rudolf on Ocellus Lucan. p. 266, well observes, +“Antiquissimis temporibus, quorum repetere memoriam possumus, δαίμων +nihil aliud erat, quam deus. Horn. Od. γ, 165, 160; Il. γ, 420; II. λ, +791. Neque in eo vocabuli discrimen est, si aut prosunt hominibus, aut +iis nocent; utroque enim modo δαίμονες dicuntur.” Kennedy and some of +the translators have erred on this point. + +Footnote 329: (return) _I. e._ καϑ’ ἥμισυ. See Heyne. + +He said, and in silence nodded to Patroclus from beneath his brows, +that he should strew a thick bed for Phœnix, whilst they were +meditating to withdraw as quickly as possible from the tent. But them +godlike Telamonian Ajax addressed: + +“O Jove-born son of Laertes, crafty Ulysses, let us go, for the object +of our address appears not to me to be attainable, in this way at +least, and we must report the message to the Greeks with all haste, +although it be not good. They now sit expecting us; but Achilles stores +up within his breast a fierce and haughty soul, unyielding; nor does he +regard the friendship of his companions, with which we have honoured +him at the ships beyond others. Merciless one! and truly some one hath +accepted compensation even for a brother’s death, or his own son slain, +whilst [the murderer] remains at home among his people, having paid +many expiations: and the mind and noble soul of the other is appeased +upon his having received compensation. But in thy breast the gods have +put an unyielding and evil mind, for the sake of a maid only; whereas +we now offer thee seven far excelling, and many other gifts beside +them. Do thou then assume a propitious disposition; and have respect to +thy house, for we are guests beneath thy roof from the multitude of the +Greeks, and desire to be most dear and friendly to thee beyond all the +Achæans, as many as they are.” + +But him swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed: “Most noble Ajax, +son of Telamon, chief of the people, thou appearest to me to have said +all this from thy soul, yet does my heart swell with indignation as +often as I recollect those things, how the son of Atreus hath rendered +me dishonoured among the Greeks, as if it were some contemptible +stranger. But go ye, and carry back my message, for I shall not think +of bloody war, before the son of warlike Priam, noble Hector, +slaughtering the Greeks, shall reach the ships of the Myrmidons, and +burn the ships with fire. But about my tent and black ship, however, I +think that Hector, although eager, will desist from combat.” + +Thus he spake; but they, each having seized a double goblet, having +made libations, went back by the side of the fleet, and Ulysses led the +way. But Patroclus gave orders to his companions and female domestics +to strew, with all haste, a thick couch for Phœnix; and they, obedient, +spread a bed as he desired,—sheep-skins, coverlets, and the fine fabric +of flax: there lay the old man, and awaited heavenly Morn. But Achilles +slept in the recess of his well-made tent; and beside him lay a lady, +fair-cheeked Diomede, daughter of Phorbas, whom he had brought from +Lesbos. And Patroclus on the other side reclined: and by him also lay +fair-waisted Iphis, whom noble Achilles gave him, having taken lofty +Scyros, a city of Enyeus. + +But when they were within the tents of Atrides, the sons of the Greeks, +rising one after another, received them with golden cups, and +interrogated thus. And first the king of men, Agamemnon, inquired: + +“Come, tell me, O Ulysses, much praised, great glory of the Greeks, +whether does he wish to ward off the hostile fire from the ships, or +has he refused, and does wrath still posses his haughty soul?” + +But him much-enduring, noble Ulysses then addressed: “Most glorious son +of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men, he wills not to extinguish his +wrath, but is the more filled with anger, and despises thee as well as +thy gifts. He bids thee thyself consult with the Greeks, in what manner +thou mayest preserve both the ships and the army of the Greeks, but has +himself threatened, that with the rising dawn he will launch into the +main his well-benched, equally-plied vessels. And he has declared that +he would advise others also to sail home, since ye will not now effect +the destruction of lofty Ilium; for far-resounding Jove hath greatly +stretched forth his hand [over it], and the people have taken courage. +Thus he spoke; and here are these who followed me, Ajax, and the two +heralds, both prudent men, to tell these things. But aged Phœnix hath +lain down there, for thus he ordered, that in the morning, if he chose, +he might follow him in the ships to his dear father-land; but he will +by no means carry him off against his will.” + +Thus he spake; and they all became mute in silence, marvelling at his +speech, for he harangued with great vehemence. Long were the sorrowing +sons of the Greeks mute, till at length Diomede, valiant in the din of +battle, addressed them: + +“Most glorious son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, would that thou +hadst not supplicated the illustrious son of Peleus, offering countless +gifts, for he is haughty even otherwise: 330 now again hast thou +excited him much more to insolence. Let us, however, leave him alone, +whether he go or remain, for he will fight again at that time when his +mind within his breast urges, and the Deity incites him. But come, let +us all obey as I shall advise: go now to rest, having satisfied your +hearts with food and wine, for this is force and vigour. But when fair +rosy-fingered morn has shone forth, draw up the infantry and cavalry +with all haste before the ships, cheering them: and do thou thyself +likewise fight in the foremost ranks.” + +Thus he spake, but all the kings approved, admiring the speech of +Diomede, the breaker of steeds. Having then offered libations, they +departed each to his tent; there they lay down to to rest, and enjoyed +the boon of sleep. 331 + +Footnote 330: (return) I am indebted to Milton. + +Footnote 331: (return) Id. + + + + +BOOK THE TENTH. + + +ARGUMENT. + +Diomede and Ulysses, as spies, penetrate the camp of the Trojans by +night, and first entrap and slay Dolon, who had set out on the same +errand for the Trojans. Having obtained from him the desired +information, they then attack the Thracians, and slay their king, +Rhesus, while asleep. At the suggestion of Minerva, they then return to +the camp. + + +The other chiefs, indeed, of all the Greeks were sleeping the whole +night at the ships, overcome by soft slumber; but sweet sleep possessed +not Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, shepherd of the people, revolving +many things in his mind. As when the husband of fair-haired Juno +thunders, preparing either an abundant, immense shower, or hail or +snow, when the snow whitens the fields; or somewhere [preparing] the +wide mouth 332 of bitter war; so frequently groaned Agamemnon in his +breast from the bottom of his heart, and his mind was troubled within +him. As often indeed as he looked towards the Trojan plain, he wondered +at the many fires which were burning before Ilium, the sound of flutes +and pipes, and the tumult of men. But when he looked towards the ships +and army of the Greeks, he tore up many hairs from his head by the +roots, 333 [enraged at] Jove who dwells aloft, and deeply he groaned in +his noble heart. But this plan appeared best to him in his judgment; to +repair first to Neleian Nestor, [and see] whether with him he might +contrive some blameless counsel, which might be an averter of evil. +Rising, therefore, he wrapped his coat around his breast, and beneath +his smooth feet bound the beautiful sandals; next he threw around him +the blood-stained skin of a huge, tawny 334 lion, stretching to his +ankles, and grasped his spear. In like manner, a tremor possessed +Menelaus, for neither did sleep rest upon his eyelids, [through fear] +lest the Greeks should suffer aught, who on his account had come over +the wide sea to Troy, waging daring war. First with a spotted leopard’s +skin he covered his broad back; and next, lifting his brazen helmet, +placed it upon his head, and grasped a spear in his stout hand. But he +went to awaken his brother, who had the chief command of all the +Greeks, and was honoured by the people like a god. Him he found by the +prow of his ship, putting his bright armour around his shoulders; and +arriving, he was welcome to him. Him first Menelaus, valiant in the din +of war, addressed: “Why arm thus, my respected brother? Or whom dost +thou urge of thy companions to go as a spy amongst the Trojans? In +truth I very much fear that no one will undertake this deed, going +alone through the dead of night to reconnoitre the enemy. Any one [who +does so] will be bold-hearted indeed.” + +Footnote 332: (return) Cicero pro Arch. § 5, “Totius belli ore ac +faucibus.” + +Footnote 333: (return) Or “one after another.” Schol.: ἐπ’ ἀλλήλους, ἢ +προῤῥίζους. See Merrick on Tryphiodor. 388; Alberti on Hesych. t. ii. +p. 1029. + +Footnote 334: (return) Or, “active, raging.” The other interpretation +is, however, favoured by Virg. Æn. ii. 721: “Fulvique insternor pelle +leonis.” + +But him king Agamemnon, answering, addressed: “O Jove-nurtured +Menelaus, need of prudent counsel [comes upon] both thee and me, which +will protect and preserve the Greeks and their ships, since the mind of +Jove is altered. Surely he has rather given his attention to the +Hectorean sacrifices; for never have I beheld, nor heard a person who +related, that one man has devised so many arduous deeds in one day as +Hector, dear to Jove, hath performed upon the sons of the Greeks in +such a manner, [although] the dear child neither of a goddess nor of a +god. But such deeds hath he done as I conceive will long and for many a +day be a cause of care to the Greeks; so many evils hath he wrought +against the Greeks. But go now, call Ajax and Idomeneus, running +quickly to their ships, but I will go to noble Nestor, and exhort him +to arise, if he be willing to go to the sacred company 335 of guards +and give orders; for to him will they most attentively listen, because +his son commands the guards, along with Meriones, the armour-bearer of +Idomeneus; for to them we intrusted the chief charge.” + +Footnote 335: (return) Some picked troop chosen for the especial +purpose of keeping watch. Heyne compares Σ, 504: ἱερὸς κύκλος; Ω, 681: +λαθὼν ἱεροὺς πυλαωρούς. Compare, also, the ἱερὸς λόχος of the Thebans, +Plutarch, in Pelop. t. i. p. 285; E. Athen. xiii. p. 561. + +But him Menelaus, valiant in the din of war, then answered: “In what +manner dost thou command and exhort me in thy speech? Shall I remain +there with them, waiting till thou come, or shall I run back again to +thee, after I have duly given them orders?” + +But him, in turn, Agamemnon, king of men, addressed: “Wait there, lest, +as we come, we miss 336 one another; for there are many ways through +the camp. But shout aloud whithersoever thou goest, and enjoin them to +be watchful, accosting each man by a name from his paternal race, 337 +honourably addressing all; nor be thou haughty in thy mind. Nay, let +even us ourselves labour, whatever be our station, so heavy a calamity +hath Jove laid upon us at our birth.” + +Thus saying, he dismissed his brother, having duly charged him. But he +hastened to go to Nestor, the shepherd of the people. Him he found on +his soft couch beside his tent and black ship, and by him lay his +variegated arms, a shield, two spears, and a glittering helmet: beside +him also lay a flexible belt, with which the old man girded himself, +when he was arming for man-destroying war, leading on his people; since +he by no means yielded to sad old age. Being supported on his elbow, +338 and lifting up his head, he addressed the son of Atreus, and +questioned him in [these] words: + +Footnote 336: (return) Buttmann, Lexil. p. 85, comes to the conclusion +that “we must include ἀθροτάζειν among the forms of άμαρτάνω, whose +etymological connections, as long as we are ignorant of them, we can +easily do without.” + +Footnote 337: (return) Instances of this complimentary style of +address occur in ver. 144. Διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη. 86: Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη. + +Footnote 338: (return) Cf. Propert. 1. 3, 34. “Sic ait in molli fixa +toro cubitum.” + +“Who art thou who comest thus alone by the ships, along the army, +during the gloomy night, when other mortals are asleep? Whether seeking +any of the guards, or any of thy companions? Speak, nor approach me in +silence; of what is there need to thee?” + +But him Agamemnon, king of men, then answered: “O Nestor, son of +Neleus, great glory of the Greeks, thou wilt recognize Agamemnon, the +son of Atreus, whom beyond all Jove hath plunged into toils +continually, whilst breath remains in my breast, or my knees have the +power of motion. I wander 339 thus, because sweet sleep sits not on +mine eyes, but war and the calamities of the Greeks are my care. For I +greatly fear for the Greeks, neither is my heart firm, but I am +confounded. 340 My heart leaps without my breast, and my fair limbs +tremble beneath. But if thou canst do aught (since neither doth sleep +come upon thee), come, let us go down to the guards, that we may see +whether, worn out by toil and [overpowered] 341 by sleep, they slumber, +and are altogether forgetful of the watch. And hostile men are encamped +near, nor do we at all know but that they perhaps meditate in their +minds to engage even during the night.” 342 + +But him Nestor, the Gerenian knight, then answered: “Agamemnon, most +glorious son of Atreus, king of men, assuredly provident Jove will not +accomplish to Hector all those devices, which now, perhaps, he expects; +but I think that he will labour under even more cares if Achilles shall +but turn away his heart from heavy wrath. Yet will I willingly follow +thee; and let us moreover incite others, both spear-renowned Diomede, +and Ulysses, swift Ajax, and the valiant son of Phyleus. But if any one +going, would call godlike Ajax, and king Idomeneus; for their ships are +the farthest off, 343 and by no means near at hand. But I will chide +Menelaus, dear and respected though he be, nor will I conceal, even if +thou shouldst be displeased with me, since thus he sleeps, and has +permitted thee alone to labour. For now ought he to labour, +supplicating among all the chiefs, for a necessity, no longer +tolerable, invades us.” + +Footnote 339: (return) Æsch. Ag. 12: Εὐτ’ ἂν δὲ νυκτίπλαγκτον ἔνδροσόν +τ’ ἔχω Ευνὴν ὀνείροις οὐκ ἐπισκοπουμένην Ἑμὴν, ϕόθος γὰρ ἀνθ’ ὄπνου +παραστατεῖ. + +Footnote 340: (return) Cicero ad Attic, ix. 6: “Non angor, sed ardeo +dolore; οὐδέ μοι ἦτορ ἔμπεδον, ἀλλ’ ἀλαλύκτημαι. Non sum, inquam, mihi +crede, mentis compos.” + +Footnote 341: (return) Observe the zeugma, which has been imitated by +Hor. Od. III. 4, 11: “Ludo fatigatumque somno.” Compare the learned +dissertation on this subject by D’Orville on Chariton, iv. 4, p. 440, +sqq. ed. Lips. + +Footnote 342: (return) Æsch. Sept. c. Th. 28: Λέγει μεγίστην προσζολὴν +Ἀχαΐδα Νυκτηγορεῖσθαι κἀπιθουλεύειν πόλει. + +Footnote 343: (return) Soph. Aj. 3: Καὶ νῦν ἐπὶ sκηναῖϛ σε ναυτικαῖϛ +ὁρῶ Αἴαντος, ἔνθα τάξιν ἐσχάτην ἔχει. + +But him Agamemnon, king of men, in turn addressed: “Old man, at other +times I would even bid thee blame him, for he is frequently remiss, and +is not willing to labour, yielding neither to sloth, nor +thoughtlessness of mind, but looking to me, and awaiting my +commencement. But now he arose long before me, and stood beside me; him +I have sent before to call those whom thou seekest. But let us go, and +we shall find them before the gates among the guards; for there I bade +them be assembled.” + +But him the Gerenian knight Nestor then answered: “If so, none of the +Greeks will be angry, nor disobey when he may exhort or give orders to +any.” + +Thus saying, he put on his tunic around his breast, and beneath his +shining feet he placed the beautiful sandals, and fastened about him +his purple cloak with a clasp, double, ample; 344 and the shaggy pile +was thick upon it: and he seized a doughty spear, pointed with sharp +brass. He proceeded first to the ships of the brazen-mailed Achæans; +then the Gerenian knight Nestor, vociferating, aroused from his sleep +Ulysses, equal to Jove in counsel. But the voice immediately penetrated +his mind, and he came out from the tent, and addressed them: + +“Why, I pray, wander ye thus alone through the ambrosial night, near +the ships, through the army; what so great necessity now comes upon +you?” + +Footnote 344: (return) Schol.: Τὴν μεγάλην, ωστε καὶ διπλῇ αὐτή +χρώμενον ἔχειν ἐκτεταμένην. The epithet φοινικόεσσα denotes that it was +the garb of royalty. + +But him Nestor, the Gerenian knight, then answered: “Jove-sprung son of +Laertes, much-scheming Ulysses, be not indignant, for so great a sorrow +hath oppressed the Greeks. But follow, that we may arouse even another, +whomsoever it is fit, to deliberate whether to fly or fight.” + +Thus he spake, and much-counselling Ulysses returning into his tent, +flung around his shoulders his variegated shield, and followed them. +But they proceeded to Diomede, the son of Tydeus, and him they found +without, before his tent, with his arms; and his companions slept +around him. Beneath their heads they had their shields, and their +spears were fixed erect upon the nether point; 345 and afar off +glittered the brass, like the lightning of father Jove. The hero +himself however slumbered, and beneath him was strewed the hide of a +wild bull; but under his head was spread a splendid piece of tapestry. +Standing by him, the Gerenian knight Nestor awoke him, moving him on +the heel with his foot, 346 he roused him, and upbraided [him] openly: + +“Arise, son of Tydeus, why dost thou indulge in sleep all night? +Hearest thou not how the Trojans are encamped upon an eminence in the +plain near the ships, and that now but a small space keeps them off?” + +Footnote 345: (return) Σαυρωτῆροι’ τοῖς στύραξιν τῶν οπίσω τῶν +δοράτων. Hesychius, who also, with reference to the present passage, +has Σαυρωτῆρος’ τοῦ σιδηρίου. Pollux, x. 31, well explains it, τὸ τοῦ +δόρατος ἰστάμενον It is also called στύραξ and στυρά. + +Footnote 346: (return) Not “calce pedis movens.” See Kennedy. + +Thus he spoke: but he leaped up very quickly from slumber, and +addressing him, spoke winged words: + +“Indefatigable art thou, old man: never, indeed, dost thou cease from +labour. Are there not even other younger sons of the Greeks, who, going +about in every direction, might arouse each of the kings? But, O old +man, thou art impossible to be wearied.” + +But him then the Gerenian knight Nestor in turn addressed: “Truly, my +friend, thou hast spoken all these things aright. I have to be sure +blameless sons, and I have numerous troops, some of whom indeed, going +round, might give the summons. But a very great necessity hath +oppressed the Greeks, and now are the affairs of all balanced on a +razor’s edge 347, whether there be most sad destruction to the Greeks, +or life. Yet go now, since thou art younger, arouse swift Ajax, and the +son of Phyleus, if thou hast pity on me.” + +Footnote 347: (return) Herodot. vii. 11: Επὶ ξυροῦ γὰp τῆς ἀκμῆς +ἔχεται ἡμῖν τα πράγματα. Soph. Antig. 996: Φρόνει βεζὼς αὖ νῦν ἐπὶ +ξυροῦ τύνη. Theocrit. xxii. 6: Ἀνθρώπων σωτῆρες ἐπὶ ξυοοῦ ἤδη ἐόντων. + +Thus he spake; but the other threw around his shoulders the skin of a +huge tawny lion, reaching to his feet, and took his spear. He hastened +forth, and the hero, having aroused the rest, led them thence. + +But when they now came to the assembled guards, they found not the +leaders of the guards slumbering, but all were sitting vigilantly with +their arms. As dogs with care keep watch around the sheep in a fold, +hearing the furious wild beast, which comes through the wood from the +mountains, but much clamour of men and dogs is against it, and sleep is +utterly lost to them; so was sweet slumber lost to their eyelids, +keeping guard during the sad night, for they were ever turned towards +the plain, whensoever they heard the Trojans advancing. But the old man +seeing them, rejoiced, and encouraged them with a speech, and +addressing them, spoke winged words: + +“Thus now, dear children, keep watch; nor let sleep seize upon any, +lest we become a mockery to the enemy.” + +Thus saying, he crossed the trench; and with him followed the chiefs of +the Greeks, as many as had been summoned to the council. Along with +these went Meriones, and the illustrious son of Nestor; for they had +invited them, that they might consult with them. Having therefore +passed over the dug trench, they sat down in a clear space, where a +piece of ground appeared free from fallen dead bodies, whence impetuous +Hector had turned back, having destroyed the Greeks, when night at +length enveloped them. There sitting down, they addressed words to each +other, and to them the Gerenian knight Nestor began discourse: + +“O friends, would not now some man put such confidence in his own +daring mind as to go against the magnanimous Trojans, if perchance he +might take some of the enemy straying in the outskirts of the camp, or +perhaps even learn some report among the Trojans, what they deliberate +among themselves; whether they intend to remain here by the ships at a +distance, or are about to return to the city, since they have subdued +the Greeks? Could he but hear all this, and come back to us unscathed, +great glory would be his under heaven amongst all men, and he shall +have a good reward. For as many chiefs as command the vessels, of all +these each will give a black sheep, a ewe, having a lamb at its udders; +to which indeed no possession will be like; and he will ever be present +at our banquets and feasts.” + +Thus he spoke; and they were all mute in silence; but to them Diomede, +valiant in the din of battle, said: + +“Nestor, my heart and gallant spirit urge me to enter the camp of the +hostile Trojans, which is near; but if some other man were to go along +with me, there would be more pleasure, and it would be more +encouraging. For when two go together, the one perceives before the +other how the advantage may be. But if one being alone should observe +anything, his perception is nevertheless more tardy, and his judgment +weak.” + +Thus he spoke: and the greater number wished to follow Diomede. The two +Ajaces wished it, servants of Mars; Meriones wished it; the son of +Nestor very earnestly desired it; the spear-renowned son of Atreus, +Menelaus, desired it; and hardy Ulysses was eager to penetrate the +crowd of the Trojans; for ever daring was his mind within his breast. +Among them, however, Agamemnon, the king of men, spoke: + +“Diomede, son of Tydeus, most dear to my soul, select the companion +whom thou desirest, the bravest of those who present themselves, since +many are ready. Nor do thou, paying deference in thy mind, leave indeed +the better, and select as follower the worse, through respect [for +rank]; looking neither to family, nor whether one is more the king.” + +Thus he spake, for he feared for yellow-haired Menelaus; but amongst +them Diomede, brave in the din of battle, again spoke: + +“If then ye now order me to select a companion myself, how can I now +forget godlike Ulysses, whose heart is prudent, and spirit gallant in +all labours; and whom Pallas Minerva loves. He following, we should +both return even from burning fire, for he is skilled in planning +beyond [all others].” + +But him much-enduring, noble Ulysses in turn addressed: “Son of Tydeus, +neither praise me beyond measure, nor at all blame, for thou speakest +these things amongst Argives, who are acquainted with them already. But +let us go, for night hastens on, and morn is at hand. The stars have +already far advanced, and the greater portion of the night, by two +parts, has gone by, but the third portion remains.” + +Thus having spoken, they clad themselves in their terrible arms. To +Diomede, Thrasymedes, firm in war, gave his two-edged sword, because +his own was left at the ships, and a shield. Upon his head he placed +his bull’s-hide helmet, coneless, crestless, which is called cataityx, +348 and protects the heads of blooming youths. And Meriones gave a bow, +quiver, and sword to Ulysses, and put upon his head a casque of hide; +and within, it was firmly bound with many straps; whilst without, the +white teeth of an ivory-tusked boar set thick together on all sides +fenced it well, and skilfully; and in the midst a woollen head-piece +349 was sewed. It Autolycus once brought from Eleon, the city of +Amyntor, son of Hormenus, having broken into his large mansion. He gave +it, however, to Amphidamas, the Cytherian, to bear to Scandea, and +Amphidamas bestowed it upon Molus, to be a gift of hospitality, but he +gave it to his son Meriones to be worn. Then at last, being placed +around, it covered the head of Ulysses. But they, when they had girt +themselves in dreadful arms, hastened to advance, and left all the +chiefs at the same place. And to them near the way, Pallas Minerva sent +a heron upon the right hand: they did not discern it with their eyes, +because of the gloomy night, but heard it rustling. And Ulysses was +delighted on account of the bird, and prayed to Minerva: + +“Hear me, thou daughter of ægis-bearing Jove, who standest by me in all +labours, nor do I escape thy notice, having moved. 350 Now again do +thou, O Minerva, especially befriend me, and grant that, covered with +glory, we may return back to the well-benched barks, having performed a +mighty deed, which will surely occasion care to the Trojans.” + +Footnote 348: (return) “The καταῖτυξ might be termed the undress +helmet of the chief who wore it.”—Kennedy. + +Footnote 349: (return) Or, “it was stuffed with felt.”—Oxford Transl. +“Wool was inlaid between the straps, in order to protect the head, and +make the helmet fit closer.”—Kennedy. + +Footnote 350: (return) Soph. Aj. 18: Καὶ νῦν ἐπέγνως εὖ μ ἐπ’ ἀνδρὶ +δυσμενεῖ Βάσιν ευκλοῦντ’. + +Then Diomede, brave in the din of battle, next prayed: “Now hear me, +too, O daughter of Jove, invincible. Attend me, as once thou didst +attend my sire, the noble Tydeus, to Thebes, what time he went as an +ambassador for the Achæans; he left the brazen-mailed Achæans at the +Asopus, and he himself bore thither a mild message to the Cadmæans: but +when returning he performed many arduous deeds, with thy aid, O noble +goddess, when thou propitious didst stand beside him. Thus now +willingly stand by and protect me; and in return I will sacrifice to +thee a heifer of a year old, with broad forehead, untamed, which no man +hath yet brought under the yoke. This will I sacrifice to thee, +encircling its horns with gold.” + +Thus they spoke, praying; and Pallas Minerva heard them. But when they +had supplicated the daughter of mighty Jove, they hastened to advance, +like two lions, through the dark night, through slaughter, through +bodies through arms, and black blood. + +Nor did Hector allow the gallant Trojans to sleep; but he summoned all +the chiefs together, as many as were leaders and rulers over the +Trojans. Having summoned them together, he framed prudent counsel: + +“Who, undertaking it for me, will accomplish this deed for a great +reward? And there shall be sufficient payment for him; for I will give +a chariot and two rough-maned steeds, which excel in speed at the swift +sailing ships of the Greeks, to him whosoever would dare (he will also +obtain glory for himself) to approach near the swift-sailing ships, and +learn whether the fleet ships are guarded as formerly, or whether, now +subdued by our hands, they meditate flight among themselves, nor wish +to keep watch during the night, overcome with grievous toil.” + +Thus he spoke; but they were all still in silence. But among the +Trojans there was one Dolon, the son of Eumedes, a divine herald, rich +in gold, and wealthy in brass, who in aspect indeed was deformed, but +[was] swift-footed, and he was an only [son] among five sisters. Who +then, standing by, addressed the Trojans and Hector: + +“Hector, my heart and gallant spirit urge me to approach the +swift-sailing ships, and gain information. But come, raise up thy +sceptre to me, and swear that thou wilt assuredly give me the horses +and chariot, variegated with brass, which now bear the illustrious son +of Peleus, and I will not be a vain spy to thee, nor frustrate thy +expectation; for I will go so far into the camp till I reach the ship +of Agamemnon, where the chiefs will perchance be consulting whether to +fly or fight.” + +Thus he spoke; but he took the sceptre in his hand and swore to him: +“Let Jove himself now be my witness, the loudly-thundering spouse of +Juno, that no other man of the Trojans shall be carried by these +horses: but I declare that thou shalt entirely have the glory of them.” + +Thus he spoke, and indeed swore a vain oath; 351 nevertheless he +encouraged him. Immediately he threw around his shoulders his crooked +bow, and put on above the hide of a grey wolf, with a casque of +weasel-skin upon his head; and seized a sharp javelin. And he set out +to go from the camp towards the ships: nor was he destined to bring +back intelligence to Hector, returning from the ships. But when now he +had quitted the crowd of horses and men, he eagerly held on his way. +But him godlike Ulysses observed advancing, and addressed Diomede: + +Footnote 351: (return) “There is no necessity for supposing that +Hector meditated any deceit. The poet contemplates the event, which +frustrated his hopes, and rendered his oath nugatory.”—Kennedy. + +“Hark! Diomede, a man comes from the camp; I know not whether as a spy +upon our vessels, or to plunder some of the dead bodies. But let us +suffer him first to pass by a little through the plain, and afterwards, +hastily rushing upon him, let us take him. If, however, he surpasses us +in speed, attacking him with the spear, let us continually drive him +from the camp towards the ships, lest by chance he escape towards the +city.” + +Then having thus spoken, they lay down out of the pathway among the +dead; but he, in thoughtlessness, ran hastily past. But when now he was +as far off as is the space ploughed at one effort 352 by mules (for +they are preferable to oxen in drawing the well-made plough through the +deep fallow), they indeed ran towards him; but he stood still, hearing +a noise; for he hoped within his mind that his companions had come from +the Trojans to turn him back, Hector having ordered. But when now they +were distant a spear’s cast, or even less, he perceived that they were +enemies, and moved his active knees to fly; and they immediately +hastened to follow. As when two rough-toothed hounds, skilled in the +chase, ever incessantly pursue through the woody ground either a fawn +or hare, whilst screaming it flies before; thus did Tydides and +Ulysses, sacker of cities, pursue him ever steadily, having cut him off +from his own people. But when now flying towards the ships, he would +speedily have mingled with the watch, then indeed Minerva infused +strength into Tydides, that none of the brazen-mailed Greeks might be +beforehand in boasting that he had wounded him, but he himself come +second; then gallant Diomede, rushing on him with his spear, addressed +him: + +“Either stop, or I will overtake thee with my spear; nor do I think +that thou wilt long escape certain destruction from my hand.” + +Footnote 352: (return) See the Scholiast, and Kennedy’s note. + +He said, and hurled his spear, but intentionally missed the man. Over +the right shoulder the point of the well-polished spear stuck in the +ground. Then indeed he stood still, and trembled, stammering (and there +arose a chattering of the teeth in his mouth), pale through fear. +Panting they overtook him, and seized his hands; but he weeping, spoke +thus: + +“Take me alive, and I will ransom myself; for within [my house] I have +brass, and gold, and well-wrought iron; from which my father will +bestow upon you countless ransoms, if he shall hear that I am alive at +the ships of the Greeks.” + +But him much-planning Ulysses answering addressed: “Take courage, nor +suffer death at all to enter thy mind; but come, tell me this, and +state it correctly: Why comest thou thus alone from the camp towards +the fleet, through the gloomy night, when other mortals sleep? Whether +that thou mightst plunder any of the dead bodies, or did Hector send +thee forth to reconnoitre everything at the hollow ships? Or did thy +mind urge thee on?” + +But him Dolon then answered, and his limbs trembled under him: +“Contrary to my wish, Hector hath brought me into great detriment, who +promised that he would give me the solid-hoofed steeds of the +illustrious son of Peleus, and his chariot adorned with brass. And he +enjoined me, going through the dark and dangerous 353 night, to +approach the enemy, and learn accurately whether the swift ships be +guarded as before, or whether, already subdued by our hands, ye plan +flight with yourselves, nor choose to keep watch during the night, +overcome by severe toil.” + +Footnote 353: (return) Buttm. Lexil. p. 369: “I translate θοὴ νύξ by +_the quick and fearful_ night; and if this be once admitted as the +established meaning of the Homeric epithet, it will certainly be always +intelligible to the hearer and full of expression. ‘Night,’ says a +German proverb, ‘is no man’s friend;’ the dangers which threaten the +nightly wanderer are formed into a quick, irritable, hostile goddess. +Even the other deities are afraid of her, who is (Il. Θ, 259) θεῶν +δμήτειρα καὶ ἀνδρῶν; and Jupiter himself, in the midst of his rage, +refrains from doing what might be νυκτὶ θοὴ ἀποθύμια. Nor is the +epithet less natural when the night is not personified: for as ὀξεῖς +καιροί are _dangerous_ times, so by this word θοή it may be intended to +mark the swiftness and imminency of dangers which threaten men who go +διὰ νύκτα μέλαιναν.” + +But him crafty Ulysses smiling addressed: “Assuredly thy mind aimed at +mighty gifts, the horses of warlike Æacides; but these are difficult to +be governed by mortal men, and to be driven by any other than Achilles, +whom an immortal mother bore. But come, tell me this, and state +correctly; where now, when coming hither, didst thou leave Hector, the +shepherd of the people? Where lie his martial arms, and where his +steeds? And how [stationed are] the watches and tents of the other +Trojans? What do they consult among themselves? Do they meditate to +remain there at a short distance from the ships, or will they return +again to the city, since, forsooth, they have subdued the Greeks?” + +But him Dolon, the son of Eumedes, again addressed: “Therefore will I +indeed detail these things to thee very correctly. Hector, with those, +as many as are counsellors, is deliberating upon plans at the tomb of +divine Ilus, apart from the tumult: but for the watches of which thou +inquirest, O Hero, no chosen [band] defends or watches the camp. But as +many as are the hearths of fires among the Trojans, those at them are +they to whom there is compulsion; 354 and they are both wakeful, and +exhort one another to keep watch. But the allies, on the contrary, +summoned from afar, are sleeping; for they commit it to the Trojans to +keep watch, for their children and wives lie not near them.” + +Footnote 354: (return) Construe, κατὰ τόσας μὲν πυρὸς ἐσχάρας, ὅσαι +ἰισὶ Τρώων, οἵδε οἶσιν ἀνάγκη ἐστὶν, ἐγρηγόρθασι, κ. τ. λ. + +But him much-planning Ulysses answering addressed: “In what manner now +do they sleep: mingled with the horse-breaking Trojans, or apart? Tell +me, that I may know.” + +But him Dolon, the son of Eumedes, answered: “Therefore will I indeed +detail these things also very correctly. On the one hand, towards the +sea, [are] the Carians and Pœonians, armed with crooked bows, the +Lelegans, and Cauconians, and noble Pelasgians. Towards Thymbra, on the +other, the Lycians are allotted their place, and the haughty Mysians, +the horse-breaking Phrygians, and the Mæonian cavalry 355 warriors. But +why inquire ye of me these things separately? For if ye are now eager +to penetrate the host of the Trojans, those Thracians lately arrived +are apart, the last of all the others. And among them is their king +Rhesus, son of Eioneus. And his horses are the most beautiful and +largest I have seen. They are whiter than snow, and like to the winds +in speed. And his chariot is well adorned with both gold and silver; +and he himself came, wearing golden armour of mighty splendour, a +marvel to behold; which does not indeed suit mortal men to wear, but +the immortal gods. But now remove me to the swift ships, or, having +bound me with a cruel bond, leave me here until ye return, and make +trial of me, whether I have indeed spoken to you truly, or not.” + +Footnote 355: (return) _I.e._ charioteers. + +But him then valiant Diomede sternly regarding, addressed: “Think not +within thy mind to escape from me, O Dolon, although thou hast reported +good tidings, since thou hast once come into my hands. For if indeed we +shall now release thee, or set thee at liberty, hereafter thou wouldst +surely return to the swift ships of the Achæans, either in order to +become a spy, or to fight against us. But if, subdued by my hands, thou +lose thy life, thou wilt not ever afterwards be a bane to the Greeks.” + +He said; and the other was preparing to supplicate him, taking him by +the chin with his strong hand; but he, rushing at him with his sword, +smote the middle of his neck, and cut through both the tendons; and the +head of him, still muttering, was mingled with the dust. From his head +they took the weasel-skin helmet, and the wolf skin, with the bent bow +and long spear; and noble Ulysses raised them on high with his hand to +Minerva, the goddess of plunder, and praying, spake: + +“Rejoice, O goddess, in these, for thee, first of all the immortals in +Olympus, do we invoke; but guide us likewise to the horses and tents of +the Thracian men.” + +Thus he said; and raising them high above himself, he hung them on a +tamarisk-branch. But beside it he placed a conspicuous mark, pulling up +handfuls of reeds, 356 and the wide-spreading branches of the tamarisk, +lest they should escape their notice whilst they were returning through +the dark and dangerous night. Then both advanced onwards through arms +and black blood; and proceeding, they came immediately to the band of +the Thracian heroes. But they were sleeping, overpowered with fatigue; +and their beautiful armour lay upon the ground beside them, carefully +in order, in three rows: and by each of them [stood] a yoke of horses. +Rhesus slept in the midst, and beside him his swift horses were +fastened by the reins to the outer rim 357 of the chariot. And Ulysses +first observing, pointed him out to Diomede: + +“This [is] the man, O Diomede, and these [are] the horses, which Dolon, +whom we slew, pointed out to us. But come now, exert thy mighty +strength; nor does it at all become thee to stand leisurely with thy +armour. Loose therefore the steeds, or do thou slay the men, and the +horses shall be my care.” + +Footnote 356: (return) Συμμάρψας. Ernesti says: “Confregit leviter +arundines, et addidit similiter confractis myricæ frondibus.” + +Footnote 357: (return) Ernesti regards ἐπιδιϕριάδος as an adjective, +with ἄντυγος understood. + +Thus he spoke; but into him azure-eyed Minerva breathed valour, and he +slaughtered, turning himself on every side, and a dreadful groaning +arose of those smitten with the sword; and the earth grew red with +blood. As when a lion, coming upon unprotected flocks of goats or +sheep, rushes upon them, designing evils, so fell the son of Tydeus +upon the Thracian men, until he had slain twelve. But much-counselling +Ulysses—whomsoever Diomede standing beside struck with the sword—him +Ulysses dragged backwards, seizing by the foot; meditating these things +in his mind, that the fair-maned steeds should pass through easily, nor +should tremble in spirit, treading on the corses; for as yet they were +unused to them. But when now the son of Tydeus had reached the king, +him, the thirteenth, he deprived of sweet life, panting; for by the +counsel of Minerva an evil dream had stood over his head during the +night, [in likeness of] the son of Œneus: but in the meantime patient +Ulysses was untying the solid-hoofed steeds. With the reins he bound +them together and drove them from the crowd, lashing them with his bow, +because he thought not of taking with his hands the splendid lash from +the well-wrought chariot seat; and then he whistled as a signal to +noble Diomede. But he remaining, was meditating what most daring deed +he should do; whether seizing the car, where lay the embroidered +armour, he should drag it out by the pole 358 or bear it away, raising +it aloft; or take away the life of more of the Thracians. Whilst he was +revolving these things within his mind, Minerva in the meantime +standing near, addressed noble Diomede: + +“Be mindful now of a return to the hollow ships, O son of magnanimous +Tydeus, lest thou reach them, having been put to flight; or lest some +other god perchance arouse the Trojans.” + +Footnote 358: (return) Understand κατὰ ῥυμοῦ. + +Thus she spoke; and he understood the voice of the goddess speaking, +and he quickly ascended the chariot. And Ulysses lashed on [the horses] +with his bow, and they fled to the swift ships of the Greeks. + +Nor did silver-bowed Apollo keep a vain watch. When he beheld Minerva +accompanying the son of Tydeus, enraged with her, he descended into the +vast army of the Trojans, and roused Hippocoön, a counsellor of the +Thracians, the gallant cousin of Rhesus. And he, leaping up from sleep, +when he beheld the place empty where the fleet horses had stood, and +the men panting amidst the dreadful slaughter, immediately then wept +aloud, and called upon his dear companion by name. A clamour and +immeasurable tumult of the Trojans running together arose, and they +looked with wonder at the marvellous deeds, which men having +perpetrated, had returned to the hollow ships. + +But when now they came where they had slain the spy of Hector, there +Ulysses, dear to Jove, reined in his fleet steeds. But the son of +Tydeus, leaping to the ground, placed the bloody spoils in the hands of +Ulysses, and then ascended the chariot. And he lashed on the steeds, +and both, not unwilling, fled towards the hollow ships, for thither it +was agreeable to their minds [to go]. But Nestor first heard the sound, +and said: + +“O friends, leaders and rulers over the Greeks, shall I speak falsely, +or say the truth? Still my mind impels me. The noise of swift-footed +steeds strikes upon my ears. O that now Ulysses and gallant Diomede +would immediately drive some solid-hoofed steeds from the Trojans! But +greatly do I fear in mind lest these bravest of the Greeks suffer aught +from the rude host of Trojans.” + +Not yet was the whole speech uttered, when they themselves arrived. +Then indeed they descended to the ground, and [their friends] +rejoicing, saluted them with the right hand and kind expressions. But +[first] the Gerenian knight Nestor asked them: + +“Come, tell me, most excellent Ulysses, great glory of the Greeks, how +took ye these horses? [Whether] penetrating the camp of the Trojans; or +did some god, meeting, supply you with them? They are very like unto +the rays of the sun. I indeed always mingle with the Trojans, nor can I +say that I remain at the ships, although being an old warrior: yet have +I never beheld nor remarked such horses, but I think that some god, +meeting you, hath given them. For cloud-compelling Jove loves you both, +and the daughter of ægis-bearing Jove, azure-eyed Minerva.” + +But him crafty Ulysses answering addressed: “O Nestor, offspring of +Neleus, great glory of the Greeks, a god indeed, if willing, could +easily have given better horses even than these, since they (the gods) +are much more powerful. But those steeds about which thou inquirest, +old man, are Thracian, lately arrived, and valiant Diomede slew their +lord, and beside him twelve companions, all of the bravest. The +thirteenth, a spy, we killed, near the ships, whom Hector sent forth, +and the other illustrious Trojans, to be a spy, forsooth, [of our +army].” + +Thus saying, he drove the solid-hoofed steeds across the ditch, +exulting, and with him went the other Greeks rejoicing. But when they +came to the well-constructed tent of Diomede, they tied the steeds by +the skilfully-cut reins to the horses’ stall, where stood the +swift-footed steeds of Diomede, eating sweet corn. In the stern of his +vessel Ulysses laid the bloody spoils of Dolon, until they could +present them as a sacred gift to Minerva. Then having gone into the +sea, they washed off the abundant sweat from around their legs, their +neck, and thighs. But when the wave of the sea had washed away the +abundant sweat from their bodies, and they were refreshed in their dear +heart, entering the well-polished baths, they bathed. But having bathed +and anointed themselves with rich oil, they sat down to a repast; and +drawing forth sweet wine from a full bowl, they poured it out in +libation to Minerva. + + + + +BOOK THE ELEVENTH. + + +ARGUMENT. + +Agamemnon distinguishes himself, but, being wounded, retires from the +field. Diomede is wounded by Paris: Ulysses by Socus. Ajax and Menelaus +then go to the relief of Ajax, and Eurypylus, who had joined them, is +shot in the thigh by Paris, who also wounds Machaon. Nestor conveys +Machaon from the field. Achilles sends Patroclus to the tent of Nestor, +who exhorts Patroclus to engage in battle, assuming the armour of +Achilles. + + +But Aurora was rising from her couch, from beside glorious Tithonus, +that she might bear light to immortals and to mortals, when Jove sent +forth fell Discord to the swift ships of the Greeks, bearing in her +hands the portent of war. And she stood upon the huge 359 black ship of +Ulysses, which was in the centre, to shout to both sides, as well to +the tents of Telamonian Ajax, as to those of Achilles; who had both +drawn up their equal ships at the very extremities, relying on their +valour and strength of hands. There standing, the goddess shouted both +loudly and terribly, in Orthian strain, 360 to the Greeks, and +implanted mighty strength in the heart of each, to war and fight +incessantly. And immediately war became more sweet to them, than to +return in the hollow ships to their dear fatherland. Then the son of +Atreus shouted aloud, and ordered the Greeks to be girded; and arrayed +himself, putting on his shining armour. First he put upon his legs his +beautiful greaves, fitted with silver clasps; next he placed around his +breast a corslet which Cinyras once gave him, to be a pledge of +hospitality. For a great rumour was heard at Cyprus, that the Greeks +were about to sail to Troy in ships: wherefore he gave him this, +gratifying the king. Ten bars indeed [of the corslet] were of dark +cyanus 361, twelve of gold, and twenty of tin; and three serpents of +cyanus stretched towards the neck on each side, like unto rainbows, +which the son of Saturn hath fixed in a cloud 362, a sign to +articulate-speaking men. Then around his shoulders he hung his sword, +on which glittered golden studs; and a silver scabbard enclosed it, +fitted with golden rings. Next he took up his shield, mortal-covering +363, variously wrought, strong, beautiful, around which were ten brazen +orbs. Upon it were twenty white bosses of tin, and in the midst was +[one] of dark cyanus. On it a grim-visaged Gorgon was placed as an +ornament, looking horribly, and around [were] Terror and Flight. The +belt was of silver, but round it a snake of cyanus was twisted, and +there were three heads entwined, springing from one neck. Upon his head +also he placed his helmet, adorned with studs on all sides, having four +bosses, crested with horse-hair, and dreadfully nodded the tuft from +above. He then took two strong spears, tipped with brass, sharp; and +the brass of them glittered afar, even to heaven: and Minerva and Juno +thundered above, honouring the king of Mycenæ, rich in gold. + +Then indeed each gave orders to his own charioteer to hold there his +horses in good order by the fosse; whilst they themselves on foot 364, +arrayed with their armour, rushed forth; and an inextinguishable +clamour arose before morning. And they 365 were marshalled in the +foreground with the cavalry at the trench; the cavalry followed at a +little interval; but the son of Saturn aroused a dreadful tumult, and +sent down dew-drops, moist with blood, from the air above, because he +was about to hurl many brave souls on to Hades. + +On the other side, on the contrary, the Trojans [drew up] on a hill in +the plain around both mighty Hector, blameless Polydamas, and Æneas, +who, among the Trojans, was honoured by the people as a god; and the +three sons of Antenor, Polybus, noble Agenor, and youthful Acamas, like +unto the immortals. And Hector in the van carried his shield, equal on +all sides. And as when a pernicious star makes its appearance from the +clouds, at one time shining, and dark again hath entered the clouds; so +Hector, giving orders, appeared now among the first, and now among the +last; and he glittered all over with brass, like the lightning of +ægis-bearing Jove. + +Footnote 359: (return) Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 378, sqq. + +Footnote 360: (return) _I. e._ shrill, at the full pitch of the voice. +Cf. Æsch. Pers. Μολπηδὸν ηὐϕήμησεν, ὄρθιον δ’ ἄμα Άντηλάλαξε. + +Footnote 361: (return) I have retained this word, as we cannot +ascertain what precise metal is meant. + +Footnote 362: (return) Cf. Genes. ix. 13. + +Footnote 363: (return) See Buttm. Lexil. p. 33. + +Footnote 364: (return) Cf. Hesych. t. i. p. 1065, with Alberti’s note. + +Footnote 365: (return) I. e. the chiefs. + +And they,—as when reapers opposite to each other form swathes of wheat +or barley along the field of a rich man, and the frequent handfuls +fall,—so the Trojans and Greeks, rushing against one another, kept +slaughtering: and neither thought of pernicious flight. And they held +their heads equal in combat, and rushed on like wolves; whilst +lamentable Discord, looking on, exulted: for she alone of the gods was +present with them contending. But the other gods were not present with +them, but sat quiet in their palaces, where beautiful mansions were +built for each, along the summits of Olympus. All however blamed the +Saturnian collector of dark clouds, because he wished to afford glory +to the Trojans. But the sire did not regard them, but retiring by +himself, sat down apart from the others, exulting in glory, looking +both upon the city of the Trojans, and the ships of the Greeks, and the +brightness of armour, and the slaying, and slain. + +Whilst it was morn, and the sacred day was increasing, so long the +weapons reached both sides, and the people fell. But at the time when +the wood-cutter 366 has prepared his repast in the dells of a mountain, +when he has wearied his hands hewing down lofty trees, and satiety +comes upon his mind, and the desire of sweet food seizes his breast; +then the Greeks, by their valour, broke the phalanxes, cheering their +companions along the ranks. But Agamemnon first leaped forth, and slew +the hero Bianor, the shepherd of the people, and then also his +companion, Oïleus, the goader of steeds. For he then, leaping from the +chariot, stood against him; but he (Agamemnon) smote him, as he was +rushing straight forward, with his sharp spear, in the forehead; nor +did the visor, heavy with brass, retard the weapon, but it penetrated +both it and the bone, and all the brain within was stained with gore. +Him then he subdued while eagerly rushing on. And Agamemnon, king of +men, left them there with their bosoms all bare, for he had stripped +off their tunics. Next he went against Isus and Anthipus, two sons of +Priam, [the one] illegitimate, and [the other] legitimate, being both +in one chariot, in order to slay them. The spurious [son] guided the +chariot, whilst illustrious Antiphus fought. Them Achilles had once +bound with tender osiers on the summits of Ida, taking them while +pasturing their sheep; and had liberated them for a ransom. Then +however the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, struck one upon the +breast above the pap with his spear; and again he smote Antiphus beside +the ear with his sword, and hurled him from his chariot. Hastening up, +he despoiled them of their beautiful armour, recognizing them; for he +had formerly seen them at the swift ships, when swift-footed Achilles +brought them from Ida. And as a lion, returning to his lair, easily +crushes the little fawns of the fleet hind, seizing them in his strong +teeth, and deprives them of their tender life, whilst she, although she +happen [to be] very near, cannot aid them; for a dreadful tremor comes +upon herself; but hastening, she immediately flies through the thick +oak groves and the forest, sweating, through the attack of the wild +beast. Thus no one of the Trojans was then able to avert destruction +from these, but they themselves were put to flight by the Greeks. Next +[he attacked] Pisander and Hippolochus, brave in battle, the sons of +warlike Antimachus, who having accepted gold from Paris, rich gifts, +would not suffer them to restore Helen to yellow-haired Menelaus. His +two sons, then, Agamemnon, king of men, seized, being in one chariot, +for they drove their fleet horses together; for the splendid reins had +fallen from their hands, and they were confounded. But the son of +Atreus rushed against them like a lion, and they, on the contrary, +supplicated [him] from the chariot: + +“Take us alive, O son of Atreus, and thou shalt receive worthy ransoms. +For many treasures lie in the houses of Antimachus, brass, gold, and +variously-wrought iron. From these would our father give infinite +ransoms, if he should hear that we were alive at the ships of the +Greeks.” + +Footnote 366: (return) Compare the similar allusion to rustic pursuits +in xvi. 779, with Buttm. Lexil. p. 89. + +Thus both weeping addressed the king with soothing words; but heard an +unsoothing reply: “If indeed ye be the sons of warlike Antimachus, who +once in an assembly of the Trojans, ordered that they should there put +to death Menelaus, coming as an ambassador along with godlike Ulysses, +and not send him back to the Greeks—now surely shall ye pay the penalty +of the unmerited insolence of your father.” + +He said, and hurled Pisander from his horses to the ground, striking +him on the breast with his spear; and he was stretched supine upon the +soil. But Hippolochus leaped down, whom next he slew upon the ground, +having lopped off his hands with his sword, and cut off his neck; and +it (the head) like a cylinder, he hurled forward, to be rolled through +the crowd. These then he left there; and where very many phalanxes were +thrown into confusion, there he rushed, and at the same time other +well-greaved Greeks. Infantry slew infantry, flying from necessity, and +horse [slew] horse, slaughtering with the brass (whilst the dust was +raised by them from the plain, which the loud-sounding feet of the +horses excited); but king Agamemnon, constantly slaying, pursued, +cheering on the Greeks. And as when a destructive fire falls upon a +woody forest, and the wind whirling carries it on all sides, whilst the +branches fall with the roots, overwhelmed by the violence of the flame; +so fell the heads of the flying Trojans, at the hand of Agamemnon, son +of Atreus, and many lofty-necked steeds rattled their empty chariots +through the ranks 367 of the battle, longing for their faultless +charioteers; but they lay upon the earth, far more agreeable to the +vultures than to their wives. + +Footnote 367: (return) Literally, “the bridges,” _i. e._ the open +spaces between the lines. + +But Jove withdrew Hector out of the reach of weapons, of dust, of +slaughter, blood and tumult, whilst Atrides pursued, loudly cheering on +the Danai. [The Trojans] meanwhile rushed through the middle of the +plain towards the wild fig-tree, near the tomb of Ilus, the descendant +of ancient Dardanus, eager to reach the city; but Atrides still +followed shouting, and stained his invincible hands with dusty gore. +But when now they reached the Scæan gates and the beech-tree, there at +length they halted, and awaited each other. Others, however, still fled +through the middle of the plain, like oxen which a lion, coming at the +depth of night, hath put tremblingly to flight—all, but to some one +dreadful destruction is apparent; whose neck he first completely +breaks, seizing it in his strong teeth; and then laps up both the blood +and all the entrails: thus did the son of Atreus, king Agamemnon, +follow them, always killing the hindermost; and they kept flying. Many +fell prone and supine from their chariots, by the hands of the son of +Atreus; for before [all others] he raged exceedingly with the spear. +But when now he was about soon to reach the city and the lofty wall, +then indeed the father both of men and gods, descending from heaven, +seated himself upon the tops of Ida, of many rills. And he held the +lightning in his hands, and aroused golden-winged Iris to bear his +message: + +“Come, swift Iris, deliver this message to Hector. As long as he may +behold Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people, raging in the van, [and] +destroying the ranks of men, so long let 368 him retreat, and let him +exhort the rest of the army to fight with the enemy during the violent +contest. But when he (Agamemnon) shall have mounted his steeds, either +smitten by a spear, or wounded by an arrow, then will I supply him with +strength to slay, 369 until he reach the well-benched ships, and the +sun set, and sacred darkness come on.” + +Footnote 368: (return) Cf. ver. 204. + +Footnote 369: (return) The Greeks. + +Thus he spake; nor did rapid Iris, swift as the wind on her feet, +disobey. But she descended from the mountains of Ida, towards sacred +Ilium. She found noble Hector, son of warlike Priam, standing in the +midst of the horses and well-joined chariots: and having approached, +swift-footed Iris addressed him: + +“Hector, son of Priam, equal in counsel to Jove, Jove hath sent me +forward to deliver to thee this message: As long as thou seest +Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people, raging amongst the van, [and] +destroying the ranks of men, so long do thou abstain from combat, but +exhort the rest of the army to fight with the enemy during the violent +contest. But when he shall have mounted his steeds, either smitten with +a spear, or wounded by an arrow, then will he supply thee with strength +to slay, until thou reach the well-benched ships, and the sun set, and +sacred darkness come on.” + +Thus having spoken, swift-footed Iris departed. But Hector with his +armour sprang from his chariot to the ground, and brandishing sharp +spears, ranged through the army on every side, inciting them to fight, +and stirred up the dreadful battle. They indeed rallied, and stood +opposite to the Greeks; but the Greeks, on the other hand, strengthened +their phalanxes. And the battle was renewed, and they stood front to +front. But Agamemnon first rushed on, for he wished to fight far before +all. + +Tell me now, ye muses, possessing Olympian dwellings, who first, either +of the Trojans or illustrious allies, now came against Agamemnon? +Iphidamas, son of Antenor, both valiant and great, who was nurtured in +fertile Thrace, the mother of flocks. Cisseus, his maternal +grandfather, who begat fair-cheeked Theano, reared him in his house +whilst yet a little boy: but when he had attained the measure of +glorious youth, he there detained him, and gave him his own daughter. +And having married her, he came from the bridal chamber, on the rumour +of the Greeks, with twelve curved vessels which followed him. The equal +ships indeed he afterwards left at Percote, but he, proceeding on foot, +had arrived at Troy; and he it was who then came against Agamemnon, the +son of Atreus. When these, advancing against each other, were now near, +the son of Atreus on his part missed, and his spear was turned aside. +But Iphidamas smote him upon the belt, under the corslet; and he put +his strength to it, relying on his strong hand. Yet he pierced not the +flexible belt, but meeting with the silver long before, the point was +turned like lead. Then indeed wide-ruling Agamemnon, seeing it in his +hand, pulled it towards him, exasperated, like a lion, and plucked it +from his hand; and he smote him on the neck with his sword, and relaxed +his limbs. Thus he, unhappy, while aiding his citizens, falling there, +slept a brazen sleep, away from his lawful virgin wife, whose charms he +had not yet known, although he had given many presents [for her]. 370 +First he gave a hundred oxen, and then he promised a thousand goats and +sheep together, which were pastured for him in countless numbers. Him +Agamemnon, son of Atreus, at that time stripped [of his arms], and went +through the army of the Greeks, bearing his rich armour. Whom when +Coon, 371 the eldest born of Antenor, conspicuous amongst men, then +beheld, violent grief darkened his eyes, for his brother having fallen, +and he stood aside with his spear, escaping the notice of noble +Agamemnon. And he wounded him in the middle of the arm, below the +elbow, and the point of the shining spear passed right through to the +other side. Then indeed Agamemnon, the king of men, shuddered; but not +even thus did he abstain from battle or from war, but he rushed upon +Coon, holding his wind-nurtured spear. 372 He on his part was eagerly +dragging by the foot Iphidamas his brother, and begotten by the same +father, and was calling upon every brave man, when [Agamemnon] wounded +him with his polished brazen spear below the bossy shield, whilst +dragging him through the crowd, and relaxed his limbs; and, standing +beside him, cut off his head over Iphidamas. There the sons of Antenor, +fulfilling their destiny at the hands of the king, the son of Atreus, +descended to the abode of Hades. But he was ranging about through the +ranks of other men, with his spear, his sword, and huge stones, whilst +the warm blood yet oozed from his wound. When, however, the wound grew +dry, and the blood ceased [to flow], sharp pains possessed the strength +of Atreus’s son. And as when the sharp pang seizes a woman in travail, +piercing, which the Ilithyiæ, daughters of Juno, who preside over +childbirth, send forth, keeping bitter pangs in their possession; so +did sharp anguish enter the strength of the son of Atreus. And he +sprang into his chariot, and ordered his charioteer to drive on to the +hollow ships; for he was tortured at heart. And vociferating, he +shouted aloud to the Greeks: + +“O friends, leaders, and rulers over the Argives, repel ye now the +severe battle from the sea-traversing barks, since provident Jove does +not permit me to combat all day with the Trojans.” + +Footnote 370: (return) On this custom, cf. ix. 146, xviii. 593. + +Footnote 371: (return) The name and fate of this hero unclassically +remind us of the “gone coon” of American celebrity, immortalized in the +“at homes” of the late Charles Matthews. + +Footnote 372: (return) “The Scholiasts and Eustathius explain this +epithet by the received opinion that trees in exposed situations are +usually the strongest and most vigorous from their frequent agitation +by the wind.”—Kennedy. + +Thus he spoke; and the charioteer lashed on the fair-maned steeds +towards the hollow ships; and they, not unwilling, flew. They were +covered with foam as to their breasts, and were sprinkled beneath with +dust, as they bore the afflicted king apart from the battle. But +Hector, when he observed Agamemnon going apart, exhorted both the +Trojans and Lycians, shouting aloud: + +“Ye Trojans, Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, be men, my +friends, and be mindful of impetuous might. The bravest hero has +departed, and Saturnian Jove has given great glory to me. But +straightway urge your solid-hoofed horses against the gallant Greeks, +that ye may bear off higher glory.” + +Thus saying, he aroused the courage and spirit of each. As when +perchance some huntsman should urge his white-toothed dogs against a +rustic wild boar or lion; so Hector, the son of Priam, equal to +man-slaughtering Mars, urged the magnanimous Trojans against the +Greeks. He himself, having mighty courage, advanced among the first, +and rushed into the battle, like unto a storm blowing from above, and +which rushing down, stirs up the purple deep. + +Then whom first and whom last, did Hector, son of Priam, slay, when +Jove gave him glory? Assæus indeed first, and Autonoüs, and Opites, and +Dolops, son of Clytis, and Opheltius, and Agelaus, and Æsymnus, and +Orus, and Hipponoüs, persevering in fight. These leaders of the Greeks +he then slew, and afterwards the common crowd; as when the west wind +drives to and fro the clouds of the impetuous 373 south, lashing them +with an impetuous blast, and many a swollen 374 billow is rolled along, +whilst the foam is scattered on high by the far-straying blast of the +wind; thus were many heads of the people subdued by Hector. Then indeed +would there have been ruin; and inevitable deeds had been done, and the +flying Greeks had fallen in flight into their ships, had not Ulysses +encouraged Diomede, the son of Tydeus: + +“Son of Tydeus, through what cause are we forgetful of impetuous might? +But come hither, my friend, stand by me; for surely it will be a +disgrace if indeed crest-tossing Hector take the ships.” + +Him then valiant Diomede, answering, addressed: “I indeed will remain, +and be courageous; although there will be little use 375 for us, since +cloud-compelling Jove chooses to give glory to the Trojans rather than +to us.” + +Footnote 373: (return) Or “serenizing, causing a clear sky.” Heyne +compares “albus notus,” in Horace. But see Kennedy. + +Footnote 374: (return) Neuter of the Ionic adjective τρόϕις=μέγας, +εὐτραϕής. + +Footnote 375: (return) Hesychius: Ἦδος· ἡδονή, κα ὄϕελος. + +He said, and hurled Thymbræus from his chariot to the ground, striking +him with his spear upon the left pap; but Ulysses [slew] Molion, the +godlike attendant of the king. These then they left, since they caused +them to cease from war. Then both, advancing through the multitude, +excited confusion; as when two boars, full of courage, rush upon the +hounds; so they returning to the fight, cut down the Trojans; and the +Greeks joyfully gained a respite, avoiding noble Hector. Next they took +a chariot and two warriors, the bravest of the people, the two sons of +Percosian Merops, who above all was skilled in augury, nor would permit +his sons to march to the man-destroying war: yet did they not obey him, +because the destinies of black death led them on. Them spear-renowned +Diomede, the son of Tydeus, depriving of life and breath, despoiled of +their splendid armour. And Ulysses slew Hippodamus and Hyperochus. + +Then the son of Saturn, looking down from Ida, stretched for them the +contest with equal tension, and they slaughtered one another. The son +of Tydeus indeed wounded on the hip, with his spear, the hero +Agastrophus, son of Pæon; for his horses were not at hand for him to +take flight; but he had erred greatly in his mind, for his attendant +kept them apart, whilst he rushed on foot through the foremost +combatants, till he lost his life. But Hector quickly perceived it +along the ranks, and hastened towards them, shouting; and with him +followed the phalanxes of the Trojans. Diomede, brave in the din of +battle, beholding him, shuddered, and immediately addressed Ulysses, +who was near: + +“Towards us is this great destruction, dreadful Hector, now rolled. But +come, let us stand firm, and awaiting, repulse [him].” + +He said, and brandishing his long-shadowed spear, hurled it, and smote +him on the summit of the helmet on his head; nor, aiming did he miss. +But brass wandered from brass, nor did it reach the white skin; for the +threefold oblong helmet stopped it, which Phœbus Apollo had given him. +Hector hastily retired to a distance, and was mingled with the crowd. +And he (Hector) falling upon his knee, remained so, and supported +himself with his strong hand against the earth, whilst dark night +overshadowed his eyes. But whilst the son of Tydeus was following after +the impulse of the spear far through the foremost combatants, where it +was fixed in the earth, Hector, in the meantime, breathed again, and +springing again into his chariot, drove into the crowd, and avoided +black death. And valiant Diomede, rushing upon him with his spear, +addressed him: + +“Dog, thou hast escaped indeed death at present, although destruction +approached near thee. Now again has Phœbus Apollo rescued thee, to whom +thou art wont to offer prayers, advancing into the clash of spears. But +I will assuredly make an end of thee, meeting thee again, if perchance +any one of the gods be an ally to me. Now, however, I will go against +others, whomsoever I can find.” + +He said, and slew the spear-renowned son of Pæon. But Paris, the +husband of fair-haired Helen, leaning against a pillar, at the tomb of +the deceased hero, Dardanian Ilus, the aged leader of the people, bent +his bow against the son of Tydeus, the shepherd of the people. Whilst +he was removing the variegated corslet from the breast of gallant +Agastrophus, the shield from his shoulders, and his heavy casque, he +(Paris) in the meantime was drawing back the horn of his bow, and +struck him on the broad part of the right foot, nor did the weapon +escape in vain from his hand; and the arrow went entirely into the +ground. And he, laughing very joyfully, sprang from his ambuscade, and +boasting, spoke: + +“Thou art struck, nor has the weapon escaped me in vain. Would that, +striking thee in the lower part of the groin, I had deprived thee of +life. Thus, indeed, would the Trojans have respired from destruction, +who now are thrilled with horror at thee, as bleating goats at the +lion.” + +But him valiant Diomede, undismayed, addressed: + +“Archer, reviler, decked out with curls, woman’s man, if now in arms +thou wouldst make trial of me, hand to hand, thy bow should not avail +thee, and numerous arrows 376 whereas now, having grazed the broad part +of my foot, thou boastest thus. I regard it not, as though a woman had +wounded me, or a silly boy: for idle is the weapon of an unwarlike, +good-for-nothing man. From me, indeed, it is otherwise; for if one be +touched but slightly, the weapon is piercing, and forthwith renders him +lifeless; and the cheeks of his wife are furrowed on both sides, and +his children are orphans; but crimsoning the earth with his blood, he +putrefies, and the birds around him are more numerous than the women.” + +Footnote 376: (return) Cf. iii. 39, sqq.; Hor. Od. i. 15, 13. + +Thus he spoke; but spear-renowned Ulysses coming near, stood before +him, and he (Diomede) sitting down behind him, drew the swift shaft out +of his foot, and severe agony darted through his body. Then he leaped +into his chariot, and commanded his charioteer to drive to the hollow +ships; for he was grieved at heart. But spear-renowned Ulysses was left +alone, nor did any of the Greeks remain beside him, as fear had seized +upon all. Wherefore, groaning inwardly, he addressed his own mighty +soul: + +“Alas! what will become of me? Great would be the disgrace if I fly, +alarmed at the multitude; but worse would it be if I were taken alone: +but the son of Saturn hath struck the rest of the Greeks with terror. +But wherefore does my spirit discuss these things with me? for I know +that cowards indeed retire from the battle; but whosoever should be +brave in combat, it is altogether necessary that he stand firmly, +whether he be wounded, or wound another.” + +Whilst he revolved these things within his mind and soul, the ranks of +the shielded Trojans in the meantime came upon him, and enclosed him in +the midst, placing [their] bane in the midst of them. As when dogs and +vigorous youths rush against a boar on all sides, but he comes out from +a deep thicket, sharpening his white tusk within his crooked jaws; on +all sides they rush upon him, and a gnashing of teeth arises: but they +remain at a distance from him, terrible as he is: so the Trojans did +rush round Ulysses, dear to Jove. But he wounded above the shoulder +blameless Deïopites, springing upon him with his sharp spear; and +afterwards he slew Thoön and Ennomous. With his spear he next wounded +Chersidamas, when leaping from his chariot, in the navel, below his +bossed shield; but he, falling amid the dust, grasped the earth with +the hollow of his hand. These indeed he left, and next wounded with his +spear Charops, son of Hippasus, and brother of noble Socus. But Socus, +godlike hero, hastened to give him aid; and approaching very near, he +stood, and addressed him in these words: + +“O illustrious Ulysses, insatiable in crafts and toil, to-day shalt +thou either boast over the two sons of Hippasus, having slain such +heroes, and stripped them of their arms, or else stricken by my spear, +thou shalt lose thy life.” + +Thus saying, he smote him upon the shield equal on all sides. The rapid +weapon penetrated the shining shield, and was fixed through the +curiously-wrought corslet, and tore off all the skin from his sides. +But Pallas Minerva suffered it not to be mingled with the entrails of +the hero. And Ulysses perceived that the weapon had not come upon him +mortally, and retiring, he addressed [this] speech to Socus: + +“Ah! wretch; very soon indeed will dreadful destruction overtake thee. +Without doubt thou hast caused me to cease from fighting with the +Trojans, but I declare that death and black fate shall be thine this +day; and that, subdued beneath my spear, thou shalt give glory to me, +and thy soul to steed-famed Pluto.” 377 + +Footnote 377: (return) Probably so called from the steeds (“inferni +raptoris equos,” Claud. de Rapt. Pros. i. 1) by which he stole away +Proserpine. See the Scholiast. + +He said, and the other, turning again to flight, had begun to retreat, +but whilst he was turning, he (Ulysses) fixed his spear in his back +between the shoulders, and drove it through his breast. Falling, he +made a crash, and noble Ulysses boasted over him: + +“O Socus, son of warlike, horse-breaking Hippasus, the end of death has +anticipated thee, nor hast thou escaped. Ah! wretch, neither thy father +nor venerable mother shall close thine eyes for thee, dead as thou art, +but ravenous birds shall tear thee, flapping about thee with dense +wings: but when I die, the noble Greeks will pay me funeral honours.” + +So saying, he plucked the strong spear of warlike Socus out of his +flesh and bossy shield; and his blood gushed forth as he drew it out, +and tortured his mind. But the magnanimous Trojans, when they beheld +the blood of Ulysses, encouraging one another through the crowd, all +rushed on against him; whilst he kept retreating backwards, and called +to his companions. Thrice did he then shout as much as the head of +mortal could contain, and thrice warlike Menelaus heard him exclaiming, +and instantly addressed Ajax, being near: + +“Most noble Ajax, son of Telamon, chieftain of the people, the cry of +invincible Ulysses has come upon me, like to that, as if the Trojans +were greatly pressing upon him, being alone, having cut him off in the +sharp fight. Wherefore let us go through the crowd, as it is better to +aid him. I fear lest being left alone amidst the Trojans, he suffer +aught, although being brave, and there be great want [of him] to the +Greeks.” + +Thus speaking, he led the way, and the godlike hero followed along with +him. Then they found Ulysses, dear to Jove; and around him followed the +Trojans, like tawny jackals round an antlered stag when wounded in the +mountains, which a man hath stricken with an arrow from the bowstring. +Him indeed, flying, it escapes on its feet, as long as the blood is +warm, and its knees have the power of motion. But when the swift arrow +hath subdued it, the raw-devouring jackals destroy it in a shady grove +among the mountains. Chance, however, brings thither the destructive +lion: the jackals then fly in terror, and he devours. So at that time +followed the Trojans, numerous and brave, round warlike, crafty +Ulysses; but the hero, rushing on with his spear, warded off the +merciless day. Then Ajax came near, bearing his shield, like a tower, +and stood beside him; and the Trojans fled, terrified, different ways. +In the meantime warlike Menelaus, taking him by the hand, withdrew +[him] from the throng, till his attendant drove his horses near. But +Ajax, springing upon the Trojans, slew Doryclus, son of Priam, an +illegitimate son; and next wounded Pandocus. Lysander he wounded, and +Pyrasus, and Pylartes. And as when an overflowing river comes down on +the plain, a torrent from the mountains, accompanied by the shower of +Jove, and bears along with it many dry oaks and many pines, and casts +forth the swollen torrent into the sea; so illustrious Ajax, routing +[them], pursued [them] along the plain, slaughtering both horses and +men. Nor as yet had Hector heard it; for he was fighting on the left of +the battle, on the banks of the river Scamander; for there chiefly fell +the heads of men, and an inextinguishable clamour had arisen around +mighty Nestor, and warlike Idomeneus. Among these did Hector mingle, +performing arduous deeds with his spear and equestrian skill, and he +was laying waste the phalanxes of youths. Nevertheless the noble Greeks +would not have retired from the way, had not Paris, the husband of +fair-haired Helen, disabled Machaon, the shepherd of the people, +performing prodigies of valour, wounding him on the right shoulder with +a triple-barbed arrow. For him then the valour-breathing Greeks +trembled, lest perchance they should slay him, the battle giving way, +and immediately Idomeneus addressed noble Nestor: + +“O Neleian Nestor, great glory of the Greeks, come, ascend thy chariot, +and let Machaon mount beside thee; and direct thy solid-hoofed horses +with all speed towards the ships, for a medical man is equivalent to +many others, both to cut out arrows, and to apply mild remedies.” 378 + +Footnote 378: (return) Scribonius Largus, Compos. Med. cc. “Neque +chirurgia sine diætetica, neque hæc sine chirurgia, id est, sine ea +parte quæ medicamentorum utilium usum habeat, perfici possunt; sed aliæ +ab aliis adjuvantur, et quasi consumantur.” Where John Rhodius well +observes: “Antiquos chirurgos Homerus Chironis exemplo herbarum succis +vulnera sanasse memorat. Hunc et sectiones adhibuisse notat Pindarus +Pyth. Od. iii. Neque ingeniorum fons Ιλ. Λ. τὸ ἐκτάμνειν omisit.” Cf. +Celsus, Pref. with the notes of Almeloveen, and lib. vii. præf., where +the chirurgical part of ancient medicine is amusingly discussed. + +Thus he spoke, nor did the Gerenian knight Nestor disobey. Forthwith he +ascended his chariot, and Machaon, the son of Æsculapius, blameless +physician, mounted beside him; but he lashed on the steeds, and they +flew not unwillingly towards the hollow ships, for there it was +agreeable to their inclination [to go]. + +But Cebriones, sitting beside Hector, perceived the Trojans in +confusion, and addressed him in [these] words: “Hector, we two are +mingling here with the Greeks in the outskirt of evil-sounding battle, +whilst the other Trojans are thrown into confusion in crowds, both +their horses and themselves. Telamonian Ajax is routing them, for I +know him well, for around his shoulders he bears a broad shield. But +let us also direct our horses and chariot thither, where cavalry and +infantry, having engaged in the evil strife, are slaughtering each +other, and inextinguishable tumult hath arisen.” + +Thus then having spoken, he lashed on the fair-maned steeds with his +shrill-cracking lash. But they, sensible of the stroke, speedily bore +the swift chariot through Trojans and Greeks, trampling on both corses +and shields. With blood the whole axletree was stained beneath, and the +rims around the chariot-seat, which the drops from the horses’ hoofs, +and from the wheel-tires, spattered. But he longed to enter the crowd +of heroes, and to break through, springing upon them. And he sent +destructive tumult upon the Greeks, and abstained very little from the +spear. Among the ranks of other men indeed he ranged with his spear, +his sword, and with huge stones; but he shunned the conflict of +Telamonian Ajax. + +But lofty-throned Jove excited fear within Ajax, and he stood +confounded, and cast behind him his shield of seven bulls’ hides. +Panic-struck he retired, gazing on all sides like a wild beast, turning +to and fro, slowly moving knee after knee. As when dogs and rustic men +drive a ravening lion from the stall of oxen, who, keeping watch all +night, do not allow him to carry off the fat of their cattle, but he, +eager for their flesh, rushes on, but profits nought, for numerous +javelins fly against him from daring hands, and blazing torches, at +which he trembles, although furious; but in the morning he stalks away +with saddened mind: so Ajax, sad at heart, then retired, much against +his will, from the Trojans; for he feared for the ships of the Greeks. +And as when a stubborn ass, upon whose sides 379 many sticks have +already been broken, entering in, browses on the tall crop, but the +boys still beat him with sticks, although their strength is but feeble, +and with difficulty drive him out, when he is satiated with food, so +then at length the magnanimous Trojans and far-summoned allies +continually followed Ajax, the mighty son of Telamon, striking the +middle of his shield with missile weapons. And Ajax, sometimes wheeling +about, was mindful of impetuous might, and checked the phalanxes of the +horse-breaking Trojans, but again he would turn himself to fly. But he +prevented all from advancing to the swift ships, whilst standing +himself between the Trojans and Greeks he raged impetuously. And spears +hurled against him from daring hands, stuck, some indeed in his ample +shield, and many, though eager to glut themselves with his flesh, stood +fixed in the ground between, before they could reach his fair skin. + +Footnote 379: (return) Such seems to be the force of ἀμϕίς. + +Whom when Eurypylus, the illustrious son of Evæmon, perceived pressed +hard with many darts, advancing he stood beside him, and took aim with +his shining spear; and smote Apisaon, son of Phausias, shepherd of the +people, in the liver, under the diaphragm; and immediately relaxed his +limbs. And when godlike Alexander observed him stripping off the armour +of Apisaon, he instantly bent his bow against Eurypylus, and smote him +with an arrow upon the right thigh; and the reed was broken, and pained +his thigh. Then he fell back into the column of his companions, +avoiding fate, and shouting, he cried with a loud voice to the Greeks: + +“O friends, leaders, and rulers over the Greeks, rallying, stand firm, +and ward off the merciless day from Ajax, who is hard pressed with +darts; nor do I think that he will escape from the dread-resounding +battle. But by all means stand firm round mighty Ajax, the son of +Telamon.” + +So spake the wounded Eurypylus, and they stood very near him, resting +their shields upon their shoulders, and lifting up their spears. But +Ajax came to meet them, and turning about, stood firm, when he reached +the body of his comrades. Thus they indeed combated like blazing fire. + +In the meantime the Neleian steeds, sweating, bore Nestor from the +battle, and conveyed Machaon, the shepherd of the people. And noble +Achilles, swift of foot, looking forth, beheld him; for he stood upon +the prow of his great ship, gazing at the severe labour and lamentable +rout. Straightway he addressed Patroclus, his companion, calling [to +him] from the ship; and he, hearing him within the tent, came forth, +like unto Mars: but it was the beginning of misfortune to him. Him +first the gallant son of Menœtius addressed: “Why dost thou call me, +Achilles, and what need hast thou of me?” + +But him swift-footed Achilles answering, addressed: “Noble son of +Menœtius, most dear to my soul, soon I think that the Greeks will stand +round my knees entreating, for a necessity no longer tolerable invades +them. But go now, Patroclus, dear to Jove, ask Nestor what man this is +whom he is carrying wounded from the battle. Behind, indeed, he wholly +resembles Machaon, the son of Æsculapius, but I have not beheld the +countenance of the man: for the horses passed by me, hastening onward.” + +Thus he spoke, and Patroclus was obedient to his dear comrade, and +hastened to run to the tents and ships of the Greeks. + +But when they came to the tent of the son of Neleus, they themselves +descended to the fertile earth, and Eurymedon, the attendant of the old +man, unyoked the mares from the chariot; whilst they refreshed +themselves from the sweat upon their tunics, 380 standing towards the +breeze beside the shore of the sea, and afterwards, entering the tent, +they sat down upon couches. But for them fair-curled Hecamede prepared +a mixture, she whom the old man had brought from Tenedos, when Achilles +laid it waste, the daughter of magnanimous Arsinoüs, whom the Greeks +selected for him, because he surpassed all in counsel. First she set +forward for them a handsome, cyanus-footed, well-polished table; then +upon it a brazen tray, and on it an onion, a relish 381 for the +draught, as well as new honey, and beside it the fruit of sacred corn. +Likewise a splendid cup 382 near them, which the old man had brought +from home, studded with golden nails. Its handles were four, and around +each were two golden pigeons feeding, and under it were two bottoms. +Another indeed would have removed it with difficulty from the table, +being full; but aged Nestor raised it without difficulty. In it the +woman, like unto the goddesses, had mixed for them Pramnian wine, and +grated over it a goat’s-milk cheese with a brazen rasp, and sprinkled +white flour upon it: then bade them drink, as soon as she had prepared +the potion. But when drinking they had removed parching thirst, they +amused themselves, addressing each other in conversation. And Patroclus +stood at the doors, a godlike hero. + +Footnote 380:(return) “Construe ἀπεψ· κατὰ τὸν ιδρῶχιτ. _I.e._ +refreshed, cooled themselves, by standing in front of the breeze and +drying off the perspiration with which their garments were +saturated.”—Kennedy. + +Footnote 381:(return) Probably the onion acted as a stimulant to +drinking, as anchovies and olives are now used. + +Footnote 382: (return) It was an ἀμϕικύπελλον. Cf. i. 584, and Buttm. +Lexil. p. 93. There were two doves round each handle, making eight in +all. + +But the old man, perceiving him, rose from his splendid seat, and +taking him by the hand, led him, in, and bade him be seated. But +Patroclus, on the other side, declined, and uttered [this] reply: + +“No seat [for me], O Jove-nurtured sage, nor wilt thou persuade me. +Revered and irascible 383 is he who sent me forth to inquire who this +man is whom thou leadest wounded; but even I myself know, for I +perceive Machaon, the shepherd of the people. Now, however, in order to +deliver my message, I will return again an ambassador to Achilles; for +well dost thou know, O Jove-nurtured sage, what a terrible man he is; +soon would he blame even the blameless.” + +Footnote 383: (return) Or “respected,” as the Oxford translator +renders it. + +But him the Gerenian knight Nestor then answered: “But why indeed does +Achilles thus compassionate the sons of the Greeks, as many as have +been wounded with weapons? Nor knows he how great sorrow hath arisen +throughout the army; for the bravest lie in the ships, smitten in the +distant or the close fight. 384 Stricken is brave Diomede, the son of +Tydeus, and wounded is spear-renowned Ulysses, as well as Agamemnon. +Eurypylus also has been wounded in the thigh with an arrow; and this +other have I lately brought from battle, smitten with an arrow from the +bowstring: yet Achilles, being brave, regards not the Greeks, nor +pities them. Does he wait until the swift ships near the sea, contrary +to the will of the Greeks, be consumed with the hostile fire, and we +ourselves be slain one after the other? For my strength is not as it +formerly was in my active members. Would that I were thus young, and my +might was firm, as when a contest took place between the Eleans and us, +about the driving away some oxen, when, driving away in reprisal, I +slew Itymoneus, the valiant son of Hypeirochus, who dwelt in Elis: for +he, defending his cattle, was smitten among the first by a javelin from +my hand, and there fell; and his rustic troops fled on every side. And +we drove from the plain a very great booty, fifty droves of oxen, as +many flocks of sheep, as many herds of swine, and as many broad herds +of goats, one hundred and fifty yellow steeds, all mares, and beneath +many there were colts. And these we drove within Neleian Pylus, at +night towards the city; but Neleus was delighted in his mind, because +many things had fallen to my lot, going as a young man to the war. But +with the appearing morn, heralds cried aloud for those to approach to +whom a debt was due in rich Elis; and the leading heroes of the Pylians +assembling, divided [the spoil], (because the Epeans owed a debt to +many); for we in Pylus, [being] few, were overwhelmed with evil. For +the Herculean might, coming in former years, did us mischief, and as +many as were bravest were slain. For we, the sons of illustrious +Neleus, were twelve; of whom I alone am left, but all the rest have +perished. Elated at these things, the brazen-mailed Epeans, insulting +us, devised wicked deeds. But the old man chose for himself a herd of +cattle and a large flock of sheep, selecting three hundred and their +shepherds; for even to him a great debt was due in rich Elis: four +horses, victorious in the race, with their chariots, which had gone for +the prizes; for they were about to run for a tripod; but Augeas, king +of men, detained them there, and dismissed the charioteer, grieved on +account of his steeds. At which words and deeds the old man, being +wroth, chose out for himself mighty numbers, and gave the rest to the +people to divide, that no one might go away defrauded by him of his +just proportion. We indeed accomplished each of these things, and were +performing sacrifices to the gods through the city, when on the third +day they all came at once, both the citizens themselves and their +solid-hoofed steeds, in full force: and with them were armed the two +Molions, being still youths, nor as yet very skilled in impetuous +might. There is a certain city, a lofty hill, Thryoëssa, far away at +the Alpheus, the last of sandy Pylus; this they invested, eager to +overthrow it. But when they had crossed the whole plain, Minerva, +hastening from Olympus, came to us by night as a messenger, that we +should be armed; nor did she assemble an unwilling people at Pylus, but +one very eager to fight. Still Neieus would not allow me to be armed, +but concealed my horses, for he said that I was not at all acquainted +with warlike deeds. Yet even thus was I conspicuous amongst our +cavalry, even although being on foot; for thus did Minerva conduct me +to battle. There is a certain river, Minyeïus, emptying itself into the +sea near Arena, where we, the Pylian horsemen, awaited divine Morn, +whilst the swarms of infantry poured in. Thence in full force, equipped +in armour, we came at mid-day to the sacred stream of Alpheus. There +having offered fair victims to almighty Jove, a bull to the Alpheus, +and a bull to Neptune, but an untrained heifer to blue-eyed Minerva, we +then took supper through the army by troops; and we each slept in our +arms along the river’s stream. In the meantime the magnanimous Epeans +stood around, desirous to lay waste the city; but a mighty work of Mars +first appeared to them: for as soon as the splendid sun was elevated +above the earth, we were engaged in the battle, praying to Jove and to +Minerva. But when now the battle of the Pylians and Eleans began, I +first slew a man, the warrior Molion, and bore away his solid-hoofed +steeds: he was the son-in-law of Augeas, and possessed his eldest +daughter, yellow-haired Agamede, who well understood as many drugs as +the wide earth nourishes. Him advancing against [me], I smote with my +brazen spear. He fell in the dust, and springing into his chariot, I +then stood among the foremost combatants; but the magnanimous Epeans +fled terrified in different directions when they beheld the hero +fallen, the leader of their cavalry, he who was the best to fight. But +I rushed upon them like unto a black whirlwind; and I took fifty +chariots, and in each two men bit the ground with their teeth, +vanquished by my spear. And now indeed I should have slain the youthful +Molions, the sons 385 of Actor, had not their sire, wide-ruling +Neptune, covering them with a thick haze, preserved them from the war. +Then Jove delivered into the hands of the Pylians great strength, for +so long did we follow them through the long 386 plain, both slaying +them, and gathering up rich armour, until he had driven our horses to +Buprasium, fertile in wheat, to the rock Olenia and Alesium, where it +is called Colone: whence Minerva turned back the people. Then having +killed the last man, I left him; but the Greeks guided back their swift +steeds from Buprasium to Pylus; and all gave glory to Jove, of the +gods, and to Nestor, of men. Thus was I, as sure as ever I existed, +among men: but Achilles will enjoy his valour alone: surely I think +that he will hereafter greatly lament, when the people have bitterly +perished. O my friend, Menœtius did assuredly thus command thee on that +day when he sent thee from Phthia to Agamemnon. For we being both +within, I and noble Ulysses, distinctly heard all things in the halls, +as he charged you: but we were come to the well-inhabited palace of +Peleus, collecting an army through fertile Greece. There then we found +the hero Menœtius within, as well as thee, and Achilles besides; but +the aged horseman, Peleus, was burning the fat thighs of an ox to +thunder-rejoicing Jove, within the enclosure 387 of his palace, and +held a golden cup, pouring the dark wine over the blazing sacrifice. +Both of you were then employed about the flesh of the ox, whilst we +stood in the vestibule; but Achilles, astonished, leaped up, and led us +in, taking us by the hand, and bade us be seated: and he set in order +before us the offerings of hospitality which are proper for guests. But +when we were satiated with eating and drinking, I began discourse, +exhorting you to follow along with us. Ye were both very willing, and +they both commanded you many things. Aged Peleus in the first place +directed his son Achilles ever to be the bravest, and to be conspicuous +above others; but to thee again Menœtius, the son of Actor, thus gave +charge: ‘My son, Achilles indeed is superior in birth; but thou art the +elder. And he is much superior in strength: but still do thou +frequently suggest to him proper advice, and admonish and direct him, +and he will surely be obedient in what is for [his own] good.’ Thus did +the old man command thee; but thou art forgetful: but even now do thou +mention these things to warlike Achilles, if perchance he may be +obedient. Who knows if, advising him, thou mayest, with the gods’ +assistance, arouse his mind? For the admonition of a friend is good. +But if within his mind he avoid some prophecy, and his venerable mother +has told him anything from Jove, let him at least send thee forth; and +with thee let the other forces of the Myrmidons follow, if indeed thou +mayest be some aid to the Greeks. Let him likewise give his beautiful +armour to thee, to be borne into battle, if perchance the Trojans, +assimilating thee to him, may abstain from the conflict, and the +warlike sons of the Greeks, already afflicted, may respire; and there +be a little respite from fighting. 388 But you, [who are] fresh, will, +with fighting, easily drive back men wearied, towards the city, from +the ships and tents.” + +Footnote 384: (return) Cf iv. 540, for the distinction between +βεϑλημένοι and οὐτάμενοι. + +Footnote 385: (return) _I. e._ the reputed sons. + +Footnote 386: (return) See Schol. Etym. M. s.v., and Alberti on +Hesych. t, ii. p. 1247 + +Footnote 387: (return) Properly, the fence or barrier of the +enclosure. + +Footnote 388: (return) There are several different interpretations for +this line: 1. Schneider explains it: “They have but short time to +respire; for if not at once assisted, they will be destroyed.” 2. +“Short will be the cessation from war.” 3. “A cessation, or +breathing-time, from war, although short, will be agreeable.” 4. +“Supply ‘_may be_’, and translate, ‘and that there _may be_ a short +breathing-time from the battle;’ although this last involves some +tautology with the preceding line.”—Ed. Dubl. + +Thus he spake, and he aroused the spirit within his breast; and he +hastened to run to the ships to Achilles, the grandson of Æacus. But +when now Patroclus, running, arrived at the ships of godlike Ulysses, +where were their forum and seat of justice, and there the altars of +their gods also were erected, there Eurypylus, the noble son of Evæmon, +wounded with an arrow in the thigh, limping from the battle, met him. +Down his back ran the copious sweat from his shoulders and head, and +from the grievous wound oozed the black blood; nevertheless his mind +was firm. Seeing him, the gallant son of Menœtius pitied him, and, +grieving, spoke winged words: + +“Alas! unhappy men, leaders and rulers over the Greeks, are ye then +thus destined, far away from your friends and native land, to satiate +the swift dogs at Troy with your white fat? But come, tell me this, O +Jove-nurtured hero, Eurypylus, will the Greeks still at all sustain +mighty Hector, or will they now be destroyed, subdued by his spear?” + +But him prudent Eurypylus in turn addressed: “No longer, Jove-nurtured +Patroclus, will there be aid for the Greeks, but they will fall back +upon the black ships. For already all, as many as were once bravest, +lie at the ships, stricken or wounded by the hands of the Trojans, +whose strength ever increases. But do thou now, indeed, save me, +leading me to my black ship; and cut out the arrow from my thigh, and +wash the black blood 389 from it with warm water; then sprinkle upon it +mild drugs, salubrious, which they say thou wert taught by Achilles, +whom Chiron instructed, the most just of the Centaurs. For the +physicians, Podalirius and Machaon, the one, I think, having a wound, +lies at the tents, and himself in want of a faultless physician, and +the other awaits the sharp battle of the Trojans upon the plain.” + +Footnote 389: (return) Cf. Virg. Æn. x. 834: “Vulnera siccabat +lymphis.” The manner in which this was done is described by Celsus, v. +26: “Si profusionem timemus, siccis lineamentis vulnus implendum est, +supraque imponenda gpongia ex aqua frigida expressa, ac manu super +comprimenda.” Cf. Athen. ii. 4. + +But him again the brave son of Menœtius addressed: “How then will these +things turn out? What shall we do, O hero Eurypylus? I go that I may +deliver a message to warlike Achilles, with which venerable Nestor, +guardian of the Greeks, has intrusted me: but even thus I cannot +neglect thee, afflicted.” + +He said, and having laid hold of the shepherd of the people under his +breast, bore him to the tent, and his attendant, when he saw him, +spread under him bulls’ hides. There [Patroclus] laying him at length, +cut out with a knife the bitter, sharp arrow from his thigh, and washed +the black blood from it with warm water. Then he applied a bitter, +pain-assuaging root, rubbing it in his hands, which checked all his +pangs: the wound, indeed, was dried up, and the bleeding ceased. + + + + +BOOK THE TWELFTH. + + +ARGUMENT. + +The Trojans assail the rampart, and Hector, despite an omen, which +Polydamas interprets unfavourably, attacks and forces the gate, and +opens a way to the ships. + + +Thus then at the tents the valiant son of Menœtius was healing the +wounded Eurypylus: but the Greeks and Trojans kept fighting in masses; +nor was the ditch of the Greeks destined to prove a barrier any longer, +and the wide wall from above, which they had erected in defence of the +ships; but they had drawn a foss around (nor had they given splendid +hecatombs to the gods); that it enclosing within, might defend the +swift ships and the great booty. But it was built against the will of +the immortal gods, therefore it remained not perfect for any long +period. 390 As long as Hector was alive, and Achilles indignant, and +the city of king Priam unravaged, so long was the mighty wall of the +Greeks firm. But when all the bravest of the Trojans were dead, and +many of the Greeks were subdued, but others left surviving, when in the +tenth year the city of Priam was sacked, and the Greeks went in their +ships to their dear fatherland; then at length Neptune and Apollo took +counsel to demolish the wall, introducing the strength of rivers, as +many as flow into the sea from the Idæan mountains, both the Rhesus and +the Heptaporus, the Caresus and the Rhodius, the Granicus and the +Æsepus, the divine Scamander and the Simoïs, where many shields and +helmets fell in the dust, and the race of demigod men. The mouths of +all these Phœbus Apollo turned to the same spot, and for nine days he +directed their streams against the wall; and Jove in the meantime +rained continually, that he might the sooner render the walls +overwhelmed by the sea. But the Earth-shaker [Neptune] himself, holding +the trident in his hands, led them on; and then dispersed among the +billows all the foundations of beams and stones which the Greeks had +laid with toil. And he made [all] level along the rapid Hellespont, and +again covered the vast shore with sands, having demolished the wall: +but then he turned the rivers to go back into their own channels, in +which they had formerly poured their sweet-flowing water. 391 + +Footnote 390: (return) Cf. Pseudo-Socrat. Epist. i. ολλοῖς δὲ πολλὰ +καὶ τῶν ἄλλων εἴρηται ποιητῶν περὶ θεῶν’ καὶ ὅτι τὰ μὲν κατὰ τὴν αὐτῶν +βούλησιν πραττόμενα ἐπὶ τὸ λώϊον ἐκθαίνει, τὰ δὲ παρὰ θεὸν ἀλυσιτελῆ +ὑπάρχει τοῖς πράξασι, where Duport, p. 72, thinks there is a reference +to the present passage. + +Footnote 391: (return) On the present state of the Troad, which +appears, from physical facts, to justify the mythical description of +Homer,—see Heyne and Kennedy. Compare Virg. Æn. ii. 610, sqq.; +Tryphiodor. 566, sqq. and 680, sqq. + +Thus were Neptune and Apollo about to act hereafter; but then the +battle and clamour burned around the well-built wall, and the stricken +joists of the towers resounded: but the Greeks, subdued by the scourge +392 of Jove, were detained, hemmed in at the hollow ships, dreading +Hector, the furious cause of flight; for he fought, as formerly, equal +to a whirlwind. And as when a boar or lion is occupied amongst the dogs +and huntsmen, looking dreadfully with strength, and they, drawing +themselves up in a square form, 393 stand against him, and hurl +frequent javelins from their hands; but never is his noble heart +alarmed, nor is he put to flight; but his courage proves his death. And +frequently he turns round, trying the ranks of men; and wheresoever he +has directed his attack, there the ranks of men give way: so Hector, +going through the crowd, rolled along, inciting his companions to cross +the trench. Nor did the swift-footed horses dare [it]; 394 but they +loudly neighed, standing upon the precipitous brink; for the wide ditch +affrighted [them], nor was it easy to leap across, [by standing] near, +395 or to pass it, for overhanging brinks stood round it on both sides, +and beneath it was fortified with sharp palisades, which the sons of +the Greeks had fixed, close-set and large, as a defence against hostile +men. There a horse, drawing a swift-rolling chariot, could not readily +enter, but the infantry eagerly desired it, if they could accomplish +it. Then indeed Polydamas, standing near, addressed daring Hector: + +Footnote 392: (return) Heyne compares Il. xiii. 812; Pseud.—Eur. Rhes. +37; Find. Pyth. iv. 390; Tryphiod. 596. The Scholiast on both passages, +Hesychius, t. i. p. 1006, and the Schol. on Oppian. Hal. v. 282, +suppose that the lightning is meant; but it is far better to +understand, with Heyne, “terrore divinitus immisso.” + +Footnote 393: (return) See Heyne, and Alberti on Hesych. t. ii. p. +1083. + +Footnote 394: (return) Cf. Statius, Theb. x. 517:— + + “——ut patulas saltu transmittere fossas + Horror equis; hærent trepidi, atque immane paventes + Abruptum mirantur agi.” + + +Footnote 395: (return) Understand ἐκ τοῦ σχεδὸν, “adstando prope ad +fossæ oram, ut saltu facilius transilias.”—Heyne. + +“Hector, and ye other leaders of the Trojans, and allies, unwisely do +we drive our fleet steeds through the trench, which is very difficult +to pass; since sharp palisades stand in it, and near them is the wall +of the Greeks. Wherefore it is by no means possible for the cavalry to +descend, or to fight, for it is a narrow place, where I think they +would be wounded. For if indeed lofty-thundering Jove, designing evil, +destroys the Greeks, but wishes to assist the Trojans, certainly I +would wish this to take place even immediately, that the Greeks perish +here inglorious, away from Argos. If, however, they rally, and a +repulse from the ships take place, and we be entangled in the dug +trench, I do not suppose that then even a messenger will return back to +the city from the Greeks. But come, let us all be persuaded as I shall +advise. Let the servants keep our horses at the trench, and let us, all +on foot, clad in armour, follow Hector in a close body; but the Greeks +will not withstand us, if indeed the end of destruction hang over +them.” + +Thus spake Polydamas; but the safe counsel pleased Hector; and +immediately he leaped with his armour from his chariot on the ground. +Nor did the other Trojans assemble on horseback, but dismounting, they +rushed on, when they beheld noble Hector. Then each commanded his own +charioteer to rein his steeds in good order there at the trench, and +they, separating, drawing themselves up, and being arranged in five +columns, followed along with their leaders. Some then went with Hector +and illustrious Polydamas, who were most numerous and brave, and who +were most resolutely desirous, having broken down the wall, to fight at +the hollow ships. And Cebriones followed as a third; for Hector left +another, inferior to Cebriones, with his chariot. Others Paris +commanded, and Alcathous, and Agenor. The third band Helenus and +godlike Deïphobus, two sons of Priam; but the third [commander] was the +hero Asius, Asius son of Hyrtacus, whom fiery, tall steeds brought from +Arisba, from the river Selleïs. But the fourth, Æneas, the brave son of +Anchises, led; along with him were the two sons of Antenor, Archilochus +and Acamas, well skilled in every kind of fight. But Sarpedon commanded +the illustrious allies, and chose to himself Glaucus and warlike +Asteropæus; for they appeared to him, next to himself decidedly the +bravest of the rest: for he, indeed, excelled among all. When they then +had fitted each other together 396 with interlaced ox-hide bucklers, +they advanced, full of courage, direct against the Greeks, nor expected +that they would sustain them, but that they would fall in flight into +their black ships. + +Then the other Trojans and far-summoned allies obeyed the counsel of +blameless Polydamas; but Asius, son of Hyrtacus, leader of heroes, was +unwilling to relinquish his horses and attendant charioteer, but with +them advanced to the swift ships,—foolish! Nor was he destined to +return again, borne on his steeds and chariot from the ships to +wind-swept Ilium, having avoided evil destiny. For him unlucky fate +first encircled from the spear of Idomeneus, the illustrious son of +Deucalion. For he rushed towards the left of the ships, by the way in +which the Greeks were returning from the plain with their horses and +chariots. Thither he drove his horses and his chariot, nor did he find +the gates closed 397 in the portal, or the long bar up, but the men +held them wide open, that they might safely receive at the ships any of +their companions flying from the battle. He designedly guided his +steeds right onward in that way, and [his troops], shrilly shouting, +followed along with him; for they supposed that the Greeks could no +longer sustain them, but would fall in flight into the black +ships—fools! for at the gates they found two very brave heroes, the +magnanimous sons of the warlike Lapithæ, the one the son of Pirithous, +gallant Polypœtes, the other Leonteus, equal to man-slaughtering Mars. +These two then stood before the lofty gates, as tall oaks on the +mountains, which abide the wind and rain at all seasons, remaining +firmly fixed by their great and wide-spreading roots; so they too, +trusting to their hands and strength, awaited mighty Asius coming on, +nor fled. But the troops, lifting high their well-seasoned bucklers, +advanced with loud shouting directly towards the well-built wall, round +their king Asius, and Iämenus, and Orestes, Acamas, the son of Asius, +Thoon, and Œnomäus. Hitherto indeed these, remaining within, were +exhorting the well-armed Greeks to fight for the ships; but when they +perceived the Trojans rushing against the wall, and confusion and +flight of the Greeks arose, both darting out, fought before the gates, +like unto wild boars, which await the approaching tumult of men and +dogs in the mountains, and, advancing obliquely to the attack, break +down the wood around them, cutting it to the root; and a gnashing of +teeth arises from beneath, till some one, having taken aim, deprive +them of life. So resounded the shining brass upon their breasts, +smitten in front, for very valiantly they fought, trusting to the +troops above, and to their own valour. But they hurled stones down from +the well-built towers, defending themselves, their tents, and the +swift-voyaging ships. And as snow-flakes fall upon the earth, which the +violent wind, having disturbed the shady clouds, pours down thick upon +the fertile soil; thus poured the weapons from the hands as well of the +Greeks as of the Trojans; and the helmets and bossy shields, smitten +with large stones, sounded drily around. Then indeed Asius, son of +Hyrtacus, groaned, and smote both his thighs, and indignant exclaimed: + +“Father Jove, surely now at least thou also hast become utterly +deceitful; for I did not expect that the Grecian heroes would abide our +strength and invincible hands. But they, as wasps flexible 398 in the +middle, and bees, [which] make their dwellings in a rugged path, nor +quit their hollow mansion; but awaiting the huntsmen, fight for their +offspring; so are these unwilling to retire from the gates, though +being only two, until they be either killed or taken.” + +Footnote 396: (return) “Put for ἄραρον τὰς ἀσπίδας ἀλλήλων, ἐπ’ +ἀλλήλοις, _clipeos consertos_ manibus ante se tenebant, συνασπισμῷ +facto.”—Heyne. Kennedy well observes that “we may trace here the rude +outline of the celebrated phalanx, which formed so prominent a feature +of the Macedonian tactics.” + +Footnote 397: (return) From this passage, Heyne observes that the +gates must have opened inwards, being secured from within by a double +bolt (cf. ver. 455, sqq.). See D’Orville on Chariton, i. xii. p. 274, +ed. Lips. On the ὀχεῖς, on bars, cf. Pollux, x. 4. + +Footnote 398: (return) Or “streaked.” See Porphyr. Quæst. iii. But +Buttmann, Lexil. p. 64, dwells much upon the force of μέσον, observing, +“in no insect is _flexibility_ more evident than in the wasp, where the +lower part of its body is joined as it were by a point with the upper.” + +Thus he spake, nor did he persuade the mind of Jove, saying these +things: for his soul designed to bestow glory upon Hector. In the +meantime others were waging the battle at other gates; but difficult +would it be for me, as if I were a god, to enumerate all these things; +for around the wall in every direction a furiously-raging fire of +stones was aroused, 399 and the Greeks, although grieving, fought from +necessity for their ships; and all the gods were sorrowful in their +minds; as many as were allies to the Greeks in battle. + +Footnote 399: (return) + + “Through the long walls the stony showers were heard, + The blaze of flames, the flash of arms appeared.”—Pope. + + +But the Lapithæ began the battle and contest. Then the son of +Pirithous, brave Polypœtes, smote Damasus with his spear, through his +brazen-cheeked helmet; nor did the brazen casque withstand, but the +brazen blade burst quite through the bone, and all the brain within was +shattered. Thus he subdued him, rushing on, and afterwards he slew +Pylon and Ormenus. And Leonteus, a branch of Mars, wounded Hippomachus, +the son of Antimachus, with his spear, striking him at the belt. Next, +drawing his sharp sword from the sheath, he, rushing through the crowd, +smote Antiphates first, hand to hand, and he was dashed on his back to +the ground; then Menon and Iämenus, and Orestes, all one over another +he brought to the fertile earth. + +Whilst they were stripping off their glittering armour, those youths, +meantime, who were most numerous and most brave, and who were most +eager to break down the wall, and burn the ships with fire, followed +Polydamas and Hector, and they anxiously deliberated, standing at the +trench. For an augury had appeared on the left to them while eager to +cross, a high-flying eagle dividing the people, 400 bearing in his +talons a monstrous blood-stained serpent, alive, still panting; nor was +it yet forgetful of fighting; for, while holding it, writhing +backwards, it wounded him upon the breast near the neck; but he let it +drop from him to the ground, afflicted with anguish, and threw it into +the midst of the crowd, and, flapping his wings, he fled away with the +breeze of the wind. And the Trojans shuddered as they beheld the +spotted serpent lying in the midst, a prodigy of ægis-bearing Jove. +Then Polydamas, standing near, addressed gallant Hector: + +“Hector, somehow or other thou art ever chiding me in the assemblies, +although proposing good counsels; because it is by no means becoming +for a man, being a citizen, to harangue contrary to thee, either in +council or at any time in war; but ever to increase thy authority. Yet +will I again speak as appears to me to be best. Let us not go about to +fight with the Greeks for their ships; for thus do I think it will end, +as sure as this augury has come to the Trojans desiring to cross, the +high-flying eagle upon the left dividing the army, bearing in its +talons a huge blood-stained serpent, [still] living; but presently it +dropped it, before it reached its dear home, nor succeeded in carrying +it to give it to its young: so we, if even we shall with great force +break through the gates and wall of the Greeks, and the Greeks shall +give way,—not in order shall we return by the same way from the ships: +for we shall leave many Trojans, whom the Greeks, fighting for the +ships, will subdue with the brass. Thus indeed would the diviner, who +truly kens omens in his mind, interpret, and the people would obey +him.” + +Footnote 400: (return) Either flying between the ranks of the Trojans, +or between the two opposing armies. Compare Cicero’s translation, de +Divin. i. 47, and Virg. Æn. xi. 751, sqq. (with Macrob. Sat. v. 13), +and xii. 247, sqq. The event of the Trojan war proved that Polydamas +was right in his interpretation. + +But him sternly regarding, crest-tossing Hector thus addressed: “O +Polydamas, thou dost not say things agreeable to me: besides, thou +knowest how to devise other counsel better than this. If, however, thou +really speakest this with seriousness, then truly have the gods +destroyed thy judgment from thee, who advisest me to be forgetful of +the counsels of lofty-thundering Jove, which he hath himself undertaken +for me, and confirmed. And thou exhortest me to obey the wing-expanding +birds; which I very little regard, nor do I care for them, whether they +fly to the right towards the Morn and the Sun, or to the left towards +the darkening west; but let us obey the will of mighty Jove, who rules +over all mortals and immortals. There is one augury, the best, to fight +for our country. 401 Why dost thou dread the war and conflict? For +although all the rest of us should perish round the ships of the +Greeks, there is no fear that thou wilt perish, for thy heart is not +persevering in the fight, nor warlike. But if thou darest to abstain +from the combat, or dissuading, dost avert another from the battle, +immediately stricken by my spear, shalt thou lose thy life.” + +Thus then having spoken, he led the way, but they followed him with an +immense clamour. Then thunder-delighting Jove raised a storm of wind +from the Idæan mountains, which bore the dust directly towards the +ships; moreover, he weakened the courage of the Greeks, but bestowed +glory upon the Trojans and Hector: so that, relying upon his prodigies, +and [their own] strength, they endeavoured to break through the mighty +wall of the Greeks. They tore down the niched battlements of the +towers, and demolished the breast-works, 402 and with levers they +upheaved the projecting buttresses, which the Greeks had planted first +in the earth, as supporters of the towers. These then they tore down, +and hoped to break through the wall of the Greeks. + +Yet did not the Greeks retire as yet from the way; but fencing up the +embrazures with their ox-hide shields, they wounded from behind them +the enemy coming up under the wall. And both the Ajaces ranged in every +direction upon the towers, cheering on, rousing the valour of the +Greeks. One [they addressed] 403 with soothing, another they rebuked +with harsh expressions, whomsoever they beheld totally neglectful of +battle: + +Footnote 401: (return) Cf. Aristot. Rhet. ii. 22; Cicero Ep. ad Attic, +ii. 3. See, also, Duport, Gnom. Horn. p. 73. + +Footnote 402: (return) Observe the zeugma, and compare Il. Ω. 8, Γ. +327; Od. Ξ. 291; and the most elaborate and accurate note on this +construction of D’Orville on Charit. iv. 4, p. 440, sqq. ed. Lips., +with Burm. and Schwabe on Phædr. iv. 17, 31; Duker on Flor. iii. 21, +26. + +Footnote 403: (return) Id. + +“O friends, whoever of the Greeks is excelling, or moderate, or +inferior (since all men are not alike in war), now is there work for +all; and ye yourselves, I ween, know this. Let not any one be turned +back towards the ships, hearing the threatener [Hector], but advance +onwards, and exhort each other, if perchance Olympic Jove, the darter +of lightning, may grant that, having repulsed the conflict, we may +pursue the enemy to the city.” + +Thus they, shouting in front, cheered on the attack of the Greeks. But +of them—as when frequent flakes of snow fall upon a winter’s day, when +provident Jove has begun to snow, displaying his weapons in the sight +of men, and, having lulled the winds, pours it down incessantly, till +he covers the tops and highest peaks of the lofty mountains, and the +lotus plains and rich husbandry of men: and likewise it is poured out +upon the havens and shores of the hoary sea; but the approaching wave +restrains its progress, whilst all other things are covered beneath it, +when the shower of Jove comes down heavily; so flew the frequent stones +from those hurling on both sides, some indeed towards the Trojans, and +others from the Trojans towards the Greeks. And along the whole wall a +tumult arose. + +Yet never would the Trojans and illustrious Hector have burst open the +gates of the wall, and the long bolt, had not provident Jove urged on +his son, Sarpedon, against the Greeks, like a lion against +crooked-horned oxen. But he immediately held before him his shield, +equal on all sides, beautiful, brazen, plated; which the brazier indeed +had plated over, and underneath had sewed together thick bulls’ hides, +with successive golden wires round its orb. He then, holding this +before him, advanced, brandishing two spears, like a lion reared in the +mountains, which hath been long in want of flesh, and whose valiant +mind impels him to go even to the well-fenced fold, about to make an +attempt upon the sheep. And although he there find the shepherds +keeping watch about their flocks with dogs and spears, still he cannot +bear to be driven away, without having made trial of the fold, but, +springing in, he either carries [one] off, or is himself wounded among +the first by a javelin from a quick hand. Thus then did his mind impel +godlike Sarpedon to attack the wall, and to burst through the barriers; +and instantly he addressed Glaucus, son of Hippolochus: + +“Glaucus, 404 why are we especially honoured in Lycia, both with the +[first] seat in banquet, and with full goblets, and why do all look to +us as to gods? Why do we also possess a great and beautiful enclosure +of the vine-bearing and corn-bearing land on the banks of Xanthus? Now, +therefore, it behoves us, advancing among the foremost Lycians, to +stand firm, and to bear the brunt of the raging fight; so that some one +of the closely-armed Lycians may say, ‘By no means inglorious do our +kings govern Lycia, and eat the fat sheep, and [drink] 405 the choice +sweet wine; but their valour likewise is excelling, because they fight +among the foremost Lycians.’ O dear friend, if indeed, by escaping from +this war, we were destined to be ever free from old age, and immortal, +neither would I combat myself in the van, nor send thee into the +glorious battle. But now—for of a truth ten thousand Fates of death +press upon us, which it is not possible for a mortal to escape or +avoid—let us on: either we shall give glory to some one, or some one to +us.” + +Thus he spake, nor did Glaucus turn aside or disobey, but both advanced +straight forward, leading a numerous band of Lycians. But Menestheus, +the son of Peteus, beholding them, shuddered, for they were advancing +towards his company, bearing destruction. He looked round along the +line of the Greeks, if he might see any of the leaders who could ward +off the fight from his companions, and perceived the two Ajaces, +insatiable of war, standing, and Teucer, lately come from his tent, +near at hand. Yet was it not possible for him to be heard when +shouting, so great was the din; and the crash of stricken shields, and +of horse-hair crested helmets, and of the gates, reached to heaven. For +they had assailed all, 406 and they, standing beside them, endeavoured +to enter, bursting them open by force. But immediately he despatched +the herald Thoötes to Ajax: + +Footnote 404: (return) Milton, P.L. ii. 450:—- + + “—— wherefore do I assume + These royalties, and not refuse to reign, + Refusing to accept as great a share + Of hazard as of honour, due alike + To him who reigns, and so much to him due + Of hazard more, as he above the rest + High honoured sits?” + + +Footnote 405: (return) Zeugma. See on ver. 268. + +Footnote 406: (return) Three interpretations are given for this +line:—1. “All the gates were attacked.” 2. “All the gates were +bolted.”—Butt. 3. Change the nominative case to the accusative, and +translate—“They (the Lycians) had attacked all the gates.”—Ed. Dubl. + +“Go, noble Thoötes, running, call Ajax, rather indeed both: for this +would be by far the best of all, since in a short while heavy +destruction will arise here. For so vigorously do the leaders of the +Lycians press on, who even before were impetuous in the sharp contest. +If, however, labour and contest have arisen to them there, at least let +brave Telamonian Ajax come, and with him let Teucer follow, well +skilled in archery.” + +Thus he spoke, nor did the herald, having heard him, disobey, but he +hastened to run along the wall of the brazen-mailed Greeks, and +proceeding, he stood beside the Ajaces and immediately addressed them: + +“Ye Ajaces, leaders of the brazen-mailed Greeks, the beloved son of +Jove-nourished Peteus adjures you to come thither, that ye may +participate in his toil, though for a short time. Both indeed in +preference, for this would be by far the best of all things, since soon +will heavy destruction arise there. For so vigorously do the leaders of +the Lycians press on, who even before were impetuous in the sharp +contest. But if here also war and contest have arisen, at least let +brave Telamonian Ajax come alone, and with him let Teucer follow, well +skilled in archery.” + +Thus he spake, nor did mighty Telamonian Ajax disobey. Instantly he +addressed to the son of Oïleus winged words: + +“Ajax, do thou and gallant Lycomedes, standing here, incite the Greeks +to fight bravely, whilst I go thither and oppose the battle; but I will +return again instantly, after I shall have assisted them.” + +Thus then having spoken, Telamonian Ajax departed, and with him went +Teucer, his brother, sprung from the same father; and Pandion, along +with them, carried the bent bow of Teucer. As soon as they reached the +tower of magnanimous Menestheus, going within the wall (for they came +to [their friends] being hard pressed: and the brave leaders and chiefs +of the Lycians were mounting upon the breast-works like unto a dark +whirlwind), but they engaged to fight in opposition, and a clamour +arose. Telamonian Ajax first slew a man, the companion of Sarpedon, +magnanimous Epicles, striking him with a rugged stone, which, mighty in +size, lay highest up against a pinnacle within the wall. Not easily +would a man support it with both hands, such as mortals now are, not +although being very youthful; but he, raising it aloft, hurled it, and +burst the four-coned helmet, and along with it crushed all the bones of +the skull: but he, like unto a diver, fell from the lofty tower, and +life deserted his bones. Teucer likewise with a shaft wounded Glaucus, +the brave son of Hippolochus, as he was rushing on, against the lofty +wall, in a part where he perceived his arm naked; and made him cease +from combat. But he sprang back from the wall, concealing himself, that +none of the Greeks might perceive him wounded, and insult him with +words. Then grief came upon Sarpedon on account of Glaucus departing, +as soon as he observed it; though he nevertheless was not neglectful of +the contest: but he taking aim, wounded Alcmaon, son of Thestor, with +his spear, and extracted the spear; but he. following the weapon, fell +prone, and his armour, variously decked with brass, resounded upon him. +Sarpedon then seizing the buttress with his sturdy hands, pulled, and +it all followed entirely; but the wall was stripped away from above, +and he formed a way for many. Then Ajax and Teucer aiming at him +together, the one smote him with an arrow in the splendid belt of his +mortal-girding shield, around his breast; but Jove averted the fate +from his son, that he might not be slain at the sterns of the ships. +But Ajax, springing upon him, struck his shield, and pierced him quite +through with his spear, and forcibly checked him eager. And then he +fell back for a little from the buttress, but did not altogether +retreat, because his spirit hoped to bear off glory. And turning round, +he encouraged the godlike Lycians: + +“O Lycians, why are ye thus remiss in your impetuous force? It is +difficult for me, although being brave, having alone burst through, to +form a way to the ships. But follow along with me; for the labour of +the greater number is better.” + +Thus he spake; and they, reverencing the exhortation of their king, +pressed on with more alacrity round their counsel-giving king. And the +Greeks, on the other side, strengthened their phalanxes within the +wall, because a great work presented itself to them. For neither could +the gallant Lycians, bursting through the wall of the Greeks, make +their way to the ships, nor could the warlike Greeks repulse the +Lycians from the wall, since first they approached it. But as two men, +holding measures in their hands, dispute, in a common field, 407 +concerning their boundaries, who in a small space contend for their +equitable right; thus did the buttresses separate these [warriors], +and, for them, each smote the well-rounded ox-hide shields around each +other’s breasts, and the light bucklers of each other. And many were +wounded upon the body with the merciless brass, whether the back of any +combatant, averted, was laid bare, and many right through the shield +itself. Everywhere the towers and buttresses were sprinkled, on both +sides, with the blood of heroes, from the Trojans and the Greeks. Yet +not even thus could they cause a flight of the Greeks, but they held +themselves, as a just woman, who labours with her hands, does the +scales, 408 who, poising both the weight and the wool, draws them on +either side to equalize them, that she may procure a scanty pittance +for the support of her children. Thus equally was their battle and war +extended, before the time when Jove gave superior glory to Hector, the +son of Priam, who first leaped within the wall of the Greeks, and +shouted with a penetrating voice, calling out to the Trojans: + +“Push on, ye horse-breaking Trojans, burst through the wall of the +Greeks, and hurl the fiercely-blazing fire against the ships.” + +Thus he spake, cheering them on; but they all heard him with their +ears, and rushed against the wall in great numbers, and then mounted +the battlements, carrying their pointed spears. But Hector seizing it, +took up a stone, which stood before the gates, widening out at the +base, 409 but sharp above; which two men, the strongest of the people, +such as mortals now are, could not easily raise from the ground upon a +waggon. He, however, brandished it easily and alone, because the son of +wise Saturn had rendered it light to him. + +Footnote 407: (return) _I.e._ a field, to part of which each lays +claim. Μέτρα seem to be the lines used in measuring ground (“linea +mensuralis,” Siculus Flaccus, p. 23, ed. Goes.) + +Footnote 408: (return) Milton, P.L. vi. 245:—- + + ——“long time in even scale + The battle hung.” + + +Footnote 409: (return) See Eustathius. + +As when a shepherd without difficulty carries the fleece of a male +sheep, taking it in either hand, and but a small weight oppresses him; +so Hector, raising the stone, bore it right against the beams which +strengthened the closely-jointed gates, double and lofty; but two +cross-bars secured them within, and one key fitted them. But advancing, +he stood very near, and exerting his strength, struck them in the +middle, standing with his legs wide asunder, that the blow of the +weapon might not be weak. And he tore away both hinges, and the stone +fell within with a great weight; and the gates crashed around; nor did +the bars withstand it, but the beams were rent asunder in different +directions by the impulse of the stone. There illustrious Hector rushed +in, in aspect like unto the dreadful night; and he glittered in +terrible brass, with which he was girt around his body. And he held two +spears in his hands, nor could any one, opposing, restrain him, except +the gods, after he had leaped within the gates; but his eyes gleamed +with fire. And turning to the crowd, he cheered on the Trojans to +ascend the wall, and they obeyed him encouraging. Straightway indeed +some crossed the wall, and others were poured in through the +well-wrought gates, but the Greeks were routed towards the hollow +barks, and an unyielding 410 tumult ensued. + +Footnote 410: (return) See Buttm. Lexil. p. 405. + + + + +BOOK THE THIRTEENTH. + + +ARGUMENT. + +Neptune engages on the Grecian side, and the battle proceeds. Deïphobus +is repulsed by Meriones. Teucer kills Imbrius, and Hector Amphimachus. +Neptune, assuming the likeness of Thoas, exhorts Idomeneus, who goes +forth with Meriones to battle, when the former slays Othryoneus and +Asius. Deïphobus attacks Idomeneus, but misses him, and slays Hypsenor. +Idomeneus slays Alcathous, over whose body a sharp contest ensues. + + +But after Jove, then, had brought the Trojans and Hector near the +ships, he left them to endure labour and toil at them incessantly; but +he himself turned back his shining eyes apart, looking towards the land +of the equestrian Thracians and the close-fighting Mysians, and the +illustrious Hippomolgi, milk-nourished, simple in living, and most just +men. 411 But to Troy he no longer now turned his bright eyes; for he +did not suppose in his mind that any one of the immortals, going, would +aid either the Trojans or the Greeks. + +Footnote 411: (return) Arrian, Exp. Alex. iv. p. 239, referring to +this passage of Homer, observes, οἰκοῦσι δὲ ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ οὗτοι αὐτόνομοι, +οὐχ ἥκιστα διὰ πενίαν τε καὶ δικαιότητα. Dionysius, Perieg. 309, seems, +as Hill observes, to consider the name ἱππημολγοί as applicable not to +one single clan, but to the whole of the Sarmatian nomads, milk being +one of the principal articles of their diet, as among the Suevi (Cæsar, +B.G. iv. 1), and the ancient Germans (id. vi. 22). Callimachus, Hymn +iii., applies the epithet to the Cimmerians. The epithet ἀβίων (or +ἀβιῶν=_bowless_, not living by archery: cf. Alberti on Hesych. t. i. +pp. 17, 794) is involved in doubt, and the ancients themselves were +uncertain whether to regard it as a proper name or an epithet. (Cf. +Steph. Byz. s. v., p. 7, ed. Pined.; Villois on Apoll. Lex. p. 14; +Duport, Gnom. Horn. p. 74, sqq.) It seems best to understand with +Strabo, vii. p. 460, nations ἀπ’ ὀλίγων εὐτελῶς ζὧντας. Knight wished +to throw out these verses altogether, alleging that allusion is made in +them to the discipline of Zamolxis, with which Homer must have been +wholly unacquainted. + +Nor did king Neptune keep a vain watch; for he sat aloft upon the +highest summit of the woody Thracian Samos, admiring the war and the +battle. For from thence all Ida was visible, and the city of Priam was +visible, and the ships of the Greeks. Then coming out of the sea, he +sat down, and he pitied the Greeks, subdued by the Trojans, and was +very indignant with Jove. But presently he descended down, from the +rugged mountain, rapidly advancing on foot, and the high hills and +woods trembled beneath the immortal feet of Neptune, advancing. Thrice +indeed he strode, advancing, and with the fourth step he reached Ægæ, +his destined goal. There distinguished mansions, golden, glittering, +ever incorruptible, were erected to him in the depths of the sea. +Coming thither, he yoked beneath his chariot the brazen-footed steeds, +swiftly flying, crested with golden manes. But he himself placed gold +around his person, took his golden lash, well wrought, and ascended his +chariot. He proceeded to drive over the billows, and the monsters of +the deep 412 sported beneath him on all sides from their recesses, nor +were ignorant of their king. For joy the sea separated; and they flew +very rapidly, nor was the brazen axle moist beneath. And his +well-bounding steeds bore him to the ships of the Greeks. + +Now there is an ample cave 413 in the recesses of the deep sea, between +Tenedos and rugged Imbrus. There earth-shaking Neptune stopped his +horses, loosing them from the chariot, and cast beside [them] ambrosial +fodder to eat. And round their feet he threw golden fetters, +irrefragable, indissoluble, that they might there steadily await their +king returning, but he departed towards the army of the Greeks. + +Footnote 412: (return) So I have ventured to render κήτεα. Nonius +Marcell. v. Cetarii—“cete in mari majora sunt piscium genera.” Thus +Quintus Calaber, v. 94, imitating this passage, has δελφινες, and +Hesychius defines κητών by θύννων φορά, the word evidently meaning any +huge fish. Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 378, sq. + +Footnote 413: (return) Compare the description of the cave of Nereus, +in Apoll. Rhod. iv. 771, sqq., and of the river Peneus, in Virg. Georg. +iv. 359, sqq., with my note on Æsch. Prom. p. 11, ed. Bohn. + +The Trojans, however, in crowds, like unto a flame or a whirlwind, +followed Hector, the son of Priam, with insatiable ardour, shouting +loudly, and exclaiming; for they hoped to capture the ships of the +Greeks, and slay all the Greeks beside them. But earth-ruling, +earth-shaking Neptune, coming from the deep sea, aroused the Greeks, +assimilating his person and indefatigable voice to Calchas. The Ajaces +he first addressed, though themselves were earnest: + +“Ye Ajaces, ye indeed, mindful of valour, not of direful flight, will +preserve the people of the Greeks. For in any other place, indeed, I do +not dread the audacious hands of the Trojans, who in great numbers have +surmounted the great wall, because the well-greaved Greeks will sustain +them all. But in that place I grievously fear lest we suffer any thing, +where infuriated Hector, like unto a flame, leads on who boasts to be +the son of almighty Jove. But may some of the gods thus put it in your +minds, that ye stand firmly yourselves, and exhort others; thus may ye +drive him, although impetuous, from the swift-sailing ships, even if +Jove himself excites him.” + +He said, and earth-ruling Neptune, striking both with his sceptre, +filled them with violent might, and made their limbs light and their +feet and hands above. But he, like as a swift-winged hawk is impelled +to fly, which, lifted up from a rugged, lofty rock, has hastened to +pursue another bird over the plain; so darted earth-shaking Neptune +from them. But fleet Ajax, the son of Oïleus, recognized him first of +the two, and straightway addressed Ajax, the son of Telamon: + +“O Ajax, since some one of the gods, who possess Olympus, likening +himself to the soothsayer, exhorts us to fight beside the ships +(neither is this Calchas, the prophesying augur; for I readily +recognized the traces of his feet and legs when departing; for the gods +are easily distinguished), even to myself, the soul within my bosom is +more incited to war and to fight, and my feet beneath and hands above +eagerly desire it.” + +But him Telamonian Ajax answering, addressed: “So also to me are my +strong hands upon my spear eager, and my courage is aroused, and I am +hurried along by both my feet under me; and I eagerly long, even alone, +to combat with Hector, the son of Priam, insatiably raging.” + +Thus they addressed these words to each other, joyful in the desire of +battle 414 which the god had infused into their minds. In the meanwhile +the Earth-ruler (Neptune) aroused the Achæans in the rear, who were +recruiting their spirit at the swift ships; whose limbs were at the +same time relaxed with toilsome labour, and grief was arising in their +minds, beholding the Trojans, who with a tumult had surmounted the vast +wall. But beholding them, they poured forth tears from beneath their +eyebrows, for they expected not to escape destruction: but the +Earth-shaker intervening, easily aroused the brave phalanxes. To Teucer +and Leius he first came, exhorting them, and to the hero Peneleus, and +Thoas, and Deipyrus, and to Meriones and Antilochus, skilful in war. +These he encouraging, spoke winged words: + +Footnote 414: (return) See Heyne, who compares the Latin _gestire_. +Hesych.: Χάρμη, η ρετά χαράς μάχη. + +“O shame! Argives, young men, I trust that our ships will be preserved +by your fighting; but if ye be remiss in the destructive battle, the +day is now come [for us] to be subdued by the Trojans. Ye gods, surely +I behold with my eyes a great marvel, terrible, which I never expected +would be brought to pass, that the Trojans should approach our ships; +who formerly, like unto timid stags, which through the wood are the +prey of lynxes, pards, and wolves, foolishly straying about, weak, nor +fit for combat: so the Trojans formerly would not stand even for a +little against the might and prowess of the Greeks. But now, far away +from the city, they combat at the hollow ships, through the +perverseness of our general, and the indifference of the troops; who, +disputing with him, are unwilling to defend the swift ships, but are +slain among them. Yet although in reality the hero, the son of Atreus, +wide-ruling Agamemnon, be altogether in fault, in that he hath +dishonoured the swift-footed son of Peleus, still it is by no means our +duty to be remiss in battle, but let us the sooner repair [the +mischief]; 415 the minds of the brave are easily appeased. But they by +no means honourably remit your impetuous valour, being all the bravest +in the army: I indeed would not quarrel with a man who should desist +from combat, being unwarlike; but with you I am indignant from my +heart. O soft ones! surely will ye soon create some greater evil by +this inertness: but do each of you in his mind ponder on the shame and +reproach; for certainly a mighty contest hath arisen. Now indeed brave +Hector, good in the din of war, combats at the ships, and hath burst +through the gates and the long bar.” + +Footnote 415: (return) Τὸ γεγονὸς ἀμάρτημα: Schol. For the +metaphorical use of άκεσταί, cf. Soph. Ant. 1026. Ὅστις ἐς κακὸν εσὼν +ἀκεῖται μηδ’ ἀκίνητος πέλει So εὐιατότερος διὰ τὸ μεταπεισθῆναι ἄν, +Aristot. Eth. vii. 2. + +Thus then Neptune, exhorting, aroused the Greeks. But round the two +Ajaces firm phalanxes stood, which not even Mars, coming amongst them, +would have found fault with, nor Minerva, the confounder of armies; for +the bravest selected awaited the Trojans and noble Hector; knitting +spear with spear, shield with shield, 416 one upon another, 417 so that +shield pressed upon shield, helmet upon helmet, and man upon man. And +the horse-haired helmets of them, nodding, touched each other with +their splendid ridges, 418 so closely stood they to one another; and +spears in the act of being hurled, were brandishing from their daring +hands, whilst they wished [to go] straight [against the enemy], and +were eager to fight. But the combined Trojans first made the attack, +and impetuous Hector first rushed against them: as a +destructively-rolling stone from a rock, which a wintry torrent drives +down the brow, having burst with a mighty shower the stays of the +rugged rock, and bounding along, it rolls, and the forest resounds +beneath it: but straightway it runs on uninterruptedly until it reach +the plain, but then it rolls no longer, though impelled; so Hector for +a while threatened that he would easily come as far as the sea, to the +tents and ships of the Greeks, slaughtering. But when now he met the +firm phalanxes, he stopped, being come into close contact; and the sons +of the Greeks, opposing, repulsed him from them, striking him with +their swords and two-edged spears; but retiring, he was compelled to +withdraw; and he cried out shouting audibly to the Trojans: + +“Ye Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, stand firm. Not +long will the Greeks withstand me, although they have drawn themselves +up in very dense array. 419 But, I conceive, they will retire from my +spear, if in truth the most powerful of the gods, the high-thundering +husband of Juno, hath urged me on.” + +Footnote 416: (return) See the learned remarks of Duport, p. 76, sq. +To quote parallel passages would be endless. + +Footnote 417: (return) Literally, “from the roots.” So +οίχεται—προθελυμνα, Tryphiodor. 388. Cf. Alberti on Hesych. t. ii. p. +1029; Apoll. Lex. p. 676. + +Footnote 418: (return) See Buttm. Lexil. p. 523. The φάλος formed a +socket for the plume. + +Footnote 419: (return) Lit. “tower-wise,” forming a solid square. + +So saying, he aroused the might and courage of each. But Deïphobus, the +son of Priam, walked amongst them, high-minded, and he held his shield +equal on all sides before him, proceeding with light step, and +advancing under protection of his shield. Then Meriones took aim with +his shining spear, and struck him (nor did he miss) upon the +bull’s-hide shield, equal on all sides, which he did not pierce; for +the long spear, far before was broken at the socket. But Deïphobus held +his bull’s-hide shield far from him, for he dreaded in his mind the +spear of warlike Meriones; but that hero fell back into the column of +his companions, for he was grievously enraged on both accounts, both +for [the loss] of the victory, and of the spear which he had broken. +Accordingly he proceeded to pass by the tents and ships of the Greeks, +to bring a long spear which had been left in his tent; whilst the +others fought, and a mighty tumult arose. + +Then Telamonian Teucer first slew a hero, the warrior Imbrius, son of +Mentor, rich in steeds; and he dwelt at Pedæum before the sons of the +Greeks arrived, and had married Medesicaste, the illegitimate daughter +of Priam. But when the equally-plied ships of the Greeks arrived, he +came back to Ilium, and excelled among the Trojans; and dwelt with +Priam, who honoured him equally with his sons. Him the son of Telamon +smote under the ear with his long javelin, and plucked out the spear; +but he indeed fell, like an ash, which, on the summit of a mountain +conspicuous from afar, cut down with a brazen axe, strews its tender +foliage on the earth. Thus he fell, and his armour, variegated with +brass, rang about him. Then Teucer rushed on, eager to strip him of his +armour; but Hector hurled his shining spear at him, hastening. He, +however, seeing it from the opposite side, avoided, by a small space, +the brazen spear; and [Hector] wounded with his javelin, on the breast, +Amphimachus, son of Cteas, the son of Actor, advancing to the battle; +and, falling, he gave a crash, and his arms rang upon him. Then Hector +rushed to tear from the head of magnanimous Amphimachus the helmet +fitted to his temples, but Ajax hurled with his shining spear at +Hector, rushing on. Yet it never reached his body, for he was protected +all over with terrible brass; but he smote him upon the boss of the +shield, and repulsed him with great violence; and he retired from both +bodies, and the Greeks drew them away. Then Stichius and noble +Menestheus, the leaders of the Athenians, carried Amphimachus to the +army of the Greeks, but the two Ajaces, eager for impetuous combat, +[carried] Imbrius. As two lions bear a goat through the thick +copse-wood, snatching it from the sharp-toothed dogs, holding it high +above the earth in their jaws; so the two warriors, the Ajaces, holding +him [Imbrius] aloft, stripped off his armour; but the son of Oïleus, +enraged on account of Amphimachus, severed his head from his tender +neck, and sent it rolling like a ball through the crowd; but it fell +before the feet of Hector in the dust. + +Then indeed was Neptune grieved at heart for his grandson, slain in the +grievous fight; and he proceeded to go along the tents and ships of the +Greeks, exhorting the Greeks, and prepared disasters for the Trojans. +But spear-renowned Idomeneus then met him, returning from a companion +who had lately come to him from the battle, wounded in the ham with the +sharp brass, whom his comrades had carried in, and he, having given +directions to the surgeons, was returning from his tent; for he still +desired to participate in the fight. Him king Neptune addressed, +assimilating himself, as to his voice, to Thoas, son of Andræmon, who +governed the Ætolians throughout all Pleuron and lofty Calydon, and who +was honoured by the people as a god: + +“Idomeneus, thou counsellor of the Cretans, where indeed are the +threats gone, with which the sons of the Greeks threatened the +Trojans?” Whom again in return, Idomeneus, the leader of the Cretans, +addressed: “No man, O Thoas, as far as I know, is at present to blame; +for we are all skilled in warring. Neither does disheartening fear +detain any one, nor does any one, yielding to sloth, shirk evil strife; +but thus, doubtless, it will be agreeable to the all-powerful son of +Saturn, that here, far away from Argos, the Greeks shall perish +inglorious. But, Thoas—for formerly thou wast warlike, and urged on +others when thou didst behold them negligent—so now desist not thyself, +but exhort each man.” + +But him earth-shaking Neptune then answered: “Never may that man, O +Idomeneus, return from Troy, but let him here be the sport of the dogs, +whosoever voluntarily this day shall relax from fighting. But come, +taking up arms, advance hither; for it behoves us to hasten these +things, if we may be of any service, although but two; for useful is +the valour of men, even the very pusillanimous, if combined, whereas we +both understand how to fight even with the brave.” + +So saying, the god departed again to the toil of heroes. But Idomeneus, +when now he had reached his well-made tent, put on his rich armour +around his body, and seized two spears, and hastened to go, like unto +the lightning, which the son of Saturn, seizing in his hand, brandishes +from glittering Olympus, showing a sign to mortals; and brilliant are +its rays: so shone the brass around the breast of him running. Then +Meriones, his good attendant, met him yet near the tent,—for he was +going to fetch a brazen spear; and the strength of Idomeneus addressed +him: + +“Meriones, son of Molus, swift of foot, dearest of my companions, why +comest thou thus, quitting the war and the contest? Art thou at all +wounded, and does the point of a spear afflict thee? Or comest thou to +me on any message? For I myself am not desirous to sit within my tent, +but to fight.” + +But him prudent Meriones in turn answered: “Idomeneus, thou counsellor +of the brazen-mailed Cretans, I come, if there be any spear left within +thy tents, to take it: because I indeed have broken that which I +formerly had, having struck the shield of ferocious Deïphobus.” Whom +again in turn Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, addressed: “Thou wilt +find, if thou desirest [to select from them], one-and-twenty spears +standing in my tent against the shining walls, which I have taken from +the slain Trojans; for I affirm that I do not fight with hostile men, +standing at a distance from them. Hence I have both spears, and bossy +shields, and helmets, and corslets, brightly polished.” + +But him again prudent Meriones addressed in turn: “At my tent also and +black ship are there many spoils of the Trojans; but they are not near, +so that I might take them. For neither do I conceive that I am +forgetful of valour, but I stand among the foremost in glory-giving +battle, whenever the contest of war has arisen. I am rather unobserved +perhaps, when fighting by some other of the brazen-mailed Greeks; but I +think that thou knowest me.” + +Whom again Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, addressed in turn: “I know +what thou art as to valour: what necessity is there for thee to +enumerate these things? For if now all we the bravest at the ships +should be selected for an ambuscade, where the courage of men is +especially distinguished, where both the coward as well as the brave +man is made apparent—for the complexion of the coward on the one hand +is changed from this to that, nor is his heart calm within his bosom, +so that he can rest without trembling, but he shifts his position, and +sits upon both his feet, whilst his heart greatly palpitates within his +breast, as he is expecting death; and a chattering of his teeth arises. +But neither is the complexion of the brave man changed, nor is he at +all disturbed, after he first sits down in the ambush of heroes; but he +burns to be mingled with all haste in direful fight—[no one], in that +case, would find fault with thy courage and might. For if, labouring +[in the battle], thou wert wounded from a distance, or smitten in close +fight, the weapon would not fall upon thy neck behind, nor upon thy +back; but it would pierce through either thy breast, or thy stomach, as +thou wast rushing forward amid the conflict 420 of foremost combatants. +But come, no longer let us speak of these things, standing like +infatuated persons, lest perhaps some one chide us inordinately; but do +thou, going to the tent, take a strong spear.” + +Footnote 420: (return) Hesych. Όαριστυν μάχην. Etym. Μ. fol. 131, Β. +2. ‘Αντί του εv τη των τρωταγωνιστων oμιλίᾳ (which is its proper +meaning, as derived from oaρ) και συναναστρoφη. + +Thus be spake, and Meriones, equal to swift Mars, quickly took from the +tent a brazen spear; and he went along with Idomeneus, very eager for +war. But as man-destroying Mars enters the battle—with whom Terror, his +dear son, at the same time powerful and undismayed, follows, who +strikes fear into the warrior even of resolute soul: these indeed are +armed from Thrace, along with the Ephyri or with the magnanimous +Phlegyans; neither do they hear both, but they give glory to one or the +other—so Meriones and Idomeneus, leaders of heroes, advanced to battle +equipped with helmets of glittering brass; and Meriones first addressed +him in these words: + +“Son of Deucalion, where dost thou meditate to enter the throng? To the +right of all the army, or at the centre, or upon the left? Since +nowhere [else] 421 in the battle do I conceive that the long-haired +Greeks so much require support.” + +Footnote 421: (return) _I.e._ nowhere so much as on the left. + +But him Idomeneus, the leader of the Cretans, in turn addressed: “Among +the centre ships indeed there are others to aid them, both the Ajaces +and Teucer, who is the most skilful of the Greeks in archery, and brave +also in standing fight; who will sufficiently harass, even to satiety, +Hector, the son of Priam, although most urgent of battle, and although +being very gallant. Hard will it be for him, although very desirous of +fighting, having overpowered their strength and invincible hands, to +fire the ships, unless the son of Saturn himself cast a flaming torch +upon the swift ships. Nor indeed will mighty Telamonian Ajax yield to +any man who may be a mortal, and who may eat the fruit of Ceres, who is +vulnerable by brass and by large stones. Not even to warlike Achilles +would he give way, at least in standing fight; but in speed he is by no +means able to contend with him. Guide us, therefore, to the left of the +army that we may quickly know whether we shall afford glory to any one, +or any one to us.” + +Thus he spoke. But Meriones, equal to rapid Mars, began to proceed, +until he came to [that part of] the army whither he had ordered him. +But they, when they beheld Idomeneus, like unto a flame in might, both +him and his attendant, in variously-wrought armour, they all, exhorting +one another along the crowd, advanced against him, and an equal contest +arose at the sterns of their ships. And as when storms sweep along, +[driven] by the shrill winds, on a day when the dust around the roads +[is] very abundant, and they at the same time raise up a large cloud of +dust; so came on the battle of these together, and they were eager in +their minds to slaughter one another throughout the throng with the +sharp brass. And the mortal-destroying combat bristles with the long +spears which they held, flesh-rending; and the brazen splendour from +the gleaming helmets, the newly-burnished corslets, and the shining +shields, coming together, dazzled their eyes. Very brave-hearted would +he be who, when beholding their toil, could have rejoiced, and would +not be disturbed. + +But the two powerful sons of Saturn, favouring different sides, planned +grievous toils for the heroes. On the one hand, Jove willed victory to +the Trojans and to Hector, glorifying swift-footed Achilles; yet he +desired not entirely to destroy the Grecian people before Ilium, but +was honouring Thetis and her magnanimous son. On the other hand, +Neptune, coming amongst them, encouraged the Greeks, having secretly +emerged from the hoary deep; for he grieved that they should be subdued +by the Trojans, and he was greatly indignant with Jove. The same race +indeed was to both, and the same lineage, but Jove was born first, 422 +and knew more. For this reason [Neptune] avoided aiding them openly, +but always kept privately inciting them through the army, assimilated +to a man. They indeed alternately stretched over both the cord of +vehement contest and equally destructive war, irrefragable and +indissoluble, which relaxed the knees of many. Then, although +half-hoary Idomeneus, encouraging the Greeks, rushing upon the Trojans, +created night; for he slew Othryoneus, who had come from Cabesus, +staying within [Priam’s house]. 423 He had lately come after the rumour +of the war, and demanded Cassandra, the most beautiful in form of the +daughters of Priam, without a dowry; and he had promised a mighty deed, +to repulse in spite of themselves the sons of the Greeks from Troy. But +to him aged Priam had promised her, and pledged himself 424 to give +her; therefore he fought, trusting in these promises. But Idomeneus +took aim at him with his shining spear, and hurling it, struck him, +strutting proudly; nor did the brazen corslet which he wore resist it, +but he fixed it in the middle of his stomach. And falling, he gave a +crash, and [the other] boasted and said: + +“Othryoneus! above all men indeed do I praise thee, if thou wilt now in +truth accomplish all which thou hast undertaken for Dardanian Priam: +but he also promised thee his daughter. We likewise, promising these +things, will accomplish them to thee. We will give thee the most +beautiful in form of the daughters of the son of Atreus to wed, +bringing her from Argos, if along with us thou wilt destroy the +well-inhabited city of Ilium. But follow, that we may treat with thee +respecting the marriage of the sea-traversing ships; since we are by no +means bad brothers-in-law.” + +Footnote 422: (return) Heyne compares xiv. 204. The Erinnys were +supposed to avenge any disrespect offered to an elder brother by a +younger. + +Footnote 423: (return) Literally, “being within from Cabesus.” + +Footnote 424: (return) Lit. “bowed assent.” + +So saying, the hero Idomeneus dragged him by the foot through the brisk +battle. But to him Asius came as an avenger, on foot, before his +steeds; which his attendant charioteer always kept breathing over his +shoulders; 425 and in his mind he longed to strike Idomeneus, but he +(Idomeneus) anticipating him, smote him with his spear in the throat, +below the chin, and drove the brass quite through. And he fell, as when +some oak falls, or white poplar, 426 or towering 427 pine, which +timber-workers have cut down upon the mountains with lately-whetted +axes, to become ship timber. So he lay, stretched out before his horses +and chariot, gnashing his teeth, grasping the bloody dust. But the +charioteer was deprived of the senses which he previously had, nor +dared he turn back the horses that he might escape from the hands of +the enemy: but him warlike Antilochus, striking, transfixed in the +middle with his spear; nor did the brazen corslet which he wore resist, +but he fixed it in the centre of his stomach. Then, panting, he fell +from the well-made chariot-seat, and Antilochus, the son of magnanimous +Nestor, drove away the horses from the Trojans to the well-armed +Greeks. But Deïphobus, enraged on account of Asius, drew very near to +Idomeneus, and hurled with his shining spear. Idomeneus, however, +having perceived it opposite, avoided the brazen spear, for he was +concealed behind his shield equal on all sides, which he bore, +constructed of the hides of bulls, and glittering brass, fitted with +two handles. Behind this he collected himself entirely, and the brazen +spear flew over him. But the shield returned a dry 428 sound, the spear +grazing it obliquely. Yet he (Deïphobus) sent it not in vain from his +heavy hand, but he struck Hypsenor, son of Hippasus. the shepherd of +the people, upon the liver, below the breast, and straightway relaxed +his knees under him. But Deïphobus vainly boasted over him, loudly +exclaiming: + +Footnote 425: (return) _I.e._ close by Asius (κατ’ ώμων), he having +descended for the purpose of rescuing the body of Othryoneus.—Kennedy. + +Footnote 426: (return) “Ἠ λευκη, populus alba.”—Heyne. + +Footnote 427: (return) Βλωθρός is connected with βλώσκω, as βληχρός +with βλίττω. See Buttm. Lexil. p. 194. Hesych.: Βλωθρή’ εύαυζής, ή +προζαίνουσα καΐ άνω θρώσκουσα. Schol. on Apoll. Rhod. i. 322: ίτυν +βλωθρήν Όμηρος, την άχρι του αιθέρος μολίσκουσαν. + +Footnote 428: (return) So v. 441: αυον άυσεν. So “aridus sonus,” in +Lucret. vi, 113; “aridus fragor,” Virg. Georg. I. 357, noticed by +Quintil. I.O. viii. 3. A dry, grating, half-crackling sound is meant. + +“Surely not unavenged lies Asius; I rather think that he will rejoice +in his mind, though going into the strong-gated, massy [dwelling] of +Hades, since I have given him a guide.” + +Thus he spoke; but grief came upon the Greeks at his boasting, and it +particularly agitated the mind of warlike Antilochus. Yet, grieved as +he was, he neglected not his companion, but running, he protected him, +and covered him over with his shield. Him then his two dear companions, +Mecisteus, son of Echius, and noble Alastor, supporting, bore to the +hollow ships, deeply groaning. In the meantime Idomeneus ceased not his +mighty valour; but always burned either to cover some of the Trojans +with pitchy night, 429 or himself to fall with a crash, repelling +destruction from the Greeks. Then the hero Alcathous, the beloved son +of Æsyetas (and he was the son-in-law of Anchises, for he had married +Hippodamia, the eldest of his daughters, whom her father and venerable +mother loved from their hearts, whilst in their home, because she +excelled all of her age in beauty, in accomplishments, and prudence, +for which reason also the most distinguished man in wide Troy had +wedded her), him Neptune subdued under Idomeneus, having dimmed his +shining eyes, and fettered his fair limbs. For he was able neither to +fly back nor to turn aside, but him, standing motionless, like a pillar +or lofty-branching tree, the hero Idomeneus wounded with his spear in +the middle of the breast, and burst the brazen coat around him, which +formerly warded off destruction from his body: but then it sent forth a +dry sound, severed by the spear. Falling, he gave a crash, and the +spear was fixed in his heart, which, palpitating, shook even the +extremity of the spear; and there at length the impetuous Mars 430 +spent its force. But Idomeneus boasted prodigiously over him, loudly +exclaiming: + +Footnote 429: (return) _I.e._ death. + +Footnote 430: (return) Here put for the weapon. + +“Deïphobus! do we judge rightly that it is a fair return, that three +should be slain for one, since thus thou boastest? But do thou thyself +also, wretch, stand against me, that thou mayest know of what nature I +am, who have come hither the offspring of Jove, who first begat Minos, +the guardian of Crete. Minos again begat Deucalion, his blameless son, +and Deucalion begat me, king over many men in wide Crete. But now the +ships have brought me hither, an evil both to thee and to thy father, +and the other Trojans.” + +Thus he spoke, but Deïphobus hesitated between two opinions, whether, +falling back, he should join to himself some one of the magnanimous +Trojans, or make trial although alone. But to him, thus deliberating, +it appeared preferable to go in search of Æneas; whom he found standing +at the rear of the army, for he was ever indignant with noble Priam, +because he by no means honoured him, though being valiant among heroes. +And, standing near, he addressed to him winged words: + +“Æneas, thou counsellor of the Trojans, now does it greatly behove thee +to aid thy brother-in-law, if indeed any regard reaches thee. But +follow, let us bring aid to Alcathous, who, being thy brother-in-law, +nourished thee whilst very young, in his palace, and whom spear-famed +Idomeneus hath slain.” + +Thus he spoke, and roused the courage in his breast, and he, greatly +desirous of battle, went to meet Idomeneus. Yet fear seized not +Idomeneus like a tender boy, but he stood still, like a boar in the +mountains, confident in his prowess, and who abides the mighty din of +men advancing against him, in a desert place, 431 and bristles up his +back; his eyes, too, gleam with fire, and he whets his teeth, eager to +keep at bay both dogs and men. So spear-renowned Idomeneus awaited +Æneas, swift in the battle-din, coming against him, nor retired; but he +shouted to his companions, looking to Ascalaphus, and Aphareus, and +Deïpyrus, and Meriones, and Antilochus, skilful in fight. Exhorting +these, he addressed to them winged words: + +Footnote 431: (return) Or, “in the sheep-pasture.” + +“Hither, my friends, and aid me alone, for I greatly dread swift-footed +Æneas, rushing on, who is coming upon me; who is very powerful to slay +men in battle, and possesses the bloom of youth, which is the greatest +strength. For if we were of the same age, with the spirit that I now +possess, quickly would either he bear off great glory, or I would.” + +Thus he spoke; but they all, having one determination in their minds, +stood near him, inclining their shields upon their shoulders. Æneas, on +the other hand, animated his companions, looking towards Deïphobus, +Paris, and noble Agenor, who, together with himself, were leaders of +the Trojans. These also the people followed, as sheep follow from their +pasture after the ram in order to drink; and the shepherd then is +rejoiced in his mind. So was the soul of Æneas gladdened in his breast, +when he beheld a body of troops following himself. These therefore +engaged in close fight round Alcathous with long spears, whilst the +brass resounded horribly on the breasts of them, aiming at each other +through the crowd. But two warlike men, conspicuous among the rest, +Æneas and Idomeneus, equal to Mars, longed to lacerate each other’s +flesh with the ruthless brass. But Æneas first hurled his javelin at +Idomeneus; but he, perceiving it opposite, avoided the brazen spear; +and the spear of Æneas sank quivering into the earth; for it fled in +vain from his sturdy hand. Idomeneus next smote Œnomaus in the middle +of the stomach, and the spear burst the cavity of his corslet, and +penetrating, drank his entrails through; but falling amid the dust, he +grasped the earth with the hollow of his hand. Then Idomeneus plucked +out the long spear from his body, but was unable to tear off the other +rich armour from his shoulders, for he was pressed hard by weapons. For +no longer were the sinews of his feet firm as he rushed, either to +hasten on after his own dart, 432 or avoid [that of another]. Wherefore +also in standing fight, he warded off the fatal day, nor did his feet +any longer bear him with ease in retreating from the battle. But +against him, gradually retiring, Deïphobus took aim with his glittering +spear, for he ever had a rooted hatred towards him. But then too he +missed, and struck with his javelin Ascalaphus, the son of Mars, and +drove the stout spear through his shoulder; and tailing amid the dust, +he grasped the earth with his hand. + +Footnote 432: (return) So as to recover it. + +Not yet, however, had loudly-roaring, 433 impetuous Mars heard that his +son had fallen in the violent fight; but he sat upon the summit of +Olympus, beneath golden clouds, excluded [from the battle] by the will +of Jove, where also the other immortal gods were restrained from the +war. In the meantime they engaged in close fight round Ascalaphus. +Deïphobus indeed tore the shining helmet from Ascalaphus; and Meriones, +equal to swift Mars, springing [upon him], smote [him] with his spear +in the arm, and the crested 434 casque, falling from his hand, rang +upon the earth. Immediately Meriones, leaping upon him like a vulture, +plucked out the tough spear from the lower part of his arm, and retired +back again into the crowd of his comrades. But him Polites, his own +brother, throwing his hands round his waist, carried out of the +dread-sounding battle, till he reached his fleet steeds, which awaited +him in the rear of the combat and the war, having both a charioteer and +a variegated car; which then carried him towards the city, groaning +heavily [and] afflicted; and the blood flowed from his recently-wounded +hand: but the others kept fighting, and an unquenchable clamour arose. +Then Æneas rushing upon Aphareus, the son of Caletor, smote him with +his sharp spear upon the throat, when turned towards him. And his head +was bent to one side, then his shield clung to him, and his helmet; and +around him life-destroying death was spread. Antilochus, however, +observing Thoas turning around, attacking, wounded him; and cut away +all the vein, which, running quite along the back, reaches to the neck. +All this he cut off; but he fell on his back in the dust, stretching +out both hands to his beloved companions. Then Antilochus sprang upon +him, and stripped the armour from his shoulders, looking around; for +the Trojans surrounding him, struck his wide and ornamented shield with +their darts, nor were they able to graze with the dire brass the tender +body of Antilochus within it; because earth-shaking Neptune protected +the son of Nestor all round, even amongst many weapons. For never +indeed was he apart from the enemy, but he turned himself about among +them: nor did he hold his spear without motion, but continually moving, +it was whirled about; and he prepared within his mind, either to hurl +it at some one afar off, or to rush upon some one close at hand. But +meditating these things amid the throng, he escaped not the notice of +Adamas, the son of Asias, who smote him in the middle of his shield +with the sharp brass, attacking him in close combat; but azure-haired +Neptune weakened the spear, grudging 435 him the life [of Antilochus]. +Part of it remained there, like a stake burned in the fire, 436 in the +shield of Antilochus, and the other half lay upon the ground; whilst he +gave backwards into the crowd of his companions, shunning death. +Meriones, however, following him departing, smote him with his spear +between the private parts and the navel, where a wound 437 is +particularly painful to miserable mortals. There he fixed the spear in +him; and he falling, struggled panting around the spear, as an ox, when +cowherds in the mountains, forcibly binding him with twisted cords, +lead [him] away unwilling. So he, wounded, throbbed, though but for a +short time, and not very long, until the hero Meriones coming near, +plucked the spear from his body; and darkness veiled his eyes. But +Helenas, close at hand, struck Deïpyrus upon the temple with his huge +Thracian sword, and cut away the three-coned helmet; which, being +dashed off, fell upon the ground; and some one of the combating Greeks +lifted it up, having rolled between his feet; whilst dim night +enveloped his eyes. Then grief seized the son of Atreus, Menelaus, +brave in the din of battle, and he advanced, threatening the hero, king +Helenus; brandishing his sharp spear, whilst the other drew the horn of +his bow. Together then they darted, the one eager to launch his +fir-tree spear, and the other an arrow from the string. Then indeed the +son of Priam smote him in the breast with an arrow, on the cavity of +the corslet, but the bitter shaft rebounded. As when from the broad +winnowing-fan in a large threshing-floor, the black-coated beans or +vetches leap at the shrill blast, and the force of the winnower; so, +strongly repulsed by the corslet of glorious Menelaus, the bitter arrow +flew afar. But Menelaus, the son of Atreus, brave in the din of battle, +smote him upon the hand which held his well-polished bow; and in the +bow the brazen spear was fixed from the opposite side, through his +hand. Then he retired back into the crowd of his companions, avoiding +death, hanging down his hand at his side, but the ashen spear was +trailed along with him. And then magnanimous Agenor extracted it from +his hand, and bound [the hand] itself sling-ways in well-twisted +sheep’s wool, which his attendant carried for the shepherd of the +people. + +Footnote 433: (return) Βριήπυος=έρίγδουπος. The Schol. on Apoll. Rh. +iii. 860, observes: Βρί, έπιτάσεως έστίν, ὡς τὁ Βριήπυος. + +Footnote 434: (return) The meaning of αὐλῶπις is rather uncertain. +According to the Schol. and Hesychius, it means a helmet that has the +openings for the eyes oblong (παραμήκεις ἔχουσα τὰς τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν ὀπάς), +or a helmet with a long crest (έκτεταμένον λόφον). + +Footnote 435: (return) Φθονήσας Άδάμαντι, μὴ τὁν βίον Άντιλόχου +ἀφέληται. + +Footnote 436: (return) The “præustæ sudes” of Cæsar, Β.G. ν. 40. These +were among the rustic weapons of antiquity, as may be seen from Virg. +Æn. vii. 523. + + “Non jam certamine agresti + Stipitibus duris agitur, sudibusve præustis; + Sed ferro ancipiti decernunt.” + + +Footnote 437: (return) Cf. vs. 444. + +But Pisander went direct against glorious Menelaus, because evil Fate +led him towards the end of death, to be subdued by thee, O Menelaus, in +the dire battle. When therefore they were near, advancing against each +other, the son of Atreus indeed missed, and his spear was turned aside +from him; but Pisander smote the shield of glorious Menelaus, nor could +he drive the spear quite through; because the broad shield kept it off, +and the spear was broken at the extremity: still he rejoiced in his +mind, and hoped for victory. The son of Atreus, however, drawing his +silver-studded sword, sprang upon Pisander; but he drew from beneath +his shield a handsome battle-axe of well-wrought brass, fixed upon +either side of an olive handle, long, well-polished; and at once they +struck each other. Then he (Pisander) cut away the cone of the helmet, +thick with horse-hair, under the very crest, but (Menelaus smote) him, +approaching, upon the forehead, above the root of the nose. And the +bones crashed, and his blood-stained eyes fell at his feet upon the +ground in the dust: and falling, he writhed. Then he (Menelaus) placing +his heel upon his breast, despoiled him of his armour, and boasting, +spoke [this] speech: + +“Thus, 438 then, shall ye abandon the ships of the Greeks, who possess +swift steeds, ye treaty-breaking Trojans, insatiate of dire battle. Of +other injury and disgrace ye indeed lack nothing with which ye have +injured me, vile dogs, nor have ye at all dreaded in your minds the +heavy wrath of high-thundering, hospitable Jove, who will yet destroy +for you your lofty city; ye who unprovoked departed, carrying off my +virgin spouse, and much wealth, after ye had been hospitably received +by her. Now again do ye eagerly desire to hurl destructive fire upon +the sea-traversing ships, and to slay the Grecian heroes. But ye shall +yet be restrained, impetuous as ye be, from war. O father Jove, +assuredly they say that thou excellest all others, men and gods, in +prudence, yet from thee do all these things proceed. How much dost thou +gratify these insolent Trojan men, whose violence is ever pernicious, +and who cannot be satisfied with war, equally destructive to all! Of +all things is there satiety,—of sleep, of love, of sweet singing, and +of faultless dancing, with which one would much more readily satisfy +his desire, than with war; but the Trojans are insatiate of battle.” + +Footnote 438: (return) _I.e._ by being slain one after another. + +So saying, having stripped the bloody armour from the body, illustrious +Menelaus gave it to his companions, whilst he, advancing, was again +mixed with the foremost combatants. Then Harpalion, the son of king +Pylæmenes, who had then followed his dear father to wage war at Troy, +leaped upon him; nor returned he back to his native land. [He it was] +who then, close at hand, struck the middle of Atrides’ shield with his +lance, nor was he able to drive quite through the brass; but he retired +back into the crowd of his companions, avoiding death, looking around +on all sides, lest any one should touch his body 439 with a spear. +Meriones, however, shot a brazen-pointed arrow at him retreating, and +struck him upon the right hip, and the arrow penetrated to the other +side, through the bladder, below the bone. Sinking down, therefore, in +the same place, breathing out his life in the arms of his beloved +companions, like a worm, he lay stretched upon the ground, whilst his +black blood flowed, and moistened the earth. Around him the magnanimous +Paphlagonians were employed, and, lifting him upon a chariot, they bore +him to sacred Ilium, grieving; and with them went his father, shedding +tears: but no vengeance was taken for his dead son. + +Footnote 439: (return) As the usual construction of έπανρεΐν is with a +genitive, Heyne would supply μή τις έπαύρη αύτού κατά χρόα. + +But Paris was greatly enraged in his soul on account of his being +slain, for he had been his guest among many Paphlagonians; wherefore, +enraged on his account, he sent forth a brazen arrow. Now there was one +Euchenor, son of the diviner Polyïdus, wealthy and brave, inhabiting a +dwelling at Corinth, who, well knowing his fatal destiny, had arrived +in a ship. For often had Polyïdus, good old man, told him, that he +would perish in his halls of a grievous disease, or be subdued by the +Trojans among the ships of the Greeks; wherefore he avoided at once the +severe mulct 440 of the Achæans, and odious disease, that he might not +suffer sorrows in his mind. Him he (Paris) smote below the jaw and the +ear; and his spirit quickly departed from his members, and hateful +darkness seized him. + +Thus indeed they fought like 441 unto a burning fire. But Hector, dear +to Jove, had not learned, nor knew at all, how at the left of the ships +his people were being slaughtered by the Greeks, for the victory was on +the point of being the Grecians’; so much did earth-shaking Neptune +encourage the Greeks, and moreover himself assisted with his strength; +but he (Hector) pressed on where first he had sprung within the gates +and wall, breaking the thick ranks of the shielded Greeks. There were +the ships of Ajax and Protesilaus, drawn up upon the shore of the hoary +sea; but above 442 them the wall was built very low; there themselves +and their horses were most impetuous in the combat. There 443 the +Bœotians and long-robed Iaonians, the Locrians, the Phthians, and the +illustrious Epeans, restrained him from the ships, fiercely rushing on; +but were unable to drive away from them noble Hector, like unto a +flame. The chosen men of the Athenians stood in the van; among whom +Menestheus, son of Peteus, had the command; and with him followed +Phidas, Stichius, and brave Bias, Meges, the son of Phyieus, Amphion, +and Dracius, led the Epeans, and over the Phthians were Medon and +Podarces, steady in fight (Medon indeed was the spurious offspring of +godlike Oïleus, and the brother of Ajax; but he dwelt at Phylace, away +from his native country, 444 having slain a man, the brother of his +stepmother Eriopis, whom Oïleus had married. But the other was the son +of Iphiclus, of Phylace). These in arms before the magnanimous +Phthians, fought among the Bœotians, defending the ships. + +Footnote 440: (return) As Corinth was under the authority of +Agamemnon, he would have been compelled to pay a fine for refusing the +service. Compare the ἀτιμία της ἀστραείας at Athens. See Potter, +Antiq. i. 23. + +Footnote 441: (return) Cf. xi. 595, with the note. + +Footnote 442: (return) _I.e._ before them. + +Footnote 443: (return) _I.e._ where Hector broke in. + +Footnote 444: (return) See my note on ii. p. 42, n. 2. + +But Ajax, the swift son of Oïleus, never separated from Telamonian +Ajax, not even for a little time; but as in a fallow field two black +bullocks possessing equal spirit, draw a well-joined plough,—but +meanwhile copious sweat breaks forth around the roots of their horns; +and them the well-polished yoke alone separates on either side, +advancing along the furrows, and [the plough] cuts 445 up the bottom of +the soil; so they twain, joined together, stood very near to each +other. And then many and brave troops followed the son of Telamon as +companions, who received from him his shield, whenever fatigue and +sweat came upon his limbs. But the Locrians followed not the +great-souled son of Oïleus, for their heart remained not firm to them +in the standing fight, because they had not brazen helmets crested with +horse-hair, nor had they well-orbed shields and ashen spears; but they +followed along with him to Ilium, trusting in the bows and the +well-twisted sheep’s wool, with which, frequently hurling, they broke +the phalanxes of the Trojans. At that time indeed these (the Ajaces) in +the van, with their variously-wrought armour, fought against the +Trojans and brazen-armed Hector, whilst (the Locrians) shooting from +the rear, lay concealed; nor were the Trojans any longer mindful of +combat, for the arrows put them in confusion. + +Then surely would the Trojans have retreated with loss from the ships +and tents to lofty Ilium, had not Polydamas, standing near, addressed +bold Hector: + +“Hector, thou art impossible to be persuaded by advice. 446 Because +indeed a god hath given thee, above others, warlike deeds, for this +reason dost thou also desire to be more skilled than others in counsel? +But by no means canst thou thyself obtain all things at once. 447 To +one indeed hath the deity given warlike deeds; to another dancing; and +to another the harp and singing. To another again far-sounding Jove +implants a prudent mind in his bosom, of which many men reap the +advantage, as it (prudence) even preserves cities; and he himself (who +possesses it) especially knows (its value). Yet will I speak as appears +to me best; because the encircling host 448 of war burns round thee on +all sides, and the magnanimous Trojans, since they have crossed the +walls, some indeed stand apart with their arms, and others fight, the +fewer against the greater number, scattered amongst the ships. But +retiring back, summon hither all the chiefs. And then we can better +discuss the whole plan; whether we shall enter upon the many-benched +ships, if indeed the deity will give us victory; or depart uninjured +from the barks; because of a truth I fear lest the Greeks repay their +debt of yesterday, since a man, insatiate in war, still remains at the +ships, who I conceive will no longer abstain entirely from battle.” +Thus spoke Polydamas, but the faultless advice pleased Hector; and +immediately he leaped with his armour from his chariot to the ground, +and, addressing him, spoke winged words: + +Footnote 445: (return) Τέμει refers to ἄροτρον in v. 703, not to +ζυγόν. + +Footnote 446: (return) Put for ἀμήχανόν ἐστι πείθειν σε. + +Footnote 447: (return) A favourite proverb. Cf. Duport, Gnom. p. 81. + +Footnote 448: (return) So “corona,” in Latin. + +“Polydamas, do thou retain here all the bravest, whilst I will come +back again immediately after I have given proper orders to the +[troops].” He said, and shouting, he rushed on, like unto a snowy +mountain, and flew through the Trojans and the allies. But they all +crowded round valour-loving Polydamas, the son of Panthous, as soon as +they heard the voice of Hector. He, however, ranged through the +foremost combatants, seeking if he could anywhere find Deïphobus, the +might of king Helenus, and Adamas, the son of Asias, and Asius, the son +of Hyrtacus. Some he found no longer quite unhurt, nor yet destroyed, +whilst others again lay at the sterns of the ships of the Greeks, +having lost their lives by the hands of the Greeks; and others were +stricken or wounded within the wall. But he quickly found noble +Alexander, the husband of fair-haired Helen, on the left of the +lamentable battle, cheering of his companions, and encouraging them to +fight; and, standing near, he addressed him with reproachful words: + +“Accursed Paris, fine only in person, woman-mad, seducer, where are +Deïphobus and the might of king Helenus, and Adamas, the son of Asias, +and Asius, the son of Hyrtacus? Where also is Othryoneus? Now lofty +Ilium all perishes from its summit, 449 now is its final destruction +certain.” + +Footnote 449: (return) The Latin “a culmine,” as in Virg. Æn. ii. 290, +603. So Æsch. + +But him godlike Alexander in turn addressed: “Hector, since it is thy +intention to find fault with me when innocent, at some other time +perhaps, I may be more neglectful of the fight; [but not now], since +neither did my mother bear me altogether unwarlike. For from the time +when thou didst stir up the battle of thy companions at the ships, from +that time, remaining here, have we engaged incessantly with the Greeks; +and those comrades are dead for whom thou inquirest. Deïphobus and the +might of king Helenus alone have withdrawn, both wounded in the hand +with long spears; but the son of Saturn hath warded off death [from +them]. But now lead on, wheresoever thy heart and soul urge thee; and +we will follow with determined minds, nor do I think that thou wilt be +at all in want of valour, as much strength as is in us. It is not +possible even for one, although keenly desirous, to fight beyond his +strength.” + +So saying, the hero persuaded the mind of his brother, and they +hastened to advance towards that place where especially was the battle +and contest; round Cebriones and excellent Polydamas, Phalces and +Orthæus, and godlike Polyphœtes, and Palmys, and Ascanius and Morys, +the sons of Hippotion, who the day before had come as a relief guard +450 from fertile Ascania: and Jove then urged them to fight. But they +marched like unto the blast of boisterous winds, which rushes down to +the plain, urged by the thunder of father Jove, and with a dreadful +tumult 451 is mingled with the ocean; and in it [rise] many boiling +billows of the much-resounding sea, swollen, whitened with foam, first +indeed some and then others following. + +Footnote 450: (return) See Buttm. Lexil. p. 358. Choeph. 679: Κατ’ +ἄκρας ένθάδ’ ὡς πορθούμεθα. Soph. Ant. 206: Ἠθέλησε μὲν πυρὶ πρῆσαι +κατ’ ἄκρας. Eurip. Phœn. 1192: Κατ’ ἄκρων περγάμων ἑλεῖν πόλιν. + +Footnote 451: (return) ολέμου διάδοχοι, τοῖς προτέροις +ἷσοι.—Eustathius. + +So the Trojans, first indeed some in battle array, and then others +glittering in brass, followed along with their leaders. But Hector, the +son of Priam, equal to man-slaughtering Mars, led the van, and held +before him his shield, equal on all sides, thick with skins; and much +brass was laid over it: and round his temples his gleaming helmet was +shaken. Stepping forward, he tried the phalanxes around on every side, +if perchance they would give way to him, advancing under cover of his +shield. Yet he disturbed not the courage of the Greeks in their +breasts: but Ajax, far-striding, first challenged him: + +“O noble Sir, draw nearer: why dost thou thus frighten the Greeks? We +Greeks are by no means unskilful in battle, although we are subdued by +the evil scourge 452 of Jove. Thy soul, forsooth, hopes, I suppose, to +plunder the ships; but we also have hands ready to repulse thee +immediately. Assuredly, long before shall thy well-inhabited city be +taken and destroyed by our hands. But to thee thyself, I say, the time +draws near, when, flying, thou shalt pray to father Jove and the other +immortals, that thy fair-maned steeds, which shall bear thee to the +city, raising dust over the plain, may become swifter than hawks.” + +Footnote 452: (return) See note on xii. 37. + +Whilst he was thus speaking, a bird flew over him on the right—a +lofty-flying eagle; upon which the people of the Greeks shouted, +encouraged by the omen; but illustrious Hector replied: + +“O babbling and vain-boasting Ajax, what hast thou said? Would that I +were as sure of becoming for ever the child of ægis-bearing Jove, that +the venerable Juno had borne me, and that I were honoured as Minerva +and Apollo are honoured, as that this day now certainly brings +destruction upon all the Greeks; and among others thou shalt be slain, +if thou wilt dare to abide my long spear, which shall tear for thee thy +dainty person, and thou shalt satiate the dogs and birds of the Trojans +with thy fat and flesh, falling at the ships of the Greeks.” + +Thus then having spoken, he led on; and they followed along with him +with a mighty shout, and the troops likewise shouted in the rear. The +Greeks, on the other side, raised a shout, nor were they forgetful of +their valour, but they awaited the bravest of the Trojans, assaulting. +But the clamour of both reached to the æther and the shining splendour +453 of Jove. + +Footnote 453: (return) Cf. Pind. Ol. iii. 43: Αὐγαῖς ἁλίου. So “auras +ætherias,” Virg. Georg. ii. 291. Lucret. i. 208, “Dias-luminis +auras.”—Kennedy. + + + + +BOOK THE FOURTEENTH. + + +ARGUMENT. + +Agamemnon and the other wounded chiefs visit the battle with Nestor. +Juno, having borrowed the cestus of Venus, first obtains the assistance +of Sleep, and then hastens to Ida to inveigle Jove. She prevails, Jove +sleeps, and Neptune seizes the opportunity to aid the Trojans. + + +But the shouting did not entirely escape the notice of Nestor, although +drinking, but he addressed winged words to the son of Æsculapius: +“Consider, noble Machaon, how these things will be; greater, certainly, +[grows] the shouting of the blooming youths at the ships. But sitting +here at present, drink indeed the dark wine, until fair-haired Hecamede +has warmed the tepid baths, and washed away the bloody gore; whilst I, +going with speed to a watchtower, will gain information.” + +So saying, he took the well-made shield of his own son, horse-breaking +Thrasymedes, [which was] lying in the tent, all shining with brass (for +he had the shield of his sire); and seized a strong spear, pointed with +sharp brass; and stood without the tent, and soon beheld an unseemly +deed,—these [the Greeks] in confusion, and those, the haughty Trojans, +routing them in the rear; but the wall of the Greeks had fallen. And as +when the vast deep blackens with the noiseless 454 wave, foreboding +with no effect, the rapid courses of the shrill blasts, nor yet is it +rolled forwards or backwards, before some decisive blast comes down +from Jove: so meditated the old man, distracted in his mind between two +opinions: whether he should go amongst the throng of fleet-horsed +Greeks, or to Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, shepherd of the people. But +to him thus reflecting, it appeared better to go in quest of the son of +Atreus. Meanwhile they kept slaughtering each other, contending, and +the solid brass around their bodies rang, as they were stricken with +the swords and two-edged spears. + +Footnote 454: (return) Literally, “deaf.” So “surdi fluctus,” Ovid, +Epist. xviii. 211; “Omnia surda tacent,” Propert. iv. 3, 53; “Surdaque +vota condidit Ionio,” Pers. Sat. vi. 28. + +But the Jove-cherished kings, coming up from the vessels, met Nestor, +as many as had been wounded with the brass,—Tydides, and Ulysses, and +Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. Their ships indeed were drawn up upon the +shore of the hoary deep, very far away from the battle; for they had +drawn the first as far as the plain, and had built a wall at their +sterns. For, broad as it was, the shore was by no means able to contain +their vessels, and the people were crowded. Wherefore they drew them up +in rows one behind the other, and filled the wide mouth of the whole +shore, as much as the promontories enclosed. There then were they +walking together, leaning upon the spear, in order to behold the tumult +and the battle; and the heart in their bosoms was grieved. But aged +Nestor met them, and terrified the souls in the breasts of the Greeks: +whom first king Agamemnon addressing, said: + +“O Neleïan Nestor, great glory of the Greeks, why, leaving the +man-destroying battle, comest thou hither? Truly I fear lest impetuous +Hector make good his speech, as once he threatened, haranguing among +the Trojans, that he would not return to Ilium from the ships, before +that he had burned the ships with fire, and slain us also: thus indeed +he harangued; and now are all things fulfilling. Ye gods, surely the +other well-greaved Greeks, as well as Achilles, store up wrath against +me in their minds; nor are they willing to fight at the sterns of the +ships.” + +But him the Gerenian knight Nestor then answered: “Assuredly these +things are in active accomplishment, nor could even lofty-thundering +Jove himself contrive them otherwise; for the wall, in which we trusted +that it would be an impregnable defence to the ships and to ourselves, +has now fallen. But they are sustaining an obstinate contest at the +swift ships; nor couldst thou any longer distinguish, though examining +particularly, on which side the Greeks, confounded, are routed; so +promiscuously are they slain, whilst the shout reaches heaven. Let us, +however, deliberate how these things will be, if counsel avail +anything; although I advise not that we enter the battle; for it is by +no means proper that a wounded man should fight.” + +But him then answered Agamemnon, king of men. “Nestor, since they are +combating at the sterns of the ships, and the constructed rampart +avails not, nor the ditch, at which the Greeks suffered much, and hoped +in their minds that it would be an impregnable defence to the ships and +to themselves, surely it will be agreeable to all-powerful Jove that +the Greeks perish here, inglorious, far away from Argos. For I was +conscious when he willingly gave assistance to the Greeks, and I now +know that he honours those [the Trojans] equally with the happy gods, +but hath fettered our courage and our hands. But come, let us all obey +as I shall advise. Let us draw down the ships, as many as are drawn up +first near the sea, and launch them all into the vast ocean. Let us +moor them at anchor in the deep, till mortal-deceiving 455 night +arrive, if even then the Trojans may abstain from battle, and then we +may perhaps draw down all the vessels; for there is no disgrace in +flying from evil, not even during the night. It is better for a flying +man to escape from evil, than to be taken.” + +Footnote 455: (return) ‘Αβρότη is akin to ἤμβροτον from άμαρτάνω, and +therefore = “making mortals go astray,” or else = άμβροσιη in ii. 57. +See Buttm. Lexil. p. 82. Or it may be regarded as the “nox intempesta,” +_i.e._ “muita nox, qua nihil agi tempestivum est,” Censorinus de Die +Nat. xxiv. + +But him sternly regarding, wise Ulysses then addressed: “Son of Atreus, +what speech hath escaped thy lips? Lost man! thou shouldst command some +worthless army, and not rule over us, to whom Jove hath granted, from +youth even unto old age, to accomplish toilsome wars, until we, each of +us, shall perish. Dost thou then desire thus to leave wide-wayed Troy, +on account of which we have endured so many woes? Be silent, lest some +other of the Greeks hear a speech, which a man ought not to have +brought through his mouth, whoever understands in his mind how to speak +prudent things, who is a sceptre-bearer, and whom so many people obey, +as many as thou dost govern among the Greeks. For now do I reprobate +thy judgment, in what thou hast said; who commandest us, whilst the war +and battle are waged, to draw down the well-benched ships to the sea, +in order that the wishes of the Trojans may be still better fulfilled, +victorious though they be, and dire destruction fall upon us: for the +Greeks will not maintain the fight whilst the ships are being dragged +to the sea, but will look back, and retire from the combat. Then will +thy counsel be injurious, O leader of the people.” + +But him Agamemnon, the king of men, then answered: “Much, O Ulysses, +hast thou touched me to the soul with thy severe reproof; yet I +commanded not the sons of the Greeks against their will to draw the +well-benched ships down to the sea. But now would that there were one, +either young or old, who would deliver an opinion better than this; it +would be to my joy.” 456 + +But among them Diomede, valiant in the din of battle, also spoke: “The +man is near, we need not seek far, if indeed ye are willing to be +persuaded; and do not find fault each through wrath, because I am by +birth the youngest amongst you; for I boast that my race is from a +noble sire, Tydeus, whom the heaped-up earth 457 covers at Thebes. For +to Portheus were born three distinguished sons, and they dwelt in +Pleuron and lofty Calydon: Agrius and Melas, but the third was the +knight Œneus, the father of my father, who was conspicuous among them +for valour. He indeed remained there, but my father, as an exile, dwelt +at Argos, for so Jove willed and the other gods. But he married [one] +of the daughters 458 of Adrastus, and he inhabited a mansion opulent in +resources, and corn-bearing fields were his in abundance, and there +were many rows 459 of plants around him. Numerous were his herds, and +he surpassed the Greeks in the use of the spear; but these things ye +ought to know, since it is a truth. Do not, therefore, dispute the +opinion freely delivered, which I give advisedly, deeming that I am +base by birth, and unwarlike. Come, then, let us go to battle, wounded +as we are, from necessity. There, then, let us ourselves approach the +combat, out [of the reach] of weapons, lest any one receive wound upon +wound; and, encouraging others, we will urge them on, who hitherto, +gratifying their souls, have stood apart, nor fought.” + +Footnote 456: (return) For this use of the dative, cf. Plato Phædon, § +24. So Tacit. Agric. “Quibus bellum volentibus erat.”—Kennedy. Cf. +Æsch. Prom. s.i., ἀσμένῳ δέ σοι Ἡ ποικιλείμων νῦζ ἀποκρύψει φάος. + +Footnote 457: (return) See my note on Od. ii. p. 21, n. 35, ed. Bohn, +and an admirable dissertation on these classic barrow-tombs in +Stephen’s notes on Saxo-Grammaticus, pp. 90-92. + +Footnote 458: (return) Deipyle. See Scholiast. + +Footnote 459: (return) Not “gardens.” Schol. Theocrit. i. 48. Ὄρχατον +τὴν ἐπιστιχον φυτείαν ... καὶ Αριστοφάνης τὸ μεταξὺ τῶν φυτῶν +μετόρχμιον ἐκάλεσεν ἐν τοῖς γεωργοῖς’ καὶ Ἡσίοδος ὄρχον λέγει τὴν +ἐπιστιχον τῶν ἀμπέλων φυτείαν. Cf. Schol. on Lycophr. 857; Hesych. t. +ii. p. 792. + +Thus he spoke; and to him they all listened readily, and obeyed. +Wherefore they hastened to advance, and the king of men, Agamemnon, led +them. + +Nor did the illustrious Earth-shaker keep a negligent look-out, but he +went amongst them like unto an aged man, and he caught the right hand +of Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, and addressing him, spoke winged +words: + +“Son of Atreus, now perchance the revengeful heart of Achilles rejoices +in his breast, beholding the slaughter and rout of the Greeks; since +there is no feeling in him, not even a little. May he, however, thus +perish, and may a god cover him with disgrace. But with thee the +blessed gods are not yet altogether enraged, but again the leaders and +chiefs of the Trojans will perchance raise the dust upon the wide +plain, and thou wilt behold them flying towards the city from the ships +and the tents.” + +So saying, he shouted aloud, rushing over the plain. As loud as nine or +ten thousand men shout, beginning the contest of Mars, so loud a cry +did king Neptune send forth from his breast; and he cast great +resolution into every heart among the Greeks, to war and to fight +incessantly. + +But golden-throned Juno, standing, looked down with her eyes from the +summit of Olympus, and immediately recognized her own brother, [who +was] also her brother-in-law, exerting himself through the glorious +battle, and she rejoiced in her mind. She also beheld Jove sitting upon +the highest top of many-rilled Ida, and he was hateful to her soul. +Then the venerable large-eyed Juno next anxiously considered how she +could beguile the mind of ægis-bearing Jove. And now this plan appeared +best to her mind, to proceed to Ida, having well arrayed herself, if +perchance he might desire to lie beside her form 460 in dalliance, so +that she might pour upon his eyelids and vigilant mind careless and +genial sleep. And she proceeded to her chamber, which Vulcan, her dear +son, had made for her, and had fitted the thick doors to the lintels +with a secret bolt; 461 and this no other god could remove. There +entering in, she closed the shining doors. First she washed all +impurities from her lovely person with rich oil, ambrosial, 462 and +anointed herself with rich oil, ambrosial and agreeable, 463 which was +odoriferous to her; and the perfume of which, when shaken in the +brazen-floored 464 mansion of Jove, reached even to earth and to +heaven. With this having anointed her body, and having also combed her +hair, with her hands she arranged her shining locks, beautiful, +ambrosial, [which flowed] from her immortal head. Next she threw around +her an ambrosial robe, which Minerva had wrought 465 for her in +needlework, and had embroidered much varied work upon it, and she +fastened it upon her breast with golden clasps. Then she girded herself +with a zone, adorned with a hundred fringes, and in her well-perforated +ears placed her triple-gemmed, elaborate, 466earrings, and much grace +shone from [her]. From above she, divine of goddesses, covered herself +with a veil, beautiful, newly wrought, and it was bright as the sun; +and beneath her shining feet she fastened her beautiful sandals. But +when she had arranged all her ornaments around her person, she +proceeded straight from her chamber; and having called Venus apart from +the other gods, addressed her in speech: + +Footnote 460: (return) Construe παραδραθέειν ᾖ χροιῇ. + +Footnote 461: (return) Respecting the different meanings of κλεὶς, see +Kennedy. + +Footnote 462: (return) See Buttm. Lexil. p 81, 3. + +Footnote 463: (return) Buttmann, p. 242, regards έδανὸς as “perhaps a +stronger and higher meaning of ἐός, or ἒός, _good_, which may be +compared with οὐτιδανός, μηκεδανός.” + +Footnote 464: (return) See my note on Od. ii. 2. + +Footnote 465: (return) “The proper sense of ἔξυσε is, _scraped_ or +_rubbed over_ and its use here is best explained by supposing a +reference to some process among the ancients whereby a shining +appearance was given to their vestments, as by _calendering_ or +_glazing_ with us.”—Kennedy. + +Footnote 466: (return) Μορόεντα, περὶ ἃ ἐμόρησεν ὁ τεχνίτης.—Schol. + +“Wilt thou now be at all obedient to me, dear child, in what I shall +say? Or wilt thou refuse, enraged in thy mind on this account, because +I aid the Greeks whilst thou [aidest] the Trojans?” + +But her Venus, the daughter of Jove, then answered: “Juno, venerable +goddess, daughter of mighty Saturn, declare whatsoever thou dost +meditate; for my mind urges me to accomplish it, if indeed I can +accomplish it, and if it be practicable.” + +But her the venerable Juno, meditating guile, addressed: “Give now to +me that loveliness and desire with which thou dost subdue all, +immortals, and mortal men; for I go to visit the limits of the fertile +earth, and Oceanus, the parent of the gods, and mother Tethys; who, +receiving me from Rhea, nurtured and educated me with care in their +abodes, when far-resounding Jove cast down Saturn beneath the earth and +the fruitless sea. These I go to visit, and I will put an end to +eternal quarrels. 467 For already have they abstained for a length of +time from the couch and embrace of each other, since anger fell upon +their mind. But if, by persuading their hearts by my words, I should +lead them back to the bed, to be united in love, then should I always +be called by them beloved and revered.” + +Footnote 467: (return) These passages were regarded by the ancients as +referring to the perpetual strife of the elements. Thus Plato, in +Theætet. says: Ὅμηρος εἰπὼν, Ὠκεανόν τε θεῶν γένεσιν, καὶ μητέρα Τηθὺν, +πάντα εἴρηκεν ἔκγονα ροῆς τε καὶ κινήσεως. See Sextus Empir. adv. +Grammat. i. 13, p. 280, ed. Fabr.; Stobæus, Ecl. i. 11. Grote, vol. i. +p. 16, note, observes that, “Oceanus and Tethys seem to be presented in +the Iliad as the primitive father and mother of the gods,” although he +says that “Uranos and Gæa, like Oceanus, Tethys, and Nyx, are with +Homer great and venerable gods, but neither the one nor the other +present the character of predecessors of Kronos and Zeus.” + +But her laughter-loving Venus in turn addressed: “It is not possible +nor becoming to refuse thy request, for thou reclinest in the arms of +mightiest Jove.” + +She said, and loosed from her bosom the embroidered, variegated cestus; +468 where all allurements were enclosed. In it were love, and desire, +converse, seductive speech, which steals away the mind even of the very +prudent. This then she placed in her hands, spoke, and addressed her: + +“Take 469 this, now place in thy bosom this variegated belt, in which +all things are contained; and I think that thou wilt not return with +thy object unaccomplished, whatsoever thou desirest in thy mind.” + +Footnote 468: (return) I have avoided translating “cestus,” as it is +very doubtful what is meant by it. It could not have been an ordinary +girdle, since it was to be hidden in the bosom (ver. 219), and since +its power appears to have been secret. See Heyne’s note. + +Footnote 469: (return) Τῆ is an old imperative from a root ΤΑ—“formed +like ζῆν, according to Doric analogy.... In all cases it stands either +quite absolute, that is, with the object understood, or the accusative +belongs to a verb immediately following.”—Buttm. Lexil. pp. 505, sq. + +Thus she spake, and the large-eyed, venerable Juno smiled, and smiling, +then placed it in her bosom. But Venus, the daughter of Jove, departed +to the palace; and Juno, hastening, quitted the summit of Olympus, and, +having passed over Pieria and fertile Emathia, she hastened over the +snowy mountains of equestrian Thrace, most lofty summits, nor did she +touch the ground with her feet. From Athos she descended to the foaming +deep, and came to Lemnos, the city of divine Thoas, where she met +Sleep, the brother of Death; to whose hand she then clung, and spoke, +and addressed him: + +“O Sleep, 470 king of all gods and all men, 471 if ever indeed thou +didst listen to my entreaty, now too be persuaded; and I will +acknowledge gratitude to thee all my days. Close immediately in sleep +for me the bright eyes of Jove under his eyelids, after I couch with +him in love; and I will give thee, as gifts, a handsome golden throne, +for ever incorruptible. And my limping son, Vulcan, adorning it, shall +make it, and below thy feet he shall place a footstool, upon which thou +mayest rest thy shining feet while feasting.” + +Footnote 470: (return) Cf. Hesiod, Theog. 214. The dying words of +Gorgias of Leontium are very elegant: Ἤδε με ὁ ὕπνος ἄρχεται +παρακατατίθεσθαι τῶ ἀδελφῳ.—Ælian, Var. Hist. ii. 35. + +Footnote 471: (return) So in the Orphic hymn: Ὕπνε, ἄναξ πάντων +μακάρων θνητῶν τ’ άνθρώπων. + +But her sweet Sleep answering, addressed: “Juno, venerable goddess, +daughter of great Saturn, any other of the everlasting gods could I +easily lull to sleep, and even the flowing of rapid Ocean, who is the +parent of all; but I could not approach Saturnian Jove, nor lull him to +sleep, unless, at least, he himself command me. For once already, at +least, has he terrified me by his threats, on that day when the +magnanimous son of Jove (Hercules) sailed from Ilium, having sacked the +city of the Trojans. Then I lulled the mind of ægis-bearing Jove, being +poured gently around him, whilst thou wast planning evils in thy mind +[against the hero], rousing the blasts of bitter winds over the deep; +and thou didst afterwards carry him away apart from all his friends to +well-inhabited Cos. But he, when awakened, was enraged, hurling about +the gods through his mansion, and me chiefly of all he sought, and +would have cast me down, a lost one, from the æther into the deep, had +not Night, vanquisher of gods and men, preserved me, to whom I came +flying. So he restrained himself, angry as he was; for he dreaded lest +he should do things which were disagreeable to swift 472 Night. And now +again dost thou urge me to perform this another dangerous deed.” + +But him the venerable large-eyed Juno in turn answered: “Ο Sleep, why +thinkest thou these things within thy mind? Canst thou suppose that +far-sounding Jove favours the Trojans, as he was enraged on account of +Hercules, his own son? But come, [do this], and I will give thee one of +the younger Graces to wed, and to be called thy spouse, Pasithea, 473 +whom thou fondly desirest day after day.” + +Footnote 472: (return) But see Buttm. Lexil. p. 369. Translate, “quick +and fearful night.” + +Footnote 473: (return) The most beautiful of the Graces,—“blandarum +prima sororum,” according to Statius, Theb. ii. 286. Cf. Virg. Æn. i. +267, sqq. + +Thus she spoke; but Sleep was delighted, and, answering, addressed her: +“Come now, swear to me by the inviolable water of the Styx, and touch +with one hand the fertile earth, and with the other the marble sea; so +that all the gods beneath, around Saturn, may be witnesses between us, +that thou wilt surely give me one of the younger Graces, Pasithea, whom +I will desire all my days.” + +Thus he spoke, nor did the white-armed goddess Juno disobey, but she +swore as he desired, and named all gods who dwell under Tartarus, which +are called Titans. 474 When then she had sworn, and performed her oath, +they both proceeded, leaving the city of Lemnos and Imbrus, mantled in +haze, quickly making their way; and they came to Ida of many rills, the +mother of wild beasts, to Lectos, where first they quitted the sea: but +they both advanced over the land, and the summit of the wood was shaken +beneath their feet. There Sleep on his part remained, before the eyes +of Jove should perceive him; ascending a lofty fir, which then growing +the highest upon Ida, sprung up through the air to the clouds. There he +sat, thickly covered with the fir branches, like unto a shrill bird, +which, living in the mountains, the gods call Chalcis, and men +Cymindis. + +Footnote 474: (return) On this oath, see Grote, vol. i. p. 17. + +But Juno proceeded hastily to Gargarus, the summit of lofty Ida, and +cloud-compelling Jove beheld her. But the instant he beheld her, that +instant 475 desire entirely shadowed around his august mind, just as +when they first were united in love, retiring to the bed, without the +knowledge of their dear parents. And he stood before her, and spoke, +and addressed her: + +“Wherefore hastening from Olympus, Juno, comest thou hither, but thy +horses and chariot are not near, which thou mayest ascend.” + +Footnote 475: (return) Cf. Theocrit. ii. 82: Ὡς ἴδον, ώς ἐμάνην, ώς +μεῦ περὶ θυμὸς ἴάφθη. iii. 42: Ὡς ἴδον, ὡς ἐμάνη. Ovid, Epist. xii. 33: +“Ut vidi, ut perii, nec notis ignibus arsi.” + +But him the venerable Juno, meditating guiles, addressed; “I go to +visit the limits of the fertile earth, and Oceanus, the parent of the +gods, and mother Tethys, who nurtured and trained me with care in their +palaces. Them I go to see, and will take away their bitter quarrels. +For already they abstain a long while from the couch and embrace of +each other; since anger has invaded their minds. But my steeds, which +will bear me over dry and wet, stand near the base of Ida with many +rills. Now, however, on thy account have I come hither from Olympus, +lest perchance thou shouldst afterwards be angry with me, were I to +depart in secret to the abode of deep-flowing Oceanus?” + +But her cloud-collecting Jove answering, addressed: “Juno, thither thou +canst go even by-and-by, but come [now], let us, reclining, be +delighted with love; for never at any time did the love of a goddess or +a woman, poured around the heart within my breast, so subdue me: +neither when I loved the wife of Ixion, who bore Pirithous, a +counsellor equal to the gods; nor when [I loved] fair-ankled Danaë, the +daughter of Acrisius, who bore Perseus, most illustrious of all men; +nor when with that of the celebrated daughter of Phoenix, 476 who bore +to me Minos and godlike Rhadamanthus: 477 nor yet when [I loved] +Semele, nor Alcmena in Thebes, who brought forth my valiant son +Hercules: but Semele bore [me] Bacchus, a joy to mortals: nor when [I +loved] Ceres, the fair-haired queen: nor when glorious Latona nor +thyself; as I now love thee, and sweet desire seizes me.” + +Footnote 476: (return) But Europa is generally considered to be the +daughter of Agenor. See Grote, vol. i. p. 350. + +Footnote 477: (return) On the career of Rhadamanthus, who is “after +death promoted to an abode of undisturbed bliss in the Elysian plain at +the extremity of the earth,” see Grote, vol. i. p. 300. + +But him venerable Juno, meditating guiles, addressed: “Most shameless +son of Saturn, what word hast thou spoken? If now thou desire to +recline in love upon the summit of Ida, where all places are exposed, +how will it be, if any of the immortal gods should perceive us +sleeping, and, going amongst all the gods, disclose it? I for my part +could never return to thy mansion, arising from the couch; for surely +it would be unbecoming. But if in truth thou desirest it, and it be +agreeable to thy soul, there is a chamber of thine which Vulcan, thy +beloved son, formed for thee, and fitted its secure doors to its +lintels. Thither let us repair, about to recline, since an embrace is +indeed thy desire.” + +But her cloud-collecting Jove, answering, addressed: + +“Fear not, O Juno, that any of either gods or men shall behold this. +Such a golden cloud will I spread around, that not even the Sun may see +us through it, although his eye is very keen to behold.” 478 + +Thus he spake, and the son of Saturn encircled his wife in his arms. +And the divine earth produced 479 fresh herbage under them, the dewy +lotus, and the crocus, and the hyacinth, close and soft, which elevated +them from the earth. Upon this [couch] they reclined, and clothed +themselves above with a beautiful golden cloud; and lucid dew-drops +fell from it. + +Footnote 478: (return) On the god Hêlios, and his overseeing +influence, the student should compare Grote, vol. i. p. 466. + +Footnote 479: (return) So Milton, describing the couch of our first +parents, P. L. iv. 700:—- + + —— “underfoot the violet, + Crocus, and hyacinth with rich inlay, + Broider’d the ground.” + + +Thus quietly slumbered the sire upon the summit of Gargarus, subdued by +sleep and love, and held his spouse in his arms. But sweet Sleep +hastened to run to the ships of the Greeks, that he might deliver a +message to Neptune, the shaker of the earth. And, standing near, he +addressed to him winged words: + +“Now, Neptune, heartily give aid to the Greeks, and bestow glory upon +them, at least for a little, whilst yet Jove sleeps; since I have +enveloped him in a veil 480 of soft slumber, and Juno hath deceived +[him], that he might sleep in love.” + +Footnote 480: (return) Observe the force of περικάλυψα. + +So saying, he indeed departed to the illustrious tribes of men; but he +still more impelled [Neptune] to assist the Greeks, and immediately +springing forward far into the van, he exhorted them: + +“O Greeks, yet again do we yield the victory to Hector, the son of +Priam, that he may seize the ships and bear away glory? For so indeed +he supposes and boasts, because Achilles remains at the hollow ships, +enraged at heart. However, there would not be a great need of him, if +the rest of us were incited to assist one another. But come? let us all +obey as I shall advise. Let us, clad with shields, as many as are best +and greatest in the army, who are covered as to our heads with +glittering helmets, and hold the longest spears in our hands, advance, +and I will lead the way; nor do I think that Hector, the son of Priam, +will await us, though very eager. Whatsoever man also is obstinate in +the fight, and bears but a small shield upon his shoulder, let him give +it to an inferior man, and let him clothe himself in a larger shield.” + +Thus he spoke; but they listened to him readily, and obeyed. The kings +themselves, Tydides, Ulysses, and Agamemnon, son of Atreus, marshalled +[the troops], wounded as they were; and, going about among them all, +exchanged their martial arms, the brave [soldier] put on the good +[armour], and the worse they gave to the inferior man. But when they +had girded the splendid brass around their bodies, they began to +advance; and earth-shaking Neptune led them on, grasping in his firm +hand a dreadful tapering sword, like unto a thunderbolt, with which +[sword] it is not possible to engage in destructive battle, for the +fear [of it] restrains men. + +On the other side again illustrious Hector drew up the Trojans. Then +truly azure-haired Neptune and illustrious Hector drew forth the +severest struggle of war, the one indeed aiding the Trojans, and the +other the Greeks. But the sea was dashed up to the tents and ships of +the Greeks and they engaged with a mighty shout. Not so loudly does the +billow of the ocean roar against the main land, when driven from the +deep by the rough blast of Boreas; nor so great is the crackling of +blazing fire in the glens of a mountain, when it is raised aloft to +consume the wood; nor so loud howls the wind amidst the high-foliaged +oaks (which, in particular, loudly roars in its wrath), as was the cry +of the Trojans and Greeks shouting dreadfully, when they rushed one +upon the other. + +At Ajax illustrious Hector first took aim with his spear, as he was +turned right against him; nor did he miss. [He struck him] where the +two belts were crossed upon his breast, both that of the shield and +that of the silver-studded sword; for these protected the tender skin: +but Hector was enraged because his swift weapon had fled from his hand +in vain, and he retired back into the crowd of his companions, shunning +death. At him then, retiring, mighty Telamonian Ajax [threw] with a +stone, for [stones] in great numbers were rolled about among the feet +of the combatants, props for the fleet barks; lifting up one of these, +he struck him upon the breast, above the orb of the shield, near the +neck. And, throwing, he twirled it like a top, and it (the stone) +rolled round on all sides. As when, beneath a violent stroke from +father Jove, an oak falls uprooted, and a terrible smell of sulphur +arises from it; but confidence no longer possesses the man, whosoever +being near beholds it, because the thunderbolt of mighty Jove is +terrible: so rapidly upon the ground fell the might of Hector in the +dust. And he dropped his spear from his hand, his shield and helmet +followed above him, and his armour, variegated with brass, rang upon +him. Then the sons of the Greeks, loudly shouting, rushed in, hoping to +draw him off, and they hurled numerous javelins; but no one was able +either to strike from a distance, or to smite close at hand, the +shepherd of the people, for the bravest [of the warriors], Polydamas, +Æneas, and noble Agenor, Sarpedon, leader of the Lycians, and +illustrious Glaucus, first threw themselves round him. And no one of +the rest neglected him, but they held their well-orbed shields before +him. But his companions, up-raising him in their hands, bore him out of +the conflict, till they reached his fleet horses, which stood for him +in rear of the combat and the war, holding both the charioteer and the +variegated car; which then carried him towards the city, groaning +heavily. 481 + +Footnote 481: (return) Milton, P.L. vi. 335:— + +“Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run + By angels many and strong, who interposed + Defence, while others bore him on their shields + Back to his chariot, where it stood retired + From off the files of war; there they him laid, + Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame.” + + +But when now they came to the ford of the rapid-flowing current of +eddying Xanthus, whom immortal Jove begat, there they removed him from +his car to the ground, and poured water over him; but he breathed +again, and looked up with his eyes; and, sitting upon his knees, +disgorged black blood. Again he fell back upon the ground, and dark +night overshadowed his eyes; for the blow still subdued his spirits. + +But when the Greeks saw Hector going apart, they pressed the more on +the Trojans, and were mindful of contest. Then swift Oïlean Ajax before +others, leaping forward with his fir-tree spear, wounded Satnius, son +of Enops, whom a Naiad, the fairest nymph, bore to Enops, when keeping +his flocks by the banks of Satnio. Him the spear-renowned son of +Oïleus, drawing near, wounded in the flank; but he fell supine, and +round him the Trojans and Greeks engaged in a valiant battle. But to +him spear-brandishing Polydamas, son of Panthous, came as an avenger, +and smote Prothoënor, son of Areïlochus, upon the right shoulder. The +tough spear passed on through his shoulder, but falling in the dust, he +grasped the earth with his hand. And Polydamas boasted mightily over +him, shouting aloud: + +“I do not think, indeed, that the weapon hath fled vainly from the +sturdy hand of the magnanimous son of Panthous, but some one of the +Greeks has received it in his body; and I think that he, leaning upon +it, will descend to the mansion of Pluto.” + +Thus he spoke, but grief arose among the Greeks at his boasting, and +particularly agitated the mind of warlike Ajax, the son of Telamon, for +he had fallen very near him; and he immediately hurled with his shining +spear at him departing. Polydamas himself indeed avoided black fate, +springing off obliquely; but Archilochus, son of Antenor, received [the +blow], for to him the gods had doomed destruction. Him then he struck +upon the last vertebra, in the joining of the head and neck, and he +disjoined both tendons; but the head, the mouth, and the nostrils of +him falling, met the ground much sooner than his legs and knees. Then +Ajax in turn cried out to blameless Polydamas: + +“Reflect, O Polydamas, and tell me the truth; is not this man worthy to +be slain in exchange of Prothoënor? He appears not to me indeed a +coward, nor [sprung] from cowards, but [to be] the brother or the son +of horse-breaking Antenor, for he seems most like him as to his race.” + +Thus he spoke, well knowing [him], but grief possessed the minds of the +Trojans. Then Acamas, stalking round his brother, wounded with his +spear Promachus, the Bœotian; whilst he was dragging him off by the +feet. But over him Acamas greatly boasted, calling out aloud: + +“Ye Argive archers, 482 insatiable in threats, assuredly not to us +alone will toil and sorrow accrue, but thus thou also wilt at some time +be slain. Consider how your Promachus sleeps, subdued by my spear, that +a requital for my brother might not be long unpaid. Therefore should a +man wish a brother to be left in his family, as an avenger of his +death.” + +Footnote 482: (return) See note on iv. 242. + +Thus he spoke; but grief arose among the Greeks as he boasted, and he +particularly agitated the mind of warlike Peneleus. Accordingly he +rushed upon Acamas, who awaited not the charge of king Peneleus; but he +wounded Ilioneus, son of Phorbas, rich in flocks, whom Mercury loved +most of all the Trojans, and had presented with possessions; and to +whom his mother bore Ilioneus alone. Him then he wounded below the +brow, in the socket of the eye, and he forced out the pupil: but the +spear went forward through the eye, and through the back of the head; +and he sat down, stretching out both his hands. But Peneleus, drawing +his sharp sword, smote him upon the middle of the neck, and lopped off +his head with its helmet to the ground, and the strong spear still +remained in his eye. But he (Peneleus), holding it up like a poppy, +shouted to the Trojans, and boasting spoke thus: + +“Tell for me, ye Trojans, the beloved father and mother of illustrious +Ilioneus, that they may lament him in their halls; for neither shall +the wife of Promachus, the son of Alegenor, present herself with joy to +her dear husband coming [back], when we, sons of the Greeks, return +from Troy with our ships.” + +Thus he spoke; but pale fear seized upon them all, and each gazed +about, [seeking] where he might escape utter destruction. + +Tell me now, ye muses, possessing Olympian dwellings, which of the +Greeks now first bore away gore-stained spoils of men, when the +illustrious Earth-shaker turned the [tide of] battle. + +Telamonian Ajax then first wounded Hyrtius, son of Gyrtias, leader of +the undaunted Mysians; and Antilochus spoiled Phalces and Mermerus; +Meriones slew Morys and Hippotion; and Teucer slew Prothous and +Periphœtes. But the son of Atreus next wounded upon the flank +Hyperenor, the shepherd of the people, and the spear, cutting its way, +drank his entrails; and his soul, expelled, fled in haste through the +inflicted wound, and darkness veiled his eyes. But Ajax, the swift son +of Oïleus, slew the most; because there was not one equal to him on +foot, to follow the flying men, when Jove had excited flight amongst +them. + + + + +BOOK THE FIFTEENTH. + + +ARGUMENT. + +Jove awaking, and finding the Trojans routed, menaces Juno. He then +sends Iris to desire Neptune to relinquish the battle, and Apollo to +restore Hector to health. Armed with the ægis, Apollo puts the Greeks +to flight; who are pursued home to their fleet, while Telamonian Ajax +slays twelve Trojans who were bringing fire to burn it. + + +But after the fugitives had crossed both the ramparts and the trench, +and many were subdued by the hands of the Greeks, the rest were at +length detained, waiting beside their chariots, pallid with fear, and +terrified. But Jove arose on the summits of Ida, from beside +golden-throned Juno; and starting up, he stood and beheld the Trojans +and Greeks, those indeed in confusion, and the Greeks throwing them +into confusion in the rear; and amongst them king Neptune. Hector he +beheld lying upon the plain, and his companions sat round him: 483 but +he was afflicted with grievous difficulty of respiration, and devoid of +his senses, 484 vomiting blood, for it was not the weakest of the +Greeks who had wounded him. The father of men and gods, seeing, pitied +him, and sternly regarding Juno, severely addressed her: + +“O Juno, of evil arts, impracticable, thy stratagem has made noble +Hector cease from battle, and put his troops to flight. Indeed I know +not whether again thou mayest not be the first to reap the fruits of +thy pernicious machinations, and I may chastise thee with stripes. Dost +thou not remember when thou didst swing from on high, and I hung two +anvils from thy feet, and bound a golden chain around thy hands, that +could not be broken? And thou didst hang in the air and clouds, and the +gods commiserated thee throughout lofty Olympus; but standing around, +they were not able to release thee; but whomsoever I caught, seizing, I +hurled from the threshold [of heaven], till he reached the earth, +hardly breathing. Nor even thus did my vehement anger, through grief +for divine Hercules, leave me; whom thou, prevailing upon the storms, +with the north wind, didst send over the unfruitful sea, designing +evils, and afterwards bore him out of his course, to well-inhabited +Cos. I liberated him, indeed, and brought him back thence to +steed-nourishing Argos, although having accomplished many toils. These +things will I again recall to thy memory, that thou mayest cease from +deceits; in order that thou mayest know whether the intercourse and a +couch will avail thee, in which thou wast mingled, coming apart from +the gods, and having deceived me.” + +Footnote 483: (return) Δὴ here has the force of _demum_. + +Footnote 484: (return) Ἐξεστηκὼς τῇ ψυχῇ.—Scholiast. + +Thus he spoke; but venerable large-eyed Juno shuddered, and, addressing +him, spoke winged words: + +“Be witness now, Earth, and boundless Heaven above, and the water of +Styx gliding beneath, which is the greatest and most dreaded oath +amongst the blessed gods; likewise thy sacred head, and our own nuptial +couch, by which I would not rashly swear at any time, that it is not by +my instigation that earth-shaking Neptune harasses the Trojans and +Hector, and aids the other side; but certainly his own mind incites and +orders him; for, beholding the Greeks oppressed at the ships, he took +compassion on them. And even him would I advise to go there, where +thou, O Cloud-collector, mayest command.” + +Thus she spoke; but the father of men and gods smiled, and answering +her, spoke winged words: + +“If indeed thou from henceforth, O venerable, large-eyed Juno, wouldst +sit amongst the immortals, being of the same mind with me, then truly +would Neptune, even although he very much wishes otherwise, immediately +change his mind to the same point, to thy wish and mine. But if indeed +thou speakest in sincerity and truly, go now to the assemblies of the +gods, and call Iris to come hither, and Apollo, renowned in archery, +that she may go to the people of the brazen-mailed Greeks, and tell +king Neptune, ceasing from battle, to repair to his own palaces; but +let Phœbus Apollo excite Hector to battle, and breathe strength into +him again, and make him forgetful of the pains which now afflict him in +his mind: but let him again put the Greeks to flight, exciting +unwarlike panic [amongst them], and, flying, let them fall back upon +the many-benched ships of Achilles, the son of Peleus. Then shall he +stimulate his companion Patroclus, whom illustrious Hector shall slay +with his spear before Ilium, [Patroclus] having slain many other +youths, and with them my son, noble Sarpedon; but noble Achilles shall +slay Hector. From this time forward will I always continually effect +for thee, that there shall be a retreat [of the Trojans] from the +ships, until the Greeks, by the counsels of Minerva, shall take lofty +Ilium. However, I shall not abate my anger, nor will I here permit any +of the immortals to assist the Greeks, before that the request of the +son of Peleus be completed; as first I promised to him, and nodded +assent with my head, on that day when the goddess Thetis touched my +knees, beseeching me that I would honour Achilles, the destroyer of +cities.” + +Thus he spoke, nor did the white-armed goddess Juno disobey, but went +down from the Idæan mountains to lofty Olympus. And as when the mind of +a man flashes swiftly [in thought], who, having traversed over many a +land, thinks within his prudent heart, “I was here, I was there,” and +deliberates much: thus quickly hastening, up sprung venerable Juno. But +she reached lofty Olympus, and came in upon the immortal gods, +assembled in the house of Jove but they beholding her, all rose up and +welcomed her with their cups. The rest, however, she neglected, but +received a goblet from fair-cheeked Themis; for she first running, came +to meet her, and addressing her, spoke winged words: + +“Why, O Juno, hast thou come [hither], and art like unto one in +consternation? Has then the son of Saturn, who is thy husband, greatly +terrified thee?” + +But her the white-armed goddess Juno then answered: “Do not, O goddess +Themis, ask me these things; even thou thyself knowest how overbearing +and cruel a spirit is his. But do thou preside over the equal feast, in +the palaces of the gods, and thou shalt hear these things along with +all the immortals, what evil deeds Jove denounces. Nor do I at all +think that the mind will equally rejoice to all, neither to mortals nor +to the gods, although some one even yet be feasting pleasantly.” + +Thus having spoken, venerable Juno sat down; but the gods were grieved +throughout the palace of Jove. But she laughed with her lips [only], +nor was her forehead above her dark brows exhilarated; 485 and, +indignant, she spoke amongst them all: + +“Senseless we, who are thus foolishly enraged with father Jove! Of a +truth we still desire to restrain him, approaching near, either by +persuasion or by force; whilst he, sitting apart, does not regard, nor +is moved, for he says he is decidedly the most mighty in strength and +power among the immortal gods. Wherefore endure whatever evil he may +please to send upon each of you; for now already, I think, misfortune +hath been inflicted upon Mars, since his son has perished in the fight, +the dearest of mortals, Ascalaphus, whom impetuous Mars calls his own.” + +Footnote 485: (return) Compare Virg. Æn. i. 211: “Spem vultu simulat, +premit altum corde dolorem” with Seneca ad Pol. 24. Nemesian. Eclog. +iv. 17. “Quid vultu mentem premis, ac spem fronte serenas.” Liv. +xxviii. 8: “Mœrebat quidem et angebatur.... in concilio tamen +dissimulans ægritudinem, elato nimo disseruit.” + +Thus she spake; but Mars smote his brawny thighs with his dropped +hands, and sorrowing, addressed them: + +“Do not now blame me, ye who possess the Olympic mansions, repairing to +the ships of the Greeks, to avenge the slaughter of my son, even +although it should be my fate, smitten with the thunderbolt of Jove, to +lie together with the dead bodies in blood and dust.” + +Thus he spake, and he commanded Fear and Flight to yoke his steeds, but +he himself girded on his shining armour. Then indeed some other greater +and more grievous wrath and indignation had fallen upon the immortals +from Jove, had not Minerva, greatly fearing for all the gods, leaped +forth from the vestibule, and left the throne where she sat. From his +head she snatched the helmet, and the shield from his shoulders, and +taking the brazen spear out of his strong hand, she placed it upright; +and rebuked impetuous Mars with [these] words: + +“Infuriated one, infatuated in mind, thou art undone! are thy ears +indeed useless for hearing, and have thy sense and shame perished? Dost +thou not hear what the white-armed goddess Juno says, and she has just +now come from Olympian Jove? Dost thou thyself wish, having fulfilled +many misfortunes, to return to Olympus very much grieved, and by +compulsion, and also to create a great evil to all the rest? For he +will immediately leave the Trojans and magnanimous Greeks, and will +come against us, about to disturb us in Olympus; and will seize us one +after the other, whoever is culpable and who is not. Wherefore I exhort +thee now to lay aside thy wrath on account of thy son, for already some +one, even superior to him in strength and in hands, either is slain, or +will be hereafter; for it would be a difficult task to liberate [from +death] the race and offspring of all men.” + +So saying, she seated impetuous Mars upon his throne. But Juno called +Apollo outside the house, and Iris, who is the messenger among the +immortal gods, and addressing them, spoke winged words: + +“Jove orders you twain to repair with all haste to Ida, but when ye +arrive, and look upon the countenance of Jove, do whatsoever he may +urge and command.” + +Then indeed, having thus spoken, venerable Juno retired, and sat down +upon her throne; but they, hastening, flew and arrived at Ida of many +rills, the mother of wild beasts. They found the far-seeing son of +Saturn sitting upon lofty Gargarus, and an odoriferous cloud encircled +him around. But coming before cloud-compelling Jove, they stood; nor +was he enraged in his mind, beholding them, because they quickly obeyed +the commands of his dear wife. And first to Iris he addressed winged +words: + +“Haste, begone, fleet Iris, tell all these things to king Neptune, nor +be thou a false messenger. Order him, having ceased from the battle and +the war, to repair to the assemblies of the gods, or to the vast sea. +If, however, he will not obey my words, but shall despise them, let him +then consider in his mind and soul, lest, however powerful he may be, +he may not be able to withstand me coming against him; for I say that I +am superior to him in strength, and elder in birth; but his heart fears +riot to assert himself equal to me, whom even the others dread.” + +Thus he spoke, nor was wind-footed, swift Iris disobedient: but she +descended from the Idæan mountains to sacred Ilium. And as when snow +drifts from the clouds, or cold hail, by the impulse of +cloud-dispelling 486 Boreas, so quickly swift Iris with eagerness flew +along, and standing near illustrious Neptune, she addressed him: + +“O azure-haired Earth-shaker, I have come hither, bringing a certain +message to thee from ægis-bearing Jove. He has commanded thee, having +ceased from the battle and the war, to repair either to the assemblies +of the gods or to the vast sea. But if thou wilt not obey his words, +but shalt despise them, he threatens that he will come hither himself +to fight against thee; and advises thee to avoid his hands, because he +asserts that he is greatly superior to thee in strength, and elder in +birth: but thy heart does not fear to profess that thou art equal to +him, whom even the others dread.” + +But her illustrious Neptune, greatly indignant, then addressed: “Gods! +powerful though he be, he surely has spoken proudly, if he will by +force restrain me unwilling, who am of equal honour. For we are three +brothers [descended] from Saturn, whom Rhea brought forth: Jupiter and +I, and Pluto, governing the infernal regions, the third; all things +were divided into three parts, and each was allotted his dignity. 487 I +in the first place, the lots being shaken, was allotted to inhabit for +ever the hoary sea, and Pluto next obtained the pitchy darkness; but +Jove in the third place had allotted to him the wide heaven in the air +and in the clouds. Nevertheless the earth is still the common property +of all, and lofty Olympus. Wherefore I shall not live according to the +will of Jove, but although being very powerful, let him remain quiet in +his third part; and let him by no means terrify me as a coward with his +hands. For it would be better for him to insult with terrific language +the daughters and sons whom he hath begotten, who will also through +necessity attend to him, exhorting them.” + +But him the fleet wind-footed Iris then answered: “O 488 azure-haired +Earth-shaker, shall I really thus bear back from thee to Jove this +relentless and violent reply? Or wilt thou change it at all? The minds +of the prudent indeed are flexible. Thou knowest that the Furies are +ever attendant on the elders.” 489 + +Footnote 486: (return) More literalty, “producing clear air.” So +Eustathius, or Eumathius, Erotic. ii. p. 14: Αἰθρηγενέτης Βοῤῥάς. Heyne +prefers “in aere genitus.” + +Footnote 487: (return) On this division of things, see Servius on +Virg. Æn. i. 143; Fulgent Myth. i. 1, 3. The Scholiasts attempt to +refer it to the ancient theory of the elements. + +Footnote 488: (return) These three verses were elegantly applied by +Sostrates in mitigating the intemperate language which Antigonus would +fain have addressed to Ptolemy Philadelphus. See Sextus Emp. adv. +Gramm. i. 13, p. 276. + +Footnote 489: (return) The Furies are said to wait on men in a double +sense; either for evil, as upon Orestes after he had slain his mother; +or else for good, as upon elders when they are injured, to protect them +and avenge their wrongs. This is an instance that the pagans looked +upon birthright as a right divine. Eustath. quoted in ed. Dubl. cf. ix. +507. + +But her again earth-shaking Neptune in turn addressed: “Goddess Iris, +very rightly hast thou delivered this opinion; moreover, it is good +when a messenger knows fitting things. But on this account severe +indignation comes upon my heart and soul, because he wishes to chide +with angry words me, equal to him by lot, and doomed to an equal +destiny. Nevertheless, at present, although being indignant, I will +give way. But another thing will I tell thee, and I will threaten this +from my soul; if indeed, without me and prey-hunting Minerva, Juno, +Mercury, and king Vulcan, he shall spare lofty Ilium, nor shall wish to +destroy it, and give great glory to the Greeks; let him know this, that +endless animosity shall arise between us.” + +So saying, the Earth-shaker quitted the Grecian army, and proceeding, +he plunged into the deep; but the Grecian heroes longed for him. And +then cloud-compelling Jove addressed Apollo: + +“Go now, dear Phœbus, to brazen-helmed Hector; for already hath +earth-encircling Neptune departed to the vast sea, avoiding our +dreadful anger; for otherwise the rest, who are infernal gods, being +around Saturn, would surely have heard our quarrel. This, however, is +much better for me as well as for himself, that he hath first yielded +to my hands, accounting himself worthy of blame, because the matter +would not have been accomplished without sweat. But do thou take the +fringed ægis in thy hands, with which, by violently shaking it, do thou +greatly terrify the Grecian heroes. To thyself, however, O far-darting +[Apollo], let illustrious Hector be a care. So long then arouse his +great might unto him, until the Greeks in flight reach the ships and +the Hellespont. Thenceforth I shall myself deliberate in deed and word, +how the Greeks also may revive from labour.” + +Thus he spoke, nor did Apollo disobey his sire, but he descended from +the Idæan mountains like unto a swift hawk the dove-destroyer, the +swiftest of birds. He found the son of warlike Priam, noble Hector, +sitting; for he no longer lay [on the ground], but had just collected +his senses, recognizing his friends around him. But the panting and +perspiration had ceased, since the will of ægis-bearing Jove had +aroused him. Then far-darting Apollo, standing near, addressed him: + +“Hector, son of Priam, why sittest thou apart from the rest, failing in +strength? Has any grief invaded thee?” + +But him then crest-tossing Hector languidly addressed: “And who art +thou, best of the gods, who inquirest face to face? Hast thou not heard +that Ajax, brave in the din of battle, smote me with a stone upon the +breast, and caused me to cease from impetuous valour, when slaying his +companions at the sterns of the Grecian ships? And truly I thought that +I should this day behold the dead, and the mansion of Pluto, since I +was [on the point of] breathing out my dear life.” + +But him far-darting king Apollo addressed in turn: “Be of good courage +now, so great an assistant has the son of Saturn sent forth from Ida to +stand up and help thee, Phœbus Apollo, of the golden sword: who am +accustomed to defend at the same time thyself and the lofty city. But +come, encourage now thy numerous cavalry to drive their fleet steeds +towards the hollow ships; but I, going before, will level the whole way +for the horses, and I will turn to flight the Grecian heroes.” + +Thus speaking, he inspired great strength into the shepherd of the +people. As when some stalled horse, fed on barley 490 at the manger, +having snapped his halter, runs over the plain, striking the earth with +his feet (accustomed to bathe in the smooth-flowing river), exulting, +he holds his head on high, and around his shoulders his mane is +dishevelled; and, trusting to his beauty 491—his knees easily bear him +to the accustomed places and pasture of the mares: so Hector swiftly +moved his feet and knees, encouraging the horsemen, after he had heard +the voice of the god. But they—as dogs and rustic men rush against +either a horned stag or wild goat; which however a lofty rock and shady +forest protect, nor is it destined for them to catch it; but at their +clamour 492 a bushy-bearded lion appears in the way, and turns them all +back, although ardently pursuing: thus the Greeks hitherto indeed ever +kept following in troops, striking with their swords and double-edged +spears. But when they beheld Hector entering the ranks of heroes, they +were troubled, and the courage of all fell at their feet. + +Footnote 490: (return) Cf. vi. 508; and on άκοστήσας, Buttm. Lexil. p. +75, sq. + +Footnote 491: (return) Observe the abrupt change of construction. + +Footnote 492: (return) Ὕπὸ ἰαχῆς, attracted by their shouting. + +Then Thoas, the son of Andræmon, addressed them, by far the bravest of +the Ætolians, skilled in the use of the javelin, and brave in the +standing fight; few also of the Greeks excelled him in the council when +the youths contended in eloquence. Who wisely counselling, harangued +them, and said: + +“O gods, surely I behold with mine eyes this mighty miracle, since +Hector has thus risen again, having escaped death. Certainly the mind +of each was in great hopes that he had died by the hands of Telamonian +Ajax. But some one of the gods has again liberated and preserved +Hector, who hath already relaxed the knees of many Greeks; as I think +is about [to occur] now also, for not without far-sounding Jove does he +stand in the van, thus earnest. But come, let us all obey as I shall +desire. Let us order the multitude to retreat towards the ships. But +let us, as many as boast ourselves to be the best in the army, take a +stand, if indeed, opposing, we may at the outset interrupt him, +upraising our spears; and I think that he, although raging, will dread +in mind to enter the band of the Greeks.” + +Thus he spoke; but all heard him attentively, and obeyed. Those around +the Ajaces and king Idomeneus, Teucer, Meriones, and Meges, equal to +Mars, calling the chiefs together, marshalled their lines against +Hector and the Trojans; whilst the multitude in the rear retreated to +the ships of the Greeks. But the Trojans in close array pressed +forward; and Hector, taking long strides, led the way; but before him +walked Phœbus Apollo, clad as to his shoulders with a cloud, 493 and he +held the mighty, dreadful, fringed, 494 dazzling ægis, which the artist +Vulcan had given to Jove, to be borne along for the routing of men. +Holding this in his hands, he led on the people. But the Greeks +remained in close array, and a shrill shout arose on both sides. [Many] +arrows bounded from the strings, and many spears from gallant hands: +some were fixed in the bodies of warlike youths, but many half way, +before they had touched the fair body, stuck in the earth, longing to +satiate themselves with flesh. As long as Phœbus Apollo held the ægis +unmoved in his hands, so long did the weapons reach both sides, and the +people fell. But when, looking full in the faces of the swift-horsed +Greeks, he shook it, and he himself besides shouted very loudly, then +he checked the courage in their breasts, and they became forgetful of +impetuous valour. But they, as when two wild beasts, in the depth of +the dark night, 495 disturb a drove of oxen or a great flock of sheep, +coming suddenly upon them, the keeper not being present—so the +enfeebled Greeks were routed; for amongst them Apollo sent terror, and +gave glory to the Trojans and to Hector. Then indeed man slew man, when +the battle gave way. Hector slew Stichius and Arcesilaus; the one the +leader of the brazen-mailed Bœotians; but the other the faithful +companion of magnanimous Menestheus. But Æneas slew Medon and Iasus: +Medon indeed was the illegitimate son of godlike Oïleus, and brother of +Ajax; and he dwelt in Phylace, away from his father-land, having slain +a man, the brother of his stepmother Eriopis, whom Oïleus had +betrothed. Iasus, however, was appointed leader of the Athenians, and +was called the son of Sphelus, the son of Bucolus. But Polydamas slew +Mecistis, and Polites Echius, in the van, and noble Agenor slew +Klonius. Paris also wounded Dëiochous in the extremity of the shoulder +from behind, whilst he was flying amongst the foremost combatants; and +drove the brass quite through. + +Footnote 493: (return) “Nube candentes humeros amictus, Augur +Apollo.”—Hor. Od. 2, 31. + +Footnote 494: (return) Cf. ii. 448. Literally, “shaggy, rugged, with +fringes around.” + +Footnote 495: (return) Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 89, whose translation of +νυκτὸς ἀμολγῷ I have followed. + +Whilst they were spoiling these of their armour, the Greeks in the +meantime falling into the dug trench and stakes, fled here and there; +and from necessity entered within the rampart. But Hector, shouting +aloud, exhorted the Trojans to rush upon the ships, and to let go the +bloody spoils: “And whatever person I 496 shall perceive apart from the +ships anywhere, there will I cause his death; nor indeed shall his male +and female relatives make him when dead partaker of a funeral pile, but +dogs shall tear him before our city.” + +Footnote 496: (return) Observe this sudden and animated change of +person, which has been noticed by Longinus, xxvii. and Dionys. Halic. +de Hom. Poes. § 8. This irregularity is very common in the Greek +Testament. Cf. Luke v. 14; Acts i. 4; xvii. 3; xxiii. 22; xxv. 8; with +the notes of Kuinoel and Pricæus. + +So saying, with the lash upon the shoulder he drove on his horses +against the ranks, cheering on the Trojans; but they all shouting along +with him, directed their car-drawing steeds with a mighty clamour. But +Phœbus Apollo in front of them, easily overthrowing the banks of the +deep ditch with his feet, cast [them] into the middle; and bridged a +causeway long and wide, as far as the cast of a spear reaches, when a +man, making trial of his strength, hurls it. In that way they poured +onward by troops, and Apollo [went] before them, holding the +highly-prized ægis. But he overthrew the wall of the Greeks very +easily, as when any boy does the sand from the shore; who, when amusing +himself in childishness he has made playthings, again destroys them +with his feet and hands. Thus, O archer Phœbus, didst thou destroy the +great labour and toil of the Greeks, and didst excite flight amongst +themselves. In this manner indeed, remaining, they were penned up at +the ships; animating each other, and raising up their hands to all the +gods, they each loudly offered vows. But the guardian of the Greeks, +Gerenian Nestor, most particularly prayed, stretching forth his hands +to the starry heaven: “O father Jove, if ever any one in fruitful +Argos, to thee burning the fat thighs of either oxen or sheep, +supplicated that he might return, and thou didst promise and assent; be +mindful of these things, O Olympian, and avert the cruel day; nor thus +permit the Greeks to be subdued by the Trojans.” + +Thus he spoke, praying: but provident Jove loudly thundered, hearing +the prayers of the Neleïan old man. But the Trojans, when they +understood the will of ægis-bearing Jove, rushed the more against the +Greeks, and were mindful of battle. And as a mighty wave of the +wide-flowing ocean dashes over the sides of a ship, when the force of +the wind impels it (for that most of all increases waves); so the +Trojans with a mighty shout mounted over the wall. And having driven in +their horses, they fought at the sterns, hand to hand with two-edged +spears, the one party from their chariots, but the other on high from +their black ships, having ascended them with long poles which lay in +their vessels, for fighting by sea, well glued, and clad on the tip +with brass. + +But Patroclus, as long indeed as the Greeks and Trojans fought round +the wall, without the swift ships, so long he sat in the tent of +valour-loving Eurypylus, and delighted him with his discourse; and to +the severe wound he applied medicines, assuagers of dark pains. But +when he perceived that the Trojans had burst within the walls, and +moreover that a clamour and flight of the Greeks had arisen, then +indeed he groaned, and smote both his thighs with his downward-bent +hands; and lamenting spoke: + +“O Eurypylus, I cannot any longer remain here with thee, although +needing much, for now has a mighty contest arisen. But let thy +attendant entertain thee, and I will hasten to Achilles, that I may +encourage him to fight. And who knows whether, with God’s assistance, +persuading, I may move his soul? for the admonition of a companion is +effectual.” But him his feet then bore away thus speaking. Meanwhile +the Greeks firmly withstood the Trojans rushing on, nor were they able +to repel them from the ships, although being fewer; nor could the +Trojans, breaking through the phalanxes of the Greeks, be mingled with +the tents or ships. But as a plumb-line in the hands of a skilful +shipwright (who knows well the whole art by the precepts of Minerva) +correctly adjusts the naval plank, so was the battle and war equally +extended. Some indeed supported the conflict round one ship, and others +round another, but Hector advanced against glorious Ajax. Thus these +two undertook the task round one ship, nor were they able, the one to +drive the other away and burn the ship with fire, nor the other to +repulse him, since a divinity had brought him near. Then illustrious +Ajax smote upon the breast with his spear Caletor, son of Clytius, +bearing fire against the ship; and falling, he resounded, and the torch +fell from his hand. But when Hector perceived with his eyes his cousin +fallen in the dust before the black ship, he cheered on the Trojans and +Lycians, loudly exclaiming: + +“Ye Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, do not now +retire from the fight in this narrow pass. But preserve the son of +Clytius, lest the Greeks despoil him of his armour, having fallen in +the contest at the ships.” Thus having spoken, he took aim with his +shining spear at Ajax, whom he missed; but [he smote] Lycophron, the +son of Mastor, the servant of Ajax, a Cytherean, who dwelt with him, +since he had killed a man amongst the celebrated Cythereans. He struck +him on the head over the ear, with the sharp brass, whilst he was +standing near Ajax: but he fell supine to the ground from the stern of +the ship in the dust, and his limbs were relaxed. Then Ajax shuddered, +and accosted his brother: “Dear Teucer, now is our faithful companion, +the son of Mastor, whom being domesticated in Cythera, we honoured +equally with our beloved parents in our palaces; but him magnanimous +Hector has slain. Where now are thy death-bearing arrows and bow, which +Phœbus Apollo gave thee?” + +Thus he spoke; but he understood; and running, he stood near him, +holding in his hand his bent bow, and arrow-bearing quiver; and very +quickly he shot his arrows amongst the Trojans. He struck Clitus, the +illustrious son of Pisenor, the companion of Polydamas, the renowned +son of Panthous, holding the reins in his hands. He indeed was employed +in [guiding] the horses; for he directed them there, where the most +numerous phalanxes were thrown in confusion, gratifying Hector and the +Trojans. But soon came evil upon him, which no one averted from him, +although eager; for the bitter shaft fell upon his neck from behind, +and he fell from the chariot, whilst his horses started back, rattling +the empty car. But king Polydamas very quickly perceived it, and first +came to meet his horses. Them he intrusted to Astynous, son of +Protiaon, and exhorted him much to keep the horses near him within +sight; but he himself returning was mingled with the foremost +combatants. Teucer, however, drew another arrow against brazen-armed +Hector, and would have made him cease from battle, at the ships of the +Greeks, if striking him while bravely fighting, he had taken away his +life. But it did not escape the prudent mind of Jove, who protected +Hector, and deprived Teucer, the son of Telamon, of glory; and who +(Jove) broke the well-twisted string, in his blameless bow, as he was +drawing against [Hector]; but the brass-laden arrow was turned off in +another direction, and the bow fell from his hand. Then Teucer +shuddered, and addressed his brother: + +“Ye gods! a deity, without doubt, cuts short the plans of our battle, +who has shaken the bow from my hand, and has snapped asunder the +newly-twisted string which I tied to it this morning, that it might +sustain the shafts frequently bounding from it.” + +But him the mighty Telamonian Ajax then answered: “O my friend, permit +then thy bow and numerous arrows to lie aside, since a god has +confounded them, envying the Greeks; but, taking a long spear in thy +hands, and a shield upon thy shoulder, fight against the Trojans, and +encourage the other forces. Nor let them take the well-benched ships +without labour at least, although having subdued us, but let us be +mindful of the fight.” + +Thus he spoke; and he placed his bow within the tents. Then around his +shoulders he hung a four-fold shield, and upon his brave head fixed a +well-made helmet, crested with horse-hair, and the plume nodded +dreadfully from above. And he grasped a stout spear, tipped with sharp +brass, and hastened to advance, and running very quickly, stood beside +Ajax. But when Hector perceived the arrows of Teucer frustrated, he +encouraged the Trojans and Lycians, calling aloud: + +“Ye Trojans, Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, be men, my +friends, and be mindful of impetuous valour at the hollow ships; for I +have beheld with my eyes the arrows of their chief warrior rendered +vain by Jove. Easily recognizable amongst men is the power of Jove, as +well among those into whose hands he has delivered superior glory, as +those whom he deteriorates, and does not wish to defend. As now he +diminishes the might of the Greeks, and aids us. But fight in close +array at the ships, and whichever of you, wounded or stricken, shall +draw on his death and fate, let him die; it is not inglorious to him to +die fighting for his country; but his wife shall be safe, and his +children left behind him, his house and patrimony unimpaired, if indeed +the Greeks depart with their ships to their dear father-land.” + +So saying, he kindled the strength and spirit of each: and Ajax again, +on the other side, animated his companions: + +“Shame, oh Argives! now is the moment for us either to perish, or to be +preserved and to repel destruction from the ships. Do ye expect that if +crest-tossing Hector capture the ships, ye will reach on foot each his +native land? Do ye not hear Hector, who now rages to fire the ships, +inciting all his people? Nor indeed does he invite them to come to a +dance, but to battle. But for us there is no opinion or design better +than this, to join in close fight our hands and strength. Better, +either to perish at once, or live, rather than thus uselessly to be +wasted away 497 for a length of time in dire contention at the ships, +by inferior men.” + +Footnote 497: (return) The verb στρεύγεσθαι, which may be compared +with ἀπολιβάζειν in Od. xii. 351, is interpreted by Apollonius +καταπονεῖσθαι. Cf. Hesych. t. i. p. 1603, t. ii. p. 1278. + +So saying, he aroused the strength and courage of each. Then Hector +indeed slew Schedius, son of Perimedes, prince of the Phoceans; and +Ajax slew Laodamas, leader of the infantry, the illustrious son of +Antenor. Polydamas slew Cyllenian Otus, the companion of the son of +Phyleus, chief of the magnanimous Epeans. Meges rushed upon him, +perceiving it, but Polydamas stooped obliquely, and he missed him; for +Apollo did not suffer the son of Panthous to be subdued among the +foremost warriors. But he wounded Crœsmus in the middle of the breast +with his spear, but falling, he resounded; and he stripped the arms +from his shoulders. In the meantime Dolops, the descendant of Lampus, +well skilled in the spear, leaped upon him (he whom Lampus, son of +Laomedon, the best of men, begat, skilled in impetuous fight), who then +attacking him in close fight, struck the middle of Meges’s shield with +his spear: but the thick corslet defended him, which he wore, compact +in its cavities. This Phyleus formerly brought from Ephyre, from the +river Selleïs: for his host, Euphetes, king of men, had given it to +him, to bear into the battle as a defence against the enemy; and which +then warded off destruction from the body of his son. But Meges with +his sharp spear smote the base of the highest cone of his brazen +horse-haired helmet, and struck off his horse-haired crest; and the +whole fell on the ground in the dust, lately shining with purple. +Whilst the one (Meges) standing firm, fought with the other (Dolops), +and still expected victory; meanwhile, warlike Menelaus came as an +assistant to him (Meges), and stood at his side with his spear, +escaping notice, and wounded him from behind in the shoulder; but the +spear, driven with violence, passed through his breast, proceeding +farther; and he fell on his face. Both then rushed on, about to tear +the brazen armour from his shoulders; but Hector strenuously exhorted +all his relations, and rebuked the gallant Melanippus first, the son of +Hicetaon. He till then had fed his curved-footed oxen at Percote, the +enemy being yet at a distance; but when the equally-plied barks of the +Greeks had arrived, he came back to Troy, and was distinguished amongst +the Trojans; and he dwelt near Priam, and he honoured him equally with +his sons. But Hector rebuked him; and spoke and addressed him: + +“Shall we be thus remiss, O Melanippus? Is not thy heart moved, thy +kinsman being slain? Dost thou not perceive how busy they are about the +arms of Dolops? But follow; for it is no longer justifiable to fight at +a distance with the Greeks, before that either we slay them, or that +they tear lofty Ilium from its summit, and slay its citizens.” So +saying, he led on, and the godlike hero followed with him. But mighty +Telamonian Ajax aroused the Greeks. + +“O my friends, be men, and set honour 498 in your hearts, and have +reverence for each other during the vehement conflicts. For more of +those men who reverence [each other] are saved than slain; but of the +fugitives, neither glory arises, nor any defence.” + +Footnote 498: (return) Cf. v. 530, xiii. 121, with the notes. + +Thus he spoke, but they too were eager to repel [the enemy]. And they +fixed his advice in their mind, and enclosed the ships with a brazen +fence; but Jove urged on the Trojans. And Menelaus, brave in the din of +battle, incited Antilochus: + +“O Antilochus, no other of the Greeks is younger than thou, nor swifter +of foot, nor strong, as thou [art], to fight. Would 499 that, attacking +some hero of the Trojans, thou couldst wound him.” + +Footnote 499: (return) Εἰ is put for εἴθε. + +So saying, he on his part withdrew again, and he aroused him. But he +(Antilochus) leaped forth from amongst the foremost warriors, and took +aim with his shining spear, gazing around him; but the Trojans retired, +the hero hurling. But he did not cast his weapon in vain, for he struck +magnanimous Melanippus, the son of Hicetaon, in the breast, near the +pap, advancing to the battle. And falling, he made a crash, and his +arms rang upon him. But Antilochus sprang upon him, as a dog that +rushes on a wounded fawn, which the huntsman aiming at, has wounded, +leaping from its lair, and relaxed its limbs under it. Thus, O +Melanippus, did warlike Antilochus spring on thee, about to despoil +thee of thy armour: but he did not escape noble Hector, who came +against him, running through the battle. But Antilochus did not await +him, though being an expert warrior, but he fled, like unto a wild +beast that has done some mischief, which, having slain a dog or +herdsman in charge of oxen, flies, before a crowd of men is assembled: +so fled the son of Nestor; but the Trojans and Hector, with great +clamour, poured forth their deadly weapons. Yet when he reached the +band of his own companions, being turned round, he stood. But the +Trojans, like raw-devouring lions, rushed upon the ships, and were +fulfilling the commands of Jove; who ever kept exciting their great +strength, and enervated the courage of the Greeks, and took away their +glory; but encouraged those. For his mind wished to bestow glory on +Hector, the son of Priam, that he might cast the dreadfully-burning, +indefatigable fire upon the crooked barks; and accomplish all the +unseasonable prayer of Thetis. + +For this did provident Jove await, till he should behold with his eyes +the flame of a burning vessel; for from that time he was about to make +a retreat of the Trojans from the ships, and to afford glory to the +Greeks. Designing these things, he aroused Hector, the son of Priam, +against the hollow ships, although himself very eager. But he raged, as +when Mars [rages], brandishing his spear, or [when] a destructive fire +rages in the mountains, in the thickets of a deep wood. And foam arose +about his mouth, and his eyes flashed from beneath his grim eyebrows; +and the helm was shaken awfully upon the temples of Hector, fighting; +for Jove himself from the æther was an assistant to him, and honoured +and glorified him alone amongst many men; because he was destined to be +short-lived: for Pallas Minerva already impelled him towards the fatal +day, by the might of the son of Peleus. And he wished to break the +ranks of heroes, trying them, wheresoever he beheld the greatest crowd +and the best arms. But not thus was he able to break through them, +although very eager; for they, compact in squares, sustained his +attack, as a lofty, huge cliff, being near the hoary deep, which abides +the impetuous inroads of the shrill winds, and the swollen billows +which are dashed against it. Thus the Greeks firmly awaited the +Trojans, nor fled. But he, gleaming with fire on all sides, rushed upon +the crowd; and fell upon them, as when an impetuous wave, wind-nurtured +from the clouds, dashes against a swift ship, and it [the ship] is +wholly enveloped with the spray, and a dreadful blast of wind roars +within the sail: but the sailors tremble in mind, fearing, because they +are borne but a little way from death: thus was the mind of the Greeks +divided in their breasts. He, however, like a destructive lion coming +upon oxen which feed in myriads in the moist ground of a spacious +marsh, and amongst them a keeper not very skilful in fighting with a +wild beast for the slaughter of a crooked-horned ox; 500 he indeed +always accompanies the foremost or the hindmost cattle, whilst [the +lion] springing into the midst, devours an ox, and all the rest fly in +terror; thus then were the Greeks wondrously put to flight by Hector +and father Jove, all—but [Hector] slew only Mycenæan Periphetes, the +dear son of Copreus, who went with a messenger of king Eurystheus to +mighty Hercules. From this far inferior father sprung a son superior in +all kinds of accomplishments, as well in the race as in the combat, and +who in prudence was among the first of the Mycenæans, who at that time +gave into the hands of Hector superior glory. For, turning backwards, +he trod upon the rim of his shield which he bore, a fence against +javelins, which reached to his feet; by this incommoded, he fell upon +his back, and the helmet terribly sounded round the temples of him +fallen. But Hector quickly perceived, and running, stood near him, and +fixed his spear in his breast, and slew him near his beloved +companions, nor indeed were they able, although grieved for their +comrade, to avail him, for they themselves greatly feared noble Hector. +But they retreated within the line of their ships, 501 and the extreme +ships enclosed them, which were first drawn up: and the others were +poured in. The Argives, therefore, from necessity, retreated from the +foremost vessels, and remained there at their tents in close array, and +were not dispersed through the camp, for shame and fear restrained +them, and they unceasingly exhorted one another with shouting. More +particularly did Gerenian Nestor, the guardian of the Greeks, adjure +them by their parents, earnestly supplicating each man: + +“O my friends, be men, and place a sense of reverence 502 of other men +in your minds. Call to memory, each of you, your children, wives, +property, and parents, as well he to whom they survive as he to whom +they are dead; for by those not present I here supplicate you to stand +bravely, nor be ye turned to flight.” So saying, he aroused the might +and spirit of each. But for them Minerva removed the heaven-sent cloud +of darkness from their eyes; and abundant light arose to them on both +sides, both towards the ships and towards the equally destructive +battle. Then they observed Hector, brave in the din of battle, and his +companions, as well whatever of them stood behind and did not fight as +those who fought the battle at the swift ships. Nor was it longer +pleasing to the mind of great-hearted Ajax to stand there where the +other sons of the Greeks stood together; but he went about upon the +decks of the vessels, taking long strides, and wielding in his hands a +great sea-fighting pole, studded with iron nails, twenty-two cubits +long. And as when a man well skilled in vaulting upon steeds, who, +after he has selected four horses out of a greater number, driving them +from the plain, urges them towards a mighty city, along the public way; +and him many men and women behold with admiration; but he, always +leaping up firmly and safely, changes alternately from one to the +other, 503 whilst they are flying along: so went Ajax along many decks +of swift ships, shouting loudly, and his voice reached to the sky; and, +always terribly shouting, he ordered the Greeks to defend their ships +and tents. Nor, indeed, did Hector remain among the crowd of +well-corsleted Trojans; but as the tawny eagle pounces upon a flock of +winged birds, feeding on a river’s bank, either geese or cranes, or +long-necked swans, so did Hector direct his course towards an +azure-prowed vessel, rushing against it; but Jove, with a very mighty +hand, impelled him from behind, and animated his forces along with him. +Again was a sharp contest waged at the ships. You would have said that +unwearied and indefatigable they met each other in battle, so furiously +they fought. And to them fighting this was the opinion: the Greeks, +indeed, thought that they could not escape from destruction, but must +perish. But the soul of each within his breast, to the Trojans, hoped +to burn the ships, and slay the Grecian heroes. They thinking these +things, opposed one another. + +Footnote 500: (return) _I.e._ about its carcase. The Scholiast also +gives another interpretation, viz. “to prevent his killing an ox;” but +Kennedy, with reason, prefers the former one. + +Footnote 501: (return) “_They now held their ships in view_, which +were arranged in a two-fold line, from the outermost whereof the Greeks +were driven in upon their tents, disposed in the intermediate position +between the lines of the vessels.”—Kennedy. + +Footnote 502: (return) Cf. v. 530. + +Footnote 503: (return) As the “desultores” (Liv. xxiii. 29). Hence +“desultor amoris,” in Ovid, Amor. i. 3, 15, to denote an inconstant +lover; “desultoria scientia,” Apuleius, Met. i. præf., speaking of his +own varied fable. + +But Hector seized the stern of a sea-traversing bark, beautiful, swift, +which had carried Protesilaus 504 to Troy, but did not bear him back +again to his father-land. Round his ship the Greeks and Trojans were +now slaying one another in close combat; nor did they indeed at a +distance await the attacks of arrows and of javelins, but standing +near, having one mind, they fought with sharp battle-axes and hatchets, +with large swords and two-edged spears. And many fair swords, +black-hilted, with massive handles, fell to the ground, some indeed +from the hands, and others from the shoulders of the contending heroes; +and the dark earth streamed with gore. But Hector, after he had seized +[the vessel] by the stern, did not let go, holding the furthest 505 +edge with his hands, and he cheered on the Trojans: + +“Bring fire, and at the same time do yourselves together excite the +battle. Now hath Jove vouchsafed us a day worth all, 506 to take the +ships, which, coming hither against the will of the gods, brought many +evils upon us through the cowardice of our elders, who kept me back +when desirous myself to fight at the sterns of the ships, and +restrained the people. But if, indeed, far-sounding Jove then injured +507 our minds, he now impels and orders us.” Thus he spoke, but they +rushed the more against the Greeks. Even Ajax no longer sustained them, +for he was overwhelmed with darts; but, thinking he should fall, +retired back a short space to the seven-feet bench, and deserted the +deck of his equal ship. There he stood watching, and with his spear +continually repulsed the Trojans from the ships, whoever might bring +the indefatigable fire; and always shouting dreadfully, he animated the +Greeks: + +“O my friends, Grecian heroes, servants of Mars, be men, my friends, +and be mindful of impetuous strength. Whether do we think that we have +any assistants in the rear, or any stronger rampart which may avert +destruction from the men? Indeed there is not any other city near, +fortified with towers, where we may be defended, having a reinforcing +army; but bordering on the sea, we sit in the plain of the well-armed +Trojans, far away from our native land; therefore safety is in our +exertions, not in remission of battle.” + +He said, and furious, charged with his sharp spear whoever of the +Trojans was borne towards the hollow ships with burning fire, for the +sake of Hector who incited them;—him Ajax wounded, receiving him with +his long spear; and he slew twelve in close fight before the ships. + +Footnote 504: (return) The reader will do well to read the beautiful +sketch of this hero’s deification after death in Philostratus’s preface +to the Heroica. He was the first of the Greeks who fell, being slain by +Hector as he leaped from the vessel (Hygin. Fab. ciii.; Auson. Epigr. +xx.). He was buried on the Chersonese, near the city Plagusa. Hygin. +P.A. ii. 40. + +Footnote 505: (return) The Oxford translator renders ἄφλαστον “the +tafferel.” + +Footnote 506: (return) This is, I think, much more spirited than the +Scholiast’s πάντων πόνων ἰσόῤῥοπον, or πάντων τῶν τολμηθέντων. Supply, +therefore, ήμάτων. + +Footnote 507: (return) _I.e._ befooled our senses, taking away our +proper spirit. So Theognισ has υοοῖ βεβλαμμένος ἐσθλοῦ. + + + + +BOOK THE SIXTEENTH. + + +ARGUMENT. + +Patroclus at length obtains permission from Achilles, and enters the +fight, on condition that he should return after liberating the Greeks +from their immediate peril. He comes opportunely to the assistance of +Ajax, routs the Trojans, and kills Sarpedon, whose body, but without +the armour, is rescued by Hector and Glaucus. Forgetful of his promise +to Achilles, Patroclus pursues the Trojans to their very walls. He is +driven back by Apollo, but slays the charioteer of Hector, Cebriones. +He is suddenly afflicted with stupor by Apollo, and dies by the hand of +Hector, whose death he foretells. Hector pursues Automedon with the +chariot of Achilles towards the ships. + + +Thus, then, they were fighting for the well-benched ship. But Patroclus +stood beside Achilles, the shepherd of the people, shedding warm 508 +tears; as a black-water fountain, which pours its sable tide down from +a lofty rock. But swift-footed noble Achilles, seeing, pitied him, and +addressing him, spoke winged words: + +“Why weepest thou, O Patroclus, as an infant girl, who, running along +with her mother, importunes to be taken up, catching her by the robe, +and detains her hastening; and weeping, looks at her [mother] till she +is taken up?—like unto her, O Patroclus, dost thou shed the tender +tear. Dost thou bear any tidings to the Myrmidons, or to me myself? Or +hast thou alone heard any news from Phthia? They say that, indeed, +Menœtius, the son of Actor, still lives, and that Peleus, the son of +Æacus, lives amongst the Myrmidons: for deeply should we lament for +either of them dying. Or dost thou mourn for the Greeks, because they +thus perish at their hollow ships, on account of their injustice? Speak +out, nor conceal it in thy mind, that we both may know.” + +Footnote 508: (return) Longus, iv. 7: Δάκρυα ἦν ἐπὶ τούτοις θερμότερα, +which Mollus, referring to Homer, thus explains: “Lacrymæ, quæ ex magno +impetu, et animi affectu quasi calido, neutiquam simulatæ +prosiliebant.” + +But deeply sighing, O knight Patroclus, him thou didst address: “O +Achilles, son of Peleus, by far the bravest of the Greeks, be not +indignant; since a grief so heavy does oppress the Greeks: for now all +they, as many as were formerly most valiant, lie in the ships, wounded +or stricken. Brave Diomede, indeed, the son of Tydeus, is wounded, and +spear-renowned Ulysses is stricken, as also Agamemnon; and Eurypylus is +also wounded in the thigh with an arrow. About these, indeed, +physicians skilled in many remedies are employed healing their wounds: +but thou, O Achilles, art inexorable. Never may such anger seize me at +least, as thee, O cruelly brave, dost preserve. What other after-born +man will be defended by thee, if thou will not avert unworthy ruin from +the Greeks? merciless one! Certainly the knight Peleus was not thy +father, nor Thetis thy mother; but the grey 509 Ocean produced thee, +and the lofty rocks; for thy mind is cruel. But if thou wouldst avoid +any oracle in thy mind, and thy venerable mother has told any to thee +from Jove, at least send me quickly, and at the same time give me the +rest of the army of the Myrmidons, if perchance I may become any aid to +the Greeks. Grant me also to be armed on my shoulders with thy armour, +if perchance the Trojans, likening me to thee, may cease from battle, +and the warlike sons of the Greeks, now fatigued, breathe again; and +there be a short respite from war. 510 But we [who are] fresh, can +easily repulse men worn out with battle from our ships and tents +towards the city.” + +Footnote 509: (return) Alluding to the colour of the ocean when +ruffled by a storm. With the following passage compare Theocrit. iii. +15, sqq.; Eurip. Bacch. 971, sqq.; Virg. Æn. iv. 365, sqq.; Eψl. viii. +43, sqq., with Macrob. Sat. v. 11. + +Footnote 510: (return) Cf. xi. 800, with the note. + +Thus he spoke, supplicating, very rash; for, assuredly, he was about to +supplicate for himself evil death and fate. Whom, deeply sighing, +swift-footed Achilles addressed: + +“Alas! most noble Patroclus, what hast thou said? I neither regard any +oracle which I have heard, nor has my venerable mother told anything to +me from Jove. But this bitter grief comes upon my heart and soul, when +a man who excels in power, wishes to deprive his equal 511 of his +portion, and to take back his reward because he excels in power.” + +Footnote 511: (return) _I.e._ in dignity. + +“This to me is a bitter grief, since I have suffered sorrows in my +mind. The maid whom the sons of the Greeks selected as a reward for me, +and [whom] I won by my spear, having sacked a well-fortified city, her +has king Agamemnon, son of Atreus, taken back out of my hands, as from +some dishonoured alien. But we shall allow these things to be among the +things that were; 512 nor is it right, indeed, to be continually +enraged in one’s mind. Certainly I affirmed that I would not put a stop +to my wrath, before that clamour and war should reach my ships. But do +thou put on thy shoulders my famous armour, and lead on the war-loving +Myrmidons to battle; since now a black cloud of Trojans hath strongly +surrounded the ships, and the Greeks are hemmed in by the shore of the +sea, possessing now but a small portion of land. And the whole city of +the Trojans has rushed on, confident, because they behold not the front +of my helmet gleaming near. Certainly, quickly flying, would they have +filled the trenches with their bodies, if king Agamemnon had known +mildness to me: but now they are fighting around the army. For the +spear does not rage in the hands of Diomede, the son of Tydeus, to +avert destruction from the Greeks: nor do I at all hear the voice of +Agamemnon shouting from his odious head; but [the voice] of +man-slaughtering Hector, animating the Trojans, resounds: whilst they +with a shout possess the whole plain, conquering the Greeks in battle. +Yet even thus, Patroclus, do thou fall on them bravely, warding off +destruction from the ships; nor let them consume the vessels with +blazing fire, and cut off thy own return. But obey, as I shall lay the +sum of my advice in thy mind, in order that thou mayest obtain for me +great honour and glory from all the Greeks; and they may send back to +me the beautiful maid, and afford [me] besides rich presents. Having +repulsed the enemy from the ships, return back: and if, indeed, the +loud-thundering husband of Juno permit thee to obtain glory, do not be +desirous of fighting with the warlike Trojans apart from me; for thou +wouldst render me more dishonoured; nor, exulting in the battle and +havoc, lead on as far as Ilium, slaughtering the Trojans, lest some of +the immortal gods come down from Olympus [against thee]; for +far-darting Apollo greatly loves them. But return after thou hast given +safety to the ships, and allow the others to contend through the plain. +For would that, O father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, not one of the +Trojans, as many as there are, may escape death, nor any of the Greeks: +whilst to us two it [may be granted] to avoid destruction, that we +alone might overthrow the sacred bulwarks of Troy.” + +Footnote 512: (return) _I.e._ “Let bygones be bygones.”—Dublin Ed. + +Thus they indeed discussed these matters with each other. But Ajax no +longer remained firm, 513 for he was pressed hard with weapons; because +the counsel of Jove overpowered him, and the fierce Trojans hurling. +And a dreadful clang did his glittering helmet round his temples emit, +being struck, and he was constantly smitten upon the well-made studs of +his casque. He was fatigued in the left shoulder, by always firmly +holding his moveable shield; nor could they, pressing him all around +with their weapons, drive him [from his place]. Unceasingly afflicted +was he with severe panting, and everywhere from his limbs poured +copious perspiration, nor was he able to respire; for everywhere evil +was heaped upon evil. + +Footnote 513: (return) Compare the splendid description in Ennius apud +Macrob. Sat. vi. 3:— + + Undique conveniunt, vel imber, tela Tribuno. + Configunt parmam, tinnit hastilibus umbo, + Æratæ sonitant galeæ: sed nec pote quisquam + Undique nitendo corpus discerpere ferro. + Semper abundanteis hastas frangitque, quatitque, + Totum sudor habet corpus, multumque laborat: + Nec respirandi fit copia præpete ferro. + + +Cf. Virg. Æn. ix. 806, sqq.; Stat. Theb. ii. 668, sqq. + +Declare now to me, ye Muses, possessing Olympic habitations, how first +the fire fell upon the ships of the Greeks! + +Hector, standing near, struck the ashen spear of Ajax with his great +sword, at the socket of the blade behind, and cut it quite off; +Telamonian Ajax indeed vainly brandished the mutilated spear in his +hand; but the brazen blade rang, falling upon the earth at a distance +from him. Then Ajax knew in his blameless soul, and shuddered at the +deeds of the gods; because the lofty thundering Jove cut off his plans +of war, and willed the victory to the Trojans. Wherefore he retired out +of the reach of the weapons, and they hurled the indefatigable fire at +the swift ships, the inextinguishable flame of which was immediately +diffused around. Thus indeed the flame surrounded the stern; but +Achilles, smiting his thighs, addressed Patroclus: + +“Haste, O most noble steed-directing Patroclus (I perceive, indeed, the +fury of the hostile fire at the ships), lest they now take the vessels, +and there be not an opportunity of flying; put on thy armour very +quickly, and I shall assemble the forces.” + +Thus he spoke; but Patroclus armed himself in glittering brass. First, +indeed, he put the beautiful greaves around his legs, fitted with +clasps; next he placed the corslet of the swift-footed descendant of +Æacus upon his breast, variegated, and studded with stars; and +suspended from his shoulders his silver-studded sword, brazen, and then +the great and sturdy shield. But upon his gallant head he placed the +well-made helmet, crested with horse-hair; and dreadfully the plume +nodded from above. He took besides two strong spears, which well fitted +his hands; but the spear alone of blameless Æacides, ponderous, large, +and strong, he did not take; which, indeed, no other of the Greeks +could brandish, but Achilles alone knew how to wield it; a Pelian ash +which Chiron had given to his sire, [cut] from the tops of Pelion, +about to be death to heroes. He also commanded Automedon quickly to +yoke the steeds, whom, next to rank-breaking Achilles, he most +honoured, because he was most faithful to him in battle, to stand the +charge. Wherefore Automedon yoked the fleet horses, Xanthus and Balius, +which kept pace with the winds. Them the Harpy Podargé bore to +Zephyrus, the wind, while feeding in the meadows by the stream of +Oceanus. And in the outer harness he fastened illustrious Pedasus, whom +Achilles led away long since, having sacked the city of Eëtion; and +which [steed], though being mortal, accompanied immortal steeds. But +Achilles, going about, armed all the Myrmidons through the tents with +their armour; but they, like carnivorous wolves, in whose hearts is +immense strength, and which, having slain a great horned stag in the +mountains, tearing, devour it; but the jaws of all are red with blood: +and then they rush in a pack, lapping with slender tongues the surface +of the dark water from a black-water fountain, vomiting forth clots of +blood; but the courage in their breasts is dauntless, and their stomach +is distended: so rushed the leaders and chiefs of the Myrmidons round +the brave attendant of swift-footed Æacides, and amongst them stood +warlike Achilles, animating both the steeds and the shield-bearing +warriors. + +Fifty were the swift galleys which Achilles, dear to Jove, led to Troy; +and in each were fifty men, companions at the benches. But he had +appointed five leaders, in whom he put trust, to command them; and he +himself, being very powerful, governed. One troop indeed Menesthius, +with flexible corslet, commanded, the son of Sperchius, a +Jove-descended river; whom the daughter of Peleus, fair Polydora, bore +to indefatigable Sperchius, a woman having been embraced by a god; +although, according to report, to Borus, son of Perieres, who openly +espoused her, giving infinite marriage gifts. But warlike Eudorus +commanded another [company], clandestinely begotten, whom Polymela, the +daughter of Phylas, graceful in the dance, bore. Her the powerful +slayer of Argus 514 loved, beholding her with his eyes among the +dancers at a choir of golden-bowed Diana, huntress-maid; and +immediately ascending to an upper chamber, pacific Mercury secretly lay +with her: whence she bore to him a son, Eudorus, swift to run, and also +a warrior. But after that birth-presiding Ilithyia had brought him into +light, and he beheld the splendour of the sun, the mighty strength of +Echecleus, son of Actor, led her to his house when he had given +innumerable marriage-gifts; whilst aged Phylas carefully nurtured and +educated him, tenderly loving him, as if being his own son. The third, +warlike Pisander led, the son of Mæmalus, who, after the companion of +the son of Peleus, surpassed all the Myrmidons in fighting with the +spear. The fourth, the aged knight Phœnix commanded; and Alcimedon, the +illustrious son of Laërceus, the fifth. But when Achilles, marshalling +them well, had placed all with their leaders, he enjoined this strict +command: + +“Ye Myrmidons, let none of you be forgetful of the threats with which, +at the swift ships, ye did threaten the Trojans, during all my +indignation, and blamed me, each of you [in this manner]: ‘O cruel son +of Peleus! surely thy mother nurtured thee in wrath: relentless! thou +who at the ships detainest thy companions against their will. Let us at +least return home again in our sea-traversing barks, since pernicious +wrath has thus fallen upon thy mind.’ These things ye frequently said +to me, when assembled; and now the great task of war appears, of which +ye were hitherto desirous. Let each one here, having a valiant heart, +fight against the Trojans.” + +Footnote 514: (return) Mercury. + +Thus speaking, he aroused the might and spirit of each, and their ranks +were condensed the more when they heard the king. As when a man +constructs the wall of a lofty mansion with closely-joined stones, +guarding against the violence of the winds, so closely were their +helmets and bossed shields linked: then shield pressed upon shield, +helmet upon helmet, and man upon man; and the horse-hair crests upon +the shining cones of [their helmets] nodding, touched each other; so +close stood they to each other. Before all were armed two warriors. +Patroclus and Automedon, having one mind, to fight in the front of the +Myrmidons. But Achilles hastened to go into his tent; and he opened the +lid of a chest, beautiful, variously adorned, which silver-footed +Thetis placed, to be carried in his ship, having filled it well with +garments, and wind-resisting cloaks, and napped tapestry. And in it was +a cup curiously wrought, nor did any other of men drink dark wine from +it, nor did he pour out [from it] libations to any of the gods, except +to father Jove. This then, taking from the coffer, he first purified +with sulphur, and then washed in a crystal rivulet of water; but he +himself washed his hands, and drew off the dark wine. Next, standing in +the middle of the area, he prayed, and offered a libation of wine, +looking up to heaven; nor did he escape the notice of thunder-rejoicing +Jove: + +“O king Jove, Dodonean, Pelasgian, dwelling afar off, presiding over +wintry Dodona; but around dwell thy priests, the Selli, with unwashed +feet, and sleeping upon the ground; certainly thou didst formerly hear +my voice when praying: thou hast honoured me, and hast greatly injured +the people of the Greeks; wherefore now also accomplish this additional +request for me; for I myself will remain in the assemblage 515 of +ships, but I am sending forth my companion with the numerous Myrmidons +to battle; along with him, do thou send forth glory, O far-sounding +Jove! embolden his heart within his breast, that even Hector may know +whether my attendant, even when alone, knows how to wage war, or [only] +when these invincible hands rage with him, when I likewise go forth to +the slaughter of Mars. But after he has repelled the contest and the +tumult from the ships, unscathed let him return to me, to the swift +barks, with all his armour and his close-fighting companions.” + +Footnote 515: (return) So θεῖον ἀγῶνα, vi. 298. The Scholiast +interprets it ἐν ναυστάθμῳ. + +Thus he spoke, praying; and provident Jove heard him. One part indeed +the Sire granted him, but refused the other. He granted that he should +repel the conflict and tumult from the ships, but he refused that he +should return safe from the battle. He, on his part, having made a +libation and prayed to father Jove, again entered his tent, and +replaced the cup in the chest. Then coming out, he stood before the +tent, for he still wished in his mind to behold the grievous conflict +of Trojans and Greeks. + +But those that were armed at the same time with magnanimous Patroclus, +marched orderly, till they rushed upon the Trojans, with high hopes. +Immediately they were poured out, like unto wasps dwelling by the +road-side, which silly boys are wont to irritate, incessantly harassing +them, possessing cells by the way-side; and cause a common evil to +many. And if by chance any traveller, passing by, unintentionally +disturb them, then they, possessing a valiant heart, all fly forth, and +fight for their young. The Myrmidons then, having the heart and courage +of these, poured out from the ships, and an inextinguishable tumult +arose. But Patroclus cheered on his companions, loudly shouting: + +“Ye Myrmidons, companions of Achilles, the son of Peleus, be men, my +friends, and be mindful of impetuous valour; that we, his +close-fighting servants, may honour the son of Peleus, who is by far +the bravest of the Greeks at the ships; and that the son of Atreus, +wide-ruling Agamemnon, may know his fault, that he nothing honoured the +bravest of the Greeks.” + +Thus speaking, he aroused the might and spirits of each: and in dense +array they fell upon the Trojans: but the ships re-echoed dreadfully +around from the Greeks shouting. But the Trojans, when they beheld the +brave son of Menœtius, himself and his attendant glittering in arms, +the mind to all of them was disturbed, and the phalanxes were deranged, +deeming that the swift-footed son of Peleus at the ships had cast away +his wrath, and resumed friendship: then each one gazed about where he +might escape utter destruction. + +But Patroclus first took aim with his shining spear from the opposite +side right into the midst, where they were huddled together in greatest +numbers at the stern of the ship of magnanimous Protesilaus, and +wounded Pyræchmes, who led the Pæonian equestrian warriors from Amydon, +from the wide-flowing Axius. Him he smote upon the right shoulder, and +he fell on his back in the dust groaning; but the Pæonians, his +companions, were put to flight around him, for Patroclus caused fear to +them all, having slain their leader, who was very brave to fight. And +he drove them from the ships, and extinguished the blazing fire. But +the ship was left there half-burnt, whilst the Trojans were routed with +a prodigious tumult: and the Greeks were poured forth amongst the +hollow ships; and mighty confusion was created. And as when, from the +lofty summit of a great mountain, 516 lightning-driving Jove dislodges +a dense cloud, and all the eminences and highest ridges and glens +appear, whilst the boundless æther is burst open 517 throughout the +heaven; so the Greeks respired for a little, having repelled the +hostile fire from their vessels. But of battle there was no cessation: +for the Trojans were by no means yet totally routed from the black +ships by the warlike Greeks, but still resisted, and retreated from the +ships from necessity. Then of the generals, man slew man, the fight +being scattered; and first, the brave son of Menœtius forthwith with +his sharp spear smote the thigh of Areïlochus when turned about, and +drove the brass quite through: but the spear broke the bone, and he +fell prone upon the earth. But warlike Menelaus then wounded Thoas in +the breast, exposed near the shield, and relaxed his limbs. But +Phylides, perceiving Amphiclus rushing against him, anticipated him, +taking aim at the extremity of his leg, where the calf of a man is +thickest; the tendons were severed all round 518 by the point of the +spear, and darkness overshadowed his eyes. Then the sons of Nestor, the +one, Antilochus, struck Atymnius with his sharp spear, and drove the +brazen lance through his flank; and he fell before him: but Maris, +standing before the carcase, rushed upon Antilochus hand to hand with +his spear, enraged on account of his brother; but godlike Thrasymedes, +taking aim, anticipated him before he had wounded [Antilochus], nor did +he miss him, [but wounded him] immediately near the shoulder; and the +point of the spear cut off the extremity of the arm from the muscles, +and completely tore away the bone. Falling, he made a crash, and +darkness veiled his eyes. Thus to Erebus went these two, subdued by two +brothers, the brave companions of Sarpedon, the spear-renowned sons of +Amisodarus, who nourished the invincible 519 Chimæra, a destruction to +many men. But Ajax, the son of Oïleus, rushing upon Cleobulus, took him +alive, impeded in the crowd; and there relaxed his strength, striking +him upon the neck with his hilted sword. And the whole sword was warmed +over with blood, and purple 520 death and stern fate possessed his +eyes. + +Footnote 516: (return) Milton, P.L. ii. 488:— + + “As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds + Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o’er-spread + Heav’n’s cheerful face, the louring element + Scowls o’er the darkened landskip snow, or shower; + If chance the radiant sun with farewell sweet + Extend his evening beam, the fields revive, + The birds their notes renew and bleating herds + Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings.” + + +Footnote 517: (return) Virg. Æn. i. 591:— + + “Vix ea fatus erat, cum circumfusa repente + Scindit se nubes, et in æthera purgat apertum.” + + + Cf. Drakenb. on Silius, iii. 196; Kuinoel on Matth. iii. 16; Acts + vii. 55. + +Footnote 518: (return) Heyne would construe αἰχμῇ with περὶ, referring +to viii. 86; xiii. 441, 570; Pind. Nem. viii. 40. + +Footnote 519: (return) On the adjective ἀμαιμακέτην, see intpp. on +Soph. Œd. R. 176; Œd. Col. 127. + +Footnote 520: (return) _I.e._ “atra mors,” Tibull. i. 3, 5. Cf. vs. +370: Θανάτου μέλαν νέφος. + +Then Peneleus and Lycon engaged in close combat, for they had missed +each other with their spears, and both had hurled in vain; 521 +therefore they ran on again with their swords; then Lycon on his part +struck the cone of the horse-hair-crested helmet, and the sword was +broken at the hilt. + +Footnote 521: (return) On μέλεος see Kennedy. Suidas: Ὁ μὲν οιητὴς +(_i.e._ Homer) ἐπὶ τοῦ ματαίου ἐνδέχεται τὸ Μέλεος οἱ δὲ τραγικοὶ, ἐπὶ +τοῦ οἰκτροῦ· So Hesych. μέλεος’ μάταιος. + +But Peneleus smote him in the neck below the ear, and the whole sword +entered, and the skin alone retained it: the head hung down, and his +limbs were relaxed. + +Meriones also, overtaking him with rapid feet, wounded Acamas in the +right shoulder, as he was about to ascend his chariot; and he fell from +his chariot, and darkness was poured over his eyes. + +But Idomeneus struck Erymas in the mouth with the pitiless brass; and +the brazen weapon passed right through from the opposite side down +under the brain, and then cleft the white bones. And his teeth were +dashed out, and both eyes were filled with gore, which, gaping, he +forced 522 out from his mouth and from his nostrils; and the black +cloud of death enveloped him. Thus these leaders of the Greeks slew +each a man. And as destructive wolves impetuously rush on lambs or +kids, snatching them from the flocks, which are dispersed upon the +mountains by the negligence of the shepherd; but they, perceiving them, +immediately tear in pieces them, having an unwarlike heart: so did the +Greeks rush upon the Trojans, but they were mindful of dire-sounding +flight, and forgot resolute valour. But mighty Ajax ever longed to aim +his javelin at brazen-armed Hector; but he, from his skill in war, +covering himself as to his broad shoulders with a bull’s-hide shield, +watched the hissing of the arrows and the whizzing of the javelins. +Already indeed he knew the victory of battle was inclining to the other +side; yet even thus he remained, and saved his beloved companions. + +Footnote 522: (return) Made to rush with a bubbling noise, the verb +here “expressing the _violent streaming_ of a liquid.” See Buttm. +Lexil. p. 484; and compare my note on Æsch. Ag. p. 137, n. 2, ed. Bohn. + +And as when from Olympus comes a cloud into heaven, 523 after a clear +sky, when Jove stretches forth a whirlwind, thus was the clamour and +rout of those [flying] from the ships. Nor did they repass [the trench] +in seemly plight, but his fleet-footed steeds bore away Hector with his +arms; and he deserted the Trojan people, whom against their will the +deep trench detained. And many fleet car-drawing steeds left in the +foss the chariots of their masters, broken at the extremity of the +pole. But Patroclus pursued, vehemently cheering on 524 the Greeks, and +devising destruction for the Trojans; but they, with clamour and rout, +filled all the ways after they were dispersed. A storm [of dust] was +tossed up beneath the clouds, and the solid-hoofed horses pressed back +towards the city, from the ships and tents. But Patroclus, wherever he +perceived the army in greatest confusion, thither directed [his +steeds], exclaiming in a threatening manner; whilst beneath his axles +men fell prone from their chariots, and the chariots were overturned. +Then, from the opposite side, the fleet immortal steeds, which the gods +had given as splendid presents to Peleus, eagerly pressing on, bounded +quite across the trench; for his mind urged him against Hector, for he +longed to strike him, but his swift horses kept bearing him away. + +Footnote 523: (return) Heaven is here distinguished from Olympus, as +in i. 597, and Tibull. iv. i. 131:— + + “Jupiter ipse levi vectus per inania curru + Adfuit, et cœlo vicinum liquit Olympum.” + + +Footnote 524: (return) From this sense of κελεύω arises its nautical +meaning, also κελευστὴς, the man who gives the signal and cheers on the +rowers. See Mollus on Long. Past. iii. 14. So Athenæus, xii. p. 535: +Χρυσόγονος μὲν ἤυλει τὸ τριηρικόν. Καλλιπίδης δὲ ὁ τραγῳδὸς ἐκέλευε. + +And as beneath a whirlwind the whole dark earth is oppressed on an +autumnal day, when Jove pours forth his most violent stream; when, +forsooth, enraged he gives vent to his wrath against men, who by +violence decree perverse judgments in the assembly, and drive out +justice, not regarding the vengeance of the gods; and all their rivers +are flooded as they flow, and the torrents sever asunder many +mountains, and flowing headlong into the dark sea, roar mightily, and +the husbandry-works 525 of men are diminished; so loudly moaned the +Trojan mares running along. But Patroclus, when he had cut off the +first phalanxes, drove them back again towards the ships, and did not +permit them, desiring it, to ascend towards the city; but, pressing on, +he slew them between the ships, and the river, and the lofty wall, and +he exacted revenge for many. Then indeed he smote with his shining +spear Pronous first, bared as to his breast beside the shield, and +relaxed his limbs: and falling, he gave a crash. But next, attacking +Thestor, son of Enops (who indeed sat huddled in his well-polished +chariot, for he was panic-struck in his mind, and the reins had then +dropped from his hands), he standing near, smote him with his spear on +the right cheek, and drove it through his teeth. Then catching the +spear, he dragged him over the rim [of the chariot]; as when a man, +sitting upon a jutting rock, [draws] with a line and shining brass 526 +a large fish entirely out of the sea; so he dragged from his chariot +with his shining spear, him gaping. Then he hurled him upon his mouth, +and life left him as he fell. Then next he struck with a stone on the +middle of the head, Eryalus, rushing against him, and it was totally +split asunder into two parts in his strong helmet. He therefore fell +prone upon the earth, and fatal death was diffused around him. +Afterwards Erymas, and Amphoterus, Epaltes, and Tlepolemus, son of +Damastor, Echius and Pyris, Icheus, Euïppus, and Polymelus, son of +Argeus, all one over the other he heaped upon the fertile earth. + +Footnote 525: (return) For this agricultural use of ἔργα cf. Oppian, +Cyn. ii. 151: άντη δ’ ἔργα βοῶν. Nicander, Ther. 473: ἔργα νομέων. +Virg. Georg. i. 325: “Et pluvia ingenti sata læta, boumque labores +diluit.” + +Footnote 526: (return) _I.e._ the hook. So “ære, the brass cutwater,” +Virg. Æn. i. 35. + +But when Sarpedon perceived his loose-girt 527 companions subdued by +the hands of Patroclus, the son of Menœtius, exhorting, he shouted to +the godlike Lycians: + +“Oh shame! Lycians, where do ye fly? 528 Now be strenuous: for I will +oppose this man, that I may know who he is who is victorious: and +certainly he has done many evils to the Trojans, since he has relaxed +the limbs of many and brave men.” + +He spoke, and leaped from his chariot with his armour to the ground; +but Patroclus, on the other side, when he beheld him, sprang from his +car. Then they, as bent-taloned, crook-beaked vultures, loudly +screaming, fight upon a lofty rock, so they, shouting, rushed against +each other. But the son of the wily Saturn, beholding them, felt +compassion, and addressed Juno, his sister and wife: 529 + +“O woe is me, because it is fated that Sarpedon, most dear to me of +men, shall be subdued by Patroclus, the son of Menœtius. But to me, +revolving it in my mind, my heart is impelled with a twofold anxiety, +530 either that having snatched him alive from the mournful battle, I +may place him among the rich people of Lycia, or now subdue him beneath +the hands of the son of Menœtius.” + +Footnote 527: (return) Τοὺς μὴ ὑποζωννυμένους μίτρας τοῖς +χιτῶσιν.—Eustath. + +Footnote 528: (return) Tzetzes on Hesiod, Opp. 184, reads ἐστόν, +observing that it is τὸ δυϊκὸν ἀντὶ τοῦ πληθυντικοῦ. + +Footnote 529: (return) Virg. Æn. i. 50: “Jovisque et soror et conjux.” +Hor. Od. iii. 3, 64: “Conjuge me Jovis et sorore.” Aθson. 343, 4: “Et +soror et conjux fratris regina dearum.” + +Footnote 530: (return) Cf. Virg. Æn. iv. 285:— + + “Atque animum nunc huc celerem, nune dividit illuc, + In partesque rapit varias, perque omnia versat.” + + + x. 680. Ter. Andr. i. 5, 25. Ovid, Met. vii. 19; x. 373. Plato, Rep. + iii. p. 433, B. ed. Læm. finds great fault with Homer for thus + debasing the character of Jove. His remarks are reiterated by + Clemens Alexandr. Protr. p. 16, 50, and Minucius Felix, § 22. + +Then the large-eyed, venerable Juno answered: “Most dread son of +Saturn, what a word hast thou spoken? Whether dost thou wish to +liberate from sad death a mortal man long since doomed to fate? Do so; +but all we, the other gods, will not assent to it. But another thing I +will tell thee, and do thou revolve it in thy mind. If indeed thou +sendest this Sarpedon safe home, reflect whether some other of the gods +may not also wish to send his beloved son [safe home] from the violent +conflict; for many sons of immortals fight round the great city of +Priam, upon whom thou wilt bring heavy wrath. If, however, he be dear +to thee, and thy heart pities him, let him indeed be subdued in the +violent conflict, beneath the hands of Patroclus, the son of Menœtius: +but when his spirit and life shall have left him, send death and sweet +sleep to bear him until they reach the people of expansive Lycia. There +will his brethren and friends perform his obsequies with a tomb and a +pillar; for this is the honour of the dead.” + +Thus she spoke, nor did the father of gods and men disobey; but he +poured down upon the earth bloody dew-drops, 531 honouring his beloved +son, whom Patroclus was about to slay in fertile-soiled Troy, far away +from his native land. + +Footnote 531: (return) There is a similar prodigy in Hesiod, Scut. +Here. 384: Κάδδ’ ἄρ’ ἀπ’ ουρανόθεν ψιάδας βάλεν αἱματοέσσας, Σῆμα +τιθεὶς πολέμοιο ἑῷ μεγαθαρσέϊ παιδί. Tzetzes there refers to the +present passage, regarding it as ominous of the death of Sarpedon. Cf. +Lomeier, De Lustrationibus, xii. p. 143. + +But when, advancing, they were now near each other, then indeed +Patroclus [struck] illustrious Thrasymelus, who was the brave companion +of king Sarpedon, him he struck upon the lower part of the belly, and +relaxed his limbs. Then Sarpedon, attacking second, missed him with his +splendid javelin; but he wounded his horse Pedasus, with his spear, in +the right shoulder; but he groaned, breathing out his life, and fell in +the dust, moaning, and his spirit fled from him. But the two [other +steeds] leaped asunder, and the yoke crashed, and the reins were +entangled about them, when the side horse lay in the dust. But +spear-renowned Automedon found an end of this. Drawing his long sword +from his robust thigh, rising, he cut away the farther horse, nor did +he act slothfully. And the two [remaining horses] were set aright, and +were directed by the reins; and they [the men] again engage in +life-devouring combat. + +Then again Sarpedon missed [him] with his shining spear, and the point +of the weapon passed over the left shoulder of Patroclus, nor did it +wound him. But Patroclus rushed on with his javelin, and the weapon did +not escape in vain from his hand, for he struck him where the midriff +encloses the compact 532 heart. And he fell, as when falls some oak, or +poplar, or lofty pine, which the workmen fell in the mountains with +newly-sharpened axes, to be a naval timber: so he lay stretched out +before his horses and chariot, gnashing with his teeth, grasping the +bloody dust. As a lion slays a bull, coming among a herd, tawny, +noble-spirited, among the stamping 533 oxen, and he perishes, +bellowing, beneath the jaws of the lion; so the leader of the shielded +Lycians was indignant, 534 being slain by Patroclus, and addressed his +dear companion by name: + +Footnote 532: (return) “By comparing the different uses of ἀδινὸς +together, one thing is clear, that all the meanings which can occur in +them, proceed from one, which is that in the epithet of the heart, +_dense_ or _compact_, which physical idea the word retains, according +to the Homeric usage, in Od. τ. 516, as a fixed epithet of the heart, +although there its physical state has nothing to do with the context.” +Buttm. Lexil. p. 33. + +Footnote 533: (return) See Buttm. Lexil. p. 267. + +Footnote 534: (return) “Indignata anima gemebat,”—Heyne, comparing Æn. +xii. Ult. “Vitaque cum gemitu fugit indignata sub umbras.” + +“Glaucus, dear friend, warrior amongst heroes, now it greatly behoves +thee to be a hero and a bold warrior; now if thou art impetuous, let +destructive battle be thy desire. First indeed, going in every +direction, exhort the leaders of the Lycians to fight around Sarpedon, +and do thou thyself also fight for me with thy spear. For I will +hereafter be a cause of shame and disgrace to thee, all thy days, +throughout, if indeed the Greeks despoil me of my armour, falling in +the conflict at the ships. But persevere, and animate all the army.” + +While he was thus speaking, the end of death covered him as to his eyes +and nostrils; but Patroclus, trampling with his heel upon his breast, +drew out the spear from his body, and the midriff 535 followed with it; +and he drew out at the same time his life and the point of the weapon. +But the Myrmidons there held his panting steeds, eager to fly along, +since they had quitted the chariots of their lords. Then bitter grief +arose to Glaucus, hearing the voice [of his friend], and his heart was +grieved because he could not aid him. But grasping his own arm in his +hand, he compressed it; for grievously the wound pained him, which +Teucer, with an arrow, had inflicted upon him, as he was rushing +against the lofty wall, warding off the battle from his companions. +Wherefore, praying, he addressed far-darting Apollo: + +Footnote 535: (return) Probably the _pericardium_ is meant. + +“Hear, O king, thou who art somewhere in the rich state of Lycia, or in +Troy; for thou canst everywhere hear a man afflicted, as sorrow now +comes upon me. For indeed I have this grievous wound, and my hand is +penetrated on every side with acute pains, nor can the blood be +stanched, but my shoulder is oppressed with it. For neither can I +firmly I hold my spear, nor, advancing, fight with the enemy; moreover +a very brave hero has fallen, Sarpedon, the son of Jove; but he aids +not even his own son. But heal for me this severe wound, O king; +assuage my pains, and grant me strength, that, cheering on my +companions, the Lycians, I may urge them to fight; and may myself fight +for the dead body.” + +Thus he spoke praying; but Phœbus Apollo heard him. Immediately he +allayed the pains, and dried the black gore from the grievous wound, +and instilled strength into his soul. But Glaucus knew in his mind, and +rejoiced because the mighty god had quickly heard him praying. First +then, going about in all directions, he aroused the heroes, leaders of +the Lycians, to fight for Sarpedon; and then he went to the Trojans, +advancing with long strides to Polydamas, son of Panthous, and noble +Agenor. He also went after Æneas and brazen-armed Hector, and, standing +near, addressed to him winged words: + +“O Hector, now hast thou altogether neglected thine allies, who are +losing their lives for thy sake, far away from their friends and +father-land; but thou dost not wish to aid them. Sarpedon lies low, the +leader of the shield-bearing Lycians, who protected Lycia by his +justice and his valour. Him hath brazen Mars subdued with a spear at +the hands of Patroclus. But stand near, my friends, and be indignant in +your minds, lest the Myrmidons spoil his armour, and unworthily treat +the body, enraged on account of the Greeks, as many as have perished, +whom we have slain with our spears at the ships.” + +Thus he spoke; but intolerable, unyielding grief wholly possessed the +Trojans, for he had been a pillar of their city, though being a +foreigner; for many forces followed along with him, among whom he +himself was the most valiant in battle. They therefore advanced eagerly +straight against the Greeks, ardent with desire; but Hector led the +way, enraged on account of Sarpedon. But the valiant heart of +Patroclus, son of Menœtius, aroused the Greeks. First he addressed the +Ajaces, though they themselves were also eager: + +“O Ajaces, now let it be a delightful thing to you both to repel [the +foe]; be ye such as of old ye were amongst heroes, or even braver. +Sarpedon lies low, the man who first broke through 536 the wall of the +Greeks. But oh! that taking him, we could treat him with indignity, and +spoil the armour from his shoulders, and subdue with the cruel brass +some one of his companions keeping [us] off from him.” + +Footnote 536: (return) We must understand him as having done so in +company with Hector, otherwise this passage would be at variance with +xii. 290, 437. + +Thus he spoke; but they also themselves were ready to repel [the foe]. +But when they had strengthened their phalanxes on both sides, the +Trojans and Lycians, as well as the Myrmidons and Achæans, they closed +to fight round the dead body, shouting dreadfully, and loudly rattled +the arms of men. But Jove stretched pernicious night over the violent +contest, that there might be a destructive toil of battle around his +dear son. The Trojans first drove back the rolling-eyed Greeks; for a +man was smitten, by no means the most inferior among the Myrmidons, +noble Epigeus, son of magnanimous Agacles, who formerly ruled in +well-inhabited Budium; but then having slain a noble kinsman, he came +as a suppliant to Peleus and silver-footed Thetis: they sent him to +follow with the rank-breaker Achilles, to steed-renowned Ilium, that he +might fight with the Trojans. Him then, while seizing the body, +illustrious Hector struck upon the head with a stone; and it was +entirely split in two in his strong helmet; and he fell prone upon the +corpse, and soul-destroying death was diffused around him. Then to +Patroclus grief arose, on account of his companion slain; and he rushed +right through the foremost warriors, like unto a swift hawk, which has +put to flight jackdaws or starlings; so, O equestrian Patroclus, didst +thou rush right against the Lycians and Trojans; for thou wert enraged +in thine heart for thy companion. And he struck Sthenelaus, the beloved +son of Ithæmeneus, on the neck with a stone, and broke his tendons: and +the foremost warriors and illustrious Hector gave back. And as far as +is the cast of a long javelin, which a man may have sent forth striving +either in the game, or even in war, on account of life-destroying +enemies; so far did the Trojans retire, and the Greeks repelled them. +But Glaucus, the leader of the shield-bearing Lycians, first turned, +and slew magnanimous Bathycles, the beloved son of Chalcon, who, +inhabiting dwellings in Hellas, was conspicuous among the Myrmidons for +his riches and wealth. Him then Glaucus, turning suddenly round, +wounded in the middle of the breast with his spear, when, pursuing, he +had overtaken him. But he made a crash as he fell; and deep grief +possessed the Greeks, because a brave warrior had thus fallen; but the +Trojans greatly rejoiced, and, advancing in crowds, stood round him; +nor were the Greeks forgetful of valour, but they directed their +strength straight against them. Then again Meriones slew a hero of the +Trojans, the warrior Laogonus, the gallant son of Onetor, who was the +priest of Idæan Jove, and was honoured like a god by the people. He +smote him under the jaw and ear, and his soul immediately departed from +his limbs, and dreadful darkness overshadowed him. 537 But Æneas hurled +a brazen spear at Meriones, for he hoped to hit him, advancing under +protection of his shield. He, however, observing it in front, avoided +the brazen spear; for he stooped forward, and the long javelin was +fixed in the ground behind him, and the nether point 538 of the spear +was shaken; then the rapid weapon spent its force. Thus the javelin of +Æneas, quivering entered the earth, for it had fled in vain from his +strong hand. Then Æneas was enraged in his mind, and said: + +“Meriones, quickly indeed, although being a dancer, 539 would my spear +have made thee cease for ever, if I had struck thee.” + +Footnote 537: (return) It has been well observed that Homer never +describes a wound as mortal, except when it is inflicted in a part +really vital. + +Footnote 538: (return) The οὐρίαχος was the same as the σαυρωτὴρ. See +Glossæ Herodoteæ, and Hesych. p. 820. + +Footnote 539: (return) A probable allusion to the Pyrrhic dance, which +was in use among the Cretans, from whose country Meriones had come. See +the Scholiast, and Müller, Dorians, vol. ii, p. 349. + +But him then in turn spear-renowned Meriones answered: “Æneas, it were +difficult for thee, although being brave, to extinguish the valour of +all men, whosoever may come against thee about to repulse thee; for +thou too art mortal. And if I, taking aim, should strike thee in the +middle with my sharp spear, although being brave, and confiding in thy +might, thou wouldst give glory to me, but thy soul to steed-famed +Pluto.” + +Thus he spoke; but him the brave son of Menœtius rebuked: “Meriones, +why dost thou, although being brave, harangue thus? O, my friend, the +Trojans will not retire from the corse by opprobrious words: first will +the earth possess some of them; for the emergency of battle is placed +in the hands, but of counsel in words; wherefore it is by no means +necessary to multiply words, but to fight.” + +So saying, he on his part led the way, and along with him the godlike +hero followed. And as the crash of woodcutting men arises in the dells +of a mountain, and the sound is heard from afar; so the noise of these, +smitten with swords and two-edged spears, arose from the wide-extended +plain, from brass, from leather, and from well-prepared bull’s-hide +shields. Nor would a man, although very discerning, have recognized +noble Sarpedon, since he was totally involved, from his head to the +soles of his feet, with weapons, and blood, and dust. But they still +crowded round the corse, as when flies in the stall hum around the +pails full of milk, during the spring season, when the milk makes moist +the vessel. So they still crowded round the body: nor did Jove ever +turn his bright eyes from the violent conflict; but he ever beheld +them, and meditated many evil things in his mind concerning the death +of Patroclus, anxiously deliberating whether now illustrious Hector +should kill him with his spear in the brave battle, over godlike +Sarpedon, and spoil the armour from his shoulders, or whether he should +still increase the severe labour to the multitude. To him, thus +reflecting, it appeared better that the brave servant of Achilles, the +son of Peleus, should repulse the Trojans and brazen-armed Hector, +towards the city, and take away the life of many. Into Hector, +therefore, first [of all], he sent unwarlike flight, and ascending his +chariot, he turned himself to flight, and advised the other Trojans to +fly, for he recognized the sacred scales of Jove. 540 Then not even the +brave Lycians remained, but were all turned in flight, when they beheld +their king wounded to the heart, lying in the heap of dead; for many +had fallen over him, whilst the son of Saturn stretched on the violent +strife. But after they had taken from the shoulders of Sarpedon the +brazen and glittering armour, the gallant son of Menœtius gave them to +his companions to carry to the hollow ships; and then cloud-compelling +Jove addressed Apollo: + +“Come now, dear Phœbus, going, cleanse Sarpedon, [withdrawn] from among +the heap of weapons, of sable gore, and afterwards bearing him far +away, lave him in the stream of the river, and anoint him with +ambrosia, and put around him immortal garments, then give him in charge +to the twin-brothers. Sleep and Death, swift conductors, to be borne +away, who will quickly place him in the rich state of wide Lycia. There +will his brethren and kindred perform his obsequies with a tomb and a +pillar, 541 for this is the honour of the dead.” + +Footnote 540: (return) _I.e._ He perceived that the fortune of the +battle was changed by the will of Jove. + +Footnote 541: (return) _I.e._ A cippus, or column reared upon the +tomb. See Pollux, viii. 14, and the Scriptores Rei Agrim. p. 88, ed. +Goes. + +Thus he spoke; nor was Apollo inattentive to his father, but he +descended from the Idæan mountains to the grievous conflict. +Immediately removing noble Sarpedon out of [the reach of] weapons, and +bearing him far away, he laved him in the stream of the river, anointed +him with ambrosia, and placed around him immortal garments, then gave +him in charge to the twin-brothers, Sleep and Death, swift conductors, +to be borne away with them; who accordingly quickly placed him in the +rich state of wide Lycia. + +In the meantime Patroclus, cheering on his steeds, and Automedon, +followed upon the Trojans and Lycians, and came to great +harm,—infatuate one!—but if he had observed the direction of the son of +Peleus, he had certainly escaped the evil fate of black death. But the +counsel of Jove is ever better than that of men, who puts to flight +even the valiant man, and easily deprives him of victory, even when he +himself has impelled him to fight; who then also excited courage in his +breast. Then whom first, and whom last, didst thou slay, O Patroclus, +when the gods now called thee on to death? Adrastus indeed first, +Autonous and Echeclus, and Perimus, son of Megas, and Epistor and +Melanippus; but then Elasus, and Mulius, and Pylartes. These he slew, +but the others were, each of them, mindful of flight. Then indeed had +the sons of the Greeks taken lofty-gated Troy, by the hands of +Patroclus, for he raged greatly beyond [others] with his spear, had not +Phœbus Apollo stood upon a well-built tower, meditating destructive +things to him, and assisting the Trojans. Thrice indeed Patroclus +mounted a buttress of the lofty wall, and thrice did Apollo repel him +with violence, striking his glittering shield with his immortal hands. +But when now, godlike, he rushed on the fourth time, far-casting +Apollo, threatening fearfully, addressed him: + +“Retire, thou Jove-sprung Patroclus; by no means is it destined that +the city of the magnanimous Trojans should be destroyed by thy spear, +nor by Achilles, who is much better than thou.” + +Thus he spoke, but Patroclus retired far back, avoiding the wrath of +far-darting Apollo. But Hector detained his steeds at the Scæan 542 +gates; for he doubted whether, having driven again into the crowd, he +should fight, or should loudly command the people to be collected +within the walls. To him then, meditating these things, Phœbus Apollo +stood near, having assimilated himself to a hero youthful and brave, to +Asius, who was the maternal uncle of horse-breaking Hector, own brother +of Hecuba, and the son of Dymas, who dwelt in Phrygia, by the streams +of the Sangarius: to him Phœbus Apollo, assimilating himself, spoke: + +Footnote 542: (return) Schneider on Nicander, Ther. 264-9, p. 229, +observes: “In Homerica Iliade fuerunt olim qui Σκαιὰς πύλας, quæ alibi +Dardaniæ dicuntur, interpretabantur obliquas, teste Hesychio: ἢ διὰ τὸ +σκολιὰς εἶναι κατὰ τὴν εἰσβολήν. Plane uti Servius ad Æn. iii. 351: +‘Scæa porta dicta est—nec ab itinere ingressis scævo id est sinistro, +quod ingressi non recto sed sinistro eunt itinere, sed a cadavere +Laomedontis, hoc est scæomate, quod in ejus fuerit superliminio.’ Ita +Vitruvius, i. 5, 2; unde vides, quomodo notio _sinistri_ et _obliqui_ +in hac voce coaluerit. Notio ipsa serius tandem invaluisse videtur: +antiquiorem enim Nicandreo locum ignore.” + +“Hector, why dost thou cease from battle? Nor does it at all become +thee. Would that I were so much superior to thee as I am inferior; then +indeed wouldst thou quickly have retired from the battle to thy loss. +But come, direct thy solid-hoofed steeds against Patroclus, if +perchance thou mayest slay him, and Apollo may give thee glory.” So +saying, the god on his part went again through the labour of men; but +illustrious Hector on his part commanded warlike Cebriones to lash on +his steeds to the battle, whilst Apollo, proceeding, entered the +throng; and sent an evil tumult among the Greeks; but gave glory to the +Trojans and Hector. Then indeed did Hector neglect the other Greeks, +nor slew them; but directed his solid-hoofed horses against Patroclus. +But Patroclus, on the other side, leaped from his chariot to the +ground, in his left hand holding his spear; but in the other he seized +a stone, white, rugged, which his hand embraced around. Putting his +force to it, he hurled it; nor did it err far from the man, nor was the +weapon hurled in vain, 543 for in the forehead with the sharp stone he +smote the charioteer of Hector, Cebriones, the illegitimate son of +illustrious Priam, whilst holding the reins of the horses. But the +stone crushed both his eyebrows, nor did the bone sustain it, and his +eyes fell amid the dust upon the ground before his feet. But he then, +like unto a diver, fell from the well-formed chariot-seat, and life +left his bones. But him insulting, thou didst address, O equestrian +Patroclus: + +Footnote 543: (return) See Kennedy. Others make βέλος the accusative, +and take ἁλίωσε transitively. + +“O gods! truly he is a very active man! how nimbly he dives! if indeed +he were anywhere in the fishy sea, this man, groping for oysters, might +have satisfied many, plunging from his ship, although it might be +stormy; so easily now in the plain does he dive from his chariot! +Without doubt there are divers among the Trojans.” + +So saying, he advanced against the hero Cebriones, having the force of +a lion, which, ravaging the folds, is wounded in the breast, and his +own courage destroys him; thus, O Patroclus, ardent, didst thou spring +upon Cebriones; whilst Hector, on the other side, leaped from his +chariot to the ground. These two, as lions, fought for Cebriones, when +both being hungry fight with utmost courage for a slaughtered stag in +mountain tops. So, for Cebriones, these two masters of the fight, +Patroclus, son of Menœtius, and illustrious Hector, wished to rend each +other’s body with the pitiless brass. Hector indeed, after he seized +him by the head, did not let him go; but Patroclus, on the other side, +held [him by the] foot; and now the rest of the Trojans and Greeks +engaged in the violent conflict. + +And as the East and South winds strive with each other, in the dells of +a mountain, to shake a deep wood, beech, ash, and rugged cornel, but +they strike their long-extended boughs against each other with an +immense sound, and a crash of them breaking [arises]; thus the Trojans +and Greeks, leaping upon each other, slaughtered, but neither were +mindful of pernicious flight. And many sharp spears were fixed round +Cebriones, and winged arrows bounding from the string; and many huge +stones smote the shields of those fighting round him; but he, mighty +over mighty space, lay in a whirlwind of dust, forgetful of his +equestrian skill. + +As long indeed as the sun was ascending the middle heaven, so long did +the weapons reach both sides effectually, and the people kept falling. +But when the sun had passed over towards the west, then indeed the +Greeks were superior, contrary to fate. They drew the hero Cebriones +from the weapons, out of the tumult of Trojans, and took the armour +from his shoulders. But Patroclus, devising evils against the Trojans, +rushed on. Thrice then he charged, equal to swift Mars, shouting +horridly, and thrice he slew nine heroes. But when, like unto a god, he +made the attack for the fourth time, then indeed, O Patroclus, was the +end of thy life manifest; for Phœbus, terrible in the dire battle, met +thee. He did not indeed perceive him coming through the crowd, for he +advanced against him covered with much darkness; but he stood behind, +and smote him with his flat hand upon the back and broad shoulders, and +his eyes were seized with giddiness. 544 And from his head Phœbus +Apollo struck the helmet, and the oblong helmet rattled, rolling under +the horses’ feet, and the crest was defiled with blood and dust; +although before this it was not permitted that [this] helmet, crested +with horse-hair, should be contaminated by the dust; for it protected +the head of a godlike hero, even the venerable forehead of Achilles; +but Jove then gave it to Hector to wear upon his head; but his +destruction was near. But the long-shadowed spear, great, sturdy, +pointed [with brass], was utterly shattered in his hands; whilst the +shield, which reached to his heels, with its belt, fell to the ground; +and king Apollo, the son of Jove, unbound his corslet. But stupor +seized his brain, and his fair limbs were relaxed under him, and he +stood astounded. But a Trojan, hero, Euphorbus, the son of Panthous, +who excelled those of his own age in the spear, in horsemanship, and in +swiftness of foot, smote him close at hand with his sharp spear, in the +back between the shoulders. For even before this he had hurled twenty +men from their horses, at first coming with his chariot, learning [the +art] of war. He [it was] who first hurled a weapon at thee, O knight +Patroclus, nor did he subdue thee; for he ran back, and was mingled +with the crowd, having plucked the ashen spear out of thy body; nor did +he await Patroclus, though being unarmed, in the fight. Patroclus, +however, subdued by the blow of the god, and by the spear, retired into +the crowd of his companions, avoiding death. But Hector, when he +perceived magnanimous Patroclus retiring, wounded with a sharp spear, +went through the ranks near him, and smote him with his javelin in the +lowest part of the groin, and drove the brass quite through. Falling, +he gave a crash, and greatly grieved the people of the Greeks. As when +a lion presses on an unwearied boar in fight, and they twain, high +spirited, contend upon the mountain tops for a small rill, for they +both desire to drink, but the lion subdues him by force, panting much; +so Hector, the son of Priam, in close fight with his spear, deprived +the gallant son of Menœtius of life, having slain many; and, boasting +over him, spoke winged words: + +Footnote 544: (return) Swam round, probably from exhaustion. Celsus; +i. 3: “Si quando insuetus aliquis laboravit, aut si multo plus, quam +solet, etiam is qui assuevit...... oculi caligant.” The affection is +well described by Cælius Aurol. Chron. i. 2: “Repentina visus +tenebratio, atque nebula, cum capitis vertigine.” + +“Patroclus, doubtless thou didst think to waste our city, and to carry +off in thy ships the Trojan women to thy dear father-land, having taken +away their day of freedom,—infatuated one! But in defence of these, the +fleet steeds of Hector hasten with their feet to war, and I myself, who +avert the day of slavery 545 from them, am conspicuous amongst the +war-loving Trojans in [the use of] the spear. But the vultures shall +devour thee here. Unhappy man! Nor indeed did Achilles, although being +brave, aid thee, who remaining behind, doubtless enjoined many things +to thee, going forth: ‘Do not return to me, O equestrian Patroclus, to +the hollow barks, before thou rendest the blood-stained garment around +the breast of man-slaughtering Hector.’ Thus, doubtless, he addressed +thee, and persuaded the mind of foolish thee.” + +But him, O knight Patroclus, breathing faintly, thou didst address: +“Even now, Hector, vaunt greatly, for Jove, the son of Saturn, and +Apollo, have given thee the victory, who subdued me easily; for they +stripped the armour from my shoulders. But if even twenty such [as +thou] had opposed me, they had all perished here, subdued by my spear. +But destructive fate, and the son of Latona, have slain me, and of men, +Euphorbus; whilst thou, the third, dost despoil me slain. Another thing +will I tell thee, and do thou ponder it in thy soul. 546 Not long, +indeed, shalt thou thyself advance in life, but death and violent fate +already stand near thee, subdued by the hands of Achilles, the +blameless descendant of Æacus.” + +Footnote 545: (return) So ἐλεύθερον ἧμαρ in ver. 830. Thus ἀνάγκη +ἀμφίπτολις, “slavery caused by the capture of a city,” Æsch. Choeph. +75. + +Footnote 546: (return) This prophecy of the dying Patroclus seems to +have attracted the notice of Aristotle, if we may believe Sextus, +Empir. adv. Phys. ix. p. 553: “Οταν γάρ, φησίν, ἐν τῷ ὑπνοῦν καθ’ +ἑαυτὴν γίνεται ἡ ψυχή, τότε τὴν ἴδιον ἀπολαβοῦσα φύσιν προμαντεύεται τε +καὶ προαγορεύει τὰ μέλλοντα’ τοιαύτη δέ ἐστι καὶ ἐν τῷ κατὰ τὸν θάνατον +χωρίζεσθαι τῶν σωμάτων.” He then refers to the similar example of +Hector prophesying the death of Achilles, xxiii. 358, sqq. + +Him then, having thus spoken, the end of death then overshadowed. But +his soul flying from his members, departed to Hades, bewailing its lot, +547 relinquishing manliness and youth. But him dead illustrious Hector +addressed: + +“Why now, Patroclus, dost thou prophesy cruel destruction to me? Who +knows whether Achilles, the son of fair-haired Thetis, stricken by my +spear, may not be the first to lose his life?” + +Footnote 547: (return) See my note on προῖαψεν, II. i. 3. and Heyne. + +Thus having spoken, he extracted the brazen spear from the wound, +pressing on him with his heel; and thrust him prostrate from the spear. +Then immediately, with the spear, he went against Automedon, the +godlike servant of swift-footed Æacides, for he was anxious to strike +him. But the fleet immortal steeds, which the gods bestowed on Peleus, +splendid gifts, bore him away. + + + + +BOOK THE SEVENTEENTH. + + +ARGUMENT. + +Euphorbus, attempting to despoil Patroclus of his armour, is slain by +Menelaus. It falls to the lot of Hector, but he retires on the approach +of Ajax. Being rebuked by Glaucus, he returns, and a fierce contest is +renewed over the body of Patroclus. The chariot of Achilles is bravely +defended by Automedon, but the Greeks at last begin to give way, even +Ajax being seized with consternation. Meriones and Menelaus, however, +succeed in carrying off the body of Patroclus, although the Greeks are +completely routed. + + +Nor did Patroclus, subdued in fight by the Trojans, escape the notice +of the son of Atreus, Mars-beloved Menelaus; but he advanced through +the foremost warriors, armed in glittering brass. And round him he +walked, like a dam around its calf, having brought forth for the first +time, moaning, not being before conscious of parturition: thus did +yellow-haired Menelaus walk around Patroclus. But before him he +extended his spear, and his shield on all sides equal, anxious to slay +him, whoever indeed should come against him. Nor was the son of +Panthus, of the good ashen spear, neglectful of blameless Patroclus, +fallen; but he stood near him, and addressed warlike Menelaus: + +“O Menelaus! son of Atreus, Jove-nurtured one, leader of the people, +retire, and leave the body, and let alone the bloody spoils; for not +any of the illustrious Trojans or allies smote Patroclus with the spear +in the violent conflict before me. Wherefore permit me to bear away the +great glory amongst the Trojans, lest I should strike thee, and take +away thy sweet life.” + +But him yellow-haired Menelaus, very indignant, addressed: + +“Father Jove, certainly it is not fitting to boast inordinately. Not so +great is the might of a panther, nor a lion, nor of a destructive wild +boar, whose most mighty courage rages in his heart, violently in its +strength, as much as the sons of Panthus, of the good ashen spear, +breathe forth. Nor did the might of horse-breaking Hyperenor enjoy his +youth, when he reproached me, and withstood me; and said that I was the +most reproachful warrior amongst the Greeks; nor did he, I think, +returning upon his feet, gratify his dear wife and respected parents. +Thus certainly will I dissolve thy strength, if thou wilt stand against +me. But I advise thee, retiring, to go back into the crowd; nor do thou +stand against me, before thou suffer any harm: for it is a fool that +perceives a thing when it is done.” 548 + +Footnote 548: (return) Cf. Hesiod, Opp. 216: αθὼν δέ τε νήπιος ἔγνω. +Plato, Sympos. p. 336, A.: Ἀλλ’ ἀπὸ τῶν ἡμετέρων παθημάτων γνόντα, +εὐλαβηθῆναι, καὶ μὴ, κατὰ τὴν παροιμίαν, ὥσπερ νήπιον, παθόντα γνῶναι. +Æsch. Ag. 177: Τὸν πάθει μάθος θέντα κυρίως ἔχειν—καὶ παρ’ ἄκοντας ἤλθε +σωφρονεῖν. See Proclus on Hesiod, Opp. 89. + +Thus he spoke, but persuaded him not; but he answering, spoke: + +“Now indeed, O Jove-nurtured Menelaus, shalt thou make atonement for my +brother, whom thou hast slain, and [over whom] thou speakest +boastingly; and thou hast widowed his wife in the recess of her new +bridal chamber, and caused accursed mourning and sorrow to his parents. +Certainly I should be some alleviation of woe to them wretched, if +indeed, bearing back thy head and armour, I should place them in the +hands of Panthus and noble Phrontis. Nor shall the labour of valour or +flight be untried or invincible any longer.” + +So saying, he smote [him] upon the shield equal on all sides, nor did +the brass break through, for the point was bent in the stout shield: +and Menelaus, the son of Atreus, next made the attack with his brazen +spear, having prayed to father Jove. He smote him upon the lowest part +of the gullet as he retired, and he himself forcibly impressed [the +spear], relying on his strong hand; and the point went quite through +his soft neck. And falling, he made a crash, and his armour rang upon +him. And his locks, like unto the Graces, were bedewed with blood, and +his curls, which were bound with gold and silver. And as a man rears a +widely-blooming plant of olive, fair budding, in a solitary place, +where water is wont to spring 549 up in abundance, and which the +breezes of every wind agitate, and it buds forth with a white flower; +but a wind, suddenly coming on with a mighty blast, overturns it from +the furrow, and stretches it upon the earth: so the son of Panthus, +Euphorbus, skilled in [the use of] the ashen spear, Menelaus, son of +Atreus, when he had slain [him], spoiled of his armour. As when any +mountain-nurtured lion, relying on his strength, has carried off from +the pasturing herd a heifer, which is the best; but first he breaks its +neck, seizing it in his strong teeth, and then tearing it in pieces, +laps up the blood and all the entrails; whilst around him dogs and +herdsmen shout very frequently from a distance, nor do they wish to go +against him, for pale fear violently seizes them: thus the soul of no +one within his breast dared to advance against glorious Menelaus. Then +indeed the son of Atreus had easily borne off the celebrated arms of +the son of Panthus, had not Phœbus Apollo envied him, who immediately +aroused Hector, equal to fleet Mars, against him, assimilating himself +to the hero Mentes, leader of the Cicones; and addressing him, he spoke +winged words: + +“Hector, now indeed thou art thus running, pursuing things not to be +overtaken, the steeds of warlike Achilles; they indeed are difficult to +be managed by mortal men, or to be driven by any other than Achilles, +whom an immortal mother bore. In the meanwhile Menelaus, the warlike +son of Atreus, protecting Patroclus, has slain the bravest of the +Trojans, Euphorbus, the son of Panthus, and made him cease from +impetuous valour.” + +Footnote 549: (return) This perfect has much the same usage as +ἐπενήνοθε, 219. + +Thus having spoken, the god on his part again departed into the labour +of the men; but heavy grief oppressed Hector as to his dark soul. Then, +indeed, he looked around through the ranks, and immediately observed +the one bearing away the famous armour, and the other lying upon the +ground; and the blood flowed through the inflicted wound. But he +advanced through the foremost warriors, armed in shining brass, shrilly +shouting, like unto the inextinguishable flame of Vulcan. Nor did he +escape the notice of the son of Atreus, loudly exclaiming; but he, +deeply sighing, thus communed with his own great-hearted soul: + +“Ah me! if I leave the beautiful armour and Patroclus, who lies here +for the sake of my honour, [I dread] lest some one of the Greeks, +whoever perceives it, will be indignant; but if, being alone, I fight +with Hector and the Trojans, from shame, [I fear] lest many surround +me, [being] alone. But crest-tossing Hector is leading all the Trojans +hither. But wherefore has my soul been thus debating? Whenever a man +desires, in opposition to a deity, to fight with a hero whom a god +honours, soon is a great destruction hurled upon him; wherefore no one +of the Greeks will blame me, who may perceive me retiring from Hector, +since he wars under the impulse of a god. But if I could hear Ajax, +brave in the din of war, both of us, again returning, would be mindful +of battle even against a god, if by any means we could draw off the +body for the sake of Achilles, the son of Peleus: of evils, certainly +it would be the better.” 550 + +Footnote 550: (return) “The evil here spoken of, and of which a choice +is presented to Menelaus, are loss of both the body and the armour of +Patroclus, or of either separately. The first alternative he is +resolved on guarding against by summoning Ajax to his aid; of the last +two, he prefers the abandonment of the arms, _i.e._ σύλη, spoliation of +the corpse, to ἀείκεια, its disfigurement.”—Kennedy. + +While he was thus deliberating these things in his mind and soul, the +ranks of the Trojans were meanwhile advancing; and Hector led the way. +But he retired back, and quitted the corpse, turning round as a +shaggy-bearded lion, which dogs and men drive from the stall with +spears and clamour; out his valiant heart within his breast is shaken, +and he, unwilling, departs from the fold: thus did yellow-haired +Menelaus retire from Patroclus. And being turned round, he stood, when +he had reached the band of his companions, looking all around for +mighty Ajax, the son of Telamon; whom he very quickly perceived upon +the left of the whole battle, encouraging his companions, and urging +them to fight: for Phœbus Apollo had cast a heaven-sent panic amongst +them. But he made haste to run, and, immediately standing near, spoke: + +“Ajax, hither, friend, let us hasten in defence of slain Patroclus, if +we can bear his naked corse at least to Achilles; for his armour +crest-tossing Hector possesses.” + +Thus he spoke, but he roused the courage of warlike Ajax, and he +advanced through the foremost warriors, and with him yellow-haired +Menelaus. Hector on his part, after he had despoiled him of his +beautiful armour, was dragging Patroclus, that he might sever the head +from the shoulders with the sharp brass, and, carrying off the body, +might give it to the Trojan dogs, when Ajax came near, bearing his +shield, like a tower. Then Hector, retiring back, retreated into the +throng of his companions, and sprung up into his chariot; but he gave +the handsome armour to the Trojans to carry to the city, to be a great +glory to him. But Ajax, with his broad shield covering around the son +of Menœtius, stood like a lion over her young; against which, when +leading her whelps, the huntsmen rush together in the wood; whilst he +looks dreadful in his might, and draws down all his eyebrows, +concealing his eyes: so strode Ajax round the hero Patroclus. On the +other side stood the son of Atreus, warlike Menelaus, augmenting the +great grief in his bosom. + +But Glaucus, the son of Hippolochus, leader of the Lycian heroes, +looking sternly at Hector, upbraided him with harsh language: “Hector, +most excellent as to appearance, certainly thou art greatly deficient +in fighting; doubtless good fame possesses thee without reason, since +thou art a fugitive. Consider now, how alone with the people [who are] +born in Ilium, thou mayest preserve the state and city, for none of the +Lycians, at all events, will go to fight with the Greeks for thy city; +since indeed there is no gratitude for fighting ever incessantly with +hostile men. How indeed, inglorious one, hast thou preserved an +inferior man in the throng, and suffered Sarpedon, at once thy guest +and companion, to become a prey and booty to the Greeks; who, when +alive, was a great advantage to thy city and thyself; but now thou +didst not attempt to drive away the dogs from him. Wherefore if any of +the Lycian warriors will now obey me, go home, 551 and utter +destruction will be manifest to Troy. For if now that confident, +intrepid strength, was in the Trojans, which enters heroes who in the +defence of their country undertake toil, and conflict with hostile men, +immediately might we draw Patroclus into Ilium. But if he, lifeless, +should come to the great city of king Priam, and we had drawn him away +from the battle, quickly indeed would the Greeks ransom [to us] the +beautiful armour of Sarpedon, and we might bear himself also into Troy; +for the attendant of that man is slain, who is by far the bravest of +the Greeks at the ships, and whose servants are close-fighting +warriors. But thou, forsooth, hast not dared to stand against +magnanimous Ajax, beholding his eyes in the battle of the enemy, nor to +fight against him; for he is more brave than thou.” + +Footnote 551: (return) Take ἴμεν (ἰέναι) imperatively, or understand +ἐπιπείσεται ἐμοὶ ὤστε αὐτὸν ἰέναι εἰς οἷκον, ἄμεινον ἂν εἴη οὕτως ἄρα +ὄλεθρος, κ. τ. λ. See Kennedy. + +But him sternly regarding, crest-tossing Hector addressed: “O Glaucus, +why hast thou, being such as thou art, spoken haughtily? I’ faith, +friend, I thought that thou didst excel in judgment the others, as many +as inhabit fertile Lycia; but now I altogether blame thy understanding, +since thou hast thus spoken, thou who sayest that I do not withstand +mighty Ajax. Neither have I dreaded the battle, nor the tumult of +steeds; but the counsel of ægis-bearing Jove is ever superior, who puts +even the valiant man to flight, and easily takes away the victory; but +at another time he himself impels him to fight. But come hither, my +friend, stand by me, and behold my conduct. Truly I shall always be a +coward, as thou sayest, or I will restrain even some of the Greeks, +although very eager, from keeping defence over dead Patroclus.” + +Thus saying, he cheered on the Trojans, loudly shouting, “Ye Trojans +and Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, be men, my friends, and be +mindful of impetuous valour, whilst I put on the armour of illustrious +Achilles, beautiful, of which I despoiled mighty Patroclus, having +slain him.” + +Thus having spoken, crest-tossing Hector departed from the glowing +battle, and, running very quickly, overtook his companions, not far +off, following with swift feet those who were bearing towards the city +the renowned arms of Achilles. Then standing apart from the mournful +battle, he changed his armour. His own indeed he gave to the warlike +Trojans to bear to sacred Ilium; but he put on the immortal arms of +Achilles, the son of Peleus, which the heavenly gods had bestowed on +his dear father; but he indeed, growing old, presented them to his son; +but the son grew not old in the armour of his father. + +But when cloud-compelling Jove beheld him apart, accoutred in the +armour of divine Pelides, then shaking his head, he said to his own +soul: + +“Ah! luckless one; nor is death at all in thy thoughts, which is now +near thee; but thou puttest on the immortal armour of the bravest hero, +at whom others also tremble; and thou hast slain his companion, both +gentle and brave, and thou hast taken the armour from his head and +shoulders not according to propriety. But now will I give into thy +hands a great victory, a compensation for this, that Andromache shall +never receive from thee, having returned from the battle, the +illustrious arms of the son of Peleus.” + +The son of Saturn spoke, and moreover nodded with his sable brows. But +the armour fitted the person of Hector, and Mars, the dreadful warrior, +entered him. And his limbs were inwardly filled with might and +strength, and he went after the illustrious allies, exclaiming aloud; +and glittering in his armour, to all of them he presented the +appearance of the magnanimous son of Peleus. But going among them, he +animated each with his words,—Mesthles, Glaucus, Medon, and +Thersilochus, Asteropæus, Disenor, and Hippothoüs, Phorcys, Chromius, +and Ennomus the augur. Exhorting these, he spoke winged words: + +“Hear, ye countless troops of allies dwelling around, for I did not +assemble you here, each from his own city, seeking or wanting a crowd, +but that ye might willingly defend for me the wives and infant children +of the Trojans from the warlike Greeks. Thinking these things, I wear +away my people by gifts and provisions [to you], and I satisfy the +desire of each of you. Wherefore now let some one, being turned round +straight, either perish or be saved; for these are the chances of war. +552 Nevertheless, whoever will drag Patroclus, although dead, to the +horse-breaking Trojans, and to whom Ajax shall yield, [to him] will I +present one-half of the spoils, but I myself will keep the other half; +and glory shall be to him as much as to me.” + +Thus he spoke; but they, lifting up their spears, advanced with +condensed might 553 direct against the Greeks; and their mind eagerly +hoped to draw away the dead body from Telamonian Ajax:—fools! truly +over it he took away the life from many. And then Ajax addressed +Menelaus, good in the din of war: + +Footnote 552: (return) See Duport, Gnom. Hom. p. 97. + +Footnote 553: (return) Schol.: Στίφος ποιήσαντες, συνασπίσαντες, εἰς +τὸ αύτὸ πάντες ὁρμήσαντες. A curious interpretation is given in the +Glossaries: “Βοίζω, _post cibum denuo impetum facio.”_ See Alberti on +Hesych. p. 766. + +“O my friend, O Jove-nurtured Menelaus, no longer do I expect that even +we ourselves will return from battle. Nor do I fear so much about the +dead body of Patroclus, which will quickly satiate the dogs and birds +of the Trojans, as much as I fear for my own head, lest it suffer +anything, and for thine, for Hector, that cloud of war, overshadows all +things; whilst to us, on the other hand, utter destruction appears. But +come, call the bravest of the Greeks, if any one will hear.” + +Thus he spoke; nor did Menelaus, good in the din of war, disobey; but +he shouted, crying with a loud voice to the Greeks: + +“Ο friends, leaders and chieftains of the Greeks, ye who with +Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, and Menelaus, drink the public wine, 554 +and command each his forces; but honour and glory follows from Jove. +Difficult would it be for me to look to each of the leaders, for so +great a strife of battle burns. But let some one advance, and let him +be indignant in his mind, that Patroclus should become a sport to +Trojan dogs.” + +Footnote 554: (return) _I.e._ who are supplied from the public +resources,—τὰ ἐκ τῶν κοινῶν καὶ δημοσίων χρημάτων χορηγούμενα τοῖς +βασιλεῦσι.—Schol. + +Thus he spoke; but quickly the swift Oïlean Ajax heard, and first +advanced opposite, running through the battle; after him Idomeneus, and +Meriones, the armour-bearer of Idomeneus, equal to man-slaughtering +Mars. But who in his mind could recount the names of the others as many +as afterwards aroused the battle of the Greeks? But the Trojans, in +close array, first made the onset, and Hector led them on. + +But as when, at the mouths 555 of a river flowing from Jove, the great +wave roars against the stream, while around the lofty shores resound, +the wave being ejected [upon the beach], with so loud a clamour did the +Trojans advance: but the Greeks stood round the son of Menœtius, having +one spirit, protected by their brazen shields; whilst over their +shining helmets the son of Saturn poured a thick haze; for he did not +formerly hate the son of Menœtius when, being alive, he was the +attendant of Achilles, therefore he was loth that he should become a +prey to the Trojan dogs of the enemy; and so he excited his companions +to defend him. The Trojans, however, first dislodged the dark-eyed +Greeks, and they, leaving the dead body, retreated; nor did the +magnanimous Trojans slay any of them with their spears, although +desirous, but drew off the body. But the Greeks were about to be absent +from him a very short while, for very quickly did Ajax rally them, who, +next to the renowned son of Peleus, excelled the other Greeks in beauty +and in deeds. And he broke through the front ranks, resembling a wild +boar in strength, which amongst the mountains easily disperses the dogs +and blooming youths through the woods, turning to bay; so the son of +illustrious Telamon, noble Ajax, having made the attack, easily routed +the phalanxes of the Trojans who had surrounded Patroclus, and mostly +expected to drag him to their city, and bear away glory. Meanwhile +Hippothous, the illustrious son of Pelasgian Lethus, was dragging him +by the foot through the violent conflict, having bound him with a strap +at the ancle round the tendons, gratifying Hector and the Trojans. But +soon came evil upon him, which no one, even of those desiring it, +averted from him. Him the son of Telamon, rushing through the crowd, +smote in close fight through the brazen-cheeked helmet. The +horse-haired helmet was cleft by the point of the weapon, stricken by +the great spear and strong hand; and the brain, bloody, gushed out of +the wound at the cone of the helmet; 556 and his strength was there +relaxed. Then he let fall from his hands the foot of magnanimous +Patroclus, to lie upon the earth, and near him he himself fell, prone +upon the dead body, far away from fertile Larissa: nor did he repay the +debt of nourishment to his beloved parents, for his life was short, +subdued by the spear of magnanimous Ajax. But Hector again aimed at +Ajax with his shining spear; he, however, seeing it opposite, avoided +the brazen spear by a little; but he struck Schedius, the magnanimous +son of Iphitus, by far the bravest of the Phoceans, who inhabited +dwellings in renowned Panopëus, ruling over many men. Him he smote +under the middle of the clavicle, and the brazen point of the weapon +went quite through, near the extremity of the shoulder. Falling, he +made a crash, and his arms rang upon him. Then Ajax again smote warlike +Phorcys, the son of Phænops, in the middle of the belly, while +defending Hippothous. And he broke the cavity of the corslet, and the +brazen weapon drank his entrails through; and falling in the dust, he +seized the earth with the palm of his hand. The foremost warriors and +illustrious Hector retreated; but the Greeks shouted loudly, and drew +off the bodies, both Phorcys and Hippothous, and they loosed the armour +from their shoulders. + +Footnote 555: (return) Schol. Apoll. Rhod. i. 11: Τῶν ποταμῶν οἱ +συμβάλλοντες τόποι τῇ θαλάσσῃ, προχοαὶ λέγονται, where he quotes this +instance from Homer. + +Footnote 556: (return) See iii. 372, “the part of the helmet in which +the crest was inserted—unless αἰλὸν be taken metaphorically, and by +παρ’ αὐλὸν be meant the _stream_ of blood, as from a pipe.”—Oxford +Transl. + +Then again would the Trojans, [routed] by the warlike Greeks, have gone +up to Ilium, subdued through cowardice; but the Argives on their part, +by their valour and might, would have obtained glory, even contrary to +the destined will of Jove, had not Apollo himself excited Æneas, in +body like unto Periphas the herald, son of Epytis, who knowing prudent +counsels in his mind, had grown old, as a herald, with his aged sire. +Assimilating himself to him, Apollo, the son of Jove, addressed him: + +“O Æneas, how could ye preserve lofty Ilium against the deity, since I +behold these other men relying on their bravery, and might, and valour, +and their number, and possessing a dauntless host? Yet Jove wills the +victory to us, rather than to the Danai; yet ye greatly tremble, nor +fight.” + +Thus he spoke; but Æneas, seeing him before him, recognized far-darting +Apollo; and loudly shouting, addressed Hector: + +“O Hector, and ye other leaders of the Trojans and allies, this now +indeed is a shame, that we, subdued by cowardice, should go up to +Ilium, [driven] by the warlike Achæans. For already even now some one +of the gods, having stood near to me, declared that Jove, the highest +counsellor, is an ally of the battle [to us]. Wherefore let us go +direct against the Greeks, nor let them quietly move the dead Patroclus +to the ships.” + +Thus he spoke, and then springing forth, stood far before the front +ranks. But they rallied, and stood opposed to the Greeks. Then Æneas +wounded with his spear Leocritus, son of Arisbas, the brave companion +of Lycomedes. Him falling, warlike Lycomedes pitied, and advancing very +near, he stood, and hurled with his shining spear, and struck Apisaon, +the son of Hippasis, shepherd of the people, in the liver, beneath the +diaphragm, and immediately relaxed his limbs. He had come from fertile +Pæonia, and next to Asteropæus, was the bravest to fight. Warlike +Asteropæus pitied him-fallen, and he rushed forward, willing to fight +with the Greeks. But not yet could he [do so], for [those] standing +around Patroclus were fenced in on every side with shields, and held +their spears before them; for Ajax went eagerly among all, greatly +cheering them on. He suffered not any one either to retire from the +body, nor any of the Greeks to fight in front, excelling the others, +but vigorously to stalk around for defence, and to combat in close +fight. Thus did mighty Ajax command; but the earth was moistened with +purple gore, whilst upon each other fell the dead bodies of the Trojans +and courageous allies, and of the Greeks; for neither did they fight +bloodlessly, although far fewer perished, because they were ever +mindful throughout the tumult to repel severe labour from each other. + +Thus indeed they fought, like a fire; nor would you say that the Sun +was safe, or the Moon, for they were wrapt in dark haze in the combat, +as many of the bravest as stood around the dead son of Menœtius. The +other Trojans and well-armed Greeks, however, fought at ease 557 +beneath the atmosphere; the piercing splendour of the sun was expanded +over them, and a cloud did not appear over all the earth, nor the +mountains. Resting at intervals, they fought, avoiding the cruel +weapons of each other, standing far asunder; whilst those in the middle +suffered hardships from darkness and from war, and were afflicted by +the ruthless brass, as many as were most brave. But two heroes, +illustrious men, Thrasymedes and Antilochus, had not yet heard that +blameless Patroclus was dead; but thought that, still alive, he was +fighting with the Trojans in the foremost tumult. But these, watching +the slaughter and flight of their companions, fought apart, since +Nestor had so ordered, urging [them] on to battle from the black ships. +But to these all day a mighty contest of severe strife arose, and ever +incessantly the knees, the legs, and the feet of each under him, the +hands and the eyes of those fighting around the brave companion of +swift-footed Æacides, were defiled with fatigue and perspiration. And +as when a man gives the hide of a huge ox, saturated with grease, to +his people to stretch, but they, having received, stretch it, standing +apart from each other in a circle, and straightway the moisture exudes, +and the oily matter enters, many pulling it, till it is stretched in +every direction; so they, on both sides, dragged the body here and +there in a small space; for the mind of the Trojans, on the one hand, +eagerly hoped to draw him to Ilium, but of the Greeks, on the other, to +the hollow ships. Around him arose a fierce tumult; nor could Mars, the +exciter of troops, nor Minerva, having beheld it, have found fault, not +even if wrath had particularly come upon her; such an evil labour of +men and horses did Jove extend over Patroclus on that day. Nor as yet +did noble Achilles at all know that Patroclus was dead, because they +fought far from the swift ships, beneath the wall of the Trojans. He +never thought in his mind that he was dead; but that alive, having +approached the gates, he would return back, since he did not at all +suppose that he could sack the city without him, for he had often heard +this from his mother, hearing it apart, who used to tell him the design +of mighty Jove. Yet his mother had not then told him so great an evil +as had happened, that the companion by far most dear to him had +perished. + +Footnote 557: (return) _I.e._ resting at intervals, as it is explained +in ver. 373. + +But they, ever around the dead body, holding their sharp spears, +charged incessantly, and slaughtered one another, and thus would some +of the brazen-mailed Greeks say: + +“O friends, surely it will not be honourable for us to retreat to the +hollow ships; but [rather] let the black earth here gape for all. This +indeed would at once be better for us, than that we should permit the +horse-breaking Trojans to drag him to their city, and obtain glory.” + +And thus also would some one of the magnanimous Trojans say: + +“Ο friends, although it be our destiny that all be equally subdued +beside this man, never let any one retire from the battle.” + +Thus, then, some one said, and aroused the spirit of each. Thus indeed +were they fighting; and the iron clangour 558 reached the brazen heaven +through the unfruitful air. But the horses of Æacides being apart from +the combat, wept, when first they perceived that their charioteer had +fallen in the dust, beneath man-slaughtering Hector. Automedon, indeed, +the brave son of Diores, frequently urged them on, beating them with +the sharp lash, and frequently addressed them in mild terms and in +threats; but they chose neither to go back to the ships towards the +wide Hellespont nor into the battle among the Greeks; but, as a pillar +remains firm, which stands at the tomb of a dead man or woman, so they +remained detaining the splendid chariot motionless, and drooping their +heads to the earth. But warm tears 559 flowed from their eyelids to the +earth, complaining from desire of their charioteer; and their thick +mane was defiled, flowing down on both sides from the collar at the +yoke. But the son of Saturn beholding them lamenting, felt compassion, +and shaking his head, communed with his own mind: + +“Ah! luckless pair, why did we give you to king Peleus, a mortal; for +ye are free from old age, and immortal? Was it that ye might endure +griefs with unhappy men? For there is not anything at all more wretched +than man, 560 of all, as many as breathe and move over the earth. But +Hector, the son of Priam, shall not be borne by you, even in the +curiously-wrought chariot, for I will not permit it. Is it not enough +that he both possesses those arms, and vainly boasts? But into your +knees and spirit will I cast vigour, that ye may safely bear Automedon +from the battle to the hollow ships; for still will I give glory to +them (the Trojans), to slay, until they reach the well-benched ships, +till the sun set, and sacred darkness come on.” + +Footnote 558: (return) Clarke compares Æn. xii. 284, from Ennius, apud +Macrob. vi. 1: “Hastati spargunt hastas, fit ferreus imber.” See +Columna’s notes. p. 82, ed. Hessel. The Scholiast rather interprets it, +of a strong and violent shout, στερεὸς καὶ πολὺ ἰσχυρός. + +Footnote 559: (return) See Virg. Æn. xi. 89, sqq. with Servius, +Quintus Calab. iii. 740: Ούδὲ μιν ἄμβροτοι ἵπποι ἀταρβέος Αἰακίδαο +Μίμνον ἀδάκρυτοι παρὰ νήεσιν’ ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτοὶ Μύροντο σφετέροιο +δαϊκταμένου βασιλῆος. Οὐδ’ ἔθελον μογεροῖσιν ἔτ’ ἀνδράσιν, οὐδὲ μεθ’ +ἵπποις Μίσγεσθ’ Ἀργείων, ὀλοὸν περὶ πένθος ἔχοντες. + +Footnote 560: (return) On this comfortable and satisfactory sentiment, +see the lugubrious collection of parallel passages in Duport, p. 98. + +So saying, he breathed strong vigour into the steeds; and they, shaking +the dust from their manes to the ground, quickly bore the rapid car +amongst the Trojans and Greeks. And against them 561 fought Automedon, +though grieved for his companion, rushing along in his chariot like a +vulture among the geese. For he fled easily from the tumult of the +Trojans, and easily did he rush on, pursuing through the dense throng. +Yet did he not slay the men when he pressed onward to pursue; for it +was by no means possible for him, being alone in the sacred 562 car, to +assault with the spear and to rein in the fleet steeds. At length, +however, a companion, the hero Alcimedon, son of Laërceus, the son of +Æmon, beheld him with his eyes, and stood behind his chariot, and +addressed Automedon: + +Footnote 561: (return) The Trojans. + +Footnote 562: (return) _I.e._ splendid, of surpassing workmanship. +Others refer the epithet to the divine gift mentioned in ver. 443, to +the fabrication of the chariot by the god Vulcan, or to the origin of +Achilles himself from a goddess. + +“Which of the gods, O Automedon, has placed a foolish counsel in thy +bosom, and taken from thee sound judgment; inasmuch as alone thou +fightest in the foremost ranks with the Trojans? Thy companion indeed +is slain; and Hector himself vaunts, having upon his shoulders the +armour of Æacides.” + +Him then Automedon, the son of Diores, addressed: + +“Alcimedon, what other of the Greeks, then, is like thee, to subdue and +restrain the spirit of immortal steeds, unless Patroclus, whilst alive, +a counsellor equal to the gods? Now, however, death and fate possess +him. Nevertheless, do thou take the lash and beautiful reins; but I +will descend from the chariot, that I may fight.” 563 + +Footnote 563: (return) Alcimedon in this address condemns the +imprudence of his friend, who, in this moment of imminent danger, takes +upon him the joint offices of warrior (παραβάτης) and charioteer +(ἡνίοχος). + +Thus he spoke, but Alcimedon, ascending the chariot, swift in war, +instantly took in his hands the lash and reins, whilst Automedon leaped +down; but illustrious Hector perceived this, and immediately addressed +Æneas, being near: + +“Æneas, counsellor of the brazen-mailed Trojans, I have observed these +two steeds of Achilles proceeding through the battle with unskilful +charioteers. I therefore may hope to capture them, if thou, at least, +desire it in thy mind; for standing opposite, they will not dare to +withstand us, rushing on to fight in battle.” + +Thus he spoke; nor did the brave son of Anchises disobey. Both advanced +direct, covered as to their shoulders with bulls’ hides, dry, thick; +and upon them much brass was plated. But along with them went both +Chromius and god-like Aretus: and their mind greatly hoped to slay +them, and to drive away the long-necked steeds. Foolish, 564 for they +were not destined to return back bloodlessly from Automedon, for he, +having prayed to father Jove, was filled with fortitude and valour, as +to his dark mind, and immediately addressed Alcimedon, his faithful +comrade: + +Footnote 564: (return) Cf. Æn. x. 501, sqq. So Milton, P.L. ix. 404:— + + “O much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve, + Of thy presumed return! event perverse!” + + +“O Alcimedon, do not now detain the steeds far from me; but [keep them] +breathing closely at my back; for I do not think that Hector, the son +of Priam, will abstain from violence, before that he has mounted the +beautiful-maned horses of Achilles, having slain both of us, and put to +rout the ranks of Grecian heroes; or himself be slain among the first.” + +Thus saying, he called upon the Ajaces, and Menelaus: “Ye Ajaces, +leaders of the Greeks, and Menelaus, leave then the dead body to those, +as many as are bravest, to defend it on all sides, and to repulse the +ranks of men; but from us who are alive avert the merciless day. For +hither violently rush through the lamentable fight Hector and Æneas, +who are the best of the Trojans. But all these things rest upon the +knees of the gods; for I also will hurl, and all these things will be a +care to Jove.” + +He said; and, brandishing, hurled his long-shadowed spear, and struck +upon the shield of Aretus, equal on all sides; it however did not repel +the spear, but the brass went entirely through, and passed through the +belt into the bottom of his belly. And as when a man in youthful +vigour, holding a sharp axe, cuts through the whole tendon, striking +behind the horns of a wild bull; but it, leaping forward, falls; so he, +springing forward, fell supine; and the sharp spear, quivering in his +entrails, relaxed his limbs. Then Hector took aim at Automedon with his +shining spear, but he, seeing it in front of him, avoided the brazen +weapon; for he bent forward. But the long spear was fixed in the ground +behind him; and moreover the nether end of the spear was shaken; but +there then the strong weapon spent its force. Then truly they would +have engaged hand to hand with their swords, had not the eager Ajaces, +who came through the crowd, at the call of their companion, separated +them. But Hector, Æneas, and godlike Chromius, greatly dreading them, +retired back again, and left Aretus lying there, lacerated as to his +heart; but him Automedon, equal to swift Mars, despoiled of his armour, +and, boasting, uttered this speech: + +“Surely now I have a little relieved my heart of sorrow for the dead +son of Menœtius, although having slain but an inferior man.” + +Thus having spoken, seizing the gore-stained spoils, he placed them in +the chariot, and mounted himself, bloody as to his feet and hands +above, like some lion which has fed upon a bull. Again over Patroclus +was the direful battle extended, grievous, lamentable; and Minerva +excited the contention, descending from heaven; for far-sounding Jove +sent her forth to encourage the Greeks, as his intention was now +changed. As Jove extends a purple rainbow from heaven to mortals, to be +a signal either of war, or of a chilling storm, which causes men to +cease from their works upon the earth, and afflicts the cattle; so she, +having obscured herself in a purple cloud, entered the army of the +Greeks, and aroused every man. First, however, she addressed the son of +Atreus, gallant Menelaus, inciting him, for he was near her, +assimilating herself, in her form and unwearied voice, to Phœnix: + +“Thine, of a truth, will shame and disgrace now be, O Menelaus, if the +swift dogs tear the faithful companion of illustrious Achilles beneath +the wall of the Trojans; therefore bravely hold on, and urge on all the +people.” Whom, in return, Menelaus, good in the din of war, addressed: +“Phœnix, father, old man long since born, would that Minerva would give +me strength, and ward off the force of the weapons. Then indeed would I +be willing to stand by and defend Patroclus; for dying, he greatly +affected my mind with grief. But Hector has the dreadful force of fire, +nor does he cease slaying with his spear; for to him Jove affords +glory.” + +Thus he spoke; but the azure-eyed goddess Minerva rejoiced, because to +her he had prayed first of all the gods. But in his shoulders and knees +she put strength, and placed in his bosom the boldness of a fly, which, +although frequently driven away from a human body, persists in +biting,—and the blood of man is sweet to it. With such confidence she +filled his dark soul: and he advanced towards Patroclus, and took aim +with his splendid spear. Now there was among the Trojans one Podes, the +son of Eëtion, rich and brave; whom of his people Hector chiefly +honoured, for he was his dear companion in the banquet. Him +yellow-haired Menelaus smote upon the belt while hastening to flight, +and drove the brazen weapon quite through. He, falling, gave a crash, +and Menelaus, the son of Atreus, dragged away the body from the Trojans +to the crowd of his companions. But Apollo, standing near, excited +Hector in the likeness of Phœnops, son of Asias, who, inhabiting +dwellings at Abydos, was most dear to him of all his guests. +Assimilating himself to him, far-darting Apollo spoke: + +“Hector, what other of the Greeks will any more fear thee, since now +thou dreadest Menelaus, who indeed before was but an effeminate +warrior, but now departs done, bearing off the dead corse from the +Trojans? He has slain, in the front ranks, Podes, the son of Eëtion, +thy comrade, faithful and brave.” + +Thus he spoke; but him a dark cloud of grief overshadowed, and he went +through the front ranks, armed in glittering brass. And then the son of +Saturn took his ægis, fringed and splendid, and covered Ida with +clouds; but having flashed his lightning, he thundered very loudly, and +shook it (the mountain); and (he) gave victory to the Trojans, but put +the Greeks to flight. + +Peneleus, the Bœotian, first was leader of the flight; for he was +wounded slightly 565 on the tip of the shoulder with a spear, being +always turned frontwards; but the spear of Polydamas grazed even to the +bone, for he, coming close, had wounded him. Next Hector wounded +Leïtus, son of magnanimous Alectryon, on the hand at the wrist, and +caused him to cease from battle. Then looking around him, he trembled, +since he no longer hoped in his mind [to be able] to fight with the +Trojans, holding his spear in his hand. But Idomeneus had struck, on +the corslet, upon the breast near the pap, Hector rushing after Leïtus: +the long spear, however, was broken at the socket; and the Trojans +shouted. But he [Hector] discharged his javelin at Idomeneus, the son +of Deucalion, as he was standing in his car: him he missed by a little, +but struck Coeranus, the attendant and charioteer of Meriones, who had +followed him from well-situated Lyctus. For at first on foot, having +left his equally-plied ships, he came, and would have secured a decided +victory to the Trojans, had not Coeranus quickly driven on his +swift-footed steeds: to him then he (Coeranus) came as a help, and +warded off the merciless day; but he himself lost his life beneath +man-slaughtering Hector. Him he smote beneath the jaw-bone and ear, and +the extremity of the spear forced out his teeth and cut through the +middle of his tongue. He fell from his chariot, and the reins dropped +to the ground; and Meriones, stooping, lifted them from the plain in +his own hands, and addressed Idomeneus: + +“Lash on, now, until thou reach the swift ships; for even thou thyself +perceivest that victory is no longer on the side of the Achæans.” + +Footnote 565: (return) Ἐπιλίγδην, _on the surface_, δι’ +ἐπιπολῆς·—Kennedy. + +Thus he spake; and Idomeneus lashed on the beautiful-maned steeds to +the hollow ships; for fear now seized his mind. + +Nor did Jove escape notice of magnanimous Ajax and Menelaus, when he +for the present gave the dubious victory to the Trojans; but to them +the mighty Ajax, son of Telamon, began to speak: + +“Alas! even he who is very stupid might now know that father Jove +himself is aiding the Trojans; for the weapons of them all take effect, +whoever may throw them, whether coward or brave man. Jove certainly +directs them all. But the weapons of all of us fall to the earth in +vain. Come, however, let us devise the best plan, both how we may drag +off the corse, and how we ourselves may be a source of joy to our +beloved comrades, having returned home. They, of a truth, beholding us +here, are grieved, and think that we shall no longer resist the might +and invincible hands of man-slaughtering Hector. But, would there were +some companion who would quickly bring word to Achilles, since I think +he has not yet heard the mournful tidings, that his dear comrade has +died. But nowhere can I see such a person among the Greeks, for they +and their steeds are together enveloped in darkness. O father Jove, +liberate at least the sons of the Greeks from darkness; make a clear +atmosphere, and grant us to see with our eyes; then destroy us in the +light, 566 if thus it be pleasing to thee.” + +Footnote 566: (return) A prayer well worthy of Ajax. Ammian. Marcell. +xxviii.: “Per horrorem tenebrarum—quo tempore hebetari solent obstrictæ +terroribus mentes; ut inter innumera multa Ajax quoque Homericus docet, +optans perire potius luce, quam pati formidinis augmenta nocturnæ.” Cf. +Longin. ix. + +Thus he spoke; but the Sire felt compassion for him weeping, and +immediately dissipated the haze, and removed the cloud. And the sun +shone forth, and the whole battle was displayed, and then Ajax +addressed Menelaus, good in the din of war: + +“Look around now, O Jove-nurtured Menelaus, if anywhere thou canst +perceive, yet alive, Antilochus, the son of magnanimous Nestor. Urge +him, going speedily, to tell to warlike Achilles, that the comrade, by +far most dear to him, has perished.” + +Thus he spoke; nor did Menelaus, good in the din of war, disobey. But +he hastened to go, like some lion from a fold, which after that he is +fatigued, harassing both dogs and men, who watching all night, suffer +him not to carry off the fat of the oxen; but he, desirous of flesh, +rushes on, but nothing profits; for many javelins fly against him from +daring hands, and blazing torches, which, eager as he is, he dreads; +but early in the morning he goes apart with saddened mind. So, most +unwilling, from Patroclus went Menelaus, brave in the din of war; +because he greatly feared lest the Greeks, through grievous terror, +should leave him a prey to the enemy. And much, therefore, he exhorted +Meriones and the Ajaces: + +“Ye Ajaces, leaders of the Greeks, and Meriones, now let each one be +mindful of the gentleness of wretched Patroclus; for when alive, he +knew how to be mild to all; but now, indeed, Death and Fate overtake +him.” + +Thus then having spoken, yellow-haired Menelaus departed, gazing round +in all directions, like an eagle, which, they say, sees most acutely of +birds beneath the sky, and which, though being aloft, the swift-footed +hare does not escape, when lying beneath the dense-foliaged thicket; +but he pounces upon it, and quickly seizing it, deprives it of life. +Thus, O Jove-nurtured Menelaus, were thy shining eyes turned round in +all directions through the band of thy numerous companions, if anywhere +thou mightst behold the son of Nestor, yet living. But him he very soon +perceived upon the left of all the battle, encouraging his companions, +and inciting them to fight; and standing near, yellow-haired Menelaus +addressed [him]: + +“Ho! hither come, Antilochus, Jove-nurtured, that thou mayest hear the +sad message which—would that it had not happened. I think, indeed, that +thou thyself looking, perceivest that a god rolls disaster upon the +Greeks, but that victory is on the side of the Trojans; for Patroclus, +the bravest of the Greeks, is slain; and a great longing [after him] +has befallen the Greeks. But do thou quickly tell it to Achilles, +running to the ships of the Greeks, if perchance quickly he may bring +in safety to his ships the unarmed body; for crest-tossing Hector +possesses the armour.” + +Thus he spoke; but Antilochus shuddered, hearing the news; and long did +a want of words possess him; and his eyes were filled with tears, and +his liquid voice was interrupted. Yet not even thus did he neglect the +command of Menelaus; but he hastened to run, and gave his armour to +Laodocus, his blameless companion, who, near him, managed the +solid-hoofed steeds. Him, however, his feet bore, weeping, from the +battle, about to communicate the evil news to Achilles, son of Peleus. + +Nor, O Jove-nurtured Menelaus, was thy mind willing to aid the harassed +comrades, in the place whence Antilochus had departed, and great +longing after him was caused to the Pylians; but to them he sent noble +Thrasymedes, and he himself went again towards the hero Patroclus; but +arriving, he stood beside the Ajaces, and immediately addressed them: + +“Him, indeed, I have now despatched to the swift ships, to go to +swift-footed Achilles: yet I do not think that he will come, although +greatly enraged with noble Hector; for being unarmed, he could by no +means fight with the Trojans. Let even us then ourselves deliberate +upon the best plan, as well how we shall draw off the body, as also how +we ourselves may escape Death and Fate from the clamour of the +Trojans.” + +But him mighty Telamonian Ajax then answered: + +“All things correctly hast thou spoken, O illustrious Menelaus. But do +thou, and Meriones, stooping quickly under it, having lifted it up, +bear the body from the fight; whilst we two of like name, possessing +equal courage, will fight with the Trojans and with noble Hector, we +who even formerly have sustained the sharp conflict, remaining by each +other.” + +Thus he spoke; but they with great exertion lifted up the body in their +arms from the ground: but the Trojan army shouted in their rear when +they saw the Greeks raising up the dead body, and rushed on like dogs, +which spring upon a wounded boar, before the youthful hunters. One +while indeed they run, eager to tear him asunder, but again, when he +turns upon them, relying on his strength, then they retreat, and fly in +different directions hither and thither: so the Trojans sometimes +steadily pursued in a body, striking with their swords and two-edged +spears; but when again the Ajaces, turning round upon them, stood, then +was their colour changed, nor dared any one, rushing forward, to combat +for the corpse. + +Thus they with alacrity bore the body from the fight towards the hollow +ships; but the fierce battle was extended to them like a flame, which +assailing, [and] being suddenly excited, sets fire to a city of men, +and the houses diminish in the mighty blaze; whilst the force of the +wind roars through it: so a horrid tumult of steeds and warlike heroes +followed them departing. But as mules, exerting vast strength, 567 drag +from a mountain along a rugged path either a beam or a large piece of +timber for ship-building, but the spirit within them, as they hasten, +is wearied equally with fatigue and perspiration; so they with alacrity +bore away the body, whilst the Ajaces behind them checked [the enemy]; +as a barrier of wood, stretched straight across a plain, restrains +water; which checks the furious courses even of rapid rivers, and +immediately turning them, directs the streams of all into the plain; +nor can they at all burst through it, though flowing with violence. So +the Ajaces in the rear always repulsed the attack of the Trojans, who, +however, followed along with them; but two amongst them in particular, +Æneas, son of Anchises, and illustrious Hector. And as a cloud of +starlings or jackdaws, shrilly chattering, 568 flies away when they +perceive a hawk advancing, which brings death to small birds; so then +from Æneas and Hector departed the sons of the Greeks, loudly +clamouring, and were forgetful of the fight. And much beautiful armour +of the flying Greeks fell both in and about the trench; but there was +no cessation from the battle. + +Footnote 567: (return) Literally, “girding themselves with strength.” + +Footnote 568: (return) Or, “shouting in presage of their doom,” as +Heyne and Kennedy would take it, a meaning borne out by προΐδωσιν. Cf. +Longus. Past. ii. 12: Οἱ κωμῆται ταραχθέντες, ἐπιπήδωσιν αὐτοῖς ὡσεὶ +ψᾶρες, ἢ κολο οί. + + + + +BOOK THE EIGHTEENTH. + + +ARGUMENT. + +Thetis comforts her son for the death of Patroclus, and promises to +procure him new armour from Vulcan. At the command of Juno, Achilles +comes forth and strikes terror into the enemy. The body of Patroclus is +rescued, and prepared for funeral rites, and Vulcan forges a suit of +armour and a splendid shield for Achilles. + + +Thus they, then, 569 were fighting, like a blazing fire; but +swift-footed Antilochus came as a messenger to Achilles. Him he found +in front of his lofty-prowed ships, revolving in his mind those things +which had already been accomplished; and then groaning, he communed +with his own mind: + +Footnote 569: (return) This is to be taken in connection with ver. 148 +of the last book, as the regular narrative is interrupted by the +message of Antilochus and the grief of Achilles. + +“Ah me! why are the long-haired Achæans driven back in confusion to the +ships, routed through the plain? [I fear] lest the gods have +accomplished evil sorrows to my soul, as my mother once informed me, +and told me that the bravest of the Myrmidons, I being yet alive, would +leave the light of the sun, by the hands of the Trojans. Too surely now +the valiant son of Menœtius is dead,—obstinate one! certainly I desired +him, having repelled the hostile fire, to return to the ships, nor to +fight bravely with Hector.” + +Whilst he was revolving these things in his mind and in his soul, in +the meantime the son of illustrious Nestor drew near, shedding warm +tears, and delivered his sad message: + +“Alas! O son of warlike Peleus, surely thou wilt hear a very grievous +message, which—would that it had not taken place. Patroclus lies low; +and around his unarmed corse they are now fighting, whilst +crest-tossing Hector possesses his armour.” + +Thus he spoke; but him a black cloud of grief overshadowed, and taking +the burnt ashes with both hands, he poured them on his head, and denied +his comely countenance; but the dark ashes everywhere adhered to his +rich 570 tunic. But he, mighty, lay extended at great length in the +dust, and tearing, he disordered his hair with his hands. The +handmaids, whom Achilles and Patroclus had taken, grieved in their +souls, shrieked aloud, and ran out of the door round warlike Achilles; +and all smote their breasts with their hands, 571 and the limbs of each +were relaxed. Antilochus, on the other side, lamented, shedding tears, +holding the hands of Achilles; (and he kept groaning within his +generous heart,) for he feared lest he should cut his throat with his +sword. Then he moaned dreadfully, and his venerable mother heard him, +sitting in the depths of the sea, beside her aged father, and +immediately lamented: and all the goddesses assembled around her, as +many Nereïdes as were at the bottom of the sea. There were Glauce, +Thaleia, and Cymodoce, Nesæa, Spio, Thoa, and large-eyed Halia, +Cymothoë, Actæa, and Limnorea, Melita, Iæra, Amphithoë, and Agave, +Doto, Proto, Pherusa, and Dynamene, Dexamene, Amphinome, and +Callianira, Doris, Panope, and distinguished Galatea, Nemertes, +Apseudes, and Callianassa. There were also Clymene, Ianira, and +Ianassa, Mæra, Orithya, and fair-haired Amathea, and other Nereïdes +which were in the depths of the sea. But the resplendent cave was full +of them, and all at once they beat their breasts; but Thetis began the +lamentation: + +Footnote 570: (return) So νεκτάρεον ἑανόν, iii. 385.—Heyne. + +Footnote 571: (return) In illustration of this custom of mourners, cf. +Virg. Æn. i. 484:— + + “Crinibus Iliades passis, peplumque ferebant + Suppliciter tristes, et tunsæ pectora palmis.” + + + Ovid, Fast. iv. 454: “Et feriunt mœstæ pectora nuda manus.” Silius, + xii. 528. Petronius, ciii. p. 509, ed. Burm.: “Sparsis prosequi + crinibus, aut nudatum pectus plangere;” cxv.: “Percussi semel + iterumque pectus.” See Westerhov, on Ter. Hec. ii. 3, 49; Northmore + on Tryphiodor. 34; and Blomf. on Æsch. Choeph. 27. + +“Hear, sister Nereïdes, that hearing ye may all well know what griefs +are in my mind. Woe is me wretched! woe is me who have in an evil hour +brought forth the bravest [of men], I who, after having borne a son, +blameless and valiant, the chief of heroes, and he grew up 572 like a +young tree: having reared him like a sapling in a fruitful spot of a +field, I afterwards sent him forth in the curved ships to Ilium, to +fight against the Trojans; but I shall not receive him again, having +returned home to the palace of Peleus. But whilst he lives and beholds +the light of the sun, he grieves, 573 nor can I, going to him, avail +him aught. Yet will I go, that I may see my beloved son, and hear what +grief comes upon him remaining away from the battle.” + +Thus having spoken, she left the cave; but they all went along with +her, weeping, and the wave of the ocean was cleft around for them. 574 +But when they reached fertile Troy, they in order ascended the shore, +where the fleet ships of the Myrmidons were drawn up round swift +Achilles. Then his venerable mother, shrilly wailing, stood near to him +deeply lamenting, and took the head of her son, and, mourning, +addressed to him winged words: + +Footnote 572: (return) Ἀνέδραμον is used in the same way by Herodot. +vii. 156, viii. 55; Theocrit. xviii. 29. It corresponds to our English +phrase “to run up.” + +Footnote 573: (return) _I.e._ he continues to do so, and will, till +his death. + +Footnote 574: (return) Σφίσι is the dativus commodi. + +“O son, why weepest thou, and what sorrow has come upon thy mind? Speak +out, nor conceal it. Those things indeed are fulfilled for thee from +Jove, as thou didst formerly pray, lifting up thy hands—that all the +sons of the Greeks, wanting thee, should, be collected at the ships, +and suffer disgraceful deeds.” + +But her swift-footed Achilles addressed, deeply groaning: + +“Mother mine, these things indeed the Olympian king hath accomplished +for me; but what pleasure is there in them to me, since Patroclus, my +dear companion, is dead, whom I honoured beyond all my companions, +equally with my own head? Him have I lost; and Hector, having slain +him, has stripped off his mighty armour, a wonder to be seen, +beautiful; which the other gods gave to Peleus, splendid gifts, on that +day when they laid thee in the bed of a mortal man. Would that thou +hadst dwelt there among the immortal marine inhabitants, and that +Peleus had wedded a mortal spouse. But now [thou hast been wedded, to +the end] that immeasurable grief may be upon thy mind for thy son +slain, whom thou shalt not again receive, having returned home. Since +even my mind urges me not to live nor have intercourse with men, unless +Hector first lose his life, smitten by my spear, and pay the penalty +for the slaughter 575 of Patroclus, the son of Menœtius.” + +But him Thetis in turn addressed, pouring forth tears: “Short-lived +thou wilt be, O my son, as thou sayest, for fate is ready for thee +immediately after Hector.” Then, heavily sighing, swift-footed Achilles +addressed her: “May I die then immediately, since it was not destined +that I should aid my companion now slain; but he indeed hath perished +far away from his native land, and longed for me to be an averter of +his doom. But now 576—since I shall not return to my dear father-land, +nor have been a preservation 577 to Patroclus, or to my other +companions, who have been subdued in great numbers by noble Hector; but +sit beside the ships, an useless weight on the earth, being such as is +none of the brazen-mailed Achæans in war, though in council there are +others superior; would that therefore contention might be extinguished +from gods and men; and anger, which is wont to impel even the very +wisest to be harsh; and which, much sweeter than distilling honey, like +smoke, rises in the breasts of men; so now did Agamemnon, king of men, +enrage me: but although greatly grieved, let us leave these things to +pass by as done, subduing, from necessity, our own spirit within our +bosoms: but now will I go, that I may find Hector, the destroyer of my +dear friend, and I will accept death whensoever Jove and the other +immortal gods shall please to accomplish it. For not even the might of +Hercules escaped death, who was very dear to king Jove, the son of +Saturn; but fate subdued him, and the grievous wrath of Juno. So also +shall I lie, when I am dead, if a similar fate be destined for me; but +now may I bear away illustrious glory, and compel some one of the +Trojan women and deep-robed Dardanians to sigh frequently, wiping away +the tears from her tender cheeks with both hands; and may they know +that I have long ceased from battle. 578 Wherefore do not hinder me +from the combat, although loving me, for thou wilt not persuade me.” + +Footnote 575: (return) Ελώρια is the more usual form, but ἔλωρα is +recognized by Hesychius. “If correct,” Kennedy says, “it may be +explained by the existence of ἔλωρον from ἔλωρ (Hesych. t.i. p. 1186, +from Il. v. 488), signifying the _price of slaughter_, by the same +analogy as θρέπτρον (iv. 478) the _price of nutrition_.” + +Footnote 576: (return) Observe the long hyperbaton, resulting from the +excitement of the speaker. + +Footnote 577: (return) Literally, “light.” + +Footnote 578: (return) _I.e._ they shall find out the difference when +I make my appearance + +Him then the silver-footed goddess Thetis answered: “Certainly this is +true, O son, nor is it an evil thing to avert utter destruction from +our friends when afflicted. But thy beautiful arms, brazen and shining, +are detained among the Trojans, which crest-tossing Hector himself, +having on his shoulders, boasts of: yet I suspect that he will not long +glory in them, for death is near to him. But do thou by no means enter +the slaughter of Mars before thou beholdest me with thine eyes coming +hither. For at dawn I will return with the rising sun, bearing +beautiful armour from king Vulcan.” + +Thus having spoken, she turned round from her son, and being turned, +addressed her marine sisters: “Enter ye now the broad bosom of the +deep, about to behold the marine old man, and the mansions of my sire, +and tell him all things; but I go to lofty Olympus, to Vulcan, the +skilful artist, to try if he is willing to give my son illustrious, +glittering armour.” + +Thus she spoke, but they immediately sank beneath the wave of the sea. +But Thetis, the silver-footed goddess, again departed to Olympus, that +she might bear the illustrious armour to her beloved son. Her, on the +one hand, her feet bore towards Olympus: but the Greeks, flying with a +heaven-sent uproar from man-slaughtering Hector, reached the ships and +the Hellespont. Nor had the well-greaved Greeks drawn off the dead body +of Patroclus, the attendant of Achilles, out of the reach of weapons; +for now again both infantry and cavalry pursued him, and Hector, the +son of Priam, like unto a flame in violence. Thrice did illustrious +Hector seize him behind by the feet, eager to draw him away, and loudly +shouted to the Trojans; and thrice did the two Ajaces, clad in +impetuous might, forcibly repulse him from the corse; whilst he, with +steady purpose, ever relying on his might, sometimes charged through +the crowd, and sometimes again stopped, loudly shouting; but never +retreated altogether. But as night-watching 579 shepherds are by no +means able to drive away from a carcase a tawny lion, greatly +hungering; so were the two warriors, the Ajaces, unable to drive away +Hector, the son of Priam, from the body. And now indeed would he have +dragged it off, and obtained great glory, had not fleet wind-footed +Iris come as a messenger to the son of Peleus, running down from +Olympus, that he should arm himself unknown to Jove and the other gods; +for Juno sent her forth; and standing near, she addressed to him winged +words: + +Footnote 579: (return) Cf. Luke ii. 8, with the notes of Wetstein and +Kypke. Although ἄγραυλοι may simply mean “dwelling in the fields,” as +in Apollon. Rh. iv. 317, it is better to follow the interpretation of +Hesychius: Οἱ ἐν ἀγροῖς διανυκτερεύοντες. But cf. Alberti, t.i. p. 64. + +“Arise, son of Peleus, most terrible of all men; defend Patroclus, for +whom 580 a dire contest is maintained before the ships. But they are +slaughtering each other, the one party fighting for the slain corpse, +whilst the other, the Trojans, rush on, that they may drag him away to +wind-swept Ilium; and above all, illustrious Hector desires to seize +him, for his mind prompts him to fix his head upon stakes, having cut +it from the tender neck. But up, nor lie longer; but let reverence 581 +touch thy soul, that Patroclus should be a source of delight to Trojan +dogs. A disgrace would be to thee, if the dead body should come at all +defiled.” + +Footnote 580: (return) _I.e._ for whose body. + +Footnote 581: (return) “Σέβας is commonly rendered _pudor_, nearly +synonymous with αἰδώς. Its meaning is however more forcible, viz. +_esteem it as an act of impiety to abandon the body to +insult_.”—Kennedy. + +But her noble, swift-footed Achilles, then answered: “Which of the +gods, O goddess Iris, sent thee as a messenger to me?” + +But him fleet, wind-footed Iris, again addressed: “Juno sent me forth, +the glorious spouse of Jove, nor does the lofty-throned son of Saturn +know it, nor any other of the immortals who inhabit snowy Olympus.” + +But her swift-footed Achilles answering, addressed: “And how can I go +to the slaughter? for they possess my armour. Besides, my dear mother +does not permit me to be armed, before that with my eyes I behold her +coming, for she hath promised that she will bear me beautiful armour +from Vulcan. But I indeed know not of another, whose splendid armour I +could put on, 582 except the shield of Ajax, son of Telamon.” + +Footnote 582: (return) Ἀλλ’ οὐδενὸς οἶδα ἀρμόζουτάν μοι +πανοπλίαν.—Schol. + +“But he, I hope, mingles in the front ranks, slaying with his spear +round the head of Patroclus.” + +But him fleet-footed Iris again addressed: “Well too do we know that +they possess thy distinguished armour: yet even thus, going towards the +ditch, show thyself to the Trojans, if perchance the Trojans, +terrified, may desist from battle, and the warlike, harassed sons of +the Greeks may breathe again; and there be a short respite from +fighting.” 583 + +Footnote 583: (return) Cf. xv. 42. + +Thus indeed having spoken, swift-footed Iris departed; but Achilles, +dear to Jove, arose; and around his strong shoulders Minerva threw her +fringed ægis. And the divine one of goddesses crowned his head around +with a golden cloud, and from it she kindled a shining flame. And as +when smoke, ascending from a city, reaches the æther from an island +afar off, which foes invest, who [pouring out] from their city, contend +all day in hateful fight: but with the setting sun torches blaze one +after another, 584 and the splendour arises, rushing upwards, for +[their] neighbours to behold, if perchance they may come with ships, as +repellers of the war; thus did the flame from the head of Achilles +reach the sky. He stood, having advanced from the wall to the trench, +nor mingled with the Greeks, for he reverenced the prudent advice of +his mother. There standing, he shouted, and Pallas Minerva, on the +other side, vociferated, and stirred up immense tumult among the +Trojans. And as the tone is very clear, when a trumpet sounds, while +deadly foes are investing a city; so distinct then was the voice of the +descendant of Æacus. But when they heard the brazen voice of Achilles, +the soul was disturbed to all, whilst the beautiful-maned steeds turned +the chariots backwards, for they presaged sorrows in their mind. The +charioteers were panic-struck when they beheld the terrific, +indefatigable flame, blazing over the head of magnanimous Pelides; for +the azure-eyed goddess Minerva lighted it. Thrice over the trench +loudly shouted noble Achilles, and thrice were the Trojans and their +illustrious allies thrown into confusion. There then perished twelve +bravest heroes by their chariots and spears, whilst the Greeks, +dragging Patroclus with joy out of the reach of weapons, stretched him +on a bier; but his beloved companions stood round him mourning, and +with them followed swift-footed Achilles, shedding warm tears, when he +beheld his faithful comrade lying upon a bier, lacerated with the sharp +brass: whom indeed he had sent forth with his horses and chariots to +battle, but did not receive him again, having returned. + +Footnote 584: (return) Hesychius: ἐπήτριμοι, ἀλλεπάλληλοι. Cf. Oppian, +Cyn. i. 321; iii. 275. The orthography ἐπίτριμοι is equally correct, +according to Abresch. + +But the large-eyed, venerable Juno sent the unwearied sun, to return to +the flowing of the ocean, against his inclination. The sun then set, +and the noble Greeks desisted from the violent conflict, and the +equally destructive battle. The Trojans again, on the other side, +retiring from the violent combat, loosed their fleet steeds from their +chariots. But they assembled in the council before they bethought them +of their banquet. The assembly consisted of persons standing up, nor +did any one dare to sit; for fear possessed all, because Achilles had +appeared, who had long abstained from the direful combat. Among them +prudent Polydamas, the son of Panthus, began to speak, for he alone saw +both the future and the past. He was the companion of Hector, and they +were born in one night, but the one excelled in counsel, and the other +greatly in the spear. He wisely counselling, harangued them, and spoke: + +“My friends, consider well on both sides; for I advise that we now +return to the city, nor await the sacred Morn in the plain near the +ships; for we are far away from the wall. As long indeed as this man +was wroth with noble Agamemnon, so long were the Greeks more easy to +fight with. For even I was delighted, passing the night by the swift +barks, expecting that we should take the equally-plied barks; but now +greatly do I fear swift-footed Pelides: so violent is his soul, nor +will he be content to remain in the plain, where usually the Trojans +and Greeks in the intervening space divide 585 the force of war, but he +will combat for the city and our wives. We will go, then, towards the +city—be persuaded by me—for so it must be. Ambrosial night at present +hath made swift-footed Pelides cease; but if, rushing forth to-morrow +with his arms, he shall find us here, then will some one know him; for +gladly will he reach sacred Ilium, whosoever shall escape: but dogs and +vultures will devour many of the Trojans. O that such [tidings] may be +far from our ears. 586 But if we be obedient to my words, although sad, +we shall have protection 587 in the assembly during the night, and the +towers and lofty gates, and the valves fitted to them, long, well +polished, fastened together, will protect the city. But to-morrow, at +early dawn, we will stand on the towers, arrayed in armour; and it +would be difficult for him, even if he should wish it, coming from the +ships, to fight with us around the wall. Back again will he go to the +ships, after he has satiated his high-necked steeds with a varied +course, driving beneath the city. But his mind will not permit him to +rush within, nor will he ever lay it waste; sooner shall the fleet dogs +devour him.” + +Footnote 585: (return) This is expressive of the vicissitudes of the +conflict. + +Footnote 586: (return) Eἴθε δέ μοι τοῦτο οὐ μόνον μὴ ὀφθείη, ἀλλὰ μηδὲ +ἀκουσθείη.—Schol. + +Footnote 587: (return) One of the Scholiasts, however, would take +σθένος as=στρατιὰν, i.e. we shall keep the troops in a body. But see +Kennedy. + +Him, then, crest-tossing Hector sternly regarding, addressed: + +“No longer, O Polydamas, dost thou speak these things agreeable to me, +thou who advisest us, returning, to be cooped up in the city. Are ye +not yet satiated with being shut up within the towers? Formerly indeed +all articulate-speaking men pronounced the city of Priam rich in gold +and in brass; but now have the rich treasures of our houses perished, +and many possessions have already departed to Phrygia and agreeable +Mœonia, to be sold, since mighty Jove was enraged. But at this crisis, +when the son of politic Saturn has granted me to obtain glory at the +ships, and to hem in the Greeks by the sea, no longer, foolish man, +disclose these counsels to the people: for none of the Trojans will +obey; nor will I permit them. But come, let us all obey as I shall +advise. At present take supper in your ranks throughout the army; be +mindful of the watch, and keep guard each [of you]; but whosoever of +the Trojans is particularly anxious about his possessions, collecting +them together, let him give them to the people to be publicly consumed; +it is better that any of them should enjoy them than the Greeks. But +to-morrow, with the dawn, arrayed in armour, let us excite sharp +conflict at the hollow ships, and if truly noble Achilles has arisen at +the ships, it will be the worse for him, if he wishes [to fight]: I +indeed will not fly him from the horrid-sounding battle, but will stand +very obstinately against him, whether he bear away great glory, or I +bear it away. Mars [is] common, 588 and even slays the slayer.” + +Footnote 588: (return) See Duport, p. 104, and Clarke’s note. Livy +translates it, “communis Mars belli;” observing, “communis Mars, et +incertus belli eventus.” + +Thus Hector harangued, and the Trojans shouted in applause: foolish +men, for Pallas Minerva had taken their senses away from them. For they +assented to Hector, advising destructive things, whilst no one +[assented to] Polydamas, who advised prudent counsel. Then they took +supper through the army. But the Greeks, lamenting all night, wept over +Patroclus, but among them Pelides led the ceaseless lamentation, +placing his man-slaying hands upon the breast of his companion, very +frequently sighing; as the well-bearded lion, from whom the stag-hunter +has stolen the cubs out of the thick forest; and he is grieved, coming +afterwards. And through many valleys he goes, tracking the footsteps of +the man, if anywhere he may find him; for very keen rage possesses him. +So, deeply sighing, he addressed the Myrmidons: + +“Alas! vain indeed was the promise I uttered on that day, encouraging +the hero Menœtius in our halls; for I said that I would bring back his +illustrious son to Opus, having wasted Troy, and obtained a share of +the spoil. But Jove fulfils not for men all their intentions; for it is +fated that we shall both stain with blood the same earth here in Troy; +but neither shall aged horse-driving Peleus receive me in his palaces, +returning, nor my mother Thetis, but the earth shall here hold me. Now, +however, O Patroclus! since after thee I go beneath the earth, I shall +not perform thy funeral rites, before that I bring hither the arms and +head of magnanimous Hector, thy murderer, and behead twelve illustrious +sons of the Trojans, before thy pile, enraged on account of thee slain. +Meanwhile thou shall lie thus at the crooked ships; and round thee +Trojan [dames] and deep-bosomed Dardanians shall weep and shed tears +night and day; whom we ourselves have toiled to get by our valour and +the long spear, laying waste the rich cities of articulate-speaking +men.” + +Thus having spoken, noble Achilles ordered his companions to surround +a large tripod with fire, that as soon as possible they might wash away +the bloody gore from Patroclus. They then placed a bathing tripod on +the blazing fire, and poured water into it, and taking fagots, lighted +them under it. The fire indeed encircled the belly of the tripod, and +the water was warmed. But when the water boiled in the sonorous brass, +then they both washed him, and anointed him with rich oil. And they +filled up his wounds with ointment nine years old; and laying him upon +a bed, they covered him with fine linen from head to foot; and over +all, with a white mantle. 589 All night then the Myrmidons, lamenting +Patroclus, wept around swift-footed Achilles. But Jove addressed Juno, +his sister and wife: + +“And at length thou hast accomplished thy object, O large-eyed, +venerable Juno, having aroused swift-fooled Achilles. Surely the +waving-crested Greeks are born from thy very self.” + +Footnote 589: (return) Cf. Virg. Æn. vi. 218, sqq.; xi. 36, sqq. I +shall defer discussing the heroic funeral-rites till the twenty-third +book. + +But him large-eyed, venerable Juno then answered: + +“Most imperious son of Saturn, what a word hast thou spoken? Surely now +any man who is mortal, and knows not so many designs, might accomplish +this against a man. How therefore ought not I, who boast myself to be +chief of the goddesses, both from birth and also because I am called +thy wife (and thou rulest over all the immortals), being enraged with +the Trojans, to [be able to] design evils against them.” + +Thus indeed they conversed with one another. But silver-footed Thetis +reached the abode of Vulcan, incorruptible, starry, remarkable amongst +the immortals, brazen, which the lame-footed himself had constructed. +Him she found sweating, exerting himself at the bellows, earnestly +working; for he was making full twenty tripods to stand around the wall +of his well-built palace. Under the base of each he placed golden +wheels, that of their own accord they might enter the heavenly council, +and again return home—a wonder to be seen. So much finish had they, but +he had not yet added the well-made handles, which he was preparing; and +he was forging the rivets. Whilst he was toiling at these things with, +skilful mind, meanwhile Thetis, the silver-footed goddess, came to him. +But the beautiful and fair-veiled Charis, whom illustrious Vulcan had +espoused, advancing, beheld her; and hung upon her hand, and addressed +her, and spoke: + +“Why, O long-robed Thetis, venerable, beloved, dost thou visit our +abode? Formerly thou wast not in the habit of coming frequently. 590 +But follow farther onwards, that I may set before thee hospitable +fare.” + +Thus having spoken, the divine of goddesses led on. Then indeed she +placed her upon a silver-studded throne, beautiful, variously wrought, +and there was a stool under her feet. But she called Vulcan, the +distinguished artist, and spoke this word: + +“Come hither, Vulcan, Thetis now has need of thee.” + +But her illustrious Vulcan then answered: “Assuredly then an awful and +revered goddess is within, who saved me when distress came upon me, +fallen down far by the contrivance of my shameless mother, who wished +to conceal me, being lame. 591 Then should I have suffered sorrows in +my mind, had not Eurynome and Thetis received me in their bosom; +Eurynome, daughter of the refluent Ocean. With them for nine years +wrought I in brass many ingenious works of art, buckles, twisted +bracelets, and clasp-tubes, in the hollow cave; whilst round us flowed +the immense stream of Ocean, murmuring with foam: nor did any other +either of gods or mortal men know it; but Thetis and Eurynome, who +preserved me, knew it. She now comes to my house; wherefore there is +need that I should repay all the rewards of my safety to fair-haired +Thetis. But set now before her good hospitable fare, whilst I lay aside +my bellows and all my tools.” + +Footnote 590: (return) Θαμίζειν answers to the Latin “visere,” +“frequentare.” Suidas, Θαμίζεις· πυκνάζεις, συχνάσεις. Plato, Rep. i. +p. 410, B.: Οὐδὲ θαμίζεις ἡμῖν καταβαίνων εἰς τὸν ειραιᾶ. Themist. Or. +v. p. 152: Μηδὲ θαμίζει δορυφοροῦσα εἰς τὰ βασίλεια. Philostr. Vit. +Soph. i. 7, p. 254: Θαμίζων εἰς τὰ στρατόπεδα. Cf. Alciphron, Ep. i. 4, +p. 20, iii. 5, p. 286. + +Footnote 591: (return) “Hephæstos is the son of Hêrê without a father, +and stands to her in the same relation as Athênê to Zeus: her pride and +want of sympathy are manifested by her casting him out at once, in +consequence of his deformity.”—Grote, vol. i. p. 79. + +He spoke and rose, a wondrous bulk, 592 from his anvil-block, limping, +and his weak legs moved actively beneath him. The bellows he laid apart +from the fire, and all the tools with which he laboured he collected +into a silver chest. With a sponge he wiped, all over, his face and +both his hands, his strong neck and shaggy breast; then put on his +tunic and seized his stout sceptre. But he went out of the doors +limping, and golden handmaids, like unto living maidens, moved briskly +about the king; and in their bosoms was prudence with understanding, +and within them was voice and strength; and they are instructed in +works by the immortal gods. These were busily occupied 593 by the +king’s side; but he, hobbling along, sat down upon a splendid throne +near where Thetis was, and hung upon her hand, and spoke, and addressed +her: + +“Why, long-robed Thetis, venerable and dear, hast thou come to our +abode? For indeed thou didst not often come before. Make known what +thou desirest, for my mind orders me to perform it, 594 if in truth I +can perform it, and if it is to be performed.” + +Footnote 592: (return) I have endeavoured to express Buttmann’s idea +respecting the meaning of _αἴητον_. See Lexil. p. 44-7. He concludes +that it simply means _great_, but with a collateral notion of +_astonishment_ implied, connecting it with ἀγητός. + +Footnote 593: (return) See Buttmann, Lexil. p. 481. + +Footnote 594: (return) Virg. Æn. i. 80: + + “——Tuus, ô regina, quid optes, Explorare labor: + mini jussa capessere fas est.” + + +Him then Thetis, pouring forth tears, answered: “O Vulcan, has any +then, as many as are the goddesses in Olympus, endured so many bitter +griefs in her mind, as, to me above all, Jove, the son of Saturn, has +given sorrows? Me, from among the other marine inhabitants, has he +subjected to a man, to Peleus, son of Æacus; and I have endured the +couch of a man very much against my will. He, indeed, now lies in his +palaces, afflicted with grievous old age; but now other [woes] are my +lot. After he had granted me to bring forth aud nurture a son, +distinguished among heroes, and who grew up like a plant; him having +reared, as a plant in a fertile spot of the field, I sent forth in the +crooked barks to Ilium, to fight with the Trojans; but him I shall not +receive again, having returned home to the mansion of Peleus. As long, +however, as he lives to me, and beholds the light of the sun, he +suffers sorrow, nor am I, going to him, able to avail him aught. The +maid whom the sons of the Greeks selected as a reward for him, her hath +king Agamemnon taken back again from his hands. Certainly, grieving for +her, he has been wasting his soul; whilst the Trojans were hemming in +the Greeks at the ships, nor suffered them to go beyond the gates: but +the elders of the Greeks supplicated him, and named many distinguished +presents. But then he refused to avert destruction, yet he clad +Patroclus in his own armour, and sent him forth to the battle, and he +gave with him much people. All day they fought round the Scæan gates, +and certainly on that day had overturned Troy, had not Apollo slain, +among the foremost warriors, the gallant son of Menœtius, after having +done much mischief, and given glory to Hector. On this account do I now +approach thy knees, if thou wilt give to my short-lived son a shield +and helmet, and beautiful greaves, joined with clasps, and a corslet: +for what were his, his faithful companion has lost, subdued by the +Trojans; and he (Achilles) lies upon the ground, grieving in his soul.” + +Her then illustrious Vulcan answered: “Take courage, nor let these +things be cause of uneasiness in thy mind; for would that I could so +surely conceal him from dread-sounding death, when grievous fate +approaches him, as that beautiful armour shall be ready for him, such +as any one of many men shall hereafter admire, whosoever may behold +it.” + +So saying, he left her there, and went towards the bellows, which he +turned towards the fire, and commanded them to work. And full twenty +bellows blew in the furnaces, exciting a varied well-regulated 595 +blast, to be ready for him, at one time busy, at another the reverse, +as Vulcan pleased, and that the work might be complete. He cast into +the fire impenetrable brass, and tin, precious gold and silver; but +next he placed the mighty anvil on the stock, and took in [one] hand +his strong hammer, and with the other grasped the forceps. + +Footnote 595: (return) _I.e._ one that would either blow, or not, +according as the progress of the work required. The student will do +well to compare Virg. Georg. iv. 171, sqq., Æn. viii. 449, sqq., and +Callimach. in Dian. 59, sqq. + +First of all he formed a shield, 596 both large and solid, decorating +it all over, and around it he threw a shining border, triple and +glittering, and from it [there hung] a silver belt. Of the shield +itself, there were five folds; but on it he formed many curious works, +with cunning skill. On it he wrought the earth, and the heaven, and the +sea, the unwearied sun, and the full moon. On it also [he represented] +all the constellations with which the heaven is crowned, the Pleiades, +the Hyades, and the strength of Orion, and the Bear, 597 which they +also call by the appellation of the Wain, which there revolves, and +watches Orion; 598 but it alone is free 599 from the baths of the +ocean. + +Footnote 596: (return) See Coleridge, Classic Poets, p. 182, sqq.; +Riccius, Dissert. Hom. t.i.p. 216; Feith, Antiq. Hom. iv. 10, 4. In +reading this whole description, care must be taken to allow for the +freedom of poetic description, as well as for the skill of the supposed +artificer. + +Footnote 597: (return) Cf. Virg. Georg. i. 137; Æn. i. 748, iii. 516. + +Footnote 598: (return) Orion ascends above the horizon, as though in +pursuit of the Wain, which in return seems to observe his movements. +Manilius, i. 500: “Arctos et Orion adversis frontibus ibant,” which is +compared by Scaliger, p. 28. + +Footnote 599: (return) Aratus, Dios. 48: Ἄρκτοι κυανεοῦ πεφυλαγμένοι +κεανοῖο. Virg. Georg. i. 246: “Arctos Oceani metuentes æquore tingi.” +The student of ancient astronomy will do well to compare Scaliger on +Manil. i, p. 43, 2; Casaub. on Strabo, i. init. + +In it likewise he wrought two fair cities 600 of articulate-speaking +men. In the one, indeed, there were marriages and feasts; and they were +conducting the brides from their chambers through the city with +brilliant torches, 601 and many a bridal song 602 was raised. The +youthful dancers were wheeling round, and amongst them pipes and lyres +uttered a sound; and the women standing, each at her portals, admired. +And people were crowded together in an assembly, and there a contest +had arisen; for two men contended for the ransom-money of a slain man: +the one affirmed that he had paid all, appealing to the people; but the +other denied, [averring] that he had received nought: and both wished +to find an end [of the dispute] before a judge. 603 The people were +applauding both,—supporters of either party, and the heralds were +keeping back the people; but the elders sat upon polished stones, in a +sacred 604 circle, and [the pleaders 605] held in their hands the +staves of the clear-voiced heralds; with these then they arose, and +alternately pleaded their cause. Moreover, in the midst lay two talents +of gold, to give to him who should best establish his claim among them. +But round the other city sat two armies of people glittering in arms; +and one of two plans was agreeable to them, 606 either to waste it, or +to divide all things into two parts,—the wealth, whatever the pleasant +city contained within it. They, however, had not yet complied, but were +secretly arming themselves for an ambuscade. Meanwhile, their beloved +wives and young children kept watch, standing above, and amongst them +the men whom old age possessed. But they (the younger men) advanced; +but Mars was their leader, and Pallas Minerva, both golden, and clad in +golden dresses, beautiful and large, along with their armour, radiant +all round, and indeed like gods; but the people were of humbler size. +607 But when they now had reached a place where it appeared fit to lay +an ambuscade, by a river, where there was a watering-place for all +sorts of cattle, there then they settled, clad in shining steel. There, +apart from the people, sat two spies, watching when they might perceive +the sheep and crooked-horned oxen. These, however, soon advanced, and +two shepherds accompanied them, amusing themselves with their pipes, +for they had not yet perceived the stratagem. Then they, discerning +them, ran in upon them, and immediately slaughtered on all sides the +herds of oxen, and the beautiful flocks of snow-white sheep; and slew +the shepherds besides. But they, when they heard the great tumult +amongst the oxen, previously sitting in front of the assembly, 608 +mounting their nimble-footed steeds, pursued; and soon came up with +them. Then, having marshalled themselves, they fought a battle on the +banks of the river, and wounded one another with their brazen spears. +Amongst them mingled Discord and Tumult, and destructive Fate, holding +one alive, recently wounded, another unwounded, but a third, slain, she +drew by the feet through the battle; and had the garment around her +shoulders crimsoned with the gore of men. 609 But they turned about, +like living mortals, and fought, and drew away the slaughtered bodies +of each other. + +Footnote 600: (return) Cf. Hesiod, Scut. Herc. 270, sqq. + +Footnote 601: (return) The escort took place at even-tide. + +Footnote 602: (return) On the origin of this term, see Serv. on Virg. +Æn. i. 655. + +Footnote 603: (return) Or, “on the testimony of witnesses.” See +Kennedy. + +Footnote 604: (return) See Heyne on x. 56. So σέλμα σεμνὸν, “the seat +of justice.”—Æsch. Ag. 183. + +Footnote 605: (return) See Kennedy, who has collected the Homeric +passages concerning lawsuits. + +Footnote 606: (return) _I.e._ the enemy. The alternative was that the +townsmen should either surrender half their possessions, or submit to +indiscriminate pillage. See Kennedy. + +Footnote 607: (return) This custom of representing gods and heroes of +larger stature than ordinary folk prevails almost universally in the +Egyptian monuments and sculptures. + +Footnote 608: (return) “Εἴρα vel ἴρα est locus concionis, et ipse +cœtus.”—Heyns. + +Footnote 609: (return) Cf. Æn. vi.: “Tisiphoneque sedens, palla +succincta cruenta.” Stat. Theb. i. 109: “Riget horrida tergo Palla, et +cærulei redeunt in pectore nodi.” + +On it he also placed a soft fallow field, 610 rich glebe, wide, +thrice-ploughed; and in it many ploughmen drove hither and thither, +turning round their teams. But when, returning, they reached the end of +the field, then a man, advancing, gave into their hands a cup of very +sweet wine; but they turned themselves in series, 611 eager to reach +the [other] end of the deep fallow. But it was all black behind, +similar to ploughed land, which indeed was a marvel beyond [all +others]. + +On it likewise he placed a field of deep corn, where reapers were +cutting, having sharp sickles in their hands. Some handfuls fell one +after the other upon the ground along the furrow, and the binders of +sheaves tied others with bands. Three binders followed [the reapers], +whilst behind them boys gathering the handfuls, [and] bearing them in +their arms, continually supplied them; and amongst them the master +stood by the swathe 612 in silence, holding a sceptre, delighted in +heart. But apart, beneath an oak, servants were preparing a banquet, +and sacrificing a huge ox, they ministered; whilst women sprinkled much +white barley 613 [on the meat], as a supper for the reapers. + +Footnote 610: (return) With the whole of this description of the +shield of Achilles, the lover of poetry should compare Milton, P.L. xi. +638, sqq. with the remarks of Bishop Newton. + +Footnote 611: (return) But Hesychius by ὄγμους understood αὔλακας, +“the furrows.” See Schneid. on Nicand. Ther. 371. + +Footnote 612: (return) I here follow the Oxford translator. The term +βασιλεὺς is well in accordance with the simple manners of the early +ages, when kings were farmers on a large scale. Many of our Saviour’s +parables present a similar association of agriculture with the regal +dignity. + +Footnote 613: (return) Probably a religious rite. Cf. i. 449, 458. + +On it likewise he placed a vineyard, heavily laden with grapes, +beautiful, golden; but the clusters throughout were black; and it was +supported throughout by silver poles. Round it he drew an azure trench, +and about it a hedge 614 of tin; but there was only one path to it, by +which the gatherers went when they collected the vintage. Young virgins +and youths, of tender minds, bore the luscious fruit in woven baskets, +615 in the midst of whom a boy played sweetly on a shrill harp; and +with tender voice sang gracefully to the chord; whilst they, beating +[the ground] in unison with dancing and shouts, followed, skipping with +their feet. + +Footnote 614: (return) Ἐφύτευσεν ἀμπελῶνα, καὶ φραγμὸν αὐτῷ περιέθηκε. +Matt, xxi 33. See Rosemüller on Jer. v. 5. + +Footnote 615: (return) “Vimineis calathis,” Copa, 16. Propert. iii. +11, 31. + +In it he also wrought a herd of oxen with horns erect. But the kine +were made of gold and of tin, and rushed out with a lowing from the +stall to the pasture, beside a murmuring stream, along the +breeze-waving reeds. 616 Four golden herdsmen accompanied the oxen, and +nine dogs, swift of foot, followed. But two terrible lions detained the +bull, roaring among the foremost oxen, and he was dragged away, loudly +bellowing, and the dogs and youths followed for a rescue. They indeed, +having torn off the skin of the great ox, lapped up his entrails and +black blood; and the shepherds vainly pressed upon them, urging on +their fleet dogs. These however refused to bite the lions, but, +standing very near, barked, and shunned them. + +On it illustrious Vulcan also formed a pasture in a beautiful grove +full of white sheep, and folds, and covered huts and cottages. + +Illustrious Vulcan likewise adorned it with a dance, like unto that +which, in wide Gnossus, Dædalus contrived for fair-haired Ariadne. +There danced youths and alluring 617 virgins, holding each other’s +hands at the wrist. These wore fine linen robes, but those were dressed +in well-woven tunics, shining 618 as with oil; these also had beautiful +garlands, and those wore golden swords, [hanging] from silver belts. +Sometimes, with skilful feet, they nimbly bounded [round]; as when a +potter, sitting, shall make trial of a wheel fitted to his hands, +whether it will run: and at other times again they ran back to their +places through one another. But a great crowd surrounded the pleasing +dance, amusing themselves; and amongst them two tumblers, beginning +their song, spun round through the midst. + +Footnote 616: (return) See Knight and Kennedy. + +Footnote 617: (return) Literally, “finders of oxen,” i.e. so +attractive as to be certain of receiving a good dowry, paid, after the +ancient custom, in cattle. + +Footnote 618: (return) This must have been some kind of oil-cloth, +unless we read στίλβοντες with Kennedy. The meaning is very obscure. + +But in it he also formed the vast strength of the river Oceanus, near +the last border of the well-formed shield. + +But when he had finished the shield, large and solid, he next formed +for him a corslet, brighter than the splendour of fire. He also made +for him a strong helmet, fitted to his temples, beautiful and variously +ornamented, and on it placed a golden crest; and made greaves for him +of ductile tin. + +But when renowned Vulcan had with toil made all the armour, lifting it +up, he laid it before the mother of Achilles; but she, like a hawk, +darted down from snowy Olympus, bearing from Vulcan the shining armour. + + + + +BOOK THE NINETEENTH. + + +ARGUMENT. + +Thetis, having brought Achilles his new armour, and promised to +preserve the body of Patroclus from corruption, he is reconciled to +Agamemnon, and being miraculously invigorated by Minerva, goes forth to +battle, regardless of the prediction of his fate by his horse Xanthus. + + +Saffron-robed Morn was rising from the streams of ocean, that she might +bear light to immortals and mortals; 619 but she (Thetis) came to the +ships, bearing the gifts from the god. Her dear son she found lying +upon Patroclus, bitterly lamenting, and his numerous companions were +lamenting around him. But near to him stood the divine of goddesses, +and hung upon his hand and spoke, and addressed him: + +Footnote 619: (return) + + “To resalute the world with sacred light + Leucothea waked, and with fresh dews embalm’d + The earth.”—Par. Lost. xi. 132. + + +“My son, let us suffer him now to lie, grieved although we be, since +first he has been laid low by the counsel of the gods: but do thou +receive these distinguished arms from Vulcan, very beautiful, such as +no man has ever worn upon his shoulders.” + +Having thus spoken, the goddess placed the armour before Achilles; and +they, all curiously wrought, clashed aloud. Then tremor seized all the +Myrmidons, nor did any one dare to look directly at them, but they fled +in fear. But when Achilles saw them, the more rage entered him; and his +eyes shone terribly beneath his eyelids, like a flame; and he was +delighted, holding in his hands the splendid gifts of the god. But +after he had delighted his mind, beholding these artificial works, he +immediately addressed to his mother winged words: + +“Mother mine, the god hath indeed given arms, such as are fit to be +works of immortals, nor that a mortal man could make. Truly now will I +arm myself; but I very much fear lest, in the meantime, the flies, +having entered the gallant son of Menœtius, by his spear-inflicted +wounds, create maggots, and pollute the corse, (for life in it is +destroyed,) and all the parts of the body grow putrid.” + +But him the silver-footed goddess Thetis then answered: + +“My child, let not these things be a care to thy mind. I will endeavour +to drive away from him the fierce swarms, the flies which devour heroes +slain in battle. For although he lie an entire year, his body shall +always be uncorrupted, or even better. But do thou, having summoned the +Grecian heroes to an assembly, having renounced thy wrath towards +Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people, arm thyself quickly for war, and +put on thy might.” + +Thus, therefore, having spoken, she infused into him the most daring +courage, and then instilled into Patroclus, through the nostrils, +ambrosia and ruby nectar, 620 that his body might be uncorrupted. + +Footnote 620: (return) Milton, P.L. v. 633: “with angels’ food, and +rubied nectar flows.” + +But noble Achilles went along the shore of the sea, shouting fearfully, +and aroused the Grecian heroes; so that even those who used formerly to +remain in the assemblage of the ships, both those who were pilots, and +who held the rudders of the ships, and the pursers [who] were at the +ships, dispensers of food, even these then indeed went to the assembly, +because Achilles appeared, for he had long abstained from the grievous +battle. And two servants of Mars, the warlike son of Tydeus, and noble +Ulysses, went limping, leaning upon a spear; for they still had painful +wounds; and advancing, they sat in the front seats. But last came the +king of men, Agamemnon, having a wound; for him also, in the sharp +battle, Coon, son of Antenor, had wounded with his brazen spear. Then +when all the Greeks were assembled, swift-footed Achilles, rising up +amongst them, said: + +“Son of Atreus, this would surely have been somewhat better for both +thee and me, 621 when we two, grieved at heart, raged with +soul-devouring contention for the sake of a girl. Would that Diana had +slain her with an arrow in the ships on that day, when wasting, I took +Lyrnessus; then indeed so many Greeks had not seized the mighty ground +in their teeth under the hands of the enemy, I being continually +enraged. This however was better for Hector and the Trojans, but I +think the Greeks will long remember the contention of you and me. But +let us leave these things as passed, although grieved, subduing from +necessity the soul within our bosoms. And now I terminate my wrath, nor +is it at all fit that I always obstinately be enraged; but come +quickly, incite the long-haired Achæans to battle, in order that still +I may make trial of the Trojans, going against them; if they wish to +pass the night at the ships; but of them I think that any will very +gladly bend the knee, whoever shall escape out of the destructive fight +from my spear.” + +Footnote 621: (return) _I.e._ it would have been better for us to have +been friends, as we now are, than enemies. The construction is +interrupted, to suit the agitation of the speaker. + +Thus he spoke; but the well-greaved Greeks rejoiced, the magnanimous +son of Peleus renouncing his wrath. But them, the king of men, +Agamemnon, also addressed out of the same place, from his seat, nor +advancing into the midst: + +“O friends! heroes of the Greeks, servants of Mars, it is becoming +indeed that ye should hearken to me, thus rising, nor is it convenient +that thou shouldst interrupt; for [it is] difficult, even for one being +skilled. 622 But in a great uproar of men, how can any one hear or +speak? but he is interrupted, although being a clear-toned orator. I +indeed will direct myself to the son of Peleus; but do ye, the other +Greeks, understand, and carefully learn my meaning. Often already have +the Greeks spoken this saying to me, and have rebuked me; but I am not +to blame, 623 but Jove, and Fate, and Erinnys, roaming amid the shades, +who, during the assembly, cast into my mind a sad injury, on that day, +when I myself took away the reward of Achilles. But what could I do? +for the deity accomplishes all things; pernicious Até, the venerable +daughter of Jove, who injures all. Her feet are tender, for she does +not approach the ground, but she walks over the heads of men, injuring +mankind, and one at least 624 [she] fetters. For at one time she +injured even Jove, who, they say, is the most powerful of men and gods; +but him Juno, being a female, deceived by her guile on that day when +Alemene was about to bring forth mighty Hercules in well-walled Thebes. +He indeed, boasting, had said among all the gods: + +“Hear me, 625 all ye gods and all ye goddesses, whilst I speak those +things which the mind within my bosom urges. This day Ilithyia, +presiding over births, shall bring into the light a certain man, who +shall be ruler over all his neighbours,—[one] of those men of the blood +of my race!” + +Footnote 622: (return) _I.e._ even a good speaker can do nothing +without a fair hearing. + +Footnote 623: (return) Cf. iii. 164. Seneca, (Ed. 1019) “Fati ista +culpa est.” Cf. Duport. p. 106. Æsch. Choeph. 910: Ἡ μοῖρα τούτων, ὧ +τέκνον, παραιτία. + +Footnote 624: (return) “A delicate censure of Achilles.”—Oxford +Transl. + +Footnote 625: (return) Cf. Pindar, Ol. iii. 50-105, and Il. v. iii. I +have followed Heyne’s construing, supplying τινα. + +But him the august Juno addressed, devising guile: “Thou shalt lie, nor +shalt thou insure accomplishment to thy speech. But come, swear a firm +oath to me, O Olympian! that he shall indeed be ruler over all his +neighbours, who shall this day fall between the feet of a woman, among +those men, who are of the blood of thy family.” + +Thus she spoke, but Jove perceived not her crafty design, but he swore +the mighty oath, and afterwards was much befooled. 626 Then Juno +springing forth, quitted the top of Olympus, and came speedily to +Achaean Argos, where she knew the noble spouse of Sthenelus, the son of +Perseus. And she, indeed, was pregnant of her beloved son; and the +seventh month was at hand; and she brought him into light, being +deficient the number of months; but kept back the delivery of Alemene, +and restrained the Ilithyiæ; and herself bearing the message, addressed +Jove, the son of Saturn: + +Footnote 626: (return) Injured, vexed by his infatuation. Juno was +thinking of Eurystheus but Jove of Hercules. + +“Father Jove, hurler of the red lightning, I will put a certain matter +in thy mind. A noble man is now born, who shall rule the Argives, +Eurystheus, the son of Perseus, thy offspring; nor is it unbecoming +that he should govern the Argives.” + +“Thus she spoke; but sharp grief smote him in his deep mind; and +immediately he seized Até by her head of shining curls, enraged in his +mind, and swore a powerful oath, that Até, who injures all, should +never again return to Olympus and the starry heaven. + +“Thus saying, he cast her from the starry heaven, whirling her round in +his hand, but she quickly reached the works of men. On her account he +always groaned, 627 when he beheld his beloved son suffering unworthy +toil under the labours of 628 Eurystheus. + +“So I also, when the great crest-tossing Hector was thus 629 destroying +the Greeks at the sterns of the ships, was not able to forget the wrong +which I had formerly foolishly committed. But since I have suffered +harm, and Jove has taken away my reason, I am willing again to appease +thee, and to give infinite presents. But arise to the battle, and +incite the other people, and I myself [will pledge myself] to furnish +all the presents, as many as noble Ulysses yesterday, going to thee, +promised in thy tents. Yet, if thou wilt, wait a little, although +hastening to battle, and my servants, taking the presents from my ship, +shall bring them, that thou mayest see that I will present [thee] with +appeasing offerings.” + +But him swift-footed Achilles answering, addressed; “Most glorious son +of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, whether thou wilt furnish gifts, as +is meet, or keep them with thee, [will be seen]; but now let us very +quickly be mindful of the contest; for it is not fitting to waste time +in idle talk, 630 nor to delay; as a mighty work is yet undone. But as +some one may again behold Achilles among the front ranks, destroying +the phalanxes of the Trojans with his brazen spear, so also let some +one of you, keeping this in mind, fight with [his] man.” + +Footnote 627: (return) On the servitude of Hercules, see Grote, vol. +i. p. 128. + +Footnote 628: (return) _I.e._ imposed by. + +Footnote 629: (return) “The parallel implied here is of the havoc +occasioned by Hector, and the laborious tasks imposed by Eurystheus. +Such appears to be the force of the particle.”—Kennedy. + +Footnote 630: (return) Hesych.; Κλοτοπεύειν· παραλογίζεσθαι...... +οτραγγύεσθαι. + +But him Ulysses, of many wiles, answering, addressed: “Not thus, brave +as thou art, O godlike Achilles, urge on the sons of the Greeks, +fasting, towards Ilium, about to fight with the Trojans; for the +conflict will not be for a short time only, when once the phalanxes of +men shall mingle, and a god breathe might into both. But command the +Greeks to be fed at the ships with food and wine, for this is might and +vigour. For a man, unrefreshed by food, would not be able to fight +against [the enemy] all day to the setting sun; for although he might +desire in his mind to fight, yet his limbs gradually grow languid, and +thirst and hunger come upon him, and his knees fail him as he goes. The +man, on the other hand, who is satiated with wine and food, fights all +day with hostile men, the heart within his breast is daring, nor are +his limbs at all fatigued before that all retire from battle. But come, +dismiss the people, and order a repast to be made ready; and let the +king of men, Agamemnon, bring the gifts into the midst of the assembly, +that all the Greeks may see them with their eyes, and thou mayest be +delighted in thy mind. Let him, moreover, swear an oath to thee, +standing up among the Greeks, that he has never ascended her bed, nor +has been mingled with her, as is the custom, O king, of men and wives; +and to thee thyself, also, let the soul within thy breast be placid. +Then let him next conciliate thee by a rich banquet within his tents, +that thou mayest not have aught wanting of redress. And for the future, +O son of Atreus, thou wilt be more just towards another; for it is by +no means unworthy that a king should appease a man, when he 631 may +first have given offence.” + +Footnote 631: (return) Understand βασιλεύς. + +But him the king of men, Agamemnon, in return addressed: + +“I rejoice, O son of Laërtes, having heard thy speech, for with +propriety hast thou gone through and enumerated all things. These +things I am willing to swear, and my mind orders me, in presence of a +god, nor will I perjure myself. But let Achilles remain here, at least +for a little while, though hastening to battle, and do all ye others +remain assembled, until they bring the gifts from my tent, and we +strike faithful leagues. To thyself, however, [O Ulysses], I give this +charge, and order thee, selecting the principal youths of all the +Greeks, to bear from my ship the gifts, as many as we yesterday +promised that we should give to Achilles, and to lead [hither] the +women. But let Talthybius also quickly prepare for me through the wide +army of the Greeks, a boar to sacrifice to Jove and the sun.” + +Him answering, swift-footed Achilles then addressed: + +“Most glorious son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, at some other +time ought they rather to attend to these things, when any cessation of +battle hereafter be, and so much ardour be not in my bosom: but at +present those lie mangled, whom Hector, son of Priam, subdued, when +Jove gave him the glory: but ye urge [them] to food! Now indeed I +should excite the sons of the Greeks to fight, fasting, but with the +setting sun, to prepare a large supper, after we have revenged our +disgrace. Before that neither drink nor food shall pass down my throat, +my companion being slain, who lies in my tent, torn with the sharp +brass, turned towards the vestibule, whilst his comrades mourn around +these things are not a care to my mind, but slaughter and bloodshed, +and the dreadful groans of heroes.” + +But him much-scheming Ulysses answering, addressed: + +“O Achilles, son of Peleus, by far the bravest of the Greeks, thou art +superior indeed to me, and not a little more valiant with the spear, +but I indeed excel thee much in prudence; because I was born before +thee, and know more: wherefore let thy mind be restrained by my words. +Soon is there a satiety of contest to the men, a most abundant crop of +whom the brass pours upon the earth; but the harvest is very small, +when Jove, who is the umpire of the battle of men, inclines his scales. +It is by no means fit that the Greeks should lament the dead with the +stomach, for in great numbers and one upon another are they every day +falling; when therefore could any one respire from toil? But it is +necessary to bury him, whosoever may die, having a patient mind, +weeping for a day. 632 But as many as survive the hateful combat should +be mindful of drinking and of food, in order that we may ever the more +ceaselessly contend with our enemies, clad as to our bodies in +impenetrable brass; nor let any of the troops lie by awaiting another +exhortation. For evilly will that exhortation come upon him, whoever +may be left at the ships of the Greeks; but advancing in a body, let us +stir up the keen battle against the horse-breaking Trojans.” + +Footnote 632: (return) Libanius, Or. ix. in Julian.: Ὤ πολλὰ +συγκινήσας ἐπὶ σαυτῷ δάκρυα, οὐκ ἐπ’ ἤματι κατὰ τὸ ἔπος, ὀλοφυρμοι +τυχῶν. See Duport, p. 111. + +He said, and chose as his companions the sons of glorious Nestor, and +Meges, son of Phyleus, Thoas, and Meriones, Lycomedes, son of Creon, +and Melanippus; and they proceeded to go towards the tent of Agamemnon, +son of Atreus. Immediately after the word was spoken, and the work was +perfected. Seven tripods they bore from the tent, which he had promised +him, and twenty splendid goblets, and twelve steeds; and straightway +led forth seven blameless women, skilled in works, but the eighth was +fair-cheeked Briseïs. But Ulysses, placing 633 ten whole talents of +gold, led the way, and with him the other youths of the Greeks bore the +presents, and placed them in the midst of the assembly; but Agamemnon +rose up; and Talthybius, like unto a god in his voice, stood beside the +shepherd of the people, holding a boar in his hands. Then the son of +Atreus, drawing the knife with his hands, which always hung by the +great scabbard of his sword, cutting off the forelock of the boar, +prayed, lifting up his hands to Jove; but all the Greeks sat in silence +in the same spot, listening in a becoming manner to the king. But +praying, he spoke, looking towards the wide heaven: + +Footnote 633: (return) _I.e._ in the scale, in order to be weighed. + +“Now first let Jove be witness, the most supreme and best of gods, and +Earth, and Sun, and ye Furies, who beneath the earth chastise men, +whoever may swear a falsehood; never have I laid hands upon the maid +Briseïs, needing her for the sake of the couch, or any other purpose; +but inviolate has she remained in my tents. But if any of these things +be false, may the gods inflict on me those very many distresses which +they inflict when men sin in swearing.” + +He said, and cut the throat of the boar with the ruthless brass; which +Talthybius, whirling round, cast into the mighty water of the hoary +sea, as food for fishes. But Achilles, rising, said among the +war-loving Greeks: + +“O father Jove, certainly thou givest great calamities to men; for +never could Atrides have so thoroughly aroused the indignation in my +bosom, nor foolish, led away the girl, I being unwilling, but Jove for +some intent wished death should happen to many Greeks. But now go to +the repast, that we may join battle.” + +Thus then he spoke, and dissolved the assembly in haste. 634 + +Footnote 634: (return) So Od. viii. 38: Θοὴν ἀλεγύνετε δαῖτα, i.e. +θοῶς. Virg. Æn. iv. 226: “Celeres defer mea dicta per auras,” which +Servius interprets, “celer, vel celeriter.” + +They indeed were separated, each to his own ship; but the magnanimous +Myrmidons were occupied about the gifts, and, bearing them, went to the +ship of godlike Achilles. These they laid up in the tents, and placed +the women in seats; but the illustrious attendants drove the horses to +the stud. But afterwards Briseïs, like unto golden Venus, when she +beheld Patroclus lacerated with the sharp spear, throwing herself about +him, wept aloud, and with her hands tore her breast and tender neck, +and fair countenance. 635 Then the woman, like unto the goddesses, +weeping, said: + +“O Patroclus! most dear to my wretched soul, I left thee indeed alive, +departing from my tent, but now returning, I find thee dead, O +chieftain of the people! How in my case evil ever succeeds evil. The +hero indeed to whom my father and venerable mother had given me, 636 I +saw pierced with the sharp brass before the city; and three beloved +brothers whom the same mother had brought forth to me, all drew on the +destructive day. Nevertheless, thou didst not suffer me to weep, when +swift Achilles slew my husband, and laid waste the city of divine +Mynes, but thou saidst thou wouldst render me the wedded wife 637 of +noble Achilles, lead me in the ships to Phthia, and prepare the nuptial +feast amongst the Myrmidons. Therefore do I insatiably lament thee +dead, being ever gentle.” + +Footnote 635: (return) On these ancient signs of lamentation cf. Virg. +Æn. iv. 672; xii. 605; Silius, viii. 153; Tusc. Quæst. iii. 26. Æsch. +Choeph. 22: ρέπει παρήϊς φοινίοις ἀμυγμοῖς. Eur. Hel. 1098: αρῇδι τ’ +ὄνυχα φόνιον ἐμβαλῶ χροός. Orest. 950: Τιθεῖσα λευκὸν ὄνυχα δίὰ +παρηΐδων, αἱματηρὸν ἄταν. Artemidor. i. Ἐν τοῖς πένθεσι λάβωνται τὰς +παρείας οἱ ἄνθρωποι. See Comm. on Petron. cxi. + +Footnote 636: (return) The consent of both parents was necessary to a +contract of marriage. See Feith, Antiq. Hom. ii. 13, 3. + +Footnote 637: (return) She appears to have been, at present, only +betrothed. + +Thus she spoke, weeping; and the women lamented for Patroclus, as a +pretext, but [really] each for her own ills. And around him (Achilles) +were collected the elders of the Greeks, entreating him to take +refreshment; but he, moaning, refused: + +“I entreat [you], if any of my beloved companions would be obedient to +me, bid me not satiate my heart with food or drink, since heavy grief +hath invaded me; but I will wait entirely till the setting sun, and +will endure.” + +So saying, he dismissed the other kings: but two sons of Atreus +remained; and noble Ulysses, Nestor, Idomeneus, and the aged knight +Phœnix, constantly endeavouring to delight him sorrowing; nor was he at +all delighted, before he should enter the mouth 638] of bloody war. But +remembering [Patroclus], he frequently heaved [a sigh], and said: + +Footnote 638: (return) So Ennius, p. 128. Hessel.: “Belli ferratos +posteis portasque refregit.” Virg. Æn. i. 298: “Claudentur belli +portæ.” Stat. Theb. v. 136: “Movet ostia belli.” + +“Surely once, thou too, O unhappy one! dearest of my companions, +wouldst thyself have set before me a plentiful feast, within my tent, +speedily and diligently, when the Greeks hastened to make tearful war +upon the horse-breaking Trojans. But now thou liest mangled; but my +heart is without drink and food, though they are within, from regret +for thee; for I could not suffer anything worse, not even if I were to +hear of my father being dead, who now perhaps sheds the tender tear in +Phthia from the want of such a son; while I, in a foreign people, wage +war against the Trojans, for the sake of detested Helen: or him, my +beloved son, who is nurtured for me at Scyros, if indeed he still +lives, godlike Neoptolemus. For formerly the mind within my bosom hoped +that I alone should perish here in Troy, far from steed-nourishing +Argos, and that thou shouldst return to Phthia, that thou mightst lead +back my son in thy black ship from Scyros, and mightst show him +everything, my property, my servants, and my great, lofty-domed abode. +For now I suppose that Peleus is either totally deceased, or that he, +barely alive, suffers pain from hateful old age, and that he is +continually expecting bad news respecting me, when he shall hear of my +being dead.” + +Thus he spoke, weeping; and the elders also groaned, remembering, each +of them, the things which they had left in their dwellings. But the son +of Saturn felt compassion, seeing them weeping, and immediately to +Minerva addressed winged words: + +“O daughter mine, thou entirely now desertest thy valiant hero. Is +Achilles then no longer at all a care to thee in thy mind? He himself +is sitting before his lofty-beaked ships, bewailing his dear companion; +while the others have gone to a banquet; but he is unrefreshed and +unfed. Go, therefore, instil into his breast nectar and delightful +ambrosia, that hunger may come not upon him.” + +So saying, he urged on Minerva, who was before eager. But she, like +unto a broad-winged, shrill-voiced harpy, leaped down from the heavens +through the air. The Greeks, however, were then arming themselves +throughout the camp, when she instilled into the bosom of Achilles +nectar and delightful ambrosia, that unpleasant hunger might not come +upon his limbs. Then she went to the solid mansion of her powerful +sire, and they, apart, poured forth from the swift ships. + +And as when thick snow-flakes fly down from Jove, beneath the force of +the cold, air-clearing Boreas; so from the ships were borne out crowded +helmets, shining brightly, and bossed shields, strong-cavitied +corslets, and ashen spears. But the sheen reached to heaven, and all +the earth around smiled beneath the splendour of the brass; and a +trampling of the feet of men arose beneath. In the midst noble Achilles +was armed, and there was a gnashing of his teeth, and his eyes shone +like a blaze of fire; but intolerable grief entered his heart within +him, and, enraged against the Trojans, he put on the gifts of the god, +which Vulcan, toiling, had fabricated for him. First around his legs he +placed the beautiful greaves, joined with silver clasps, next he put on +the corslet round his breast, and suspended from his shoulders the +brazen, silver-studded sword; then he seized the shield, large and +solid, the sheen of which went to a great distance, as of the moon. 639 +And as when from the sea the blaze of a burning fire shines to +mariners, which is lit aloft amongst the mountains in a solitary place; +but the storm bears them against their inclination away from their +friends over the fishy deep; so from the shield of Achilles, beautiful +and skilfully made, the brightness reached the sky. But raising it, he +placed the strong helmet upon his head; and the helmet, crested with +horse-hair, shone like a star; and the golden tufts which Vulcan had +diffused thick around the cone were shaken. Then noble Achilles tried +himself in his arms if they would fit him, and if his fair limbs would +move freely in them; but they were like wings to him, and lifted up the +shepherd of the people. And from its sheath he drew forth his paternal +spear, heavy, great, and stout, which no other of the Greeks was able +to brandish, but Achilles alone knew how to hurl it—a Pelian ash, which +Chiron had cut for his father from the top of Pelion, to be a +destruction to heroes. But Automedon and Alcimus, harnessing the +steeds, yoked them; and beautiful collars were upon them. They put the +bridles into their jaws, and drew back the reins towards the well-glued +car, when Automedon, seizing the shining lash, fitted to his hand, +leaped into the car; Achilles, armed for battle, mounted behind him, +glittering in his armour like the shining sun; and terribly he gave +command to the horses of his sire: + +Footnote 639: (return) Milton, P. L. i. 284: + + “........ his pond’rous shield + Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round, + Behind him cast; the broad circumference + Hung on his shoulders like the moon.” + + +“Xanthus, and Balius, illustrious offspring of Podarges, resolve now in +a different manner to bring back your charioteer in safety to the body +of the Greeks, after we are satiated with battle, nor leave him there +dead, like Patroclus.” + +But from beneath the yoke, Xanthus, his swift-footed steed, addressed +him, and immediately hung down his head, and his whole mane, drooping +from the ring which was near the yoke, reached the ground. But the +white-armed goddess Juno gave him the power of speech: + +“Now, at least, we will bear thee safe, O impetuous Achilles: but the +fatal day draws nigh to thee; nor are we to blame, but a mighty deity +and violent destiny. For not by our laziness, or sloth, have the +Trojans stripped the armour from the shoulders of Patroclus; but the +bravest of the gods, whom fair-haired Latona brought forth, slew him +among the front ranks, and gave glory to Hector. And [though] we can +run even with the blast of Zephyrus, which they say is the most fleet, +yet to thyself it is fated that thou shouldst be violently subdued by a +god and a man.” + +Of him, having thus spoken, the Furies restrained the voice: but him +swift-footed Achilles, greatly indignant, addressed: + +“O Xanthus, why dost thou predict my death to me? For it is not at all +necessary for thee. Well do I myself know that it is my fate to perish +here, far away from my dear father and mother. Nevertheless I will not +cease before the Trojans are abundantly satiated with war.” + +He spoke, and shouting amongst the front ranks, directed on his +solid-hoofed steeds. + + + + +BOOK THE TWENTIETH + + + +ARGUMENT. + +Jove permits the gods to join in the battle, and they take their +respective places on either side. Æneas engages Achilles, but is +rescued by Neptune. Hector, in revenge for the death of his brother +Polydorus, also attacks Achilles, and is only saved from death by the +intervention of Apollo. Achilles then slays many Trojans. + + + +Thus around thee, O son of Peleus, were the Achæans armed, insatiable +in fight, beside their crooked ships; and the Trojans, on the other +side, on the acclivity 640 of the plain. But Jove ordered Themis to +summon the gods to an assembly, from the top of many-valleyed Olympus, +and she, going round, ordered them to proceed to the palace of Jove. +Nor was any one of the rivers absent, save Oceanus, nor of the nymphs +who inhabit the pleasant groves and springs of rivers, and the grassy +meads. Then, coming to the habitation of cloud-compelling Jove, they +sat down upon shining polished benches, which Vulcan with cunning skill +had made for father Jove. Thus were they assembled within the palace of +Jove: nor did Neptune disobey the goddess, but he came to them from the +sea. Then he sat in the midst, and inquired the design of Jove: + +Footnote 640: (return) See x. 160; xi. 56. + +“Why again, O hurler of the glowing lightning, hast thou summoned the +gods to an assembly? Dost thou deliberate anything respecting the +Trojans and Greeks? For now their combat and the battle are on the +point of being kindled.” + +But him cloud-compelling Jove answering, addressed: + +“Thou knowest, O earth-shaker, my design within my breast, [and] for +whose sake I have assembled you; for though about to perish, they are a +care to me. I will, however, remain sitting on the top of Olympus, +whence looking, I shall delight my soul; but depart the rest of you, +that ye may go to the Trojans and Greeks. Give aid to both, according +as is the inclination of each. For if Achilles alone shall fight +against the Trojans, they will not even for a little sustain the +swift-footed son of Peleus. Formerly even beholding him, they fled +terrified; but now when he is grievously enraged in his mind on account +of his companion, I fear lest he overthrow the wall, even contrary to +fate.” + +Thus spoke Saturnian Jove, and he stirred up the unyielding 641 +contest; and the gods hastened to proceed to the battle, having +discordant minds. Juno, indeed, and Pallas Minerva [went] to the +assemblage of the ships, as well as earth-shaking Neptune, and useful +Mercury, who excelled in a prudent mind, with whom went Vulcan, looking +savage in his might, limping, and under him his weak limbs moved with +all their force. But to the Trojans [went] crest-tossing Mars, and with +him unshorn Phœbus, 642 and Diana, delighting in archery, Latona, +Xanthus, and laughter-loving Venus. As long as the gods were apart from +mortal men, so long the Greeks were greatly elated, because Achilles +appeared, for he had long abstained from the dire battle; and a violent +tremor came upon the Trojans, upon each of them as to their limbs, +fearing because they beheld the swift-footed son of Peleus glittering +in arms, equal to man-slaughtering Mars. But after the Olympians had +come to the crowd of men, then arose fierce Contention, the exciter of +the people, and Minerva shouted, sometimes standing beside the trench, +outside the wall, at other times she loudly shouted along the echoing +shores. But Mars yelled aloud on the other side, like unto a dark +whirlwind, keenly animating the Trojans from the lofty city, at other +times running along the Simoïs over Callicolone. 643 + +Thus the blessed gods, inciting both sides, engaged, and among them +made severe contention to break out. But dreadfully from above +thundered the father of gods and men; whilst beneath Neptune shook the +boundless earth and the lofty summits of the mountains. The roots and +all the summits of many-rilled Ida were shaken, and the city of the +Trojans, and the ships of the Greeks. Pluto himself, king of the nether +world, trembled beneath, and leaped up from his throne, terrified, and +shouted aloud, lest earth-shaking Neptune should rend asunder the earth +over him, and disclose to mortals and immortals his mansions, terrible, +squalid, which even the gods loathe. So great a tumult arose from the +gods engaging in combat. Against king Neptune, indeed, stood Phœbus +Apollo, having his winged shafts, and against Mars the azure-eyed +goddess Minerva. Opposed to Juno stood the goddess of the golden bow, +huntress Diana, rejoicing in archery, the sister of Apollo; and +opposite Latona, the preserver, 644 useful Mercury. Against Vulcan also +was the great deep-eddying river, which the gods call Xanthus, and men +the Scamander. + +Footnote 641: (return) Buttm. Lexil. p. 406, 3: “The adjective +αλίαστος, literally _unbending, unyielding, not to be turned_, became +the epithet of a violent, uncontrollable, incessant tumult, battle, +lamentation, &c, as at Iλ. M. 471; B. 797; Ω. 760; and as an adverb at +Ω. 549.” + +Footnote 642: (return) Hor. Od. i. xxii. 2: “Intonsum, pueri, dicite +Cynthium.” Tibull. i. 4, 37: “Solis æterna est Phœbo, Bacchoque +juventa: hanc decet intonsus crinis utrumque Deum.” Various reasons are +assigned for this; such as, “quia occidendo et renascendo semper est +juvenior,” Fulgent. Myth. i. 17; or, “quod ipse sit sol, et sol ignis +est, qui nunquam senescit,” Lutat. on Stat. Theb. i. 694. The +inhabitants of Hieropolis, however, worshipped a bearded Apollo.—Macr. +Sat. i. 17. + +Footnote 643: (return) A rising ground which lay on the road from Troy +towards the sea-coast, on the other side of the Simoïs, commanding the +entire plain. Hence it is the rendezvous of the gods who favoured the +Trojans. + +Footnote 644: (return) We find a collateral verb σωκεῖιν=_valere_, in +Æsch. Eum. 36. Apollon. Lex. p. 762; Hesych. t. ii. p. 1334, derive +σῶκως from σωσίοικος, the former connecting it with ἐριούνιος, ὁ +μεγάλως ὀνίσκων, τοῦτ’ ἔστι ὀφελῶν. + +Thus indeed gods went against gods; but Achilles chiefly longed to +penetrate through the crowd against Hector, the son of Priam; for with +his blood his mind particularly ordered him to satiate Mars, the +invincible warrior. But Apollo, exciter of troops, immediately aroused +Æneas against the son of Peleus, and infused into him strong courage. +And he likened himself in voice to Lycaon, the son of Priam, and having +likened himself to him, Apollo, the son of Jove, said: + +“O Æneas, counsellor of the Trojans, where are thy threats which, +whilst carousing, thou didst promise to the leaders of the Trojans, +that thou wouldst fight against Achilles, the son of Peleus?” + +But him Æneas, answering, addressed in turn: + +“Son of Priam, why dost thou order me, not wishing it, these things, to +fight against magnanimous Pelides? For shall I not now for the first +time stand against swift-footed Achilles, but already, on another +occasion, he chased me with his spear from Ida, when he attacked our +cattle, and laid waste Lyrnessus and Pedasus: but Jove preserved me, +who excited my strength and nimble limbs. Certainly I should have been +subdued beneath the hands of Achilles, and Minerva, who, preceding, +gave him victory, and encouraged him to slay the Lelegans and Trojans +with his brazen spear. Wherefore it is not possible that a man should +fight against Achilles, because one of the gods is ever beside him, who +averts destruction. Besides, also, his weapon flies direct, nor stops +before it has pierced through human flesh; though if the deity would +extend an equal scale of victory, not very easily would he conquer me, +although he boasts himself to be all brazen.” + +But him again king Apollo, the son of Jove, addressed: + +“But do thou also pray, O hero, to the immortal gods, for they say that +thou too art sprung from Venus, the daughter of Jove, but he from an +inferior goddess; for the one is from Jove, and the other from the aged +sea-god. But direct thy invincible brass right against him, nor let him +at all avert thee by haughty words and threats.” + +Thus saying, he breathed great courage into the shepherd of the people; +and he advanced through the front ranks, accoutred in shining brass. +Nor did the son of Anchises escape the notice of white-armed Juno, +going against the son of Peleus through the ranks of men; but, calling +the gods together, she addressed them: + +“Consider now, both Neptune and Minerva, in your minds, how these +things shall be. This Æneas, accoutred in shining brass, has advanced +against the son of Peleus; and Phœbus Apollo has urged him on. But +come, let us, however, turn him back again; or let some one of us stand +by Achilles, and give him great strength, nor let him at all be wanting +in courage; that he may know that the mightiest of the immortals love +him; and that those, on the contrary, are vain, who hitherto avert war +and slaughter from the Trojans. But we have all come down from Olympus, +about to participate in this battle, lest he should suffer anything +among the Trojans to-day; but hereafter he shall suffer those things, +as many as Fate at his birth wove in his thread [of destiny], 645 to +him, what time his mother brought him forth. But if Achilles shall not +learn these things from the voice of a god, he will afterwards be +afraid when any god comes against him in battle; for the gods, when +made manifest, are terrible to be seen manifestly.” 646 + +But her then earth-shaking Neptune answered: + +“Juno, be not beyond reason enraged; nor is it at all necessary. I, +indeed, would not desire that we should engage the other gods in a +battle, since we are much more powerful. 647 Rather let us, going out +of the way, sit down upon a place of observation, 648 but the war shall +be a care to mortals. But if Mars shall begin the combat, or Apollo, or +shall restrain Achilles, and not suffer him to fight, then immediately +shall the strife of contention there arise to us; and I think that +they, having very speedily decided it, will return to Olympus, and mix +with the assembly of other gods, violently subdued by necessity under +our hands.” + +Thus then having spoken, the azure-haired [god] led the way to the +lofty mound-raised wall of divine Hercules, which the Trojans and +Pallas Minerva had made, that, flying, he might escape from the +sea-monster, when pursued from the shore to the plain. There then +Neptune sat down, and the other gods, and drew an indissoluble cloud +around their shoulders; whilst on the other side they sat upon the tops +of Callicolone, around thee, O archer Apollo, and Mars, the sacker of +cities. Thus they sat on both sides, planning designs, yet both were +unwilling to commence grievous war; but Jove, sitting aloft, cheered +them on. All the plain, however, was filled with them, and glittered +with the brass of men and horses, and the earth echoed under the feet +of them rushing together. But two heroes, by far the most valiant, +advanced towards [each other] into the midst of both armies, eager to +fight,—Æneas, the son of Anchises, and noble Achilles. And first Æneas, +threatening, advanced, nodding with his strong casque; and before his +breast he held his impetuous shield, and shook his brazen spear. But on +the other side Pelides rushed against him like a destructive lion, +which men assembled together, a whole village, are anxious to kill. He, +however, at first despising them, proceeds; but when some one of +vigorous youths has wounded him with a dart, yawning, he collects +himself [for a spring], 649 and the foam arises round his teeth, and +his valiant soul groans within his breast, and he lashes his sides and +thighs on both sides with his tail, and rouses himself to battle; then, +grimly glaring, he is borne straight on by his strength, if he can kill +some of the men, or is himself destroyed in the first crowd. Thus did +his might and noble soul urge Achilles to go against magnanimous Æneas. +But when now, advancing, they approached each other, swift-footed, +noble Achilles first addressed the other: + +Footnote 645: (return) See Duport, p. 114. On the web woven by the +Fates for man’s life, see Virg. Ecl. iv. 46; Catullus, lxiv. 328. But +this passage of Homer seems to imply the ancient notion, that the Fates +might be delayed, but never set aside. Cf. Nemes. de Nat. Horn. i. 36; +Censorin. de die Nat. xiv.; Serv. on Æn. vii. 398. + +Footnote 646: (return) “Deos _manifesto_ in lumine vidi.”—Virg. Æn. +iv. 358. On the belief that the sight of a god was attended with +danger, cf. Liv. i. xvi. where Proculus beseeches the apparition of +Romulus “ut contra intueri fas esset.” See intpp. on Exod. xxxiii. 20; +Judges xiii. 22. + +Footnote 647: (return) I am half inclined to condemn this verse as +spurious, with Ernesti. It is wanting in MS. Lips, and ed. Rom., and +does not appear to have been read by Eustathius. + +Footnote 648: (return) Compare the “Contemplantes” of Lucan, sub +init., where the gods seek a similar place of observation. + +Footnote 649: (return) So ἀλεὶς in xv. 403. “It is also used in the +same way of a warrior, who, whilst he is preparing to rush on his +enemy, or expecting his attack, draws himself up together, or, as we +say, puts himself in an attitude of attack or defence.”—Buttm. Lexil. +p. 258. + +“Why, O Æneas, coming through so great a length of crowd, dost thou +stand against me? Does then thy soul urge thee to fight with me, hoping +that thou wilt govern the horse-breaking Trojans in the place 650 of +Priam? Yet even if thou shalt slay me, not thus will Priam place this +reward in thy hand: for he has sons; and he is himself steady, nor +inconstant. Or, if thou slayest me, have the Trojans cut off for thee +an enclosure 651 of soil surpassing others, suited to vines and the +plough, that thou mayest cultivate it? Still I hope thou wilt effect it +with difficulty. For I think I have at some other time put thee to +flight with my spear. Dost thou not remember when I impetuously drove +thee, when alone, from the oxen, with rapid feet, down the Idæan +mountains? Then indeed thou didst never turn round while flying, but +didst escape thence into Lyrnessus; but I wasted it, having attacked it +with the aid of Minerva and father Jove. The women also I led away +captives, having taken away their day of freedom; but Jove and the +other gods preserved thee. However, I do not think they will protect +thee now, as thou castest in thy mind; but I exhort thee, retiring, to +go into the crowd, nor stand against me, before thou suffer some evil; +but [it is] a fool [who] knows a thing [only] when it is done.” + +Footnote 650: (return) Άγτὶ..... βασιλείας is Gaza’s correct +paraphrase. + +Footnote 651: (return) Cf 194. + +But him Æneas answered in turn, and said: + +“Do not think, O son of Peleus, to affright me, like an infant boy, +with words; since I also well know how to utter both threats and +reproaches. But we know each other’s race, and we know our parents, +hearing the words of mortal men long since uttered; although by sight, +indeed, neither dost thou know mine, nor I thine. They say, indeed, +that thou art the offspring of renowned Peleus, and of thy mother +Thetis, the fair-haired sea-nymph; whereas I boast myself to be sprung +from magnanimous Anchises, and Venus is my mother. Of these the one or +the other shall this day lament their beloved son; for I think we shall +not return from the battle thus separated by childish words. But if +thou desirest to be taught these matters, that thou mayest well know +our race (for many men know it), cloud-compelling Jove indeed first +begat Dardanus. 652 And he built Dardania, for sacred Ilium, the city +of articulate-speaking men, was not as yet built in the plain, and they +still dwelt at the foot of many-rilled Ida. Dardanus again begat a son, +king Erichthonius, who was then the richest of mortal men; whose three +thousand mares pastured through the marsh, rejoicing in their tender +foals. Boreas, however, was enamoured of some of these when pasturing, +and having likened himself to an azure-maned steed, covered them; and +they, becoming pregnant, brought forth twelve female foals; which when +they bounded upon the fruitful earth, ran over the highest fruit of the +stalks of corn, nor did they break them: 653 but when they sported over +the broad back of the ocean, they ran along the surface of the ridge of +the hoary sea. But Erichthonius begat Tros, king of the Trojans. From +Tros again were descended three illustrious sons, Ilus, Assaracus, and +godlike Ganymede, who indeed was the handsomest of mortal men; and whom +the gods caught up into heaven, to pour out wine for Jove, 654 that, on +account of his beauty, he might be with the immortals. Ilus again begat +his renowned son Laomedon; but Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam, +Lampus, Clytius, and Hicetaon, a branch of Mars; and Assaracus Capys, +who also begat his son Anchises. But Anchises begat me, and Priam noble +Hector. Of this race and blood do I boast myself to be. But Jove +increases and diminishes valour to men, as he pleases; for he is the +most powerful of all. But come, let us no longer talk of these things, +like little boys, standing in the middle combat of the strife. For it +is possible for both to utter very many reproaches, so that a +hundred-oared galley 655 would not contain the burthen; for the +language of mortals is voluble, 656 and the discourses in it numerous +and varied: and vast is the distribution 657 of words here and there. +Whatsoever word thou mayest speak, such also wilt thou hear. But what +need is there to us of disputes and railing, that we should quarrel +with each other like women, who, being angry with a soul-destroying +strife, proceeding into the middle of the way, chide each other with +many things true and not true: for rage also suggests those things? 658 +With words, however, thou shalt not turn me, courageous, from my +valour, before thou lightest against me with thy brass; but come, +quickly let us make trial of each other with brazen spears.” + +Footnote 652: (return) On Dardanus, the eponymus of Dardania, see +Grote, vol. i. p. 387, where the whole legend of Troy is admirably +discussed. Cf. Virg. Æn. i. 292; iii. 167, where the Roman poet has +made use of Homer in tracing the pedigree of Æneas to Jove. + +Footnote 653: (return) This hyperbole has been emulated by numberless +poets. Cf. Oppian, Cyn. i. 231; Apollon. Rh. i. 183; Quintus Calab. +viii. 156; Virg. Æn. vii. 808; Claudian in 3rd Cons. Hon. i. 97. + +Footnote 654: (return) Cf. Pindar, Ol. i. 69, and Serv. on Æn. i. 32. + +Footnote 655: (return) Compare the Latin phrase, “plaustra +convitiorum,” and Duport, p. 116.] + +Footnote 656: (return) Στρεπτή—ὑyρa καί εύλύγιστος.—Eustath. + +Footnote 657: (return) Νομος, έπινέμησις έφ’ έκάτεοα.—Eustath. See +Kennedy. + +Footnote 658: (return) “_I.e._ prompts to utter all sorts of things, +true and false.”—Oxf. Tr. + +He spoke, and hurled his brazen spear against the dreadful shield, +terrible [to be seen], and the huge buckler resounded with the stroke +of the javelin. But the son of Peleus, alarmed, held the shield from +him with his strong hand, for he supposed that the long spear of +great-hearted Æneas would easily penetrate; foolish! nor did he reflect +in his mind and soul, that the glorious gifts of the gods are not easy +to be subdued by mortal men, nor to yield. Nor then did the heavy spear +of warlike Æneas penetrate the shield; but the gold stopped it, the +gift of the god. It penetrated, however, through two folds, but there +were still three; since Vulcan had drawn five folds over it, two +brazen, two inside of tin, and one golden; in which the brazen spear +was stopped. But Achilles next sent forth his long-shadowed spear, and +struck against the shield of Æneas, equal on all sides, at the outside +edge, where the thinnest brass ran round it, and the ox-hide was +thinnest upon it; but the Pelian ash broke through, and the shield was +crushed by it. But Æneas crouched, 659 and being terrified, held the +shield from him; whilst the spear [passing] over his back, stuck in the +earth eager [to go on], for it had burst through both orbs of the +mighty 660 shield. But he, having escaped the long spear, stood still, +but immoderate sadness was poured over his eyes, terrified, because the +weapon had stuck so near him. But Achilles eagerly sprang upon him, +drawing his sharp sword, and shouting dreadfully. Then Æneas seized in +his hand a stone, a great weight, which not two men could bear, such as +men now are; but he, though alone, easily wielded it. Then indeed had +Æneas smitten him, rushing on, with the stone, either upon the helmet +or the shield, which kept off grievous destruction from him; and +Pelides, in close fight, had taken away his life with the sword, had +not earth-shaking Neptune quickly perceived it, and immediately +addressed this speech to the immortal gods: + +Footnote 659: (return) See on ver. 168. + +Footnote 660: (return) Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 83. The Schol. and Hesych. +t. i. p. 296, interpret it “man-encircling.” + +“Ye gods! certainly there now is grief to me, on account of magnanimous +Æneas, 661 who will quickly descend to Hades, subdued by the son of +Peleus, foolish, being persuaded by the words of far-darting Apollo; +nor can he by any means avert 662 sad destruction from him. But why now +should this guiltless 663 man suffer evils gratuitously, on account of +sorrows due to others, for he always presents gifts agreeable to the +gods who inhabit the wide heaven? But come, let us withdraw him from +death, lest even the son of Saturn be angry, if indeed Achilles slay +this man: moreover, it is fated that he should escape, that the race of +Dardanus, whom Jove loved above all the children that were descended +from him and mortal women, may not perish without offspring, and become +extinct. For already hath the son of Saturn hated the race of Priam, +and the might of Æneas shall now rule over the Trojans, and the sons of +his sons, who may be born in after-times.” + +Footnote 661: (return) The remarks of Grote, vol. i. p. 428, sqq. on +the character and position of Æneas throughout the Iliad, deserve much +attention. + +Footnote 662: (return) “The examples of χραισμεῖν are frequent enough +in Homer to enable us safely to assert, from a comparison of them, that +it never has (at least in his writings) the more general meaning of _to +be useful, to help_, but, without an exception, the more definite sense +of _to ward off_..... by examining passages we find, that even where no +accusative is expressed, the evil to be warded off may always be +inferred from the context.”—Buttm. Lexil. p. 542. + +Footnote 663: (return) He had wished to restore Helen. See Liv. i. 1. + +But him large-eyed venerable Juno then answered: + +“O earth-shaker! do thou thyself reflect within thy mind, with respect +to Æneas, whether thou wilt withdraw him, or suffer him, being brave, +to be subdued by Achilles, the son of Peleus. For already we two, I and +Pallas Minerva, have sworn many oaths amongst all the immortals, that +we will never help to avert the evil day from the Trojans, not even +when all Troy, fired, shall burn with consuming flame, and the warlike +sons of the Greeks fire it.” + +But when earth-shaking Neptune heard this, he hastened to go through +the battle and the clash of spears; and came where were Æneas and +renowned Achilles. And immediately he shed a darkness upon the eyes of +Achilles, son of Peleus, and he drew out the ashen spear, well guarded +with brass, from the shield of magnanimous Æneas; and laid it before +the feet of Achilles, and pushed on Æneas, lifting him high up from the +ground. But Æneas leaped over many ranks of men and many of horses, +impelled by the hand of the god, and came to the rear of the troubled +fight, where the Caucones were arrayed for war. But very near him came +earth-shaking Neptune, and addressing him, spoke winged words: + +“O Æneas, which of the gods commanded thee, thus mad, to combat against +Achilles, who is at once more valiant than thou, and more dear to the +immortals? But retire whenever thou shalt be opposed to him, lest, even +contrary to fate, thou arrive at the habitation of Pluto. But when +Achilles shall have attained his death and destiny, then again, being +confident, fight among the front ranks, because no other of the Greeks +shall slay thee.” + +So saying, he left him there, when he had told him all, and immediately +afterwards dissipated the thick darkness from the eyes of Achilles, and +he then saw very clearly with his eyes; whereupon groaning, he +addressed his magnanimous soul: + +“Ye gods! certainly I behold this, a great marvel with mine eyes. The +spear indeed lies upon the ground, nor do I at all perceive the man at +whom I hurled it, desiring to kill him. Undoubtedly Æneas, too, was +dear to the immortal gods, although I supposed that he boasted thus +idly. Let him go; there will be no spirit in him hereafter to make +trial of me, who even now rejoicing, has escaped from death. But come, +having encouraged the warlike Greeks, I will make trial of the other +Trojans, going against them.” + +He spoke, and sprang into the ranks, and cheered on every man: + +“No longer now stand off from the Trojans, O noble Greeks, but on! let +man advance against man, and let him be eager to engage. Difficult is +it for me, although being valiant, to attack so many warriors, and to +fight with them all. Not even Mars, who is an immortal god, nor yet +Minerva, could charge and toil against the force of such a conflict. +Yet whatever I can do with hands, with feet, and with strength, I +declare that I will no longer be remiss, not ever so little; but I will +go right through their line, nor do I think that any Trojan will +rejoice, whoever may come near my javelin.” + +Thus he spoke, encouraging them; but illustrious Hector, upbraiding, +animated the Trojans, and said that he would go against Achilles: + +“Ye magnanimous Trojans, fear not the son of Peleus. I, too, could +fight with words even with the immortals, but with the spear it is +difficult, for they are far more powerful. Nor shall Achilles give +effect to all his words; but one part he shall fulfil, and the other +leave half imperfect. Against him will I go, even though he were like +to fire as to his hands; and to shining iron, as to his might.” + +Thus he spoke, inciting them; but the Trojans opposite quickly raised +their spears; their strength was mingled together, and a shout arose. +Then also Phœbus Apollo, standing near, addressed Hector: + +“Hector, do not at all fight in the van with Achilles, but receive him +in the crowd, and from the tumult, lest by any chance he hit thee, or +strike thee with the sword in close combat.” + +Thus he spoke, and Hector sunk back again into the thick body of men, +dismayed when he heard the voice of the god speaking. But Achilles +leaped among the Trojans, clad with courage as to his soul, shouting +dreadfully; and first slew gallant Iphition, son of Otrynteus, the +leader of many people, whom the nymph Naïs bore to Otrynteus, the +sacker of cities, under snowy Tmolus, in the rich district of Hyda. 664 +Him, eagerly rushing straight forward, noble Achilles struck with his +javelin in the middle of the head; and it was entirely split in two. He +gave a crash as he fell, and noble Achilles boasted over him: + +Footnote 664: (return) A town of Mæonia in Lydia. See Steph. Byz. s. +v. + +“O son of Otrynteus, most terrible of all men, thou liest; death is +here upon thee. Thy birth, however, is at the Gygæan lake, where is thy +paternal land, beside fishy Hyllus, and eddying Hermus.” + +Thus he spoke, boasting; but darkness covered his (Iphition’s) eyes, +but the horses of the Greeks tore him with the tires of the wheels in +the front ranks. After him Achilles smote Demoleon, son of Antenor, a +brave repeller of the fight, in the temples, through his brazen-cheeked +helmet. Nor indeed did the brazen casque resist it, but through it the +eager javelin broke the bone, and the whole brain within was defiled; +and he subdued him, ardent. Next he wounded with his spear in the back, +Hippodamas, as he was leaping down from his chariot, while flying +before him. But he breathed out his soul, and groaned, like as when a +bull, dragged round the Heliconian king, 665 bellows, as the youths +drag him; and the earth-shaker is delighted with them: so, as he +moaned, his fierce soul left his bones. But he went with his spear +against godlike Polydorus, 666 the son of Priam; but him his father did +not permit to fight, because he was the youngest among all, and dearest +to him, and surpassed all in speed. Then, indeed, through youthful +folly, exhibiting the excellence of his speed, he ran among the front +ranks till he lost his life. Him noble swift-footed Achilles smote +rushing by, in the middle of the back, where the golden rings of his +belt clasped together, and the doubled corslet met. Right through at +the navel pierced the point of the spear, and uttering a groan, he fell +upon his knees; a black cloud enveloped him, and stooping down, he +gathered his intestines in his hands. But when Hector perceived his +brother Polydorus holding his intestines in his hands, and rolled on +the earth, a darkness was immediately poured over his eyes, nor could +he any longer be employed afar off, but advanced towards Achilles, like +unto a flame, brandishing his sharp spear. On the other hand, Achilles, +as soon as he saw him, leaped up, and boasting, spoke: + +“Near is the man who has most stung my soul, who has slain my cherished +companion; no longer indeed let us dread each other through the bridges +667 of war.” + +Footnote 665: (return) Neptune was a favourite god among the Ionians +(cf. Müller, Dor. vol. i. p. 417), but derived this name from Helice, a +town in the northern coast of the Peloponnese, out of which the +principal Achæan families were driven by Tisamenus, whose tomb was +shown there. See Müller, id. p. 74. + +Footnote 666: (return) This is not the Polydorus of Virgil and +Euripides, but the son of Laothoe, daughter of Altas, king of the +Lelegans. + +Footnote 667: (return) See iv. 371. + +He spoke, and sternly regarding [him], addressed noble Hector: + +“Come nearer, that thou mayest the sooner reach the end of death.” + +But him, not daunted, crest-tossing Hector addressed: + +“O son of Peleus, do not expect to terrify me now like a little boy, at +least with words; since I myself also well know how to speak both +revilings and reproaches. I know that thou indeed art brave, and that I +am inferior to thee. But these things indeed are placed at the knees of +the gods, whether, although being inferior, I shall take away thy life, +striking thee with my spear, since my weapon also is sharp at the +point.” + +He spoke, and, brandishing, sent forth his spear; and Minerva with a +breath turned it back from glorious Achilles, having breathed very +gently; but it came back to noble Hector, and lay before his feet. But +Achilles, eager to slay him, rushed furiously on, shouting dreadfully; +but Apollo, as a god, very easily snatched him away, and covered him +with abundant haze. Thrice indeed swift-footed noble Achilles rushed on +with his brazen spear, and thrice he smote the deep haze. But when he +rushed on the fourth time, like unto a god, he, dreadfully chiding, +addressed to him winged words: + +“Dog, now again hast thou escaped death. Assuredly evil came very near +thee, but Phœbus Apollo has now again preserved thee, to whom thou art +wont to pray, when going into the clang of spears. Yet will I certainly +finish thee, meeting thee hereafter, if indeed any of the gods be an +ally to me also. At present, however, I will go after others of the +Trojans, whomsoever I can.” + +So saying, he struck Dryops with his spear in the middle of the neck, +and he fell before his feet. Him then he left, and then detained +Demuchus, son of Philetor, brave and great, wounding [him] in the knee, +with his spear, whom then striking with his great sword, he deprived of +life. But attacking both, he pushed Laogonus and Dardanus, the sons of +Bias, from their chariot to the ground, wounding one with his spear, +and striking the other in close combat with his sword. Also Tros, the +son of Alastor, who came towards him, taking him by the knees, if on +any terms he would spare him, and dismiss him alive, nor slay him, +taking pity on their equal age: fool! who knew not that he would not be +persuaded. For he was by no means a tender-minded nor gentle man, but +very ferocious. He (Tros) indeed clasped his knees with his hands, +desiring to supplicate him, but he (Achilles) wounded him in the liver +with his sword; and his liver fell out, and the black blood from it +filled his bosom, and darkness veiled his eyes, wanting life. But +standing near Mulius, he smote him with his javelin on the ear, and +immediately the brazen blade went through the other ear. Then, with his +large-hilted sword, he smote Echeclus, son of Antenor, in the centre of +the head, and the whole sword became tepid with blood; but purple Death +and violent Fate seized his eyes. Then Deucalion, where the tendons of +the elbow unite, there he pierced him through his hand with his brazen +spear; but he, weighed down as to his hand, awaited him, perceiving +death before him. But he (Achilles) smiting his neck with his sword, +knocked the head off afar with its helmet, and the marrow sprang forth +from the spine; and Deucalion lay extended on the ground. Then he +hastened to go towards Rigmus, the renowned son of Pireus, who had come +from fertile Thrace; whom he smote in the middle with his javelin, and +the brass was fixed in his stomach; and he fell from his chariot: and +Achilles wounded in the back, with his sharp javelin, Areïthoüs, the +attendant, while turning back the steeds, and threw him from the +chariot: and the horses were thrown into confusion. And as the blazing +fire burns through the deep dells of a dry mountain, and the dense +forest is consumed, and the wind agitating, turns round the flame on +all sides; thus he raged in every direction with his spear, like unto a +deity, following those that were to be slain; and the black earth +flowed with blood. As when any one yokes broad fore-headed bulls to +trample out white barley on the well-levelled floor, and it easily +becomes small beneath the feet of the bellowing oxen; so the +solid-hoofed horses, driven by magnanimous Achilles, trod down together +both corses and shields. And the whole axletree beneath was polluted +with gore, and the rings which were round the chariot seat, which the +drops from the horses’ hoofs spattered, as well as from the felloes. +But the son of Peleus was eager to bear away glory, and was polluted +with gore as to his invincible hands. + + + + +BOOK THE TWENTY-FIRST. + + +ARGUMENT. + +Having divided the Trojan army, Achilles drives one part towards the +city, and the other into the Xanthus, where he takes twelve youths +alive, in order to sacrifice them at the tomb of Patroclus. He then +slays Lycaon and Asteropæus, deriding the river-god, Xanthus, as unable +to aid his friends. The river endeavours to overwhelm him by the aid of +Simoïs, but Vulcan defends him from the danger. Single combats of the +gods then follow, but they afterwards retire to Olympus. Apollo then +leads Achilles away, assuming the form of Agenor, and the Trojans are +thus enabled to regain the city. + + +But when they at last reached the course of the fairly-flowing river, +the eddying Xanthus, which immortal Jove begat; there separating them, +he pursued some indeed through the plain towards the city, by the +[same] way that the Greeks, on the preceding day, being astounded, had +fled, when illustrious Hector raged. By that way were they poured forth +terrified; but Juno expanded a dense cloud before them, to check them: +but the other half were rolled into the deep-flowing river, with silver +eddies. But they fell in with a great noise; and the deep streams +resounded, and the banks around murmured; but they, with clamour, swam +here and there, whirled about in the eddies. 668 As when locusts, +driven by the force of fire, fly into the air, to escape to a river, +but the indefatigable fire, suddenly kindled, blazes, and they fall, +through terror into the water: thus, by Achilles, was the resounding +river of deep-eddied Xanthus filled promiscuously with horses and men. +But the Jove-sprung [hero] left his spear upon the banks, leaning +against a tamarisk; and he leaped in, like unto a god, having only his +sword, and meditated destructive deeds in his mind. And he smote on all +sides, and a shocking lamentation arose of those who were stricken by +the sword, and the water was reddened with blood. And, as when the +other fish, flying from a mighty dolphin, fill the inmost recesses of a +safe-anchoring harbour, frightened; for he totally devours whatever he +can catch; so the Trojans hid themselves in caves along the streams of +the terrible river. But he, when he was wearied as to his hands, +slaying, chose twelve youths alive out of the river, a penalty for dead +Patroclus, the son of Menœtius. These he led out [of the river], +stupified, like fawns. And he bound their hands behind them 669 with +well-cut straps, which they themselves bore upon their twisted tunics; +and gave them to his companions to conduct to the hollow ships. But he +rushed on again, desiring to slay. + +Footnote 668: (return) Virg. Æn. i. 118: “Apparent rari nantes in +gurgite vasto.” With the following description may be compared Æsch. +Ag. 670: Ὁρῶμεν ἀνθοῦν πέλαγος Αἰγαῖον νεκρῶν ἀνδρῶν Ἀχαίων ναυτικῶν τ’ +ἐρειπίων. Aristid. Panath. p. 142: Ὡς δὲ ἑώρα τὴν θάλατταν αἵματι καὶ +ῥοθίῳ ῥέουσαν, καὶ πάντα νέκρων καὶ ναυαγίων μεστά. + +Footnote 669: (return) As was customary with captives. Cf. Virg. Æn. +ii. 57, and Moll. on Longus, ii. 9. + +Then did he encounter the son of Dardanian Priam, Lycaon, escaping from +the river, whom he himself had formerly led away, taking him unwilling +from his father’s farm, having come upon him by night: but he, with the +sharp brass, was trimming a wild fig-tree of its tender branches, that +they might become the cinctures of a chariot. But upon him came noble +Achilles, an unexpected evil; and then, conveying him in his ships, he +sold him into well-inhabited Lemnos; but the son of Jason gave his +price. 670 And from thence his guest, Imbrian Eëtion, ransomed him, and +gave him many things, and sent him to noble Arisbe; whence, secretly +escaping, he reached his father’s house. Returning from Lemnos, for +eleven days he was delighted in his soul, with his friends; but on the +twelfth the deity again placed him in the hands of Achilles, who was +about to send him into the [habitation] of Hades, although not willing +to go. But when swift-footed, noble Achilles perceived him naked, +without helmet and shield, neither had he a spear, for all these, +indeed, he had thrown to the ground, for the sweat overcame him, flying +from the river, and fatigue subdued his limbs beneath; but [Achilles] +indignant, thus addressed his own great-hearted soul: + +Footnote 670: (return) _I.e._ purchase him as a slave. + +“Ο gods! surely I perceive this, a great marvel, with mine eyes. +Doubtless the magnanimous Trojans whom I have slain will rise again +from the murky darkness, as now this man has returned, escaping the +merciless day, having been sold in sacred Lemnos; nor has the depth of +the sea restrained him, which restrains many against their will. But +come now, he shall taste the point of my spear, that I may know in my +mind, and learn, whether he will in like manner return thence, or +whether the fruitful earth will detain him, which detains even the +mighty.” + +Thus he pondered, remaining still; but near him came Lycaon, in +consternation, anxious to touch his knees; for he very much wished in +his mind to escape evil death and black fate. Meanwhile noble Achilles +raised his long spear, desiring to wound him; but he ran in under it, +and, stooping, seized his knees, but the spear stuck fixed in the earth +over his back, eager to be satiated with human flesh. But he, having +grasped his knees with one hand, supplicated him, and with the other +held the sharp spear, nor did he let it go; and, supplicating, +addressed to him winged words: + +“O Achilles, embracing thy knees, I supplicate thee; but do thou +respect and pity me. I am to thee in place of a suppliant, to be +revered, O Jove-nurtured one! For with thee I first tasted the fruit of +Ceres on that day when thou tookest me in the well-cultivated field, +and didst sell 671 me, leading me away from my father and friends, to +sacred Lemnos; and I brought thee the price of a hundred oxen. But now +will I redeem myself, giving thrice as many. This is already the +twelfth morning to me since I came to Troy, having suffered much, and +now again pernicious fate has placed me in thy hands. Certainly I must +be hated by father Jove, who has again given me to thee. For my mother +Laothoë, the daughter of aged Altes, brought forth short-lived me, of +Altes, who rules over the warlike Lelegans, possessing lofty Padasus, +near the Satnio: and Priam possessed his daughter, as well as many +others; but from her we two were born, but thou wilt slay both. Him, +godlike Polydorus, thou hast subdued already among the foremost +infantry, when thou smotest him with the sharp spear, and now will evil +be to me here; for I do not think that I shall escape thy hands, since +a deity has brought me near thee. Yet another thing will I tell thee, +and do thou store it in thy mind. Do not slay me, for I am not of the +same womb with Hector, who killed thy companion, both gentle and +brave.” Thus then, indeed, the noble son of Priam addressed him, +supplicating with words; but he heard a stern reply. + +Footnote 671: (return) Hesych. έρασας είςτο πέρας τῆς θαλάσσης +διαπέρασας, έπώλησας. See Schol. on ver. 40. + +“Fool, talk not to me of ransom, nor, indeed, mention it. Before +Patroclus fulfilled the fatal day, so long to me was it more agreeable +in my mind to spare the Trojans, and many I took alive and sold. But +now there is not [one] of all the Trojans, whom the deity shall put +into my hands before Ilium, who shall escape death; but above all of +the sons of Priam. But die thou also, my friend; why weepest thou thus? +Patroclus likewise died, who was much better than thou. Seest thou not +how great I am? both fair and great; and I am from a noble sire, and a +goddess mother bore me; but Death and violent Fate will come upon thee +and me, whether [it be] morning, evening, or mid-day; 672 whenever any +one shall take away my life with a weapon, either wounding me with a +spear, or with an arrow from the string.” + +Footnote 672: (return) See Kennedy. + +Thus he spoke; but his knees and dear heart were relaxed. He let go the +spear, indeed, and sat down, stretching out both hands. But Achilles, +drawing his sharp sword, smote [him] at the clavicle, near the neck. +The two-edged sword penetrated totally, and he, prone upon the ground, +lay stretched out, but the black blood flowed out, and moistened the +earth. Then Achilles, seizing him by the foot, threw him into the +river, to be carried along, and, boasting, spoke winged words: + +“Lie there now with the fishes, 673 which, without concern, will lap +the blood of thy wound; nor shall thy mother 674 weep, placing thee +upon the funeral couch, but the eddying Scamander shall bear thee into +the wide bosom of the ocean. Some fish, bounding through the wave, will +escape to the dark ripple, 675 in order that he may devour the white +fat of Lycaon. Perish [ye Trojans], till we attain to the city of +sacred Ilium, you flying, and I slaughtering in the rear: nor shall the +wide-flowing, silver-eddying river, profit you, to which ye have +already sacrificed many bulls, and cast solid-hoofed steeds alive into +its eddies. But even thus shall ye die an evil death, until ye all +atone for the death of Patroclus, and the slaughter of the Greeks, whom +ye have killed at the swift ships, I being absent.” + +Footnote 673: (return) Cf. Virg. Æn. x. 555, sqq.; Longus, ii. 20: +Άλλὰ βορὰν [ύμᾶς] ίχθύων θήσω καταδύσας. + +Footnote 674: (return) Cf. Soph. Electr. 1138, sqq. with my note. + +Footnote 675: (return) _I.e._ the surface. + +Thus he spoke; but the River was the more enraged at heart, and +revolved in his mind how he might make noble Achilles cease from +labour, and avert destruction from the Trojans. But meanwhile the son +of Peleus, holding his long-shadowed spear, leaped upon Asteropæus, son +of Pelegon, desirous to kill him whom the wide-flowing Axius begat, and +Peribœa, eldest of the daughters of Accessamenus; for with her had the +deep-eddying river been mingled. Against him Achilles rushed; but he, +[emerging] from the river, stood opposite, holding two spears; for +Xanthus had placed courage in his mind, because he was enraged on +account of the youths slain in battle, whom Achilles had slain in the +stream, nor pitied them. But when they were now near, advancing towards +each other, him first swift-footed, noble Achilles addressed: + +“Who, and whence art thou of men, thou who darest to come against me? +Truly they are the sons of unhappy men who encounter my might.” Him +again the illustrious son of Pelegon addressed: “O magnanimous son of +Peleus, why dost thou ask my race? I am from fruitful Pæonia, being far +off, leading the long-speared Pæonian heroes; and this is now the +eleventh morning to me since I came to Troy. But my descent is from the +wide-flowing Axius, who pours the fairest flood upon the earth, he who +begat Pelegon, renowned for the spear; who, men say, begat me. But now, +O illustrious Achilles, let us fight.” + +Thus he spake, threatening: but noble Achilles raised the Pelian ash; +but the hero Asteropæus [took aim] with both spears at the same time, +676 for he was ambidexter. 677 With the one spear he struck the shield, +nor did it pierce the shield completely through; for the gold +restrained it, the gift of a god; and the other slightly wounded him +upon the elbow of the right arm; and the black blood gushed out: but +the [spear passing] over him, was fixed in the earth, longing to +satiate itself with his body. But second Achilles hurled his +straight-flying ashen spear at Asteropæus, anxiously desiring to slay +him. From him indeed he erred, and struck the lofty bank, and drove the +ashen spear up to the middle in the bank. Then the son of Peleus, +drawing his sharp sword from his thigh, eagerly leaped upon him; but he +was not able to pluck out, with his strong hand, the ashen spear of +Achilles, from the bank. Thrice, indeed, he shook it, desiring to pluck +it out, and thrice he failed in strength. And the fourth time he had +determined in his mind, bending, to snap the ashen spear of Æacides; +but Achilles first, close at hand, took away his life with the sword; +for he smote him upon the belly at the navel, and all his bowels were +poured out upon the ground, and darkness veiled him, dying, as to his +eyes. Then Achilles, leaping upon his breast, despoiled him of his +arms, and boasting, spoke: + +Footnote 676: (return) Ἁμαρτῇ is here an adverb. + +Footnote 677: (return) Symmachus, Epist. ix. 105: “Pari nitore atque +gravitate senatorias actiones et Romanæ rei monumenta limasti, ut plane +Homerica appellatione περιδέξιον, id est, æquimanum, te esse +pronunciem.” + +“Lie so: it is a difficult thing for thee, though descended from a +River, to contend with the sons of the most mighty Saturnian [Jove]. +Thou saidst thou wert of the race of a wide-flowing River, but I boast +myself to be of the race of mighty Jove. The hero ruling over many +Myrmidons begat me, Peleus, son of Æacus; but Æacus was from Jove; +wherefore Jove is more powerful than Rivers flowing into the sea, and +the race of Jove again is more powerful than that of a river. Besides, +a very great River is at hand to thee, if it can aught defend thee; but +it is not lawful to fight with Jove, the son of Saturn. With him +neither does king Acheloüs vie, nor the mighty strength of deep-flowing +Oceanus, from which flow all rivers, and every sea, and all fountains, +and deep wells; but even he dreads the bolt of the great Jove, and the +dreadful thunder, when it bellows from heaven.” + +He said, and plucked his brazen spear from the bank. But him he left +there, after he had taken away his life, lying in the sand, and the +dark water laved him. About him, indeed, the eels and fishes were +busied, eating [and] nibbling the fat around his kidneys. But he +(Achilles) hastened to go against the Pæonian equestrian warriors, who +were already turned to flight beside the eddying river, when they saw +the bravest in the violent conflict bravely subdued by the hands and +sword of the son of Peleus. Then he slew Thersilochus, Mydon, +Astypylus, Mnesus, Thrasius, Ænius, and Ophelestes. And now had swift +Achilles slain even more Pæonians, had not the deep-eddying River, +enraged, addressed him, likening itself to a man, and uttered a voice +from its deep vortex: + +“O Achilles, thou excellest, it is true, in strength, but thou doest +unworthy acts above [others], for the gods themselves always aid thee. +If indeed the son of Saturn has granted to thee to destroy all the +Trojans, at least having driven them from me, perform these arduous +enterprises along the plain. For now are my agreeable streams full of +dead bodies, nor can I any longer pour my tide into the vast sea, +choked up by the dead; whilst thou slayest unsparingly. But come, even +cease—a stupor seizes me—O chieftain of the people.” + +But him swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed: + +“These things shall be as thou desirest, O Jove-nurtured Scamander. But +I will not cease slaughtering the treaty-breaking 678 Trojans, before +that I enclose them in the city, and make trial of Hector, face to +face, whether he shall slay me, or I him.” + +Footnote 678: (return) Although this meaning of ύπερφίαλος is well +suited to this passage, yet Buttmann, Lexil. p. 616, § 6, is against +any such particular explanation of the word. See his whole +dissertation. + +Thus speaking, he rushed upon the Trojans like unto a god; and the +deep-eddying River then addressed Apollo: + +“Alas! O god of the silver bow, child of Jove, thou hast not observed +the counsels of Jove, who very much enjoined thee to stand by and aid +the Trojans, till the late setting evening 679 sun should come, and +overshadow the fruitful earth.” + +Footnote 679: (return) Δείελος has been shown by Buttmann to be really +the _afternoon_; but he observes, p. 223, that in the present passage, +“it is not the Attic δείλη ὀψία, with which it has been compared, but +by the force of δύων, the actual sunset of evening. The ὀψέ is +therefore, strictly speaking, redundant, and appears to be used with +reference only to the time past, something in this way: ‘Thou shouldst +assist the Trojans until the sun sinks late in the west.’” + +He spoke, and spear-renowned Achilles leaped into the midst, rushing +down from the bank. But he (the River) rushed on, raging with a swoln +flood, and, turbid, excited all his waves. And it pushed along the +numerous corpses, which were in him 680 in abundance, whom Achilles had +slain. These he cast out, roaring like a bull, upon the shore; but the +living he preserved in his fair streams, concealing them among his +mighty deep gulfs. And terrible around Achilles stood the disturbed +wave, and the stream, falling upon his shield, oppressed him, nor could +he stand steady on his feet. But he seized with his hands a thriving, +large elm; and it, falling from its roots, dislodged the whole bank, +and interrupted the beautiful streams with its thick branches, and +bridged over the river itself, 681 falling completely in. Then leaping +up from the gulf, he hastened to fly over the plain on his rapid feet, +terrified. Nor yet did the mighty god desist, but rushed after him, +blackening on the surface, that he might make noble Achilles cease from +toil, and avert destruction from the Trojans. But the son of Peleus +leaped back as far as is the cast of a spear, having the impetuosity of +a dark eagle, a hunter, which is at once the strongest and the swiftest +of birds. Like unto it he rushed, but the brass clanked dreadfully upon +his breast; but he, inclining obliquely, fled from it, and it, flowing +from behind, followed with a mighty noise. As when a ditch-worker leads +a stream of water from a black-flowing fountain through plantations and +gardens, holding a spade in his hands, and throwing out the +obstructions from the channel; all the pebbles beneath are agitated as +it flows along, and, rapidly descending, it murmurs down a sloping +declivity, and outstrips even him who directs it: so the water of the +river always overtook Achilles, though being nimble; for the gods are +more powerful than mortals. As often as swift-footed, noble Achilles +attempted to oppose it, and to know whether all the immortals who +possess the wide heaven put him to flight, so often did a great billow +of the river, flowing from Jove, lave his shoulders from above; whilst +he leaped up with his feet, sad in mind, and the rapid stream subdued +his knees under him, and withdrew the sand from beneath his feet. But +Pelides groaned, looking toward the wide heaven: + +Footnote 680: (return) _I.e._ in the river. One translator absurdly +renders it “through him,” _i.e._ through Achilles. + +Footnote 681: (return) “The circumstance of a fallen tree, which is by +Homer described as reaching from one of its banks to the other, affords +a very just idea of the breadth of the Scamander at the season when we +saw it.”—Wood on Homer, p. 328. + +“O father Jove, how does none of the gods undertake to save me, +miserable, from the river! Hereafter, indeed, I would suffer anything. +682 But no other of the heavenly inhabitants is so culpable to me as my +mother, who soothed me with falsehoods, and said that I should perish +by the fleet arrows of Apollo, under the wall of the armed Trojans. +Would that Hector had slain me, who here was nurtured the bravest; then +a brave man would he have slain, and have despoiled a brave man. But +now it is decreed that I be destroyed by an inglorious death, +overwhelmed in a mighty river, like a swine-herd’s boy, whom, as he is +fording it, the torrent overwhelms in wintry weather.” + +Footnote 682: (return) _I.e._ grant that I may but escape a +disgraceful death by drowning, and I care not how I perish afterwards. +The Scholiast compares the prayer of Ajax in p. 647: Ἐν δὲ φάει καὶ +ὄλεσσον. Cf. Æn, i. 100, sqq. Æsch. Choeph 340; Eur. Andr. 1184. + +Thus he spoke; but Neptune and Minerva, very quickly advancing, stood +near him (but in body they had likened themselves to men), and, taking +his hand in their hands, strengthened him with words. But to them +earth-shaking Neptune began discourse: + +“O son of Peleus, neither now greatly fear, nor yet be at all dismayed; +so great allies from among the gods are we to thee, Jove approving it, +I and Pallas Minerva, so that it is not decreed that thou shouldst be +overcome by a river. It, indeed, shall soon cease, and thou thyself +shalt see it. But let us prudently suggest, if thou be obedient, not to +stop thy hands from equally destructive war, before thou shalt have +enclosed the Trojan army within the renowned walls of Troy, whoever, +indeed, can escape: but do thou, having taken away the life of Hector, +return again to the ships; for we grant to thee to bear away glory.” + +They indeed having thus spoken, departed to the immortals. But he +proceeded towards the plain (for the command of the gods strongly +impelled him), and it was all filled with the overflowed water. Much +beautiful armour and corpses of youths slain in battle, floated along; +but his knees bounded up against the course of it rushing straight +forward; for Minerva had put great strength into him. Nor did Scamander +remit his strength, but was the more enraged with the son of Peleus. +And he swelled the wave of the stream, and, shouting, animated Simoïs: + +“O dear brother, let us both, at least, restrain the force of the man, +since he will quickly destroy the great city of king Priam, for the +Trojans resist him not in battle. But aid me very quickly, and fill thy +streams of water from thy fountains, and rouse all thy rivulets, raise +a great wave, and stir up a mighty confusion of stems and stones, that +we may restrain this furious man, who now already is victorious, and is +bent on deeds equal to the gods. For I think that neither his strength +will defend him, nor his beauty at all, nor those beautiful arms, which +shall lie everywhere in the very bottom of my gulf, covered with mud. +Himself also will I involve in sand, pouring vast abundant silt around +him; nor shall the Greeks know where to gather his bones, so much slime +will I spread over him. And there forthwith shall be 683 his tomb, nor +shall there be any want to him of entombing, when the Greeks perform +his obsequies.” + +Footnote 683: (return) Observe the force of τετεύξεται. + +He spoke, and raging aloft, turbid, he rushed upon Achilles, murmuring +with foam, with blood, and with dead bodies. Immediately the purple +water of the Jove-descended river being raised up, stood, and seized +the son of Peleus. But Juno cried aloud, fearing for Achilles, lest the +mighty deep-eddying river should sweep him away; and immediately +addressed Vulcan, her beloved son: + +“Arise, Vulcan, my son; for we supposed that eddying Xanthus was +equally matched in battle against thee; but give aid with all haste, +and exhibit thy abundant flame. But I will go to excite a severe storm +of Zephyrus, and rapid Notus from the sea, which bearing a destructive +conflagration, may consume the heads and armour of the Trojans. Do +thou, therefore, burn the trees upon the banks of Xanthus, and hurl at +himself with fire, nor let him at all avert thee by kind words or +threats: neither do thou previously restrain thy might; but when I, +shouting, shall give the signal, then restrain thy indefatigable fire.” + +Thus she spoke; but Vulcan darted forth his fierce-burning fire. First, +indeed, he kindled a fire in the plain, and burned many dead bodies, +which were in abundance, over it, whom Achilles had slain; so that the +whole plain was dried up, and the clear water restrained. And as when +an autumnal north wind immediately dries a newly-watered garden, and +gratifies him whoever cultivates it, so was the whole plain dried, and +it consumed the dead; whereupon he turned his all-resplendent flame +against the river. The elms were burned up, and the willows and +tamarisks; the lotus was consumed, and the rushes and reeds, which grew +in great abundance round the beautiful streams of the river. Harassed +were the eels and the fishes, which through the whirlpools, [and] which +through the fair streams dived here and there, exhausted by the breath +of the various artificer Vulcan. The might of the river was burnt up, +and he spake, and addressed him: + +“None of the gods, O Vulcan, can oppose thee on equal terms, nor can I +contend with thee, thus burning with fire. Cease from combat, and let +noble Achilles instantly expel the Trojans from their city; what have I +to do with contest and assistance?” + +He spoke, scorched; and his fair streams boiled up. As a caldron +pressed by much fire, glows, bubbling up within on all sides, while +melting the fat of a delicately-fed sow, whilst the dry wood lies +beneath it; so were his fair streams dried up with fire, and the water +boiled; nor could he flow on, but was restrained, and the vapour +[raised] by the might of crafty Vulcan harassed him. At length, +supplicating much, he addressed to Juno winged words: + +“O Juno, why does thy son press upon my stream, to annoy [me] beyond +others? nor truly am I so much to blame as all the others, as many as +are assistants to the Trojans, But I will, however, desist, if thou +biddest it; and let him also cease; and I moreover will swear this, +that I never will avert the evil day from the Trojans, not even when +all burning Troy shall be consumed with destructive fire, and the +warlike sons of the Greeks shall burn it.” + +But when the white-armed goddess Juno heard this, she straightway +addressed her beloved son Vulcan: “Vulcan, my illustrious son, abstain; +for it is not fitting thus to persecute an immortal god for the sake of +mortals.” + +Thus she spoke; and Vulcan extinguished his glowing fire, and the +refluent water immediately lowered its fair streams. But when the might +of Xanthus was subdued, then indeed they rested; for Juno restrained +herself, though enraged. + +Among the other gods, however, grievous, troublesome contention fell +out, and the inclination in their minds was borne in opposite +directions. They engaged with a great tumult, and the wide earth +re-echoed, and the mighty heaven resounded around. And Jove heard it, +sitting upon Olympus, and his heart laughed with joy, when he beheld +the gods engaging in contest. Then they did not long stand apart; for +shield-piercing Mars began, and rushed first against Minerva, holding +his brazen spear, and uttered an opprobrious speech: + +“Why thus, O most impudent, having boundless audacity, dost thou join +the gods in battle? Has thy great soul incited thee? Dost thou not +remember when thou didst urge Diomede, the son of Tydeus, to strike me? +And taking the spear thyself, thou didst direct it right against me, +and didst lacerate my fair flesh. Now, therefore, I think that I will +chastise thee, for all that thou hast done against me.” + +So saying, he struck [her] on the fringed ægis, horrible, which not +even the thunderbolt of Jove will subdue; on it gore-tainted Mars smote +her with the long spear. But she, retiring, seized in her stout hand a +stone lying in the plain, black, rugged, and great, which men of former +days had set to be the boundary of a field. 684 With this she struck +fierce Mars upon the neck, and relaxed his knees. Seven acres he +covered, falling; as to his hair he was defiled with dust; and his +armour rang round him. But Pallas Minerva laughed, and, boasting over +him, addressed to him winged words: + +Footnote 684: (return) The student will find some rude representations +of these boundary-stones at page 212, sqq. of Van Goes’ edition of the +Rei Agrimensoria scriptores. + +“Fool, hast thou not yet perceived how much I boast myself to be +superior, that thou opposest thy strength to me? Thus indeed dost thou +expiate the Erinnys of thy mother, who designs mischiefs against thee, +enraged because thou hast deserted the Greeks, and dost aid the +treaty-breaking Trojans.” + +Thus having spoken, she turned back her bright eyes. But Venus, the +daughter of Jove, taking him by the hand, led him away, groaning very +frequently; but he with difficulty collected his spirit. But when the +white-armed goddess Juno perceived him, immediately to Minerva she +addressed winged words: + +“Alas! O child of aegis-bearing Jove, invincible, see how again she, +most impudent, leads man-slaughtering Mars through the tumult, from the +glowing battle. But follow.” + +Thus she spoke; but Minerva rushed after, and rejoiced in her mind; and +springing upon her, smote her with her stout hand on the breast, and +dissolved her knees and dear heart. Then both of them lay upon the +fruitful earth; but she, boasting over them, spoke winged words: + +“Would that all, as many as are allies to the Trojans, when they fight +against the armed Greeks, were so bold and daring, as Venus came an +assistant to Mars, to oppose my strength; then had we long since ceased +from battle, having overthrown the well-built city of Ilium.” + +Thus she spoke; but the white-armed goddess Juno smiled. And the +earth-shaking king addressed Apollo: + +“Phoebus, why do we two stand apart? Nor is it becoming, since the +others have begun. This would be disgraceful, if we return without +fight to Olympus, and to the brazen-floored mansion of Jove. Commence, +for thou art younger by birth; for it would not be proper for me, since +I am elder, and know more things. Fool, since thou possessest a +senseless heart; nor dost at all remember those things, how many evils +we suffered round Ilium, when we alone of the gods, coming from Jove to +haughty Laomedon, laboured for a year for a stipulated hire, and he, +commanding, gave orders? I indeed built a city and wall for the +Trojans, extensive and very beautiful, that the city might be +impregnable; whilst thou, O Phoebus, didst feed, his stamping-footed, +curved-horned oxen, among the lawns of many-valed, woody Ida. 685 But +when now the jocund Hours had brought round the period of payment, then +did violent Laomedon forcibly defraud us both of all reward, and having +threatened, dismissed us. And beside, 686 he threatened that he would +bind our feet and hands from above, and sell us into distant islands; +and affirmed that he would cut off the ears of both with the brass: but +we immediately returned back with indignant mind, enraged on account of +the rewards which, having promised, he did not make good. Is it for +this thou dost now gratify the people? Why dost thou not strive along +with us, that the treaty-breaking Trojans may basely perish from the +root, with their children and modest 687 wives?” + +Footnote 685: (return) On this slavery of Apollo, see my note, p. 43, +n. 2. Longus, Past. iv. 10: Εῖποτε Ἀπόλλων Λαομέδοντι θητεύων +ἐβούκολησε, τοιόσδε ἦν, οἷος τότε ἐφάνθη Δάφνις. + +Footnote 686: (return) Σὺν μὲν. I almost prefer σοὶ μὲν, with other +MSS. and Clarke. + +Footnote 687: (return) Perhaps intended as a covert sneer at Helen. + +But him the far-darting king, Apollo, in turn addressed: + +“O Neptune, thou wouldst not say that I am prudent, if I should now +contend with thee, for the sake of miserable mortals, who, like the +leaves, are at one time very blooming, feeding on the fruit of the soil +and at another again, perish without life. Rather let us cease from +combat as soon as possible; and let them decide the matter themselves.” + +Thus having spoken, he turned himself back; for he was afraid to come +to strife of hands with his uncle. But him his sister, rustic Diana, +the mistress of wild beasts, harshly rebuked, and uttered this +upbraiding speech: + +“Fliest thou, Far-darter? and hast thou yielded the whole victory to +Neptune? and dost thou give easy glory to him? O Fool, why in vain dost +thou hold an useless bow? No longer now shall I hear thee boasting in +the halls of our sire, as formerly amongst the immortal gods, that thou +wouldst fight in opposition to Neptune.” + +Thus she spoke; but her the far-darting Apollo by no means addressed. +But the venerable spouse of Jove, enraged, rebuked [her] who rejoices +in arrows, with reproaching words: + +“How darest thou now, fearless wretch, stand against me? A difficult +match am I for thee to be opposed to my strength, although thou art a +bow-bearer; for Jove has made thee a lioness among women, and suffered +thee to kill whatever woman thou wilt. Certainly it is better to slay +wild beasts among the mountains, or rustic stags, than to fight bravely +with thy betters. But if thou desirest to have a knowledge of battle, +come on, that thou mayest well know how much the better I am; since +thou opposest strength to me.” + +She spoke, and with her left hand seized both her (Diana’s) hands at +the wrist, and with her right plucked the bow 688 from her shoulders. +Smiling, she beat her about the ears with it, while she writhed +herself; and the fleet arrows fell out [of her quiver, as she moved]. +Then the goddess fled, weeping, like a dove which flies from a hawk to +a hollow rock, her hiding-place, (for neither was it fated that she +should be taken by it;) so she fled, weeping, and left her arrows +there. + +Footnote 688: (return) I have followed Kennedy, who says: “The +preferable meaning of τόξα is _arcus_. This Juno employs as an +instrument of chastisement, to avoid the infliction of which, her +antagonist turns from side to side, and whilst thus shifting her +position lets fall her arrows, ὀϊστοί, ver. 492.” Others by τόξα +understood both bow and arrows. + +But the messenger [Mercury], the slayer of Argos, addressed Latona: + +“O Latona, I will by no means fight with thee; for difficult indeed +would it be to combat with the wives of cloud-compelling Jove; but +rather, very forward among the immortal gods, boast that thou hast +conquered me by violent force.” + +Thus indeed he spoke; but Latona collected together the bent bow and +the arrows 689 which had fallen here and there amid the whirl of dust. +She, having taken the arrows, followed her daughter. But the daughter +had arrived at Olympus, and at the brazen-floored palace of Jove, and +had sat down at the knees of her father, weeping, whilst her ambrosial +robe trembled around; and her the Saturnian father drew towards him, +and, sweetly smiling, interrogated her: + +“Which now of the heavenly inhabitants, my dear child, has rashly done +such things to thee, as if having done some evil openly?” + +But him the fair-crowned mistress of the chase 690 addressed in turn: +“Thy spouse, the white-armed Juno, has injured me, O father, from whom +contention and strife await 691 the immortals.” + +Footnote 689: (return) Τόξα here means both bow and arrows. + +Footnote 690: (return) A more literal version would be, “the fair +crowned mistress of the cry,” i.e. the hunting cry. + +Footnote 691: (return) Έφῆπται, “immitti solet.”—Heyne. See D’Orville +on Chariton, vii. 5, p. 582, ed. Lips. + +Thus they indeed spoke such things with one another. But Phoebus Apollo +came to sacred Ilium; for the wall of the well-built city was a care to +him, lest the Greeks, contrary to fate, should overthrow it that day. +The other ever-existing gods, however, repaired to Olympus, some indeed +indignant, but others greatly boasting. And they sat down beside their +father, the collector of dark clouds: but Achilles slew at once the +Trojans themselves, and their solid-hoofed steeds. And as when a smoke, +ascending from a burning city, reaches the wide heaven, but the wrath +of the gods has excited it; it creates toil to all, and sends griefs +upon many; so did Achilles cause toil and griefs to the Trojans. + +Meanwhile aged Priam stood upon a lofty tower, and observed huge +Achilles: but by him the routed Trojans were easily thrown into +confusion, nor was there any might in them. Then groaning, he descended +from the tower to the ground, in order to direct the illustrious guards +at the gates along the wall: + +“Hold the gates open in your hands until the people, flying, come into +the city, for Achilles is at hand routing them. Now I think that +destructive deeds will be. But, as soon as they revive, hemmed in +within the wall, put to again the well-fitted doors, for I tremble lest +this destructive man rush within the wall.” + +Thus he spoke; but they opened the gates and pushed back the bolts; and +they being opened, afforded safety. But Apollo leaped out to meet them, +that he might avert destruction from the Trojans. Then they, parched +with thirst, and covered with dust, fled from the plain directly +towards the city and the lofty wall; but he furiously pursued with his +spear; for fierce madness constantly possessed his heart, and he burned +to bear away glory. Then indeed the sons of the Greeks had taken +lofty-gated Troy, had not Phoebus Apollo excited noble Agenor, a hero, +the son of Antenor, both blameless and brave. And into his heart he +threw courage, and he himself stood beside him, leaning against a +beech-tree, that he might avert the heavy hands of death; but he was +overshadowed by much darkness. But he, when he perceived Achilles, the +destroyer of cities, stood still, and much his heart was darkened 692 +as he remained; and sighing, he thus addressed his own great-hearted +soul: + +“Alas, me! if indeed I fly from terrible Achilles, in the way by which +the others, routed, are flying, even thus will he seize me, and will +slay me unwarlike; but if I suffer these to be thrown into confusion by +Achilles, the son of Peleus, and fly in another direction on my feet +from the wall through the Ilian plain, until I reach the lawns of Ida, +and enter its thickets; then indeed, having bathed myself at evening in +the river, I may return back to Troy, cleansed from sweat. But why does +my mind commune these things? Truly he may observe me departing from +the city towards the plain, and, quickly pursuing, may overtake me on +his swift feet; then will it no longer be possible to escape Death and +Fate; for he is very powerful beyond all men. But if I go against him +in front of the city—for his body also is without doubt vulnerable by +the sharp brass, there is one soul in it, and men say that he is +mortal; although Jove, the son of Saturn, affords him glory.” + +So saying, gathering himself up, 693 he awaited Achilles; and his +valiant heart within him burned to combat and to fight. As a panther +advances from a deep thicket against a huntsman, 694 nor is aught +troubled in mind, nor put to flight, although it hears the yelling; and +although anticipating it, he may have wounded, or stricken it, +nevertheless, although pierced with a spear, it desists not from the +combat, till either it be engaged in close fight, or be subdued. Thus +noble Agenor, the son of renowned Antenor, would not fly till he had +made trial of Achilles; but, on the contrary, held before him his +shield, equal on all sides, and took aim at him with his spear, and +shouted aloud: + +Footnote 692: (return) Cf. Donalson on Soph. Antig. 20, where there is +a similar use of καλχαίνειν. The present metaphor is taken from the +troubled and darkling aspect of the sea before a storm. + +Footnote 693: (return) Cf. xvi. 403, 714. + +Footnote 694: (return) This pleonasm of ἀνὴρ is very common; ii. 474, +ἄνδρες αἴπολιι; iv. 187, ἄνδρες χαλκῆες. Cf. iii. 170; xii. 41. So +ἄνδρες πολῖται, Phlegon. Trall, p. 26. Ἄνδρες δημόται, Aristoph. Plut. +254. Ἀνὴρ βασιλεὺς, Palæphatus, 39. Ἀνὴρ οἰκονόμος, Manetho, iv. 610. + +“Certainly now thou art great in hopes in thy mind, O illustrious +Achilles, that thou wilt this day devastate the city of the magnanimous +Trojans. Fool! certainly many griefs will be effected over it, for in +it we are numerous and valiant men, who will defend Ilium for our +beloved parents, our wives, and our children. But thou shalt here +fulfil thy destiny, although being so terrible, and a daring warrior.” + +He spoke, and hurled the sharp javelin from his heavy hand, and struck +him in the shin below the knee, nor missed: but the greave of +newly-wrought tin around [it] horribly resounded; and the brazen weapon +recoiled from it stricken, nor penetrated: for the gifts of the god +prevented it. Then the son of Peleus next attacked godlike Agenor; nor +did Apollo permit him to obtain glory; but snatched him away, and +covered him with much haze; and sent him to return peacefully from the +battle. + +But he by a stratagem averted the son of Peleus from the people; for +the Far-darter, having likened himself in every respect to Agenor, +stood before his feet; and he hastened to pursue him with his feet. +Whilst he was pursuing him, running before at a small interval, over +the corn-bearing plain, turned towards the deep-eddying river +Scamander; (for Apollo beguiled him by deceit, so that he always +expected to overtake him on his feet;) meanwhile the other Trojans +being routed, came delighted in a crowd to the city; and the city was +full of them shut in. Nor did they any longer dare to wait for each +other without the city and the wall, and to inquire who had escaped, +and who had fallen in the battle; but gladly they were poured into the +city, whomsoever of them the feet and knees preserved. + + + + +BOOK THE TWENTY-SECOND. + + +ARGUMENT. + +Hector persists in remaining outside the walls, despite the entreaties +of his father. He flies thrice round Troy, fights, and is slain by +Achilles, who drags his body to the fleet at the wheels of his chariot. +The lamentations of his wife and parents follow. + + +Thus they, indeed, driven by fright through the city, like fawns, were +refreshing themselves from sweat, and were drinking and allaying their +thirst, leaning against the handsome battlements; but the Greeks were +coming near the wall, resting their shields upon their shoulders. But +Hector his destructive fate fettered to remain there, before Ilium and +the Scæan gates. And Phœbus Apollo thus addressed the son of Peleus: + +“Why, O son of Peleus, dost thou pursue me, an immortal god, with swift +feet, thyself being a mortal? Nor yet hast thou at all discovered that +I am a god; but thou incessantly ragest. For certainly the labour of +the Trojans is not now a care to thee, whom thou hast routed, and who +are now enclosed within their city, while thou art turned aside hither. +Neither canst thou slay me, since I am not mortal.” + +But him swift-footed Achilles, greatly indignant, 695 addressed: + +Footnote 695: (return) Milton, P.L. ii. 708:— + + —“On th’ other side + Incensed with indignation Satan stood + Unterrified, and like a comet burn’d, + That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge + In th’ arctic sky, and from his horrid hair + Shakes pestilence and war.” + + + +“Thou hast injured me, O Far-darter, most destructive of all gods, +having now turned me away hither from the wall; certainly many had now +seized the earth with their teeth, before they had arrived at Ilium. +But now hast thou deprived me of great glory, and hast preserved them +easily, for thou didst not at all dread vengeance after. Certainly I +would punish thee, if the power at least were mine.” + +Thus saying, he went towards the city greatly elate, hastening like a +steed which bears away the prize, with his chariot, which striving +hard, runs swiftly over the plain. So Achilles briskly moved his feet +and his knees. + +But him aged Priam first beheld with his eyes, rushing over the plain, +all shining like a star which rises in autumn; and its resplendent rays +shine among many stars in the depth of the night, which by name they +call the dog of Orion. Very bright indeed is this, but it is a baleful +sign, and brings violent heat upon miserable mortals. So shone the +brass round the breast of him running. But the old man groaned, and +smote his head with his hands, raising them on high, 696 and, groaning, +he cried out greatly, supplicating his dear son. But he stood before +the Scæan gates, insatiably eager to fight with Achilles; but the old +man piteously addressed him, stretching out his hands: + +Footnote 696: (return) On this gesture of grief, see Gorius, Monum. +Columb. p. 12. + +“O Hector, do not, my beloved son, await this man alone, without +others; lest that thou shouldst speedily draw on fate, subdued by the +son of Peleus; since he is much more powerful. Cruel! would that he +were [only] as dear to the gods as he is to me; quickly then would the +dogs and vultures devour him lying low; surely sad grief would then +depart from my heart. He who has made me deprived of many and brave +sons, slaying, and selling them into far-distant islands. For even now +the Trojans being shut up in the city, I cannot see my two sons, Lycaon +and Polydorus, whom Laothoë bore to me, queen among women. But if +indeed they live at the camp, surely we will afterwards redeem them +with brass and with gold; for it is within; for aged Altes, renowned by +fame, gave many things to his daughter. But if they are already dead, +and in the mansions of Hades, grief will be to my soul, and to their +mother, we who gave them birth. But to the other people the grief will +be shorter, if thou shouldst not die, subdued by Achilles. But come +inside the wall, O my son, that thou mayest save the Trojan men and +women, nor afford great glory to the son of Peleus, and thou thyself be +deprived of thy dear life. Moreover, pity me, wretched, yet still +preserving my senses, 697 unhappy, whom the Saturnian sire will destroy +by grievous fate, upon the threshold of old age, having seen many +evils, 698 my sons slain, my daughters dragged captives, their chambers +plundered, and my infant children dashed upon the earth in dire +hostility, and my daughters-in-law torn away by the pernicious hands of +the Greeks. And myself perhaps the last—the raw-devouring dogs, whom I +have nourished in my palaces, the attendants of my table, the guards of +my portals, will tear at the entrance of the gates, 699 after some one, +having stricken or wounded me with the sharp brass, shall take away my +soul from my limbs; and who, drinking my blood, will lie in the porch, +infuriated in mind. To a young man, indeed, slain in battle, lacerated +with the sharp brass, it is altogether becoming to lie, for all things +are honourable to him dead, whatever may appear; but when dogs +dishonour the grey head, the hoary beard, and privy members of an old +man slain, that is indeed most pitiable among wretched mortals.” + +Footnote 697: (return) _I.e._ alive. Cf. xxiii. + +Footnote 698: (return) On the proverbial woes of Priam, cf. Aristotle +Eth. i. 9, 10; and Ennius, fragm. Andromach. p. 236—9, with the notes +of Columna, ed. Hessel. + +Footnote 699: (return) Cf. Virg. Æn. ii. 550, sqq., who has imitated +this passage in his description of the death of Priam. + +The old man spoke, and tore out the hoary locks with his hands, +plucking them from his head; nor did he persuade the mind of Hector. +But his mother, then on the other side, wailing, shed tears, laying +bare her bosom, whilst with the other hand she laid forth her breast; +and shedding tears, addressed to him winged words: “Ο Hector, my son, +reverence these things, and pity me myself. If ever I afforded thee the +grief-lulling breast, remember these things, O dear son; and being +within the wall, repel [this] hostile man; nor stand a foremost +adversary to him. Wretched one! for if he shall slay thee, neither +shall I mourn thee on the couch, my dear offspring, whom I myself +brought forth, nor will thy rich-dowered wife; but far away from us +both, the swift dogs will devour thee at the ships of the Greeks.” + +Thus weeping, they twain addressed their dear son, supplicating him +much; nor did they persuade the mind of Hector; but he awaited huge +Achilles, coming near. And as a fierce serpent at its den, fed on evil +poisons, awaits 700 a man, but direful rage enters it, and it glares +horribly, coiling itself around its den; so Hector, possessing +inextinguishable courage, retired not, leaning his splendid shield +against a projecting tower; but, indignant, he thus addressed his own +great-hearted soul: 701 + +“Ah me, if indeed I enter the gates and the wall, Polydamas will first +cast reproach upon me, 702 he who advised me to lead the Trojans +towards the city in this disastrous night, when noble Achilles arose to +battle. But I did not obey; certainly it would have been much better. +And now, since by my injurious obstinacy I have destroyed the people, I +fear the Trojan men, and the long-robed Trojan women, lest some one +inferior to me should say, ‘Hector, relying on his own strength, has +destroyed the people.’ Thus will they say; but it would have been far +better for me, slaying Achilles in the encounter, 703 to return, or +gloriously to be slain by him for the city. But if now I shall lay down +my bossed shield and stout helmet, and, resting my spear against the +wall, I myself going, shall come before renowned Achilles, and promise +that we will give to the Atrides to lead away Helen, and all the +numerous possessions along with her, whatever Paris brought to Troy in +his hollow barks, and who was the origin of the contention, and at the +same time that we will divide others, as many as this city contains, +among the Greeks,—but again I should exact an oath from the elders of +the Trojans, 704 that they would conceal nothing, but divide all things +into two portions, whatever treasure this delightful city contains +within it. Yet why does my soul discuss such things? [I dread] lest I, +going, should reach him, but he pity me not, nor at all respect me, but +slay me, being thus naked, as a woman, after I have put off my armour. +Nor, indeed, is it now allowed to converse with him from an oak, or +from a rock, as a virgin and a youth; a virgin and youth converse with +one another. But it is better to engage him in strife; that as soon as +possible we may know to which, indeed, the Olympian [Jove] will give +glory.” + +Footnote 700: (return) Hesych. χειά’ ή κατάδυσις των οφεων και +δρακόντων. + +Footnote 701: (return) Milton, P.L. νi. III:— + + “Abdiel that sight endured not, where he stood + Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds, + And thus his own undaunted heart explores.” + + +Footnote 702: (return) Cf. Aristot. Eth. iii. 8, and Casaub. on Pers. +Sat. i. 4. “Ne mihi Polydamas, et Troiades Labeonem Prætulerint.” + +Footnote 703: (return) Αντην. + +Footnote 704: (return) This is perhaps the easiest way of expressing +γερούσιον öορκον. It means an oath to be solemnly kept, an oath to +which the elders might with propriety pledge themselves. + +Thus he pondered, remaining; but near him came Achilles, like unto the +helmet-shaking warrior, Mars, brandishing upon his right shoulder the +dreadful Pelian ash; but the brass shone around, like unto the +splendour either of a blazing fire, or of the rising sun. Then, as +tremor seized Hector, he perceived him, nor could he remain there any +longer, but he left the gates behind him, and fled affrighted; but the +son of Peleus rushed on, trusting to his swift feet. As a falcon in the +mountains, the swiftest of birds, easily dashes after a timid pigeon; +she, indeed, flies away obliquely; but he, close at hand, shrilly +screaming, frequently assails, and his spirit orders him to seize her: +thus, eager, he flew right on; but Hector fled in terror under the wall +of the Trojans, and moved his fleet limbs. Then they rushed by the +prospect-ground and the wind-waving fig-tree, always under the wall +along the public way, and reached the two fair-flowing springs, where +the two springs of the eddying Scamander rise. The one, indeed, flows +with tepid water, and a steam arises from it around, as of burning +fire; whilst the other flows forth in the summer time, like unto hail, +or cold snow, or ice from water. There, at them, are the wide, handsome +stone basins, where the wives and fair daughters of the Trojans used to +wash their splendid garments formerly in time of peace, before the sons +of the Greeks arrived. In this direction they ran past [the one] +flying, but the other pursuing from behind. A brave man, indeed, fled +before, but a much braver swiftly pursued him; since they did not seek +to obtain a victim or a bull’s hide, such as are the rewards of men for +speed, but they ran for the life of horse-breaking Hector. And as when +prize-winning 705 solid-hoofed steeds ran very swiftly round the +course, and a great reward is proposed, either a tripod, or a woman [in +honour] of a deceased hero; so they thrice made the circuit of the city +of Priam with their swift feet: and all the gods beheld. Then to them +the father of men and gods commenced an address: + +Footnote 705: (return) _I.e._ race horses. + +“Alas! certainly I behold with mine eyes a beloved hero pursued round +the wall; and my heart is grieved on account of Hector, who has +sacrificed many thighs of oxen to me, upon the tops of many-valed Ida, +and at other times again in the highest [places of] the city; but now, +indeed, noble Achilles pursues him, on swift feet, around the city of +Priam. But come, deliberate, O ye gods, and consider, whether we shall +preserve him from death, or shall subdue him now, being brave [at the +hands of] Achilles, the son of Peleus.” + +But him the blue-eyed goddess Minerva then addressed: + +“O father, hurler of the white thunder, [collector] of dark clouds, +what a word hast thou spoken! Dost thou wish to liberate from sad death +a man, being mortal, long ago destined to fate? Do it: but all we, the +other gods, will not assent to thee.” + +Her, then, the cloud-compelling Jupiter, answering, addressed: “Take +courage, Tritonia, beloved child: I by no means speak with serious +mind, but I wish to be mild to thee. Do as is the inclination, nor +delay at all.” + +Thus speaking, he incited Minerva, already prepared; and, springing +forth, she descended down from the heights of Olympus. + +But swift Achilles pursued Hector, incessantly pressing upon him. And +as when a dog pursues the fawn of a deer in the mountains, having +roused it from its lair, through both glens and thickets; and, although +panic-stricken, it crouches down beneath a brake; yet tracking it, he +runs continually on until he finds it; so Hector eluded not the +swift-footed son of Peleus. As often as he would rush against the +Dardanian gates, towards under the well-built towers, if perchance they +might aid him with missile weapons from above, so often, previously +anticipating him, he turned him away towards the plain; whilst he +himself always flew on the side of the city. And as in a dream one +cannot pursue a fugitive; neither can the one escape the other, nor the +other pursue: so the one could not overtake the other in his speed, nor +the other escape him. But how, then, could Hector have escaped the +fates of death, if Apollo had not, for the very last time, met him, who +aroused for him his courage and swift knees? But noble Achilles nodded +to the people with his head, nor permitted them to cast their bitter +weapons at Hector, lest some one, wounding him, should obtain the +glory, and he himself come second. But when for the fourth time they +arrived at the fountains, then, indeed, the Sire raised aloft his +golden scales, and placed in them the two fates of death, bearing long +sleep, this of Achilles, but that of horse-breaking Hector. Holding +them by the middle, he poised them, and the fatal day of Hector +inclined and sunk to Hades; but Phœbus Apollo left him. + +Then the blue-eyed goddess Minerva approached the son of Peleus, and, +standing near, addressed to him winged words: + +“Now, O illustrious Achilles, dear to Jove, I hope that we two shall +bear back great glory to the Greeks at the ships, having slain Hector, +although being insatiate of war. Now, certainly, it is no longer +possible for him to escape us, not even if far-darting Apollo should +toil much, throwing himself at the feet of the ægis-bearing father +Jove. But do thou now stand and revive; but I, approaching with thee, +will persuade him to engage thee face to face.” + +Thus spoke Minerva; but he obeyed, and rejoiced in his mind; and stood, +leaning upon his ashen, brass-pointed spear. But she then left him, and +overtook noble Hector, likening herself to Deïphobus, unwearied in her +body and voice; and, standing near, she addressed to him winged words: +“O brother dear, certainly swift Achilles now greatly presses on thee, +pursuing thee with rapid feet round the city of Priam. But come now, +let us stand, and, awaiting, repulse him.” + +But her mighty crest-tossing Hector in turn addressed: + +“Deïphobus, surely thou wert ever before by far the dearest to me of my +brothers, the sons whom Hecuba and Priam produced. But now I think in +my mind that I honour thee still more, since thou hast dared for my +sake, when thou dost behold [me] with thine eyes, to come out of the +city; while others remain within.” + +But him the azure-eyed goddess Minerva in turn addressed: + +“My brother dear, my father and venerable mother indeed greatly +supplicated me, by turn embracing my knees and my companions around, to +remain there (so much do all tremble with fear); but my mind within was +harassed with sad grief. But now let us forthwith eagerly engage, nor +let there any longer be a sparing of our spears, that we may know +whether Achilles, having slain us both, shall bear our bloody spoils to +the hollow barks, or be subdued by thy spear.” + +Thus having spoken, Minerva also with deception led on. But when they +were near advancing towards each other, him mighty crest-tossing Hector +first addressed: + +“No longer, O son of Peleus, will I fly thee as before. Thrice have I +fled round the great city of Priam, nor ever dared to await thee coming +on; but now my mind urges me to stand against thee: certainly I shall +slay, or be slain. But come, let us attest the gods; for they will be +the best witnesses and observers of agreements. For neither will I +cruelly insult thee, if indeed Jove shall give me the victory, and I +take away thy life; but after I shall despoil thy beautiful armour, O +Achilles, I will give back thy body to the Greeks; and so also do +thou.” + +But him swift-footed Achilles sternly regarding, addressed: + +“Talk not to me of covenants, O most cursed Hector. As there are not +faithful leagues between lions and men, nor yet have wolves and lambs +an according mind, 706 but ever meditate evils against each other; so +it is not possible for thee and me to contract a friendship, nor shall +there at all be leagues between us,—first shall one, falling, satiate +the invincible warrior Mars with his blood. Call to mind all thy +valour; now it is very necessary for thee to be both a spearman and a +daring warrior. Nor is there any longer any escape for thee, for Pallas +Minerva at once subdues thee beneath my spear, and thou shalt now pay +for all the accumulated sorrows of my companions, whom thou hast slain, +raging with the spear.” + +Footnote 706: (return) See Duport, p. 127; and cf. Hor. Epod. iv. 1. + +He spoke, and brandishing it, sent forth his long-shadowed spear, and +illustrious Hector, seeing it opposite, avoided it; for, looking before +him, he sunk down, and the brazen spear passed over him, and was fixed +in the earth. But Pallas Minerva plucked it out, and gave it back to +Achilles, and escaped the notice of Hector, the shepherd of the people. +Then Hector addressed the illustrious son of Peleus: + +“Thou hast erred, O godlike Achilles, nor art thou yet acquainted with +my fate from Jove; certainly thou didst say so, but thou art a prater, +and very subtle in words, in order that, dreading thee, I may be +forgetful of my strength and courage. But not in my back, whilst +flying, shalt thou thrust thy spear, but shalt drive it through my +breast, rushing right on, if God grants this to thee. But now in turn +avoid my brazen spear! would that thou mightst now receive it all in +thy body. Then truly would the war become lighter to the Trojans, thou +being slain; for thou art the greatest bane to them.” + +He spoke, and, brandishing, sent forth his long-shadowed spear, and +struck the centre of Pelides’ shield, nor missed; but the spear was +repelled far away from the shield. But Hector was enraged because his +swift weapon had fled in vain from his hand; and stood dejected, for he +had not another ashen spear. Then he called upon the white-shielded +Deïphobus, greatly shouting, [and] he asked him for a long spear; but +he was not near him; and Hector perceived in his mind, and said: + +“Alas! without doubt, now the gods have summoned me to death. For I +indeed thought the hero Deïphobus was by my side; but he is within the +wall, and Minerva has deceived me. But now is evil death near me, nor +far away, neither is there escape. Certainly this long since was more +agreeable to Jove and to the far-darting son of Jove, who formerly, +propitious, preserved me; but now, on the contrary, Fate overtakes me. +Nevertheless I will not perish cowardly and ingloriously at least, but +having done some great deed to be heard of even by posterity.” + +Thus having spoken, he drew his sharp sword, which hung below his +loins, both huge and strong, and, with collected might, rushed forward, +like a lofty-soaring eagle, which swoops to the plain through the +gloomy clouds, about to snatch either a tender lamb, or a timid hare; +thus Hector rushed forward, brandishing his sharp sword. Achilles also +rushed on, and filled his soul with fierce rage. He sheltered his +breast in front with his shield, beautiful, curiously wrought and +nodded with his shining helmet, four-coned; but the beautiful golden +tufts, which Vulcan had diffused in great abundance round the cone, +were shaken. As the star Hesperus, which is placed the brightest star +in heaven, 707 proceeds amongst other stars in the unseasonable time of +night, so it shone from the well-sharpened spear which Achilles, +designing mischief to noble Hector, brandished in his right hand, +eyeing his fair person, where it would best yield. But the beautiful +brazen armour, of which he had despoiled great Patroclus, having slain +him, covered the rest of his body so much; yet did there appear [a +part] where the collar-bones separate the neck from the shoulders, and +where the destruction of life is most speedy. There noble Achilles, +eager, drove into him with the spear, and the point went out quite +through his tender neck. However the ash, heavy with brass, did not cut +away the windpipe, so that, answering in words, he could address him. +But he fell in the dust, and noble Achilles vaunted over him: + +“Hector, thou didst once suppose, when spoiling Patroclus, that thou be +safe, nor dreaded me, being absent. Fool! for I apart, a much braver +avenger of him, was left behind at the hollow ships, I who have relaxed +thy knees. The dogs, indeed, and birds shall dishonourably tear thee, +but the Greeks shall perform his funeral rites.” + +But him crest-tossing Hector, growing languid, then addressed: + +“I supplicate thee by thy soul, thy knees, thy parents, suffer not the +dogs to tear me at the ships of the Greeks; but do thou indeed receive +brass in abundance, and gold, which my father and venerable mother will +give thee; and send my body home, that the Trojans and wives of the +Trojans may make me, dead, partaker of a funeral pyre.” 708 + +Footnote 707: (return) Milton, P.L. v. 166:— + + “Fairest of stars, last in the train of night, + If better thou belong not to the dawn.” + + +Footnote 708: (return) Cf. Æn. x. 903; xii. 930, sqq. + +But him swift-footed Achilles, sternly regarding, addressed; + +“Dog, supplicate me not by my knees, nor by my parents; for would that +my might and mind in any manner urge me myself, tearing thy raw flesh +to pieces, to devour it, such things hast thou done to me. So that +there is not any one who can drive away the dogs from thy head, not +even if they should place ten-fold and twenty-times such ransoms, +bringing them hither, and even promise others; not even if Dardanian +Priam should wish to compensate for thee with gold: 709 not even thus +shall thy venerable mother lament [thee] whom she has borne, having +laid thee upon a bier, but dogs and fowl shall entirely tear thee in +pieces.” + +But him crest-tossing Hector, dying, addressed: + +“Surely well knowing thee, I foresaw this, nor was I destined to +persuade thee; for truly within thee there is an iron soul. Reflect +now, lest to thee I be some cause of the wrath of the gods, on that day +when Paris and Phœbus Apollo 710 shall kill thee, though being brave, +at the Scæan gates.” + +As he spoke thus, the end of death overshadowed him; and his soul +flying from his limbs, descended to Hades, bewailing its destiny, +relinquishing vigour and youth. But him, although dead, noble Achilles +addressed: + +“Die: but I will then receive my fate whensoever Jove may please to +accomplish it, 711 and the other immortal gods.” + +He spoke, and plucked the spear from the corpse; and then laid it +aside, but he spoiled the bloody armour from his shoulders. But the +other sons of the Greeks ran round, who also admired the stature and +wondrous form, of Hector; 712 nor did any stand by without inflicting a +wound. And thus would some one say, looking to his neighbour: “Oh, +strange! surely Hector is now much more gentle to be touched, than when +he burned the ships with glowing fire.” + +Footnote 709: (return) _I.e._ to give thy weight in gold. Theognis, +77: ιστὸς ἀνὴρ χρυσοῦ τε καὶ άργύρου άντερύσασθαι Ἄξιος. + +Footnote 710: (return) Grote, vol. i. p. 406, observes: “After routing +the Trojans, and chasing them into the town, Achilles was slain near +the Skæan gate by an arrow from the quiver of Paris, directed under the +unerring auspices of Apollo,” referring to Soph. Phil. 334; Virg. Æn. +vi. 56. + +Footnote 711: (return) “I have conversed with some men who rejoiced in +the death or calamity of others, and accounted it as a judgment upon +them for being on the other side, and against them in the contention: +but within the revolution of a few months, the same man met with a more +uneasy and unhandsome death; which when I saw, I wept, and was afraid; +for I knew that it must be so with all men; for we also die, and end +our quarrels and contentions by passing to a final sentence.”—Taylor, +Holy Dying, i. p. 305, ed. Bohn. + +Footnote 712: (return) Herodot. ix. 25: Ὁ δὲ νεκρὸς ἔην θέης ἄξιος +μεγάθεος εἵνεκα κα κάλλεος. + +Thus would some one say, and, standing by, would wound him. But +swift-footed Achilles, after he had despoiled him, standing amongst the +Greeks, spoke winged words: + +“O friends, leaders and princes of the Greeks, since the gods have +granted us to subdue this hero, he who did as many mischiefs, as did +not all the others together; come! let us make trial round the city +with our arms, that we may learn concerning the Trojans, what mind they +have; whether they are about to desert the citadel, he being slain, or +intend to remain, Hector being no more. But why does my mind within me +deliberate these things? Patroclus lies at the ships, an unwept, +unburied corse; and him I shall never forget, as long as I am amongst +the living, and my dear knees move for me; and though they forget the +dead in Hades, yet will I remember my beloved comrade even there. But +come now, ye youths of the Greeks, singing a pæan, 713 let us return to +the hollow ships, and let us bring him; we bear back great glory: we +have slain noble Hector, whom the Trojans, throughout the city, +worshipped as a god.” + +He spoke, and was meditating unseemly deeds against noble Hector. He +perforated the tendons of both his feet behind, from the heel to the +instep, and fastened in them leather thongs, and bound him from the +chariot; but left his head to be trailed along. Then ascending his +chariot, and taking up the splendid armour, he lashed (the horses) to +go on, and they, not unwilling, flew. But the dust arose from him while +trailed along, and his azure locks around approached [the ground], 714 +and his entire head, once graceful, lay in the dust; for Jupiter had +then granted to his enemies, to dishonour him in his own father-land. +Thus indeed his whole head was defiled with dust; but his mother plucked +out her hair, and cast away her shining veil, and wept very loudly, +having beheld her son. And his dear father groaned piteously, and all +the people around were occupied in wailing and lamentation through the +city; and it was very like to this, as if all Ilium, from its summit, +were smouldering in fire. With difficulty indeed did the people detain +the old man, indignant with grief anxious to rush out from the +Dardanian gates: for rolling in the mud, he was supplicating all, +addressing each man by name: + +Footnote 713: (return) “This hymn consisted in a repetition, cf. v. +393, 4, which Quintus Smyrnæus has imitated in Ιδ. 117, and Abronius +Silo translated ap. _Senec. Suas_. c. 2. The most ancient hymn of this +kind on record is that in the first book of Samuel, xviii. 7.”—Kennedy. + +Footnote 714: (return) Supply οὔδει or κονίη. + +“Desist, my friends, and permit me alone, grieved as I am, going out of +the city, to approach the ships of the Greeks. I will supplicate this +reckless, violent man, if perchance he may respect my time of life, and +have compassion on my old age; for such is his father Peleus to him, he +who begat and nurtured him a destruction to the Trojans; but +particularly to me above all has he caused sorrows. For so many +blooming youths has he slain to me, for all of whom I do not lament so +much, although grieved, as for this one, Hector, keen grief for whom +will bear me down even into Hades. 715 Would that he had died in my +hands; for thus we should have been satisfied, weeping and lamenting, +both his unhappy mother who bore him, and I myself.” Thus he spoke, +weeping, but the citizens also groaned. But among the Trojan dames, +Hecuba began her continued lamentation: + +Footnote 715: (return) “Then shall ye bring down my grey hairs with +sorrow to the grave.” —Genes, xlii. 38 + +“O my son, why do wretched I live, having suffered grievous things, +thou being dead? Thou who by night and day wast my boast throughout the +town, and an advantage to the Trojan men and women throughout the city, +who received thee as a god. For assuredly thou wast a very great glory +to them when alive now, on the contrary, death and fate possess thee.” + +Thus she spoke, weeping; but the wife of Hector had not yet learned +anything: no certain messenger going, informed her that her husband had +remained without the gates; but she was weaving a web in a retired part +of her lofty house; double, splendid, and was spreading on it various +painted works. 716 And she had ordered her fair-haired attendants +through the palace, to place a large tripod on the fire, that there +might be a warm bath for Hector, returning from the battle. Foolish! +nor knew she that, far away from baths, azure-eyed Minerva had subdued +him by the hands of Achilles. But she heard the shriek and wailing from +the tower, and her limbs were shaken, and the shuttle fell from her to +the ground; and immediately she addressed her fair-haired attendants: + +Footnote 716: (return) οικίλματα is similarly used in vi. 294. + +“Come hither, let two follow me, that I may see what deeds have been +done. I heard the voice of my venerable mother-in-law, and to myself +the heart within my breast leaps up to my mouth, and the limbs under me +are benumbed. Surely some evil is now near the sons of Priam. O that +the word may be [far] from my ear! I dread lest brave Achilles, having +already cut off noble Hector alone from the city, may drive him towards +the plain, and even now have made him desist from the fatal valour +which possessed him; for he never remained among the throng of +warriors, but leaped out far before, yielding in his valour to none.” + +Thus having spoken, she rushed through the palace like unto one +deranged, greatly palpitating in heart; and her attendants went along +with her. But when she reached the tower and the crowd of men, she +stood looking round over the wall, and beheld him dragged before the +city; but the fleet steeds drew him ruthlessly towards the ships of the +Greeks. Then gloomy night veiled her over her eyes, and she fell +backwards, and breathed out her soul in a swoon. But from her head fell +the beautiful head-gear, the garland, the net, and the twisted fillet, +and the veil which golden Venus had given to her on that day when +crest-tossing Hector led her from the palace of Eëtion, after he had +presented many marriage-gifts. Around her in great numbers stood her +sisters-in-law and sisters, who supported her amongst them, seized with +stupor unto death. 717 But when she again revived, and her soul was +collected in her breast, sobbing at intervals, she spoke among the +Trojan dames: + +Footnote 717: (return) See Kennedy: ὥστε is to be understood before +ἀπολέσθαι. + +“Hector, O wretched me! then we were both born to a like fate, thou +indeed in Troy, in the mansion of Priam, but I in Thebe, beneath woody +Placus, in the palace of Eëtion; who, himself ill-fated, reared me, +ill-fated, being yet a little child;—would that he had not begotten me! +Now, however, thou goest to the mansions of Hades beneath the recesses +of the earth, but leavest me, in hateful grief, a widow in the +dwelling; and thy boy, yet such an infant, to whom thou and I +unfortunate gave birth; nor wilt thou be an advantage to him, O Hector, +for thou art dead; nor he to thee. For even if he shall escape the +mournful war of the Greeks, still will labour and hardship ever be to +him hereafter; for others will deprive him of his fields by changing +the landmarks. But the bereaving day renders a boy destitute of his +contemporaries; he is ever dejected, and his cheeks are bedewed with +tears. The boy in want shall go to the companions of his father, +pulling one by the cloak, another by the tunic; and some of these +pitying, shall present him with a very small cup; and he shall moisten +his lips, but not wet his palate. Him also some one, enjoying both +[parents], 718 shall push away from the banquet, striking him with his +hands, and reviling him with reproaches: ‘A murrain on thee! even thy +father feasts not with us.’ Then shall the boy Astyanax return weeping +to his widowed mother,—he who formerly, indeed, upon the knees of his +own father, ate marrow alone, and the rich fat of sheep; but when sleep +came upon him, and he ceased childishly crying, used to sleep on +couches in the arms of a nurse, in a soft bed, full as to his heart +with delicacies. But now, indeed, Astyanax, 719 whom the Trojans call +by surname (because thou alone didst defend their gates and lofty walls +for them), shall suffer many things, missing his dear father. But now +shall the crawling worms devour thee, naked, at the curved ships, far +away from thy parents, after the dogs shall have satiated themselves: +but thy robes, fine and graceful, woven by the hands of women, lie in +thy palaces. Truly all these will I consume with burning fire, being of +no use to thee, for thou wilt not lie on them; but let them be a glory +[to thee] before the Trojans and the Trojan dames.” + +Thus she spoke, weeping, and the females also mourned. + +Footnote 718: (return) Ἀμφιθαλὴς παῖς ὸ ἀμφοτέρωθεν θάλλων, ἤγουν ᾦ +ἄμφω οὶ γovεῖς περίεισι. + +Footnote 719: (return) Playing on the signification of the name,—“king +of the city.” This piece of twaddle has not been omitted by Plato in +his ridiculous Cratylus. + + + + +BOOK THE TWENTY-THIRD. + + +ARGUMENT. + +Achilles, admonished in a dream by the ghost of his friend, celebrates +the funeral of Patroclus. + + +Thus they indeed were mourning through the city; but the Greeks, as +soon as they reached the ships and the Hellespont, were separated each +to his own ship. But Achilles did not permit the Myrmidons to be +dispersed, but he spoke amongst his warlike companions [thus]: + +“Ye swift-horsed Myrmidons, comrades dear to me, let us not yet loose +the solid-hoofed steeds from under our chariots, but with the very +horses and chariots, going near, let us bewail Patroclus; for this is +the honour of the dead. But when we have indulged 720 sad lamentation, +unyoking our steeds, we will all sup here.” + +Thus he spoke; but they mourned in a body; and Achilles led the way. +Thrice they drove their fair-maned steeds around the body, 721 +grieving; and among them Thetis kindled a longing for lamentation. +Moistened were the sands, and moistened were the arms of the men with +tears; for so brave a master of the flight they longed. But among them +the son of Peleus led the abundant lamentation, laying his +man-slaughtering hands upon the breast of his companion: + +Footnote 720: (return) Excellently paraphrased by Gaza: Ἐπειδὰν δὲ τοῦ +ὄλεθρίου θρήνου ἀπολαύσωμεν. Ernesti well observes that τεταρπώμεσθα +implies “delight mingled with satiety.” + +Footnote 721: (return) This was a frequent rite at funerals. Cf. +Apollon. Rh. i. 1059; Virg. Æn. xi. 188, sqq.; Heliodor. Ethiop. iii. +p. 136: Ἐπειδὴ τὸ μνῆμα τοῦ Νεοπτολέμου περιεστοιχήσατο ἡ πομπὴ, καὶ +τρίτον οἱ ἔφηβοι τὴν ἵππον περιήλασαν, λολύξαν μὲν αἱ γυναῖκες, +λάλαξαν δὲ οἱ ἄνδρες. Among the Romans this rite was called _decursio_. +Cf. Liv. xxv. 17: Tacit. Ann. ii. 7; Sueton. Claud. § i. According to +Plutarch, Alexander the Great performed the same honours at the tomb of +Achilles, that Achilles had bestowed upon the manes of his friend +Patroclus. See also Bernart on Stat. Theb. vi. 217. + +“Hail! O Patroclus, even in the dwellings of Hades; for now shall I +accomplish all those things which formerly I promised, that having +dragged Hector hither, I would give him to the dogs to be devoured raw; +and that before thy pile I would cut the necks of twelve illustrious +sons of the Trojans, enraged on account of thee slain.” + +He spoke, and meditated unworthy deeds against noble Hector, having +stretched him prone in the dust before the bier of Menœtiades; but they +each stripped off his brazen, glittering armour, and unyoked their +high-sounding steeds. They sat also in crowds at the ship of +swift-footed Æacides; but he afforded to them an agreeable funeral +feast. 722 Many white bulls 723 were stretched around by the axe, +having their throats cut, and many sheep and bleating goats. Many +white-tusked swine also, abounding in fat, were extended for roasting +in the flame of Vulcan; and on every side around the dead body flowed +abundant blood. But the chiefs of the Greeks led the king, the +swift-footed son of Peleus, to noble Agamemnon, hardly persuading him +enraged at heart on account of his companion. But when advancing they +reached the tent of Agamemnon, he straightway ordered the clear-voiced +heralds to place a large tripod on the fire, if he could persuade the +son of Peleus to wash away the bloody gore. But he sternly refused, and +besides swore an oath: 724 + +Footnote 722: (return) Τάφος· τὸ γινόμενον περίδειπνον ἐπὶ τῇ τῶν +κατοιχομένων τιμῇ.—Hesych. + +Footnote 723: (return) On these funeral sacrifices, see Comm. on Æn. +xi. l. c.; and Lomeier de Lustrationibus, § xxxi. + +Footnote 724: (return) Buttm. Lexil. p. 436, after insisting strongly +on the _personification_ of Ὅρκος, observes on this passage: “I see no +reason why we should not suppose that in the poet’s mind Jupiter was +put in opposition to ὅρκον, exactly in the same sense as ὄρκος is +actually found in opposition to Ζεύς in Pindar, Pyth. iv. 297. Κάρτερος +ὅρκος ἄμμι μάρτυς ἔστω Ζεὺς ὁ γενέθλιος άμφοτέροις. Further, the +expressions μέγας όρκος, κάρτερος ὅρκος suit much better the idea of +the witness or pledge of the oath, than they do the oath itself.” + +“No, by Jove, who is both the supreme and the best of gods, it is not +lawful that ablutions should come near my head, before I place +Patroclus on the pile, and have thrown up a mound, and shorn my hair; +for not to such a degree will sorrow a second time invade my heart, +whilst I am among the living. But nevertheless let us now yield to the +loathsome banquet. But on the morrow, Ο king of men, Agamemnon, give +orders to bring wood, and dispose it so as is proper that a dead body +enjoying it, should descend beneath the obscure darkness; so that the +indefatigable fire may consume him very quickly from our eyes, and the +people may return to their occupations.” + +Thus he spoke; but they indeed readily listened to him, and obeyed. +Then they, each sedulously preparing supper, feasted; nor did their +mind lack aught of an equal feast. But when they had dismissed the +desire of food and drink, some departed in order to lie down, each to +his tent. But the son of Peleus, on the contrary, amid his many +Myrmidons, lay near the shore of the far-sounding sea, heavily moaning, +in a clear spot, where the waves plashed against the shore; when sweet +725 sleep, diffused around, took possession of him, relaxing the cares +of his mind; for he was very much fatigued as to his fair knees, +chasing Hector at wind-swept Ilium. But to him came the spirit of +wretched Patroclus, like unto him in all things, as to bulk, and +beautiful eyes, and his voice; and like garments also were around his +body; and he stood over his head, and addressed him: + +“Sleepest thou, O Achilles, and art thou forgetful of me? Thou didst +not indeed neglect me when alive, but [now that I am] dead. Bury me, +that I may as soon as possible pass the gates of Hades. The spirits, +the images of the deceased, 726 drive me far away, nor by any means +permit me to be mingled with them beyond the river; but thus I do +wander round the ample-gated dwelling of Hades. But give me thy hand, +727 I beseech thee, for I shall not again return from Hades after thou +hast made me a partaker of the fire. For by no means shall we, being +alive, sitting apart from our dear companions, deliberate counsels; but +the hateful fate which befel me when born, has snatched me away. And to +thyself also, O godlike Achilles, thy fate is to perish beneath the +wall of the noble Trojans. But another thing I bid, and will command, O +Achilles, if thou wilt obey, not to lay my bones apart from thine; but +as we were nurtured together in thy palaces, when Menœtius led me from +Opus, a little boy, to thy home, on account of a melancholy homicide, +on that day when, imprudent, I slew the son of Amphidamas, not wishing +it, enraged about the dice: 728 then Peleus received me in his abode, +carefully reared me, and named me thy attendant. So may the same tomb +contain our bones, the golden vase which thy venerable mother gave +thee.” + +Footnote 725: (return) On the epithet νήδνμος, cf. Buttm. p. 414, sqq. + +Footnote 726: (return) Buttm. Lexil. p. 372, in a very interesting +discussion, regards καμόντες as an euphemism, “by which the dead, whom +we consider as still acting and feeling, and consequently as the +objects of our kind offices, of which they are conscious, are +represented as still living in another state, but deprived of their +earthly powers.” + +Footnote 727: (return) Virg. Æn. vi. 370: “Da dextram misero.” + +Footnote 728: (return) See the Quaint remarks of Jeremy Taylor, Holy +Living, p. 224, ed. Bohn. + +But him swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed: + +“Why, O venerable friend, hast thou come to me, and commandest each of +these things to me? Yet will I readily accomplish all these things for +thee, and obey as thou commandest. But stand nearer to me, that +embracing each other even for a little while, we may indulge in sad +lamentation.” + +Thus then having spoken, he stretched out with his friendly arms, nor +caught him; 729 for the spirit went gibbering 730 beneath the earth, +like smoke. Then Achilles sprang up astonished, and clapped together +his hands, and spoke this doleful speech: + +“Alas! there is indeed then, even in the dwellings of Hades, a certain +spirit and image, but there is no body 731 in it at all; for all night +the spirit of miserable Patroclus stood by me, groaning and lamenting, +and enjoined to me each particular, and was wonderfully like unto +himself.” + +Footnote 729: (return) Cf. Georg. iv. 499; Æn. ii. 790, iv. 276; +Lucan, iii. 34. + +Footnote 730: (return) See Odyss. xxiv. sub init, where the same word +is applied to the shades of the suitors of Penelope. + +Footnote 731: (return) By φρένες we may understand the power of using +reason and judgment, with Duport, Gnom. p. 128, and Jeremy Taylor, Holy +Dying, p. 524, ed. Bohn. But ver. 100 seems to require the +interpretation which I have followed; Clarke rendering it “præcordia.” + +Thus he spoke; and excited among them all a longing for lamentation; +and rosy-fingered Morn appeared to them while weeping around the +miserable corpse. But king Agamemnon incited everywhere from the tents +both mules and men to bring wood; and for this a brave man was roused, +Meriones, the servant of valour-loving Idomeneus. And they went, +holding in their hands wood-lopping axes and well-twisted ropes; and +before them went the mules. They passed over many ascents, 732 +descents, and straight ways and crossways. But when they reached the +forests of many-rilled Ida, hastening, they cut down the towering oaks +with the keen-edged brass. These greatly resounding, fell; and the +Greeks then splitting them, tied [them] upon the mules, but they pained +the ground with their hoofs, eager to reach the plain through the close +thickets. But all the wood-cutters carried trunks of trees, for so +Meriones, the servant of valour-loving Idomeneus, ordered; and +afterwards threw them in order upon the shore, where Achilles designed +a mighty tomb for Patroclus, and for himself. + +But when they had thrown on all sides immense quantities of wood, +remaining there in a body, they sat down; but Achilles immediately +ordered the warlike Myrmidons to gird on the brass, and to yoke each +his horses to his chariot; but they arose, and were arrayed in their +armour. And both the combatants and the charioteers ascended their +chariots; the cavalry indeed first, but a cloud of infantry followed +after in myriads; and in the midst his companions bore Patroclus. They +covered all the dead body over with hair, which, cutting off, 733 they +threw upon it; but noble Achilles held his head behind, grieving, for +he was sending a blameless companion to Hades. + +Footnote 732: (return) A most remarkable and beautiful example of the +appropriation of sound to sense. Pope has admirably imitated the +original by the following translation:— + + “O’er hills, o’er dales, o’er crags, o’er rocks, they go.” + + + Cowper less successfully:— + + + “They measured hill and dale, + Right onward now, and now circuitous.” + + + Cf. Milton, P.L. ii. 948:— + + + “So eagerly the fiend + O’er bog, or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare, + With head, hands, wings, or feet pursues his way, + And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies.” + + +Footnote 733: (return) So in Senec. Hippol. 1176, “Placemus umbras, +capitis exuvias cape, laceræque frontis accipe abscissam comam.” The +custom is learnedly illustrated by Bernart on Stat. Theb. vi. 195, +Lomeier de Lustrat. § xxv. + +But they, when they reached the place where Achilles pointed out to +them, laid him down; and immediately heaped on abundant wood for him. +Then again swift-footed Achilles remembered another thing. Standing +apart from the pile, he cut off his yellow hair, which he had nurtured, +blooming, for the river Sperchius; 734 and, moaning, he spake, looking +upon the dark sea: + +Footnote 734: (return) On this custom, cf. Schol. Hesiod. Theog. 348: +Ἀπόλλωνι καὶ ποταμοῖς οὶ νέοι ἀπέτεμον τὰς κόμας, διὰ τὸ αύξήσεως καὶ +ἀνατροφῆς αἰτίους εἷναι. See Lindenbrog on Censorin. de Die Nat. i. p. +6, and Blomf. on Æsch. Choeph. s. init., with my own note. Statius, +Achill. i. 628, “Quærisne meos, Sperchie, natatus, Promissasque comas?” +Cf. Pausan. i. 43, 4; Philostrat. Her. xi. + +“In vain, O Sperchius, did my father Peleus vow to thee, that I, +returning to my dear native land, should there cut off my hair for +thee, and offer a sacred hecatomb; and besides, that I would in the +same place sacrifice fifty male sheep at the fountains, where are a +grove and fragrant altar to thee. Thus the old man spake, but thou hast +not fulfilled his will. And now, since I return not to my dear +fatherland, I will give my hair to the hero Patroclus, to be borne +[with him].” Thus saying, he placed his hair in the hands of his dear +companion; and excited amongst them all a longing for weeping. And the +light of the sun had certainly set upon them, mourning, had not +Achilles, standing beside, straightway addressed Agamemnon: + +“O son of Atreus (for to thy words the people of the Greeks most +especially hearken), it is possible to satiate oneself even with +weeping; 735 but now do thou dismiss them from the pile, and order them +to prepare supper. We, to whom the corpse is chiefly a care, will +labour concerning these things; but let the chiefs remain with us.” + +But when the king of men, Agamemnon, heard this, he immediately +dispersed the people among the equal ships; but the mourners remained +there, and heaped up the wood. They formed a pile 736 a hundred feet +this way and that, and laid the body upon the summit of the pile, +grieving at heart. + +Footnote 735: (return) See Buttm. Lexil. p. 25. “Achilles speaks of +the expediency of terminating the lamentations of the army at large, +and leaving what remains to be performed in honour of the deceased to +his more particular friends.”—Kennedy. + +Footnote 736: (return) In illustration of the following rites, cf. +Virg. Æn. iii. 62; v. 96; vi. 215; x. 517; xi. 80, 197, sqq.; and the +notes of Stephens on Saxo Grammat. p. 92. + +Many fat sheep, and stamping-footed, bent-horned oxen, they skinned and +dressed before the pile; from all of which magnanimous Achilles, taking +the fat, covered over the dead body [with it] from head to feet, and +heaped around the skinned carcases. Leaning towards the bier, he +likewise placed vessels of honey and oil, 737 and, sighing deeply, +hastily threw upon the pyre four high-necked steeds. There were nine +dogs, companions at the table of the [departed] king, and, slaying two +of them, he cast them upon the pile; also twelve gallant sons 738 of +the magnanimous Trojans, slaying them with the brass; and he designed +evil deeds in his mind. Next he applied to it the iron strength of +fire, that it might feed upon it: then he groaned aloud, and addressed +his beloved companion by name: 739 + +Footnote 737: (return) Cf. Alcæus apud Brunck, Ann. i. p. 490: Καὶ +τάφον ὑψώσαντο, γάλακτι δὲ ποιμένες αἰγῶν Ἔῤῥαναν ξανθῷ μιξάμενοι +μέλιτι. Compare the similar libations to the dead in Eur. Orest. 114; +Heliodor. Eth. vi.; Apul. Met. 3; Stat. Theb. vi. 209; Virg. Æn. iii. +66. + +Footnote 738: (return) This cruel custom was in vogue amongst the +followers of Odin. See Olaus Magnus, iii. 3, and Mallet, Northern +Antiquities, p. 213, sq., ed. Bohn. + +Footnote 739: (return) On this προσφώνησις, or last address to the +deceased, see my note on Eurip. Alcest. 625, t. i. p. 231, ed. Bohn; +and Suppl. 773, 804; Virg. Æn. iii. 68, v. 79; Propert. i. 17; Auson. +Parent. 159, 10. + +“Hail! O Patroclus, even in the dwellings of Hades: for I now fulfil +all things which I formerly promised thee; twelve brave sons of the +magnanimous Trojans, all these, along with thee, shall the fire +consume; but I will not suffer Hector, the son of Priam, to be devoured +by fire, but by the dogs.” + +Thus he spoke, threatening; but about him the dogs were not busied; for +Venus, the daughter of Jove, drove off the dogs both days and nights, +and anointed him with a rosy unguent, ambrosial, that he might not +lacerate him dragging him along. Over him also Phœbus Apollo drew a +dark cloud from heaven to the plain, and overshadowed the whole space, +as much as the dead body occupied, lest the influence of the sun should +previously dry the body all around, with the nerves and limbs. + +Yet the pile of dead Patroclus burnt not. Then again noble Achilles +meditated other things. Standing apart from the pile, he prayed to two +winds, Boreas and Zephyrus, and promised fair sacrifices; and, pouring +out many libations with a golden goblet, he supplicated them to come, +that they might burn the body with fire as soon as possible, and the +wood might hasten to be burned. But swift Iris, hearing his prayers, +went as a messenger to the winds. They, indeed, together at home with +fierce-breathing Zephyrus, were celebrating a feast, when Iris, +hastening, stood upon the stone threshold. But when they beheld her +with their eyes, they rose up, and invited her to him, each of them. +But she, on the contrary, refused to sit down, and spoke [this] speech: + +“No seat [for me]; for I return again to the flowings of the ocean, to +the land of the Æthiopians, where they sacrifice hecatombs to the +immortals, that now I, too, may have a share in their offerings. But +Achilles now supplicates Boreas, and sonorous Zephyrus, to come, that +ye may kindle the pile to be consumed, on which lies Patroclus, whom +all the Greeks bewail.” + +She, indeed, thus having spoken, departed; but they hastened to go with +a great tumult, driving on the clouds before them. Immediately they +reached the sea, blowing, and the billow was raised up beneath their +sonorous blast: but they reached the very fertile Troad, and fell upon +the pile, and mightily resounded the fiercely-burning fire. All night, +indeed, did they together toss about the blaze of the pyre, shrilly +blowing; and all night swift Achilles, holding a double cup, poured +wine upon the ground, drawing it from a golden goblet, and moistened +the earth, invoking the manes of wretched Patroclus. And as a father +mourns, consuming the bones of his son, a bridegroom who, dying, has +afflicted his unhappy parents, so mourned Achilles, burning the bones +of his companion, pacing pensively beside the pile, groaning +continually. But when Lucifer arrived, proclaiming light over the +earth, after whom saffron-vested Morn is diffused over the sea, then +the pyre grew languid, and the flame decayed; and the Winds departed +again, to return home through the Thracian sea; but it (the sea) +groaned indeed, raging with swelling billow. + +But Pelides, going apart 740 from the pile, reclined fatigued, and upon +him fell sweet sleep. The others, however, were assembling in crowds +round the son of Atreus, the noise and tumult of whom, approaching, +awoke him; and, being raised up, he sat, and addressed them: + +Footnote 740: (return) On λιάζομαι, cf. Buttm. Lex. p. 404. + +“O son of Atreus, and ye other chiefs of the Greeks, first, indeed, +extinguish the whole pile, as much as the fire has seized, with dark +wine; and then let us collect the bones of Patroclus, the son of +Menœtius, well discriminating them (for they are readily distinguished; +for he lay in the centre of the pyre, but the others, both horses and +men, were burned promiscuously at the extremity), and let us place them +in a golden vessel, and with a double [layer of] fat, till I myself be +hidden in Hades. And I wish that a tomb should be made, not very large, +but of such 741 a size as is becoming; but do ye, O Achæans, hereafter, +make it both broad and lofty, you who may be left behind me at the +many-benched barks.” + +Thus he spoke; and they obeyed the swift-footed son of Peleus. First of +all, indeed, they totally extinguished the pyre with dark wine, as much +as the fire had invaded, and the deep ashes fell in; and, weeping, they +collected the white bones of their mild companion into a golden vessel, +and a double [layer of] fat; then, laying them in the tent, they +covered them with soft 742 linen. Next they marked out the area for the +tomb, and laid the foundations around the pile; and immediately +upraised a mound of earth; and, heaping up the tomb, returned. But +Achilles detained the people there, and made the wide assembly sit +down; but from the ships he brought forth prizes, goblets, tripods, +horses, mules, and sturdy heads of oxen, and slender-waisted women, and +hoary 743 iron. First he staked as prizes for swift-footed steeds, a +woman to be borne away, faultless, skilled in works, as well as a +handled tripod of two-and-twenty measures, for the first; but for the +second he staked a mare six years old, unbroken, pregnant with a young +mule; for the third he staked a fireless tripod, beautiful, containing +four measures, yet quite untarnished; 744 for the fourth he staked two +talents of gold; and for the fifth he staked a double vessel, untouched +by the fire. Erect he stood, and spoke this speech to the Greeks: + +Footnote 741: (return) Ernesti considers that τοῖον is here added to +indicate _magnitude_, and Heyne accordingly renders it: “magnitudine +fere hac,” the speaker being supposed to use a gesture while thus +speaking. + +Footnote 742: (return) See Buttm. Lexil. pp. 236—9. + +Footnote 743: (return) “Ernesti conceives that the colour is here +maintained to express, not merely the _shining aspect_, but the newness +of the metal; as λενκὸν in 268. This is ingenious; but why not receive +it as expressive of colour, and borrowed from that to which the metal +itself supplies a well-known epithet, viz., the hair of age?”—Kennedy. + +Footnote 744: (return) Αὕτως here designates “_that which is original, +unchanged_, in opposition to common changes, λενκὸν ἔθ΄ αὕτως, still in +_that_ its original state, completely unblackened with fire; and ω. +413; of the body of Hector, ἀλλ’ ἔτε κεῖνος κεῖται. Αὕτως, in _that_ +state in which he was before, still free from corruption.”—Buttm. +Lexil. p. 173. + +“O son of Atreus, and ye other well-greaved Greeks, these prizes lie in +the circus, awaiting the charioteers. If now, indeed, in honour of +another, we Grecians were contending, then truly would I, receiving, +bear the first [prizes] to my tent. For ye know how much my steeds +surpass in excellence; for they are both immortal, and Neptune gave +them to my father Peleus, who, again, delivered them to me. But +nevertheless I and my solid-hoofed steeds will remain apart [from the +contest]; because they have lost the excellent might of such a +charioteer, who very often poured the moist oil over their manes, +having washed them with limpid water. They, indeed, standing, lament +him, but their manes hang down upon the ground, and they stand, grieved +at heart. However, do ye others through the army prepare, whoever of +the Greeks confides in his steeds and well-fastened chariots.” + +Thus spoke the son of Peleus; but the swift charioteers arose. But, far +the first, arose Eumelus, king of men, the dear son of Admetus, who +surpassed in equestrian skill. After him arose the son of Tydeus, +valiant Diomede, and led under the yoke the horses of Tros, which he +formerly took from Æneas; but Apollo preserved himself 745 alive; next +to whom arose the most noble son of yellow-haired Atreus, Menelaus, and +led beneath the yoke fleet steeds, Agamemnon’s mare Æthe, and his own +stallion, Podargus. Her Echepolus, the son of Anchises, had presented +as a gift to Agamemnon, that he need not follow him to wind-swept +Ilium, but staying there might be delighted; for Jove had given him +great wealth, and he dwelt in wise Sicyon. Her, persevering in the +race, he led under the yoke. But Antilochus, the fourth, harnessed his +beautiful-maned steeds (the illustrious son of the magnanimous king +Nestor, the son of Neleus), and swift-footed Pelian-born steeds drew +his chariot for him; but his father, standing near, spoke for his good, +advising him, though himself prudent: + +Footnote 745: (return) Æneas. + +“O Antilochus, assuredly indeed both Jove and Neptune have loved thee, +although being young, and have taught thee all kinds of equestrian +exercise; wherefore there is no great need to instruct thee. For thou +knowest how to turn the goals with safety; but thy horses are very slow +to run, wherefore I think that disasters may happen. Their horses, +indeed, are more fleet, but they themselves know not how to manoeuvre +better than thou thyself. But come now, beloved one, contrive every +manner of contrivance in thy mind, lest the prizes by any chance escape +thee. By skill is the wood-cutter much better than by strength; and, +again, by skill the pilot directs upon the dark sea the swift ship, +tossed about by the winds; and by skill charioteer excels charioteer. +One man who is confident in his steeds and chariot, turns imprudently +hither and thither over much [ground], and his steeds wander through +the course, nor does he rein them in. But he, on the contrary, who is +acquainted with stratagem [though] driving inferior steeds, always +looking at the goal, turns it close, nor does it escape him in what +manner he may first turn [the course] 746 with his leathern reins; but +he holds on steadily, and watches the one who is before him. But I will +show thee the goal, easily distinguished, nor shall it escape thy +notice. A piece of dry wood, as much as a cubit, stands over the +ground, either of oak or of larch, which is not rotted by rain; and two +white stones are placed on either side, in the narrow part of the way; +747 but the racecourse around is level: either it is the monument 748 +of some man long since dead, or perhaps it has been a goal in the time +of former men, and now swift-footed noble Achilles has appointed it the +goal. Approaching this very closely, drive thy chariot and horses near; +but incline thyself gently towards the left of them (the steeds), in +the well-joined chariot-seat; and, cheering on the right-hand horse, +apply the whip, and give him the rein with thy hands. Let thy left-hand +horse, however, be moved close to the goal, so that the nave of the +well-made wheel may appear to touch, the top [of the post]; but avoid +to touch upon the stone, lest thou both wound thy horses, and break thy +chariot in pieces, and be a joy to the others, and a disgrace to +thyself. But, my beloved son, mind to be on thy guard; for if at the +goal thou couldst pass by in the course, there will not be one who +could overtake thee in pursuit, nor pass thee by; not if behind he +drives noble Arion, the swift steed of Adrastus, 749 which was from a +god in race; or those of Laomedon, which, excellent, have here been +reared.” + +Footnote 746: (return) Or “pull with his leathern reins.”—Oxf. Transl. +“τανύσῃ, viz. δρόμον σὺν ἱμᾶσιν. Thus τάθη δρόμος, ver. 375. The same +ellipsis occurs in the following verse, in the case of ἔχει, which, +however, admits also of the construction ἔχει ἑαυτόν, one usual in the +latter language.”—Kennedy. + +Footnote 747: (return) “The old interpreter explained ἐν ξυνοχῇσιν +ὁδοῦ, and I think correctly, of a wide track in the open plain becoming +somewhat narrower at the point where the old monument stood; but ἀμφίς +they took in the opposite sense of χωρίς, or still more forced. Heyne, +however, understood it quite correctly of the wide plain around, which +was so suited to a chariot-race, and within which, in the distance, +stood also the mark chosen by Achilles, ver. 359. Others see in this +passage the course winding round the monument; but then it must have +been an old course regularly drawn out for the purpose; whereas this +monument was selected by Achilles for the goal or mark quite +arbitrarily, and by his own choice; and Nestor, ver. 332, only +conjectures that it might have formerly served for a goal.”—Buttm. +Lexil. p. 95. + +Footnote 748: (return) Such monumental stones were frequently placed +in public places. Cf. Theocrit. vi. 10; Virg. Eel. ix. 55; Dicæarchus +in Athen. xiii. p. 594. + +Footnote 749: (return) According to many authors, this horse was +produced from the earth by a stroke of Neptune’s trident. See Serv. on +Virg. Georg. i. 12; Pausan. viii. p. 650; Apollodor. iii. 6, 8; and +Bernart. on Stat. Theb. iv. 43. + +Thus speaking, Neleian Nestor sat down again in his own place, when he +had mentioned the most important points of each matter to his son; and +Meriones, fifth, harnessed his beautiful-maned steeds. Then they +ascended their chariots, and cast lots into [the helmet]. Achilles +shook, and the lot of Antilochus, son of Nestor, leaped forth; after +him king Eumelus was allotted; but after him spear-renowned Menelaus, +son of Atreus, and Meriones was allotted to drive after him. But the +son of Tydeus, by far the bravest, was allotted to drive his coursers +last. Then they stood in order; and Achilles pointed out the goals, 750 +far off in the level plain; and near it placed godlike Phoenix as an +umpire, the armour-bearer of his own sire, that he might attend to the +race, and report the truth. + +Footnote 750: (return) Cf. Æn. v. 129; Quintus Calab. iv. 193: Τοῖσι +δὲ σημαίνεσκε δρόμου τέλος κυτάτοιο Ἀτρείδης. + +Then they all at once raised their lashes over their steeds, and struck +them with the reins, and cheered them on with words incessantly; but +they rapidly flew over the plain, far away from the ships, swiftly, and +beneath their breasts the excited dust stood up, raised like a cloud or +a whirlwind; whilst their manes were tossed about by the breath of the +wind. Sometimes, indeed, the chariots approached the fruitful earth, +and at others bounded aloft; but the drivers stood erect in their +chariots, and the heart of each of them, eager for victory, palpitated: +and each animated his own steeds, but they flew along, stirring up dust +from the plain. But when now the fleet steeds were performing the last +course, back towards the hoary deep, then appeared the excellence of +each, and the course was immediately extended to the horses; 751 and +then the swift-footed steeds of the son of Pheres 752 swiftly bore him +away. The male Trojan steeds of Diomede, however, bore [themselves] +next to them; nor were they at all far distant, but very near; for they +always seemed as if about to mount into the chariot. And with their +breathing the back and broad shoulders of Eumelus were warmed; for they +flew along, leaning their heads over him. And certainly he had either +passed, or made [the victory] doubtful, had not Phœbus Apollo been +enraged with the son of Tydeus, and accordingly shaken out of his hands +the shining lash. Then from the eyes of him indignant tears poured, +because indeed he beheld the others now going much swifter, whilst his +[steeds] were injured, running without a goad. Neither did Apollo, +fraudulently injuring Tydides, escape the notice of Minerva, but she +very quickly overtook the shepherd of the people, and gave him his +lash, and put vigour into his steeds. And to the son of Admetus, the +goddess, indignant, advanced, and broke for him his horse-yoke; and so +his mares ran on both sides out of the way, and the pole was dashed +upon the ground. He himself was thrown from the driving-seat close by +the wheel, and was lacerated all round in his arms, his mouth, and +nostrils, and his forehead was bruised near the eyebrows; but his eyes +were filled with tears, and his liquid voice was clogged. Then Diomede +passing by, directed his hollow-hoofed steeds, bounding far before the +others; for Minerva had put vigour into his steeds, and given him +glory. But after him, however, the son of Atreus, yellow-haired +Menelaus, drove; but Antilochus cheered on the steeds of his father: + +Footnote 751: (return) _I.e._ “the speed of the horses was immediately +put to the stretch,” as the Oxford Translator well, but freely, renders +it. + +Footnote 752: (return) Eumelus. + +“Push on! and exert yourselves, both of you, as fast as possible. I +indeed do not order you to contend with the steeds of warlike Diomede, +to which Minerva has now given speed, and given glory to him; but +quickly overtake the horses of Atrides, nor be left behind, lest Æthe, +being a mare, shed disgrace upon you both. Why should ye be left +inferior, O best [of steeds]? For thus I tell you, and it shall surely +be accomplished; attention will not be paid to you by Nestor, the +shepherd of the people, but he will immediately slay you with the sharp +brass, if we, remiss, bear off the less worthy prize. But follow, and +hasten as fast as possible. These things will I myself manage and look +to, to pass him by in the narrow way; nor shall it escape me.” + +Thus he spoke; but they, dreading the threat of their master, ran +faster for a short time: but immediately then warlike Antilochus +perceived the narrow of the hollow way. It was a fissure of the earth, +where the wintry torrent collected, had broken away [part] of the road, +and gullied the whole place; thither drove Menelaus, avoiding the clash +of wheels. But Antilochus, deviating, guided his solid-hoofed horses +out of the way, and turning aside, pursued him a little. But the son of +Atreus feared, and shouted to Antilochus: + +“Antilochus, rashly art thou driving thy horses; but check thy steeds +for the road is narrow, and thou wilt soon drive past in a wider lest +thou damage both [of us], running foul of [my] chariot.” Thus he spoke; +but Antilochus drove even much faster, urging [them] on with the lash, +like unto one not hearing. As far as is the cast of a quoit, hurled +from the shoulder, which a vigorous youth has thrown, making +experiments of his youthful strength; so far they ran abreast; but +those of Atrides fell back: for he himself voluntarily ceased to drive, +lest the solid-hoofed steeds should clash in the road, and overturn the +well-joined chariots, and they themselves should fall in the dust, +while contending for the victory. And him yellow-haired Menelaus, +chiding, addressed: + +“O Antilochus, no other mortal is more pernicious than thou. Avaunt! +for we Greeks untruly said that thou wast prudent. Yet not even thus +shalt thou bear away the prize without an oath.” 753 Thus saying, he +cheered on his steeds, and spoke to them: + +“Be not kept back, nor stand, grieving in your hearts: sooner will the +feet and knees grow weary to them than to you; for they are both +deprived of vigour.” + +Thus he spoke; but they, dreading the exhortation of their master, ran +more fleetly, and became very near the others. But the Greeks sitting +in assembly, 754 beheld the steeds, and they flew along, raising dust +over the plain. Then first Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, +distinguished the horses; for he sat outside the circus, very high up, +on an observatory; and hearing him, being far off, encouraging [his +steeds], knew him. He also perceived a remarkable steed outstripping, +which in every other part indeed was chesnut, but in its forehead was a +white round spot, like the moon. And he stood erect, and delivered this +speech amongst the Greeks: + +Footnote 753: (return) “Videtur proverbii loco dictum in eos, qui non +facile, non sine gravi labore ac difficultate consequi possent, quod +peterent, sive qui rem valde difficilem peterent.”—Ernesti. + +Footnote 754: (return) See note on vii. p. 129, n. 2. + +“O friends, leaders and chieftains of the Greeks, do I alone recognize +the horses, or do ye also? Different steeds indeed appear to me to be +foremost, and there seems a different charioteer; but those [mares] +which hitherto were successful, are probably hurt upon the plain +somewhere: for surely I first saw them turning round the goal, but now +I can no longer see them, although my eyes survey the Trojan plain as I +gaze around. Surely the reins have fled the charioteer, and he could +not rein well round the goal, and did not succeed in turning. There I +imagine he fell out, and at the same time broke his chariot, whilst +they (the mares) bolted, when fury seized their mind. But do ye also, +standing up, look, for I cannot well distinguish; it appears to me to +be an Ætolian hero by birth, and [who] rules amongst the Argives, the +son of horse-breaking Tydeus, gallant Diomede.” + +But him swift Ajax, the son of Oïleus, bitterly reproached: + +“Idomeneus, why dost thou prate endlessly? 755 Those high-prancing +mares run over the vast plain afar. Neither art thou so much the +youngest amongst the Greeks, nor do thine eyes see most sharply from +thy head: but thou art always prating with words. Nor is it at all +necessary for thee to be a prater, for others better than thou are +present. For the mares of Eumelus are still 756 foremost, which were so +before, and he himself is advancing, holding the reins.” + +But him the leader of the Cretans, indignant, answered in turn: + +“Ajax, best at abuse, reviler, but in all other things thou art +inferior to the Greeks, because thy temper is morose; come now, let us +stake a tripod 757 or a goblet, and let us both appoint Agamemnon, the +son of Atreus, arbiter, which horses are foremost; that paying, thou +mayest learn.” + +Footnote 755: (return) “ άρος implies habit, as in i. 553, +particularly in connection with a verb of such import, as in xviii. +425.”—Kennedy. + +Footnote 756: (return) This is implied in περ. + +Footnote 757: (return) “Ut supra, xxii. 254, erat ἐπιδόσθαι, pro +δόσθαι μάρτυρας ἐπί τινι χρήματι, sic nunc τρίποδος περιδώμεθα est +δώμεθα ὅρκον περὶ τρίποδος, quem pœnæ loco daturus erit uter nostrum +temere contenderit.”—Heyne. + +Thus he spoke; but swift Ajax, son of Oïleus, immediately rose to reply +in harsh words. And now doubtless the strife would have proceeded +farther to both, had not Achilles himself risen up, and spoke: + +“No longer now, O Ajax and Idomeneus, hold altercation in evil, angry +words, for it is not fitting, and ye also would blame another, whoever +should do such things; but, sitting down in the circus, look towards +the steeds, which themselves will soon arrive, contending for victory; +and then will ye know, each of you, the horses of the Greeks, which are +second, and which first.” + +Thus he spoke; but the son of Tydeus came very near, pursuing, and +always drove on [his horses] with the lash across the shoulders; whilst +the steeds were raised up aloft into the air, quickly completing their +course, and the drops of dust kept always bespattering their +charioteer. The chariot, adorned with gold and tin, rolled on close to +the swift-footed steeds; nor was there a deep trace of the tires behind +in the fine dust, but they, hastening, flew. But he stood in the midst +of the circus, and much perspiration exuded from the steeds, from their +necks and chest to the ground. But he himself leaped to the ground from +his all-shining chariot, and rested his scourge against the yoke; nor +was gallant Sthenelus dilatory, but he eagerly seized the prize, and +gave the woman to his magnanimous companions to escort, and the handled +tripod to bear away; whilst he himself unyoked the steeds. + +Next to him Nelcian Antilochus drove his steeds, outstripping Menelaus +by stratagem, not indeed by speed. Yet even thus Menelaus drove his +swift horses near; but as far as a horse is distant from the wheel, +which, exerting its speed with the chariot, draws its master through +the plain, and the extreme hairs of its tail touch the wheel-tire, but +it rolls very near, nor is there much space between, while it runs over +the vast plain; so far was illustrious Menelaus left behind by +Antilochus: although at first he was left behind as much as the cast of +a quoit, yet he quickly overtook him; for the doughty strength of +Agamemnon’s mare, the beautiful-maned Æthe, was increased. And if the +course had been still longer to both, he would surely have passed him +by, nor left it doubtful. Meriones again, the good attendant of +Idomeneus, was left behind a spear’s throw by the illustrious Menelaus, +for his fair-maned steeds were the slowest, and he himself least +skilful in driving a chariot in the contest. But the son of Admetus +came last of others, dragging his beauteous chariot, driving his steeds +before him. But him swift-footed, noble Achilles seeing, pitied, and +standing amongst the Greeks, spoke [to him] winged words: + +“The best man drives his solid-hoofed steeds the last. But come, let us +give him, as is right, the second prize; and let the son of Tydeus bear +away the first.” + +Thus he spoke; and all approved as he ordered. And now truly he had +given the mare to him (for the Greeks approved it), had not Antilochus, +the son of magnanimous Nestor, rising up, replied to Achilles, the son +of Peleus, on the question of justice: 758 + +Footnote 758: (return) Not “with justice,” as the translators, +following the Scholiast, have interpreted δίκη. That would have +required σὺν δίκη, as in Soph. Antig. 23. + +“Ο Achilles, I shall be very indignant with thee, if thou fulfillest +this promise; for thou art about to deprive me of my reward, +considering these things, that his chariot and fleet steeds were +injured, he himself being skilful; but he should have prayed to the +immortals, then would he by no means have come up driving the last. But +if thou pitiest him, and it be agreeable to thy mind, thou hast much +gold and brass in thy tent, and cattle and maidens, and solid-hoofed +steeds are thine. Taking from these, give him afterwards even a greater +reward, or even now forthwith, that the Greeks may applaud thee. This, +however, I will not resign, but let him of the warriors strive for her, +whoever wishes to contend with me in strength of hands.” + +Thus he spoke; and swift-footed, noble Achilles smiled, favouring +Antilochus, for he was a dear companion to him; and, answering, +addressed to him winged words: + +“O Antilochus, since thou now biddest me give something else to Eumelus +from my house, this will I indeed accomplish. I will give him the +corslet which I took from Asteropæus, brazen, around which there is +entwined a rim of shining tin; and it is of great value.” + +He spoke; and ordered his dear comrade, Automedon, to bear it from the +tent: and he went and brought it to him; then he placed it in the hands +of Eumelus, and he received it rejoicing. But Menelaus also arose +amongst them, grieving in his mind, vehemently enraged with Antilochus. +Then a herald placed the sceptre in his hands, and ordered the Greeks +to be silent; and then the godlike hero spoke: + +“O Antilochus, hitherto prudent, what hast thou done? Thou hast +disgraced my skill, and injured my steeds, driving thine before them, +which indeed are greatly inferior. But come, ye leaders and chiefs of +the Greeks, judge between us both, and not for favour; lest some one of +the brazen-mailed Greeks should say: ‘Menelaus having overcome +Antilochus by falsehoods, came off, leading the mare [as a prize], for +his steeds were very inferior, but he himself superior in skill and +strength.’ 759 But come, I myself will decide, and I think that no +other of the Greeks will blame me, for it will be just.” + +“O Antilochus, nurtured of Jove, come hither, I pray, as it is just, +standing before thy horses and chariot, and holding in thy hands the +pliant lash with which thou didst formerly drive, touching thy steeds, +swear by earth-encompassing Neptune, that thou didst not willingly +impede my chariot by stratagem.” 760 + +Footnote 759: (return) Cf. vers. 571, sq. + +Footnote 760: (return) See ver. 441. + +But him prudent Antilochus in turn answered: + +“Have patience now, since I am much younger than thou, O king Menelaus, +and thou art older and superior. Thou knowest of what sort are the +errors of a youth; for his mind is indeed more volatile, and his +counsel weak. Therefore let thy heart endure, and I myself will give +thee the steed which I have received. And if indeed thou demandest +anything else greater from my house, I should be willing to give it +immediately rather than fall for ever, Ο Jove-nurtured, from thy good +opinion, and be sinful towards the gods.” + +He spoke; and the son of magnanimous Nestor, leading the mare, placed +it in the hands of Menelaus; but his 761 mind was cheered 762 as the +dew [is diffused] over the ears of growing corn, when the fields are +bristling. Thus indeed, Ο Menelaus, was thy soul in thy breast cheered; +and speaking, he addressed to him winged words: + +Footnote 761: (return) _I.e._ Menelaus. + +Footnote 762: (return) Or softened, melted. See Heyne. + +“Antilochus, now indeed will I cease being enraged with thee, for +formerly thou wert neither foolish nor volatile; though now youth has +subdued reason. Avoid a second time overreaching thy superiors; for not +another man of the Greeks would have easily appeased me. But thou hast +already suffered much, and accomplished many deeds, as well as thy good +father and brother, for my sake: therefore will I be persuaded by thee, +supplicating, and will give the mare also, although being mine; that +these too may perceive that my soul is never overbearing or +unrelenting.” + +He spoke, and gave the steed to Noëmon, the comrade of Antilochus, to +lead away; and then he received the shining goblet [himself]. But +Meriones, the fourth, took up the two talents of gold, in which order +he drove; but the fifth prize was left, 763 which Achilles, bearing +through the assembly of the Greeks, gave to Nestor, and standing by +him, said: + +“Receive now, and let this be a keepsake to thee, a memorial of the +burial of Patroclus; for never more shalt thou behold him among the +Greeks. I give this prize to thee even thus; 764 for thou indeed wilt +not fight with the cæstus, nor wrestle, nor engage in the contest of +hurling the javelin, nor run on the feet, for grievous old age now +oppresses thee.” + +Footnote 763: (return) Because Eumelus had received an extraordinary +prize. + +Footnote 764: (return) _I.e._ although thou hast not shared the +contests. See Kennedy. + +Thus speaking, he placed it in his hands; but he rejoicing, accepted +it, and addressing him, spoke in winged words: + +“Assuredly, O my son, thou hast spoken all these things aright; for no +longer are my limbs firm, my friend, nor my feet, nor yet do my hands +move pliant on each side from my shoulders. Would that I were as young, +and my strength was firm to me, as when the Epeans buried king +Amarynceus at Byprasium, and his sons staked the prizes of the king. +There no man was equal to me, neither of the Epeans, nor of the Pelians +themselves, nor of the magnanimous Ætolians. In the cæstus I conquered +Clytomedes, the son of Enops; and in wrestling, Ancæus, the Pleuronian, +who rose up against me; and on foot I outstripped Iphiclus, though +being excellent; and with the spear hurled beyond Phyleus and +Polydorus. The two sons of Actor drove by me by their steeds only, +exceeding me in number, envying me the victory, for the greatest +rewards were left for that contest. But they were two; the one indeed +steadily directed the reins, whilst the other urged on with the lash. +Thus I formerly was, but now let younger men undertake such deeds, as +it becomes me to obey sad old age, though I then excelled amongst +heroes. But go, and celebrate thy comrade’s obsequies with games. This, +indeed, I willingly accept, and my soul rejoices that thou art ever +mindful of me; nor am I forgotten by thee, with what honour it becomes +me to be honoured among the Greeks. And for these things may the gods +give thee a proper return.” + +Thus he spoke; but the son of Peleus went through the great assemblage +of the Greeks, when he had heard all the praise of Nestor. Then he +proposed prizes for a laborious boxing-match. 765 Leading a mule, +patient of toil, six years old, unbroken, which is most difficult to be +tamed, he tied it in the circus; and for the conquered again he staked +a two-handled cup: then he stood up, and spoke amongst the Greeks: + +Footnote 765: (return) Cf. Virg. Æn. v. 365. + +“O ye sons of Atreus, and other well-greaved Greeks, we invite two men, +who are very expert, raising their hands aloft, to strike for these +with the fist. But to whom Apollo indeed may give victory, and all the +Greeks approve, leading away the mule, patient of labour, let him +conduct it to his tent; but the vanquished shall bear away a double +cup.” + +Thus he spoke; and immediately arose a man brave and great, skilled in +the art of boxing, Epëus, son of Panopeus; and grasping the +patient-toiling mule, said: + +“Let him draw near, whosoever will bear away the double cup; but I +think that no other of the Greeks having conquered in boxing, will lead +away the mule; for I boast myself to be the best man. Is it not enough +that I am inferior in battle? 766 For it is by no means possible for a +man to be skilled in every work. For thus I tell you, and it shall be +accomplished, I will utterly fracture his body, and also break his +bones. And let his friends remain here assembled, who may carry him +away vanquished by my hands.” + +Footnote 766: (return) “_I.e._ is it not enough, that, though I am +inferior in battle, I am superior in boxing?”—Oxford Transl. + +Thus he spoke; but they were all mute, in silence. But Euryalus alone +stood up against him, a godlike hero, son of king Mecisteus, a +descendant of Talaïon, who formerly came to Thebes to the funeral of +the deceased Œdipus, and there vanquished all the Cadmeans. About him +the spear-renowned son of Tydeus was busied, encouraging him with +words, for he greatly wished victory to him. And first he threw around +him his girdle, and then gave him the well-cut thongs [made of the +hide] of a rustic ox. But they twain, having girded themselves, +proceeded into the middle of the circus, and both at the same time +engaged, with their strong hands opposite, raising [them up], and their +heavy hands were mingled. Then a horrid crashing of jaws ensued, and +the sweat flowed on all sides from their limbs. Then noble Epëus rushed +in, and smote him upon the cheek, while looking round, nor could he +stand any longer; but his fair limbs tottered under him. And as when, +from beneath the surface, rippled 767 by the north wind, a fish leaps +out upon the weedy shore, and the dark billow covers it, so he, +stricken, sprang up. But magnanimous Epëus, taking [him] in his hands, +lifted him up; and his dear comrades stood around, who conducted him +through the circus on tottering feet, spitting out clotted gore, [and] +drooping his head on each side; and then, leading, placed him among +them, insensible, while they, departing, received the double cup. + +But the son of Peleus quickly staked other third prizes for laborious +wrestling, exhibiting [them] to the Greeks; for the conqueror, indeed, +a large tripod, ready for the fire, 768 which the Greeks estimated +amongst themselves at twelve oxen; and for the conquered person he +placed a female in the midst. She understood various works, and they +reckoned her at four oxen. But he stood up, and spoke this speech among +the Greeks: + +“Arise, ye who will make trial of this contest.” Thus he spoke; but +then arose mighty Telamonian Ajax, and wise Ulysses stood up, skilled +in stratagems. But these two, having girded themselves, advanced into +the midst of the circus, and grasped each other’s arms with their +strong hands, like the rafters 769 of a lofty dome, which a renowned +architect has fitted, guarding off the violence of the winds. Then +their backs creaked, forcibly dragged by their powerful hands, and the +copious 770 sweat poured down; and thick welds, purple with blood, +arose upon their sides and shoulders. Yet always eagerly they sought +desired victory, for the sake of the well-made tripod. Neither could +Ulysses trip, nor throw him to the ground, nor could Ajax him, for the +valiant might of Ulysses hindered him. But when at length they were +wearying the well-greaved Greeks, then mighty Telamonian Ajax addressed +him: + +Footnote 767: (return) See Kennedy. + +Footnote 768: (return) _I.e._ intended for domestic purposes, not a +mere votive offering or ornament. + +Footnote 769: (return) ‘Αμείβοντες δόκοι μεγάλαι, άλλήλαις +προσπίπτουσαι, ὥστε βαστάζειν τήν ὀροφήν· αἵτινες καὶ συστάται +καλοῦνται.—Schol. + +Footnote 770: (return) See Kennedy. + +“Ο most noble son of Laërtes, Ulysses of many wiles, either lift up me, +or I thee, and all these things will be a care to Jove.” + +So saying, he lifted him up: but yet was not Ulysses unmindful of a +stratagem. Aiming at his ham, he struck him behind, and relaxed his +limbs, and threw him on his back; but Ulysses fell upon his breast; +then the people admiring gazed, and were stupified. Next noble, +much-enduring Ulysses, lifted him in turn, and moved him a little from +the ground, nor did he lift him up completely; but he bent his knee; +and both fell upon the ground near to each other, and were defiled with +dust. And, getting up, they had surely wrestled for the third time, had +not Achilles himself stood up and restrained them: + +“No longer contend, nor exhaust yourselves with evils; for there is +victory to both: so depart, receiving equal rewards, in order that the +other Greeks also may contend.” Thus he spoke; but they indeed heard +him willingly, and obeyed; and, wiping off the dust, put on their +tunics. But the son of Peleus immediately staked other rewards of +swiftness, a wrought silver cup, which contained, indeed, six measures, +but in beauty much excelled [all] upon the whole earth, for the +ingenious Sidonians had wrought it cunningly, and Phœnician men had +carried it over the shadowy sea, and exposed it for sale in the +harbours, and presented it as a gift to Thoas. Euneus, son of Jason, +however, had given it to the hero Patroclus, as a ransom for Lycaon, +son of Priam. This also Achilles offered as a new prize, to be +contended for, in honour of his companion, whoever should be the +nimblest on swift feet; for the second, again, he proposed an ox, large +and luxuriant in fat; and for the last he staked half a talent of gold. +But he stood upright, and spoke amongst the Greeks: + +“Arise, ye who will make trial of this contest also.” Thus he spoke; +and immediately swift Ajax, son of Oïleus, arose, and much-enduring +Ulysses; and after them Antilochus, son of Nestor; for he, indeed, +excelled all the youths in fleetness. But they stood in order, and +Achilles pointed out the goal; and their course was stretched out from +the goal. 771 Then swiftly leaped forth the son of Oïleus; but very +close after him rushed noble Ulysses; as when a shuttle is at the +breast of a well-girdled dame, which she throws very skilfully with her +hands, drawing out the woof, [and inserting them] into the warp, and +holds it near her breast: so ran Ulysses near him; and with his feet +trod on his footsteps behind, before the dust was shed over them. But +noble Ulysses, constantly running swiftly, exhaled his breath upon his +head; and all the Greeks shouted to him, eager for victory, and +encouraged him, hastening rapidly. But when they were now completing +their last course, Ulysses forthwith prayed in his mind to azure-eyed +Minerva: + +Footnote 771: (return) See Kennedy, and on the race of the δίαυλος, +Smith’s Dict. of Antiquities. + +“Hear, O goddess, come a propitious assistant to my feet.” Thus he +spoke, praying; but Pallas Minerva heard him; and she made his limbs +nimble, his feet and his hands above. But when they were just about to +fly in upon the prize, then Ajax slipped, while running (for Minerva +did the mischief), where the dung of the deep-lowing slaughtered oxen +was around, which swift-footed Achilles had slain in honour of +Patroclus. Then much-enduring, noble Ulysses took up the goblet, as he +came running the first; and illustrious Ajax received the ox. But he +stood, holding the horn of the rustic ox in his hands; and, spitting +out the dung, spoke amongst the Greeks: + +“Alas! surely a goddess injured my feet, who ever of old stands by +Ulysses as a mother, and assists him.” + +Thus he spoke; and they all then laughed heartily at him. But +Antilochus next bore away the last prize, smiling, and spoke among the +Greeks: + +“I will tell you all, my friends, though now knowing it, that even +still the immortals honour the aged. For Ajax, indeed, is a little +older than I am: but he is of a former generation, and former men; and +they say that he is of crude old age, and it is difficult for the +Greeks to contend in swiftness with him, except for Achilles.” + +Thus he spoke; and praised the swift-footed son of Peleus. But +Achilles, answering, addressed him with words: + +“Thy praise, O Antilochus, shall not be spoken in vain, but for thee I +will add half a talent of gold.” + +So saying, he placed it in his hands; and he, rejoicing, received it. +But the son of Peleus, bearing into the circus, laid down a long spear, +and a shield, and helmet, the arms of Sarpedon, which Patroclus had +stripped him of; and stood upright, and spoke amongst the Greeks: + +“We invite two warriors, whoever are bravest, having put; on these +arms, [and] seizing the flesh-rending brass, to make trial of each +other before the host for these. Whoever shall be the first to wound +the fair flesh, and touch the entrails through the armour and black +blood, to him, indeed, will I give this silver-studded, beautiful +Thracian sword, which I formerly took from Asteropæus. But let both +bear away these arms in common, and before them I will place a splendid +banquet in my tents.” + +Thus he spoke; but then arose mighty Telamonian Ajax, and the son of +Tydeus, valiant Diomede rose up. But they, after they had armed apart +on either side from the ground, both came together into the midst, +eager to fight, looking dreadfully; and stupor possessed all the +Greeks. But when approaching each other, they were near, thrice indeed +they rushed on, and thrice made the attack hand to hand. Then Ajax, +indeed, pierced through his shield, equal on all sides, nor reached the +flesh; for the corslet inside protected him. But next the son of +Tydeus, with the point of his shining spear, endeavoured to reach the +neck, over his great shield. And then, indeed, the Greeks, fearing for +Ajax, desired them, ceasing, to take up equal rewards. The hero, +however, gave the great sword to Diomede, bearing it both with the +sheath and the well-cut belt. + +Then the son of Peleus deposited a rudely-molten mass of iron, which +the great might of Eëtion used formerly to hurl. But when swift-footed, +noble Achilles slew him, he brought this also, with other possessions, +in his ships. Then he stood up, and spoke amongst the Greeks: + +“Arise, you who will make trial of this contest also. Even if his rich +fields be of very far and wide extent, using this he will have it even +for five revolving years; for indeed neither will his shepherd nor his +ploughman go into the city wanting iron, but [this] will furnish it.” + +Thus he spoke; then up arose warlike Polypœtes, and the valiant might +of godlike Leonteus arose; also Telamonian Ajax, and noble Epëus arose. +Then they stood in order; but noble Epëus seized the mass, and, +whirling it round, threw it; but all the Greeks laughed at him. Next +Leonteus, a branch of Mars, threw second; but third, mighty Telamonian +Ajax hurled with his strong hand, and cast beyond the marks of all. But +when now warlike Polypœtes had seized the mass, as far as a +cow-herdsman throws his crook, which, whirled around, flies through the +herds of oxen, so far, through the whole stadium, did he cast beyond; +but they shouted aloud; and the companions of brave Polypœtes, rising +up, bore away the prize of the king to the hollow ships. + +Next, for the archers, he staked iron fit for making arrows, 772 and +laid down ten battle-axes, and also ten demi-axes. He also set upright +the mast of an azure-prowed vessel, afar upon the sands; from [this] he +fastened a timid dove by a slender cord, by the foot, at which he +ordered [them] to shoot: + +Footnote 772: (return) _I.e._ well-tempered. + +“Whosoever indeed shall strike the timid dove, taking up all the +battle-axes, may bear [them] to his tent; but whosoever shall hit the +cord, missing the bird (for he is inferior), let him bear off the +demi-axes.” + +Thus he spoke; but then up rose the might of king Teucer, and up rose +Meriones, the active attendant of Idomeneus; and taking the lots, they +shook them in a brazen helmet. But Teucer was appointed first by lot; +and straightway he shot an arrow strenuously, nor did he vow to +sacrifice a celebrated hecatomb of firstling lambs to king [Apollo]. He +missed the bird indeed, because Apollo envied him this, but he hit the +string with which the bird was fastened, close to its foot; and the +bitter arrow cut the cord quite through. Then indeed the bird ascended +towards heaven, but the cord was sent down towards the earth: and the +Greeks shouted applause. But Meriones, hastening, snatched the bow from +his hand; and now held the arrow for a long time, as he had directed +it; and immediately vowed to sacrifice to far-darting Apollo a noble +hecatomb of firstling lambs. But he saw the timid dove on high beneath +the clouds, which, as she was turning round, he hit in the middle under +the wing, and the arrow pierced quite through. And it indeed again was +fixed in the ground at the foot of Meriones: but the bird, alighting +upon the mast of the azure-beaked galley, drooped its neck, and its +close wings were at the same time expanded. And swift its soul flitted +from its members, and it fell far from [the mast]; but the people +wondering, beheld, and were stupified. Then Meriones took up all the +ten battle-axes, and Teucer carried off the demi-axes to the hollow +barks. + +Then the son of Peleus indeed, bearing it into the circus, staked a +long spear, and also a caldron, untouched by fire, worth an ox, adorned +with flowers; and immediately the spearmen arose. The son of Atreus +rose up, wide-ruling Agamemnon, and Meriones, the expert attendant of +Idomeneus; whom also swift-footed, noble Achilles addressed: + +“O son of Atreus, for we know how much thou dost surpass all, as well +as how much thou excellest in strength and in the javelin, wherefore +thou indeed mayest repair to the hollow barks, possessing this reward; +but let us give the spear to the hero Meriones, if, truly, thou dost +thus wish it in thy mind; for I on my part advise it.” + +Thus he spoke; nor did the king of men, Agamemnon, disobey; but he gave +the brazen spear to Meriones; and the hero himself gave the very +splendid prize to the herald Talthybius. + + + + +BOOK THE TWENTY-FOURTH. + + +ARGUMENT. + +Jove orders Thetis to go to Achilles, and demand the restoration of +Hector’s body. Mercury is also sent to Priam, whom he guides in safety +through the Grecian camp, to the tent of Achilles. A pathetic interview +follows, and Priam ransoms the body of his son, and obtains a twelve +days’ truce, during which he performs his funeral obsequies. + + +The assembly was dissolved, and the people were dispersed, to go each +to their hollow barks. They indeed took care to indulge in the banquet +and sweet slumber; but Achilles wept, remembering his dear companion, +nor did all-subduing sleep possess him, but he was rolled here and +there, longing for the vigour and valiant might of Patroclus. And +whatever things he had accomplished with him, and hardships he had +suffered, both [encountering] the battles of heroes, and measuring the +grievous waves, remembering these things, he shed the warm tear, lying +at one time upon his sides, 773 at others again on his back, and at +other times on his face; but again starting up, he wandered about in +sadness along the shore of the sea; nor did Morn, appearing over the +sea and the shores, escape his notice. But he, when he had harnessed +his fleet steeds to his chariot, bound Hector to be dragged after his +chariot; and having drawn him thrice around the tomb of the dead son of +Menœtius, again rested in his tent; and left him there, having +stretched him on his face in the dust. But Apollo kept off all +pollution from his body, pitying the hero, although dead; and encircled +him with the golden ægis, lest that, dragging, he might lacerate him. + +Footnote 773: (return) Cf. Heliodor. Ethiop. vii. p. 325: αννύχιος +γοῦν ἔκειτο, πυκνὰ μὲν πρὸς έκατέραν πλευρὰν τὸ σῶμα διαστρέφουσα. +Chariton quotes the line of Homer, when describing the uneasy rest of a +love-stricken being. + +Thus he indeed, raging, was insulting noble Hector, but the blessed +gods, looking towards him, commiserated, and incited the watchful +slayer of Argus to steal him away. Now, to all the rest it was +certainly pleasing, but by no means so to Juno, to Neptune, nor to the +azure-eyed maid; but they were obstinate, 774 for sacred Ilium was +odious to them from the first, and Priam and his people, on account of +the infatuation of Paris, who had insulted the goddesses, when they +came to his cottage, and preferred her who gratified his destructive +lust. 775 But when the twelfth morning from that had arisen, then +indeed Phœbus Apollo spoke amongst the immortals: + +Footnote 774: (return) After ἔχον supply τὴν διάθεσιν (with +Schol.)=“_kept their determination_.” + +Footnote 775: (return) Payne Knight would reject vers. 23—30, +considering the word μαχλοσύνην as un-Homeric. If they are genuine, +they furnish the earliest mention of the judgment of Paris. Cf. Mollus +on Longus, Past. iii. 27; Intpp. on Hygin. Fab. xcii. + +“Cruel ye are, O gods, [and] injurious. Has not Hector indeed formerly +burned for you the thighs of bulls and chosen goats? whom now, although +being dead, ye will not venture to take away for his wife, and mother, +his son, and his father Priam, and the people to behold; who would +quickly burn him with fire, and perform his funeral rites. But ye wish +to bestow favour, O gods, upon destructive Achilles, to whom there is +neither just disposition, nor flexible feelings in his breast; who is +skilled in savage deeds, as a lion, which, yielding to the impulse of +his mighty strength and haughty soul, attacks the flocks of men, that +he may take a repast. Thus has Achilles lost all compassion, nor in him +is there sense of shame, which greatly hurts and profits men. For +perhaps some one will lose another more dear, either a brother, or a +son; yet does he cease weeping and lamenting, for the Destinies have +placed in men an enduring mind. But this man drags godlike Hector +around the tomb of his dear companion, binding him to his chariot, +after he has taken away his dear life; yet truly this is neither more +honourable, nor better for him. [Let him beware] lest we be indignant +with him, brave as he is, because, raging, he insults even the +senseless clay.” + +But him the white-armed Juno, indignant, addressed: “This truly might +be our language, O God of the silver bow, if now thou assignest equal +honour to Achilles and to Hector. Hector indeed is a mortal, and sucked +a woman’s breast; but Achilles is the offspring of a goddess, whom I +myself both nurtured and educated, and gave as a wife to the hero +Peleus, who is dear to the immortals in their heart: and ye were all +present at the nuptials, 776 O gods; and thou didst feast amongst them, +holding thy lyre, O companion of the evil, ever faithless.” + +But her cloud-compelling Jove, answering, addressed: + +“Ο Juno, be not now completely enraged with the gods; for their honour +shall not be at all equal: but Hector also was the dearest of mortals +to the gods, of [those] who are in Ilium; for thus was he to me; for +never did he miss [offering] pleasing gifts. For never did my altar +lack the fitting banquet, or incense, or odour: for this honour are we +allotted. Yet let us forego to steal away bold Hector; (nor is it at +all practicable without the knowledge of Achilles;) for he is ever by +him both by night and day, like as a mother. But let some of the gods +call Thetis near me, that to her I may tell prudent advice, in order +that Achilles may receive gifts from Priam, and ransom Hector.” + +Thus he spoke; but Iris, swift as the whirlwind, rose up, about to bear +his message. Half way between Samos and rugged Imbrus she plunged into +the dark sea, and the ocean groaned. She sank to the bottom like unto a +leaden ball, 777 which, [placed] along the horn of a wild bull, +entering, descends, bearing death to the raw-devouring fishes. But she +found Thetis in her hollow cave, and the other sea goddesses sat around +her, assembled together; she indeed, in the midst, lamented the fate of +her own blameless son, who was about to perish in fertile Troy, far +away from his native land. But her swift-footed Iris, standing near, +addressed: + +Footnote 776: (return) See Grote, vol. i. p. 257. + +Footnote 777: (return) The only clear explanation of this passage +seems to be that of the traveller Clarke, quoted by Kennedy, as +follows: “The Greeks in fishing let their line, with the lead at the +end, run over a piece of horn fixed at the side of the boat,” to +prevent, as Kennedy remarks, the wear from friction. Pollux, x. 30, 31, +merely mentions the μολυβδαίνη among the implements of fishermen; but +says nothing of the manner in which it was used. + +“Rise, O Thetis; Jove, skilled in imperishable counsels, calls thee.” + +Her then the silver-footed goddess Thetis answered: + +“Why does that mighty god call me? I am ashamed to mix with the +immortals, for I have innumerable griefs in my soul. Yet must I go; for +the word which he utters will not be in vain.” + +Thus having spoken, the divine one of goddesses took her dark robe, +than which no garment is blacker. And she set out to go, whilst +wind-footed, fleet Iris led the way; and the water of the sea retired +on each side of them. 778 Next ascending the shore, they were impelled +up to heaven. They found the far-sounding son of Saturn; and all the +other blessed immortal gods sat assembled around him; but she then sat +down beside father Jove, and Minerva gave place to her. Then Juno +placed a beautiful golden goblet in her hand, and consoled her with +words; and Thetis having drunk, returned it. But to them the father of +men and gods began discourse: + +“Thou hast come to Olympus, although sad, Ο goddess Thetis, having in +thy mind a grief not to be forgotten; and I know it. Yet even thus will +I speak, and on this account have I called thee hither. Nine days has a +contest already been excited amongst the immortals respecting the body +of Hector, and Achilles the destroyer of cities, and they have urged +the watchful slayer of Argus to steal him. But I bestow this glory 779 +on Achilles, securing for the future thy respect and love. Descend very +speedily to the camp, and give orders to thy son. Tell him that the +gods are offended, and that I am angry above all the immortals, because +with infuriated mind he detains Hector at the crooked barks, nor has +released him: if perchance he will revere me, and restore Hector. +Meanwhile I will despatch Iris to magnanimous Priam, that, going to the +ships of the Greeks, he may ransom his beloved son, and carry offerings +to Achilles, which may melt his soul.” + +Footnote 778: (return) “At Il. ψ. 231: ηλείδης δ’ άπὸ πυρκαΐης +ἑτέρωσε λιασθείς, _going away, or aside from the pyre_. And so νόσφι +λιασθείς, II. α. 349, λ. 80. One of the plainest instances of the same +sense is at Il. ω. 96, of the waves, which _make way_ for the goddesses +as they rise from the depths of the sea, which _turn aside_, and yield +them a passage.”—Buttm. Lexil. p. 404. + +Footnote 779: (return) “The sense is: _I have not sanctioned the +proposal that the body of Hector should be removed furtively, in order +that an opportunity might be offered to Achilles of receiving a ransom +for it, which would redound to his glory_.”—Kennedy. + +Thus he spoke; nor did the silver-footed goddess Thetis disobey; but, +rushing impetuously, she descended down from the tops of Olympus. Then +she came to the tent of her son, and found him within, moaning +continually, whilst around him his dear comrades were busily occupied, +and prepared a feast, for a great thick-fleeced sheep had been +slaughtered by them in the tent. But his venerable mother sat down very +near him, and caressed him with her hand, and spoke, and addressed him: + +“O my son, how long, grieving and bewailing, wilt thou afflict thine +heart, being not at all mindful of either food or bed? But it is good +to be mingled in love with a woman; for thou shalt not live long for +me, but Death and stern Fate already stand near thee. But quickly +attend to me, for I am a messenger to thee from Jove. He says that the +gods are angry with thee, and that he himself above all the immortals +is enraged, because with furious mind thou detainest Hector at the +hollow ships, nor dost release him. But come, release him, and receive +ransoms for the dead body.” + +But her swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed: + +“Let him approach hither, who may bear the ransoms, and bear away the +body, if indeed the Olympian himself now commands it with a serious +mind.” Thus they indeed, the mother and the son, amongst the assemblage +of the ships, spoke many winged words to each other; but the son of +Saturn impelled Iris towards sacred Ilium: + +“Go quickly, fleet Iris, having left the seat of Olympus, order +magnanimous Priam to ransom his dear son to Ilium, going to the ships +of the Greeks; and to carry gifts to Achilles, which may appease his +mind, alone; nor let another man of the Trojans go with him. Let some +aged herald accompany him, who may guide his mules and well-wheeled +chariot, and may bear back to the city the dead body which noble +Achilles has slain; nor let death at all be a cause of anxiety to his +mind, nor at all a terror; such a conductor, the slayer of Argus, will +we give to him, who shall lead him, until, directing, he shall place +him beside Achilles. But when he shall have conducted him into the tent +of Achilles, he will not kill him himself, and he will ward off all +others; for he is neither imprudent, nor rash, nor profane; but will +very humanely spare a suppliant man.” + +Thus he spoke; but wind-footed Iris rushed on, about to carry her +message. She came to [the palace] of Priam, and found wailing and +lamentation. His sons, sitting around their father within the hall, +were drenching their robes with tears; whilst the old man sat in the +midst, covered entirely 780 with a cloak; but much filth was around +upon the head and neck of the aged man, which, while rolling [on the +ground], he had abundantly collected 781 with his own hands. But his +daughters and daughters-in-law throughout the dwelling lamented, +remembering those who, many and brave, lay, having lost their lives by +the hands of the Greeks. Then the ambassadress of Jove stood beside +Priam, and addressed him in an under-tone; and tremor seized him as to +his limbs: + +“Take courage, O Dardanian Priam, in thy mind, nor fear at all; for +indeed I come not hither boding 782 evil to thee, but meditating good; +for I am an ambassadress from Jove to thee, who, though being far off, +greatly cares for and pities thee. The Olympian bids thee ransom noble +Hector, and bear presents to Achilles, which may melt his soul; thee +alone, nor let another man of the Trojans go with thee. But let some +aged herald accompany thee, who may guide thy mules and well-wheeled +chariot, and bring back to the city the dead which noble Achilles has +slain. Nor let death be a cause of anxiety to thy mind, nor fear at all +such a conductor; the slayer of Argus shall attend thee, who shall lead +thee, until, guiding, he shall bring thee near Achilles. But when he +shall have led thee into the tent of Achilles, he will not slay thee +himself, and he will ward off all others; for he is neither imprudent, +nor rash, nor profane; but will very humanely spare a suppliant man.” + +Footnote 780: (return) I take έντυπὰς adverbially, with Eustathius, p. +1474, and understand that he was “so completely enfolded, as to exhibit +the entire contour of his person” (Kennedy), with the Schol. Hesych. +t.i.p. 1264. Phavorinus, Suidas, and the Schol. on Appoll. Rh. 264. +Ernesti well expresses the idea: “Ἐντυπὰς κεκαλυμμένος est, qui ita +adstrinxit vestem, eique se involvit, ut tota corporis figura appareat, +quod secus est in toga et pallio aut stola.” + +Footnote 781: (return) Literally, “reaped, cropped.” + +Footnote 782: (return) See Buttmann, Lexii. p. 445 + +Thus having spoken, swift-footed Iris departed. But he ordered his sons +to prepare his well-wheeled mule-drawn chariot, and to tie a chest upon +it; but he descended into an odoriferous chamber of cedar, +lofty-roofed, which contained many rarities, and called in his wife +Hecuba, and said: + +“Unhappy one, an Olympian messenger has come to me from Jove, [that I +should] ransom my dear son, going to the ships of the Greeks, and +should bear gifts to Achilles, which may melt his soul. But come, tell +this to me, what does it appear to thee in thy mind? For my strength +and courage vehemently urge me myself to go thither to the ships, into +the wide army of the Greeks.” + +Thus he spoke: but his spouse wept, and answered him in words: + +“Ah me, where now is thy prudence gone, for which thou wast formerly +distinguished among foreigners, and among those whom thou dost govern? +Why dost thou wish to go alone to the ships of the Greeks, before the +eyes of the man who slew thy many and brave sons? Certainly an iron +heart is thine. For if this cruel and perfidious man shall take and +behold 783 thee with his eyes, he will not pity thee, nor will he at +all respect thee. But let us now lament him apart, 784 sitting in the +hall; but [let it be] as formerly to him, at his birth violent fate +spun his thread, when I brought him forth, that he should satiate the +swift-footed dogs at a distance from his own parents, with that fierce +man, the very middle of whose liver I wish that I had hold of, that, +clinging to it, I might devour it; then would the deeds done against my +son be repaid; for he did not slay him behaving as a coward, but +standing forth in defence of the Trojan men and deep-bosomed Trojan +dames, neither mindful of flight nor of receding.” + +Footnote 783: (return) A somewhat awkward inversion of the sense. + +Footnote 784: (return) _I.e._ without the body of Hector being at +hand. + +But her again the aged, godlike Priam addressed: + +“Do not detain me, desirous to go, nor be thou thyself an evil-omen +bird in my palaces; nor shalt thou persuade me. For if indeed any other +of earthly beings had ordered me, whether they be prophets, +soothsayers, or priests, we might have pronounced it a falsehood, and +been the more averse. But now since I myself have heard it from a +deity, and have beheld her face to face, I will go, nor shall this word +be vain and if it be my fate to die at the ships of the brazen-mailed +Greeks, I am willing; for Achilles will forthwith, slay me, embracing +my son in my arms, after I have taken away the desire of weeping.” + +He spoke; and opened the beautiful lids of the chests, and took out +thence twelve beautiful mantles, twelve single cloaks, as many +tapestried rugs, and, in addition to these, as many tunics; and having +weighed it, he took out ten whole talents of gold. He took out beside +two glittering tripods, and four goblets, and a very beautiful cup, +which the Thracian men had given him when going on an embassy, a mighty +possession. Nor now did the old man spare even this in his palaces; for +he greatly wished in his mind to ransom his dear son. And he drove away +all the Trojans from his porch, chiding them with reproachful words: + +“Depart, wretched, reproachful [creatures]; is there not indeed grief +to you at home, that ye should come fretting me? Or do ye esteem it of +little consequence that Jove, the son of Saturn, has sent sorrows upon +me, that I should have lost my bravest son? But ye too shall perceive +it, for ye will be much more easy for the Greeks to destroy now, he +being dead; but I will descend even to the abode of Hades, before I +behold with mine eyes the city sacked and plundered.” + +He spoke; and chased away the men with his staff; but they went out, +the old man driving [them]. He indeed rebuked his own sons, reviling +Helenus, Paris, and godlike Agathon, Pammon, Antiphonus, and Polites, +brave in the din of battle, Deïphobus, Hippothous, and renowned Dius. +To these nine the old man, reproaching, gave orders: + +“Haste for me, O slothful children, disgraceful; would that you had all +been slain at the swift ships, instead of Hector. Ah me! the most +unhappy of all, since I have begotten the bravest sons in wide Troy; +but none of whom I think is left: godlike Mestor, and Troulus, who +fought from his chariot, and Hector, who was a god among men, for he +did not appear to be the son of a mortal man, but of a god. These +indeed has Mars destroyed to me; but all these disgraces remain, liars, +dancers, 785 most skilled in the choirs, and public robbers of lambs +and kids. Will ye not with all haste get ready my chariot, and place +all these things upon it, that we may perform our journey?” + +Footnote 785: (return) Cicero pro Muræna, vi., “Saltatorem appellat L. +Murænam Cato Maledictum est, si vere objicitur, vehementis +accusatoris.” Cf. Æn. ix. 614. + +Thus he spoke; but they, dreading the reproach of their father, lifted +out the well-wheeled, mule-drawn chariot, beautiful, newly built, and +tied the chest 786 upon it. They then took down the yoke for the mules +from the pin, made of box-wood, and embossed, well fitted with rings, +and then they brought out the yoke-band, nine cubits in length, along +with the yoke. And this indeed they adjusted carefully to the pole at +its extremity, and threw the ring over the bolt. Thrice they lapped it +on either side to the boss; and when they had fastened, they turned it +evenly under the bend; then, bearing the inestimable ransoms of +Hector’s head from the chamber, they piled them upon the well-polished +car. Then they yoked the strong-hoofed mules, patient in labour, which +the Mysians formerly gave to Priam, splendid gifts. They also led under +the yoke for Priam, the horses, which the old man himself had fed at +the well-polished manger. These indeed the herald and Priam yoked in +the lofty palace, having prudent counsels in their minds. But near them +came Hecuba, with sad mind, bearing sweet wine in her right hand, in a +golden goblet, in order that having made libations, they might depart. +But she stood before the steeds, and spoke, and addressed them: + +“Take, 787 offer a libation to father Jove, and pray that thou mayest +return home again from the hostile men; since indeed thy mind urges +thee to the ships, I at least not being willing. But do thou pray now +to the dark, cloud-compelling Idæan son of Saturn, who looks down upon +all Troy; but seek the fleet bird, his messenger, which to him is the +most pleasing of birds, and whose strength is very great, on thy right +hand, so that, marking him thyself with thine eyes, thou mayest go, +relying on him, to the ships of the fleet-horsed Greeks. But if +wide-viewing Jove will not give thee his own messenger, I would not at +all then, urging, advise thee to go to the ships of the Greeks, though +very eager.” + +Footnote 786: (return) A kind of wicker hamper. Cf. Hesych. t. ii. p. +921. + +Footnote 787: (return) See ξ. 219. + +But her godlike Priam answering, addressed: + +“O spouse, certainly I will not disobey thee, advising this; for it is +good to raise one’s hands to Jove, if perchance he may compassionate +me.” + +The old man spoke, and bade the attending servant pour pure water upon +his hands; for a handmaid stood by, holding in her hands a basin, and +also an ewer; and having washed himself, he took the goblet from his +wife. Then he prayed, standing in the midst of the enclosure, and +poured out a libation of wine, looking towards heaven; and raising his +voice, spoke: + +“O father Jove, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most great, grant me to +come acceptable and pitied to [the tent] of Achilles; and send the +swift bird, thy messenger, which is the most agreeable of birds to +thee, and whose strength is very great, on my right hand; that I +myself, perceiving him with my eyes, may go, relying on him, to the +ships of the fleet-horsed Greeks.” + +Thus he spoke, praying; but to him provident Jove hearkened, and +immediately sent an eagle, the Black Hunter, the most certain augury of +birds, which they also call Percnos. 788 As large as the well-bolted, +closely-fitted door of the lofty-roofed chamber of a wealthy man, so +great were its wings on each side; and it appeared to them, rushing on +the right hand over the city. But they, having seen it, rejoiced, and +the soul was overjoyed in their bosoms. Then the old man, hastening, +mounted his polished car, and drove out of the vestibule and +much-echoing porch. Before, indeed, the mules drew the four-wheeled +car, which prudent Idæus drove; but after [came] the horses, which the +old man cheered on, driving briskly through the city with his lash; but +all his friends accompanied, greatly weeping for him, as if going to +death. But when they had descended from the city, and reached the +plain, his sons and sons-in-law then returned to Ilium. Nor did these +two, advancing on the plain, escape the notice of far-seeing Jove; but, +seeing the old man, he pitied him, and straightway addressed his +beloved son: + +Footnote 788: (return) See Alberti on Hesych. t. ii. pp. 622, 941; +Villois on Apoll. Lex. p. 556. + +“O Mercury (for to thee it is peculiarly grateful to associate with +man, and thou hearest whomsoever thou art willing), go now, and so +convey Priam to the hollow ships of the Greeks, that neither any one +may see him, nor indeed any of the other Greeks perceive him until he +reach the son of Peleus.” + +Thus he spoke; nor did the messenger, the son of Argus. disobey. 789 +Immediately then he fastened under his feet his beautiful sandals, +ambrosial, golden, which carry him as well over the sea, as over the +boundless earth, with the blasts of the wind. He also took his rod, +with which he soothes the eyes of those men whom he wishes, and again +excites others who are asleep; holding this in his hands, the powerful +slayer of Argus flew along. But he immediately reached the Troad and +the Hellespont, and hastened to go, like unto a princely youth, first +springing into youth, whose youth is very graceful. And they, when they +had driven by the great tomb of Ilus, stopped their mules and horses, +that they might drink in the river; for even now twilight had come over +the earth. But the herald, spying, observed Mercury near, and addressed +Priam, and said: + +Footnote 789: (return) Compare Milton, P.L. v. 285, sqq., with +Newton’s note. + +“Beware, O descendant of Dardanus; this is matter for prudent thought. +I perceive a warrior, and I think that he will soon destroy us. But +come, let us fly upon our steeds; or let us now, grasping his knees, +entreat him, if he would pity us.” Thus he spoke, but the mind of the +old man was confounded, and he greatly feared; but the hair stood +upright on his bending limbs. And he stood stupified; but Mercury +himself coming near, taking the old man’s hand, interrogated, and +addressed him: + +“Whither, O father, dost thou this way direct thy horses and mules +during the ambrosial night, when other mortals are asleep? Dost thou +not fear the valour-breathing Greeks, who, enemies and hostile to thee, +are at hand? If any one of these should see thee in the dark and +dangerous night, bearing off so many valuables, what intention would +then be towards thee? Neither art thou young thyself, and this [is] an +old man who accompanies thee, to repel a warrior when first any may +molest thee. But I will not do thee injury, but will avert another from +thee, for I think thee like my dear father.” + +But him Priam, the godlike old man, then answered: + +“Surely these things are as thou sayest, my dear son. But hitherto some +one of the gods has protected me with his hand, who has sent such a +favourable conductor to meet me, so beautiful art thou in form and +appearance. And thou art also prudent in mind, and of blessed parents.” +But him again the messenger, the slayer of Argus, addressed: “O old +man, thou hast certainly spoken all these things with propriety. But +come, tell me this, and relate it truly; whither now dost thou send so +many and such valuable treasures amongst foreigners? Whether that +these, at least, may remain safe to thee? Or do ye all, now fearing, +desert sacred Ilium? For so brave a hero, was he who died, thy son; he +was not in aught inferior to the Greeks in battle.” + +But him Priam, the godlike old man, then answered: + +“But who art thou, O best one, and of what parents art thou, who +speakest so honourably to me of the death of my luckless son?” + +But him again the messenger, the slayer of Argus, addressed: + +“Thou triest me, old man. and inquirest concerning noble Hector; whom +I, indeed, have very often beheld with mine eyes in the glorious fight, +when, routing the Greeks, he slew them at their ships, destroying +[them] with his sharp spear; but we, standing, marvelled; for Achilles, +enraged with the son of Atreus, did not permit us to fight. But I am +his attendant, and the same well-made vessel brought us. I am [one] of +the Myrmidons; Polyetor is my father, who, indeed, is rich, but now old +as thou. To him there are six sons, but I am his seventh; with whom +casting lots, the lot occurred to me to follow [Achilles] hither. And I +came to the plain from the ships, for at dawn the rolling-eyed Greeks +will raise a fight around the city. For they are indignant sitting +quiet, nor can the chiefs of the Greeks restrain them, longing for +war.” + +But him then Priam, the godlike old man, answered: + +“If indeed thou art one of the servants of Achilles, the son of Peleus, +come now, tell all the truth to me, whether is my son still at the +ships, or has Achilles, tearing him limb from limb, cast him to the +dogs?” + +But him the messenger, the slayer of Argus, again addressed: + +“O old man, neither have the dogs yet devoured him, nor the birds, but +he still lies at the ship of Achilles, in the same plight as before, at +his tents; and it is [now] the twelfth morning him lying, yet his body +is not at all putrid, nor do the worms devour him, which consume men +slain in battle. Doubtless he will drag him cruelly around the tomb of +his dear companion when divine morn appears; but he does not defile +him. Approaching, thou indeed thyself wouldst wonder how fresh 790 he +lies, while the blood is washed away from around, nor [is he] polluted +in any part. But all his wounds are closed, whatever were inflicted; +for many thrust a spear into him. Thus do the happy gods regard thy +son, though dead; for he was dear to them in their heart.” + +Thus he spoke; but the old man rejoiced, and answered in words: + +“O son, surely it is good to give due gifts to the immortals, for my +son, while he was yet in being, never neglected the gods who possess +Olympus, in his palace; therefore are they mindful of him, although in +the fate of death. But come now, accept from me this beautiful goblet; +protect myself, 791 and, with the favour of the gods, conduct me until +I come into the tent of the son of Peleus.” + +Footnote 790: (return) Literally, “dew-like,” See Kennedy. + +Footnote 791: (return) Heyne prefers, “effect for me the ransom of the +body,” quoting Hesych., ῥύεσθαι, λοτρώσασθαι. + +But him the slayer of Argus again addressed: “Old man, thou triest me, +[being] younger; nor wilt thou now persuade me; thou who orderest me to +accept thy gifts unknown to Achilles; whom indeed I dread, and scruple +in my heart to plunder, lest some evil should afterwards come upon me. +Yet would I go as a conductor to thee even to renowned Argos, +sedulously, in a swift ship, or accompanying thee on foot; nor, indeed, +would any one contend with thee, despising thy guide.” + +Mercury spoke, and, leaping upon the chariot and horses, quickly took +the scourge and the reins in his hands, and breathed bold vigour into +the horses and mules. But when they had now reached the ramparts and +trench of the ships, then the guards were just employed about their +feast, and the messenger, the slayer of Argus, poured sleep upon them +all; and immediately he opened the gates and pushed back the bars, and +led in Priam, and the splendid gifts upon the car. But when they +reached the lofty tent of Achilles which the Myrmidons had reared for +their king, lopping fir timbers; and they roofed it over with a +thatched roof, mowing it from the mead, and made a great fence around, +with thick-set stakes, for their king: one bar only of fir held the +door, which, indeed, three Greeks used to fasten, and three used to +open the great fastening of the gates; but Achilles even alone used to +shoot it. Then, indeed, profitable Mercury opened it for the old man, +and led in the splendid presents to swift-footed Achilles; then he +descended to the ground, from the chariot, and said: + +“O old man, I indeed come, an immortal god, Mercury, to thee; for to +thee my father sent me as companion. Yet shall I return indeed, nor be +present before the eyes of Achilles; for it would indeed be invidious +for an immortal god so openly to aid mortals. But do thou, entering, +clasp the knees of the son of Peleus, and supplicate him by his father, +and fair-haired mother, and his son; that thou mayest effect his mind.” + +Thus, indeed, having spoken, Mercury went to lofty Olympus; and Priam +leaped from his chariot to the ground, and left Idæus there: but he +remained, guarding the steeds and mules; while the old man went +straight into the tent, where Achilles, dear to Jove, was sitting. +Himself he found within; but his companions sat apart; but two alone, +the hero Automedon, and Alcimus, a branch of Mars, standing near, were +ministering to him (for, eating and drinking, he had just ceased from +food, and the table still remained); but great Priam, entering, escaped +his notice, and, standing near, he clasped the knees of Achilles with +his hands, and kissed his dreadful man-slaughtering hands, which had +slain many sons to him. And as when a dread sense of guilt has seized a +man, who, having killed a man in his own country, comes to another +people, to [the abode of] some wealthy man, 792 and stupor possesses +the spectators; so Achilles wondered, seeing godlike Priam; and the +others also wondered, and looked at one another. And Priam, +supplicating, spoke [this] speech: + +Footnote 792: (return) Probably for the purpose of purification, +although, as has been before observed, Homer does not mention this. +Compare my note on Æsch. Eum. p. 187, n. 5, and p. 187, n. 1, ed. Bonn. + +“Remember thy own father, O Achilles, like unto the gods, of equal age +with me, upon the sad threshold of old age. And perhaps indeed his +neighbours around are perplexing him, nor is there any one to ward off +war and destruction. Yet he indeed, hearing of thee being alive, both +rejoices in his mind, and every day expects to see his dear son +returned from Troy. But I [am] every way unhappy, for I begat the +bravest sons in wide Troy, of whom I say that none are left. Fifty +there were to me, when the sons of the Greeks arrived; nineteen indeed +from one womb, but the others women bore to me in my palaces. And of +the greater number fierce Mars indeed has relaxed the knees under them; +but Hector, who was my favourite, 793 and defended the city and +ourselves, thou hast lately slain, fighting for his country; on account +of whom I now come to the ships of the Greeks, and bring countless +ransoms, in order to redeem him from thee. But revere the gods, O +Achilles, and have pity on myself, remembering thy father; for I am +even more miserable, for I have endured what no other earthly mortal +[has], to put to my mouth the hand of a man, the slayer of my son.” + +Thus he spoke; but in him he excited the desire of mourning for his +father; and taking him by the hand, he gently pushed the old man from +him. But they indeed, calling to mind, the one 794 wept copiously [for] +man-slaughtering Hector, rolling [on the ground] before the feet of +Achilles; but Achilles bewailed his father, and again in turn +Patroclus; and their lamentation was aroused throughout the house. But +when noble Achilles had satiated himself with grief, and the desire +[for weeping] had departed from his heart and limbs, immediately rising +from his seat, he lifted up the old man with his hand, compassionating +both his hoary head and hoary chin; and, addressing him, spoke winged +words: + +Footnote 793: (return) Literally, “my only son.” + +Footnote 794: (return) Priam. + +“Alas! wretched one, thou hast certainly suffered many evils in thy +mind. How hast thou dared to come alone to the ships of the Greeks, +into the sight of the man who slew thy many and brave sons? Assuredly +thy heart is iron. But come now, sit upon a seat; and let us permit +sorrows to sink to rest within thy mind, although grieved; for there is +not any use in chill grief. For so have the gods destined to unhappy +mortals, that they should live wretched; but they themselves are free +from care. 795 Two casks of gifts, 796which he bestows, lie at the +threshold of Jupiter, [the one] of evils, and the other of good. To +whom thunder-rejoicing Jove, mingling, may give them, sometimes he +falls into evil, but sometimes into good; but to whomsoever he gives of +the evil, he makes him exposed to injury; and hungry calamity pursues +him over the bounteous earth; and he wanders about, honoured neither by +gods nor men. So indeed have the gods given illustrious gifts to Peleus +from his birth; for he was conspicuous among men, both for riches and +wealth, and he ruled over the Myrmidons, and to him, being a mortal, +they gave a goddess for a wife. 797 But upon him also has a deity +inflicted evil, for there was not to him in his palaces an offspring of +kingly sons; but he begat one short-lived son; nor indeed do I cherish +him, being old, for I remain in Troy, far away from my country, causing +sorrow to thee and to thy sons. Thee too, old man, we learn to have +been formerly wealthy: as much as Lesbos, above the seat of Macar, cuts +off on the north, and Phrygia beneath, and the boundless Hellespont: +among these, O old man, they say that thou wast conspicuous for thy +wealth and thy sons. But since the heavenly inhabitants have brought +this bane upon thee, wars and the slaying of men are constantly around +thy city. Arise, nor grieve incessantly in thy mind; for thou wilt not +profit aught, afflicting thyself for thy son, nor wilt thou resuscitate +him before thou hast suffered another misfortune.” + +Footnote 795: (return) This Epicurean sentiment is illustrated with +great learning by Duport, pp. 140, sqq. + +Footnote 796: (return) See Duport, pp. 142, sqq. + +Footnote 797: (return) Catullus, lxii. 25: “Teque adeo eximie tædis +felicibus aucte Thessaliæ columen Peleu, quoi Juppiter ipse, Ipse suos +divûm genitor concessit amores.” + +But him Priam, the godlike old man, then, answered: + +“Do not at all place me on a seat, Ο Jove-nurtured, whilst Hector lies +unburied in thy tents; but redeem him as soon as possible, that I may +behold him with mine eyes; and do thou receive the many ransoms which +we bring thee; and mayest thou enjoy them, and reach thy father-land, +since thou hast suffered me in the first place to live, and to behold +the light of the sun.” + +But him swift-footed Achilles, sternly regarding, then addressed: + +“Do not irritate me further, old man, for I also myself meditate +ransoming Hector to thee; for the mother who bore me, the daughter of +the marine old man, came as a messenger from Jove to me. And I perceive +thee also, O Priam, in my mind, nor do thou deceive me, that some one +of the gods has led thee to the swift ships of the Greeks; for a mortal +would not have dared to come into the camp, not even in very blooming +youth, for he could not have escaped the guards, nor indeed pushed back +the bars of our gates. Wherefore do not move my mind more to sorrows, +lest I leave thee not unharmed, old man, in my tents, though being a +suppliant, and violate the commands of Jove.” + +Thus he spoke; but the old man feared, and obeyed. But the son of +Peleus leaped forth, like a lion, from the door of the house, not +alone; for two attendants accompanied him, the hero Automedon, and +Alcimus, whom Achilles honoured most of his companions next after the +deceased Patroclus. These then unharnessed the horses and mules from +the yoke, and led in the clear-voiced herald of the old man, and placed +him upon a seat. They also took down from the well-polished car the +countless ransoms of Hector’s head. But they left two cloaks and a +well-woven tunic, in order that, having covered the body, he might give +it to be borne home. But having called his female attendants, he +ordered them to wash and anoint all round, taking it apart, that Priam +might not see his son; lest, seeing his son, he might not restrain the +wrath in his grieving heart, and might arouse the soul of Achilles, and +he might slay him, and violate the commands of Jove. But when the +servants had washed and anointed it with oil, they then threw over him +a beautiful cloak, and a tunic; then Achilles himself, having raised +him up, placed him upon a litter, and his companions, together with +[him], lifted him upon the well-polished chariot. But he moaned, and +called upon his dear companion by name: + +“O Patroclus, be not wrathful with me, if thou shouldst hear, although +being in Hades, that I have ransomed noble Hector to his beloved +father, since he has not given me unworthy ransoms. Besides even of +these will I give thee a share, whatever is just.” + +Noble Achilles spoke, and returned into the tent, and sat down upon a +well-made couch, whence he had risen, at the opposite wall, and +addressed Priam: + +“Thy son is indeed redeemed to thee, as thou didst desire, and lies +upon a bier; and with the early dawn thou shalt behold him, conveying +[him away]: but now let us be mindful of the feast; for even +fair-haired Niobe was mindful of food, although twelve children +perished in her palaces, six daughters and six youthful sons; these +indeed Apollo slew with his silver bow, enraged with Niobe; but those, +arrow-rejoicing Diana, because, forsooth, she had compared herself with +fair-cheeked Latona. She said that [Latona] had borne [only] two, +whereas she had borne many; yet those, though being only two, destroyed +all [her own]. Nine days indeed they lay in blood, nor was there any +one to bury them, for the son of Saturn had made the people stones; but +upon the tenth day the heavenly gods interred them. Still was she +mindful of food, when she was fatigued with weeping. Now, indeed, ever +amidst the rocks, in the desert mountains, in Sipylus, where, they say, +the beds of the goddess Nymphs are, who lead the dance around Acheloüs, +there, although being a stone, she broods over the sorrows [sent] from +the gods. But come now, O noble old man, let us likewise attend to +food, but afterwards thou mayest lament thy beloved son, conveying him +into Troy; and he will be bewailed by thee with many tears.” + +Swift Achilles spoke, and leaping up, slew a white sheep, and his +companions flayed it well, and fitly dressed it; then they skilfully +cut it in pieces, pierced them with spits, roasted them diligently, and +drew them all off. Then Automedon, taking bread, distributed it over +the table in beautiful baskets; whilst Achilles helped the meat, and +they stretched out their hands to the prepared victuals lying before +them. But when they had dismissed the desire of food and drink, +Dardanian Priam indeed marvelled at Achilles, such and so great; for he +was like unto the gods; but Achilles marvelled at Dardanian Priam, +seeing his amiable countenance, and hearing his conversation. When, +however, they were satisfied with gazing at each other, him Priam, the +godlike old man, first addressed: + +“Send me now to rest as soon as possible, Ο Jove-nurtured, that we, +reclining, may take our fill of sweet sleep; for never have these eyes +been closed beneath my eyelids from the time when my son lost his life +by thy hands; but I ever lament and cherish many woes, rolling in the +dust within the enclosures of my palaces. But now I have tasted food, +and poured sweet wine down my throat; for before indeed I had not +tasted it.” + +He spoke; but Achilles ordered his companions, servants, and maids, to +place couches beneath the porch, and to spread beautiful purple mats on +them, and to strew embroidered carpets over them, and to lay on them +well-napped cloaks, to be drawn over all. But they went out of the +hall, having a torch in their hands, and hastening, they quickly spread +two couches. But the swift-footed Achilles, jocularly addressing him, +798 said: + +Footnote 798: (return) “Achilles, in a mood partly jocular and partly +serious, reminds Priam of the real circumstances of his situation, not +for the sake of alarming him, but of accounting for his choosing the +place he did for the couch of the aged king.”—Kennedy. + +“Do you lie without, O revered old man, lest some counsellor of the +Greeks come hither, who, sitting with me, constantly meditate plans, as +is just. If any of these should see thee in the dark and dangerous +night, he would forthwith tell Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people, +and perchance there would be a delay of the redemption of the body. But +come, tell me this, and tell it accurately: How many days dost thou +desire to perform the funeral rites of noble Hector, that I may myself +remain quiet so long, and restrain the people?” + +But him Priam, the godlike old man, then answered: + +“If indeed thou desirest me to celebrate the funeral of noble Hector, +thus doing, O Achilles, thou dost surely gratify me. For thou knowest +how we are hemmed in within the city, and it is far to carry wood from +the mountain; and the Trojans greatly dread [to do so]. Nine days +indeed we would lament him in our halls, but on the tenth would bury +him, and the people should feast; but upon the eleventh we would make a +tomb to him, and on the twelfth we will fight, if necessary.” But him +swift-footed Achilles again addressed: + +“These things shall be to thee, O aged Priam, as thou desirest; for I +will prevent the fight as long a time as thou desirest.” + +Thus having spoken, he grasped the right hand of the old man near the +wrist, lest he should fear in his mind. They indeed, the herald and +Priam, slept there in the porch of the house, having prudent counsels +in their mind; while Achilles slept in the interior of the well-built +tent; and beside him lay fair-cheeked Brisëis. + +The other gods indeed and chariot-fighting men slept all night, subdued +by gentle slumber; but sleep seized not Mercury, the author of good, +revolving in his mind how he should convey away king Priam from the +ships, having escaped the notice of the sacred gate-keeper. Accordingly +he stood over his head, and addressed him: + +“O aged man, certainly evil is not at all a care to thee, that thou +sleepest thus amongst hostile men, after Achilles has suffered thee. +Now indeed thou hast ransomed thy beloved son, and hast given much; but +the sons left behind by thee would give three times as many ransoms for +thee alive, if Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, should know of thy being +here, and all the Greeks should know of it.” + +Thus he spoke; but the old man feared, and awoke the herald. Then for +them Mercury yoked the horses and mules, and quickly drove them himself +through the camp, nor did any one perceive. But when they reached the +course of the fair-flowing river, eddying Xanthus, which immortal Jove +begat, then indeed Mercury went away to lofty Olympus; and +saffron-robed Morn was diffused over the whole earth. They indeed drove +the horses towards the city with wailing and lamentation, and the mules +bore the body; nor did any other of the men and well-girdled women +previously perceive it; but Cassandra, like unto golden Venus, +ascending Pergamus, discovered her dear father standing in the +driving-seat, and the city-summoning herald. She beheld him also upon +the mules, lying on the litter; then indeed she shrieked, and cried +aloud throughout the whole city: + +“O Trojans and Trojan women, going forth, behold Hector, if ever ye +rejoiced at his returning alive from battle; for he was a great joy to +the city, and to the whole people.” + +Thus she spoke; nor was there any man left in the city, nor woman; for +insupportable grief came upon them all, and they met him near the gates +bringing in the body. But his wife and venerable mother first rushing +to the well-wheeled chariot, plucked out their hair, touching his head; +and the crowd stood around, weeping. And they indeed would have wept +the whole day till sunset before the gates, lamenting Hector, had not +the old man addressed the people from his chariot: + +“Give way to me, to pass through with the mules; but afterwards shall +ye be satiated with weeping, after I shall carry him home.” Thus he +spoke; but they stood off, and made way for the chariot. But when they +had brought him into the illustrious palace, they laid him upon +perforated beds, and placed singers beside him, leaders of the dirges, +who indeed sang a mournful ditty, while the women also uttered +responsive groans. And amongst them white-armed Andromache began the +lamentation, holding the head of man-slaughtering Hector between her +hands: + +“O husband, young in years hast thou died, and hast left me a widow in +the palace. And besides, thy son is thus an infant, to whom thou and I, +ill-fated, gave birth; nor do I think he will attain to puberty; for +before that, this city will be overthrown from its summit. Certainly +thou, the protector, art dead, who didst defend its very self, and +didst protect its venerable wives and infant children; who will soon be +carried away in the hollow ships, and I indeed amongst them. But thou, +O my son, wilt either accompany me, where thou shalt labour unworthy +tasks, toiling for a merciless lord; or some one of the Greeks, +enraged, seizing thee by the hand, will hurl thee from a tower, to sad +destruction; to whom doubtless Hector has slain a brother, or a father, +or even a son; for by the hands of Hector very many Greeks have grasped +the immense earth with their teeth. For thy father was not gentle in +the sad conflict; wherefore indeed the people lament him throughout the +city. But thou hast caused unutterable grief and sorrow to thy parents, +O Hector, but chiefly to me are bitter sorrows left. For thou didst not +stretch out thy hands to me from the couch when dying; nor speak any +prudent word [of solace], which I might for ever remember, shedding +tears night and day.” + +Thus she spoke, bewailing; but the women also lamented; and to them in +turn Hecuba began her vehement lamentation: + +“O Hector, far of all my sons dearest to my soul, certainly being alive +to me, thou wert beloved by the gods, who truly have had a care of +thee, even in the destiny of death. For swift-footed Achilles sold 799 +all my other sons, whomsoever he seized, beyond the unfruitful sea, at +Samos, Imbrus, and Lemnos without a harbour. But when he had taken away +thy life with his long-bladed spear, he often dragged thee round the +tomb of his comrade Patroclus, whom thou slewest; but he did not thus +raise him up. But now thou liest, to my sorrow, in the palaces, fresh +800 and lately slain like him whom silver-bowed Apollo, attacking, has +slain with his mild weapons.” + +Footnote 799: (return) See Grote, vol. i. p. 399. + +Footnote 800: (return) See on ver. 419. + +Thus she spoke, weeping; and aroused a vehement lamentation. But to +them Helen then, the third, began her lamentation: + +“O Hector, far dearest to my soul of all my brothers-in-law, for +godlike Alexander is my husband, he who brought me to Troy:—would that +I had perished first. But now already this is the twentieth year to me +from the time when I came from thence, and quitted my native land; yet +have I never heard from thee a harsh or reproachful word; but if any +other of my brothers-in-law, or sisters-in-law, or well-attired +husband’s brothers’ wives, reproached me in the palaces, or my +mother-in-law (for my father-in-law was ever gentle as a father), then +thou, admonishing him with words, didst restrain him, both by thy +gentleness and thy gentle words. So that, grieved at heart, I bewail at +the same time thee and myself, unhappy; for there is not any other in +wide Troy kind and friendly to me; but all abhor me.” + +Thus she spoke, weeping; and again the countless throng groaned. And +aged Priam spoke [this] speech amongst the people: + +“O Trojans, now bring wood to the city, nor at all fear in your mind a +close ambuscade of the Greeks; for Achilles, dismissing me from the +dark ships, thus promised me, that he would not commence hostilities, +before the twelfth morning should arrive.” + +Thus he spoke; and they yoked both oxen and mules beneath the waggons; +and then assembled before the city. For nine days indeed they brought +together an immense quantity of wood; but when now the tenth morn, +bearing light to mortals, had appeared, then indeed, weeping, they +carried out noble Hector, and placed the body on the lofty pile, and +cast in the fire. + +But when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered Morn, appeared, then were +the people assembled round the pile of illustrious Hector. But after +they were assembled, and collected together, first indeed they +extinguished all the pyre with dark wine, as much as the force of the +fire had possessed; but then his brothers and companions collected his +white bones, weeping, and the abundant tear streamed down their cheeks. +And, taking them, they placed them in a golden urn, covering them with +soft purple robes, and forthwith deposited it in a hollow grave; and +then strewed it above with numerous great stones. But they built up the +tomb in haste, and watches sat around on every side, lest the +well-greaved Greeks should make an attack too soon. And having heaped +up the tomb, they returned; and then being assembled together in order, +they feasted on a splendid banquet in the palaces of Priam, the +Jove-nurtured king. + +Thus indeed they performed the funeral of steed-breaking Hector. + +END OF THE ILIAD. + + + + +PRINTED BY W. 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