The Iliad of Homer

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THE

ILIAD OF

HOMER

TRANSLATED INTO KNGLISH BLANK VKRSE BY

WILLIAM CULLEN HRYANT //

"tth

Illustrations by

Flu MII an

TWO VOLUMES

BOSTON'

HOUGHTON

IN

ONE

AND NEW YORK MII-TLIN press

COMPANY

COPYRIGHT,

COPYRIGHT,

1870, 1898,

BY FIELDS, OSGOOD & CO.

BY JULIA SANDS BRYANT

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

H PUBLISHERS' NOTE bringing out this A'/trrxitk Popular Edition of

IXI.ry-int's

translation of the ILIAD the publishers have it from the famous designs

taken pleasure in illustrating of John Flaxman.

Few, if any, book illustrations have so well stood the test of time as have Flaxman's drawings for the Iliad

and Odyssey of Homer.

I'.nni

of an

intimate study of Greek art from childhood, they breathe the very spirit of ancient Greece, and they form a fitting

accompaniment

to

Bryant's faithful

translation.

BOSTON, Man/i,

79/6.

and sympathetic

PREFACE HAY

IXC, now nearly completed

the Iliad of

face, that

may

it

Homer,

I

sit

down

be prefixed to the

this task of translation,

which

I

my

translation of

to write the Prefirst

began

To

volume. in

1865,

I

terwards gave myself the more willingly because

afit

helped in some measure to divert my mind from a great domestic sorrow. I am not sure that, when it shall be concluded,

it

have, for four years past, been occupied,

I

thoughts

not cost me some regret to part with companion as the old Greek poet, whose

may

so interesting a

though with interruptions, in the endeavor to transfer from his own grand and musical Greek to our less sonorous but still manly and flexible tongue. In what

mean

I

shall say of

my own

translation

I

do not

disparagement of any of the previous English versions of the Iliad, nor to extenuate my oblito

speak

in

gations to

some of them.

Homer

as

is,

spicuous of poets, often, ter

my

acknowledge that although most perhave been sometimes, perhaps

Cowper has I

I

well observed, the

guided by the labors of

my

predecessors to a bet-

mode

of dealing with certain refractory passages of author than I should otherwise have found. Let

me, without detracting from their merits, state what I I have endeavored to be have endeavored to do. to add nothing of my strictly faithful in my rendering ;

own, and to give the reader, so far as our language

viii

Preface.

would

allow, all that

I

found

There

in the original.

however, in Homer, frequently recurring, certain expressions which are merely a kind of poetical finery, are,

when they are convenient to fill out a line or a sonorous termination, and omitted when The Greeks, for they are not needed for this purpose. example, almost whenever they are spoken of, are magintroduced to give

it

nanimous, or valiant, or warlike, or skilled in taming steeds the Trojans are magnanimous also, and valiant, and warlike, and equally eminent in horsemanship. :

The warriors of the Iliad mous or warlike parent. and Peleus

is

are

all

sons of some magnaniis the son of Peleus,

Achilles

magnanimous

;

and these

epithets are re-

peated upon page after page throughout the poem. Achilles is spoken of as swift-footed or godlike almost

whenever he appears, and sometimes is honored by both Hector is illustrious, and knightly, and disepithets. Even the coxcomb tinguished by his beamy crest. Paris, for whom Homer seems to entertain a proper contempt, is godlike. These complimentary additions to the

name

of the warrior are, however, dispensed with

whenever the hexameter

is

conclusion without them.

Greek,

rounded

have in nearly all Achilles swift-footed

I

to a well-sounding they appear in the instances retained them,

Where

and Ulysses fertile in reend of the poem but in a very few cases, where they embarrassed the versification, I have used the liberty taken by Homer himself, and left them out. Everywhere else it has been my rule not to exclude from the translation anything which I found in

making

sources, to the

the text of

There

my

is

;

author,

another point in regard to which

I

have

taken equal pains, and which seems to me equally imI have endeavored to preserve the simplicit\ portant. of style which distinguishes the old Greek poet,

who

x

wrote for the popular ear and according to the genius of his language, and I have chosen such Kiudish as offers

no violence to the ordinary usages and structure I have sou-lit to attain what belongs to

of our own.

the original,

a fluent narrative

style,

which

shall carry

impediment of unc.vpected inversions and capricious phrases, and in which. if he find nothing to stop at and admire, there will at least be nothing to divert his attention from the story and the characters of the poem, from the events related the reader forward without the

I think that not many and the objects described. oi' the present day would agree with Pope, who, as Spence relates, after remarking that he had nothing to say for rhyme, went on to observe that he doubted

readers

whether a poem could be supported without it in our it were stiffened with such strange

language, unless

words as would destroy our language itself. It is remarkable that this should have been said by one who had given the reading world an edition of Shakespeare, in whose dramas are to be found passages of blankverse which might be instanced as the perfection of that form of versification, --not to be excelled in sweetness of modulation, and grace and freedom of language, without a single harsh inversion, or any of that clumsy stiffening

which Pope so disapproved, yet seemed

think so necessary.

The

to

other dramatists of the Eliza-

bethan period also supply examples of the same noble simplicity of language and construction, suited to the In this translation the natural order ot highest poetry. the words has been carefully preserved, as far as the exigencies of versification would allow, and I have ventured only upon those easy deviations from it which form no interruptions to the sense, and at most only re-

mind I

the reader that he is reading verse. have chosen blank-verse for this reason among

x

Preface.

it enabled me to keep more closely to the original in my rendering, without any sacrifice either of ease or of spirit in the expression. The use of rhyme in a translation is a constant temptation to petty infi-

others, that

employment of expressions which and do not the most adequately convey the thought. I had my reasons also for not adopting the ballad measure, which some have thought to allow the nearest approach to the manner of delities,

and

to the

have an

air of constraint,

Homer.

There

are,

it is

Homer and

the style of

true, certain affinities

that of the old ballad

between

poems of

Great Britain. Both were the productions of a rude age both were composed to be sung to public audiences and this gave occasion to certain characteristics But the Homeric in which they resemble each other. ;

;

poems, as

it

seems

to

me, are beyond the popular bal-

lads of any modern nation in reach of thought and in richness of phraseology and if I had adopted that form ;

of poetry there would have been, besides the disadvantage of rhyme, a temptation to make the version con-

form rant,

and

in style

literature, in

spirit to the old

ballads of our

own

a degree which the original does not war-

and which, as

I

think,

would lead

to

some

sacrifice

did not adopt the hexameter verse ; is conprincipally for the reason that in our language it fessedly an imperfect form of versification, the true of

its

dignity.

I

rhythm of which it is difficult for those whose ear is accustomed only to our ordinary metres to perceive. I found that I could not possibly render the Greek hexameters line for line, like Voss in his marvellous German version, in which he has not only done this, but generally preserved the pauses in the very part of the line in

which Homer placed them. We have so many short in English, and so few of the connective particles

words

which are lavishly used by Homer, that often when

I

xi

Preface.

Cached

tnc end of the ('.rock line

the middle of

in

my

line in

I

found myself only Tlu^ ditYirulty

Kn;.;lish.

of subduing the thought by compression or expanto the limits it must fill would alone

sion of phrase

have been

sufficient to

me

deter

translation in hexameters.

I

from attempting fell back up-m .\

therefore

blank-verse, which has been the vehicle of

some of the

noblest poetry in our language both because it seemed to me by the flexibility of its construction best suited to ;

a narrative poem, and because, while it enabled me to give the sense of my author more perfectly than any other form of verse, it allowed me also to avoid in a greater degree the appearance of constraint which too apt to belong to a translation.

is

make no apology

for employing in my version the and others of Latin origin, Venus, Jupiter, Juno, for Zeus, Here, Aphrodite, and other Greek names of The names which the deities of whom Homer speaks. I

names

have adopted have been naturalized in our language and some of them, as Mercury, Vulcan, and Dian, have even been provided with English terI was translating from Greek into English, minations. I

for centuries,

and

I

therefore translated the

names

of the gods, as

well as the other parts of the poem. In explanation of what may appear to

some readers

an unauthorized abridgment of the famous simile of the moon and stars at the end of the Eighth Book, I will mention here, by way of note, --the only one which I shall have occasion to make, --that in translating I have omitted two lines of the text, which the best critics regard as not properly belonging to it, but as transferred by some interpolator from another simile in the Sixteenth Book, where they are found in their proper place.

In the intimate acquaintance with the Iliad which

xii

Preface.

the work of translation has given me, an impression has been revived which was made upon my mind when in my boyhood I first read that poem in an English verI recollect very well the eager curiosity with sion.

translation of Pope when it with what avidity I ran and my through the pages which rendered into our language what was acknowledged to be the greatest production I read with of poetic genius that the world had seen. a deep interest for the fate of Troy, and with a kindly

which

seized

I

upon the

came within

reach,

toward Hector, whose part I took warmly against the bloodthirsty Achilles ; and great as might have been the guilt of Paris, I read with an earnest wish feeling

Troy might be delivered from its besiegers. When came to the end of the poem, I laid it down with a I was not told, save in cerfeeling of disappointment. tain dim predictions, what became of Troy, which the Greeks had mustered from so many regions to besiege, nor what was the fate of the mild and venerable Priarn, and the aged Hecuba, and Andromache, the gentle and that I

affectionate wife, and her infant son, personages for whose fortunes the poet had so powerfully awakened my concern and my curiosity. Helen, to recover whom the war was waged, was still in Troy, and Paris, her effeminate husband, was still alive and unharmed. Why the Trojans, who hated Paris why Hector and

the other sons

who disapproved why Priam himself, who

of Priam,

brother's conduct

of their is

never

said to have approved of it, did not insist that the seducer should restore Helen to her first and proper hus-

band, for

whom

strange

it

she seems to have

still

entertained a

could never imagine. Particularly seemed that Paris was not forced by his

lingering regard,

I

countrymen to give up Helen after the combat between frim and Menelaus, in which he was clearly overcome,

xiii

1'rcface.

ind by the terms of the >olenm treaty which preceded duel was

llie

wealth to the

hound
le

it

is

;dl

his valor,

and affectionate as

as gentle

it

is

impossible for the reader not to

The List book of the Iliad rea strong interest. the recovery of hi^ dead body from the Greeks, and

the celebration of his funeral in Troy. also, tho

since

lie

In this book,

character of Achilles appears loss unamiable, grants the rites of hospitality to Priam, and is

persuaded by his entreaties to restore, for a princely ransom, the dead body of Hector, contrary to his first It is to be observed, however, that he is resolution. to this, not by his own native magnanimity, but by considerations which indirectly relate to himself, that is to say, by being artfully led to think of his own father, Peleus, an aged man like Priam, anxiously wailing in his distant palace for the return of his son from

moved

the war,

again.

and Once

fearing that he

may

never behold him

with Priam the fierce and

in the interview

brutal nature of Achilles breaks out in threats, which terrify

the old king into

silence.

warned by the gods that he

Priam

is

himself

not safe in remaining overnight in the tent of Achilles, and, lest he should not be protected from the ferocity of Agamemnon, withis

draws by stealth in the darkness and returns to Troy. I have no answer to make to those who regard it as a blemish in the great work of Homer that he represents

men as governed, for the mean and base, or frivo-

the gods in their dealings with

most

part,

by motives

either

and childish. In the Trojan war everything happens by their direction or their prompting. In the sys-

lous

xvi

Preface.

tern of Homer it is they who stir up men to strife, who bring on the battles, promote the slaughter, and bring it to an end, urge the personages of the fable to ruinous

and imprudences, and give or withhold rictory at and in all this their rule is not one of Their favor is justice and beneficence, but of caprice. purchased by hecatombs, and their hatred incurred by acts which have no moral quality that should give offollies

their pleasure

;

fence to an upright judge.

They

are debauched, mer-

cenary, rapacious, and cruel they dwell in a world in which the rules of right and the .maxims necessary to ;

the well-being of human society find no recognition. It was for this reason that Plato, the earliest author of an Index expurgatorius, forbade the circulation of the writings of the Greek poets in his imaginary common-

wealth.

Yet

let

me

part of the

say this in favor of my author, that in one the absolute rectitude of the Divine

poem

is solemnly recognized. In the Third Book of the Iliad, a truce is agreed upon between the Trojans and the Greeks, while Menelaus and Paris are to decide

government

single combat the quarrel which has occasioned the siege of Troy. compact is made, according to which the victor is to possess Helen and her wealth, and the Trojans and Greeks are ever afterward to remain

by

A

friends

and

allies.

The gods

are invoked to be wit*

nesses of the treaty, and to pursue with their vengeance those by whom it shall be violated, whether they be

Greeks or Trojans.

Few

passages in the Iliad are

more

striking or of graver import than this appeal to the justice of the gods, -- this testimony, given by two war-

ring nations,

of their confidence

in

the

equity with

which the immortals govern the world. Paris is overcome by Menelaus in the combat the truce is broken by a Trojan, who wounds Menelaus severely the treaty ;

;

xvn not

is

fulfilled

tion of the iion

c

by delivering up Hrlen

poem proceeds

\horts the

(

\\\

eks

t'>

in

;

and, as the ac-

the next book,

ti,jit

Againrm-

valianth, in the

lull

as-

surance that Jupiter and the other gods \\ill nc\er permit treachery to remain unpunished and accordin ly ;

he predicts a terrible retribution already hanging over Troy. And whatever may be our admiration lor the

amiable and noble qualities of Hector, and our sympathy for the thousands of innocent persons dwelling in populous city, it cannot be denied that the interference of the gods in the affairs of Troy leads in the end

his

to

a great

1'aris,

result

consistent

with substantial justice.

the violator of the laws of hospitality, the adul-

and robber, is sheltered, protected, and countein Troy, --the Trojan people make themselves and in the end they share in its partakers in his guilt punishment. Hector, the prop of their state, the chamand we are pion in whom they put their trust, is slain terer

nanced

;

;

by means of predictions, a glimpse of the coming destruction of Troy, and learn that the sceptre of the kingdom will pass from the house of Priam, whose son committed the crime which led to the war, and will allowed,

be swayed by the posterity of the blameless

Here

I

leave

my

translation in the

.

Kneas.

hands of the read-

if they do not wholly neglect it, will judge whether I have made any approach toward the fulfilment of the design set forth in the beginning of

ing public, who,

this Preface.

W. DECEMBER,

1869.

C.

BRYANT,

CONTENTS OF VOL. BOOK THE CONTENTION

K

The Visit of Chryses, Priest Ransom of his Daughter.

I.

I.

ACHILLES AND AGAMEMNON.

of Apollo, to Refusal of

Agamemnon, asking

Agamemnon

A

the

Pesti-

A

Council called by lence sent by Apollo upon the Greek Army. The Cause of the Pestilence declared by the Seer CalAchilles.

Dispute between

chas.

Agamemnon and

Achilles,

which ends

The Daughter of with the taking away of Briseis from Achilles. Visit of Thetis to Jupiter, who promises Chryses restored to him. to

avenge Achilles.

Mutual Chiding of Jupiter and Juno.

BOOK

II.

THE TRIAL OF THE ARMY, AND CATALOGUE OF THE FORCES. A treacherous Dream th

Army

the

sent by Jupiter to

Hope Agamemnon

in

Agamemnon, who assembles

to take Troy.

Debate of the Chiefs

in

pretends a Desire to return to Greece, in Insolent Speech of Order to try the Disposition of the Army. Advice of Nestor to Thersites, ard his Punishment by Ulysses. Council.

review the Troops. Catalogue of the Troops and Ships. meration of the Trojan Forces, .

.

BOOK

Enu.

.

28

III.

SINGLE COMBAV OF MENELAUS AND PARIS. Proposal of Hector to end the War by a Duel between Menelaus and Priam and Paris, the Victor to possess Helen and her Wealth. Helen behold the Combat Description of the principal Greek Paris snatched Princes and Chiefs, given by Helen to Priam. away from the Combat by Venus, as he was in Danger of being slain, and conveyed to the Bedchamber of Helen. .

.

'

-

xx

Contents.

BOOK

IV.

THE BREAKING OF THE TRUCE, AND THE FIRST BATTLE. A

decide that the War shall go on. cause the Breaking of the Truce. Pandarus persuaded by her to aim an Arrow at Menelaus, who is wounded by it, and healed by Machaon. Exhortations of Aga-

Council of the Gods,

Minerva sent down

'memnon addressed

who

to

to the

A

Greek Chiefs

furious Battle,

and

great Slaughter on both Sides.

BOOK

87

V.

THE EXPLOITS OF DIOMED. He is wounded by PanThe Valoj of Diomed, aided by Minerva. darus, and healed by the Goddess, who forbids him to fight with of the save Venus. His Combat with Pandarus Immortals, any and .'Eneas. Pandarus slain, and tineas, wounded and in great Danger, rescued by Venus, who in the act is wounded by Diomed, Descent of Mars to and leaves vEneas to the Care of Apollo. Return of ^Eneas to the Field. the Field in Aid of Hector. Descent of Juno and Minerva to resist Mars, who is wounded by Return of the Gods to Heaven Diomed.

BOOK

in

VI.

INTERVIEWS BETWEEN GLAUCUS AND DIOMED, AND HECTOR

AND ANDROMACHE. Successes of the Greeks.

Hector recalled

to

Troy by Helenus,

appoint a Procession of the Trojan Matrons to the

to

Temple of

Meeting of Glaucus and Diomed, who recognize each Their Exchange of Weapons. Meeting of Hector and Andromache, and Return of Hector and Paris to Minerva.

other as old Friends.

....

the Field

BOOK

VII.

THE COMBAT OF HECTOR AND

AJAX.

Meeting of Minerva and Apollo near the Scaean Gates. They incite Hector to challenge the Greeks to The a Single Combat. Ajax selected by Lot to meet Hector. Combat ended by the Night Proposal of Antenor to deliver

Prowess of Hector.

151

xxi

Contents. Helen

to the

Wealth.

burying the Dead.

who offers Agamemnon.

Refusal of Paris,

Greeks. (

Rejection

tins

(

)!l,-r

Iw

The Greek Camp fortified

BOOK

to restore

A Truce .

.

her for .

174

VIII.

THE SECOND BATTLE. A

Council of the Gods.

Jupiter forbkls them to take Part \ith

Minerva permitted to advise the Greeks. BeginThe Fate of the two Armies weighed ning of the Second Battle. Exin thu Scales by Jupiter. Nestor rescued by Diomed. Neptune denies the Request of ploits of Diomed and of Hector. either Side.

Teucer wounded by Hector. Juno to aid the Greeks. Juno and Minerva restrained by Jupiter from going to the Aid ol the Greeks,

who

The Tro-

are driven within their Entrenchments.

jins pass the Night before the Greek

Camp, and

kindle Fires

...

196

to raise the Siege opposed by Diomed and A Council. Ulysses, Ajax, and Phoenix sent 10 Nestor. Achilles to request a Reconciliation. Their Reception, their Persuasions, and their 111 Success.

220

around

it

.

LOOK

IX.

THE EMBASSY TO ACHILLES. Agamemnon's Proposal

....

.

BOOK

X.

THE NIGHT-ADVENTURE OF DIOMED AND Agamemnon's

Distress at the Obstinacy of Achilles.

ULYSSES.

Consults with

A Council. Diomed Menelaus, Nestor, Ulysses, and Diomed. and Ulysses set out for the Enemy's Camp to learn his Designs. Death of Dolon, the Trojan Spy. Rhesus the Thracian killed in hiS'Tent and his Horses taken.

.......

BOOK

XI.

THE THIRD BATTLE, AND EXPLOITS OF AGAMEMNON. Renewal of the Fight by Agamemnon. His Prowess. Hector *arned by Iris not to fight till Agamemnon is wounded. Aga-

251

xxii

Contents.

memnoii disabled. Hector makes great Havoc till checked by Diomed wounded by Paris, and rescued Ulysses and Diomed. ConverMachaon wounded. by Ajax, who rallies the Greeks. sations of Nestor and Patroclus

BOOK

276

XII.

THE BATTLE AT THE GRECIAN WALL. Division of the Trojan Army, by Advice of Polydamas, into Five A Breach in the Bodies, to storm the Greek Intrenchments.

One of the Gates beaten open by Wall made by Sarpedon. His Entrance at the Head of his Troops. Hector with a Stone.

312

CONT!:

OK VOL

IS

N

BOOK

XIII.

THE rONTINT.vnoN OF Descent of Neptune

Aid

in

dressed to the Chiefs. ttii-

Kittle

renewed with

by the \ji\e^, who Idomeiu'ii^.

/Eneas.

Hector.

TH!:

'I'll.

I. .11

.treat

rally the

Idoim-neiis

loPRTH BATT! Hi

the ('.n-eks.

i>f

II.

Kxhort.itions ad-

.injure!

by Hector, and

H

Fury.

Exploits of Meriunes and

'

forced

to

by Deiphobus and

retire

Tlu Tiojans, hard pressed on their left, are rallied by Kepn -i ol 1'aris by Hector, and mutual Defiance of

Hector and Ajax

...

.

.

BOOK

.

.

I

XIV.

THE FRAUD PRACTISED ON JUPITER BY JUNO. Agamemnon with Nestor, Diomed, and Ulysses. Proposal of Agamemnon to withdraw from Troy by N'.jlu opposed

Consaltation of

Visit made by these wounded Chiefs to the Battlefield, in ordrr to encourage the Army. The CestUS of Venus borrowed by Juno, who decoys Jupiter to her Chamber, w here he

by Ulysses.

falls asleep. Neptune m.-amvhile actively aids the Greeks, who commit great Slaughter. Hector wounded by Ajax

...

BOOK XV. THE FIFTH HA

I

II.

F.

AT THE

SHIPS.

The Anger of Jupiter on awakinp appeased by Juno's Denial that Iris despatched she had instigated Neptune to aid the Greeks. to recall

of

Ni j.tnne from the Field.

1.

by Minerva

.1

arming

Mars, enraged to aid the

Hector healed by Apollo.

Trojans,

at the is

Death

n-strained

His Return

to

the

38

xx iv

Contents. The Greeks

Field.

who Ajax

driven back to the Ships by the Trojans, Defence of the Ships by

attempt to set the Fleet on Fire.

...

61

BOOK THE SIXTH BATTLE.

XVI. DEATH OF PATROCLUS.

Patroclus permitted by Achilles to take Part in the War, on Condi tion that he will return after repulsing the Trojans from the Fleet.

His Preparations for the Battle, putting on the Armor of Achiland summoning the Myrmidons to follow him. Alarm of the

les,

Trojans on seeing him, supposing him to be Achilles. The Trojans driven back from the Fleet. ploits. Sarpedon.

The Trojans pursued by

Command of Achilles,

His ExDeath of

Patroclus, contrary to the

Walls of Troy. Patroclus disarmed by Apollo, wounded by Euphorbus, and slain by Hector to the

.

BOOK

94

.

XVII.

THE SEVENTH BATTLE. Body of Patroclus, which is guarded by Menelatis. Death of Euphorbus. Retreat of Menelaus, and his Return with Ajax, after which Hector is obliged to give Way. Hector

Contest for the

.

for this by Glaucus. He puts on the Armor of Patroand renews the Contest, driving back the Greeks. Rally of the Greeks by Ajax. Bravery of /Eneas. Flight of Automedon with the Horses and Chariot of Patroclus. The Defenders of the Body of Patroclus involved in Darkness, which is dispelled at the A Message sent to Achilles informing him of Prayer of Ajax. the Death of Patroclus, whose Body is rescued and borne off by Menelaus and Meriones 132

reproved clus,

BOOK

XVIII.

THE GRIEF OF ACHILLES FOR THE DEATH OF PATROCLUS.

A Visit of Condolence Lamentation of Achilles over Patroclus. from Thetis and her Nymphs. Appearance of Achilles on the

A CounIntrenchments, and consequent Alarm of the Trojans. of War held by the Trojan Chiefs Advice of Polydamasto

cil

withdraw from the Field into Troy opposed by Hector, and reVulcan engaged by Thetis to forge a new Suit of Armor

jected.

for Achilles

164

xxv

Contents.

BOOK XIX. THK KKCONCH Thetis brings

to

lAi'io.N

Achilles the

of Patroclus preserved bly

the

(if all

th

forged

Vulc.in.

liy

Tli.-

\M

:

'

:

renounce their Ehimity.

War.

llody R
M A
e others left To do me honor )vt, and, best of all, The all-providing Jove is with me still. Thee detest the most of all the men ;

I

Ordained by him

to govern

;

*

thy delight

and bloody frays. If thou art brave, some deity, no doubt, Hath thus endowed thee. Hence, then, to thy home, With all thy ships and men there domineer Is in contention, war,

!

Over thy Myrmidons

Nor I

care

I

for thy fury.

threaten thee

Chryseis,

I will

And

my

with

Will bear

;

thee,

Thus,

send her

in

friends, and,

away

To measure

heed thee

my

w

not,

in turn,

since Phoebus takes

;

away

ship

coming

to thy tent,

the fair-cheeked maid, thy prize,

I5riseis, that thou learn

Above

I

and

how

far I

that other chiefs

240

stand

may

fear

strength with me, and brave

my

power."

The rage of Peleus' son, as thus he spake, 245 Grew fiercer in that shaggy breast his heart to draw from his Took counsel, whether thigh The trenchant sword, and, thrusting back the rest, Smite down Atrides, or subdue his wrath While he thus (Vr.d master his own spirit. ;

Debated with himself, and half unsheathed

**

The

IO

The ponderous

Iliad.

blade, Pallas Athene came,

Sent from on high by Juno, the white-armed, Who loved both warriors and made both her care.

She came behind him, seen by him alone. plucked his yellow hair. The hero turned In wonder, and at once he knew the look

And Of

Pallas

And "

and the awful-gleaming

eye,

thus accosted her with winged words

-

:

com'st thou hither, daughter of the god

Why Who bears The

the aegis

Of Atreus?

And

Art thou here to see

?

26*

Agamemnon, son

insolence of

me

Let

tell

thee what I

That man may

Will be the event.

"

quickly too, for

arrogance

deem

lose his

life,

like this."

Then thus the goddess, blue-eyed Pallas, spake I came from heaven to pacify thy wrath,

If thou wilt

heed

my

counsel.

the white-armed, to

By Juno Are dear, who ever watches ;

o'er

calm thy angry

Achilles,

O

spirit, and obey." the swift-footed, answered thus:

goddess, be the word thou bring'st obeyed,

However

fierce

my

anger

;

266

you both.

let

For I declare what time shall bring to pass ; Threefold amends shall yet be offered thee, In gifts of princely cost, for this day's wrong.

Now

:

I am sent whom ye both

not thy hand Unsheathe the sword, but utter with thy tongue Reproaches, as occasion may arise, Refrain from violence

"

255

for to

him

270

^

/.

Who

hearkens to the gods, the gods give ear." So speaking, on the silver hilt he stayed

His strong Thrust

right hand,

and hack

into

;

sheath

its

his

good sword, obeying. She, meantime, Returned to heaven, where ojgis-bearing Jove Dwells with

th-j

other gods.

And now

The son of Atreus, venting thus "

his wrath

\Vine-bibber, with the forehead of a

Thou never And a deer's heart To arm thyself for battle with the

Better

it

to rob

midst the mighty host

some warrior of

Who dares withstand thee.

And

A

art,

and yet

291

dost rule

spiritless race, else this day's insolence,

Atrides, were thy

By

his prize

King thou

Thou

Devourer of thy people.

A

lie

such thy craven fear of death.

suits thee,

Of Greeks,

290

rest,

join the other chiefs prepared to

In ambush,

:

dog

yet hast dared

!

Nor

&s

again

with opprobrious words, bespake

''elides,

bind

this

last.

And now

I say,

saying with a mighty oath

my my sceptre,

:

which can never bear

leaf or twig, since

first

it

left its

300

stem

for the steel has pared and bark boughs away, to sprout no more, And now the Achaian judges bear it, they

Among

the mountains,

Its

Who

guard the laws received from Jupiter,-

Such

is

my

The Greeks

oath,

the time shall

come when

shall long to see Achilles back,

While multitudes are perishing by the hand

*>

all

The

12

Of Hector,

Iliad.

the man-queller

Though thou lament,

shalt

; thou, meanwhile, have no power to help,

3

And

thou shalt rage against thyself to think That thou hast scorned the bravest of the Greeks."

As thus he spake, Pelides to the ground Flung the gold-studded wand, and took his Fiercely Atrides raged

;

but

seat.

now uprose

315

Nestor, the master of persuasive speech,

The

clear-toned Pylian orator,

whose tongue

Dropped words more sweet than honey. He had seen Two generations that grew up and lived With him on sacred Pylos pass away, 320 And now he ruled the third. With prudent words

He "

thus addressed the assembly of the chiefs

:

Ye gods what new misfortunes threaten Greece! !

How

Priam would exult and Priam's

And how would

sons,

the Trojan race rejoice,

all

325

Were they to know how furiously ye strive, Ye who in council and in fight surpass The other Greeks. Now hearken to my words, for I Ye who are younger than myself,

Have

lived with braver

They

held

I

me

never saw, nor shall

Men

men

than you, and yet

not in light esteem.

like Pirithoiis

I

and

see again, like

Druas, lord

and Exadius, And the great Polypheme, and Theseus, son

Of

3*>

Such men

nations, Caeneus

Of ^Egeus,

likest to the

Strongest of

all

immortal gods.

the earth-born race they fought

33*.

/.

/>'/

The strongest with With Centaurs,

And Did

I

bid

me

fought

On

the strongest of their time-

With these men

hold converse, coming to their

From Pylos

To

in

a distant hind.

join the war,

my

3

the wild dwellers of the hills,

fearfully destroyed them. I

1

best, but

They

and by

MJ

camp sent

their side

no man living now

the wide earth would dare to fight with them.

345

Great as they were, they listened to my words And took my counsel. Hearken also ye,

And let my words persuade you for the best. Thou, powerful as thou art, take not from him The maiden suffer him to keep the prize Decreed him by the sons of Greece and thou, ;

3*

;

no longer with the king, Since never Jove on sceptred prince bestowed Like eminence to his. Though braver thou, Pelides, strive

And And

T

is

goddess-borrv, yet hath he greater

The bulwark

To him "

The

Are

power

355

wider sway. Atrides, calm thy wrath I who ask --against the chief who stands

Agamemnon

said

:

things which thou hast uttered, aged chief. *

fitly

Above

of the Greeks in this fierce war."

the sovereign

spoken

all

but this

;

others

;

man would

he aspires

The

master, over

And

to direct in all things

all

to

to

stand

be

domineer, ;

yet, I think,

There may be one who will not suffer For if by favor of the immortal gods

this.

305

The

He

Iliad.

was made brave, have they

Given him the

for

liberty of insolent

such a cause *

speech

Hereat the great Achilles, breaking

?

in,

"

Yea, well might I deserve the name Of coward and of wretch, should I submit

Answered In

:

me

Lay thou on others, not on I shall

And

My

bear

it

to

And now

well in mind,

keep the

take from

nor think I say,

I shall

maiden

me

be cm board that

;

This

obey thee longer.

hand

May

Such commands

things to thy bidding.

all

370

whom

not

lift

375

ye gave

but whatever else

;

swift black ship of

Beware thou carry not away the least Without my leave. Come, make the

mine,

trial

now,

380

That these may see thy black blood bathe my spear." Then,

rising

from that

Dissolved the assembly

strife

at the

of words, the twain

Grecian

fleet.

Pelides to his tents and well-manned ships Went with Patroclus and his warrior friends,

385

While Agamemnon bade upon Launch a swift bark with twenty chosen men the sea

To

ply the oar, and put a

Upon The

He

it

for the god.

fair-cheeked

He

hecatomb thither led

maid Chryseis

gave to wise Ulysses

;

;

the

command

Leader and crew, upon their watery path. Meanwhile, he bade the camp be purified

And

39*

forth they went,

the straight the warriors purified

And, casting the pollutions

;

camp,

to the waves,

393

Book

1.

15

They burned

to I'liu-lms rhosen hecatombs and goats beside the barren main, From wiueh the tavor rose in smoke to heaven. (

)f

bulls

So was the host employed.

Dm

not the less

Did Agamemnon persevere to urge His quarrel with Pelides; and he thus Addressed Talthybius and Kurybates, His heralds and his faithful ministers "

Go

And And I

where Achilles holds

ye to

take the

fair JJriseis

bring her hither.

shall

come

400

:

his tent,

by the hand,

405

If he yield her not,

forth to claim her with a

band

Of

warriors, and it shall be worse for him." He spake, and sent them forth with added words

Of menace.

^

With unwilling steps they went

Beside the barren deep, until they reached

The tents and vessels of the Myrmidons, And found Achilles seated by his tent And his black ship their coming pleased him not. They, moved by fear and reverence of the king, 4., ;

Stopped, and bespake him not, nor signified Their errand he perceived their thought and said

:

;

"Hail, heralds, messengers of Jove and men! Draw near I blame you not. I only biame Atrides, who hath sent you for the maid. ;

bring the damsel forth, them lead her hence. My witnesses

Noble Patroclus

And Are

And

let

'

ye, before the blessed deities,

mortal men, and this remorseless king,

4=?

1

The

6

If ever

he

shall

need

me

Iliad.

to avert

**

The doom of utter ruin from his host. Most sure it is, he madly yields himself

To fatal counsels, And of the future, The Greeks may

He

thoughtless of the past

nor forecasting how

fight,

unvanquished, by their fleet/

Meantime Patroclus had obeyed

spake.

/.

Embrace

I'.rside their

To

glory in

Wide-ruling

How

and pray him

his knees,

The Trojans,

19 to befriend

hemmed

that the (ireeks,

in

and

slain

ships and by the .shore, may learn their king, and even he,

Agamemnon, may

grievous was

v$

perceive

when he dared

his folly

To treat with scorn the bravest of the (ireeks." And Thetis answered, weeping as she spake "

Alas,

To

my

son,

why

did

sorrow as thou wert

?

I

:

-

rear thee, born

O

would that thou

Unwronged, and with no cause for tears, couldstdwell Beside thy ships, since thou must die so soon. in an unhappy hour, and Short-lived wronged beyond all other men. Yet will I climb the Olympian height among

I

brought thee forth

Its

snows and make

The Thunderer,

To my By

if

my

haply he

entreaties.

5^1

suit to Jupiter

may

yield

Thou, meanwhile, abide

thy swift ships, incensed against the Greeks,

And

take no part in

all

their battles more.

&

But yesterday did Jove depart to hold A banquet far in Ocean's realm, among

The blameless Ethiopians, and with him Went all the train of gods. Twelve days must Ere he return

to

heaven, and

I will

Enter his brazen palace, clasp

then

his knees,

And hope

to move his purpose by my prayers." So saying, she departed, leaving him

!n anger for the shapely damsel's sake,

pass s?>

The

2O

Whom

Iliad.

Meantime

forcibly they took away.

s*>

Ulysses, with the sacred hecatomb, Arrived at Chrysa. Entering the deep port,

They folded up

them down

the sails and laid

In the black ship, and lowering the mast,

With

all its

Then

to the shore they urged the

it

shrouds, they brought

And

cast the anchors

With

fastenings.

to its place.

54.

bark with oars,

and secured the prow Next, they disembarked and stood

the beach and placed the hecatomb In sight of Phcebus, the great archer. Last, Chryseis left the deck, and, leading her

Upon

Up

to the altar, wise

The maid "

O

Chryses

Sends me

Ulysses gave

speaking thus

to her dear father, !

Agamemnon,

in haste to

550

:

king of men,

bring this maid to thee

555

And offer up this hallowed hecatomb To Phcebus, for the Greeks that so the god, Whose wrath afflicts us sore, may be appeased. :

So speaking, to her father's hands he gave The maiden joyfully the priest received The child he loved. Then did the Greeks array

s^

;

The noble hecatomb in order round The sculptured altar, and with washen hands They took

the salted meal, while Chryses stood

spread abroad his hands and prayed aloud " Hear me, thou bearer of the glittering bow,

And

Who Of

:

guardest Chrysa and the pleasant

Cilia

and

art lord in

Tenedos

!

isle

&

21

I.

Already hast

tliou listened to

my prayer me, and terribly hast scourged

Ami honored The

Afchaiaripeople.

And

Hear me

57-

yet again,

cause the plague that wastes the Greeks to cease.'

So spake

he, supplicating,

and

to

him

Phcebus Apollo hearkened. When the prayers Were ended, and the salted meal was tlung,

S7S

Backward they turned the necks of the fat beeves, And cut their throats, and flayed the carcasses, And hewed away the thighs, and covered them With caul

They O'er

in

double folds

;

and over

this

raw fragments of the other parts. the aged priest poured dark red wine,

laid all

And burned them on With five-pronged

A

band of youths beside him, thrust these

dry wood.

spits,

And

through which they laid among the flames. when the thighs were all consumed, and next

The

entrails tasted, all the rest

The

580

entrails,

585

was carved

Into small portions and transfixed with spits

And roasted with nice care and then withdrawn From the hot coals. This task performed, they made The banquet ready. All became its guests 590 And all were welcome to the equal feast. And when their thirst and hunger were allayed, Boys crowned the am pie urns with wreaths, and served The wine to all, and poured libations forth. Meantime

th/>

Argive youths, that whole day long, SM

The

22 to

Sang

appease the god

High anthems

He

Iliad.

listened to the strain,

Was And

they chanted forth

;

to the archer of the skies.

and

his stern

at length, the

When,

softened.

mood

sun went down

darkness fell, they gave themselves to sleep Beside the fastenings of their ships, and when

600

Appeared the rosy-fingered Dawn, the child

Of Morning, they returned to the great host Of the Achaians. Phoebus deigned to send

A

favoring breeze

And opened

;

once they reared the mast the canvas swelled ;

at

605

the white sails

Before the wind, and hoarsely round the keel

The dark waves murmured So ran

as the ship flew on.

she, cutting through the sea her way.

But when they reached the great Achaian host, They drew their vessel high upon the shore

Among They

the sands,

laid long

and underneath

beams

Dispersed themselves

The goddess-born Beside his ships

still

to

its

610

sides

prop the keel, and straight

among

the tents and ships.

Achilles, swift of foot,

brooded

6i S

o'er his wrath,

Nor came to council with the illustrious chiefs, Nor to the war, but suffered idleness To eat his heart away for well he loved Clamor and combat. But when now. at length, The twelfth day came, the ever-living gods Returned together to the Olympian mount With Jove, their leader. Thetis kept in mind Her son's desire, and, with the early morn, ;

&*

Book

/.

23

Emerging from the depths of ocean, climbed the great heaven and the high mount, and found

s

To

All-seeing Jove, who, from the rest apart,

Was

seated on the loftiest pinnacle

Of many-peaked Olympus.

She

sat

down

Before the son of Saturn, clasped his knees

With her

left

arm, and

One

In supplication to the Sovereign "

O

Jupiter,

The immortals

my I

father,

if

&*

up her right

lifted

:-

among

have ever given thee aid

By word or act, deny not my request. Honor my son, whose life is doomed to end

*3s

for Agamemnon, king of men, Hath done him shameful wrong he takes from him And keeps the prize he won in war. But thou,

So soon

;

:

6 4o

Olympian Jupiter, supremely wise, Honor him thou, and give the Trojan host

The

victory, until the

Heap

humbled Greeks

large increase of honors on

son."

my

She spake, but cloud-compelling Jupiter Answered her not in silence long he sat-

6 45

;

But Thetis, who had clasped his knees at first, Clung to them still, and prayed him yet again "

O

Deny Shall

promise me, and grant it,

- - for

my

thou need'st not

know how

far

suit

fear,

;

- -

:

or else

and

below the other gods

I 650

Thou holdest me in honor." As she spake, The Cloud-compeller, sighing heavily, Answered her thus

" :

Hard

things dost thou require,

The

24

And

thou wilt force

me

Iliad.

new

into

me

With Juno, who will anger With contumelious words

;

disputes ess

again

for ever thus,

In presence of the immortals, doth she seek

Cause of contention, charging that

The Trojans

in their battles.

Now

I

aid depart,

And let her not perceive thee. Leave the rest To be by me accomplished and that thou

66

;

Mayst be assured, behold, I give the nod ; For this, with me, the immortals know, portends

The highest certainty no word of mine Which once my nod confirms can be revoked, Or prove untrue, or fail to be fulfilled." As thus he spake, the son of Saturn gave The nod with his dark brows. The ambrosial :

*

curls

the Sovereign One's immortal head

Upon Were shaken, and

with them the mighty mount

Olympus trembled.

Then

^

they parted, she

Plunging from bright Olympus to the deep,

Jove returning to his palace home Where all the gods, uprising from their thrones,

And

;

waited not sight of the Great Father, as he came. him but met For his

At

o 75

approach,

And now upon

his throne the

His seat, but Juno knew That Thetis of the silver

Of

Godhead took

for she had seen feet,

and child

the gray Ancient of the Deep, had held

Close council with her consort.

Therefore she

Bespake the son of Saturn harshly, thus

:

**>

I.

25

"() crafty one, with whom, among tin.' gds, Thus hath it ever been

hottest thou now?

pleasure to devise, apart from me,

Thy Thy >

plan-, in sec'ret

thou reveal to

t

1

Then

And All

;

me

thy purposes."

thus replied the Father of the gods

mortals

my

" :

Juno, do not think to

designs, for

Too hard

although thou be my spouse. to be revealed, no one

for thee,

fitting is

Of

the immortals or of

Apart from

all

question

men

but when

shall

know

form designs the gods, presume thou not

Sooner than thou

To

know

thou wilt find the task

What all

685

never willingly

me

;

or pry into

I

my

695

plans.".

Juno, the large-eyed and august, rejoined What words, stern son of Saturn, hast thou said :

"

It

never was

Or pry

To

my wont

into thy plans,

and thou

form them as thou wilt

The

!

to question thee

;

yet

-

art left

now

I fear

silver-footed Thetis has contrived

That daughter of the Ancient of the Deep-

To

o'erpersuade thee,

She

sat before thee

And To

for, at

early prime,

and embraced thy knees

thou hast promised her,

I

w

;

cannot doubt,

give Achilles honor and to cause

Myriads of (ireeks

Then

to perish

by their

fleet."

Jove, the cloud-compeller, spake again

"

:

Harsh-tongued thou ever dost suspect me thus. ? Nor can I act unwatched and yet all this !

;

The

26

Iliad.

only serves

Profits thee nothing, for

it

To

the worse for thee.

breed

dislike,

But were

it

and

is

as thou deemest,

That such has been

my

In silence, and obey,

't

lest all the

Upon Olympus, when

I

enough

is

Sit

pleasure.

thou down 716

gods

come and

lay

These potent hands on thee, protect thee not" He spake, and Juno, large-eyed and august, O'erawed, and curbing her high spirit, sat In silence meanwhile all the gods of heaven

720

;

Within the halls of Jove were inly grieved. But Vulcan, the renowned artificer,

Sought

to console his

The white-armed "

Great

mother

Juno,

will the evil

in her grief,

and thus interposed: be and hard to bear,

7*

sake of mortals, ye are moved such contention and the assembled gods

for the

If,

To

Even the pleasant when embittered thus.

Disturbed with discord. Will lose

And Wise

let

its

flavor

me warn my mother

as she

is,

feast 730

while I speak,

that she defer to Jove,

Lest the All-Father angrily again Reply, and spoil the banquet of the day.

The Thunderer of Olympus, if he choose To make a wreck of all things, wields a power

735

Far greater than we all. Accost him thou With gentle speeches, and the Lord of heaven Will then regard us in a kindly mood/'

As

thus he spake, he gave into the hands

740

/.

27

mother the round cup Of double form, and thus lie spake again

Of

his 'x !o\vd

:

"

Mother, be patient and submit, although In sadn.s>, U-st thu>e eye.-> behold thee yet Jlcaten with stripes,

And

For hard

is

il

seized

me by

The battlements

And

I

I

What

and flung

of heaven.

Little life

I

me

All day

I

o'er

Sweet nectar from the

was

left in

me

me,

from the ground/'

the white-shouldered, smiled,

all

;

755

beginning first hand. As they beheld

jar,

at the right

Lame Vulcan laboring o'er the palace-floor, An inextinguishable laughter broke From

?y

fell,

smiling took the cup her son had brought next he poured to all the other gods

With those

745

;

struck the earth

time the Sintians took

He spake, and Juno, And And

hold thee dear

took part with thee,

the foot

with the setting sun

In Lemnos.

I

cannot bring thee help

to strive with Jupiter.

Already once, when

He

and though

grieve for thee,'

the blessed gods.

760

So feasted they

sunset. From that equal feast None stood aloof, nor from the pleasant sound Of harp, which Phoebus touched, nor from the voice Of Muses singing sweetly in their turn. 765 But when the sun's all-glorious light was down, Each to his sleeping-place betook himself

All day

till

;

For Vulcan, the lame god, with marvellous art, framed for each the chamber of his rest:

28

The

Iliad.

And Jupiter, the Olympian Thunderer, Went also to his couch, where 't was his wont,

When slumber overtook him, to And there, beside him, slept the

773

recline.

white-armed queen

Juno, the mistress of the golden throne.

BOOK other deities,

ALLTamers of

all

mortal men,

war-steeds, slept the whole night

through

;

But no sweet slumber came

Were

Myriads

A

his thoughts

;

with honor Peleus' son, and cause

last, this

Atreus.

Addressing "

Jove

to perish at the Grecian fleet.

counsel seemed the best,

treacherous dream to

Of

to

ever busy with the anxious care

To crown At

II.

Go,

Then he it

Agamemnon,

called a

to

Dream, and thus

with winged words, he said

fatal Vision, to the

send

son

Grecian

ic

:

fleet,

And, entering Agamemnon's tent, declare Give command Faithfully what I bid thee.

That now he arm, with

The

all

the array of war,

long-haired Greeks, for

lo,

That gives into his hands the

With In

all its

is

come

15

city of Troy

The powers who dwell mansions are no more

spacious streets.

tire celestial

the hour

O x,

Q

J

O ^ Q

TILD-N

C

T

.

I

3.

Book At variance

And

So spake At once

And

29

moved them

Juno's prayers have

;

o'er the

11.

Trojans lianas a

the (id

fearful

the Vision heard,

;

=*

and went

where the Grecian kirks were moored, Agamemnon's tent and found

to

entered

The king Poured

Took

leposing, with the balm of sleep

all

At

around him.

head the Dream ^

his

form of Neleus' son, Agamemnon honored most

station in the

Nestor,

whom

Of all the aged men. In such a shape The heaven-sent Dream to Agamemnon spake "

all,

doom."

O

warrior-son of Atreus, sleepest thou

Tamer

Who

of steeds

!

It

ill

becomes a

:

?

3

chief,

has the charge of nations and sustains

Such mighty cares, to sleep the livelong Give earnest heed to me, for I am come

night.

A messenger from Jove, who, though fai off, Takes part in thy concerns and pities thee. He

bids thee arm, with

The

all

the array of war,

long-haired Greeks, for

Which

gives into thy

35

now

hands the

the hour

is

come

city of Troy

With all its spacious streets. The powers that dwell In the celestial mansions are no more 41

At variance

And

;

o'er the

Juno's prayers have

Decreed by Jove.

And when

He

moved them

all,

Trojans hangs a fearful doom,

Bear what

I

say in mind,

thy sleep departs forget

spake, and, disappearing,

Musing on things

that never

it

left

were

to

not."

the king

be

;

45

The

30

Iliad.

For on that very day he thought

to take

The city of Priam. Fool who little knew What Jupiter designed should come to pass, And little thought by his own act to bring Great woe and grief on Greeks and Trojans both In hard-fought battles. From his sleep he woke, The heavenly voice still sounding in his ears, !

And

sat upright,

and put

his tunic

and new, and over His ample cloak, and round

Soft, fair,

sc

ss

o*n,

that he cast his shapely feet

Laced the becoming sandals. Next, he hung Upon his shoulders and his side the sword

With

silver studs,

and took

into his

&

hand

The

ancestral sceptre, old, but undecayed,

And

with

Of

it

turned his footsteps toward the fleet

the Achaian warriors brazen-mailed.

Now Dawn,

the goddess, climbed the Olympian

height, 6$ Foretelling Day to Jupiter and all The immortal gods, when Agamemnon bade The shrill-voiced heralds call the long-haired Greeks

Together

The

;

they proclaimed his

warriors

came

in throngs.

will,

But

and

straight

first

he bade

A council of large-minded elders meet On Pylian Nestor's royal bark, and there Laid his well-pondered thought before them thus " My friends, give ear a Vision from above

70

:

:

Came Most

to

me

like to

sleeping in the balmy night

noble Nestor was

its

look,

;

75

Book Its face, its stature,

Ueside "

'

()

me

my

and

its

31 It

garb.

head, and thus

it

stood

spake

:

warrior-son of Atreus, sleepest thou

Tamer of

Who

at

II.

steeds!

It

ill

becomes

?

a chief,

has the charge of nations and sustains

so

Such mighty cares, to sleep the livelong night. Give earnest heed to me, for I am come

A messenger from Jove, who, though far off, Takes part in thy concerns and pities thee. He

bids thee arm, with

all

the array of war,

85

The long-haired Greeks, for now the hour is come Which gives into thy hands the city of Troy With all its spacious streets. The powers who In the celestial mansions are no more

At variance

And

;

Juno's prayers have moved them

o'er the

d\vel)

all,

9

a fearful

doom, Trojans hangs Decreed by Jove. Bear what I say in mind.' " It spake and passed away, and with it lied

Now

must we devise a way

My

slumbers.

To

bring into the field the sons of Greece.

I first will try, as best I

Like the long billows of the Icarian Sea, Roused by the East wind and the South, that rush

Forth from the cloudy seat of Father Jove Or like the harvest-field, when west winds stoop ;

Suddenly from above, and toss the wheat. So was the whole assembly swayed they ran ;

With tumult

to the ships

Rose clouds of

dust,

To

seize the ships

Of

multitudes,

;

beneath their

as

feet

and each exhorted each

and drag them to the deep. mid the clamorous cries the channels cleared They

And drew

who hastened

to return,

the props from underneath their barks.

*9
c

keep among The knights, and counsel and admonish them, Is creeping o'er

The

Still I

office of the aged.

They who can

Younger men, must wield

trust their strength,

the

spear."

He

spake.

The son of Atreus passed him

1'leased with his words, and,

by,

415

moving onward, came

Where with the Athenians, ever prompt to raise The war-cry, grouped around him stood the knight

Menestheus, son of Peteus.

Near

to these

Was wise Ulysses, with his sturdy band Of Cephalonians. None of these had heard

4-*

The clamor of the battle, for the hosts Of Trojan knights and Greeks had just begun

To move, and there they waited for the advance Of other s.pudrons marching on to charge The Trojans and begin the war anew. The king of men, Atrides, was displeased,

4s

The

1O2

Iliad.

And spake, and chid them thus with winged words :-r "

O

son of Peteus, foster-child of Jove,

man

And

thou, the

Why

stand ye here aloof, irresolute, wait for others ? Ye should be the

And To meet

of craft and evil wiles

4>-

!

first

the foe and stem the battle's rage.

I bid you first to banquets which the Greeks Give to their leaders, where ye feast at will On roasted meats and bowk of pleasant wine.

Now, ere ye move, ye willingly would see Ten Grecian squadrons join the deadly strife." The man of many arts, Ulysses, spake,

And

frowned

Which pass Avoid the

" :

!

thy

?

?

Ever when the Greeks

conflict with the

and

Trojan knights,

thou givest heed To things like these, shalt with thine eyes behold The father of Telemachus engaged

Thou,

if

thou

439

O Atreus' son what words are these How canst thou say that we lips

battle

Seek bloody

433

wilt,

if

445

In combat with the foremost knights that form

The Trojan van. Thou utterest empty King Agamemnon, when he saw the

words." chief

Offended, changed his tone, and, smiling, said " Son of Laertes, nobly-born and wise Ulysses!

Nor

It is

not for

me

:

453

to chide

to exhort thee, for thy heart, I

know, Counsels thee kindly toward me, and thy thought 455 Agrees with mine. We will discuss all this Hereafter.

If just

now

too harsh a

word

/r.

Was

uttered,

So

To

mav t

the immortals

P>y his steed.-;

and by

That shone with Listenings of

The son of Tydeus,

And

make

it

"

vain

!

and went on

saying, he departed,

others.

103

his car,

**

brass, he found

large-souled

Diomed,

Sthenelus, the son of Capaneus,

Looking at them both, King Agamemnon to Tydides spake In winged words, and thus reproved the chief:

Standing beside him.

"

O

4^

son of Tydeus, ihat undaunted knight What is there to appall thee ? Why look through !

Tne spaces that divide the warlike ranks Not thus did Tydeus feel the touch of fear, ?

But ever foremost of

his warriors fought.

So they declare who saw

A?

his deeds, for I

Was never with him, nor have ever seen The hero. Yet they say that he excelled All others.

Certain

is it

that he

once

Entered Mycenae as a friendly guest, With no array of soldiery, but came

w>

T

was the time With godlike Polynices. When warrior-bands were gathered to besiege The sacred walls of Thebes, and earnestly

They prayed that from Mycenae they might lead Renowned auxiliars to the war, and we Would willingly have given the aid they asked, For we approved the prayer, - -but Jove, with signs Of angry omen, changed our purposes. 485 The chiefs departed, journeying on to where .IP>

The

IO4

Iliad.

and thence Asopus flows through reeds and grass, The Achaians sent an embassy to Thebes the many sons By Tydeus. There he met

Of Cadmus at the banquets in the hall Of valiant Eteocles. Though alone

The hero

To

and a stranger-guest,

so many,

Among

feared

vie with

He won

him

490

them in

not, but challenged

games

and

;

them

easily

the victory, such aid was given

Then

Cadmus, skilled In horsemanship, were wroth, and privily Sent fifty armed youths to lie in wait For his return. Two leaders had the band, Pallas.

By

the sons of

Maion, the son of Haemon, like a god In form, and Lycophontes, brave in war, Son of Autophonos. A bloody death

Did Tydeus give the youths.

whom

Save Maion,

He

so

slew them

all

he suffered to return,

Obedient to an omen from the gods. Such was yEtolian Tydeus but his son,

ss

;

A better speaker, He

spake

;

is

495

less brave in war."

and valiant Diomed, who heard

The king's reproof with reverence, answered not. Then spake the son of honored Capaneus " Atrides, speak not falsely, when thou know'st The truth so well. Assuredly we claim :

To be

We

far

braver than our fathers were.

took seven-gated Thebes with fewer troops

Than

theirs,

when, trusting

in the

omens

sent

s

Book

//'.

105

From heaven, and in the aid of Jupiter, led our men beneath the city walls Our lathers perished there Sacred t M.irs. Through their own folly. Therefore never seek

MS

We

To

same degree with

place them in the

The brave Tydides "

Nay, hold thy peace,

us."

with a frown replied

my

friend,

and heed

:

my words.

Of Agamemnon I will not complain, The shepherd of the people it is his To exhort the well-armed Greeks to gallant ;

Great glory

will

attend him

if

overcome the Trojans, and

Shall

The sacred Ilium Bitter

if

Hence

we

;

but his grief

shall fail

shall take will

be

and be destroyed.

we only of

think

deeds.

the Greeks

the furious charge !"

He

earth spake, and from his chariot leaped to All armed ; the mail upon the monarch's breast

Ran-

The

terribly as

530

he marched swiftly on.

boldest might have heard that sound with fear.

As when the ocean-billows, surge on surge,

Are pushed along

to the

resounding shore

Before the western wind, and

first

535

wave

a

and then against the land and round the headland peaks Tosses on high and spouts its spray afar,

Uplifts

itself,

Dashes and

roars,

serried phalanxes of Greece rank succeeding rank, each chief

So moved the

To

battle,

diving

command

Marched

to his

noiselessly

voice

:

own

troops

;

540

the rest

you might have thought no

The

Io6

Was So

Iliad.

in the breasts of all that

silently they all

obeyed

mighty throng,

their chiefs,

545'

Their showy armor glittering as they moved In firm array. But, as the numerous flock

Of some Within

Of

rich

man, while the white milk

is

drawn

his sheepfold, hear the plaintive call

their

own

lambs, and bleat incessantly,

sso

Such clamors from the mighty Trojan host Arose ; nor was the war-cry one, nor one

The

voice, but

For

they were called from

words of mingled languages,

These Mars encouraged

The

blue-eyed Pallas.

And

Fright,

and

many

different climes.

to the fight

but those

;

sss

Terror too was there,

Strife that rages

unappeased,

and comrade of man-slaying Mars, rises small at first, but grows, and lifts

Sister

Who

Her head

to

She, striding

The mutual

heaven and walks upon the earth. through the crowd and heightening

rancor, flung into the midst

all alike. Contention, source of bale to And now, when met the armies in the

The

field,

ox-hide shields encountered, and the spears,

And might

560

of warriors mailed in brass

The bossy bucklers, and the

565

then clashed

;

battle-din

then rose the mingled shouts and groans those who slew and those who fell the earth

Was

loud

Of Ran

with their blood.

;

;

Rush down With

As when

the winter streams

the mountain-sides, and

their swift waters,

fill,

below,

571

poured from gushing springs,

107

Some hollow Hears the

shepherd on the heights -such was the mingled din

vale, tin-

far roar,

-

That rose from the great armies when they met.

Then

first

sis

Antiloehus, advancing, struck

The Trojan champion Kehepolus down, Son of Thalysius, fighting in the van.

He

smote him on the helmet's cone, where streamed

The

in his

javelin stood

forehead, piercing through the bone,

And darkness As

The bra/en

horse-hair plume.

Fixed

He

gathered o'er his eyes.

fell

tower before some stubborn siege. Then Elephenor, son of Chalcodon, falls

a.

Prince of the brave Abrantes, by the foot

595

Seized the slain chieftain, dragging him beyond The reach of darts, to strip him of his arms ;

Yet dropped him soon,

brave Agenor saw,

for

And, as he stooped to drag the body, hurled His brazen spear and pierced the uncovered side Seen underneath the shield. At once his limbs Relaxed their hold, and straight the fled.

SK

spirit

Then

And

furious

was the struggle of the Greeks

Trojans o'er the slain

Upon each Then by

they sprang like wolves and man slaughtered man. 591 the hand of Ajax Telamon ;

other,

Fell Simoisius, in the

bloom of youth,

Anthem ion's son. His mother once came down From Ida, with her parents, to their flocks Beside the Simois

Upon

its

;

there she brought

banks, and gave her boy the

him

forth

name

&

The

io8

Of

Unrequited now

Simoi'sius.

Was

all

Iliad.

the care with which his parents nursed

His early

years,

and short

his

term of

life,

hand of Ajax, large of soul. eoj he saw him coming, Ajax smote when For, Near the right pap the Trojan's breast the blade Slain by the

;

Passed through, and out upon the further

He

fell

among

side.

the dust of earth, as falls

A

.ew' poplar growing in the watery soil a fair, smooth bole, with Of some wide marsh,

boughs Only on high, which with

Some

his

artisan has felled to

gleaming axe

bend

its

trunk

Into the circle of some chariot-wheel

Withering

it

lies

upon the

So did the high-born Ajax

Of

Simoi'sius,

river's

;

bank.

615

spoil the corpse

Anthemion's son.

But Antiphus, the son of Priam, clad In shining armor, saw, and, taking aim, Cast his sharp spear at Ajax through the crowd.

The weapon struck him not, but pierced Of one who was Ulysses' faithful friend, Leucus,

He

fell,

as from the spot he dragged the

the

Drew

dead

;

body dropping from his hold.

Ulysses, stung with fury at his

Rushed

620

the groin

625

fall,

to the van, arrayed in shining brass,

near the

foe,

and, casting a quick glance

Around him, hurled

Of Trojans,

as

it

his glittering spear.

left his

The

hand, shrank back

host

Book IV.

Upon each

Not

other.

in

109

vain

it

630

flew,

But struck Democoon, the spurious son Of Priam, who, to join the war, had left

Abydos, where he tended the swift mares. Ulysses, to revenue his comrade's death,

Smote him upon

the temple with his spear. 6 3S both the the brazen Through temples passed point, And darkness gathered o'er his eyes ; he fell,

His armor clashing round him with his fall. the foremost bands, and Hector's

Then did

Fall back.

self,

The Argives

shouted, dragging offslain, and rushing to the ground they won.

The Then was Apollo angered, looking down From Pergamus, and thus he called aloud "

tamers of

fleet

Rally, ye Trojans Yield not the battle to the Greeks. !

Are not of stone

The trenchant

Of

:

steeds

!

Their limbs ^s

or iron, to withstand

steel

ye wield.

Nor does

the son

fair-haired Thetis now, Achilles, take

Part

in the battle,

but

sits,

brooding o'er

The choler that devours him, in Thus from the city spake the

hcre'er they wavered, J

Piores, son of

Met

his

hard

ankle.

the Grecian ranks

and revived

their zeal.

Amarynceus, then

fate.

Piroiis,

635

The fragment of a rock

Was thrown by hand The

his ships."

terrible god.

Pallas, glorious child

Meantime Tritonian

Of Jupiter, went through \\

64o

at his right leg,

and struck

son of Imbrasus,

The

Iio

Who came

Iliad.

from ^Enus, leading to the war soldiers, flung it ; and it crushed

His Thracian

eco

Tendons and bones, and down the warrior fell In dust, and toward his comrades stretched his hands,

And gasped

for breath. But he who gave the wound, came up and pierced him with his spear.

Piroiis,

Forth gushed the entrails, and the eyes grew dark. But Piroiis by ^Etolian Thoas fell,

Who met him Above

665

with his spear and pierced his breast The brazen weapon stood

the pap.

Fixed in the lungs. Then Thoas came and plucked 6 70 The massive spear away, and drew his sword, And thrusting through him the sharp blade, he took

His

life

The

slain

Yet could he not despoil

away.

man

of his armor, for around

His comrades thronged, the Thracians, with

theii

tufts

Of streaming

hair, and,

wielding their long spears,

ST.

Drove him away. And he, though huge of limb, And valiant and renowned, was forced to yield

To numbers pressing on him, and withdrew. Thus near each other stretched upon the ground Piroiis, the

And

leader of the Thracian band,

o

he who led the Epeans, brazen-mailed

many others slain. Then could no man, who near at hand beheld The battle of that day, see cause of blame In aught, although, unwounded and unbruised

Diores, lay with

By

weapons, Pallas led

him by the hand

5

Jnn>k

V.

I

i

i

In safetv through the midst, and turned aside

The violence of javelins

Saw many

for that

;

a Trojan slain,

day

and many a Greek,

Stretched side by side upon the bloody

BOOK Pallas to Tydides

field.

V. Diomed

Gave strength and courage,

that

he might

appear *

Among the Achaians greatly eminent, And win a glorious name. Upon his head And

shield she caused a constant flame to play,

Like to the autumnal star that shines

Most

brightly

Such

light she caused to

And

when new-bathed

in

in

ocean

beam upon

s

heaven tides.

his crest

shoulders, as she sent the warrior forth

Into the thick and tumult of the

Among

i

fight.

the Trojans, Dares was the priest

Of Vulcan, rich and blameless. His two sons Were Phegeus and Iclceus, trained in all The arts of war. They left the host and came To meet Tydides, - - on the chariot they, And he on foot and now, as they drew near, ;

Phegeus hurled his massive lance. O'er Diomed's left shoulder and struck First

Tydides cast

his spear,

and not

in

vain

It flew

not. :

15

TJie Iliad.

1 1

2

It

smote the breast of Phegeus

in the midst,

And dashed him from his seat. Idaeus leaped To earth, and left the sumptuous car, nor dared To guard the slain, yet would have met his death had not borne him

If Vulcan

Concealed

in

swiftly .thence

darkness, that he might not leave

^

The aged man, his father, desolate. The son of Tydeus took the steeds, and bade His comrades lead them

to the fleet.

Aghast

The valiant sons of Troy beheld the sons Of Dares, one in flight, the other slain. Meantime the blue-eyed Pallas took the hand Of Mars, and thus addressed the fiery god

30

:

"

Mars, Mars, thou slayer of men, thou steeped in blood,

Destroyer of walled cities should we not Leave both the Greeks and Trojans to contend, !

And

Jove While we

to

crown with glory

retire, lest

whom

we provoke

his

he

as

will,

wrath

" ?

Thus having said, she led the violent Mars From where the battle raged, and made him sit grassy bank. then the Achaians put the sons of Troy

Beside Scamander, on

And To flight

:

its

each leader slew a foe

;

and

first

The king of men, Atrides, from his car Struck down the huge-limbed Hodius, who was Amorig the Halizonians.

To

flee,

The

As he turned

the Achaian, smiting

4

chief 45

him between

shoulders, drove the javelin through his breast.

/

armor

llravily (lathed his

'.

as he

fell.

Thru by Idomeiu-us was 1'lia-stiis slain, S.n of Meonian l!oni>,, who had connI'Yom Tarna, rich

As

in harvests.

lie

sprang

Into his car, Itlonieneiis, expert

To

wield the ponderous javelin, thrust

Through

And

From

his right shoulder.

the dark night of death

The Achaian

The son With

his

its

blade

the car he

came over

fell,

him.

ss

warriors following spoiled the slain.

of Atrens. Menelaus, slew

sharp spear Seamandrius, the son

Of Strophitis, practised in the forest chase, A mi_hty hunter. Him had Dian taught To strike whatever beast the woodyJ wild Ureeds on the

The Nor

hills

but

;

now

60

availed him not

favor of Diana, archer-queen, skill to

throw the javelin afar

;

For Menelaus, mighty with the spear, Followed him as he fled, and in the back

Smote him, between the shoulder-blades, and

The weapon

He

through.

his

Son of Harmonius, the

Who knew

to

shape

all

For Pallas loved him.

The

To

He

licet for Paris, -

all

clrave

the ground

fell

upon armor clashing as he fell. And then Meriones slew Phereclus, Headlong,

6;

the Trojans

70

artificer,

works of rare device, It was he who built

-cause of many woes

and

to him,

for

understood the oracles of heaven.

ill

7$

H4

The

Him

Iliad.

did Meriones, pursuing long,

O'ertake, and, smiting

him on the

right hip,

Pierced through the part beneath the bone and near

The

He

On

bladder. fell,

And

his knees with sad lament

and death involved him then by

80

in its shade.

Meges was Pedaeus

slain,

Antenor's base-born son, whose noble wife,

Theano, reared him with as fond a care

As

her

own

And now

children, for her husband's sake.

%s

the mighty spearman, Phyleus' son,

Drew near and smote him with his trenchant lance Where meet the head and spine, and pierced the neck Beneath the tongue and forth the weapon came ;

Between the

He

teeth.

Gnashed with

his teeth

fell,

and

in the fall

90

upon the cold bright blade.

Then did Evagmon's son Eurypylus down Hypsenor, nobly born, the son Of great Dolopion, Scamander's priest,

Strike

Whom

all the people honored as a god. Evaemon's gallant son, o'ertaking him In flight, with one stroke of his falchion hewed

His brawny arm away.

Dropped

Came

to the ground,

o'er his eyes

:

95

The bloody limb and the dark night of death

so cruel fate decreed.

Thus toiled the heroes in that stubborn Nor would you now have known to which

too

fight.

array

Trojan or Greek Tydides might belong For through the field he rushed with furious speed, os Like a swollen river when its current takes ;

/

'.

115

torrent's swiftness, scattering with a

Tin.'

sweep

The bridges; nor ean massive dikes withstand Its fury, nor embankments raised to screen The grassy meadows, while the rains of Jove Fall heavily,

Of

and harvests,

late the joy

no

toiling youth, are beaten to the ground.

Thus by Tydides (

)f

All

the close phalanxes were nor could they endure, scattered, Troy

numerous as they were,

his strong assault.

As Pandarus, Lycaon's eminent

son,

Beheld Tydides rush athwart the

field,

Breaking the ranks, he drew his crooked

And smote

the chief's

left

/is

bow

shoulder as he came,

The sharp

Striking the hollow corselet.

point

Broke through, and blood came gushing o'er the mail. Then called aloud Lycaon's eminent son 1=1 :

"

Brave Trojans, great in mastery of steeds, Press on the bravest of the Grecian host ;

Is smitten, nor,

I

think, can long survive

^

The grievous wound, if it be true that I, At the command of Phoebus, son of Jove, Have left my home upon the Lycian shore." Thus boastfully he spake but his swift shaft Slew not Tydides, who had now withdrawn. ;

And, standing by

To "

his steeds

and

Sthenelus, the son of

chariot,

spake

no

Capaneus Haste clown, kind Sthenelus, and with thy hand :

Draw

the sharp arrow from

my

He

spake, and Sthenelus

at

shoulder here."

once leaped down,

1

The

6

1

Iliad.

his shoulder

drew

The winged arrow deeply fixed within. The blood flowed forth upon the twisted

rings

Stood by his

Of mail,

side,

and from

while Diomed, the valiant, prayed

^

:

"

Hear me, O child of aegis-bearing Jove, Goddess invincible if ever thou

140

!

me

Didst aid

Of

or

battle, aid

Give

me

my

me, Pallas, yet again.

to slay this

Within

father in the heat

Trojan; bring him near,

my And now proclaims

javelin's reach,

who wounded me,

the boaster

that not long

^

Shall I behold the brightness of the sun."

So prayed

And

and Minerva heard

he,

lightened

all

And, standing words

his limbs,

near

him,

his prayer

his feet, his hands,

spake

these

winged

:

"War

boldly with the Trojans, Diomed I breathe into thy frame

150

;

For even now

The

ancestral might

and

fearless soul that dwelt

In Tydeus, peerless with the steed and shield. Lo I remove the darkness from thine eyes, !

That thou mayst well discern the gods from men

And

if

Beware

;

155

a god should tempt thee to the fight, to

combat with the immortal race

;

Only, should Venus, child of Jupiter, Take part in battle, wound her with thy spear."

The blue-eyed Pallas spake, and disappeared And Diomed went back into the field And mingled with the warriors. If before

*(*>

;

V.

His

spirit

I'he

men

moved him

lienvlv to rngaj
ks of war

Thy

care

;

:

" :

Venus

near,

Nay, daughter, not

for thee sv

be gentle marriage-rites

the labors of the battle field

Pertain to Pallas and the fiery Mars."

Thus with each other

talked the gods, while

still

The

130

The

Iliad.

great in battle, Diomed, pursued

533

./Eneas, though he knew that Phoebus stretched His arm to guard the warrior. Small regard

and much he longed ^Eneas down and bear away The glorious arms he wore; and thrice he rushed

Had

he

for the great god,

To

strike

To

slay the Trojan, thrice Apollo smote his glittering shield.

Upon

540

But when he made

The fourth assault, as if he were The archer of the skies, Apollo,

a god,

thus

With menacing words rebuked him " Diomed, Beware desist, nor think to make thyself :

545

;

The equal of a god. The deathless race Of gods is not as those who walk the earth."

He

spake

Gave way

Who

;

the son of Tydeus, shrinking back,

before the anger of the god

sends his shafts afar.

^Eneas from the tumult to the height Of sacred Pergamus, where stands his fane

And

there Latona

sso

Then Phoebus bore

;

and the archer-queen,

Diana, in the temple's deep recess,

Tended him and brought back Meantime

sss

his glorious strength.

the bowyer-god, Apollo, formed

image of JEneas, armed like him, Round which the Trojans and Achaians thronged & With many a heavy weapon-stroke that fell

An

Upon the huge orbs of their ox-hide shields And lighter bucklers. Now to fiery Mars "

Apollo spake

:

Mars, Mars, thou plague of men,

Book Thou steeped

131

in blood, destroyer of walled

thou not force this

\Vilt

V.

towns!

to leave the field?

in. in

&$

Wilt thou not meet in arms this daring son )f Tydeus, who would even light with Jove? Already has he wounded, in close light,

(

The

Bodiless

He

Venus

me

Assaulted

as

if

at the wrist,

and since

he were a god."

570

and on the heights of Pergamus Sat down, while the destroyer Mars went forth said,

the embattled Trojan ranks, to rouse

Among

Their valor.

The

The sons "

O

From

To Is

of Jove-descended Priam thus

sons of Priam, him Jupiter

!

how long

who

575

:

claims descent

ye submit

will

see your people slaughtered by the Greeks until the battle-storm shall

it

Your

A

In the form of Acamus,

gallant Thracian leader, he bespake

city's stately

portals?

whom we honor

hero

?

reach

so

Even now

equally

With the great Hector, our yEneas, son

Of the

large-souled Anchises,

Haste,

let

He

is

struck down.

us rescue our beloved friend."

spake, and

into every heart his

585

words

new

In that hour strength and courage. chid the noble Hector thus Sarpedon (\ini--d

:

1

So

Where

lately

?

is

the prowess, Hector, which was thine

Thou

hast said that thou alone.

Thy kindred and thy brothers could defend The city, without armies or allies.

390

The

132

Now

I see

none of these

Iliad.

they

;

all,

like

hounds

Before a lion, crouch and slink away,

While the confederates bear the brunt of war. I

am

but an auxiliar come from

From

Lycia, where the eddying

There

left I

far,

Xanthus

runs.

a beloved wife, and there

An infant child, and large possessions, such As poor men covet. Yet do I exhort

My

Lycians

Would

to the

willingly

Although

I

595

6o

combat, and myself

engage

this foe of

Troy,

here have nothing which the Greeks

Thou

Might bear or drive away.

standest

still,

Meanwhile, nor dost thou bid the rest to keep Their ground and bear the battle for their wives.

6o S

Yet have a

care, lest, as if caught at length In the strong meshes of a mighty net,

Ye find yourselves the captives and the Of enemies, who quickly will destroy

prey e

Your nobly-peopled city. These are thoughts That should engage thy mind by night and day,

And

thou shouldst beg the chiefs of thine

Called to thy aid from

They meet

And

far,

the foe, and

allies,

that manfully

foil

his fierce attack,

615

take the cause of this reproach away."

Sarpedon spake and Hector, all in arms, Stung by his words, and leaping from his car, Brandished his spears, and went among the hosts ;

And

rallied

The

conflict that ensued.

them

to battle.

Terrible

The men

of Troy

$

in haste,

70

none of them escape

swift destruction

by our hands.

The very babe within his mother's womb, Even that must die, and all of Ilium born Perish unburied, utterly cut off."

He

The purpose of his The suppliant hero Kins:

75

spake; the timely admonition changed brother,

who

with his hand

Agamemnon smote him

thrust ;

back

and then

through the

loins,

The

154

Iliad.

And prone on earth he fell. Upon the breast Of the slain man Atrides placed his heel, And from the body drew the ashen spear. Then Nestor to the Argives called aloud

**

:

"

Friends, Grecian heroes, ministers of Mars Let no man here through eagerness for spoil

Linger behind the

rest, that he

Much

may

!

ss

bear

plunder to the ships but let us first Strike down our enemies, and afterward

At

;

leisure strip the bodies of the dead."

Thus speaking, he revived in every breast Courage and zeal. Then had the men of Troy Sought refuge from the Greeks within O'ercome by abject fear, if Helenus,

The son of Priam, and

90

their walls,

of highest note

Among the augurs, had not made his way To Hector and ^Eneas, speaking thus " O Hector and ^Eneas, since on you

95

:

Is laid the mighty labor to

The Trojans and

command

the Lycians,

- -

for the first

Are ye in battle, and in council first, Here make your stand, and haste from side to side, Rallying your scattered ranks,

lest

they betake

Themselves to flight, and, rushing to their wives, Become the scorn and laughter of the foe.

And

revived then, so soon as ye shall have

105

The courage of your men, we here will bide The conflict with the Greeks, though closely pressed; For so we must. But, Hector, thou depart

17.

155

To Troy and seek the- mother of us both, And l>id her call the honored Trojan dames To where the blue eyed 'alias has her fane,

no

1

In the high citadel, and with a key Open the hallowed doors, and let her bring

"What she shall

And

amplest,

deem

in

She pri/es most, and

Of A vow

the fairest of the robe^

her palace, and the one it

lay

on the knees

the bright haired Minerva.

Let her

make

to offer to the goddess there

Twelve yearling

heifers that have never

borne

The yoke, if she in mercy regard The city, and the wives and little ones Of its defenders if she will protect Our sacred Ilium from the ruthless son

i*>

will

;

Of Tydeus, from whose valor armies flee, And whom I deem the bravest of the Greeks. For not so greatly have we held Achilles, the great leader,

The goddess-born Is

;

whom

but terrible

in

they call in

wrath

Diomed, nor hath his peer in might." He spake, and Hector of his brother's words

Was

not unmindful.

Armed, from

1=5

dread

nc

Instantly he leaped,

his chariot,

And everywhere among

shaking his sharp spears

;

the host he went,

Exhorting them to combat manfully And thus he kindled the fierce fight anew. O ;

n.


daughter of the prince

the \\oody slopes

lypoplaei.m town

I

and her sons,

('ilieia

A:id gave his child to

She

/'/

In

I

arms.

tor great in

*

lector, son of 1'ri.im,

1

In council, wilt

U'ho

am

And

all

the Greeks to

Achaians

In mortal combat.

To

fall

ami

ami perish

like

my

|

words

Cause the Trojans

thy brother?

the

177

thou lic.irkcn to

Proclaiming challenge

Among

\'H.

sit,

man

to the bravest

to

It is

all

while thou shall stand

contend with thee not thy fate

yet, for thus

have said

The ever living gods, whose voice heard." He spake and Hector, hearing him, rejoiced, I

;

And went between

the hosts.

He

bore his spear,

middle, ami pressed back Holding of ranks The Trojans, and they all sat down. in the

it

And Agamemnon To sit down also.

75

caused the well-armed Greeks

Meantime

Pallas sat,

\Yith Pha.'bus of the silver bow, in shape

Like vultures, on the boughs of the

The The

tree of aegis,

Upon

-

tall

beech,

Father Jupiter who bears - and they looked with great delight

so

the array of warriors in thick rows.

Horrid with shields and helms and bristling spears.

As when

The

the west wind, rising fresh, breathes o'er

deep, and darkens

all its

face with waves,

s5

So seemed the Greeks and Trojans as they sat In ranks upon the field, while Hector stood P>etween the armies and hespike them thus

:

"Ye Trojans, and ye well-armed Greeks, give To what my spirit bids me speak The son Of

ear

Saturn, throned on high, hath not vouchsafed

man spake

;

straight arose nine warriors from their seats.

The first was Agamemnon, king of men; The second, brave Tydides Diomed ;

And And

then the chieftains Ajax, bold and strong; then Idomeneus, with whom arose

^s

Meriones, his armor-bearer, great As Mars himself in battle. After them, Eurypylus, Evasmon's valiant son,

And Thoas, offspring of Andraemon, rose, And the divine Ulysses, claiming all To encounter noble Hector in the lists.

220

But then spake Nestor the Gerenian knight " Now let us cast the lot for all, and see

To whom

it

falls

;

for greatly will

The nobly-armed Achaians, and trial

Then each one marked Into the helm of

Of Atreus.

^

he aid

as great

Will be his share of honor should he

Alive from the hard

:

come

of the fight." his lot,

and

all

were cast

Agamemnon, son

230

All the people lifted up

Their hands in prayer to the ever-living gods, And turned their eyes to the broad heaven, and said

:

"Grant, Father Jove, that Ajax, or the son

Of Tydeus,

or the

In rich Mycenae

monarch who bears

may

obtain the lot."

rule

235

VII.

Such was

their prayer, while the

OKI Nestor, shook the 1

.
5

I

mayst climb our

thou

that

thee,

girl

that

towers

And For

bear away our I shall

He

women

give thee

spake

;

first

in

the

and Diomed,

his spirit

Questioned His steeds and

thy ships

doom

;

of death."

in doubtful

mood,

whether he should turn

fight

with

Thrice the

Hector.

thought his mind, and thrice on high Uttered the all-forecasting Jupiter His thunder from the Idaian mount, a sign

Arose within

Of victory changing to the Trojan side. Then Hector to the Trojans called aloud " Trojans and Lycians all, and ye who In deadly

Acquit

Your

fight,

Dardanus

the sons of

yourselves like

men,

fiery valor now, for

I

my

:

ai

-

close

!

friends

;

recall

perceive

The son of Saturn doth award Victory and vast renown, and

to

me

to the

Greeks

**

The

2O4 Fools

Destruction.

!

Iliad.

who

built this slender wall

Which we contemn, which cannot stand before The strength I bring ; our steeds can overleap

The trench they

When

digged.

I shall

$

reach their

fleet,

Remember That

the consuming power of

may give their vessels And hew the Achaians down I

fire,

to the flames,

beside their prows,

230

While they are wrapped bewildering smoke." he cheered his coursers then and He spake ; in the

thus "

-

:

Lampus nobly bred, now repay the generous care,

Xanthus, Podargus,

And

^Ethon,

The

pleasant grain which

my Andromache,

Daughter of great Eetion, largely gives. She mingles wine that ye may drink at Ere yet she ministers to me, who boast

To be

fiery haste, that

we may

will

now

Let us

her youthful husband.

Pursue with

35

seize

240

The shield of Nestor, the great fame of whichHas reached to heaven, - - an orb of massive gold Even

to the handles.

Of Diomed,

Let us from the limbs

the tamer of fleet steeds,

Strip off the glorious mail that

Vulcan forged

:

^

This done, our hope may be that all the Greeks Will climb their galleys and depart to-night."

So boasted he

Was

kindled,

Till great

;

but queenly Juno's

ire

and she shuddered on her throne

Olympus trembled.

Thus she spake

25*

/>>/

To Neptune, mighty "

Earth-shaker

Is there

no

!

/'///.

ruler of the

who

them

pity for the

To

.

and wide

They bring

?

!

to thee

costly gifts

And many, wherefore thy desire That they may win the victory.

Who

deep

rulest far

perishing Greeks

Within that breast of thine

At Helice and /Kgae

205

favor the Achaians should

drive the Trojans back,

as

If the gods combine

and hold

High-thundering Jupiter, the

-

should be

check

in

God would

*>

sit

In sullen grief on Ida's top alone." Earth-shaking Neptune answered "

O

Juno, rash in speech

Think not

!

in

disdain

:

what words are these

that I can wish to join the

?

gods

In conflict with the monarch Jupiter,

The son

of Saturn, mightier than

we

5S

all."

So held they colloquy. Meanwhile the space Betwixt the galleys and the trench and wall Was crowded close with steeds and shielded men For Hector, son of Priam,

As Mars

;

^

terrible

the lightning-footed, clrave

them on

Jove decreed him such renown. And now would he have given that noble fleet

Before him.

To the consuming flame, if Juno, queen Of heaven, had not beheld, and moved the Of Agamemnon

to exhort the

heart vs

Greeks

That they should turn and comoat.

With quick

steps

He

passed beside the

fleet,

among

the tents,

The

206

Iliad.

Bearing in his strong hand his purple robe, And climbed the huge black galley which had 2 8r

brought Ulysses to the war,

for in the

midst

and thence the king might send

It lay,

his voice

To either side, as far as to the tents Of Ajax and Achilles, who had moored Their galleys

With "

^

extremes

at the different

Of the long camp, confiding Of arm and their own valor.

in their

might

Thence he

called,

loud, clear utterance, to the Achaian host

O

Greeks

!

In form alone

!

shame on ye

Where now

cravens

!

who

:

excel

are all the boasts

29

Of your invincible valor, - - the vain words Ye uttered pompously when at the feast In Lemnos sitting ye devoured the flesh Of horned beeves, and drank from bowls of wine, Flower-crowned, and bragged that each of you 295 would be

A

match

Fivescore

for fivescore Trojans, or for twice ?

For Hector

Soon

Was

And now we singly,

who

all

are not a

will give

our

match

fleet

consuming flames. O Father Jove, ever mighty monarch visited to

thee with such

By Of high renown Bound

!

300

affliction, or so robbed

And

yet in

my good

to this luckless coast, I never

ship,

passed

By thy fair altars that I did not burn The fat and thighs of oxen, with a prayer

305

Book VIII. 1'hat

I

Now

207

mi

In Ilium's populous town in time of peace, Ere the Greeks came, nor all the stores contained

Within the stony threshold of the god Who bears the bow, Apollo, on the coast

Of rocky Pytho. We may gather Of oxen and of fatling sheep, and

505

spoil

bring

Tripods from war, and yellow-maned steeds The breath of man no force can seize or hold, :

And when

it

leaves the enclosure of the teeth

comes not back.

It

The goddess,

A

My mother

said to

me

sw

silver-footed Thetis, said -

twofold fate conducts

me

to

my

death

;

If I remain to fight beneath the walls

Of

Ilium,

return will be cut

my

my renown

But deathless

;

To

the dear land in which

My

glory will be nought,

And late will come And now I counsel For never

Of

will

all

me

off,

return

513

my fathers dwell, but long my life, the stroke of death.

to sail for

home,

ye see the overthrow

Jove the Thunderer great hand o'er her, and her sons

lofty Ilium.

Stretches his

to

if I

5*

Ihwk IX.

Go

Take courage. This

A

i

ye now, and take with you

lo the princes

nic vs.i-c

the Greeks,

ul'

the otlice of an embassy,

is

239

-

s*s

And bid them meditate some wiser plan To save their galleys and the host of Greeks Within the hollow barks. The *plan which brought O You hither cannot serve you while I keep

My To

Let Phoenix stay

anger unappeased.

pass the night with us, that he

To-morrow,

if it

53

may

sail

pleast him, to the land

We love I take him not He ceased and silent ;

against his will."

were the ambassadors, Astonished at his passionate words. At last ;

Phcenix, the aged knight, with

And

sighs, took

up the word,

many

tears

in grief

and

Lest Hector should destroy the Grecian " Illustrious son of Peleus, if indeed

Thou wilt From our

Because thou

Dear

fear

fleet

:

return, nor carest to repel swift galleys the

child,

art offended,

consuming

how

shall

remain without thee

?

555

54*

fire, I,

W^hen

at first

Peleus, the aged knight, from Phthia sent

Thee, yet a boy, to Agamemnon's aid, Unskilled as then thou wert in cruel war

And

A

martial councils,

great renown,

To

- -

-

-

where men also gain

he sent

me

with thee, charged

teach thee both, that so thou mightst

In words an orator, in warlike deeds

AM

actor.

Therefore,

ws

my beloved

child,

become 550

The

240 Not

Iliad.

willingly shall I remain behind

;

Not even though a god should promise

me

That, overcoming the decays of age, I might become a beardless youth again, As when from Hellas and its companies Of lovely maids I came a fugitive,

And

left

sss

Amyntor, son of Ormenus,

me for the sake whom he loved, mother To my knees basely. Treating my mother came and me My prayed ceaselessly,

My

Of a

angry with

father,

fair-tressed wanton,

First, to possess the

woman,

56*

that she then

Might loathe the elder one and I obeyed. My father knew it, and with many a curse ;

Invoked the hateful

sej

furies to forbid

That any child who owed his birth to me Should ever sit upon his knees. The gods The Jove of Hades and dread Proserpine Confirmed his curse. To slay him with the sword 570 Was my first thought. Some god subdued my wrath, Reminding me of what the public voice

Would

say,

Lest

among

A

I

and infamy that would ensue, the Achaians should be called

parricide.

Within

my

I

could not brook to dwell

father's palace while

S7S

he thus

Was wroth with me. My kindred and my friends Came round me, and besought me to remain, And stayed beside me. Many a fading ewe And many a slow-paced ox with curving horns

AY. Thr\ slew, and many

Oxer

Of

a fattened

24

1

swine they stretched the casks

From

the llame of Vulcan.

the old chief his wine xxas freely drawn.

Nine nights they slept surrounding me, while each 5*5 Kept watch in turn nor ever were the fires :

Put out

one bla/ed beneath the portico Of the fair hall, and near the chamber-door ;

Another glimmered

when upon me

]iut I

broke

And

my

in the vestibule.

rose the tenth dark night,

aptly-jointed chamber-doors,

The wall around the palace, Of watching men and of the 1

590

issued forth, and easily o'erleaped quite unseen

serving maids.

through spacious Hellas to the -fields, Phthia, nurse of flocks, and to her king,

lied

Of

Peleus,

who

Me as a father loves his only son, Bom to large wealth in his declining years. He made me rich, and gave me sovereign rule Over much people. My abode was fixed In farthest Phthia, \\here

Of

595

kindly welcomed me, and loved

the Dolopians.

As

I

&

was the prince

for thee,

my

care,

Godlike Achilles, made thee what thou art. I loved thee from my soul thou wouldst not go

the Greeks

the will

visited with hardships great

Beyond what others bear, to last while breath Is in my lungs, and while my knees can move. I wander thus abroad because sweet sleep Comes not to close my eyelids, and the war

And

" ?

thou certainly wilt know

Agamemnon, whom

Of Jove hath

to find

Speak ; what wouldst thou have

Then answered Agamemnon, king

"O

age

raised his head,

105

slaughter of the Greeks distress me sore. I greatly fear, my heart is faint,

For them

My

mind confounded.

Pants, and my limbs For, as

Come

I see,

with

all

In

my

breast the heart

tremble.

thou also dost not sleep,

me

to the guards, that

we may know

Whether, o'ercome by toil and weariness, They give themselves to slumber and forget

s

The foe is near us in his camp, And how know we that even now by night

Their watch.

He

plans not, to attack us in our tents

Then

o

If thou wilt,

" ?

Nestor, the Gerenian knight, replied

:

The

256

Iliad'.

"

Atrides Agamemnon, glorious king Of men, almighty Jove will not perform

For Hector

Hector plans and hopes think, will yet be his

all that

And heavier cares, I When once Achilles'

wrath

Yet

willingly I join thee.

The

other chiefs,

-

lao

-

is

;

turned away.

Let us

call

ia s

Ulysses, Diomed,

Both mighty spearmen

;

Ajax, swift of foot

;

And the brave son of Phyleus. It were well To send and bid the mightier Ajax come, And King Idomeneus, for farthest off The

ships of both are stationed.

I shall

though he be Thy brother Menelaus Honored and dear, and though it please

For

To

130

chide

thee not

sleeping, while he leaves such toils as these

He

thee alone.

The

chiefs,

should be here

exhorting them

For now the hour of

bitter

among

to valiant deeds

need

is

135

;

come."

Again spake Agamemnon, king of men times, old chief, I would have begged :

"

At other

That thou shouldst blame him

And

late to act

;

:

he

is oft

remiss, "

but not because of sloth,

but he looks to me And waits for my example. Yet to-night He rose before me, sought me, and is sent To call the chiefs whom thou hast named and now

Or want

of

spirit,

;

Let us go on, and meet them where they wait, Among the guards and just before the gates,

For

I

appointed that the trysting-place."

146

Book X.

And "

257

Nestor, the Gerenian knight, replied :-

Then

let

^

no Greek condemn him, or refuse

heed and to obey when he shall speak."

To

He

spake, and drew his tunic o'er his breast,

Laced the

fair

sandals to his shapely

And round him

A double And

web

feet,

fastened, with a clasp, his cloak,

of purple, with

full

folds

ss

He

grasped a massive spear, And first he sought blade of trenchant brass.

Its

The

flowing

pile.

galleys of the

Achaians brazen-mailed.

There shouted Nestor the Gerenian knight,

To

i&

raise Ulysses, best of counsellors,

Jove-like in

And "

wisdom

;

who

perceived the voice,

issued from his tent in haste, and said

What brings you

Beside the ships alone

Then answered

walk the camp what urgent cause

forth to ;

:

at night, " ?

Nestor, the Gerenian knight

:

165

u

Son of Laertes, nobly born, and skilled In wise devices, be thou not displeased :

A

woe impends above the Greeks Come, then, and call the other chiefs, to give Their counsel whether we shall flee or fight." fearful

He His

spake

:

;

'7

and wise Ulysses, entering

upon his shoulders laid His well-wrought shield, and joined them as they tent again,

went, Till,

coming

to

Tydides Diomed,

>?s They found him by his tent among his arms, His comrades sleeping round him with their shields

The

258 Beneath

The

Iliad.

Their spears were set upright,

their heads.

nether points in earth.

Gleamed

The

polished brass

like the lightnings of All-Father Jove.

In sleep the hero lay ; a wild bull's hide spread beneath him, and a carpet dyed

iso

Was

With glowing colors propped his head. The knight, Gerenian Nestor, touched him with his foot roused him, and addressed him chidingly son of Tydeus wilt thou calmly sleep

And "

O

:

185

!

All the night long

And

?

hast thou, then, not heard

That on a height amidst the plain the sons Of Troy are stationed, near the ships, and small

The

space that parts the enemy's

He At

The son

spake.

camp from

ours

of Tydeus sprang from sleep

once, and answered him with winged words " Thy labors are too constant, aged man ;

Thou

shrinkest from no hardship.

Young men among

" ?

:

192

Are there not

the Greeks to walk the

camp

And call the kings ? Thou never takest rest." And Nestor, the Gerenian knight, replied

195

:

"

Well hast thou

said,

my

friend, for I

have sons

Without reproach, and I have many troops And any one of these might walk the camp

And

A

give the

summons.

;

But to-night there

lies

hard necessity upon the Greeks,

And

their destruction

Balanced on a

and

knife's edge.

their rescue

Come

hang

then, since thou

Art younger, call swift Ajax and the son

Of

Phyleus,

if

thou wouldst relieve

my

age."

205

A'.

Hi- spake

;

J59

and Diomccl around him Hung

A tawny linn's ample hide, that readied Down to his feet, and took his spear and went And summoned the two kings, and brought them forth.

Now when

they

came among

the assembled guard,

were not slumbering

Its leaders

;

every

man

=">

As dogs that guard Flocks in a sheepfold hear some savage beast That comes through thickets down the mountainSat watchful and in arms.

side

Loud

And

is

;

the clamor of the dogs

sleep

is

and men,

frightened thence,

- -

^s

so gentle sleep

Fled from the eyes of those who watched, that night, Sadly, with eyes turned ever toward the plain, Intently listening for the foe's approach.

The aged Nestor saw them, and

And "

*~

rejoiced,

them with winged words Watch thus, dear youths, let no one yield to sleep,

Lest

thus encouraged

the mockery of the and crossed the trench spake, went

\ve

He

:

become

foe." ;

and with him

The Grecian leaders, they who had been To council. With them went Meriones

And

called

s

Nestor's eminent son, for they had both

Crossing to the other side Of that deep trench, they found an open space

Been summoned.

Clear of the dead,

in

which they sat them down,

the tiery Hector, having slain Just where

w

The

260

Iliad.

Many Achaians, turned him back when night Came o'er him. There they sat to hold debate And thus spake Nestor the Gerenian knight

;

:

" Friends

is

!

among you who

there none

Trusts his own valor that he

so far

=35

will to-night

Venture among the Trojans ? He perchance Might capture on the borders of the camp

Some foeman wandering, or might bring report Of what they meditate, and whether still They mean to keep their station far from Troy And near our ships, or, since their late success, Could he safely bring This knowledge back to us, his meed were great, Glory among all men beneath the sky,

240

Return to Ilium.

And

243

As many chiefs recompense. As now command our galleys, each would give A black ewe with a suckling lamb, such gifts

No

A

liberal

one hath yet received,

guest at

He

all

spake

;

and

Then Diomed, "

To

Nestor,

my

all

were

sit =so

silent for a space.

the great in battle, said resolute spirit urges

explore the Trojan camp, that

Yet, were another warrior I

and he should

our banquets and our feasts."

by

my

:

-

me

lies

so near

;

=ss

side,

should go forth with a far surer hope,

And

greater were

Join in the

my

daring.

For when two

same adventure, one perceives

how they ought to act While one alone, however prompt, resolves Before the other

;

26*

261

X. More

The

and with

tardily

He

spake

;

risk with

Of Mars,

and

a weakei will."

nuiiiy a chief m.uL- suit to shaie

The

Diomcd.

ministers

the chieftains Ajax, asked to go

Meriones desired

;

Nestor's son

it;

*>>

Greatly desired to join the enterprise

;

Atrides Menehuis, skilled to wield

The

spear, desired

it

and

;

that hardy chief,

Ulysses, longed to explore the Trojan

For

camp,

of daring aims was the great soul

full

Within his bosom.

The king

Agamemnon

=7

then,

of men, took up the word and said

:

"

Tydides Diomed, most dear of men, Choose from the many chiefs, who ask to bear

A

part with thee, the bravest.

Be not moved

=75

By deference to take the worse and leave

The

Pay no heed

abler warrior.

Thus spake For

fair-haired

The

the king

Ye

bid

me

for in his heart

;

Menelaus.

great in battle,

"

choose

:

And

=&

how, then, can

I

all

:

o'erlook

in resolve,

firm in every danger, well beloved

Pallas.

Give

me

him, and our return

though from consuming flames wise to plan beyond all other men."

Is sure, Is

he feared

Diomed,

then addressed them

Godlike Ulysses, prudent

By

to rank,

race, or wide extent of kingly rule."

Or

;

283

for

he

Ulysses, nly born and hardy, spake In turn

" :

Tydidcs, praise

me

nut too much.

The

262

Nor blame me, Who know me.

for

Iliad.

thou speakest to the Greeks, let us haste to go,

=90

Meantime

For the night wears away, and morn is near. The stars are high, two thirds of night are past,

The

greater part,

He

spake

;

-

-

and scarce a

third remains.,

'

and both arrayed themselves for fight

The mighty wairior Thrasymedes gave The two-edged sword he wore to Diomed,

^

Whose own was at the galleys, - - and a shield. The hero then put on his helmet, made Of tough bull-hide, with neither cone nor crest, Such as

is worn by beardless youths. and sword Meriones bestowed Quiver, Upon Ulysses, placing on his brows

A

A

bow,

301

leathern helmet, firmly laced within

By many a

thong, and on the outer side

a$

Set thickly with a tusky boar's white teeth,

Which fenced

Of woollen

it

well

and

skilfully.

A web

temples lined the work. This helm Autolycus once bore away for the

From Eleon, the city where he sacked The stately palace of Amyntor, son Of Ormenus. The captor gave the prize To the Cytheran chief, Amphidamas,

Who

bore

Bestowed

it it

to Scandeia,

upon Molus

and

in turn

as his guest,

A.nd Molus gave it to Meriones, His son, to wear in battle. Now at last When the twain It crowned Ulysses' temples.

3"

1'ook

UVre

all

accoutred

in their

Forward they went, and While, sent by Pallas

A heron Hew They saw

X.

left

forth,

the assembled chiefs,

upon

their right

The

3^

bird

was dark, but heard

Ulysses at the sound

Its rustling wings.

Rejoiced, and supplicated Pallas thus :"

Hear

\

dreadful arms,

be.side their path.

not, for the night

2C>

325

daughter of the /Kgis-bearer Jove Thou who art near me in all dangers, thou !

!

eye is on me wheresoe'er I go, Befriend me, Pallas, yet again, and grant That, laden with great glory, we return

Whose

330

Safe to the galleys, mighty deeds performed,

And woe

on the Trojan race."

inflicted

Next Diomecl, the great

in battle, prayed Daughter invincible of Jove, give ear Also to me. Be with me now, as once Thou didst attend on Tydeus nobly born,

:

"

My

father,

To Thebe

when he bore an embassy from the Achaians.

The Asopus

And

m

left

He

beside

the Achaians mailed in brass,

bore a friendly message to the sons

Of Cadmus, and on

340

his return

performed Full many a mighty deed with aid from thee, Great goddess for thou stoodest by his side. !

Stand now by

And

me

;

be thou

my

shield

and guard

up to thee A yearling heifer, broad between the horns, Which never ploughman yet hath tamed to bear I,

in turn, will offer

;

34?

The

264

Her

The yoke.

Iliad.

to thine altar will I bring,

With gilded horns, to be a sacrifice." So prayed they. Pallas listened to

their prayers

And, having supplicated thus the child Of Jove Almighty, the two chiefs went on

;

351

Like lions through O the darkness of the night, O Through slaughter, heaps of corses, and black blood. 7

Nor now had Hector suffered the brave sons Of Troy to sleep, but summoned all the chiefs,

355

Leaders, and princes of the host, and thus

Addressed the assembly with well-ordered words "

Who

The

of you

A

promise to perform set him, for a large reward ?

task I

For ample

:

all will

shall his

meed

be.

I will

3 eo

give

chariot and two steeds with lofty necks,

Swifter than the swift galleys of the Greeks.

Great glory

will

be his whoever dares

Approach those ships and bring the knowledge thence

Whether the

Or whether,

fleet is

365

guarded as before,

yielding to our arms, the foe

Is meditating flight, and, through the night

O'ercome with weariness, keeps watch no more." He spake and all were silent for a space. ;

Now

there was one,

among

370

the Trojan chiefs,

Whose father was Eumedes, of the train Of reverend heralds. Dolon was his name,

And

he was rich in gold and brass, deformed foot, an only son

In face but swift of

375

Book X.

Among

He

five sisters.

The Trojans, and replied "

265

stood forth to

among

Hector thus

:-

daring spirit, Hector, urges nu-

My

To visit the swift ships and learn the state Of the (Ireek host. But hold thy sceptre forth, And solemnly attest the gods that thou Wilt give to me the horses, and the car

&.

Engrailed with brass, which bear the illustrious son

Of Peleus. I shall not explore in vain, Nor balk thy hope of me for I will pass

385

;

Into the

camp

until I reach the ship

Of Agamemnon, where

the chiefs are

now

Debating whether they shall fly or fight." He spake and Hector held the sceptre And swore " Be Jupiter the Thunderer, \

forth,

:

Husband of Juno,

39

witness, that those steeds

Shall bear no other Trojan than thyself.

That honor

I

He spake. New courage

confirm to thee alone." It

was an

to the spy,

his shoulders

idle oath, yet

who his

gave

instantly

crooked bow,

395

hung Upon And round him flung a gray wolfs hide, and placed A casque of otter-skin upon his head, And took his pointed javelin, and made haste To reach the Grecian fleet. Yet was he doomed 400 Never

to leave that fleet again, nor bring

Tidings to Hector.

The crowd Held on

of

Soon was he beyond steeds, and eagerly

men and

his way.

Ulysses

first

perceived

The

266

Iliad.

His coming, and thus spake to Diomed " Some one, Tydides, from the enemy's camp :

405

Is coming, either as a spy, or else

To spoil the dead. First let us suffer him To pass us by a little on the plain, Then let us rush and seize him. Should his speed Be

greater than our own, let us attack

4

The fugitive with spears, and drive him on To where our ships are lying, from his camp, Lest, flying townward, he escape our hands."

He

spake

Among

;

and both lay down without the path,

the dead, while he unwarily

416

Passed by them. When he now had gone as far As two yoked mules might at the furrow's end Precede a pair of oxen, -

- for

by mules

419

The plough is drawn more quickly through the soil Of the deep fallow, - - then they rose, and rushed To seize him. As he heard their steps he stopped, In hope that his companions had been sent From Troy by Hector to conduct him back.

But when they came within a javelin's cast, Or haply less, he saw that they were foes,

And moved

his

nimble knees, and turned to

425

flee,

While rapidly they followed. As two hounds, Sharp-toothed, and trained to track their prey, pursue

Through forest-grounds some fawn or hare that runs 4* Before them panting, so did Diomed

And

terrible

Follow the

Ulysses without stop

fugitive, to cut

him

off

A'.

267

4u From his own people. In his flight he came Where soon he would have mingled with the guards, Close to the tleet. Then I'allas breathed new strength

Into Tydides, that no other Greek Might boast that he had wounded Dolon

And

steal the honor.

Uplifted, "

Diomed rushed on and spake

Stop, or

440

:

spear o'ertakes thee, nor wilt thou

my

a certain death from this right hand."

Escape

He

first,

Therefore, with his spear

spake, and hurled his spear

but not to

-

smite

At Dolon, over whose right shoulder passed The polished weapon, and, descending, pierced us The ground. Then Dolon, pale and fear-struck, stopped,

And quaked,

with chattering teeth and stammering

speech.

They, breathless with the chase, came up and seized Kis hands, while, bursting into tears, he spake :" Take me alive, and ye shall have from me 490

A

ransom

And

is

well-wrought

store of brass

Of me The

alive

heart,

truly, it

at the

when he Grecian

shall hear fleet."

crafty chief Ulysses answered thus

Take

And Was

and

and gold

of which a princely share

steel,

father will bestow

My "

there

:

and cease

why thou

to strip the

Camest

:

to think of death, but

earnest to our fleet

bodies of the dead

?

thou, sent by Hector, as a spy

:

455

tell,

The

268

Iliad.

Among our ships, or of thine own And Dolon answered, trembling "

accord

"

#*

?

with fear

still

:

my will and to my hurt, He promised to bestow

Hector, against

Persuaded me.

On me

the firm-paced coursers, and the car Engrailed with brass, which bear the illustrious son

Of Peleus, and enjoined me by the aid Of darkness to approach the foe and learn

* were slain. Whomever Diomed

fell

s?j

Till twelve

Approached and smote, the sage Ulysses

And drew him backward by The flowing-maned nor,

Be

for

;

coursers might pass forth

by treading on the dead, they yet were new to war.

Unhindered, startled

seized,

the feet, that thus

5^0

Now when the son of Tydeus reached the king, him he slew The thirteenth of his victims, As he breathed heavily for on that night ;

A

fearful

Stood

dream,

in

shape CEnides' son,

o'er him, sent

by

Pallas.

585

Carefully

Ulysses meantime loosed the firm-paced steeds, And, fastening them together, drave them forth,

Urging them with

his

bow

:

he had not thought

To

take the showy lash that lay in sight

On

the

He whistled, as a sign to Who lingered, pondering Whether

Diomed, on his next

to seize the chariot

The embroidered Or, lifting

it

bear

it

exploit,

where was

armor, dragging

aloft, to

590

In going thence

fair chariot-seat.

it

thence

laid

away

59;

;

;

Or take more Thracian lives. As thus his thoughts Were busy, Pallas, standing near him, spake :

"

O

son of large-souled Tydeus, think betimes Of thy return to where the galleys lie ; Else may some god arouse the sons of Troy,

And

fire

and the wind

in eddies, while the

trunks

boughs amid devouring flames, the flying Trojans by the hand

Fall with the

So

fell

Of Agamemnon. Dragged

Many high-maned

noisily their

The ranks

185

steeds

empty cars among more to bear

of battle, never

Their charioteers, who lay upon the earth The vulture's feast, a sorrow to their wives.

190

But Jove beyond the encountering arms, the dust, The carnage, and the bloodshed and the din

Bore Hector, while Atrides in pursuit Was loudly cheering the Achaians on.

Meantime the Trojans fled across the plain Toward the wild fig-tree growing near the tomb

195

/.%>/

Of

ancient

Ilus.

son of

I

Of Atreus

283

);ird;imis,

reaeh the town

to

Kager

AY.

;

;uul

still

And when

Ulood stained and dust-begrimed. reached

The

Si

They

,i

the son

followed, shunting, and with hands t!

>*>

an portals and the beechen

tree,

halted, waiting for the rear, like beeves

Chased panting by a lion who has come At midnight on them, and has put the herd

To

Might,

and one of them

Whose neck he Devours

Thus

the entrails, lapping

did Atrides

The Trojans They

to certain death,

;

=05

breaks with his strong teeth and then

still

fled before

up the blood.

Agamemnon

chase

he slew the hindmost

him.

Many by

his

;

still

hand

Fell from their chariots prone, for terrible

Beyond all others with the spear was he. ]>ut when he now was near the city-wall,

The Father of immortals and of men Came down from the high heaven, and

On

many-fountained Ida.

He He

held a thunderbolt, and this

"

gave to Haste,

To Hector Atrides, in

Among

Iris

took his seat

In his grasp

="6

command

of the golden \vings:

Iris fleet

of wing, and bear

my

words

While he sees the king of men, the van and dealing death :

the ranks of warriors, let

Give way, encouraging

his

men

him

still

to hold

Unflinching battle with the enemy.

"

The

284

Iliad.

But when Atrides, wounded by a spear Or arrow, shall ascend his chariot, then Will

I

105

nerve Hector's arm with strength to slay come to the good ships of Greece,

Until he

And

the sun set,

He

and hallowed night come down." she, whose feet are like the wind

and

spake ; In swiftness, heeded the command, and flew

231

From Ida's summit to the sacred town Of Troy, and found the noble Hector, son Of warlike Priam, standing mid the steeds

And "

the strong chariots, and, approaching, said

O

Hector, son of Priam, and like Jove

In council

As long

!

Jove the All-Father bids

*3e

say,

as thou shalt see the king of men,

Atrides, in the van,

Among

me

:

and dealing death

the ranks of warriors, thou shalt

Give way, encouraging thy

men

Unflinching battle with the

enemy

still

240

to hold ;

But when Atrides, wounded by a spear Or arrow, shall ascend his chariot, then Will Jove endue thy arm with strength to slay

Until thou

And

come

the sun set,

So the

to the

and hallowed night come down." spake, and went her way

fleet Iris

;

While Hector, leaping from his car in arms, And wielding his sharp spears, went everywhere

Among

the Trojan ranks, exhorting

To combat, and renewed They

rallied

=45

good ships of Greece,

them

the stubborn fight.

and stood firm against the Greeks.

251

XL made

285

The

r.reeks, in turn,

The

battle raged again, a* tVont to front

They

strong their phalanxes. *ss

stood, \\hile A^aineiiiin n e.igerK

Pres.scd forward, proud to lead the van in fight.

Muses, ihvellers of Olympus! who First of the Trojans or their brave allies S.iy,

Encountered Aliens' son

?

2n the rich soil of Thrace, the nurse of llocks. (

His O

;

300

Atrides, shuddered, yet refrained not then

From combat

;

but with his wind-seasoned spear

He

rushed on Coon, who, to drag away His father's son Iphidamas, had seized

The body by the feet, and called his friends, The bravest, to his aid. Atrides thrust His brazen spear below the bossy shield, And slew him as he drew the corpse, and

The dead Iphidamas struck Thus were Antenor's sons

303

o'er

off his head.

their

doom

Sent by Atrides to the realm of death.

fulfilled

3*

Book Anil then he ranged

XL

among

287

the enemy'* ranks

and sword and ponderous stones, While yet the warm blood issued from his \vmind. But when the wound grew dry, and ceased to llow 315 With blood, keen anguish seized his vigorous frame.

\Yilh wielded lance

As when

Of

woman

a

travail

feels the piercing

pangs

brought her by the Ilythian maids,

Daughters of Juno, who preside at births, And walk the ministers of bitter pains, Such anguish seized on Agamemnon's frame

And, leaping

The guider The roomy With pain "

O

Yours

;

to his chariot-seat,

of the steeds ships, for he

but

first

make

he bade

haste to reach

was overcome

he shouted

friends, the chiefs

3*

;

3=4

to the Greeks,

:

-

and princes of the Greeks

!

the duty to drive back the war

is

From our good

ships, since all-disposing

Jove

Forbids me, for this day, to lead the fight."

He

The charioteer applied the lash, 330 spake. not unwillingly the long-maned steeds Flew toward the hollow ships ; upon their breasts

And

Gathered the foam

;

beneath their rapid

Arose the dust, as from the

feet

battle's din

They bore the wounded warrior. Hector saw The flight of Agamemnon, and aloud Called to the Trojans and the Lyrians thus

335

:

"

Trojan and T,ycian warriors, and ye sons Of Dardanns, who combat hand to hand,

Be men

;

be mindful of your fame in war.

ye

The

288

Our mightiest

foe withdraws

Crowns me with

On

glory.

the brave Greeks,

He

Iliad.

;

Saturnian Jove

Urge your firm-paced steeds and win yet nobler fame."

His words gave courage and new

spake.

strength

To

every heart.

As when

a hunter cheers

345

His white-toothed dogs against some lioness Or wild boar from the forest, Hector thus,

The son of Priam, terrible as Mars The slayer of men, cheered on the gallant sons Of Troy against the Greeks. Himself, inspired With

fiery valor,

rushed

among

350

the foes

In the mid-battle foremost, like a storm

That swoops from heaven, and on the dark-blue sea Falls suddenly, and stirs it to its depths.

Who

then was slain the

By Hector, Priam's

To honor ? Of

Clytis

;

First,

son,

Asseus

and Autonoiis

Opites and Opheltius

;

last,

353

;

;

Jove designed Dolops, son

and then

next to

^Esymnus, Agelaus, Orus

And

and who the

first,

whom

whom 3*

fell,

resolute Hipponoiis the last.

All these, the princes of the Greeks, he slew,

Then smote

the

common

crowd.

As when

a gale

Blows from the west upon the mass of cloud Piled up before the south-wind's powerful breath,

And

tears

it

with a mighty hurricane,

While the swoln billows tumble, and

their

Is flung on high before the furious blast,

foam

365

XI. So by the sword of Hector fell the heads the Greek soldiery; ;ind there had been

Of

Rum And

i7 o

and ra\age not to be repaired, the defeated Greeks had flung themselves

Into their ships, had not Ulysses then

Exhorted thus Tydides homed " Tydides what has quenched within our hearts Their fiery valor? Come, my friend, and take 376 1

:

!

Thy

stand beside

me

:

foul disgrace

Should crested Hector make our

And '

thus the valiant

Most

willingly

In battle

The God

I

stand,

but with

;

Diomed

little

were ours

fleet his prize."

replied

and bear

my

:

3*>

part

hope, for Jove,

of storms, awards the clay to Troy."

He spake,

and pierced Thymbracus with his spear Through the left breast, and dashed him from his car. 385 Meanwhile Ulysses struck Molion down,

The

These they

prince's stately comrade.

Never

to fight again,

and made

their

left

way

Through the thick squadrons, carrying, as they went, As two fearless boars Confusion with them.

Rush on

the hounds, so, mingling in the war,

They bore Welcomed

a respite from the havoc

made

By noble Hector. Next they seized a car Which bore two chiefs, the bravest of their Sons of Percosian Merops, who was skilled I'.eyond

all

His sons

39

the foe before them, and the Greeks

to

men

in

portents.

!!
, nor she, the honored one

Who

gave thee birth but birds of prey shall Their heavy wings above thee, and shall tear

Thy Due

;

flesh, while

I in

dying

flap 550

shall receive

funeral honors from the noble Greeks."

He

spake, and from his

wounded

side

drew

forth,

And

from his bossy shield, the ponderous spear Which warlike Socus threw. A gush of blood

Now, when they saw Followed, and torturing pain. sons of Troy the gallant Ulysses bleed, Called to each other, rushing

To where

He

he stood.

in a

crowd

Retreating as they came,

shouted to his comrades.

Thrice he raised

human

His voice as loud as lungs could shout heard the cry, Thrice warlike Menelaus

And "

spake

at

once

to

Ajax

at his side

take

urge thy firm-paced steeds

Rapidly toward the fleet a leech like him, Who cuts the arrow from the wound and soothes ;

The

pain with balms,

He

is

worth a host to us."

spake ; and the Gerenian knight obeyed, A.nd climbed the car in haste. Machaon, son

&

The

298

Iliad.

Of yEsculapius the peerless leech, Mounted beside him Nestor lashed ;

And And

the steeds,

toward the roomy ships, which well they knew

s

longed to reach, they flew with eager speed.

Meantime Cebriones, who had

his seat

63,

By Hector in the chariot, saw the ranks Of Troy disordered, and addressed the chief: "While we, O Hector, here are mid the Greeks Just in the skirts of the tumultuous fray,

The

other Trojans,

men and

steeds, are

e 36

thrown

Into confusion where the warriors throng, For Telamonian Ajax puts their ranks

To

rout

;

Borne on

Our

I

know him

well

his shoulders.

by that broad

Thither

let

shield

64 o

us drive

steeds and chariot, where in desperate

strife

and hew each other down, ^ And a perpetual clamor fills the air." He spake ; and with the whistling lash he struck

Meet horse and

The long-maned

foot

steeds, and, as they felt the stroke,

Forward they flew with the swift car among The Greeks and Trojans, trampling in their way e 49 underneath Corpses and shields. The axle of the chariot-seat rim the in blood steeped foul with the red drops which from their hoofs

Was Was

;

The coursers Then Hector

To

pierce

it

threw up. sprinkled and the wheels the on crowd, strove, by rushing

and break through

it.

To

the Greeks

6 ss His coming brought destruction and dismay And well his spear was wielded. Through the ranks ;

XI. I

)f

299

other warriors with the spear he ranged,

With sword and ponderous stones yet warily Ilr shunned the fight with Ajax Telamon. Then Father Jove Almighty touched with fear ;

amazed he

The

heart of Ajax.

And

ca>t his sevenfold buckler of bull's-hide

Upon

Now From

All

stood,

his back, and, terrified, withdrew.

casting glances like a beast of prey side to side, he turned to right and

moved knee

And, slowly yielding, As when the rustics with

A

*

hungry

lion

from

their

their stalls

left,

e at

730

that he hath brought

/


;

left,

hosts, that in his talons bore

A

monstrous serpent, bleeding, yet alive, Hath dropped it mid our ho>t before he came

To

his dear nest, nor brought

it

to his

brood

So we, although by force we break the gates

;

265

322

The

And

rampart, and although the Greeks

Iliad.

Shall not as happily retrace our

For many a Trojan Slain

And

shall

we

way

fall

back,

;

^

leave behind,

by the weapons of the Greeks, who stand

Thus

fight to save their fleet

will the seer,

Skilled in the lore of prodigies, explain

The

portent, and the people will obey." Sternly the crested Hector looked, and spake: " Polydamas, the thing that thou hast said

Pleases

Frame

me

not,

and

better counsels.

Thy earnest thought, Have made thee lose That

I

That

I

If thy words convey

the gods assuredly

Thou

thy senses.

dost ask

no longer reverence the decree Of Jove, the Thunderer of the sky, who gave His promise, and confirmed it. Thou dost ask

Which

be governed by the flight of birds, regard not, whether to the right

281

^

I

And toward

^

easily couldst thou

the morning and the sun they

fly,

Or toward the left and evening. We should heed The will of mighty Jupiter, who bears Rule over gods and men. One augury There

is,

the surest

For our own land.

and the

And

conflict

The

galleys of the Greeks, there

That thou

To

?

Though we

Yet,

if

290

all

should is

no

fall

beside

fear

thou hast no heart

wilt perish, for

stand against the foe

to fight

best,

dreadest thou the war

Why

;

no warrior thou

thou dare to stand aloof, or seek

!

=cj

XII. words

l!\

to turn

The spear

He

another from the

wield shall take thy

I

spake, and went before

Followed with

The (iod From the

323

;

fearful clamor.

fight,

life at

and

once."

all his

band r

Jupiter,

of thunders, sending a strong wind

Idajan summits, drave the dust

Full on the galleys,

and made

faint the hearts

Of the Greek warriors, and gave new renown To Hector and the men of Troy. For these, Trusting

in

305

portents sent from Jupiter,

And their own valor, labored to break through The massive rampart of the Greeks they tore The galleries from the towers, and levelled clown The breastworks, heaved with levers from their :

310

place

The

iutting buttresses

which Argive hands

Had

firmly planted to support the towers,

And

brought them to the ground

;

and thus they

hoped

To

force a passage to the Grecian camp.

Not

yet did they of Greece give

The

rampart, with their ox-hide shields,

way

:

they fenced vs

and smote

The enemy from behind them as he came Under the wall. The chieftains Ajax flew From tower to tower, and cheered the Achaians

on,

And roused their valor, some with gentle words, And some with harsh rebuke, whome'er they saw Skulk from the "

O

friends

toils

and dangers of the

" !

"

they said,

ye great

in

fight.

3

war, and ye

The

324

Iliad.

Of less renown, and ye of For

all

little - -

are not alike in war,

Demands And now

the aid of let

no

all,

man

note

!

&

the time

as well ye

know

:

turn him toward the fleet

Before the threats of Hector, but press on,

And

each exhort his fellow

Who

flings the lightning from Olympus, grant

:

so

may

Jove,

That, driving back their onset, we may chase The enemy to the very walls of Troy." Thus in the van they shouted, and awoke New courage in the Greeks. As when the flakes Of snow fall thick upon a winter-day, 335 When Jove the Sovereign pours them down on men,

Like arrows, from above

And And And

he bids the wind

;

continually he pours them down, covers every mountain-top and peak,

Breathe not

;

flowery mead, and field of

fertile tilth,

340

sheds them on the havens and the shores

Of the gray deep but there the waters bound The covering of snows, - - all else is white ;

Beneath that fast-descending shower of Jove So thick the shower of stones from either side ;

Flew toward the

other,

- -

345

from the Greeks against

The Trojans, and from them

against the Greeks; was the din along the wall. Yet would illustrious Hector and the men

And

fearful

Of Troy have failed to force the gates and burst The bar within, had not all-seeing Jove Impelled his son Sarpedon to attack

39

A"//.

The Greeks

Of horned

A

as falls a lion

The

beeves.

on a herd

warrior held his shield,

brazen orb, before him,

And

fenced with metal

;

325

beautiful,

355

armorer laid

for the

Broad plates without, while under these he sewed BulTs-hides the toughest, edged with golden wires Upon the rim. With this the warrior came,

Wielding two spears.

Among

As when

a lion, bred

360

the mountains, fasting long from flesh,

Comes into the fenced pastures, without fear, To prey upon the flock and though he meet The shepherds keeping watch \vith dogs and spears, ;

Vet

will

he not be driven thence until

He makes

A

30$

a spring into the fold and bears

sheep away, or

in the act

is

slain,

Struck by a javelin from some ready hand

;

Sarpedon, godlike warrior, thus was moved By his great heart to storm the wall and break

Through

Of

and

to Glaucus,

Why,

Glaucus, are

:

we honored, on

370

son

-

the shores

Lycia, with the highest seat at feasts,

And As

;

Lycia's king Hippolochus, he said

"

Of

the strong barrier

with

to the

full

Why look men up to And why do we possess

cups

gods

?

?

Broad, beautiful enclosures,

And

wheat, beside the

full

Xanthus?

Then

it

us,

To stand

against the foe, where'er the fight ;

375

of vines

Becomes

Is hottest

us

well

foremost in the Lycian ranks

so our well-armed Lycian

men

380

The

326 Shall say,

and

f ;

truly

Iliad.

Not

ingloriously

Our kings bear rule in Lycia, where they feast On fadings of the flock, and drink choice wine For they excel

Among

in valor,

and they

O my

our foremost.'

;

335

fight

friend, if we,

this war, could flee from age and death, should not here be fighting in the van, Nor would I send thee to the glorious war

Leaving I

But now, since

Impending

To To

many

shun, let

other men, or win

He

are the

modes of death

39*

which no man can hope us press on and give renown

o'er us,

it

for ourselves

" !

spake and Glaucus not unwillingly Heard and obeyed. Right on the warriors pressed, ;

Leading the Lycian host. Menestheus, son Of Peteus, saw, and trembled ; for they came

With

evil

menace toward

He

his tower.

396

lookei

Along the Grecian lines in hope to see

Some

chieftain there

His comrades from

The

whose ready help might save

their danger.

He

400

beheld

rulers Ajax, never tired of war,

Standing with Teucer, who just then had left and yet they could not hear his shout, ;

His tent So

fearful

From

all

was the din that rose

Smitten with missiles,

- -

The Lycians thundered,

A A

to

heaven

405

the shields, and crested helms, and gates, for at all the gates

struggling hard to break

Then Menestheus called passage through them. herald near, and bade Thootes bear 410

XII.

A message

3-

to the leaders Ajax, thus

:

"(io, nobly born Thootes, and in haste Call Ajax, --(.ill them both, lor that were

Since terrible

So

will

fiercely are the

Impetuous ever

best,

be the slaughter here, vs

Lycians pressing on,

in assault.

If there

The

fight

And

Teucer, the great archer, follow him.

be also urgent, then at least Let the brave Telamonian Ajax come,

He

spake.

herald listened and obeyed,

The

And

flew along the summit of the wall

Built

by the Greeks.

The

chieftains Ajax,

"

He

*

reached, and stood beside,

and addressed them thus

:-

Ajaces, leaders of the warlike Greeks,

The honored son of noble Peteus asks

-PS

That ye will come, though for a little space, To aid him and to share his warlike toils ;

For So

terrible will

be the slaughter there,

fiercely are the

Impetuous ever

The

Lycians pressing on,

in assault.

If here

43

be also urgent, then at least Let the brave Telamonian Ajax come,

And

fight

Teucer, the great archer, follow him." ended. Ajax, son of Telamon,

He

Hearkened, and to his fellow-warrior said " Here, where the gallant Lycomedes stands, :

Ajax

!

remain, and, cheering on the Greeks,

Lead them

To stem

to

combat

valiantly.

the battle there, and

I

go

when our

friends

435

The

328 Are succored

Iliad.

I will instantly return."

440

So speaking, Ajax, son of Telamon, Departed thence, and with him Teucer, sprung From the same father. With them also went Pandion, carrying Teucer's crooked bow. They came to brave Menestheus at his tower,

And went

within the wall and

MS

their friends,

for gallantly the

Lycian chiefs gloomy tempest, rushed breastworks ; while the Greeks withstood

Hard-pressed,

And

met

captains, like a

Up the tall

Their onset, and a mighty clamor rose. Then Telamonian Ajax smote to death Epicles, great of soul, Sarpedon's friend

430

:

Against that chief he cast a huge, rough stone,

That lay high up beside a pinnacle Within the wall. No man with both his hands,

Such men as now Could

lift its

are,

weight

;

in

455

prime of youth,

though and yet he wielded

it

and flung it. Through the four-coned helm It crashed, and brake the skull within. Down plunged Aloft,

The Lycian,

On

like a diver,

the high tower, and

Then Teucer

also

from his place

life

460

forsook his limbs.

wounded with a

shaft

Glaucus, the brave son of Hippolochus,

As he leaped forth to scale the lofty wall, Wounded him where the naked arm was seen,

And made him

463

Back he sprang, amid the the that so Greeks crowd, Hiding Might not behold the wounded limb, and scoff. leave the combat.

7-W- XII. With grief Sarpedon saw Yet paused not from the

At

Tln-stor's son,

him

1'icrced

329

his friend withdraw, conflict,

Alcmaon,

but took aim

and drew the weapon

;

AT*

with his spear;

The Greek,

out.

Following the spear, fell headlong and his arms, Studded with brass, clashed round him as he fell. ;

Then did Sarpedon seize, with powerful hands, The battlement he wrenched it, and it came

ui

;

To earth, and laid the rampart's summit bare, To make a passage for the assailing host. Ajax and Teucer saw, and both took aim Teucer's shaft

*

Together

at

Struck

the midst the buckler's glittering belt,

in

Just at the

The

Sarpedon

bosom

;

:

but Jove warded off

death-stroke from his son, lest he should

fall

Beside the galleys. Ajax, springing, struck The buckler with his spear, and pierced its folds,

And checked

A

little,

the eager warrior,

yet retreated not, but turned,

Encouraging the godlike Lycians thus "

Where, Lycians,

Were For

I

me

Though Light

He

is

485

who gave way

the bravest,

is it

your

fiery valor

:

now

?

were hard, alone,

*

to force a passage to the fleet, I

have cleared the way.

Come on

with

me

I

when many share the toil." and they who reverenced his words

the task

spake

;

Of exhortation drew more

closely round

Their counsellor and sovereign, while the Greeks

Above them made

their

phalanxes more strong

*os

The

33O

Iliad.

for urgent was the need ; Within the wall, Since neither could the gallant Lycians break

The

barrier of the Greeks,

and cut

their

way

**

Through to the fleet, nor could the warlike Greeks Drive back the Lycians when they once had reached

As two men upon a field, rampart. With measuring-rods in hand, disputing stand Over the common boundary, in small space,

The

Each one contending

for the right

505

he claims,

So, kept asunder by the breastwork, fought

The warriors over it, and fiercely struck The orbed bull's-hide shields held up before The breast, and the light targets. Many a one sWas smitten when he turned and showed the back Unarmed, and many wounded through the shield. The towers and battlements were steeped in blood Of heroes, Greeks and Trojans. Yet were not The Greeks thus put to flight but, as the scales sis Are held by some just woman, who maintains, ,

By spinning wool, her household,

carefully

She poises both the wool and weights,

The balance

A

even, that she

may

pittance for her babes,

Were matched

to

make

provide

thus equally

the warring hosts,

till

s

Jupiter

Conferred the eminent glory of the day On Hector, son of Priam. He it was

Who

first

leaped

Tne Grecian

down

into the space within

wall, and, with far-reaching voice,

Thus shouted,

calling to the

men

of Troy

:

^5

7W"

.V//.

331

Rush

rush boldly on, on, ye knights of Troy break your passage through the (irecian wall, !

'

And

consuming flames against their fleet So spake he, cheering on his men. They heard, hurl

!

And rushed in mighty throngs against the wall, And climbed the battlements, to charge the foe With spears. Then Hector stooped, and seized

531

a

stone

Which

lay.

before the gate, broad at the base

w

And sharp above, which two, the strongest men, could hardly heave from earth As men are now, With ease he

Into a wain.

Of As

A

lifted

it,

such strength the son Saturn gave him, that it seemed but light. sv when a shepherd carries home with ease

Alone, and brandished

So Hector bore the

Two bars

one hand,

in

its

weight,

break

lifted stone, to

that strengthened the tall folding-gates.

within, laid crosswise, neid

Both fastened with one Before them

And

it

he cumbered with

little is

The beams

:

he bears

wether's fleece,

And

it

;

rfe

bolt,

them

firm,

545

came and stood

with wide-parted feet he stood,

put forth all his strength, that so his

arm

and in the midst drive the missile home Might O He smote the folding-gates. The blow tore off : *

The hinges Within

:

;

heavily the great stone

the portals crashed

Withstand the blow Before

it

;

and

:

;

nor did the bars

the shattered

illustrious

sso

fell

beams gave way

Hector sprang

The

332 Into the camp.

And

Iliad.

His look was stern as night

;

sa

terribly the brazen armor gleamed

That swathed him.

With two spears

in

hand he

came,

And none except the gods when once his foot Was on the ground could stand before his might. His eyes shot fire, and, turning to his men, &> bade them mount the wall ; and they obeyed

He

:

Some o'er the wall, some through the sculptured gate, Poured in. The Achaians to their roomy ships Fled,

and a

fearful

uproar

END OF

filled

VOL.

the

i.

air.

HIE ILIAD OF HOMER. VOL.

II.

THE

ILIAD.

BOOK

w

HEN

XIII.

Jove had brought the Trojans and

their chief,

Hector, beside the ships, he

To

toil

Turned

left

them there

and struggle and endure, while he his resplendent eyes

upon the land

Of Thracian horsemen, and the Mysians, skilled To combat hand to hand, and the famed tribe Of long-lived Hippomulgi, reared on milk,

And

He

the most just of men.

On Troy no more now he deemed

turned those glorious eyes, for

That none of

all

the gods would seek to aid

Either the Greeks or Trojans in the

The monarch Neptune kept no For he Aloft

in

5

10

strife.

idle

watch

;

Thracian Samos, dark with woods,

upon the highest summit

sat,

O'erlooking thence the tumult of the war

;

For thence could he behold the Ida:an mount, And Priam's city, and the Grecian fleet. There, coming from the ocean-deeps, he

sat,

15

The

2

And

pitied the

Iliad.

Greek warriors put

to rout

Before the Trojans, and was wroth with Jove.

Soon he descended from those rugged

And And

trod the earth with rapid strides

so

steeps,

the hills

;

quaked beneath the immortal feet Of Neptune as he walked. Three strides he took, And at the fourth reached ^Egae, where he stopped, forests

And where

his

Deep down

sumptuous palace-halls were

in ocean, golden, glittering,

his swift

and brazen-footed

steeds, yoked With manes of flowing gold, to draw his car, And put on golden mail, and took his scourge,

Wrought of

And

fine gold,

and climbed the

their

30

chariot-seat,

The whales came

forth

deep haunts, and frolicked round his

:

rode upon the waves.

From

*

These when he reached,

Against decay of time.

He

built,

proof

way They knew their king. The waves rejoicing smoothed

A

path,

Nor was

And

and rapidly the coursers flew the brazen axle wet below.

thus they brought

Deep

him

to the

#

;

Grecian

fleet.

in the sea there is a spacious cave,

Between the rugged Imbrus and the

isle

4

Of Tenedos. There Neptune, he who shakes The shores, held back his steeds, took off their yoke, Gave them ambrosial food, and, binding next Their feet with golden fetters which no power Might break or loosen, so that they might wait Their lord's return, he sought the Grecian host. Still

did the Trojans, rushing on in crowds,

45

UJ

s o -/

o

p a,

w z

L

Book A' I If. Like flames or

like a tempest, follow close

Hector, the son of Priam

AKited not

;

3

their ra-r

still

;

came

with stormy cries they

5o

;

and slay the Greeks But the power who swathes the earth lleside it. And shakes it, Neptune, coming from the deep,

They hoped

to sei/e the fleet

He

Revived the valor of the Greeks.

took

The shape of Calchas and his powerful voice, And thus to either Ajax, who yet stemmed The

battle with a resolute heart, he

"O

chieftains

!

yours

it is

spake

x

:

to save the host,

Recalling your old valor, with no thought

Of fatal flight. Elsewhere I feel no dread Of what the daring sons of Troy may do

Who

climb the wall

in

throngs

;

(*

the well-greaved

Greeks Will meet

them bravely.

But where Hector leads,

Fierce as a flame, his squadrons, he

To be

a son of sovereign Jove,

Lest we should sorely

suffer.

who

boasts

^

I fear

May

the gods

Strengthen your hearts to stand against the foe, And flinch not, and exhort the rest to stand,

And

him back, audacious as he

drive

From

is,

the swift ships, though Jove should urge

on."

Thus

70

earth-surrounding

Neptune

said,

touched

Each hero with U'ith valor,

him

his sceptre, filled their hearts

gave new lightness to their limbs

and

The

4

Iliad.

and hands, and then, as when a hawk Shoots swiftly from some lofty precipice

And

feet

And

chases o'er the plain another bird,

75

Neptune, shaker of the shores, from them away. Oileus' son Darted immortal presence first, and thus the Perceived

So

swiftly

At once "

Telamonian Ajax spake

to

Some

god,

O

so

:

Ajax, from the Olympian

Wearing the 'augur's form, hath bid us Beside the ships

;

nor can

it

marked

Calchas, for well I

hill,

fight

be the seer

his feet

and

legs

As he departed easily by these The gods are known. I feel a spirit roused In my own bosom eager to engage

*s

;

In the fierce strife my very feet below, And hands above, take part in the desire." And thus the son of Telamon replied ;

90

:

"

So

also these strong hands that grasp the spear

Burn eagerly to wield Is

full

of courage.

try

it,

Thus they That ardor

heart

hurried on

95

valor, Hector, Priam's son."

conferred, rejoicing as they

for the battle

Had breathed into their The Achaians

And

my

feet,

Of boundless

Sought

and

am

and vehemently long alone the combat with this chief

By both my

To

I

respite,

felt

which the god

hearts.

at the rear,

who

Meantime he roused in their ships

and whose limbs were

their hearts sad to see the

faint with

Trojan host

i> toil,

Book IVith tumult

pouring o'er the

As they beheld, the

From

XI If.

tears

5

lofty wall.

came gushing

uiulerneath their lids

For rescue from destruction

;

;

little

they

but

forth

hoped

-*

when came

The power that shakes the shores, lie woke anew The spirit of their valiant phalanxes. Teucer he

first

addressed, and Leitus,

The hero Peneleus and Thoas

no

next,

Deipyrus, Meriones expert

In battle, and Antilochus his peer,

And "

thus exhorted them with winged words

Shame on

you, Arrive youths

In your tried valor to defend our But if ye fear to face the perilous

The day has

risen

!

I

fleet

put

my

-

trust us

;

fight,

which shall behold us

Vanquished before the Trojans.

:

O

fall

ye gods These eyes have seen a marvel, a strange sight And terrible, which I had never thought

Could

- -

!

120

be, upon our ships, were like the timid deer They who, erewhile, That wander in the wood an easy prey

the Trojans close

To

weak things, unapt jackals, pards, and wolves, For combat, fleeing, but without an aim. Such were the Trojans, who till now ne'er dared Withstand the might and prowess of the Greeks Even for an hour. But now. afar from Troy

They

give us battle at the hollow ships,

All through our general's fault, arid through the sloth

Of the (Ireek

warriors, who, displeased with him,

'3>

The

6

Iliad.

Fight not for their swift galleys, but are slain Beside them. Yet although O our sovereign O chief,

7

Atrides

Agamemnon, may have done

Foul wrong, dishonoring the swift-footed son Of Peleus, still ye cannot without blame Decline the combat.

The mischief done

;

Let us then repair the hearts of valiant

men

Are soon appeased. And not without the Of honor can your fiery courage sleep, Since ye are I

known

would not chide the weak, unwarlike

Some

loss 140

the bravest of the host.

For shrinking from the combat I look on you with anger in my Weaklings

iss

;

man

but for you, heart.

ye soon will bring upon yourselves

!

sorer evil

us

ye loiter thus. Let each of you bethink him of the shame

And The The The

if

infamy impending. struggle

is

before us.

Terrible

Hector storms

he has burst ships, loud-shouting Hector and broken the protecting bar." gate

150

;

So Neptune spake, encouraging the Greeks. While firmly stood the serried phalanxes

Round Nor

either Ajax, nor could

Pallas,

Mars

himself,

musterer of armed hosts,

155

There the flower of Greece Reprove their order Waited the Trojans and their noble chief, fl

Spear beside spear, and shield by shield, so close That buckler pressed on buckler, helm on helm, A.nd

man on man. The plumes of horse-hair touched

Book Each other

as they

nodded on

Of the bright helms, so The lances quivered in (

>f

A'///.

7

the crests

id

close the warriors stood. the fearles^ hands

warriors eager to advance and strike

The enemy. The assault

To

But the ;

men

of Troy began

the fiery Hector was the

As

rush against the Greeks.

Rolls from a

cliff

?

first

\vhen a stone

before a wintry Hood

That sweeps it down the steep, when mighty rains Have worn away the props that held it fast 170 ;

and bounds on high the woods around as it tears its un resisted Crash, way It rolls

;

Along the slope until it reach the plain, And there, however urged, moves on no more So Hector, menacing to cut his way Through tents and galleys to the very Slaving as he went forward,

Met

;

173

sea,

when he now

the firm phalanxes and pressed

them

close,

Stopped suddenly the sons of Greece withstood His onset and repulsed it, striking him ;

ia>

\Vithswords and two-edged spears, and made the chief Give way before the shock. He lifted up

His voice and shouted

to the Trojans thus Trojans and Lycians and Dardanians skilled In fighting hand to hand, stand firm. Not long :

"

Will the Greeks bide

Square as a tower I

trust, will scatter

in

my

onset, though

close array.

them,

if

true

My it

drawn up spear,

be

That Juno's husband, Sovereign of the gods,

is

The

8

And Lord

He

Iliad.

of thunders, prompts

my arm

w

to-day."

spake, and kindled in the breasts of all

In the band Deiphobus

Fresh courage.

Marched

proudly, Priam's son, with his round shield

Before him, walking with a quick, light step

Then Meriones

Behind

its shelter.

Aimed

at the chief his glittering spear

Missed not

;

it

Just at the neck.

His shield

far

the point

struck the orb of bullock's hide,

Yet did not pierce

A

195

;

for the weapon broke Deiphobus held forth

it,

from him, dreading to receive

200

spear-thrust from the brave Meriones.

Vexed thus

to lose the victory,

and the spear

Snapped by the blow, Meriones fell back Into the column of his friends, and passed Hastily toward the

A

camp and ships, to bring powerful spear that stood within his tent,

**s

While others fought, and fearful was the din. Then Teucer first, the son of Telamon,

Smote

gallant Imbrius, son of Mentor, lord

Of many steeds. He, ere the Greeks had come To Troy, dwelt at Pedaeum and espoused Medesicasta, Priam's spurious child.

But when the well-oared galleys of the Greeks Mustered at Troy, he also came, and there

Was eminent among

her chiefs, and dwelt

With Priam, and was honored as his son. The son of Telamon beneath the ear Pierced him with his long javelin, and drew forth

215

Book The weapon. Headlong a mountain height,

XI 1 1. to the earth

As on

Hrwn And

by

lays

T.I spoil

is

fell.

far,

felled

tender sprays upon the ground,

Thus Imbrius Clashed

he

drsi rird from

bra/en axe, an ash

.1

its

9

and round him

fell,

in his fall

Teueer sprang in haste the dead, but Hector hurled at him

his bright armor.

His shining spear

the wary Teueer stepped

;

A>ide, and just escaped the brazen blade.

struck

It

Amphimachus, Cteatus' son, as he came to

And

Actor's grandson

The

battle,

And

fell,

;

he was smitten

his

in

join

the breast,

armor clashing round

-

his limbs.

Then Hector flew in haste to tear away From the large-soulecl Amphimachus the helm That cased

His It

Ajax saw, and hurled Hector as he came

his temples.

glittering spear at

made no wound

;

for

235

:

Hector stood equipped

The

All o'er in formidable brass.

spear

Struck on the bossy shield with such a shock As forced him to recoil, and leave unspoiled

The

bodies, which the Achaians dragged away.

240

and Menestheus, chief among The Athenians, bore the dead Amphimachus Fr Stichius

To

the C,reek

camp, while the two men of might,

The

chieftains Ajax, lifted Imbrius

And

as two lions, bearing off

up

; '

The close-grown shrubs a snatched

among

^s

goat, which they have

The

IO

From

Iliad.

sharp-toothed dogs, uplift

it

in their

jaws

Above the ground, so the two warriors raised The corpse of Imbrius, and stripped off the mail, While, angered that

Amphimachus was

slain,

250

Oileus' son struck from the tender neck

The

head, and sent

Whirled

it

far

among

the crowd,

like a ball, to fall at Hector's feet.

Meantime was Neptune moved with grief to see His grandson perish in that desperate fray, 253 And passed among the Achaian tents and ships Encouraging the men, and planning wo3 For Ilium. There he met Idomeneus, Expert to wield the spear, as he returned

From caring for a comrade who had left The battle, wounded in the knee, and whom His friends had carried

260

Idomeneus

in.

Had called the surgeons to his aid, and now Was hastening to the field, intent to bear His part in battle. Him the monarch god

265

Of ocean thus addressed, but first he took The voice of Thoas, King Andrsemon's son, Whose father ruled the ^Etolians through the bounds Of Pleuron, and in lofty Calydon, And like a god was honored in the land. 270 "

O

Where

counsellor of Crete, Idomeneus

Uttered against the Trojans ? " The Cretan leader's answer " :

O

!

are the threats which late the sons of Greece

Thoas, seems blameworthy,

Promptly came

No man

for

we

all

here, vs

XIII. Arc skilled

war, nor does

in

Hold any back Does

Doubtless that

unmanly

nor from the

;

sloth detain it

II

one w.inior.

seems g"d

fear

difficult strife

So

it

is

to Saturn's son,

The All-disposer, that the Greeks, afar From ArgOS, should in^lonou.sly fall

And perish. Tluus, thou wert ever brave, And didst exhort the laggards. Cease not now To combat, cease not to exhort the rest." And Neptune, he who shakes the earth, joined "

re-

^

:

Idomeneus, whoever keeps aloof

From

battle, willingly, to-day,

may he

Never return from Troy, but be the prey Of dogs. Take thou thy arms and come with me, For we must quit ourselves like men, and strive 290

To

aid our cause, although

Great

is

we be but

the strength of feeble

And we can combat even

two.

arms combined,

with the brave."

So speaking, Neptune turned to share the Of war. Idomeneus, who now had reached

toils

DS

His princely tent, put on his glorious mail, And seized two spears, and ilew upon his way, Like lightning grasped by Saturn's son and flung Quivering above Olympus' gleaming peak,

A So

sign to mortals, dazzled by the bla/e, glittered, as

he

ran, his

brazen mail.

His fellow-warrior, good Meriones, Met him beside the tent, for he had come

300

The

12

Iliad.

To fetch a brazen javelin thence, and thus The stout Idomeneus addressed his friend "

303

:

O

son of Molus, swift Meriones, Dearest of all my comrades Why hast thou !

Thus

A A

left

the battle-field

weapon's point that

message to me ? Within my tent an

Hast thou a wound, Dost thou bring ?

?

galls thee

Think not idler

that

must

1

:

Discreetly did Meriones reply

I sit

3

fight." :

"

Idomeneus, whose sovereign counsels rule The well-armed Cretans, I am come to seek

A I

if

spear

one be

broke the one

left

within thy tents.

I bore, in

hurling

s^s

it

Against the shield of fierce Deiphobus." The Cretan chief, Idomeneus, rejoined " If there stand within thou

Twenty and one I

Never

to fight at distance

'T

\*>

my wont

foe,

and bossy

my

in turn discreet

tent are also

I forget

Among

far

away.

shields,

what valor

in

calls

&

:

spoils

my

black ship

;

do not think

is.

I fight

the foremost in the glorious strife

Where'er the battle

Among

I

Meriones

many

from the Trojans, and

But they are

That

is

helms, and body-mail of polished brass."

Within

Won

from the

therefore have I spears,

Then spake "

tent

against the shining walls.

took them from slain Trojans.

And And

:

my

seek,

spears

me.

the well-armed Greeks

s*

Other men

may

not have seen

xin. What

perform, hut thou must

I

13

know me

Idomeneus, the Cretan leader, spake "

I

To

know

thy courage well. speak as thou hast clone

hast thou us

of us,

If all

bravest of the Creeks, were set apart

The

To form an ambush ;- And shows men's valor The

brave,

And goes

;

is

known

hi:;

His bosom, so

And

On

What need ?

well.' -

:

comes

340

not calm within

hr shifts his place

;

;

he

sits

his heart beats audibly

;

his breast ;

tries

the coward's color

spirit is

both his feet

Chatter

;

an ambush

there the craven, there

that he can rest awhile

tremble not

Within

;

for

;

his teeth at

thought of death

345

the brave man's color changes not,

Nor when with other warriors he sits down In ambush is he troubled, but he longs

To

rise

and mingle

in the

thee, in such an

For

desperate fray

;

ambush, none could blame

asc

Thy courage or thy skill. If there the foe Should wound thee from afar, or smite thee near, The weapon would not strike thy neck behind, (

)r

pierce thy back, but enter at thy breast

Or stomach,

Among Come !

as thou wert advancing fast

Lest some one chide us sharply.

And

Hasten thou,

bring a sturdy javelin from the tent."

He And

355

But enough of this. stand we here no longer, idiot-like, the foremost.

spake.

Meriones, like Mars

swiftness, hastened to the tent

in

port

and brought

360

The

14

A

Iliad.

brazen spear, and joined Idomeneus,

Eager for battle. As the god of war, The man-destroyer, comes into the field,

With Terror, his strong-limbed and dauntless son, Following and striking fear into the heart

Of

when from Thrace

the most resolute warrior, issue

They Or else

&\

armed against the Ephyri,

against the Phlegyans large of soul,

And hearken not to To one the victory

;

Advanced

both the hosts, but give so Meriones

to battle with

370

Idomeneus,

Leaders of heroes both, and both equipped And first Meriones In glittering helms.

Spake and addressed his fellow-warrior thus " Son of Deucalion, at which point wilt thou :

Enter the throng

?

Its centre, or its left

Seem most

to

Upon ?

372

the army's right,

The

long-haired Greeks

need our aid upon the

left."

Then spoke Idomeneus, in turn, the prince Of Cretans " At the centre of the fleet Are others who will guard it. Posted there

3&>

:

Are either Ajax and the most expert

Of Grecian

archers, Teucer, not less skilled

In standing fight, and amply will they task The arm of Hector, Priam's son, though bent

On

desperate conflict, and though passing all his fierceness, he will find it hard

38$

fierce.

With

To quell their prowess, never yet o'ercome, And fire the ships, unless Saturnian Jove

j'er

My (

)f

21

many men

am

ami

I,

galleys brought thee, thy father,

me

am

king

isle

of Crete.

I

the broad

in

&s

thence to he the dread

and the men of Troy."

He

spake. iViphobus, irresolute, Stood doubting whether to retreat and bring

Some other of the To aid him, or to

heroic sons of

A^ thus he mused, .Fneas.

The

Him

Troy

570

try the light alone. it

seemed most wise

he found withdrawn

rear of the army, for

lie

to

seek

among

was displeased

With noble Priam, who had paid his worth With light esteem. Deiphobus approached, And thus with winged words accosted him

s?s

:

"

.Fneas, counsellor of Troy, 1st

Thy

To

ever a regard to him

sister's

husband,

avenge him.

if

thou

who was

becomes thee now

it

s&j

Follow me, and help avenge

Alcathoiis, guardian of thy tender years,

Slain by the spear of famed Idomeneus."

He

spake

;

and

at his

words ,-Fneas

His courage rise. Impatient He went to meet Idomeneus

felt

tor the right, ;

5*

yet fear

upon the Greek as if he were A puny boy he stood and kept his ground. mountain boar, unterrilied, As, when Fell not

:

,i

\Vaits in the wilderness the hunter-crew,

That come with mighty

din, his bristly

back

590

The

22

Rises, his eyes shoot

And

Iliad.

fire,

he whets his tusks,

fiercely keeps both dogs and

men

at bay,

So did Idomeneus, expert to wield The spear, await vEneas hastening on

With

fury.

Not a backward

595

step he made,

But called upon his warrior-friends aloud,

Looking

at

Aphareus, Ascalaphus,

Dei'pyrus, Meriones,

Antilochus,

And

last

of war,

thus exhorted them with winged words

" Haste hither, I

and

all skilled in arts

O my

friends,

&*>

:

and bring me

aid.

stand alone, in dread of the approach

Of swift

yEneas,

Powerful to

The

slay,

who comes and

in his

highest vigor of the

fiercely on,

prime of youth,

human

605

frame.

Yet, were our years the same, that chief or I

Would

quickly triumph at the other's cost."

He spake, and all with one accord drew near And stood by him, with shields obliquely held Upon their shoulders. On the other side yfCneas cheered his comrades on. He fixed His look on

And

Paris,

e

and Deiphobus,

nobly born Agenor, who, like him,

Were leaders of the Trojans. After these 615 The soldiers followed, as the thronging flock Follow the ram that leads them to the fount From pasture, and the shepherd's heart is pleased. So was JEneas glad at heart to see The multitude of warriors following him.

W XI IT.

33

Of twisted wool, from which they showered afar Stones that dispersed the phalanxes of Troy.

The Clad

in their

shining armor, fought to check

The Trojans and

their leader, brazen-mailed,

While

the Locrians lurked unseen,

And

9 Accursed Paris noble but in form,

:

!

Kffeminate seducer

!

where are now

Ik-iphobus, and might}' Helenus

97*

?

And Adamas, the son of Asius, where? And Asius, son of Hyrtacus and where ?

Orthryoneiis

From

And "

Now

?

towering Ilium sinks

her high summit, and thy fate

is

sure."

then the godlike Paris answered thus

Since

it

Reproach on me, though innocent, I may Another day neglect the toils of war, Although in truth my mother brought me

Not

quite unapt for combat.

When

975

:

hath pleased thee, Hector, thus to cast

forth

Since the hour

980

thou didst lead the battle to the ships

With thy companions, we have held our ground, Here on this spot, contending with the Greeks. Three chiefs

for

whom

thou askest have been

slain.

Deiphobus and mighty Helenus, Both wounded in the hand by massive spears,

Have

left

Their

lives.

And we

the field

Now

will follow

Nor deem

;

985

the son of Saturn saved

lead us wheresoe'er thou

wilt,

thee with resolute hearts,

that thou wilt find in us a lack

w>

The

36

Iliad.

Of valor while our strength of arm remains. The boldest cannot fight beyond his strength." With such persuasive words the warrior calmed His brother's anger, and they went where raged The hottest conflict round Cebriones,

9%

Phalces, Orthaeus, and the excellent

Polydamas, with Palmys

at his side,

And Polyphcetes, godlike in his form, And where Ascanius and Morys fought, Sons of Hippotion. They the day before Came marching from Ascania's fertile fields,

Moved by

the will of Jove to share the war.

All these swept on, as

A

i


she hasten to the host

Of the mailed Greeks, and bid king Neptune The battle for his palace. Let the god

Of

:

sit

send into the

Him

fight

the mighty spear

shall o'erthrow before the walls

*

The lhad*

64

Of Ilium, Shall

by

many

a Trojan youth

hand have

fallen,

noble son, Sarpedon.

My

Then

Of

after

his

s

to rage,

shall the great Achilles take the life

Be

Hector.

That

and with them

Roused

all

it

from

this

time

the assaults of Trojans

my

care

in the fleet

Be beaten back, till by Minerva's aid The Greeks possess the lofty town of Troy. Still

One The

am

I

9

angry, nor will I allow

of the ever-living gods to aid

Greeks, until the prayer of Peleus' son

Shall fully be accomplished, as

my word

95

And nod were given, when Thetis clasped my knees, Entreating me to honor, signally, Her son, Achilles, spoiler of walled towns."

He

spake

;

the white-armed goddess willingly

Obeyed him, and from Ida's summit flew To high Olympus. As the thought of man

100

Flies rapidly, when, having travelled far, " Here would I be, I would be there," thinks,

He

And

flits

from place to place, so swiftly flew

Imperial Juno to the Olympian mount, And there she found the ever-living gods

Assembled

105

in the halls of Jupiter.

These, as they saw her, starting from their seats,

Reached forth their cups to greet her. All the She overlooked, and took the beaker held By blooming Themis, who in haste had run

To meet

her,

and

in

winged accents said

:

rest

m

Book X\\ "

Why

O

comest thou,

Of one o'crcomc with

f>5

Juno

with the look

!

Hatli Saturn's son,

fear.

Thy lord, disquieted thy soul with threats?" The white-armed goddess Juno answered her " thou dost know Ask me not, heavenly Themis, s

:

The

sit presiding at the

But In

temper that

cruel, arrogant

is his,

common

this fair palace of the gods,

feast,

and thou

**>

And all in heaven Jove Has threatened. All, I think, will not rejoice To hear the tidings, be they gods or men, shall hear

what

evils

Though some contentedly are feasting now." Thus having said, imperial Juno took

Her

and

place,

Of Jupiter were Above

The goddess

grieved.

But only with the

lips

;

smiled,

her forehead wore

the jetty brows no sign of joy,

While thus she spake in anger to the rest " Vainly, and in our madness, do we strive :

We

With Father Jove.

Or

125

the gods within the halls

all

force to

move

his

come and seek by

stubborn

will

;

he

no

craft

sits

Apart, unyielding, unregarding, proud

Of the Above

vast strength all

and power

which he stands

in

other of the deathless gods.

136

Bear therefore patiently whatever ill He sends to each. Already, as I learn,

Hath Mars

his share of sorrow.

Ascalaphus hath perished, Dearly, beyond

all

whom

In the war

he loved

other men, and

whom

n*

The

66

The

fiery

As With

Iliad.

god acknowledged as his son." Mars smote his sinewy thighs dropped hands, and sorrowfully said :-

thus she spake, his

"

Be not offended with me, ye who make Your dwelling on Olympus, if I go

Down The

to the

Achaian

slaughter of

fleet,

and there avenge

doomed

son, though I be

my

us

To fall before the thunderbolt of Jove, And lie in blood and dust among the dead." 150 He spake, and summoned Fear and Flight to yoke His

steeds,

and put

his glorious

armor on.

Then greater and more terrible had been The avenging wrath of Jupiter inflamed Against the gods,

For

Her

all

if

Pallas in her fear

i 5S

the heavenly dwellers had not

throne,

and,

left

the

rushing through

portals,

snatched

The helmet from The

his head,

and from

his

arm

shield, brawny hand the And laid the brazen weapon by, and thus

and from

Rebuked "

his

the fiery temper of the

Thou madman, thou

Hast thou not ears

Olympian Jupiter

^

:

art frantic, thou art lost

I

nor any shame Hast thou not heard the words to hear,

Nor reason left ? Of white-armed Juno, who ?

god

spear,

so lately

left

Wouldst thou return

In pain and sorrow to the Olympian heights,

Driven back ingloriously, and made the cause Of many miseries to all the gods ? -

163

/>W- XV.

67

Trojans and their foes, on us, and bring ami turn gallant (ireeks, He would seize Ruin upon Olympus. I'.

would

li>\v

i]

li-iue the

170

The

(iuilty

and

guiltless in his rage alike.

\\'herefore

counsel thee to lay aside

I

Resentment

for the

slaughter of thy son,

men and stronger have been Vain it were be slain hereafter.

Since braver

And will To seek from She

s.iid,

slain,

death to save the race of man."

and, leading back the fiery Mars,

Seated him on

his throne, while

Apollo forth, with

Of heaven, and u

175

Iris,

Juno called

i*>

messenger

thus in winged accents spake

:

you both to Ida. When ye reach Its heights, and look upon his countenance, Receive his sovereign mandate and obey." *s Jove

calls

So spake imperial Juno, and withdrew

And

Hew

took her seat again, while they in haste toward the mount of Ida, seamed with rills

And

nurse of savage beasts.

Of Ciargarus they found

Tiie son of Saturn, sitting. (

)f

fragrant haze he sat concealed

Had To "

To

;

God

the twain

of Storms,

saw them not displeased, so speedily First he turned

they obeyed his consort.

Iris,

and

Haste

in

accents said winged o

thee, swift Iris,

17

In a cloud

Kntered and stood before the

Who

the top

Upon

the Thunderer,

:

and report my words them right.

royal Neptune, and report

w

The

68

Iliad.

Bid him, withdrawing from the battle-field, Repair to the assembly of the gods,

Or

the great ocean.

Contemning

If

200

he disobey,

my command,

then bid him think

Maturely, whether, mighty though he be,

He

can withstand when Greater

Against him.

I

is

put forth

my

my power

strength than his,

205

And elder-born am I. Yet in his pride Of heart he dares to call himself my peer, Though all the others look on me with awe." Thus spake Are

the god,

and

like the wind, obeyed,

Iris,

whose

swift feet

and downward plunged

an From Ida's height to sacred Troy. As when Snow-flakes or icy hail are dropped to earth From clouds before the north wind when it sweeps

The

sky, so darted Iris to the ground,

And

stood by mighty Neptune's side, and said

"O

dark-haired shaker of the shores,

I

:

216

bring

A

message from the ^Egis-bearer, Jove, That thou, withdrawing from the battle-field, Repair to the assembly of the gods, Or the great ocean. If thou disobey,

Contemning

He

will

his

come

command, then hear

?

his threat

:

hither and put forth his power

Against thee, and he warns thee not to tempt The strife for greater is his power than thine, ;

And he

is

elder-born, though in thy pride

Of heart thou Of him whom

dost declare thyself the peer all

the rest regard with awe."

*g

A'

Illustrious '"

/

Neptune answered with disdain :he seeks l>y lone

In truth an arrogant speech

To

me from my

bar

'.

;

purpo.se, \\lio

can claim

Rights equal to his own, though great his power.

Rhea brought us

are three brothers,

\\'e

The sons

And

of Saturn,

Jupiter,

and

forth,

I,

Pluto, regent of the realm below.

Three parts were made of all existing And each of us received his heritage.

*>s

things,

and to me it fell lots were shaken To dwell forever in the hoary deep, And Pluto took the gloomy realm of night,

The

;

And,

And

lastly,

air

Jupiter the ample heaven

and clouds.

With high Olympus, common to us Therefore I yield me not to do his Great as he

With

is

;

and

his third part.

=40

Yet doth the earth remain,

let

all.

will,

him be content

He

me

cannot frighten

**s

With gestures of his arm. Let him insult With menaces the daughters and the sons

Of

his

own

loves,

and give them

law, since they

Perforce must hear, and patiently submit."

Then (i )

(

the fleet-footed Iris spake again

dark-haired Neptune, shall

I

:

bear from thee

This harsh, defiant answer back to Jove,

Or

shall

it

yet be

changed?

The prudent mind

Yields to the occasion, and thou knowest well I

Furies wait upon the rider-born."

Then spake shores

:

in

turn

the

god who shakes

25;

the

The

70 "

O

goddess

Iris,

Iliad,

thou hast wisely said.

An excellent thing it is when messengers Know how to counsel well. But in my heart And soul a wrathful sense of injury

**

when he chides with insolent words who was equal with him in my lot, Me, Arises

And

born

offended, I give

Although

I tell thee,

and

In spite of

me and

And

Yet now,

to equal destinies.

't

from

is

way

my

;

but this if

heart,

he,

265

Pallas, spoiler-queen,

Juno, Mercury, and Vulcan, spare

The towers Ruin on

of Troy,

her,

if

he refuse to bring

and glory on the Greeks,

Then let him know that hatred without end Or intermission is between us two." As thus he spake, the shaker of the shores

270

Quitted the Grecian army, took his way

Seaward, and plunged into the deep. The host Perceived their loss. Then Cloud-compelling Jove

Turned "

Apollo and addressed him thus go at once to Hector, mailed in brass,

to

Now

:

&

Beloved Phcebus, for the god who shakes

The

earth, departing to the ocean-deeps,

Avoids our wrath

Even they who

;

far

else

*

had the other gods,

beneath the earth surround

Old Saturn, heard our quarrel. Well it is For both of us that he, although enraged, Braved not

Had

my

arm, for otherwise the

not been ended without sweat.

strife

Now

take

**

XV.

Book The

frin-ed ;r^is

in

71

thy hands, and shake

orb before the wariior Greeks, to

Its

Their

with

lie.irts

fear.

Illustrious

Hector

The might

that dwelt within him,

to thy

lill

give, () archer-god,

1

charge.

Revive till

the

Greeks

**

and Hellespont; Then shall it be my care, by word and deed, To give them rest and respite from their toils." in their flight, the ileet

Reach,

He His

spake

:

Apollo hearkened and obeyed down from Ida's height

father, darting

Like the

And

fleet falcon,

293

chaser of the dove,

swiftest of the race of birds.

He

found

Hector, the warlike Priam's noble son,

No

He

longer on his bed.

sat upright

;

he knew again 300 His friends the heavy breathing ceased ; the sweat Was stanched the will of cegis-bearing Jove

The

life

was coming back

;

;

;

Revived the warrior's strength.

The

archer-god,

Phoebus, approached, and, standing by him, said " Why, Hector, son of Priam, dost thou sit

Languishing

thus, apart

from

all

the host

Has aught of evil overtaken thee ? " And then the crested Hector feebly

"Who

mayst thou be,

O

:

305

?

said

:

kindest of the gods,

That thus dost question me ? Hast thou not heard That the great warrior Ajax, with a stone, n.

Smote me upon the breast, and made me leave The battle-field, where I o'ertook and slew His comrades by the galleys of the Greeks?

1 he Iliad.

72

I thought to be this day among the dead In Pluto's mansion ; even now it seemed

That

I

was breathing

my

dear

life

315

away."

Then spake again Apollo, archer-god " Take courage, for the son of Saturn sends From Ida's summit one who will attend :

And

320

- -

Phoebus of the golden sword, to defend thy Troy and thee. Long practised Rise now, encouraging thy numerous host aid thee,

Of charioteers

to press with their swift steeds

Straight toward the roomy galleys of the Greeks. I

go before

And

to

smooth

for

them the way,

turn the Achaian bands, and

He

spake, and

make them

flee."

into the great ruler's breast

Breathed strength and courage. As a stabled horse, Fed at his crib with barley, breaks the thong 330

That fastened him, and, issuing, scours the plain in some smooth-flowing stream

Where he was wont

To

bathe his sides,

Proudly, and

he holds his head

Consciously beautiful, he darts away On nimble knees, that bear him to the

He knows so So

after

aloft

o'er his shoulders streams the

well,

mane, 335

fields

and pastures of the mares

;

he had hearkened to the god the swift feet of Hector, and he flew

Moved To cheer his horsemen on. As peasant men Rush with their dogs in chase of horned stag Or mountain

goat,

whose refuge

is

among

Thickets and lofty rocks, nor can they

ta

His voice, exhorts the Trojans, who, in throngs, Raising the war-cry, fill the plain, and drive

The Greeks The charge,

before them.

Patroclus

;

Gallantly lead on

rescue our good ships

;

Let not the enemy give them to the flames, And cut us off from our desired return.

Follow

So

my

counsel

;

shalt thou win for

my words in mind me among the Greeks

bear

>

;

Great honor and renown, and they shall bring

The

beautiful

maiden back with princely

gifts.

When thou hast driven the assailants from Re turn thou hither. If the Thunderer,

no

the fleet

The

98

Husband That

Iliad.

of Juno, suffer thee to gain

seek no further to prolong the warlike sons of Troy,

victory,

The combat with Apart from me,

lest I

be brought

to

n

shame,

Nor, glorying in the battle and pursuit, Slaying the Trojans as thou goest, lead

Thy men to Troy, lest from the Olympian mount One of the ever-living gods descend

x

Against thee Phcebus loves the Trojans well. But come as soon as thou shalt see the ships :

In safety

leave the foes upon the plain Contending with each other. Would to Jove The All-Father, and to Pallas, and the god

Who The The

;

bears the bow, Apollo, that of

125

all

many as they are, and all Greeks, not one might be reprieved from death,

Trojans,

While thou and

I

alone were

left alive

To

overthrow the sacred walls of Troy." 130 So talked they with each other. Ajax, whelmed

Beneath a storm of

Endured the

And

darts,

meantime but

struggle, for the will of

the fierce foe prevailed.

Rang

fearfully, as

ill

Jove

His shining helm

on his temples

fell,

135

Stroke following after stroke, the weapons hurled The buckler borne Against its polished studs.

Firmly on his

From side to The Trojans, With

left

side,

arm, and shifted

had wearied

it,

oft

and yet

pressing round him, could not drive,

all their darts,

the hero from his place.

*

'

I

II

,i\ilv

hr.i\rd his panting chest

Streamed with warm sweat time I

)n

;

Now, Muses, dwellers of

1

first

lector

his limbs

;

there was no breathing*

;

toil

danger danger followed,

How

7.

(

on

toil.

.

tell

Hympus,

MS

the galleys of the (iieeks were fired.

drew

near,

and smote with

his

huge sword

The ashen spear of Ajax just below The socket of the blade, and cut the stem In two. The son of Telamon in vain

15*

Brandished the severed weapon, while afar The bra/en blade llew off, and ringing fell

To

Then Ajax in his mighty mind Acknowledged that the gods were in the war, earth.

And Was And

shuddered, knowing that the Thunderer thwarting

The

willed the victory to Troy.

Withdrew beyond the reach of

The eager enemy hurled At the

swift ship,

spears, while fast

the blazing brands

"

Patroclus, noble friend

:

And

knight,

The

flames that rage with fury at the lest

make

the

Thy armor

;

haste

enemy

He barred of our be

chief

and wrapped the stern in flames -oi Achilles saw, and smote

Unquenchable. His thigh, and spake

Now,

:

already

I

seize our ships

return, put quickly

my

behold tleet.

and we on

task to call the troops."

He spake Patroclus then in glittering brass Arrayed himself; and first around his thighs :

iss

his warlike purposes,

all

16-

The

IOO

He

Iliad.

put the beautiful greaves, and fastened them

With

The

silver clasps

;

around

his chest

**

he bound

breastplate of the swift yEacides,

With

star-like points,

The sword

his shoulders,

Upon

and vast

Solid

and

richly chased

;

he hung

with silver studs and blade of brass

;

and with

upon

the shield

it

his gallant

175

head

He

placed the glorious helm with horse-hair plume, That grandly waved on high. Two massive spears

He

took, that fitted well his grasp, but

left

The spear which great Achilles only bore, Heavy and huge and strong, and which no arm

Among the Greeks save his could Alone

sufficed to wield

Which Chiron

it.

poise

;

his strength

'T was an ash

felled in Pelion's top,

and gave

To Peleus, that it yet might be the death Of heroes. Then he called, to yoke with speed The steeds, Automedon, whom he esteemed Next

185

to Achilles, that great scatterer

Of armies In

180

;

for

he found him ever firm

battle, breasting faithfully its shock.

Automedon

led forth to take the

Xanthus and

Were like the To Zephyrus,

190

yoke

Balius, coursers that in

wind.

speed Podarge brought them

forth

while she, the Harpy, grazed

By ocean's streams. Upon the outer side He joined to them the noble Pedasus, Brought by Achilles from the captured town Where ruled Ee'tion. Though of mortal stock,

195

A'/ 7. UV11 might

lie

i

match with those immortal

Me.iiiuhile Achilles

aimed

the

en

steeds.

M\unuluns,

Like ravening wolves,

Passing from tent to tent.

Teniblv strong, that, having slam among The hills an antleivd stag of mighty size, Tear and devour it, while their jaws are stained

With

its

red blood, then gather in a herd

305

About some darkly flowing stream, and lap The sullen water with their slender tongues,

And drop

the clots of blood from their grim mouths,

And, although gorged, are fierce and fearless So came the leaders of the Myrmidons,

still, *

In rushing crowds, about the valiant friend

Of swift

Achilles, great

The

Among them

/Kacides. in

charioteers

war, encouraging

and warriors armed with

Achilles, dear to Jupiter, Fifty swift barks to Ilium,

Were

fifty

stood

and

men, companions

O'er these he gave

in

="s

each

at the oar.

command

to five

;

himself,

Supreme in power, was ruler over all. One band the nobly armed Menestheus

To

Son of Spercheius.

;

led,

him

forth,

she, a mortal maid,

Met an immortal's love. Yet Borus, son Of Perieies, owned the boy and took The mother

**

that river-god,

Beautiful Polydora brought

Daughter of Peleus

shields.

had led

for h's bride, with princely

Eudorus led the second band, a youth

dower.

5

The

102

Iliad.

warlike mould, whom Polymela bore, Daughter of Phylas, graceful in the dance. In secrecy she brought him forth, for once

Of

2y>

The mighty Argus-queller saw the maid Among the choir of those who danced and sang At Dian's festival, the huntress-queen,

Who

bears the golden shafts

he saw and loved And, climbing to her chamber, met by stealth The damsel, and she bore a gallant son, ;

233

Eudorus, swift of foot and brave in war.

When

Ilithyia,

midwife goddess, gave

The boy to see the pleasant light of day, The stout Echecleus, son of Actor, brought The mother to his house, with liberal dower. The aged Phylas reared the child she left Tenderly as a son, and loved him

340

well.

Pisander, warlike son of Maemalus,

Commanded

Among

the

the third squadron

Myrmidons could

Except Pelides.

Led

;

none

like

him

245

wield the spear

Phoenix, aged knight,

the fourth squadron.

With the

and

fifth

last

There came Alcimedon, Laerceus' son, As leader. When their ranks were duly formed, 250 Achilles spake to them in earnest words :

"

Now, Myrmidons,

forget

no single word

Of all

the threats ye uttered against

Since

first

And

*

say

:

Troy

wrath began. Ye blame me much, Hard-hearted son of Peleus, sure 255

my

Thy mother must have

suckled thee on gall

-

}

Book XVI. For sternly thmi dost keep

We

\\r arc.

a.s

Unwilling

Crossing the sea, return thus thine anger

If

Ye

utter oft

is

to

P.S

in

might,

103 the ships, at least,

our good ships, The.se words last.'

in

*

when our assemblies meet,

And now the great occasion is at hand Which ye have longed for now let him whose ;

meet the Trojans valiantly." spake, and roused their courage and

heart

Is fearless

He

their

^5 might And as they heard their king they brought their ranks To closer order. As an architect ,

liuilds up, with closely fitting stones, the wall

Of some

tall

mansion, proof against the

blast,

So close were now the helms and bossy shields. 270 Shield leaned on shield, and helm on helm, and man

On man, and The

Kach

Two

on the glittering helmet-cones

horse-hair plumes with every motion touched other, so

compact the squadrons stood.

heroes, nobly armed, were at their head,

275

and Automedon, and both but one thought, - - to combat in the van.

1'atroclus

Had

Entering his

Of

Which

si

1

ver-footed Thetis placed on board

His bark, ami

And

A (

>i

tent, Achilles raised the lid

a fair coffer, beautifully wrought,

tilled

ileecy carpets.

There he

also kept

goblet richly chased, from which no

man, save

his,

280

with tunics, cloaks well lined,

lip

might drink the dark red wine,

The

IO4

Iliad.

Nor wine be poured to any god save Jove, The mighty Father. This he took in hand

And

purified with sulphur

and then

Next, with washen hands,

Rinsed with clear water.

He

first,

285

drew the dark red wine, and stood without,

290 In the open space, and, pouring out the wine, Prayed with his eyes turned heavenward, not un-

heard

who

By

Jupiter, "

wields the thunderbolt.

Dodonian Jove, Pelasgian, sovereign King, Whose dwelling is afar, and who dost rule

Dodona winter-bound, where dwell thy priests, 295 The Selli, with unwashen feet, who sleep Upon the ground Thou once hast heard my prayer, !

And

thou hast honored me, and terribly

Avenged me on the Greeks. Accomplish yet This one request of mine. I shall remain Among the rows of ships, but in my stead I

send

my

My O God

comrade, who

vast array of

Make

will

Myrmidons.

300

lead to war

With him,

of Thunders, send the victory.

his heart bold

Whether my

;

follower,

let

even Hector learn

though alone, can

305

wage

Successful war, or conquer only then

When

I

go

forth with

him

into the field

Of slaughter. When he shall have beaten back The assailants from the fleet, let him return Unharmed to my good galleys and to me. With

all his

arms and

all his

valiant men."

3

Book XVI. So spake

105

and

he, offering prayer,

Jupiter,

The Great Hisposer, hearkened. Half the prayer The All Father granted him, and half denied 3s :

To He In

drive the storm of battle from the tleet

granted, but denied his friend's return

\Yhen the warrior thus had prayed, the wine to Father Jove, he went

safety.

And poured

Into his tent again, and there replaced

The

He

goblet in the coffer.

Coming

3*

forth,

stood before the entrance to behold

The terrible encounter of the hosts. The newly armed, led by their gallant Patroclus,

And

in

marched

high hope, to

chief,

warlike order forth,

in

fall

upon the

325

foe.

As

wasps, that by the wayside build their cells, Angered from time to time by thoughtless boys, if Whence mischief comes to many, by chance

Some

passing traveller should unwittingly

And So

all

330

once are on the wing, attack him, to defend their young

Disturb them,

fearless

all at

and so

fierce the

Myrmidons

and mighty was the Patroclus with loud voice exhorted them

Poured from

their fleet,

din.

:

"

Of

O

Peleus, bear in mind,

For

335

Myrmidons, companions of the son

my

frit-mis,

your fame

and be men, that we who serve we who combat hand to hand,

valor,

Achilles,

May

honor him by our

Wide-ruling

exploits,

Agamemnon how

and teach

he erred

340

The

io6

Iliad.

Slighting the bravest warrior of the Greeks." These words awoke the courage and the might

Of

all

who heard them, and

in close array

the Trojans.

y&

Fearfully upon They The fleet around them echoed to the sound fell

Of Argives shouting. When the Trojans saw, In glittering arms, Mencetius' gallant son

And

his attendant, every heart

With

fear

That the

Had The

;

grew

the close ranks wavered

swift

son of Peleus at the

laid aside his wrath,

;

faint

for

they thought

fleet

351

and was again

friend of

Agamemnon. Eagerly They looked around for an escape from death. Then first Patroclus cast his shining spear

35*

Into the crowd before him, where they fought

Most

fiercely

Of brave

round the stern of the good ship There it smote

Protesilaus.

Pyraechmes, who had led from Amydon, the broad Axius, his Paeonian knights.

On

Through

his right shoulder

went the blade

Heavily groaning, to the earth.

Of warriors from

360

;

he

fell,

His band

Paeonia, panic-struck,

Fled from Patroclus as they saw their chief

Cut

off,

their bravest in the battle-field.

365

So from the ship he drave the foe, and quenched The blazing fire. There lay the half-burnt bark, While with a mighty uproar fled the host Of Troy, and from between the beaked ships

Poured

after

them with tumult

infinite

-s*

Book The

(/reeks.

The

(io'cl

XI

7.

107

As when from some high mountain-top

of Lightnings, Jupiter, sweeps off

once appear The overshadowing cloud, The watch-toweis and the headland heights and ;it

lawns All in full light, (

)f

and

all

ether opens, SO the

Their

fleet

Ureathed

From

the

(I

unmeasured depth when thus

was rescued from the

for a

space

battle, for not

;

375

reeks,

hostile llame,

and yet they might not cease

everywhere alike

\Vere chased the Trojans from the dark-hulled ships I'.i-

fore the

Greeks, but struggled

still

to

The mastery, and yielded but to force. Then in that scattered conflict of the

keep

38*

chiefs

Each Argive slew a warrior. With his spear The brave son of Mencetius made a thrust

385

At Areilochus, and pierced his thigh, Just as he turned away, and through the part Forced the keen weapon, splintering as it went

The bone, and brought the Trojan to the ground And warlike Menelaus pierced the breast Of Thoas where the buckler left it bare, And took his life. The son of Phyleus saw Amphiclus rushing on, and with

;

>

his spear

Met him and pierced his leg below the knee, Where brawniest is the limb. The blade cut through The sinews, and his eyes were closed in night. 3-* There fought the sons of Nestor.

One

of these,

Antilochus, transfixed with his good spear

The

loS

Iliad.

Atymnius through the flank, and brought him down At his own feet. With sorrow Maris saw 400 His brother

Flew

The

to

and toward Antilochus

fall,

defend the corpse

;

but ere he strook,

godlike Thrasymedes, with a blow

That missed With the

not,

smote

his shoulder, tearing off

405 upon the upper arm The muscles from the bone. With ringing arms. He fell, and darkness gathered o'er his eyes.

spear's blade

Thus were two brothers by two brothers

And

sent to Erebus

;

slain,

two valiant friends

Were they of King Sarpedon, and the sons Of Amisodarus, who reared and fed

4>

Chimera, the destroyer of mankind. Oilean Ajax, springing forward, seized

On

Cleobulus, for the struggling crowd

Hindered

He

his flight.

took the Trojan's

life,

Smiting the neck with his huge-handled sword

The blade grew warm

415

;

with blood, and cruel fate

Brought darkness o'er the dying warrior's eyes. Peneleus fought with Lycon \ each had cast

His spear and missed

his aim,

The twain encountered.

and now with swords

Lycon

dealt a stroke

42!

the crested helmet of his foe,

Upon And the

blade failed him, breaking at the

Meantime Peneleus smote beneath the

hilt.

ear

The neck of Lycon deep the weapon went The severed head, held only by the skin, :

Dropped

to

one

side,

and

life

;

forsook the limbs.

425

Hook AT/.

109

Meriones, o'ertaking Acamas, In rapid

On He

discharged a mighty blow snouldcr as he climbed his car

flight,

his left

430

;

o'er his eyes. tell, ami darkness gathered Then plunged Idomeneus the cruel spear

The blade

Into the mouth of Erymas.

on beneath the brain, and pierced the neck, 435 It dashed there divided the white bones.

I'.issecl

And The teeth out both the eyes were Which Ogushed from mouth and

filled

;

breathed

And

with blood,

nostrils

he

as

;

the black cloud of death

came over him.

Thus every Grecian leader slew his man. As ravening wolves that spring on lambs and

And

seize them,

And

rend with cruel fangs their helpless prey, Achaians fling themselves

kids,

wandering wide among the hills Beyond the keeper's care, and bear them off,

So

441

fiercely did the

Upon the men of Troy, who only thought Of flight from that tumultuous strife, and quite Forgot their wonted valor.

The

All the while

greater Ajax sought to hurl his spear

At Hector, clad Expert

in battle,

in

brazen mail, who

yet,

kept his ample chest

Hid by his bull's-hide The hiss of darts and

The

445

450

though he heard clash of spears, and saw shield, and,

fortune of the field deserting him,

Lingered to rescue his beloved friends. As from the summit of Olympus spreads

*ss

1

The

10

A

Iliad.

cloud into the sky that late was clear,

When

Jove brings on the tempest, with such speed In clamorous flight the Trojans left the fleet,

Yet passed they not the trench in seemly rapid steeds of Hector bore him safe

plight.

The

Across with

all

The high banks

his arms, while, left

of the trench, the Trojan host

Struggled despairingly.

Harnessed

to

With broken

460

between

many pole.

The

fiery steeds,

a chariot,

left it

there

Patroclus followed close,

465

With mighty voice encouraging the Greeks, And meditating vengeance on the foe,

That

noisily ran on,

Were

scattered, filling all the ways.

Rose thick and

and

high,

right

and

left

The

dust

and spread, and reached the

clouds,

470

As

with swift feet the Trojan coursers held Their way to Ilium from the tents and ships.

Patroclus where he saw the wildest rout

Drave Fell

And

thither,

under

his

Full shouting threats. own axle from his car,

many

a chief 475

chariots with a crash were overthrown.

The swift, immortal horses which the gods Bestowed on Peleus leaped the trench at once, Eager

to reach the plain.

As

eagerly

Patroclus longed to overtake and smite

480

Hector, whose steeds were hurrying him away. As when, in autumn time, the dark-brown earth Is

whelmed with water from

the stormy clouds,

MI

17.

When

Offended '\

down

Jupiter pours at men'>,

he laws by vinleiu

their displeasure,

Are swelled

and

--

With mighty

override

4*5

drive, justice fortli

all

the runninj, streams

the furious torrents tear

to floods,

The mountain

And

e,

\vh

heedless of the gods

FIUIII the tiilmnals,

And

his heaviest rains,

Times

i

slopes, and, plunging from the heights

roar, lay

waste the works of men,

491

themselves into the dark-blue sea, Thus with loud tumult fled the Trojan horse. tling

1'atroclus,

Of Troy Back

having cut the nearest bands

in pieces,

made

to the fleet, and,

his warriors turn

495

eager as they were,

Stopped the pursuit that led them toward the town. Then,

in the

River, and

And

took

lofty

full

He wounded The

area

bounded by

vengeance.

With

his glittering spear

Pronoiis where the buckler

breast exposed

Fell to the earth,

Advancing

the sea,

wall, he chased and smote

in his

;

and

left

s

the Trojan with a clash life

forsook his limbs.

might, Patroclus smote

Thestor, the son of pjiops, as he sat

Cowering upon his sumptuous With fear, and dropped the right cheek

Among And

seat,

reins.

o'ercome

Through

his

the teeth Patroclus thrust his spear,

o'er the chariot's

border drew him forth

With the spear's stem. As when an angler I pon a jutting roek, and from the sea

sits

s">

1 1

The

2

Draws a huge

fish

with line and gleaming hook,

So did Patroclus, with

Draw

Iliad.

his shining spear,

forth the panting Trojan from his car,

And shook him

clear

:

he

As Eryalus then came

to earth

fell

and

died,

s^s

swiftly on,

Patroclus flung a stone, and on the brow

Smote him

the Trojan's head, beneath the blow,

;

Parted in two within the helm

;

he

fell

Headlong to earth, a prey to ghastly death. Then slew he Erymas, Amphoterus,

s*>

Epaltes, Pyris, Ipheus, Echius,

Tlepolemus, Damastor's son, and next Euippus nor was Polymelus spared, ;

The son Slain

of Argias,

upon

smitten

all,

and thrown,

And now The unbelted

Lycians, falling by the hand

Of Mencetiades, exhorted thus The gallant Lycians " Shame upon you :

My

52?

along their mother earth. Sarpedon, as he saw his friends,

slain,

Lycians

!

whither do you

flee

?

530

all,

Be bold

!

myself will meet this man, and learn walks the field in triumph thus, and makes Such havoc in our squadrons ; for his hand

For

I

Who Has

laid full

He

many

a gallant warrior low."

spake, and from his car with

Sprang

to the ground, while

all

his

sr,

arms

on the other side

saw him come, leaped down chariot. As on some tall rock

Patroclus, as he

And Two

left his

vultures, with curved talons

and hooked beaks,

Book

XVL

113

Fight screaming, so these two with furious cries When the son against each other.

*

Advanced

Of

crafty Saturn

Was

saw them meet,

touched with

His spouse and

pity,

sister

Juno

ino^l heloveil of

Sarpedon,

his heart

and he thus bcspakc " :

Woe

men,

is

me

is

545

!

doomed

To die, o'ercome by Mcnu'tiades. And now I halt between two ])iirposes, Whether

to

Alive and

Or

bear him from this

fatal fight,

safe, to Lycia's fertile fields,

him perish by

550

enemy's hand." Imperial, large-eyed Juno answered thus What words, dread son of Saturn, hast thou said let

his

:

''

Wouldst thou deliver from the common

Of death

Do

a mortal

doomed long

as thou wilt, but

The

since

be thou sure of

If

by

this,

And

other gods will not approve.

In mind these words of mine.

!

lot

fate

?

sss

-

bear

thou shouldst send

Sarpedon home to Lycia safe, reflect Some other god may claim the right, like thee, To rescue his In-loved son from death In battle for we know that in the war Round Priam's noble city are many sons Of gods, who will with vehement anger see

s

;

Thy

interposing hand.

So dear

to thee,

Let him

in

if

he be pity him,

mortal combat be o'ercome

]!v

MeniL'tiades, and

Of

life

has

Yrt

and thou dost

left his

when

the breath

frame, give thou

command

555

1

The

14

Iliad.

To Death and gentle Sleep to bear him hence To the broad realm of Lycia. There his friends And brethren shall perform the funeral rites

570

;

There

A

him up a tomb, and' rear honors that become the dead."

shall they build

column,

She ceased, nor did the All-Father disregard Her words. He caused a bloody dew to fall

575

the earth in sorrow for the son

Upon

Whom

well he loved,

and

whom

Patroclus soon

Should slay upon the fertile plain of Troy, Far from the pleasant land that saw his birth.

The warriors now drew near. Patroclus The noble Thrasymelus, who had been

so

slew

Sarpedon's valiant comrade in the war. Below the belt he smote him, and he fell Lifeless. It

Sarpedon threw his shining lance

;

s&s

missed, but struck the courser Pedasus

In the right shoulder. With a groan he fell In dust, and, moaning, breathed his life away.

Then

the two living horses sprang apart,

And Were

the

yoke creaked, and the entangled reins

590

useless, fastened to the fallen horse.

Automedon, the mighty spearman, saw

The remedy, and from

He

drew

his sword,

Loose from

his brawny thigh and cut the outside horse

his fellows.

They

again were brought

Together, and obeyed the reins once more And the two chiefs renewed the mortal fight. ;

And

now, again, Sarpedon's shining spear

stf

Book

Was

vainly flung

Patroelus's

left

XVL

Hi;

the point, in passing o'er

:

shoulder, gave no wound.

In turn, Patroclus, hurling not in vain

His weapon, smote him where the midriff's web He tell as fall.s an oak Holds the tough heart. or tall pine, which workmen hew Or

poplar with their sharpened steel ** \mons

sought,

Trojan

chiefs,

Agenor, nobly born, Polydamas,

The son of Panthoiis, /FJicas next, And Hector mailed in brass. By him he

And "

stood,

thus accosted him with winged words

O

a?

:

Hector, thou art careless of the fate

Of thine allies, who for thy sake, afar From those they love, and from their Pour out their lives Sarpedon

lies in

;

native land,

thou bringest them no

death, the chief

who

aid.

675

led

The bucklered Fycians, who with justice swayed The realm of Lycia, and defended it With

valor.

The weapon

Come

then,

Him

hath bra/en Mars beneath

of Patroclus smitten down.

my

friends, repulse

These Myrmidons His armor and insult ;

we

his corpse, to

The havoc we have made among

Who

gallantly

else will they bear

perished by our weapons

away

avenge

the

(

ireeks

at the fleet."

s

The

Ii8

He

Iliad.

spake, and grief immitigable seized

The Trojans

;

for the slain,

though stranger-born,

Had been a pillar of the realm of Troy, And many were the troops that followed And he was bravest of them all in war. Then rushed

the Trojans fiercely

him, 69*

on the Greeks,

With Hector, sorrowing for Sarpedon's fall, Leading them on, while the bold-hearted chief, Patroclus Mencetiades, aroused

The courage of the Greeks. He thus addressed The warriors Ajax, eager like himself For combat " Be it now your welcome task,

695

:

O

warriors Ajax, to drive back the foe

He who

;

sprang across the Grecian wall, lies a corpse, and we must now Sarpedon, Dishonor the dead chief, and strip from him first

His armor, and

strike

down

Whoever of his comrades

He

spake, and

The enemy back

all ;

7

spear, should pierce

Thy bosom, valiant as thou art and proud Of thy strong arm, thy death would bring me praise, And send thy soul where gloomy Pluto dwells."

He

spake

;

Rebuked him With

The The

all

the brave Patroclus heard, and thus " 786 Why wilt thou, Meriones,

:

make

thy valor, stand to

foe,

my

friend, will not

corpse by insults

;

a speech ? be forced to leave

some of them must

In deeds the issue of a battle

Words

To

are for counsel.

Now

lies is

die. 790

;

not the time

utter swelling phrases, but to fight."

He

ended, and went on

Followed Rises,

his steps.

and

;

the godlike

man

As when from mountain

dells

a crashing sound 795 the trees, such was the noise

far is heard,

Where woodmen fell From those who fought on that wide plain, the Of brass, of leather, and of tough bull's-hide

din

Smitten with swords and two-edged spears. No eye, Although of keenest sight, would then have known

Noble Sarpcdon, covered as he

lay,

801

The

122

From head

And

still

As when

to foot, with

Iliad.

weapons, blood, and dust

;

the warriors thronged around the dead. in spring-time at the cattle-stalls

Flies gather,

humming, when the milk is drawn, soS so swarmed around the corpse

Round The combatants the

full pails,

nor once did Jove withdraw from the stubborn fray, but still His bright eyes how Patroclus should be slain. Gazed, planning ;

Uncertain whether, in the desperate

Over

sw

strife

the great Sarpedon, to permit

Illustrious

Hector with

The Or spare him More bloody.

hero dead, and

his spear to lay

make

his

yet a while, to

arms a

make

As he pondered,

this

That the brave comrade of Achilles Should put

spoil,

the war

seemed bes

Trojans and their

to flight the

.

8s

first

chief,

Hector the brazen-mailed, pursuing them Toward Troy with slaughter. To this end he sent Into the heart of Hector panic fear,

Who

climbed his car and

Flee also, for he saw

The fortunes Not even the

820

and bade the

fled,

rest

how Jove had weighed

of the day.

Now

gallant Lycians,

none remained,

when they saw

Their monarch lying wounded to the heart Among a heap of slain for Saturn's son

8 25

;

In that day's

To fall

strife

in death.

Sarpedon of the

The brave son

had caused a multitude

Now when the Greeks had

stripped

glittering brazen mail,

of Mencetius bade his friends

a*

Book A'

I

7.

123

Convey it to the hollow ships. Meanwhile The Cloud-compeller sp;ike to IMm-lms thus

"Go

:-

now, beloved riuelnis, and withdraw

Sarpedon from the weapons ofthe foe Cleanse him from the dark blood, and bear him ;

8 35

thence,

And

lave

Ambrosia

him

and shed

in the river-stream,

Clothe him then

o'er him.

in

robes

Of

heaven, consigning him to Sleep and Death, Twin brothers, and swift bearers of the dead,

And

they shall lay him

down

in Lycia's fields,

That broad and opulent realm.

840

'Hiere shall his

friends

And kinsmen

give him burial, and shall rear

His tomb and column,

He His

spake

fiat

And

:

- -

honors due the dead."

Apollo instantly obeyed mountain height,

her, leaving Ida's

sought the

field

845

of battle, and bore off

Noble Sarpedon from the enemy's spears, And laved him in the river-stream, and shed

Ambrosia

He

o'er him.

Then

in

robes of heaven

clothed him, giving him to Sleep and Death,

Twin

brothers,

and

850

swift bearers of the dead,

And they, with speed conveying it, laid down The corpse in Lycia's broad and opulent realm. Meantime

And

Patroclus, urging on his steeds

charioteer, pursued, to his

own

hurt,

Madman had he then Trojans and Lycians. Obeyed the counsel which Pelides gave, !

ss

The

124

The

doom

bitter

Iliad.

of death had not been

his.

But stronger than the purposes of men Are those of Jove, who puts to flight the brave, And takes from them the victory, though he Impelled them to the battle

;

and he now

Urged on Patroclus to prolong the fight. Who first, when thus the gods decreed thy Fell by thy hand, Patroclus, and who last ? Adrastus

first,

Echeclus

;

And

then with Melanippus

;

fell

next was Elasus o'ercome,

;

all

These he

slew,

87

the rest betook themselves to flight.

Then had the Greeks possessed themselves With

MS

Autonoiis next, and then

Mulius, and Pylartes.

While

death,

then died Perimus, the son

Of Meges Epistor

^

all its lofty portals,

by the

And

valor of Patroclus, for his rage

Was

terrible

beyond the rage of

of Troy,

hand

all

875

Who bore the spear, had not Apollo stood On a strong tower to menace him with ill,

And

A

aid the Trojans.

Thrice Patroclus climbed

shoulder of the lofty wall, and thrice

Apollo, striking his immortal hands

Against the glittering buckler, thrust

And

when,

Essayed

to

for the fourth time, the

mount

sso

him down

godlike

the wall, the archer-god,

Phcebus, encountered him with fearful threats "

Noble Patroclus, hold thy hand, nor deem

The

;

man

city of the warlike

Trojans doomed

:

*

7.

O 3 UJ EL

t/)

o x

> id

u

_

Q "7.

4j

a,

Book XVI.

To

fall

(

1'eleus' son,

>!

He Of

beneath thy spear, n>i

spake

;

arm

the

far

than ihou."

1'atioelus, fearful of the

at the

wrath 890

Sccuan gates, restrained

\\\> coursers, doubtful

The

I'.y

l>y

though mightier

the archer-god, withdrew, and stood afar,

While Hector,

( >r

125

whether

to

renew

by mingling with the crowd again,

fight

host within the walls

gather

all his

a loud

summons.

As he pondered

Apollo stood beside him

in the

thus,

895

form

Asius, a young warrior and a brave, Uncle of Hector, the great horse-tamer, And brother of Queen Hecuba, and son

Of

Of Dymas, who in Phrygia dwelt beside The streams of the Sangarius. Putting on His shape and aspect, thus Apollo said "

:

Hector, dost thou pause from battle thus

Why, Nay, it becomes thee

Greater than thou, as

Wouldst

Come

Were

not. I

am

?

I in

less, full

might soon

905

thou repent this shrinking from the war.

boldly on, and urge thy firm-paced steeds

Against Patroclus

And Phoebus

;

slay

him on the

will requite

He spake, and mingled While noble Hector bade The brave Cebriones,

And

90.

field,

thee with renown." in

the hard-fought fray,

910

his charioteer,

ply well the lash,

Phu:bus went before, Entering the crowd, and spread dismay among The Greeks, and gave the glory of the hour join the battle.

91$

126

The

To Hector and Paid Hector

Iliad.

the Trojans.

to the rest,

Little

heed

nor raised his arm

To slay them, but urged on his firm-paced To meet Patroclus, who, beholding him,

steeds

Leaped from his car. In his left hand he held spear, and with the other lifting up

A A

white, rough stone, the largest he could grasp,

Flung

Nor The

A

it

with

all its force.

It flew

not wide,

flew in vain, but smote Cebriones, warlike chief who guided Hector's

steeds,

925

spurious son of Priam the renowned.

The sharp The

stone smote his forehead as he held

and crushed both eyebrows in the bone not the blow ; the warrior's eyes

reins,

.Resisted

;

Fell in the dust before his very feet.

Down

A

93 o

from the sumptuous seat he plunged, as dives

swimmer, and the

life

forsook his limbs.

And

this, Patroclus, was thy cruel jest " Truly a nimble man is this who dives :

With such expertness. Were this, now, the Where fish are bred, and he were searching For

sea,

he might get an ample store men, in leaping from a ship,

oysters,

For many

Though in a storm, so skilfully he dives Even from the chariot to the plain. No doubt There must be divers

He With

The

935

it

in the

town of Troy."

spake, and sprang upon Cebriones. all

a lion's fury, which attacks

stables

and

is

wounded

in the breast,

940

-

And

perishes through his

thuu

A' 17.

own

fall

127

(hiring

;

thus,

w>

the slain,

r.itroclus, upon While Hector, hastening also, left his steeds, And both contended for Celuiones. iliilst

As 1

lions for the carcass of a deer lit

on a mountain summit, hungry both,

And

both unyielding, thus two mighty war, Tatroclus Mencetiades

Of And

950

men

glorious Hector, eager each to smite

His adversary with the cruel spear, Fought for Cebriones. The slain man's head

955

\Vas seized by Hector's powerful hand, whose grasp Relaxed not, while I'atroclus held the foot ;

And, thronging

And

to the spot, the other

Trojans mingled

As when

in the

Greeks

desperate

strife.

the east wind and the south contend

960

In the open mountain grounds, and furiously Assail the deep old woods of beech and ash

And

barky cornel, flinging their long boughs Against each other with a mighty roar,

And And

crash of those that break, so did the Greeks

965

Trojans meet with mutual blows, and slay Each other nor had either host a thought ;

Of shameful flight. Full many a trenchant spear Went to its mark beside Cebriones, And many a winged arrow that had left 9?< The bowstring many a massive stone was hurled ;

Against the ringing bucklers, as they fought

Around

the dead, while he, the mighty, lay

The

128

Iliad.

Stretched on the ground amid the eddying dust, Forgetful of his art of horsemanship.

^

While yet the sun was climbing to his place In middle heaven, the men of either host

Were smitten by the weapons, and in both The people fell but when he stooped to the west The Greeks prevailed, and from that storm of darts ;

And

tumult of the Trojans they drew forth

Cebriones, and stripped him of Still

His

961

his arms.

rushed Patroclus onward, bent to wreak fury

on the Trojans.

Fierce as Mars,

He charged their squadrons thrice with fearful shouts, And

thrice he laid nine warriors in the dust.

986

But as with godlike energy he made

The

was

fourth assault, then clearly

Patroclus, that thy

For Phoebus

life

was near

its

it

seen,

end,

terribly in that fierce strife

Encountered thee.

99*

Patroclus saw him not

Advancing in the tumult, for he moved Unseen in darkness. Coming close behind,

He smote, with open palm, the hero's back Between the ample shoulders, and his eyes

Reeled with the blow, while Phoebus from his head Struck the

Under

tall

helm, that, clanking, rolled away

the horses' feet

With blood and

Had

dust,

dust defiled

its

;

its

crest

was soiled

though never

horse-hair

till

plume

;

that hour for

once

That helmet guarded an illustrious head, The glorious brows of Peleus' son, and now

i

Book Xl'l. Jove destined In battle

;

and

it

for

his

129

Hector, to be worn

death was also near.

The spear 1'atioelus wielded, edged with brass, Long, tough, and huge, was broken in his hands And his broad buckler, dropping with its band, Lay on the ground, while Phiubus, son of Jove, Undid

the fastenings of his mail.

,

With mind

Bewildered, and with powerless limbs, he stood As thunderstruck. Then a Dardanian named

Kuphorbus, son of Panthoiis, who excelled His comrades in the wielding of the spear,

The

race,

Patroclus

and horsemanship, approaching, smote back with his keen spear, 1015

in the

Between the shoulder-blades.

Had

Already he dashed down twenty warriors from their

Guiding

his

own, a learner

The

was he who threw a lance

Of

war.

At

thee, Patroclus, yet overcame thee not

first

cars,

in the art

For, plucking from thy back

its

ia ;

ashen stem,

He fled, and mingled with the crowd, nor dared Await thy coming, though thou wert unarmed, While, weakened by that wound and by the blow Given by the god, Patroclus turned and sought Shelter from danger in the Grecian ranks ;

But Hector, when he saw the gallant Greek Thus wounded and retreating, left his place

Among

the squadrons, and, advancing, pierced

Patroclus with his spear, below the belt,

Driving the weapon deep.

The hero

fell

1025

The

130

Iliad.

With clashing mail, and all the Greeks beheld His fall with grief. As when a lion bears

A

stubborn boar to earth, what time the twain

Fight on the mountains for a slender spring, thirsty and both fierce, the lion's strength

io35

Both

Lays prone

his panting foe, so Priam's son

Slew, fighting

hand

to hand, the valiant Greek,

Son of Mencetius, who himself had slain So many. Hector gloried over him "

With winged words

To

lay our city waste,

Our women

Madman

!

and carry

Of Hector sweep Mightiest of

all

defence the

Greece.

fiery steeds

the battle-field, and

IQ*S

I,

the Trojans, with the spear

Will guard them from the

Now

off

captive in thy ships to

in their

1040

Patroclus, thou didst think

:

doom

of slavery.

vultures shall devour thee, wretched youth

though he be, has brought thee, though doubtless when he sent

!

Achilles, mighty

No

help to

Thee

forth to battle,

He charged Return

Hath

thee thus

' :

Patroclus, flower of knights,

not to the fleet until thy

hand

torn the bloody armor from the corpse

Of the man-queller

And

105*

and remained within,

Hector.'

So he spake,

wss

with idle hopes thy foolish heart." thou, Patroclus, with a faltering voice,

filled

Then

Didst answer thus

"Now, Hector, while thou mayst, Utter thy boast in swelling words, since Jove :

And Phoebus gave

the victory to thee.

1060

XVL

Book

mo

Easily have they vanquished

Who

^tripped the armor from

't

;

Had

my

perished by

my

A

spear.

w-as

they

limbs, for else,

twenty such as thou had met me,

If

\

131

all

cruel fate

me, aided by Latona's son, The god, and by Euphorbus among men. )\-rtakes

Thou who

shalt take

my

1065

spoil art but the third

;

my words, and keep them in thy thought. Not long shalt thou remain alive thy death 1? I5y violence is at hand, and thou must fall, Yet hear

;

Slain by the

hand of great

/Eacides.''

\Yhile he was speaking, death stole over

And

His limbs and flew

For

him

veiled his senses, while the soul forsook

its

sad

And prime

to

Hades, sorrowing

lot, to part from

of strength.

life in

Answered the dying man

" :

Why

Patroclus, with an early death

That

whom

he, thy friend,

Achilles,

may

?

1075

threaten me,

Who knows

fair-haired Thetis bore,

not sooner lose his "

youth Hector thus

Illustrious

life,

1030

He

spake, and set his heel by my spear and from the the wound drew forth slain, Upon Slain

?

His brazen spear and pushed the corpse aside, And with the weapon hurried on to smite Godlike Automedon, the charioteer

Of

swift /Eacides

;

but him the steeds

Fleet-footed and immortal, which the gods

Bestowed on Peleus,

swiftly bore away.

i

:

:

Jove-nurtured Menelaus, to avenge My brother, slain by thee, and over

Thou In her

utteredst such swelling words,

new

bridal

whom whose

wife

45

chamber thou hast made

A

widow, and upon her parents brought Mourning and endless sorrow. It may make The sorrow less, should I into the hands

Of Panthoiis and the noble Phrontis give Thy head and armor. Let us now delay The strife no longer it will show with whom The valor dwells, and who is moved by fear." :

He

spake, and smote his enemy's round shield,

y>

The

134 But pierced

it

not

;

Iliad.

the stubborn metal turned

x

The weapon's point. Then Menelaus, son Of Atreus, with a prayer to Jupiter, Struck, as Euphorbus made a backward step, His

throat,

and drave the weapon with strong hand

He

the soft neck.

Through His locks, which were

fell

with clashing arms.

like those the

Graces wear,

61

And

ringlets, bound with gold and silver bands, Were drenched with blood. As when some hus-

bandman Rears

An

in a lonely

and

well- watered spot

olive-tree with widely

spreading boughs, Beautiful with fresh shoots, and putting forth

es

White blossoms, gently waved by every wind, A sudden blast descends with mighty sweep And tears it from its bed, and lays it prone so lay Euphorbus, skilled Upon the earth, To wield the spear and son of Panthoiis, slain And spoiled by Menelaus, Atreus' son.

As when

70

a lion of the mountain wilds,

Fearless and strong, bears from the browsing herd The fairest of the kine, and breaks her neck ?s

With

his strong teeth, and, tearing her, devours

The bloody entrails, while a clamorous throng Of dogs and herdsmen, with incessant cries, Gather around him, yet approach him not, fear, so of the warriors round

Withheld by

The

gallant

The courage

Menelaus none could to

encounter him

;

find

and then

c

Book XVII.

135

Atridrs easily h;ul borne away The sumptuous armor worn by 1'anthoiis' If envious Apollo had not moved

Hector

son, e$

meet him.

Putting on the form Of Monies, chief of the Ciconian hand,

He "

to

him aloud, with winded words Hector, thou art pursuing what thy feet

said to

:

Will never overtake, the steeds which

The

chariot of Achilles.

For mortal

Save

man

it

tame them or

to

for Achilles,

Hard

Guarding the

Meanwhile son,

overthrown

slain Patroclus,

90

to guide,

goddess-born.

Hath warlike Menelaus, Atreus'

draw

were

91

Euphorbus, bravest of the Trojan host,

A

son of Panthoiis

;

he

will fight

no more."

Thus spake the god, and disappeared among The warring squadrons. Bitter was the grief That seized the heart of Hector as he looked

Along

the ranks and saw the

Greek bear

i>

off

The sumptuous arms, and saw AVeltering in blood.

the Trojan lie he At once made his way

To the front rank, all armed in glittering brass, And with loud shouts. As terrible he came As Vulcan's inextinguishable fires. The son of Atreus heard that mighty

And "

I

abandon these

Patroclus, I

shout,

thus to his great soul lamenting said If

fear the

who

rich spoils

* at

By

mouth of some great

tii Panopeiis the famous, where he ruled

OYr many men. It

lieiiealh the collar-bone

pieiccd him, and

through

p.is.sed

;

the bra/en

point

Came out upon the shoulder to the ground He tell, his armor clashing with his fall. ;

375

Then Ajax smote the valiant Phorcys, son Of Plurnops, in the navel. Through the mail The bra/en weapon broke, and roughly tore

The The

In the dust he

entrails.

fell,

and clenched

The foremost

earth with dying hands.

ranks,

381 by illustrious Hector, at the sight the ( /reeks with fearful shouts Vielded the ground

I.-:d

;

Dragged

And

off the

bodies of Hippothoiis

Phorcys. and despoiled them of their arms. the Trojans have been put to Hight 3s

Then would I'.eiore

('.one

the warlike (ireeks, and, craven like,

up

to Trov,

and great had been the fame

(iained by the might and courage of the

d reeks,

lievond what Jupiter designed to give, not Ap;llo brought

II id

.

Kneas

forth

on the form of Periphas, I'.y putting The herald and the son of Kpytus,

Who

in that office as a

And The

prudent friend

counsellor had served

Thus

fatlu-r

of .Km-. is.

.spake

till

lie

grew

old,

In his shape

Apoll. >on of Jupiter:

as, \e

might even huld the towers

395

The

146

Of

Iliad.

Ilium safe against a god,

lofty

Were ye

to act as

Valiant,

and

some whom

confident in their

And And now Jove

I

have seen,

own might

401

multitude of dauntless followers.

The

victory o'er

In abject

He The

terror,

spake

;

and

favors us

offers us

the Greeks, and yet ye and refuse to fight."

yEneas, looking at him,

flee

knew

405

archer-god, and with a mighty voi:e

Called out to Hector

Who

" :

Hector

!

thou and

lead the troops of Troy, and our

Great shame

it

were

if

we were put

all

allies,

to rout

Before the warlike Greeks, and beaten back

To Troy like cowards. One of the gods already That

Standing by

my

410

side,

hath declared

Jupiter, All-wise, is our ally

In battle.

Let us therefore boldly

the Greeks, nor suffer

Upon

them

Patroclus unmolested to their

He

fall

to bear

415

fleet."

spake, and, springing to the foremost ranks, the Trojans also turned and faced ;

Stood firm

The

Achaians.

Struck

down

Then yneas

with his spear

Leocritus, the gallant friend

**

Of Lycomedes and Arisbas' son. The warlike Lycomedes saw his fall With

grief,

and came and cast

his shining spear

At Apisaon, son of Hippasus, A shepherd of the people. Underneath

The

midriff,

through the

liver

went the

spear,

4*

Book AT//.

147

And he fell lifcl He had come to Troy From rich l';uom;i, and was great in war, Next to Astern] -I 'us. As IK- saw His comrade fall, Aster| us, moved >.i

advanced

lly grief,

l>ut

to

430

combat with the Greeks,

could not; for the group that stood around

1'utroclus

showed

a fence of shields,

and held

Ajax moved among

Their spears before them.

The

warriors, charging

The

corpse, and none should step beyond the

them

that

none should leave rest *+

To strike the foe, but stay to guard the dead, And combat hand to hand. Such was the charge Of mighty Ajax. All the earth around Was steeped with blood, and many a corpse was heaped

440

.

On corpse of Trojans and their And of the Greeks, for even on The

strife

brave

allies,

their side

was not unbloody, though of Greeks

There perished fewer each was on the watch To ward the battle's dangers from the rest. ;

Then

did they fight like

The sun w is

A

fire.

You

4