-(£)

!LO

ICO

■O

= CD

WmWwmW'1%1

1

J

THE

ILIAD OF HOMER

TRANSLA TED INTO ENGLISH BLANK VERSE

WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.

VOLUME I.

BOSTON:
JAMES R. OSGOOD AND COMPANY,

Late Ticknor & Fields, and Fields, Osgood, & Co.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by

FIELDS, OSGOOD, & CO.,

n the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

University Press : Welch, Bigelow, & Co.,
Cambridge.

PREFACE.

HAVING now nearly completed my translation of
the Iliad of Homer, I sit down to write the Pre-
face, that it may be prefixed to the first volume. To
this task of translation, which I began in 1865, I af-
terwards gave myself the more willingly because it
helped in some measure to divert my mind from a great
domestic sorrow. I am not sure that, when it shall be
concluded, it may not cost me some regret to part with
so interesting a companion as the old Greek poet, whose
thoughts I have, for four years past, been occupied,
though with interruptions, in the endeavor to transfer
from his own grand and musical Greek to our less so-
norous but still manly and flexible tongue.

In what I shall say of my own translation I do not
mean to speak in disparagement of any of the previous
English versions of the Iliad, nor to extenuate my obli-
gations to some of them. I acknowledge that although
Homer is, as Cowper has well observed, the most per-
spicuous of poets, I have been sometimes, perhaps
often, guided by the labors of my predecessors to a bet-
ter mode of dealing with certain refractory passages of
my author than I should otherwise have found. Let
me, without detracting from their merits, state what I
have endeavored to do. I have endeavored to be
strictly faithful in my rendering ; to add nothing of my
own, and to give the reader, so far as our language

iv Preface.

would allow, all that I found in the original. There
are, however, in Homer, frequently recurring, certain
expressions which are merely a kind of poetical finery,
introduced when they are convenient to fill out a line or
to give it a sonorous termination, and omitted when
they are not needed for this purpose. The Greeks, for
example, almost whenever they are spoken of, are mag-
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 are all sons of some magnani-
mous or warlike parent. Achilles is the son of Peleus,
and Peleus is 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
epithets. Hector is illustrious, and knightly, and dis-
tinguished by his beamy crest. Even the coxcomb
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 rounded to a well-sounding
conclusion without them. Where they appear in the
Greek, I have in nearly all instances retained them,
making Achilles swift-footed and Ulysses fertile in re-
sources, to the end 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 ex-
clude from the translation anything which I found in
the text of my author.

There is another point in regard to which I have
taken equal pains, and which seems to me equally im-
portant. c' I have endeavored to preserve the simplicity
of style which distinguishes the old Greek poet, who

Preface. v

wrote for the popular ear and according to the genius
of his language, and I have chosen such English as
offers no violence to the ordinary usages and structure
of our own. I have sought to attain what belongs to
the original, — a fluent narrative style, which shall carry
the reader forward without the impediment of unex-
pected 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
and the objects described. I think that not many
readers of 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
whether a poem could be supported without it in our
language, unless it were stiffened with such strange
words as would destroy our language itself. It is re-
markable 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 blank-
verse 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 to
think so necessary. The other dramatists of the Eliza-
bethan period also supply examples of the same noble
simplicity of language and construction, suited to the
highest poetry. In this translation the natural order of
the words has been carefully preserved, as far as the
exigencies of versification would allow, and I have ven-
tured only upon those easy deviations from it which
form no interruptions to the sense, and at most only re-
mind the reader that he is reading verse.

I have chosen blank-verse for this reason among

vi Preface.

others, that 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-
delities, and to the employment of expressions which
have an air of constraint, and do not the most ade-
quately 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
Homer. There are, it is true, certain affinities between
the style of Homer and that of the old ballad poems of
Great Britain. Both were the productions of a rude
age ; both were composed to be sung to public audi-
ences ; and this gave occasion to certain characteristics
in which they resemble each other. But the Homeric
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 disadvan-
tage of rhyme, a temptation to make the version con-
form in style and spirit to the old ballads of our own
literature, in a degree which the original does not war-
rant, and which, as I think, would lead to some sacrifice
of its dignity. I did not adopt the hexameter verse,
principally for the reason that in our language it is con-
fessedly an imperfect form of versification, the true
rhythm of which it is difficult for those whose ear is ac-
customed only to our ordinary metres to perceive. I
found that I could not possibly render the Greek hexam-
eters line for line, like Voss in his marvellous German
version, in which he has not only done this, but gen-
erally preserved the pauses in the very part of the line
in which Homer placed them. We have so many short
words in English, and so few of the connective particles
which are lavishly used by Homer, that often when I

Preface. vii

reached the end of the Greek line I found myself only
in the middle of my line in English. This difficulty
of subduing the thought — by compression or expan-
sion of phrase — to the limits it must fill would alone
have been sufficient to deter me from attempting a
translation in hexameters. I therefore fell back upon
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 is
too apt to belong to a translation.

I make no apology for employing in my version the
names Jupiter, Juno, Venus, and others of Latin origin,
for Zeus, Here, Aphrodite, and other Greek names of
the deities of whom Homer speaks. The names which
I have adopted have been naturalized in our language
for centuries, and some of them, as Mercury, Vulcan,
and Dian, have even been provided with English ter-
minations. I was translating from Greek into English,
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 trans-
ferred 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

viii 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 ver-
sion. I recollect very well the eager curiosity with
which I seized upon the translation of Pope when it
came within my reach, and with what avidity I ran
through the pages which rendered into our language
what was acknowledged to be the greatest production
of poetic genius that the world had seen. I read with
a deep interest for the fate of Troy, and with a kindly
feeling 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
that Troy might be delivered from its besiegers. When
I came to the end of the poem, I laid it down with a
feeling of disappointment. I was not told, save in cer-
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 Priam,
and the aged Hecuba, and Andromache, the gentle and
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 of Priam, who disapproved of their
brother's conduct — why Priam himself, who is never
said to have approved of it, did not insist that the se-
ducer should restore Helen to her first and proper hus-
band, for whom she seems to have still entertained a
lingering regard, I could never imagine. Particularly
strange it seemed that Paris was not forced by his
countrymen to give up Helen after the combat between
him and Menelaus, in which he was clearly overcome,

Preface. ix

and by the terms of the solemn treaty which preceded
the duel was bound to restore his stolen bride and her
wealth to the Greeks. The poet has chosen to leave
that circumstance without adequate explanation. The
breaking of the truce by Pandarus, and the sudden re-
newal of the war in consequence, does not explain it,
for afterwards, in the Seventh Book, we have Antenor
proposing, in council, to restore Helen and her wealth,
as a certain way of ending the war, — a proposal which
is not adopted simply because Paris objects to it.
Paris would not consent to restore Helen, and the Tro-
jan princes and leaders, as if Paris were their absolute
monarch, allowed him to have his way, and to prolong
a war which Hector foresaw — as he says in the famous
interview with Andromache — was to end in the de-
struction of Troy. The impression to which I refer
has been confirmed by the minute study which I have
recently made of the poem. I can make nothing of it
but a detached chapter of the poetic history of the Tro-
jan war, — an episode in the narrative of that long
siege which was to be concluded by a greater event
than any recorded in the Iliad, the taking of the city of
Troy ; — a work of an inexhaustible imagination, with
characters vigorously drawn and finely discriminated,
and incidents rapidly succeeding each other and infi-
nitely diversified, — everywhere a noble simplicity, mel-
lifluous numbers, and images of beauty and grandeur ;
yet everywhere indications that the poem had a con-
tinuation. It is full of references to events which are
yet to be related, and provokes a desire for further dis-
closures, which it fails to gratify. There are frequent
allusions to the brief term of life allotted to Achilles,
and several, one of which I have already mentioned, to
the final capture of Troy. Thetis predicts that her
son, perishing almost immediately after taking the life

x Preface.

of Hector, will not live to see the fall of the besieged
city. The audiences before whom the books of the
Iliad were recited by the minstrels would naturally say :
" You speak of the capture of Troy ; tell us how it was
taken at last. Achilles, the mightiest of warriors, you
say, was to be slain soon after the death of Hector.
Relate the manner of his death, and how it was re-
ceived by the Greeks and the Trojans. Describe his
funeral, as you described those of his friend Patroclus
and his adversary Hector. Tell us what became of
Andromache, and Astyanax, her son, and all the royal
family of Priam." Thus may we suppose that, until
Aristotle arose to demonstrate the contrary, the fable
of the Iliad must have appeared to the general mind to
be incomplete.

Let me say a word or two of the personage whom the
critics call the hero of the Iliad. Achilles is ill-used by
Agamemnon, the general-in-chief of the Greeks, — and
so far he has the sympathy of the reader ; but he is a fero-
cious barbarian at best, and as the narrative proceeds,
he loses all title to our interest. His horrid prayer that
the Greeks may be slaughtered by thousands until they
learn to despise a monarch who has done him a per-
sonal injury, and his inhuman delight in the havoc
made of them by the Trojans under Hector, cause us to
turn from him with the horror and aversion due to a
selfish and cruel nature which imposes no reserve or re-
straint upon its own impulses. His warm affection for
his gentle friend and companion, Patroclus, partly re-
Stores him to our favor ; but his pitiless treatment of the
Trojans who supplicate him for quarter, and his capture
of twelve Trojan youths in order to cut their throats at
the funeral pile of Patroclus, as he afterwards does in
cold blood, bring back our disgust ; and when Hector
with his dying voice warns him of his approaching

Preface. xi

death, the reader has no objection to offer. If Achilles
be the hero of the poem, the poet has not succeeded in
obtaining for him either our good opinion or our good
wishes. In the fortunes of Hector, however, whose
temper is noble and generous, who while grieving at the
crime of Paris defends his country with all his valor,
whose character is as gentle and affectionate as it is
spirited and manly, it is impossible for the reader not to
feel a strong interest. The last book of the Iliad re-
lates the recovery of his dead body from the Greeks, and
the celebration of his funeral in Troy. In this book,
also, the character of Achilles appears less unamiable,
since he 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
resolution. It is to be observed, however, that he is
moved 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 wait-
ing in his distant palace for the return of his son from
the war, and fearing that he may never behold him
again. Once in the interview with Priam the fierce and
brutal nature of Achilles breaks out in threats, which
terrify the old king into silence. Priam is himself
warned by the gods that he is not safe in remaining
overnight in the tent of Achilles, and, lest he should not
be protected from the ferocity of Agamemnon, with-
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
the gods in their dealings with men as governed, for the
most part, by motives either mean and base, or frivo-
lous and childish. In the Trojan war everything hap-
pens by their direction or their prompting. In the sys-

xii 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
follies and imprudences, and give or withhold victory at
their pleasure ; and in all this their rule is not one of
justice and beneficence, but of caprice. Their favor is
purchased by hecatombs, and their hatred incurred by
acts which have no moral quality that should give of-
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 expurgatoriits, forbade the circulation of the
writings of the Greek poets in his imaginary common-
wealth.

Yet let me say this in favor of my author, that in one
part of the poem the absolute rectitude of the Divine
government 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
by single combat the quarrel which has occasioned
the siege of Troy. A 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
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 over-
come by Menelaus in the combat ; the truce is broken
by a Trojan, who wounds Menelaus severely ; the treaty

Preface. xiii

is not fulfilled by delivering up Helen ; and, as the ac-
tion of the poem proceeds in the next book, Agamem-
non exhorts the Greeks to fight valiantly, in the full as-
surance that Jupiter and the other gods will never per-
mit treachery to remain unpunished ; and accordingly
he predicts a terrible retribution already hanging over
Troy. And whatever may be our admiration for the
amiable and noble qualities of Hector, and our sym-
pathy for the thousands of innocent persons dwelling in
his populous city, it cannot be denied that the interfer-
ence of the gods in the affairs of Troy leads in the end
to a great result consistent with substantial justice.
Paris, the violator of the laws of hospitality, the adul-
terer and robber, is sheltered, protected, and counte-
nanced in Troy, — the Trojan people make themselves
partakers in his guilt ; and in the end they share in its
punishment. Hector, the prop of their state, the cham-
pion in whom they put their trust, is slain ; and we are
allowed, by means of predictions, a glimpse of the com-
ing 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
be swayed by the posterity of the blameless yEneas.

Here I leave my translation in the hands of the read-
ing public, who, 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

this Preface.

W. C. BRYANT.

December, 1869.

CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

BOOK I.

THE CONTENTION OF ACHILLES AND AGAMEMNON.

Page
The Visit of Chryses, Priest of Apollo, to Agamemnon, asking the
Ransom of his Daughter. — Refusal of Agamemnon. — A Pesti-
lence sent by Apollo upon the Greek Army. — A Council called by
Achilles. —The Cause of the Pestilence declared by the Seer Cal-
chas. —Dispute between Agamemnon and Achilles, which ends
with the taking away of Briseis from Achilles. — The Daughter of
Chryses restored to him. — Visit of Thetis to Jupiter, who promises
to avenge Achilles. — Mutual Chiding of Jupiter and Juno. . i

BOOK II.

THE TRIAL OF THE ARMY, AND CATALOGUE OF THE FORCES.

A treacherous Dream sent by Jupiter to Agamemnon, who assembles
th Army in the Hope to take Troy. — Debate of the Chiefs in
Council. — Agamemnon pretends a Desire to return to Greece, in
Order to try the Disposition of the Army. — Insolent Speech of
Thersites, and his Punishment by Ulysses. — Advice of Nestor to
review the Troops. — Catalogue of the Troops and Ships. — Enu-
meration of the Trojan Forces. 2S

BOOK III.

SINGLE COMBAT OF MENELAUS AND PARIS.

Proposal of Hector to end the War by a Duel between Menelaus and
Paris, the Victor to possess Helen and her Wealth. — Priam and
Helen behold the Combat — Description of the principal Greek
Princes and Chiefs, given by Helen to Priam. — Paris snatched
away from the Combat by Venus, as he was in Danger of being
slain, and conveyed to the Bedchamber of Helen 67

xvi Contents.

BOOK IV.

THE BREAKING OF THE TRUCE, AND THE FIRST BATTLE

A Council of the Gods, who decide that the War shall go on. —
Minerva sent down to cause the Breaking of the Truce. — Pan-
darus persuaded by her to aim an Arrow at Menelaus, who is
wounded by it, and healed by Machaon. — Exhortations of Aga-
memnon addressed to the Greek Chiefs — A furious Battle, and
great Slaughter on both Sides. S7

BOOK V.

THE EXPLOITS OF DIOMED.

The Valor of Diomed, aided by Minerva. — He is wounded by Pan-
darus, and healed by the Goddess, who forbids him to fight with
any of the Immortals, save Venus. — His Combat with Pandarus
and /Eneas. — Pandarus slain, and /Eneas, wounded and in great
Danger, rescued by Venus, who in the act is wounded by Diomed,
and leaves jEneas to the Care of Apollo. — Descent of Mars to
the Field in Aid of Hector. — Return of ^Eneas to the Field. —
Descent of Juno and Minerva to resist Mars, who is wounded by
Diomed. — Return of the Gods to Heaven 111

BOOK VI.

INTERVIEWS BETWEEN GLAUCUS AND DIOMED, AND HECTOR
AND ANDROMACHE.

Successes of the Greeks. — Hector recalled to Troy by Helenus, to
appoint a Procession of the Trojan Matrons to the Temple of
Minerva. — Meeting of Glaucus and Diomed, who recognize each
other as old Friends. — Their Exchange of Weapons. — Meeting
of Hector and Andromache, and Return of Hector and Paris to
the Field 151

BOOK VII.

THE COMBAT OF HECTOR AND AJAX.

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

Contents. xvii

Helen to the Greeks. — Refusal of Paris, who offers to restore her
Wealth. — Rejection of this Offer by Agamemnon. — A Truce for
burying the Dead. — The Greek Camp fortified 174

BOOK VIII.

THE SECOND BATTLE.

A Council of the Gods. — Jupiter forbids them to take Part with
either Side. — Minerva permitted to advise the Greeks. — Begin-
ning of the Second Battle. — The Fate of the two Armies weighed
in the Scales by Jupiter. — Nestor rescued by Diomed. — Ex-
ploits of Diomed and of Hector. — Neptune denies the Request of
Juno to aid the Greeks. — Teucer wounded by Hector. — Juno
and Minerva restrained by Jupiter from going to the Aid of the
Greeks, who are driven within their Intrenchments. — The Tro-
jans pass the Night before the Greek Camp, and kindle Fires
around it ig6

BOOK IX.

THE EMBASSY TO ACHILLES.

Agamemnon's Proposal to raise the Siege opposed by Diomed and
Nestor. — A Council. — Ulysses, Ajax, and Phcenix sent to
Achilles to request a Reconciliation. — Their Reception, their
Persuasions, and their 111 Success. ....... 220

BOOK X.

THE NIGHT-ADVENTURE OF DIOMED AND ULYSSES.

Agamemnon's Distress at the Obstinacy of Achilles. — Consults with
Menelaus, Nestor, Ulysses, and Diomed. —A Council. — 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 251

BOOK XI.

THE THIRD BATTLE, AND EXPLOITS OF AGAMEMNON.

Renewal of the Fight by Agamemnon. — His Prowess. — Hector
warned by Iris not to fight till Agamemnon is wounded. — Aga-

xviii Contents.

memnon disabled. — Hector makes great Havoc till checked by
Ulysses and Diomed. — Diomed wounded by Paris, and rescued
by Ajax, who rallies the Greeks. — Machaon wounded. — Conver-
sations of Nestor and Patroclus 276

BOOK XII.

THE BATTLE AT THE GRECIAN WALL.

Division of the Trojan Army, by Advice of Polydamas, into Five
Bodies, to storm the Greek Intrenchments. — A Breach in the
Wall made by Sarpedon. — One of the Gates beaten open by
Hector with a Stone. — His Entrance at the Head of his Troops.

THE ILIAD.

THE ILIAD.

BOOK I.

O GODDESS ! sing the wrath of Peleus' son,
Achilles j sing the deadly wrath thaf brought
Woes numberless upon the Greeks, and swept
To Hades many a valiant soul, and gave
Their limbs a prey to dogs and birds of air, — s
For so had Jove appointed, — from the time
When the two chiefs, Atrides, king of men,
And great Achilles, parted first as foes.

Which of the gods put strife between the chiefs,
That they should thus contend ? Latona's son «>
And Jove's. Incensed against the king, he bade
A deadly pestilence appear among
The army, and the men were perishing.
For Atreus' son with insult had received
Chryses the priest, who to the Grecian fleet
Came to redeem his daughter, offering
Uncounted ransom. In his hand he bore
The fillets of Apollo, archer-god,
Upon the golden sceptre, and he sued
vol. i. i A

2 The Iliad.

To all the Greeks, but chiefly to the sons »°

Of Atreus, the two leaders of the host : —

" Ye sons of Atreus, and ye other chiefs,
Well-greaved Achaians, may the gods who dwell
Upon Olympus give you to o'erthrow
The city of Priam, and in safety reach =>s

Your homes ; but give me my beloved child,
And take her ransom, honoring him who sends
His arrows far, Apollo, son of Jove."

Then all the other Greeks, applauding, bade
Revere the priest and take the liberal gifts 3°

He offered, but the counsel did not please
Atrides Agamemnon ; he dismissed
The priest with scorn, and added threatening words : —

" Old man, let me not find thee loitering here,
Beside the roomy ships, or coming back 35

Hereafter, lest the fillet thou dost bear
And sceptre of thy god protect thee not.
This maiden I release not till old age
Shall overtake her in my Argive home,
Far from her native country, where her hand 40

Shall throw the shuttle and shall dress my couch.
Go, chafe me not, if thou wouldst safely go."

He spake ; the aged man in fear obeyed
The mandate, and in silence walked apart,
Along the many-sounding ocean-side, 45

And fervently he prayed the monarch-god,
Apollo, golden-haired Latona's son : —

" Hear me, thou bearer of the silver bow,

Book I. :

Who guardest Chrysa, and the holy isle

Of Cilia, and art lord in Tenedos,

O Smintheus ! if I ever helped to deck

Thy glorious temple, if I ever burned

Upon thy altar the fat thighs of goats

And bullocks, grant my prayer, and let thy shafts

Avenge upon the Greeks the tears I shed." :

So spake he supplicating, and to him
Phoebus Apollo hearkened. Down he came,
Down from the summit of the Olympian mount,
Wrathful in heart ; his shoulders bore the bow
And hollow quiver ; there the arrows rang <

Upon the shoulders of the angry god,
As on he moved. He came as comes the night,
And, seated from the ships aloof, sent forth
An arrow ; terrible was heard the clang
Of that resplendent bow. At first he smote <

The mules and the swift dogs, and then on man
He turned the deadly arrow. All around
Glared evermore the frequent funeral piles.
Nine days already had his shafts been showered
Among the host, and now, upon the tenth, ;

Achilles called the people of the camp
To council. Juno, of the snow-white arms,
Had moved his mind to this, for she beheld
With sorrow that the men were perishing.
And when the assembly met and now was full, :
Stood swift Achilles in the midst and said : —

" To me it seems, Atrides, that 't were well,

4 The Iliad.

Since now our aim is baffled, to return

Homeward, if death o'ertake us not ; for war

And pestilence at once destroy the Greeks. s0

But let us first consult some seer or priest,

Or dream-interpreter, — for even dreams

Are sent by Jove, — and ask him by what cause

Phcebus Apollo has been angered thus ;

If by neglected vows or hecatombs, as

And whether savor of fat bulls and goats

May move the god to stay the pestilence."

He spake, and took again his seat ; and next
Rose Calchas, son of Thestor, and the chief
Of augurs, one to whom were known things past 90
And present and to come. He, through the art
Of divination, which Apollo gave,
Had guided Iliumward the ships of Greece.
With words well ordered courteously he spake : —

" Achilles, loved of Jove, thou biddest me 95

Explain the wrath of Phcebus, monarch-god,
Who sends afar his arrows. Willingly
Will I make known the cause ; but covenant thou,
And swear to stand prepared, by word and hand,
To bring me succor. For my mind misgives >«>
That he who rules the Argives, and to whom
The Achaian race are subject, will be wroth.
A sovereign is too strong for humbler men,
And though he keep his choler down awhile,
It rankles, till he sate it, in his heart. i°s

And now consider : wilt thou hold me safe ? "

Book I. 5

Achilles, the swift-footed, answered thus : —
" Fear nothing, but speak boldly out whate'er
Thou knowest, and declare the will of Heaven.
For by Apollo, dear to Jove, whom thou, n0

Calchas, dost pray to, when thou givest forth
The sacred oracles to men of Greece,
No man, while yet I live, and see the light
Of clay, shall lay a violent hand on thee
Among our roomy ships ; no man of all 115

The Grecian armies, though thou name the name
Of Agamemnon, whose high boast it is
To stand in power and rank above them all."

Encouraged thus, the blameless seer went on : —
" 'T is not neglected vows or hecatombs 120

That move him, but the insult shown his priest,
Whom Agamemnon spurned, when he refused
To set his daughter free, and to receive
Her ransom. Therefore sends the archer-god
These woes, and still will send them on the Greeks, «s
Nor ever will withdraw his heavy hand
From our destruction, till the dark-eyed maid
Freely, and without ransom, be restored
To her beloved father, and with her
A sacred hecatomb to Chrysa sent. 130

So may we haply pacify the god."

Thus having said, the augur took his seat.
And then the hero-son of Atreus rose,
Wide-ruling Agamemnon, greatly chafed.
His gloomy heart was full of wrath, his eyes 135

6 The Iliad.

Sparkled like fire ; he fixed a menacing look
Full on the augur Calchas, and began : —

" Prophet of evil ! never hadst thou yet
A cheerful word for me. To mark the signs
Of coming mischief is thy great delight. ho

Good dost thou ne'er foretell nor bring to pass.
And now thou pratest, in thine auguries,
Before the Greeks, how that the archer-god
Afflicts us thus, because I would not take
The costly ransom offered to redeem us

The virgin child of Chryses. 'T was my choice
To keep her with me, for I prize her more
Than Clytemnestra, bride of my young years,
And deem her not less nobly graced than she,
In form and feature, mind and pleasing arts. 150
Yet will I give her back, if that be best ;
For gladly would I see my people saved
From this destruction. Let meet recompense,
Meantime, be ready, that I be not left,
Alone of all the Greeks, without my prize. 155

That were not seemly. All of you perceive
That now my share of spoil has passed from me."

To him the great Achilles, swift of foot,
Replied : " Renowned Atrides, greediest
Of men, where wilt thou that our noble Greeks ^
Find other spoil for thee, since none is set
Apart, a common store ? The trophies brought
From towns which we have sacked have all been
shared

Book L 7

Among us, and we could not without shame
Bid every warrior bring his portion back. '65

Yield, then, the maiden to the god, and we,
The Achaians, freely will appoint for thee
Threefold and fourfold recompense, should Jove
Give up to sack this well-defended Troy."

Then the king Agamemnon answered thus : — '7°
" Nay, use no craft, all valiant as thou art,
Godlike Achilles ; thou hast not the power
To circumvent nor to persuade me thus.
Think'st thou that, while thou keepest safe thy prize,
I shall sit idly down, deprived of mine ? 17s

Thou bid'st me give the maiden back. 'T is well,
If to my hands the noble Greeks shall bring
The worth of what I lose, and in a shape
That pleases me. Else will I come myself,
And seize and bear away thy prize, or that iso

Of Ajax or Ulysses, leaving him
From whom I take his share with cause for rage.
Another time we will confer of this.
Now come, and forth into the great salt sea
Launch a black ship, and muster on the deck 185
Men skilled to row, and put a hecatomb
On board, and let the fair-cheeked maid embark,
Chryseis. Send a prince to bear command, —
Ajax, Idomeneus, or the divine
Ulysses ; — or thyself, Pelides, thou *y>

Most terrible of men, that with due rites
Thou soothe the anger of the archer-god."

8 The Iliad.

Achilles the swift-footed, with stern look,
Thus answered : " Ha, thou mailed in impudence
And bent on lucre ! Who of all the Greeks 195

Can willingly obey thee, on the march,
Or bravely battling with the enemy ?
I came not to this war because of wrong
Done to me by the valiant sons of Troy.
No feud had I with them ; they never took 200

My beeves or horses, nor, in Phthia's realm,
Deep-soiled and populous, spoiled my harvest fields.
For many a shadowy mount between us lies,
And waters of the wide-resounding sea.
Man unabashed ! we follow thee that thou 205

Mayst glory in avenging upon Troy
The grudge of Menelaus and thy own,
Thou shameless one ! and yet thou hast for this
Nor thanks nor care. Thou threatenest now to take
From me the prize for which I bore long toils 210
In battle ; and the Greeks decreed it mine.
I never take an equal share with thee
Of booty when the Grecian host has sacked
Some populous Trojan town. My hands perform
The harder labors of the field in all 21s

The tumult of the fight ; but when the spoil
Is shared, the largest share of all is thine,
While I, content with little, seek my ships,
Weary with combat. I shall now go home
To Phthia ; better were it to return 220

With my beaked ships ; but here, where I am held

Book L 9

In little honor, thou wilt fail, I think,

To gather, in large measure, spoil and wealth."

Him answered Agamemnon, king of men : —
" Desert, then, if thou wilt ; I ask thee not »s

To stay for me ; there will be others left
To do me honor yet, and, best of all,
The all-providing Jove is with me still.
Thee I detest the most of all the men
Ordained by him to govern ; thy delight *3°

Is in contention, war, 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
Over thy Myrmidons ; I heed thee not, 235

Nor care I for thy fury. Thus, in turn,
I threaten thee ; since Phoebus takes away
Chryseis, I will send her in my ship
And with my friends, and, coming to thy tent,
Will bear away the fair-cheeked maid, thy prize, 240
Briseis, that thou learn how far I stand
Above thee, and that other chiefs may fear
To measure strength with me, and brave my power."

The rage of Peleus' son, as thus he spake,
Grew fiercer ; in that shaggy breast his heart 245
Took counsel, whether from his thigh to draw
The trenchant sword, and, thrusting back the rest,
Smite down Atrides, or subdue his wrath
And master his own spirit. While he thus
Debated with himself, and half unsheathed *s<>

IO

The Iliad.

The ponderous 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,

And plucked his yellow hair. The hero turned «ss

In wonder, and at once he knew the look

Of Pallas and the awful-gleaming eye,

And thus accosted her with winged words : —

" Why com'st thou hither, daughter of the god

Who bears the aegis ? Art thou here to see =*»

The insolence of Agamemnon, son

Of Atreus ? Let me tell thee what I deem

Will be the event. That man may lose his life,

And quickly too, for arrogance like this."

Then thus the goddess, blue-eyed Pallas, spake : —
" I came from heaven to pacify thy wrath, =66

If thou wilt heed my counsel. I am sent
By Juno the white-armed, to whom ye both
Are dear, who ever watches o'er you both.
Refrain from violence ; let not thy hand 2-°

Unsheathe the sword, but utter with thy tongue
Reproaches, as occasion may arise,
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. 27s
Now calm thy angry spirit, and obey."

Achilles, the swift-footed, answered thus : —
" O goddess, be the word thou bring'st obeyed,
However fierce my anger ; for to him

Book I. ii

Who hearkens to the gods, the gods give ear." 280

So speaking, on the silver hilt he stayed
His strong right hand, and back into its sheath
Thrust his good sword, obeying. She, meantime;
Returned to heaven, where aegis-bearing Jove
Dwells with, the other gods. And now again 285
Pelides, with opprobrious words, bespake
The son of Atreus, venting thus his wrath : —

" Wine-bibber, with the forehead of a dog
And a deer's heart ! Thou never yet hast dared
To arm thyself for battle with the rest, 290

Nor join the other chiefs prepared to lie
In ambush, — such thy craven fear of death.
Better it suits thee, midst the mighty host
Of Greeks, to rob some warrior of his prize
Who dares withstand thee. King thou art, and yet =95
Devourer of thy people. Thou dost rule
A spiritless race, else this day's insolence,
Atrides, were thy last. And now I say,
And bind my saying with a mighty oath :
By this my sceptre, which can never bear 3°°

A leaf or twig, since first it left its stem
Among the mountains, — for the steel has pared
Its boughs and bark away, to sprout no more, —
And now the Achaian judges bear it, — they
Who guard the laws received from Jupiter, — 30s
Such is my oath, — the time shall come when all
The Greeks shall long to see Achilles back,
While multitudes are perishing by the hand

12 The Iliad.

Of Hector, the man-queller ; thou, meanwhile,
Though thou lament, shalt 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 seat.
Fiercely Atrides raged ; but 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, 3=0

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 sons,
And how would all the Trojan race rejoice, 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, —
Ye who are younger than myself, — for I
Have lived with braver men than you, and yet 330
They held me not in light esteem. Such men
I never saw, nor shall I see again, —
Men like Pirithoiis and like Druas, lord
Of nations, Caeneus and Exadius,
And the great Polypheme, and Theseus, son 335
Of ^Fgeus, likest to the immortal gods.
Strongest of all the earth-born race they fought —

Book I. 13

The strongest with the strongest of their time —
With Centaurs, the wild dwellers of the hills,
And fearfully destroyed them. With these men 340
Did I hold converse, coming to their camp
From Pylos in a distant land. They sent
To bid me join the war, and by their side
I fought my best, but no man living now
On the wide earth would dare to fight with them. 343
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 350

Decreed him by the sons of Greece ; and thou,
Pelides, strive no longer with the king,
Since never Jove on sceptred prince bestowed
Like eminence to his. Though braver thou,
And goddess-born, yet hath he greater power 335
And wider sway. Atrides, calm thy wrath —
'T is I who ask — against the chief who stands
The bulwark of the Greeks in this fierce war."
To him the sovereign Agamemnon said : —
" The things which thou hast uttered, aged chief, 360
Are fitly spoken ; but this man would stand
Above all others ; he aspires to be
The master, over all to domineer,
And to direct in all things ; yet, I think,
There may be one who will not suffer this. 365

For if by favor of the immortal gods

14 The Iliad.

He was made brave, have they for such a cause
Given him the liberty of insolent speech ? "

Hereat the great Achilles, breaking in,
Answered : " Yea, well might I deserve the name 370
Of coward and of wretch, should I submit
In all things to thy bidding. Such commands
Lay thou on others, not on me ; nor think
I shall obey thee longer. This I say, —
And bear it well in mind, — I shall not lift 375

My hand to keep the maiden whom ye gave
And now take from me ; but whatever else
May be on board that swift black ship of mine,
Beware thou carry not away the least
Without my leave. Come, make the trial now, 3so
That these may see thy black blood bathe my spear."

Then, rising from that strife of words, the twain
Dissolved the assembly at the Grecian fleet.
Pelides to his tents and well-manned ships
Went with Patroclus and his warrior friends, 335
While Agamemnon bade upon the sea
Launch a swift bark with twenty chosen men
To ply the oar, and put a hecatomb
Upon it for the god. He thither led
The fair-cheeked maid Chryseis ; the command 390
He gave to wise Ulysses ; forth they went,
Leader and crew, upon their watery path.
Meanwhile, he bade the camp be purified ;
And straight the warriors purified the camp,
And, casting the pollutions to the waves, 353

Book I. 15

They burned to Phoebus chosen hecatombs
Of bulls and goats beside the barren main,
From which the savor rose in smoke to heaven.

So was the host employed. But not the less
Did Agamemnon persevere to urge 400

His quarrel with Pelides ; and he thus
Addressed Talthybius and Eurybates,
His heralds and his faithful ministers : —

" Go ye to where Achilles holds his tent,
And take the fair Briseis by the hand, 405

And bring her hither. If he yield her not,
I shall come 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 410
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, 4.5
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 blame
Atrides, who hath sent you for the maid. 420

Noble Patroclus ! bring the damsel forth,
And let them lead her hence. My witnesses
Are ye, before the blessed deities,
And mortal men, and this remorseless king,

1 6 The Iliad.

If ever he shall need me to avert 425

The doom of utter ruin from his host.

Most sure it is, he madly yields himself

To fatal counsels, thoughtless of the past

And of the future, nor forecasting how

The Greeks may fight, unvanquished, by their fleet."

He spake. Meantime Patroclus had obeyed 431
The word of his beloved friend. He brought
The fair-cheeked maid Briseis from the tent,
And she was led away. The messengers
Returned to where their barks were moored, and she 435
Unwillingly went with them. Then in tears
Achilles, from his friends withdrawing, sat
Beside the hoary ocean-marge, and gazed
On the black deep beyond, and stretched his hands,
And prayed to his dear mother, earnestly : — 440

" Mother ! since thou didst bring me forth to dwell
Brief space on earth, Olympian Jupiter,
Who thunders in the highest, should have filled
That space with honors, but he grants them not.
Wide-ruling Agamemnon takes and holds 443

The prize I won, and thus dishonors me."

Thus, shedding tears, he spake. His mother heard,
Sitting within the ocean deeps, beside
Her aged father. Swiftly from the waves
Of the gray deep emerging like a cloud, 450

She sat before him as he wept, and smoothed
His brow with her soft hand, and kindly said : —

" My child, why weepest thou ? What grief is this ?

Book I. 17

Speak, and hide nothing, so that both may know."

Achilles, swift of foot, sighed heavily, 455

And said : " Thou know'st already. Why relate
These things to thee, who art apprised of all ?

" To Thebe, to Eetion's sacred town,
We marched, and plundered it, and hither brought
The booty, which was fairly shared among 460

The sons of Greece, and Agamemnon took
The fair-cheeked maid Chryseis as his prize.
But Chryses, priest of Phoebus, to the fleet
Of the Achaian warriors, brazen-mailed,
Came, to redeem his daughter, offering 465

Ransom uncounted. In his hand he bore
The fillets of Apollo, archer-god,
Upon the golden sceptre, and he sued
To all the Greeks, but chiefly to the sons
Of Atreus, the two leaders of the host. 470

Then all the other chiefs, applauding, bade
Revere the priest and take the liberal gifts
He offered ; but the counsel did not please
Atrides Agamemnon : he dismissed
The priest with scorn, and added threatening
words. 475

The aged man indignantly withdrew ;
And Phoebus — for the priest was dear to him —
Granted his prayer and sent among the Greeks
A deadly shaft. The people of the camp
Were perishing in heaps. His arrows flew 4»„

Among the Grecian army, far and wide.

1 8 The Iliad.

A seer expert in oracles revealed

The will of Phcebus, and I was the first

To counsel that the god should be appeased.

But Agamemnon rose in Sudden wrath,

Uttering a threat, which he has since fulfilled.

And now the dark-eyed Greeks are taking back

His child to Chryses, and with her they bear

Gifts to the monarch-god ; while to my tent

Heralds have come, and borne away the maid

Briseis, given me by the sons of Greece.

But succor thou thy son, if thou hast power ;

Ascend to heaven and bring thy prayer to Jove,

If e'er by word or act thou gav'st him aid.

For I remember, in my father's halls

I often heard thee, glorying, tell how thou,

Alone of all the gods, didst interpose

To save the cloud-compeller, Saturn's son,

From shameful overthrow, when all the rest

Who dwell upon Olympus had conspired

To bind him, — Juno, Neptune, and with them

Pallas Athene. Thou didst come and loose

His bonds, and call up to the Olympian heights

The hundred-handed, whom the immortal gods

Have named Briareus, but the sons of men

^Egeon, mightier than his sire in strength ;

And he, rejoicing in the honor, took

His seat by Jove, and all the immortals shrank

Aghast before him, and let fall the chains.

Remind him of all this, and, sitting down,

Book I. 19

Embrace his knees, and pray him to befriend
The Trojans, that the Greeks, hemmed in and slain
Beside their ships and by the shore, may learn
To glory in their king, and even he,
Wide-ruling Agamemnon, may perceive 515

How grievous was his folly when he dared
To treat with scorn the bravest of the Greeks."

And Thetis answered, weeping as she spake : —
" Alas, my son, why did I rear thee, born
To sorrow as thou wert ? O would that thou 5=0
Unwronged, and with no cause for tears, couldst dwell
Beside thy ships, since thou must die so soon.
I brought thee forth in an unhappy hour,
Short-lived and wronged beyond all other men.
Yet will I climb the Olympian height among s*s
Its snows and make my suit to Jupiter
The Thunderer, if haply he may yield
To my entreaties. Thou, meanwhile, abide
By thy swift ships, incensed against the Greeks,
And take no part in all their battles more. 53°

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 pass
Ere he return to heaven, and I will then 53s

Enter his brazen palace, clasp his knees,
And hope to move his purpose by my prayers."

So saying, she departed, leaving him
In anger for the shapely damsel's sake,

20 The Iliad.

Whom forcibly they took away. Meantime 54°

Ulysses, with the sacred hecatomb,

Arrived at Chrysa. Entering the deep port,

They folded up the sails and laid them down

In the black ship, and lowering the mast,

With all its shrouds, they brought it to its place. 545

Then to the shore they urged the bark with oars,

And cast the anchors and secured the prow

With fastenings. Next, they disembarked and stood

Upon the beach and placed the hecatomb

In sight of Phoebus, the great archer. Last, 550

Chryseis left the deck, and, leading her

Up to the altar, wise Ulysses gave

The maid to her dear father, speaking thus : —

" O Chryses ! Agamemnon, king of men,
Sends me in haste to bring this maid to thee 555
And offer up this hallowed hecatomb
To Phoebus, 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 560

The child he loved. Then did the Greeks array
The noble hecatomb in order round
The sculptured altar, and with washen hands
They took the salted meal, while Chryses stood
And spread abroad his hands and prayed aloud : — s«s

" Hear me, thou bearer of the glittering bow,
Who guardest Chrysa and the pleasant isle
Of Cilia and art lord in Tenedos !

Book I. 21

Already hast thou listened to my prayer

And honored me, and terribly hast scourged 570

The Achaian people. Hear me yet again,

And ca'use the plague that wastes the Greeks to

cease."
So spake he, supplicating, and to him
Phoebus Apollo hearkened. When the prayers
Were ended, and the salted meal was flung, 575

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 in double folds ; and over this
They laid raw fragments of the other parts. 520

O'er all the aged priest poured dark red wine,
And burned them on dry wood. A band of youths
With five-pronged spits, beside him, thrust these

through
The entrails, which they laid among the flames.
And when the thighs were all consumed, and next 5S3
The entrails tasted, all the rest 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 ample urns with wreaths, and served
The wine to all, and poured libations forth.
Meantime the Argive youths, that whole day long, 595

22 The Iliad.

Sang to appease the god ; they chanted forth

High anthems to the archer of the skies.

He listened to the strain, and his stern mood

Was softened. When, at length, the sun went down

And darkness fell, they gave themselves to sleep 600

Beside the fastenings of their ships, and when

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 ; at once they reared the mast 605

And opened the white sails ; the canvas swelled

Before the wind, and hoarsely round the keel

The dark waves murmured as the ship flew on.

So ran she, cutting through the sea her way.

But when they reached the great Achaian host, ««

They drew their vessel high upon the shore

Among the sands, and underneath its sides

They laid long beams to prop the keel, and straight

Dispersed themselves among the tents and ships.

The goddess-born Achilles, swift of foot, ^s

Beside his ships still brooded 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 I. 23

Emerging from the depths of ocean, climbed 6=5

To the great heaven and the high mount, and found

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 630

With her left arm, and lifted up her right

In supplication to the Sovereign One : —

" O Jupiter, my father, if among
The immortals I have ever given thee aid
By word or act, deny not my request. 63S

Honor my son, whose life is doomed to end
So soon ; for Agamemnon, king of men,
Hath done him shameful wrong : he takes from him
And keeps the prize he won in war. But thou,
Olympian Jupiter, supremely wise, 64o

Honor him thou, and give the Trojan host
The victory, until the humbled Greeks
Heap large increase of honors on my son."

She spake, but cloud-compelling Jupiter
Answered her not ; in silence long he sat. 645

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

" O promise me, and grant my suit ; or else
Deny it, — for thou need'st not fear, — and I
Shall know how far below the other gods e5o

Thou holdest me in honor." As she spake,
The Cloud-compeller, sighing heavily,
Answered her thus : " Hard things dost thou require,

24 The Iliad.

And thou wilt force me into new disputes

With Juno, who will anger me again 655

With contumelious words ; for ever thus,

In presence of the immortals, doth she seek

Cause of contention, charging that I aid

The Trojans in their battles. Now depart,

And let her not perceive thee. Leave the rest 6«o

To be by me accomplished ; and that thou

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, «ss

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
Upon the Sovereign One's immortal head
Were shaken, and with them the mighty mount 670
Olympus trembled. Then they parted, she
Plunging from bright Olympus to the deep,
And Jove returning to his palace home ;
Where all the gods, uprising from their thrones,
At sight of the Great Father, waited not 67S

For his approach, but met him as he came.

And now upon his throne the Godhead took
His seat, but Juno knew — for she had seen —
That Thetis of the silver feet, and child
Of the gray Ancient of the Deep, had held <&>

Close council with her consort. Therefore she
Bespake the son of Saturn harshly, thus : —

Book I. 25

" O crafty one, with whom, among the gods,
Plottest thou now ? Thus hath it ever been
Thy pleasure to devise, apart from me, ess

Thy plans in secret ; never willingly
Dost thou reveal to me thy purposes."

Then thus replied the Father of the gods
And mortals : " Juno, do not think to know
All my designs, for thou wilt find the task 690

Too hard for thee, although thou be my spouse.
What fitting is to be revealed, no one
Of all the immortals or of men shall know
Sooner than thou ; but when I form designs
Apart from all the gods, presume thou not 695

To question me or pry into my plans."

Juno, the large-eyed and august, rejoined : —
"What words, stern son of Saturn, hast thou said !
It never was my wont to question thee
Or pry into thy plans, and thou art left 700

To form them as thou wilt ; yet now I fear
The silver-footed Thetis has contrived —
That daughter of the Ancient of the Deep —
To o'erpersuade thee, for, at early prime,
She sat before thee and embraced thy knees ; 705
And thou hast promised her, I cannot doubt,
To give Achilles honor and to cause
Myriads of Greeks to perish by their fleet."

Then Jove, the cloud-compeller, spake again : —
" Harsh-tongued ! thou ever dost suspect me thus,
Nor can I act unwatched ; and yet all this 7"

vol. 1. 2

26 The Iliad.

Profits thee nothing, for it only serves

To breed dislike, and is the worse for thee.

But were it as thou deemest, 't is enough

That such has been my pleasure. Sit thou down

In silence, and obey, lest all the gods i^

Upon Olympus, when I 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 720

In silence ; meanwhile all the gods of heaven
Within the halls of Jove were inly grieved.
But Vulcan, the renowned artificer,
Sought to console his mother in her grief, —
The white-armed Juno, — and thus interposed : —

" Great will the evil be and hard to bear, 726,

If, for the sake of mortals, ye are moved
To such contention and the assembled gods
Disturbed with discord. Even the pleasant feast
Will lose its flavor when embittered thus. 730

And let me wrarn my mother while I speak,
Wise as she is, 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 735

To make a wreck of all things, wields a power
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

Book I. V

Of his beloved mother the round cup
Of double form, and thus he spake again : —
" Mother, be patient and submit, although
In sadness, lest these eyes behold thee yet
Beaten with stripes, and though I hold .thee dear 745
And grieve for thee, I cannot bring thee help ;
For hard it is to strive with Jupiter.
Already once, when I took part with thee,
He seized me by the foot and flung me o'er
The battlements of heaven. All clay I fell, 7-0

And with the setting sun I struck the earth
In Lemnos. Little life was left in me,
What time the Sintians took me from the ground."
He spake, and Juno, the white-shouldered, smiled,
And smiling took the cup her son had brought ; 755
And next he poured to all the other gods
Sweet nectar from the jar, beginning first
With those at the right hand. As they beheld
Lame Vulcan laboring o'er the palace-floor,
An inextinguishable laughter broke 760

From all the blessed gods. So feasted they
All day till 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 ;
For Vulcan, the lame god, with marvellous art,
Had framed for each the chamber of his rest.

28 The Iliad.

And Jupiter, the Olympian Thunderer, 770

Went also to his couch, where 't was his wont,
When slumber overtook him, to recline.
And there, beside him, slept the white-armed queen
Juno, the mistress of the golden throne.

BOOK II.

ALL other deities, all mortal men,
Tamers of war-steeds, slept the whole night
through ;
But no sweet slumber came to Jove ; his thoughts
Were ever busy with the anxious care
To crown with honor Peleus' son, and cause s

Myriads to perish at the Grecian fleet.
At last, this counsel seemed the best, — to send
A treacherous dream to Agamemnon, son
Of Atreus. Then he called a Dream, and thus
Addressing it with winged words, he said : — 10

" Go, fatal Vision, to the Grecian fleet,
And, entering Agamemnon's tent, declare
Faithfully what I bid thee. Give command
That now he arm, with all the array of war,
The long-haired Greeks, for lo, the hour is come 15
That gives into his hands the city of Troy
With all its spacious streets. The powers who dwell
In the celestial mansions are no more

Book II. 29

At variance ; Juno's prayers have moved them all,
And o'er the Trojans hangs a fearful doom." *>

So spake the God ■ the Vision heard, and went
At once to where the Grecian barks were moored,
And entered Agamemnon's tent and found
The king reposing, with the balm of sleep
Poured all around him. At his head the Dream a
Took station in the form of Neleus' son,
Nestor, whom Agamemnon honored most
Of all the aged men. In such a shape
The heaven-sent Dream to Agamemnon spake : —

" O warrior-son of Atreus, sleepest thou ? 3°

Tamer of steeds ! It ill becomes a chief,
Who has the charge of nations and sustains
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, 3s

Takes part in thy concerns and pities thee.
He bids thee arm, with all the array of war,
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 that dwell
In the celestial mansions are no more 41

At variance ; Juno's prayers have moved them all,
And o'er the Trojans hangs a fearful doom,
Decreed by Jove. Bear what I say in mind,
And when thy sleep departs forget it not." 45

He spake, and, disappearing, left the king
Musing on things that never were to be ;

30 The 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, sc

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 on, 55

Soft, fair, and new, and over that he cast
His ample cloak, and round 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 60

The ancestral sceptre, old, but undecayed,
And with it turned his footsteps toward the fleet
Of the Achaian warriors brazen-mailed.

Now Dawn, the goddess, climbed the Olympian
height,
Foretelling Day to Jupiter and all es

The immortal gods, when Agamemnon bade
The shrill-voiced heralds call the long-haired Greeks
Together ; they proclaimed his will, and straight
The warriors came in throngs. But first he bade
A council of large-minded elders meet 70

On Pylian Nestor's royal bark, and there
Laid his well-pondered thought before them thus : —

" My friends, give ear : a Vision from above
Came to me sleeping in the balmy night ;
Most like to noble Nestor was its look, — 75

Book II. 31

Its face, its stature, and its garb. It stood
Beside me at my head, and thus it spake : —

" ' O warrior-son of Atreus, sleepest thou ?
Tamer of steeds! It ill becomes a chief,
Who 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, ss

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 dwell
In the celestial mansions are no more
At variance ; Juno's prayers have moved them all, 90
And o'er the Trojans hangs a fearful doom,
Decreed by Jove. Bear what I say in mind.'

" It spake and passed away, and with it fled
My slumbers. Now must we devise a way
To bring into the field the sons of Greece. 95

I first will try, as best I may, with words,
And counsel flight from Troy with all our ships.
Ye each, with different counsels, do your part."

He spake, and took his seat, and after him
Nestor, the king of sandy Pylus, rose, *°°

With well-considered words. " O friends," he said,
" Leaders and princes of the Grecian race,
Had any other of the Argive host
Related such a dream, we should have said

32 The Iliad.

The tale is false, and spurned the counsel given. 105
But he has seen it who in rank and power
Transcends us all, and ours it is to see
How we may arm for war the sons of Greece."
' He spake, and left the council, and the rest,
All sceptred kings, arose, prepared to obey no

The shepherd of the people. All the Greeks
Meanwhile came thronging to the appointed place.
As, swarming forth from cells within the rock,
Coming and coming still, the tribe of bees
Fly in a cluster o'er the flowers of spring, «s

And some are darting out to right and left,
So from the ships and tents a multitude
Along the spacious beach, in mighty throngs,
Moved toward the assembly. Rumor went with them,
The messenger of Jove, and urged them on. 1=0

And now, when they were met, the place was stunned
With clamor ; earth, as the great crowd sat down,
Groaned under them ; a din of mingled cries
Arose ; nine shouting heralds strove to hush
The noisy crowd to silence, that at length 125

The heaven-descended monarchs might be heard.

And when the crowd was seated and had paused
From clamor, Agamemnon rose. He held
The sceptre ; Vulcan's skill had fashioned it,
And Vulcan gave it to Saturnian Jove, 13°

And Jove bestowed it on his messenger,
The Argus-queller Hermes. He in turn
Gave it to Pelops, great in horsemanship ;

Book II. 33

And Pelops passed the gift to Atreus next,
The people's shepherd. Atreus, when he died, 135
Bequeathed it to Thyestes, rich in flocks ;
And last, Thyestes left it to be borne
By Agamemnon, symbol of his rule
O'er many isles and all the Argive realm.
Leaning on this, he spake these winged words : — ■
" Friends, Grecian heroes, ministers of Mars, hi
Saturnian Jove hath in an evil net
Entangled me most cruelly. He gave
His promise and his nod, that, having razed
Troy with her strong defences, I should see 145

My home again ; but now he meditates
To wrong me, and commands me to return,
With lessened glory and much people lost,
To Argos. Thus hath it seemed good to Jove
The mighty, who hath overthrown the towers 150
Of many a city, and will yet o'erthrow.
The ages yet to come will hear with shame
That such a mighty army of the Greeks
Have waged a fruitless war, and fought in vain
A foe less numerous ; yet no end appears 15s

To this long strife. Should Greeks and Trojans make
A treaty, faithfully to number each,
And should the Trojans count their citizens,
And we the Greeks, disposed in rows of tens,
Should call the Trojans singly to pour out 160

The wine for us, full many a company
Of ten would lack its cup-bearer ; so far,

2* c

34 The Iliad.

I judge, the sons of Greece outnumber those

Who dwell in Troy. But they have yet allies

From many a city, men who wield the spear, ies

Withstanding my attempt to overthrow

That populous town. Nine years of mighty Jove

Have passed already, and the planks that form

Our barks are mouldering, and the cables drop

In pieces, and our wives within their homes, 170

With their young children, sit expecting us ;

Yet is the enterprise for which we came

Still unperformed. Now let us all obey

The mandate I reveal, and hasten hence,

With all our fleet, to our beloved homes ; 17s

For Troy with her broad streets we cannot take."

He spake, and in the bosoms of the crowd
Stirred every heart ; even those who heard him not
Were moved : the assembly wavered to and fro
Like the long billows of the Icarian Sea, 180

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 185
With tumult to the ships ; beneath their feet
Rose clouds of dust, and each exhorted each
To seize the ships and drag them to the deep.
They cleared the channels mid the clamorous cries
Of multitudes, who hastened to return, 190

And drew the props from underneath their barks.

Book II. 35

Then had the Greeks returned before their time
If Juno had not to Minerva said : —

" Unconquerable child of Jove ! What change
Is this ? Shall then the Argive army thus 19s

Flee to their homes across the deep and leave
Glory to Priam, and to Ilium's sons
The Argive Helen, for whose sake have died
So many Greeks upon the Trojan strand,
Far from the land they loved ? But hasten thou 200
To the host of Argive warriors mailed in brass,
And with persuasive words restrain their men.
Nor let them launch their barks upon the sea."

She spake ; nor did the blue-eyed Pallas fail
To heed the mandate, but with quick descent =05
She left the Olympian height and suddenly
Stood by the swift ships of the Grecian host.
She found Ulysses there, the man endowed
With wisdom like to Jove's ; he had not touched
His well-appointed bark, for grief had seized 210
The hero's heart. The blue-eyed goddess took
Her place beside him, and addressed him thus : —

" Son of Laertes, nobly born and sage
Ulysses, will ye, entering your good ships,
Return in flight to your own land and leave 215

Glory to Priam, and to Ilium's sons
The Argive Helen, for whose sake have died
So many Greeks upon the Trojan strand,
Far from the land they loved ? Go thou at once
And seek the Argive warriors and restrain 220

36 The Iliad.

With thy persuasive words the impatient men,
Nor let them launch their well-appointed ships."

She spake ; Ulysses knew the heavenly voice,
And hastened back, and as he ran cast by
His cloak. Eurybates of Ithaca, 225

The herald, caught it as he followed him.
And now before Atrides, king of men,
The warrior stood, and from his hand received
The ancestral sceptre, old, but undecayed ;
And bearing this, he went among the ships 23a

Which brought the Achaian army, mailed in brass ;
And whomsoe'er he met upon his way,
Monarch or eminent among the host,
He stopped him, and addressed him blandly, thus : —

" Good friend, this eager haste as if from fear =35
Befits thee not. Sit down, and cause the rest
To sit. What Agamemnon's will may be
Thou canst not yet be certain ; he intends
To try the Greeks, and soon will punish those
Who act amiss. We cannot all have heard 240

What he has said ; beware, then, lest his wrath
Fall heavily upon the sons of Greece.
The monarch, foster-child of Jupiter,
Is terrible enraged. Authority
Is given by Jove, all-wise, who loves the king." ?4s

But when he found one of the lower sort
Shouting and brawling, with the royal wand
He smote him, and reproved him sharply, thus : —

" Friend, take thy seat in quiet, and attend

Book II. 37

To what thy betters say ; thou art not strong =so
Nor valiant, and thou art of mean repute
In combat and in council. We, the Greeks,
Cannot be all supreme in power. The rule
Of the many is not well. One must be chief
In war, and one the king, to whom the son «ss

Of Saturn gives the sceptre, making him
The lawgiver, that he may rule the rest."

Thus did he act the chief, and make the host
Obey his word ; they to the council ground
Came rushing back from all the ships and tents -so
With tumult, as, on the long-stretching shore
Of ocean many-voiced, his billows fling
Themselves in fury, and the deep resounds.

All others took their seats and kept their place ;
Thersites only, clamorous of tongue, 26s

Kept brawling. He, with many insolent words,
Was wont to seek unseemly strife with kings,
Uttering whate'er it seemed to him might move
The Greeks to laughter. Of the multitude
Who came to Ilium, none so base as he, — =70

Squint-eyed, with one lame foot, and on his back
A lump, and shoulders curving towards the chest ;
His head was sharp, and over it the hairs
Were thinly scattered. Hateful to the chiefs
Achilles and Ulysses, he would oft 275

Revile them. He to Agamemnon now
Called with shrill voice and taunting words. The
Greeks

38 The Iliad.

Heard hirn impatiently, with strong disgust

And vehement anger, yet he shouted still

To Agamemnon, and kept railing on : — =s0

" Of what dost thou complain ; what wouldst thou
more,
Atrides ? In thy tents are heaps of gold ;
Thy tents are full of chosen damsels, given
To thee before all others, by the Greeks,
Whene'er we take a city. Dost thou yet 2SS

Hanker for gold, brought by some Trojan knight,
A ransom for his son, whom I shall lead —
I, or some other Greek — a captive bound ?
Or dost thou wish, for thy more idle hours,
Some maiden, whom thou mayst detain apart ? 290
111 it beseems a prince like thee to lead
The sons of Greece, for such a cause as this,
Into new perils. O ye coward race !
Ye abject Greeklings, Greeks no longer, haste
Homeward with all the fleet, and let us leave 295
This man at Troy to win his trophies here,
That he may learn whether the aid we give
Avails him aught or not, since he insults
Achilles, a far braver man than he,
And takes from him by force and holds his prize.
And yet, Achilles is not moved by this 301

To anger : he is spiritless, or else,
Atrides, this injustice were thy last."

Taunting the shepherd of the people thus,
Thersites shouted to the kiner of men. 305

Book II. 39

But great Ulysses, coming quickly up,

Rebuked him with a frown : " Thou garrulous wretch !

Glib as thou art of tongue, Thersites, cease,

Nor singly dare to seek dispute with kings.

There came, I deem, no viler wretch than thou 31°

To Troy with Agamemnon. Prate no more

Of kings, reviling them, and keeping watch

For pretexts to return. We know not yet

Whether to go or to remain were best.

Thou railest at the shepherd of the host, 315

Atrides Agamemnon, for thou seest

The Grecian heroes load him with rewards,

While thou insultest him with scurrilous words.

I tell thee now, — and I shall keep my word, —

If e'er again I find thee railing on, 320

As now thou dost, then let Ulysses wear

His head no longer, let me not be called

The father of Telemachus, if I

Shall fail to seize thee, and to strip thee bare

Of cloak and tunic, and whatever else 3=3

Covers thy carcass, and to send thee forth,

Howling, to our swift barks upon the shore,

Scourged from the council with a storm of blows."

He spake, and with his sceptre smote the back
And shoulders of the scoffer, who crouched low 330
And shed a shower of tears. A bloody whelk
Rose where the golden sceptre fell. He took
His seat, dismayed, and still in pain wiped off
The tears from his smutched face. The multitude

40 The Iliad.

Around him, though in anxious mood, were moved
To smiles, and one addressed his neighbor thus : —

" Strange that Ulysses does a thousand things 337
So well, — so wise in council, and in war
So brave ; and for the Grecian army now
He does the best of all, in silencing 340

The chatter of this saucy slanderer,
Whose acrid temper will not soon again
Move him to rail with insolent speech at kings."

So talked the multitude. Ulysses then,
Holding the sceptre, rose, and by his side 345

The blue-eyed Pallas, in a herald's form,
Commanded silence, that the Argive host —
The mightiest and the meanest — might attend
To what should now be said, and calmly weigh
The counsel given them. With a prudent art 350
Ulysses framed his speech, and thus he spake : —

" The Greeks, O Atreus' son, would bring on thee
Dishonor in the eyes and speech of men,
Breaking the promise made when first they came
From Argos, famed for steeds, that, having spoiled
This well-defended Troy, thou shouldst return 356
A conqueror. And now, like tender boys
Or widowed women, all give way to grief
And languish to return. 'T were hard to bear
If, after all our sufferings and our toils, s«°

We go back now. And yet, whoe'er remains
A single month away from wife and home
Chafes if the winter storms and angry sea

Book II. 41

Detain him still on board his well-oared bark ;

And we have seen the ninth full year roll round 365

Since we came hither. Therefore blame I not

The Greeks if they in their beaked ships repine

At this delay. But then it were disgrace

To linger here so long and journey home

With empty hands. Bear with us yet, and wait 37°

Till it be certain whether Calchas speaks

Truly or not. For we remember well,

And all of you whom cruel death has spared

Are witnesses with me, that when the ships

Of Greece — it seems as if but yesterday — 37s

Mustered in Aulis on their way to bring

Woe upon Priam and the town of Troy,

And we, beside a fountain, offered up

On sacred altars chosen hecatombs,

Under a shapely plane-tree, from whose root 380

Flowed the clear water, there appeared to us

A wondrous sign. A frightful serpent, marked

With crimson spots, which Jupiter sent forth

To daylight from beneath the altar-stone,

Came swiftly gliding toward the tree, whereon 383

A sparrow had her young — eight unfledged birds — ■

Upon the topmost bough and screened by leaves ;

The mother was the ninth. The serpent seized

The helpless brood and midst their piteous cries

Devoured them, while the mother fluttered round,

Lamenting, till he caught her by the wing ; 391

And when he had destroyed the parent bird

42 The Iliad.

And all her brood, the god who sent him forth
Made him a greater marvel still. The son
Of crafty Saturn changed the snake to stone ■ 39s
And we who stood around were sore amazed.
Such was the awful portent which the gods
Showed at that sacrifice. But Calchas thus
Instantly spake, interpreting the sign : —

" ' O long-haired Greeks,' he said, ' why stand ye
thus 40°

In silence ? All-foreseeing Jupiter
Hath sent this mighty omen ; late it comes
And late will be fulfilled, yet gloriously,
And with a fame that never shall decay.
For as the snake devoured the sparrow's brood, 40s
Eight nestlings, and the mother-bird the ninth, —
So many years the war shall last ; the tenth
Shall give into our hands the stately Troy.'

" So spake the seer ; thus far his words are true.
Bide ye then here, ye well-greaved sons of Greece,
Until the city of Priam shall be ours." 4"

He spake, and loud applause thereon ensued
From all the Greeks, and fearfully the ships
Rang with the clamorous voices uttering
The praises of Ulysses and his words. 415

Then Nestor, the Gerenian knight, arose
And thus addressed them : " Strangely ye behave,
Like boys unwonted to the tasks of war.
Where now are all your promises and oaths ?
' Shall all our councillings and all our cares, 4=0

Book II. 43

Leagues made with wine, religiously outpoured,

And plightings of the strong right hand, be cast

Into the flames ? Idly we keep alive

A strife of words, which serves no end though long

We loiter here ! But thou, Atrides, firm 425

Of purpose, give command that now the Greeks

Move to the war, and leave to meet their fate

Those — one or more — who, parting from our host,

Meditate- — but I deem in vain — to flee

Homeward to Argos ere they are assured 430

Whether the word of Jove omnipotent

Be false or true. For when the Greeks embarked

In their swift ships, to carry death and fate

To Ilium's sons, almighty Jupiter

Flung down his lightnings on the right and gave 43s

Propitious omens. Therefore let no Greek

Go home till he possess a Trojan wife

And ye have signally avenged the wrongs

And griefs of Helen. Yet, if one be here

Who longs to go, let him but lay his hand 440

On his black ship, prepared to cross the deep,

And he shall die before the rest. But thou,

O king, be wisely counselled, lend an ear

To others, nor neglect what I propose.

Marshal the Greeks by tribes and brotherhoods, 445

That tribe may stand by tribe, and brotherhoods

Succor each other ; if thou thus command

And they obey, thou shalt discern which chief

Or soldier is faint-hearted, which is brave,

44 The Iliad.

For each will fight his best, and thou shalt know 4s»
Whether through favor of the gods to Troy,
Or our own cowardice and shameful lack
Of skill in war, the town is not o'erthrown."

In turn the monarch Agamemnon spake : —
" O aged warrior, thou excellest all 453

The Greeks in council. Would to Jupiter,
To Pallas and Apollo, that with me
There were but ten such comrades. Priam's town
Would quickly fall before us and be made
A desolation. But the god who bears 460

The aegis, Saturn's son, hath cast on me
Much grief, entangling me in idle strifes
And angry broils. Achilles and myself
Have quarrelled for a maid with bitter words,
And I was first incensed. But if again 4S3

We meet and act as friends, the overthrow
That threatens Ilium will not be delayed, —
Not for an hour. Now all to your repast !
And then prepare for battle. First let each
See that his spear be sharp, and put his shield 470
In order, give to his swift-footed steeds
Their ample forage, and o'erlook his car
That it be strong for war ; for all the day
Shall we maintain the stubborn fight, nor cease
Even for a moment, till the night come down 475
To part the wrathful combatants. The band
Of each broad buckler shall be moist with sweat
On every breast, and weary every arm

Book II. 45

That wields the spear, and every horse that drags
The polished chariot o'er the field shall smoke 480
With sweat. But whosoever shall be found
By the beaked ships and skulking from the fray
Shall be the feast of birds of prey and dogs ! "

He spake ; the Argives raised a mighty shout,
Loud as when billows lash the beetling shore, 48s
Rolled by the south-wind toward some jutting rock
On which the waves, whatever wind may blow,
Beat ceaselessly. In haste the people rose
And went among the ships, and kindled fires
Within their tents and took their meal. And one
Made offerings to one god ; another paid 491

Vows to another of the immortal race ;
And all implored deliverance from death
And danger. Agamemnon, king of men,
Offered a fatted ox of five years old 495

To Jupiter Almighty, summoning
The elder princes of the Grecian host, —
Nestor the first, the king Idomeneus,
And then the warriors Ajax and the son
Of Tydeus, with Ulysses, like to Jove 500

In council, sixth and last. Unbidden came
The valiant Menelaus, for he knew
The cares that weighed upon his brother's heart.
Then, as they stood around the fatted ox
And took in hand the salted barley-meal, 505

King Agamemnon in the circle prayed : —

" O Jove, most great and glorious ! who dost rule

46 The Iliad.

The tempest, — dweller of the ethereal space !
Let not the sun go down and night come on
Ere I shall lay the halls of Priam waste 510

With fire, and give their portals to the flames,
And hew away the coat of mail that shields
The breast of Hector, splitting it with steel.
And may his fellow-warriors, many a one,
Fall round him to the earth and bite the dust." 515

He spake ; the son of Saturn hearkened not,
But took the sacrifice" and made more hard
The toils of war. And now when they had prayed,
And strown the salted meal, they drew the neck
Of the victim back and cut the throat and flayed 520
The carcass, hewed away the thighs and laid
The fat upon them in a double fold,
On which they placed raw strips of flesh, and these
They burned with leafless billets. Then they fixed
The entrails on the spits and held them forth 525
Above the flames, and when the thighs were burned
And entrails tasted, all the rest was carved
Into small portions and transfixed with spits
And roasted carefully and drawn away.
And when these tasks were finished and the board
Was spread, they feasted ; from that equal feast 531
None went unsated. When they had appeased
Their thirst and hunger, the Gerenian knight
Nestor stood forth and spake : " Most glorious son
Of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men ! 535

Waste we no time in prattle, nor delay

Book II. 47

The work appointed by the gods, but send

The heralds of the Achaians, brazen-mailed,

To call the people to the fleet, while we

Pass in a body through their vast array 540

And wake the martial spirit in their breasts."

He spake, and Agamemnon, king of men,
Followed the counsel. Instantly he bade
The loud-voiced herald summon to the war
The long-haired Argives. At the call they came, 545
Quickly they came together, and the kings,
Nurslings of Jupiter, who stood beside
Atrides, hastened through the crowd to form
The army into ranks. Among them walked
The blue-eyed Pallas, bearing on her arm 550

The priceless aegis, ever fair and new,
And undecaying ; from its edge there hung
A hundred golden fringes, fairly wrought,
And every fringe might buy a hecatomb.
With this and fierce, defiant looks she passed 535
Through all the Achaian host, and made their hearts
Impatient for the march and strong to endure
The combat without pause, — for now the war
Seemed to them dearer than the wished return,
In their good galleys, to the land they loved. 560

As when a forest on the mountain-top
Is in a blaze with the devouring flame
And shines afar, so, while the warriors marched,
The brightness of their burnished weapons flashed
On every side and upward to the sky. 565

48 The Iliad.

And as when water-fowl of many tribes —
Geese, cranes, and long-necked swans — disport

themselves
In Asia's fields beside Cayster's streams,
And to and fro they fly with screams, and light,
Flock after flock, and all the fields resound ; 570

So poured, from ships and tents, the swarming tribes
Into Scamander's plain, where fearful '.y
Earth echoed to the tramp of steeds and men ;
And there they mustered on the river's side,
Numberless as the flowers and leaves of spring. 575
And as when flies in swarming myriads haunt
The herdsman's stalls in spring-time, when new milk
Has filled the pails, — in such vast multitudes
Mustered the long-haired Greeks upon the plain,
Impatient to destroy the Trojan race. 580

Then, as the goatherds, when their mingled flocks
Are in the pastures, know and set apart
Each his own scattered charge, so did the chiefs,
Moving among them, marshal each his men.
There walked King Agamemnon, like to Jove 585
In eye and forehead, with the loins of Mars,
And ample chest like him who rules the sea.
And as a bull amid the horned herd
Stands eminent and nobler than the rest,
So Jove to Agamemnon on that day 590

Gave to surpass the chiefs in port and mien.

O Muses, goddesses who dwell on high,
Tell me, — for all things ye behold and know,

Book II. 49

While we know nothing and may only hear
The random tales of rumor, — tell me who 595

Were chiefs and princes of the Greeks ; for I
Should fail to number and to name them all, — ■
Had I ten tongues, ten throats, a voice unapt
To weary, uttered from a heart of brass, —
Unless the Muses aided me. I now 600

Will sing of the commanders and the ships.

Peneleus, Prothoenor, Leitus,
And Clonius, and Arcesilaus led
The warriors of Boeotia, all who dwelt
In Hyria and in rocky Aulis, all 605

From Schcenus and from Scolus and the hill
Of Eteonus and Thespeia's fields,
And Graia and the Mycalesian plain,
All who from Herma and Ilesius came,
And Erythrse, and those who had their homes 610
In Eleon, Hyla, and Ocalea,
And Peteona, and the stately streets
Of Medeon, Copse, Thisbe full of doves,
And those whose dwelling-place was Eutresis,
And Coronsea, and the grassy lawns 615

Of Haliartus, all the men who held
Platsea, or in Glissa tilled the soil,
Or dwelt in Hypothebas nobly built,
Or in Onchestus with its temple-walls
Sacred to Neptune, or inhabited 620

Arne with fruitful vineyards, Midea
And Nyssa the divine, and Anthedon

vol. 1. 3 D

50 The Iliad.

The distant, — fifty were their barks, and each
Held sixscore youths of the Boeotian race.

Next, over those who came from Aspledon fcs
And from Orchomenus in Minyas
Ascalaphus ruled with his brother chief
Ialmenus, — two sons of mighty Mars.
These, in the halls of Actor, Azis' son,
Astyoche bore to the god of war, <*°

Who met by stealth the bashful maid, as once
She sought the upper palace-rooms. Their ships
Were thirty, ranged in order on the shore.

Then Schedius and Epistrophus, two chiefs
Born to Iphitus, son of Naubolus -fi3S

The large of soul, led the Phocean host,
Those who in Cyparissus had their homes,
In Panope and Crissa the divine
And Daulis, or about Hyampolis
Anemoreia, and upon the banks ^

Of broad Cephissus, and with them the race
Who held Lilasa by Cephissus' springs.
With these came forty ships. Their leaders went
Among them, ranging them in. due array
And close to the Boeotians on the left. 64s

Ajax the swift of foot, Oileus' son,
Was leader of the Locrians, — -less in limb
And stature than the other Ajax, — nay,
Much smaller than that son of Telamon,
Wearing a linen corselet ; but to wield 650

The spear he far excelled all other men

Book II. 51

Of Hellas and Achaia. Those who dwelt

In Cynus, Opus, Bessa, and the fields

Of Scarpha and Calliarus and green

Augeia, Tarpha, and the meadows where 655

Boagrius waters Thronium, followed him

With forty dark-hulled Locrian barks, that came

From coasts beyond Eubcea's sacred isle.

The Eubceans breathing valor, they who held
Chalcis, Eretria, and the vineyard slopes eeo

Of Histiaea, and the lofty walls
Of Dium and Cerinthus by the sea,
And Styra, and Earystus ; these obeyed
Elphenor of the line of Mars, and son
Of the large-souled Chalcodon ruler o'er 6G5

The Abantes. Him with loosely-flowing locks
The Abantes followed, swift of foot and fierce
In combat, and expert to break the mail
Upon the enemies' breasts with ashen spears ;
With forty dark-hulled barks they followed him. 67°

Next they who came from Athens nobly built,
The city of Erechtheus, great of soul,
Son of the teeming Earth, whom Pallas reared,
That daughter of the Highest, and within
Her sumptuous temple placed him, where the sons
Of Athens, with the circling year's return, 676

Paid worship at her altars, bringing bulls
And lambs to lay upon them ; these obeyed
Menestheus, son of Peteus, whom no chief
On earth could equal in the art to place eso

52 The Iliad.

Squadrons of men and horse in due array
For battle. Nestor only sought to share
This praise, but Nestor was the elder chief.
Fifty dark galleys with Menestheus came.

Ajax had brought twelve ships from Salamis, ess
And these he stationed near the Athenian host.

But they who dwelt in Argos, or within
The strong-walled Tiryns, or Hermione
And Asine with their deep, sheltering bays,
Trcezene and Eionae, and hills 69°

Of Epidaurus planted o'er with vines,
And they who tilled ^Egina and the coast
Of Mases, — Grecian warriors, — over these
Brave Diomed bore sway, with Sthenelus,
Beloved son of far-famed Campaneus, 695

And, third in rule, Euryalus, who seemed
Like to a god, Mecisteus' royal son
Who sprung from Talaus ; yet the chief command
Was given to Diomed, the great in war.
A fleet of eighty galleys came with them. 700

The dwellers of Mycenas nobly built,
Of Corinth famed for riches, and the town
Of beautiful Cleonae, they who tilled
Orneia, Araethyrea's pleasant land,
And Sicyon, where of yore Adrastus reigned, 705
And Hyperesia and the airy heights
Of Gonoessa, and Pellene's fields,
And they who came from yEgium and the shores
Around it, and broad lands of Helice, —

Book II. 53

These had a hundred barks, and over them 710

Atrides Agamemnon bore command ;
And with him came the largest train of troops
And bravest. He was cased in gleaming mail,
And his heart gloried when he thought how high
He stood among the heroes, — mightier far ps

In power, and leader of a mightier host.

Then they who dwelt within the hollow vale
Of queenly Lacedsmon, they who held
Phare and Sparta, Messa full of doves,
Bryseiae, and Augeia's rich domain, 7=0

Amycke and the town of Helos, built
Close to the sea, and those who had their homes
In Laiis and the fields of CEtylus ;
All these obeyed the brother of the king,
The valiant Menelaus. Sixty ships 7=3

They brought, but these he ranged apart from those
Of Agamemnon. Through the ranks he went,
And, trusting in his valor, quickened theirs
For battle ; for his heart within him burned
To avenge the wrongs of Helen and her tears. 730

Then came the men who tilled the Pylean coast
And sweet Arene, Thrya at the fords
Of Alpheus, and the stately palace homes
Of ^Epy, or in Cyparissus dwelt,
Or in Amphigeneia, Pteleum, 735

Helos and Dorium, where the Muses once
Met, journeying from (Ecalian Eurytus,
The Thracian Thamyris, and took from him

54

The Iliad.

His power of voice. For he had made his boast
To overcome in song the daughters nine
Of Jove the /Egis-bearer. They in wrath
Smote him with blindness, took the heavenly gift
Of song away, and made his hand forget
Its cunning with the harp. All those were led
By Nestor, the Gerenian knight, who came
To war on Troy with fourscore ships and ten.

The Arcadians, dwelling by the lofty mount
Cyllene, near the tomb of Epytus,
Warriors who combat hand to hand, and they
Who tilled the fields of Pheneus and possessed
Orchomenus with all its flocks, or dwelt
In Ripa and in Stratia, and the bleak
Enispe, beaten with perpetual winds,
And in Tegea, and the lovely land
Of Mantinea, and in Stymphalus
And in Parrhasia, came in sixty ships
To Troy, with Agapenor for their chief,
Son of Ancaeus. Every ship was thronged
With warriors of Arcadia, for the king
Of men, Atrides, gave them well-oarec* barks
To cross the dark blue deep, since not to them
Pertained the cares and labors of the sea.

Then from Buprasium and the sacred coast
Of Elis, from Hyrmine and remote
Myrsinus and the Olenian precipice,
And from Alisium came, with chieftains four,
The warriors, ten swift galleys following

760

Book II. 55

Bach chieftain, crowded with Epean troops.

And part obeyed Amphimacus, the son

Of Cteatus, and part with Thalpius came, 770

The son of Eurytus Actorides,

And part with brave Diores, of the line

Of Amaryncens. Last, Polyxenus,

The godlike offspring of Agasthenes,

Whose father was Augeias, led the rest. 77s

They from Dulichium and the Echinades,
Those holy isles descried from Elis o'er
The waters, had for leader Megas, brave
As Mars, — the son of Phyleus, dearly loved
By Jove. He left his father's house in wrath 780
And dwelt within Dulichium. With the troops
Of Megas came a fleet of forty ships.

Ulysses led the Cephallenian men,
Who dwelt in Ithaca, or whose abode
Was leafy Neritus, and those who came 783

. From Crocyleia, and from .Egilips
The craggy, and Zacynthus, and the isle
Of Samos, and Epirus, and from all
The bordering lands. O'er these Ulysses ruled,
A chief like Jove in council, and with him 790

There came twelve galleys with their scarlet prows.

Then with the ^Etolians came Andraemon's son
Thoas, their leader. With him were the men
Of Pleuron and Pylene, Olenus,
And Chalcis on the sea-coast and the rocks 79s

Of Calydon ; for now no more the sons

56 The Iliad.

Of large-souled CEneus were alive on earth,
Nor lived the chief himself, and in his tomb
Was Meleager of the golden hair ;
And thus the ^Etolian rule to Thoas came. 8«>

A fleet of fourscore galleys followed him.

Idomeneus, expert to wield the spear,
Commanded those of Crete, the men who dwelt
In Cnosus or Gortyna, strongly walled
Lyctus, Miletus, and the glimmering 805

Lycastus, Phaestus, Rhytium's populous town,
And all the warrior train inhabiting
The hundred towns of Crete. Idomeneus
The mighty spearman, and Meriones,
Fierce as the god of war, commanded these, s™
And came to Troy with eighty dark-ribbed barks.

Tlepolemus, a warrior of the stock
Of Hercules, was leader of the troops
Of Rhodes, and brought nine vessels to the war,
Manned with the haughty Rhodians. These were
ranged 815

In threefold order : those of Lindus, those
Who dwell in white Camirus, lastly those
Of Ialassa. These Tlepolemus,
The valiant spearman, ruled. Astyoche
Bore him to mighty Hercules, who led 820

The maid from Ephyra, upon the banks
Of Selleis, to be his wife, what time
His valor had o'erthrown and made a spoil
Of many a city full of noble youths.

Book II. 57

Tlepolemus, when in the palace-halls 823

He grew to manhood, slew an aged man,

An uncle of his father, whom he loved,

Lycimnius, of the line of Mars, and straight

He rigged a fleet of ships and led on board

A numerous host and fled across the sea. £3°

For fearful were the threats of other sons

And grandsons of the mighty Hercules.

In Rhodes they landed after wanderings long

And many hardships. There they dwelt in tribes, —

Three tribes, — and were beloved of Jupiter, 835

The ruler over gods and men, who poured

Abundant riches on their new abode.

Nireus with three good ships from Syma came, —
Nireus, Aglaia's son by Charopus
The monarch, — Nireus who in comeliness 840

Surpassed all Greeks that came to Ilium, save
The faultless son of Peleus. Yet was he
Unwarlike and few people followed him.

The dwellers of Nisyrus, Crapathus,
And Cos, the city of Eurypylus, 845

Casus, and the Calydnian isles, obeyed
Phidippus and his brother Antiphus,
Sons of the monarch Thessalus, who sprang
From Hercules. With thirty ships they came.

But those who held Pelasgian Argos, those s5o
Who dwelt in Alos, Trachys, Alope,
Phthia, and Hellas full of lovely dames, —
Named Myrmidons, Achaians, Hellenes, —
3*

58 The Iliad.

Achilles led their fifty ships ; but they

Now heeded not the summons to the war, 855

For there was none to form their ranks for fight.

The great Achilles, swift of foot, remained

Within his ships, indignant for the sake

Of the fair-haired Briseis, whom he brought

A captive from Lyrnessus after toils S6°

And dangers many. He had sacked and spoiled

Lyrnessus, and o'erthrown the walls of Thebes

And smitten Mynes and Epistrophus,

The warlike sons of King Evenus, sprung

From old Selapius. For this cause he kept »>s

Within his ships, full soon to issue forth.

The men of Phylace, of Pyrasus, —
Sacred to Ceres and o'erspread with flowers,
And of Itona, mother of white flocks,
Antrona on the sea, and Pteleum green 370

With herbage, — over these while yet he lived
The brave Protesilaus ruled ; but now
The dark earth covered him, and for his sake
His consort, desolate in Phylace,
Tore her fair cheeks, and all unfinished stood s7s
His palace, for a Dardan warrior slew
Her husband as he leaped upon the land,
The foremost of the Achaians. Yet his troops
Were not without a leader, though they mourned
Their brave old chief. Podarces, loved by Mars, —
Son of Iphiclus, rich in flocks, who sprang ssi

From Phylacus, — led them and formed their ranks.

Book II. 59

A younger brother of the slain was he.
The slain was braver. Though the warriors grieved
To lose their glorious chief, they did not lack s8S
A general. Forty dark ships followed him.

Then they who dwelt in Pheras, by the lake
Boebeis, and in Bcebe, Glaphyrse,
And nobly built Iolchos, came to Troy,
Filling eleven galleys, and obeyed 890

Eumelus, whom Alcestis the divine
Bore to Admetus, — fairest, she, of all
The house of Pelias and of womankind.

Those from Mefhone and Olizon's rocks,
And Melibcea and Thaumacia, filled 895

Seven ships, with Philoctetes for their chief,
A warrior skilled to bend the bow. Each bark
Held fifty rowers, bowmen all, and armed
For stubborn battle. But their leader lay
Far in an island, suffering grievous pangs, — 900
The hallowed isle of Lemnos. There the Greeks
Left him, in torture from a venomed wound
Made by a serpent's fangs. He lay and pined.
Yet was the moment near when they who thus
Forsook their king should think of him again. 90s
Meantime his troops were not without a chief;
Though greatly they desired their ancient lord,
For now the base-born Medon marshalled them,
Son of Oileus. Rhene brought him forth
To that destroyer of strong fortresses. 9™

The men of Tricca and Ithome's hills,

6o The Iliad.

And they who held CEchalia and the town

Of Eurytus the CEchalian, had for chiefs

Two sons of yEsculapius, healers both,

And skilful, — Podalirius one, and one 91s

Machaon. Thirty hollow barks were theirs.

The dwellers of Ormenium, they whose homes
Were by the Hyperian fount, and they
Who held Asterium and the snowy peaks
Of Titanus, obeyed Eurypylus, 92°

Evaemon's son, and far renowned. A fleet
Of forty dark-ribbed vessels followed him.

Those who possessed Argissa, those who held
Gyrtone, Orthe, and Helone, those
Who dwelt in Oloosson with white walls, 92s

The sturdy warrior Polypcetes led,
Son of Pirithous, who derived his birth
From deathless Jove. Hippodameia bore
The warrior to Pirithous on the day
When he took vengeance on the shaggy brood 930
Of Centaurs, and from Pelion drove them forth
To .zEthicae. Yet not alone in rule
Was Polypcetes, for Leonteus, sprung
From the large-souled Coronus, Caaneus' son,
Shared with him the command. With them a fleet
Of forty dark-hulled vessels came to Troy. 936

Then Guneus came, with two and twenty ships
From Cythus. Under his command he held
The Enienes, and that sturdy race,
The Peribcean warriors, and the men 94°

Book II. 6 1

Who built on cold Dodona, or who tilled

The fields where pleasant Titaresius flows

And into Peneus pours his gentle stream,

Yet with its silver eddies mingles not,

But floats upon the current's face like oil, — 94s

A Stygian stream by which the immortals swear.

With Prothoiis, Tenthredon's son, there came
The warriors of Magnesia, who abode
By Peneus, and by Pelion hung with woods ;
Swift-footed Prothoiis led these. They came 950
With forty dark-hulled galleys to the war.

These were the chiefs and princes of the Greeks.
Say, Muse, who most excelled among the kings,
And which the noblest steeds, of all that came
With the two sons of Atreus to the war ? 955

The noblest steeds were those in Pherae bred,
That, guided by Eumelus, flew like birds, —
Alike in hue and age ; the plummet showed
Their height the same, and both were mares, and,

reared
By Phcebus of the silver bow among 960

The meadows of Pieria, they became
The terror of the bloody battle-field.
The mightiest of the chiefs, while yet in wrath
Achilles kept aloof, was Ajax, son
Of Telamon ; yet was Pelides far 965

The greater warrior, and the steeds which bore
That perfect hero were of noblest breed.
In his beaked galleys, swift to cut the sea,

62 The Iliad.

Achilles lay, meanwhile, and nursed the wrath
He bore to Agamemnon, Atreus' son, 97<

The shepherd of the people. On the beach
His warriors took their sport with javelins
And quoits and bows, while near the chariots tied
The horses, standing, browsed on lotus-leaves
And parsley from the marshes. But beneath 97:
The tents the closely covered chariots stood,
While idly through the camp the charioteers,
Hither and thither sauntering, missed the sight
Of their brave lord and went not to the field.

The army swept the earth as when a fire 980

Devours the herbage of the plains. The ground
Groaned under them as when the Thunderer Jove
In anger with his lightnings smites the earth
About Typhosus — where they say he lies —
In Arimi. So fearfully the ground 985

Groaned under that swift army as it moved.

Now to the Trojans the swift Iris came
A messenger from cegis-bearing Jove,
Tidings of bale she brought. They all had met —
Old men and youths — in council at the gates 990
Of Priam's, mansion. There did Iris take
Her station near the multitude, and spake,
In voice and gesture like Polites, son
Of Priam, who, confiding in his speed,
Had stood a watcher for the sons of Troy 995

On aged ^Esyeta's lofty tomb,
To give them warning when the Achaian host

Book II. 63

Should issue from their galleys. Thus disguised,
Swift Iris spake her message from the skies : —

" Father ! thou art delighted with much speech,
As once in time of peace, but now 't is war, ioor

Inevitable war, and close at hand.
I have seen many battles, yet have ne'er
Beheld such armies, and so vast as these, —
In number like the sands and summer leaves. 1005
They march across the plain, prepared to give
Battle beneath the city walls. To thee,
O Hector, it belongs to heed my voice
And counsel. Many are the allies within
The walls of this great town of Priam, men 1010

Of diverse race and speech. Let every chief
Of these array his countrymen for war,
And give them orders for the coming fight."

She spake, and Hector heeded and obeyed
The counsel of the goddess ; he dismissed 1015

The assembly ; all the Trojans rushed to arms,
And all the gates were opened. Horse and foot
Poured forth together in tumultuous haste.

In the great plain before the city stands
A mound of steep ascent on every side ; 1020

Men named it Batiea, but the gods
Called it the swift Myrinna's tomb ; and here
Mustered the sons of Troy and their allies.

Great Hector of the beamy helm, the son
Of Priam, led the Trojan race. The host 10=5

Of greatest multitude was marshalled there,

64 The Iliad.

And there the bravest, mighty with the spear.

^Eneas marshalled the Dardanian troops, —
The brave son of Anchises. Venus bore
The warrior to Anchises on the heights
Of Ida, where the mortal lover met
The goddess. Yet he ruled them not alone ;
Two chiefs, Antenor's sons Archelochus
And Acamas, were with him in command,
Expert in all the many arts of war.

The Trojans from Zeleia, opulent men,
Who drank the dark ^Esepus, — over these
Ruled Pandarus, Lycaon's valiant son,
To whom the god Apollo gave his bow.

The troops from Adrasteia, they who dwelt
Within Apaesus' walls, or tilled the soil
Of Pityeia and Tereia's heights,
Were led by Amphius and Adrastus, clad
In linen corselets for the war, the sons
Of Merops the Percosian, skilled beyond
All other men in the diviner's art.
Nor would he that his sons should seek the field
Of slaughter. They obeyed him not ; the fates
Decreed their early death and urged them on.

The dwellers of Percote, Practium,
And Sestus, and Abydus, and divine
Arisba, followed Asius, great among
The heroes and the son of Hyrtacus, —
Asius, who came with strong and fiery steeds,
Borne from Arisba and from Selleis' banks.

Book II. 65

Hippothous over the Pelasgian tribes —
Skilled spearman, who abode among the fields
Of the deep-soiled Larissa — bore command, —
Hippothous with Pylaeus, who derived
Their race from Mars, and for their father claimed
Pelasgian Lethus, son of Teutamus. «*i

And Acamas, and Peiroiis, valiant chief,
Were captains of the Thracian men, whose fields
Were bounded by the rushing Hellespont.
Euphemus led the Cicones, expert 1065

To wield the spear in fight. The nobly-born
Troezenus was his father. Ceas' son
Pyraechmes with Paeonia's archers came
From the broad Axius in far Amydon, —
Axius, the fairest river of the earth. 1070

Pylaemenes, a chief of fearless heart,
Led from the region of the Eneti,
Where first the stubborn race of mules was bred,
The Paphlagonian warriors, they who held
Cytorus, Sesamus, and fair abodes 107s

Built where Parthenius wanders on, and those
Who dwelt in Cromna and yEgialus,
And on the lofty Erythinian heights.

And Hodius and Epistrophus led on
The Halezonians from the distant land ioso

Of Alyba, where ores of silver lie.
And Chromis and the augur Ennomus
Were leaders of the Mysians ; but his skill
Saved not the augur from the doom of death,

66 The Iliad.

Slain by the swift of foot, /Eacides, »8s

With other men of Troy where Xanthus flows.

And Phorcys and Ascanius, who was like

A god in beauty, led the Phrygian troops

From far Ascania, eager for the fray.

And Antiphus and Mesthles were the chiefs i°9o

Of the Masonian warriors, reared beside

The ships of Tmolus. There Gygaea's lake

Brought forth both chieftains to Pylaemenes.

Nastes was leader of the Carian troops,
Who spake in barbarous accents and possessed 1095
Miletus and the leafy mountain heights
Where dwell the Phthirians, and Mceander's stream,
And airy peaks of Mycale. O'er these
Amphimachus and Nastes held command, —
Amphimachus and Nastes, far renowned "00

Sons of Nomion, him who, madly vain,
Went to the battle pranked like a young girl
In golden ornaments. They spared him not
The bitter doom of death ; he fell beneath
The hand of swift ./Eacides within "°s

The river's channel. There the great in war,
Achilles, spoiled Nomion of his gold;

Sarpedon and the noble Glaucus bore
Rule o'er the Lycians coming from afar,
Where eddying Xanthus runs through Lycia's meads.

Book III. 67

BOOK III

NOW when both armies were arrayed for war,
Each with its chiefs, the Trojan host moved on
With shouts and clang of arms, as when the cry
Of cranes is in the air, that, flying south
From winter and its mighty breadth of rain, 5

Wing their way over ocean, and at dawn
Bring fearful battle to the pygmy race,
Bloodshed and death. But silently the Greeks
Went forward, breathing valor, mindful still
To aid each other in the coming fray. ' io

As when the south wind shrouds a mountain-top
In vapors that awake the shepherd's fear, —
A surer covert for the thief than night, —
And round him one can only see as far
As one can hurl a stone, — such was the cloud 15
Of dust that from the warriors' trampling feet
Rose round their rapid march and filled the air.
Now drew they near each other, face to face,
And Paris in the Trojan van pressed on,
In presence like a god. A leopard's hide
Was thrown across his shoulders, and he bore
A crooked bow and falchion. Brandishing
Two brazen-pointed javelins, he defied
To mortal fight the bravest of the Greeks.

Him, Menelaus, loved of Mars, beheld n

Advancing with large strides before the rest ;

68 The Iliad.

And as a hungry lion who has made
A prey of some large beast — a horned stag
Or mountain goat — rejoices, and with speed
Devours it, though swift hounds and sturdy youths 30
Press on his flank, so Menelaus felt
Great joy when Paris, of the godlike form,
Appeared in sight, for now he thought to wreak
His vengeance on the guilty one, and straight
Sprang from his car to earth with all his arms. 35

But when the graceful Paris saw the chief
Come toward him from the foremost ranks, his heart
Was troubled, and he turned and passed among
His fellow-warriors and avoided death.
As one, who meets within a mountain glade 40

A serpent, starts aside with sudden fright,
And takes the backward way with trembling limbs
And cheeks all white, — the graceful Paris thus
Before the son of Atreus shrank in fear,
And mingled with the high-souled sons of Troy. 45
Hector beheld and thus upbraided him
Harshly : " O luckless Paris, nobly formed,
Yet woman-follower and seducer ! Thou
Shouldst never have been born, or else at best
Have died unwedded ; better were it far, 50

Than thus to be a scandal and a scorn
To all who look on thee. The long-haired Greeks,
How they will laugh, who for thy gallant looks
Deemed thee a hero, when there dwells in thee
No spirit and no courage ? Wast thou such 55

Book III. 69

When, crossing the great deep in thy stanch ships

With chosen comrades, thou didst make thy way

Among a stranger-people and bear off

A beautiful woman from that distant land,

Allied by marriage-ties to warrior-men, — 60

A mischief to thy father and to us

And all the people, to our foes a joy,

And a disgrace to thee ? Why couldst thou not

Await Atrides ? Then hadst thou been taught

From what a valiant warrior thou didst take 65

His blooming spouse. Thy harp will not avail,

Nor all the gifts of Venus, nor thy locks,

Nor thy fair form, when thou art laid in dust.

Surely the sons of Troy are faint of heart,

Else hadst thou, for the evil thou hast wrought, 70

Been laid beneath a coverlet of stone."

Then Paris, of the godlike presence, spake
In answer : " Hector, thy rebuke is just ;
Thou dost not wrong me. Dauntless is thy heart ;
'T is like an axe when, wielded by the hand 75

That hews the shipwright's plank, it cuts right

through,
Doubling the wielder's force. Such tameless heart
Dwells in thy bosom. Yet reprorsh me not
With the fair gifts which golden Venus gave.
Whatever in their grace the gods bestow &>

Is not to be rejected : 't is not ours
To choose what they shall give us. But if thou
Desirest to behold my prowess shown

7o

The Iliad.

In combat, cause the Trojans and the Greeks

To pause from battle, while, between the hosts, s5

I and the warlike Menelaus strive

In single fight for Helen and her wealth.

Whoever shall prevail and prove himself

The better warrior, let him take with him

The treasure and the woman, and depart ; 90

While all the other Trojans, having made

A faithful league of amity, shall dwell

On Ilium's fertile plain, and all the Greeks

Return to Argos, famed for noble steeds,

And to Achaia, famed for lovely dames." 9s

He spake, and Hector, hearing him, rejoiced,
And went between the hosts, and with his spear,
Held by the middle, pressed the phalanxes
Of Trojans back, and made them all sit clown.
The long-haired Greeks meanwhile, with bended
bows, I0°

Took aim against him, just about to send
Arrows and stones ; but Agamemnon, king
Of men, beheld, and thus he cried aloud : —

" Restrain yourselves, ye Argives ; let not fly
Your arrows, ye Achaians ; Hector asks — us

He of the beam" helmet asks to speak."

He spake, and they refrained, and all, at once,
Were silent. Hector then stood forth and said : —

"Hearken, ye Trojans and ye nobly-armed
Achaians, to what Paris says by me.
He bids the Trojans and the Greeks lay down

Book III. 71

Their shining arms upon the teeming earth,
And he and Menelaus, loved of Mars,
Will strive in single combat, on the ground
Between the hosts, for Helen and her wealth ; »s
And he who shall o'ercome, and prove himself
The better warrior, to his home shall bear
The treasure and the woman, while the rest
Shall frame a solemn covenant of peace."

He spake, and both the hosts in silence heard. ™
Then Menelaus, great in battle, said : —

" Now hear me also, — me whose spirit feels
The wrong most keenly. I propose that now
The Greeks and Trojans separate reconciled,
For greatly have ye suffered for the sake t*s

Of this my quarrel, and the original fault
Of Paris. Whomsoever fate ordains
To perish, let him die ; but let the rest
Be from this moment reconciled, and part.
And bring an offering of two lambs — one white, 130
The other black — to Earth and to the Sun,
And we ourselves will offer one to Jove.
And be the mighty Priam here, that he
May sanction this our compact, — for his sons
Are arrogant and faithless, — lest some hand 135
Wickedly break the covenant of Jove.
The younger men are of a fickle mood ;
But when an elder shares the act he looks
Both to the past and future, and provides
What is most fitting and the best for all." '40

The Iliad.

He spake, and both the Greeks and Trojans heard
His words with joy, and hoped the hour was come
To end the hard-fought war. They reined their

steeds
Back to the ranks, alighted, and put off
Their armor, which they laid upon the ground us
Near them in piles, with little space between.

Then Hector sent two heralds forth with speed
Into the town, to bring the lambs and call
King Priam. Meanwhile Agamemnon bade
Talthybius seek the hollow ships and find 150

A lamb for the altar. He obeyed the words
Of noble Agamemnon, king of men.

Meanwhile to white-armed Helen Iris came
A messenger. She took a form that seemed
Laodice, the sister of Paris, whom jss

Antenor's son, King Helicaon, wed, —
Fairest of Priam's daughters. She drew near
To Helen, in the palace, weaving there
An ample web, a shining double-robe,
Whereon were many conflicts fairly wrought, «*
Endured by the horse-taming sons of Troy
And brazen-mailed Achaians for her sake
Upon the field of Mars. Beside her stood
Swift-footed Iris, and addressed her thus : —

" Dear lady, come and see the Trojan knights rfs
And brazen-mailed Achaians doing things
To wonder at. They who, in this sad war,
Eager to slay each other, lately met

Book III. 73

In murderous combat on the field, are now

Seated in silence, and the war hath ceased. 170

They lean upon their shields , their massive spears

Are near them, planted in the ground upright.

Paris, and Menelaus, loved of Mars,

With their long lances will contend for thee,

And thou wilt be declared the victor's spouse." 175

She said, and in the heart of Helen woke
Dear recollections of her former spouse
And of her home and kindred. Instantly
She left her chamber, robed and veiled in white,
And shedding tender tears ; yet not alone, rfo

For with her went two maidens, — ^Ethra, child
Of Pitheus, and the large-eyed Clymene.
Straight to the Scasan gates they walked, by which
Panthoiis, Priam, and Thymcetes sat,
Lampus and Clytius, Hicetaon sprung 185

From Mars, Antenor and Ucalegon,
Two sages, — elders of the people all.
Beside the gates they sat, unapt, through age,
For tasks of war, but men of fluent speech,
Like the cicadas that within the wood 190

Sit on the trees and utter delicate sounds.
Such were the nobles of the Trojan race
Who sat upon the tower. But when they marked
The approach of Helen, to each other thus
With winged words, but in low tones, they said : — 19s

" Small blame is theirs, if both the Trojan knights
And brazen-mailed Achaians have endured

VOL. I. 4

74 The Iliad.

So long so many evils for the sake

Of that one woman. She is wholly like

In feature to the deathless goddesses. 200

So be it : let her, peerless as she is,

Return on board the fleet, nor stay to bring

Disaster upon us and all our race."

So spake the elders. Priam meantime called
To Helen : " Come, dear daughter, sit by me. 205
Thou canst behold thy former husband hence,
Thy kindred and thy friends. I blame thee not ;
The blame is with the immortals who have sent
These pestilent Greeks against me. Sit and name
For me this mighty man, the Grecian chief, 210

Gallant and tall. True, there are taller men ;
But of such noble form and dignity
I never saw : in truth, a kingly man."

And Helen, fairest among women, thus
Answered : " Dear second father, whom at once 215
I fear and honor, would that cruel death
Had overtaken me before I left,
To wander with thy son, my marriage-bed,
And my dear daughter, and the company
Of friends I loved. But that was not to be ; 220
And now I pine and weep. Yet will I tell
What thou dost ask. The hero whom thou seest
Is the wide-ruling Agamemnon, son
Of Atreus, and is both a gracious king
And a most dreaded warrior. He was once **s
Brother-in-law to me, if I may speak —

Book III. 75

Lost as I am to shame — of such a tie."

She said, the aged man admired, and then
He spake again : " 0 son of Atreus, born
Under a happy fate, and fortunate 230

Among the sons of men ! A mighty host
Of Grecian youths obey thy rule. I went
To Phrygia once, — that land of vines, — and there
Saw many Phrygians, heroes on fleet steeds,
The troops of Otreus, and of Mygdon, shaped 23s
Like one of the immortals. They encamped
By the Sangarius. I was an ally ;
My troops were ranked with theirs upon the day
When came the unsexed Amazons to war.
Yet even there I saw not such a host =40

As this of black-eyed Greeks who muster here."

Then Priam saw Ulysses, and inquired : —
" Dear daughter, tell me also who is that,
Less tall than Agamemnon, yet more broad
In chest and shoulders. On the teeming earth =45
His armor lies, but he, from place to place,
Walks round among the ranks of soldiery,
As when the thick-fleeced father of the flocks
Moves through the multitude of his white sheep."

And Jove-descended Helen answered thus : — =s°
" That is Ulysses, man of many arts,
Son of Laertes, reared in Ithaca,
That rugged isle, and skilled in every form
Of shrewd device and action wisely planned."

Then spake the sage Antenor : " Thou hast said ?ss

j6 The Iliad.

The truth, O lady. This Ulysses once

Came on an embassy, concerning thee,

To Troy with Menelaus, great in war ;

And I received them as my guests, and they

Were lodged within my palace, and I learned **>

The temper and the qualities of both.

When both were standing 'mid the men of Troy,

I marked that Menelaus's broad chest

Made him the more conspicuous, but when both

Were seated, greater was the dignity =ss

Seen in Ulysses. When they both addressed

The council, Menelaus briefly spake

In pleasing tones, though with few words, — as one

Not given to loose and wandering speech, — although

The younger. When the wise Ulysses rose, =?o

He stood with eyes cast down, and fixed on earth,

And neither swayed his sceptre to the right

Nor to the left, but held it motionless,

Like one unused to public speech. He seemed

An idiot out of humor. But when forth 27s

He sent from his full lungs his mighty voice,

And words came like a fall of winter snow,

No mortal then would dare to strive with him

For mastery in speech. We less admired

The aspect of Ulysses than his words." =s=>

Beholding Ajax then, the aged king
Asked yet again : " Who is that other chief
Of the Achaians, tall, and large of limb, —
Taller and broader-chested than the rest ? "

Book III. 77

Helen, the beautiful and richly-robed, =ss

Answered : " Thou seest the mighty Ajax there,
The bulwark of the Greeks. On the other side,
Among his Cretans, stands Idomeneus,
Of godlike aspect, near to whom are grouped
The leaders of the Cretans. Oftentimes =so

The warlike Menelaus welcomed him
Within our palace, when he came from Crete.
I could point out and name the other chiefs
Of the dark-eyed Achaians. Two alone,
Princes among their people, are not seen, — 295
Castor the fearless horseman, and the skilled
In boxing, Pollux, — twins ; one mother bore
Both them and me. Came they not with the rest
From pleasant Laceckemon to the war ?
Or, having crossed the deep in their good ships, 300
Shun they to fight among the valiant ones
Of Greece, because of my reproach and shame ? "

She spake ; but they already lay in earth
In Laceda^mon, their dear native land.

And now the heralds through the city bore 305
The sacred pledges of the gods, — two lambs,
And joyous wine, the fruit of Earth, within
A goat-skin. One of them — Ickeus — brought
A glistening vase and golden drinking-cups,
And summoned, in these words, the aged king: — 31°

" Son of Laomedon, arise ! The chiefs
Who lead the Trojan knights and brazen-mailed
Achaians pray thee to descend at once

78 The Iliad.

Into the plain, that thou mayst ratify

A faithful compact. Alexander now 313

And warlike Menelaus will contend

With their long spears for Helen. She and all

Her treasures are to be the conqueror's prize ;

While all the other Trojans, having made

A faithful league of amity, shall dwell 3=0

On Ilium's fertile plain, and all the Greeks

Return to Argos, famed for noble steeds,

And to Achaia, famed for lovely dames."

He spake, and Priam, shuddering, heard and bade
The attendants yoke the horses to his car. 323

Soon were they yoked; he mounted first and drew
The reins ; Antenor took a place within
The sumptuous car, and through the Screan gates
They guided the fleet coursers toward the field.

Now when the twain had come where lay the
hosts 330

Of Trojans and Achaians, down they stepped
Upon the teeming earth, and went among
The assembled armies. Quickly, as they came,
Rose Agamemnon, king of men, and next
Uprose the wise Ulysses. To the spot 335

The illustrious heralds brought the sacred things
That bind a treaty, and with mingled wine
They filled a chalice, and upon the hands
Of all the kings poured water. Then the son
Of Atreus drew a dagger which he wore 340

Slung by his sword's huge sheath, and clipped away

Booh III. 79

The forelocks of the lambs, and parted them

Among the Trojan and Achaian chiefs,

And stood with lifted hands and prayed aloud : —

" O Father Jupiter, who rulest all 34s

From Ida, mightiest, most august ! and thou,
O all-beholding and all-hearing Sun !
Ye Rivers, and thou Earth, and ye who dwell
Beneath the earth and punish after death
Those who have sworn false oaths, bear witness ye, 35°
And keep unbroken this day's promises.
If Alexander in the combat slay
My brother Menelaus, he shall keep
Helen and all her wealth, while we return
Homeward in our good ships. If, otherwise, 35s
The bright-haired Menelaus take the life
Of Alexander, Helen and her wealth
Shall be restored, and they of Troy shall pay
Such fine as may be meet, and may be long
Remembered in the ages yet to come. 360

And then if, after Alexander's fall,
Priam and Priam's sons refuse the fine,
I shall make war for it, and keep my place
By Troy until I gain the end I seek."

So spake the king, and with the cruel steel 36s
Cut the lambs' throats, and laid them on the ground,
Panting and powerless, for the dagger took
Their lives away. Then over them they poured
Wine from the chalice, drawn in golden cups,
And prayed to the ever-living gods ; and thus 37°

80 The Iliad.

Were Trojans and Achaians heard to say : —

" O Jupiter most mighty and august !
Whoever first shall break these solemn oaths,
So may their brains flow down upon the earth, —
Theirs and their children's, — like the wine we pour,
And be their wives the wives of other men." 376

Such was the people's vow. Saturnian Jove
Confirmed it not. Then Priam, of the line
Of Dardanus, addressed the armies thus : —

" Hear me, ye Trojans, and ye well-greaved
Greeks ! 380

For me I must return to wind-swept Troy.
I cannot bear, with these old eyes, to look
On my dear son engaged in desperate fight
With Menelaus, the beloved of Mars.
Jove and the ever-living gods alone 385

Know which of them shall meet the doom of death."

So spake the godlike man, and placed the lambs
Within his chariot, mounted, and drew up
The reins. Antenor by him took his place
Within the sumptuous chariot. Then they turned 390
The horses and retraced their way to Troy.

But Hector, son of Priam, and the great
Ulysses measured off a fitting space,
And in a brazen helmet, to decide
Which warrior first should hurl the brazen spear, 395
They shook the lots, while all the people round
Lifted their hands to heaven and prayed the gods ;
And thus the Trojans and Achaians said : —

Book III 81

" O Father Jove, who rulest from the top
Of Ida, mightiest one and most august ! 400

Whichever of these twain has done the wrong,
Grant that he pass to Pluto's dwelling, slain,
While friendship and a faithful league are ours."

So spake they. Hector of the beamy helm
Looked back and shook the lots. Forth leaped at
once 405

The lot of Paris. Then they took their seats
In ranks beside their rapid steeds, and where
Lay their rich armor. Paris the divine,
Husband of bright-haired Helen, there put on
His shining panoply, — upon his legs 410

Fair greaves, with silver clasps, and on his breast
His brother's mail, Lycaon's, fitting well
His form. Around his shoulders then he hung
His silver-studded sword, and stout, broad shield,
And gave his glorious brows the dreadful helm, 415
Dark with its horse-hair plume. A massive spear
Filled his right hand. Meantime the warlike son
Of Atreus clad himself in like array.

And now when both were armed for fight, and each
Had left his host, and, coming forward, walked 420
Between the Trojans and the Greeks, and frowned
Upon the other, a mute wonder held
The Trojan cavaliers and well-greaved Greeks.
There near each other in the measured space
They stood in wrathful mood with lifted spears. 4=s

First Paris hurled his massive spear ; it smote
4* F

82 The Iliad.

The round shield of Atrides, but the brass
Broke not beneath the blow ; the weapon's point
Was bent on that strong shield. The next assault
Atrides Menelaus made, but first 430

Offered this prayer to Father Jupiter : —

" O sovereign Jove ! vouchsafe that I avenge
On guilty Paris wrongs which he was first
To offer ; let him fall beneath my hand,
That men may dread hereafter to requite 435

The friendship of a host with injury."

He spake, and flung his brandished spear ; it
smote
The round shield of Priamides ; right through
The shining buckler went the rapid steel,
And, cutting the soft tunic near the flank, 440

Stood fixed in the fair corselet. Paris bent
Sideways before it and escaped his death.
Atrides drew his silver-studded sword,
Lifted it high and smote his enemy's crest.
The weapon, shattered to four fragments, fell. 44s
He looked to the broad heaven, and thus ex-
claimed : —

" O Father Jove ! thou art of all the gods
The most unfriendly. I had hoped to avenge
The wrong by Paris done me, but my sword
Is broken in my grasp, and from my hand 450

The spear was vainly flung and gave no wound."

He spake, and, rushing forward, seized the helm
Of Paris by its horse-hair crest, and turned

Book III. 83

And dragged him toward the well-armed Greeks.

Beneath
His tender throat the embroidered band that held 455
The helmet to the chin was choking him.
And now had Menelaus dragged him thence,
And earned great glory, if the child of Jove,
Venus, had not perceived his plight in time.
She broke the ox-hide band ; an empty helm 46o
Followed the powerful hand ; the hero saw,
Swung it aloft and hurled it toward the Greeks,
And there his comrades seized it. He again
Rushed with his brazen spear to slay his foe.
But Venus — for a goddess easily 465

Can work such marvels — rescued him, and, wrapped
In a thick shadow, bore him from the field
And placed him in his chamber, where the air
Was sweet with perfumes. Then she took her way
To summon Helen. On the lofty tower 470

She found her, midst a throng of Trojan dames,
And plucked her perfumed robe. She took the form
And features of a spinner of the fleece,
An aged dame, who used to comb for her
The fair white wool in Lacedaemon's halls, 475

And loved her much. In such an humble guise
The goddess Venus thus to Helen spake : —
" Come hither, Alexander sends for thee ;
He now is in his chamber and at rest
On his carved couch ; in beauty and attire 480

Resplendent, not like one who just returns

84 The Iliad.

From combat with a hero, but like one
Who goes to mingle in the choral dance,
Or, when the dance is ended, takes his seat."

She spake, and Helen heard her, deeply moved ;
Yet when she marked the goddess's fair neck, 4S6
Beautiful bosom, and soft, lustrous eyes,
Her heart was touched with awe, and thus she said : —

" Strange being ! why wilt thou delude me still ?
Wouldst thou decoy me further on among 490

The populous Phrygian towns, or those that stud
Pleasant Moeonia, where there haply dwells
Some one of mortal race whom thou dost deign
To make thy favorite. Hast thou seen, perhaps,
That Menelaus, having overpowered 495

The noble Alexander, seeks to bear
Me, hated as I must be, to his home ?
And hast thou therefore fallen on this device ?
Go to him, sit by him, renounce for him
The company of gods, and never more s°o

Return to heaven, but suffer with him ; watch
Beside him till he take thee for his wife
Or handmaid. Thither I shall never go,
To adorn his couch and to disgrace myself.
The Trojan dames would taunt me. O, the griefs 505
That press upon my soul are infinite ! "

Displeased, the goddess Venus answered : " Wretch,
Incense me not, lest I abandon thee
In anger, and detest thee with a zeal
As great as is my love, and lest I cause 5«

Book III. 85

Trojans and Greeks to hate thee, so that thou
Shalt miserably perish." Thus she spake ;
And Helen, Jove-begotten, struck with awe,
Wrapped in a robe of shining white, went forth
In silence from amidst the Trojan dames, sis

Unheeded, for the goddess led the way.

When now they stood beneath the sumptuous roof
Of Alexander, straightway did the maids
Turn to their wonted tasks, while she went up,
Fairest of women, to her chamber. There s*»

The laughing Venus brought and placed a seat
Right opposite to Paris. Helen sat,
Daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, with eyes
Averted, and reproached her husband thus : —

" Com'st thou from battle ? Rather would that
thou 5=s

Hadst perished by the mighty hand of him
Who was my husband. It was once, I know,
Thy boast that thou wert more than peer in strength
And power of hand, and practice with the spear,
To warlike Menelaus. Go then now, 530

Defy him to the combat once again.
And yet I counsel thee to stand aloof,
Nor rashly seek a combat, hand to hand,
With fair-haired Menelaus, lest perchance
He smite thee with his spear and thou be slain." 535

Then Paris answered : " Woman, chide me not
Thus harshly. True it is, that, with the aid
Of Pallas, Menelaus hath obtained

86 The Iliad.

The victory ; but I may vanquish him

In turn, for we have also gods with us. 540

Give we the hour to dalliance ; never yet

Have I so strongly proved the power of love, —

Not even when I bore thee from thy home

In pleasant Lacedaemon, traversing

The deep in my good ships, and in the isle 545

Of Cranae made thee mine, — such glow of love

Possesses me, and sweetness of desire."

He spake, and to the couch went up ; his wife
Followed, and that fair couch received them both.

Meantime Atrides, like a beast of prey, 550

Went fiercely ranging through the crowd in search
Of godlike Alexander. None of all
The Trojans, or of their renowned allies,
Could point him out to Menelaus, loved
Of Mars ; and had they known his lurking-place 555
They would not for his sake have kept him hid,
For like black death they hated him. Then stood
Among them Agamemnon, king of men,
And spake : "Ye Trojans and Achaians, hear,
And ye allies. The victory belongs S6o

To warlike Menelaus. Ye will then
Restore the Argive Helen and her wealth,
And pay the fitting fine, which shall remain
A memory to men in future times."

Thus spake the son of Atreus, and the rest 56s
Of the Achaian host approved his words.

Book IV. 87

BOOK IV.

MEANTIME the immortal gods with Jupiter
Upon his golden pavement sat and held
A council. Hebe, honored of them all,
Ministered nectar, and from cups of gold
They pledged each other, looking down on Troy, s
When, purposely to kindle Juno's mood
To anger, Saturn's son, with biting words
That well betrayed his covert meaning, spake : —

" Two goddesses — the Argive Juno one,
The other Pallas, her invincible friend — 10

Take part with Menelaus, yet they sit
Aloof, content with looking on, while still
Venus, the laughter-loving one, protects
Her Paris, ever near him, warding off
The stroke of fate. Just now she rescued him js
When he was near his death. The victory
Belongs to Menelaus, loved of Mars.
Now let us all consider what shall be
The issue, — whether we allow the war,
With all its waste of life, to be renewed, 20

Or cause the warring nations to sit down
In amity. If haply it shall be
The pleasure and the will of all the gods,
Let Priam's city keep its dwellers still,
And Menelaus lead his Helen home." 2s

He spake, but Juno and Minerva sat,

88 The Iliad.

And with closed lips repined, for secretly

They plotted evil for the Trojan race.

Minerva held her peace in bitterness

Of heart and sore displeased with Father Jove. 30

But Juno could not curb her wrath, and spake :

" What words, austere Saturnius, hast thou said !
Wilt thou then render vain the toils I bear,
And all my sweat ? My very steeds even now
Are weary with the mustering of the host 3s

That threaten woe to Priam and his sons.
Yet do thy will ; but be at least assured
That all the other gods approve it not."

The cloud-compelling Jupiter replied
In anger : " Pestilent one ! what grievous wrong 40
Hath Priam done to thee, or Priam's sons,
That thou shouldst persevere to overthrow
His noble city ? Shouldst thou through the gates
Of Ilium make thy way, and there devour,'
Within the ramparts, Priam and his sons 45

And all the men of Troy alive, thy rage
Haply might be appeased. Do as thou wilt,
So that this difference breed no lasting strife
Between us. Yet I tell thee this, — and thou
Bear what I say in mind : In time to come, 5°

Should I design to level in the dust
Some city where men dear to thee are born,
Seek not to thwart my vengeance, but submit.
For now I fully yield me to thy wish,
Though with unwilling mind. Wherever dwell ss

Book IV. 89

The race of humankind beneath the sun

And starry heaven, of all their cities Troy

Has been by me most honored, — sacred Troy, —

And Priam, and the people who obey

Priam, the wielder of the ashen spear ; 60

For there my altars never lacked their rites, —

Feasts, incense, and libations duly paid."

Then Juno, the majestic, with large eyes,
Rejoined : " The cities most beloved by me
Are three, — Mycenae, with her spacious streets, g5
Argos, and Sparta. Raze them to the ground,
If they be hateful to thee. I shall ne'er
Contend to save them, nor repine to see
Their fall ; for, earnestly as I might seek
To rescue them from ruin, all my aid 70

Would not avail, so much the mightier thou.
Yet doth it ill become thee thus to make
My efforts vain. I am a goddess, sprung
From the same stock with thee ; I am the child
Of crafty Saturn, and am twice revered, — 75

Both for my birth and that I am the spouse
Of thee who rulest over all the gods.
Now let us each yield somewhat, — I to thee
And thou to me ; the other deathless gods
Will follow us. Let Pallas be despatched s0

To that dread battle-field on which are ranged
The Trojans and Achaians, and stir up
The Trojan warriors first to lift their hands
Against the elated Greeks and break the league."

go

The Iliad.

She ended, and the Father of the gods s3

And mortals instantly complied, and called
Minerva, and in winged accents said : —
" Haste to the battle-field, and there, among
The Trojan and Achaian armies, cause
The Trojan warriors first to lift their hands 90

Against the elated Greeks and break the league."

So saying, Jupiter to Pallas gave
The charge she wished already. She in haste
Shot from the Olympian summits, like a star
Sent by the crafty Saturn's son to warn 95

The seamen or some mighty host in arms, —
A radiant meteor scattering sparkles round.
So came and lighted Pallas on the earth
Amidst the armies. All who saw were seized
With wonder, — Trojan knights and well-armed
Greeks ; I0°

And many a one addressed his comrade thus : —
" Sure we shall have the wasting war again,

And stubborn combats ; or, it may be, Jove,

The arbiter of wars among mankind,

Decrees that the two nations dwell in peace." «>s
So Greeks and Trojans said. The goddess went

Among the Trojan multitude disguised ;

She seemed Laodocus, Antenor's son,

A valiant warrior, seeking through the ranks

For godlike Pandarus. At length she found

Lycaon's gallant and illustrious son,

Standing with bucklered warriors ranged around,

Book IV. 91

Who followed him from where ^Esepus flows ;
And, standing near, she spake these winged words : —

" Son of Lycaon ! wilt thou hear my words, "5
Brave as thou art ? Then wilt thou aim a shaft
At Menelaus ; thus wilt thou have earned
Great thanks and praise from all the men of Troy,
And chiefly from Prince Paris, who will fill,
Foremost of all, thy hands with lavish gifts, i*>

When he shall look on Menelaus slain —
The warlike son of Atreus — by thy hand,
And laid upon his lofty funeral pile.
Aim now at Menelaus the renowned
An arrow, while thou offerest a vow ^5

To Lycian Phoebus, mighty with the bow,
That thou wilt bring to him a hecatomb
Of firstling lambs, when thou again shalt come
Within thine own Zeleia's sacred walls."

So spake Minerva, and her words o'ercame 130
The weak one's purpose. He uncovered straight
His polished bow, made of the elastic horns
Of a wild goat, which, from his lurking-place,
As once it left its cavern lair, he smote,
And pierced its breast, and stretched it on the rock.
Full sixteen palms in length the horns had grown 136
From the goat's forehead. These an artisan
Had smoothed, and, aptly fitting each to each,
Polished the whole and tipped the work with gold.
To bend that bow, the warrior lowered it ho

And pressed an end against the earth. His friends

92 The Iliad.

Held up, meanwhile, their shields before his face,

Lest the brave sons of Greece should lift their spears

Against him ere the champion of their host,

The warlike Menelaus, should have felt 145

The arrow. Then the Lycian drew aside

The cover from his quiver, taking out

A well-fledged arrow that had never flown, —

A cause of future sorrows. On the string

He laid that fatal arrow, while he made r3o

To Lycian Phcebus, mighty with the bow,

A vow to sacrifice before his shrine

A noble hecatomb of firstling lambs

When he should come again to his abode

Within his own Zeleia's sacred walls. 155

Grasping the bowstring and the arrow's notch,

He drew them back, and forced the string to meet

His breast, the arrow-head to meet the bow,

Till the bow formed a circle. Then it twanged.

The cord gave out a shrilly sound ; the shaft 160

Leaped forth in eager haste to reach the host.

Yet, Menelaus, then the blessed gods,
The deathless ones, forgot thee not ; and first,
Jove's daughter, gatherer of spoil, who stood
Before thee, turned aside the deadly shaft. rfs

As when a mother, while her child is wrapped
In a sweet slumber, scares away the fly,
So Pallas turned the weapon from thy breast,
And guided it to where the golden clasps
Made fast the belt, and where the corselet's mail n°

Book IV. 93

Was doubled. There the bitter arrow struck
The belt, and through its close contexture passed,
And fixed within the well-wrought corselet stood,
Yet reached the plated quilt which next his skin
The hero wore, — his surest guard against 17s

The weapon's force, — and broke through that

alike ;
And there the arrow gashed the part below,
And the dark blood came gushing from the wound.
As when some Carian or Maeonian dame
Tinges with purple the white ivory, 180

To form a trapping for the cheeks of steeds, —
And many a horseman covets it, yet still
It lies within her chamber, to become
The onarment of some great monarch's steed
And make its rider proud, — thy shapely thighs, 185
Thy legs, and thy fair ankles thus were stained,
O Menelaus ! with thy purple blood.

When Agamemnon, king of men, beheld
The dark blood flowing from his brother's wound,
He shuddered. Menelaus, great in war, 190

Felt the like horror ; yet, when he perceived
That still the arrow, neck arid barb, remained
Without the mail, the courage rose again
That filled his bosom. Agamemnon, then,
The monarch, sighing deeply, took the hand 195
Of Menelaus, — while his comrades round
Like him lamented, — sighing as he spake : —

" Dear brother, when I sent thee forth alone

94 The Iliad.

To combat with the Trojans for the Greeks,

I ratified a treaty for thy death, — 200

Since now the Trojans smite and under foot

Trample the league. Yet not in vain shall be

The treaty, nor the blood of lambs, nor wine

Poured to the gods, nor right hands firmly pledged ;

For though it please not now Olympian Jove =o3

To make the treaty good, he will in time

Cause it to be fulfilled, and they shall pay

Dearly with their own heads and with their wives

And children for this wrong. And this I know

In my undoubting mind, — a day will come 210

When sacred Troy and Priam and the race

Governed by Priam, mighty with the spear,

Shall perish all. Saturnian Jove, who sits

On high, a dweller of the upper air,

Shall shake his dreadful aegis in the sight »s

Of all, indignant at this treachery.

Such the event will be ; but I shall grieve

Bitterly, Menelaus, if thou die,

Thy term of life cut short. I shall go back

To my dear Argos with a brand of shame

Upon me. For the Greeks will soon again

Bethink them of their country ; we shall then

Leave Argive Helen to remain the boast

Of Priam and the Trojans, — while thy bones

Shall moulder, mingling with the earth of Troy, — ^s

Our great design abandoned. Then shall say

Some haughty Trojan, leaping on the tomb

Book IV. 95

Of Menelaus : ' So in time to come

May Agamemnon wreak his wrath, as here

He wreaked it, whither he had vainly led 230

An army, and now hastens to his home

And his own land, with ships that bear no spoil,

And the brave Menelaus left behind.'

So shall some Trojan say ; but, ere that time,

May the earth open to receive my bones ! " 235

The fair-haired Menelaus cheerfully
Replied : " Grieve not, nor be the Greeks alarmed
For me, since this sharp arrow has not found
A vital part, but, ere it reached so far,
The embroidered belt, the quilt beneath, and plate -\°
Wrought by the armorer's cunning, broke its force."

King Agamemnon took the word and said : —
" Dear Menelaus ! would that it were so,
Yet the physician must explore thy wound,
And with his balsams soothe the bitter pain." 245
Then turning to Talthybius, he addressed
The sacred herald : " Hasten with all speed,
Talthybius ; call Machaon, warrior-son
Of vEsculapius, that much-honored leech,
And bring him to the Achaian general, ?so

The warlike Menelaus, whom some hand
Of Trojan or of Lycian, skilled to bend
The bow, hath wounded with his shaft, — a deed
For him to exult in, but a grief to us."

He spake ; nor failed the herald to obey, sss

But hastened at the word and passed among

96 The Iliad.

The squadrons of Achaia, mailed in brass,
In search of great Machaon. Him he found
As midst the valiant ranks of bucklered men
He stood, — the troops who followed him to war 260
From Triccse, nurse of steeds. Then, drawing near,
The herald spake to him in winged words : —

" O son of /Esculapius, come in haste.
King Agamemnon calls thee to the aid
Of warlike Menelaus, whom some hand 265

Of Trojan or of Lycian, skilled to bend
The bow, hath wounded with his shaft, — a deed
For him to exult in, but a grief to us."

Machaon's heart was touched, and forth they went
Through the great throng, the army of the Greeks. 270
And when they came where Atreus' warlike son
Was wounded, they perceived the godlike man
Standing amid a circle of the chiefs,
The bravest of the Achaians, who at once
Had gathered round. Without delay he drew 275
The arrow from the fairly-fitted belt.
The barbs were bent in drawing. Then he loosed
The embroidered belt, the quilted vest beneath,
And plate, — the armorer's work, — and carefully
O'erlooked the wound where fell the bitter shaft, 280
Cleansed it from blood, and sprinkled over it
With skill the soothing balsams which of yore
The friendly Chiron to his father gave.

While round the warlike Menelaus thus
The chiefs were busy, all the Trojans moved 285

Book IV. 97

Into array of battle ; they put on

Their armor, and were eager for the fight.

Then wouldst thou not have seen, hadst thou been

there,
King Agamemnon slumbering, or in fear,
And skulking from the combat, but alert, ^o

Preparing for the glorious tasks of war.
His horses, and his chariot bright with brass,
He left, and bade Eurymedon, his groom,
The son of Ptolemy Piraides,

Hold them apart still panting, yet with charge 29S
To keep them near their master, till the hour
When he should need them, weary with the toil
Of such a vast command. Meantime he went
On foot among his files of soldiery,
And whomsoe'er he found with fiery steeds 300

Hasting to battle, thus he cheered them on : —

" O Argives ! let not your hot courage cool,
For Father Jove will never take the part
Of treachery. Whosoe'er have been the first
To break the league, upon their lifeless limbs 3°s
Shall vultures feast ; and doubt not we shall bear
Away in our good ships the wives they love
And their young children, when we take their town."

But whomsoe'er he saw that kept afar
From the dread field, he angrily rebuked : — 310

" O Argives ! who with arrows only fight,
Base as ye are, have ye no sense of shame ?
Why stand ye stupefied, like fawns, that, tired
vol. 1. 5 G

98 The Iliad.

With coursing the wide pastures, stop at last,

Their strength exhausted ! Thus ye stand amazed,

Nor think of combat. Wait ye for the hour 316

When to your ships, with their fair-sculptured prows,

Moored on the borders of the hoary deep,

The Trojans come, that haply ye may see

If the great hand of Jove will shield you then ? " 320

Thus Agamemnon, as supreme in power,
Threaded the warrior-files, until he came
Where stood the Cretans. All in arms they stood
Around Idomeneus, the great in war.
Like a wild boar in strength, he led the van, 325
And, in the rear, Meriones urged on
His phalanxes. The king of men rejoiced,
And blandly thus bespake Idomeneus : —

" Idomeneus ! I honor thee above
The other knights of Greece, as well in war 330

As in all other labors, and no less
In banquets, when the Achaian nobles charge
Their goblets with the dark-red mingled wine
In sign of honor. All the other Greeks
Drink by a certain measure, but thy cup 335

Stands ever full, like mine, that thou mayst drink
When thou desirest. Hasten to the war
With all the valor thou dost glory in."

The Cretan chief, Idomeneus, replied : —
" Atrides, I remain thy true ally, s*°

As I have pledged my faith. But thou exhort
The other long-haired Greeks, and bid them rush

Book IV. 99

To combat, since the Trojans break their oath.

For woe and death must be the lot of those

Who broke the peace they vowed so solemnly." 345

He spake. The son of Atreus, glad at heart,
Passed on among the squadrons, till he came
To where the warriors Ajax formed their ranks
For battle, with a cloud of infantry.
As when some goatherd from the hill-top sees 350
A cloud that traverses the deep before
A strong west wind, — beholding it afar,
Pitch-black it seems, and bringing o'er the waves
A whirlwind with it ; he is seized with fear,
And drives his flock to shelter in a cave, — 355

So with the warriors Ajax to the war
Moved, dense and dark, the phalanxes of youths
Trained for the combat, and their serried files
Bristling with spears and shields. The king of men
Saw with delight, and spake these winged words : —

" O warriors Ajax, leaders of the Greeks 361

In brazen armor, I enjoin you not
To rouse the courage of your soldiery.
Such word would ill become me, for yourselves
Have made your followers eager to engage 36s

In manful combat. Would to Jupiter,
To Pallas, and Apollo, that there dwelt
In every bosom such a soul as yours !
Then would the city of King Priam fall
At once, o'erthrown and levelled by our hands." 370

Thus having said, he left them and went on

ioo The Iliad.

To others. There he found the smooth of speech,

Nestor, the Pylian orator, employed

In marshalling his squadrons. Near to him

Alastor and the large-limbed Pelagon, 37s

Chromius, and Haemon, prince among his tribe,

And Bias, shepherd of the people, stood.

The cavalry with steeds and cars he placed

In front. A vast and valiant multitude

Of infantry he stationed in the rear, 380

To be the bulwark of the war. Between

He made the faint of spirit take their place,

That, though unwillingly, they might be forced

To combat with the rest. And first he gave

His orders to the horsemen, bidding them 333

To keep their coursers reined, nor let them range

At random through the tumult of the crowd : —

" And let no man, too vain of horsemanship,
And trusting in his valor, dare advance
Beyond the rest to attack the men of Troy, 390

Nor let him fall behind the rest, to make
Our ranks the weaker. Whoso from his car
Can reach an enemy's, let him stand and strike
With his long spear, for 't is the shrewder way.
By rules like these, which their brave hearts obeyed,
The men of yore laid level towns and towers." 396

The aged man, long versed in tasks of war,
Counselled them thus. King Agamemnon heard,
Delighted, and in winged words he said : —

" O aged man, would that thy knees were firm 400

Book IV. 10 1

As is thy purpose, and thy strength as great !
But age, the common fate of all, has worn
Thy frame : would that some others had thy age,
And thou wert of the number of our youths ! "

Then answered Nestor, the Gerenian knight : —
" O son of Atreus, I myself could wish 4°s

That I were now as when of yore I struck
The high-born Ereuthalion down. The gods
Bestow not all their gifts on man at once.
If I were then a youth, old age in turn 410

Is creeping o'er me. Still I keep among
The knights, and counsel and admonish them, —
The office of the aged. Younger men,
They who can trust their strength, must wield the
spear."

He spake. The son of Atreus passed him by, 415
Pleased with his words, and, 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 4=°

Of Cephalonians. None of these had heard
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 squadrons marching on to charge 425

The Trojans and begin the war anew.
The king of men, Atrides, was displeased,

102 The Iliad.

And spake, and chid them thus with winged words : —

" O son of Peteus, foster-child of Jove,
And thou, the man of craft and evil wiles ! 43°

Why stand ye here aloof, irresolute,
And wait for others ? Ye should be the first
To meet 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 43*

On roasted meats and bowls 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, 435

And frowned : " O Atreus' son! what words are these
Which pass thy lips ? How canst thou say that we
Avoid the battle ? Ever when the Greeks
Seek bloody conflict with the Trojan knights,
Thou, if thou wilt, and if thou givest heed
To things like these, shalt with thine eyes behold 44s
The father of Telemachus engaged
In combat with the foremost knights that form
The Trojan van. Thou utterest empty words."

King Agamemnon, when he saw the chief
Offended, changed his tone, and, smiling, said : — 450

" Son of Laertes, nobly-born and wise
Ulysses ! It is not for me to chide
Nor to exhort thee, for thy heart, I know,
Counsels thee kindly toward me, and thy thought
Agrees with mine. We will discuss all this 455

Hereafter. If just now too harsh a word

Book IV. 103

Was uttered, may the immortals make it vain ! "

So saying, he departed, and went on
To others. By his steeds and by his car,
That shone with fastenings of brass, he found i«°
The son of Tydeus, large-souled Diomed,
And Sthenelus, the son of Capaneus,
Standing beside him. Looking at them both,
King Agamemnon to Tydides spake
In winged words, and thus reproved the chief: — 465

" O son of Tydeus, that undaunted knight !
What is there to appall thee ? Why look through
The spaces that divide the warlike ranks ?
Not thus did Tydeus feel the touch of fear,
But ever foremost of his warriors fought. 470

So they declare who saw 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, 47s

With no array of soldiery, but came
With godlike Polynices. 'T was the time
When warrior-bands were gathered to besiege
The sacred walls of Thebes, and earnestly
They prayed that from Mycenae they might lead 480
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.
The chiefs departed, journeying on to where 435

104 The Iliad.

Asopus flows through reeds and grass, and thence

The Achaians sent an embassy to Thebes

By Tydeus. There he met the many sons

Of Cadmus at the banquets in the hall

Of valiant Eteocles. Though alone 490

Among so many, and a stranger-guest,

The hero feared them not, but challenged them

To vie with him in games ; and easily

He won the victory, such aid was given

By Pallas. Then the sons of Cadmus, skilled 49s

In horsemanship, were wroth, and privily

Sent fifty armed youths to lie in wait

For his return. Two leaders had the band, —

Maion, the son of Hxmon, like a god

In form, and Lycophontes, brave in war, 500

Son of Autophonos. A bloody death

Did Tydeus give the youths. He slew them all

Save Maion, whom he suffered to return,

Obedient to an omen from the gods.

Such was ^Etolian Tydeus ; but his son, s°s

A better speaker, is less brave in war."

He spake ; 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 510
The truth so well. Assuredly we claim
To be far braver than our fathers were.
We took seven-gated Thebes with fewer troops
Than theirs, when, trusting in the omens sent

Book IV. 105

From heaven, and in the aid of Jupiter, 515

We led our men beneath the city walls
Sacred to Mars. Our fathers perished there
Through their own folly. Therefore never seek
To place them in the same degree with us."

The brave Tydides with a frown replied : — 5=0
" Nay, hold thy peace, 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 deeds.
Great glory will attend him if the Greeks s?s

Shall overcome the Trojans, and shall take
The sacred Ilium ; but his grief will be
Bitter if we shall fail and be destroyed.
Hence think we only of the furious charge ! "

He spake, and from his chariot leaped to earth 530
All armed ; the mail upon the monarch's breast
Rang terribly as he marched swiftly on.
The boldest might have heard that sound with fear.

As when the ocean-billows, surge on surge,
Are pushed along to the resounding shore 53s

Before the western wind, and first a wave
Uplifts itself, and then against the land
Dashes and roars, and round the headland peaks
Tosses on high and spouts its spray afar,
So moved the serried phalanxes of Greece 540

To battle, rank succeeding rank, each chief
Giving command to his own troops ; the rest
Marched noiselessly : you might have thought no
voice

106 The Iliad.

Was in the breasts of all that mighty throng,

So silently they all obeyed their chiefs, S4S

Their showy armor glittering as they moved

In firm array. But, as the numerous flock

Of some rich man, while the white milk is drawn

Within his sheepfold, hear the plaintive call

Of their own lambs, and bleat incessantly, — ss<>

Such clamors from the mighty Trojan host

Arose ; nor was the war-cry one, nor one

The voice, but words of mingled languages,

For they were called from many different climes.

These Mars encouraged to the fight ; but those sss

The blue-eyed Pallas. Terror too was there,

And Fright, and Strife that rages unappeased, —

Sister and comrade of man-slaying Mars, —

Who rises small at first, but grows, and lifts

Her head to heaven and walks upon the earth. 560

She, striding through the crowd and heightening

The mutual rancor, flung into the midst

Contention, source of bale to all alike.

And now, when met the armies in the field,
The ox-hide shields encountered, and the spears, 565
And might of warriors mailed in brass ; then clashed
The bossy bucklers, and the battle-din
Was loud ; then rose the mingled shouts and groans
Of those who slew and those who fell ; the earth
Ran with their blood. As when the winter streams
Rush down the mountain-sides, and fill, below, 571
With their swift waters, poured from gushing springs,

Book IV. 107

Some hollow vale, the shepherd on the heights
Hears the far roar, — such was the mingled din
That rose from the great armies when they met. 575

Then first Antilochus, advancing, struck
The Trojan champion Echepolus clown,
Son of Thalysius, fighting in the van.
He smote him on the helmet's cone, where streamed
The horse-hair plume. The brazen javelin stood ss°
Fixed in his forehead, piercing through the bone,
And darkness gathered o'er his eyes. He fell
As falls a tower before some stubborn siege.
Then Elephenor, son of Chalcodon,
Prince of the brave Abrantes, by the foot ssu

Seized the slain chieftain, dragging him beyond
The reach of darts, to strip him of his arms ;
Yet dropped him soon, for brave Agenor saw,
And, as he stooped to drag the body, hurled
His brazen spear and pierced the uncovered side 590
Seen underneath the shield. At once his limbs
Relaxed their hold, and straight the spirit fled.
Then furious was the struggle of the Greeks
And Trojans o'er the slain ; they sprang like wolves
Upon each other, and man slaughtered man. 595

Then by the hand of Ajax Telamon
Fell Simoisius, in the bloom of youth,
Anthemion's son. His mother once came down
From Ida, with her parents, to their flocks
Beside the Simoi's ; there she brought him forth 1™
Upon its banks, and gave her boy the name

108 The Iliad.

Of Simoi'sius. Unrequited now

Was all the care with which his parents nursed

His early years, and short his term of life, —

Slain by the hand of Ajax, large of soul. 6oS

For, when he saw him coming, Ajax smote

Near the right pap the Trojan's breast ; the blade

Passed through, and out upon the further side.

He fell among the dust of earth, as falls

A poplar growing in the watery soil do

Of some wide marsh, — a fair, smooth bole, with

boughs
Only on high, which with his gleaming axe
Some artisan has felled to bend its trunk
Into the circle of some chariot-wheel ;
Withering it lies upon the river's bank. 615

So did the high-born Ajax spoil the corpse
Of Simoi'sius, 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. 620
The weapon struck him not, but pierced the groin
Of one who was Ulysses' faithful friend, —
Leucus, — as from the spot he dragged the dead ;
He fell, the body dropping from his hold.
Ulysses, stung with fury at his fall, 623

Rushed to the van, arrayed in shining brass,
Drew near the foe, and, casting a quick glance
Around him, hurled his glittering spear. The host
Of Trojans, as it left his hand, shrank back

Book IV. 109

Upon each other. Not in vain it flew, e3o

But struck Democoon, the spurious son
Of Priam, who, to join the war, had left
Abydos, where he tended the swift mares.
Ulysses, to revenge his comrade's death,
Smote him upon the temple with his spear. 635

Through both the temples passed the brazen point,
And darkness gathered o'er his eyes ; he fell,
His armor clashing round him with his fall.
Then did the foremost bands, and Hector's self,
Fall back. The Argives shouted, dragging off 640
The slain, and rushing to the ground they won.
Then was Apollo angered, looking down
From Pergamus, and thus he called aloud : —

"Rally, ye Trojans ! tamers of fleet steeds!
Yield not the battle to the Greeks. Their limbs 645
Are not of stone or iron, to withstand
The trenchant steel ye wield. Nor does the son
Of fair-haired Thetis now, Achilles, take
Part in the battle, but sits, brooding o'er
The choler that devours him, in his ships." 65o

Thus from the city spake the terrible god.
Meantime Triton ian Pallas, glorious child
Of Jupiter, went through the Grecian ranks
Where'er they wavered, and revived their zeal.

Diores, son of Amarynceus, then 65s

Met his hard fate. The fragment of a rock
Was thrown by hand at his right leg, and struck
The ankle. Piroiis, son of Imbrasus,

no The Iliad.

Who came from ^Enus, leading to the war

His Thracian soldiers, flung it ; and it crushed 660

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,

Prroiis, came up and pierced him with his spear.

Forth gushed the entrails, and the eyes grew dark. 665

But Piroiis by ^Etolian Thoas fell,
Who met him with his spear and pierced his breast
Above the pap. The brazen weapon stood
Fixed in the lungs. Then Thoas came and plucked
The massive spear away, and drew his sword, 670
And thrusting through him the sharp blade, he took
His life away. Yet could he not despoil
The slain man of his armor, for around
His comrades thronged, the Thracians, with their

tufts
Of streaming hair, and, wielding their long spears, 675
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 leader of the Thracian band, eso

And he who led the Epeans, brazen-mailed
Diores, lay with 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 ess
By weapons, Pallas led him by the hand

Book V. in

In safety through the midst, and turned aside
The violence of javelins ; for that day
Saw many a Trojan slain, and many a Greek,
Stretched side by side upon the bloody field. 690

BOOK V.

THEN Pallas to Tydides 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, 5
Like to the autumnal star that shines in heaven
Most brightly when new-bathed in ocean tides.
Such light she caused to beam upon his crest
And shoulders, as she sent the warrior forth
Into the thick and tumult of the fight. "

Among the Trojans, Dares was the priest
Of Vulcan, rich and blameless. His two sons
Were Phegeus and Idaeus, trained in all
The arts of war. They left the host and came
To meet Tydides, — on the chariot they, «s

And he on foot ; and now, as they drew near,
First Phegeus hurled his massive lance. It flew
O'er Diomed's left shoulder and struck not.
Tydides cast his spear, and not in vain ;

112 The Iliad.

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

If Vulcan had not borne him swiftly thence

Concealed in darkness, that he might not leave 23

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. 30

Meantime the blue-eyed Pallas took the hand
Of Mars, and thus addressed the fiery god : —

" 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, 35
And Jove to crown with glory whom he will,
While we retire, lest we provoke his wrath ? "

Thus having said, she led the violent Mars
From where the battle raged, and made him sit
Beside Scamander, on its grassy bank. 40

And then the Achaians put the sons of Troy
To flight : each leader slew a foe ; and first
The king of men, Atrides, from his car
Struck down the huge-limbed Hodius, who was chief
Among the Halizonians. As he turned 4s

To flee, the Achaian, smiting him between
The shoulders, drove the javelin through his breast.

Book V. 113

Heavily clashed his armor as he fell.

Then by Idomeneus was Phasstus slain,
Son of Meonian Borus, who had come 50

From Tarna, rich in harvests. As he sprang
Into his car, Idomeneus, expert
To wield the ponderous javelin, thrust its blade
Through his right shoulder. From the car he fell,
And the dark night of death came over him. 55

The Achaian warriors following spoiled the slain.

The son of Atreus, Menelaus, slew
With his sharp spear Scamandrius, the son
Of Strophius, practised in the forest chase,
A mighty hunter. Him had Dian taught 60

To strike whatever beast the woody wild
Breeds on the hills ; but now availed him not
The favor of Diana, archer-queen,
Nor skill to throw the javelin afar ;
For Menelaus, mighty with the spear, 65

Followed him as he fled, and in the back
Smote him, between the shoulder-blades, and drave
The weapon through. He fell upon the ground
Headlong, his armor clashing as he fell.
And then Meriones slew Phereclus, 70

Son of Harmonius, the artificer,
Who knew to shape all works of rare device,
For Pallas loved him. It was he who built
The fleet for Paris, — cause of many woes
To all the Trojans and to him, — for ill 75

He understood the oracles of heaven.

H4 The Iliad.

Him did Meriones, pursuing long,
O'ertake, and, smiting him on the right hip,
Pierced through the part beneath the bone and near
The bladder. On his knees with sad lament so
He fell, and death involved him in its shade.

And then by Meges was Pedasus slain,
Antenor's base-born son, whose noble wife,
Theano, reared him with as fond a care
As her own children, for her husband's sake. 85

And now 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 teeth. He fell, and in the fall 90

Gnashed with his teeth upon the cold bright blade.

Then did Evaemon's son Eurypylus
Strike down Hypsenor, nobly born, the son
Of great Dolopion, Scamander's priest,
Whom all the people honored as a god. 93

Evaemon's gallant son, o'ertaking him
In flight, with one stroke of his fxlchion hewed
His brawny arm away. The bloody limb
Dropped to the ground, and the dark night of death
Came o'er his eyes : so cruel fate decreed. 100

Thus toiled the heroes in that stubborn fight.
Nor would you now have known to which array —
Trojan or Greek — Tydides might belong;
For through the field he rushed with furious speed,
Like a swollen river when its current takes 105

Book V. US

The torrent's swiftness, scattering with a sweep
The bridges ; nor can massive dikes withstand
Its fury, nor embankments raised to screen
The grassy meadows, while the rains of Jove
Fall heavily, and harvests, late the joy im

Of toiling youth, are beaten to the ground.
Thus by Tydides the close phalanxes
Of Troy were scattered, nor could they endure,
All numerous as they were, his strong assault.
As Pandarus, Lycaon's eminent son, "S

Beheld Tydides rush athwart the field,
Breaking the ranks, he drew his crooked bow
And smote the chief's left shoulder as he came,
Striking the hollow corselet. The sharp point
Broke through, and blood came gushing o'er the mail.
Then called aloud Lycaon's eminent son : — ™

"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, «s

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 his steeds and chariot, spake 130
To Sthenelus, the son of Capaneus : —
" Haste down, kind Sthenelus, and with thy hand
Draw the sharp arrow from my shoulder here."

He spake, and Sthenelus at once leaped down,

n6 The Iliad.

Stood by his side, and from his shoulder drew 135
The winged arrow deeply fixed within.
The blood flowed forth upon the twisted rings
Of mail, while Diomed, the valiant, prayed : —

" Hear me, O child of aegis-bearing Jove,
Goddess invincible ! if ever thou 140

Didst aid me or my father in the heat
Of battle, aid me, Pallas, yet again.
Give me to slay this Trojan; bring him near,
Within my javelin's reach, who wounded me,
And now proclaims — the boaster — that not long
Shall I behold the brightness of the sun." u*

So prayed he, and Minerva heard his prayer
And lightened all his limbs, — his feet, his hands, —
And, standing near him, spake these winged
words : —

"War boldly with the Trojans, Diomed ; 150

For even now I breathe into thy frame
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 ; iss
And if a god should tempt thee to the fight,
Beware 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 ; 160
And Diomed went back into the field
And mingled with the warriors. If before

Book V. 117

His spirit moved him fiercely to engage
The men of Troy, a threefold courage now-
Inspired him. As a lion who has leaped 163
Into a fold — and he who guards the flock
Has wounded but not slain him — feels his rage
Waked by the blow ; — the affrighted shepherd then
Ventures not near, but hides within the stalls,
And the forsaken sheep are put to flight, 170
And, huddling, slain in heaps, till o'er the fence
The savage bounds into the fields again ; —
Such was Tydides midst the sons of Troy.
Astynoiis first he slew, Hypenor next,
The shepherd of the people. One he pierced 17s
High on the bosom with his brazen spear,
And smote the other on the collar-bone
With his good sword, and hewed from neck and spine
The shoulder. There he left the dead, and rushed
To Abas and to Polyeidus, sons »&>
Of old Eurydamas, interpreter
Of visions. Ill the aged man had read
His visions when they joined the war. They died,
And Diomed, the valiant, spoiled the slain.
Xanthus and Thoon he encountered next, &s
The sons of Phamops, born in his old age.
No other child had he, to be his heir,
And he was worn with length of years. These two
Tydides smote and took their lives, and left
Grief to their father and regretful cares, 190
Since he no more should welcome their return

n8 The Iliad.

From war, and strangers should divide his wealth.
Then smote he Chromius and Echemon, sons
Of Dardan Priam/ in one chariot both.
As on a herd of beeves a lion springs 195

While midst the shrubs they browse, and breaks

their necks, —
Heifer or ox, — so sprang he on the twain
And struck them, vainly struggling, from their car,
And spoiled them of their arms, and took their

steeds,
And bade his comrades lead them to the fleet. 200

y£neas, who beheld him scattering thus
The embattled ranks before him, straightway went
Through the thick fight, amid encountering spears,
In search of godlike Pandarus. He found
Lycaon's blameless and illustrious son, 205

And stood before him, and addressed him thus : —

" Where is thy bow, O Pandarus, and where
Thy winged arrows ? Where the old renown
In which no warrior here can vie with thee,
And none upon the Lycian shore can boast bio

That he excels thee ? Hasten, and lift up
Thy hands in prayer to Jupiter, and send
An arrow at this man, whoe'er he be,
Who thus prevails, and thus afflicts our host,
And makes the knees of many a strong man weak.
Strike him, — unless he be some god incensed as
At Troy for sacrifice withheld, since hard
It is to bear the ans;er of a god."

Book V. 119

Lycaon's son, the far-renowned, replied : —
" ^Eneas, leader of the Trojans mailed **>

In brass, to me this man in all things seems
Like warlike Diomed. I know his shield,
High helm, and steeds, and yet I may not say
That this is not a god. But if he be
The chief of whom I speak, the warlike son m

Of Tydeus, not thus madly would he fight,
Without some god to aid him. By his side
Is one of the immortals, with a cloud
About his shoulders, turning from its aim
The swiftly flying arrow. 'T was but late 230

I aimed a shaft that pierced the hollow mail
On his left shoulder, and I thought him sent
To Pluto, but I slew him not. Some god
Must be offended with me. I have here.
No steeds or car to mount. Far off* at home =35
There stand within Lycaon's palace-walls
Eleven chariots, fair and fresh and new :
Each has an ample cover, and by each
Are horses yoked in pairs, that champ their oats
And their white barley. When I left my home, =40
Lycaon, aged warrior, counselled me,
Within his sumptuous halls, that with my steeds
And chariot I should lead the sons of Troy
In the fierce battle. I obeyed him not :
Far better if I had. I wished to spare =45

My horses, lest, so largely fed at home,
They might want food in the beleaguered town.

120 The Iliad.

So, leaving them, I came on foot to Troy,

Confiding in my bow, which yet was doomed

To avail me little, for already I 250

Have smitten with my arrows the two chiefs,

Tydides and Atrides, and from both

Drew the red blood, but only made their rage

To flame the fiercer. In an evil hour

I took my bow and quiver from the wall ass

And came to lead the Trojans for the sake

Of Hector. But if ever I return

To see my native country and my wife

And my tall spacious mansion, may some foe

Strike off my head if with these hands I fail =&>

To break my bow in pieces, casting it

Into the flames, a useless weapon now."

The Trojan chief ^Eneas, answering, said : —
" Nay, talk not so ; it cannot but be thus,
Until upon a chariot, and with steeds, 263

We try our prowess with this man in war.
Haste, mount my chariot here, and thou shalt see
How well are Trojan horses trained to range
The field of battle, in the swift pursuit
Hither and thither, or in rapid flight ; =70

And they shall bring us safely to the town
Should Jove a second time bestow the meed
Of glory on Tydides. Haste, and take
The lash and well-wrought reins, while I descend
To fight on foot ; or haply thou wilt wait =75

The foe's advance while I direct the steeds."

Book V. I2i

Then spake again Lycaon's eminent son : —
" Keep thou the reins, y£neas, and still guide
The horses. With their wonted charioteer,
The better shall they bear away the car 280

Should we be forced to fly before the arm
Of Diomed ; lest, taking flight, they range
Unmastered when they hear thy voice no more,
Nor bear us from the combat, and the son
Of Tydeus, having slain us, shall lead thence 285
Thy firm-hoofed coursers. Therefore guide them still,
Them and the chariot, while, with this keen spear,
I wait the Greek, as he is rushing on."

They spake, and, climbing the magnificent car,
Turned toward Tydides the swift-footed steeds. 290
The noble son of Capaneus beheld,
And said in winged words to Diomed : —

" Tydides Diomed, most dear of men !
I see two warriors, strong, immensely strong,
Coming to combat with thee. Pandarus 295

Is one, the skilled in archery, who boasts
To be Lycaon's son ; and by his side
There comes ^Eneas, glorying that he sprang
From the large-souled Anchises, — borne to him
By Venus. Mount we now our car and leave 300
The ground, nor in thy fury rush along
The van of battle, lest thou lose thy life."

The brave Tydides, with a frown, replied : —
"Speak not of flight ; thou canst not yet persuade
My mind to that. To skulk or shrink with fear 305

vol. 1. 6

122 The Iliad.

In battle ill becomes me, and my strength
Is unexhausted yet. It suits me not
To mount the chariot ; I will meet the foe
Just as I am. Minerva will not let
My spirit falter. Ne'er shall those swift steeds 310
Bear the two warriors hence, — if even one
Escapes me. One thing more have I to say ;
And keep it well in mind. Should Pallas deign —
The wise, forecasting Pallas — to bestow
On me the glory of o'ercoming both, 315

Stop thy swift horses, and tie fast the reins
To our own chariot, and make haste to seize
The horses of iEneas, guiding them
Hence from the Trojan to the Grecian host ;
For they are of the stock which Jupiter 3=0

The Thunderer gave to Tros. It was the price
He paid for Ganymede, and they, of all
Beneath the eye of morning and the sun,
Are of the choicest breed. The king of men,
Anchises, stealthily and unobserved, 3*5

Brought to the coursers of Laomedon
His brood-mare, and obtained the race. Six colts,
Their offspring, in his courts were foaled. Of these,
Four for himself he kept, and in his stalls
Reared them, and two of them, both apt for war, 330
He gave ^Eneas. If we make them ours,
The exploit will bring us honor and renown."
Thus they conferred. Meantime their foes drew
near,

Book V. 123

Urging their fiery coursers on, and first

Lycaon's eminent son addressed the Greek : — 335

" My weapon, swift and sharp, the arrow, failed
To slay thee ; let me try the javelin now,
And haply that, at least, may reach its mark."

He spake, and, brandishing his massive spear,
Hurled it against the shield of Diomed. 340

The brazen point broke through, and reached the

mail.
Then shouted with loud voice Lycaon's son : —

" Ha ! thou art wounded in thy flank ; my spear
Bites deep ; nor long, I think, canst thou survive,
And great will be my glory gained from thee." 3+s

But thus the valiant Diomed replied,
Incapable of fear : " Thy thought is wrong.
I am not wounded, and I well perceive
That ye will never give the conflict o'er
Till one of you, laid low amid the dust, 350

Pour out his blood to glut the god of war."

He spake, and cast his spear. Minerva kept
The weapon faithful to its aim. It struck
The nose, and near the eye ; then passing on
Betwixt the teeth, the unrelenting edge 35s

Cleft at its root the tongue ; the point came out
Beneath the chin. The warrior from his car
Fell headlong ; his bright armor, fairly wrought,
Clashed round him as he fell ; his fiery steeds
Started aside with fright ; his breath and strength 360
Were gone at once. /Eneas, with his shield

124 The Iliad.

And his long spear, leaped down to guard the

slain,
That the Achaians might not drag him thence.
There, lion-like, confiding in his strength,
He stalked around the corpse, and over it 36s

Held his round shield and lance, prepared to slay
Whoever came, and shouting terribly.

Tydides raised a stone, — a mighty weight,
Such as no two men living now could lift ;
But he, alone, could swing it round with ease. 370
With this he smote ^Eneas on the hip,
Where the thigh joins its socket. By the blow
He brake the socket and the tendons twain,
And tore the skin with the rough, jagged stone.
The hero fell upon his knees, but stayed 375

His fall with his strong palm upon the ground ;
And o'er his eyes a shadow came like night.

Then had the king of men, ^Eneas, died,
But for Jove's daughter, Venus, who perceived
His danger instantly, — his mother, she 3S0

Who bore him to Anchises when he kept
His beeves, a herdsman. Round her son she cast
Her white arms, spreading over him in folds
Her shining robe, to be a fence against
The weapons of the foe, lest some Greek knight 3-5
Should at his bosom aim the steel to take
His life. And thus the goddess bore away
From that fierce conflict her beloved son.

Nor did the son of Capaneus forget

Book V. 12$

The bidding of the warlike Diomed, 390

But halted his firm-footed steeds apart

From the great tumult, with the long reins stretched

And fastened to the chariot. Next, he sprang

To seize the horses with fair-flowing manes,

That drew the chariot of ^Eneas. These 39s

He drave away, far from the Trojan host,

To the well-greaved Achaians, giving them

In charge, to lead them to the hollow ships,

To his beloved friend Dei'pylus,

Whom he of all his comrades honored most, 400

As likest to himself in years and mind.

And then he climbed his car and took the reins,

And, swiftly drawn by his firm-footed steeds,

Followed Tydides, who with cruel steel

Sought Venus, knowing her unapt for war, 405

And all unlike the goddesses who guide

The battles of mankind, as Pallas does,

Or as Bellona, ravager of towns.

O'ertaking her at last, with long pursuit,

Amid the throng of warring men, the son 410

Of warlike Tydeus aimed at her his spear,

And wounded in her hand the delicate one

With its sharp point. It pierced the ambrosial robe,

Wrought for her by the Graces, at the spot

Where the palm joins the wrist, and broke the skin,

And drew immortal blood, — the ichor, — such 416

As from the blessed gods may flow ; for they

Eat not the wheaten loaf, nor drink dark wine ;

126 The Iliad.

And therefore they are bloodless, and are called
Immortal. At the stroke the goddess shrieked, <po
And dropped her son. Apollo in his arms
Received and in a dark cloud rescued him,
Lest any of the Grecian knights should aim
A weapon at his breast to take his life.
Meantime the brave Tydides cried aloud : — 425

" Leave wars and battle, goddess. Is it not
Enough that thou delude weak womankind ?
Yet, if thou ever shouldst return, to bear
A part in battle, thou shalt have good cause
To start with fear, when war is only named." 43°

He spake ; and she departed, wild with pain,
For grievously she suffered. Instantly
Fleet-footed Iris took her by the hand
And led her from the place, her heart oppressed
With anguish and her fair cheek deathly pale. 435
She found the fiery Mars, who had withdrawn
From that day's combat to the left, and sat,
His spear and his swift coursers hid from sight,
In darkness. At his feet she fell, and prayed
Her brother fervently, that he would lend 440

His steeds that stood in trappings wrought of gold : —

" Dear brother, aid me ; let me have thy steeds
To bear me to the Olympian mount, the home
Of gods, for grievously the wound I bear
Afflicts me. 'T was a mortal gave the wound, — 443
Tydides, who would even fight with Jove."

She spake ; and Mars resigned to her his steeds

Book V. 127

With trappings of bright gold. She climbed the car,
Still grieving, and, beside her, Iris took
Her seat, and caught the reins and plied the lash. 450
On flew the coursers, on, with willing speed,
And soon were at the mansion of the gods
On high Olympus. There the active-limbed,
Fleet Iris stayed them, loosed them from the car,
And fed them with ambrosial food. Meanwhile, 4ss
The goddess Venus at Dione's feet
Had cast herself. The mother round her child
Threw tenderly her arms, and with her hand
Caressed her brow, and spake, and thus inquired : —

" Which of the dwellers of the skies, dear child, 460
Has dealt thus cruelly with thee, as one
Caught in the doing of some flagrant wrong?"

And thus did Venus, queen of smiles, reply : —
" The son of Tydeus, arrogant Diomed,
Wounded me as I sought to bear away 46s

From battle's dangers my beloved son
^Eneas, dear beyond all other men :
For now no longer does the battle rage
Between the Greeks and Trojans, but the Greeks
Venture to combat even with the gods." 470

Dione, great among the goddesses,
Rejoined: " Submit, my daughter, and endure,
Though inly grieved; for many of us who dwell
Upon the Olympian mount have suffered much
From mortals, and have brought great miseries 4-5
Upon each other. First, it was the fate

128 The Iliad.

Of Mars to suffer, when Aloeus' sons,

Otus and mighty Ephialtes, made

Their fetters fast upon his limbs. He lay

Chained thirteen months within a brazen cell ; 480

And haply there the god, whose thirst of blood

Is never cloyed, had perished, but for aid

Which Eribcea gave, the beautiful,

His step-mother. She made his miseries known

To Mercury, who set him free by stealth, 485

Withered and weak with long imprisonment.

And Juno suffered when Amphitryon's son,

The valiant, dared to plant in her right breast

A three-pronged arrow, and she writhed with pain.

And Pluto suffered, when the hero-son 490

Of aegis-bearing Jove, with a swift shaft,

Smote him beside the portals of the dead,

And left him filled with pain. He took his way

To high Olympus and the home of Jove,

Grieving and racked with pain, for deep the dart 49s

Had pierced his brawny shoulder, torturing him.

There Paean with his pain-dispelling balms

Healed him, for he was not of mortal race.

O daring man and reckless, to make light

Of such impieties and violate soo

The sacred persons of the Olympian gods !

It was the blue-eyed Pallas who stirred up

Tydides to assail thee thus. The fool !

He knew not that the man who dares to meet

The gods in combat lives not long. No child 505

Book V. 1 29

Shall prattling call him father when he comes

Returning from the dreadful tasks of war.

Let then Tydides, valiant though he be,

Beware lest a more potent foe than thou

Encounter him, and lest the nobly-born 51°

^Egialeia, in some night to come —

Wise daughter of Adrastus, and the spouse

Of the horse-tamer Diomed — call up

The servants of her household from their sleep,

Bewailing him to whom in youth she gave 515

Her maiden troth, — the bravest of the Greeks."

She spake, and wiped the ichor from the hand
Of Venus ; at her touch the hand was healed
And the pain left it. Meantime Pallas stood,
With Juno, looking on, both teasing Jove 520

With words of sarcasm. Blue-eyed Pallas thus
Addressed the god : " O Father Jupiter,
Wilt thou be angry at the word I speak ? —
As Venus, wheedling some Achaian dame
To join the host she loves, the sons of Troy, 5=5
Caressed the fair, arrayed in gay attire,
A golden buckle scratched her tender hand."

As thus she spake, the Father of the gods
And mortals, calling golden Venus near,
Said, with a smile : " Nay, daughter, not for thee 530
Are tasks of war ; be gentle marriage-rites
Thy care ; the labors of the battle-field
Pertain to Pallas and the fiery Mars."

Thus with each other talked the gods, while still
6* 1

130 The Iliad.

The great in battle, Diomed, pursued 535

^Eneas, though he knew that Phoebus stretched

His arm to guard the warrior. Small regard

Had he for the great god, and much he longed

To strike ^Eneas down and bear away

The glorious arms he wore ; and thrice he rushed 340

To slay the Trojan, thrice Apollo smote

Upon his glittering shield. But when he made

The fourth assault, as if he were a god,

The archer of the skies, Apollo, thus

With menacing words rebuked him : " Diomed, 543

Beware ; desist, nor think to make thyself

The equal of a god. The deathless race

Of gods is not as those who walk the earth."

He spake ; the son of Tydeus, shrinking back,
Gave way before the anger of the god ss°

Who sends his shafts afar. Then Phoebus bore
y£neas from the tumult to the height
Of sacred Pergamus, where stands his fane j
And there Latona and the archer-queen,
Diana, in the temple's deep recess, 555

Tended him and brought back his glorious strength.
Meantime the bowyer-god, Apollo, formed
An image of ^neas, armed like him,
Round which the Trojans and Achaians thronged
With many a heavy weapon-stroke that fell 5<*>

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 V. 131

Thou steeped in blood, destroyer of walled towns !
Wilt thou not force this man to leave the field ? 565
Wilt thou not meet in arms this daring son
Of Tydeus, who would even fight with Jove ?
Already has he wounded, in close fight,
The goddess Venus at the wrist, and since
Assaulted me as if he were a god." 570

He said, and on the heights of Pergamus
Sat down, while the destroyer Mars went forth
Among the embattled Trojan ranks, to rouse
Their valor. In the form of Acamus,
The gallant Thracian leader, he bespake 575

The sons of Jove-descended Priam thus : —

" O sons of Priam, him who claims descent
From Jupiter ! how long will ye submit
To see your people slaughtered by the Greeks ?
Is it until the battle-storm shall reach 580

Your city's stately portals ? Even now
A hero whom we honor equally
With the great Hector, our ^Eneas, son
Of the large-souled Anchises, is struck down.
Haste, let us rescue our beloved friend." 585

He spake, and into every heart his words
Carried new strength and courage. In that hour
Sarpedon chid the noble Hector thus : —

" Where is the prowess, Hector, which was thine
So lately ? Thou hast said that thou alone, 590

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

132 The Iliad.

Now I see none of these ; they all, like hounds

Before a lion, crouch and slink away,

While the confederates bear the brunt of war. 59s

I am but an auxiliar come from far,

From Lycia, where the eddying Xanthus runs.

There left I a beloved wife, and there

An infant child, and large possessions, such

As poor men covet. Yet do I exhort <*>o

My Lycians to the combat, and myself

Would willingly engage this foe of Troy,

Although I here have nothing which the Greeks

Might bear or drive away. Thou standest still,

Meanwhile, nor dost thou bid the rest to keep 60s

Their ground and bear the battle for their wives.

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 prey

Of enemies, who quickly will destroy 610

Your nobly-peopled city. These are thoughts

That should engage thy mind by night and day,

And thou shouldst beg the chiefs of thine allies,

Called to thy aid from far, that manfully

They meet the foe, and foil his fierce attack, 61s

And 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 them to battle. Terrible fco

The conflict that ensued. The men of Troy

Book V. 133

Made head against the Greeks : the Greeks stood

firm,
Nor ever thought of flight. As when the wind
Strews chaff about the sacred threshing-floors
While wheat is winnowed, and before the breeze 625
The yellow Ceres separates the grain
From its light husk, which gathers in white heaps, —
Even so the Greeks were whitened o'er with dust
Raised in that tumult by the horses' hoofs
And rising to the brazen firmament, 630

As toward the fight the charioteers again
Urged on their coursers. Yet the Greeks withstood
The onset, and struck forward with strong arms.
Meantime the furious Mars involved the field
In darkness, to befriend the sons of Troy, 635

And went through all the ranks, and well fulfilled
The mandate which Apollo gave the god
Who wields the golden falchion, bidding him
Kindle the courage of the Trojan host
Whene'er he saw the auxiliar of the Greeks, 640

Minerva, leave the combat. Then the god
Brought from the sanctuary's inner shrine
^Eneas, — filling with recovered strength
That shepherd of the people. He beside
His comrades placed himself, and they rejoiced 645
To see him living and unharmed and strong
As ever ; yet they questioned not ; their task
Was different, set them by the god who bears
The silver bow, and Mars the slayer of men,

134 The Iliad.

And raging Strife that never is appeased. c3o

The Ajaces and Ulysses and the son
Of Tydeus roused the Achaians to the fight.
For of the strength and clamor of the foe
They felt no fear, but calmly stood, to bide
The assault ; as stand in air the quiet clouds 655
Which Saturn's son upon the mountain-tops
Piles in still volumes when the north wind sleeps,
And every ruder breath of blustering air
That drives the gathered vapors through the sky.
Thus calmly waited they the Trojan host, «*

Nor thought of flight. And now Atrides passed
In haste along their ranks, and gave command : —
" O friends, be men, and let your hearts be strong,
And let no warrior in the heat of fight
Do what may bring him shame in others' eyes ; 665
For more of those who shrink from shame are safe
Than fall in battle, while with those who flee
Is neither glory nor reprieve from death."

So spake the king, and hurled his spear and smote
Dei'coon, the son of Pergasis, 670

A chief, and a companion in the war
Of the great-souled ./Eneas. He in Troy
Was honored as men honored Priam's sons,
For he was ever foremost in the fight. 674

The weapon struck his shield, yet stopped not there,
But, breaking through its folds and through the belt,
Transfixed the part beneath. The Trojan fell
To earth, his armor clashing with his fall.

Book V. 135

^Eneas slew the sons of Diodes, —
Orsilochus and Crethon, eminent Greeks. <&°

Their father dwelt in Pherae nobly built,
Amid his riches. From Alpheius he
Derived his race, — a river whose long stream
Flows through the meadows of the Pylian land.
Orsilochus was to Alpheius born, 63S

Lord over many men, and he became
The father of great Diodes, to whom
Twin sons were born, well trained in all the arts
Of warfare, — Crethon and Orsilochus.
These, in the prime of youth, with their black ships
Followed the Argives to the coast of Troy 691

Famed for its generous steeds. They left their home
To vindicate the honor of the sons
Of Atreus, — Agamemnon, king of men,
And Menelaus, — but they found their death. 695

As two young lions, nourished by their dam
Amid the thickets of some mighty wood,
Seizing the "beeves and fattened sheep, lay waste
The stables, till at length themselves are slain
By trenchant weapons in the shepherd's hand, 7°°
So by the weapons of ^Eneas died
These twain ; they fell as lofty fir-trees fall.
But now, when Menelaus saw their fate,
The mighty warrior, deeply sorrowing, rushed
Among the foremost, armed in glittering brass, 70s
And brandishing his spear ; for Mars had roused
His soul to fury, trusting he would meet

136 The Iliad.

yEneas, and would perish by his hand.

Antilochus, the generous Nestor's son,

Came also to the van, for anxiously 710

He feared mischance might overtake the king,

To make the toils of their long warfare vain ;

And there he found the combatants prepared

For battle, with their trusty spears in hand,

And standing face to face. At once he took 715

His stand beside the monarch of the Greeks.

At sight of the two warriors side by side,

All valiant as he was, ^Eneas shunned

The encounter. They, when they had drawn the dead

Among the Grecian ranks, and to their friends 7»>

Given up the hapless brothers, turned to take

Their place among the foremost in the fight.

Then, too, Pylsemenes, a chief like Mars,

And leader of the Paphlagonian host, —

A valiant squadron armed with shields, — was slain.

Atrides Menelaus, skilled to wield 72s

The javelin, gave his death-wound. He transfixed

The shoulder at the collar-bone. Meanwhile

Antilochus against his charioteer,

Mydon, the brave son of Atymnias, hurled 730

A stone that smote his elbow as he wheeled

His firm-paced steeds in flight. He dropped the

reins,
Gleaming with ivory as they trailed in dust.
Antilochus leaped forward, smiting him
Upon the temples with his sword. He fell 735

Book V. 137

Gasping amidst the sand, his head immersed
Up to his shoulders, — for the sand was deep, —
And there remained till he was beaten down
Before the horses' hoofs. Antilochus,
Lashing the horses, drave them to the Greeks. 740

Hector beheld, and, springing with loud shouts,
Stood mid the wavering ranks. The phalanxes
Of the brave Trojans followed him, for Mars
And terrible Bellona led them on, —
Bellona bringing Tumult in her train, 745

And Mars with brandished lance — a mighty

weight —
Now stalking after Hector, now before.

Him when the valiant Diomed beheld,
He trembled ; and, as one who, journeying
Along a way he knows not, having crossed 750

A place of drear extent, before him sees
A river rushing swiftly toward the deep,
And all its tossing current white with foam,
And stops and turns, and measures back his way,
So then did Diomed withdraw, and spake : — 75s

" O friends, how greatly must we all admire
This noble Hector, mighty with the spear
And terrible in war. There is some god
Forever near him, warding off the stroke
Of death ; beside him yonder even now 760

Stands Mars in semblance of a mortal man.
Yield, then, and with your faces toward the foe
Fall back, and strive not with the gods of heaven."

138 The Iliad.

Even as he spake, the Trojan host drew near,
And Hector slew two warriors trained to arms, —
Menesthes and Anchialus, — who came 7«s

Both in one chariot to the war. Their fall
Ajax, the son of Telamon, beheld,
And pitied, and drew near, and stood, and hurled
His glittering spear. It smote Ampheius, son 770
Of Selagus, who, rich in lands and goods,
Abode in Paesus. In an evil hour
He joined the cause of Priam and his sons.
Him at the belt the spear of Ajax smote,
And pierced the bowels. With a crash he fell. 775
Then hastened mighty Ajax to strip off
The armor, but the Trojans at him cast
Their pointed spears that glittered as they flew,
And many struck his shield. He pressed his heel
Against the slain, and from the body drew 780

His brazen spear, but could not from the breast
Loose the bright mail, so thick the weapons came,
And such the wary dread with which he saw
The bravest of the Trojans closing round, '784

Many and fierce, and all with spears outstretched ;
And he, though strong and valiant and renowned,
Driven from the ground, gave way to mightier force.

So toiled the warriors through that stubborn fight,
When cruel fate urged on Tlepolemus,
The great and valiant son of Hercules, 790

To meet Sarpeclon, mighty as a god.
And now as each to each advanced, — the son

Book V. 139

And grandson of the cloud-compeller Jove, —
Thus first Tlepolemus addressed his foe : —

" Sarpedon, Lycian monarch, what has brought 795
Thee hither, trembling thus, and inexpert
In battle ? Lying flatterers are they
That call thee son of Jupiter who bears
The aegis ; for unlike the heroes thou,
Born to the Thunderer in times of old, 800

Nor like my daring father, Hercules
The lion-hearted, who once came to Troy
To claim the coursers of Laomedon.
With but six ships, and warriors but a few,
He laid the city waste and made its streets 80s

A desolation. Thou art weak of heart,
And round thee are thy people perishing ;
Yet, even wert thou brave, thy presence here
From Lycia's coast would prove of small avail
To Troy ; for, slain in combat here by me, 810

Thou to the gates of Hades shalt go down."

Sarpedon, leader of the Lycians, thus
Made answer : " True it is, Tlepolemus,
That he laid waste the sacred city of Troy
For the base dealings of Laomedon, 815

The monarch who with railing words repaid
His great deservings, and kept back the steeds
For which he came so far. But thou — thy fate
Is slaughter and black death from this my spear ;
And fame will come to me, and one more soul 820
Go down to Hades." As Sarpedon spake,

140

The Iliad.

Tlepolemus upraised his ashen spear,
And from the hands of both the chiefs at once
Their massive weapons flew. Sarpedon smote
Full in the throat his foe ; the cruel point s2S

Passed through the neck, and night came o'er his

eyes.
Tlepolemus, in turn, on the left thigh
Had struck Sarpedon with his ponderous lance.
The weapon, cast with vigorous hand and arm,
Pierced deep, and touched the bone ; but Jupiter 830
Averted from his son the doom of death.

His noble comrades raised and bore away
The great Sarpedon from the battle-field,
Trailing the long spear with them. Bitter pain
It gave him ; in their haste they marked it not, 835
Nor thought to draw the ashen weapon forth,
That he might mount the car ; so eagerly
His anxious bearers hurried from the war.

On the other side the well-armed Greeks took up
The slain Tlepolemus, to bear him thence. S40

The great Ulysses, large of soul, beheld,
And felt his spirit moved, as anxiously
He pondered whether to pursue the son
Of Jove the Thunderer, or turn and take
The life of many a Lycian. Yet to slay 845

Jove's mighty son was not his destiny,
And therefore Pallas moved him to engage
The crowd of Lycian warriors. Then he slew
Cceranus and Alastor, Chromius,

Book V. 141

Alcander, Halius, and Prytanis ss°

Noemon ; and yet more the noble Greek

Had slain, if crested Hector, mighty chief,

Had not perceived the havoc and, arrayed

In shining armor, hurried to the van

Of battle, carrying terror to the hearts 855

Of the Achaians. As he saw him near,

Sarpedon was rejoiced, yet sadly said : —

" O son of Priam, leave me not a prey
To these Achaians. Aid me, let me breathe
My latest breath in Troy, since I no more 860

Can hope, returning to my native land,
To gladden my dear wife and little son."

He spake, and crested Hector answered not,
Still pressing forward, eager to drive back
The Greeks in quick retreat, and take the life 865
Of many a foe. Then did the noble band
Who bore the great Sarpedon lay him down
Beneath a shapely beech, a tree of Jove
The .^Egis-bearer. There stout Pelagon,
His well-beloved comrade, from his thigh 870

Drew forth the sharp blade of the ashen spear.
Then the breath left him, and his eyes were closed
In darkness ; but the light came back again
As, breathing over him, the fresh north wind
Revived the spirit in his laboring breast. 87s

But not for Mars nor Hector mailed in brass
Fled the Achaians to their fleet ; nor yet
Advanced they on the foe, but step by step

142

The Iliad.

Gave way before him, for they had perceived

The god of war was with the sons of Troy. sso

Whom first, whom last did Hector, Priam's son,
And iron Mars lay low ? The godlike chief
Teuthras, and — great among the Grecian knights —
Orestes, and the ^Etolian Trechus, famed
As spearman, and (Enomaus, and the son
Of (Enops, Helemes, and after these
Belted Oresbius, who in Hyla made
His home, intent on gathering wealth beside
The Lake Cephissus, on whose borders dwelt
Boeotians many, lords of fertile lands. s9o

The white-armed goddess Juno, when she saw
The Argives falling in that cruel fray,
Addressed Minerva with these winged words : —

" O thou unconquerable goddess, born
To Jove the yEgis-bearer ! what is this ? 895

It was an idle promise that we made
To Menelaus, that he should behold
Troy, with its strong defences, overthrown,
And reach his home again, if thus we leave
Mars the destroyer to his ravages. e°o

Come, let us bring our friends effectual aid."

So spake she, and her bidding was obeyed
By blue-eyed Pallas. Juno the august,
Daughter of mighty Saturn, laid in haste
The harness, with its ornaments of gold, 905

Upon the horses. Hebe rolled the wheels,
Each with eight spokes, and joined them to the ends

Book V. 143

Of the steel axle, — fellies wrought of gold,
Bound with a brazen rim to last for aye, —
A wonder to behold. The hollow naves 910

Were silver, and on gold and silver cords
Was slung the chariot's seat ; in silver hooks
Rested the reins, and silver was the pole
Where the fair yoke and poitrels, all of gold,
Were fastened. Juno, eager for the strife, 913

Led the swift-footed steeds beneath the yoke.

Then Pallas, daughter of the god who bears
The aegis, on her father's palace-floor
Let fall in dainty folds her flowing robe
Of many colors, wrought by her own hand, 920

And, putting on the mail of Jupiter
The Cloud-compeller, stood arrayed in arms
For the stern tasks of war. Her shoulder bore
The dreadful aegis with its shaggy brim
Bordered with Terror. There was Strife, and there
Was Fortitude, and there was fierce Pursuit, 9=6

And there the Gorgon's head, a ghastly sight,
Deformed and dreadful, and a sign of woe
When borne by Jupiter. Upon her head
She placed a golden helmet with four crests 930

And fair embossed, of strength that might withstand
The armed battalions of a hundred towns ;
Then stepped into her shining car, and took
Her massive spear in hand, heavy and huge,
With which whole ranks of heroes are o'erthrown 93s
Before the daughter of the Mighty One

144 The Iliad.

Incensed against them. Juno swung the lash

And swiftly urged the steeds. Before their way,

On sounding hinges, of their own accord,

Flew wide the gates of heaven, which evermore 940

The Hours are watching, — they who keep the mount

Olympus and the mighty heaven, with power

To open or to close their cloudy veil.

Thus through the gates they drave the obedient

steeds,
And found Saturnius, where he sat apart 94s

From other gods, upon the loftiest height
Of many-peaked Olympus. Juno there,
The white-armed goddess, stayed her chariot-wheels,
And, thus accosting Jove, she questioned him : —

" O Father Jupiter, does not thy wrath 950

Rise at those violent deeds of Mars ? Thou seest
How many of the Achaians he has slain,
And what brave men. Nay, thus it should not be.
Great grief is mine ; but Venus and the god
Phcebus, who bears the silver bow, rejoice 955

To see this lawless maniac range the field,
And urge him on. O Father Jupiter,
Wilt thou be angry with me if I drive
Mars, sorely wounded, from the battle-field ? "

The cloud-compelling Jupiter replied : — 960

" Thou hast my leave ; but send to encounter him
Pallas the spoiler, who has many a time
Brought grievous troubles on the god of war."

He spake, and white-armed Juno instantly

Book V. 145

Obeyed him. With the scourge she lashed the steeds,
And not unwillingly they flew between 9ee

Earth and the starry heaven. As much of space
As one who gazes on the dark-blue deep
Sees from the headland summit where he sits —
Such space the coursers of immortal breed 970

Cleared at each bound they made with sounding

hoofs ;
And when they came to Ilium and its streams,
Where Simois and Scamander's channels meet,
The white-armed goddess Juno stayed their speed,
And loosed them from the yoke, and covered them
With darkness. Simois ministered, meanwhile, 976
The ambrosial pasturage on which they fed.

On went the goddesses, with step as light
As timid doves, and hastened toward the field
To aid the Achaian army. When they came 930
Where fought the bravest warriors in a throng
Around the great horse-tamer Diomed,
Like ravenous lions or wild boars whose rage
Is terrible, the white-armed goddess stood,
And called aloud, — for now she wore the form 9S5
Of gallant Stentor, in whose brazen voice
Was heard a shout like that of fifty men : —

"Shame on you, Argives, — wretches, who in form,
And form alone, are heroes. While we yet
Had great Achilles in the war, the men 990

Of Ilium dared not pass beyond their gates,
So much they feared his mighty spear ; but now
vol. 1. 7 j

146 The Iliad.

They push the battle to our hollow ships,

Far from the town." As thus the goddess spake,

New strength and courage woke in every breast. 995

Then blue-eyed Pallas hastened to the son
Of Tydeus. By his steeds she found the king,
And by his chariot, as he cooled the wound
Made by the shaft of Pandarus. The sweat
Beneath the ample band of his round shield 1000
Had weakened him, and weary was his arm.
He raised the band, and from the wounded limb
Wiped off the clotted blood. The goddess laid
Her hand upon the chariot-yoke, and said : —

"Tydeus hath left a son unlike himself; i°°5

For he,' though low in stature, was most brave ;
And when he went, an envoy and alone,
To Thebes, the populous Cadmean town,
And I, enjoining him to keep aloof
From wars and rash encounters, bade him sit mw
Quietly at the feasts in palace-halls,
Still, to his valiant temper true, he gave
Challenges to the Theban youths, and won
The prize with ease in all their games, such aid
I gave him. Now I stand by thee in turn, «=iS

Protect thee, and exhort thee manfully
To fight against the Trojans ; but to-day
Either the weariness of toil unnerves
Thy frame, or withering fear besets thy heart.
Henceforth we cannot deem thee, as of late, 1020
The offspring of CEnides skilled in war."

Book V. 147

And then the valiant Diomed replied : —
" I know thee, goddess, daughter of great Jove
The .^Egis-bearer ; therefore will I speak
Freely and keep back nothing. No base fear 1025
Unmans me, nor desire of ease ; but well
I bear in mind the mandate thou hast given.
Thou didst forbid me to contend with gods,
Except that if Jove's daughter, Venus, joined
The battle, I might wound her with my spear. 1030
But now I have withdrawn, and given command
That all the Greeks come hither ; for I see
That Mars is in the field and leads the war."

Again the blue-eyed Pallas, answering, said : —
" Tydides Diomed, most dear of men, 1035

Nay, fear thou nothing from this Mars, nor yet
From any other of the gods ; for I
Will be thy sure defence. First urge thy course
Full against Mars, with thy firm-footed steeds.
Engage him hand to hand ; respect him not, — 1040
The fiery, frantic Mars, the unnatural plague
Of man, the fickle god, who promised me
And Juno, lately, to take part with us
Against the Trojans and befriend the Greeks.
Now he forgets, and joins the sons of Troy." 1045

She spake, and laid her hand on Sthenelus,
To draw him from the horses ; instantly
He leaped to earth ; the indignant deity
Took by the side of Diomed her place ;
The beechen axle groaned beneath the weight ™So

148 The Iliad.

Of that great goddess and that man of might.

Then Pallas seized the lash and caught the reins,

And, urging the firm-footed coursers, drave

Full against Mars, who at that moment slew

Huge Periphas, the mightiest one of all 1055

The ^Etolian band, — Ochesius' famous son.

While bloody-handed Mars was busy yet

About the slain, Minerva hid her face

In Pluto's helmet, that the god might fail

To see her. As that curse of humankind 1060

Beheld the approach of noble Diomed,

He left the corpse of Periphas unspoiled

Where he had fallen, and where he breathed his

last,
And came in haste to meet the Grecian knight.
And now, when they were near, and face to face,^
Mars o'er the chariot-yoke and horses' reins
First hurled his brazen spear, in hope to take
His enemy's life ; but Pallas with her hand
Caught it and turned it, so that it flew by
And gave no wound. The valiant Diomed 1070

Made with his brazen spear the next assault,
And Pallas guided it to strike the waist
Where girded by the baldric. In that part
She wounded Mars, and tore the shining skin,
And drew the weapon back. The furious god ™75
Uttered a cry as of nine thousand men,
Or of ten thousand, rushing to the fight.
The Greeks and Trojans stood aghast with fear,

Book V. 149

To hear that terrible cry of him whose thirst

Of bloodshed never is appeased by blood. 1080

As when, in time of heat, the air is filled
With a black shadow from the gathering clouds
And the strong-blowing wind, so furious Mars
Appeared to Diomed, as in a cloud
He rose to the broad heaven and to the home ioss
Of gods on high Olympus. Near to Jove
He took his seat in bitter grief, and showed
The immortal blood still dropping from his wound,
And thus, with winged words, complaining said : —

" O Father Jupiter ! does not thy wrath 1090

Rise at these violent deeds ? 'T is ever thus
That we, the gods, must suffer grievously
From our own rivalry in favoring man ;
And yet the blame of all this strife is' thine,
For thou hast a mad daughter, ever wron^.
And ever bent on mischief. All the rest
Of the immortals dwelling on this mount
Obey thee and are subject to thy will.
Her only thou hast never yet restrained
By word or act, but dost indulge her freaks
Because the pestilent creature is thy child.
And now she moves the insolent Diomed
To raise his hand against the immortal gods.
And first he wounded Venus in the wrist,
Contending hand to hand ; and then he sought 1105
To encounter me in arms, as if he were
The equal of a god. My own swift feet

150 The Iliad.

Carried me thence, else might I long have lain,

In anguish, under heaps of carcasses,

Or helplessly been mangled by his sword." mo

The Cloud-compeller, Jove, replied, and frowned :
" Come not to me, thou changeling, to complain:
Of all the gods upon the Olympian mount
I like thee least, who ever dost delight
In broils and wars and battles. Thou art like i«s
Thy mother Juno, headstrong and perverse.
Her I can scarcely rule by strict commands,
And what thou sufferest now, I deem, is due
To her bad counsels. Yet 't is not my will
That thou shouldst suffer longer, who dost share "20
My lineage, whom thy mother bore to me.
But wert thou born, destroyer as thou art,
To any other god, thou hadst long since
Lain lower than the sons of Uranus."

So spake he, and to Paeon gave command ™s
To heal the wound ; and Paeon bathed the part
With pain-dispelling balsams, and it healed ;
For Mars was not to die. As, when the juice
Of figs is mingled with white milk and stirred,
The liquid gathers into clots while yet »3°

It whirls with the swift motion, so was healed
The wound of violent Mars. Then Hebe bathed
The god, and robed him richly, and he took
His seat, delighted, by Saturnian Jove.

Now, having forced the curse of nations, Mars, u>5
To pause from slaughter, Argive Juno came,

Book VI. 151

With Pallas, her invincible ally,
Back to the mansion of imperial Jove.

BOOK VI.

NOW from that stubborn conflict of the Greeks
And Trojans had the gods withdrawn. The
fight
Of men encountering men with brazen spears
Still raged from place to place upon the plain
Between the Xanthus and the Simoi's. s

And first of all did Ajax Telamon,
The bulwark of the Achaians, break the ranks
Of Troy and raise the hopes of those who fought
Beside him ; for he smote the bravest man
Of all the Thracian warriors, — Acamas, 10

Son of Eussorus, strong and large of limb.
His spear-head, through the plumed helmet's cone
Entering the forehead of the Thracian, pierced
The bone, and darkness gathered o'er his eyes.
The valiant Diomed slew Axylus, »s

The son of Teuthras. To the war he came
From nobly-built Arisba ; great his wealth,
And greatly was he loved, for courteously
He welcomed to his house beside the way-
All comers. None of these could interpose ^
Between him and his death, for Diomed

152 The Iliad.

Slew him and his attendant charioteer,
Calysius ; both went down below the earth.
And then Euryalus struck Dresus down,
And smote Opheltius, and went on to slay n

yEsepus and his brother Pedasus ; —
A river-nymph, Abarbarei'a, bore
Both children to Bucolion the renowned.
Bucolion was the eldest of the sons
Of great Laomedon. His mother reared 30

The boy in secret. While he fed his sheep,
He with the river-nymph was joined in love
And marriage, and she bore him twins ; and these,
Brave and of shapely limb, Mecisteus' son
Struck down, and from their shoulders tore the mail.
The warlike Polypcetes overthrew 3s

Astyalus ; Ulysses smote to earth
Pidytes the Percosian with the spear,
And Teucer Aretaon, nobly born.
The glittering javelin of Antilochus, 40

The son of Nestor, laid Ablerus low ;
And Agamemnon, king of men, struck down
Elatus, who on lofty Pedasus
Dwelt, by the smoothly flowing Satnio's stream.
Brave Lei'tus slew Phylacus in flight, 45

And by Eurypylus Melanthius fell.
Then valiant Menelaus took alive
Adrastus, whose two coursers, as they scoured
The plain in terror, struck against a branch
Of tamarisk, and, there entangled, snapped 50

Book VI. ■" 153

The chariot pole, and, breaking from it, fled
Whither were others fleeing. From the car
Adrastus to the dust beside the wheel
Fell, on his face. There, lifting his huge spear,
Atrides Menelaus o'er him stood. ss

Adrastus clasped the warrior's knees and said : —

" O son of Atreus, take me prisoner,
And thou shalt have large ransom. In the house
Of my rich father ample treasures lie, —
Brass, gold, and tempered steel, — and he shall send
Gifts without end when he shall hear that I 61

Am spared alive and in the Grecian fleet."

He spake, and moved the conqueror, who now
Was minded to give charge that one among
His comrades to the Grecian fleet should lead &5
The captive. Agamemnon came in haste,
And, lifting up his voice, rebuked him thus : —

" O Menelaus, soft of heart, why thus
Art thou concerned for men like these ? In sooth,
Great are the benefits thy household owes 7°

The Trojans. Nay, let none of them escape
The doom of 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." 75

He spake ; the timely admonition changed
The purpose of his brother, who thrust back
The suppliant hero with his hand ; and then
King Agamemnon smote him through the loins,
7*

154 The Iliad.

And prone on earth he fell. Upon the breast so
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 ss

Linger behind the rest, that he may bear
Much 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 90

Courage and zeal. Then had the men of Troy
Sought refuge from the Greeks within their walls,
O'ercome by abject fear, if Helenus,
The son of Priam, and of highest note
Among the augurs, had not made his way 93

To Hector and ^Eneas, speaking thus : —

" O Hector and ^Eneas, since on you
Is laid the mighty labor to command
The Trojans and the Lycians, — for the first
Are ye in battle, and in council first, — 100

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 then, so soon as ye shall have revived ws

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

Book VI. 155

To Troy and seek the mother of us both,

And bid her call the honored Trojan dames «o

To where the blue-eyed Pallas has her fane,

In the high citadel, and with a key

Open the hallowed doors, and let her bring

What she shall deem the fairest of the robes,

And amplest, in her palace, and the one «s

She prizes most, and lay it on the knees

Of the bright-haired Minerva. Let her make

A vow to offer to the goddess there

Twelve yearling heifers that have never borne

The yoke, if she in mercy will regard 120

The city, and the wives and little ones

Of its defenders ; if she will protect

Our sacred Ilium from the ruthless son

Of Tydeus, from whose valor armies flee,

And whom I deem the bravest of the Greeks. ^s

For not so greatly have we held in dread

Achilles, the great leader, whom they call

The goddess-born ; but terrible in wrath

Is Diomed, nor hath his peer in might."

He spake, and Hector of his brother's words 130
Was not unmindful. Instantly he leaped,
Armed, from his chariot, shaking his sharp spears ;
And everywhere among the host he went,
Exhorting them to combat manfully ;
And thus he kindled the fierce fight anew. 135

They, turning from the flight, withstood the Greeks.
The Greeks fell back and ceased to slay ; they
thought

156 The Iliad.

That one of the immortals had come down
From out the starry heaven to help the men
Of Troy, so suddenly they turned and fought. 140
Then Hector to the Trojans called aloud : —

" O valiant sons of Troy, and ye allies
Summoned from far ! Be men, my friends ; call back
Your wonted valor, while I go to Troy
To ask the aged men, our counsellors, 145

And all our wives, to come before the gods
And pray and offer vows of sacrifice."

So the plumed Hector spake, and then withdrew,
While the black fell that edged his bossy shield
Struck on his neck and ankles as he went. 150

Now came into the midst between the hosts
Glaucus, the offspring of Hippolochus,
And met the son of Tydeus, — both intent
On combat. But when now the twain were near,
And ready to engage, brave Diomed 155

Spake first, and thus addressed his enemy : —

"Who mayst thou be, of mortal men? Most brave
Art thou, yet never in the glorious fight
Have I beheld thee. Thou surpassest now
All others in thy daring, since thou com'st 160

Within the reach of my long spear. The sons
Of most unhappy men are they who meet
My arm ; but — if thou comest from above,
A god — I war not with the gods of heaven ;
For even brave Lycurgus lived not long, '6s

The son of Dryas, who engaged in strife

Book VI. 157

With the celestial gods. He once pursued

The nurses of the frantic Bacchus through

The hallowed ground of Nyssa. All at once

They flung to earth their sacred implements, 170

Lycurgus the man-slayer beating them

With an ox-driver's goad. Then Bacchus fled

And plunged into the sea, where Thetis hid

The trembler in her bosom, for he shook

With panic at the hero's angry threats. 17s

Thenceforward were the blessed deities

Wroth with Lycurgus. Him did Saturn's son

Strike blind, and after that he lived not long,

For he was held in hate by all the gods.

So will I never with the gods contend. 180

But if thou be indeed of mortal race, '

And nourished by the fruits of earth, draw near ;

And quickly shalt thou pass the gates of death."

Hippolochus's son, the far-renowned,
Made answer thus : " O large-souled Diomed, iss
Why ask my lineage ? Like the race of leaves
Is that of humankind. Upon the ground
The winds strew one year's leaves ; the sprouting

grove
Puts forth another brood, that shoot and grow
In the spring season. So it is with man : 190

One generation grows while one decays.
Yet since thou takest heed of things like these,
And askest whence I sprang, — although to most
My birth is not unknown, ■*- there is a town

!^8 The Iliad.

Lapped in the pasture-grounds where graze the
steeds m

Of Argos, Ephyra by name, and there
Dwelt Sisyphus /Bolides, most shrewd
Of men ; his son was Glaucus, and the son
Of Glaucus was the good Bellerophon,
To whom the gods gave beauty and the grace
Of winning manners. Proetus sought his death
And banished him, for Proetus was the chief
Among the Argives ; Jupiter had made
That people subject to his rule. The wife
Of Proetus, nobly-born Anteia, sought *°s

With passionate desire his secret love,
But failed to entice, with all her blandishments,
The virtuous and discreet Bellerophon.
Therefore went she to Proetus with a lie, —

" ' Die, Proetus, thou, or put Bellerophon *«>

To death, for he has offered force to me.'

"The monarch hearkened, and was moved to
wrath ;
And then he would not slay him, for his soul
Revolted at the deed ; he sent him thence
To Lycia, with a fatal tablet, sealed, 215

With things of deadly import writ therein,
Meant for Anteia's father, in whose hand
Bellerophon must place it, and be made
To perish. So at Lycia he arrived
Under the favoring guidance of the gods ; «°

And when he came where Lycian Xanthus flows,

Book VI. 159

The king of that broad realm received his guest

With hospitable welcome, feasting him

Nine days, and offering up in sacrifice

Nine oxen. But when rosy-fingered Morn 225

Appeared for the tenth time, he questioned him

And bade him show the token he had brought

From Prcetus. When the monarch had beheld

The fatal tablet from his son-in-law,

The first command he gave him was, to slay 230

Heaven-born Chimera, the invincible.

No human form was hers : a lion she

In front, a dragon in the hinder parts,

And in the midst a goat, and terribly

Her nostrils breathed a fierce, consuming flame ; 23s

Yet, trusting in the portents of the gods,

He slew her. Then it was his second task

To combat with the illustrious Solymi, —

The hardest battle he had ever fought —

So he declared — with men ; and then he slew —

His third exploit — the man-like Amazons. -41

Then he returned to Lycia ; on his way

The monarch laid a treacherous snare. He chose

From his wide Lycian realm the bravest men

To lie in ambush for him. Never one 24s

Of these came home again, — Bellerophon

The matchless slew them all. And when the king

Saw that he was the offspring of a god,

He kept him near him, giving him to wife

His daughter, and dividing with him all 250

160 The Iliad.

His kingly honors, while the Lycians set

Their richest fields apart — a goodly spot,

Ploughlands and vineyards — for the prince to till.

And she who now became his wife brought forth

Three children to the sage Bellerophon, — 235

Isandrus and Hippolochus ; and, last,

Laodameia, who in secret bore

To all-providing Jupiter a son, —

Godlike Sarpedon, eminent in arms.

But when Bellerophon upon himself **

Had drawn the anger of the gods, he roamed

The Alcian fields alone, a prey to thoughts

That wasted him, and shunning every haunt

Of humankind. The god whose lust of strife

Is never sated, Mars, cut off his son 265

Isandrus, warring with the illustrious race

Of Solymi ; and Dian, she who guides

Her car with golden reins, in anger slew

His daughter. I am of Hippolochus ;

From him I claim my birth. He sent me forth 270

To Troy with many counsels and commands,

Ever to bear myself like a brave man,

And labor to excel, and never bring

Dishonor on the stock from which I sprang, —

The bravest stock by far in Ephyra =:5

And the wide realm of Lycia. 'T is my boast

To be of such a race and such a blood."

He spake. The warlike Diomed was glad,
And, planting in the foodful earth his spear,

Book VI. 161

Addressed the people's shepherd blandly thus : —

" Most surely thou art my ancestral guest ; =&
For noble GCneus once within his halls
Received the blameless chief Bellerophon,
And kept him twenty days, and they bestowed
Gifts on each other, such as host and guest 285

Exchange ; a purple baldric CEneus gave
Of dazzling color, and Bellerophon
A. double golden goblet ; this I left
Within my palace when I came to Troy.
Of Tydeus I remember nothing, since 290

He left me, yet a little child, and went
To Thebes, where perished such a host of Greeks.
Henceforward I will be thy host and friend
In Argos ; thou shalt be the same to me
In Lycia when I visit Lycia's towns ; 295

And let us in the tumult of the fray
Avoid each other's spears, for there will be
Of Trojans and of their renowned allies
Enough for me to slay whene'er a god
Shall bring them in my way. In turn for thee 300
Are many Greeks to smite whomever thou
Canst overcome. Let us exchange our arms,
That even these may see that thou and I
Regard each other as ancestral guests."

Thus having said, and leaping from their cars, 30s
They clasped each other's hands and pledged their

faith.
Then did the son of Saturn take away

1 62 The Iliad.

The judging mind of Glaucus, when he gave
His arms of gold away for arms of brass
Worn by Tydides Diomed, — the worth 310

Of fivescore oxen for the worth of nine.

And now had Hector reached the Scaean gates
And beechen tree. Around him flocked the wives
And daughters of the Trojans eagerly;
Tidings of sons and brothers they required, 3>s

And friends and husbands. He admonished all
Duly to importune the gods in prayer,
For woe, he said, was near to many a one.

And then he came to Priam's noble hall, —
A palace built with graceful porticos, 320

And fifty chambers near each other, walled
With polished stone, the rooms of Priam's sons
And of their wives ; and opposite to these
Twelve chambers for his daughters, also near
Each other ; and, with polished marble walls, 3*s
The sleeping-rooms of Priam's sons-in-law
And their unblemished consorts. There he met
His gentle mother on her way to seek
Her fairest child, Laodice. She took 3^9

His hand and held it fast, while thus she spake : —

" Why art thou come, my child, and why hast left
The raging fight ? Full hard these hateful Greeks
Press us, in fighting round the city-walls.
Thy heart, I know, hath moved thee to repair
To our high citadel, and lift thy hands 33s

In prayer to Jupiter. But stay thou here

Book VL 163

Till I bring pleasant wine, that thou mayst pour
A part to Jove and to the other gods,
And drink and be refreshed ; for wine restores
Strength to the weary, and I know that thou 340
Art weary, fighting for thy countrymen."

Great Hector of the crested helm replied : —
" My honored mother, bring not pleasant wine,
Lest that unman me, and my wonted might
And valor leave me. I should fear to pour 345

Dark wine to Jupiter with hands unwashed.
Nor is it fitting that a man like me,
Defiled with blood and battle-dust, should make
Vows to the cloud-compeller, Saturn's son.
But thou, with incense, seek the temple reared 350
To Pallas the despoiler, — calling first
Our honored dames together. Take with thee
What thou shalt deem the fairest of the robes,
And amplest, in thy palace, and the one
Thou prizest most, and lay it on the knees 3r,s

Of the bright-haired Minerva. Make a vow
To offer to the goddess in her fane
Twelve yearling heifers that have never borne
The yoke, if she in mercy will regard
The city, and the wives and little ones 360

Of its defenders ; if she will protect
Our sacred Ilium from the ruthless son
Of Tydeus, from whose valor armies flee.
So to the shrine of Pallas, warrior-queen,
Do thou repair, while I depart to seek 36s

164 The Iliad.

Paris, if he will listen to my voice.

Would that the earth might open where he stands,

And swallow him ! Olympian Jupiter

Reared him to be the bane of all who dwell

In Troy, to large-souled Priam and his sons. 370

Could I behold him sinking to the shades,

My heart would lose its sense of bitter woe."

He spake. His mother, turning homeward, gave
Charge to her handmaids, who through all the town
Passed, summoning the matrons, while the queen 375
Descended to her chamber, where the air
Was sweet with perfumes, and in which were laid
Her rich embroidered robes, the handiwork
Of Sidon's damsels, whom her son had brought —
The godlike Alexander — from the coast 380

Of Sidon, when across the mighty deep
He sailed and brought the high-born Helen thence.
One robe, most beautiful of all, she chose,
To bring to Pallas, ampler than the rest,
And many-hued ; it glistened like a star, 3S5

And lay beneath them all. Then hastily
She left the chamber with the matron train.

They reached Minerva's temple, and its gates
Were opened by Theano, rosy-cheeked,
The knight Antenor's wife and Cisseus' child, 390
Made priestess to the goddess by the sons
Of Troy. Then all the matrons lifted up
Their voices and stretched forth their suppliant hands
To Pallas, while the fair Theano took

Book VI. 165

The robe and spread its folds upon the lap 39s

Of fair-haired Pallas, and with solemn vows
Prayed to the daughter of imperial Jove : —

" O venerated Pallas, Guardian-Power
Of Troy, great goddess ! shatter thou the lance
Of Diomed, and let him fall in death 400

Before the Scaean gates, that we forthwith
May offer to thee in thy temple here
Twelve yearling heifers that have never worn
The yoke, if thou wilt pity us and spare
The wives of Trojans and their little ones." 40s

So spake she, supplicating ; but her prayer
Minerva answered not ; and while they made
Vows to the daughter of Almighty Jove,
Hector was hastening to the sumptuous home
Of Alexander, which that prince had built 410

With aid of the most cunning architects
In Troy the fruitful, by whose hands were made
The bed-chamber and hall and ante-room.
There entered Hector, dear to Jove ; he bore
In hand a spear eleven cubits long : 415

The brazen spear-head glittered brightly, bound
With a gold circle. In his room he there
Found Paris, busied with his shining arms, —
Corselet and shield ; he tried his curved bow ;
While Argive Helen with the attendant maids 4=0
Was sitting, and appointed each a task.
Hector beheld, and chid him sharply thus : —

" Strange man ! a fitting time indeed is this,

1 66 The Iliad.

To indulge thy sullen humor, while in fight

Around our lofty walls the men of Troy 425

Are perishing, and for thy sake the war

Is fiercely blazing all around our town.

Thou wouldst thyself reprove him, shouldst thou see

Another warrior as remiss as thou

In time of battle. Rouse thee, then, and act, 430

Lest we behold our city all in flames."

Then answered Paris of the godlike form : —
" Hector ! although thou justly chidest me,
And not beyond my due, yet let me speak.
Attend and hearken. Not in sullenness, 433

Nor angry with the Trojans, sat I here
Within my chamber, but that I might give
A loose to sorrow. Even now my wife
With gentle speeches has besought of me
That I return to battle ; and to me 440

That seems the best, for oft doth victory
Change sides in war. Remain thou yet awhile,
Till I put on my armor ; or go thou,
And I shall follow and rejoin thee soon."

He ended. Hector of the beamy helm 44S

Heard him, and answered not ; but Helen spake,
And thus with soothing words addressed the chief: —

" Brother-in-law, — for such thou art, though I
Am lost to shame, and cause of many ills, —
Would that some violent blast when I was born 450
Had whirled me to the mountain wilds, or waves
Of the hoarse sea, that they might swallow me,

Book VI. 167

Ere deeds like these were done ! But since the gods

Have thus decreed, why was I not the wife

Of one who bears a braver heart and feels 455

Keenly the anger and reproach of men ?

For Paris hath not, and will never have,

A resolute mind, and must abide the effect

Of his own folly. Enter thou meanwhile,

My brother ; seat thee here, for heavily 460

Must press on thee the labors thou dost bear

For one so vile as I, and for the sake

Of guilty Paris. An unhappy lot,

By Jupiter's appointment, waits us both, —

A theme of song for men in time to come." 4S5

Great Hector of the beamy helm replied : —
" Nay, Helen, ask me not to sit ; thy speech
Is courteous, but persuades me not. My mind
Is troubled for the Trojans, to whose aid
I hasten, for they miss me even now. 470

But thou exhort this man, and bid him haste
To overtake me ere I leave the town.
I go to my own mansion first, to meet
My household, — my dear wife and little child ;
Nor know I whether I may come once more 475
To them, or whether the great gods ordain
That I must perish by the hands of.Greeks."

So spake the plumed Hector, and withdrew,
And reached his pleasant palace, but found not
White-armed Andromache within, for she 4so

Was in the tower, beside her little son

1 68 TJie Iliad.

And well-robed nurse, and sorrowed, shedding tears.
And Hector, seeing that his blameless wife
Was not within, came forth again, and stood
Upon the threshold questioning the maids. 4ss

" I pray you, damsels, tell me whither went
White-armed Andromache ? Has she gone forth
To seek my sisters, or those stately dames,
My brothers' wives ? Or haply has she sought
The temple of Minerva, where are met 490

The other bright-haired matrons of the town
To supplicate the dreaded deity ? "

Then said the diligent housewife in reply : —
" Since thou wilt have the truth, — thy wife is gone
Not to thy sisters, nor those stately dames, 49s

Thy brothers' wives ; nor went she forth to join
The other bright-haired matrons of the town,
Where in Minerva's temple they are met
To supplicate the dreaded deity
But to the lofty tower of Troy she went 500

When it was told her that the Trojan troops
Lost heart, and that the valor of the Greeks
Prevailed. She now is hurrying toward the walls,
Like one distracted, with her son and nurse."

So spake the matron. Hector left in haste 505
The mansion, and retraced his way between
The rows of stately dwellings, traversing
The mighty city. When at length he reached
The Scaean gates, that issue on the field,
His spouse, the nobly-dowered Andromache, 510

Book VI. 169

Came forth to meet him, — daughter of the prince
Eetion, who, among the woody slopes
Of Placos, in the Hypoplacian town
Of Thebe, ruled Cilicia and her sons,
And gave his child to Hector great in arms. s«

She came attended by a maid, who bore
A tender child — a babe too young to speak —
Upon her bosom, — Hector's only son,
Beautiful as a star, whom Hector called
Scamandrius, but all else Astyanax, — s«>

The city's lord, — since Hector stood the sole
Defence of Troy. The father on his child
Looked with a silent smile. Andromache
Pressed to his side meanwhile, and, all in tears,
Clung to his hand, and, thus beginning, said : — s=s
" Too brave ! thy valor yet will cause thy death.
Thou hast no pity on thy tender child,
Nor me, unhappy one, who soon must be
Thy widow. All the Greeks will rush on thee
To take thy life. A happier lot were mine, 530

If I must lose thee, to go down to earth,
For I shall have no hope when thou art gone, —
Nothing but sorrow. Father have I none,
And no dear mother. Great Achilles slew
My father when he sacked the populous town 535
Of the Cilicians, — Thebe with high gates.
'T was there he smote Eetion, yet forbore
To make his arms a spoil ; he dared not that,
But burned the dead with his bright armor on,

170

The Iliad.

And raised a mound above him. Mountain-nymphs,
Daughters of aegis-bearing Jupiter, 541

Came to the spot and planted it with elms.
Seven brothers had I in my father's house,
And all went down to Hades in one day.
Achilles the swift-footed slew them all s*s

Among their slow-paced bullocks and white sheep.
My mother, princess on the woody slopes
Of Placos, with his spoils he bore away,
And only for large ransom gave her back.
But her Diana, archer-queen, struck down 55°

Within her father's palace. Hector, thou
Art father and dear mother now to me,
And brother and my youthful spouse besides.
In pity keep within the fortress here,
Nor make thy child an orphan nor thy wife 55s'

A widow. Post thine army near the place
Of the wild fig-tree, where the city-walls
Are low and may be scaled. Thrice in the war
The boldest of the foe have tried the spot, —
The Ajaces and the famed Idomeneus, ss°

The two chiefs born to Atreus, and the brave
Tydides, whether counselled by some seer
Or prompted to the attempt by their own minds."
Then answered Hector, great in war : " All this
I bear in mind, dear wife ; but I should stand s^s
Ashamed before the men and long-robed dames
Of Troy, were I to keep aloof and shun
The conflict, coward-like. Not thus my heart

Book VI. 171

Prompts me, for greatly have I learned to dare

And strike among the foremost sons of Troy, 570

Upholding my great father's fame and mine ;

Yet well in my undoubting mind I know

The day shall come in which our sacred Troy,

And Priam, and the people over whom

Spear-bearing Priam rules, shall perish all. 57s

But not the sorrows of the Trojan race,

Nor those of Hecuba herself, nor those

Of royal Priam, nor the woes that wait

My brothers many and brave, — who all at last,

Slain by the pitiless foe, shall lie in dust, — 580

Grieve me so much as thine, when some mailed Greek

Shall lead thee weeping hence, and take from thee

Thy day of freedom. Thou in Argos then

Shalt, at another's bidding, ply the loom,

And from the fountain of Messeis draw 585

Water, or from the Hypereian spring,

Constrained unwilling by thy cruel lot.

And then shall some one say who sees thee weep,

' This was the wife of Hector, most renowned

Of the horse-taming Trojans, when they fought 590

Around their city.' So shall some one say,

And thou shalt grieve the more, lamenting him

Who haply might have kept afar the day

Of thy captivity. O, let the earth

Be heaped above my head in death before sas

I hear thy cries as thou art borne away ! "

So speaking, mighty Hector stretched his arms

172 The Iliad.

To take the boy ; the boy shrank crying back

To his fair nurse's bosom, scared to see

His father helmeted in glittering brass, 600

And eying with affright the horse-hair plume

That grimly nodded from the lofty crest.

At this both parents in their fondness laughed ;

And hastily the mighty Hector took

The helmet from his brow and laid it down &s

Gleaming upon the ground, and, having kissed

His darling son and tossed him up in play,

Prayed thus to Jove and all the gods of heaven : —

" O Jupiter and all ye deities,
Vouchsafe that this my son may yet become "«
Among the Trojans eminent like me,
And nobly rule in Ilium. May they say,
' This man is greater than his father was ! '
When they behold him from the battle-field
Bring back the bloody spoil of the slain foe, — 6iS
That so his mother may be glad at heart."

So speaking, to the arms of his dear spouse
He gave the boy ; she on her fragrant breast
Received him, weeping as she smiled. The chief
Beheld, and, moved with tender pity, smoothed 6.0
Her forehead gently with his hand and said : —

" Sorrow not thus, beloved one, for me.
No living man can send me to the shades
Before my time ; no man of woman born,
Coward or brave, can shun his destiny. 6=5

But go thou home, and tend thy labors there, —

Book VI. 1/3

The web, the distaff, — and command thy maids
To speed the work. The cares of war pertain-
To all men born in Troy, and most to me."

Thus speaking, mighty Hector took again 63a
His helmet, shadowed with the horse-hair plume,
While homeward his beloved consort went,
Oft looking back, and shedding many tears.
Soon was she in the spacious palace-halls
Of the man-queller Hector. There she found e3j
A troop of maidens, — with them all she shared
Her grief; and all in his own house bewailed
The living Hector, whom they thought no more
To see returning from the battle-field,
Safe from the rage and weapons of the Greeks, w

Nor waited Paris in his lofty halls,
But when he had put on his glorious arms,
Glittering with brass, he traversed with quick steps
The city ; and as when some courser, fed
With barley in the stall, and wont to bathe 645

In some smooth-flowing river, having snapped
His halter, gayly scampers o'er the plain,
And in the pride of beauty bears aloft
His head, and gives his tossing mane to stream
Upon his shoulders, while his flying feet 6Sa

Bear him to where the mares are wont to graze, —
So came the son of Priam — Paris — down
From lofty Pergamus in glittering arms,
And, glorious as the sun, held on his way
Exulting and with rapid feet. He found est

1/4 The Iliad.

His noble brother Hector as he turned

To leave the place in which his wife and he

Had talked together. Alexander then —

Of godlike form — addressed his brother thus : —

" My elder brother ! I have kept thee here «»
Waiting, I fear, for me, though much in haste,
And came less quickly than thou didst desire."

And Hector of the plumed helm replied : —
"Strange being, no man justly can dispraise
Thy martial deeds, for thou art truly brave. &55

But oft art thou remiss and wilt not join
The combat. I am sad at heart to hear
The Trojans — they who suffer for thy sake
A thousand hardships — speak so ill of thee.
Yet let us go : we will confer of this e?°

Another time, if Jove should e'er vouchsafe
That to the immortal gods of heaven we pour
In our own halls the cup of liberty
When we have chased the well-armed Greeks from
Troy."

BOOK VII.

THE illustrious Hector spake, and rapidly
Passed through the gate, and with him issued
forth
His brother Alexander, — eager, both,
For war and combat. As when God bestows,

Book VII. 175

To glad the long-expecting mariners, 5

A favorable wind while wearily

They beat the ocean with their polished oars,

Their arms all nerveless with their length of toil, —

Such to the expecting Trojans was the sight

Of the two chiefs. First Alexander slew 10

Menesthius, who in Arne had his home,

A son of Arei'thous the king.

Large-eyed Philomedusa brought him forth

To the mace-bearer Areithoiis.

And Hector smote Eioneus, the spear 15

Piercing his neck beneath the brazen casque,

And straightway he dropped lifeless. Glaucus then —

Son of Hippolochus, and chief among

The Lycians — in that fiery onset slew

Iphinoiis, son of Dexius, with his spear. 20

It pierced the warrior's shoulder as he sprang

To mount his rapid car. and from the place

He fell to earth, his limbs relaxed in death

Now when Minerva of the azure eyes

Beheld them in the furious combat thus =>s

Wasting the Grecian host, she left the peaks

Of high Olympus, and came down in haste

To sacred Ilium. Straight Apollo flew

To meet her. for he marked from Pergamus

Her coming, and he greatly longed to give 30

The victory to the Trojans. As they met

Beside the beechen tree, the son of Jove,

The king Apollo, spake to Pallas thus : —

176 The Iliad.

" Why hast thou, daughter of imperial Jove,
Thus left Olympus in thine eager haste ? 35

Seek' st thou to turn in favor of the Greeks
War's wavering chances ? — for I know too well
Thou hast no pity when the men of Troy
Are perishing. But, if thou wilt give ear
To me, I shall propose a better way. 40

Cause we the conflict for this day to cease,
And be it afterward renewed until
An end be made of Troy, since it hath pleased
You, goddesses, to lay the city waste."

And blue-eyed Pallas answered : " Be it so, 45

0 mighty Archer. With a like intent

1 left Olympus for this battle-field

Of Greeks and Trojans. But by what device
Think'st thou to bring the combat to a pause ? "

Then spake the king Apollo, son of Jove, s<?

In turn to Pallas : " Let us seek to rouse
The fiery spirit of the Trojan knight
Hector, that he may challenge in the field
Some Greek to meet him, singly and alone,
In mortal combat. Then the well-armed Greeks, .«
Stung by the bold defiance, will send forth
A champion against Priam's noble son."

He spake. The blue-eyed goddess gave assent :
And straightway Helenus, beloved son
Of Priam, in his secret mind perceived &>

The purpose of the gods consulting thus,
And came and stood by Hector's side and said : —

Book VII. 177

" O Hector, son of Priam, and like Jove
In council, wilt thou hearken to my words
Who am thy brother ? Cause the Trojans all 65
And all the Greeks to sit, while thou shalt stand
Proclaiming challenge to the bravest man
Among the Achaians to contend with thee
In mortal combat. It is not thy fate
To fall and perish yet, for thus have said 70

The ever-living gods, whose voice I heard."

He spake ; and Hector, hearing him, rejoiced,
And went between the hosts. He bore his spear,
Holding it in the middle, and pressed back
The ranks of Trojans, and they all sat down. 75
And Agamemnon caused the well-armed Greeks
To sit down also. Meantime Pallas sat,
With Phoebus of the silver bow, in shape
Like vultures, on the boughs of the tall beech, —
The tree of Father Jupiter who bears 80

The aegis, — and they looked with great delight
Upon the array of warriors in thick rows,
Horrid with shields and helms and bristling spears.
As when the west wind, rising fresh, breathes o'er
The deep, and darkens all its face with waves, ss
So seemed the Greeks and Trojans as they sat
In ranks upon the field, while Hector stood
Between the armies and bespake them thus : —

"Ye Trojans, and ye well-armed Greeks, give ear
To what my spirit bids me speak. The son 90

Of Saturn, throned on high, hath not vouchsafed
3* l

178 The Iliad.

To ratify the treaty we have made,

But meditates new miseries for us both,

Till ye possess the towery city of Troy,

Or, vanquished, yield yourselves beside the barks 9s

That brought you o'er the sea. With you are found

The bravest sons of Greece. If one of these

Is moved to encounter me, let him stand forth

And fight with noble Hector. I propose,

And call on Jove to witness, that if he «»

Shall slay me with the long blade of his spear,

My arms are his to spoil and to bestow

Among the hollow ships ; but he must send

My body home, that there the sons of Troy

And Trojan dames may burn it on the pyre. 105

But if I take his life, and Phoebus crown

My combat with that glory, I will strip

His armor off and carry it away

To hallowed Ilium, there to hang it high

Within the temple of the archer-god »o

Apollo ; but his body I will send

Back to the well-oared ships, that on the beach

The long-haired Greeks may hold his funeral rites,

And rear his tomb by the wide Hellespont.

And then, in time to come, shall some one say, «s

Sailing in his good ship the dark-blue deep,

' This is the sepulchre of one who died

Long since, and whom, though fighting gallantly,

Illustrious Hector slew.' So shall he say

Hereafter, and my fame shall never die." i2°

Book VII. 179

He spake ; but utter silence held them all, —
Ashamed to shun the encounter, yet afraid
To meet it, — till at length, with heavy heart,
Rose Menelaus from his seat, and thus
Bespake the army with reproachful words : — 1=5

" O boastful ones, no longer to be called
Greek warriors, but Greek women ! a disgrace
Grievous beyond all others will be ours,
If none be found in all the Achaian host
To meet this Hector. May you, every one, 130

There where ye now are sitting, turn to earth
And water, craven as ye are, and lost
To sense of glory ! I will arm myself
For this encounter. With the immortal gods
Alone it rests to give the victory." 13s

He spake, and put his glorious armor on.
Then, Menelaus, had the Trojan's hand
Ended thy life, for he was mightier far
Than thou, had not the Achaian kings at once
Uprisen to hold thee back, while Atreus' son, 140
Wide-ruling Agamemnon, took thy hand
In his, and made thee listen while he spake : —

" Sure, noble Menelaus, thou art mad.
Such frenzied daring suits not with the time.
Restrain thyself, though thou hast cause for wrath •
Nor in thy pride of courage meet in arms 146

One so much mightier, — Hector, Priam's son,
Whom every other chief regards with fear,
Whom even Achilles, braver far than thou,

180 The Iliad.

Dreads to encounter in the glorious fight. 150

Withdraw, then, to thy comrades, and sit down.
The Greeks will send some other champion forth
Against him ; and though fearless, and athirst
For combat, he, I deem, will gladly bend
His weary knees to rest should he escape 153

From that fierce conflict in the lists alive."

With words like these the Grecian hero changed
The purpose of his brother, who obeyed
The prudent counsel : and with great delight
The attendants stripped the armor from his breast.
Then Nestor rose amid the Greeks and said : — ^

" Ye gods ! a great calamity hath fallen
Upon Achaia. How the aged chief
Peleus, the illustrious counsellor and sage,
Who rules the Myrmidons, will now lament ! — 165
He who once gladly in his palace-home
Inquired of me the race and pedigree
Of the Greek warriors. Were he but to know
That all of them are basely cowering now
In Hector's presence, how would he uplift 17°

His hands and pray the gods that from his limbs
The parted soul might pass to the abode
Of Pluto ! Would to Father Jupiter
And Pallas and Apollo that again
I were as young as when the Pylian host 175

And the Arcadians, mighty with the spear,
Fought on the banks of rapid Celadon
And near to Phasa and Iardan's streams.

Book VII.

1S1

There godlike Ereuthalion stood among

Our foremost foes, and on his shoulders bore i&>

The armor of King Are'ithoiis, —

The noble Areithoiis, whom men

And graceful women called the Mace-bearer ;

For not with bow he fought, nor ponderous lance,

But broke the phalanxes with iron mace. iss

Lycurgus slew him, but by stratagem,

And not by strength ; he from a narrow way,

Where was no room to wield the iron mace,

Through Are'ithoiis thrust the spear : he fell

Backward ; the victor took his arms, which Mars 190

The war-god gave, and which in after-time

Lycurgus wore on many a battle-field.

And when within his palace he grew old,

He gave them to be worn by one he loved, —

To Ereuthalion, who attended him 195

In battle, and who, wearing them, defied

The bravest of our host. All trembled ; all

Held back in fear, nor dared encounter him.

But me a daring trust in my own strength

Impelled to meet him. I was youngest then *»

Of all the chiefs ; I fought, and Pallas gave

The victory over him, and thus I slew

The hugest and most strong of men ; he lay

Extended in vast bulk upon the ground.

Would I were young as then, my frame unworn 203

By years ! and Hector of the beamy helm

Should meet an adversary soon ; but now

1 82 The Iliad.

No one of all the chieftains here, renowned

To be the bravest of the Achaian race,

Hastens to meet in arms the Trojan chief." «°

Thus with upbraiding words the old man spake ;
And straight arose nine warriors from their seats.
The first was Agamemnon, king of men;
The second, brave Tydides Diomed ;
And then the chieftains Ajax, bold and strong; as
And then Idomeneus, with whom arose
Meriones, his armor-bearer, great
As Mars himself in battle. After them,
Eurypylus, Evaemon's valiant son,
And Thoas, offspring of Andraemon, rose, «°

And the divine Ulysses, — claiming all
To encounter noble Hector in the lists.
But then spake Nestor the Gerenian knight : —

" Now let us cast the lot for all, and see
To whom it falls ; for greatly will he aid *s

The nobly-armed Achaians, and as great
Will be his share of honor should he come
Alive from the hard trial of the fight."

Then each one marked his lot, and all were cast
Into the helm of Agamemnon, son 230

Of Atreus. 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 monarch who bears rule 235

In rich Mycenae may obtain the lot."

Book VII. 183

Such was their prayer, while the Gerenian knight,
Old Nestor, shook the lots ; and from the helm
Leaped forth the lot of Ajax, as they wished.
A herald took it, and from right to left 240

Bore it through all the assembly, showing it
To all the leaders of the Greeks. No one
Knew it, and all disclaimed it. When at last,
Carried through all the multitude, it came
To Ajax the renowned, who had inscribed 2-15

And laid it in the helmet, he stretched forth
His hand, while at his side the herald stood,
And took and looked upon it, knew his sign,
And gloried as he looked, and cast it down
Upon the ground before his feet, and said : — 250

" O friends ! the lot is mine, and I rejoice
Heartily, for I think to overcome
The noble Hector. Now, while I put on
My armor for the fight, pray ye to Jove,
The mighty son of Saturn, silently, 255

Unheard by them of Troy, or else aloud,
Since we fear no one. None by strength of arm
Shall vanquish me, or find me inexpert
In battle, nor was I to that degree
Ill-trained in Salamis, where I was born." 260

He spake ; and they to Saturn's monarch-son
Prayed, looking up to the broad heaven, and said : —

" O Father Jove ! most mighty, most august !
Who rulest from the Idasan mount, vouchsafe
That Ajax bear away the victory 265

1 84 The Iliad.

And everlasting honor ; but if thou
Dost cherish Hector and protect his life,
Give equal strength to both, and equal fame."

Such were their words, while Ajax armed himself
In glittering brass ; and, when about his limbs 270
The mail was buckled, forward rushed the chief.
As moves the mighty Mars to war among
The heroes whom the son of Saturn sends
To struggle on the field in murderous strife,
So the great Ajax, bulwark of the Greeks, v$

With a grim smile came forward, and with strides
Firm-set and long, and shook his ponderous spear.
The Greeks exulted at the sight ; dismay-
Seized every Trojan : even Hector's heart
Quailed in his bosom ; yet he might not now 280
Withdraw through fear, nor seek to hide among
The throng of people, since himself had given
The challenge. Ajax, drawing near, upheld
A buckler like a rampart, bright with brass,
And strong with ox-hides seven. The cunning hand
Of Tychius, skilled beyond all other men ^s

In leather-work, had wrought it at his home
In Hyla. He for Ajax framed the shield
With hides of pampered bullocks in seven folds,
And an eighth fold of brass, — the outside fold. 290
This Telamonian Ajax held before
His breast, as he approached, and threatening
said : —

"Now shalt thou, Hector, singly matched with me,

Book VII. 185

Learn by what chiefs the Achaian host is led
Besides Achilles, mighty though he be 293

To break through squadrons, and of lion-heart
Still in the beaked ships in which he crossed
The sea he cherishes his wrath against
The shepherd of the people, — Atreus' son.
But we have those that dare defy thee yet, 300

And they are many. Let the fight begin."

Then answered Hector of the plumed helm : —
" O high-born Ajax, son of Telamon,
And prince among thy people, think thou not
To treat me like a stripling weak ol arm, 305

Or woman all untrained to tasks of war.
I know what battles are and bloody frays,
And how to shift to right and left the shield
Of seasoned hide, and, unfatigued, maintain
The combat ; how on foot to charge the foe 310

With steps that move to martial airs, and how
To leap into the chariot and pursue
The war with rushing steeds. Yet not by stealth
Seek I to smite thee, valiant as thou art,
But in fair open battle, if I may." 31s

He spake, and, brandishing his ponderous lance,
Hurled it ; and on the outer plate of brass,
Which covered the seven bullock-hides, it struck
The shield of Ajax. Through the brass and through
Six folds of hides the irresistible spear 3=0

Cut its swift way, and at the seventh was stopped.
Then high-born Ajax cast his massive spear

1 86 The Iliad.

In turn, and drove it through the fair, round shield
Of Priam's son. Through that bright buckler went
The rapid weapon, pierced the well-wrought mail, 3=s
And tore the linen tunic at the flank.
But Hector stooped and thus avoided death.
They took their spears again, and, corning close,
Like lions in their hunger, or wild boars
Of fearful strength, joined battle. Priam's son 330
Sent his spear forward, striking in the midst
The shield of Ajax, but it broke not through
The brass ; the metal turned the weapon's point.
While Ajax, springing onward, smote the shield
Of Hector, drave his weapon through, and checked
His enemy's swift advance, and wounded him 33a
Upon the shoulder, and the black blood flowed.
Yet not for this did plumed Hector cease
From combat, but went back, and, lifting up
A huge, black, craggy stone that near him lay, 340
Flung it with force against the middle boss
Of the broad sevenfold shield that Ajax bore.
The brass rang with the blow. Then Ajax raised
A heavier stone, and whirled it, putting forth
His arm's immeasurable strength ; it brake 34s

Through Hector's shield as if a millstone's weight
Had fallen. His knees gave way ; he fell to earth
Headlong ; yet still he kept his shield. At once
Apollo raised him up ; and now with swords,
Encountering hand to hand, they both had flown 35°
To wound each other, if the heralds sent

Book VII. 187

As messengers from Jupiter and men
Had not approached, — Idseus from the side
Of Troy, Talthybius from the Grecian host, —
Wise ancients both. Betwixt the twain they held 355
Their sceptres, and the sage Idaeus spake : —

" Cease to contend, dear sons, in deadly fray ;
Ye both are loved by cloud-compelling Jove,
And both are great in war, as all men know.
The night is come ; be then the night obeyed." 360

And Telamonian Ajax answered thus : —
" Idseus, first let Hector speak of this,
For he it was who challenged to the field
The bravest of the Grecian host, and I
Shall willingly obey if he obeys." 36s

To him in turn the plumed Hector said : —
" Ajax, although God gave thee bulk and strength
And prudence, and in mastery of the spear
Thou dost excel the other Greeks, yet now
Pause we from battle and the rivalry 370

Of prowess for this day. Another time
We haply may renew the fight till fate
Shall part us and bestow the victory
On one of us. But now the night is here,
And it is good to obey the night, that thou 375

Mayst gladden at the fleet the Greeks and all
Thy friends and comrades, and that I in turn
May give the Trojan men and long-robed dames,
In the great city where King Priam reigns,
Cause to rejoice, — the dames who pray for me, 380

1 88 The Iliad.

Thronging the hallowed temple. Let us now
Each with the other leave some noble gift,
That all men, Greek or Trojan, thus may say :
'They fought indeed in bitterness ofheait,
But they were reconciled, and parted friends.'" 385

He spake, and gave a silver-studded sword
And scabbard with its fair embroidered belt ;
And Ajax gave a girdle brightly dyed
With purple. Then they both departed, — one
To join the Grecian host, and one to meet 390

The Trojan people, who rejoiced to see
Hector alive, unwounded, and now safe
From the great might and irresistible arm
Of Ajax. Straightway to the town they led
Him for whose life they scarce had dared to hope. 395
And Ajax also by the well-armed Greeks,
Exulting in his feats of arms, was brought
To noble Agamemnon. When the chiefs
Were in his tents, the monarch sacrificed
A bullock of five summers to the son 400

Of Saturn, sovereign Jupiter. They flayed
The carcass, dressed it, carved away the limbs,
Divided into smaller parts the flesh,
Fixed them on spits, and roasted them with care,
And drew them from the fire. And when the task
Was finished, and the banquet all prepared, 406

They feasted, and there was no guest who lacked
His equal part in that repast. The son
Of Atreus, Agamemnon, brave, and lord

Book VII. 189

Of wide dominions, gave the chine entire 410

To Ajax as his due. Now when the calls
Of thirst and hunger ceased, the aged chief
Nestor, whose words had ever seemed most wise,
Opened the council with this prudent speech : —

" Atrides, and ye other chiefs of Greece ! 41s

Full many a long-haired warrior of our host
Hath perished. Cruel Mars hath spilt their blood
Beside Scamander's gentle stream ; their souls
Have gone to Hades. Give thou, then, command,
That all the Greeks to-morrow pause from war, 420
And come together at the early dawn,
And bring the dead in chariots drawn by mules
And oxen, and consume them near our fleet
With fire, that we, when we return from war,
May carry to our native land the bones, 425

And give them to the children of the slain.
And then will we go forth and heap from earth,
Upon the plain, a common tomb for all
Around the funeral pile, and build high towers
With speed beside it, which shall be alike 430

A bulwark for our navy and our host.
And let the entrance be a massive gate,
Through which shall pass an ample chariot-way.
And in a circle on its outer edge
Sink we a trench so deep that neither steeds 435
Nor men may pass, if these proud Trojans yet
Should, in the coming battles, press us sore."

He spake ; the princes all approved his words.

190 The Iliad.

Meanwhile, beside the lofty citadel

Of Ilium and at Priam's palace-gates 440

In turbulence and fear the Trojans held

A council, and the wise Antenor spake : —

" Hearken, ye Trojans, Dardans, and allies,
To what my sober judgment bids me speak.
Send we the Argive Helen back with all 445

Her treasures ; let the sons^of Atreus lead
The dame away ; for now we wage the war
After our faith is broken, and I deem
We cannot prosper till we make amends."

He spake, and sat him down. The noble chief
Paris, the fair-haired Helen's husband, rose 451

To answer him, and spake this winged speech : —

" Thy words, Antenor, please me not. Thy skill
Could offer better counsels. If those words
Were gravely meant, the gods have made thee mad.
But let me here, amid these knights of Troy, 456
Speak openly my mind. Give up my wife
I never will ; but all the wealth I brought
With her from Argos I most willingly
Restore, with added treasures of my own." 460

He said, and took his seat, and in the midst
Dardanian Priam rose, a counsellor
Of godlike wisdom, and thus sagely spake : —

" Hear me, ye Trojans, Dardans, and allies !
I speak the thought that rises in my breast. 465

Take now, as ye are wont, your evening meal,
And set a watch and keep upon your guard ;

Book VII. 191

But let Idagus to the hollow ships

Repair at morning, and to Atreus' sons —

To Agamemnon and his brother king — 470

Make known what Paris, author of this strife,

Proposes, and with fairly ordered speech

Ask further if they will consent to pause

From cruel battle till we burn the dead :

Then be the war renewed till fate shall part 475

The hosts and give to one the victory."

He spake. The assembly listened and obeyed ;
All through the camp in groups they took their meal.
But with the morn Idaeus visited
The hollow ships, and found the Achaian chiefs, 4S0
Followers of Mars, in council near the prow
Of Agamemnon's bark ; and, standing there,
The loud-voiced herald spake his message thus : —

" Ye sons of Atreus, and ye other chiefs
Of all the tribes of Greece, I come to you 48S

From Priam and the eminent men of Troy,
To say, if it be pleasing to your ears,
What Alexander, author of the war,
Proposes. All the wealth which in his ships
He brought to Troy—would he had perished first ! —
He will, with added treasures of his own, m

Freely restore ; but her who was the wife
Of gallant Menelaus he denies
To render back, though all who dwell in Troy
Join to demand it. I am furthermore 495

Bidden to ask if you consent to pause

192 The Iliad.

From cruel battle till we burn our dead :
Then be the war renewed till fate shall part
The hosts and give to one the victory."

He spake ; and all were silent for a space. «x>
Then spake at length the valiant Diomed : —

" Let none consent to take the Trojan's goods,
Nor even Helen • for a child may see
The utter ruin hanging over Troy."

He spake. The admiring Greeks confirmed with
shouts 505

The words of Diomed the knight, and thus
King Agamemnon to Ickeus said : —

" Idagus, thou thyself hast heard the Greeks
Pronounce their answer. What to them seems good
Pleases me also. For the slain, I give 51°

Consent to burn them ; to the dead we bear
No hatred ; when they fall the rite of fire
Should soon be paid. Let Juno's husband, Jove
The Thunderer, bear witness to our truce."

The monarch spake, and raised to all the gods 5«s
His sceptre, while Idasus took his way
To hallowed Ilium. There in council sat
Trojans and Dardans, waiting his return.
He came, and standing in the midst declared
His message. Then they all went forth in haste, s*>
Some to collect the slain and some to fell
Trees in the forest. From their well-benched ships
The Achaians also issued, some to bring
The dead together, some to gather wood.

Book VII. 193

Now from the smooth deep ocean-stream the sun
Began to climb the heavens, and with new rays s=s
Smote the surrounding fields. The Trojans met,
But found it hard to know their dead again.
They washed away the clotted blood, and laid —
Shedding hot tears — the bodies on the cars. 530
And since the mighty Priam's word forbade
All wailing, silently they bore away
Their slaughtered friends, and heaped them on the

pyre
With aching hearts, and, when they had consumed
The dead with fire, returned to hallowed Troy. 53s
The nobly-armed Achaians also heaped
Their slaughtered warriors on the funeral pile
With aching hearts ; and when they had consumed
Their dead with fire they sought their hollow ships.

And ere the morning came, while earth was gray
With twilight, by the funeral pile arose 541

A chosen band of Greeks, who, going forth,
Heaped round it from the earth a common tomb
For all, and built a wall and lofty towers
Near it, — a bulwark for the fleet and host. 54s

And in the wall they fitted massive gates,
Through which there passed an ample chariot-way ;
And on its outer edge they sank a trench, —
Broad, deep, — and planted it with pointed stakes.
So labored through the night the long-haired Greeks.

The gods who sat beside the Thunderer Jove 551
Admired the mighty labor of the Greeks ;

vol. 1. 9 M

194 The Iliad.

But Neptune, he who shakes the earth, began : —

" O Father Jove, henceforth will any one
Of mortal men consult the immortal gods ? 555

Seest thou not how the long-haired Greeks have reared
A wall before their navy, and have drawn
A trench around it, yet have brought the gods
No liberal hecatombs ? Now will the fame
Of this their work go forth wherever shines s^o

The light of day, and men will quite forget
The wall which once we built with toiling hands —
Phoebus Apollo and myself — around
The city of renowned Laomedon."

And cloud-compelling Jove in wrath replied : —
" Earth-shaking power ! what words are these ?
Some god 566

Of meaner rank and feebler arm than thou
Mighthaply dread the work the Greeks haveplanned.
But as for thee, thy glory shall be known
Wherever shines the day ; and when at last 57°

The crested Greeks, departing in their ships,
Shall seek their native coasts, do thou o'erthrow
The wall they built, and sink it in the deep,
And cover the great shore again with sand.
Thus shall their bulwark vanish from the plain." s?s

So talked they with each other while the sun
Was setting. But the Achaians now had brought
Their labors to an end ; they slew their steers
Beside the tents and shared the evening meal,
WThile many ships had come to land with store 580

Book VII. 195

Of wine from Lemnos, which Euneus sent, —
Euneus whom Hypsipyle brought forth
To Jason, shepherd of the people. These
Brought wine, a thousand measures, as a gift
To Agamemnon and his brother king, 585

The sons of Atreus. But the long-haired Greeks
Bought for themselves their wines ; some gave their

brass,
And others shining steel ; some bought with hides,
And some with steers, and some with slaves, and thus
Prepared an ample banquet. Through the night 590
Feasted the long-haired Greeks. The Trojan host
And their auxiliar warriors banqueted
Within the city-walls. Through all that night
The Great Disposer, Jove, portended woe
To both with fearful thunderings. All were pale 59s
With terror ; from their beakers all poured wine
Upon the ground, and no man dared to drink
Who had not paid to Saturn's mighty son
The due libation. Then they laid them down
To rest, and so received the balm of sleep. ^

196 The Iliad.

BOOK VIII.

NOW morn in saffron robes had shed her light
O'er all die earth, when Jove the Thunderer
Summoned the gods to council on the heights
Of many-peaked Olympus. He addressed
The assembly, and all listened as he spake : — s

" Hear, all ye gods and all ye goddesses !
While I declare the thought within my breast.
Let none of either sex presume to break
The law I give, but cheerfully obey,
That my design may sooner be fulfilled. 10

Whoever, stealing from the rest, shall seek
To aid the Grecian cause, or that of Troy,
Back to Olympus, scourged and in disgrace,
Shall he be brought, or I will seize and hurl
The offender down to rayless Tartarus, 15

Deep, deep in the great gulf below the earth,
With iron gates and threshold forged of brass,
As far beneath the shades as earth from heaven.
Then shall he learn how greatly I surpass
All other gods in power. Try if ye will, *>

Ye gods, that all may know : suspend from heaven
A golden chain ; let all the immortal host
Cling to it from below : ye could not draw,
Strive as ye might, the all-disposing Jove
From heaven to earth. And yet, if I should choose
To draw it upward to me, I should lift, *

Book VIII. 197

With it and you, the earth itself and sea
Together, and I then would bind the chain
Around the summit of the Olympian mount,
And they should hang aloft. So far my power 30
Surpasses all the power of gods and men."

He spake ; and all the great assembly, hushed
In silence, wondered at his threatening words,
Until at length the blue-eyed Pallas said : —

" Our Father, son of Saturn, mightiest 35

Among the potentates, we know thy power
Is not to be withstood, yet are we moved
With pity for the warlike Greeks, who bear
An evil fate and waste away in war.
If such be thy command, we shall refrain 40

From mingling in the combat, yet will aid
The Greeks with counsel which may be their guide,
Lest by thy wrath they perish utterly."
'-The Cloud-compeller Jove replied, and smiled : —
" Tritonia, daughter dear, be comforted. 45

I spake not in the anger of my heart,
And I have naught but kind intents for thee.

He spake, and to his chariot yoked the steeds,
Fleet, brazen-footed, and with flowing manes
Of gold, and put his golden armor on, 5°

And took the golden scourge, divinely wrought,
And, mounting, touched the coursers with the lash
To urge them onward. Not unwillingly
Flew they between the earth and starry heaven,
Until he came to Ida, moist with springs ss

198 The Iliad.

And nurse of savage beasts, and to the height
Of Gargarus, where lay his sacred field,
And where his fragrant altar fumed. He checked
Their course, and there the Father of the gods
And men released them from the yoke and caused 60
A cloud to gather round them. Then he sat,
Exulting in the fulness of his might,
Upon the summit, whence his eye beheld
The towers of Ilium and the ships of Greece.
Now in their tents the long-haired Greeks had

shared 65

A hasty meal, and girded on their arms.
The Trojans, also, in their city armed
Themselves for war, as eager for the fight,
Though fewer ; for a hard necessity
Forced them to combat for their little ones 7°

And wives. They set the city-portals wide,
And forth the people issued, foot and horse
Together, and a mighty din arose.
And now, when host met host, their shields and

spears
Were mingled in disorder ; men of might 75

Encountered, cased in mail, and bucklers clashed
Their bosses ; loud the clamor : cries of pain
And boastful shouts arose from those who fell
And those who slew, and earth was drenched with

blood.
While yet 't was morning, and the holy light s°
Of day grew bright, the men of both the hosts

Book VIII. 199

Were smitten and were slain ; but when the sun
Stood high in middle heaven, the All-Father took
His golden scales, and in them laid the fates 84

Which bring the sleep of death, — the fate of those
Who tamed the Trojan steeds, and those who warred
For Greece in brazen armor. By the midst
He held the balance, and, behold, the fate
Of Greece in that day's fight sank down until s9
It touched the nourishing earth, while that of Troy
Rose and flew upward toward the spacious heaven.
With that the Godhead thundered terribly
From Ida's height, and sent his lightnings down
Among the Achaian army.~"They beheld ■
IfTmute amazement and grew pale with fear. ss

Then neither dared Idomeneus remain,
Nor Agamemnon, on the ground, nor stayed
The chieftains Ajax, ministers of Mars.
Gerenian Nestor, guardian of the Greeks,
Alone was left behind, and he remained 100

Unwillingly. A steed of those that drew
His car was sorely wounded by a shaft
Which Alexander, fair-haired Helen's spouse,
Sent from his bow. It pierced the forehead where
The mane begins, and where a wound is death. 105
The arrow pierced him to the brain ; he reared
And whirled in torture with the wound, and scared
His fellow-coursers. While the aged man
Hastened to sever with his sword the thongs
That bound him to the car, the rapid steeds "°

200 The Iliad.

Of Hector bore their valiant master on

With the pursuing crowd. The aged chief

Had perished then, if gallant Diomed

Had not perceived his plight. He lifted up

His voice, and, shouting to Ulysses, said : — us

" High-born Ulysses, man of subtle shifts,
Son of Laertes, whither dost thou flee ?
Why like a coward turn thy back ? Beware,
Lest there some weapon smite thee. Stay and guard
This aged warrior from his furious foe." bo

So spake he ; but the much-enduring man,
Ulysses, heard not the reproof, and passed
Rapidly toward the hollow ships of Greece.
Tydides, single-handed, made his way
Among the foremost warriors, till he stood ^s

Before the horses of the aged son
Of Neleus, and in winged accents said : —

" The younger warriors press thee sore, old chief!
Thy strength gives way ; the weariness of age
Is on thee ; thy attendant is not strong ; 13°

Thy steeds are slow. Mount, then, my car, and see
What Trojan horses are ; how rapidly
They turn to right and left, and chase and flee.
I took them from the terror of the field,
./Eneas. To our servants leave thine own, 135

While we with these assault the Trojan knights,
And teach even Hector that the spear I wield
Can make as furious havoc as his own."

He spake ; and Nestor, the Gerenian knight,

Book VIII. 201

Complied. The two attendants, valiant men, — no

Sthenelus and the good Eurymedon, —

Took charge of Nestor's steeds. The chieftains

climbed
The car of Diomed, and Nestor took
Into his hand the embroidered reins and lashed
The horses with the scourge. They quickly came
To* Hector. As the Trojan hastened on, u6

The son of Tydeus hurled a spear ; it missed,
But spared not Eniopeus, him who held
The reins, the hero's charioteer, and son
Of brave Thebaeus. In the breast between 150

The paps it smote him ; from the car he fell,
And the swift horses started back ; his soul
And strength passed from him. Hector bitterly
Grieved for his death, yet left him where he fell,
And sought another fitting charioteer. 15s

Nor had the fiery coursers long to wait
A guide, for valiant Archeptolemus,
The son of Iphitus, was near at hand.
And him he caused to mount the chariot drawn
By his fleet steeds, and gave his hand the reins. ^
Then great had been the slaughter ; fearful deeds
Had then been done ; the Trojans had been scared
Into their town like lambs into the fold, —
Had not the Father of the immortal gods
And mortal men beheld, and from on high 165

Terribly thundered, sending to the earth
A bolt of fire. He flung it down before
9*

202 The Iliad.

The car of Diomed ; and fiercely glared
The blazing sulphur ; both the frightened steeds
Cowered trembling by the chariot. Nestor's hand
Let fall the embroidered reins ; his spirit sank 171
With fear, and thus he said to Diomed : —

" Tydides, turn thy firm-paced .steeds, and flee.
Dost thou not see that victory from Jove
Attends thee not ? To-day doth Saturn's son '175
Award the glory to the Trojan chief.
Hereafter he will make it ours, if such
Be his good pleasure. No man, though he be
The mightiest among men, can thwart the will
Of Jupiter, with whom abides all power." 180

The great in battle, Diomed, replied : —
" Truly, O ancient man, thou speakest well ;
But this it is that grieves me to the heart, —
That Hector to the Trojan host will say,
' I put to flight Tydides, and he sought iss

Shelter among his ships.' Thus will he boast
Hereafter ; may earth open then for me ! "

And Nestor, the Gerenian knight, rejoined : —
" What, son of warlike Tydeus, hast thou said ?
Though Hector call thee faint of heart and weak, 190
The Trojans and Dardanians, and the wives
Of the stout-hearted Trojans armed with shields,
Whose husbands in their youthful prime thy hand
Hath laid in dust, will not believe his words."

Thus having said, he turned the firm-paced steeds
Rearward, and mingled with the flying crowd. &

Book VIII. 203

And now the Trojans and their leader gave
A mighty cry, and poured on them a storm
Of deadly darts, and crested Hector raised
His thundering voice and shouted after them : — =00

" O son of Tydeus ! the swift-riding Greeks
Have honored thee beyond all other men,
At banquets, with high place and delicate meats
And flowing cups. They will despise thee now,
For thou art like a woman. Timorous girl ! 205
Take thyself hence, and never think that I
Shall yield to thee, that thou mayst climb our

towers
And bear away our women in thy ships ;
For I shall give thee first the doom of death."

He spake ; and Diomed, in doubtful mood, «o
Questioned his spirit whether he should turn
His steeds and fight with Hector. Thrice the

thought
Arose within his mind, and thrice on high
Uttered the all-forecasting Jupiter
His thunder from the Idaean mount, a sign «s

Of victory changing to the Trojan side.
Then Hector to the Trojans called aloud : —

" Trojans and Lycians all, and ye who close
In deadly fight, the sons of Dardanus !
Acquit yourselves like men, my friends ; recall wo
Your fiery valor now, for I perceive
The son of Saturn doth award to me
Victory and vast renown, and to the Greeks

204 The Iliad.

Destruction. Fools ! who built this slender wall
Which we contemn, which cannot stand before ^%
The strength I bring ; our steeds can overleap
The trench they digged. When I shall reach their

fleet,
Remember the consuming power of fire,
That I may give their vessels to the flames,
And hew the Achaians down beside their prows, 230
While they are wrapped in the bewildering smoke."

He spake ; and then he cheered his coursers
thus : —
" Xanthus, Podargus, Lampus nobly bred,
And y£thon, now repay the generous care,
The pleasant grain which my Andromache, 23s

Daughter of great Eetion, largely gives.
She mingles wine that ye may drink at will
Ere yet she ministers to me, who boast
To be her youthful husband. Let us now
Pursue with fiery haste, that we may seize 240

The shield of Nestor, the great fame of which
Has reached to heaven, — an orb of massive gold
Even to the handles. Let us from the limbs
Of Diomed, the tamer of fleet steeds,
Strip off the glorious mail that Vulcan forged : m
This done, our hope may be that all the Greeks
Will climb their galleys and depart to-night."

So boasted he j but queenly Juno's ire
Was kindled, and she shuddered on her throne
Till great Olympus trembled. Thus she spake 25°

Book VIIL 205

To Neptune, mighty ruler of the deep . —

" Earth-shaker ! thou who rulest far and wide !
Is there no pity for the perishing Greeks
Within that breast of thine ? They bring to thee
At Helice and JEgx. costly gifts 25s

And many, wherefore thy desire should be
That they may win the victory. If the gods
Who favor the Achaians should combine
To drive the Trojans back, and hold in check
High-thundering Jupiter, the God would sit **>

In sullen grief on Ida's top alone."

Earth-shaking Neptune answered in disdain : —
" O Juno, rash in speech ! what words are these ?
Think not that I can wish to join the gods
In conflict with the monarch Jupiter, 26s

The son of Saturn, mightier than we 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, terrible =70

As Mars the lightning-footed, drave them on
Before him. Jove decreed him such renown.
And now would he have given that noble fleet
To the consuming flame, if Juno, queen
Of heaven, had not beheld, and moved the heart 275
Of Agamemnon to exhort the Greeks
That they should turn and combat. With quick

steps
He passed beside the fleet, among the tents,

206 The Iliad.

Bearing in his strong hand his purple robe,

And climbed the huge black galley which had

brought »8o

Ulysses to the war, — for in the midst
It lay, and thence the king might send his voice
To either side, as far as to the tents
Of Ajax and Achilles, who had moored
Their galleys at the different extremes *ss

Of the long camp, confiding in their might
Of arm and their own valor. Thence he called,
With loud, clear utterance, to the Achaian host : —

" O Greeks ! shame on ye ! cravens who excel
In form alone ! Where now are all the boasts 290
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

would be 295

A match for fivescore Trojans, or for twice
Fivescore ? And now we all are not a match
For Hector singly, who will give our fleet
Soon to consuming flames. O Father Jove,
Was ever mighty monarch visited 300

By thee with such affliction, or so robbed
Of high renown ! And yet in my good ship,
Bound to this luckless' coast, I never passed
By thy fair altars that I did not burn
The fat and thighs of oxen, with a prayer 305

Book VIII. 207

That I might sack the well-defended Troy.
Now be at least one. wish of mine fulfilled, —
That we may yet escape and get us hence ;
Nor let the Trojans thus destroy the Greeks."

He spake, and wept. The All-Father, pitying him,
Consented that his people should escape 311

The threatened ruin. Instantly he sent
His eagle, bird of surest augury,
Which, bearing in his talons a young fawn,
The offspring of a nimble-footed roe, vs

Dropped it at the fair altar where the Greeks
Paid sacrifice to Panomphaean Jove.

And they, when they beheld, and knew that Jove
Had sent the bird, took courage, rallying,
And rushed against the Trojans. Then no chief 3*°
Of all the Greeks — though many they — could boast
That he before Tydides urged his steeds
To sudden speed and drave them o'er the trench,
And mingled in the combat. First of all
He struck down Agelaus, Phradmon's son, 3-5

Armed as he was, who turned his car to fly,
And as he turned, Tydides with his spear
Transfixed his back between the shoulder-blades,
And drave the weapon through his breast. He fell
To earth, his armor clashing with his fall. 330

Then Agamemnon followed, and with him
His brother Menelaus ; after these
The chieftains Ajax, fearful in their strength ;
Idomeneus, and he who bore his arms, —

208 The Iliad.

Meriones, like Mars in battle-field ; 333

Eurypylus, Evaemon's glorious son ;
And ninthly Teucer came, who bent his bow
Beneath the shield of Ajax Telamon, —
For Ajax moved his shield from side to side,
And thence the archer looked abroad, and aimed 340
His arrows thence. Whoever in the throng
Was struck fell lifeless. Teucer all the while,
As hides a child behind his mother's robe,
Sheltered himself by Ajax, whose great shield
Concealed the chief from sight. What Trojan first
Did faithful Teucer slay ? Orsilochus, 346

Dastor, and Ophelestes, Ormenus,
Chromius, and Lycophontes nobly born,
And Hamopaon, Polyaemon's son,
And Melanippus, — one by one the shafts 350

Of Teucer stretched them on their mother earth.
Then Agamemnon, king of men, rejoiced
As he beheld him, with his sturdy bow,
Breaking the serried phalanxes of Troy ;
And came, and, standing near, bespake him thus : —
" Beloved Teucer ! son of Telamon, 356

Prince of the people ! ever be thy shafts
Aimed thus, and thou shalt be the light and pride
Of Greece, and of thy father Telamon *
Who reared thee from a little child with care 360
In his own halls, though spurious was thy birth.
Go on to do him honor, though he now
Be far away. And here I say to thee, —

Book VIII. 209

And I will keep my word, — if Jupiter

The ^Egis-bearer and Minerva deign 365

To let me level the strong walls of Troy,

To thee will I assign the noblest prize

After my own, — a tripod, or two steeds

And chariot, or a wife to share thy bed."

And thus the blameless Teucer made reply : — 370
" Why, glorious son of Atreus, wouldst thou thus
Admonish me, while yet I do my best,
And pause not in the combat ? From the time
When we began to drive the enemy back
To Ilium, I have smitten and have slain 375

Their warriors with my bow. Eight barbed shafts
I sent, and each has pierced some warlike youth ;
But this fierce wolf-dog have I failed to strike."

He spake, and sent another arrow forth
At Hector with an eager aim. It missed 380

Its mark, but struck Gorgythion down, the brave
And blameless son of Priam ; through his breast
The arrow went. Fair Castianira brought
The warrior forth, — a dame from y£syma,
Beautiful as a goddess. As within 3s5

A garden droops a poppy to the ground,
Bowed by its weight and by the rains of spring,
So drooped his head within the heavy casque.

And then did Teucer send another shaft
At Hector, eager still to smite. It missed 39c

Its aim again, for Phoebus turned aside
The arrow, but it struck the charioteer

N

210 The Iliad.

Of Hector, Archeptolemus the brave,
When rushing to the fight, and pierced his breast
Close to the nipple ; from the car he fell, 395

The swift steeds started back, and from his limbs
The life and strength departed. A deep grief
For his slain charioteer came darkly o'er
The mind of Hector, yet, though sorrowing,
He left him where he fell, and straightway called 400
Cebriones, his brother, who was near,
To mount and take the reins. Cebriones
Heard and obeyed. Then from the shining car
Leaped Hector with a mighty cry, and seized
A ponderous stone, and, bent to crush him, ran 40s
At Teucer, who had from his quiver drawn
One of his sharpest arrows, placing it
Upon the bowstring. As he drew the bow,
The strong-armed Hector hurled the jagged stone,
And smote him near the shoulder, where the neck
And breast are sundered by the collar-bone, — 4"
A fatal spot. The bowstring brake ; the arm
Fell nerveless ; on his knees the archer sank,
And dropped the bow. Then did not Ajax leave
His fallen brother to the foe, but walked 415

Around him, sheltering him beneath his shield,
Till two dear friends of his — Menestheus, son
Of Echius, and Alastor nobly born —
Approached, and took him up and carried him,
Heavily groaning, to the hollow ships. 420

Then did Olympian Jove again inspire

Book VIII. 21 r

The Trojan host with valor, and they drave

The Achaians backward to the yawning trench.

Then Hector came, with fury in his eyes,

Among the foremost warriors. As a hound, 4=5

Sure of his own swift feet, attacks behind

The lion or wild boar, and tears his flank,

Yet warily observes him as he turns,

So Hector followed close the long-haired Greeks,

And ever slew the hindmost as they fled. 430

Yet now, when they in flight had crossed again

The trench and palisades, and many a one

Had died by Trojan hands, they made a halt

Before their ships, and bade each other stand,

And lifted up their hands and prayed aloud 43S

To all the gods ; while Hector, urging on

His long-maned steeds, and with stern eyes that

seemed
The eyes of Gorgon or of murderous Mars,
Hither and thither swept across the field.

The white-armed Juno saw, and, sorrowing, 440
Addressed Minerva with these winged words : —

" Ah me ! thou daughter of the God who bears
The aegis, shall we not descend to aid
The perishing Greeks in their extremity ?
A cruel doom is theirs, to fall, destroyed +45

By one man's rage, — the terrible assault
Of Hector, son of Priam, who has made
Insufferable havoc in the field."

And thus in turn the blue-eyed Pallas spake : —

212 The Iliad.

" That warrior long ere this had lost his life, 4s°
Slain by the Greeks on his paternal soil,
But that my father's mind is warped by wrath.
Unjust to me and harsh, he thwarts my aims,
Forgetting all I did for Hercules,
His son, — how often, when Eurystheus set 455

A task too hard for him, I saved his life.
To heaven he raised his eyes and wept, and Jove
Despatched me instantly to succor him.
And yet if I, in my forecasting mind,
Had known all this when he was bid to bring 460
From strong-walled Erebus the dog of hell,
He had not safely crossed the gulf of Styx.
But now Jove hates me ; now he grants the wish
Of Thetis, who hath kissed his knees and touched
His beard caressingly, and prayed that he 465

Would crown the overthrower of walled towns,
Achilles, with great honor. Well, the time
Will come when he shall call me yet again
His dear Minerva. Hasten now to yoke
For us thy firm-paced steeds, while in the halls 470
Of aegis-bearing Jupiter I brace
My armor on for war, — and I shall see
If Hector of the beamy helm, the son
Of Priam, will rejoice when we appear
Upon the field again. Assuredly 473

The men of Troy shall die, to feast the birds
Of prey and dogs beside the Grecian fleet."
She ended, and the white-armed deity

Book VIII. 213

juno obeyed her. Juno the august,

The mighty Saturn's daughter, hastily 480

Caparisoned the golden-bitted steeds.

Meanwhile, Minerva on the palace-floor

Of Jupiter let drop the gorgeous robe

Of many hues, which her own hands had wrought,

And, putting on the Cloud-compeller's mail, 485

Stood armed for cruel war. And then she climbed

The glorious car, and took in hand the spear —

Huge, heavy, strong — with which she overthrows

The serried phalanxes of valiant men

Whene'er this daughter of the Almighty One 490

Is angered. Juno bore the lash, and urged

The coursers to their speed. The gates of heaven

Opened before them of their own accord, —

Gates guarded by the Hours, on whom the care

Of the great heaven and of Olympus rests, 495

To open or to close the wall of cloud.

Through these they guided their impatient steeds.

From Ida Jupiter beheld, in wrath,
And summoned Iris of the golden wings,
And bade her do this errand : " Speed thee hence, 500
Fleet Iris ! turn them back ; allow them not
Thus to defy me : it is not for them
To engage with me in war. I give my word, —
Nor shall it lack fulfilment, — I will make
The swift steeds lame that draw their car, and hurl
The riders down, and dash the car itself 506

To fragments. Ten long years shall wear away

214 The Iliad.

Before they cease to suffer from the wounds

Made by the thunderbolt. Minerva thus

May learn the fate of those who strive with Jovo. sit

With Juno I am less displeased, for she

Is ever bent to thwart my purposes."

He spake ; and Iris, with the tempest's speed
Departing, bore the message from the heights
Of Ida to the great Olympus, where, 515

Among the foremost passes of the mount,
All seamed with hollow vales, she met and stayed
The pair, delivering thus the word of Jove : —

" Now whither haste ye ? What strange madness
fires
Your breasts ? The son of Saturn suffers not s*°
That ye befriend the Greeks. He threatens thus, —
And will fulfil his threat, — that he will make
The coursers lame that draw your car, and hurl
The riders down, and dash the car itself
To fragments, and that ten long years must pass 5*5
Ere ye shall cease to suffer from the wounds
Made by the thunderbolt. So shalt thou learn,
O Pallas ! what it is to strive with Jove.
With Juno is he less displeased, for she
Is ever bent to thwart his purposes ; 530

But thou, he says, art guilty above all,
And shameless as a hound, if thou dare lift
Thy massive spear against thy father Jove."

So spake fleet-footed Iris, and withdrew ;
And thus again to Pallas Juno said : — 535

Book VIII. 21 5

" Child of the /Egis-bearer ! let us strive
With Jove no longer for the sake of men,
But let one perish and another live,
As chance may rule the hour, and let the God,
Communing with his secret mind, mete out 54°

To Greeks and Trojans their just destiny."

She spake, and turned the firm-paced coursers
back,
The coursers with fair-flowing manes. The Hours
Unyoked them, bound them to the ambrosial stalls,
And leaned against the shining walls the car ; 545
While Juno and Minerva went among
The other deities and took their place
Upon their golden seats, though sad at heart.
Then with his steeds, and in his bright-wheeled car,
Came Jove from Ida to the dwelling-place ??°

Of gods upon Olympus. There did he
Who shakes the islands loose the steeds and bring
The chariot to its place, and o'er it spread
Its covering of lawn. The Thunderer
Seated himself upon his golden throne, sss

The great Olympus trembling as he stepped ;
While Juno and Minerva sat apart
Together, nor saluted him, nor asked
Of aught ; but he perceived their thoughts and
said : —

" Juno and Pallas ! why so sad ? Not long 560
Ye toiled in glorious battle to destroy
The Trojans, whom ye hold in bitter hate :

216 The Iliad.

This strength of mine, and this invincible arm
Not all the gods upon the Olympian mount
Can turn to flight, while your fair limbs were seized
With trembling ere ye entered on the shock 566

And havoc of the war. Now let me say —
And well the event would have fulfilled my words —
That, smitten with the thunder from my hand,
Your chariots never would have brought you back 570
To this Olympus and the abode of gods."

He spake ; while Pallas and the queen of heaven
Repined with close-pressed lips, and in their hearts
Devised new mischiefs for the Trojan race.
Silent Minerva sat, nor dared express 57s

The anger that she bore her father Jove ;
But Juno could not curb her wrath, and spake : —

" What words, austere Saturnius, hast thou said ?
Thou art, we know, invincible in might ;
Yet must we sorrow for the heroic Greeks, 580

Who, by a cruel fate, are perishing.
We stand aloof from war, if thou require ;
Yet would we counsel the Achaian host,
Lest by thy wrath they perish utterly."

And then the Cloud-compeller, answering, said : —
" O Juno, large-eyed and august, if thou 586

Look forth to-morrow, thou shalt then behold
The all-powerful son of Saturn laying waste
With greater havoc still the mighty host
Of warlike Greeks. For Hector, great in war, 590
Shall pause not from the conflict, till he rouse

Book VIII. 217

The swift-paced son of Peleus at the ships,
When, pent in narrow space, the armies fight
For slain Patroclus : such the will of fate.
As for thyself, I little heed thy rage : 595

Not even shouldst thou wander to the realm
Where earth and ocean end, where Saturn sits
Beside Iapetus, and neither light
Of overgoing suns nor breath of wind
Refreshes them, but gulfs of Tartarus &»

Surround them, — shouldst thou even thither bend
Thy way, I shall not heed thy rage, who art
Beyond all others shamelessly perverse."

He ceased ; but white-armed Juno answered not.
And now into the sea the sun's bright light 605

Went down, and o'er the foodful earth was drawn
Night's shadow. Most unwillingly the sons
Of Troy beheld the sunset. To the Greeks
Eagerly wished the welcome darkness came.

Then from the fleet illustrious Hector led t>™

The Trojans, and beside the eddying stream,
In a clear space uncumbered by the slain,
Held council. There, alighting from their cars,
They listened to the words that Hector spake, —
Hector, beloved of Jove. He held a spear, 6.5

In length eleven cubits, with a blade
Of glittering brass, bound with a ring of gold.
On this he leaned, and spake these winged words : —

" Hear me, ye Trojans, Dardans, and allies.
But now I thought that, having first destroyed c™

21 8 The Iliad.

The Achaian host and fleet, we should return
This night to wind-swept Ilium. To their aid
The darkness comes, and saves the Greeks, and

saves
Their galleys ranged along the ocean-side.
Obey we, then, the dark-browed night ; prepare fes
Our meal ; unyoke the steeds with flowing manes,
And set their food before them. Bring at once
Oxen and fatlings of the flock from town,
And from your dwellings bread and pleasant wine.
And let us gather store of wood, to feed 630

A multitude of blazing fires all night,
Till Morning, daughter of the Dawn, appear, —
Fires that shall light the sky, lest in the hours
Of darkness with their ships the long-haired Greeks
Attempt escape across the mighty deep. 633

And, that they may not climb their decks unharmed,
Let every foeman bear a wound to cure
At home, — an arrow-wound or gash of spear,
Given as he leaps on board. So other foes
Shall dread a conflict with the knights of Troy. 640
And let the heralds, dear to Jove, command
That all grown youths and hoary-headed men
Keep watch about the city in the towers
Built by the gods ; and let the feebler sex
Kindle large fires upon their hearths at home ; 643
And let the guard be strengthened, lest the foe
Should steal into the city while its sons
Are all abroad. Thus let it be till morn.

Book VIII. 219

Brave Trojans ! I but speak of what the time

Requires, and on the morrow I shall speak 650

Of what the Trojan knights have then to do.

My prayer to Jove and to the other gods,

And my hope is, that I may drive away

These curs, brought hither by an evil fate

In their black ships. All night will we keep watch,

And, arming, with the early morn renew 6Ss

The desperate conflict at the hollow ships.

Then shall I see if valiant Diomed

Tydides has the power to make me leave

The Grecian galleys for the city-walls, seo

Or whether I shall slay him with my spear

And take his bloody spoils. To-morrow's sun

Will make his valor known, if he withstand

The assault of this my weapon. Yet I think

The sunrise will behold him slain among

The first, with many comrades lying round.

Would that I knew myself as certainly

Secure from death and the decays of age,

And to be held in honor like the gods

Apollo and Minerva, as I know 670

This day will bring misfortune to the Greeks ! "

So Hector spake, and all the Trojan host
Applauded ; from the yoke forthwith they loosed
The sweaty steeds, and bound them to the cars
With halters ; to the town they sent in haste 6?s
For oxen and the failings of the flock,
And to their homes for bread and pleasant wine,

220 The Iliad.

And gathered fuel in large store. The winds
Bore up the fragrant fumes from earth to heaven.

So, high in hope, they sat the whole night through
In warlike lines, and many watch-fires blazed. 681
As when in heaven the stars look brightly forth
Round the clear-shining moon, while not a breeze
Stirs in the depths of air, and all the stars
Are seen, and gladness fills the shepherd's heart, 68S
So many fires in sight of Ilium blazed,
Lit by the sons of Troy, between the ships
And eddying Xanthus : on the plain there shone
A thousand ; fifty warriors by each fire
Sat in its light. Their steeds beside the cars — 690
Champing their oats and their white barley — stood,
And waited for the golden morn to rise.

BOOK IX.

THE Trojans thus kept watch ; while through
the night
The power of Flight, companion of cold Fear,
Wrought on the Greeks, and all their bravest men
Were bowed beneath a sorrow hard to bear.
As when two winds upturn the fishy deep, — s

The north wind and the west, that suddenly
Blow from the Thracian coast ; the black waves rise
At once, and fling the sea-weed to the shore, —

Book IX. 221

Thus were the Achaians troubled in their hearts.

Atrides, deeply grieving, walked the camp, «•
And bade the clear-voiced heralds call by name
To council all the chiefs, but not aloud.
The king himself among the foremost gave
The summons. Sadly that assembly took
Their seats ; and Agamemnon in the midst is

Rose, shedding tears, — as down a lofty rock,
Darkening its face, a fountain's waters flow, —
And, deeply sighing, thus addressed the Greeks : — -

" O friends ! the chiefs and princes of the Greeks !
Saturnian Jove hath in an evil snare =°

Most cruelly entangled me. He gave
His promise once that I should overthrow
This strong-walled Ilium, and return ; but now
He meditates a fraud, and sends me back
To Argos without glory, and with loss *$

Of many warriors. Thus doth it seem good
Doubtless to Jove Almighty, who hath cast
The towers of many a city down to earth,
And will cast others down, — his might excels
All other might. But let us now obey, 30

As I shall counsel you, and in our ships
Haste to our own dear country ; for I see
That Troy with its broad streets can ne'er be ours."

He spake ; and all were silent. Silent long
Remained the sorrow-stricken sons of Greece, 35
Till Diomed, the brave in battle, spake : —

" First of the chiefs I speak, to disapprove,

222 The Iliad.

Atrides, thy rash purpose : 't is my right

In council ; nor, O king, be thou displeased.

Thou first among the Greeks hast taunted me 40

With lack of valor, calling me unapt

For war "and weak of arm. The young and old

Have heard the taunt. One of two gifts the son

Of wily Saturn hath bestowed on thee :

High rank and rule o'er all the rest he gave, 43

But gave thee not the nobler quality

Of fortitude. Dost thou then truly deem

The Greeks unapt for war and weak of arm,

As thou hast said ? Thou longest to return :

Go, then ; the way is open ; by the sea 5°

The barks that brought thee from Mycenae lie,

A numerous fleet. Yet others will remain —

Long-haired Achaians — till we overthrow

The city. Should they also pine for home,

Then let them flee, with all their ships ; while I 55

With Sthenelus fight on until we make

An end of Troy, — for with the gods we came."

He spake. The Greeks applauded ; all admired
The words of the horse-tamer Diomed.
Nestor the knight then rose, and thus he spake : —

" O son of Tydeus, eminently brave &

Art thou among thy comrades in the field,
And great in council. No one here condemns
The sentence thou hast given ; among the Greeks
Is no one who denies what thou hast said ; &s

Yet hast thou not said all. Thy years are few, —

Book IX. 223

So few, thou mightest be my youngest son ;
And yet thou speakest wisely to the kings
Of Greece, and thy discourse is just and right.
Now I, who boast of far more years than thou, 70
Will speak of this that yet remains, and none —
Not even Agamemnon — will gainsay
What I advise. A wretch without a tie
Of kin, a lawless man without a home,
Is he who takes delight in civil strifes. 7s

But let us now give way to the dark night,
And make our banquets ready. Let the guards
Lie down within the trenches which we digged
Without the wall : be this the young men's charge.
And thou, Atrides, do thou now begin, 80

Who art supreme, and make a feast for all
The elder chiefs ; it shall become thee well :
Thy tents are full of wine, which ships from Thrace
Bring every day across the mighty deep,
And thou hast all things ready, and a host ss

Of menials. Then, when many throng the board,
Thou shalt defer to him who counsels thee
Most wisely ; for the Greeks have urgent need
Of prudent counsels, when the foe so close
Beside our galleys lights his multitude 90

Of watch-fires. Who that sees them can rejoice ?
This night will rescue or destroy our host."

He spake. They listened all, and willingly
Obeyed him. Forth in armor went the guards,
Led by the chieftain Thrasymedes, son 95

224 The Iliad.

Of Nestor, by Ascalaphus, who claimed

His birth from Mars, and by Ialmenus

His brother, and Deipyrus, with whom

There followed Aphareus, Meriones,

And Lycomedes, Creon's noble son. i<x>

Seven were the leaders of the guards ; with each

A hundred youths in warlike order marched,

Bearing long spears ; and when they reached the

space
Between the trench and wall they sat them down,
And kindled fires and made their evening meal. 105

Atrides brought the assembled elder chiefs
To his pavilion, and before them set
A generous banquet. They put forth their hands
And shared the feast ; and when the calls of thirst
And hunger ceased, the aged Nestor first no

Began to counsel them ; the chief, whose words
Had lately seemed of wisest import, now
Addressed the assembly with well-ordered speech :< —

" Atrides Agamemnon, glorious king !
What I shall say begins and ends with thee, us

For thou dost rule o'er many nations. Jove
Hath given to thee the sceptre, and the power
To make their laws, that thou mayst seek their good.
Thou, therefore, of all men, shouldst speak and hear
In council, and shouldst follow willingly «°

Another's judgment when it best promotes
The general weal ; for all depends on thee.
Now let me say what seems to me most wise ;

Book IX. 225

For better counsel none can give than this

Which now I meditate, and which to give 125

I purposed from the hour when thou, great king,

Didst bear the maid Briseis from the tent

Of the enraged Achilles, unapproved

By me, who strove to change thy rash design.

Then didst thou yield thee to thy haughty will, 130

And didst dishonor a most valiant man,

Whom the immortals honor. Thou didst take

And still dost keep the prize he fairly won.

Let it be now our study to appease

The hero with large gifts and soothing words." 135

Then Agamemnon, king of men, replied : —
" O ancient man, most truly hast thou named
My faults. I erred, and I deny it not.
That man indeed is equal to a host
Whom Jupiter doth love and honor thus, uo

Humbling the Achaian people for his sake.
And now, since, yielding to my wayward mood
I erred, let me appease him, if I may,
With gifts of priceless worth. Before you all
I number them, — seven tripods which the fire us
Hath never touched, six talents of pure gold,
And twenty shining caldrons, and twelve steeds
Of hardy frame, victorious in the race,
Whose feet have won me prizes in the games.
No beggar would he be, nor yet with store 150

Of gold unfurnished, in whose coffers lay
The prizes those swift steeds have brought to me.
10* o

226 The Iliad.

Seven faultless women, skilled in household arts,

I give moreover, — Lesbians, whom I chose

When he o'erran the populous Lesbian isle, — »ss

Damsels in beauty who excel their sex.

These I bestow, and with them I will send

Her whom I took away, — Briseis, pure —

I swear it with a mighty oath — as pure

As when she left his tent. All these I give i<*

At once ; and if by favor of the gods

We lay the mighty city of Priam waste,

He shall load down his galley with large store

Of gold and silver, entering first when we,

The Greeks, divide the spoil. Then may he choose

Twice ten young Trojan women, beautiful i&s

Beyond their sex save Helen. If we come

Safe to Achaian Argos, richly stocked

With milky kine, he may become to me

A son-in-law, and cherished equally »7°

With my sole son Orestes, who is reared

Most royally. Three daughters there, within

My stately palace-walls, — Chrysothemis,

Laodice, and Iphianassa, — dwell,

And he may choose among them, and may lead 17s

Home to the house of Peleus her who best

Deserves his love. Nor need he to endow

The bride, for I will give an ampler dower

Than ever father to his daughter gave, —

Seven cities with thronged streets, — Cardamyle, 180

Enope, grassy Hira, Pherae famed

Book IX. 227

Afar, Antheia with rich pasture-fields,
./Epeia beautiful, and Pedasus
With all its vineyards ; all are near the sea,
And stand the last before you reach the coast iss
Of sandy Pylos. Rich in flocks and herds
Their dwellers are, and they will honor him
As if he were a god, and, ruled by him,
Will pay large tribute. These will I bestow,
Let but his anger cool and his resolve 190

Give way. 'T is Pluto who is deaf to prayer
And ne'er relents, and he, of all the gods,
Most hateful is to men. Now let the son
Of Peleus yield at length to me, who stand
Above him in authority and years." 19s

Then answered Nestor the Gerenian knight : —
" Atrides Agamemnon ! glorious king !
Gifts not to be contemned thou offerest
To Prince Achilles. Let us now despatch
A chosen embassy, who shall proceed 200

At once to where Pelides holds his tent.
I name the men ; and cheerfully will they
Perform the duty : Phoenix, dear to Jove,
Shall be their leader, mighty Ajax next,
And then high-born Ulysses ; heralds twain 205

Shall follow, — Hodius and Eurybates.
And now be water brought to cleanse our hands,
And charge be given that no ill-omened word
Be uttered, while we pray that Jupiter,
The son of Saturn, will assist our need." *v>

228 The Iliad.

He spake ; and all approved the words he said.
Then poured the heralds water on the hands
Of those who sat. The young men crowned with wine
The goblets, and in seemly order passed
The brimming cups, distributing to each. =is

Part to the gods they poured, and next they drank
As each might choose, and then the embassy
Hastened from Agamemnon's tent. To each
Gerenian Nestor spake in turn, and fixed
His eyes on each intently, — most of all «=

Upon Ulysses, — and with many a charge
To turn Pelides from his angry mood.
Along the edge of the resounding deep
They went, and as they walked they offered prayer
To earth-embracing Neptune, that their words *>s
Might move the great soul of ^Eacides.
And now they came where lay the Myrmidons
Among their tents and ships. Achilles there
Drew solace from the music of a harp
Sweet-toned and shapely, in a silver frame, 230

Part of the spoil he took when he o'erthrew
Eetion's town. To soothe his mood he sang
The deeds of heroes. By him sat alone
Patroclus, silent till the song should cease.
On moved the messengers, — before them walked
High-born Ulysses, — till they stood beside =30

Achilles. He beheld, and with the harp
Sprang from his seat, surprised. Patroclus saw
The heroes also, and arose. Their hands

Book IX. 229

The swift Achilles took in his, and said : — 240

" Welcome ! Ye come as friends. Some press-
ing cause
Must surely bring you hither, whom I prize,
Wronged as I am, beyond all other Greeks."

Thus speaking, the great son of Peleus led
His guests still farther on, and seated them 24s

On couches spread with purple coverings,
And thus addressed Patroclus, who was near : —

" Son of Mencetius, bring a larger vase,
And mingle purer wine, and place a cup
For each, since these are most beloved friends, — 250
These warriors who now sit beneath my roof."

He spake. Patroclus hearkened, and obeyed
His well-beloved friend, who meantime placed
A block beside the fire, and on it laid
Chines of a sheep and of a fading goat, 25s

And of a sow, the fattest of her kind.
Automedon stood by and held them fast ;
Achilles took the knife and skilfully
Carved them in portions, and transfixed the parts
With spits. Patroclus, the divine in form, 26a

Woke to a blaze the fire ; and when the flame
Had ceased to rise he raked the glowing coals
Apart, and o'er them stretched the spits, and

strewed,
Raising the flesh, the sacred salt o'er all.
And when he had made ready and had spread m
The banquet on the board, Patroclus took

230

The Iliad.

The bread and offered it to all the guests

In shapely canisters. Achilles served

The meats, and took his seat against the wall,

In front of great Ulysses. There he bade 270

His friend Patroclus offer sacrifice,

Casting the first rich morsels to the flames.

The guests put forth their hands and shared the

feast ;
And when the calls of hunger and of thirst
Were felt no longer, Ajax gave a nod 275

To Phcenix, which divine Ulysses saw,
And filled his cup and drank to Peleus' son : —

" Thy health, Achilles ! Princely feasts like this
Attend us both in Agamemnon's tent
And here, — for here is all that makes a feast 280
Complete ; yet now is not the time to think
Of pleasant banquets, for our thoughts are turned —
O Jove-born warrior ! — to a fearful time
Of slaughter, and the fate of our good ships, —
Whether we save them harmless, or the foe 28*

Destroy them, if thou put not on thy might.
For now the haughty Trojans, and the troops
Who come from far to aid them, pitch their camp
Close to our fleet and wall, and all around
Kindle their many fires, and boast that we 290

No longer have the power to drive them back
From our black galleys. Jupiter, the son
Of Saturn, shows them favorable signs
With lightnings from above ; and, terrible

Book IX. 231

In aspect and in valor, Hector makes 29s

Sad havoc, trusting in the aid of Jove,
And neither reverences gods nor men, —
Such rage possesses him. He prays that soon
The morn may rise, that he may hew the prows
From all our ships and give them to the flames, 300
And slay the Greeks, bewildered with the smoke.
For me, I greatly fear the gods will grant
That he fulfil his threat, and that our doom
Will be to perish on the Trojan coast,
And far away from Argos, famed for steeds. 305

Rise, then, though late, — rise with a resolute mind,
And from the hard-pressed sons of Greece drive back
The assailing Trojans. Thou wilt else lament
Hereafter, when the evil shall be done
And shall admit no cure. Bethink thee well 310
How from the Greeks thou mayst avert the day
Of their destruction. O my friend, when first
He sent thee forth to Agamemnon's help
From Phthia's coast, thy father Peleus said : —

" ' My child, from Juno and Minerva comes 31s
The gift of valor, if they choose to give.
But curb thou the high spirit in thy breast,
For gentle ways are best, and keep aloof
From sharp contentions, that the old and young
Among the Greeks may honor thee the more.' 320

" Such was the old man's charge, forgotten now.
Yield, then, and lay thy wrath aside. Large gifts
Doth Agamemnon offer, to appease

232 The Iliad.

Thy wounded spirit. Hear me, if thou wilt,

Recount what gifts the monarch in his tent 32s

Hath promised thee : — Seven tripods which the fire

Hath never touched ; six talents of pure gold ;

And twenty shining caldrons ; and twelve steeds

Of hardy frame, victorious in the race,

Whose feet have won him prizes in the games. 330

No beggar would he be, nor yet with store

Of gold unfurnished, in whose coffers lay

The prizes those swift-footed steeds have won.

Seven faultless women, skilled in household arts,

He offers, — Lesbians, whom he chose when thou

Didst overrun the populous Lesbian isle, — 336

In beauty eminent among their sex.

These he bestows, and with them he will send

Her whom he took away, — Briseis, pure —

He swears it with a mighty oath — as pure 340

As when she left thy tent. All these he gives

At once ; and if, by favor of the gods,

We lay the mighty city of Priam waste,

Thou shalt load down thy galley with large store

Of gold and silver, entering first when we, 345

The Greeks, divide the spoil. Then mayst thou

choose
Twice ten young Trojan women, beautiful
Beyond their sex save Helen. If we come
Safe to Achaian Argos, richly stocked
With milky kine, thou mayst become to him 35a
A son-in-law, and cherished equally

Book IX. 233

With his sole son Orestes, who is reared
Right royally. Three daughters there, within
The monarch's stately halls, — Chrysothemis,
Laodice, and Iphianassa, — dwell, 355

And thou mayst choose among them, and mayst

lead
Home to the house of Peleus her who best
Deserves thy love. Nor needest thou endow
The bride, for he will give an ampler dower
Than ever father to his daughter gave, — 360

Seven cities with thronged streets, — Cardamyle,
Enope, grassy Hira, Pheree famed
Afar, Antheia with rich pasture-grounds,
.^Epeia beautiful, and Pedasus
With all its vineyards ; all are near the sea, 36s

And stand the last before you reach the coast
Of sandy Pylos. Rich in flocks and herds
Their dwellers are, and they will honor thee
As if thou wert a god, and, ruled by thee,
Will pay large tribute. These will he bestow, 370
Let but thine anger cease. But if the son
Of Atreus and his gifts still move thy hate,
At least have pity on the afflicted Greeks,
Pent in their camp, who now would honor thee
As if thou wert a god ; and thou shalt gain 375

Great glory as their champion, and shalt slay
This Hector, who even now is close at hand,
And in a murderous frenzy makes his boast
That none of all the chieftains whom the fleet

234 The Iliad.

Of Greece brought hither equals him in might." 380

The swift Achilles answered him and said : —
" Son of Laertes, nobly born, and versed
In wise devices, let me frankly speak
Just as I think, and just as I shall act,
And then ye will not importune me more. 385

Hateful to me, as are the gates of hell,
Is he who, hiding one thing in his heart,
Utters another. I shall speak as seems
To me the best ; nor deem I that the son
Of Atreus or the other Greeks can move 390

My settled purpose, since no thanks are paid
To him who with the enemy maintains
A constant battle : equal is the meed
Of him who stands aloof and him who fights
Manfully ; both the coward and the brave 395

Are held in equal honor, and they die
An equal death, — the idler and the man
Of mighty deeds. For me there is no store
Of wealth laid up from all that I have borne,
Exposing life in battle. As a bird 400

Brings to her unfledged young the food she finds,
Though she herself be fasting, so have I
Had many a night unvisited by sleep,
And passed in combat many a bloody day,
Fighting beside these warriors for their wives. 40s
Twelve cities have I with my fleet laid waste,
And with my Myrmidons have I o'erthrown
Eleven upon this fertile Trojan coast.

Book IX. 235

Full many a precious spoil from these I bore,
And to Atrides Agamemnon gave. 410

He, loitering in his fleet, received them all ;
Few he distributed, and many kept.
To chiefs and princes he indeed assigned
Prizes, which now they hold. From me alone
Of all the Greeks he takes my prize ; he takes 415
My bride, whom well I loved ; — and let him keep
The damsel. But what need is there that Greeks
Wage war against the Trojans ? For what cause
Did Agamemnon, gathering from our realms
An army, lead it hither ? Was it not 420

Because of fair-haired Helen ? Are the sons
Of Atreus, then, the only men on earth
Who love their wives ? Nay, every good man loves
And cherishes his spouse ; and mine I loved
Tenderly, though the captive of my spear : 42s

And now, since he hath taken my reward
Away and treacherously dealt with me,
Let him not try again, for I am warned,
And he will not persuade me. Let him take
Counsel with thee, Ulysses, and the rest, -43°

How to drive back the enemy and save
The fleet from flames. Already has he done
Much without me ; a rampart he has raised,
And round it dug a deep, broad trench, and filled
The trench with palisades. Yet can he not 435

Resist the man-destroyer Hector thus.
This Hector, when I fought among the Greeks,

236 The Iliad.

Never would fight at distance from the walls,

And ventured not beyond the Scaean gates

And beechen tree. There waited he for me 44a

Upon a time, and scarce escaped with life

From my assault. Now, since I do not choose

To fight with noble Hector, I shall pay,

To-morrow, sacrifice to Jupiter

And all the gods, and load my galleys well, 445

And draw them to the water. Then shalt thou

See — if thou care for such a sight — my ships

Sailing upon the fishy Hellespont

At early morning, with their crews on board

Eager to pull the oar ; and if the god 450

Of ocean grant a prosperous voyage, then

On the third day we reach the fertile coast

Of Phthia. Large possessions left I there

When I came hither in an evil hour ;

And thither I shall carry with me gold 455

And ruddy brass, and women of fair forms,

And burnished steel, — the spoils I won in war.

The prize he gave me, Agamemnon, son

Of Atreus, takes, with many insults, back.

Bear him this message, — give it openly, 460

That others of the Greeks may be like me

Indignant should he impudently dare

To wrong them also : — Let him ne'er again,

Though shameless, dare to look me in the face.

I will not join in council or in act 465

With him : he has deceived and wronged me once,

Book IX. 237

And now he cannot wheedle me with words.

Let once suffice. I leave him to himself,

To perish. All-providing Jupiter

Hath made him mad. I hate his gifts ; I hold 470

In utter scorn the giver. Were his gifts

Tenfold — nay, twenty-fold — the worth of all

That he possesses, and with added wealth

From others, — all the riches that flow in

Upon Orchomenus, or Thebes, the pride 47s

Of Egypt, where large treasures are laid up,

And through whose hundred gates rush men and

steeds,
Two hundred through each gate ; — nay, should he

give
As many gifts as there are sands and dust
Of earth, — not even then shall Atreus' son 48°

Persuade me, till I reap a just revenge
For his foul contumelies. I will wed
No child of Agamemnon Even though
She vied with golden Venus in her charms,
And with the blue-eyed Pallas in her skill, 48s

I would not wed her. Let him choose among
The Greeks a fitter husband, — one whose rule
Is wider than my own. For if the gods
Preserve me, and I reach my home again,
My father, Peleus, will bestow on me . 490

A consort. Many are the Achaian maids,
Daughters of chiefs who hold our citadels
In Hellas, and in Phthia, and of these,

238 The Iliad.

Her who shall most delight me I will make

My well-beloved wife. My soul has longed 495

Earnestly, with a fitting spouse betrothed

Duly, to make my dwelling there, and there

Enjoy the wealth which aged Peleus won ;

For not to be compared with life is all

The wealth which, as men say, was treasured up soo

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 spoil s°s

Of oxen and of fatling sheep, and 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

It comes not back. My mother said to me — s*>

The goddess, silver-footed Thetis, said —

A twofold fate conducts me to my death ; —

If I remain to fight beneath the walls

Of Ilium, my return will be cut off,

But deathless my renown ; if I return 515

To the dear land in which my fathers dwell,

My glory will be nought, but long my life,

And late will come to me the stroke of death.

And now I counsel all to sail for home,

For never will ye see the overthrow 52°

Of lofty Ilium. Jove the Thunderer

Stretches his great hand o'er her, and her sons

Book IX. 239

Take courage. Go ye now, and take with you

This message to the princes of the Greeks, —

As is the office of an embassy, — 52s

And bid them meditate some wiser plan

To save their galleys and the host of Greeks

Within the hollow barks. The plan which brought

You hither cannot serve you while I keep

My anger unappeased. Let Phoenix stay 53°

To pass the night with us, that he may sail

To-morrow, if it please him, to the land

We love ; I take him not against his will."

He ceased ; and silent were the ambassadors,
Astonished at his passionate words. At last 53s
Phoenix, the aged knight, with many tears
And sighs, took up the word, in grief and fear
Lest Hector should destroy the Grecian fleet : —

" Illustrious son of Peleus, if indeed
Thou wilt return, nor carest to repel 540

From our swift galleys the consuming fire,
Because thou art offended, how shall I,
Dear child, remain without thee ? When at first
Peleus, the aged knight, from Phthia sent
Thee, yet a boy, to Agamemnon's aid, 543

Unskilled as then thou wert in cruel war
And martial councils, — where men also gain
A great renown, — he sent me with thee, charged
To teach thee both, that so thou mightst become
In words an orator, in warlike deeds 55°

An actor. Therefore, my beloved child,

240 The Iliad.

Not 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, 555

As when from Hellas and its companies

Of lovely maids I came a fugitive,

And left Amyntor, son of Ormenus, —

My father, — angry with me for the sake

Of a fair-tressed wanton, whom he loved, s&j

Treating my mother basely. To my knees

My mother came and prayed me ceaselessly,

First, to possess the woman, that she then

Might loathe the elder one ; and I obeyed.

My father knew it, and with many a curse 565

Invoked the hateful 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, and infamy that would ensue, —

Lest I among the Achaians should be called

A parricide. I could not brook to dwell 575

Within my father's palace while 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 fatling ewe

And many a slow-paced ox with curving horns 580

Book IX. 241

They slew, and many a fattened swine they stretched
Over the flame of Vulcan. From the casks
Of the old chief his wine was freely drawn.
Nine nights they slept surrounding me, while each
Kept watch in turn : nor ever were the fires 585

Put out ; one blazed beneath the portico
Of the fair hall, and near the chamber-door
Another glimmered in the vestibule.
But when upon me rose the tenth dark night,
I broke my aptly-jointed chamber-doors, 590

And issued forth, and easily o'erleaped
The wall around the palace, quite unseen
Of watching men and of the serving maids.
I fled through spacious Hellas to the fields
Of Phthia, nurse of flocks, and to her king, 595

Peleus, who kindly welcomed me, and loved
Me as a father loves his only son,
Born to large wealth in his declining years.
He made me rich, and gave me sovereign rule
Over much people. My abode was fixed 600

In farthest Phthia, where I was the prince
Of the Dolopians. As for thee, my care,
Godlike Achilles, made thee what thou art.
I loved thee from my soul : thou wouldst not go
With any other to the feast, nor take 605

Thy food at home until upon my knees
I placed thee, carved thy meats, and gave them thee,
And poured thy wine. The tunic on my breast
Was often wetted by thee when the wine
vol. r. 11 p

242 The Iliad.

Gushed in thy petulant childhood from thy lips. 610

Thus many things did I endure for thee,

And many toils perform ; and since, the gods

Vouchsafed no son to me, it was my thought

To train thee as a son, that thou mightst be,

O godlike man ! the bulwark of my age. &s

And now subdue that mighty spirit of thine :

111 it becomes thee to be merciless :

The gods themselves are placable, though far

Above us all in honor and in power

And virtue. We propitiate them with vows, &»

Incense, libations, and burnt-offerings,

And prayers for those who have offended. Prayers

Are daughters of almighty Jupiter, —

Lame, wrinkled, and squint-eyed, — that painfully

Follow Misfortune's steps ; but strong of limb fes

And swift of foot Misfortune is, and, far

Outstripping all, comes first to every land,

And there wreaks evil on mankind, which prayers

Do afterwards redress. Whoe'er receives

Jove's daughters reverently when they approach, 630

Him willingly they aid, and to his suit

They listen. Whosoever puts them by

With obstinate denial, they appeal

To Jove, the son of Saturn, and entreat

That he will cause Misfortune to attend 63s

The offender's way in life, that he in turn

May suffer evil and be punished thus.

Wherefore, Achilles ! do thou also yield

Book IX. 243

The honor due Jove's daughters, freely given

By other valiant men. If Atreus' son 640

Brought thee no gifts, nor promised others still,

But kept his anger, I would never ask

That thou shouldst lay aside thy wrath and come

To help the Argives in their bitter need.

But he bestows large gifts, and adds a pledge 64s

Of others yet in store, and he hath sent

The best men of the army, who to thee

Are dearest, to entreat thee. Spurn thou not

These, nor their embassy, although at first

Thine anger was not causeless. We have heard 650

The praise of heroes of the elder time,

Inflamed to vehement anger, yet appeased

By gifts, and yielding to persuasive words.

One instance I remember : long ago

It happened, and I will relate it here 65s

Among my friends. Around the city-walls

Of Calydon did the Curetes strive

In battle with the /Etolians ; they destroyed

F^ach other fearfully. The ^Etolians fought

To save the pleasant town of Calydon, 660

And the Curetes warred to lay it waste.

Diana of the golden throne had caused

The war, displeased with CEneus, who withheld

From her the first-fruits of his fertile field :

While hecatombs were burnt in sacrifice Ms

To feast the other gods, to her alone —

Daughter of Jove — no offering was brought ;

244 The Iliad.

For either he forgot, or thought the rite

Of little moment ; but he greatly erred.

And now the child of Jove, the archer-queen, 670

Incensed, sent forth against him from the wood

A white-tusked wild boar, which upon his lands

Entered, and ravaged them, and brought to earth

Many tall trees : tree after tree they fell,

With roots uptorn, and all the blossoms on, 75

That promised fruit. Him Meleager, son

Of CEneus, slew, with many hunters called

From neighboring cities, bringing many hounds.

A few could not subdue him : he had made

Many already mount the funeral pile. «*>

Diana kindled round the boar a strife

For the beast's head and bristly hide, — a war

'Twixt the Curetes and the ^Etolian band

Of braves. The war, while Meleager fought,

Went not with the Curetes, nor could they, 685

Though many, keep the field. But wrath at last

Seized Meleager, — wrath, which rages oft

Even in prudent minds. Incensed against

Althaea, his own mother, he remained

At home with Cleopatra, his young wife, 690

The beauteous, whom a delicate-footed dame,

Marpessa, daughter of Evenus, bore

To Idas, bravest in his time among

The sons of men, — so brave that once he drew

A bow against Apollo for the sake ^s

Of his neat-footed bride. The honored pair

Book IX. 245

Within the palace used to call their child

Alcyone ; for when the archer-god,

Apollo, from her husband bore away

The mother, Cleopatra sadly wailed, 700

As wails the halcyon. So beside his spouse

Dwelt Meleager, brooding ever o'er

The violent anger which his mother's curse

Had kindled. Grieving for a brother's death,

She supplicated heaven, and often struck 70s

Her hands against the teeming earth, and called —

Kneeling, her bosom all bedewed with tears —

On Pluto and the cruel Proserpine,

To put her son to death. From Erebus

The pitiless Erinnys, wandering 710

In darkness, heard the prayer. Then straightway

rose
A sound of fearful tumult at the gates :
The towers were battered, and the elder chiefs
Of the yEtolians hastened to entreat
The aid of Meleager, and they sent 71s

Priests of the gods, a chosen band, to pray
That he would come to their defence. Large gifts
They promised. Where the soil of Calydon
Was best, they bade him choose a fruitful field
Of fifty acres, half for vines, and half, 7*>

Cleared of the trees, for tillage. Earnestly
Did aged CEneus, famed for horsemanship,
Beseech him ; to the chamber of his son,
High-roofed, he climbed, and at the threshold shook

246 The Iliad.

The massive doors with knocking as he sued. 7=5

His sisters and his reverend mother joined

Their supplications : he resisted still.

And much his friends, the dearest and most prized,

Besought him, but they vainly strove to swerve

His steadfast mind, till his own chamber felt 730

The assault, and the Curetes climbed the walls

To fire the populous city. Then the nymph,

His graceful wife, entreated him with tears,

And spake of all the horrors which o'ertake

A captured city, — all the men cut off 735

By massacre, the houses given to flames,

The children and deep-bosomed women dragged

Into captivity. Her sorrowful words *

He heard ; his spirit was disturbed ; he went

To gird his glittering armor on, and thus 74*

He saved the ^Etolians from a fearful doom,

Obeying his own impulse. The reward

Of rare and costly gifts they gave him not,

Though thus he rescued them. Be not thy thought

Like his, my friend ; let no invisible power 745

Persuade thee thus to act. Far worse it were

To wait, and when our fleet is all on fire

Offer thy aid. Accept the gifts at once :

Then will the Greeks, as if thou wert a god,

Hold thee in honor. If without the gifts 75°

Thou enter later on the field of fight,

Thou wilt not have like honor with the host,

Although thou turn the assault of battle back."

Book IX. 247

Then did Achilles, swift of foot, reply : —
"O ancient Phoenix, father, loved of Jove,
Such honor need I not ; for the decree
Of Jove, I deem, already honors me,
And will detain me by my beaked ships
While breath is in my lungs, and I have power
To move these knees. Yet one thing I would say, —
And bear it thou in mind, — vex not my soul 761
With weeping and lamenting for the sake
Of Agamemnon ; it becomes thee not —
Thou who art loved by me — to yield thy love
To him, unless thou wouldst incur my hate. 7«s

And thou shouldst be the enemy of him
Who wrongs me. Reign thou equally with me,
And share my honors. These will carry back
My answer. Thou remain, and, softly couched,
Sleep here : with early morn will we consult 770

Whether to leave this region or remain."

He spake, and, nodding to Patroclus, gave
A signal to prepare an ample couch
For Phoenix, while the other chiefs prepared
To leave the tent. Then Ajax Telamon, 77s

The godlike chief, addressed his comrades thus : —

" Son of Laertes, nobly born, and skilled
In sage devices, let us now depart,
Since, as it seems, the end for which we came
Cannot be compassed thus, and we must bear 780
With speed the unwelcome answer to the Greeks,
Who sit expecting us ; while in his breast

248 The Iliad.

The implacable Achilles bears a fierce %

And haughty heart, nor doth he heed the claim

Of that close friendship of his fellow-chiefs, 78s

Which at the Grecian fleet exalted him

Above all others. Unrelenting one !

Even for a brother's death a price is paid,

Or when a son is slain : the slayer dwells

At home among his people, having made 790

The appointed expiation. He to whom

The fine is offered takes it, and his thirst

Of vengeance is appeased. But in thy heart

The gods have kindled an unquenchable rage,

All for a single damsel, - — and behold, 79s

Seven more we offer, passing beautiful,

With many gifts beside. Let, then, thy mood

Be softened : have respect to thine own roof;

For we are guests beneath it, sent from all

The assembled host, and strong is our desire 8<*>

To be thy dearest and most cherished friends

Of all the Achaians, many as they are."

Achilles the swift-footed answered thus : —
" Illustrious Ajax, son of Telamon,
Prince of the people ! all that thou hast said, 8oj
I well perceive, is prompted by thy heart.
Mine swells with indignation when I think
How King Atrides mid the assembled Greeks
Heaped insults on me, as if I had been
A wretched vagabond. But go ye now 8*>

And bear my message. I shall never think

Book IX. 249

Of bloody war till noble Hector, son

Of Priam, slaughtering in his way the Greeks,

Shall reach the galleys of the Myrmidons,

To lay the fleet in flames. But when he comes si?

To my own tent and galley, he, I think,

Though eager for the combat, will desist."

He spake. Each raised a double cup and poured
Libations to the gods ; they then returned
Beside the fleet. Ulysses led the way. 820

Patroclus bade the attendant men and maids
Strew with all speed a soft and ample bed
For Phoenix. They obeyed, and spread the couch
With skins of sheep, dyed coverlets, and sheets
Of lawn ; and there the old man lay to wait 825

The glorious morn. Meantime Achilles slept
Within the tent's recess, and by him lay
Phorbas's daughter, whom he carried off
From Lesbos, — Diomede, rosy-cheeked.
Upon the other side Patroclus lay, 830

With slender-waisted Iphis by his side,
Given by the great Achilles when he took
Scyros the tall, where Enyeus ruled.

Now when the ambassadors were come within
The tent of Agamemnon, all the chiefs 833

Rose, one by one, and, lifting up to them
Their golden goblets, asked the news they brought
And first Atrides, king of men, inquired : —

" Renowned Ulysses, glory of the Greeks !
Tell me, will he protect our fleet from flames, 840
11*

250 The Iliad.

Or does he, in his wrath and pride, refuse ? "

Then spake the hardy chief Ulysses thus : —
" Atrides Agamemnon, glorious king
Of men ! he will not let his wrath abate,
But rages yet more fiercely, and contemns 845

Thee and thy gifts. He leaves thee to consult
With thine Achaians by what means to save
The fleet and army ; for himself he means
To-morrow, with the early dawn, to launch
His well-appointed galleys on the sea, 850

And will advise the other Greeks to spread
The sails for home, since they will never see
The overthrow of lofty Troy, for Jove
The Thunderer stretches his protecting hand
Above her, and her sons have taken heart. 85s

Such are his words ; and those who went with me
Are present, — Ajax and the heralds both,
Sage men, — the witnesses to what I say.
The aged Phcenix stays behind to sleep,
And on the morrow to attend his chief 8&>

To their beloved country, — if he will,
For else by no means will he take him hence."

He spake ; and all were silent, all amazed
At what they heard, for these were bitter words.
Long sat the sons of Greece in silent thought, &ss
Till Diomed, the great in battle, spake : —

" Atrides Agamemnon, glorious king
Of men ! I would thou hadst not deigned to ask
The illustrious son of Peleus for his aid,

Book X. 251

With offer of large gifts ; for arrogant s7o

He is at all times : thou hast made him now
More insolent. Now leave him to himself,
To go or to remain : he yet will fight
When his mood changes, or some god within
Shall move him. Let us do what I advise : — 87S
Betake we all ourselves to rest, but first
Refresh ourselves with food and wine ; in them
Is strength and spirit. When the rosy morn
Shall shine, command thou that the foot and horse
Be speedily drawn up before the fleet, ss0

And thou encourage them with cheerful words,
And fight among them in the foremost rank."

He spake. The kings assented, and admired
The words of the horse-tamer Diomed ;
And, pouring out libations, to their tents sss

They all departed, and lay down to rest,
And took into their souls the balm of sleep.

BOOK X.

ALL the night long the captains of the Greeks
Slept at the ships, and pleasant was their
sleep, —
Save only Agamemnon, Atreus' son,
The shepherd of the people. Not to him —
Vexed with a thousand cares — came gentle sleep.

252 The Iliad.

As when the husband of the light-haired queen 6

Of heaven sends forth his thunders, ushering in

Some wide-involving shower, — rain, hail, or snow

Whitening the fields, • — or opening o'er some land

The ravenous jaws of unrelenting war, — 10

So frequent were the groans which from his heart

Atrides uttered ; for within his breast

His heart was troubled. Looking toward the plain

Of Troy, he wondered at the many fires

Blazing before the city, and the sound 15

Of flutes and fifes, and tumult of the crowd.

But when he turned him toward the fleet and host

Of Greece, he tore his hair, and flung it up

To Jove, and vented his great heart in groans.

And now at length it seemed to him most wise =<>

To seek Neleian Nestor, and with him

Devise some plan by which to turn aside

The threatened evil from the Greeks. He rose,

And drew his tunic o'er his breast, and laced

The graceful sandals to his well-shaped feet ; 25

And o'er his shoulders threw the blood-stained hide

Of a huge tawny lion, that reached down

Even to the ground ; and took in hand his spear.

Meantime with like uneasy thoughts oppressed

Was Menelaus, to whose eyes there came 30

No slumber, — dreading lest calamity

Should light upon the Greeks, who for his sake

Had crossed the sea to carry war to Troy.

And first he threw a leopard's spotted hide

Book X. 253

O'er his broad back, and placed the brazen helm 35

Upon his head, and took in his strong grasp

A spear, and went to bid his brother wake, —

His brother, the chief ruler over all

The men of Greece, and honored like a god.

He found him at his galley's prow in act 40

To sheath his shoulders in the shining mail,

And pleased to greet his coming. To the king

Thus Menelaus, great in battle, spake : —

" Why arm thyself, my brother ? Wouldst thou
send
A warrior to explore the Trojan camp ? 4s

None will accept the task, I fear, to creep
Alone at dead of night, a spy, within
The hostile lines ; — a bold man must he be."

Then answered Agamemnon, king of men : —
" Most noble Menelaus, much we need 5°

Wise counsel — thou and I — to save our men
And galleys from destruction, since the will
Of Jove is changed. Now hath the God respect
To Hector's sacrifices ; for in truth
I never saw — I never heard of one ss

Who in one day performed such mighty deeds
As Hector, dear to Jove, just now hath wrought,
Though not the son of goddess or of god.
Those deeds will be, I deem, for many a day
A cause of bitter sorrow to the Greeks, — so

Such evil hath he wrought. Now go at once,
And from their galleys call Idomeneus

254 The Iliad.

And Ajax ; while to noble Nestor's tent

I go, and pray that he will rise and give

Their orders to the sacred band of guards ; — es

For they will hearken to him, since his son

Commands them jointly with Meriones,

The armor-bearer of Idomeneus, —

Both named by us to that important trust."

Then Menelaus, great in battle, said : — 7°

"What wilt thou, then, and what dost thou com-
mand,—
That I remain with them until thou come,
Or, having given the message, seek thee here ? "

Again the monarch Agamemnon spake : —
" Wait there, lest as we go I meet thee not, 75

For many ways are through the camp. But thou,
In going, shout aloud and bid them all
Be vigilant, accosting every one
By his paternal name, and giving each
Due honor : bear thyself not haughtily : so

We too must labor • for when we were born
Jove laid this hard condition on us all."

So spake he, and, dismissing with that charge
His brother, hastened to where Nestor lay,
The shepherd of his people. Him he found as

On his soft couch within his tent beside
His dark-brown ship. Around him scattered shone
His arms, — a shield, two spears, a gleaming helm,
And pliant belt, with which the ancient man
Girded himself when arming to lead on 90

Book X. 255

His men to murderous fight ; — for not to age
The warrior yielded yet. He raised his head,
And, leaning on his elbow, questioned thus
Atrides : " Who art thou that traversest
The camp beside the fleet at dead of night, 95

Alone, while others sleep ? Com'st thou to find
One of the guardsmen, or a comrade ? Speak ;
Come not in silence thus : what wouldst thou have ? "

Then answered Agamemnon, king of men : —
" O Nestor, son of Neleus, whom the Greeks ™
All glory in ! thou certainly wilt know
Atrides Agamemnon, whom the will
Of Jove hath visited with hardships great
Beyond what others bear, to last while breath
Is in my lungs, and while my knees can move. 105
I wander thus abroad because sweet sleep
Comes not to close my eyelids, and the war
And slaughter of the Greeks distress me sore.
For them I greatly fear, my heart is faint,
My mind confounded. In my breast the heart »°
Pants, and my limbs all tremble. If thou wilt, —
For, as I see, thou also dost not sleep, —
Come with me to the guards, that we may know
Whether, o'ercome by toil and weariness,
They give themselves to slumber and forget "s

Their watch. The foe is near us in his camp,
And how know we that even now by night
He plans not, to attack us in our tents ? "

Then Nestor, the Gerenian knight, replied : —

256 The Iliad.

" Atrides Agamemnon, glorious king «<,

Of men, almighty Jove will not perform

For Hector all that Hector plans and hopes ;

And heavier cares, I think, will yet be his

When once Achilles' wrath is turned away.

Yet willingly I join thee. Let us call »s

The other chiefs, — 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 130

The ships of both are stationed. I shall chide

Thy brother Menelaus — though he be

Honored and dear, and though it please thee not —

For sleeping, while he leaves such toils as these

To thee alone. He should be here among 135

The chiefs, exhorting them to valiant deeds ;

For now the hour of bitter need is come."

Again spake Agamemnon, king of men : —
" At other times, old chief, I would have begged
That thou shouldst blame him : he is oft remiss, 140
And late to act ; but not because of sloth,
Or want of spirit, — 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
Let us go on, and meet them where they wait, u«
Among the guards and just before the gates, —
For I appointed that the trysting-place."

Book X. 257

And Nestor, the Gerenian knight, replied : —
" Then let no Greek condemn him, or refuse 150
To heed and to obey when he shall speak."

He spake, and drew his tunic o'er his breast,
Laced the fair sandals to his shapely feet,
And round him fastened, with a clasp, his cloak, —
A double web of purple, with full folds 135

And flowing pile. He grasped a massive spear,
Its blade of trenchant brass. And first he sought
The galleys of the Achaians brazen-mailed.
There shouted Nestor the Gerenian knight,
To raise Ulysses, best of counsellors, ^

Jove-like in wisdom ; who perceived the voice,
And issued from his tent in haste, and said : —

" What brings you forth to walk the camp at night,
Beside the ships alone ; what urgent cause ? "

Then answered Nestor, the Gerenian knight : — ^s
" Son of Laertes, nobly born, and skilled
In wise devices, be thou not displeased :
A fearful woe impends above the Greeks :
Come, then, and call the other chiefs, to give
Their counsel whether we shall flee or fight." 17°

He spake ; and wise Ulysses, entering
His tent again, upon his shoulders laid
His well-wrought shield, and joined them as they

went,
Till, coming to Tydides Diomed,
They found him by his tent among his arms, 17s
His comrades sleeping round him with their shields

253 The Iliad.

Beneath their heads. Their spears were set upright,
The nether points in earth. The polished brass
Gleamed like the lightnings of All-Father Jove.
In sleep the hero lay ; a wild bull's hide iso

"Was spread beneath him, and a carpet dyed
With glowing colors propped his head. The knight,
Gerenian Xestor, touched him with his foot
And roused him, and addressed him chidingly : —

" O son of Tydeus ! wilt thou calmly sleep ms
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 camp from ours ? "

He spake. The son of Tydeus sprang from sleep
At once, and answered him with winged words : —

" Thy labors are too constant, aged man ; 192

Thou shrinkest from no hardship. Are there not
Young men among the Greeks to walk the camp
And call the kyjigs ? Thou never takest rest." 195

And Nestor, the Gerenian knight, replied : —
"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 give the summons. But to-night there lies 2°°
A hard necessity upon the Greeks,
And their destruction and their rescue hang
Balanced on a knife's edge. Come then, since thou
Art younger, call swift Ajax and the son
Of Phyleus, if thou wouldst relieve my age." =05

Book X. 259

He spake ; and Diomed around him flung
A tawny lion's ample hide, that reached
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,
Its leaders were not slumbering ; every man ««

Sat watchful and in arms. As dogs that guard
Flocks in a sheepfold hear some savage beast
That comes through thickets down the mountain-
side ;
Loud is the clamor of the dogs and men, «s

And sleep is frightened thence, — 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 rejoiced, »

And thus encouraged them with winged words : —
" Watch thus, dear youths, let no one yield to sleep,
Lest we become the mockery of the foe."

He spake, and crossed the trench ; and with him
went
The Grecian leaders, they who had been called &s
To council. With them went Meriones
And Nestor's eminent son, for they had both
Been summoned. Crossing to the other side
Of that deep trench, they found an open space
Clear of the dead, in which they sat them down, —
Just where the fiery Hector, having slain >a«

260 The 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 there none among you who so far 235
Trusts his own valor that he 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 240

They mean to keep their station far from Troy
And near our ships, or, since their late success,
Return to Ilium. Could he safely bring
This knowledge back to us, his meed were great, —
Glory among all men beneath the sky, 245

And liberal recompense. As many chiefs
As now command our galleys, each would give
A black ewe with a suckling lamb, — such gifts
No one hath yet received, — and he should sit
A guest at all our banquets and our feasts." 250

He spake ; and all were silent for a space.
Then Diomed, the great in battle, said : —

" Nestor, my resolute spirit urges me
To explore the Trojan camp, that lies so near ;
Yet, were another warrior by my side, 255

I should go forth with a far surer hope,
And greater were my daring. For when two
Join in the same adventure, one perceives
Before the other how they ought to act ;
While one alone, however prompt, resolves 260

Book X. 261

More tardily and with a weaker will."

He spake ; and many a chief made suit to share
The risk with Diomed. The ministers
Of Mars, the chieftains Ajax, asked to go ;
Meriones desired it ; Nestor's son *>$

Greatly desired to join the enterprise ;
Atrides Menelaus, skilled to wield
The spear, desired it ; and that hardy chief,
Ulysses, longed to explore the Trojan camp,
For full of daring aims was the great soul 270

Within his bosom. Agamemnon then,
The king 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 27s
By deference to take the worse and leave
The abler warrior. Pay no heed to rank,
Or race, or wide extent of kingly rule."

Thus spake the king ; for in his heart he feared
For fair-haired Menelaus. Diomed, 280

The great in battle, then addressed them all : — ^

" Ye bid me choose : how, then, can I o'erlook
Godlike Ulysses, prudent in resolve,
And firm in every danger, well beloved
By Pallas. Give me him, and our return 285

Is sure, though from consuming flames ; for he
Is wise to plan beyond all other men."

Ulysses, nobly born and hardy, spake
In turn : " Tydides, praise me not too much,

262 The Iliad.

Nor blame me, for thou speakest to the Greeks, =9»
Who know me. Meantime let us haste to go,
For the night wears away, and morn is near.
The stars are high, two thirds of night are past, — -
The greater part, — and scarce a third remains."

He spake ; and both arrayed themselves for fight.
The mighty warrior Thrasymedes gave 295

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. A bow, 3°*
Quiver, and sword Meriones bestowed
Upon Ulysses, placing on his brows
A leathern helmet, firmly laced within
By many a thong, and on the outer side 3°s

Set thickly with a tusky boar's white teeth,
Which fenced it well and skilfully. A web
Of woollen for the temples lined the work.
This helm Autolycus once bore away
From Eleon, the city where he sacked 3«>

The stately palace of Amyntor, son
Of Ormenus. The captor gave the prize
To the Cytheran chief, Amphidamas,
Who bore it to Scandeia, and in turn
Bestowed it upon Molus as his guest, 3*5

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

Book X. 263

Were all accoutred in their dreadful arms,
Forward they went, and left the assembled chiefs,
While, sent by Pallas forth, upon their right 3»

A heron flew beside their path. The bird
They saw not, for the night was dark, but heard
Its rustling wings. Ulysses at the sound
Rejoiced, and supplicated Pallas thus : — 325

" Hear ! daughter of the ^Egis-bearer Jove !
Thou who art near me in all dangers, thou
Whose eye is on me wheresoe'er I go,
Befriend me, Pallas, yet again, and grant
That, laden with great glory, we return 33°

Safe to the galleys, mighty deeds performed,
And woe inflicted on the Trojan race."

Next Diomed, the great in battle, prayed : —
" Daughter invincible of Jove, give ear
Also to me. Be with me now, as once 335

Thou didst attend on Tydeus nobly born,
My father, when he bore an embassy
To Thebe from the Achaians. He beside
The Asopus left the Achaians mailed in brass,
And bore a friendly message to the sons 34°

Of Cadmus, and on his return performed
Full many a mighty deed with aid from thee,
Great goddess ! for thou stoodest by his side.
Stand now by me ; be thou my shield and guard ;
And I, in turn, will offer up to thee 34s

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

264 The Iliad.

The yoke. Her 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 351

Of Jove Almighty, the two chiefs went on
Like lions through the darkness of the night,
Through slaughter, heaps of corses, and black blood.

Nor now had Hector suffered the brave sons 33s
Of Troy to sleep, but summoned all the chiefs,
Leaders, and princes of the host, and thus
Addressed the assembly with well-ordered words: —

" Who of you all will promise to perform
The task I set him, for a large reward ? 360

For ample shall his meed be. I will give
A 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 36=

Whether the fleet is guarded as before,
Or whether, 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. 37c
Now there was one, among 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
In face but swift of foot, an only son 375

Book X. 265

Among five sisters. He stood forth among
The Trojans, and replied to Hector thus : —

" My daring spirit, Hector, urges me
To visit the swift ships and learn the state
Of the Greek host. But hold thy sceptre forth, 330
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 forth,
And swore : " Be Jupiter the Thunderer, 390

Husband of Juno, witness, that those steeds
Shall bear no other Trojan than thyself.
That honor I confirm to thee alone."

He spake. It was an idle oath, yet gave
New courage to the spy, who instantly 395

Upon his shoulders hung his crooked bow,
And round him flung a gray wolf's 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. Soon was he beyond
The crowd of men and steeds, and eagerly
Held on his way. Ulysses first perceived

vol. r. 12

266 The Iliad.

His coming, and thus spake to Diomed : — 40s

" Some one, Tydides, from the enemy's camp
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 411

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 ; and both lay down without the path.
Among 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, 4^5

Or haply less, he saw that they were foes,
And moved his nimble knees, and turned to 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
Before them panting, so did Diomed 451

And terrible Ulysses without stop
Follow the fugitive, to cut him off

Book X. 267

From his own people. In his flight he came 434
Where soon he would have mingled with the guards,
Close to the fleet. Then Pallas breathed newstrength
Into Tydides, that no other Greek
Might boast that he had wounded Dolon first,
And steal the honor. Therefore, with his spear
Uplifted, Diomed rushed on and spake : — 440

" Stop, or my spear o'ertakes thee, nor wilt thou
Escape a certain death from this right hand."

He spake, and hurled his spear — but not to
smite — ■
At Dolon, over whose right shoulder passed
The polished weapon, and, descending, pierced 445
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
His hands, while, bursting into tears, he spake : — •

" Take me alive, and ye shall have from me 450
A ransom : there is store of brass and gold
And well-wrought steel, of which a princely share
My father will bestow when he shall hear
Of me alive and at the Grecian fleet."

The crafty chief Ulysses answered thus : — 455
" Take heart, and cease to think of death, but tell,
And truly, why thou earnest to our fleet :
Was it to strip the bodies of the dead ?
Camest thou, sent by Hector, as a spy

268 The Iliad.

Among our ships, or of thine own accord ?" 46o

And Dolon answered, trembling still with fear : —
" Hector, against my will and to my hurt,
Persuaded me. He promised to bestow
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 466

Of darkness to approach the foe and learn
Whether ye guard your galleys as before,
Or, overcome by us, consult on flight,
And, wearied with the hardships of the day, 470

Have failed to set the accustomed nightly watch."
The man of craft, Ulysses, smiled, and said : —
" Truly, thy hope was set on princely gifts, —
The steeds of war-renowned ^Eacides,
Hard to be reined by mortal hands, or driven 475
By any, save by Peleus' son himself,
Whom an immortal mother bore. But come,
Tell me, — and tell the truth, — where hast thou left
Hector, the leader of the host, and where
Are laid his warlike arms ; where stand his steeds ;
Where are the sentinels, and where the tents 481
Of other chiefs ? On what do they consult ?
Will they remain beside our galleys here,
Or do they meditate, since, as they say,
The Greeks are beaten, a return to Troy ? " 485

Dolon, Eumedes' son, made answer thus : —
" What thou requirest I will truly tell.
Hector is with his counsellors, and now,

Book X. 269

Apart from all the bustle, at the tomb

Of Ilus the divine, he plans the war. 490

Sentries, of whom thou speakest, there are none ;

No chosen band, O hero ! has in charge

To guard the camp. By all their blazing fires,

Constrained by need, the Trojans keep awake,

And each exhorts his fellow to maintain 49s

The watch : not so the auxiliar troops who came

From far : they sleep, and since they have no wives

Nor children near, they let the Trojans watch."

Then thus the man of wiles, Ulysses, spake : —
" How sleep they, — mingled with the knights of
Troy 500

Or by themselves ? Tell me, that I may know."

Dolon, Eumedes' son, made answer thus : —
" What thou requirest I will truly tell.
On one hand, toward the sea, the bowmen lie
Of Caria and Pseonia, and with them sos

Lelegans, Caucons, and the gallant tribe
Of the Pelasgians. On the other hand,
Toward Thymbra, are the Lycians, the proud race
Of Mysia, Phrygia's knights, and cavalry
Of the Maeonians. Why should ye inquire sw

The place of each ? If ye design to-night
To penetrate into the Trojan camp,
There are the Thracians, newly come, apart
From all the others : with them is their king,
Rhesus, the son of Eioneus ; his steeds srs

Are far the largest and most beautiful

270 The Iliad.

I ever saw, — the snow is not so white,

The wind is not so swift. His chariot shines

With gold and silver, and the coat of mail

In which he came to Troy is all of gold, 520

And gloriously and marvellously bright,

Such as becomes not mortal men to wear,

But the gods only. Now to your swift ships

Lead me ; or bind me fast with thongs, and here

Leave me till your return ; and ye shall know 525

Whether the words I speak be true or false."

Then sternly spake the gallant Diomed : —
" Once in our hands a prisoner, do not think,
O Dolon ! to escape, though thou hast told
Things that shall profit us. For if we now 53°

Release thee thou wilt surely come again
To the Greek fleet, a spy, or openly
To fight against us. If I take thy life,
'T is certain thou wilt harm the Greeks no more."

He spake. And as the suppliant took his chin 535
In his large hand, and had begun a prayer,
He smote him with his sword at the mid-neck,
And cut the tendons both ; the severed head,
While yet he spake, fell, rolling in the dust.
And then they took his helm of otter-skin, 340

The wolf s-hide, sounding bow, and massive spear.
The nobly born Ulysses in his hand
Lifted the trophies high, devoting them
To Pallas, deity of spoil, and prayed : —

" Delight thyself, O goddess, in these arms, 54s

Book X. 271

For thee we first invoke, of all the gods
Upon Olympus. Guide us now to find
The camp and coursers of the sons of Thrace."

He spake ; and, raising them aloft, he hung
The spoils upon a tamarisk, and brake ss°

Reeds and the spreading branches of the tree
To form a mark, that so on their return
They might not, in the darkness, miss the spot.
Then onward, mid strewn arms and pools of blood,
They went, and soon were where the Thracians lay.
There slept the warriors, overpowered with toil ; 556
Their glittering arms were near them, fairly ranged
In triple rows, and by each suit of arms
Two coursers. Rhesus slumbered in the midst.
Near him were his fleet horses, which were made
Fast to the chariot's border by the reins. s«i

Ulysses saw them first, and, pointing, said : —

" This is the man, O Diomed, and these
The steeds, described by Dolon whom we slew.
Come, then ; put forth thy strength of arm, for ill
Doth it become thee to stand idle here, ?«

Armed as thou art. Loose thou the steeds ; or else
Slay thou the men, and leave the steeds to me."

He spake. The blue-eyed Pallas straightway gave
Strength to Tydides, who on every side 570

Dealt slaughter. From the smitten by the sword
Rose fearful groans ; the ground was red with blood.
As when a ravening lion suddenly
Springs on a helpless flock of goats or sheep,

272 The Iliad.

So fell Tydides on the Thracian band, 57s

Till twelve were slain, Whomever Diomed

Approached and smote, the sage Ulysses seized,

And drew him backward by the feet, that thus

The flowing-maned coursers might pass forth

Unhindered, nor, by treading on the dead, 580

Be startled ; for they yet were new to war.

Now when the son of Tydeus reached the king, —

The thirteenth of his victims, — him he slew

As he breathed heavily ; for on that night

A fearful dream, in shape QEnides' son, sss

Stood o'er him, sent by Pallas. 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 590

On the fair chariot-seat. In going thence

He whistled, as a sign to Diomed,

Who lingered, pondering on his next exploit, —

Whether to seize the chariot where was laid

The embroidered armor, dragging it away ; 595

Or, lifting it aloft, to bear it thence ;

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 thou be forced to reach the ships by flight."

She spake. He knew the goddess by her voice,

Book X. 273

And leaped upon a steed. Ulysses lashed

The horses with his bow, and on they flew 60s

Toward the swift galleys of the Grecian host.

Apollo, bearer of the silver bow,
Kept no vain watch, and, angry when he saw
Minerva at the side of Diomed,
Down to the mighty host of Troy he came, 610

And roused from sleep a Thracian counsellor, —
Hippocoon, a kinsman of the house
Of Rhesus. Leaping from his couch, he saw
The vacant spot where the swift steeds had stood,
And, weltering in their blood, the dying chiefs. 615
He saw, and wept aloud, and called by name
His dear companion. Then a clamor rose,
And boundless tumult, as the Trojans came
All rushing to the spot, and marvelling
At what the daring warriors, who were now 620

Returning to the hollow ships, had done.

And when these warriors now had reached the spot
Where Hector's spy was slain, Ulysses, dear
To Jupiter, reined in the fiery steeds,
And Diomed leaped down and took the spoil 6=s
Blood-stained, and gave it to Ulysses' hands,
And mounted. Then again they urged the steeds,
Which, not unwilling, flew along the way.'
First Nestor heard the approaching sound, and
said : —

" Friends, chiefs and princes of the Greeks, my
heart — 630

12* R

274 The Iliad.

Truly or falsely — urges me to speak.
The trampling of swift steeds is in my ears.

0 that Ulysses and the gallant son

Of Tydeus might be bringing at this hour
Firm-footed coursers from the enemy's camp ! 635
Yet must I fear that these, our bravest chiefs,
Have met disaster from the Trojan crew."

While he was speaking yet, the warriors came.
They sprang to earth ; their friends, rejoicing, flocked
Around them, greeting them with grasp of hands 64°
And with glad words, while the Gerenian knight,
Nestor, inquired : " Declare, illustrious chief,
Glory of Greece, Ulysses, how ye took
These horses : from the foe ; • — or did some god
Bestow them ? They are glorious as the sun. 645
Oft am I midst the Trojans, for, though old,

1 lag not idly at the ships ; yet ne'er

Have my eyes looked on coursers like to these.
Some god, no doubt, has given them, for to Jove,
The God of storms, and Pallas, blue-eyed child 650
Of aegis-bearing Jove, ye both are dear."

Then sage Ulysses answered : " Pride of Greece !
Neleian Nestor, truly might a god
Have given us nobler steeds than even these.
All power is with the gods. But these of which ess
Thou askest, aged man, are brought from Thrace,
And newly come. Brave Diomed hath slain
Their lord, and twelve companions by his side, —
All princes. Yet another victim fell, —

Book X. 275

A spy whom, near our ships, we put to death, — 660
A man whom Hector and his brother chiefs
Sent forth by midnight to explore our camp."

He spake, and gayly caused the firm-paced steeds
To pass the trench ; the other Greeks, well pleased,
Went with him. When they reached the stately tent
Of Diomed, they led the coursers on 665

To stalls where Diomed's fleet horses stood
Champing the wholesome corn, and bound them there
With halters neatly shaped. Ulysses placed
Upon his galley's stern the bloody spoil 670

Of Dolon, to be made an offering
To Pallas. Then, descending to the sea,
They washed from knees and neck and thighs the

grime
Of sweat ; and when in the salt wave their limbs
Were cleansed, and all the frame refreshed, they

stepped 67s

Into the polished basins of the bath,
And, having bathed and rubbed with fragrant oil
Their limbs, they sat them down to a repast,
And from a brimming jar beside them drew,
And poured to Pallas first, the pleasant wine. 680

276 The Iliad.

BOOK XI.

NOW did the Morning from her couch beside
Renowned Tithonus rise, that she might bring
The light to gods and men, when Jupiter
To the swift galleys of the Grecian host
Sent baleful Strife, who bore in hand aloft s

War's ensigns. On the huge black ship that brought
Ulysses, in the centre of the fleet,
She stood, where she might shout to either side, —
To Telamonian Ajax in his tents
And to Achilles, who had ranged their ships 1°

At each extreme of the Achaian camp,
Relying on their valor and strong arms.
Loud was the voice, and terrible, in which
She shouted from her station to the Greeks,
And into every heart it carried strength is

And the resolve to combat manfully
And never yield. The battle now to them
Seemed more to be desired than the return
To their dear country in their roomy ships.
Atrides called aloud, exhorting them =o

To gird themselves for battle. Then he clad
Himself in glittering brass. First to his thighs
He bound the beautiful greaves with silver clasps,
Then fitted to his chest the breastplate given
By Cinyras, a pledge of kind intent ; — *s

For, when he heard in Cyprus that the Greeks

Book XL 277

Were bound for Ilium in their ships, he sent
This gift, a homage to the king of men ; —
Ten were its bars of tawny bronze, and twelve
Were gold, and twenty tin ; and on each side 30
Were three bronze serpents stretching toward the

neck,
Curved like the colored bow which Saturn's son
Sets in the clouds, a sign to men. He hung
His sword, all glittering with its golden studs,
About his shoulders. In a silver sheath 35

It nestled, which was slung on golden rings.
And then he took his shield, a mighty orb,
And nobly wrought and strong and beautiful,
Bound with ten brazen circles. On its disk
Were twenty bosses of white tin, and one 40

Of tawny bronze just in the midst, where glared
A Gorgon's-head with angry eyes, round which
Were sculptured Fear and Flight. Along its band
Of silver twined a serpent wrought in bronze,
With three heads springing from one neck and

formed 45

Into an orb. Upon his head he placed
A helmet rough with studs on every side,
And with four bosses, and a horse-hair plume
That nodded fearfully on high. He took
In hand two massive spears, brass-tipped and sharp,
That shone afar and sent their light to heaven, s«
Where Juno and Minerva made a sound
Like thunder in mid-sky, as honoring

278 The Iliad.

The sovereign of Mycenae rich in gold.

Each chief gave orders to his charioteer ss

To stay his horses firmly by the trench,
While they rushed forth in arms. At once arose,
Ere yet the sun was up, a mighty din.
They marshalled by the trench the men on foot ;
The horse came after, with short space between. <*>
The son of Saturn sent among their ranks
Confusion, and dropped down upon the host
Dews tinged with blood, in sign that he that day
Would send to Hades many a valiant chief.

The Trojans, on their side, in the mid-plain 65
Drew up their squadrons on a hill, around
The mighty Hector, and Polydamas
The blameless, and ^neas, who among
The sons of Troy was honored like a god,
And three sons of Antenor, who were named 70
Agenor and the noble Polybus
And the young Acamas of godlike bloom,
There Hector in the van uplifted bore
His broad round shield. As some portentous star
Breaks from the clouds and shines, and then again
Enters their shadow, Hector thus appeared 76

Among the foremost, issuing his commands,
Then sought the hindmost. All in brass, he shone
Like lightnings of the ^Egis-bearer, Jove.

As when two lines of reapers, face to face, 80

In some rich landlord's field of barley or wheat
Move on, and fast the severed handfuls fall,

Book XL 279

So, springing on each other, they of Troy

And they of Argos smote each other down,

And neither thought of ignominious flight. «s

They met each other man to man ; they rushed

Like wolves to combat. Cruel Strife looked on

Rejoicing ; she alone of all the gods

Was present in the battle ; all the rest,

Far off, sat quiet in their palaces, 90

The glorious mansions built for them along

The summits of Olympus. Yet they all

Blamed Saturn's son that he should honor thus

The Trojans. The All-Father heeded not

Their murmurings, but, seated by himself 95

Apart, exulting in his sovereignty,

Looked on the city of Troy, the ships of Greece,

The gleam of arms, the slayers, and the slain.

While yet 't was morn, and still the holy light
Of day was brightening, fast the weapons smote i°o
On either side, and fast the people fell ;
But at the hour when on the mountain-slope
The wood-cutter makes ready his repast,
Weary with felling lofty trees, and glad
To rest, and eager for the grateful meal, io3

The Greeks, encouraging each other, charged
And broke the serried phalanxes of Troy.
First Agamemnon, springing forward, slew
The shepherd of his people and their chief,
Bienor, and his trusty comrade next, — no

The charioteer Oileus, who had leaped

280 The Iliad.

Down from his chariot to confront the king.
Him Agamemnon with his trenchant spear
Smote in the forehead as he came. The helm
Of massive brass was vain to stay the blow : us

The weapon pierced it and the bone, and stained
The brain with blood ; it felled him rushing on.
The monarch stripped the slain, and, leaving them
With their white bosoms bare, went on to slay
Isus and Antiphus, King Priam's sons, — i*>

One born in wedlock, one of baser birth, —
Both in one chariot. Isus held the reins
While Antiphus, the high-born brother, fought.
These had Achilles once on Ida's height
Made prisoners, as they fed their flocks ; he bound
Their limbs with osier bands, but gave them up 126
For ransom to the Trojans. Now the king
Of men, Atrides Agamemnon, pierced
Isus above the nipple with his spear,
And with his falchion smiting Antiphus 130

Beside the ear, he hurled him from his car.
Then hastening up, and stripping from the dead
Their shining mail, he knew them ; he had seen
Both at the ships to which the fleet of foot,
Achilles, brought them bound from Ida's side. 135
As when a lion comes upon the haunt •
Of a swift hind, to make an easy prey
Of her young fawns, and, with his powerful teeth
Seizing them, takes their tender lives ; while she,
Though nigh, can bring no aid but yields herself mo

Book XL 28 1

To mortal fear, and, to escape his rage,
Flies swiftly through the wood of close-grown oaks,
With sweaty sides, — thus none of all the host
Of Trojans could avert from Priam's sons
Their fate, but fled in terror from the Greeks. 145
Next on Pisander and Hippolochus
Atrides rushed, — brave warriors both, and sons
Of brave Antimachus, the chief who took
Gold and rich gifts from Paris, and refused
To let the Trojans render Helen back 15°

To fair-haired Menelaus. His two sons,
Both in one car, and reining their fleet steeds,
Atrides intercepted ; they let fall
The embroidered reins, dismayed, as, lion-like,
Forward he came ; and, cowering, thus they
prayed : — 155

" Take us alive, Atrides, and accept
A worthy ransom, for Antimachus
Keeps in his halls large treasures, — brass and gold.
And well-wrought steel ; and he will send, from these,
Large ransom, hearing we are at the fleet 160

Alive." So prayed they with bland words, and met
Harsh answer : " Since ye call Antimachus
Your father, who in Trojan council once
Proposed that Menelaus, whom we sent
A legate with Ulysses the divine, 163

Should not return to Greece, but suffer death,
Your blood must answer for your father's guilt."

So spake the king, and, striking with his spear

282 The Iliad.

Pisander's breast, he dashed him from the car.
Prone on the ground he lay. Hippolochus 170

Leaped do,wn and met the sword. Atrides lopped
His hands and drave the weapon through his neck,
And sent the head to roll among the crowd.
And then he left the dead, and rushed to where
The ranks were in disorder; with him went 175

His well-armed Greeks ; there they who fought on

foot
Slaughtered the flying foot ; the horsemen there
Clove horsemen down ; the coursers' trampling feet
Raised the thick dust to shadow all the plain ;
"While Agamemnon cheered the Achaians on, 180
And chased and slew the foe. As when a fire
Seizes a thick-grown forest, and the wind
Drives it along in eddies, while the trunks
Fall with the boughs amid devouring flames,
So fell the flying Trojans by the hand *s

Of Agamemnon. Many high-maned steeds
Dragged noisily their empty cars among
The ranks of battle, never more to bear
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 19s

Toward the wild fig-tree growing near the tomb

Book XI. 283

Of ancient Ilus, son of Dardanus, —
Eager to reach the town ; and Still the son
Of Atreus followed, shouting, and with hands
Blood-stained and dust-begrimed. And when they
reached 200

The Scasan portals and the beechen tree,
They 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 flight, and one of them to certain death, — 205
Whose neck he breaks with his strong teeth and then
Devours the entrails, lapping up the blood.
Thus did Atrides Agamemnon chase
The Trojans ; still he slew the hindmost ; still
They fled before him. Many by his hand 210

Fell from their chariots prone, for terrible
Beyond all others with the spear was he.
But when he now was near the city-wall,
The Father of immortals and of men
Came down from the high heaven, and took his seat
On many-fountained Ida. In his grasp ^

He held a thunderbolt, and this command
He gave to Iris of the golden wings : —

" Haste, Iris fleet of wing, and bear my words
To Hector : — While he sees the king of men, ^0
Atrides, in the van and dealing death
Among the ranks of warriors, let him still
Give way, encouraging his men to hold
Unflinching battle with the enemy.

284 The Iliad.

But when Atrides, wounded by a spear 22s

Or arrow, shall ascend his chariot, then

Will I nerve Hector's arm with strength to slay

Until he come to the good ships of Greece,

And the sun set, and hallowed night come down."

He spake ; and she, whose feet are like the wind
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 23s

In council ! Jove the All-Father bids me say,
As long as thou shalt see the king of men,
Atrides, in the van, and dealing death
Among the ranks of warriors, thou shalt still 240
Give way, encouraging thy men to hold
Unflinching battle with the enemy ;
But when Atrides, wounded by a spear
Or arrow, shall ascend his chariot, then
Will Jove endue thy arm with strength to slay 245
Until thou come to the good ships of Greece,
And the sun set, and hallowed night come down."

So the fleet Iris spake, and went her way ;
While Hector, leaping from his car in arms,
And wielding his sharp spears, went everywhere 2Sa
Among the Trojan ranks, exhorting them
To combat, and renewed the stubborn fight.
They rallied and stood firm against the Greeks.

Book XL 285

The Greeks, in turn, made strong their phalanxes.
The battle raged again, as front to front *ss

They stood, while Agamemnon eagerly
Pressed forward, proud to lead the van in fight.

Say, Muses, dwellers of Olympus ! who
First of the Trojans or their brave allies
Encountered Atreus' son ? Iphidamas, 260

Son of Antenor, strong and daring, bred
On the rich soil of Thrace, the nurse of flocks.
His grandsire Cisseus, from whose loins the fair
Theano sprang, had reared him from a child
Within his palace ; and, when he attained 265

Youth's glorious prime, still kept him, giving him
His child to wife. He wedded her, but left
At once the bridal chamber when he heard
Of the Greek war on Ilium, and set sail
With twelve beaked galleys. These he afterward 270
Left at Percope, — marching on to Troy.
And he it was who came to meet the son
Of Atreus. As the heroes now drew near
Each other, Agamemnon missed his aim ;
His thrust was parried. Then Iphidamas 27s

Dealt him beneath the breastplate on the belt
A vigorous blow, and urged the spear with all
His strength of arm ; yet through the plated belt
It could not pierce, for there it met a plate
Of silver, and its point was turned like lead. ■$*

With lion strength, Atrides seized and drew
The weapon toward him, plucked it from the hand

286 The Iliad.

That held it, and let fall his falchion's edge

Upon the Trojan's neck and laid him dead.

Unhappy youth ! he slept an iron sleep, — ssj

Slain fighting for his country, far away

From the young virgin bride yet scarcely his,

For whom large marriage-gifts he made, — of beeves

A hundred, — and had promised from the flocks

That thronged his fields a thousand sheep and goats.

Atrides Agamemnon spoiled. the slain, 291

And bore his glorious armor off among

The Argive host. Antenor's elder son,

Illustrious Coon, saw, and bitter grief

For his slain brother dimmed his eyes. He stood

Aside, with his spear couched, while unaware 25s

The noble Agamemnon passed, and pierced

The middle of the monarch's arm below

The elbow ; through the flesh the shining point

Passed to the other side. The king of men, 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, 305

The bravest, to his aid. Atrides thrust

His brazen spear below the bossy shield,

And slew him as he drew the corpse, and o'er

The dead Iphidamas struck off his head.

Thus were Antenor's sons — their doom fulfilled —

Sent by Atrides to the realm of death. 3"

Book XL 287

And then he ranged among the enemy's ranks
With wielded lance and sword and ponderous stones,
While yet the warm blood issued from his wound.
But when the wound grew dry, and ceased to flow 3»s
With blood, keen anguish seized his vigorous frame.
As when a woman feels the piercing pangs
Of travail brought her by the Ilythian maids,
Daughters of Juno, who preside at births,
And walk the ministers of bitter pains, — 32°

Such anguish seized on Agamemnon's frame ;
And, leaping to his chariot-seat, he bade
The guider of the steeds make haste to reach
The roomy ships, for he was overcome 324

With pain ; but first he shouted to the Greeks : —

" O friends, the chiefs and princes of the Greeks !
Yours is the duty to drive back the war
From our good ships, since all-disposing Jove
Forbids me, for this day, to lead the fight."

He spake. The charioteer applied the lash, 330
And not unwillingly the long-maned steeds
Flew toward the hollow ships ; upon their breasts
Gathered the foam ; beneath their rapid feet
Arose the dust, as from the battle's din
They bore the wounded warrior. Hector saw 33s
The flight of Agamemnon, and aloud
Called to the Trojans and the Lycians thus : —

" Trojan and Lycian warriors, and ye sons
Of Dardanus, who combat hand to hand,
Be men ; be mindful of your fame in war. 340

288 The Iliad.

Our mightiest foe withdraws ; Saturnian Jove
Crowns me with glory. Urge your firm-paced steeds
On the brave Greeks, and win yet nobler fame."

He spake. His words gave courage and new
strength
To every heart. As when a hunter cheers 34s

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 350
With fiery valor, rushed among 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 first, and who the last, 35s
By Hector, Priam's son, whom Jove designed
To honor ? First, Asaeus ; Dolops, son
Of Clytis ; and Autonoiis ; and then
Opites and Opheltius ; next to whom
^Esymnus, Agelaus, Orus fell, 360

And 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, 365
And tears it with a mighty hurricane,
While the swoln billows tumble, and their foam
Is flung on high before the furious blast,

Book XL 289

So by the sword of Hector fell the heads

Of the Greek soldiery ; and there had been 37°

Ruin and ravage not to be repaired,

And the defeated Greeks had flung themselves

Into their ships, had not Ulysses then

Exhorted thus Tydides Diomed : —

" Tydides ! what has quenched within our hearts
Their fiery valor ? Come, my friend, and take 376
Thy stand beside me : foul disgrace were ours
Should crested Hector make our fleet his prize."

And thus the valiant Diomed replied : —
" Most willingly I stand, and bear my part 380

In battle ; but with little hope, for Jove,
The God of storms, awards the day to Troy."

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

The prince's stately comrade. These they left
Never to fight again, and made their way
Through the thick squadrons, carrying, as they went,
Confusion with them. As two fearless boars
Rush on the hounds, so, mingling in the war, 300
They bore the foe before them, and the Greeks
Welcomed a respite from the havoc made
By noble Hector. Next they seized a car
Which bore two chiefs, the bravest of their host, —
Sons of Percosian Merops, who was skilled 39s

Beyond all men in portents. He enjoined
His sons to keep aloof from murderous war.

vol. 1. 13 s

290

The Iliad.

Yet did they not obey him, for the fate

That doomed the twain to death impelled them on ;

And Diomed, the mighty with the spear, 400

Spoiled them of life, and bore their armor off,

A glittering prize. Meantime Ulysses slew

Hippodamus, and next Hypirochus.

The son of Saturn looked from Ida's height,

And bade the battle rage on either side 403

With equal fury : both the encountering hosts

Slew and were slain. Tydides with his spear

Smote on the hip the chief Agastrophus,

The son of Paeon, thoughtless wretch, whose steeds

Were not at hand for flight ; his charioteer 410

Held them at distance, while their master rushed

Among the foremost warriors till he fell.

Hector perceived his fall, as through the files

He looked, and straightway hastened to the spot

With shouts ; and after him came rapidly 415

The phalanxes of Trojans. Diomed,

The great in battle, shuddered as he saw,

And thus addressed Ulysses, who was near : —

" Lo ! the destroyer, furious Hector, comes !
Let us stand firm, and face and drive him back." 4=0

He said, and cast his brandished lance, nor missed
The mark : it smote the helm on Hector's head.
The brass glanced from the brass ; it could not pierce
To the fair skin ; the high and threefold helm —
A gift from Phoebus — turned the point aside. 425
The chief fell back, and, mingling with the throng,

Book XI. 291

Dropped on one knee, and yet upheld himself
With one broad palm upon the ground, while night
Darkened his eyes. The son of Tydeus sprang
To seize his spear, which now stood fixed in earth
Among the foremost warriors. In that time 431
Did Hector breathe again, and, having leaped
Into his chariot, he avoided death,
By mingling with the crowd ; while, spear in hand,
Brave Diomed pursued him, shouting thus : — 435

" This time, thou cur, hast thou escaped thy
doom,
Though it was nigh thee. Phoebus rescues thee —
The god to whom thou dost address thy prayers —
Whene'er thou venturest mid the clash of spears. 440
Yet will I surely slay thee when we meet,
If any god be on my side ; and now
I go to strike where'er I find a foe."

He spake, and struck the son of Pseon down,
Skilful to wield the spear. But now the spouse
Of fair-haired Helen — Alexander — stood 445

Leaning against a pillar by the tomb
Of the Dardanian Ilus, who had been
An elder of the people ; and he bent
His bow against the monarch Diomed,
Who at that moment knelt to strip the slain 459

Of the rich breastplate, and the shield that hung
Upon his shoulders, and the massive casque.
The Trojan drew the bow's elastic horn,
A.nd sent an arrow that not vainly flew,

292 The Iliad.

But, striking the right foot, pierced through, and
reached 435

The ground beneath. Then Paris, with a laugh,
Sprang from his ambush, shouting boastfully : —

" Lo, thou art smitten ! Not in vain my shaft
Has flown ; and would that it had pierced thy groin
And slain thee ! Then the Trojans had obtained 460
Reprieve from slaughter, — they who dread thee now
As bleating goats a lion." Undismayed,
The valiant Diomed made answer thus : —

" Archer and railer ! proud of thy smart bow,
And ogler of the women ! wouldst thou make 465
Trial of valor hand to hand with me,
Thy bow should not avail thee, nor thy sheaf
Of many arrows. Thou dost idly boast
That thou hast hit my foot. I heed it not.
It is as if a woman or a child 470

Had struck me. Lightly falls the weapon-stroke
Of an unwarlike weakling. 'T is not so
With me, for when one feels my weapon's touch,
It passes through him, and he dies ; his wife
Tears with her hands her cheeks ; his little ones 473
Are orphans ; earth is crimsoned with his blood ;
And flocking round his carcass in decay,
More numerous than women, are the birds."

He spake. Ulysses, mighty with the spear,
Came near and stood before him while he sat 480
Concealed, and drew the arrow from his foot.
Keen was the agony that suddenly

Book XL

293

Shot through his frame : he leaped into his car,
And bade his charioteer make haste to reach
The roomy ships : the pain had reached his heart.
Ulysses, the great spearman, now was left 486

Alone, no Greek remaining by his side ;
For fear had seized them all. With inward grief
The hero thus addressed his mighty soul : —

" What will become of me ? A great disgrace 490
Will overtake me if I flee in fear
Before this multitude ; and worse will be
My fate if I am taken here alone,
While Jove has driven away the other Greeks
In terror. Why these questions, since I know 495
That cowards skulk from combat, while the brave,
Wounded or wounding others, keeps his ground ? "

While thus he reasoned with himself, the ranks
Of Trojans armed with bucklers came and closed
Around their dreaded enemy. As when 500

A troop of vigorous dogs and youths assail
From every side a wild boar issuing forth
From a deep thicket, whetting the white tusks
Within his crooked jaws ; they press around,
And hear his gnashings, yet beware to come 505
Too nigh the terrible animal, — so rushed
The Trojans round Ulysses, the beloved
Of Jupiter. Then first the hero smote
Dei'opites on the shoulder-blade,
And next struck Thoon down, and Ennomus, 510
And in the navel pierced Chersidamas

294 The Iliad.

With his sharp spear, below the bossy shield,
When leaping from his chariot. In the dust
He fell, and grasped the earth with dying hands.
Ulysses left them there, and with his spear s^s

He wounded Charops, son of Hippasus,
And brother of brave Socus. Socus saw,
And hastened to his aid, and, standing near,
The godlike chief bespake Ulysses thus : —

" Renowned Ulysses ! of whose arts and toils 520
There is no end, thou either shalt to-day
Boast to have slain two sons of Hippasus,
Brave as they are, and stripped them of their arms,
Or, smitten by my javelin, lose thy life."

He spake, and smote the Grecian's orbed shield.
The swift spear, passing through the shining disk, 526
And fixed in the rich breastplate, tore the skin
From all his side ; yet Pallas suffered not
The blade to reach the inner parts. At once
The chief perceived that Socus had not given 530
A mortal wound, and, falling back a step,
Thus spake : " Unhappy youth, thy doom will soon
O'ertake thee. Though thou forcest me to pause
From combat with the Trojans, I declare,
This day thou sufferest the black doom of death. 535
Thou, smitten by my spear, shalt bring to me
Increase of glory, and shalt yield thy soul
To the grim horseman Pluto." Thus he spake,
While Socus turned to flee ; and as he turned,
Ulysses with the spear transfixed his back, 540

Book XL 295

And drave the weapon through his breast : he fell,
With armor clashing, to the earth, while thus
The great Ulysses gloried over him : —

" O Socus ! son of warlike Hippasus
The horseman ! death has overtaken thee, 545

And thou couldst not escape. Unhappy one !
Now thou art dead thy father will not come
To close thy eyes, nor she, the honored one
Who gave thee birth ; but birds of prey shall flap
Their heavy wings above thee, and shall tear 550
Thy flesh, while I in dying shall receive
Due 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 sss
Followed, and torturing pain. Now, when they saw
Ulysses bleed, the gallant sons of Troy
Called to each other, rushing in a crowd
To where he stood. Retreating as they came,
He shouted to his comrades. Thrice he raised s^o
His voice as loud as human lungs could shout ;
Thrice warlike Menelaus heard the cry,
And spake at once to Ajax at his side : —

" Most noble Ajax, son of Telamon,
Prince of thy people ! to my ear is brought 56s

The cry of that unconquerable man,
Ulysses, seemingly as if the foe
Had hemmed him round alone, and pressed him sore
In combat. Break we through the crowd, and bring

296 The Iliad.

Succor, lest harm befall him, though so brave, — 57°

Fighting among the Trojans thus alone, —

And lest the Greeks should lose their mighty chief."

He spake, and led the way; his godlike friend
Followed. They found Ulysses, dear to Jove, —
The Trojans thronging round him like a troop 575
Of ravening jackals round an antlered stag
Which one who hunts upon the mountain-side
Hath stricken with an arrow from his bow :
By flight the stag escapes, while yet the blood
Is warm and easily the limbs are moved ; 580

But when at last the shaft hath quelled his strength,
The hungry jackals in the forest-shade
Among the hills attack him, till by chance
The dreaded lion comes ; alarmed, they flee,
And he devours the prey. So in that hour, 585

Many and brave, the sons of Troy pursued
Ulysses, skilled in war and wiles ; while he
Wielded the spear and warded off the day
Of death. Then Ajax, coming near him, stood,
With his tall buckler, like a tower of strength 590
Beside him, and the Trojans fled in fear
On all sides. Warlike Menelaus took
Ulysses by the hand, and led him forth
From the thronged spot, while his attendant brought
The chariot near him. Ajax sprang upon 595

The Trojans, slaying Doryclus, a son
Of Priam, basely born. Then Pandocus
He wounded ; next he struck Lysander down,

Book XL 297

Pyrasus and Pylartes. As a stream,

Swoln to a torrent by the showers of Jove, 600

Sweeps down, from hill to plain, dry oaks and pines,

And pours into the sea a muddy flood,

So mighty Ajax routed and pursued

The Trojans o'er the plain, and cut his way

Through steeds and warriors. Hector knew not this.

He fought where, on the battle's left, beside 606

The Xanthus, fastest fell the slain, and round

Great Nestor and the brave Idomeheus

Arose a mighty tumult. In that throng

Did Hector mingle with his spear and steeds, ««

Performing feats of valor, and laid waste

The ranks of youthful warriors. Yet the Greeks

Would not have yielded ground, if Paris, spouse

Of fair-haired Helen, had not forced the chief

Machaon, fighting gallantly, to pause ; 615

For with an arrow triple-barbed he pierced

The chiefs right shoulder, and the valiant Greeks

Feared lest the battle turn and he be slain.

And thus Idomeneus to Nestor said: —

" Neleian Nestor, glory of the Greeks, 62°

Haste, mount thy chariot ; let Machaon take
A place beside thee ; 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, is worth a host to us." 625

He spake ; and the Gerenian knight obeyed,
And climbed the car in haste. Machaon, son

— - I3*

298 The Iliad.

Of ^Esculapius the peerless leech,
Mounted beside him ; Nestor lashed the steeds,
And toward the roomy ships, which well they knew,
And longed to reach, they flew with eager speed.

Meantime Cebriones, who had his seat ev*

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, 636

The other Trojans, men and steeds, are thrown
Into confusion where the warriors throng,
For Telamonian Ajax puts their ranks
To rout ; I know him well by that broad shield 640
Borne on his shoulders. Thither let us drive
Our steeds and chariot, where in desperate strife
Meet horse and foot and hew each other down,
And a perpetual clamor fills the air." 644

He spake ; and with the whistling lash he struck
The long-maned steeds, and, as they felt the stroke,
Forward they flew with the swift car among
The Greeks and Trojans, trampling in their way
Corpses and shields. The axle underneath «49

Was steeped in blood ; the rim of the chariot-seat
Was foul with the red drops which from their hoofs
The coursers sprinkled and the wheels threw up.
Then Hector strove, by rushing on the crowd,
To pierce it and break through it. To the Greeks
His coming brought destruction and dismay ; «ss
And well his spear was wielded. Through the ranks

Book XL 299

Of other warriors with the spear he ranged,
With sword and ponderous stones ; yet warily
He shunned the fight with Ajax Telamon.

Then Father Jove Almighty touched with fear 660
The heart of Ajax. All amazed he stood,
And cast his sevenfold buckler of bull's-hide
Upon his back, and, terrified, withdrew.
Now casting glances like a beast of prey
From side to side, he turned to right and left, 665
And, slowly yielding, moved knee after knee.
As when the rustics with their hounds drive off
A hungry lion from their stalls of kine,
Whom, watching all the night, they suffer not
To make their herd a prey ; but he, intent &7o

On ravin, rushes forward, yet in vain ;
For many a javelin flies from daring hands
Against him, many a blazing torch is swung,
At which, though fierce, he trembles, and at morn
Stalks off in sullen mood ; — so Ajax, sad 675

At heart, and fearing for the Grecian fleet,
Unwillingly fell back before the foe.
And as, when entering in a field, an ass
Slow-paced, whose flanks have broken many a shaft
To splinters, crops the harvest as it grows, eso

And boys attack him with their rods, — though small
Their strength, — but scarce, till he has browsed

his fill,
Can drive him forth, — so did the gallant sons
Of Troy, and their allies from distant lands,

300 The Iliad.

Continually pursue the mighty son es3

Of Telamon, and hurl their spears against

The centre of his shield. And now he wheeled,

As conscious of great valor, and repulsed

The crowding phalanxes ; and now again

He turned to flee. And thus he kept the foe <**>

From reaching the swift galleys, while he stood

Between the Greeks and Trojans, terrible

In wrath. The javelins hurled by daring hands

Against him — some hung fixed in his broad shield ;

And many, ere they came to his fair skin, 69s

Fell midway, — eager though they were to pierce

The warrior's side, — and plunged into the earth.

Eurypylus, Evaemon's noble son,
Saw Ajax sorely pressed with many darts,
And came and stood beside him, taking aim 700
"With his bright spear, and in the liver smote,
Beneath the midriff, Apisaon, son
Of Phausias, and a prince among his tribe.
His knees gave way, and down he sank in death.
But godlike Alexander, who beheld 70s

The slayer stripping Apisaon's corpse
Of armor, at that moment bent his bow,
And pierced Eurypylus in the right thigh.
The reed brake in the wound. He writhed with pain,
And mingled with his fellows in the ranks, 710

Avoiding death, yet shouting to the Greeks : —

" O friends, the chiefs and leaders of the Greeks,
Rally and keep your ground ; ward off the fate

Book XL 301

Of death from Ajax, who is sorely pressed
With darts, and, much I fear, may not escape 7's
Safe from this stormy conflict. Stand ye firm
Around the mighty son of Telamon."

So spake the wounded warrior ; while his friends
Rallied around, him, with their shields inclined
Against their shoulders, and with lifted spears. 720
And Ajax came and joined them ; then he turned,
And firmly faced the foe. The Greeks renewed
The combat with a rage like that of fire.

Now meantime the Neleian coursers, steeped
In sweat, were bearing Nestor and the prince -?s
Machaon from the battle. On the prow
Of his great ship, Achilles, swift of foot,
Looked forth, and, gazing on the hard-fought fray
And the sad rout, beheld them. Then he called
His friend Patroclus, shouting from the ship. 730
Patroclus heard, within the tent, and came,
Glorious as Mars ; — yet with that day began
His woes. The gallant Mencetiades
Made answer thus : " Why callest thou my name,
Achilles, and what needest thou of me ? " 735

And thus rejoined Achilles, swift of foot : —
" Son of Mencetius, nobly born, and well
Beloved by me, the Greeks, I deem, will soon
Be at my knees, imploring aid ; for now
A hard necessity besets their host. 740

But go, Patroclus, dear to Jove, and ask
Of Nestor who it is that he hath brought

302 The Iliad.

Thus wounded from the field. Seen from behind,
His form was like Machaon, — wholly like
That son of ^Esculapius ; but the face 74s

T saw not, as the rapid steeds flew by."

He spake. Patroclus hearkened to his friend,
And hastened to the Grecian tents and ships.

Now when they reached the tent of Neleus' son,
The warriors in the chariot set their feet 750

Upon the nourishing earth. Eurymedon,
The old man's charioteer, took from the mares
Their harness ; while the chieftains cooled themselves,
And dried their sweaty garments in the breeze,
Facing the border of the sea, and then, 755

Entering the tent of Nestor, sat them down
On couches. Hecamede, bright of hair,
Prepared for them a mingled draught ; the maid,
A daughter of the great Arsinoiis, came
From Tenedos with Nestor, when the town ?&>

Was ravaged by Achilles, and the Greeks
Gave her to Nestor, chosen from the rest
For him, as wisest of their counsellors.
First she drew forth a table fairly wrought,
Of polished surface, and with steel-blue feet, 76s
And on it placed a brazen tray which bore
A thirst-provoking onion, honeycomb,
And sacred meal of wheat. Near these she set
A noble beaker which the ancient chief
Had brought from home, embossed with studs of
gold. 770

Book XL 303

Four were its handles, and each handle showed
Two golden turtles feeding, while below
Two others formed the base. Another hand
Could scarce have raised that beaker from its place,
But Nestor lifted it with ease. The maid, 775

Fair as a goddess, mingled Pramnian wine,
And grated o'er it, with a rasp of brass,
A goat's-milk cheese, and, sprinkling the white flour
Upon it, bade them drink. With this they quenched
Their parching thirst, and then amused the time 7S°
With pleasant talk. Patroclus to the door
Meantime, a godlike presence, came, and stood.
The old man, as he saw him, instantly
Rose from his princely seat and seized his hand,
And led him in and bade him sit ; but he 73s

Refused the proffered courtesy, and said : —

" Nay, 't is no time to sit : persuade me not,
Nursling of Jove ; for he is to be feared,
And prone to wrath, who sent me to inquire
What wounded man is with thee ; but I know, — 790
Now that I see Machaon sitting here,
The shepherd of the people. I must haste
Back to Achilles, bearing my report.
Thou knowest, ancient chief, how quick he is
To take offence and blame the innocent." 79s

Then Nestor, the Gerenian knight, rejoined : —
"Why does Achilles pity thus the sons
Of Greece when wounded ? Little can he know
What sorrow reigns throughout the Grecian host

304 The Iliad.

While, smitten in the close or distant fight, soo

Our bravest lie disabled in their ships.

The valiant son of Tydeus — Diomed —

Is wounded — wounded Agamemnon lies,

And the great wielder of the javelin,

Ulysses. By an arrow in the thigh 80s

Eurypylus is smitten, and I now

Bring home this warrior with an arrow-wound.

Yet doth Achilles, valiant as he is,

Care nothing for the Greeks. Will he then wait

Till our swift galleys, moored upon the shore, s™

After a vain defence shall feed the flames

Lit by the enemy's hand, and we be slain,

And perish, heaps on heaps ? My strength is now

Not that which dwelt in these once active limbs.

Would I were strong and vigorous as of yore, 815

When strife arose between our men and those

Of Elis for our oxen driven away,

And, driving off their beeves in turn, I slew

The Elean chief, the brave Itymoneus,

Son of Hypirochus ! For, as he sought 820

To save his herd, a javelin from my arm

Smote him the first among his band. He fell ;

His rustic followers fled on every side ;

And mighty was the spoil we took : of beeves

We drave off fifty herds, as many flocks s-5

Of sheep, of swine as many, and of goats

An equal number, and of yellow steeds

Thrice fifty ; — these were mares, and by their sides

Book XI. 305

Ran many a colt We drave them all within

Neleian Pylos in the night. Well pleased s3o

Was Neleus, that so large a booty fell

To me, who entered on the war so young.

When morning brake, the heralds' cry was heard

Summoning all the citizens to meet

To whom from fruitful Elis debts were due ; s3s

And then the princes of the Pyleans came,

And made division of the spoil. For much

The Epeians owed us : we were yet but few

In Pylos, and had suffered grievously.

The mighty Hercules in former years 840

Had made us feel his wrath, and of our men

Had slain the bravest : of the twelve who drew

Their birth from Neleus, I alone am left ;

The others fell. The Epeians brazen-mailed

Saw this, delighted, and insulted us 845

And did us wrong. When now the spoil was shared

The old man for himself reserved a herd

Of oxen, and a numerous flock of sheep, —

Three hundred, with their shepherds, — for to him

Large debts were due in Elis. He had sent s5o

Four horses once, of peerless speed, with cars,

To win a tripod, the appointed prize.

Augeias, king of men, detained them there,

And sent the grieving charioteer away.

My father, angered at the monarch's words 8SS

And acts, took large amends, and gave the rest

To share among the people, that no one

T

306 The Iliad.

Might leave the ground, defrauded of his right.
All this was justly done, and we performed
Due sacrifices to the gods, throughout 860

The city ; — when the third day came, and brought
The Epeians all at once, in all their strength, —
Both men on foot and prancing steeds. With these
Came the Molions twain, well armed, though young
And yet untrained to war. There is a town 865

Named Thryoessa, on a lofty hill
Far off beside Alpheius, on the edge
Of sandy Pylos. They beleaguered this,
And sought to overthrow it. As they crossed
The plain, Minerva came, a messenger, 870

By night from Mount Olympus, bidding us
Put on our armor. Not unwillingly
The Pyleans mustered, but in eager haste
For battle. Yet did Neleus not consent
That I should arm myself, — he hid my steeds ; 875
For still he deemed me inexpert in war.
Yet even then, although I fought on foot,
I won great honor even among the knights ;
For so had Pallas favored me. A stream
Named Minyeius pours into the sea sso

Near to Arena, where the Pylean knights
Waited the coming of the holy morn,
While those who fought on foot came thronging in.
Thence, with our host complete, and all in arms,
We marched, and reached at noon the sacred
stream s«5

Book XI. 307

Alpheius, where to Jove Omnipotent

We offered chosen victims, and a bull

To the river-god, another to the god

Of ocean, and a heifer yet unbroke

To blue-eyed Pallas. Then we banqueted, 890

In bands, throughout the army, and lay down

In armor by the river-side to sleep.

Meantime the brave Epeians stood around

The city, resolute to lay it waste.

But first was to be done a mighty work 89S

Of war ; for as the glorious sun appeared

Above the earth we dashed against the foe,

Praying to Jove and Pallas. When the fight

Between the Eleans and the Pylean host

Was just begun, I slew a youthful chief, — 900

Mulius, — and bore away his firm-paced steeds.

The fair-haired Agamede, eldest-born

Of King Augeias' daughters, was his spouse ;

And well to her each healing herb was known

That springs from the great earth. As he drew near,

I smote him with my brazen lance : he fell 906

To earth : I sprang into his car, and stood

Among the foremost warriors ; while, around,

The brave Epeians, as they saw him fall, —

The leader of their knights, their mightiest 9:0

In battle, — turned and, panic-stricken, fled,

Each his own way. I followed on their flight

Like a black tempest ; fifty cars I took,

And from each car I dashed two warriors down,

308 The Iliad.

Pierced by my spear. And now I should have slain
The young Molions also, Actor's sons, 916

Had not their father, he who shakes the earth,
Enshrouded them in mist, and hidden them
From all pursuit. Then with victorious might
Did Jove endue our arms, while we pursued <**>

The foe across a region strewn with shields, —
Slaying, and gathering spoil, — until our steeds
Came to Buprasium, rich in fields of wheat,
And to the Olenian rock, and to the hill
Alesium in Colone. Pallas there s*s

Stayed our pursuit, and bade our host return.
There slew I the last man, and left him there.
And then the Achaians, guiding their swift steeds
Homeward to Pylos from Buprasium, gave
Great thanks to Jupiter among the gods, 930

And Nestor among men. Such was I then
Among the heroes ; but Achilles keeps
His valor for himself alone, — and yet
Bitterly must he grieve when he beholds
Our people perish. O my friend ! how well 935
Mencetius charged thee when he sent thee forth,
From Phthia, to Atrides ! We were both —
The nobly born Ulysses and myself —
Within the palace, and we clearly heard
What he commanded thee. For we had come 940
To Peleus' stately dwelling, on our way
Gathering a host in fertile Greece, and saw
The great Mencetius there, and there we found

Book XL 309

Achilles with thee. There the aged knight

Peleus was burning, in the palace-court, 94s

A steer's fat thighs to Jove the Thunderer,

And lifted up a golden cup and poured

Dark wine upon the blazing sacrifice.

And both of you were busy with the flesh

When we were at the threshold. As he saw 950

Our coining, in surprise Achilles sprang

Toward us, and took our hands and led us in,

Bade us be seated, and before us placed

The generous banquet due to stranger-guests.

Then, having feasted, I began discourse, 95s

Exhorting you to join us. Both of you

At once consented, and your fathers gave

Their admonitions. Aged Peleus charged

His son Achilles to excel the rest

In valor, while Mencetius, in his turn, 960

The son of Actor, gave thee this command : — ■

" ' My son, Achilles is the nobler born,
But thou art elder. He surpasses thee
By far in warlike might, but thou must prompt
His mind with prudent counsels ; thou must warn 96s
And guide him ; he will hearken to thy words
Meant for his good.' The old man charged thee

thus.
Thou hast forgotten it. Yet speak thou now
To Peleus' warlike son ; and haply he
May heed thy counsels. Thou perchance mayst

bend 970

310 The Iliad.

His -will — who knows ? — by thy persuasive words ;
For wholesome are the warnings of a friend.
Yet, if he shrink from some predicted doom,
Or if his goddess-mother have revealed
Aught of Jove's counsels to him, then, at least 973
Let him send thee to war, and let his troop
Of Myrmidons go with thee, so that thou
Mayst carry succor to the Greeks. Yet more, —
Let him permit thee in the field to wear
His glorious armor, that the Trojan host, 980

Beholding thee so like to him, may shun
The combat, and the warlike sons of Greece,
Hard-pressed, may breathe again, and find at length
A respite from the conflict. Ye, who still
Are fresh and vigorous, shall assault and drive 98s
Townward the weary foe from camp and fleet."
He spake. The spirit of the youth took fire,
And instantly he hastened toward the ships
Of Peleus' son. But when he came where lay
The galleys of Ulysses the divine, 990

Where was the assembly-place and judgment-seat,
And where the altars of the immortals stood,
Evaemon's noble son, Eurypylus,
Met him as from the battle-field he came
Halting, and with an arrow in his thigh. 99s

The sweat ran d'own his shoulders and his brow,
And the black blood was oozing from his wound,
Yet was his spirit untamed. The gallant youth,
Son of Mencetius, saw with grief, and said : —

Book XL 311

" Unhappy chiefs and princes of the Greeks ! ioco
Are ye then doomed to feast with your fair limbs
The famished dogs of Ilium, far away
From friends and country ? Tell me, child of Jove,
Gallant Eurypylus, will yet the Greeks
Withstand the mighty Hector, or give way 1005

And perish, overtaken by his spear?"

And thus the wise Eurypylus replied : —
" Nursling of Jove, Patroclus ! for the Greeks
There is no help, and all at their black ships
Must perish ; for within them even now 1010

All those who were our bravest warriors lie,
Wounded in close encounter, or from far,
By Trojan hands, whdse strength with every hour
Becomes more terrible. Give now thine aid
And take me to my ship, and cut away wis

The arrow from my thigh, and from the part
Cleanse with warm water the dark blood, and shed
Soothing and healing balms upon the wound,
As taught thee by Achilles, who had learned
The art from Chiron, righteous in his day 1020

Beyond all other Centaurs. Now the leech
Machaon lies, I think, among the tents,
Wounded, and needs the aid of others' skill,
And Podalirius out upon the plain
Helps stem the onset of the Trojan host." i«s

Then spake the valiant Mencetiades : —
" O brave Eurypylus ! what yet will be
The end of this, and what are we to do ?

312 The Iliad.

Even now I bear a message on my way

From reverend Nestor, guardian of the Greeks, 1030

To the great warrior, Peleus' son ; and yet

I must not leave thee in thine hour of need."

He spake ; and, lifting in his arms the prince,
He bore him to his tent. A servant spread,
Upon his entering, hides to form a couch ; io3s

And there Patroclus laid him down and cut
The rankling arrow from his thigh, and shed
Warm water on the wound to cleanse away
The purple blood, and last applied a root
Of bitter flavor to assuage the smart, 1040

Bruising it first within his palms : the pangs
Ceased ; the wound dried ; the blood no longer
flowed.

BOOK XII.

THUS in the camp Mencetius' valiant son
Tended Eurypylus, and dressed his wounds ;
While yet in mingled throngs the warriors fought, —
Trojans and Greeks. Nor longer was the trench
A barrier for the Greeks, nor the broad wall
Which they had built above it to defend
Their fleet; for all around it they had drawn
The trench, yet not with chosen hecatombs
Paid to the gods, that so it might protect

Book XII. 313

The galleys and the heaps of spoil they held. *o
Without the favor of the gods it rose,
And therefore was not long to stand entire.
As long as Hector lived, and Peleus' son
Was angered, and King Priam's city yet
Was not o'erthrown, so long the massive wall is
Built by the Greeks stood firm. But when at length
The bravest of the Trojans had been slain,
And many of the Greeks were dead, — though still
Others survived, — and when in the tenth year
The city of Priam fell, and in their ships =°

The Greeks went back to their beloved land,
Then did Apollo and the god of sea
Consult together to destroy the wall
By turning on it the resistless might
Of rivers, all that from the Idaean heights »s

Flow to the ocean, — Rhesus, Granicus,
Heptaporus, Caresus, Rhodius,
^isepus, and Scamander's hallowed stream,
And Simoi's, in whose bed lay many shields
And helms and bodies of slain demigods. 30

Phcebus Apollo turned the mouths of these
All toward one spot ; nine days against the wall
He bade their currents rush, while Jupiter
Poured constant rain, that floods might overwhelm
The rampart ; and the god who shakes the earth. 35
Wielding his trident, led the rivers on.
He flung among the billows the huge beams
And stones which, with hard toil, the Greeks had laid
vol. 1. 14

314 The Iliad.

For the foundations. Thus he levelled all

Beside the hurrying Hellespont, destroyed 4°

The bulwarks utterly, and overspread

The long broad shore with sand ; and then he

brought
Again the rivers to the ancient beds
In which their gently flowing waters ran.

This yet was to be done in time to come 45

By Neptune and Apollo. Meanwhile raged
Battle and tumult round that strong-built wall.
The towers in all their timbers rang with blows ;
And, driven as by the scourge of Jove, the Greeks,
Hemmed closely in beside their roomy ships, so
Trembled at Hector, the great scatterer
Of squadrons, fighting, as he did before,
With all a whirlwind's might. As when a boar
Or lion mid the hounds and huntsmen stands,
Fearfully strong, and fierce of eye, and they 55

In square array assault him, and their hands
Fling many a javelin ; — yet his noble heart
Fears not, nor does he fly, although at last
His courage cause his death ; and oft he turns.
And tries their ranks ; and where he makes a rush
The ranks give way; — so Hector moved and

turned 6l

Among the crowd, and bade his followers cross
The trench. The swift-paced horses ventured not
The leap, but stood upon the edge and neighed
Aloud, for the wide space affrighted them ; 65

Book XII. 315

And hard it was to spring across, or pass
From side to side, for on each side the brink
Was steep, and bristled with sharp stakes, close set
And strong, which there the warrior sons of Greece
Had planted, a defence against the foe. 7°

No steed that whirled the rapid car along
Could enter, but the soldiery on foot
Eagerly sought to pass, and in these words
Polydamas to daring Hector spake : —

" Hector, and ye who lead the troops of Troy 75
And our auxiliars ! rashly do we seek
To urge our rapid steeds across the trench
So hard to pass, beset with pointed stakes, —
And the Greek wall so near. The troops of horse
Cannot descend nor combat there : the space 80
Is narrow : they would all be slain. If Jove,
The Thunderer of the skies, design to crush
The Greeks and succor Troy, I should rejoice
Were the design at once fulfilled, and all
The sons of Greece ingloriously cut off, 85

Far from their Argos. But if they should turn
Upon us, and repulse us from their fleet,
And we become entangled in the trench,
I deem no messenger would e'er go back
To Troy from fighting with the rallied Greeks. 9»
Heed, then, my words, and let the charioteers
Stay with the coursers at the trench, while we,
Armed, and on foot, and all in close array,
Follow our Hector. For the Greeks in vain

316 The Iliad.

Will strive to stem our onset if, in truth, 93

The hour of their destruction be at hand."

So spake Polydamas ; and Hector, pleased
To hear the prudent counsel, leaped to earth
With all his arms, and left his car. The rest
Rode with their steeds no more, but, hastily «»
Dismounting, as they saw their noble chief,
Each bade his charioteer hold back his steeds,
Reined at the trench, in ranks. And then, apart,
They mustered in five columns, following close
Their leaders. First, the largest, bravest band, 105
Those who, with resolute daring, longed to break
The rampart and to storm the fleet, were led
By Hector and the good Polydamas,
Joined with Cebriones, — for Hector left
His chariot to the care of one who held "a

An humbler station than Cebriones.
Paris, Alcathous, and Agenor led
A second squadron. Helenus, a son
Of Priam, and De'fphobus, a youth
Of godlike form, his brother, took command "s
Of yet a third, — with whom in rank was joined
The hero Asius, son of Hyrtacus,
Whose bright-haired coursers, of majestic size,
Had borne him from Arisba and the banks
Of Selleis. ^Eneas led the fourth, — 1=0

The brave son of Anchises ; and with him
Were joined Archilochus and Acamas,
Sons of Antenor, skilled in arts of war.

Book XII. 3*7

The band of Troy's illustrious allies

Followed Sarpedon, who from all the rest ^s

Had chosen, to partake in the command,

Glaucus and brave Asteropasus. These

He deemed the bravest under him ; yet he

Stood foremost of them all in warlike might.

Then all, with their stout bucklers of bull's-hide
Adjusted to each other, bravely marched 131

Against the Greeks, who, as they deemed, must fly
Before them, and must fall by their black ships.
Then all the other Trojans, and the allies
From foreign shores, obeyed the counsel given 135
By good Polydamas ; but Asius, son
Of Hyrtacus, and prince of men, chose not
To leave his chariot and his charioteer,
But drave with them against the roomy ships.
Vain youth ! — he was not destined to return, no
Borne by his steeds and chariot, from the fleet,
And from the fate he braved, to wind-swept Troy.
His evil fate o'ertook him from the spear
Of great Idomeneus, Deucalion's son ;
For toward the galleys moored upon the left us

He hastened by the way in which the Greeks,
With steeds and cars, retreated from the plain.
Thither he drave his coursers ; there he found
The gates not closed, nor the long bar across,
But warriors held them open to receive 150

In safety their companions as they fled
From battle to the fleet. Exultingly

318 The Iliad.

He turned his coursers thither, and his men

Followed him, shouting ; for they thought the Greeks

Could not abide their onset, but must yield, '55

And perish by their ships. Deluded men ! —

They met two mighty warriors at the gate, —

The brave descendants of the Lapithae,

That warlike tribe : Pirithous' gallant son

Was one, named Polypcetes ; with him stood 160

Leonteus, strong as Mars the slayer of men.

By the tall gates they stood, as giant oaks

Stand on the mountains and abide the wind

And the tempestuous rains of all the year,

Firm-planted on their strong and spreading roots. 165

So they, confiding in their strength of arm,

Waited for mighty Asius hasting on,

And fled not. Onward came the hostile troop,

With their tough shields uplifted, and with shouts :

All rushing toward the massive wall they came, 170

Following King Asius, and Iamenus,

Orestes, Thoon, Acamas the son

Of Asius, and CEnomaiis. Meanwhile

Leonteus and his comrade had retired

Within, encouraging the well-armed Greeks i-s

To combat for the fleet ; but when they saw

The rout and panic of their flying host,

They darted forth and fought before the gates, —

Fought like wild boars that in the mountains meet

A clamorous troop of men and dogs, and dart >8o

Sideway at their assailants, break the trees

Book XI L 319

Close to the root, and fiercely gnash their tusks,
Until some javelin strikes them, and they die.
So on the breasts of the two warriors rang
The shining brass, oft smitten ; for they fought iss
Fearlessly, trusting in the aid of those
Who held the wall, and their own valiant arms.
And they who stood on the strong towers hurled clown
Stones, to defend the Achaians and their tents
And theii swift ships. As snow-flakes fall to earth 190
When strong winds, driving on the shadowy cloud,
Shower them upon the nourishing glebe, so thick
Were showered the weapons from the hands of

Greeks
And Trojans ; and the helms and bossy shields,
Beaten by stones, resounded. Asius then — 19s
The son of Hyrtacus — in anger groaned,
And smote his thighs impatiently, and said : —

'* O Father Jove ! thou then art wholly false.
I did not look to see the men of Greece
Stand thus before our might and our strong arms ; 200
Yet. they, like pliant-bodied wasps or bees,
That build their cells beside the rocky way,
And quit not their abode, but, waiting there
The hunter, combat for their young — so these,
Although but two, withdraw not from the gates, =°s
Nor will, till they be slain 01 seized alive."

He spake ; but moved not thus the will of Jove,
Who planned to give the glory of the day
To Hector. Meanwhile, at the other gates

320 The Iliad.

Fought other warriors, — but 't were hard for me, ™
Were I a god, to tell of all their deeds ;
For round the wall on every side there raged,
Fierce as consuming fire, a storm of stones.
The Greeks, in bitter anguish, yet constrained,
Fought for their fleet ; and sorrowful were all bis
The gods who in the battle favored Greece.

Now the two Lapithas began the fight.
Pirithous' son, brave Polypcetes, cast
His spear at Damasus ; it broke its way
Through the helm's brazen cheek, — nor that alone :
Right through the temple went the brazen blade, 221
And crushed the brain within. He left him slain,
And next struck Pylon down, and Ormenus.
Leonteus, of the stock of Mars, assailed
Hippomachus, who from Antimachus 225

Derived his birth ; he pierced him at the belt,
And, drawing forth his trenchant sword, hewed down,
In combat hand-to-hand, Antiphates ;
He dashed him backward to the ground, and next
Smote Menon and Iamenus ; and last 23'

He slew Orestes : at his feet they lay,
A pile of dead, upon their mother Earth.

Then, as the twain were stripping from the dead
Their glittering arms, the largest, bravest band
Of those who eagerly desired to break 235

The rampart and to burn the ships with fire,
Following Polydamas and Hector, stood
Consulting at the trench. An augury,

Book XII. 321

Just as they were in act to cross, appeared

Upon the left : an eagle high in air, 240

Between the armies, in his talons bore

A monstrous serpent, bleeding, yet alive

And palpitating, — nor disabled yet

For combat ; for it turned, and on the breast

Wounded the eagle, near the neck. The bird 24s

In pain let fall his prize amid the host,

And flew away, with screams, upon the wind.

The Trojans shuddered at the spotted snake

Lying among them, and Polydamas

Said thus to fearless Hector, standing near : — 250

" Hector, thou almost ever chidest me
In council, even when I judge aright.
I know it ill becomes the citizen
To speak against the way that pleases thee,
In war or council, — he should rather seek 255

To strengthen thy authority ; yet now
I will declare what seems to me the best :
Let us not combat with the Greeks, to take
Their fleet ; for this, I think, will be the end, —
If now the omen we have seen be meant 260

For us of Troy who seek to cross the trench ; —
This eagle, flying high upon the left,
Between the hosts, that in his talons bore
A monstrous serpent, bleeding, yet alive,
Hath dropped it mid our host before he came 26s
To his dear nest, nor brought it to his brood ; —
So we, although by force we break the gates
14* u

322 The Iliad.

And rampart, and although the Greeks fall back,

Shall not as happily retrace our way ;

For many a Trojan shall we leave behind, 270

Slain by the weapons of the Greeks, who stand

And fight to save their fleet. Thus 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 276

Pleases me not, and easily couldst thou
Frame better counsels. If thy words convey
Thy earnest thought, the gods assuredly
Have made thee lose thy senses. Thou dost ask
That I no longer reverence the decree 281

Of Jove, the Thunderer of the sky, who gave
His promise, and confirmed it. Thou dost ask
That I be governed by the flight of birds,
"Which I regard not, whether to the right 28s

And toward 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 and the best, — to fight 290

For our own land. Why dreadest thou the war
And conflict ? Though we all should fall beside
The galleys of the Greeks, there is no fear
That thou wilt perish, for thou hast no heart
To stand against the foe ; — no warrior thou ! 295
Yet, if thou dare to stand aloof, or seek

Book XII. 323

By words to turn another from the fight,
The spear I wield shall take thy life at once."

He spake, and went before ; and all his band
Followed with fearful clamor. Jupiter, 300

The God of thunders, sending a strong wind
From the Idaean 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, 305
Trusting in 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 down
The breastworks, heaved with levers from their

place 310

The jutting 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 way : they fenced 315
The rampart with their ox-hide shields, 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 toils and dangers of the fight. 3=2
" O friends ! " they said, " ye great in war, and ye

324 The Iliad.

Of less renown, and ye of little note ! —

For all are not alike in war, — the time 32s

Demands the aid of all, as well ye know :

And now let no man turn him toward the fleet

Before the threats of Hector, but press on,

And each exhort his fellow : so may Jove,

Who flings the lightning from Olympus, grant 330

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, 33s

When Jove the Sovereign pours them down on men,
Like arrows, from above ; — he bids the wind
Breathe not ; continually he pours them down,
And covers every mountain-top and peak,
And flowery mead, and field of fertile tilth, 340

And 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 345
Flew toward the other, — from the Greeks against
The Trojans, and from them against the Greeks ;
And fearful was the din along the wall.

Yet would illustrious Hector and the men
Of Troy have failed to force the gates and burst 350
The bar within, had not all-seeing Jove
Impelled his son Sarpedon to attack

Book XII 325

The Greeks as falls a lion on a herd
Of horned beeves. The warrior held his shield,
A brazen orb, before him, — beautiful, 3SS

And fenced with metal ; for the armorer laid
Broad plates without, while under these he sewed
Bull's-hides the toughest, edged with golden wires
Upon the rim. With this the warrior came,
Wielding two spears. As when a lion, bred 360
Among 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 with dogs and spears,
Yet will he not be driven thence until 3ss

He makes a spring into the fold and bears
A 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 370
Through the strong barrier ; and to Glaucus, son
Of Lycia's king Hippolochus, he said : —

" Why, Glaucus, are we honored, on the shores
Of Lycia, with the highest seat at feasts,
And with full cups ? Why look men up to us 37s
As to the gods ? And why do we possess
Broad, beautiful enclosures, full of vines
And wheat, beside the Xanthus ? Then it well
Becomes us, foremost in the Lycian ranks
To stand against the foe, where'er the fight 380

Is hottest ; so our well-armed Lycian men

326 The Iliad.

Shall say, and truly : ' Not ingloriously

Our kings bear rule in Lycia, where they feast

On fatlings of the flock, and drink choice wine ;

For they excel in valor, and they fight 385

Among our foremost.' O my friend, if we,

Leaving this war, could flee from age and death,

I should not here be fighting in the van,

Nor would I send thee to the glorious war

But now, since many are the modes of death 390

Impending o'er us, which no man can hope

To shun, let us press on and give renown

To other men, or win it for ourselves ! "

He spake ; and Glaucus not unwillingly
Heard and obeyed. Right on the warriors pressed,
Leading the Lycian host. Menestheus, son 396

Of Peteus, saw, and trembled ; for they came
With evil menace toward his tower. He looke<
Along the Grecian lines in hope to see
Some chieftain there whose ready help might save 400
His comrades from their danger. He beheld
The rulers Ajax, never tired of war,
Standing with Teucer, who just then had left
His tent ; and yet they could not hear his shout,
So fearful was the din that rose to heaven 405

From all the shields, and crested helms, and gates,
Smitten with missiles, — for at all the gates
The Lycians thundered, struggling hard to break
A passage through them. Then Menestheus called
A herald near, and bade Thootes bear 410

Book XII 327

A message to the leaders Ajax, thus : —

" Go, nobly born Thootes, and in haste
Call Ajax, — call them both, for that were best, —
Since terrible will be the slaughter here,
So fiercely are the Lycians pressing on, 41s

Impetuous ever in assault. If there
The fight be also urgent, then at least
Let the brave Telamonian Ajax come,
And Teucer, the great archer, follow him.

He spake. The herald listened and obeyed, 420
And flew along the summit of the wall
Built by the Greeks. He reached, and stood beside,
The chieftains Ajax, and addressed them thus : —

" Ajaces, leaders of the warlike Greeks,
The honored son of noble Peteus asks 4-5

That ye will come, though for a little space,
To aid him and to share his warlike toils ;
For terrible will be the slaughter there,
So fiercely are the Lycians pressing on,
Impetuous ever in assault. If here 43°

The fight be also urgent, then at least
Let the brave Telamonian Ajax come,
And Teucer, the great archer, follow him."

He ended. Ajax, son of Telamon,
Hearkened, and to his fellow-warrior said : — 43s

" Here, where the gallant Lycomedes stands,
Ajax ! remain, and, cheering on the Greeks,
Lead them to combat valiantly. I go
To stem the battle there, and when our friends

328 The Iliad.

Are succored 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, 44s
And went within the wall and met their friends,
Hard-pressed, — for gallantly the Lycian chiefs
And captains, like a gloomy tempest, rushed
Up the tall breastworks ; while the Greeks withstood
Their onset, and a mighty clamor rose. 45°

Then Telamon ian Ajax smote to death
Epicles, great of soul, Sarpedon's friend :
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, — 45s
Such men as now are, — though in prime of youth,
Could lift its weight ; and yet he wielded it
Aloft, and flung it. Through the four-coned helm
It crashed, and brake the skull within. Down plunged
The Lycian, like a diver, from his place 460

On the high tower, and life forsook his limbs.
Then Teucer also 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, 4«s
And made him leave the combat. Back he sprang,
Hiding amid the crowd, that so die Greeks
Might not behold the wounded limb, and scoff.

Book XII. 329

With grief Sarpedon saw his friend withdraw,
Yet paused not from the conflict, but took aim 47°
At Thestor's son, Alcmaon, with his spear ;
Pierced him ; and drew the weapon out. The Greek,
Following the spear, fell headlong ; and his arms,
Studded with brass, clashed round him as he fell.
Then did Sarpedon seize, with powerful hands, 475
The battlement ; he wrenched it, and it came
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
Together at Sarpedon : Teucer's shaft 430

Struck in the midst the buckler's glittering belt,
Just at the bosom ; but Jove warded off
The death-stroke from his son, lest he should fall
Beside the galleys. Ajax, springing, struck
The buckler with his spear, and pierced its folds, 485
And checked the eager warrior, who gave way
A little, yet retreated not, but turned,
Encouraging the godlike Lycians thus : —

" Where, Lycians, is your fiery valor now ?
Were I the bravest, it were hard, alone, 90

For me to force a passage to the fleet,
Though I have cleared the way. Come on with me !
Light is the task when many share the toil."

He spake ; and they who reverenced his words
Of exhortation drew more closely round 495

Their counsellor and sovereign, while the Greeks
Above them made their phalanxes more strong

33° The Iliad.

Within the wall, — for urgent was the need ;
Since neither could the gallant Lycians break
The barrier of the Greeks, and cut their way soo
Through to the fleet, nor could the warlike Greeks
Drive back the Lycians when they once had reached
The rampart. As two men upon a field,
With measuring-rods in hand, disputing stand
Over the common boundary, in small space, s°s

Each one contending for the right 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 s«
Was 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 515
Are held by some just woman, who maintains,
By spinning wool, her household, — carefully
She poises both the wool and weights, to make
The balance even, that she may provide
A pittance for her babes, — thus equally 520

Were matched the warring hosts, till Jupiter
Conferred the eminent glory of the day
On Hector, son of Priam. He it was
Who first leaped down into the space within
The Grecian wall, and, with far-reaching voice, 525
Thus shouted, calling to the men of Troy : —

Book XI L 331

" Rush on, ye knights of Troy ! rush boldly on,
And break your passage through the Grecian wall,
And hurl consuming flames against their fleet ! "

So spake he, cheering on his men. They heard,
And rushed in mighty throngs against the wall, 531
And climbed the battlements, to charge the foe
With spears. Then Hector stooped, and seized a

stone
Which lay before the gate, broad at the base 534
And sharp above, which two, the strongest men, —
As men are now, — could hardly heave from earth
Into a wain. With ease he lifted it,
Alone, and brandished it : such strength the son
Of Saturn gave him, that it seemed but light.
As when a shepherd carries home with ease S4<>

A wether's fleece, — he bears it in one hand,
And little is he cumbered with its weight, —
So Hector bore the lifted stone, to break
The beams that strengthened the tall folding-gates.
Two bars within. laid crosswise, held them firm, — 545
Both fastened with one bolt. He came and stood
Before them ; with wide-parted feet he stood,
And put forth all his strength, that so his arm
Might drive the missile home ; and in the midst
He smote the folding-gates. The blow tore off 550
The hinges ; heavily the great stone fell
Within : the portals crashed ; nor did the bars
Withstand the blow : the shattered beams gave way
Before it ; and illustrious Hector sprang

332 The Iliad.

Into the camp. His look was stern as night ; sss

And 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, s«o

He bade them mount the wall ; and they obeyed :
Some o'er the wall, some through the sculptured gate,
Poured in. The Achaians to their roomy ships
Fled, and a fearful uproar filled the air.

END OF VOL. I.

PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE

c

ARDS OR SLIPS

FROM THIS POCKET

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY

PA

Homer us

1 4025

cIliad.

English. 1875 3

A2C6

1875

v.l

11111