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Now the Greeks retired

Among that row of galleys which were first

Drawn up the beach; the foe poured after them,

In hot pursuit; again the Greeks fell back,

835

Constrained, and left that foremost row behind,

And stood beside their tents in close array,

And not dispersed throughout the camp, for shame

And fear restrained them, and unceasingly

With shouts they bade each other bravely stand.

840

Chiefly Gerenian Nestor, wise to guide

The counsels of the Greeks, adjured them all,

And in their parents' name, to keep their ground.

"O friends, be men; so act that none may feel

Ashamed to meet the eyes of other men.

845

Think each one of his children and his wife,

His home, his parents, living yet or dead.

For them, the absent ones, I supplicate,

And bid you rally here, and scorn to fly."

He spake, and his brave words to every heart

850

Carried new strength and courage. Pallas then

Lifted the heaven-sent cloud that veiled the fight,

And all things in the clear full light were seen

On either side, both where the galleys lay

And where the warriors struggled. They beheld

855

Hector the great in war, and all his host,

Both those who formed the rear and wielded not

Their arms, and those who combated in front

Beside the ships. And now it pleased no more

The soul of valiant Ajax to remain

860

In the thick squadrons with the other Greeks,

But, striding on the galley-decks, he bore

A sea-pike two and twenty cubits long,

Huge, and beset with iron nails. As when

One who is skilled to vault on running steeds

865

Chooses four horses from a numerous herd,

And on the highway to a populous town

Drives them, while men and women in a crowd

Behold his feats with wonder, as he leaps

Boldly, without a fall, from steed to steed,

870

And back again, and all the while they run,

So on the lofty decks of those good ships

From ship to ship flew Ajax, lifting up

His mighty voice, - a shout that reached to heaven, -

And bade the Greeks defend their fleet and tents

875

Nor loitered Hector in those armed throngs

Of Troy, but as a tawny eagle swoops

Upon a flock of birds that seek their food

Along a river's border, - geese or cranes,

Or long-necked swans, - so Hector in hot haste

880

Sprang toward a galley with an azure prow,

While mightily the power of Jove impelled

The hero onward, and inflamed his train

With courage.

Iliad. Homer. Boston. 1870.

Current edition Experimental

English (William Cullen Bryant, 1870) (OCR draft) (English) (English (William Cullen Bryant, 1870))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Ἰλιάς Perseus (Homer. Homeri Opera, Volumes 1-2. Monro, D. B. (David Binning), editor; Allen, Thomas W. (Thomas William), editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1908-1920.) — 15.653 focus

εἰσωποὶ δʼ ἐγένοντο νεῶν, περὶ δʼ ἔσχεθον ἄκραι

νῆες ὅσαι πρῶται εἰρύατο· τοὶ δʼ ἐπέχυντο.

Ἀργεῖοι δὲ νεῶν μὲν ἐχώρησαν καὶ ἀνάγκῃ

655

τῶν πρωτέων, αὐτοῦ δὲ παρὰ κλισίῃσιν ἔμειναν

ἁθρόοι, οὐδὲ κέδασθεν ἀνὰ στρατόν· ἴσχε γὰρ αἰδὼς

καὶ δέος· ἀζηχὲς γὰρ ὁμόκλεον ἀλλήλοισι.

Νέστωρ αὖτε μάλιστα Γερήνιος οὖρος Ἀχαιῶν

λίσσεθʼ ὑπὲρ τοκέων γουνούμενος ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·

660

ὦ φίλοι ἀνέρες ἔστε καὶ αἰδῶ θέσθʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ

ἄλλων ἀνθρώπων, ἐπὶ δὲ μνήσασθε ἕκαστος

παίδων ἠδʼ ἀλόχων καὶ κτήσιος ἠδὲ τοκήων,

ἠμὲν ὅτεῳ ζώουσι καὶ ᾧ κατατεθνήκασι·

τῶν ὕπερ ἐνθάδʼ ἐγὼ γουνάζομαι οὐ παρεόντων

665

ἑστάμεναι κρατερῶς, μὴ δὲ τρωπᾶσθε φόβον δέ.

ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.

τοῖσι δʼ ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν νέφος ἀχλύος ὦσεν Ἀθήνη

θεσπέσιον· μάλα δέ σφι φόως γένετʼ ἀμφοτέρωθεν

ἠμὲν πρὸς νηῶν καὶ ὁμοιΐου πολέμοιο.

670

Ἕκτορα δὲ φράσσαντο βοὴν ἀγαθὸν καὶ ἑταίρους,

ἠμὲν ὅσοι μετόπισθεν ἀφέστασαν οὐδὲ μάχοντο,

ἠδʼ ὅσσοι παρὰ νηυσὶ μάχην ἐμάχοντο θοῇσιν.

οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτʼ Αἴαντι μεγαλήτορι ἥνδανε θυμῷ

ἑστάμεν ἔνθά περ ἄλλοι ἀφέστασαν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν·

675

ἀλλʼ ὅ γε νηῶν ἴκριʼ ἐπῴχετο μακρὰ βιβάσθων,

νώμα δὲ ξυστὸν μέγα ναύμαχον ἐν παλάμῃσι

κολλητὸν βλήτροισι δυωκαιεικοσίπηχυ.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ ἵπποισι κελητίζειν ἐῢ εἰδώς,

ὅς τʼ ἐπεὶ ἐκ πολέων πίσυρας συναείρεται ἵππους,

680

σεύας ἐκ πεδίοιο μέγα προτὶ ἄστυ δίηται

λαοφόρον καθʼ ὁδόν· πολέες τέ ἑ θηήσαντο

ἀνέρες ἠδὲ γυναῖκες· ὃ δʼ ἔμπεδον ἀσφαλὲς αἰεὶ

θρῴσκων ἄλλοτʼ ἐπʼ ἄλλον ἀμείβεται, οἳ δὲ πέτονται·

ὣς Αἴας ἐπὶ πολλὰ θοάων ἴκρια νηῶν

685

φοίτα μακρὰ βιβάς, φωνὴ δέ οἱ αἰθέρʼ ἵκανεν,

αἰεὶ δὲ σμερδνὸν βοόων Δαναοῖσι κέλευε

νηυσί τε καὶ κλισίῃσιν ἀμυνέμεν. οὐδὲ μὲν Ἕκτωρ

μίμνεν ἐνὶ Τρώων ὁμάδῳ πύκα θωρηκτάων·

ἀλλʼ ὥς τʼ ὀρνίθων πετεηνῶν αἰετὸς αἴθων

690

ἔθνος ἐφορμᾶται ποταμὸν πάρα βοσκομενάων

χηνῶν ἢ γεράνων ἢ κύκνων δουλιχοδείρων,

ὣς Ἕκτωρ ἴθυσε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιο

ἀντίος ἀΐξας· τὸν δὲ Ζεὺς ὦσεν ὄπισθε

χειρὶ μάλα μεγάλῃ, ὄτρυνε δὲ λαὸν ἅμʼ αὐτῷ.

695

Translations (8)

Iliad Perseus (Homer. The Iliad, Volume 1-2. Murray, A. T. (Augustus Taber), translator. London: William Heinmann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1924-1925.) — 15.653 focus

Now were they got among the ships,¹ and the outermost ships encircled them, even they that had been drawn up in the first line; but their foes rushed on. 655 And the Argives gave way perforce from the outermost ships, but abode there beside their huts, all in one body, and scattered not throughout the camp; for shame withheld them and fear; and unceasingly they called aloud one to the other. And above all others Nestor of Gerenia, the warder of the Achaeans, 660 besought each man, adjuring him by them that begat him, saying:

My friends, play the man, and take in your hearts shame of other men, and be ye mindful, each man of you, of children and wife, of possessions and of his parents, whether in the case of any they be living or be dead. 665 For the sake of them that are not here with us do I now beseech you to stand firm, and turn not back in flight.

So saying, he aroused the strength and spirit of every man, and from their eyes Athene thrust away the wondrous cloud of mist, and mightily did light come to them from either hand, 670 both from the side of the ships and from that of evil war. And all beheld Hector, good at the war-cry, and his comrades, alike they that stood in the rear and fought not, and all they that did battle by the swift ships. Now was it no more pleasing to the soul of great-hearted Aias 675 to stand in the place where the rest of the sons of the Achaeans stood aloof, but he kept faring with long strides up and down the decks of the ships, and he wielded in his hands a long pike for sea-fighting, a pike jointed with rings, of a length two and twenty cubits. And as a man well-skilled in horsemanship 680 harnesseth together four horses chosen out of many, and driveth them in swift course from the plain toward a great city along a highway, while many marvel at him, both men-folk and women, and ever with sure step he leapeth, and passeth from horse to horse, while they speed on; 685 even so Aias kept ranging with long strides over the many decks of the swift ships, and his voice went up to heaven, as ever with terrible cries he called to the Danaans to defend their ships and huts. Nor did Hector abide amid the throng of the mail-clad Trojans, 690 but as a tawny eagle darteth upon a flock of winged fowl that are feeding by a river's bank—a flock of wild geese, or cranes, or long-necked swans, even so Hector made for a dark-prowed ship, rushing straight thereon; and from behind Zeus thrust him on 695 with exceeding mighty hand, and aroused the host together with him.

Iliad Perseus (Homer. The Iliad of Homer, rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original. Butler, Samuel, 1835-1902, translator. London: Longmans, Green, and Co, 1898.) — 15.703 focus

703 Thus were the two sides minded. Then Hektor seized the stern of the good ship that had brought Protesilaos to Troy , but never bore him back to his native land. Round this ship there raged a close hand-to-hand fight between Danaans and Trojans. They did not fight at a distance with bows and javelins, but with one mind hacked at one another in close combat with their mighty swords and spears pointed at both ends; they fought moreover with keen battle-axes and with hatchets. Many a good stout blade hilted and scabbarded with iron, fell from hand or shoulder as they fought, and the earth ran red with blood. Hektor, when he had seized the ship, would not loose his hold but held on to its curved stern and shouted to the Trojans, "Bring fire, and raise the battle-cry all of you with a single voice. Now has Zeus granted us a day that will pay us for all the rest; this day we shall take the ships which came hither against heaven's will, and which have caused us such infinite suffering through the cowardice of our councilors, who when I would have done battle at the ships held me back and forbade the host to follow me; if Zeus did then indeed warp our judgments, himself now commands me and cheers me on."

726 As he spoke thus the Trojans sprang yet more fiercely on the Achaeans, and Ajax no longer held his ground, for he was overcome by the darts that were flung at him, and made sure that he was doomed. Therefore he left the raised deck at the stern, and stepped back on to the seven-foot bench of the oarsmen. Here he stood on the look-out, and with his spear held back Trojan whom he saw bringing fire to the ships. All the time he kept on shouting at the top of his voice and exhorting the Danaans. "My friends," he cried, "Danaan heroes, squires [ therapontes] of Ares, be men my friends, and fight with might and with main. Can we hope to find helpers hereafter, or a wall to shield us more surely than the one we have? There is no strong city within reach, whence we may draw fresh population [ dêmos] to turn the scales in our favor. We are on the plain of the armed Trojans with the sea [ pontos] behind us, and far from our own country. Our salvation, therefore, is in the might of our hands and in hard fighting."

742 As he spoke he wielded his spear with still greater fury, and when any Trojan made towards the ships with fire to win favor [ kharis] with Hektor, he would be on the look-out for him, and drive at him with his long spear. Twelve men did he thus kill in hand-to-hand fight before the ships. 746

English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020)) — 15.653 focus

They had now reached the ships and the prows of those that had been drawn up first were on every side of them, but the Trojans came pouring after them. [655] The Argives were driven back from the first row of ships, but they made a stand by their tents without being broken up and scattered; shame [ aidōs] and fear restrained them. They kept shouting incessantly to one another, and Nestor of Gerenia, tower of strength to the Achaeans, [660] was loudest in imploring every man by his parents, and beseeching him to stand firm.

“Be men, my friends,” he cried, “and give respect [ aidōs] to one another’s good opinion. Think, all of you, on your children, your wives, your property, and your parents whether these be alive or dead. [665] On their behalf though they are not here, I implore you to stand firm, and not to turn in flight.”

With these words he put heart and spirit into them all. Athena lifted the thick veil of darkness from their eyes, and much light fell upon them, [670] alike on the side of the ships and on that where the fight was raging. They could see Hector of the great war cry and all his men, both those in the rear who were taking no part in the battle, and those who were fighting by the ships.

Great-hearted Ajax could not bring himself to retreat [675] along with the rest, but strode from deck to deck with a great sea-pike in his hands twelve cubits long and jointed with rings. As a man skilled in feats of charioteering [680] couples four horses together and comes tearing full speed along the public way from the country into some large town—many both men and women marvel as they see him for he keeps all the time changing his horse, springing from one to another without ever missing his feet while the horses are at a gallop— [685] even so did Ajax go striding from one ship’s deck to another, and his voice went up into the heavens. He kept on shouting his orders to the Danaans and exhorting them to defend their ships and tents; neither did Hector remain within the main body of the Trojan warriors, [690] but as a dun eagle swoops down upon a flock of wild-fowl feeding near a river—geese, it may be, or cranes, or long-necked swans—even so did Hector make straight for a dark-prowed ship, rushing right towards it; [695] for Zeus with his mighty hand impelled him forward, and roused his people to follow him.

English (Alexander Pope, 1720, ed. Watson, 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Alexander Pope, 1720, ed. Watson, 1857)) — 15.653 focus

Chas'd from the foremost line, the Grecian train

Now man the next, receding tow'rd the main:

Wedg'd in one body at the tents they stand,

Wall'd round with sterns, a gloomy, desperate band.

Now manly shame forbids th' inglorious flight;

790

Now fear itself confines them to the fight:

Man courage breathes in man; but Nestor most

(The sage preserver of the Grecian host)

Exhorts, adjures, to guard these utmost shores;

And by their parents, by themselves, implores:

795

'O friends! be men: your generous breasts inflame

'With mutual honour, and with mutual shame!

'Think of your hopes, your fortunes; all the care

'Your wives, your infants, and your parents, share:

'Think of each living father's reverend head;

800

'Think of each ancestor with glory dead;

'Absent, by me they speak, by me they sue;

'They ask their safety and their fame from you:

'The gods their fates on this one action lay,

'And all are lost if you desert the day.'

805

He spoke, and round him breath'd heroic fires;

Minerva seconds what the sage inspires.

The mist of darkness Jove around them threw

She clear'd, restoring all the war to view:

A sudden ray shot beaming o'er the plain,

810

And shew'd the shores, the navy, and the main.

Hector they saw, and all who fly or fight,

The scene wide opening to the blaze of light.

First of the field, great Ajax strikes their eyes,

His port majestic, and his ample size:

815

A ponderous mace, with studs of iron crown'd,

Full twenty cubits long, he swings around.

Nor fights like others fix'd to certain stands,

But looks a moving tower above the bands;

High on the decks, with vast gigantic stride,

820

The godlike hero stalks from side to side.

So when a horseman from the watery mead

(Skill'd in the manage of the bounding steed)

Drives four fair coursers, practis'd to obey,

To some great city through the public way;

825

Safe in his art, as side by side they run,

He shifts his seat, and vaults from one to one;

And now to this, and now to that he flies;

Admiring numbers follow with their eyes.

From ship to ship thus Ajax swiftly flew,

830

No less the wonder of the warring crew.

As furious, Hector thunder'd threats aloud,

And rush'd enrag'd before the Trojan crowd;

Then swift invades the ships, whose beaky prores

Lay rank'd contiguous on the bending shores.

835

So the strong eagle from his airy height,

Who marks the swans' or cranes' embodied flight,

Stoops down impetuous, while they light for food,

And stooping darkens with his wings the flood.

Jove leads him on with his almighty hand,

840

And breathes fierce spirits in his following band.

The warring nations meet, the battle roars,

Thick beats the combat on the sounding prores.

English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843)) — 15.653 focus

The Greeks retreated were no further yet,

605

Than to between the first and second row

Of th' Argive ships; but fore'd that place to quit,

Near to their tents themselves they rally now,

Where Nestor them encouraged again.

Argives, my friends, be valiant now, said he,

610

And, if at any time, now play the men.

Of one another's censures fearful be.

Besides, by what you should be moved most,

Your parents, children, wives, and goods and land,

Whether you have them still, or have them lost,

615

I you conjure against the foe to stand.

This Nestor said, the Argives to excite:

And Pallas from them took the mist again,

That they might see who did, who did not fight,

Both at the ships and elsewhere on the plain.

620

But Ajax Telamonius thought not good

To stay with other Argives in the throng,

But up into a ship he went and stood,

With a ship's spear twenty-two cubits long.

As when a man that taught has been to guide

625

Four horses at a time, and in his hand

Holdeth their reins while they go side by side,

And people on the way admiring stand,

He from one horse unto another skips,

And makes them run together to the town ;

630

So Ajax o'er the Argives' ranged ships

To save them, and the tents, ran up and down.

And terribly unto the Argives cried

To play the men. Nor Hector 'mongst his troops

Could be persuaded longer to abide ;

635

But suddenly as a black eagle stoops

At a great flock of geese, or cranes, or swans,

So Hector of the Argive ships to one

Flew down, and Jove, with his puissant hands,

Behind him marching, always push'd him on.

640

English (George Chapman, 1611, ed. Hooper 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (George Chapman, 1611, ed. Hooper 1857)) — 15.653 focus

And now amongst the nearest ships, that first were drawn to shore,

The Greeks were driven; beneath whose sides, behind them, and before,

And into them they pour'd themselves, and thence were driven again

Up to their tents, and there they stood, not daring to maintain

605

Their guards more outward, but, betwixt the bounds of fear and shame,

Cheer'd still each other; when th' old man, that of the Grecian name

Was call'd the Pillar, every man thus by his parents pray'd:

" O friends, be men, and in your minds let others' shames be weigh'd.

Know you have friends besides yourselves, possessions, parents, wives,

610

As well those that are dead to you as those ye love with lives,

All sharing still their good, or bad, with yours. By these I pray,

That are not present (and the more should therefore make ye weigh

Their miss of you, as yours of them) that you will bravely stand,

And this fore'd flight you have sustain'd at length yet countermand."

615

Supplies of good words thus supplied the deeds and spirits of all.

And so at last Minerva clear'd the cloud that Jove let fall

Before their eyes; a mighty light flew beaming every way,

As well about their ships as where their darts did hottest play.

Then saw they Hector great in arms, and his associates,

620

As well all those that then abstain'd as those that help'd the fates,

And all their own fight at the fleet. Nor did it now content

Ajax to keep down like the rest; he up the hatches went,

Stalk'd here and there, and in his hand a huge great bead-hook held,

Twelve cubits long, and full of iron. And as a man well-skill'd

625

In horse, made to the martial race, when, of a number more,

He chooseth four, and brings them forth to run them all before

Swarms of admiring citizens amids their town's high way,

And, in their full career, he leaps from one to one, no stay

Enforc'd on any, nor fails he in either seat or leap;

630

So Ajax with his bead-hook leap'd nimbly from ship to ship,

As actively commanding all, them in their men as well

As men in them, most terribly exhorting to repel,

To save their navy and their tents. But Hector nothing needs

To stand on exhortations now at home, he strives for deeds.

635

And look how Jove's great queen of birds, sharp set, looks out for prey,

Knows floods that nourish wild-wing'd fowls, and, from her airy way,

Beholds where cranes, swans, cormorants, have made their foody fall,

Darkens the river with her wings, and stoops amongst them all;

So Hector flew amongst the Greeks, directing his command,

640

In chief, against one opposite ship; Jove with a mighty hand

Still backing him and all his men. And then again there grew

English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey)) — 15.653 focus

And now behind the ships (all that updrawn

Above the shore, stood foremost of the fleet)

The Greeks retired; in rush'd a flood of foes;

795

Then, through necessity, the ships in front

Abandoning, amid the tents they stood

Compact, not disarray'd, for shame and fear

Fast held them, and vociferating each

Aloud, call'd ceaseless on the rest to stand.

800

But earnest more than all, guardian of all,

Gerenian Nestor in their parents' name

Implored them, falling at the knees of each.

Oh friends! be men. Now dearly prize your place

Each in the estimation of the rest.

805

Now call to memory your children, wives,

Possessions, parents; ye whose parents live,

And ye whose parents are not, all alike!

By them as if here present, I entreat

That ye stand fast,—Oh be not turn'd to flight!

810

So saying he roused the courage of the Greeks;

Then, Pallas chaced the cloud fall'n from above

On every eye; great light the plain illumed

On all sides, both toward the fleet, and where

The undiscriminating battle raged.

815

Then might be seen Hector and Hector's host

Distinct, as well the rearmost who the fight

Shared not, as those who waged it at the ships.

To stand aloof where other Greecians stood

No longer now would satisfy the mind

820

Of Ajax, but from deck to deck with strides

Enormous marching, to and fro he swung

With iron studs emboss'd a battle-pole

Unwieldy, twenty and two cubits long.

As one, expert to spring from horse to horse,

825

From many steeds selecting four, toward

Some noble city drives them from the plain

Along the populous road; him many a youth

And many a maiden eyes, while still secure

From steed to steed he vaults; they rapid fly;

830

So Ajax o'er the decks of numerous ships

Stalk'd striding large, and sent his voice to heaven.

Thus, ever clamouring, he bade the Greeks

Stand both for camp and fleet. Nor could himself

Hector, contented, now, the battle wage

835

Lost in the multitude of Trojans more,

But as the tawny eagle on full wing

Assails the feather'd nations, geese or cranes

Or swans lithe-neck'd grazing the river's verge,

So Hector at a galley sable-prow'd

840

Darted; for, from behind, Jove urged him on

With mighty hand, and his host after him.

English (F. W. Newman, 1856) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (F. W. Newman, 1856)) — 15 focus

BOOK XV

But when across the palisade fleeing, and up the moat they clamber'd

In panic, and full many fell beneath the hands of Argives,

Then checking at the chariots their wild career, they halted,

With terror pale and all-amaze. But on the tops of Ida

Jove woke from slumber, at the side of golden-throned Juno.

So stood he, starting up, and view'd Achaiaïans and Troians,

The latter routed in the fray; the Argives, close behind them,

Hotly pursuing, and their ranks by princely Neptune headed:

But Hector lying on the plain he saw, and, round him sitting,

His comrades: fainting he at heart, dropt blood from mouth and nostrils,

And painfully did gasp; sith not the puniest of Argos

Had smote him. Him with pity view'd the sire of gods and mortals,

And with a direful scowling glance address'd a word to Juno:

"Thy mischief-plotting artifice, unmanageable Juno!

Hath godlike Hector stopt from war, and terrified his people.

Nor know I, whether haply now of this illwoven noyance

Thypelf shalt first the folly taste, beneath my grievous scourging.

Or dost forget, how once aloft thou hungest, when I fasten'd

A pair of anvils from thy feet, and round thy hands a fetter,

Golden, which nought might break; so thou in clouds and æther hungest.

Then indignation seiz'd the gods who dwell on long Olympus;

Yet of their concourse was there none to loose thee; but whomever

I caught, them clutching one by one I toss'd from off the threshold,

Till swooning he the earth might reach. Nor yet did this appease me,

Smarting with anguish for the fate of Héracles the godlike,

Whom, with the wind of Boreas, didst thou, the Squalls persuading,

Over the Ocean's cropless plain escort by ill devices.

So thou to thickly peopled Cos diddest the hero carry;

But thence my power rescued him, and after many a labour

Restor'd him to his proper home in courser-feeding Argos.

Now, that from trickeries thou cease, -of this will I remind thee.

Hereby thou mayest trial make, whether the bed of fondness,

For which thou camest from the gods deceitfully, shall aid thee."

Thus when he spake, with terror quail'd the large-ey'd queenly Juno ;

So meekly she accosting him did winged accents utter:

"I call to witness now this earth and highth of vasty Heaven

And dripping water of the Styx, which to the heav'nly blessed

Greatest and direst is of oaths: yea, by thy head so sacred,

And our own early bed, -by which swear vainly would I never:

Not surely for the sake of me doth the landshaker Neptune

Plague Hector and the Troïans, or aid to Argos giveth.

I ween, his proper notion doth imagine and enjoin it;

Sith at the galleys he beheld and pitied their disasters.

But (let me say it) eke to him would I my counsel tender,

Into that path to go, wherein, Dark-clouded One! thou guidest."

The sire of mortals and of gods with smiles her terror greeted,

And in responsive argument did winged accents utter.

"If thou then verily henceforth, O large-ey'd queenly Juno,

Sittest likeminded unto me among the gods immortal,

Then shall prince Neptune (tho' perchance full other be his purpose)

Sudden reverse his bent of soul, thy heart and mine to follow.

But if sincerely from thy breast in very truth thou speakest,

Hie thee among the tribes of gods forthwith, and hither summon

Iris, my errand to perform, and famous-bow'd Apollo;

That she amid the wide array of brazen-clad Achaians

May speed her, and the earnest word to princely Neptune carry, -

From battle to withdraw him straight and seek his proper dwellings:

But bright Apollo, he meanwhile shall Hector urge to battle,

And breathe in him new might, and give forgetfulness of anguish,

Which now, deepseated, galleth sore his vitals;-but the Achaians

Back from the battle shall he turn, unmanly flight inspiring,

Till to the many-benched ships of Peleus' son Achilles

In flight they hurry. He in turn shall rouse his own companion

Patroclus, soon to fall in death by spear of gallant Hector

Before the walls of Ilium, when many a youth in Orcus

Calls him to vengeance; with the rest, my godlike son Sarpedon.

But great Achilles, for his friend enrag'd, shall Hector slaughter.

Thenceforward from the galleys I continuous will give thee

A never-ceasing back-pursuit of war, until the Achaians

Shall capture lofty Ilium by counsels of Athene.

But earlier withdraw I not my anger, nor permit I

Other immortals on the field the Danaï to succour;

Ere-that I fully complish'd have the longings of Pelides,

As first I undertook for him and with my nod assented,

Upon the day, when by my knees the goddess Thetis clasp'd me,

Imploring honour for her son Achilles city-rieving."

He spake, nor uncompliant found the white-arm'd goddess Juno,

But, from the mounts of Ida, up went she to long Olympus.

As darteth forth the mind of man, who over ample country

Distant hath journey'd; haply he in sage remembrance thinketh,

"In such a place was I, and such,"- and roveth wide at random;

So then, in eagerness, across flew venerable Juno.

At steep Olympus she arriv'd, and found the gods immortal

All gather'd in the hall of Jove. They, seeing her arrival,

Upstarted from their seats at once, and welcom'd her with goblets.

She of the rest took no account, yet did accept the goblet

From Themis dainty-cheek'd; who first come hurrying to meet her,

And with address of courtesy such winged accents utter'd:

"Juno, why hither wendest thou, and, like to frighten'd, seemest?

Troth! Saturn's son hath scared thee, who is thy proper consort."

To her then spake reciprocal the white-arm'd goddess Juno:

"Themis! dear goddess! ask not me too much: thyself well knowest

His heart of royal haughtiness, how stern and overfoaming.

Do thou, in chambers of the gods, preside at rightful banquet,

But of these doings afterward wilt hear, with all the immortals,

What ill achievements Jupiter doth show us; nor, I reckon,

Will he to all alike give joy, -on earth, nor yet in heaven,

Albeit at the heavenly board each one now cheery feasteth."

Such words did queenly Juno speak, and took her seat among them.

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Then in the hall of Jove the gods indignant were: but Juno

Forcing upon her lips a smile, no gladness on her forehead

Display'd along her raven brow; but angrily address'd them:

"Simple are we, infatuate, who with intentness ponder

Whether we will some limit set on Jove, by close encounter

105

Of word, or haply of constraint: but he, apart abiding,

At our misliking fretteth not nor heedeth; for he vaunteth,

That he, egregious of gods, in strength and might is foremost.

Wherefore, whatever ill to each he list to offer, take ye.

And now already, I opine, for Ares woe is complish'd;

110

For in the battle fallen is his son, of heroes dearest,

Ascalaphus, whom to himself Ares as offspring claimeth."

She spake; but Ares instantly with double palm descending

Smote on his lusty thighs, and pour'd an utterance of wailing.

"Blame not my purpose, O ye gods, who hold Olympian dwellings,

115

My slaughter'd offspring to avenge beside the Achaian galleys;

Albeit eke for me be doom to lie among the corpses

Struck by the thunderbolt of Jove, in blood and dust confounded."

So spake he, and accordant bade Terror and Flight to harness

His coursers, and himself would don his allresplendent armour.

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Then other turmoil had been wrought more mighty and more noisome

By the fierce wrath of Jupiter against the gods immortal;

But that Athene, smit with fear for all the heav'nly dwellers,

Out o'er the threshold rush'd, and left the throne whereon she rested,

And off his head the helmet drew and buckler from his shoulders;

125

Then taking from his sturdy hand the brazen spear, she fix'd it

Upright, and with reproachful words did lash impetuous Ares:

"O doltish and bewilder'd soul, besotted are thy senses:

Troth! vainly hast thou ears to hear; thy shame and wits are perish'd

Or heardest not, what argument spake white-arm'd goddess Juno,

130

Who now afresh, from Jupiter the Olympian, arriveth?

Dost wish, thyself with many a woe bestraught, by stern compulsion,

Despite thy anger, back to haste retiring to Olympus,

And to the other blessed ones great mischief to engender?

For shortly Jupiter will leave the haughty-hearted Troians

135

And Argives; but on us will come with riot to Olympus,

And indiscriminate will catch the guilty and the harmless.

Thou therefore for thy bonny son remit, I say, thy anger.

For one than him far mightier in force and skill already

Slain either is, or shall be soon : and troth, the task were toilsome

140

Of all the world the kith and kin to rescue from disaster."

Thus speaking, she upon his throne impetuous Ares seated:

Out of the chambers thereupon did Juno call Apollo

And Iris, who is messenger unto the gods immortal;

Then straitly she exporting them harangu'd in winged accents:

145

"Jove biddeth both of you to come with utmost speed to Ida;

But when arriv'd ye be, and raise on Jupiter your eyen,

Then complish, whatsoe'er of tasks his pleasure may enjoin you."

Such errand spoken, back again hied venerable Juno

And sat upon her throne; but they, the twain, flew darting forward.

150

Soon unto Ida rill-bestream'd, parent of game, arriv'd they,

And found widesighted Saturn's child upon the summit resting

At Gargarus, and round his form was wreath'd a cloud of incense:

So entering, before the face of Jove the cloud-collector

Stood they; nor when the twain he saw, was he in heart displeased,

155

That to the bidding of his spouse they quickly gave obeisance.

Then he to Iris earlier his winged accents utter'd:

"Hie, hurry, speedy Iris! hence; bear thou to princely Neptune

The rightful errand of my words, nor be a false reporter.

Command him to withdraw himself from contest and from battle,

160

Returning mid the tribes of gods or the salt flood eternal.

But if he choose not to obey my word, but disregardeth,

Let him thereafter_ponder well within his heart and bosom,

Lest, stalwart tho' his hardiment, in onset he be feeble

Me to withstand: for I than him in force am greatly stronger,

165

And earlier of birth; and yet his fancy fondly slighteth

To hold pretension as my peer, at whom all others shudder."

He spake, nor uncompliant found fleet stormy-footed Iris,

And as when hailstorm from the clouds may fly, or sleety shower,

Chill'd by the gust of Boreas, whom sky serene doth gender;

170

So swiftly in her eagerness across flew speedy Iris,

But down to sacred Ilium from Ida's mountains hied she.

And standing close in front, address'd the glorious Landshaker:

"O Earth-encircler purple-hair'd! to thee I hither hurry

From ægis-holding Jupiter a canny errand bearing.

175

He biddeth to withdraw thyself from contest and from battle,

Returning mid the tribes of gods or the salt flood eternal.

But if thou choose not to obey his word, but disregardeth,

Then doth he threaten thee in turn, with adverse force to hie him

For battle hitherward: but thee he urgeth, from encounter

180

With him to shrink; sith he than thee in force is greatly stronger,

And earlier in birth; and yet thy fancy fondly slighteth

To hold pretension as his peer, at whom all others shudder."

To her indignantly replied the glorious Landshaker:

"Ye Spirits! troth, tho' grand he be, haughty the word he speaketh,

185

If me, who am in rank his peer, he will constrain unwilling.

For we, three equal brethren are, whom Rhea bare to Saturn,

First Jove, next me, then Aïdes, who nether regions swayeth.

All things in threefold lot are cast: each hath his share of honour.

To me the hoary brine for aye as dwelling was apportion'd,

190

When lots we shook; to Aïdes the sunless dusk was granted;

Jove had as his the ample sky of clouds and empty æther:

But Earth to all is common yet, as eke is long Olympus,

So will not I by Jove's decree demean me: let him tranquil

Abide within his own third share, albeit stalwart is he.

195

But truly let him not by force alarm me, as a coward.

More seemly were it and more right against his sons and daughters,

Whom he himself begat, to scold with keen and lordly errand.

These, when he sendeth urgent word, must e'en perforce obey him."

To him responded thereupon fleet stormy-footed Iris :

200

"O Earth-encircler purple-hair'd! alas! is this my errand?

This must I bear to Jupiter from thee, so stern and hardy?

Or wilt thou somewhat bend and yield? and noble hearts are yielding.

Thou knowest, how on elders-born for ever wait the Furies."

Then Neptune, shaker of the earth, accosted her responsive:

205

"Iris, dear goddess! troth! this word discreetly hast thou spoken.

Good followeth the messenger, who canny counsel knoweth.

Only my heart and soul are here by anguish grimly wounded,

When Jupiter usurpeth right with words of gall to wrangle

Against his peer in destiny, to equal lot appointed.

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But now, indignant though I am, to this will I submit me.

Yet one thing will I farther say and from my heart will threaten.

If he, against my will, -against Athene booty-driving, -

Despite of princely Vulcan, -ay! of Hermeas, and Juno,-

Shall rescue lofty Ilium, nor suffer us to storm it

215

And to the Argive arms to give the mastery of glory;

Know he: a feud betwixt us twain unheal'd abideth ever.".

So speaking, the Landshaker left the army of Achaia,

And plung'd beneath the deep: and soon the Achaian heroes miss'd him.

But cloud-collecting Jupiter thereat address'd Apollo:

220

"Go now, dear shining one! and seek the brazen-helmed Hector.

The god who circleth quaking Earth already is departed

Into his salt eternal flood, eschewing our displeasure

Gramsome; for other gods also did hear of yore our battle,

Who, nethermost of nature, dwell around the home of Saturn.

225

But verily, alike to me and to himself, more gainful

Was it, that he did earlier indignantly submit him

Beneath my puissance: else, the toil no common struggle boded.

But now within thy hands assume my many-fringed ægis,

And in their faces flaunting it, dismay the Achaian heroes.

230

But thou, Fardarter! must thyself have care of gallant Hector,

And in him waken mighty force so long, until the Achaians

Unto their galleys reach in flight and to the flood of Helle.

But I thenceforward will myself of word and work bethink me,

How-that the Achaians may again find respite from disaster."

235

So spake he; nor Apollo then did disobey his father,

And down from Ida's tops he went, in semblance of a falcon

Fleet-winged, pigeon-murdering, of feather'd wights the swiftest.

So found he godlike Hector, son of skilful-hearted Priam,

Sitting, nor prostrate still; for he anew had sense recover'd,

240

Knowing his comrades round about. Gasping and sweat had ceased,

Sithence the mind of Jupiter, the ægis-holder, rais'd him.

Then, near beside him standing, spake Apollo Far-averter :

"O Hector, son of Priamus ! why thus apart from others

Sittest thou faint at heart? perchance doth some disaster plague thee?"

245

To him, with puny vigour left spake motley-helmed Hector:

"Who art thou, noblest of the gods! that face to face dost ask me?

Hearest thou not, -in outmost fight against the Achaian galleys,

How Ajax, good at need, did smite with huge stone on my bosom,

While I his comrades slew; and quell'd my furious encounter.

250

And verily I thought to see the dead, and house of Pluto,

Upon this day: so near did I gasp forth my tender spirit."

To him the Far-averting prince Apollo spake responsive :

"Now cheer thee! such reserve of war Saturnius from Ida

Hath forward to befriend thee sent and rescue thee from danger,-

255

Me, golden-belted shining prince Apollo, who do ever

Of yore deliver both thyself and eke thy lofty fortress.

But to thy many charioteers, come now, give earnest bidding

Unto the smoothly hollow ships to drive the nimble horses :

And I myself, in front of them advancing, for the horses

260

Will level all the chariot-roads and scare the Achaian heroes."

So saying, mighty strength he breath'd into the people's shepherd.

As when a charger, closely kept, high-pamper'd at the manger,

Bursting his halter, o'er the plain with prance and gambol trampleth,

Accustom'd in the flood to bathe of some fair-streaming river,

265

Wild glorying; and holdeth high his head, and off his shoulders

Rusheth the mane abroad; and he in his brave beauty trusteth;

Lightly his knees then carry him to horses' haunts and pastures :

So too with supple foot and knee did Hector hurry onward,

Soon as he heard the voice divine, his charioteers to order.

270

And as when dogs or rustic men have chas'd upon the mountains

Whether an antler-bearing stag or roebuck; -it, defended

By forest-boughs o'ershadowing and rocks that cheat the footstep,

Escapeth them, nor is success to all their efforts destin'd;

At length, beneath their shouting rous'd, upon the path appeareth

275

A noble-bearded lion, who doth sudden scare their courage:

So for awhile the Danaï in troops did keenly follow,

With swords and with twohanded pikes against the foeman stabbing;

But when they Hector saw amid the ranks of heroes moving,

They trembled, and the soul of all beside their feet lay prostrate.

280

Thoas hereat, Andræmon's son, did with harangue accost them :

Of all Ætolia bravest he, to dert the jav'lin skilful,

And good in standing fight: but few might in debate surpass him,

When in full mote Achaian youths * held rivalry of prudence;

Who then with kindly soul harangu'd and spake his word among them:

285

"Ye spirits! now these eyen see in truth a mighty marvel,

If Hector they behold again arisen, Fate escaping.

Yet verily each heart of us was trusting that this hero

Lately had perish'd by the hands of Telamonian Ajax.

But now some heav'nly god anew hath sav'd and rescued Hector,

290

Who had of many Danaï unstrung the knees and sinews.

So now, as I forebode, again will be for here he standeth

An ardent leader, not without the will of Jove high-rumbling.

But come, as I the word shall speak, let all compliant follow :

Back to the galleys bid we all the multitude to hie them;

295

But for ourselves, who boast to be amid the army bravest,

Confronting him with spears outstretch'd, let us withstand his onset,

If we may haply stagger him: and he, I ween, tho' eager,

Will shrink to meet the Danaï and in their troop to mingle."

He spake; and they all willingly did listen and obey him.

300

Crowding around the Ajaces twain and Merion and Teucer,

Around the prince Idomeneus and Meges peer to Ares,

The stubborn struggle marshall'd they, their champions collecting

Fierce to withstand the Troïans and Hector; but behind them

Back to the Achaian galleys hied the multitude returning.

305

Forward in plump the Troians rush'd, and at their head was Hector,

With lengthy strides; and in his front hied bright Apollo onward,

Clad round his shoulders with a cloud; the furious ægis bearing,

Dreadful, with shag of fringes rough, preeminent; which Vulcan,

Worker of copper, gave to Jove for men's dismay to carry:

310

This ægis holding in his hands, Apollo led the peoples;

But eke the Argives clos'd their ranks unmov'd; and deadly clamour

From either side arose: then leapt the arrows from the bowstring,

And many a brazen javelin, by sturdy sinews derted,

Partly were fix'd within the limbs of callants keen in battle,

315

And others midway numerous, for glut of carnage greedy,

Ere the fair skin they might attain, harmless in earth were planted.

While bright Apollo held unmov'd the manyfringed ægis,

So long from either side the darts did fly, and people perish;

But when he flouted full in face the charioteering Argives,

320

Shaking his arm, and eke himself yell'd loudly; then their bosom

Was all bewitch'd with fear, and straight forgat impetuous ardour.

And as, amid a herd of kine or mighty flock of bleaters,

In gloominess of dusky night do two wild beasts make havoc,

Which suddenly arrive, nor find the keeper at his station :

325

So were the Achaians terrified, unwarlike; for Apollo

Fill'd them with fear, and glory gave to Hector and the Troians.

Thereon each hero slew his man, when scatter'd was the struggle.

By Hector, slain was Stichius first, and Arkesilaüs :

The latter to the brazen-clad Boeotians was leader,

330

The former, trusty comrade was to Mnestheus mighty-hearted.

Æneias next for death and spoil hent Iasus and Medon.

Medon to Ajax brother was; -their sire, divine Oïleus ;-

But Medon was of meaner birth, and dwelt afar, as exile,

Long time in Phylake; for he whilom had slain a hero,

335

A kinsman of his father's bride his stepdame Eriopis.

But to Athene's skilful folk was Iasus a leader,

And Sphelus was his father call'd, but Bucolus his grandsire.

Mekisteus by Polydamas, • Echius by Polites,

Clonius by divine Agenor, fell in foremost struggle,

340

Paris hit Deiochus behind at bottom of the shoulder,

As in the foremost ranks he fled; and thrust the weapon thro' him.

While from the slain the victors stript their arms, meanwhile the Achaians,

Within the deep-entrenched moat and palisades entangled,

Rov'd hither, thither; and anew perforce the rampart enter'd.

345

Then Hector rais'd his voice aloft and charg'd the Troian army

To leave the gory panoplies and rush upon the galleys:

"But whomsoever I descry far from the galleys slinking,

There, on the spot, for him will I plot ruin; nor shall ever

His kinsmen and kinswomen dear in rightful flames enwrap him :

350

But him before our city's wall the hungry dogs shall mangle."

Thus speaking, with the scourge he lash'd his horses on the shoulder,

Cheering across the Troian ranks aloud: and they, beside him,

With general alarum, held the chariot-trailing horses.

Unearthly was their battle-din. Before them bright Apollo

355

With his broad foot did easily cast down into the middle

The scarp'd embankments of the trench, and bridg'd an ample causey

Solid and broad; so far, as when a man, to outmost distance,

Flingeth in air his javelin, his martial vigour trying.

Over this road in ample squares they pour'd; in front, Apollo

360

With costly ægis on his arm. Right easily o'erthrew he

The Achaian rampart, e'en as when a child lays low his sandheap;

Who, where the billow lately dash'd, a playful wall hath built him

Of sand, and when his sport is done, with foot or hand o'throws it :

So then by thee, bright Eïus,* the plenteous toil and trouble

365

Of Argives vain was made, and eke themselves with terror filled.

But, checking by the galleys' side their wild career, they halted,

And each to other made appeal, and to all gods in heaven

Did every one with lifted hands loud supplication offer.

But chiefly there Gerenian Nestor, watcher of the Achaians,

370

Made prayer to the gods, his hand to starry heaven lifting:

"O father Jove, if ever yet a man in wheatful Argos,

Burning to thee the costly limbs of sheep or eke of bullock,

Besought thee for a safe return, and thou didst nod approval;

Think of all this, Olympian ! and ward the ruthless moment,

375

Nor wholly by the Troïans destroy the Achaian army."

So prayed Neleus' aged son; thereat with mighty thunder

Did Jove the Counsellor reply, his supplication hearing.

The Troians also, at the voice of Jove the ægisholder,

Leapt braver on the Achaïans and hero-glee remember'd.

380

As on the ample-breasted sea when a huge billow plungeth,

Over the galley's wooden ribs descending, if the hurtle

Of wind impress it; for 'tis this, that chief the waves engrosseth :

So then with terrible upróar the Troians scal'd the rampart.

And now, their coursers driving in, at poop of galley fought they,

385

Mingled in battle, foe to foe, with doublehanded weapons,

These mounted on the chariots; but those from dusky galleys

With lengthy shipspears warded them, which on the decks were stored,

Fasten'd with clamps for naval fight, and tipt at end with copper.

But, for Patroclus, he meantime, while Troians and Achaians

390

Outside, beyond the Argive fleet, around the wall were fighting;

He in the tent was seated with friendly-soul'd Eurypylus

So long, and sooth'd his heart with talk; and as a balm of anguish,

Drugs o'er the painful wound he spread, of medicinal virtue.

But, when he after was aware, the Troians o'er the rampart

395

Had enter'd, while the Danaï were fill'd with scream and tumult;

Then loudly groan'd he, and straightway with double palm descending

Smote on his thighs, and pour'd abroad an utterance of wailing:

"Eurypylus! albeit much thou needest me, no longer

May I beside thee stay; for lo! a mighty strife is risen.

400

But thee, let now thy squire amuse; and I unto Achilles

Must quickly hie me, if perchance I win him to the combat.

Who knoweth, if, with heaven's aid, I haply by persuasion

May stir his spirit? useful is a comrade's exhortation."

He, with such words, on speedy feet departed; but the Achaians

405

Firmly the Troïan advance awaited, nor were able,

Albeit fewer were the foes, to ward them from the galleys.

Nor might the Troians yet break thro' the Danaän battalions

And force a passage to the tents and mingle with the galleys.

As by a cunning workman's hands, in wisdom of Athene

410

Taught perfectly, the rule doth draw a galley's timber even;

So even, of those combatants was drawn the fight and combat.

And battle, diverse ships around, by diverse men was waged,

But Hector made his chief attack against illustrious Ajax.

415

Around one galley had the twain fierce trouble, nor were able,

The Troian, out to drive his foe and wrap in flames the galley,

Nor he, the assailant to repel, sith heav'nly power brought him.

Then gallant Ajax with his spear struck on the breast Caletor,

The active son of Clytius, fire to the galley bearing;

420

So with a loud crash down he fell, and dropt the brand beside him.

But Hector, when before his eyes his cousin he discerned

Laid prostrate in the dust, in front, beneath the dusky galley,

He shouted to the Troïans and Lycians and Dardans :

"Dardans, who hand to hand contend, and Lycians and Troians!

425

Not yet, in such a strait, my friends! retire ye from the battle;

But save the son of Clytius, nor let the Achaians strip him,

Fallen before the galley-poop, in theatre of battle."

So spake he, and with shining spear straightway at Ajax derted,

And miss'd him: but the weapon hit Lycophron, son of Mastor,

430

Who, at divine Kythera born, of yore had slain a hero :

Then quitted he his early home, and dwelt, as squire, with Ajax.

To this man, as by Ajax's side he stood, the spear of Hector

Enter'd his head above the ear; so backward from the galley

Into the dust from off the poop he fell, unstrung and helpless.

435

But Ajax shudder'd at the sight, and straight address'd his brother :

"Dear Teucer! lo! before our eyes is slain our trusty comrade,

The son of Mastor, whom we both did in our chambers welcome

With honour like to parents dear, arriving from Kythera.

But mighty-hearted Hector him hath slain. Where now thy arrows

440

Death swiftly dealing, and the bow which bright Apollo gave thee?"

He spake, and Teucer caught the word, and ran, and stood beside him,

Holding within his hand the bow back-bending, and the quiver

Fraught full with arrows: quick he shot his bolts against the Troians.

By the first arrow Cleitus fell, Peisenor's brilliant offspring,

445

The comrade of Polydamas the lordly son of Panthûs,

Holding within his hands the reins. He with the steeds was busied :

For there kept hé; -for kindly aid to Hector and the Troians,-

³⁴

Where thickest justled were the ranks: but quickly came the mischief

On to himself; which none of all, tho' eager, then averted.

450

For deep within his neck, behind, the grievous arrow pierced :

So from the chariot he dropt; and sudden swerv'd the horses,

Rattling the empty chariot. But quickly did its master

Polydamas perceive, who first in front the steeds arrested.

Them gave he to Astynoüs, the son of Protiaon,

455

And on him many a charge he laid, at hand to keep the horses,

Eying his master;-straight, himself regain'd the foremost battle.

Then Teucer took a second shaft for brazen-helmed Hector;

And would an end of war have made against the Achaian galleys,

Had he the chieftain slain, in whom was primacy of valour.

460

Nor this the canny mind escap'd of Jupiter, who guarded

Hector, and glory's vaunt denied to Telamonian Teucer.

For while as in the blameless bow he drew the string well-twisted,

Jove sudden snapt it: thereupon the brazen-weighted arrow

Stray'd other way, and from his hand down fell his vain equipment.

465

Then Teucer shudder'd at the sight and straight address'd his brother:

"Ye Spirits! troth! some power high our plans of battle snappeth

All rudely, who from out my hands hath cast the bow and arrow,

And burst the newly-twisted string, which I this morning fasten'd,

That stoutly it might carry home the thickly-springing arrows."

470

Then spake to him reciprocal great Telamonian Ajax:

"Dear fellow, leave thy bow in peace and all thy sheaves of arrows;

Sith, envying the Danaï, some god hath these confounded.

But in thy hands take lengthy spear and buckler on thy shoulder,

And fight against the Troïans and rouse the other peoples.

475

Then, tho' the mastery they win, not without effort shall they

The well-deck'd galleys take, if we do battle-glee remember."

So spake he: Teucer then replac'd within his tent the arrows,

But round his shoulders quickly slung his shield with plates quadruple,

And on his gallant head he put a well-wrought leathern helmet,

480

Bushy with horsetail: dreadfully the crest above it nodded.

Lastly, he grasp'd a valiant spear, pointed with brass well temper'd,

Hied on his path, and speedily ran up, and stood by Ajax.

But Hector, when his eye descried the bolts of Teucer crippled,

Loud shouted to the Troïans and Lycians and Dardans :

485

"Dardans, who hand to hand contend, and Lycians and Troians !

Be men, my friends! nor negligent of furious encounter

Beside the smoothly hollow ships. For lo! these eyes are witness,

How of a leading warriour the bolts by Jove are crippled.

Right easily may man discern the purposes of heaven,

490

Alike, to whomso Jupiter high mastery vouchsafeth,

And eke whomso he lessen will, nor chooseth to avenge them;

As now the Argives willeth he to crush, but us to succour.

But fight ye at the galleys, all in plump: and if for any

The doom of death allotted be, by thrust or flying arrow,

495

Let death be welcome: seemly 'tis in combat for one's country

To die, if need be; but his wife and children safe behind him

And house and lot inviolate abide, whene'er the Achaians

Back to their native land belov'd depart upon their galleys."

He, by such words, in every breast spirit and strength excited.

500

But Ajax, he on other side did charge his own companions:

"O shame, ye Argives! now behold your guarantee, -to perish

Or save our fortunes, beating back this noyance from the galleys.

If motley-helmed Hector burn the Achaian ships, then hope ye

Each man his native land to reach on his own feet returning?

505

Hear ye not Hector eagerly urge them, our fleet to kindle?

Not to a dance he summoneth, I reckon, but to combat.

For us no counsel and intent, better than this, abideth,

Foot against foot and hand to hand to grapple, soul and body.

510

Better it is, now once for all to live or else to perish,

Than pine in combat lingering by grim embrace of foemen, -

Men who are noway peers to us, - on the shore's edge, thus vainly."

He, by such words, in every breast spirit and strength excited.

Then Hector, he slew Schedius, a son of Perimedes,

515

And prince of Phocis: Ajax hent Laodamas in slaughter,

A leader of the infantry, Antenor's brilliant offspring.

Polydamas for death and spoil took Otus of Kyllene,

Comrade of Phyleus' son, and prince to the high-soul'd Epeians.

But Meges saw, and rush'd on him: Polydamas evaded,

520

Flinching aside; so him the thrust struck not: nor did Apollo

Allow the son of Panthoüs to fall in front encounter.

But Croismus' bosom, in his stead, to meet the spear was destin'd:

Crashing he fell, and Meges stript the armour from his shoulders.

Meanwhile upon him Dolops rush'd, to wield the spear right skilful,

525

(Dolops, the son of Lampus, or Lampus, was chief of heroes :)

And to impetuous valour train'd; son of Laomedon: his sire,

This man, approaching, with the spear assail'd the son of Phyleus,

And pierc'd his midmost buckler thro'; but the close corslet sav'd him,

Which, at the hollows jointed well, he wore: (his father Phyleus

530

Brought it of yore from Ephyra, from the Selleïs river.

His host Euphetes, prince of men, on him as gift bestow'd it,

To wear for battle's garniture, a shelter from the foeman;

Which from the body of his son did then avert destruction.)

But Meges on his helmet's top, brazen, with horsetail shaggy,

535

Thrust heavy with his spear, and broke the plumed crest, which sudden

Fell all dishonour'd in the dust, of late with crimson shining.

While Dolops yet the fight maintain'd, and still for conquest hoped,

Meanwhile as succour to the foe came martial Menelaüs.

540

He on the flank approach'd unseen, and flung behind the shoulder

His spear: its onward-hasting point, possest by fury, issued

Right thro' the hapless Troian's breast, who sideways there fell headlong.

Then rush'd the heroes twain to strip the armour from his shoulders.

But to the kinsmen of the slain Hector address'd him sternly,

545

And chief to Melanippus brave, the son of Hiketaon :

Who, while the foemen were afar, did pasture in Percotas

His crumple-horned kine; but when their easy-steering galleys

Arriv'd, came back to Ilium, and was among the Troians

550

Signal, and dwelt in Priam's court, honour'd as Priam's children.

On him did Hector cast reproach, and spake, his name pronouncing:

"O Melanippus, shall we thus neglect? and is thy bosom

Not fill'd with self-reproaching shame, to see thy kinsman fallen ?

Or doth it scape thee, how the foe round Dolops' arms is busied?

555

But follow! for no longer choice have we, aloof to combat

Against the Argives: choice is none, but them to slay, or suffer

The fall of lofty Ilium and bondage of her people."

He spake, and led the way: behind, the godlike hero follow'd.

But Ajax, son of Telamon, meanwhile bestirr'd the Argives:

560

"Oh friends, be men, and in your souls a bashful honour cherish,

And each to other bashful be amid your hardy struggles.

Of bashful-hearted men, the most are safe, and few are slaughter'd :

But runaways no glory win, nor runneth safety with them."

So spake he; and his comrades eke themselves for fight were earnest.

565

They in their inmost bosom cast his word, and fenc'd the galleys

With barrier of brass; but still did Jove arouse the Troians.

Then Menelaüs, good at need, Antilochus would challenge :

"Of Argive chieftains none than thee, Antilochus, is younger,

Nor swifter is of foot; nor e'en, as thou, is bold in battle,

570

If from the ranks thou wouldest leap, and hit some foremost Troian."

He with such words departed, sith he had the youth excited;

Who, leaping from the foremost ranks, with shining weapon derted,

Turning on every side his gaze : the Troians shrunk before him,

As from him flew the javelin : nor did he aim it vainly,

575

But struck in middle of the breast the son of Hiketaon,

Seeking for danger's foremost post, high-hearted Melanippus :

So with a loud crash down he dropt, and o'er him clang'd his armour.

Then forward sped Antilochus, as hound on fawn that's wounded,

Which, as it springeth from its lair, with deadly aim a hunter

580

Hitting, its sinews hath unstrung; so then, O Melanippus,

On thee the war-abiding youth sprang, to despoil thy armour.

But godlike Hector saw, and ran to thwart him in encounter.

Then, tho' an ardent warriour, Antilochus retreated,

585

Skulking away, like some wild beast, that conscious is of mischief,

Which, having haply kill'd a dog or herdsman round the cattle,

Hurries escaping, ere the crowd of peasants be assembled:

So hurried Nestor's son. At him the Troïans and Hector

With an unearthly clamour pour'd their darts' distressful shower:

590

But quickly fac' Round, when first he reach'd his troop of comrades.

Meanwhile the Troian army, like to raw-devouring lions,

Against the galleys press'd apace and Jove's command accomplish'd,

Who alway waken'd in their heart high courage; and bewitching

The Danaï, of glory them despoil'd, but those excited,

595

Holding the purpose, to extend to Hector son of Priam

The meed of glory, till he cast upon the crested galleys

The restless fire's unearthly blaze and wholly win for Thetis

Her pray'r ill-omen'd: this was Jove the Counsellor awaiting,

The blaze before his eyes to see rise from a burning galley.

600

Thenceforward destin'd he to give a back-pursuit unceasing,

Driving the Troians from the ships with glory to the Argives.

Such purpose holding, he against the smoothly hollow galleys

Rous'd Hector, son of Priamus, himself already eager;

Who rag'd, as eke may Ares' self, spear-poiser; or as rageth

605

Upon the mountains deadly fire in thickets of a forest.

Foam circled from his gnashing teeth: beneath his horrid eyebrow

Gleam'd his two eyen; but the helm shook dreadful on his temples

Amid the battle: sith to him a champion from heaven

610

Was Jove himself; who him alone mid many heroes honour'd

And glorified awhile; not long: for, troth! his hour of greatness

Soon to expire was destin'd: sith already maid Athene,

Beneath Pelides' might, on him the day of doom was bringing.

To force a passage, troth! he wish'd, the ranks of men attempting,

615

Where thickest he the crowd beheld and noblest was the armour.

Yet, tho' supreme his hankering, not even so he forc'd them,

As stood they, fitted tower-wise, like to some rock of ocean,

Foot-cheating, huge, which plungeth sheer amid the hoary surges,

And firm abideth aye, despite the speedy-gliding courses

620

Of whistling gales, and turbid waves which forth are belch'd against it:

So mid the war the Danaï were motionless and tranquil.

But he amid the scuffle leapt, with blaze around him sheeny,

Plumping, as on a galley sharp may plump a bouncing billow,

Whose bulk by cloud-born squalls is fed and all by foam is cover'd.

625

The direful blast against the sail doth roar; the trembling sailors

Shrink with alarm; for close they ride to death beside them yawning.

So direfully the heart was rent within the Achaian bosom.

Then as the kine, on whom may come a deadly-hearted lion,

630

In the great pasture of a marsh, where they in numbers countless

Graze; and a herdsman in their midst doth stand, not yet well trained

With stalwart-hearted beasts to fight for crumple-horned cattle;

Thus, as the cows move, moveth he: but pouncing on the middle,

635

The beast a heifer hath devour'd, and all with panic filleth:

So with divine alarm, beneath Hector and Jove the Father,

The Achaians were affrighted all: yet none he overhended,

Save only Periphetes, son of Mycenæan Copreus,

Who to Eurystheus message bare of great Herácles' labours.

640

From such a father worser far, was born an offspring better

In every virtue,-hand or foot,- to fight, to run, to counsel;

For he in knowledge might defy the foremost of Mycene:

Who by his fall to Hector gave the meed of higher glory.

For, backward turning him, he tript against his buckler's margin,

645

Which, reaching to his heels, he bare, from javelins a shelter.

By this entangled, down he fell, right on his back: the helmet,

Bang'd on the hard ground suddenly, rang horrid round his temples.

But Hector, quick espying it, ran up and stood before him,

And in his bosom plung'd the spear, and near his dear companions

650

Slew him: but these unable were, tho' heartstruck for their comrade,

Rescue to bring him; for themselves had awe of godlike Hector.

They in full gaze the galleys held; the outmost hulls embrac'd them,

Which foremost on the strand were haul'd: and onward stream'd the Troians.

Then from the foremost galley-poops perforce withdrew the Argives,

655

Yet cluster'd densely round their tents, nor in confusion straggled,

By shame and fear constrain'd, while each to each spake threat and counsel.

But chiefly there Gerenian Nestor, watcher of the Achaians,

Touching the knees of every man, besought him by his parents :

"O friends, be men, and in your souls a bashful honour cherish,

660

Fearing the blame of other men; and every one remember

His children and his tender wife, his lot of land, and parents,

Whether alive they still abide, or whether death have ta'en them.

On sake of these dear absent ones I by your knees beseech you

665

Firmly to hold against the foe nor yield yourselves to terror."

He, by such words, in every breast spirit and strength excited,

And maid Athene from their eyes the cloud of mist dispersed

Unearthly: so from either side full light was shed around them,

Alike, where stood their inmost ships, and o'er the impartial battle:

670

So knew they Hector good at need, and knew their own companions,

Who from the galleys stood aloof and fear'd to join the combat,

And who beside the galleys sharp stood hardily in battle.

No longer then it pleas'd the soul of mighty-hearted Ajax

To stand, where congregated stood the children of Achaia;

675

But he along the galleys' decks with mighty strides invading,

Wielded within his hands a pike, made long for naval combat ;-

Full two-and-twenty ells its length, with brazen clamps compacted.

As on the horses' backs is seen a man to riding trained,

Who, picking from a numerous herd, four steeds together slingeth,

680

And, from the country driving them, to a great city rideth

Along a people-trodden road; and many men and women

Stand gazing at him: calmly he and safely, springs alternate

From back to back, as listeth him; and headlong, on they scurry:

So Ajax on to many decks of swiftcareering galleys

685

Long striding, mov'd alternately, and rais'd his voice to heaven;

And alway to the Danaï with dreadful whoop he shouted,

Would, mid the crowd of Troïans close-corsleted, await him;

To save the galleys and the tents.- On other side, nor Hector

But he, in guise no other, than as tawny eagle souseth

690

On to a flock of winged fowl that feed beside a river,

Or geeese or cranes or longnecked swans; so, rushing straight, did Hector

Against the blue-prow'd galley dash: for Jupiter behind him

By his own mighty hand press'd on, and with him urg'd the people.

695

Then once again beside the ships arose a bitter combat.

Thou mightest deem that men in war unwounded and unweary

Each upon other rush'd: so fierce and eager was their meeting.

Nor yet the combatants alike were minded; for the Achaians

Escape from overmatching fate hop'd not, but there to perish:

700

But each man of the Troïans was in his bosom hopeful,

With fire to kindle yonder fleet and slay the Achaian heroes.

With such forebodings of the heart stood both the hosts confronting.

At length did Hector touch the poop of that seacoursing vessel,

Fine-shap'd, swift-rowing o'er the waves, which bare Protesilaüs

705

To Troy,-nor brought him back again to his dear native country.

Fighting about this ship, I say, Achaïans and Troians

Did hand to hand each other waste; nor stood apart, awaiting

The distant arrowshots and darts: but, bent on close encounter,

710

As with a single heart possest, with hatchets sharp were fighting,

With axes and with mighty swords and long twohanded lances.

And many a beauteous-hilted sword, rimm'd with black edge of iron,

⁵⁶

Some fell from hands upon the ground, and others from the shoulders,

-Lost with the belts of combatants; and dark earth flow'd with carnage.

715

But Hector, when he once had seiz'd the poop, no more would yield it,

But grasp'd the adornments in his hand, and loudly charg'd the Troians :

"Fire! bring ye fire! and eke yourselves, collected, swell the onset.

Jove granteth now to us a day, which payeth for all others,

Their ships to capture; which, despite the gods, have hither ventur'd,

720

And laid much misery on us, thro' folly of our elders:

Who, when I eager was to fight against the nearest galleys,

Forbade my marching to the war and stopt my train of people.

But if widesighted Jupiter did then our counsels cripple,

Yet now himself impelleth us and urgeth unto daring."

725

So spake he: they with greater zeal against the Argives sallied.

No longer then did Ajax wait; for sore the darts distress'd him:

Yet but withdrew him step by step, altho' of life despairing,

And left the even galley's deck, and planted him in ambush

Upon a bench of seven feet : thence with his spear repell'd he

730

The Troians from the ship, whoe'er the restless fire might carry.

And alway to the Danaï he call'd with horrid outcry :

"Friends, heroes of the Danaï and ministers of Ares !

Be men, my friends! nor negligent of furious encounter.

Deem ye, that now reserves we keep auxiliar behind us,

735

Or any martial rampart, which may men from ruin rescue?

No city hold we near at hand, with towers tightly fashion'd,

Wherein might beaten troops be hid and garrison of peoples.

But, on the plain of Troïans close-corsleted, we combat

Leaning against the depth of sea, far from our native country.

740

Therefore on daring dawneth light and not on gentle fighting."

Frenzied he spake, and on the word with pointed weapon follow'd.

Then whosoe'er of Troïans against the hollow galleys

Rush'd onward with the wasting fire, obeying Hector's summons;

Him with long spear did Ajax thrust, forth sallying from ambush.

750

So laid he prostrate hand to hand twelve men before the galley.

⁷

Homer Iliad 15.653

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BOOK XV

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