BOOK XX
Thus at thy side, O Peleus' son,
insatiate of battle!
1
The Achaians did accoutre them
beside their crested galleys:
Along a swelling of the plain,
on other side, the Troians.
But Jove commanded, from the head
of many-dell'd Olympus,
That Themis should to council call
the gods: then she, proceeding,
5
From all sides bade them in the halls
of Jupiter to gather.
None of the Rivers absent were,
except the stream of Ocean;
None of the Nymphs, who make their haunts
along the river-sources,
And in the pleasant mountain-glades,
and in the grassy prairies.
But all, attentive to the word,
assembled at the mansion
10
Of cloudcollecting Jupiter;
and sat in polish'd porches,
Which Vulcan's soul of artifice
for father Jove constructed.
So in the courts of Jupiter
they gather'd; nor did Neptune
Disdain the goddess' word, but came
from the deep brine to join them.
He in the middle took his seat,
and ask'd what Jove was planning:
15
"Lord of the shining thunderbolt!
and wherefore now to council
The gods dost summon? doubtest aught
of Troians and Achaians?
For in sore nearness now to them
uproar and battle flameth."
Him cloudcollecting Jupiter
reciprocal accosted:
"Earthshaker! thou ere now hast learnt
the counsel in my bosom,
20
Wherefore I call you. Perishing,
these mortals still concern me.
Now in a dell myself will here
withhold me, on Olympus,
Forth gazing as may please my soul,
apart; but ye, the others,
Go ye, until ye reach the field
mid Troians and Achaians,
And succour either side, howe'er
the heart of any listeth.
25
For if with none but human foes
Achilles enter battle,
No moment will the Troïans
arrest his speedy onset.
Alway, I trow, of former days
they trembled to behold him;
But now, when for his comrade's
loss his soul is grimly wrathful,
I dread, lest, in despite of Fate,
he storm and spoil the fortress."
30
So spake Saturnius, and rous'd
an unremitting battle;
And into war forth went the gods,
with bent of diverse purpose.
Unto the galleys' precinct hied
Juno and maid Athene,—
Earthgirding Neptune, — Hermeas,
in crafty soul excelling,
35
Gainful, and with them Vulcan too,
in grim delight of vigour,
Lame tho' he was; yet under him
his slender shanks mov'd nimbly.
But to the aid of Troïans
went motley-helmed Ares,
And the Bright prince of locks unshorn,
and Artemis the archer,
And Aphrodite, queen of smiles,
and Xanthus and Latona.
40
Now ere that with the troop of men
the heav'nly gods were mingled,
So long the Achaians vaunted high
in glory, that Achilles,
Long absent from distressful fight,
did now appear among them;
But over every Troian limb
crept grimly-boding terror,
Smitten with trembling, when they saw
the mighty son of Peleus
45
All-radiant in arms, a match
to Ares pest of mortals.
But when amid the crowd of men
the Olympians were enter'd,
Then people-stirring hardy Strife
uprose: Athene shouted,
Standing beside the delved moat
one while, without the rampart;
Elsewhile along the sounding shores
her cry of battle echoed:
50
But Ares on the other side,
like to a gloomy tempest,
Urging the Troians, fiercely yell'd
from down the city's summit,
Elsewhile on banks of Simoïs
by Fair Colone scudding.
Thus blessed gods, on either side
the combatants exhorting,
Mingled the fight, and caus'd the burst
of grievous strife betwixt them.
55
Aloft, the Sire of men and gods
scar'd Heaven with his thunder;
Neptune beneath shook boundless
Earth and the steep heads of mountains.
Then all a-quaking were the feet
of rill-bestreamed Ida,
And the hill-tops, and Priam's walls,
and galleys of Achaia.
60
Yea, in his underworld-recess
lord Aïdes was frighten'd,
And leapt in terror from his throne,
and shriek'd aloud, lest haply
Neptune land-shaking burst for him
the upper earth asunder,
And to the eyes of gods and men
lay open all his mansions
Horrific, pestilent; at which
even the blessed shudder:
65
So dire the hurly of the shock,
when gods were match'd in quarrel.
They fronted one to one; against
lord Neptune bright Apollo,
With winged arrows; Ares met
Athene grey-ey'd goddess;
Juno was match'd by Artemis,
of Hecatus the sister,
70
The whooping arrow-pouring queen,
the golden-shafted huntress:
Staunch lucre-giving Hermeas
against Latona fronted:
But, Vulcan to resist, stood forth
the great deepwhirling river,
Whom Xanthus the immortals call,
but men Scamander name him.
Thus, for the battle, god to god
came adverse: but Achilles
75
In throng of heroes chiefly long'd
with Hector, son of Priam,
To close in combat: his the life,
wherefrom his spirit hanker'd
To glut with gore the warriour
unweariable Ares.
But upon Peleus' son forthwith
Apollo people-stirrer
Arous'd Æneias, limbs and heart
with noble vigour filling;
80
But by his voice he seem'd to be
Lycaon, son of Priam.
Apollo, son of Jove, I say,
in such disguise address'd him:
"High Councillor of Troïans,
Æneias! whither vanish
The threats, which o'er the winecup oft
to Troian kings thou spakest,
Against Achilles, Peleus' son,
the shock of war to venture?"
85
Then him Æneias answering
reciprocal accosted:
"O son of Priam, wherefore thus,
despite my heart, exhortest
In adverse struggle me to clash
with lofty-soul'd Pelides?
Afront Achilles fleet of foot
not now for erst I find me:
1
For, coming on our kine of yore,
he frayed me from Ida
90
With the same spear, which Pedasus
then ravag'd, and Lyrnessus.
But Jove for rescue granted me
swift knees and nimble vigour;
Else on that day I verily
had fallen by Achilles
And by Athene; who in front
held forth a light before him,
95
Bidding with brazen spear to slay
the Leleges and Troians.
Wherefore no mortal man, I trow,
may fight against Achilles;
For alway at his side some god
doth stand, who wardeth evil.
Yea, and without the god his dart
straight flieth, nor desisteth,
Ere through the skin of man it pass:
but if the god would yield us
100
Fair play of single-handed war, —
not easily, I reckon,
Me would he conquer then; not if
all-brass to be he vaunteth."
To him the prince, the son of Jove,
Apollo thus responded:
"Come, hero! eke do thou then pray
to gods of birth eternal.
Ay! for in truth to thee, they say,
Jove's daughter Aphrodite
105
Gave birth: Achilles, tho' divine,
of parentage is worser.
This mother is from Jupiter,
that from the aged sea-god.
But right against this hero bear
the sturdy brass, nor wholly
From manly battle turned be
by gramsome words and curses."
Thus saying, vigour great he breath'd
into the people's shepherd,
110
Who thro' the foremost ranks advanc'd,
arm'd with the flashing metal.
Nor was Anchises' son unseen
by Juno white-arm'd goddess,
When he amid the troop of men
mov'd on to meet Pelides:
Then she together call'd the gods,
and spake a word before them:
"You twain in chief concerned
are, O Neptune and Athene,
115
To ponder in your bosom, how
may these affairs be ended.
Onward Æneias lo! is gone,
arm'd with the flashing metal,
To meet Pelides: for, behind,
Apollo bright doth urge him.
On us it resteth, either back
this god to turn from combat,
Or by Achilles stand ourselves,
nor let him fail in spirit,
120
But mighty prowess grant to him:
to teach him that the noblest
Among the immortals foster him,
and empty are the others,
Who heretofore for Troïans
repel the feudful battle.
Down from Olympus, to partake
this combat, hither come we,
125
Lest-that this day Achilles aught
among the Troians suffer:
But he in after day, I wis,
shall suffer that, whatever
Upon his thread of birth the Fate
span, when his mother bare him.
But if Achilles shall not hear
from voice divine our purpose,
Then, when some god in ranks of
war with adverse force may front him,
130
Terror will strike him: terrible
are gods in sight and presence."
To her thereon reciprocal
spake the land-shaker Neptune:
"Juno! let not thy anger stray
too far: nor is it needful.
For me; troth, never could I wish
in soul-devouring quarrel
To mingle us the other gods;
sith greatly are we stronger.
135
But from the path departing now
here sit we for observance,
On lofty station, separate,
and men shall care for battle.
And if the combat be begun
by Ares or Apollo,
Or should they hold Achilles back,
or scare him from the struggle,
Quarrel and warcry thereupon
will instantly be raised
140
Even by us: but they, I ween,
with quick-decided contest
Will to Olympus hie them back,
and join the gods' assembly,
Unto our higher mightiness
constrain'd submission yielding."
So spake the Purple-hair'd, and
straight unto the rampart led them
Of godlike Héracles, — a mound
high-heaped, which the Troians
145
And maid Athene rais'd for him,
to give the hero shelter,
When the sea-monster from the shore
unto the plain would chase him.
Thereon did Neptune sit him down
and other gods immortal,
And cloud impenetrable wrapt
as garment on their shoulders;
150
Others on other side across,
on brow of Fair Colone,
Sat around thee, bright Eïan!
and Ares city-rieving.
Thus sat they plotting both
apart, but both commencement dreaded
Of anxious war; tho' Jupiter,
sitting aloft, did urge it.
155
Meanwhile, the brazen-gleaming
plain was fill'd with men and horses,
And by the general rush of feet
the earth beneath was jarred.
But in the midst two champions
in front of both the armies,
Chieftains of prowess eminent,
met eager for the combat,
Æneias, Aphrodite's child
and Achileus the godlike.
160
With weighty helmet nodding, mov'd
Æneias, on his bosom
Held the fierce buckler, and with threats
his brazen weapon brandish'd.
Thereat Pelides opposite
rose, as a baleful lion,
Whom all the country long to slay
and gather force against him.
165
He first despiseth them; but when
from callant keen in battle
Some dart may pierce him, then his heart
against his bosom swelleth,
Valiant; then gathers he his limbs,
and yawneth; foam doth trickle
Over his tusks; with mighty tail
on either side he lasheth
170
His flank and buttock, spurring on
his proper self to battle:
With grey eye glaring on his mark
he springeth, bearing slaughter
Unto some man, unless himself
before the troop be slaughter'd.
So was Achilles urged on
by haughty mind and spirit
Forthwith the battle to confront
of mighty-soul'd Æneias.
175
When they to shorter distance came,
advancing each on other,
Then foot-reliant Achileus
did first accost his foeman:
"Æneias! why, so far in front
advancing from thy people,
Standest? art eager me to meet
in shock of battle; hoping,
By Priam's favour, lord to be
o'er courser-taming Troians?
180
Yet, if thou strip me, not therefore
will Priam pay thee honour;
For he hath sons, and sound of mind
is he, not airy-witted.
Shall then the Troïans in sooth
apportion thee a portion,
Select for thy enrichment, fair
with orchards and with tillage,
185
An if thou slay me? That emprize
is hard, I deem, to compass.
Already heretofore, I wis,
my javelin hath fray'd thee.
Or haply dost forget the day,
when down the fells of Ida
Thee, left alone amid the kine,
I chas'd in headlong courses?
Nor didst thou look behind in flight,
but gladly in Lyrnessus
190
Diddest thy knees repose: but I,
by aid of Jove the Father
And of Athene, turn'd on it
my city-rieving onset.
Thence led I many a dame away,
reft of her day of freedom,
Spoil of my spear; but thee did Jove
and other gods deliver.
But not again, I reckon, they,
as in thy mind thou castest,
195
Will save thee. I my counsel give,
within the crowd of fighters
To hide thee in retreat, (and not
stand forward to confront me,)
Before thou some disaster meet.
— Too late the fool is prudent."
To him in words responsive spake
Æneias, Troian leader:
"Pelides! hope not by thy talk
as silly child to fright me.
200
Banter is easy to myself,
as eke are fierce reproaches.
2
To each the other's breed is known,
to each the other's father,
Hearing the tales of old renown,
which sing of mortal heroes:
But, face to face, nor thou nor I
have seen the other's parents.
205
Thou, as the rumour telleth, art
offspring of spotless Peleus,
And a seanymph thy mother was,
the dainty-braided Thetis.
I likewise from a noble sire
the mighty-soul'd Anchises
Vaunt to be sprung: my mother is
the heav'nly Aphrodite.
Of these shall one or other weep
this day a pleasant offspring
210
By Ares torn away; for not,
I deem, by silly talking
Shall we this controversy part
and so return from combat.
But if it please thee this to learn,
then straightway will I tell thee
Our higher parentage; the which
is known to many mortals.
First, cloud-collecting Jupiter
had Dardanus for offspring,
215
Who o'er Dardania built: — not yet
upon the plain was founded
Our sacred fortress Ilium
for voice-dividing mortals,
But still along the slopes they dwelt
of rill-bestreamed Ida.
King Erichthonius in turn
to Dardanus was offspring,
And he of mortals richest was:
of whom three thousand coursers
220
Were pastur'd on a marsh, all mares,
in tender foals exulting.
Eke Boreas, who saw them graze,
enamour'd of their beauty,
Became a purple-maned steed:
thereby twelve foals they bare him.
This progeny, when bound it would
o'er Earth's lifegiving bosom,
Scudded across the stalks of corn
at top, and did not break them:
Over the sea's broad-swelling backs
when it in turn would gallop,
It scudded in the hoary brine
along the breakers' summit.
But Erichthonius begat
Tros, ruler of the Troians.
230
Also from Tros begotten were
three bretheren unblemish'd,
Ilus and eke Assaracus
and godlike Ganymedes,
Fairest of mortals: him the gods
on score of beauty crowned,
To bear the cup for Jupiter
and dwell among immortals.
235
Ilus in turn Laomedon
begat, a spotless offspring;
Laomedon, he father was
to Priam and Tithonus
And Hiketaon, branch of Ares,
Clytius and Lampus.
Also Assaracus had son
Capys, Anchises' father:
I from Anchises offspring am,
from Priam godlike Hector.
240
Such is the parentage, and such
the blood in which I glory.
But human valour Jupiter
now raiseth, now abateth,
As listeth him; for he mid all
is mightiest of power.
But come, no longer let us stand
such argument to reckon,
Prating like childish simpletons
in midst of foeman's struggle.
245
Both may, to surfeit, jibes retort:
no hundred-benched galley
Would hold the cargo: pliable
and rich the tongue of mortals,
Which hither thither dealeth out
rife crops of tales and stories.
Words, as it list thee, utter thou;
like repartee shall greet thee.
250
But wherefore should we twain with strife
and wrangling, one at other,
Like women, bargain? who, enrag'd
with soul-devouring quarrel,
Full in the street advancing, rail
with true and false reproaches
Redoubled mutual: and wrath
both this and that suggesteth.
255
But not by railing mayest thou
turn off my eager valour,
Ere that, confronting thee, I try
hard brass: but come, and quickly
Each shall with pointed weapon taste
the prowess of the other."
Thus speaking, in the mighty shield
his weighty spear he planted,
Terrific, and around its point
the buckler hoarsely bellow'd.
260
Pelides, he with brawny arm
in terror held the buckler
Far from his body; deeming sure
that mighty-soul'd Æneias
Would hurtle thro' its folds with
ease the spear with lengthy shadow;
Oh simpleton! who ponder'd not
within his heart and bosom,
That hard it is for mortal men
by dint of will to vanquish
265
Gods' workmanship all-glorious,
which yieldeth not to effort.
So neither then the weighty spear
of skilful-soul'd Æneias
Might pierce the buckler; for, the
gold, gift of the god, repell'd it.
Yet thro' two brazen outer plates
it pass'd: three still resisted:
270
For in the central plate of gold
was stay'd the ashen weapon,
And yet two plates of tin remain'd,
by Vulcan forg'd behind it.
Next then Achilles forward threw
the spear with lengthy shadow,
And struck upon Æneias' shield,
which equal was on all sides,
Into the outmost rim, whereon
the brass was hammer'd thinnest,
275
And thinnest lay the hide of ox:
there, thro' the folds careering,
Pierced the ash of Pelion,
with clank and crash of leather.
Æneias crouch'd, and far from him
in terror held the buckler.
Over his back the spear to earth
sped eager, and asunder
280
Divided that man-hiding orb:
but he, so near to danger,
Shudder'd, and o'er his eyen swam
thick cloudiness of horror.
But Peleus' son his sharp sword drew,
and eager leapt upon him
With terror-striking yell. Meanwhile
Æneias seiz'd and brandish'd
285
A rock, a vast creation,
which not two men might carry,
(Men such as now are seen,)
but he alone with ease did swing it.
Then had Æneias with the stone
struck his onrushing foeman
On helmet or on buckler, which
would deadly bale have warded,
And with the sword in closing fight
Pelides quick had slain him:
290
But that the shaker of the Earth,
Neptune, did keenly watch them,
And instant to the immortal gods
address'd a word of warning:
"Ye Spirits! verily I grieve
for mighty-soul'd Æneias,
Who soon by Peleus' son subdued
would seek the house of Pluto,
Deluded by the empty words
of Hecatus Apollo,
295
Silly: for nowise will the god
from deadly mischief shield him.
But wherefore should a guiltless man
endure disastrous noyance,
Vainly, for woes of other men,
tho' to the gods, who habit
The vasty heaven, alway he
doth gifts delightsome offer?
But come ye! from the approaching death
let us the hero rescue.
300
For eke will Saturn's child be wroth
hereafter, if Achilles
Slay him: for heav'nly Destiny
escape for him decreeth,
Lest that the breed of Dardanus
be lost, and branchless perish; —
Of Dardanus, whom Jupiter
lov'd most of all the children,
Who of his body gotten were,
and born of mortal mothers:
305
But Saturn's child hath long ago
the line of Priam hated.
Therefore Æneias' self shall hold
the lordship of the Troians,
And children's children after him
in later age begotten."
To him with word reciprocal
spake large-eyed queenly Juno:
"Landshaking god! do thou thyself
within thy bosom ponder,
310
Whether thou wilt Æneias save,
or leave him to be vanquish'd,
Noble and pious tho' he be,
by Peleus' son Achilles.
But unto all the immortal gods,
myself, and maid Athene, —
We twain, — in many oaths have sworn,
that never from the Troians
315
Will we the evil day avert;
not when all Troy shall smoulder
In wasting flames, which (soon or late)
Achaia's sons shall kindle."
But when landshaking Neptune heard
such answer from the goddess,
He sped to hie him thro' the fight
and thro' the mell of weapons,
And came, where with Æneias stood
right-glorious Achilles.
320
Over the eyes of Peleus' son
a sudden mist he poured,
And pluck'd the brazen-headed ash
from great Æneias' buckler;
So to Achilles back again
before his feet he cast it,
And rais'd Æneias from the earth,
and far behind convey'd him.
325
Then many ranks of men and steeds,
Æneias, high uplifted
By heav'nly power, overleapt,
and reach'd the outmost margin
Of war much-sallying; whereat
for battle the Caucônes
Were arming them: then to his side
came tower-shaking Neptune,
330
Who with admonitory word
did winged accents utter:
"What god, Æneias! biddeth thee
infatuate to combat
Against the overmatching force
of haughty-soul'd Pelides?
Who both is mightier than thee,
and dearer to the immortals.
But alway henceforth draw thee back,
if haply thou confront him,
335
Lest to the house of Aïdes,
despite of Fate, he send thee.
But when by death and destiny
shall Achileus be hended,
Thenceforward with a cheery heart
fight thou among the foremost,
Nor ever dread to be a spoil
to other of Achaians."
He spake, and left him on the spot,
sith he had all expounded,
340
And quickly from Achilles' eyes
dispers'd the mist unearthly.
He saw; and sore indignant spake
to his own haughty spirit:
"Ye Spirits! now these eyen see
in truth a mighty marvel.
Here lieth on the ground my spear,
nor do I find the foeman,
345
At whom I hurl'd it, hankering
to rieve his tender spirit.
Then verily Æneias was
dear to the gods immortal,
I wis; albeit I esteem'd
his prayers vain and fruitless.
Away with him. Never again
will he to try my prowess
Have courage; who hath even now
from death escaped gladly.
350
But come, and let me stir to fight
the Danaï warloving,
And of the other Troïans
seek some one to confront me."
He spake, and leapt among the ranks,
the men exhorting singly:
"No longer now from Troians stand
aloof, divine Achaians!
But come, let man with man confront,
and eager be for battle.
355
For me, whate'er my bravery,
the task is overmatching,
To deal with such a troop of men
and meet their force collected.
Not Ares, tho' a deathless god,
would dare, nor yet Athene,
To bandy hardiment, and face
such open jaws of battle.
But whatsoever I, by hands
and feet and strength, may compass,
360
No want of enterprize, I say,
shall stay me, e'en a moment:
Nay, but across their rank will I
go throughly; nor, I reckon,
Will any Troian joyful be,
who near my spear may venture."
So spake he urging them: meanwhile,
brave Hector to the Troians
With loud upbraidment call'd, and vow'd
himself to meet Achilles:
365
"High-hearted Troians! tremble not
to hear the son of Peleus.
I too in battle of the tongue
would fight against immortals;
But, with the spear, that harder were;
for greatly are they stronger.
Not all his sayings Achileus
shall carry to fulfilment:
If one he complish, yet will he
halfway lop off another.
370
And tho' to fire his hands be like,
I will this man encounter;
Tho' unto fire his hands were like,
his heart to glowing iron."
So spake he urging them, and they
their adverse spears uplifted,
And closely mingled their array,
and rais'd the shout together.
Then bright Apollo standing near
address'd a word to Hector:
375
"Hector! no longer forward stand,
alone Achilles fronting,
But mix'd in tumult of the war
and in the crowd await him,
Lest with the sword or flying dart
he reach thee in encounter."
So spake he: Hector then again
the crowd of fighters enter'd,
In tremor, when the heav'nly voice
he heard, his pride restraining.
380
But mid the Troians Achileus,
ensheath'd in valour, bounded
With horror-striking yell: and first
Iphition he hended,
Otrynteus' noble-hearted son,
leader of many peoples;
Whom to his city-rieving sire
a Naïd nymph presented
Amidst of Hyda's foodful loam,
beneath the snowy Tmolus.
385
Him, as he eager onward rush'd,
the spear of great Achilles
Struck, full in middle of the head;
which straight was cleft asunder.
So with a crash he dropt. Thereat
divine Achilles vaunted:
"Son of Otrynteus, marvellous
among the ranks of heroes!
Here dying, here thou long shalt lie:
yet upon lake Gygæa
390
Haddest thou life's beginning; where
thy sire's domain is counted
Near upon Hyllus' fishful stream,
and near to whirling Hermus."
So spake the victor: but the slain
in darkness clos'd his eyen.
His corpse, the Achaian horses tare
amid the foremost struggle
With wheels o'erpassing: after him,
brave champion of battle,
395
Antenor's son, Demoleon,
met Achileus; who smote him
With spear upon the temple, thro'
the brazen-plated helmet.
Nor might the helmet's brass resist
the ashen weight; but thro' it
Mid bone and brain the weapon splash'd,
and quell'd his eager hurry.
400
Then in the back, Hippodamas,
who from the car dismounted
And sped in front of him to flee,
with the same spear was wounded.
He gasp'd and bellow'd, as the bull,
by callants dragg'd, doth bellow
Around the lord of Helicon;
wherein great Neptune joyeth:
405
So him, as there he bellowed,
his haughty soul abandon'd.
Then went Achilles with the spear
to close with Polydorus,
The godlike son of Priam: him
his sire forbade to combat,
For-that in tale of years he was
of all his sons the youngest,
And dearest to the father was,
and none could match his fleetness.
410
Then in his folly, to display
how swift his feet could bear him,
He thro' the foremost rag'd, until
his tender life was forfeit.
Him with the dart divine Achilles
footreliant wounded
Full in the back, as past he rush'd;
just in the girdle's centre,
Where golden buckles join'd, and where
the corslet met it double.
415
Unto the other side the point
came thro', beside the navel:
So, groaning, on his knees he dropt;
a murky cloud around him
Gather'd: and bent aside in death,
his hand his bowels grappled.
But Hector, when he thus espied
his brother Polydorus
Clutching his bowels in his hand,
and on the earth cast sideways,
420
Thick mist around his eyes was shed,
nor did his heart allow him
Longer aloof to stay; but he
came fronting to Achilles,
Like to a flame; and brandish'd fierce
his weapon: but Achilles
Saw him, and instant sprang on high,
and spake a word of vaunting:
"Behold the man at hand, who most
my heart hath deeply printed,
425
Who slew my dearly-valued friend:
but now, I ween, no longer
Will each from other skulk away
along the battle's causeys."
He spake; then this with scowling glance
to godlike Hector added:
"Come nearer; so thou earlier
destruction's goal shalt compass.
But, naught dismay'd, to him replied
Hector the motley-helmed:
430
"Pelides! hope not by thy talk
as silly child to fright me.
Banter is easy to myself,
as eke are fierce reproaches.
I know, that doughty is thy force,
and that my own is weaker;
But in the lap of destiny,
I trow, our lot abideth,
435
Whether, tho' weaker far than thee,
I yet may haply slay thee,
Casting my dart; for, heretofore,
some men have found it pointed."
He spake, and poising, forward threw
the spear; but it Athene,
Blowing with gentle breath, turn'd off
from Achileus the famous,
And back before the feet again
of godlike Hector cast it.
440
But Achileus, with frenzied zeal
to slay his foeman, sallied
With horror-striking yell: in vain:
for, him did prince Apollo
Rescue, as gods do, easily,
and wrapp'd in mist abundant.
Thrice rush'd Achilles with the spear,
thrice wounded empty darkness;
But when the fourth time on he sped,
like to a mighty Spirit,
445
In vain, he then with menace dire
did winged accents utter:
"Hound! thou again hast death escap'd:
yet verily the mischief
Came near to thee: but now anew
hath bright Apollo sav'd thee;
450
To whom, I ween, in din of darts
adventuring, thou prayest.
But when, next time, on thee I light,
I soothly will despatch thee,
If eke to me among the gods
is found some able backer.
But now on others, whomsoe'er
I hend, shall be my onset."
Thus speaking, with the dart he
pierc'd the midmost neck of Dryops,
455
Who fell before him: him he left,
and next assail'd Demuchus,
Philetor's tall and comely son.
His knee the spear had crippled;
The mighty sword then smote him
down, and reft away his spirit.
Next from their chariot to earth
he struck two sons of Bias,
460
Laogonus and Dardanus,
with javelin and swordcut.
Then Tros, Alastor's son, came up,
and clasp'd his knees imploring,
If, pitying their equal youth,
he might alive release him:
465
O simpleton! who knew not this,
that nothing him could soften.
For troth! no tender-hearted man,
nor sweet of temper was he;
But fierce and earnest. While with hand
the suppliant would soothe him
Touching his knees, he plung'd the sword
and stabb'd him in the liver.
Forth gush'd the liver: dusky blood
thick following behind it
470
His lap with dire pollution fill'd:
so darkness veil'd his eyen,
As fail'd the living force. But next,
thro' Mulius the victor
Pierced from ear to ear: then he
Agenor's son Echéclus
Smote on the head with hilted sword,
and warm'd with blood the weapon:
475
There crimson Death his eyen press'd
and Destiny resistless.
Next, where the elbow-sinews meet,
Deucalion he wounded,
Piercing the tender wrist: but he
stood firm before him, crippled,
480
And viewing death in front; until
Achilles' sword descending
Lopt off the head and cast afar
the helmet: but the marrow
Shot from the spine on high: so hé
lay on the ground extended.
Then after Peireus' spotless son
Pelides hied to speed him, —
Rhigmus, who came from loamy Thrace.
The dart his navel pierced,
485
And dash'd him from the chariot.
His charioteer-attendant,
Areithoüs, the horses wheel'd;
but the same spear subdued him,
Fix'd in his back: thereat the steeds
were in their harness tangled.
As in a parched mountain-glen
the fire's unearthly splendour
490
Rageth aloft and spreadeth wide,
and the thick forest kindleth,
When huffling wind the flames doth
roll and whisk their wreaths on all sides:
So with the spear on every side,
like to a mighty Spirit,
He rag'd in merciless pursuit;
and dark earth reek'd with carnage.
As when one yokes broad-fronted steers
to trample the white barley
495
On a hard floor, the lowing brutes
quick with their feet do crush it;
So with great-hearted Achileus
the single-hoofed horses
Trampled on shields and carcases.
Beneath the car the axle,
And the broad rims orbicular,
with gore of men were pelted,
500
Splash'd from the tires and horses' hoofs:
but he, for glory eager,
Scour'd; and his hands intractable
with carnage were polluted.
3
“Venus preventing her son Aeneas from killing Helen of Troy,” Luca Ferrari, circa 1650.
Luca Ferrari [Public domain], via 