BOOK VIII
Soon as the saffron-vested Dawn
o'er all the earth was scatter'd,
1
Forthwith did thunderloving Jove
the gods to council summon
Upon the topmost pinnacle
of many-ridg'd Olympus.
Silent then listen'd all the gods,
while he himself harangu'd them:
"Oh all ye gods and goddesses!
to my announcement hearken,
5
That I the counsel may declare
which in my bosom riseth.
Let none of heaven's habitants,
of weaker sex or stronger,
Attempt my argument to thwart ;
but all of you together
Give due assent, that speedily
this business I finish.
Whomso of all the blessed gods
I may discover wishful,
10
Hieing apart, to carry aid
to Danaï or Troians,
Back to Olympus shall he haste
in scuffle of disorder :
Or down to murky Tartarus
quick will I catch and fling him,
Into far distance, where the pit
beneath the earth is deepest,
Where brazen all the pavement is,
and iron are the portals,
15
Lower so much than Aïdes,
as Earth is under Heaven:
Then shall ye know, how far am I
of all the gods the strongest.
Or come, adventure, all ye gods!
so may ye surely learn it.
When I a golden chain have dropt
from heaven's highth to dangle,
Lay hold, and throw your force on it,
all gods, both male and female!
20
Yet never shall ye down to earth
drag from the lofty heaven
Jove, the supreme deviser; not,
e'en though ye toil your utmost.
But after this, should I in turn
with hearty purpose pull it,
Aloft I draw the Earth itself,
and Sea, and all within them.
Then might I bind the chain around
a shoulder of Olympus,
25
And set the universal world
to swing and wait my pleasure.
So great is my supremacy
o'er gods alike and mortals."
Thus did he charge them: thereupon
they all were dumb in silence,
Aghast at that high utterance:
so sturdily he spake it.
After long pause, at length replied
Athene, grey-ey'd goddess :
30
"O thou, supreme of governours,
our father, son of Saturn!
Right well are we aware ourselves,
unyielding is thy power.
Yet for the spearmen Danaï,
we none the less have sorrow,
Who will accomplish destiny,
I ween, and vilely perish.
Now from the war, in truth, will we
hold off, as thou commandest;
35
But counsel to the Argives still
may we suggest, for profit;
Lest speedily they perish all
beneath thy sore displeasure."
Then cloud-collecting Jupiter
with gracious smile address'd her :
"Cheer thee, beloved, Trito-born!
not with a soul so earnest
Have I harangu'd; and fain would I
to thee, my child, be gentle."
40
So spake he; then beneath the yoke
he shot his heav'nly coursers,
Brazen of foot and swift to fly,
with golden manes longstreaming.
He on his own immortal skin
with gold was clad; and grasping
The golden lash's canny weight,
on his own seat he mounted,
And flogg'd to drive them, nothing loth
in flying race to gallop
45
In the mid regions, over Earth
and under starry Heaven.
Soon unto Ida, rill-bestream'd,
parent of game, arriv'd he,
At Gargarus, where his domain
was fix'd, and fragrant altar.
There did the Sire of gods and mortals
check his steeds' careering,
And loos'd them from the car, and spread
around them mist abundant.
50
Himself upon the pinnacles
sat glorying in grandeur,
Gazing upon Achaia's ships
and on the Troian city.
But when the Achaians streaminghair'd
their early meal had taken
Quickly amid their tents, from it
they truss'd themselves for battle.
On other side the Troïans
within the town equipp'd them,
55
Fewer in numbers; yet their heart,
e'en so, was bent on struggle,
By dint of hard necessity,
for children and for women.
Then open all the gates were flung,
and out the folk came rushing,
The footmen and the horsemen both,
and rous'd unmeasur'd riot.
When to encounter hasting, they
were on one spot assembled,
60
Hides clash'd on hides and spear on spear,
and might with might of heroes
In brazen armour corsleted:
the shields with sturdy bosses
Each upon each leant hard, and rous'd
tumultuous disorder.
Then rose there, all around, of men
a groaning and a boasting,
From victors or from vanquished;
and reek'd the earth with carnage.
65
While that the morning lasted still
and sacred day was waxing,
So long from either side the darts
did fly, and people perish.
But when the lofty-climbing sun
had touch'd his noon of heaven,
The general Father thereupon
his golden balance poised,
And, charg'd with death slowlingering,
two fates he cast within it,
70
For coursertaming Troïans
and brazencloak'd Achaians.
He rais'd the scales; then tilting fell
the auspicious hour of Argos.
Upon the many-feeding earth
Achaia's fates were planted;
The fates of Troas mounted high
into the vasty heaven.
Himself from Ida thunder'd loud,
and mid the Achaian people
75
Sent forth a streaming brilliancy
of flame: and they, beholding,
Aghast were smitten: over all
pale terror held dominion.
Then neither dar'd Idomeneus
to stay, nor Agamemnon.
Nor either Ajax firmly stood,
twain ministers of Ares.
Alone abode Gerenian Nestor,
watcher of the Achaians,
80
And he, unwilling: but his horse
was with an arrow wounded,——
Which godlike Alexander shot,
husband of bright-hair'd Helen,——
Upon the forehead's topmost point,
whereat the horse's forelock
Takes its first growth from out the skull;
and chiefly is it vital.
Into the brain the shaft had pierc'd:
the steed, with anguish rearing,
85
And writhing round the pointed barbs,
the other coursers troubled.
While the old man, with cutlass hasting,
slash'd away the trappings,
Which, at the side, entangled him,
meantime the steeds of Hector
In swift pursuit came terrible,
bearing a hardy hero,
Hector, as charioteer: and now
the aged man had perish'd;
90
But Diomedes, good at need,
quickly perceiv'd the danger,
And, with a horror-striking cry,
address'd him to Ulysses:
"Oh Jove-deriv'd, Laertes' son,
Ulysses much-contriving,
Whither, as coward in a crowd,
dost turn the back on battle?
Beware, lest, as thou fleest, one
strike-in his spear behind thee:
95
But wait, till from the aged man
we drive this savage hero."
He spake; nor did divine Ulysses,
much-enduring, heed him,
But rushing onward, pass'd to reach
Achaia's hollow galleys.
Then Tydeus' son, tho' left alone,
plung'd in the foremost battle,
And stood before the chariot
of Neleus' aged offspring;
100
Then, urgently accosting him,
did winged accents utter:
"Oh aged friend! in very truth
young warriours distress thee:
Thy force is languid; Eld to thee
is but a weary escort.
Infirm (I wis) thy charioteer
and sluggish are thy coursers.
But come, this car of mine ascend,
and see my steeds' careering,
105
What virtue hath the breed of Tros,
with all the plain acquainted,
Hither and thither fleet to scour,
and chase or flee alternate;
Which from Æneias once I took,
twain counsellors of terror.
To these then let our squires attend,
but we will on the others
Straight at the Troians coursertaming hold our course; that Hector
110
May learn, if haply eke to me
the wielded spear is frantic."
Thus when he spake, the charioteer
Gerenian Nestor yielded.
Then friendly-soul'd Eurymedon
and Sthenelus high-hearted,
Squires of the princes, took in charge
the car and steeds of Nestor;
But on the car of Diomedes
mounted both the princes.
115
Forthwith did Nestor in his hands
the glossy bridles gather,
And flogg'd the coursers: speedily
arriv'd they nigh to Hector.
Eager and straight he came; but quick
flew Diomedes' weapon.
It miss'd the mark, and hit him not;
but struck the squire beside him,
Eniopeus, whose father was
the lofty-soul'd Thebæus;
120
Him, as the horses' reins he held,
it thro' the bosom pierced.
So dropt he from the chariot :
the nimble-footed coursers
Swerv'd with alarm: but he by life
and force was there abandon'd.
Then sorrow for his charioteer
grimly o'erclouded Hector,
Yet left he him, there as he was,
to lie, tho' for his comrade
125
Inly distraught; but look'd to find
some driver bold; nor truly
Long did the steeds a ruler lack;
for speedily descried he
Bold Archeptolemus, the son
of Iphitus: him Hector
Call'd up beside him, and the reins
into his hands entrusted.
Then deeds beyond repair had been,
and carnage out of number,
130
Yea, and the foe in Ilium,
like unto lambs, been folded,
Had not the Sire of gods and mortals
speedily perceiv'd it;
So with a dreadful thunderclap
he threw a bolt of lightning,
All blazing on the ground, before
the steeds of Diomedes;
And dreadfully the flame shot up
out of the burning brimstone,
135
And both the coursers, terrified,
fell cowering before it.
Straightway did Nestor from his hands
let drop the glossy bridles,
And, with a soul by fear subdued,
accosted Diomedes:
"Come, son of Tydeus, turn to flight
the single-hoofed horses.
Discernest not, that Jupiter
his aid to us refuseth?
140
For now, the king Saturnius
on him bestoweth glory,
This day; but afterward again
to us, if so he will it,
Shall he bestow: no human force
may Jove's devices parry,
Be never man so valorous;
for greatly is He stronger."
Then Diomedes, good at need,
accosted him responsive :
145
"Ay, verily, all this, old friend!
discreetly hast thou spoken;
Only, my heart and soul are here
by anguish grimly wounded.
For Hector in harangue will say
hereafter to the Troians:
'The son of Tydeus fled from me
in terror to the galleys.'
So will he boast hereafter: then,
may the earth yawn to gulp me!"
150
To him in turn the charioteer
Gerenian Nestor answer'd:
"Ah! word how simply utter'd!——son
of skilful-hearted Tydeus!
If ever Hector thee shall call
a coward and unwarlike,
Yet Troians and Dardanidæ
will ne'er believe the saying;
Nor will the wives of buckler-wielding
mightyhearted Troians,
155
Who know too well, that thou in dust
hast laid their blooming consorts."
Upon the word, he turn'd to flight
the single-hoofed horses
In swift careering: after them
the Troïans and Hector,
With an unearthly clamour, pour'd
their darts' distressful shower.
Then loudly shouted after him
great motley-helmed Hector:
160
"O son of Tydeus, thee of yore
the charioteering Argives
With seat, with dainties, and full cups,
preeminent did honour:
But now will they dishonour thee,
who art become a woman.
Begone, thou puny tender doll!
for never on our towers
Shalt thou set foot and I give way;
nor shalt thou bear our women
165
Upon the galleys: earlier,
will I assign thy fortune."
When thus he vaunted, Tydeus' son
with double purpose falter'd,
Longing to wheel his horses round
and close in adverse battle.
Thrice did he hold with mind and soul
a conference of passion,
And thrice did Jove the Counsellor
from Ida's mountains thunder,
170
And to the Troians token gave
of mastery in battle.
But Hector rais'd his voice aloft
and charg'd the Troian army:
"Dardans, who hand to hand contend,
and Lycians, and Troians!
Be men, my friends! nor negligent
of furious encounter.
Well know I, that Saturnius
to me decreeth conquest
175
And mighty glory zealously,
but to the Argives ruin.
O simpletons! who now with toil
these ramparts have erected,
Feeble and nothing worth: for ne'er
will these repel my prowess;
And lightly will my steeds o'erleap
the moat that deep is digged.
But at what time I reach beside
the smoothly-hollow galleys,
180
Of fiery ravage thereupon
let each have some remembrance,
That I with fire may kindle well
their galleys, and may slaughter,
All scar'd and blinded by the smoke,
the Argive crowds beside them."
After this word, he call'd aloud,
to cheer and urge his horses:
"Now do ye two the nurture-price
repay me, which my consort
185
Andromache, the daughter of
Eëtion great-hearted,
With her own hands unsparingly
upon your pleasure lavish'd.
For, the heartsoothing wheat to you
she earlier presented,
And wine she mingled for your drink,
whene'er the fancy seiz'd you,
Sooner than e'en to me, who vaunt
to be her blooming consort.
190
But follow close, and overhend
by speed, that we may capture
The Nestoreian shield; of which
the rumour reacheth heaven,
How that the guides and shield itself
are all of gold constructed.
Then too, the corslet curious,
which toilsome Vulcan fashion'd,
Would we from off the shoulders strip
of courser-proud Tydides.
195
Well might I hope, if both of these
we captur'd, that the Achaians,
Before the night is gone, would mount
upon their speedy galleys."
When thus he vaunted, shame and rage
seiz'd venerable Juno:
Bestraught, she mov'd upon her throne,
and long Olympus shudder'd.
Then Neptune's mighty godhead she
with utterance confronted:
200
"Good Spirits! doth not even yet,
wide-powerful land-shaker!
The soul within thy breast beweep
the carnage of the Argives?
Yet gifts to thee they consecrate
at Helike and Aegae
Many and pleasant: thou in turn
for their success bestir thee.
For if we chose,——all we, by whom
the Danaï are holpen,
205
To curb wide-sighted Jupiter
and to repel the Troians,
Alone on Ida might he sit,
and there digest his sorrow."
To her with indignation huge
spake the land-shaking ruler:
"O Juno, fearless of discourse,
what saying hast thou blurted?
Never would I, that we the rest
with Jove the son of Saturn
210
Contend; not e'en by force combin'd:
for greatly is He stronger."
Thus they reciprocally held
betwixt themselves discourses.
Meanwhile the space from galley's poop
to moat beside the rampart
Was fill'd with crowds of fugitives,
——horses and shielded heroes,——
Driven to strait; and Hector's self,
the son of Priam, drave them,
215
An equipoise for Ares fierce,
when Jove to glory rais'd him.
Now had he burnt with wasting fire
the even-balanc'd galleys,
But that the queenly Juno mov'd
the heart of gangamemnon,
Himself with zeal and diligence
the Achaian bands to visit.
He hied and hurried, passing on
beside the tents and galleys,
220
Bearing upon his brawny arm
an ample robe of purple,
And on Ulysses' galley black
he stood, which midmost couched,
Huge like to some leviathan;
to shout both ways adapted,
Alike toward the tented camp
of Telamonian Ajax
And to Achilles' bands, which haul'd
their even-balanc'd galleys
225
Last on the strand, on bravery
and stubborn strength reliant.
Then to the Danaï abroad
with piercing voice he shouted :
"Handsome of visage, base of fame,
O shame, ye men of Argos!
Whither are gone the boasts, wherein
we said that we were bravest?
O empty vaunters; ye who once
in Lemnos made pretension!"
230
While banqueting on plenteous flesh
of lofty-crested bullocks
And emptying the bowls, with wine
o'erbrimming,——sooth! ye boasted,
That every one would stand in war,
match for a hundred Troians
Or for two hundred: now are we
not worth a single Hector,
Who shortly will with wasting fire
the Argive galleys kindle.
235
O father Jove, didst e'er before
with such disaster ruin
Any of overswaying kings,
despoil'd of mighty glory?
Yet, hither roaming to my woe
on many-benched galley,
No beauteous altar yet of thine
I anywhere have slighted;
But upon all I dutiful
burnt fat and thighs of oxen,
240
In eager hope of pillaging
Troy's nobly-fenced city.
But Jupiter! this wish at least
do thou for me accomplish:
Let but my people's lives and limbs
be safe and scape destruction.
Nor thus beneath the Troïans
crush thou the Achaian spirit."
When thus he spake, the Sire was griev'd
to view him tear-beflooded :
245
Assent he nodded, that the host
come scatheless from the danger,
Forthwith an eagle sent he forth,
of feather'd wights most perfect,
Which held a swift hind's progeny,
a fawn, within its talons;
And by a beauteous altar's side,
whereat the Achaians honour'd
Jove, source of every mystic Voice,
——let drop the fawn before them.
250
But they, discerning that from Him
had come the bird of omen,
Leapt braver on the Troïans,
and hero-glee remember'd.
Thereat not one of Danaï,
tho' many was their number,
Might boast, in front of Tydeus' son,
and earlier, to rally,
And drive beyond the moat his steeds,
and join in adverse combat:
255
But far the foremost, cast he down
the Troian Agelaüs,
A full-arm'd hero, Phradmon's son;
who turn'd to flight his horses ;
But as he turn'd, Tydides fix'd
the spear between his shoulders
Right in his back, and thrust it thro',
and reach'd into his bosom.
So from the chariot he dropt,
and o'er him clang'd his armour.
260
After him Agamemnon came,
and eke his princely brother,
And upon these the Ajaces twain,
clad in impetuous courage,
And after these Idomeneus,
and his belov'd attendant
Meriones, an equipoise
to hero-slaying Ares;
And after these Eurypylus,
Euæmon's brilliant offspring:
265
The ninth was Teucer, twanging oft
his bow's redoubled arches,
Who shelter'd him beneath the screen
of Telamonian Ajax.
Then Ajax slowly would his shield
move onward; but the bowman
Peering around, if in the crowd
he haply with an arrow
Hit one or other, left him there
to gasp away his spirit;
270
But he returning, like a child
unto his mother's bosom,
Crept alway into Ajax, who
with shining buckler hid him.
Then who was first of Troïans
o'erhent by spotless Teucer?
Orsilochus and Ormenus
were first, and Ophelestes,
And Lycophontes, match for gods,
Dætor and Melanippus,
275
And Chromius, and Amopáon,
son of Polyæmon:
All these successive cast he down
on Earth, the many-feeder.
Then Agamemnon, prince of men,
was joyful to behold him
Wide-wasting from his stalwart bow
the Troïan battalions,
And close beside him took his stand,
and spake to him approval:
280
"Dear Teucer, son of Telamon
and governour of peoples,
Shoot thus, and to the Danaï
haply become a comfort,
And to thy father Telamon;
who nurtur'd thee, when little,
And, meaner tho' thy birth, within
his princely chambers rear'd thee:
Now, in far distance tho' he is,
do thou on glory mount him.
285
But unto thee so much I say,
——which shall be fact accomplish'd:——
If ever ægis-holding Jove
and maid Athene grant me
To storm and pillage Ilium,
that nobly-builded fortress,
After myself, thy hand shall first
receive a gift of honour,
A tripod, or a pair of steeds
with chariot to match them,
290
Or a fair woman, suited well
in common bed to meet thee."
Then words reciprocal to him
did spotless Teucer utter:
"O Atreus' son, most glorious,
why urgest me? for verily,
When I myself am eager,
far as my force availeth,
Never stop I: but syne as first
to Ilium we drave them,
295
Thenceforth in ambush with my bow
I wait, and slay the foeman.
E'en now have issued from my string
eight lengthy-barbed arrows,
And all within the limbs are fix'd
of callants keen in battle.
Only to hit this raving dog
as yet my art hath fail'd me."
So answer'd he, and from the string
dispatch'd another arrow
300
In purpose straight at Hector aim'd;
for much he long'd to hit him.
But of his mark he miss'd, and struck
with arrow in the bosom
The spotless prince Gorgythion,
the bonny son of Priam,
Whom erst a mother bare to light,
from far Æsyme courted,
In form like to the goddesses,
the bright Castianeira.
305
And as a poppy leans aside
its head, which in a garden
Surcharg'd with its own fulness is
and with the vernal moisture ;
So did he bend his head aside,
o'erladen with the helmet.
But Teucer quickly from the string
dispatch'd another arrow
In purpose straight at Hector aim'd;
for much he long'd to hit him.
310
Yet once again he miss'd; for still
Apollo foil'd his finger.
But upon Archeptolemus,
brave charioteer of Hector,
Eager for battle, fell the shaft,
and pierc'd him thro' the bosom :
So dropt he from the chariot :
the nimblefooted coursers
Swerv'd with alarm; but he by life
and force was there abandon'd.
315
Then sorrow for his charioteer
grimly o'erclouded Hector,
Yet there he left him lying, tho'
stung deeply for his comrade;
But chancing nigh at hand to see
Kebriones his brother,
Bade him the coursers' reins to take:
who heard, nor disobey'd him.
But from the allresplendent car
himself to hard earth leaping,
320
Seiz'd with his hand a massy rock,
and hurried straight at Teucer
With terror-striking yell; for fierce
his soul was bent to crush him.
He from the quiver verily
had pick'd a stinging arrow,
And on the string adjusted it:
but motley-helmed Hector,
While as he drew it, struck his arm,
high up beside the shoulder,
325
Where the key-bone most critical
the neck and bosom parteth;
Here with the stony ruggedness
he check'd the eager archer,
And snapt his bowstring: to the wrist
his arm was numb'd: he stumbled
On to his knees, and from his hands
forth fell the bow and arrow.
But Ajax, when his brother fell,
no tender care neglected,
330
But ran and overstrode his limbs
and spread the buckler round him.
Then, on their shoulders propping him,
his two belov'd companions,
Mekisteus son of Echius
and the divine Alastor,
Bare to the smoothly-hollow ships
the deeply-groaning archer:
And soon again the Olympian
breath'd might into the Troians.
335
Then straight toward the moat so deep
did they thrust back the Achaians,
And Hector in the foremost mov'd,
with grim delight of prowess.
In guise no other, than as hound
on nimble feet reliant
Chaseth the buttocks and the hips
of savage boar or lion,
And watcheth when he wheeleth round,
and clingeth still behind him;
340
So Hector closely kept in chase
the streaminghair'd Achaians,
And alway slew the hindmost man;
and scar'd the rest before him.
But when across the palisade
and up the moat they clamber'd
Fleeing, and many fell in death
beneath the hands of Troians,
Then, checking by the galleys' side
their wild career, they halted,
345
And each to other made appeal,
and to all gods in heaven
Did every one with lifted hands
his supplication offer.
And Hector hither, thither, wheel'd
his glossy-coated horses,
His eyes like Ares, pest of man,
or like the grisly Gorgon.
But Juno, whitearm'd goddess, them
from heaven saw and pitied,
350
And to Athene instantly
did winged accents utter:
"Offspring of ægisholding Jove,
alas! shall we no longer
Care, if the Danaï do now
sink into final ruin?
They will accomplish destiny,
I ween, and vilely perish
By dint of one man's force: but he,
Hector, the son of Priam,
355
His madness bridleth not, and lo!
hath wrought full many mischiefs."
To her with word responsive spake
Athene, greyey'd goddess :
"Ay, troth! would this man many a time
be riev'd of life and spirit,
And perish on his father's soil
beneath the hands of Argives,
But that, by evil mind possest,
my own high Father rageth,
360
Untractable, a sinner old,
my efforts alway foiling.
Nor doth he hold in memory,
how oft and oft I rescued
His son, outwearièd beneath
the taskings of Eurystheus.
For he to heaven mournfully
would weep; then Jove would send me
In hurry from the lofty sky
to aid him with my presence.
365
But if within my canny mind
I had forecast the future,
When to the portals tightly-barr'd
of Aïdes he ventur'd,
To bring from Erebus the dog
of Aïdes the awsome,
Never had he the direful streams
of river Styx escaped.
Now me doth Jupiter disdain,
and hath fulfill'd the counsels
370
Of Thetis, who his knees embrac'd
and strok'd his beard, imploring
That he to honour would exalt
Achilles city-rieving.
Yet one day, troth! shall he again
call me his greyey'd darling.
But for us twain now harness thou
the single-hoofed horses,
That I meanwhile within the house
of Jove the ægisholder
375
May busk in fit accoutrement
for combat; to discover
Whether, when we together shine
along the battle's causeys,
The sight will gladden Priam's son,
great motley-helmed Hector;
Or whether some of Troians too,
beside the Achaian galleys
Fallen in death, with flesh and fat
shall glut the dogs and vultures."
380
She spake, nor uncompliant found
the whitearm'd goddess Juno.
But Juno, venerable queen,
daughter of mighty Saturn
Mov'd busily, and furbish'd out
the golden-trapped horses.
Meanwhile Athene, maiden-imp
of Jove the ægis-holder,
Down on the pavement of her sire
shower'd her robe resplendent,
385
Whose tissue she herself had wrought
and with her hands embroider'd :
Then, in a martial tunic clad,
address'd her in the armour
Of cloud-collecting Jupiter
to meet the tearful battle.
Into the flaming chariot
then with her feet she mounted,
And grasp'd her spear,——vast, weighty, stout,
wherewith the ranks she wasteth
390
Of heroes, whom for wrath she dooms,
child of a direful Father.
But Juno keenly with the scourge
the coursers touch'd. Before them
The gates of heaven boom'd aloud,
selfmoving: so commanded
The Hours, who hold beneath their trust
great Heaven and Olympus,
Alike to raise or overspread
the closely-shutting darkness:
395
Betwixt these gates they guided clear
the spur-excited horses.
But when from Ida father Jove
beheld, in grim displeasure
He sent on urgent ambassy
the goldenwinged Iris:
"Hie, hurry, speedy Iris!——back
turn thou the twain! nor suffer
To thwart my purpose; for in sooth
our conflict were unseemly.
400
For roundly will I say, and this
shall soon be fact accomplish'd,——
That I beneath their chariot
will lame the nimble horses,
Out of the seat will cast themselves,
and piecemeal smash the carriage;
Nor when ten times the Sun hath clos'd
the year's revolving circle,
Shall they of wounds beheal'd, wherewith
my thunderbolt shall score them;
405
So may the greyey'd shun to fight
against her proper Father.
But less with Juno I in truth
am angry and indignant;
For she, whatever be my bent,
is alway wont to cross it."
He spake; then on her errand sped
the stormy-footed Iris,
And from the mounts of Ida, up
went she to long Olympus.
410
Meeting them at the foremost gates
of many-lapp'd Olympus,
There she detain'd them, and from Jove
pronounc'd to them the message:
"Whither are urgent? why, ye twain,
is heart in bosom frantic ?
Saturnius permitteth not
to bring the Argives succour.
For Saturn's son hath threatened, if
truly he accomplish,
415
That he beneath your chariot
will lame the nimble horses,
Out of the seat will cast yourselves,
and piecemeal smash the carriage;
Nor when ten times the Sun hath clos'd
the year's revolving circle,
Shall ye of wounds be heal'd, wherewith
his thunderbolt shall score you;
So mayst thou, Greyey'd! shun to fight
against thy proper Father.
420
But less with Juno he in truth
is angry and indignant,
For she, whatever be his bent,
is alway wont to cross it.
But thou! bold vixen! termagant!
if truly thou adventure
Against the might of Jupiter
thy massy spear to brandish."
So utter'd Iris swift of foot,
and with the word departed.
425
Then Juno hastily address'd
a word unto Athene:
"Offspring of ægisbearing Jove!
alas! but I no longer
Urge that we twain with Jupiter
wage war in sake of mortals.
Of them, as chance may rule, let one
live, and another perish:
But Jupiter, let him, whate'er
his mind and soul may purpose
430
For Troians and for Danaï,
determine, as is seemly."
With such avowal, back she turn'd
the singlehoofed horses.
Then did the Hours unyoke for them
the glossy-coated horses,
And free from harness fasten'd them
at their ambrosial mangers,
And lean'd the chariot against
the splendid-fronted building.
435
Meanwhile themselves, the goddesses,
on golden chairs were seated
Promiscuous with other gods,
but pierc'd with inward sorrow.
But father Jove from Ida drave
his smoothly-rolling carriage
And coursers to Olympus, where
the seats of gods receiv'd him.
Then the Landshaker glorious
the steeds unharness'd, placing
440
The chariot on pedestals,
and curtains spread above it.
But on a golden throne, himself,
widesighted Jove, did rest him,
And as he press'd his feet beneath,
he stagger'd great Olympus.
There, at the side of Jupiter
sat Juno and Athene
Alone; but no salute they spake,
and no inquiry made they.
445
But he in his own mind discern'd,
and first the twain accosted :
"O Juno and Athene, why
is thus your heart afflicted ?
No toil, I trow, hath wearied you
in man-ennobling battle
The Troians to destroy, for whom
grim bitterness ye nurture.
Surely, so far as heart and hands
intractable avail me,
450
Not all the gods should turn me back,
who dwell upon Olympus.
But you, your limbs illustrious
were first by trembling seized,
Before ye came in sight of war
and doubtful feats of battle.
For roundly will I speak it out,——
what would have been accomplish'd——
Never upon your proper car,
once smitten by my lightning,
455
Back to Olympus had ye come,
where dwell the gods immortal."
He spake; thereat they mutter'd deep,
both Juno and Athene:
Close sat they, side by side, and woes
against the Troians plotted.
Truly Athene dumb abode
before her proper father,
Tho' wounded by his argument
and seiz'd with fierce displeasure.
460
But Juno hid not in her breast
her wrath, but thus address'd him :
"O son of Saturn, grim and dire,
what saying hast thou blurted?
Right well are we aware ourselves,
unyielding is thy power.
Yet for the spearmen Danaï
we none the less have sorrow,
Who will accomplish destiny,
I ween, and vilely perish.
465
Now from the war in truth will we
hold off, as thou commandest :
But counsel to the Argives still
may we suggest, for profit;
Lest speedily they perish all,
beneath thy sore displeasure."
Then cloud-collecting Jupiter
accosted her, responsive :
"At morrow's dawn, if such thy will,
O large-ey'd queenly Juno,
470
Thou more than ever shalt behold
the over-matching fury
Of Saturn's offspring, wasting wide
the spearman host of Argives.
For Hector's all-oppressing force
no pause shall make of battle,
Till from his galley-side it wake
the wrath of swift Pelides,
E'on on the day, when, face to face,
at galley's poop, they combat
475
In grim inevitable strait
around Patroclus fallen:
For so doth Heaven will. But I
for thee and thy displeasure
Take no account, not even if
the lowest seats thou visit,——
The ends of Earth and Ocean, where
Iapetus and Saturn,
Sitting apart, have no delight
from rays of sun o'ergliding
480
Nor from the breezes, but by depths
of Tartarus are girded.
But thee and all thy moodiness
I heed not, e'en if roaming
Thither thou venture; for than thee
no worser vixen liveth."
When thus he spake, no answer came
from whitearm'd queenly Juno.——
Then sank the brilliant light of day
into the depths of Ocean,
485
Upon the Earth's life-giving soil
the gloom of night entraining.
The Troian army lost the light
unwilling; but the Achaians
With vows and longings, hopes and joy,
the shroud of darkness welcom'd.
Then did illustrious Hector call
the Troians to assembly,
At distance from the galleys meet,
beside the river's eddies,
490
On a clear space where open ground
was seen between the corpses.
Then they, dismounted from their cars,
to that harangue did listen,
Which Jove-beloved Hector spake:
but in his hand he wielded
A lengthy spear, which measur'd ells
eleven ; and before him
Glitter'd its brazen head, whose neck
a golden ring surmounted.
495
But resting then his arm on this,
he spake among the Troians :
"Troians and Dardans and allies,
unto my counsel hearken!
Now had I thought outright to quell
the Achaians and their galleys,
And unto windy Ilium
back to return in triumph :
Only, too soon did darkness come,
which chiefly now hath rescued
500
The Argive army, ships and all,
upon the rough sea-margin.
But verily, to dusky Night
now let us yield compliance,
And furnish out our suppers; but
unharness ye beneath the cars,
The glossy-coated horses
and fodder cast beside them.
But send unto the city-gates,
and thence stout sheep and oxen
505
Bring ye right speedily; and eke
heart-soothing wine procure ye
And bread from out the public stores,
and pick ye sticks in plenty,
That we, thro' livelong night, until
the early birth of morning,
May kindle copious fire, whose blaze
shall reach the vault of heaven;
Lest haply under screen of night
the streaminghair'd Achaians
510
Over the sea's broad-swelling backs
to hasty flight betake them.
Troth! would I not, that one of them
at ease embark, unhurried,
But that each man may carry off
a gash, at home to muse on,
Or by an arrow overhent,
or by a lance-prick goaded,
While leaping up his galley-side;
——to make all others shudder,——
515
With tear-abounding war to vex
the courser-taming Troians.
And let the heralds dear to Jove
along the city publish
To gather boys of tender age
and hoary-templed elders
On to the towers built by gods,
throughout the city searching:
And let the women, weak of sex,
each one within her chambers
520
Kindle a brilliant light; and let
some constant guard be holden,
Lest in the absence of the folk
an ambush force the city.
Thus be it done, as I harangue,
O loftyhearted Troians;
Nor more of this be said, if this
be sound and prudent counsel :
Again will I at dawn address
the coursertaming Troians;
525
But, after pray'r to Jupiter
and other gods immortal,
My trust it is, hence to drive out
these deadly hounds outlandish,
Whom noisome fates have borne to us
upon their dusky galleys.
And verily, this night, must we
for our own selves be watchful;
But, with the morning's early dawn,
complete in arms accoutred,
530
Must at the smoothly-hollow ships
awaken eager Ares.
So shall I learn, if Diomed,
the stalwart son of Tydeus,
Unto their wall will drive me back,
or I with brazen weapon
Make havoc of his life, and bear
a prize of gory trophies.
To-morrow shall to trial bring
his valour, if he venture
535
To wait my spear's arrival; but,
I trow, among the foremost
Shall he in death be prostrate laid,
and many comrades round him,
What time to-morrow's Sun is high.
For would that I so surely
Immortal might be, and my days
exempt from Eld enfeebling,
And I such honour meet, as eke
Athene and Apollo,
540
Surely as doth the coming day
bear mischief to the Argives."
Thus Hector spake, and cheerily
to him the Troians shouted.
Then every one his sweating steeds
did from the yoke unharness,
And duly fasten'd them with thongs,
each to his proper carriage,
And sent unto the city's gates,
and thence stout sheep and oxen
545
Brought out right speedily, and eke
heartsoothing wine procur'd they,
And bread from out the public stores;
and sticks in plenty gather'd.
Then did they perfect hecatombs
unto the immortals offer,
And from the plain the breezes bare
the steam to highth of heaven,
Fragrant; yet blessed gods averse
no pleasant savour tasted;
550
For sacred Ilium by them
was held in deadly hatred,
And Priam's self and all the folk
of ashen-speared Priam.
But they with overweening thoughts
along the battle's causeys
Sat all the livelong night,
and fires beside them kindled many.
And as around the shining Moon
the little stars of heaven
555
Glister with radiance distinct,
when all the sky is breathless,
And every lofty peak is shown,
and headland edge and forest,
And from behind the cloven blue
uncounted heaven bursteth,
And all above thee seemeth Stars,
and joyful is the shepherd :
So many fires, betwixt the streams
of Xanthus and the galleys,
560
Shone then in front of Ilium,
by hands of Troians kindled.
A thousand fires along the plain,
I say, that night were burning,
And close to every glaring blaze
sat fifty foes of Argos.
And by their chariots the steeds,
rye and white barley munching,
Stood, waiting patiently the rise
of gorgeous-throned Morning.
565
1
“Hera, Athena, and Iris in the Trojan War,” Jacques Réattu (1760–1833). .jpg){kind=link}