BOOK XIX
Just then the saffron-vested Dawn
rose from the streams of Ocean,
1
To carry unto mortals light
and eke to gods immortal,
When Thetis to the galleys came,
bearing her heav'nly present,
And found her own beloved son
around Patroclus lying,
Wailing aloud; and at his side
a troop of gather'd comrades
5
Were weeping. Then amidst them stood
the goddess, pride of heaven;
And closely did she press his hand,
and spake, his name pronouncing:
"My child! him let us now endure,
albeit keen our sorrow,
So as he is, to lie; sith he
by will of God is fallen.
But thou, out of my hands receive
these noble arms from Vulcan,
10
Right beauteous: such never yet
man on his shoulders carried."
After such word, before her son
the goddess laid the armour.
Aloud the crafty fabric clang'd:
the Myrmidons in terror
Shrank from its dazzling radiance,
nor dar'd to eye the goddess.
But Achileus, the more he look'd,
the more did rage possess him,
15
And, neath his eyelids, direful shot,
like flame, his glance of eyen:
Yet joy'd he in his hands to hold
the brilliant gifts of heaven.
But when the wondrous handicraft
his eyes with joy had sated,
He to his mother instantly
did winged accents utter:
20
"My mother! arms, the god hath sent,
such as from work immortal
Befitteth: vainly mortal man
would vie in such achievement.
Gird me for fight forthwith will I,
in sooth: yet direly dread I,
Lest flies, the meanwhile, entering
the brass-imprinted gashes,
25
Breed worms within my valiant friend,
and do his corpse dishonour:
(For all the life is gone from it:)
so would his flesh be rotted."
Then Thetis of the silver foot
reciprocal address'd him:
"My child! let not such things as this
be burden on thy spirit.
The flies, these savage tribes, that eat
heroes in battle fallen,
30
My care it be, aloof to keep.
If, the full year, Patroclus
Here lie, his flesh shall alway be
still firm, or even better.
But unto public mote do thou
the Achaian heroes summon,
And there to Atreus' royal son
renounce thy mood of anger:
35
Then instant for emprize of war
accoutred, don thy valour."
Thus having spoken, thro' his
frame she breath'd intrepid vigour;
Then to Patroclus, stooping low,
distill'd she thro' the nostrils
Ambrosia and nectar red,
to keep his flesh in firmness.
Meanwhile along the shingly strand
divine Achilles hied him,
40
With shout of horrible upróar,
and rous'd the Achaian heroes.
Yea, those who formerly would stay
within the naval precinct,
Who pilots only were, and kept
the rudders of the galleys,
Or held the public bread in store, —
distributors and stewards;
Now even these to mote came forth,
enhearten'd; sith Achilles,
45
Long absent from distressful fight,
did now appear among them.
Amid the Achaians, limping came
two ministers of Ares,
The war-abiding Tydeus' son
and lofty-soul'd Ulysses,
Leaning upon the spear; for still
the bitter wounds distress'd them:
These mid the foremost of the mote
did hie, and soon were seated.
50
But Agamemnon, prince of men,
was latest of arriving,
He too disabled by a wound;
for in the hardy struggle
Koön, Antenor's son, his arm
with brazen spear had pierced.
When therefore in full gathering
the Achaians were assembled,
Thus did Achilles, fleet of foot,
uprising, speak among them:
55
"Atrides! troth, for thee and
me far earlier was better
This present work to do; when we,
with grief of bosom pierced,
Did for a damsel's sake flame out
in soul-devouring quarrel.
Would that the shaft of Artemis
had slain her in the galleys,
Upon the selfsame day, when I
Lyrnessus took and ravag'd.
60
Then of Achaians fewer far
beneath the hands of foemen
Had strown the immeasurable field
thro' my relentless anger.
To Hector and the Troians that
was gainful; but the Achaians
Will long remembrance hold, I deem,
of mine and thy contention.
But leave we these things, past and gone,
— albeit keen our sorrow,
65
And the fond fancies of the heart
by stern constraint subdue we.
Here then an end I make of wrath:
nor verily behov'd it
Me alway obstinate in heart
to boil; but come! and quickly
Enhearten to emprize of war
the streaming-hair'd Achaians;
So I, with Troians once again
confronted, shall assure me,
70
Whether beside the ships to sleep
delight them: but I reckon
That of their army more than one
his limbs will rest full gladly,
If safely from our spear he scape
in shock of foes' encounter."
So spake he, and with gladness
fill'd the dappergreav'd Achaians,
That mighty-hearted Peleus' son
renounc'd his mood of anger.
75
Then Agamemnon, prince of men,
responsive to Achilles,
Address'd them, seated as he was,
not rising in the middle:
"Friends, heroes of the Danaï,
and ministers of Ares,
When any riseth for harangue,
to him 'tis well to listen,
Nor interrupt; — which worrieth
even a skilful speaker.
80
For in the hurly of a crowd
what ears avail for hearing?
What voice for speaking? fluent
tongues and ready hearts are crippled.
Now I to Peleus' son reply
straight open: but the others,—
Ye Argives! ponder well my word,
and each of you discern it.
Oft time the Achaians spake to me
advice, and oft revil'd me,
85
Who am not guilty. Jove, and Fate,
and the dusk-roaming Fury,—
'Tis these, who in assembly fir'd
my breast with savage frenzy,
Upon the selfsame day, when I
Achilles' prize invaded.
What else to do avail'd I? God
doth throughly all accomplish.
90
Jove's eldest child is Frenesy,
who all men doth enfrenzy,
Accursed. Tender are her feet,
nor toucheth she the pavement,
But trampeth heads of men, with
bale; and one or other tangleth.
Yea, once she frenzied Jupiter,
whom amid gods and mortals
95
Chiefest they call; yet him with guile
Juno, a female, cheated;
What time Alcmena's hour was ripe
in turret-fretted Thebe
For birth of Héracles: then he
before all heaven vaunted:
100
'Oh all ye gods and goddesses!
to my announcement hearken,
That I the counsel may declare
which in my bosom swayeth.
A hero from my breed and blood
outsprung, — him Eileithuia,
Who painful travail softeneth,
shall show to light of heaven
This day, for lordship far and wide
o'er all surrounding peoples.'
105
Then guileful-heartedly to him
spake venerable Juno:
'Thou wilt the liar play, nor crown
thy saying with fulfilment.
Or else, come now, Olympian!
a hardy oath I tender.
Swear thou, that he shall lordship hold
o'er all surrounding peoples,
Who, from thy breed and blood, this day
shall drop of woman's travail.'
110
When thus she challeng'd, Jupiter
her guilefulness discern'd not,
But sware the dreadful oath: therefrom
a mighty mischief reap'd he:
But Juno, hasting on her path,
Olympus' margin quitted
And to Achaian Argos reach'd
right quickly, where did habit
115
The valiant wife of Sthenelus,
son unto Joveborn Perseus,
Who counted seven months (she
knew) in hope of tender offspring.
Her did the goddess forward bring,
tho' in her months untoward,
And stopt Alcmena's travailing,
and held the Eileithuias.
Then she, on errand self-despatch'd,
Saturnius accosted:
120
'Sire of the shining thunderbolt!
a word, O Jove! I bring thee.
Now is a noble hero born,
for lordship o'er the Argives,
Eurystheus, child of Sthenelus,
son unto Joveborn Perseus,
Thy issue: not unfitly he
will o'er the Argives lord it.'
So spake she; but his soul profound
was smit with piercing anguish.
125
Quick by her dainty-braided head
on Frenesy he seized,
And raging sware a hardy oath,
that never to Olympus
And starry heaven back should wend she,
who doth all enfrenzy.
He, after such avowal stern,
from starry heav'n toss'd her,
130
Whirling her with his hand; and quick
she reach'd the works of mortals.
And her he alway curs'd, whene'er
he saw his own dear offspring
By contumely of toil distraught
beneath Eurystheus' taskings.
Nor yet the more was I, what
time great motley-helmed Hector
Dire ravage of the Argives made
beside their outmost galleys,—
135
Able from Frenesy to part,
who once had wrought me mischief.
But tho' enfrenzied I have been,
and Jove my wits hath emptied,
Again to win thee fain am I,
and pay thee countless ransom.
But up! for enterprize of war,
and rouse the other peoples.
And pledg'd I hold myself to pay,
whate'er divine Ulysses
140
Before thy presence yester-eve,
as gifts from me, behighted.
Or come! an so will please thee, stay,
albeit press'd to battle;
And hither shall forthwith my squires,
out of my galley taking,
Bring thee the gifts; so mayest thou
see my heart-soothing presents."
But him Achilles, fleet of foot,
reciprocal accosted:
145
"O Agamemnon, prince of men,
most glorious Atrides!
The gifts (an so thou wilt,) to give,
as seemly is, or keep them,—
1
With thee it resteth. Instant now
let battle-glee concern us,
Nor toy, nor shuffle: still is left
a mighty work to compass.
150
As each may Peleus' son behold
again among the foremost
Wide wasting with the brazen spear
the Troïan battalions,
So eke let every man give heed
to quit himself in combat."
Thereat responsive spake to him
Ulysses much-devising:
"Achilles! image of the gods!
do not, howe'er intrepid,
155
Hurry to drive on Ilium
Achaia's children fasting,
For combat with the Troians; sith
no short-enduring warcry
Shall greet us, when for bargain once
the companies encounter
Of armed heroes, both alive
with heaven-breathed fierceness.
But bid the Achaians food to taste,
at the sharp-pointed galleys,
160
Of pleasant bread and wine: for this
to weary men is vigour.
— For, man may nowise all the day
until the shades of sunset
From gifts of Ceres abstinent
confront the work of Ares.
For tho' his spirit eager be
for enterprize of battle,
Yet heaviness by stealth his limbs
o'erhend him, and his knees beneath
165
Are palsied in his goings.
But whoso with the foe may fight,
Even the livelong day, his soul
is hearty in his bosom,
Nor faint his limbs, ere every man
retireth him from battle.
170
But come! disperse the people; bid,
that they to dinner gird them;
And Agamemnon, prince of men,
shall bring his gifts before us:
So with their eyes the Achaians all
shall see, and thou be gladden'd.
And let him swear the mighty oath,
among the Argives rising,
175
That never did he touch her bed
with tenderness and passion,
As is the ordinance, O prince!
to man and woman sacred:
So be thy spirit satisfied
and sooth'd within thy bosom!
Thereafter shall the prince of men
within his tents delight thee
By a rich banquet, leaving naught
unfinish'd of thy honour.
180
Thou, son of Atreus! wilt alsó
hereafter be more rightful
In other men's esteem: for none
can blame it, that a monarch,
Who did in anger take the lead,
again beseecheth friendship."
Him Agamemnon, prince of men,
reciprocal accosted:
"Son of Laërtes! much I joy
to hear the word thou sayest;
185
For duly hast thou every thing
distinguish'd and recounted.
The oath thou namest, this I wish
to swear by mighty power;
Nor shall I perjur'd be: my soul
doth urge me: but Achilles
Must here that little while await,
albeit press'd to battle;
And stay, assembled, ye the rest,
until the presents hither
190
May from my tent arrive, and I
by faithful oaths may bind me.
But to thyself this deed in charge
entrust I: — youths selecting,
Chieftains of Panachaia, bear
the gifts from out my galley,
Whate'er we yester-eve behote;
and lead with them the women.
And, for the Sun and Jove, amid
Achaia's ample army,
195
Talthybius a boar shall bring
to consecrate our treaties."
But him Achilles, fleet of foot,
address'd in words responsive:
"O Agamemnon, prince of men,
most glorious Atrides!
Rather at otherwhile on this
be busy, if the battle
Shall after flag, when in my breast
the fire may burn less fiercely.
200
But now our comrades prostrate lie
and mangled, who were vanquish'd
By Hector, son of Priamus,
when Jove to glory rais'd him.
But ye to feeding urge us. Troth!
all abstinent and fasting
205
Achaia's children spur would I
to war, and then with sunset
To meet in solemn supper, when
we had the outrage punish'd.
But neither food nor drink to me
may earlier be pleasant
Adown my tender throat to pass,
now as my friend is perish'd,
210
Who prostrate lieth in my tent,
by the sharp weapon mangled,
Turn'd to the threshold. Round him weep
my comrades. Hence I ponder
Not food, but carnage now and gore
and noisome groans of heroes."
To him then spake reciprocal
Ulysses much devising:
215
"Mighty Achilles! Peleus' son!
exalted of the Achaians!
Thou with the spear (I wis) than me
art better, not a little,
And stronger; yet in intellect
might I in turn surpass thee
By far; sith I am elderborn,
and wider is my knowledge.
Therefore command thy heart to
bear the pressure of my counsel.
220
Satiety of battle-cry
to mortals speedy cometh,
Wherein the sickle reapeth crop
too small, but straw in plenty,
When Jove, high arbiter of war,
the scale of prowess tilteth.
But nowise may the Achaians mourn
the dead man with their belly;
225
For, every day, successive fall
too many. When may respite
Of sorrow be? Whoso is slain,
him ever must we bury
Steeling our hearts, but weeping still;
and whoso yet surviveth
From hateful warfare, him the care
of drink and food behoveth:
230
So may we more incessant fight
against the foeman alway,
In brass unweariable clad.
Let none among the peoples
Stop, waiting fresh commandment;
(thence would evil come;) while any
Be at the Argive galleys left.
But, sallying together
235
Against the courser-taming Troians
rouse we eager Ares."
So spake he, and beside him took
the sons of famous Nestor,
And Thoas and Meriones
and Meges son of Phyleus,
And Lycomedes, Creion's son,
and lastly Melanippus;
240
Who hied to speed them to the tent
of royal Agamemnon.
There, scarcely spoken was the word,
and lo! the deed was ended.
They from the tent the tripods brought,
— the seven which he promis'd, —
The coursers twelve for racing fam'd,
and twenty shining cauldrons.
Then women quickly led they forth,
with blameless work acquainted,
245
Seven; but after them the eighth, —
the dainty-cheek'd Briseïs.
Thereat Ulysses, weighing-out
of gold ten perfect talents,
Led forward: other youths behind
in train the presents bearing
In mid assembly ranged them:
and up rose Agamemnon.
Then by the people's shepherd stood
Talthybius the herald, —
250
Whose voice with voice of god might vie,
and brought the boar before them.
But Atreus' son with ready hand
his hunting-knife unfasten'd,
Which by his sword's great scabbard hung,
companion never absent, —
Clipt the first bristles of the boar,
his hands to Jove uplifted,
And prayed. All the Argives sat
in silence at their places,
255
Duly to reverence compos'd,
attentive to the monarch.
So he invoking spake his pray'r,
to vasty heaven looking:
"Of this let Jove be witness first,
of gods the Best and Highest,
And Earth, and Sun, and Furies all,
who in the world beneath us
Do punish men deceas'd — whoe'er
a perjur'd oath has utter'd; —
260
That never did I lay my hand
upon the maid Briseïs,
Neither with purpose of the couch,
nor otherwise accosting,
But in my tents she aye abode
inviolate, unsullied.
If aught hereof be falsely sworn,
then may the gods bestray me
With whatsoe'er of woe they send,
when man in oath offendeth."
265
He spake, and thro' the victim's
throat deep drove the heartless weapon.
The corpse, as fodder to the fish,
Talthybius flung whirling
Into the vasty hoary sheet
of ocean. But Achilles
Uprising spake his word among
the battle-loving Argives:
"O Father Jove! great frenesies
to men thou truly sendest.
270
Never in sooth would Atreus' son
so throughly have bestirred
The spirit in my bosom, nor
have ta'en away the damsel
Despite my will, intractable;
but Jupiter, methinketh,
Was minded, bale and death to send
to many of Achaia.
But now to dinner hasten ye;
so may we mingle battle."
275
Such words he utter'd, and at once
brake up the hasty meeting.
Thereat asunder wended they,
each to his proper galley;
But the high-hearted Myrmidons
were with the presents busied,
And hied to set them on the ship
of Achileus their leader:
Meanwhile, some in the tents they plac'd,
and seated there the women;
280
The racers, these his stately squires
into the herd had driven.
Thereat Briseïs, like in mien
to golden Aphrodite,
When she Patroclus' corpse beheld
by the sharp weapon mangled,
Pouring herself around him, wail'd
right shrill, and rent with gashes
Her bosom and her tender neck
and eke her dainty visage.
285
Then, brilliant as the goddesses,
forth spake the woman wailing:
"Alas, Patroclus, thou who wast
to wretched me most pleasing!
Thee verily alive I left,
when from the tent they led me:
But now, returning, here I find,
O captain of the peoples!
Thy corpse unburied. How doth aye
woe after woe receive me!
290
The man, into whose arms my sire
and queenly mother gave me,
Before our city him I saw
by the sharp weapon mangled.
And eke three warriours belov'd,
own children of my mother,
My tender kinsmen, all of them
their deadly day encounter'd.
And when swift Achileus had slain
my husband, and had ravag'd
295
The town of godlike Mynes, thou
forbaddest me to sorrow,
Trusting to make me wife of youth
to Achileus, and bear me
To Phthia, and with all the folk
to celebrate my wedding.
Then measureless thy death I wail,
O thou who aye wast gentle!"
300
So spake she weeping; after her
with moans the women answer'd:
Patroclus gave them but pretext
to mourn their proper sorrows.
But round Achilles gather'd now
the councillors of Argos
Imploring, that he dinner taste;
but he with moans refus'd them:
"If any of my comrades dear
will listen, I implore him, —
305
With food and drinking bid me not
my inner heart to surfeit:
Grim sorrows pierce me: any gait
I stay and dure till sunset."
When he refusal spake outright,
the other kings departed;
But still the two Atridæ stay'd, —
old charioteering Phenix,
310
And Nestor and Idomeneus
and the divine Ulysses,
Sagely beguiling him from grief.
Yet nowise would his spirit
Beguiled be, ere that he face
the jaws of gory battle.
But he incessant heav'd, and spake,
in piteous remembrance:
"Dearest ill-fated friend! of old
how quick and earnest wast thou
315
A dainty dinner in my tent
to range, whene'er the Achaians
Hurried to tearful war, against
the courser-taming Troians!
Now, thus thou liest mangled; but,
albeit here be plenty,
In emptiness of thee, my heart
from food and drink abstaineth.
320
Naught can I suffer worse; not if
my father's death afflict me,
Who, as I ween, in Phthia now
a tender tear distilleth,
Widow'd of such a son; (who here
for horror-striking Helen,
Upon a soil of foreigners
against the Troians warreth;)
325
Or, if I heard the death of him,
my offspring, rear'd in Skyros, —
If haply Neoptolemus
the godlike yet be living.
For formerly my heart this hope
did cherish in my bosom,
That only I should perish, far
from courser-feeding Argos,
Here on the spot, in Troy; but thou
shouldest to Phthia wend thee,
330
That thou from Skyros mightest
lead on the sharp dusky galley
My child unto his father's home,
and shouldest all things show him,
My servants and my wide estate
and lofty-roofed palace.
For, as to Peleus, he, I bode,
outright is either perish'd,
Or, with a little life mayhap,
by hateful Eld is worried,
335
Aye waiting for my mournful tale,
— the tiding of my slaughter."
Wailing he spake, and to his moans
the councillors responded,
Each one remembering all, that he
in his own chambers quitted.
But lofty-thron'd Saturnius
with pity saw their weeping,
340
And instantly with winged words
address'd him to Athene:
"My child! but hast thou utterly
thy bonny hero jilted?
No longer hath Achilles then
a share within thy bosom?
Lo! there he sitteth, fixt before
his lofty crested galleys,
Beweeping his companion dear.
The others are departed
345
For care of dinner: he alone
is abstinent, untasting.
But come! lest famine him distress,
distil thou thro' his bosom
The sweetness of ambrosia
and drops of ruddy nectar."
He by such charge Athene spurr'd,
herself already eager;
Who plung'd in semblance of a bird,
the lengthy-feather'd osprey,
350
Shrill-screaming, down from upper sky,
thro' heaven: but the Achaians
Forthwith were arming in the host.
The goddess to Achilles
Dropt sweetness of ambrosia
and nectar thro' his bosom,
Lest-that unlovely famine loose
the toughness of his sinews;
Then she herself departing sought
the tightly-builded mansion
355
Of her much-mighty sire: but they
far from the ships were pouring.
Thick as from Jupiter may fly
the drops of sleety shower,
Chill'd by the gust of Boreas,
whom sky serene doth gender;
So from the galleys thickly pour'd
the helmets brightly joyous,
With bossy bucklers, ashen spears,
and stoutly-jointed corslets.
360
The blaze to heaven reach'd; the earth
by brazen flashes stricken
Laugh'd all around, and underneath
from feet of men was rising
Dire rumble; and in midst of them
divine Achilles arm'd him.
His teeth did gnash; his eyen shone,
as though with fiery sparkle:
365
His heart in grief unbearable
was clad; but he, enfrenzied
Against the Troians, donn'd the gifts,
which toilsome Vulcan fashion'd.
First on his shins the dapper greaves,
with silver anklets clever,
He fasten'd; then, to guard his chest,
enwrapt him in the corslet:
370
About his shoulders next he slung
the sword with silver studded,
Brazen; but after it he took
the buckler great and stubborn,
From which a moony radiance
shot forth to far beholders.
As when to sailors out at sea
a burning fire appeareth
375
Flaring afar; and it aloft
on solitary station
Is kindled by the mountaineer:
but them tornadoes carry
Far from their friends, despite their will,
over the fishful ocean:
So, from Achilles' buckler, then,
all gorgeous and artful,
2
3
The flare to heaven shot: and he,
his triplecrested helmet
380
Upraising, plac'd upon his head
its load. With starry splendour
From the thick horsetail shone the
casque; for, hairs of gold around it
Wav'd plenteous along the ridge
by handicraft of Vulcan.
Divine Achilles thereupon
would prove him in the armour,
Whether his glossy limbs had ease
for movement sharp and nimble;
385
But it, as wings, did lift from earth
the shepherd of the people.
Then from the flutings in his tent
his father's spear he plucked,
Huge, weighty, sturdy; which not
one of all Achaian chieftains
Beside might brandish: he alone,
Achilles, knew to wield it:
An ash of Pelion the shaft,
which, from the mountain's summit,
390
For his dear father Cheiron cut,
to be the death of heroes.
Around the steeds Automedon
and Alkimus were busy:
Already round their breasts was plac'd
the harness; then, the bridles
Thro' their compliant jaws they pass'd,
and strung the reins behind them
Unto the well-glued chariot.
Automedon, assuming
395
The shining hand-adapted scourge,
above the horses mounted,
And, full accoutred, Achileus
came leaping up behind him,
All-radiant in panoply,
like to the amber day-god.
Terrific then he shouted loud
to his own father's horses:
"
Chesnut and
Spotted, noble pair!
far-famous brood of
Spry-foot!
400
In other guise now ponder ye
your charioteer to rescue
Back to the troop of Danaï,
when we have done with battle:
Nor leave him dead upon the field,
as late ye left Patroclus."
But him the dapplefooted steed
under the yoke accosted,
And droop'd his auburn head aside
straightway; and thro' the yoke-strap
405
His full mane falling by the yoke
unto the ground was streaming:
(Him Juno, whitearm'd goddess,
now with voice of man endowed:)
"Now and again we verily
will save, and more than save thee,
Dreadful Achilles! yet on thee
the deadly day o'erhangeth.
Not ours the guilt; but mighty God
and stubborn Fate are guilty.
410
Not by the slowness of our feet
or dulness of our spirit
The Troians did thy armour strip
from shoulders of Patroclus;
But the exalted god, for whom
brighthair'd Latona travail'd,
Slew him amid the foremost ranks,
and glory gave to Hector.
Now we, in scudding, pace would keep
even with breeze of Zephyr,
415
Which speediest they say to be:
but for thyself 'tis fated
By hand of hero and of god
in mighty strife to perish."
So much he said: thereon, his voice
was by the Furies stopped.
To him Achilles fleet of foot,
responded, sore disdainful:
"
Chesnut! why bodest death to me?
from thee this was not needed.
420
Myself right surely know alsó,
that 'tis my doom to perish,
Apart from mother and from father dear,
in Troy; but never
Pause will I make of war, until
the Troïans be glutted."
He spake, and yelling, held afront
the singlehoofed horses.
4
Herakles at the tree of the Hesperides, holding three of the golden apples in his left hand. Behind him is the apple tree with the guardian serpent clinging around it.
Bronze, 104.5cm (Roman, 1st century C.E.).