BOOK XVII
NOR was it hid from Atreus' son,
warloving Menelaüs,
1
That neath the feud of Troïans
Patroclus fallen lieth.
He thro' the foremost ranks advanc'd,
arm'd with the flashing metal,
And round the hero's body mov'd,
as round her calf a heifer,
New to maternal tenderness,
plaintive to save her firstborn :
5
So round Patroclus' body then
mov'd auburn Menelaüs,
And forward held his spear, and shield,
which equal was on all sides,
Full resolute to slay the man,
whoso might dare to front him.
Nor inobservant was the son
of ashen-speared Panthûs, —
Euphorbus, when Patroclus fell;
so stood he, near approaching
10
To Menelas, by Ares lov'd,
and sternly thus address'd him :
"Jove-nurtur'd Menelaus, son
of Atreus! prince of peoples!
Retire! withdraw thee from the dead,
and leave my gory trophies.
For none of all the allies renown'd,
or Troïans, before me
Smote down Patroclus with the spear
amid the hardy struggle.
15
Therefore allow me noble fame
to earn among the Troians,
Lest also thee I hit, and rieve
thy life as honey pleasant."
To him with indignation huge
spake auburn Menelaüs :
"Troth! Father Jove! not seemly 'tis
for man to vaunt too proudly.
No thought so arrogant, I trow,
in panther or in lion
20
Dwelleth, or in the savage boar,
whose spirit in his bosom
Doth inly nurture signally
a grim delight of prowess;
As arrogant the children are
of ashen-speared Panthûs.
Yet not the courser-taming youth,
their brother Hyperenor,
Long vantage of his years enjoy'd,
when, slighting, he defied me,
25
Saying, of all the Danaï
I was the poorest fighter.
Nor deem I, he, on proper feet,
to his own home did hie him,
With pleasure to his consort dear,
and to his canny parents.
So will I thy pretension crush,
in sooth! if thou withstand me.
But I in turn my counsel give,
— within the crowd of fighters
30
To hide thee in retreat, (and not
stand forward to confront me,)
Before thou some disaster meet.
— Too late the fool is prudent."
He spake, but him persuaded not;
who answering address'd him:
"Jove-nurtur'd Menelas! in sooth,
now shalt thou pay the forfeit,
For that my kinsman thou hast slain,
and vaunting thou haranguest,
35
And in her bower newly built
didst make his bride a widow,
And on our parents hast entail'd
accursed wail and sorrow.
To their affliction I in sooth
some balm of grief might carry,
If now I bear away thy head
and eke thy arms, and place them
Into the hands of Panthoüs
and venerable Phrontis.
40
Nor now much longer, I opine,
untried our struggle tarries,
But soon the riddle must be spelt,
to conquer or be conquer'd."
He spake, and thrusting struck the shield,
which equal was on all sides :
Nor might the metal force its way,
but first the point was broken,
By the bluff shield resisted. Next,
Atrides Menelaüs,
45
With pray'r to father Jupiter,
rose dreadful with his weapon.
And, as the foe retreated, he,
on his broad hand reliant,
Planted and press'd the spear,
where throat is fitted in the bosom,
And thro' the tender neck its point
outright behind him issued.
1
So with a loud gash down he dropt,
and o'er him clang'd his armour.
50
His hair, that with the Graces vied,
was now with gore besprinkled,
And ample tresses, which with gold
and silver were embraided.
As when in solitary dell,
where rife spring-water bubbleth,
A man may kindly rear a shoot
of easy-sprouting olive,
Dainty and all-luxuriant;
and round it breezes rustle
55
From diverse-blowing winds;
and it with a white flower buddeth;
But sudden cometh wind indeed,
with plenteous weight of tempest,
And from its own pit wrencheth it,
and on the earth outlayeth:
Such then the ashen-speared son
of Panthoüs, Euphorbus, —
Beneath Atrides Menelas
was slain and stript of armour.
60
As when, reliant in his might,
a mountain-nurtur'd lion
Out of a grazing herd may snatch
a cow, whiche'er is fattest;
By his huge weight and stalwart teeth
its neck at once is broken;
He rends the victim, laps the blood,
and heart and bowels gorgeth;
And while he havoc spreadeth wide,
around him dogs and herdsmen
65
Hoot screeching fiercely from afar,
incessant, nor endure they
His close encounter; for, themselves
pale terror greatly seizeth:
So, to not one of them, the heart
within his bosom dared
The close encounter to confront
of famous Menelaüs.
Then had Atrides easily
borne off the glorious armour
70
Of Panthûs' son; but such a prize
did bright Apollo grudge him,
Who then, in semblance of a man,
Mentes, Ciconian leader,
Against him summon'd Hector's self,
a match for eager Ares,
And, earnestly accosting him,
these winged accents utter'd:
"Hector! now vainly runnest thou,
to catch Achilles' horses.
75
Hard are those steeds for mortal men
to tame and guide in harness,
To all but skilful Achileus,
born of a deathless mother.
Meanwhile hath Atreus' younger son,
the martial Menelaüs,
Around Patroclus' body, slain
the bravest of the Troians,
80
Euphorbus, son of Panthoüs;
and quell'd his daring prowess."
This said, again the god was mix'd
amid the toil of heroes.
Then, round his soul of black, with grief
was Hector grimly clouded.
Over the battle-field he gaz'd:
there instantly descried he
One, stripping off the glorious arms,
but upon earth the other
85
2
Prostrate; and from the open gash
the dusky gore was streaming.
He thro' the foremost ranks advanc'd,
arm'd with the flashing metal,
Shouting with menace terrible,
and like a flame of Vulcan,
Quenchless. To that redoubted cry
the son of Atreus listen'd,
And thus in indignation spake
to his own haughty spirit:
90
"Alas for me! if now in fear
I quit the beauteous armour,
Abandoning Patroclus, who
in my revenge is fallen;
Indignant may he be, whoe'er
of Danaï shall see me.
But if, for shame and honour, I
with Hector and the Troians
Combat by single force, to one
an overmatch are many :
95
And motley-helmed Hector now
leads all his Troians hither.
But, O fond heart, why holdest now
within me such discourses?
Whoso, defying Fortune's odds,
with hero-chief engageth,
Whom God doth honour; — haply will
in mighty woe be whelmed.
So, none of Danaï shall be
indignant, should he see me
100
Shrink from the might of Hector, who
by aid of heaven fighteth.
But if, how Ajax, good at need,
doth quit him in the battle,
I knew, together haply we
might hero-glee remember,
And e'en defying Fortune's odds,
might yet draw up the body
For Peleus' son Achilles. This,
of evils would be lightest."
105
While all his bosom and his soul
with such debate did struggle,
Meanwhile the Troian ranks were come,
and at their head was Hector.
Atrides, backward moving, left
the carcase; yet receded
But step by step: not otherwise,
a noble-bearded lion,
Whom from the stable dogs and men
pursue with spears and hurly,
110
And freeze his valiant heart; then he
the yard unwilling quitteth:
Eke from Patroclus' body so
pac'd auburn Meneläus,
But quickly fronted round, when first
he reach'd his troop of comrades.
He gaz'd on every side to see
great Telamonian Ajax,
115
And speedily descried him, near
the left of all the battle,
Cheering the comrades at his side
and stirring them to combat;
For bright Apollo in their hearts
had shed unearthly panic.
He hied to run, and, quick arriving,
instantly address'd him :
"O Ajax! hither, friend! — we now
about Patroclus fallen
120
Must busy us, perchance to bear
his body to Achilles,
All naked: for the arms are won
by motley-helmed Hector."
So spake he, and bestirr'd the soul
of skilful-hearted Ajax.
Along the foremost ranks he mov'd
with auburn Menelaüs,
Where Hector held the glorious arms;
and now Patroclus dragg'd he,
125
Wishful with weapon sharp to cut
his head from off the shoulders
And toss the maimed trunk abroad
unto the dogs of Troas.
Then Ajax nearer came, his shield
like to a tower bearing,
And Hector, back withdrawing, mix'd
within his crowd of comrades,
And sprang upon his chariot,
and gave the beauteous armour
130
For carriage to the Troian town,
to be his own great glory.
But Ajax round Patroclus slain
his ample buckler spreading,
Stood forth, as round his proper brood
may stand a parent lion,
Who hath with hunter-men perchance
in forest-glade encounter'd,
Leading abroad his young; but he,
in grim delight of prowess,
135
Down draweth all his eyebrow-skin,
and covereth his eyen:
Not other, Ajax stood around
the fallen chief, Patroclus;
And Atreus' son on other side,
warloving Menelaüs,
Stood also, heaving in his breast
a growing load of sorrow.
But Glaucus Hippolochides,
the Lycian commander,
140
On Hector turn'd a frowning glance
and bitterly reproach'd him:
"Hector! in beauty excellent,
in battle much thou wantest.
In vain, when runaway thou art,
doth noble glory hold thee.
Bethink thee, — mayest thou, upheld
now singly by the peoples
Who have in Ilium their birth,
the town and city rescue?
145
For not of Lycians, I trow,
will any for thy city
To combat with the Danaï
henceforth be keen: for thankless
The toil is found, unceasingly
to fight with foemen alway.
How, mid the riot, shouldest thou
a worser man deliver,
O heartless! who abandonest
thy friend and thy companion,
150
Sarpedon, unto Argive men
as sport and lucky booty?
He, while alive, much service did
to thee and to the city;
But thou no courage hast from him,
to scare the dogs and vultures.
Wherefore, if now by my advice
some Lycians shall guide them,
Homeward to go, straightway for
Troy bluff overthrow remaineth.
155
For if within the Troians now
did dwell much-daring vigour,
Intrepid, such as filleth men,
who for their native country
Against a throng of stranger-foes
have enter'd toilful contest;
Then quickly into Ilium
off might we drag Patroclus.
And if we to the mighty town
of princely Priam carried
160
That hero's corpse, when finally
we won it from the battle:
Gladly would then the Argives yield
Sarpedon's beauteous armour,
Yea, and himself to Ilium
we quickly might recover.
For of such hero squire was he,
who is by far the noblest, —
He and the squires who round him
fight, — beside the Argive galleys.
165
But thou, to look the foe in face
canst not abide, in onset,
Or stand against the buckler huge
of mighty-hearted Ajax.
Much less, his shock wilt thou endure:
sith he than thee is stronger."
To him with frowning glance replied
great motley-helmed Hector:
"Glaucus! we know thee sage: and why
so arrogant thy language?
170
Ye Spirits! troth; my thought it was,
that thou, of all the heroes
Who dwell in loamy Lycia,
hast primacy of wisdom.
Now utterly disparage I
thy judgment, how thou speakest,
Who say, I dare not to abide
the huge majestic Ajax.
Not at the battle shudder I,
nor at the tramp of horses :
175
But alway than the wit of man
the wit of Jove is higher;
Who doth the valorous affright,
and victory despoileth
Right easily; but otherwhile
himself to battle stirreth.
But hither, friend! beside me stand,
and look on my achievement.
For ever will I claim to be
coward, as thou pronouncest,
180
Or some of Danaï will I,
albeit keen his courage,
Stop from his eagerness to fight
around Pa-troclus fallen."
Then 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;
185
Whilst I of spotless Achileus
put on the beauteous armour,
Which (when the hero I had slain)
I took from great Patroclus."
After such exhortation, forth
went motley-helmed Hector
From out the feud of battle. Quick
he ran and overhended
His comrades, not yet far; whom he
with rapid footstep follow'd;
190
Who to the city bare away
Pelides' noble armour.
There standing, he the arms exchang'd,
apart from tearful battle.
His own from off his body, these
he trusted to his Troians
3
4
To bear to sacred Ilium;
and took the immortal armour
Of Peleus' son Achilles, which
of yore the gods presented
195
To his dear sire; he to his son,
when old he grew, bequeath'd them:
Yet not the son, I wis, grew old,
in armour of the father.
But him when cloud-collecting Jove
beheld, apart from battle
Busking him in the heav'nly arms
of Peleus' godlike offspring,
Thereat he shook his head, and spake
within his secret bosom :
200
"Ha! wretched! eke to thee is death
nowise a welcome comer,
Who near approacheth thee: but thou
the immortal armour donnest
Of a surpassing chief, at whom
all other heroes tremble.
Of him thou hast the comrade slain,
a kindly man and stalwart,
And from his shoulders and his head
hast ta'en, with no decorum,
205
The armour: still will I to thee
vouchsafe surpassing puissance,
In payment for this sorrow, that
Andromache shall never
From thee on thy return receive
Pelides' noble armour."
After these words, Saturnius
with raven eyebrow nodded.
But Hector's body suited well
the arms; and Ares dress'd him, —
210
Ares, dread Enyálius, —
and, thro' his limbs, within him
Pour'd strength & spirit. Thence he hied
to catch the allies far-summon'd,
And, as with mighty shout he came,
to all he wore the semblance
Of mighty-hearted Achileus,
resplendent in the armour.
Then singly visiting he urg'd
each hero to the battle,
215
From Mesthles first and Phorkys
and Thersilochus and Medon,
Asteropaeus, Chromius,
Hippothoüs, Deisenor,
To Glaucus Hippolochides
and Ennomus the augur.
To these he exhortation made
and winged accents utter'd:
"Listen! allies who dwell around
in tribes of number countless!
220
I sought not wider reach of sway,
nor wanted train of peoples,
When from your cities, one by one,
your bands I hither gather'd;
But that, to rescue from the hands
of the warloving Argives
The Troian wives and infants small,
ye zealously might combat.
Holding such purposes, by claim
of gifts and food I harass
225
The Troian people, while of you
I strengthen every bosom.
Wherefore, straightforward, every one
in firm resolve be minded
To conquer, or to perish: — such
the communings of warfare.
Now whoso Ajax driveth back
and seizeth on Patroclus,
Dragging his body to the ranks
of courser-taming Troians;
230
Half of the spoils to him I yield,
and half myself will carry,
And such as is my honour now,
such eke shall be his honour."
He spake; and weightily did they
with spears uplifted sally
Straightforward at the Danaï;
and greatly were they hopeful
To tear the carcase from the hands
of Telamonian Ajax;
235
O simpletons! for over it
they many lives did squander.
To Menelaus, good at need,
then ajax spake entreaty :
"From battle-danger, O my friend!
Jove-nurtur'd Menelaüs !
A safe return for both of us
I dare to hope no longer.
Nay, nor so sorely tremble I
about Patroclus' body,
240
Which doubtless speedily will glut
the Troian dogs and vultures,
As for my proper head I fear,
lest some disaster seize it,
And thine: sith Hector round about
wrappeth a cloud of battle,
And at our feet the steep abyss
of utter ruin yawneth.
But come! the chieftain-Danaï
call thou, if any hear thee."
245
Then Menelaüs, good at need,
was to his word compliant;
So to the Danaï abroad
with piercing voice he shouted:
"O friends, who unto Argive folk
are governour s and leaders,
Who at the board of Atreus' sons
with public wine are feasted,
As we ourselves, and with command
each speaketh to the peoples,
250
And by the gift of Jupiter
honour and glory holdeth :
For me 'tis toilsome, everywhere
to spy out each commander
Of Danaï: so great a strife
around and thro' us blazeth.
But, of himself, hie hither each,
and be in soul indignant
To leave Patroclus for a joy
and sport to dogs of Troas."
255
As thus he cried, Oïleus' son,
swift Ajax, sharply heard him,
Who, speeding thro' the battle-feud,
was first to reach his presence;
But next to him, Idomeneus,
and his belov'd attendant
Meriones, an equipoise
to hero-slaying Ares.
But, of the rest, what wit of man
could all the names remember,
260
How many afterwards renew'd
the battle of Achaia.
But forward rush'd the Troïans
in plump: and Hector led them.
As at the mouth, where shoals hem-in
a Jove-descended river,
Against the current rage and roar
huge billows, and beside them
The ridges of the circling beach
with splashing surf rebellow;
265
With such alarum went, I wis,
the Troians: but the Achaians
Fenced with brazen bucklers stood,
fill'd with a single spirit,
To save Patroclus. Saturn's son
around their sheeny helmets
Pour'd mist in plenty. Troth! of
old ne'er hated he the chieftain,
270
Not when, beside Æacides,
he liv'd, as dear attendant;
Nor that Patroclus be a prize,
to dogs of Troian foemen,
Endur'd he: therefore to his aid
he greatly rous'd his comrades.
Yet first the Troians drave away
the curling-ey'd Achaians
Who, smit with panic, left the dead:
but the high-hearted Troians,
275
Tho' keen for slaughter, slew not one,
but dragg'd to them the carcase.
Nor long from rescue stood aloof
the Achaians, quickly rallied
By Ajax; who in noble form
and noble deeds was signal
Of all the Danaï, except
the spotless son of Peleus.
280
Straight thro' the foremost ranks
he hied, like to a boar in prowess, —
Such savage male, who easily,
in thickets on the mountain,
Standing at bay, hath scattered
the hounds and lusty callants :—
So, moving thro' them easily,
did then the gallant Ajax,
Son of the lordly Telamon,
the bands of Troas scatter,
285
Who round Patroclus crowded thick,
with hearts and hope highlifted,
To drag him to their proper walls
and earn excelling glory.
A gallant man, Hippothoüs,
son of Pelasgic Lethus,
In sooth, did tug him by the foot
amid the hardy struggle,
Around the ankle fastening
a strap, in hope of favour
290
From Hector and the Troïans.
But on himself came quickly
Mischief, which none among them
all, tho' eager, then averted.
For, him the son of Telamon,
thro' the thick tumult rushing,
Close in the combat struck, across
his brazen-cheeked vizor.
Beneath the fury of the point
the horsetail-crested helmet
295
Yielded: for mighty was the spear,
and broad the hand that urg'd it.
Out of the open gash his brain
ran thro' the vizor's hollow,
All-gory, pouring forth his life;
and there unstrung his sinews.
So from his hand he dropt to earth
the foot of brave Patroclus
Releas'd; and headlong, side by
side, fell prostrate to the carcase,
300
Far from Larissa's loamy fields :
nor to his loving parents
Paid he the fitting nurture-price;
but soon his life was ended,
Too early ravish'd by the spear
of mighty-hearted Ajax.
Forthwith at Ajax Hector aim'd,
with shining spear to hit him;
But Ajax saw it opposite,
and stoop'd to shun its fury,
305
By scanty space avoiding it:
yet Schedius it wounded,
Son of high-hearted Iphitus,
of Phocians the bravest,
Who dwelt in famous Panopeus
and rul'd o'er many heroes:
Him by the collarbone it hit,
and low beneath the shoulder
Thro' came the brazen javelin,
from front to back travérsing.
310
So with a loud crash down he dropt,
and o'er him clang'd his armour.
Then Ajax thrust at Phaenops' son,
the skilful-hearted Phorkys,
Striding around Hippothoüs;
and rent his corslet's hollow.
The brazen weapon piere'd his lap
and drain'd his inmost vitals :
So in the dust he fell, — the earth
with gripe convulsive clutching.
315
With gallant Hector, yielded then
their foremost ranks: the Argives
With mighty whoops drew up the
dead, — Hippothoüs and Phorkys, —
And from their shoulders tranquilly
stript off the curious armour.
Then surely would the Troïans
beneath the Achaian heroes
Again have enter'd Ilium,
in martial strength defeated,
320
And, overriding Jove's decree,
by their own hardy spirit
Had then the Argives glory won;
but that the prince Apollo,
In figure like to Periphas,
spake urgent to Æneias.
(This man was son of Epytas,
a friendly-minded herald,
Friendly and sage, who aged grew
beside an aged father.)
325
Hid in such guise, the son of Jove,
Apollo, now address'd him:
"Son of Anchises, O that ye,
despite the will of heaven,
Would rescue lofty Ilium!
So have I seen, that others, —
And eke with sorely scanty folk, —
defy the doom of heaven,
Trusting upon their own strong hand,
and hardihood of spirit.
330
Rather to you than Danaï
doth Jove desire successes:
But ye yourselves are dastardly,
nor forward in the combat."
So spake he: but Æneias knew
Apollo the fardarting,
Seeing him face to face; and loud
he unto Hector shouted :
"Hector! and ye who leaders are,
or of allies, or Troians!
335
Dishonour now is this, beneath
the Achaians dear to Ares
Again to enter Ilium,
in martial strength defeated.
But, sith some heav'nly god, but now
beside me standing, saveth,
The Troian battle holpen is
by Jove, supreme deviser;
Go we against the Danaï,
forward! nor let them tranquil
340
Unto their galleys bear away
the corpse of dead Patroclus."
He spake, and from the van of men
outleaping, foremost bare him.
Then did they gather to a ball,
and stood against the Argives.
Thereat Æneias with the spear
struck down Arisbas' offspring,
Leiocritus, the comrade brave
of warlike Lycomedes.
345
But Lycomedes saw him fall,
and pitied his companion.
Near him he took his stand, and pois'd,
and hurl'd his shining weapon,
And hit the son of Hippasus,
a shepherd of the people,
Beneath the liver, near the heart,
and straight unstrung his sinews.
His name was Apisaon: he,
after Asteropaeus,
350
In loamy-soil'd Paeonia
held primacy of valour.
Warlike Asteropaeus saw,
and pitied him, in falling;
And he too on the Danaï
sallied, for combat eager:
But nowhere could he reach the foe,
who, fenc'd with spears uplifted
And bucklers fitted as a wall,
around Patroclus rallied.
355
For Ajax visited the ranks,
and urgently exhorted,
That none, withdrawing from the fight,
behind the dead retire him,
Nor yet preëminent desire
to fight before the Achaians,
But, round the dead, should circle them,
and from short distance combat.
So huge majestic Ajax bade.
Meanwhile the earth was wetted
360
With crimson torrents. Slaughter'd fell
corpses alike of Troians
And of allies magnanimous,
in thick confusion huddled,
And eke of Danaï: for these
might not be bloodless wholly :
Yet slain were fewer far of them:
for alway they remember'd,
Each to his fellow aid to bear
amid the toilsome danger.
365
Thus battled they, like blazing fire:
nor sure was it to any,
That Sun or Moon was safe; for mist
of welkin all enshrouded,
Where round Actorides' dead son
the bravest stood in combat.
But all the other Troïans
and dapper-greav'd Achaians
370
Warr'd tranquil under sky serene;
the Sun's keen rays lay open.
No cloud on heaven's eye appear'd,
nor resting o'er the mountains.
These, respite had from battle's force;
and in clear light, avoided,
Standing afar, the direful bolts
which each did aim at other.
5
But those by darkness and by war
at once disaster suffer'd,
375
And chief the chieftains, wasted sore
by ruthless dint of battle.
Two famous men, Antilochus
and Thrasymedes, only
As yet the tiding had not heard,
that slain is good Patroclus:
But still deem'd they, that he alive
did press the Troian riot.
380
And they, foreboding mournful doom
and flight of their companions,
Apart their battle held: for so
gave Nestor strait commandment,
Urging to lead the fight aloof
far from the dusky galleys.-
But, all the day, the others bare
great strife of noisome quarrel.
From toil and sweat incessantly
knees, shanks, and feet beneath them,
385
And hands and eyes, bespatter'd were;
while still they press'd the battle,
Where lay their kindly champion,
the squire of swift Achilles.
As when a man, for currying,
may give unto the people,
Bedrench'd with fat, the ample hide,
which once a huge bull cover'd;
390
They, from his hands receiving it,
do stand apart and tug it
In circle; and sith many tug,
the moisture quickly parteth,
The oil deep entereth; and it,
throughout, is stretch'dand curried :
So they in narrow space did tug
the carcase, hither, thither,
Both fill'd with hope; -the Troïans,
to Ilium to drag it ;-
395
The Achaians, to the hollow ships.
Around him rose a turmoil
All savage. Not Athene's self,
nor Ares people-stirrer
Would lightly that encounter blame,
altho' in testy humour.
Such evil toil of men and steeds
did Jove around Patroclus
400
Upon that day prolong. Nor yet
the death of his Patroclus
Divine Achilles knew at all;
for all that stubborn battle
Far from the Argive galleys rag'd,
beneath the Troian city.
Therefore, not dead, but strong in life,
(within his soul he trusted,)
Patroclus from the gates of Troy
should back return in safety.
405
Sith not at all did Achileus
hope, that without his presence,
His friend high Ilium might storm;
nor even with his succour.
For from his mother often this
he heard, apart inquiring;
Who clearly all the purposes
of mighty Jove reported.
His mother verily not then
reveal'd the dire disaster,
410
Accomplish'd, unreversible,-
that his belov'd is perish'd.
But they around the hero's corpse
their pointed weapons holding,
Incessant grappled in the fight,
and man by man was slaughter'd.
And thus did one to other say
of brazen-clad Achaians:
"Inglorious to us it were,
hence to return defeated
415
Unto the galleys: rather may
the murky earth's abysses
Yawn on us all! the which for us
were instantly far better,
Than to give up our hero's corpse
to courser-taming Troians
Unto their own abodes to drag
and earn excelling glory."
But thus did one to other talk
of mighty-hearted Troians:
420
"O friend, if even doom demand,
that we beside this hero
Be slaughter'd one and all, let none
withhold him from the battle."-
They by such mutual address,
each rous'd his fellow's spirit.
Still went the stubborn tustle on;
its iron-hearted riot
Thro' æther's vasty emptiness
to brazen heaven sounded.
425
The coursers of Æacides,
meanwhile, apart from battle,
Wept, soon as e'er that tiding bad
into their breast had enter'd,
How that their charioteer was slain
by hero-crushing Hector.
And verily Automedon,
Diores' valiant offspring,
Much by keen lashes of the scourge
to move the steeds attempted,
430
Much by address of honey'd words,
and much by threats and curses.
But they the car would neither draw
returning to the galleys
Back unto Helle's brackish flood,
nor to the Achaian battle.
But as upon a monument,
where sleepeth man or woman
Under their barrow, motionless
a lofty pillar standeth;
435
So, with the car all-gorgeous,
stood motionless the coursers,
Drooping toward the ground their heads;
and down their plaintive eyelids
Did warm tears trickle to the ground,
their charioteer bewailing.
Defiled were their dainty manes,
over the yoke-strap dropping.
440
Their tears beholding, Saturn's child
the deathless coursers pitied;
Thereafter shook his head, and spake
within his secret bosom :
"Ha! why on Peleus, mortal prince,
bestow'd we
you? unhappy!
You,—who are born celestial,
from Eld and Death exempted.
Was it, that ye, with wretched men,
should learn the taste of sorrow?
445
For, of all things that move on earth
and breathe the air of heaven,
Methinketh, none are wretcheder
than man's disastrous offspring.
Yet never, verily, on you
and on your car resplendent
Shall Hector son of Priam mount:
for not will I endure it.
Enough, that he the armour hath,
and fruitlessly doth vaunt it.
450
But I will vigour breathe to you
within your knees and bosom,
That ye may eke Automedon
out of the battle rescue
Unto the smoothly hollow ships.
For glory still to Hector
Grant I, to slay the foe, until
he reach the welldeck'd galleys,
When in the west the Sun shall sink
and yield to sacred darkness."
455
Thus speaking, in the heav'nly steeds
a graceful vigour breath'd he.
Then they, from off their manes, to earth
shook down the dust, and quickly
Bare the swift chariot among
Achaïans and Troians.
And from the seat Automedon,
tho' grieving for his comrade,
Cheering the coursers, chas'd the
foe, as after geese a vulture.
460
For easy was escape to him
from out the Troian riot,
And easy, chasing to return
and sally in the turmoil.
Yet slaughter never might he make
of whom he overhended.
Nor, in a sacred chariot
sitting alone, avail'd he
At once to combat with the spear
and hold the nimble coursers.
465
At length Alkimedon, his friend
and comrade, right beknew it ;-
A man, whose sire Laërkes was,
but Haemon was his grandsire.
So to Automedon he spake,
behind the car approaching:
"Who of the gods, Automedon!
out of thy heart hath taken
Sound wit, and this ungainful thought
within thy bosom planted,
470
That thou against the Troïans
in foremost line dost combat,
Alone? Thy partner of the fight
is slain: and Hector joyeth,
The armour of Æacides
upon his shoulders bearing."
But him in turn Diores' son,
Automedon, accosted:
"Alkimedon, who unto thee
is equal of Achaians,
475
Except Patroclus, peer to gods
in skilfulness of prudence,
While yet he liv'd; but him in turn
have death and doom o'ertaken,-
But thou within thy hands receive
the scourge and glossy bridles,
Then from the chariot will I
dismount, to meet the foeman."
Hereat, Alkimedon behind
caught up the scourge and bridles.
480
In turn Automedon leapt off:
and gallant Hector saw it.
Then to Æneias, standing near,
an utterance address'd he:
"Anchises' son! high Counsellor
of brazen-coated Troians!
Lo! with their foolish charioteers
the coursers of Achilles
Amid the battle show themselves.
These may I hope to capture,
485
If thou with me like-minded art:
sith, hardly will they venture,
Against the sally of us both
to try the shock of Ares."
490
He spake, nor uncompliant found
Anchises' bonny offspring.
Forward they went, their shoulders screen'd
by bullhide dry and sturdy,
Strengthen'd with brass. But Chromius
and eke divine Aretus
Went in their company; and troth!
their heart within was hopeful
495
To slay the heroes both, and catch
the lofty-crested horses;
O simpletons! sith for themselves
no bloodless journey waited,
Back from Automedon: but he,
to Jove the Father praying,
Was fill'd in all his gloomy soul
with hardihood and spirit.
Forthwith unto Alkimedon,
his trusty comrade, spake he:
500
"Hearken, Alkimedon! From me
hold not afar the coursers,
But breathing even on my back:
for verily I deem not
That Hector, Priam's son, will stay
the keenness of his fury,
Till, either, both of us be slain,
and loftily he mount him
Behind the glossy-coated steeds
of Achileus, dismaying
505
The Argive ranks; or, e'en himself
among the first be hended."
Thus saying, he, to Menelas
and either Ajax, shouted :
"Ajaces, who the Argives lead;
ye twain, and Menelaüs !
The carcase, and the foe's repulse,
to able chiefs entrust ye;
510
And from us two, -men yet alive,
ward off the ruthless moment.
For here with fearful weight press on,
amid the tearful battle,
Both Hector and Æneias,-men,
of Troïans the bravest.
But in the lap of destiny,
I trow, our lot abideth :
I too my dart shall fling; and Jove
will care to guide the issue."
515
He spake and poising, forward
threw the spear with lengthy shadow,
And struck upon Aretus' shield,
which equal was on all sides.
Nor might the hide resist it, but
thro' all the folds it hurried,
And underneath the girdle's breadth
deep in the vitals pierc'd him.
And as, behind an ox's horns,
who from the pastures cometh,
520
A churl with newly-whetted axe
may chop, if young and sturdy,
And cleave the gristle through: the ox,
then, forward leaping, droppeth:
So, with a forward leap, fell he,
supine; for in his entrails
Quiver'd the deep-implanted spear,
and there unstrung his sinews.
Then Hector at Automedon
with shining weapon darted.
525
He, seeing it, by scanty space
the flying point avoided,
Stooping him forward: far away
the lengthy spear behind him
In earth alighted; where its force
made the shaft's end to quiver,
Until rude-hurtling Ares gave
remission of his fury.
Then in close combat of the sword
had each the other wounded,
530
Had not the two Ajaces come,
at summons of their comrade
Eager; and pressing thro' the crowd,
soon did they part the combat.
For, shrinking from the gather'd force
of chiefs, Æneias, Hector
And godlike Chromius, withdrew,
and left Aretus fallen,
535
Heart-pierced. But Automedon,
a peer to eager Ares,
The armour tranquilly despoil'd,
and spake a word of boasting:
"A little solace find I now
for slaughter of Patroclus
To ease this loaded heart, that I
a meaner life have taken."
Thus speaking, on the chariot
he plac'd the gory trophies,
540
And mounted on the seat himself,
with hands, and feet beneath him,
All-bloody, as may lion be,
who hath an ox devoured.
Around Patroclus' corpse again
was held the hardy struggle,
Noisome and tearful; sith herself
Athene rous'd the quarrel,
From heav'n descending, forward
sent by Jupiter widesighted,
545
To wake the Danaï to war:
for now his mind was turned.
As when to mortals Jupiter
may stretch a purple rainbow
From heaven,-whether sign of war,
or of untemper'd winter,
Which all the labours of the field
doth stop, and vexeth cattle:
550
So she, in circling purple cloud
her heav'nly form enwrapping,
Amid the Achaian people pass'd
and one by one arous'd them.
But first approaching Atreus' son,
the valiant Menelaüs,
Whom at short distance she beheld;
the goddess, like to Phœnix
In shape and voice unwearièd,
did earnestly address him:
555
"To thee, O Menelaüs, this
will contumely and scandal
Become, if nimble dogs devour
beneath the Troian rampart
Him, who to lordly Achileus
was comrade best beloved.
But hold to battle sturdily,
and rouse the other people."
But Menelaüs, good at need,
accosted her responsive :
560
"Aged and patriarchal friend!
Phœnix! if now Athene
Would ward the flying darts from me,
and give me mighty vigour,
Gladly would I with hand and foot
bring rescue to Patroclus,
Whose death untimely deep hath
sunk into my secret bosom.
But grim-devouring force of fire
hath Hector, nor relenteth
565
His brazen ravage; sith on him
Jove still bestoweth glory."
So spake he, and rejoic'd in heart
Athene, grey-ey'd goddess,
That unto her, of all the gods,
he prayer first had offer'd:
So she surpassing vigour breath'd
into his knees and shoulders.
Such hardihood as hath a fly,
which still to bite persisteth,
570
Tho' from the skin full oft repell'd;
(but blood of man it loveth ;)—
Such hardihood in him she pour'd
thro' all his gloomy spirit,
And on Patroclus hasting, he
with shining weapon darted.
Among the Troians Podes was,
a man both good and wealthy,
575
Offspring of prince Eëtion,
whom Hector of the people
Most honour'd; for to him he was
a comrade dear and messmate.
Him, seeking to escape by flight,
did auburn Menelaüs
Strike in the girdle: thro' and thro'
the brazen weapon hurried:
So with a crash he fell. Thereat
Atrides Menelaüs
580
Drew from the Troïans the corpse
unto his troop of comrades.
But, standing close to Hector's side,
Apollo like to Phænops,
Offspring of Asius, a man,
by princely-hearted Hector,
Of strangers, chiefly lov'd, who held
his dwelling at Abydus;
In such resemblance, spake to him
Apollo Far-averter :
585
"Who other of Achaians now
will ever dread thee, Hector?
This Menelaüs, who of yore
was but a tender spearman,
From his encounter shrinkest thou.
Now by his single prowess,
He in the foremost ranks hath slain
thy trusty comrade Podes,
Brave offspring of Eëtion,
and carried off his body."
590
So spake he, but a gloomy cloud
of grief enwrapt the hero,
And thro' the foremost ranks he rush'd,
arm'd with the flashing metal.
Thereon the son of Saturn took
his many-fringed ægis
All-sparkling, and in misty cloud
hid Ida, and with lightning
Sent forth terrific thunder-claps,
and shook the mighty mountain,
595
And puissance to the Troians gave,
but sore affray'd the Achaians.
Bœotian Penéleos
did first to flight betake him:
For while he forward alway mov'd,
a spear had struck his shoulder
With grazing wound:-Polydamas
had from short distance hurl'd it.
600
Next, Hector wounded on the wrist, and quell'd
the battle-vigour
Of Leïtus, whose father was
Alectryon highhearted.
Gazing around, he skulk'd to flee; for that
no longer hop'd he
To grasp a javelin in hand
against the Troian riot.
While Hector dash'd at Leïtus, — Idomeneus,
assailing,
605
Goaded with pointed javelin
the bosom of his corslet:
But in the shaft the long spear snapt: thereat
the Troians shouted;
And while the son of Deucalus
high on his car was standing,
At him did Hector fling the dart
in turn, and barely miss'd him.
It lighted upon Coeranus,
who, charioteer-attendant
610
Of Merion, had follow'd him
from nobly-builded Lyctus.
His leader, when he quitted first
the easy-steering galleys,
On foot proceeding, to the foe
had mighty vantage granted;
But quickly Coeranus drove up
the nimble-footed horses,
And came, unto his lord a light,
the ruthless moment warding,
615
But his own life the forfeit paid
to hero-slaying Hector.
Him struck the javelin betwixt
the ear and jaw: it shatter'd
His furthest teeth, and thro' mid
tongue drave on in forceful passage.
So from the chariot he dropt,
and shed on earth the bridles.
But in his own good hands full soon
Meriones regain'd them,
620
Low stooping to the ground; and thus
Idomeneus accosted:
"Ply now the scourge, till that thou reach
the swift-careering galleys;
For, well thou knowest, victory
no longer waits on Argos."
Upon the word, his captain lash'd
the glossy-coated horses
Back to the hollow ships: for, troth!
dread on his soul had fallen.
625
Nor hidden was from Menelas
and mighty-hearted Ajax,
That on the Troians Jove bestowed
conquest's recruited prowess.
Great Telamonian Ajax then
began discourse before them:
"Ye Spirits! open is the truth:
a simpleton may see it,
And know, the Troians holpen are
by Jove himself the Father.
630
For from the foeman every dart
doth hit, whoever aimeth,
Good or bad fighter: any gait
doth Jupiter address them:
But darts from our battalions fall
vain unto earth and fruitless.
But come, and ponder we ourselves,
what counsel may be wisest,—
Both to the galleys how to draw
the corpse; and how, in safety
635
Ourselves returning, joy to give
unto our loving comrades,
Who, hither looking, wounded are with grief;
nor deem that longer
The might and hands untractable
of hero-slaying Hector
May be withholden, but will rush
and gain the dusky galleys.
Now, might we some bold comrade find,
who speedily would carry
640
True message unto Peleus' son!
sith he as yet (I reckon)
Hath not the mournful tiding heard,
that his dear friend is perish'd.
Yet nowhere may I such a one
descry among the Achaians,
For in the welkin are enwrapt
themselves alike and horses.
Jove, Father! from the welkin-mist
Achaia's sons deliver!
645
Make open sky, and cheery sight
bestow upon our eyen:
And sith thy pleasure is to slay,
slay us in light of heaven."
So spake he; and the Father griev'd
to view him tear-beflooded.
Forthwith the welkin he dispers'd
and chas'd the mist of darkness,
And on them cheery shone the Sun,
unveiling all the battle.
650
To Menelaüs, good at need,
then Ajax spake entreaty:
"Jove-nurtur'd Menelas! look out,
if, yet alive, thou haply
Antilochus discover, son
of mighty-hearted Nestor.
Urge him in speed to wend his way
and bear the mournful errand
To skilful-hearted Achileus,
that his belov'd is perish'd."
655
Nor Menelaüs, good at need,
his bidding heard reluctant.
He hied upon his path, as hies
from the midyard a lion,
To pick the fattest of the kine
by dogs and men forbidden,
Who, all night watching, weary him,
tho' ravenous for booty.
660
Vain are his sallies: darts thick flung
from sturdy hands repel him,
And burning brands, which harry him,
howe'er his greed be whetted;
And in the morning, sorely griev'd
and empty, off he passeth:
So Menelaüs, good at need,
departed sore unwilling
665
From dead Patroclus. Dire his dread,
lest in the noisome panic
The Achaians leave him on the field,
a booty to the foeman.
And many a charge on Merion
and on the Ajaces laid he:
"Ajaces! ye, and Merion,
who leaders are to Argos!
Let all remember now how kind
and gentle was Patroclus,
670
Unhappy hero! Well he knew,
gracious to be to all men,
While yet alive: but now, alas!
do Death and Fate o'erhend him."
So auburn Menelaüs spake,
and with the word departed,
Gazing around on all sides, like
an eagle, who, of all things
That under heaven fly, they say,
to scan the earth is keenest;
675
Whose eye, when loftiest he hangs,
not the swift hare escapeth,
Lurking amid a leafclad bush;
but straight at it he souseth,
Unerring, and with crooked gripe
doth quickly rieve its spirit.
So then, Jove-nurtur'd Menelas!
of thee the glancing eyen
On every side did wander, mid
the troops of many comrades;
680
If haply might he yet alive
espy the son of Nestor.
Him speedily descried he, near
the left of all the battle,
Cheering the comrades at his side
and stirring them to combat.
Then standing near before his face,
spake auburn Menelaüs:
"Hither, Antilochus! I pray, — Jove-nurtur'd!
ah, I carry
685
To thee a mournful tiding, which
I would had no fulfilment!
Yet troth! I fancy thou thyself
on-looking dost already
Know, that the god on Danaï
anew disaster rolleth,
And Troians hold the puissance: slain
Achaia's bravest lieth,—
Patroclus; and to Danaï
bequeath'd is mighty sorrow.
690
But, speeding to the Achaian ships,
say shortly to Achilles,
If, sallying, he haply save
the corpse unto his galley,
All-naked; for the arms are won
by motley-helmed Hector."
So spake he; but Antilochus
the tiding heard and shudder'd.
Awhile dumb consternation stopt
his words, and drain'd the juices
695
Of his young throat: with bitter tears
brimful were both his eyen.
Nor, even so, neglected he
the charge of Menelaüs,
But hied to run, and gave his arms
unto a blameless comrade,
Laodocus, who alway wheel'd
his single-hoofed horses
Near to his side: but him in tears
his feet bare out of battle,
700
This evil tiding to announce
to Peleus' son Achilles.
Nor was thy spirit willing then,
Jove-nurtur'd Menelaüs!
Thy succour to the fainting bands
to give, from whom departed
Antilochus, a mighty loss
on Pylians entailing.
To them, for succour, left he none
but godlike Thrasymedes,
705
And to Patroclus, hero-chief,
himself again betook him,
Where, speeding to the Ajaces' side,
he instantly address'd them:
"Him have I forward sent, to reach
the swift-careering galleys,
And to Achilles fleet of foot
reveal it. Yet, I reckon,
Sally he will not yet, howe'er
enrag'd with godlike Hector:
710
For nowise may he, bare of arms,
do battle with the Troians.
We for ourselves must ponder well,
what counsel may be wisest;
Both, to the galleys how to draw
the corpse, — and how in safety
Ourselves to baffle Death and Doom,
the din of Troy escaping."
To him responsive spake thereon
great Telamonian Ajax:
715
"All this discreetly spoken is,
high-honour'd Menelaüs!
But quickly, thou and Merion,
beneath our hero stooping,
Lift up and from the broil bear off
his corpse; and we thereafter
Will, twain against the Troïans
and godlike Hector, combat, —
We, of a single name, who bear
a common heart, and, standing
720
Buckler by buckler heretofore,
endure the brunt of Ares."
So spake he: they obedient, in
arms the dead man clasping
Heav'd him aloft full mightily.
The Troian folk behind them
Yell'd fiercely, when they saw
the dead uplifted by the Achaians.
Then on they dash'd ahead; as hounds,
which on a boar that's wounded
725
Sally with eagerness awhile,
in front of youthful hunters;
But when, reliant on his might,
he turns to bay and standeth,
Sudden arrested, off they slink,
in diverse path retreating:
So too the Troïans, awhile
in troops did alway follow,
730
With swords and with twohanded
pikes against the foeman stabbing;
But often as the Ajaces twain
stood rallying across them,
So often chang'd their skin its hue,
and shiver'd; nor did any
Dare further to rush on, and try
new quarrel for the carcase.
So carried then the eager pair
the corpse from out the battle
735
Unto the smoothly hollow ships.
Behind them, savage contest
Flam'd ever broader; like to fire,
which, in a peopled city
Sudden arising, flareth high.
In its vast blaze the houses
Lessen and disappear; and it,
the force of wind enrageth:
So upon them, as on they march'd,
a roaring blaze of riot
740
Rush'd, alway swallowing their rear,
from steeds and spearmen heroes.
But they, as when a team of mules,
with stalwart effort plying,
Along a craggy-clifted path
may drag, adown a mountain,
Whether a beam or mighty mast
for galley-use; and toiling
Too much, their heart is worn away
at once by sweat and labour:
745
So, earnest, bare the twain away
the carcase: but behind them
The two Ajaces check'd the rush,
as may a mountain-buttress
The water check, if, wooded well,
across the plain it jutteth,
And bridleth merciless outgush
even of haughty rivers,
Balking their current of its will,
and on the plain assigning
750
Fit channel; nor may all their force
and all their flood o'erthrow it:
So alway did the Ajaces twain
hold off the Troian onset
Behind them. These did yet press on;
and two among them chiefly,
Æneias, Aphrodite's child,
and motley-helmed Hector.
Meanwhile the Achaians, as in plump
a cloud of daws or starlings
755
With ghastly skirling shoot aloft,
when they espy before them
The hawk, who with the little birds
blood-controversy holdeth:
So then the Achaian youth, pursued
by Hector and Æneias,
With ghastly skirling troop'd away,
of hero-glee forgetful.
And many beauteous arms were lost
within the moat or round it,
760
While as the Danaï withdrew:
yet was no pause of battle.
_Flaxman_Ilias_1795,_Zeichnung_1793,_188_x_344_mm.jpg){kind=link}