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1 Now when they came to the ford of the full-flowing river Xanthos , begotten of immortal Zeus, Achilles cut their forces in two: one half he chased over the plain towards the city by the same way that the Achaeans had taken when fleeing panic-stricken on the preceding day with Hektor in full triumph; this way did they flee pell-mell, and Hera sent down a thick mist in front of them to stay them. The other half were hemmed in by the deep silver-eddying stream, and fell into it with a great uproar. The waters resounded, and the banks rang again, as they swam hither and thither with loud cries amid the whirling eddies. As locusts flying to a river before the blast of a grass fire- the flame comes on and on till at last it overtakes them and they huddle into the water - even so was the eddying stream of Xanthos filled with the uproar of men and horses, all struggling in confusion before Achilles.

17 Forthwith the hero left his spear upon the bank, leaning it against a tamarisk bush, and plunged into the river like a daimôn, armed with his sword only. Fell was his purpose as he hewed the Trojans down on every side. Their dying groans rose hideous as the sword smote them, and the river ran red with blood. As when fish flee scared before a huge dolphin, and fill every nook and corner of some fair haven - for he is sure to eat all he can catch - even so did the Trojans cower under the banks of the mighty river, and when Achilles' arms grew weary with killing them,

27 he drew twelve youths alive out of the water, to sacrifice in revenge for Patroklos son of Menoitios. He drew them out like dazed fawns, bound their hands behind them with the belts of their own shirts, and gave them over to his men to take back to the ships. Then he sprang into the river, thirsting for still further blood.

34 There he found Lykaon, son of Priam seed of Dardanos , as he was escaping out of the water; he it was whom he had once taken prisoner when he was in his father's vineyard, having set upon him by night, as he was cutting young shoots from a wild fig-tree to make the wicker sides of a chariot. Achilles then caught him to his sorrow unawares, and sent him by sea to Lemnos , where the son of Jason bought him. But a guest-friend, Eetion of Imbros, freed him with a great sum, and sent him to Arisbe, whence he had escaped and returned to his father's house. He had spent eleven days happily with his friends after he had come from Lemnos , but on the twelfth heaven again delivered him into the hands of Achilles, who was to send him to the house of Hades sorely against his will. He was unarmed when Achilles caught sight of him, and had neither helmet nor shield; nor yet had he any spear, for he had thrown all his armor from him on to the bank, and was sweating with his struggles to get out of the river, so that his strength was now failing him.

54 Then Achilles said to himself in his surprise, "What marvel do I see here? If this man can come back alive after having been sold over into Lemnos , I shall have the Trojans also whom I have slain rising from the world below. Could not even the waters of the gray sea [pontos] imprison him, as they do many another whether he will or no? This time let him taste my spear, that I may know for certain whether mother earth who can keep even a strong man down, will be able to hold him, or whether thence too he will return."

64 Thus did he pause and ponder. But Lykaon came up to him dazed and trying hard to embrace his knees, for he would fain live, not die. Achilles thrust at him with his spear, meaning to kill him, but Lykaon ran crouching up to him and caught his knees, whereby the spear passed over his back, and stuck in the ground, hungering though it was for blood. With one hand he caught Achilles' knees as he besought him, and with the other he clutched the spear and would not let it go. Then he said, "Achilles, have mercy upon me and spare me, for I am your suppliant. It was in your tents that I first broke bread on the day when you took me prisoner in the vineyard; after which you sold away to Lemnos far from my father and my friends, and I brought you the price of a hundred oxen. I have paid three times as much to gain my freedom; it is but twelve days that I have come to Ilion after much suffering, and now cruel fate has again thrown me into your hands. Surely father Zeus must hate me, that he has given me over to you a second time. Short of life indeed did my mother Laothoe bear me, daughter of aged Altes - of Altes who reigns over the warlike Leleges and holds steep Pedasos on the river Satnioeis. Priam married his daughter along with many other women and two sons were born of her, both of whom you will have slain. Your spear slew noble Polydoros as he was fighting in the front ranks, and now evil will here befall me, for I fear that I shall not escape you since a daimôn has delivered me over to you. Furthermore I say, and lay my saying to your heart, spare me, for I am not of the same womb as Hektor who slew your brave and noble comrade."

97 With such words did the princely son of Priam beseech Achilles; but Achilles answered him sternly. "Idiot," said he, "talk not to me of ransom. Until Patroklos fell I preferred to give the Trojans quarter, and sold beyond the sea many of those whom I had taken alive; but now not a man shall live of those whom heaven delivers into my hands before the city of Ilion -

104 and of all Trojans it shall fare hardest with the sons of Priam. Therefore, my friend, you too shall die. Why should you whine in this way? Patroklos fell, and he was a better man than you are. I too - see you not how I am great and goodly? I am son to a noble father, and have a goddess for my mother, but the hands of doom and death overshadow me all as surely. The day will come, either at dawn or dark, or at the noontide, when one shall take my life also in battle, either with his spear, or with an arrow sped from his bow."

Iliad. Homer. Samuel Butler (Translator). London. 1898.

Current edition Perseus

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

Editions (1)

Ἰλιάς Perseus (Homer. Homeri Opera, Volumes 1-2. Monro, D. B. (David Binning), editor; Allen, Thomas W. (Thomas William), editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1908-1920.) — 21.1 focus

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πόρον ἷξον ἐϋρρεῖος ποταμοῖο

Ξάνθου δινήεντος, ὃν ἀθάνατος τέκετο Ζεύς,

ἔνθα διατμήξας τοὺς μὲν πεδίον δὲ δίωκε

πρὸς πόλιν, ᾗ περ Ἀχαιοὶ ἀτυζόμενοι φοβέοντο

ἤματι τῷ προτέρῳ, ὅτε μαίνετο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ·

τῇ ῥʼ οἵ γε προχέοντο πεφυζότες, ἠέρα δʼ Ἥρη

πίτνα πρόσθε βαθεῖαν ἐρυκέμεν· ἡμίσεες δὲ

ἐς ποταμὸν εἰλεῦντο βαθύρροον ἀργυροδίνην,

ἐν δʼ ἔπεσον μεγάλῳ πατάγῳ, βράχε δʼ αἰπὰ ῥέεθρα,

ὄχθαι δʼ ἀμφὶ περὶ μεγάλʼ ἴαχον· οἳ δʼ ἀλαλητῷ

ἔννεον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα ἑλισσόμενοι περὶ δίνας.

ὡς δʼ ὅθʼ ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς πυρὸς ἀκρίδες ἠερέθονται

φευγέμεναι ποταμὸν δέ· τὸ δὲ φλέγει ἀκάματον πῦρ

ὄρμενον ἐξαίφνης, ταὶ δὲ πτώσσουσι καθʼ ὕδωρ·

ὣς ὑπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος Ξάνθου βαθυδινήεντος

πλῆτο ῥόος κελάδων ἐπιμὶξ ἵππων τε καὶ ἀνδρῶν.

αὐτὰρ ὃ διογενὴς δόρυ μὲν λίπεν αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ ὄχθῃ

κεκλιμένον μυρίκῃσιν, ὃ δʼ ἔσθορε δαίμονι ἶσος

φάσγανον οἶον ἔχων, κακὰ δὲ φρεσὶ μήδετο ἔργα,

τύπτε δʼ ἐπιστροφάδην· τῶν δὲ στόνος ὄρνυτʼ ἀεικὴς

ἄορι θεινομένων, ἐρυθαίνετο δʼ αἵματι ὕδωρ.

ὡς δʼ ὑπὸ δελφῖνος μεγακήτεος ἰχθύες ἄλλοι

φεύγοντες πιμπλᾶσι μυχοὺς λιμένος εὐόρμου

δειδιότες· μάλα γάρ τε κατεσθίει ὅν κε λάβῃσιν·

ὣς Τρῶες ποταμοῖο κατὰ δεινοῖο ῥέεθρα

πτῶσσον ὑπὸ κρημνούς. ὃ δʼ ἐπεὶ κάμε χεῖρας ἐναίρων,

ζωοὺς ἐκ ποταμοῖο δυώδεκα λέξατο κούρους

ποινὴν Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο θανόντος·

τοὺς ἐξῆγε θύραζε τεθηπότας ἠΰτε νεβρούς,

δῆσε δʼ ὀπίσσω χεῖρας ἐϋτμήτοισιν ἱμᾶσι,

τοὺς αὐτοὶ φορέεσκον ἐπὶ στρεπτοῖσι χιτῶσι,

δῶκε δʼ ἑταίροισιν κατάγειν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.

αὐτὰρ ὃ ἂψ ἐπόρουσε δαϊζέμεναι μενεαίνων.

Translations (8)

Iliad Perseus (Homer. The Iliad, Volume 1-2. Murray, A. T. (Augustus Taber), translator. London: William Heinmann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1924-1925.) — 21.1 focus

1 But when they were now come to the ford of the fair-flowing river, even eddying Xanthus that immortal Zeus begat, there Achilles cleft them asunder, and the one part he drave to the plain toward the city, even where the Achaeans were fleeing in rout 5 the day before, what time glorious Hector was raging—thitherward poured forth some in rout, and Hera spread before them a thick mist to hinder them; but the half of them were pent into the deep-flowing river with its silver eddies. Therein they flung themselves with a great din, and the sheer-falling streams resounded, 10 and the banks round about rang loudly; and with noise of shouting swam they this way and that, whirled about in the eddies. And as when beneath the onrush of fire locusts take wing to flee unto a river, and the unwearied fire burneth them with its sudden oncoming, and they shrink down into the water; 15 even so before Achilles was the sounding stream of deep-eddying Xanthus filled confusedly with chariots and with men. But the Zeus-begotten left there his spear upon the bank, leaning against the tamarisk bushes, and himself leapt in like a god with naught but his sword; and grim was the work he purposed in his heart, and turning him this way 20 and that he smote and smote; and from them uprose hideous groaning as they were smitten with the sword, and the water grew red with blood. And as before a dolphin, huge of maw, other fishes flee and fill the nooks of some harbour of fair anchorage in their terror, for greedily doth he devour whatsoever one he catcheth; 25 even so cowered the Trojans in the streams of the dread river beneath the steep banks. And he, when his hands grew weary of slaying, chose twelve youths alive from out the river as blood-price for dead Patroclus, son of Menoetius. These led he forth dazed like fawns, 30 and bound their hands behind them with shapely thongs, which they themselves wore about their pliant tunics, and gave them to his comrades to lead to the hollow ships. Then himself he sprang back again, full eager to slay.

English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Butler, rev. Nagy et al., 2020)) — 21.1 focus

Now when they came to the ford of the full-flowing river Xanthos, begotten of immortal Zeus, Achilles cut their forces in two: one half he chased over the plain towards the city by the same way that the Achaeans had taken when fleeing panic-stricken [5] on the preceding day with glorious Hector in full triumph; this way did they flee pell-mell, and Hera sent down a thick mist in front of them to stay them. The other half were hemmed in by the deep silver-eddying stream, [10] and fell into it with a great uproar. The waters resounded, and the banks rang again, as they swam hither and thither with loud cries amid the whirling eddies. As locusts flying to a river before the blast of a grass fire—the flame comes on and on till at last it overtakes them and they huddle into the water— [15] even so was the eddying stream of Xanthos filled with the uproar of men and horses, all struggling in confusion before Achilles.

Right then and there the heaven-descended hero left his spear upon the bank, leaning it against a tamarisk bush, and plunged into the river like a superhuman force [ daimōn], armed with his sword only. Fell was his purpose as he hewed the Trojans down on every side. [20] Their dying groans rose hideous as the sword smote them, and the river ran red with blood. As when fish flee scared before a huge dolphin, and fill every nook and corner of some fair haven—for he is sure to eat all he can catch— [25] even so did the Trojans cower under the banks of the mighty river, and when Achilles’ arms grew weary with killing them, he drew twelve youths alive out of the water, to sacrifice in revenge for Patroklos, son of Menoitios. He drew them out like dazed fawns, [30] bound their hands behind them with the belts of their own khitons, and gave them over to his men to take back to the ships. Then he sprang into the river, thirsting for still further blood.

English (William Cullen Bryant, 1870) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cullen Bryant, 1870)) — 21.1 focus

NOW when they reached the pleasant banks through which

The eddying Xanthus runs, the river sprung

From deathless Jove, Achilles drave his foes

Asunder. Part he chased across the plain

Townward, along the way by which the Greeks

In terror fled the day before, pursued

By glorious Hector. Panic-struck they ran

Along that way, while, to restrain their flight,

Before them Juno hung a veil of cloud

And darkness. Meanwhile half the flying crowd

Leaped down to that deep stream and rolled among

Its silver eddies. With a mighty noise

They plunged; the torrent dashed; the banks around

Remurmured shrilly to the cries of those

Who floated struggling in the current's whirl,

As when before the fierce, devouring flames

A swarm of locusts, springing into air,

Fly toward a river, while the fire behind

Crackles with sudden fierceness, and in fright

They fall into the waves, the roaring stream

Of the deep-eddied Xanthus thus was filled

Before Achilles with a mingled crowd

Of steeds and men. The Jove-descended man

Left leaning on the tamarisks his spear

Upon the river's border, and leaped in,

Armed only with his sword, intent to deal

Death on the fugitives; on every side

He smote, and from the smitten by the sword

Rose lamentable cries; the waves around

Grew crimson with their blood. As when before

A dolphin of huge bulk the fishes flee

In fear, and crowd the creeks that lie around

The sheltered haven, - for their foe devours

All that he overtakes, - the Trojans thus

Hid from his sight among the hollow rocks

Beside the rushing river. When his hand

Was weary with the work of death, he took

Twelve youths alive, whose blood was yet to pay

The penalty for Menœtiades,

His slaughtered friend. He led them from the stream,

Passive with fear like fawns, and tied their hands

Behind them with the well-twined cords that bound

Their tunics. Then he gave them to his friends,

Who led the captives to the roomy ships.

English (Alexander Pope, 1720, ed. Watson, 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Alexander Pope, 1720, ed. Watson, 1857)) — 21.1 focus

AND now to Xanthus' gliding stream they drove,

Xanthus, immortal progeny of Jove.

The river here divides the flying train:

Part to the town fly diverse o'er the plain,

Where late their troops triumphant bore the fight,

Now chas'd and trembling in ignoble flight:

(These with a gather'd mist Saturnia shrouds,

And rolls behind the rout a heap of clouds;)

Part plunge into the stream: old Xanthus roars;

The flashing billows beat the whiten'd shores:

With cries promiscuous all the banks resound,

And here and there, in eddies whirling round,

The flouncing steeds and shrieking warriors drown'd.

As the scorch'd locusts from their fields retire,

While fast behind them runs the blaze of fire;

Driven from the land before the smoky cloud,

The clustering legions rush into the flood:

So plunged in Xanthus by Achilles' force,

Roars the resounding surge with men and horse.

His bloody lance the hero casts aside,

(Which spreading tamarisks on the margin hide,)

Then, like a god, the rapid billows braves,

Arm'd with his sword, high brandish'd o'er the waves;

Now down he plunges, now he whirls it round,

Deep groan the waters with the dying sound;

Repeated wounds the reddening river dyed,

And the warm purple circled on the tide.

Swift through the foamy flood the Trojans fly,

And close in rocks or winding caverns lie:

So the huge dolphin tempesting the main,

In shoals before him fly the scaly train;

Confus'dly heap'd, they seek their inmost caves,

Or pant and heave beneath the floating waves.

English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Hobbes, 1667, ed. Molesworth 1843)) — 21.1 focus

WHEN to the river Xanthus they were come,

The Trojans at the ford half of them pass'd,

And on the highway fled to Ilium;

The other leapt into the stream for haste,

And with the winding flood there swimming strive.

As locusts, when by sudden tier sprung,

In swarms into the river fly and dive;

So they themselves into Scamander flung,

And filled was the stream with horse and men.

Achilles on the bank-side left his spear,

Set up on end against a tree; and then

Achilles leapt in with his sword ; and there

He kill'd as fast as he could turn and strike,

And with their blood the stream was dyed red.

And grievous 'twas to hear them groan and shriek,

That in the flood were by him massacred.

As when the dolphins in a river are,

The other fish scud to the banks in shoals,

So did it with the swimming Trojans fare;

They fled to th' banks, and hid themselves in holes.

And twelve of them alive Achilles took,

And with their girdles hands behind them bound,

Then caus'd them to be led out of the brook,

And to the ships conveyed safe and sound,

To slay them at Patroclus' funeral.

Then from the river out he came again,

English (George Chapman, 1611, ed. Hooper 1857) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (George Chapman, 1611, ed. Hooper 1857)) — 21.1 focus

AND now they reach'd the goodly swelling channel of the flood,

Gulf-eating Xanthus, whom Jove mix'd with his immortal brood;

And there Achilles cleft the host of Ilion. One side fell

On Xanthus, th' other on the town, and that did he impel

The same way that the last day's rage put all the Greeks in rout,

When Hector's fury reign'd; these now Achilles pour'd about,

The scatter'd field. To stay the flight, Saturnia cast before

Their hasty feet a standing fog, and then flight's violence bore

The other half full on the flood. The silver-gulfed deep

Receiv'd them with a mighty cry, the billows vast and steep

Roar'd at their armours, which the shores did round about resound.

This way and that they swum, and shriek'd as in the gulfs they drown'd.

And as in fir'd fields locusts rise, as the unwearied blaze

Plies still their rising, till in swarms all rush as in amaze

For 'scape into some neighbour flood; so th' Achilleian stroke

Here drave the foe, the gulfy flood with men and horse did choke.

Then on the shore the Worthy hid and left his horrid lance

Amids the tamarisks, and sprite-like did with his sword advance

Up to the river; ill affairs took up his furious brain

For Troy's engagements; every way he doubled slain on slain.

A most unmanly noise was made, with those he put to sword,

Of groans and outcries. The flood blush'd to be so much engor'd

With such base souls. And as small fish the swift-finn'd dolphin fly,

Filling the deep pits in the ports, on whose close strength they lie,

And there he swallows them in shoals; so here, to rocks and holes

About the flood, the Trojans fled, and there most lost their souls,

Even till he tir'd his slaught'rous arm. Twelve fair young princes then

He chose of all to take alive, to have them freshly slain

On that most solemn day of wreak resolv'd on for his friend.

These led he trembling forth the flood, as fearful of their end

As any hind calves. All their hands he pinioned behind

With their own girdles worn upon their rich weeds, and resign'd

Their persons to his Myrmidons to bear to fleet; and he

Plung'd in the stream again to take more work of tragedy.

English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (William Cowper, 1791, ed. Southey)) — 21.1 focus

BUT when they came, at length, where Xanthus winds

His stream vortiginous from Jove derived,

There, separating Ilium's host, he drove

Part o'er the plain to Troy in the same road

By which the Greecians had so lately fled

The fury of illustrious Hector's arm.

That way they fled pouring themselves along

Flood-like, and Juno, to retard them, threw

Darkness as night before them. Other part,

Push'd down the sides of Xanthus, headlong plunged

With dashing sound into his dizzy stream,

And all his banks re-echoed loud the roar.

They, struggling, shriek'd in silver eddies whirl'd.

As when, by violence of fire expell'd,

Locusts uplifted on the wing escape

To some broad river, swift the sudden blaze

Pursues them, they, astonish'd, strew the flood,

So, by Achilles driven, a mingled throng

Of horses and of warriors overspread

Xanthus, and glutted all his sounding course.

He, chief of heroes, leaving on the bank

His spear against a tamarisk reclined

Plunged like a God, with faulchion arm'd alone,

But fill'd with thoughts of havoc. On all sides

Down came his edge; groans follow'd dread to hear

Of warriors smitten by the sword, and all

The waters as they ran redden'd with blood.

As smaller fishes, flying the pursuit

Of some huge dolphin, terrified, the creeks

And secret hollows of a haven fill,

For none of all that he can seize he spares,

So lurk'd the trembling Trojans in the caves

Of Xanthus' awful flood. But He (his hands

Wearied at length with slaughter) from the rest

Twelve youths selected whom to death he doom'd,

In vengeance for his loved Patroclus slain.

Them stupified with dread like fawns he drove

Forth from the river, manacling their hands

Behind them fast with their own tunic-strings,

And gave them to his warrior train in charge.

Then, ardent still for blood, rushing again

English (F. W. Newman, 1856) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (F. W. Newman, 1856)) — 21 focus

BOOK XXI

But when unto the ford they reach'd of the fairstreaming river,

Xanthus much-eddying, to whom immortal Jove was father,

Then were the Troians split in twain: and some toward the city

Fled in disorder, scatter'd o'er the plain, whereat the Achaians

Were on the yester scar'd to flight, when gallant Hector raged:

And in their faces Juno pour'd thick mist, to stay their hurry.

Others the silver-eddying, deepflowing river thwarted.

Then in, with mighty dash, they plung'd; & the dread streams resounded;

The banks beside it echoed high; and they, with countless hurly,

Hither and thither swam about, borne by the whirling water.

As when, the force of flame to shun, the locusts, high in heaven

Flitting, toward a river speed, if fire unweary blazeth

Uprisen suddenly; and they, fall fended on the water:

So then, beneath Achilles' force, with mingled men and horses

The noisy stream deep-eddying of Xanthus was confounded.

The Joveborn hero then his spear beside the bank abandon'd,

On tamarisks supported: he, like to a mighty Spirit,

Leapt in, with sword alone in hand, and dire achievement plotted,

Slashing them right and left: but they, struck by the sword, responded

With groan distressful: all around, with blood the stream was redden'd.

As other fishes flee away before some grampus-dolphin,

And round a harbour's mooring-ground fill all the snug recesses,

In terror; for he verily, whome'er he catcheth, eateth:

So on the dreadful river's flood beneath the banks o'erhanging

The Troians shelter'd them. But he, when weariness of carnage

Seiz'd him, from out the river pick'd twelve living sons of Troians,

A forfeit for Patroclus dead unto Patroclus' father.

These from the water led he forth, aghast and panic-stricken

Like fawns, and with the wellcut thongs, which they themselves did carry

Upon their twisted vests, with these he bound their hands behind them

And bade his comrades them conduct unto the hollow galleys.

Then to the river back he sped, in frantic rage of slaughter.

And there did he Lycaon meet, son of Dardanid Priam,

From out the river fleeing; whom once from his father's orchard

Himself by nightly ambuscade had captur'd sore unwilling:

Who from a figtree wild would hew with the sharp axe new branches

For chariot-rim; but on him came a mischief all-unlooked-for,

Divine Achilles; who thereon at wellbuilt Lemnos sold him

Carried on shipboard; but the son of Jason made the purchase.

Thence by a vast redemption-price Eëtion of Imbros,

A stranger, ransom'd him, and sent unto divine Arisba;

Whence he by stealthy journeys came and reach'd his father's mansion.

There for eleven days alone he with his proper kinsmen

Rejoic'd, from Lemnos safe return'd; but on the twelfth did Fortune

Cast him within Achilles' reach again; who now was destin'd

To send him on unwilling feet dark Aïdes to visit.

Nor helm nor buckler guarded him: he on the ground had cast them,

As eke his spear: for-that the toil to struggle from the river

Distress'd him, and his knees subdued. Thereat divine Achilles

Saw him, and sore indignant spake to his own haughty spirit:

"Ye Spirits! now these eyen see in truth a mighty marvel.

The mighty-hearted Troïans, methinketh, whom I slaughter'd,

Will surely rise again to life from under murky darkness

As this man now return'd I see, his cruel day escaping,

Whom I at heav'nly Lemnos sold; nor that which many holdeth

Unwilling, him avail'd to keep,— the breadth of hoary ocean.

Come! of our spear then shall he taste the point: whereby my bosom

May learn, if back he still will come even from thence; or whether

Lifegiving Earth, who holdeth fast the stalwart, safe shall keep him."

So, as he waited, boil'd his heart; but nearer drew Lycaon,

Aghast, and shuddering to meet black fate and sad destruction.

So when divine Achilles rais'd the lengthy spear to pierce him,

He stoop'd and eager ran beneath, and clasp'd his knees imploring.

Over his back the spear was fix'd, athirst for glut of carnage.

Then he with one hand caught the spear, and held it; with the other

Touching his knees as suppliant, did winged accents utter:

"Achilles! lo! thy knees I touch: show reverence and pity:

In rank of sacred suppliant am I with thee, Jove-nurtur'd!

For I beside thee, days agone, the flour of Ceres tasted,

When, in the wellwall'd orchard caught, apart from friends and father,

And unto heav'nly Lemnos sent, — a hundred beeves I fetch'd thee.

Three times as much my ransom cost; and now twelve times the morning

Hath dawn'd, sithence to Ilium I came, from much disaster.

But to thy hands hath deadly Doom restor'd me: Jove the Father,

I ween, must hate me: soon to die, alas! my mother bare me.

My mother is Laothoë, daughter of aged Altes;

Altes, who, o'er the Leleges warloving, holdeth lordship,

Dwelling in lofty Pedasus, on Satniois fairstreaming.

His daughter, her did Priam wed, as also many others

From her we twain were born; and thou wilt both her children slaughter.

Among the foremost infantry hast thou but lately vanquish'd

The godlike Polydorus, whom with pointed spear thou slewest.

On me now cometh woe likewise; for scarcely may I reckon

Again to scape thy hands, to which some heav'nly Fate hath brought me.

But one thing will I say; and thou within thy bosom cast it:

Spare me, sith as I was not born of the same womb as Hector,

The man who slew thy comrade dear, so gentle and so stalwart."

So then did Priam's gallant son address divine Achilles

With words of rueful suppliance: but ruthlessly he answer'd:

"No ransom now to me set forth, thou simpleton! nor argue.

For once, — ere that his day of doom Patroclus overhended, —

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So long, my heart more pleasure had to spare the lives of Troians,

Nor lov'd their carnage: many then I took alive, and sold them.

But now in front of Ilium whome'er the god entrusteth

Into my hands, no longer one would I except from slaughter

Of all the Troians; most of all, not one of Priam's children.

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But come, my friend! die also thou. Why thus to wailing yieldest?

Dead also is Patroclus, who than thee was greatly better.

Behold me, what a man am I, how comely and majestic!

Me did a noble sire beget; a goddess mother bare me.

Yet even upon me will Death and Destiny resistless

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Come in midday or afternoon or haply in the morning,

When some one shall from mé alsó in battle rieve my spirit,

Whether the spearthrow strike me down, or arrow from the bowstring."

By such address Lycaon's knees and tender heart were palsied.

Loosing the spear, he sat him down, and both his hands expanded:

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Achilles, opposite, drew forth his two-edg'd sword, and plung'd it

Deep in the bottom of the neck: there the whole weapon enter'd:

So headlong dropt he, stretch'd on earth, which stream'd with gory dark-

Him by the foot Achilles seiz'd, and toss'd him to the current, [ness.

And vaunting o'er him in harangue, did winged accents utter:

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"Thither amid the fishes lie: they shall from out thy gashes

Lick unconcern'd the blood: but ne'er thy mother shall compose thee

Upon the pallet, wailing thee; but eddying Scamander

Shall bear thee on his waters tost to ocean's vasty bosom.

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The whiteness of Lycaon's fat some fish shall seize as fodder,

Who, fretted by the bristling gloom, amid the billow springeth.

Perish ye all, till, — ye in flight, and I behind you routing,—

We reach to sacred Ilium: nor shall your flood avail you,

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Fairstreaming, silver-eddying; tho' many bulls ye yield him,

Victims, and in his current drown live single-hoofed horses.

Deal as ye may, you evil fate awaiteth, till ye throughly

Pay forfeit for Patroclus dead and for Achaian carnage,

Which, in my absence, late ye made, beside our outmost galleys."

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When thus he spake, the River-god was more in heart embitter'd,

And ponder'd in his boiling soul, how might he quell from effort

Divine Achilles, and from bale the Troïans deliver.

Meanwhile Pelides, holding forth his spear with lengthy shadow,

Frantic for carnage, onward leapt against Asteropæus;

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(Whose father Pélegon was son of that broadstreaming river,

Deep-whirling Axius; — to him had Periboia borne him,

Whose sire was Akesámenus, and she his eldest daughter.)

On him Achilles rush'd; but he confronting mid the river

Stood forth, with double spear in hand; for, Xanthus in his bosom

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Put courage; sith he wrathful was for callants slain in combat,

Whom Achileus unpitying amid the stream did mangle.

When they to nearer distance came, advancing each on other,

Divine Achilles, fleet of foot, was earlier to greet him:

"Who art thou, whence, — of mortals? thou, who darest to confront me?

150

And troth! unhappy are the sires, whose sons my force encounter."

The gallant son of Pelegon to him then spake an answer:

"Why askest thou my origin, high-hearted son of Peleus?

From loamy-soil'd Pæonia I come, a distant country,—

Leading long-spear'd Pæonians; and now the eleventh morning

155

Hath dawn'd, sithence to Ilium we have the march completed.

Myself, I claim my origin from Axius broad-flowing;

From Axius, whose stream of all is daintiest to mortals.

For, spear-renowned Pelegon, his son, they call my father.

So much of this: but now in turn, gallant Achilles! Fight we."

160

So spake he threatening: thereat great Achileus uplifted

The ashen shaft of Pelion; but both his spears the hero

Asteropæus flung at once; for doubly was he dextrous.

So with the one he frontwise hit the buckler of Achilles,

Nor thro' might pierce it: for, the gold, gift of the god, repell'd him:

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By the right elbow, grazing pass'd the other: dark blood spouted

Out of the wound: but it in earth was fix'd, athirst for carnage.

Next, his straightflying ashen shaft Achilles, keen for slaughter,

Against his foeman hurl'd, but miss'd: the lofty bank receiv'd it:

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Full half its length imbedded was. Then with the sword Achilles

Leapt eager on him: he meanwhile with might of sinew struggled

From the o'erhanging bank to tug Achilles' ashen weapon.

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Thrice did he hurtle it in vain; the fourth time, sought to break it:

Too late: for first Achilles' sword had stabb'd him in the navel.

He gasp'd in carnage hideous, and darkness veil'd his eyen.

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The foe then, tramping on his breast, with vaunting speech address'd him:

"Lie as thou art. 'Tis hard for thee to strive against the children

Of overmatching Saturn's son, tho' offspring of a River.

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Thou boastest, that thy origin is from a stream broad-flowing;

I boast, from mighty Jupiter to trace my first beginning.

A man, who o'er the Myrmidons hold wide rule, begat me,

Peleus; whose father Æacus by Jupiter was gotten.

Rivers, that trickle to the sea, than Jupiter are weaker;

190

So, than the progeny of Jove, weaker a River's offspring.

Yea, if he aught avail'd to help, behold! a mighty River

Beside thee here: but none can fight with Jove, the child of Saturn.

Not royal Acheloïus with him may play the equal,

Nor e'en the ample-bosom'd strength of deeply-flowing Ocean;

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Tho' from his fulness every Sea and every River welleth,

And all the everbubbling springs, and eke their vasty sources.

Yet at the lightning-bolt of Jove doth even Ocean shudder,

And at the direful thunder-clap, when from the sky it crasheth."

He spake, and from the bank upright pluck'd forth the brazen weapon,

200

And left the vanquish'd on the sands, by the dark water wetted;

There eels and fishes busy were, his kidney-fat to nibble.

The horsetail-crested Pæones, amid the whirling current,

205

His comrades, shudder'd to behold, in shock of hardy struggle,

By hands and sword of Peleus' son their leader stoutly slaughter'd.

These next Achilles chas'd, and slew Thersilochus and Mydon,

Astypylus and Thrasius, Mnesus and Ophelestes,

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And Ænius. Then more besides of Pæones had fallen

By swift Achilles; but in wrath the deeply-whirling River,

Like to a man, with human voice call'd out from his abysses:

"Achilles! signal is thy force, and horrible thy dealing,

As man to men: for aye to thee the gods themselves are helpers.

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If Saturn's child hath granted thee all Troïans to slaughter,

Out of my channels on the plain achieve thy work illomen'd.

For lo! with carcases are chok'd my lovely streams already,

Nor able am I, by their mass fill'd up, to pour my current

Into the briny flood divine: too reckless is thy fury.

220

Enough! in sooth aghast am I, O captain of the peoples."

But him Achilles, fleet of foot, address'd with words responsive:

"Scamander! O Jove-nurtur'd! all shall be, as eke thou biddest.

Only, I may not cease to slay these overweening Troians,

Ere that I hem them in their walls, and force to force with Hector

225

Try, whether of us twain shall be in deadly feud the stronger."

He spake, and on the Troians rush'd, like to a mighty Spirit.

Thereat to prince Apollo spake the deeply-whirling River:

"Ye Spirits! oh thou child of Jove, lord of the silver arrows!

Little hast thou the counsel kept of Saturn's son, who urgent

230

Charg'd thee the Troïans to aid and rescue, till the evening,

Late spreading in the Western sky, the loamy Earth o'ershadow."

He spake: but, rushing from the brink, the spear-renown'd Achilles

Leapt in the midst: and after him Xanthus with billow raving

Pursued, and all his streams bestirr'd, and toss'd aside the corpses,

235

Which in thick numbers round about lay, by Achilles slaughter'd;

These cast he forth, hoarse bellowing, and in his dainty currents

Rescued the living, hiding them within his vast abysses.

Then round Achilles dreadfully uprose the curling billow,

240

And, dashing on his shield, the stream assail'd him; nor avail'd he

His feet to steady. He thereon an elm wellgrown and lofty

Grasp'd, and upwrench'd it, stem and root, and all the bank around it.

Across with branches thick it fell, and bridg'd the dainty waters.

245

Then from the depth the hero rush'd, with nimble feet upspringing

Over the plain to fly, in fear. Nor did the River's onset

Yet cease; but rose with darkling crests against divine Achilles,

To quell his effort, and from bale the Troïans to rescue.

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But he a spearthrow onward shot, like to the dusky eagle,

That hunter, who of feather'd wights is doughtiest and fleetest:

With such a rush Pelides sped, and horrid was the rattle

Of brass upon his bosom. He, the billow's force evading,

255

Fled; but the water-god behind pursued with mighty riot.

As when a channel-delving man from some dark source of waters

Doth with his spade a rill conduct amid the plants and gardens,

Clearing the gutter of the clods; and, as it onward floweth,

260

The pebbles noisily are dash'd; but it with rapid ripple

Trickleth adown the slope, and e'en outstrippeth its conductor:

So did the surges of the stream alway o'erhend Achilles,

Albeit swift was he: but gods are mightier than mortals.

Oft as, reliant on his feet, he turn'd for onset, trying

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If all immortals be his foes, who habit ample heaven;

So oft above his shoulders dash'd the Jove-descended river

With mighty billow. Vainly he, distraught in bosom, bounded

With flying feet aloft; for still the river, greedy sweeping,

270

Out-tir'd his knees, and from his feet lick'd up the dust beneath him.

Then, gazing to the vasty sky, the son of Peleus groaned:

"Oh father Jove! of all the gods doth none in pity save me

From river-outrage? afterward, let aught, that may, befal me.

Of the celestials none else so much to me is guilty,

275

Save my beloved mother, who with falsehood aye bewitch'd me,

Saying (forsooth) before the wall of tight-accoutred Troians

I should beneath the gliding shafts of prince Apollo perish.

Might Hector slay me, who of all is here the bravest nurtur'd!

Then valorous the victor were, and valorous the vanquish'd.

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But now by gramsome overthrow doth Destiny o'erhend me,

Caught by the river's might, as tho' some stripling of a swineherd,

Whom, crossing in the winter-rain, a brook may sweep to ruin."

He spake: then quickly at his side stood Neptune and Athene

285

In mortal semblance: hand to hand enclasp'd, their truth they plighted.

And Neptune, shaker of the Earth, did first begin discourses:

"Pelides! be not sore dismay'd, nor yield too much to terror.

Lo! what reserves of war we twain, both I and maid Athene,

Come from Olympus to thy side, by Jupiter's approval.

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Nor, to be vanquish'd by a Stream, for thee was ever fated:

But quickly will his power cease, and thou thyself shalt know it.

And if to us thou listen, we will canny counsel give thee,

Not earlier to stay thy hands from all-destroying battle,

Till thou the Troian people coop, — whoe'er of them escape thee, —

295

To Ilium's renowned walls: then must thou vanquish Hector

And to the ships return: ourselves, to earn this glory, grant thee."

After such word, departed they to join the gods immortal.

But he, (for so the charge divine was urgent,) straight betook him

On to the plain: and all of it was fill'd with outspread waters.

300

Along it many beauteous arms of callants slain in battle

And corpses floated. High in air his knees against the current

Leapt rushing straightwise: nor avail'd the broadly-flowing river

To stay him: for Athene's self with mighty vigour fill'd him.

But eke Scamander ceas'd not yet from effort; but, with anger

305

Against Pelides fiercer rous'd, his flowing surges crested,

Aloft uprising, and aloud to Simoïs he shouted:

"Let us at least by joint attack restrain this mortal's fury,

Dear brother! else o'erthrow will he lord Priam's mighty city

Full soon; nor will the Troïans abide him in the tumult.

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But hie with succour speedily, and from thy springs of water

Fill well thy streams, and stir for aid thy tributary currents,

And lift a mighty billow high, and summon plenteous riot

Of floating trunks and rocks upwrench'd, to stay this savage hero,

Who swayeth now pre-eminent, and rageth high as heaven.

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But neither mighty force, I trow, nor beauty shall avail him,

Nor yet his splendid armour: it, with swash of mud encrusted,

Full deep within our pools shall lie: himself, with heaps of rubbish,

Countless, will I enwrap in sand, and wilder the Achaians

320

His bones to gather: such a slush will I encurdle round him.

I will myself his barrow-mound achieve within my waters,

Nor for Achaian burial shall hand of man be needed."

So spake he, and with raging might arose against Achilles,

Curling his waves aloft, with foam and blood and corpses gurgling.

325

But Juno trembled to behold the Jove-descended river

With purple billow eddying to sweep away the hero;

And straight with shout of terror call'd her own dear offspring, Vulcan:

"Up, Limper! dearest child! for, thee we deem to be in combat

A match for swirling Xanthus: haste, full girt with flame, in succour.

I to the briny deep will go, a testy squall to summon

335

Of the West wind and sprightly South, whose deadly blasts shall instant

Consume the Troians, — men and arms: but by the banks of Xanthus

Burn thou the trees, and wrap in fire himself; nor let him stay thee

By words of gentle blandishment, nor e'en by curse ill-omen'd.

Nor sooner lay thy force aside, save when by skirl of notice

340

I give the signal; then do thou withhold the fire unweary."

When thus she charg'd him, Vulcan aim'd the fire's unearthly fury.

First in the plain he kindled it, and quick consum'd the corpses,

Which in thick numbers round about lay, by Achilles slaughter'd:

So parched he the plain entire, and stay'd the brilliant water.

345

As by autumnal Boreas a newly-water'd orchard

Quickly is drièd up; and he, who tendeth it, is gladden'd;

So drièd then was all the plain, and burn'd were all the corpses.

Then he his all-resplendent flame against the river turned.

The withies, elms, and tamarisks, the lotus, reed, and bulrush,

350

Which by the river's dainty streams grew plenteous, were burned.

The eels and fishes were bestraught, and div'd within the abysses,

Hither and thither, from the blast of much-devising Vulcan.

355

The River felt his might burnt up, and spake, on Vulcan calling:

"O Vulcan! none of all the gods to thee may play the equal;

Nor I against thy flaming fire can venture me in battle.

Desist from quarrel: from their walls forthwith let great Achilles

Drive out the Troians: what am I for contest or alliance?"

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So spake he, parching in the flame, and his gay currents bubbled.

And as, by fire abundant urg'd, a cauldron inly boileth,

When under it dry faggots lie, but in it fat of bacon

From tender-nurtur'd pig doth seethe, with bubbles swift uprising:

So then his dainty streams with fire were parch'd; his water boiled,

365

And halted, nor would onward flow: for sore the blast distress'd it

From crafty-hearted Vulcan's force. The River then to Juno

With many a supplication spake and winged accents utter'd:

"O Juno, wherefore hath thy son my stream with bale invaded

Beyond the rest? not unto me so much the blame belongeth,

370

As to all other gods, by whom the Troïans are holpen.

But I will verily desist, if so thy will commandeth,

And eke let him withhold: and I by oath alsó will bind me,

That never will I ward away the day of woe for Troians,

Not even when in wasting fire all Ilium shall smoulder,

375

If e'er Achaia's warlike sons the torch of ruin kindle."

When Juno, white-arm'd goddess, heard these pleadings of the River

Again she instantly address'd her own dear offspring Vulcan:

"O Vulcan, child most glorious! withhold thee: nor beseems it

In sake of mortals, with distress to crush a god immortal."

380

She spake; and quickly did he quench the fire divinely burning,

And back returning rush'd the waves adown their noble channel.

So both the combatants were stay'd; for Juno, tho' indignant,

Set limit on her wrath, so soon as Xanthus' might was tamed.

But on the other heav'nly gods fell vehemence of quarrel,

385

Noisome; and diverse ways the heart was in their bosom tossed.

With mighty turmoil on they came: broad Earth beneath them crackled

And vasty Heaven trumpeted aloft: Jove in Olympus

Sitting perceiv'd them; and within, his heart was fill'd with laughter,

Rejoicing, when the gods he saw in shock of battle meeting.

390

Thereat, no length of time stood they aloof; for Ares led them,

Hide-piercer; he his onset first against Athene guided,

Holding his brazen lance; and spake an overture of insult:

"Wherefore Fly-vixen! now again the gods to quarrel drivest,

Fill'd with portentous confidence? proud insolence impels thee.

395

Or haply dost forget the day when thou to wound me sentest

Tydides Diomed, and didst in gaze of heaven brandish

His spear outright against me: so my tender flesh was mangled.

Now then I think to pay thee back for all thy deeds of evil."

After such words, he stabb'd against her many-fringed ægis,

400

Direful; which not the thunderbolt of Jupiter may vanquish:

On this, with lengthy thrust of spear, did blood-stain'd Ares goad her.

But she, retiring on the plain, in her broad hand uplifted

A rock, which there behind her lay, mighty and black and rugged,

Which for a stone of boundary by former men was destin'd.

405

Herewith she struck upon the neck and cast impetuous Ares

Helpless: o'er seven roods of land he fell; his arms resounded,

And dust defil'd his hair. Thereat maiden Athene laughed,

And taunting o'er the fallen god did winged accents utter:

"O simpleton! not even yet hast ponder'd, how much greater

410

I claim to be than thee, whene'er my prowess thou confrontest?

By such atonement mayest thou requite thy mother's Furies,

Who angry planneth ill to thee, for-that thou hast the Achaians

Abandon'd, and dost glorify the overweening Troians."

After such utterance, away she turn'd her beaming eyen.

415

But him, as thick and deep he sobb'd, Jove's daughter Aphrodite

Led by the hand away, and scarce his spirit did recover.

She, as she hurried, drew regards from Juno, white-arm'd goddess,

Who to Athene instantly did winged accents utter:

"Ye gods! unweariable child of Jove the ægisholder!

420

Lo! the Flyvixen in the mell doth Ares, pest of mortals,

From out of foeman's battle lead: — but instantly pursue her!"

She spake: then off Athene rush'd, and in her heart was joyful.

Assailing with her brawny hand, she smote her on the bosom,

And from her body beat the breath: so fell she there, aswooning.

425

Thus on the many-feeding Earth the twain were laid together;

And she, with vaunting over them, harangu'd in winged accents:

"So may all others lie, whoe'er to Troïans are helpers,

Often as they to battle march on tight-accoutred Argives;

O valorous and hardy! such, as Aphrodite ventur'd,

430

Coming my onset to confront, auxiliar to Ares!

We, in that gait, had long ago from tearful war withheld us,

Sated by sack of Ilium, that nobly builded fortress."

Athene spake, and drew a smile from Juno, whitearm'd goddess;

Meanwhile the great Earthshaking king address'd him to Apollo:

435

"Why, Shining one! stand off we twain aloof? nor is it seemly,

When others have begun the war. Still worse were the dishonour,

If without battle we return to brazen-floor'd Olympus,

Palace of Jove. But feud to me belongs not: thou art younger:

Begin: for I am elder-born, and wider is my knowledge.

440

O simpleton, how thoughtless heart is thine! nor in remembrance

Holdest at all, how much of yore we twain endur'd of sorrow

From haughty-soul'd Laomedon; when, sent by Jove from heaven,

Alone of gods, a year complete we serv'd, for wage behighted,

We, to his beck obedient; and he, as lord directing.

445

Then round the Troian city I in sooth a rampart builded

Broad and right noble; so their town is made a breachless castle.

And thou, upon the woody slopes of dell-abounding Ida,

Bright god! didst tend the clumsyfooted crumplehorned cattle.

But when the much-rejoicing Hours brought round the end of labour

450

Behighted, proud Laomedon with hardy threat dismiss'd us,

Of our complete hardearned wage by violence defrauded.

Troth! threaten'd he with wellcut thongs both hand and foot to bind us,

And ship us for the mart of slaves in some far-distant island;

And vow'd, the ears of both of us to crop with brazen weapon.

455

So we, returning, on our path with soul indignant wended,

Enraged for the hire, which he had gag'd, but complish'd never.

Dost thou for this achievement bear much favour to his peoples,

Nor on our side contendest, how the overweening Troians

With children and with decent wives may headlong perish vilely?"

460

To him the Far-averting prince Apollo spake responsive:

"Earthshaker! rightly mightest thou unsound of heart pronounce me,

If against thee I enter war for miserable mortals;

Who like to leaves do onewhile bud, and thrive with fiery vigour,

465

Earth's bounty eating; otherwhile, they pine, bereft of spirit.

But leave their quarrel to themselves; and us, from fight withdraw we."

After such speech, away he turn'd; for with his father's brother

Much it abash'd him, hand to hand, to mingle in encounter.

At him his sister Artemis, who in the fields disporteth,

470

Queen of all venison, did scoff, and spake a word reproachful:

"O Far-averter, fleest thus? hast thou to Neptune yielded

Full victory, and empty vaunt thereby to him permittest?

O simpleton, why uselessly that bow and arrows holdest?

Thy voice no longer let me hear within thy father's chambers

475

Boasting, as heretofore thy boast in presence of the immortals,

That thou in battle wouldest stand with Neptune's might confronted."

She spake; but no reply came back from the bright prince Apollo.

Then at her haughtiness enrag'd, did Jove's majestic consort

With words of contumely revile the arrowpouring goddess.

480

"But wherefore art thou eager now, bold vixen! to withstand me?

Hard is to thee my adverse force, albeit sheaves of arrows

Thou bearest; and tho' Jupiter a lion unto women

Hath made thee, and hath granted might to slay, whomso thou willest.

Better in sooth it is, to kill wild beasts upon the mountains,

485

And rustic does, than valiantly do battle with the stronger.

But if thou willest war to learn; then come, and let me teach thee,

How greatly I surpass thee, when thou wilt my might encounter."

She spake; and both the goddess' wrists with her left hand engrasping,

She with the right hand stripp'd away the quiver from her shoulder,

490

Laughing; and with it o'er the ears slapt her, as off she turned.

Out of the quiver fell the shafts: the goddess, tear-beflooded,

Fled the encounter, as a dove, which, chased by a falcon,

Into the cavern of a rock hath flown, and there is rescued.

495

So fled she tearful from the war, and left her darts behind her. —

Jove's minister, the Argicide, then turn'd him to Latona:

"With thee, Latona! fight I not: 'tis noisome, with the consorts

Of cloudcollecting Jupiter by cuff of hand to bargain.

But, pri'thee, with a forward zeal among the gods immortal

500

Vaunt, that by might and main thou hast my prowess overmaster'd."

So spake he: she from off the ground the bending bow and arrows

Collected, fallen here and there amid the dust-tornado;

And, soon as she recover'd had her daughter's shafts, departed.

That daughter hasted on her path to brazen-floor'd Olympus,

505

Palace of Jove; there at the knees of her own father seated,

She wept, and her ambrosial veil trembled around. Her father

Drew her to him, and, laughing sweet, he spake, and made inquiry:

"Beloved child! what heav'nly hand such ill hath wrought upon thee,

All wantonly, as tho' thou wert in flagrant guilt arrested?"

510

To him replied the chapleted, the everwhooping huntress:

"Thy consort, Sire! hath huffled me, the whitearm'd goddess Juno,

Who on immortals fasteneth the jar of evil quarrel."

Thus they reciprocally held betwixt themselves discourses

But into sacred Ilium did bright Apollo enter;

515

For, the wellbuilded city's wall he cherish'd, lest the Argives

Upon that day, despite of fate, haply avail to storm it.

The other everliving gods unto Olympus wended:

One part embitter'd by the fray, others with glory haughty,

Nigh to blackclouded Jupiter were seated. But Achilles

520

Did ravage men of Troy alike and single-hoofed horses.

And as when high-aspiring smoke to vasty heaven reacheth

From out a burning city; it the wrath of gods hath kindled,

And toil on many hath it laid and sorrow sent to many:

So on the Troians Achileus laid many a toil and sorrow.

525

But aged Priam stood aloft upon a sacred tower,

And thence descried Achilles' form majestic. Where he turn'd him,

At once the Troians in alarm were routed, nor of courage

Aught they retain'd. Then groaning he descended from the tower,

And, passing by the wall, bestirr'd the illustrious gate-keepers:

530

"Hold in your hands the leaved gates wide-open, till the peoples

Reach to the city, scar'd in flight: for verily Achilles

Here hieth routing them and hence, I ween, will come disaster.

But when they respite again at length, coop'd up within the fortress,

Quickly behind them shut again the panels tightly fitted.

535

I tremble, lest this ghastly man into our rampart force him."

So spake he: they the bolts push'd back, and spread abroad the panels,

Which, open, to the fugitives gave comfort. But Apollo

Leapt out in front, from baleful doom the Troïans to rescue.

Straight for the town and lofty wall, parch'd up with thirst and dusty,

540

Out of the plain they fled: but he keen with the spear pursued them.

Dire fury did his soul possess, all hankering for glory.

Then had Achaia's children storm'd Troy's lofty-gated city;

But bright Apollo to emprize bestirr'd divine Agenor,

545

Antenor's spotless stalwart son; and in his heart put courage.

Leaning himself upon a beech, in copious mist enshrouded

He stood by him, to ward away the noisome stroke of Carnage.

Agenor, when he near descried Achilles city-rieving,

550

Stood still; and much his heart within, as there he waited, curdled.

Then he with indignation spake to his own haughty spirit:

"Woe to my fortunes! if I flee from valorous Achilles,

Whither the rest are scar'd in rout, he even so will catch me,

555

And butcher me all helpless: but, if these I leave behind me

Routed by him, and on my feet make for the plain of Ilus,

Until to Ida's slopes I reach and in the bushes hide me,

But in the evening afterward I bathe me in the river,

560

And, cool'd from sweat, to Ilium I take my backward journey: —

But, O fond heart! why holdest thou within me such discourses?

For if, as to the plain I swerve, he notice me, and chasing

With rapid foot outstrip my speed; from Death and Fate no longer

565

Escape remaineth; for his force all mortals far surpasseth.

What if before the city-wall I valorously front him?

For troth! the body eke of him may by sharp brass be pierced;

One life is in him, and they say that he alsó is mortal,

Tho' Jupiter Saturnius escorteth him with glory."

570

He spake, and gathering his force, stood to await Achilles,

With valiant spirit inwardly for war and battle eager.

As from a thicket deep may come for combat with the hunter

A panther, undismay'd in soul, tho' bark of dogs re-echo;

575

For e'en if earlier a stab or shot of dart may wound him,

Not, tho' the weapon pierce him thro', doth he his valour lessen,

But that he grapple with the foe, or in the effort perish:

So then divine Agenor, son of lordly-soul'd Antenor,

To flee approv'd not, ere he try the prowess of Achilles.

580

Forthwith, he held in front his shield, which equal was on all sides,

And with the spear took aim at him, and shouting loud, accosted:

"Gallant Achilles! lofty hopes, I ween, thy bosom holdeth,

That thou, forsooth, this day wilt storm the town of haughty Troians.

O simpleton! for many a woe must still be borne beside it.

585

For in its fortress, warriours many and valiant dwell we,

Who in the sake of parents dear, of consorts and of children,

Do rescue Ilium: but thou shalt here thy fate encounter,

Be thou however marvellous and valorous a hero."

He spake, and from his heavy hand sent forth the pointed weapon,

590

Nor miss'd but struck him on the shank: beneath it horrid crackled

The greave of newlyforged tin, the workmanship of heaven,

Gift of the god; which turn'd aside the rushing brass, nor yielded.

Then second, sallied Peleus' son against divine Agenor;

595

But bright Apollo foil'd his hope, and cheated him of glory,

Shrouding the foe in copious mist, and snatching him from battle;

Him sent he, quiet to return, from toil and danger rescued.

Then he by guile asunder drew Pelides from the people.

For, wholly to Agenor like, himself the Far-averter

600

Stood forth before Achilles' feet and to pursuit entic'd him.

While o'er the wheatful plain he chas'd, and wound beside Scamander,

River deepwhirling, and the god but little did outstrip him,

Bewitching him with guileful hope, that soon his feet shall conquer;

605

Meanwhile the other Troïans, in troops affrayed rushing,

Gladly had refuge in the walls and fill'd with crowds the city.

Nor longer ventur'd they to wait outside the town and rampart

One for another, and to learn, — who fell, and who surviveth:

610

But all, whom feet and knees bare off, pour'd gladly to the city.

New Alexandria Commentaries

Douglas Frame

comment on the goal of the second to last segment of the poem, books 17-20, Achilles’ return to battle, and their relationship with the final segment, and perceived problems with the opening of book 21

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Gregory Nagy

So long as the anger of Achilles remains in force, the Trojans will remain in possession of the east side of the river Skamandros, latinized as Scamander, while they continue to fight the Achaeans on the west side. On this principal river of the Trojan plain, see already the comments on I.08.220–227 and I.11.497–500. Only after Achilles rejoins his companions and returns to the battlefield will the Trojans be pushed back to the east side of the Scamander, and this major retreat finally happens here in Iliad 21. Now the raging Achilles pushes the Trojans back to the edge of the west bank of this river, I.21.001, and there they perish in droves, either at the hands of Achilles or by drowning, I.21.007–021—unless they manage to escape by crossing over to the east bank of the river, I.21.002–004.

source

The momentum of Achilles continues to heat up. The Trojans are now retreating as fast as they can, heading back toward Troy to find safety there within the sacred walls of that ancient citadel. In their hurry to get away from the field of battle, their hasty retreat has quickly turned into a chaotic and humiliating rout. Achilles is right behind them, in hot pursuit, slaughtering left and right the fleeing Trojans. The hero seems unstoppable. But Achilles meets his match when he provokes the river god Scamander, whose clear streams he has polluted with the gore of countless Trojans that he slaughters while they are desperately attempting to ford the god’s river.

draft js image error Copperplate etching (1795) by Tommaso Piroli, after a drawing (1793) by John Flaxman. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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Leonard Muellner

analysis of the formula daimoni isos used of heroes in their aristeia only, and in the context of hero-god antagonism

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analysis of the attestations of eukhesthai + aorist infinitive (and the series to which this verse belongs)

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Homer Iliad 21.1

Samuel Butler (Translator)

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BOOK XXI

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